Foster Father for the Princesses

Chapters

Chapter 3 - Dealing with a Dragon
Chapter 20 - Rebirth of Earth
Chapter 1 - The Return of the Father
Chapter 2 - A day on the town
Chapter 4 - House warming, just not with actual fire
Chapter 05 - Interrogations are never gentle
Chapter 06 - A swarm of problems
Chapter 07 - The Winter Ball
Chapter 08 - Enter Cadence
Chapter 09 - Hearth's Warming
Chapter 10 - Wrapping up Winter, or not.
Chapter 11 - A piece of the past
Chapter 12 - Everypony in that town is crazy!
Chapter 13 - The fitting of a lifetime
Chapter 14 - Mornings after are dangerous
Chapter 15 - Old magic, new fights
Chapter 16 - Family reunion, family party
Chapter 17 - The true depth of art
Chapter 18 - New teacher in town
Chapter 19 - Adjustments Required
Chapter 21 - Tragically short modeling career
Chapter 22 - Maid to order
Chapter 23 - Ascending Art
Chapter 24 - Control your brooms
Chapter 25 - Round one, tie
Chapter 26 - Advanced Lessons
Chapter 27 - A-Muse-ing Consequences
Chapter 28 - Prince of the Schoolyard
Chapter 29 - Secrets, Lies, and Monster ties
Chapter 30 - Parties for one and pranks for some
Chapter 31 - The Gala before the storm
Chapter 32 - Dealing with a troublesome past
Chapter 33 - Welcome back.
Chapter 34 - Alicorn Errands
Chapter 35 - Home again
Chapter 36 - A nightmare settling in
Chapter 37 - Griffon playtime
Chapter 38 - What a fright
Chapter 39 - Birthday Gifts
Chapter 40 - The great chase
Chapter 41 - Piece of the past
Chapter 42 - What lies above
Chapter 43 - Do you hear the bells?
Chapter 44 - Proposals are a real battle
Chapter 45 - A little taste of the music
Chapter 46 - Learning from Greed
Chapter 47 - When Aspects clash
Chapter 48 - Time and Nightmares
Chapter 49 - Family day and intimate proposals
Chapter 50 - Honesty is the best policy
Chapter 51 - Daily Skirmishes
Chapter 52 - Taking care of business
Chapter 53 - Of Dragon Journeys, Hooves and Hearts
Chapter 54 - Aerial relations
Chapter 55 - This day was just perfect...kinda
Chapter 56 - Fallout
Chapter 57 - Old friends are like family
Chapter 58 - A perfect wedding day, at last
Chapter 59 - The more things change, the more they stay the same
Chapter 60 - An Empire of problems
Chapter 61 - Healing and remembering
Chapter 62 - Shadows and Sounds
Chapter 63 - A full set
Chapter 64 - So many Pinkies
Chapter 65 - Training to overcome your fears
Chapter 66 - Keeping up with the news
Chapter 67 - Apogee of the Sun
Chapter 68 - Silly amulet, Trixie's for kids

Chapter 3 - Dealing with a Dragon

The next morning dawned bright and early, as they always did. Balanced Aspect rolled over and shielded his face with a wing, trying to block out Celestia’s sun. He could swear that she knew exactly how to raise the thing just to annoy him. Some would argue that surely, Princess Celestia would never do such a thing to her foster father.

Aspect would reply with evidence of her having a rebellious foalhood and never doing as her father telling her to anyways. The stallion rolled out of the bed in Twilight’s guest bedroom and walked into the main lobby, grunting something unintelligible.

“Wow, guess you’re not a morning pony,” Spike said as he took notice of their guest walking out of their spare bedroom in a state not dissimilar from a zompony. “Guess you’re gonna want some coffee before we have a real conversation.”

The stallion’s reply was to grunt again, causing Spike to nod and head into the kitchen. The dragon knew exactly what to do to get Twilight up and moving after a heavy night of studying, and he figured the same thing would work on this stallion. One pot of extra-strong coffee on the double was the order of the day.

All too soon, it was brewed and ready for both Aspect and Twilight, and the stallion sniffed a few times before slowly turning his head to the pot. The way he watched Spike pour two cups was a little unnerving, but once he was given his cup, he calmed down considerably. The pegasus sipped at his drink and sighed.

“Thanks Spike,” he finally said. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Heh, and I didn’t even have to make you breakfast yet,” the dragon boasted.

“It gets better?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. He couldn’t imagine it got a whole lot better than coffee first thing in the morning. The breakfast at the palace had been nice, yes, but surely the dragon couldn’t mean to say his was better?

Aspect soon found out how wrong he was on that front. Pancakes. Sweet, delicious, fluffy pancakes, with rich butter and just the right amount of maple syrup. There was even orange juice and haybacon!

The thought of bacon made him gulp nervously. Hopefully, he’d be able to hunt soon. Bacon made of actual meat was far tastier. Still, for the whole blending in stint, he’d be able to grin and bear it.

He’d barely begun his attack on the delicious breakfast, when who should appear but Twilight Sparkle herself, in a similar state as he once was before his coffee. She came down the stairs and sat down at an open chair before pulling her coffee mug close and taking a good, long pull from it. “Never change, Spike,” she said once she was done. “Without your coffee, I don’t know where I’d be.”

“In bed, probably,” Spike replied as he sat down to join them at the breakfast table.

“Amen to that,” Aspect said before digging into his own breakfast once again. Spike turned to the stallion and tilted his head, before turning back to Twilight.

“So, this is that very dear friend of Celestia’s and her father?” At their stares, the dragon shrugged. “I remember you reading those things out to me, Twilight. And I hafta say, I don’t see it.”

“I like this dragon,” Aspect chuckled. “He’s clever.” With that, the stallion preened a little bit, flaring his wings and sticking a hoof out. “Well, let’s just say there’s more to me than meets the eye.”

“So, what, are you an alicorn in disguise or something?” Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Something like that,” Twilight and Aspect said in the same moment, causing them to look at one another and chuckle. The drake was confused for a moment, before shrugging and joining the ponies in the demolition of the breakfast.

“So, what are your plans for today, Aspect?” Twilight asked once she’d finished.

“Gonna look around town, see if there’s any jobs I can do for bits. Yeah, Celestia might be able to secure me a place to live, but I need my own income if I’m going to survive on my own,” the stallion replied. “It’d be better to start looking now than when I need it.”

“A sound plan, would you like me to accompany you on it?” Twilight asked.

“Nah, I got this,” Aspect said, waving her concerns off. “I mean, it’s only a job. How hard could it be?”

Aspect walked around the village, looking for a certain mare. A sky-blue one with a rainbow tail and mane. They really did make her noticeable.

Eventually the stallion spotted the mare and opted to watch her morning routine instead of call out to her. He of all ponies knew the danger of being distracted while flying. He could be patient.

The mare noticed him soon enough and made to land right in front of him, sending up a wave of dust as she hit the road. “Well hey there Aspect!” she greeted him. “You up for a spar right now?”

“Eh, I’m a little busy at the moment,” he said. “I need a job. Know of any that I could take up?”

The weathermare hummed. “You any good with weather work?”

“That’s...not a good idea for me,” he said, wincing slightly. “Here, let’s find a cloud and I can show you what I mean.” With that he spread his wings and took off into the sky, Rainbow Dash following him. A cloud was quickly found, and Aspect hovered over it.

The moment he landed on it, though, the cloud started turning...grey. A rumble of thunder could be heard in it, and it started to go from just a storm cloud to a full-blown thunderhead, rapidly turning black the longer he stayed on it. After another moment, the stallion flew off the cloud and looked at Rainbow Dash. “Something about me turns regular clouds into stormclouds, and then thunderheads the longer I stay on them,” he said apologetically. “If I could help you with weather work without this happening, I would. But it’s always happened.”

“So you’re a specialist,” the cyan mare said. “I’ll call you in if we have a storm we need to set up in a hurry, but yeah, I get your point. We can’t have random storms popping up just because you moved a cloud.” She pondered for a moment before putting a hoof to her chin. “Does it work with snow as well?”

“Only in the winter,” the stallion said. “I can make all the snow I want in the winter, but the moment spring comes back, it’s back to rain and thunder.”

“Sweet,” Rainbow replied. “That’ll save us a bundle on snow clouds from Cloudsdale’s weather factory. Heck, you’re just a walking discount.”

“I appreciate your appreciation for my talents,” Aspect chuckled. “But a specialist job does not a salary make.”

“I getcha,” Rainbow said with a nod. “Well, you could always check the town hall. Ponies needing help with their businesses post work notices there.”

“I think I’ll do that,” the stallion said as he looked down at the town. “Hmm, is it that one?”

“Close, that’s the schoolhouse,” Rainbow said before pointing a little further on. “That’s the Town Hall.”

Aspect followed her hoof, and then noticed something on the horizon. Something he hadn’t seen in a long time. Black smoke coming from a mountain nearby. There was only one way this much smoke could be coming from a mountain.

“Oh boy,” he said. “We’ve got ourselves a dragon.”

“I’m telling you, we can handle a dragon,” Twilight said to the stallion in the library.

“And I’m telling you, you can’t,” Aspect replied. “I’ve dealt with dragons before, I know their ways a lot better than you. Some of my old friends were dragons, I know a lot about them.”

“Really?” Twilight said, turning to him. “You’ll have to write it down when I come back.”

“When we come back,” he corrected her. “I am going with you, in case you need a capable sword or a quick bit of insight into how to handle a dragon.”

“We can handle it,” Twilight repeated.

“Oh really?” the stallion asked with a raised eyebrow. “Tell me, what would you do if it was a nesting mother? How would you properly flatter an elder? What’s the best way to deal with a young adult? And how do you outwit any of them?”

Twilight paused for a moment as he presented so many possible scenarios to her before sighing and admitting he had more than one point. “Fine,” she said. “You can come with us. But I want your word that violence will be your last resort.”

“I swear on Yggdrasil,” the stallion said, holding a hoof to his chest. “My sword will only come to bear if all else fails.”

“You’re going to have to explain who Yggdrasil is one of these days,” Twilight said as she kept packing. “That’s the second time I’ve heard you swear by...him?”

“Yeah, Yggdrasil has a male personality. More of an ‘it’ though,” Aspect said. “And I’ll tell you the story behind his creation one day. He’s basically the best son I could ask for.”

“You have kids?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Not really, not biological kids. I made them with magic, also a long story. Sheesh, I have a lot to tell you…” The stallion rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to get through it all…”

“I’m sure that if you try, you’ll be able to hit at least all the important points,” Twilight said. “For now, we have a mountain to climb and a dragon to oust.”

“Dude,” Rainbow said as she looked at Aspect. “Coming with us to take on a dragon? I know I asked for a spar, but you don’t have to go to this length to impress me!”

“I’m coming along for your safety more than anything,” the stallion said. “I’ve seen a lot of things, done a lot of things. And you all are pretty important.”

“What, you think we can’t handle ourselves?” the cyan mare asked.

“More like, I’m willing to throw myself in the way of whatever draconic foe we might be facing if need be. I’m a lot less killable than you are.”

“Oh yeah?” the pegasus asked. “Prove it!”

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “Difficult to prove. How about this, I’ll list off the foes I’ve faced off against. You all can tell me if you’ve heard of them. I think that’ll prove my point quite nicely, especially when you hear their titles.”

“Dunno, you could be lying,” Rainbow said.

“Nah, I’ll watch ‘im,” Applejack joined in, having become curious about what they’d been talking about. “If he lies, I’ll spot it right away sugarcube.”

“I’m sure you will,” the stallion chuckled. “Okay, let’s see. Lavan the Lava Demon, Arabus the Storm Demon, Crunch the Rockdog, King Charlatan, Somnabula the Sorceress, Squirk, Lord of the Ocean, Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle, the Witches of Mount Gloom, Grogar the Necromancer, and finally, last but not least...the Boogeyman.”

“That last one doesn’t sound so tough,” Rainbow said.

“Au contraire,” Aspect said. “That last one was the original dream-demon. He walked through the Dreamscape and terrified all that slept, making sure that nobody got a restful night with him around.”

“Sounds right despicable,” Applejack said. “So how’d you deal with him?”

“By accident,” the stallion chuckled. “He was interested in me and stood over me one night, to better access my dreams and turn them into nightmares. He was successful, but maybe he shouldn’t have been. I woke up screaming and waving my sword around...and it was only after I calmed down that I saw I’d killed something in fright.”

“You...were scared?” Fluttershy spoke up from her pose of perpetual cowardice.

“Everyone gets scared, dear Fluttershy. Even dragons get scared.” Aspect stated while looking at her with kind eyes. “What defines us is how we react to it. Heck, some days I’m still scared about whether or not my kids turned out right.”

“You have kids?” Rainbow asked, her eyes widening with surprise. “That’s…”

“I’ll tell you later,” the stallion brushed off as they reached the base of the mountain. “For now, we have a dragon to oust.”

The ascent up the mountain was something to tell for ages.

If only for Fluttershy’s legendary cowardice at every single aspect. Aspect didn’t say anything, though, merely standing nearby and offering her a helping hoof whenever she had difficulty.

Though, the avalanche that she’d accidentally triggered was something he hadn’t been expecting. If not for him wanting to stay mostly in disguise, he’d have done something about trying to clear a path for them all.

Still, he was, so he didn’t. And all too soon, the seven ponies were standing outside the dragon’s cave. Twilight listed off everything they were going to do…

“I’m not certain that last item is feasible, Miss Sparkle,” Aspect said.

“What?” Twilight said, turning to him. The stallion merely held up a wing and pointed at Fluttershy, who was still cowering on the ground.

“I...I...I can’t go in the cave,” the yellow mare said.

“Oh great,” Rainbow Dash said with an eyeroll. “She’s scared of caves now too.”

“No,” Aspect said as he looked at the smoke. “I’d think it’d be quite obvious what she’s scared of, Miss Dash.”

“I’m scared of…” Fluttershy said before trailing off into a mumble.

“Whut was that?” Applejack asked.

“I’m scared of…” the yellow pegasus mare tried to say again.

“Come now, dear Fluttershy,” the stallion of the group said. “I promise we won’t laugh.”

“I’M SCARED OF DRAGONS!”

Her statement had either perfect timing, or the ability to cause the dragon to snore, as he did right after her outburst. “But Fluttershy,” Twilight said after the smoke cleared. “You have a wonderful talent dealing with all sorts of animals.”

“Yes, because they’re not dragons,” the butterscotch mare pointed out. Aspect had to admit, she had a very good point.

“Oh come on!” Rainbow Dash argued from the air. “We’ve seen you walk right up to a horrible manticore like it was nothing!”

An impressive feat, the stallion thought to himself. And Fluttershy had her rebuttal ready. “Yes, because he wasn’t a dragon.”

“Spike is a dragon,” Pinkie said. “You’re not scared of him.”

Aspect was about to chime in with his thoughts, when Fluttershy beat him to it. “Yes, because he's not a huge, gigantic, terrifying, enormous, teeth-gnashing, sharp-scale having, horn-wearing, smoke-snoring, could eat a pony in one bite, totally all grown-up dragon!”

The dragon snored once more, and the mare whimpered.

“But if you’re so afraid of dragons,” Twilight said. “Why didn’t you say something before we came all the way up here?”

“I was afraid to,” the yellow mare whimpered.

Rainbow Dash groaned again, and Applejack drew closer and gave her friend a comforting hoof around her withers. “All of us are scared of that dragon,” she said reassuringly.

“I’m not!” the blue pegasus said, to which Aspect and Applejack gave her questioning looks.

“Almost all of us are scared of that dragon,” the farmmare corrected herself. “But we’ve got a job to do. So, get in there with Twilight and show her what you’re made of.”

“I...I…” Fluttershy said, before sighing and falling to the ground once more. “I just...can’t.”

“Oh, Fluttershy,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I’m going in,” she said a moment later to the group. “He probably just doesn’t realize what he’s doing, right?”

“I’ll go with you,” Aspect said. “I know a few things about dragons, I might be able to resolve this with words.”

The pair of ponies slowly walked into the cave, Twilight calling out every so often for the dragon’s attention. Something Aspect wasn’t sure they actually wanted.

After all, if the dragon was of a belligerent nature, he’d have to show off a bit of his true self, and there was no way that would get by the others without a good deal of explanation.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” Twilight said as they neared the dragon itself. Aspect took in a few things about the dragon as she started her speech.

Hmm. Young adult. Roughly three to five centuries of age, judging by the spines. Amount of treasure indicates a hoard suitable for about four centuries, reinforcing earlier hypothesis. Coloration is non-indicative of temperament, though the smoke that is produced when it snores places it as a relation to...oh ho ho. Well. This is going to be...interesting. That family never did like me, but they bowed their heads to the Dragon King nonetheless. Fifty-fifty odds on my words working.

“So you’ll find another place to sleep?” Twilight asked the dragon. His only response was to blow more smoke at her, sending her from the cave in defeat. The pegasus took center stage then, smiling at the drake all the while.

“So,” the stallion said. “A new drake from the Vileflame family? That’s certainly interesting,” he mused. “Last time I heard, they were happy with their family the size it was. Then again, that was about...seven hundred years or so ago, and through a few intermediaries besides. I don’t get over to the dragon lands all that often, and they don’t have the best opinion of me.”

The dragon snorted. “You lie,” he said in a rumbling voice. “No pony knows that much about dragons. They’re all too busy running in fear from us.”

“And that’s certainly very true, but then, tell me,” the stallion said with a vicious smile. “How do I know the given name of the dragon king? The name that only one being on this planet has the gall to call him?”

“Impossible,” the dragon retorted. “The one that gave the king that degrading name was no pony. And should be long dead by now.”

“One name,” the stallion said as he held out a hoof. “One simple name. Five letters long. I really couldn’t hold back when we met. He even said he liked it when I told him about the story it came from.” There was silence for a moment, and then the pony spoke again. “Smaug.”

“Then he passed the name along to the pony races!” the dragon roared. “You are not the biped that gifted us with magical fire! BEGONE!” And with a roar and a blast of smoke, the stallion was sent tumbling out of the cave.

“So much for persuading him,” Rainbow Dash observed.

“Now what?” Applejack asked. To which Rarity answered by drawing forward and tossing her curled mane.

“Obviously, this situation just calls for a little pony charm,” she said before walking into the cave.

“Alright Aspect,” Twilight said quietly to him. “What do you know about dragons?”

“Well,” the stallion said in just as quiet a tone as he sat near the entrance of the cave. “They’re ruled by a king, and each family’s eldest representative serves on his council. I met him once,” the pegasus said wistfully. “He liked the ideas I had. And the gift I gave to his kind. So much so that he said that all I would have to do is call on his name, and the other dragons should respect me. I guess not showing up in my, ahem, ‘natural’ form worked against me here. But I don’t want to show off…”

There was a roar as Rarity fled from the cave. “I was this close to getting that diamond,” she said, pouting on a nearby rock.

“You mean...getting rid of that dragon, right?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh yeah, sure,” the white unicorn mare said.

Then there was a honk. And all the gathered ponies looked over in the direction where it had come from, only to see the most absurd sight they’d seen yet.

“What in tarnation?” Applejack asked. Pinkie appeared to be wearing balloon animals as a hat, had some tied to her tail, was wearing flippers on her hooves, and had a present box wrapped around her barrel.

All in all, one of the more ridiculous armors Aspect had seen yet. Then she blew on a noisemaker.

“Darling, you look ridiculous,” Rarity observed.

“Exactly!” Pinkie said as she turned to enter the cave next. “Sharing a laugh is a surefire way to get someone on your side.”

That attempt lasted less than two seconds.

“Apparently he doesn’t like laughing,” Pinkie said as she left the cave, most of her balloons popped and half her flippers missing. Even the box was crumpled. “Or sharing.”

“All right, that’s it!” Rainbow Dash said, clearly frustrated that nothing was happening. “We’ve tried persuasion, charm, whatever it is Pinkie Pie does.” The cyan pegasus took a position in front of the cave. “It’s time to stop wasting time!”

“No!” Aspect called out. He still had a trump card, and he’d rather play it than let them suffer just because he was keeping a secret.

Rainbow Dash didn’t hear him, though. “I’m going in!” With a rainbow contrail, she was off into the cave.

“Rainbow! No!” Twilight spoke up as well.

“Oh boy,” Aspect said as his sword began to glow. He was preparing to do something he’d never done before. If the situation called for it, he would try and transform, while he was already transformed. Maybe then he’d get the dragon to back off. He couldn’t imagine a pony made out of lava wouldn’t get the winged beast to reconsider its stance on not listening to him.

There was a roar, and Rainbow Dash was ejected from the cave at high velocity and without any control. She easily bowled the mares over, while Aspect had been standing to one side. He turned towards the cave and let out a growl of his own. So it would come to this, then?

The mares huddled together as the dragon came out of the cave, and with a roar and another blast of smoke, the five mares had been pushed back against a nearby boulder...which fell apart after they hit it.

Not that Aspect could see that, as he’d interposed himself between the mares and the dragon, sword shining brightly. “Last chance, descendant of the line of Verdant Vileflame,” the stallion spat at the dragon. “Back off, or I will tell Smaug about you.”

“You’ll go first,” the dragon rumbled as he drew closer.

Then there was another noise. One that neither of them had ever heard before.

“How dare you!” Fluttershy screamed as she flew up to the dragon and, of all things, began scolding it. It was a scolding of such power, that even Aspect powered down his sword and began listening to the sheer steel coming out of Fluttershy’s mouth.

And of all things, the dragon actually cowered under her gaze.

“Well?” Fluttershy asked.

“But that rainbow one kicked me,” the dragon said. “And that stallion is a boasting liar.”

“And I am very sorry about her and that you think that,” the mare said. “But you’re bigger than they are and you should know better.”

Of all things, as the scolding proceeded, the dragon actually cried, which surprised Aspect to no end that the mare had not only stood up to her fears, but got the dragon to agree to leave with simple words. With a moment to gather up his hoard, the dragon left the mountaintop, to find a new place to hibernate.

“So, uh, Aspect,” Twilight said as they made their way back down the mountain. “You said something about the dragon being a descendant of some Vileflame?”

“Yeah,” the stallion said with a nod. “I knew it was one of two families back in Ponyville. The Vileflames or the Earth-Gougers. Both of them have trouble with their snoring when they settle down to hibernate for a hundred years or so. But just my luck, it’s the family that dislikes me.”

“You somehow ticked off an entire clan of dragons?” Applejack asked.

“You make one comment about what you think about the Dragon King’s name, and they take offense,” the stallion sighed dramatically. “I swear, Smaug’s a better one. Easier to remember and has a lot of titles associated with it.”

“Yeah right,” Rainbow said as she flew above the group. “You, meet with a King of Dragons? You couldn’t even get one to leave!”

“True, I had nothing to do thanks to Fluttershy here,” the stallion said with a nod. “And Smaug’s actually a pretty nice dragon, once you get to know him. He’s fun to hang out with. I shoulda gone to see him a few times...maybe in the future.”

“Yeah right,” Rainbow said. “I still think you’re making it up.”

“He ain’t lyin’, sugarcube,” Applejack said. And that’s what worried her. What kind of pony up and made friends with monsters…? Well, aside from Fluttershy.

“Well, seeing as half of you know, I think I can share a small secret with the other half of you, so that you understand just how I could be telling the truth.” the stallion said. “So long as you all promise to keep it a secret until I tell it myself.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly,” Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash echoed. “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Then they looked at Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, and realized just who already knew, and started wondering when they’d learned this secret.

“I’m actually Celestia and Luna’s father,” the stallion said as he continued walking.

“Whaaaaaaat!?” Rarity whinnied as she stared wide-eyed at the stallion. She looked towards Twilight and the others, before chuckling nervously. “Ahehe...hehehe…G-Good one darling. You had me going there.”

With a flash from both the sword and his forehead, the stallion was now sporting a horn much like a unicorn’s, though he hadn’t changed size at all to match Celestia’s. He could take another disguise for a moment to keep the half-lie going. “I’m here in disguise,” he said. “And I’d like to keep it.”

Rarity blinked again, before a chaise lounge came out of nowhere and she fainted on it. The stallion blinked before he and the sword flashed again, the horn disappearing as he looked at Rarity, then at her friends.

“She do this often?” he asked of them.

Twilight shrugged, while Fluttershy and Applejack nodded.

“Rarity’s a bit of a drama queen,” The earth pony replied. “Ah still don’t know how she gets that there chair though.”

“A lady simply doesn’t faint in the… urgh, dirt.” Rarity deadpanned from her seat.

“But she does faint when she realizes she’s been on an adventure with no less than the father of the Princesses?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “Or even designed a cape for one?”

Rarity gasped as she recalled that. “I-I… I have to redesign it! I cannot have the parent of royalty walk around in common—”

“Recall what I said about my saddlebags,” the stallion deadpanned. “I was happy with a simple cape, because you said it would be durable. That’s all I want out of any clothing I wear: for it to withstand the test of nature.” He rolled his eyes and snorted. “Sakes, I can recall a time when not even Celestia and Luna wore more than ribbons in their manes and tails!”

Twilight had never seen Princess Celestia with a ribbon in her tail before. The mental image she conjured up made her blush slightly.

“And even then,” Aspect continued. “It was a rare thing. Mostly they asked for it for things like when we had visitors. No, the simple cape will do, miss Rarity. Now if you are done fainting, I do believe we have a village to inform of the fact that the resident dragon has been ousted.”

“Oh, uh, yes of course dear…” She magicked the couch away as Rainbow continued to glare at him out of the corner of her eyes. She still didn’t trust him…

“All right, Miss Dash,” the stallion said after they’d walked about twenty feet. “I can all but feel your eyes burrowing into the back of my skull. What’ll it take to prove that I am who I say I am?”

“Alright. You’re their dad. Supposedly older than they are…” Rainbow flew down in front of his face. “So where were you when your daughter became freakin’ Nightmare Moon!”

“Rainbow!” Twilight gasped.

“Battling her shades,” the stallion said softly. “The shadows and nightmares she’d conjured up to torment the castle. Only Celestia was close enough to the Elements…” He sobbed a little as he turned away. “I...failed her as a father. I should have done more to help her. I should have listened more to her worries, the fact that she’d been hearing voices…”

“Consarnit Dash,” Applejack slugged the prismatic mare’s shoulder, causing her to yelp and rub the now bruised body part. “Look Aspect, ah’m sure Rainbow didn’t mean to be such a jerk.”

“Hey!”

“But look,” the mare placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Y’all made a mistake, sure. But they still love ya right? Cause family sticks together, no matter whut. And Princess Luna’s jus’ fine now. Princess Celestia has kept the peace fer a thousand years. Y’all did a fine job as their Pa.”

“That’s…” The stallion sighed. “You all don’t know the real story behind how she started down that path...otherwise you wouldn’t be saying that.”

“And ah reckon it might help if ya shared one day, but now ain’t the time fer that,” Applejack smiled and nodded.

Rainbow scuffed at the ground with a hoof. “L-Look… m’sorry okay?” she mumbled under her breath.

“I really should talk about it a little more,” the stallion agreed. “Maybe when I get a place of my own.” With that, he resumed leading the mares back home, though his head was noticeably not held nearly as high as when he’d first started.

Once the party of ponies had returned to Ponyville, and Twilight had had Spike send a message to Celestia detailing the events of the day, the little dragon motioned towards the table in the middle of the library portion of the Golden Oaks. “We got mail while you were out,” he said. “One from the building inspector, and two from Princess Celestia.”

Aspect trotted over and picked the first letter up. “Hmm,” he said. “Okay, so the building is up to code, and I can move in whenever,” he said. “Pretty nice. What’s these letters from Cel?”

He picked one up and read it, his eyes narrowing as he did. “Oh you little minx,” he muttered. “No, I do not need a stipend. I do not want a stipend. I do not need you paying my bills for me, little lady.” Still muttering, he picked up the second letter and opened it, his eyes widening in shock as he let the letter fall from his grasp once he’d read it.

“Aspect?” Spike asked as he trotted over, before picking up the letter and becoming shocked himself. “Sweet Celestia!” the dragon exclaimed.

“What? What’s wrong!?” Twilight gasped. “Did somepony send you a threatening letter?”

Spike wordlessly held out the letter to Twilight. She picked it up and read the simple scroll.

Dear father,

It has occurred to me that you have one-thousand years of back-pay as the royal advisor sitting in my coffers. Please find enclosed a check for the sum.

Your daughter,

Celestia

And then there was a slip of paper. And that...was a lot of zeroes. She took one look and blinked as she went over the math in her head.

“Y-You could buy a large town for that, maybe a small city!” she exclaimed.

“I think I’ll take the stipend,” Aspect said in a small voice. “I should have known better than to try and trick Cel, or try to get out of a trick of hers.”

“She uh… do that often?” Applejack gulped as she looked at the check. Her mind danced with all the things she could do to the farm with that money.

“Only when she wants to maneuver me,” the stallion sighed. “She knows I don’t like taking money from her, so when faced with taking a small amount or a large one, I’ll go for the smaller one every time.”

“Only this time is either big, or a sum so huge that any dragon would give their wings to own,” Spike nodded as he held the check again. “And since I don’t have any wings…”

“Spike,” Aspect said warningly. “This is an either-or scenario, and I’ve already made my choice. We’ll be sending the check back with a letter saying I’ll accept the stipend.”

“Dang, I was gonna buy so many comics with that,” Spike groaned as the stallion took the check.

“You know, there’s always the third option,” Applejack smiled.

“Oh?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “And what is that?”

Princess Celestia got two letters that day. One from her student detailing how they’d ousted a dragon and learned a valuable thing about friendship and having faith in her friends.

And another from her father.

Dear daughter of mine,

After much consideration, I have decided to donate the money to the town, in case of emergencies. I will be living here, after all, it would behoove me to make sure that things around here can continue to run smoothly. With a small donation given to the Apple Family’s farm, in honor of their ancestor and our friendship back in the days of Dream Valley.

I will also accept the stipend until the day comes when I get a job of my own.

Your move.

Aspect.

Celestia read, then reread the letter as her eye twitched a little. “Why that rotten, sneaky little…”

“Is something wrong sister?” Luna asked as she walked into the room, seeing Celestia’s mane flicker angrily.

“No… it’s nothing Lulu,” Celestia whisked the letter away to her room and smiled. “Father is just being his usual stubborn self.”

Author's Note

In case you didn't know, editing these chapters is a pain. Though I think I've hit on the perfect way to do so, I'll try it out next week. Assuming FimFiction doesn't unscrew whatever it is that inserts Bold, Italic, and Center tags everywhere by then. Then again, they haven't done it by now, so I'm not holding my breath.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really helps.

Half the money will not go towards boss rushes.

Chapter 20 - Rebirth of Earth

Time had passed, Aspect was unsure as to how much exactly. All he really knew when he recovered was that he was cuddling not one but two mares. The events that had led up to it came flooding back, and he sighed happily, nuzzling each mare in turn.

It had been a remarkably short time, he would muse, that he went from ‘wanderer’ to ‘Resident of Ponyville’ to ‘Stallion in a herd relationship.’ Yggdrasil was probably laughing his ass off if he could see this.

“I don’t need to ‘see’ it to laugh O’ Promiscuous Father of mine~”

“Yeah, you probably felt the tapestry of Fate changing the...what time is it?...what day is it?...Think I pushed myself too hard there.”

“Oh? Hmm, Tuesday? I don’t have a calendar here? Hard to tell the changing of the days when you’re in an underground cave.” Ohh, Yggdrasil was snippy today.

“Just tell me that there’s nothing going on today that I’ll have to see to. The Hydra and Cockatrice were bad enough for a ‘sleepy little town.’” Aspect nuzzled both mares softly, wanting to test how awake they were.

“Okay, I won’t tell you,” Yggdrasil chuckled. “I’ll let her do it.”

Then came a furious knocking at his door.

“Bloody,” Aspect muttered to himself as he sharply shook both Bon Bon and Dash. “Wake up, visitors, and I think something is going on.” He left them with that hanging over their heads as he eased himself out and walked towards the front door.

He’d rapidly learned that Ponyville was not as quiet as it’d been presented to him. Especially with the pink one in residence. When he opened the door, Twilight stood there, her eyes wide.

“Aspect!” she said in a panicked tone. “I have some terrible news!”

“What is it?” he asked, now quite sure he’d missed his coffee and that it was turning out to be a bad decision.

“I uh… I think your house is… haunted!” Twilight exclaimed. “I heard something shuffling around but couldn’t see anything… and there’s this incessant jingling noise. Like, chains or something!”

“...Twilight, did you also take into account the two hundred Pictomancy pictures I have in my house?” Aspect replied in a deadpan tone. “It was probably one of them playing a prank on you.”

“Picto…” Twilight’s eyes widened and her horn lit up with a voice amplification. “REALM!!!”

“Son of a Diamond Dog, it wasn’t me!” they heard from inside the house. “Keep the she-witch away from me!”

“This house keeps getting weirder and... weird...er…” Twilight trailed off as Rainbow draped herself over him.

“Hey~” she hummed kissing his cheek.

“...I’m out,” Twilight said flatly and walked down the hall, disappearing from sight.

“So I’m thinking you, Bon Bon, breakfast at Sugarcube corner, give her a morning off and get the pain of meeting Pinkie after this out of the way all at once,” Aspect laid out his plan for the pegasus mare. “Sound good to you?”

“Mmmm, I could eat,” Rainbow nodded as she slid off of him and onto the floor, before she started doing wingups. “Still, exercise like that yesterday… was it yesterday? I could use a little pick me up.”

“Argeeeeeeaaaahhhh~” Bon Bon yawned and stretched, her legs giving a loud crack. “I can’t believe I fell asleep like that…”

“Yeah, I’d been being normal for you, but I’m abusing my magic somewhat fierce with the both of you in my life,” Aspect replied, nuzzling Bon Bon before continuing. “So. How does breakfast at Sugarcube Corner sound to you?”

“Mmm, sounds good, I’m waaay too tired to cook—”

“Kyyaaaaaaaaa!!!”

“What the buck was that?” Bon Bon blinked.

“That sounded like Twilight,” Rainbow answered.

“Well, let’s go over the list,” Aspect recited. “She doesn’t know about the doors or what they do, and the chains are too sturdy to simply be magiced open, so it’s likely not that. And she can’t have gotten into my saddlebags, as they’re right here, so it’s likely not that. So...I don’t know what it is she ran into, as all the dangerous stuff hasn’t been unpacked.”

Rainbow sighed and got up, following the sound of the voice.

When they found the unicorn…

Twilight bouncing happily around a bearded unicorn, the bells on his hat jingling with every thump her hooves made on the floor.

“OhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigosh! It’s you! It’s really, really you! Starswirl the Bearded! Oh. My. CELESTIIAAA~”

“She’s been saying that for about five minutes now,” Starswirl said over the unicorn to Aspect. “It’s like she doesn’t register the fact that I’m a painted pony.”

“Do you?” Aspect riposted. “Besides the drawbacks that all painted ponies suffer from, you and your original were constantly in the library, learning everything together and developing new spells.”

“...Point, and I still don’t have anything my original came up with after that tiff in the castle the sisters suffered,” Starswirl muttered. “I want to keep up the work of developing new spells and theories and I’m stuck with nothing.”

“I can help!” Twilight said excitedly, her nose pressed against his. “With your knowledge and my magic! We could revolutionize Equestria!”

“Keep in mind, there are some things that are meant to stay a secret,” Starswirl said, before looking pointedly at Aspect.

“Of course Master Starswirl!” Twilight sat back on her rump, her tail wagging like an excited puppy. “What should we do first? Enhanced teleportation? Interdimensional Travel?” She gasped as she got to her favourite one. “Advanced Metaphysics!?”

“Interdimensional Travel is actually a sore subject, for reasons you might learn later, and there’s really no benefit to poking around the substructure of the universe while you have a ticking bomb of magical potential sitting behind you,” Starswirl snorted. “One wayward experiment and he might lose control of the magic he’s keeping in reserve.”

“I said I’m looking,” Aspect whined. “It’s not easy finding noble vessels. Ponies apparently abused the knowledge they had once. I’m cautious now.”

“Tia did a good job with finding Bearers,” Starswirl riposted.

“I’m pretty sure Yggdrasil had a bigger hand in that than just she did,” Aspect pointed out. “Look, I’ll look into getting some of it distributed soon, okay?”

The Starswirl was blinded by a golden flash, and once he blinked the spots from his eyes, he saw two magenta orbs staring down at him.

“Starswirl…” Celestia said flatly. “You wouldn’t be tricking my little student into becoming a crotchety old hermit like you now… would you?”

“She’s all but begged to study at my hooves,” Starswirl said, before tapping his horn with a hoof. “Besides, I’m just a painted pony. No magic to trick anyone to do anything. Though she has brought up a field of study I might actually pursue...once I get some notes the original left behind, of course. Until then, I’m just another resident of the house.”

“Princess?” Twilight looked up at the alicorn.

“Twilight,” Celestia nuzzled her. “Starswirl is a bad influence. Especially after coffee. Now, would you mind fetching your friends? There’s a few things I wish to discuss.”

“I...but...Starswirl!”

“Isn’t going anywhere, he’ll still be here and just as grumpy when you return,” Celestia smiled. Twilight sighed and nodded, trotting out of the door to go and find the others.

“Honestly, did you have to be like that?” Starswirl huffed. “There’s little I can do besides the equation side of things. Really I’m more of a glorified lab assistant.”

“I do not need you turning the Element of Magic into a shut in… again,” Celestia sighed. “But, I suppose there’s little harm in you studying with her. Just… remember she’s a third of your age.”

“Ma’am, I am offended again,” Starswirl grumbled to her. “The original, I assume, is long dead. I’m just a painted copy. I have little interest in things that aren’t magical research.”

“I’ll be telling Twilight to keep her lab supplies at head height,” Celestia said with a roll of her eyes. “I still remember how you and Realm purposefully kept Clover’s on the highest shelves…”

“Once again, that was not me,” Starswirl the painted pointed out. “I was probably running the math in the background. Why do I get blamed for all the things the original did?”

“Because you’re here, and Realm painted you… and I know Realm,” Celestia said and turned to Aspect. “I have to return to Canterlot for a moment. Blueblood is trying to pass a bill that will let him build a golden statue of himself in the city proper.”

“If there’s one standard from Dream Valley that should apply to something like that, it’s that one of anything golden is likely cursed,” Aspect agreed, nuzzling Celestia. “What do you want me to tell the others when Twilight gathers them?”

“Take them to meet Mother, I’ll only be an hour or two at most.”

“Just enough time for us to get breakfast at Sugarcube Corner,” Aspect pointed out. “Heck, I think we’ll do that. We’ll all get breakfast, I’ll pay for it, and then we can make our way back here.”

“Sounds good,” Dash said and saw somepony from the corner of her eye. An impressive armoured pegasus mare in one of the paintings, a confident smirk on her face. “Hey Aspect, who’s this old mare?”

“Ap,” Aspect said, quickly leading Dash away. “You didn’t say it right. So just—”

“Old! That soft piece of flank just called me old?!” Hurricane barked from her portrait. “I will have you know I was the commander of Pegasopolis when it was founded! Aspect here learned the Gale King from my hooves, and it wasn’t easy! I’m Commander freakin’ Hurricane for a reason, you two-bit knock off! He might’ve said that the others could throw around storms, yeah? I made hurricanes!”

“Pfft, I buck hurricanes in the face!” Rainbow snorted. “I’m the best Young Flyer winner, fastest pegasus in Equestria! The Element of Loyalty and I can do a Sonic Rainboom! In my sleep! I’m Rainbow freakin’ Dash! So yeah Grandma! I could fly circles around your bony butt!”

“No, no, and no,” Aspect said, interposing himself between the two egos, one bound by paint and one not. “We are not doing this. Hurricane, you will stay in your portrait. Dash, you go catch up to Twilight and tell her our plans for breakfast. I am not spending all morning listening to the two greatest egos of two ages duke it out over who had the biggest metaphorical dick.”

“Nope, that would be you~” Rainbow said lewdly and kissed him right in front of everypony, before flying away with a loud cackle.

“Damn, that mare finally got what I was after all those years ago?” Hurricane catcalled from her portrait.

“I...what?” Aspect asked, blinking.

“Well duh!” Hurricane replied, rolling her eyes. “Why do you think I corrupted your little adopted son? Trying to send a message to you!”

“...And suddenly things make too much and not enough sense at the same time.” Aspect screwed his eyes shut and shook his head to try and clear it. “Nope, didn’t work. Okay, I’m just gonna...go.”

With that he decided to walk all the way to Sugarcube Corner. He didn’t trust himself to fly just yet. He had a lot of...distracting things on his mind.

Most notably flanks, but that was a standard these days.

By the time he got there, Bon Bon having caught up after wondering just how many mares were crushing on her stallion. They’d found that Twilight, Rainbow and the others had gathered there also, sans Rarity and Spike.

“Aspy!” Pinkie giggled and ambushed him in a hug the second he walked in. “OHmygosh! Dashie told me the news!”

“You forced me!” the pegasus called out… whyyyyy was she hogtied with licorice straps? Why did Pinkie have licorice straps?

“Soooo, do I get to throw you a ‘Congrats you’re in a sexy herd’ party?” Pinkie bounced.

“Does every occasion necessitate a party with you?” Aspect asked somewhat foolishly.

“Well duh!” Pinkie sighed like that was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Uhh, could somepony please untie me!!” Rainbow thrashed in her delicious bondage.

“You could just eat it,” Aspect pointed out.

“Eat licorice?” Rainbow made a face. “Urrhh, gross!”

Twilight rolled her eyes as she released the pegasus, Bon Bon making a note to buy some… similar items at some point.

“Okay so,” Aspect spoke up. “First stop today, everypony gets breakfast on me. Then when Rarity and Spike show up, we head back to my place to introduce you all to somepony. And those that have met her, please be silent about who it is the others are going to meet.”

Rainbow pouted and folded her legs. Well, she hadn’t met the mare either, none of them aside from Bon Bon and Pinkie had.

Then the door burst open as a very out-of-breath Spike ran inside.

“Well there’s one,” Aspect mused aloud. “Hey Spike, where’s Rar-”

“Aaaah!” Spike suddenly shouted, his chest heaving with each breath. “Rarity... woods... jewels... dogs... hole... taken... Save her!!”

“...Okay, breathe, and try again,” Aspect replied, holding up a hoof. “I need details, Spike.”

Pinkie gave him a glass of water which he gulped down. “Ahh, thanks,” he nodded. “Okay, I… Rarity and I were in the woods looking for jewels when these creepy guys showed up.”

“Creepy guys?” Twilight blinked.

“They called themselves the Diamond Dogs,” Spike explained, before his panicked expression returned. “They grabbed Rarity and disappeared down a hole in the ground!”

Aspect growled. Actually growled. His mane, which was grey before, gained a steely tint to it. “Spike, get on,” he told the drake. “You’re going to lead me there, and then I am going to deal with this.”

“A-Aspect?” Bon Bon blinked. She’d never seen him so angry before.

“They took her because she can locate gems,” Spike said as he climbed up. “I… wasn’t strong enough…”

“Don’t worry,” Aspect replied to Spike’s worrying. “You’ll grow eventually. Then you’ll be the defender Ponykind needs. I promise you. But for now...would you like to see me at work?”

“Sure!” Spike nodded, before Bon Bon walked up next to him.

“Aspect, let me come. I can help—”

“I know you’re a Geomancer,” Aspect told her. “But I’m not putting any other ponies in danger if I can avoid it. Especially ponies I care about.” He turned to the gathering of ponies and sighed. “But I get the feeling that if I go, you all are going to follow me no matter what.”

“Rarity’s our friend,” Applejack nodded. “Wild griffons couldn’t keep us away!”

“One look at my awesomeness, those mutts will run for the hills,” Rainbow smirked.

“Fine, follow if you want,” Aspect returned, looking back at the drake riding him. “Lead us there, Spike.”

“Right, that way!” Spike pointed and the group charged off to save their fancy friend.

By the time they arrived at the stony field where Spike and Rarity had been searching, it was pocketed with dozens upon dozens of holes.

“Holy moly that’s a lotta holeys!” Pinkie exclaimed. “How are we supposed to find Rarity in all this?”

“Spike, get off of me,” Aspect told the drake. “I have no idea how much of Crunch’s power might carry over, and I’m not eager to find out too late that I have everything he did.”

“Huh? Ohhkay?” he said as he climbed down. Twilight had approached one of the holes and looked down.

“Hello?”

The answer she got was a pile of dirt to the face as it erupted like a geyser, filling the hole in seconds. Aspect snorted and flared his wings, before there was a flash around his form.

When it cleared, he’d become a simple Earth Pony...and the grey in his mane was bleeding into his coat.

“Whoa!” Rainbow jumped over the sudden transformation. Even as he did, the holes started filling two and three at a time. It would be only minutes before they were all full.

“Hurry and find a hole!” Twilight yelled as everypony split up. Aspect snorted as he started channeling the Aspect of Earth more fully through himself. Over the years, Crunch’s influence had become that of a good dog. The transformation finished, and the stallion was now completely slate grey as he stared at one hole in particular.

“Knock knock,” he said in a low tone, before stamping a hoof on the ground, changing the simple earth to stone in a second.

“Aspect! We’re trying to get IN!” Twilight yelled. “Not seal the holes up even more!”

“On the contrary, this helps,” Aspect pointed out. “How are they going to seal the holes up with dirt, if I turn the dirt to stone first?”

His answer came as the stone started to crack and crumble. To the Diamond Dogs, stone wasn’t a deterrent, just a minor hindrance.

“Okay, now I’m mad,” Aspect narrowed his eyes, actually snorting steam.

“We have to save her,” Spike moaned. “But we can’t muscle through all this.”

“LIke hay we can’t!” Rainbow said as she flew straight up, before angling down and went screaming towards a hole. A dirt geyser rushed up to meet her and the two collided… and it seemed like Rainbow was pushing it back, but she ran out of puff before they did, her body exhausted from yesterday as she was sent flying back, landing roughly at Aspect’s hooves.

“Uuuhhh, did I win coach?” she asked, her eyes swirling.

“Right,” Aspect snorted again. “Time to end this. Hey Bon Bon? What can a grandmaster of Mountain Root do? Humor me.”

“...” Bon Bon stared at him in silence. “Everypony? Please move away, Aspect is about to do something stupid.”

That was apparently reason enough for everyone to run back to where she was standing.

Aspect rolled his eyes. Fine. They wanted dramatics? They wanted him being stupid? He’d give it to them. He reared up and shouted out a one-liner.

“I AM THE EARTH!”

When he impacted the ground…it split, cracking wide open in front of him in a mostly straight fashion. He was sure he heard yelping, as a large cave underneath was opened up.

Every pony and dragon present just stared, their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open.

“Come on, we have a mare to save,” Aspect urged the others as he began trotting down into the cave.

“R-Right…” Twilight gulped and followed the utterly terrifying stallion into the dark depths. But as she descended into the cave, her breathing started to quicken as her eyes widened, glancing around frantically.

Aspect was the first to notice that Twilight was now hyperventilating, looking like Nightmare Moon herself was coming after her soul.

“Hey, calm down,” Aspect said to her. “Deep breaths. As long as I’m here, you don’t have anything to worry about. I’ll make sure nothing hurts you.”

“No…..nononononono! I… I won’t…” Twilight trotted in place, getting even more worked up. “Not again, I won’t go back there again!!”

“What the heck is she talking about?” Rainbow blinked. “I’ve never seen Twi freak like this before.”

“She had a run in with a cockatrice,” Aspect sighed, deducing why she would suddenly be afraid of him. “Twilight. I swear to you. On my honor. I would never hurt a pony, or let one stay stuck as a statue. Honest.”

Twilight’s breathing lessened slightly, and then Spike hugged her leg.

“Hey, Aspect’s cool okay?” he said softly. “We’re gonna save Rarity, then we’ll all go home and I’ll make you your favourite tea.”

Twilight shuddered, but didn’t look Aspect in the eyes as she leaned down to nuzzle Spike. “Okay… I think I’m better. Thanks Spike…” With a pause, she looked up at the grey earth stallion. “Aspect… I’m sorry—”

“We’ll have time to talk about how I got the power I have later,” Aspect cut in. “We have to save Rarity.” He muttered something about ‘deplorable descendants’ before turning and leading the charge into the cave once again.

“I think I made him mad,” Twilight sighed quietly as she started walking. Bon Bon nuzzled her, before trotting ahead to catch up with Aspect.

“Okay, what was that all about?” she asked him in a stern tone. “Why are you so irritated?”

“Because I knew what the Diamond Dogs once were,” Aspect growled. “To see them fallen so tears at me. They were good once. They had a kingdom, once.”

“You’ve never heard of Diamondia?” Bon Bon blinked. “I was more surprised to hear about Dogs this far out of their kingdom… if that’s what you’d call it. Well, they have a castle I suppose…”

“I’ll make a note to visit it at a later date,” Aspect responded as they entered a larger cavern. “Okay, we’re here in the Dog’s den.”

The labyrinth of caves and caverns spread out as far as the eye could see.

“All these caves… how are we going to find Rarity in all of this?” Twilight said despondently.

“There has to be a way to narrow it down,” Rainbow tacked on.

“Spike, why did they take Rarity again?” Aspect prodded the drake verbally.

“To find gems for them,” Spike said. “Do you think, maybe they took her to the place that would have the most gems to mine?”

“It’s a better plan than just trying to split the place open and find her that way,” Aspect explained. “Now all we need is a way to find gems ourselves…”

“That’s it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Rarity showed me her gem finding spell once…” Her horn shone as she started to focus.

“Can… you really learn a spell after seeing it just once?” Bon Bon whispered to Aspect.

“I can’t, and I’m mostly a sorceror by trade,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Twilight had the focus and senses for such a thing, though.”

There was a ‘pop’ as Twilight’s horn took a steady glow, and hundreds of transparent gems started shining from within the earth.

“Well, lead the way Twilight,” Aspect chuckled, bowing his head to her in deference. Twilight just blushed as the followed the most densely populated route of jewels.

After a little while of walking, they emerged into a large cavern. Several more tunnels split off from it as a large hole was open in the ceiling.

“Why am I expecting a giant spider?” Bon Bon muttered under her breath.

“I hunted those for sport a thousand years ago,” Aspect quipped. “Something about how having a pony-eating spider around didn’t make the ponies feel safe.”

“You hunted them?” Fluttershy sounded appalled. “Poor spiders…”

“They ate villages,” Aspect returned. “It was either curb the population, or lose ponies to them. I’ve always picked ponies before.”

“Well, have you ever tried talking to them?” Fluttershy replied as Twilight started to cast the gem spell again.

“I was never blessed with the ability to understand animals, or other creatures,” Aspect sighed sadly. “Diplomacy was never my strong suit. I was called to be the sword. The diplomat...left. Ages ago.”

“Are you talking about Written?” Bon Bon asked. But before he could respond, several shadows dropped from the ceiling, landing on the backs of the mares. Near a dozen armoured Diamond Dogs looped rope muzzle around them, grinning maliciously.

“More workhorses!” one chuckled.

Aspect glowered. Not only did they not consider him a threat or good enough to be taken, they’d tried to take ponies he cared about.

He set about rectifying that. With the smallest application of will, the dogs nearest him were ringed with suddenly appearing, and very sharp stalagmites that erupted out of the ground. He’d carefully excluded the mares from his display, lest they panic. Like Twilight might if he suddenly surrounded her with stone again.

“Hoh, doggies. If you can take this bull by the horns, you better be ready for a ride.” Applejack chuckled. “Come on, ponies! Kick 'em up, kick 'em out. Buck 'em up, buck 'em down.”

Every mare smirked as they started bucking, the dogs doing very poorly in hanging on. Bon Bon merely tapped her hoof on the ground, a rock flying up and striking her foul-smelling passenger on the head, knocking him off.

The dogs that Aspect trapped were trying to dig their way through the stone bars, to shred the pony that put them there. Aspect shook his head and tapped a hoof against the floor, sending more stalagmites to appear and brush against...sensitive areas.

Yeah, it was fighting dirty, but it got the job done. Especially if they realized how sharp his tools were. The dogs froze in place, whimpering slightly as their compatriots were tossed around like ragdolls.

Those mares were surprisingly strong, the armoured mutts were tossed aside like dolls, crashing hard against the walls.

“See,” Aspect cooed to the dogs. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. Not entirely. So long as you stay in your bars, you’re safe from them. Ponies can’t dig through stone.” He’d retracted his added stalagmites to make their cages more comfortable. “Now. Be good dogs and stay. Or else I’ll have to do worse.”

They whimpered more and sat down, sitting very, very still.

Spike jumped up onto Twilight’s back and grabbed her impromptu reins. “Hi-Ho Twilight! I’m coming to save you Rarity!”

Twilight paused and turned to look at him. “Seriously?”

“Oh come on,” Spike pleaded. “Just give me this?” The mare rolled her eyes and reared up, whinnying as she charged down the hall she could hear some sudden shouting from.

Bon Bon shook her own reins free and stared at Aspect. “Don’t even think about it…”

“Wasn’t,” Aspect quipped, before following after Twilight. “Now let’s see how intelligent the dogs are.” He had hopes that they were smart. They had been wearing armor and responded quite well to his threats. Maybe they wouldn’t have done something monumentally stupid.

Twilight literally ran headfirst into the door, knocking it clean off of it’s hinges as she charged inside. When Aspect caught up…

Rarity sitting on a large stone slab, sipping water as a half dozen dogs pulled some carts laden with gems. Two more were fanning her with giant leaves as another massaged her hooves.

“...While I can say I wasn’t expecting this, this doesn’t excuse them in the slightest,” Aspect growled, still focusing on his anger. Apparently, this pack of dogs lacked a strong Alpha figure. That might be the only reason she was still unmarred.

“More ponies?” a little brown dog with slobbery jowls, a black jacket and a diamond-studded collar asked. “Finally! We can let this whiny—” An indignant snort from Rarity. “—I-I mean, this lovely pony go! Dogs! GET THEM!”

“Aspect?” Bon Bon smirked. “Get them.”

Aspect nodded and stepped in front of the mares. The tension in the room was thick as he looked at all the dogs. They were left with one question. What could one pony do to stop them all? The followup to that one was obvious. Did any of them want to find out?

The first two charged him, lowering their spears at him and howling.

“So what’s the plan?” Bon Bon asked, charging a Geo spell.

The dogs got about halfway across the chamber before they both ran into suddenly-appearing pillars of stone. At the speeds the dogs had been going, they bonked their heads quite hard against the appearing obstacle. It was rather comical really, their sudden charge becoming a sudden stop.

“Aspect, darling,” Rarity sighed. “There is no need for such violence…”

“Aarrgghh! ENOUGH!” a grey dog in a red vest yelled as he slapped Rarity’s rump quite hard. “You will work and so will they! GET THEM!”

Aspect growled.

Aspect saw red.

Aspect reared up and slammed his forehooves into the ground, causing the chamber to shake as stalagmites and stalactites appeared between the ponies and the dogs. They disappeared, then reappeared again, closer to the dogs...almost as if a giant beast of stone was chomping its way through the earth towards the mutts.

Rarity shrieked, being close to said dogs as she tried to back away, but the wall behind her said otherwise.

“Aspect! Wait!” Twilight yelled.

The jaws crunched closer and closer, before stopping just an inch from touching anyone. Aspect walked up behind the stone construct he had made and glowered at the dogs. “I. Am. The earth,” he growled to the mutts. “Release. The pony. NOW!”

The one in the red vest whimpered and nodded as Rarity ran towards her friends, but Aspect noted she gave him a wide berth.

“Are you alright?” Bon Bon asked softly, placing a hoof on his withers.

“I will be,” Aspect replied, not taking his eyes off the dogs. “Bon Bon, could you lead them out of here please? I don’t want them to see what I’m about to do.” Catching their shocked gazes, he sighed and shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt the dogs. But I think I’ve done enough damage to our friends for one day.”

Bon Bon sighed, but nodded her head. “Very well, I’ll see to it…”

“Please, don’t hurt dogs!” one whimpered and pointed to several carts of gems. “T-Take them, all of them. Just don’t hurt dogs anymore!”

“Oh no, I am not going to hurt you,” Aspect replied with a smile that was just a touch too wide. “No. Then it would be over quickly. I’m going to let you all decide your own doom once my friends are safely out of your mines.”

“Aspect, what are you going to do?” Fluttershy asked him. “Yes, they hurt Rarity, but violence is not the answer. I’m sure they are very sorry…”

“Yes! Yes!” the one in the red nodded enthusiastically. “Dogs very sorry. Dogs never touch a pony again!”

“See, I would love to believe that,” Aspect returned. “I really would. But I’m reminded of a saying I heard once, long ago. ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.’” The barb delivered, the grey pony turned to the butter pegasus. “No, I won’t hurt them. I’ll just tell them a few stories. Maybe then they’ll have a bit more respect for ponies.”

“Stories?” Rainbow blinked. “What kind of stories?”

“Ah’m still tryin’ ta figger out why Rarity had ‘em under her hoof…”

“Pony makes loud whining noises,” a taller dog whimpered. “Very loud noises…”

Applejack nodded. “Yup, tha’ makes sense.”

“Hey!” Rarity stomped a hoof.

“Right, go on, get out of here,” Aspect urged the other ponies with a hoof. “I’ll be along once I’m done with the dogs. Maybe today will turn out well for once.” He turned to glare at the one with the vest. “Though I doubt it.”

“I will not let you hurt them Aspect,” Fluttershy warned, but Bon Bon put a hoof to her chest.

“It’s alright, he said he won’t, so he won’t. You have my word okay?” she smiled. “Come on, let’s get Rarity home. I’m sure she could do with a good cup of tea.”

Eventually, the mares relented and left the caverns, though rarity was still allowed to take a few carts of gems.

“Right,” Aspect stated, looking at the dogs. “Is there a place where you all typically gather for like...meetings or meals? Because I want to talk to everyone in this den at once. I’m only going to tell you the stories once. And if any of you interrupt with anything that is not a good question, I will not be pleased.”

“You… you won’t hurt dogs?” the red-vested one asked.

“Let me put it like this,” Aspect returned. “I could very well just force this mine open until I found the room I’m looking for, and dragged you all there via my power. But I just promised I wouldn’t hurt you. Granted, I’m still a bit miffed at you all for what you did. That’s why I’m going to ask you a very important question after I tell you the stories. And for your sake, you all better have a good answer.”

The dogs looked at one another. They nodded and the larger one bowed his head. “We will obey Alpha. Follow us.”

Aspect hummed as he followed the dogs through the tunnels. Hey, in one day he’d gone from ‘in a single relationship’ to ‘Herd relationship’ and ‘Alpha of a Diamond Dog mine.’ Things could hardly be better at this point.

As it turns out, there weren’t many Dogs in this mine. Aside from the three that had taken Rarity, introduced as Rover, Fido and Spot. There were also the dozen or so armoured Dogs that had jumped them in the mine, and a single pup, barely higher than Aspect’s chest. He was very different to the others, having a longer coat and colourings similar to a Germane Shepard.

“Is this everyone?” Aspect asked the dogs, looking around the cave.

“This is all dogs,” Rover nodded “We are… not many in number.”

“Fine,” Aspect said, rolling his eyes. “You’re still numerous enough to cause the ponies trouble.” He stamped a hoof and raised himself up on a little platform of stone, to make sure all the dogs remembered the important fact. That he was the earth. The ones he trapped the the stone cage flinched more than the others.

The pup just stared at him.

“All right,” Aspect told the dogs. “Storytime. These are very old stories. I will be surprised if you all know anything about these stories. And they’re all true. I should know.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I was there for them.”

All the dogs looked at one another, but none raised their opinions.

Except for one.

“Why?” the pup asked, causing the older ones to start panicking. “Why should we listen to a bully like you?”

“Because when anything bullies the ponies,” Aspect replied, “I take offense to that. I do not like it when the ponies are hurt at all. And these dogs have done that. And would have kept doing it.”

“So what about when ponies hurt us?” he replied. “Are we supposed to lie down and take it?”

Aspect blinked.

Aspect smiled.

Aspect lowered his platform down to the ground level and smirked at the pup. “I like you,” he said aloud. “You ask the right questions.”

“And you didn’t answer,” the pup said. “We get driven out by ponies. They take our gems. We have no magic, no flying… So, what do we do?”

“Do not anger the Earth Alpha!” Rover snapped. “He will kill us all for your insolence!”

“Actually, you know what,” Aspect said, sitting on his haunches in front of the pup. “I like this little one. He’s smart. He notices a problem and asks me how to fix it.” He smiled at the small Diamond Dog. “Do you have a name I can call you by? Can’t just say ‘you’ all the time.”

“I do not have one,” he said. “Mother died before giving one. I am simply Pup.”

“Well pup, it’s still storytime, and all the other dogs can gather around and listen. And if you come up with anything you want to ask me during the story, feel free,” Aspect told the small dog, before nodding at all the others. “Gather ‘round and listen. And maybe you’ll understand why dogs have it so rough, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to answer your question from earlier.”

Pup just folded his arms, but remained silent as the other dogs sighed at him not being angry, sitting in a circle and waited for him to begin.

“Once upon a time, when the world was young,” Aspect weaved his tale, “There was a magical fountain. Not too far from here, actually. Anyone and everyone who drank from the fountain was given power untold and life unending. But all the creatures that found the fountain had wickedness in their hearts and desired the world for themselves. In that age, the ponies lived in another land, called Dream Valley. It was a place of plenty, a veritable utopia where food and water were everywhere for them. And that made it easy for the monsters to find them and torment them. Every night the monsters brought misery to the ponies, the ponies would call out, cry out, pray for someone to come and save them. The world itself listened...and brought forward two champions for the ponies. Arriving over the rainbow was the great diplomat, she who could convince any foes to work together. The fabled human known as Megan Williams.”

“What is… human?” Rover asked.

“Sounds weak,” Fido nodded.

“Normally you would be right, but a human’s greatest asset is not its claws, because it doesn’t have any. Or its fangs, because they can’t chew through gems like dragons. But it's brain. They can out-think almost any creature except a dragon. Give them one hour to think about a situation, they’ll come up with a solution if they can,” Aspect told the dogs. “The second champion the world brought forward was a sword against the darkness. Someone who could slay the monsters and take their power from them.” He paused before smiling. “It brought forward me. I drank from the fountain and took the sword it offered me, and used it to make the world a better place. Unlike the others, I only drank a sip from the fountain. Just enough to make me immortal, not enough to grant me any extra powers beyond the ability to wield the sword that could slay my fellow immortals.”

“You killed Gods?” one Dog asked. “Why?”

“Because my first friend in this world was a pony,” Aspect replied. “She led me back to Dream Valley and taught me everything I would need to know to avoid danger in this world. She and I settled down in a small, hidden valley from the rest of the ponies. And when she gave birth to the Sun and Moon in pony form, she and I raised them as well as we could. So when something happened that threatened the little fillies that called me dad, despite the fact that I was not their father...I took offense to that.”

The Dogs trembled, they had seen his ‘offense’ up close and personal.

“I see no sword,” Pup asked. “What makes this story true?”

“One of the monsters that threatened the ponies, once, was a mighty hound made of stone,” Aspect continued. “Crunch. The Rockdog. He didn’t like things that were softer than him. He didn’t like it so much, that he started turning other things to stone. Plants. Animals. Ponies. Everything turned to stone when he touched it.” He paused, before raising a hoof and a small pillar of stone that appeared underneath it, before lowering it and sending the stone back into the ground. “What do you suppose happened to him?”

“You killed him?” Pup guessed. “And stole his power?”

“He was meant to be the Aspect of the Earth itself, but his heart was twisted,” Aspect sighed. “The problem had nearly been solved without me having to use my sword, but at the last, Crunch tried to turn Megan to stone to avert his fate. So I slew him. For thousands of years, the Aspect of the Earth has been housed within me. I have done...what I can. But I am old, and cannot be everywhere at once. It needs to be rehoused, in someone that will not misuse its power.”

“So what does that have to do with us?” Pup asked. The olders had given up trying to stop him, he talked more than a pony.

“Once, ages ago,” Aspect smiled at the dogs. “There was a kingdom called Grundleland. It was filled with canine-like creatures who enjoyed mining.” He sighed and shook his head. “And then the great kingdom-destroying plague was called. The Smooze. It covers all things with a slime that hardens, encasing all beneath its shell. And if you get any splashed on yourself, you become depressed. Some Grundles escaped, though. And they came to warn the ponies about this plague...but too late. The witches of Mount Gloom had called it forward upon the ponies of the valley. Eventually, though, because it was not perfected, the ponies found a way to beat it back to the volcano and save the valley. In thanks, the ponies did their best for the Grundles, because they had tried to help. The Grundles rebuilt Grundleland after it had been cleaned up of the Smooze.” He looked around at the dogs and smiled again. “I see so much of them in you now.”

“Grundles…” Pup tilted his head. This sounded so… weird, yet what surprised him more was that somehow he knew that this stallion wasn’t lying.

“So what does Alpha want?” Rover asked him. “Story was boring, and didn’t tell anything.”

Pup shook his head. It told everything.

“You need somedog to become this ‘Aspect of Earth’.”

“Exactly,” Aspect nodded. “But it’s been so long since I saw a Grundle...or what they became, evidently. I don’t know if there are any good ones out there. I can’t do everything the true, proper Aspect of Earth is meant to do. I can’t, because I’m also holding onto the Aspect of the Air, and he’s much more rowdy than what’s left of Crunch. So I am sad to say I’ve been...neglecting it. But if there is...one good dog. One dog that won’t use the power of the Earth itself to fight and enslave ponies to work for him...then I could pass on the power.”

“Well, you made it clear you don’t like the dogs here,” Pup said as he mulled over the conversation. “Wait…”

Aspect smiled down at the pup, wondering if he got it. “How would you like to be important?” Aspect softly asked.

Pup’s eyes widened. “I… I can’t… I’m just, a pup! Nodog important. I’m not strong, or brave, I can’t even dig all that well.”

“Is true, Pup is useless,” Rover nodded.

“Worse than pony,” Fido agreed.

“Shut up before he kills us,” Spot sighed.

“A small, weak dog, is perfect for this,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof and calling a stone into it. “Because you will respect your power when you get it. You will understand what it is like for those that do not have your level of power, and not abuse it. Here is a taste of what you will be able to do.”

With that, the rock in the stallion’s hoof...turned into a glittering diamond.

All the dogs stared with wide eyes. He just… created a gem? Pony could find them, this one could make them!

“They’re totally about to jump you,” Pup deadpanned. Aspect sighed and called up a small ring of stalagmites around him and the pup, reminding them that he still was the Earth itself and all that meant. That kept the dogs still.

“So, why me?” Pup asked him. “And what will I do after?”

“Why you, that’s a good question,” Aspect mulled it over. “Well, I need to give it to someone that has a deep connection to the earth. Otherwise the transfer won’t work. I want to give it to someone that’s good and pure, and hasn’t harmed a pony before. Because otherwise, if they did attack my home, my adopted children...well. I failed them once before. I won’t allow fighting between the very forces of the world. That’s my role, to keep the balance. But why you, out of all the dogs here?” The stallion smiled at the pup. “Because I have every faith that if you had the chance to make the world a better place for the dogs, without doing more than forcibly turning ponies away, you would do it. If I gave you the power, can you tell me right now, that you would abuse it? Can you imagine any situation where, if you had the ability to make more gems for the dogs, that you would harm a pony, force them to dig gems up for you?”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Pup replied and the others nodded.

“It’s true, Pup pouted when we took whiny pony.”

“Because Pup’s mother was a—”

“SSSHHHH!” Pup hissed at him.

“As for what you’ll do after,” Aspect continued as though he hadn’t heard. “Well, I have a home just on the outskirts of the nearby pony village. You seem like the intelligent sort, I wouldn’t mind a visit every now and then. The town even has a library, a collection of books, of knowledge. When you eventually grow into your power, you will be a force to be reckoned with. I have no doubt that if you wanted, you could do anything when the time comes. You could go back to the kingdom of Diamond Dogs and rule it. You could just stay here with this small den and remake them, to be kind and highly advanced. Or you could just fade away, become a myth that other dogs seek out. The choice will really be yours. What I’m offering you...is the freedom to make whatever choice you want. Do you accept?”

“I…” Pup didn’t know… until Rover spoke up.

“Pup is no longer welcome here,” he said. The others soon caught on and nodded.

“Pup is weak, not a real Dog,” Spot said.

“Take Pup away, we Dogs will be better off until he is stronger,” Fido folded his arms.

“Very well,” Aspect rumbled. “But I want two promises from you dogs. Do you understand? The first. You shall not ever again force a pony to work for you like a slave, or treat them cruelly. You may ask if they want to work for you, and you must treat them fairly, and pay them some gems that they help you haul. If you ever again harm a pony, I will know.”

The Dogs vehemently nodded their heads.

“The second promise,” Aspect continued. “If you ever need gems and cannot find any in your tunnels, one of you will visit the pup and bring a load of rocks for him to turn into gems. This way, you don’t run out of what you need, and he still has some interaction with his own kind. I will not be so cruel as to deny him that if that is what he seeks.”

They looked at Pup and after a moment, nodded again.

“So… you want me to go?” Pup asked them.

“Become better,” Rover said.

“Become stronger,” Fido agreed.

“Show us the way…” Spot tacked on.

“Before I take him back, though,” Aspect replied, holding up a hoof. “You all will witness this. Young pup? Take my hoof. Take your destiny.”

“That sounds really cheesy,” Pup deadpanned as he took the offered appendage.

Lights surrounded Aspect as the grey that had taken over his coat started bleeding out of him, heading for the offered hoof. Swirls of light and color surrounded the two, and leapt off the pony, and surrounded the young Diamond Dog. The young pup felt a great pressure as something intangible bore down on him, before his ears popped, as though he’d gone up a great mountain. What felt like a massive amount of power now filled his tiny frame, and the pony had gone back to being a white stallion with a grey mane and tail. There was a flash of light, and the stallion was now a pegasus pony, who shook his wings and smiled at the pup.

“Haven’t done that in a few hundred years,” the stallion sighed. “Feels good to get another one off of my chest.”

“I feel… weird,” Pup murmured as he keeled over, placing his paws on the ground. “Tingly… It’s a little uncomfortable… but…”

“That’s just your magic settling in, you’ve never had it before,” Aspect soothed. “Try it out. Think of something you want to have happen, and force that tingly feeling out of you. Like this cage of stone. Imagine it gone, then force it to happen. It’ll help you get used to it.”

The dog nodded and closed his eyes. He wanted this cage gone. He wanted to be free. And it was in the way!

The cage didn’t so much collapse, as it exploded, sending shards of stone everywhere. The other dogs yelped and ducked under the table as the stone flew with enough force to become embedded in the walls.

Pup opened one eye and looked around. “Ahh eheheh, oops?”

“Just a little too much force on that one,” Aspect chuckled. “It’s okay, I know how that goes. Getting fancy new powers you’ve never had before can overwhelm someone. We’ll train you up, make sure you don’t accidentally put any eyes out when you try to carve out a tunnel before we let you loose. For now…” The stallion kneeled down in front of the pup, offering his back. “Climb on. You can ride me and direct me out of the mines.”

He nodded, and paused. “That’s weird,” he murmured. “I can feel them? I think? The pony mares. They’re waiting outside but… how do I know that?”

“Dogs,” Aspect said towards the table. “What did I keep saying when we clashed?”

“You are Earth?” Rover asked, really hoping that was right.

“Correct. Now,” Aspect rejoined, pointing a hoof at the pup. “You are the Earth. You’re connected to it. Your power will only grow, with time. It’s not surprising to me at all that you can sense the mares.”

“Okay… this is new,” he murmured as he walked alongside the stallion. Something said to him that he needed his paws on the ground for a while, his feet tingling with each step. “Um, this way,” he nodded, walking down one pathway.

“Let’s go reassure the ponies that I haven’t hurt any dog,” Aspect said, pausing at the edge of the chamber and looking back. “Remember. Be good while we’re gone,” he called back to the other dogs.

They all nodded, remaining quiet until he’d left.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Twilight asked as she and the girls waited around the entrance.

“Do you think he hurt any of them?” Fluttershy added on. “I mean, I know what he said but…”

“Yeah, Aspect was pretty scary down there,” Pinkie agreed. “I should have made him Pinkie Promise…”

There was movement from the shadows of the entrance. It wasn’t long before it resolved itself into the form of Aspect, now in his pegasus guise once again, and a small pup of a Diamond Dog that was walking along next to him.

“Hey mares,” Aspect greeted them, before pulling the pup close with a wing. “Meet Pup. He’s the new Aspect of Earth.”

Pup blinked as all seven mares stared at him.

“Aspect?” Pinkie said slowly, her grin widening. “You know what this means…”

“Let him get used to the town first, and vice versa,” Aspect stipulated. “The job of the Earth Aspect has basically been left to lie for centuries. He’ll have his work cut out for him once he grows into it.”

“This is gonna be hard isn’t it?” Pup groaned.

“Rock solid?” Rainbow smirked.

“Now now, no need to throw stones,” Bon Bon tacked on.

“Those puns are lower than dirt,” Twilight added.

“And I’m sorry to say, pup, that it only gets worse from here,” Aspect sighed dramatically. “Don’t worry, though. You can grow up to be better than them.”

“Shouldn’t be hard, the bar isn’t set very high,” he smirked, wiping the grins off of Rainbow’s and Bon Bon’s faces.

“So if he’s an Aspect,” Twilight pointed out. “Does that make him your son now?”

“Some of the Aspects I based off of other creatures,” Aspect admitted. “Some of them I gave form to from nothing more than the magic of what makes an Aspect an Aspect. I let the magic shape their forms. Pup, though, had a life, a history, before me. I’ll not take that from him. I gave him the power of an Aspect, but he doesn’t have to call me anything he’s not comfortable with.”

“Well, I suppose you’re my Teacher at the very least,” Pup pointed out. Bon Bon smirked, being called Teacher was one of Aspect’s triggers. These mares would likely witness Happy Aspect now.

“I can deal with being a teacher,” Aspect chirped happily. “Gods, but I need a day planner for all my other classes going on,” he mused. “Then again, with someone new to look after in my home, I suppose all my plans would go right out the window.”

“You need a schedule!?” Purple filled his vision, Twilight’s nose pressed against his as she all but led a full assault against his personal space. It fell instantly to the Twilight Imperium. “I can help you with that!” She looked waaay too happy about this.

“I really just need something I can carry around to remind me of when I’m teaching a class,” Aspect replied, backing up a touch. To no avail. “The nature of teaching a new Aspect, as well as just how full my house tends to be on a day-to-day basis, means I can’t actually plan my days. But I would like something to write in to remind me when I’m teaching the foals, the Wonderbolts...you know. Surely you understand.”

“Your life is pretty chaotic huh?” Rainbow chuckled, putting a wing over his back.

“I prefer crazy and random,” Aspect rejoined, before sighing. “And Tia said this was such a sleepy little town…”

“Everypony in this town is crazy,” Twilight replied with a long suffering sigh. “Come on, let’s get home.”

“Indeed, I have dresses to make for Sapphire Shores!” Rarity squealed with delight. “Time is money so let’s move. Mush!”

“Meanwhile, Pup and I will be heading to my place,” Aspect replied, nosing Pup and gesturing to his back. “C’mon, get on. It’d be faster if I carried you.”

“Oh, alright,” he said and climbed up.

“You know,” Rainbow smirked. “I’m even faster~”

“You have a friend to help out,” Aspect pointed at the several carts of gems. “Fortunately, there seem to be just enough for all of you. Bon Bon, how about we get Pup settled back at home?”

“Sure,” Bon Bon smiled as Rainbow stared with an open jaw at being ditched like that.

“W-Well! I’m not gonna do that wing thing you like then!” she shouted, making Fluttershy blush profusely for some reason.

“She totally will,” Bon Bon smirked as they walked, leaving the raging pegasus behind.

“And this,” Aspect told the pup riding him, “Is my home. My daughter gave it to me to keep me in one place for longer than a few years. I think it’s working.”

“Whoa! I’ve never seen such a huge house,” Pup exclaimed with more than a hint of wonderment. “You really live here? Are you royalty or something?”

Bon Bon giggled, and Aspect shook his head. “Nah,” the stallion replied to the pup. “I mean, I probably could totally upset the political schemes in Equestria. But I won’t. Tia’s been working hard on getting it serviceable. All I do is...suggest things.”

“Yes, he’d rather restructure our government one piece at a time,” Bon Bon mused. “Aspect… something’s… off.”

And now that she’d pointed it out, his house did seem oddly… quiet.

“...Pinkie?” He ventured to Bon Bon. “I’m getting a better feel for how she works. She’s done this before. I would not be surprised if she was in there, ready to throw a party for Pup. Despite the fact that I asked her to wait until Pup and the town were used to each other.”

“Yeah, but… you have a house full of painted ponies as well,” Bon Bon pointed out again.

“And a colt that has a dirty mouth, and...well, quite a lot of ponies, actually, and a few non-ponies,” Aspect added on before sighing. “I get that they’ve missed me, but surely they have things they have to do as well. I don’t want them to put me before the world.”

“You really don’t get how friends work huh?” Bon Bon nudged him with her flank. “Who knows, maybe it’s just quiet…” Going in that house made her nervous… mostly because she still hadn’t met Written yet. She was supposed to yesterday, then… things got in the way.

“Okay, let’s go over the list of scenarios,” Aspect replied, listing them. “Option A. There’s a gathering in my home. Either a party, or my other kids, have showed up because of Pup. Which is stress I don’t want to put on him until he’s ready.”

“And Option B, it’s nothing and everyone is taking a nap or something,” Bon Bon said flatly. Though she knew it was most likely A…

“Still, either way. Pup?” Aspect looked at the small Diamond Dog riding him. “Brace thyself. My family is...weird. And the ponies of Ponyville barely beat them in terms of sanity.”

“Um… is it too late to go back home?” Pup gulped, holding onto Aspect tighter.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe from the ponies,” Aspect chuckled. “But there could either be a small or a large amount beyond those doors.” With that, the stallion took a deep breath, walked up to the doors, and pushed them open.

Only to be greeted with an empty room. Nothing. Zip, zero, zilch.

No Pinkie.

No party.

Even the paintings were blank.

“...I’m almost offended,” Aspect blinked. “Well. Okay. I won’t look at this twice. Let’s see how long our luck holds out, eh Pup? Oh, and by the way,” Aspect continued, walking deeper into the house in search of an empty room. “You’re going to need a new name. One that fits who you are. Who you’re going to be. I’ll let you pick it, but I reserve the right to refuse anything too silly.”

“So… Crushinator or Mega Dog is out?” he said, though his grin held a small amount of snark.

“Look at you, snarking already,” Aspect cooed as they walked through the still eerily empty house. Maybe this room was unoccupied? He didn’t recall seeing anyone using it. “You’ll get along very well with the other Aspects of the world.” He nudged the door open.

Luna, Pyroclastia and Neptune were waiting there, all staring at him as he opened the door.

“Oh,” Aspect sighed. “I was wondering where you all were. I’m surprised more of you aren’t here, to be honest.”

“Celestia is still in Canterlot,” Luna sighed. “The nobles are being… difficult.”

“I imagine they bloody would be if they were being stripped of the power they were used to,” Aspect snorted.

‘The others are giving us space to meet the new Aspect,’ Pyro trilled as she looked over the Diamond Dog. ‘Kind of… small, isn’t he?’

“He’s still young,” the stallion replied to the phoenix. “He’ll grow into his power. Kind of like how you did. I remember when you were robin-sized, you know.”

‘I recall no such thing,’ Pyro puffed out her chest.

“Hmm, so another elemental it seems,” Neptune chuckled. “Verily, well met Young Pup, I am Neptune, Aspect of Water and King of the Seaponies. This puffed up turkey is Pyroclastia, Aspect of Fire and Mother of the Phoenix’s. Princess Luna here is the Aspect of Dreams.”

Luna nodded her head as the young dog hid behind Aspect’s wing. Aspect chuckled and leaned down to nuzzle the small Diamond Dog. “Hey. It’s okay. They’ve all been where you are,” he soothed. “They’ve all been fresh to the whole Aspect thing. They’re just curious. This hasn’t happened for an age. And the last one I made isn’t exactly social for some reason.”

‘Chrysalis?’ Pyro chirruped. ‘I think her Hive is out in the Badlands somewhere.’

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded, before nuzzling Pup again. “Go on. Go say hi to them. I promise they’re nice.”

Pup nodded and stepped forwards to greet them. “I… um… I’m Pup… I’m, the Aspect of Earth I guess?”

The others stared… but Luna was the first to act. She leapt at him and pulled him into a patented Luna-Hug. “He’s so adorable!!”

“Gak! Can’t… help….” Pup gasped.

“Fortunately, you are immortal, so you will survive Luna’s hugging,” Aspect calmly said from just out of range. “I doubt many other things could. You might be stuck in there for a bit.”

“Aack!” Pup groaned. How was this his life!

Bon Bon had left Aspect to do his Aspect things. In the meantime, she had an ancient alicorn mare to find. Time to get this load of awkwardness out of the way, once and for all.

The main problem was finding said mare in this huge house. She looked up at one of the blank paintings and cleared her throat.

“Ahem… Excuse me?” she asked it, feeling rather silly talking to a painting. “Hello?”

It took a moment...that actually seemed to stretch on for a while. But eventually somepony wandered into the frame. “Oh, hello,” Private Pansy said, approaching it and looking at Bon Bon. “Um. Did you...not, get the news?”

Bon Bon blinked as she looked at the mare. “...Fluttershy?”

“No, I’m Private Pansy,” the pegasus replied, softly shaking her head once. “Um...anyways. Realm and Written Script have organized a small party in the drawing room. He’s painting refreshments for us. We don’t actually need them, but it’s nice of him.”

“Oh,” Bon Bon replied. “I needed to speak to Miss Written, but if she’s busy… I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“Is it terribly important?” Pansy asked. “Does it have something to do with Aspect? Hurricane said something about him to me...I’m sorry, I mean Commander Hurricane, she gets so upset if I don’t use her rank…”

“O-Oh, well yes, it is…” Bon Bon said. “It’s not terribly important, I mean… it’s just…” Her blush was growing even worse.

“You just wait right here,” Pansy smiled at her. “I’ll go tell her where you are and you two can sort this out. When it comes to Aspect, she almost always takes an interest.” And with that, the yellow pegasus was gone, appearing in another picture further down the hall and walking towards the drawing room.

“I, no, wait!” Bon Bon groaned. Her nerves were getting the better of her as she toyed with the idea of running for it. What the hay was she thinking!? Oh right, to get this out of the way so Aspect wouldn’t have to worry. “Well, good job Bon Bon, you’re likely going to cause even more trouble for him now,” she paced in a small circle, muttering to herself.

It took a minute, but eventually that familiar alicorn showed up in the painting, shaking her head to let her hair down for a moment. “I do like the others, but sometimes I like to hear myself think as well,” the mare muttered as she looked out of the painting. “Oh hello there. You’re...that mare Aspect told me about.”

Unfortunately, Bon Bon was still in the middle of her self-deprecating spiral and didn’t notice her. Written sighed. Sometimes there was a distinct disadvantage to not being able to jump out of the painting. This was one of those times. All she could do was sit and wait to be noticed now.

Bon Bon glanced up, hoping Pansy had come back saying she couldn’t find… “Oh, hello Miss Written… Miss Written!?” Bon Bon jumped back with a yelp.

“Hello again dear,” Written said with a soft smile. “I remember you from when I got restored. You’re miss...Bon Bon, right? Aspect hasn’t said much about you, but what he has said has been praise.”

“O-Oh… he did?” Bon Bon blinked, calming down a touch. “Well, that’s nice of him.”

“Namely, he’s said that you’re the one that actually got him interested in ponies like that,” Written continued, before smirking at the mare. “Something I never got. Lucky you~”

Bon Bon blushed from the tips of her ears to the tips of her hooves as she stood there, mouth open in shock. She knew!? “O-Oh… I… ah…”

“In fact, I think you might have stolen one of the oldest virginities on the planet,” Written continued. “Only my daughter’s remain in the running.”

Oh Celestia, what should she say?

“I um… I’m… sorry?” she blinked, before facehooving. Yeah… that was probably in her top ten list of stupidest things ever.

“Oh don’t be,” Written waved her off. “I know I’m just a copy of the real thing, but I still want only one thing for my family. For them to be happy. And the light in his eyes when he talked about you? That’s all I wanted to see after I passed.”

“He… likes me that much?” Bon Bon asked.

“The only other thing that even got a spark of happiness to fly across his face in all the years I was gone was teaching foals,” Written nodded sagely. “He especially liked it when Realm recovered enough to be taught the Gale King and Pictomancy. I think he was starting to see the lure of being a father before...well.”

“So… you really don’t mind?” Bon Bon almost whispered. “That… well I’m his marefriend… well, one of them anyway.”

“That, is an interesting development,” Written mused. “It wasn’t unheard of...but as long as you both make him happy, then that’s all I want to see. It’s not healthy to be alone as long as he has been. It’s not right. He might not be a pony underneath, but nobody should be deprived of social contact.”

“Ohh, right, Rainbow doesn’t know that yet,” Bon Bon mused. Well, that should be fun. “Ahh, I had this big speech planned out, but now I’m so lost…” Written was so kind and nice, not at all like she’d imagined her to be.

“Let me just ask you a few questions then,” Written replied. “Do you promise to do your best to make him happy?”

“Of course,” Bon Bon nodded. “I just wish I knew how to calm him when he gets angry… you should have seen him in the mines today. He nearly killed a group of Diamond Dogs.”

“Ah, well, he might have forgotten the trick,” Written said with a shrug of her wings.

“Trick?” Bon Bon pressed.

“If he started getting really mad, he used to have this thing he did,” Written elaborated. “Something to calm him down and make him think rationally even in the worst of situations. ‘Tia and Lulu don’t need a raging barbarian for a father figure.’”

Bon Bon blinked before wincing. “Ohh, right in the Guilt. Yeah… he loves the hay outta those girls.”

“Mmhmm, because the first thing they would do whenever he came back?” Written chuckled. “They may have loved my stories, but daddy’s stories were about real life monsters.”

“Ahh, well I can see Luna- er, Princess Luna loving those,” Bon Bon chuckled. “So, what other questions do you have for me?”

“Do you promise to be truthful to him?” Written asked the mare.

Bon Bon… winced at that one. “There… might be something I haven’t told him. A secret I haven’t told anypony,” she admitted. “It’s just, I can’t afford to. It’s… safer that way. For me and for them.”

“Dear, might I remind you you are getting involved with the one that was meant to be the fulcrum of the world’s forces,” Written informed the candy mare. “The re-balancer in case things fell into disarray. He who wields a sword that can kill literally anything. If you were looking for safe, you wouldn’t have gotten involved with him.”

Oh damn, she had a point there. But to be fair, she didn’t know half that stuff before she got involved. “Can, you meet me in Aspect’s room? I’ll fetch him and we’ll… talk.”

“I already am away from the party, what’s one more thing before I return?” Written asked with a smirk before she walked down the hall. Bon Bon gulped and went to fetch Aspect. This… wasn’t going to be fun.

Aspect had left Pup to the tender mercies of the other Aspects. Sooner or later they’d get tired of embarrassing the newest member of the club and would relent on giving him all the hugs and headrubs. Besides, Bon Bon had said she had something important to tell him, and that she wanted to tell him in his room for some reason.

So the stallion had dutifully followed after her, wondering what it could be that she wanted to talk about. It was only when they arrived that he realized he wasn’t the only one in the room.

“Hello dear,” Written said from the wall.

“Okay, now I’m concerned,” Aspect replied with a raised eyebrow. “The past and the present are teaming up on me. It was bad enough when the present got back-up.”

“We’ll talk about that later,” Written tittered, before gaining a serious expression. “Bon Bon apparently has something she wants to tell you.”

“It’s… about my job,” Bon Bon said, now sounding not quite as enthusiastic.

“You make candy,” Aspect returned, nonplussed. “What’s...so serious about that?”

“Not… that job,’ Bon Bon winced. “My other job… the one where I work for Princess Celestia… as a Monster Hunter…”

“...She made a pony. Do the things. I did.” Aspect replied in a deadpan voice.

“She asked a group of ponies to help make Equestria a peaceful place to live,” Bon Bon corrected him. “Where do you think I, a plain old candy maker, learned something like Geomancy?”

“Or became well traveled enough to learn about half the things you did,” Aspect mused, connecting a few dots. “...Well I’m suddenly seeing less reasons to object to it, if she prepared you well enough beforehand for the things you would be encountering.”

“And considering the fact that he already slew most of the great evils of the world,” Written pointed out. “It wouldn’t be nearly as bad for you as it was for us in Dream Valley.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Bon Bon shuddered. “Anyway, my real name is Sweetie Drops, Agent Sweetie Drops. Head of the Monster Hunter organisation. For security reasons, I can’t name the others…” She still missed Palico and Rathalos. “My last mission was capturing the Bugbear, a horrid fusion beast left behind by Discord.”

“That absolute fucker,” Aspect hissed. “It took me ages to learn the magic to clean up the chaos he left behind when he last reigned. It’s a secret I can’t share, really. Reality might unravel if the wrong ponies learn it.” His expression softened as he looked at Bon Bon. “And...you had to deal with something he left behind? I am so sorry I missed something.”

“It’s fine… but,” Bon Bon sighed. “The Bugbear has an eidetic memory and an insatiable desire for revenge, if he ever gets out of Tartarus… well, guess which lucky mare is first on his list?”

“He’ll have to go through me, I promise,” Aspect nodded firmly. “Though I think I might first try the diplomatic approach. Just so Fluttershy wouldn’t yell at me. My method might actually work on him. It did on most of the chaotic things I met.”

“Well, as long as you don’t get stung,” Bon Bon said. “He’s rather fond of paralysis bolts shot from his tail… then, eating the insides of his victims. Imagine a polar bear, a wasp and a spider rolled into one. Then give it earth pony strength and pegasus speed.”

“Yikes,” Aspect shuddered. “Yeah, I think I might need to use my method to even get close.”

“He’s rather close-lipped about whatever that secret of his is,” Written added. “He’s not even told me what it is.”

“I’m being quite literal when I say that if too many ponies know, terrible things could happen,” Aspect pouted.

“I understand,” Bon Bon nodded. “Now look, not even Lyra knows this. The less that knows the better.”

“Got it, and hey, now I know why you won’t let me call you Sweetie,” Aspect rejoined. “Even if you are.”

“I… shut up!” Bon Bon blushed and pouted.

“In more than one way,” the stallion all but purred.

“Aahhh Writtennnn~ Tell him to stop!” Bon Bon whined, getting that delicious full-body blush again.

“Sorry dear, but this is a side of him I’ve never seen before,” the painted alicorn chuckled. “You’re on your own.”

“Traitor!” Bon Bon pouted and glared at Aspect. “Don’t. You. Dare—”

“My sweet candy mare,” Aspect purred, before walking up and rubbing himself against her like a cat. “You really need to relax~” The last word was uttered with the last syllable being drawn out. Bon Bon shuddered and Aspect could swear he saw steam coming from her ears before she swooned and passed out.

“I like her,” Written spoke up. “Hard when she needs to be, soft when it matters. The perfect counterpart to you, the old warhorse. When do I get to meet the other one?”

“When she decides to show up,” Aspect returned, before struggling to lift Bon Bon onto the bed so she’d be comfortable. “Crud...that’s right. Can’t cheat like that anymore.”

It took him a minute, but eventually Bon Bon’s luscious flanks were on the bed. Hmm. Go help out Pup, or go looking for Rainbow so Bon Bon could wake up to a show? Decisions…

In Canterlot, Celestia groaned as she saw the last of the former Nobles escorted from her halls. That… that had been a headache that even the stiffest drink couldn’t hope to cure. Plus that magic she’d sensed from Ponyville… something had happened and her father was the cause.

“Time to go see what he blew up this time,” Celestia sighed. Maybe she should tease Twilight a little. That always made her smile.

Canterlot Gardens, a place of peace and tranquility.

And yet, a disembodied voice chuckled. The time was drawing near and he couldn’t wait!

“Soon Christopher… We’ll get to play again~”

Author's Note

I'm not late! I just got caught up in something.

Meet Pup. He'll be around for a while as well.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half of all funds will not be spent furnishing a fossil wing of the space museum.

Chapter 1 - The Return of the Father

Private Bright Lance had been assigned to door duty for the day. It might have had something to do with the crack he made about the captain last night. He didn’t know Shining was there, or that he was so sensitive about his marefriend’s flanks.

Still, at least door duty was boring. Watch the line of petitioners go in, block them after a certain hour.

At least, it was supposed to be boring. Visiting hours had already come and gone, and that usually meant that there wouldn’t be anypony else coming in.

This time, however, somepony did. A stallion with a white coat and a grey mane and tail, with no wings or horn, walked up to the doors. The only really notable thing about him was the sword strapped to his side under his saddlebags. The sword that seemed about as long as he was, and had a large sapphire set in the pommel. His eyes were blue, and he had a mark of a set of black, balanced scales on his flank.

Still, Bright Lance had a job to do, as did his fellow door Guard, Watchful Eye. They crossed their lances and stopped the stallion in his tracks. “No visitors after three PM,” Bright said. “Only urgent business is allowed inside after that hour.”

The stallion laughed, long and low, before looking both of the guards in the eye. And Bright Lance couldn’t place it, but he felt...uneasy by the look the stallion was giving him.

“Good on her, for putting a limit on the public,” the stallion mused. “Can one of you carry a message to Celestia then?”

Bright looked to Eye, who nodded and spoke up next. “What matter do you wish to inform Princess Celestia of?” Eye asked.

“Princess? Well I know I always told her she was,” the stallion muttered, before speaking up. “Tell her Balanced Aspect is here to see her. It’ll be up to her if I’m allowed in or not, though I rather think she’ll let me in.”

Watchful nodded and trotted inside, while the stallion merely sat on his haunches and examined a hoof, waiting for word to come back. Bright kept his eyes alternating between the odd guest and the street, doing his best to make sure that he was doing his job even with a distraction.

In a matter of minutes, Watchful returned and said something Bright hadn’t been expecting. He would have expected a short dismissal, or maybe a stern one. Instead…

“The Princess says she’ll meet you in her sitting room,” Watchful said. “Do you want me to lead you there, sir?”

“Thank you, that’d be appreciated,” the stallion said as he stood back up. “I can tell just from looking at the castle that it’d be a nightmare to traverse. Not like the ones I’m used to at all.”

“Yes, well, follow me sir,” Watchful said as he led the stallion into the castle.

Bright Lance would forever remember that particular day, and that particular stallion.

If only because of what came afterwards.

Princess Celestia of Equestria, Diarch and Raiser of the Sun, She Who Watches Over the Ponies, liked to think that thousands of years of practice lent her the perfect poker face. A pony could say anything to her, and she wouldn’t react unless she wanted to provoke a reaction herself.

That was until she heard six little words.

“A stallion named Balanced Aspect is at the gates, your highness,” the guard named Watchful Eye told her. Causing her to, for the first time in thousands of years, lose her composure.

“Is he really?” she whispered, before coughing and slipping her mask back on. “Ahem. Well then. Please tell this stallion that I will meet him in my sitting room shortly.”

The guard bowed and left the room, as Celestia thought over those words.

It had been a thousand years since she had seen him. To Luna, it would be as good as yesterday. She’d even asked about him once she was settled again. And Celestia couldn’t help but notice that he’d returned not long after after ‘his little Lulu’ had as well.

She still thought, though, that he had left because of what she’d done that day. When she’d had to banish her own sister. She’d lost more than Luna that day, and now it had come back.

Yes, Celestia’s mind was made up. She would tell Luna that Aspect had returned to Equestria. She’d never forgive her if she missed out on meeting him again.

Watchful Eye escorted the stallion to Princess Celestia’s favorite sitting room and held the door open for him. Balanced walked into the room and looked at everything before nodding approvingly at the decor. “She always did know how to do things without overdoing them,” the stallion muttered before turning back to the Guard. “Yes, well, I’ll be fine waiting for her here, thank you.”

Watchful Eye nodded and left the odd, sword-carrying stallion alone in the sitting room of the Princess.

At first, the stallion did nothing, just sitting on one of the cushions to pass the time. As time wore on, though, he pulled out a small book from his saddlebags and went over it.

“Yggdrasil, I caught up with already. Ghelgath, I did before coming here, don’t want him or his kids trying to freeze the world again anytime soon. Chrysalis, it’s been awhile, I wonder how she’s doing. I should definately check up on Thanatos. The Seaponies I saw just a year ago, but maybe I should check up on one again. Maybe see if there’s an Elder Dragon around that remembers me. I’d be lucky if I saw a phoenix, they probably would remember me…”

So caught up in his muttering, the stallion didn’t notice that the door had opened, or that two alicorns were staring at him from the doorway. It was only when Luna spoke up that he noticed they were there.

“That sword,” she said in a low voice. “Tell Us where thou got it.”

Balanced Aspect looked up from his book and smiled at the girls before snapping it shut. “Celly! Lulu! It is wonderful to see you both again!”

“The voice is a match, sister,” Celestia said. “And can you not see it in his eyes?”

“Nonsense,” the blue alicorn replied. “Our father is not a pony.”

The stallion sighed, before the sword glowed bright white. The glow spread rapidly to the one it was hung off of, and his form...changed. From quadrupedal to bipedal. From hooves to feet and hands.

From a pony, to a species that there was only one of on Equus. A human male, clad in fine, rune-covered robes. The sword hung off his hip, and his saddlebags had become a sturdy backpack. The human sat back with both his arms and legs crossed, levelling a glare at the lunar alicorn, as if to ask, ‘Better?’

Luna wasn’t so reserved with her emotions, running forward and wrapping the human in a hug. She nearly shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice, but recalled that he never did like it when she did, and merely gestured for Celestia to join her with one wing. The white alicorn did walk forward and sit next to the human, waiting for an explanation. One that she wasn’t getting quite yet, thanks to the hugging and rubbing behind the ears that Luna was getting.

Eventually, the two separated, and the human turned his blue eyes upon Celestia. “Well go on, ask,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Otherwise we’ll be here all day!”

“Where did you go?” the solar princess softly asked.

“I had a job to do,” the human said simply. “Grogar had come back, and I had to deal with him. And then...I found it easier and easier to just...stay away. Every time I looked up at the moon, I reminded myself of that night...and how I failed to do anything.”

Luna leaned up against the human in a comforting way. “Thou did nothing wrong,” she said simply. “The fault was mine, and mine alone.”

The human shook his head before rubbing behind Luna’s head again. “Remind me who gave you that power? If I hadn’t done that, then that...parasite, wouldn’t have infected you.”

“A fair point, but it was Us who allowed it in,” Luna said. “Regardless, it has been dealt with.”

“I can see that,” the human said before hugging Luna again. “You’re so adorable like this. It’s been a good two thousand years since you were this small.”

“And...how exactly did you change your shape to mimic a stallion’s?” Celestia asked.

“Hydia, Reeka, Draggle,” the human listed off.

“Yes, We are well aware thou...dealt with the witches harming the ponies of that day and age,” Luna says. “And We recall that your sword allows thou to change the power one of thine victims held into something new and redistribute it.”

“It also holds onto a fragment of their power, so that I can take on their attributes if I need it,” the human says. “I probably don’t have much more magic than any other unicorn, but I’ve had time to hone my strength. More time than they’d ever get, at any rate.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “So, all those monsters you told us about when we were growing up...you can use a portion of their powers?”

“Mmhmm,” the human said. “Nothing more than the very basics, but I’m no pushover compared to you ponies. Plus, some of them are just weird or wrong, and I’m not going to touch them.”

Celestia smiled at that; it sounded like her foster father still had a heart of gold, despite the time they’d spent apart. Or at the very least, a heart that knew right from wrong, despite his...extreme means of correcting that wrong. “It’s good to have you back, Christopher,” the solar princess said before she hugged him.

“It’s good to be back,” the human said with a laugh as he returned her hug. “I missed you two. I mean, I made a lot of ‘kids’ when I went around righting the Aspects, but you two...you always were the best behaved of the lot.”

“How could We not be, with thou as Our guide?” Luna asked. “Thou helped keep Us safe in the hidden valley, and constantly helped the ponies of Dream Valley as well.”

“I did what anyone would,” Christopher said. “Your mother was the first friend I’d had on Equus, and she had more than a few friends in Dream Valley besides. When we found out I had the power to actually slay the wicked Aspects and reform their powers into something...useful, I took the chance to do what I could.”

“Don’t be so modest,” Celestia said as she drew back and gave him a friendly nudge on the shoulder. “I think it’s safe to say that without you, Equestria wouldn’t exist as it is today.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” the human replied with a roll of his eyes. “Not every child I made from the remains of an Aspect became good by default. Ghelgeth certainly wasn’t. It took me going up there and talking to him before he realized the error of trying to freeze Dream Valley.”

“Better the King of Windigos than the Charlatan King,” Luna rebuffed him. “...Art thou staying, father?” she asked with a pouty lip and shimmering eyes. Christopher turned to look before ‘ack’ing and putting a hand to his chest.

“The cute...the cute! Turn off the cute!” he said. Luna didn’t, and the human sighed. “Yes, fine, I’ll stay for a while! I want to reconnect with you two, see the kingdom you’ve built. Might even catch a show or two while I’m here.”

“Huzzah!” Luna cheered.

“I think I’ll invite my student to meet you while you’re here,” Celestia mused. “It’d be interesting, getting your perspective on the history of Equus, the formation of certain species...your role in the shaping of Equus, generally.”

Christopher sighed before rubbing behind Celestia’s ears. “If you insist,” he said. “And only if you’re sure she won’t freak out at the sight of the only human in Equestria.”

To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

A momentous event has happened, one that I did not think would occur for a thousand years. I hereby invite you and your friends up to Canterlot, to meet a very dear friend of mine. Attendance is by no means mandatory, but I cannot promise that he will remain for too long. He always was a free spirit.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia.

With a wave of her horn, the solar princess sent the message off to her student down in Ponyville, before returning to the matter of the stallion at the table with her and Luna. And yes, he had become a stallion again once out of their sitting room. He said he didn’t want to frighten the staff with his human self, and Luna had begrudgingly agreed that their reactions to their father would have delayed dinner an unacceptable amount.

“So what did you do with Grogar?” Celestia asked once their food was brought in. A simple salad for them all, without any hay or flowers or grass or leaves or anything like that. She knew he couldn’t handle it, though the chefs were a little perturbed by the order. Still, it was delicious.

“What I always do,” Balanced Aspect said. “Slew him and reformed his essence into something more positive. He’d become the twisted Aspect of Death, so I created the Reaper. The Grim Stallion, Thanatos. He’s more...neutral about the whole thing. He doesn’t actively seek other ponies out to slay them, just helps them shuffle off this mortal coil to what waits beyond.”

“So you basically gave us a new little brother,” Celestia summed up, which caused the stallion to wince. Luna chuckled.

“Father, when do We get to meet him?”

“When he works up the nerve to meet you,” the stallion said with a roll of his eyes. “I’m not just going to call him here before he’s ready. He might be busy, and his is the sort of work you really don’t want to interrupt. Maybe tomorrow I’ll call him and see if he replies.”

“Fair enough, We suppose,” Luna admitted. “And what did thou do after slaying the ram Grogar?”

“Wandered, from one end of Equus to the other,” the stallion said. “Got a feel for all the magic and powers I’d been taking over the years, got familiar with them. Made sure to stay in touch with as many of my children as I could. Ghelgeth says Hi, by the way. As do the Seaponies, and Yggdrasil.”

“It is nice to hear they are doing well,” Celestia said as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “And how are you doing?”

“...I missed you both every day I was away,” the stallion admitted. “But I just...I just couldn’t stay there. So many memories, soured. And every day that I stayed away, I went to sleep missing the pair of you. It was only when I saw the mark on the moon vanish that I got up the gumption to return. And I must say, I’m glad I did. The rest of the world was not nearly so civil as this. You two have a right proper civilization here, don’t you?”

“Yes, well, it wasn’t easy getting it in line,” Celestia admitted. “And Luna is still learning about all the improvements and changes in the laws since she was away.”

“‘Tis a long and complex process,” the lunar alicorn admitted. “‘Tis not always clear why some things are no longer done. In Our day, we would have simply let thou deal with an offender as thou saw fit.”

“Oh sure, make your dad out to be the bad guy,” Balanced said with a roll of his eyes. “I thought I raised you better than that.”

“Thou surely did, but the example thou would set would help Us to learn what punishments should be meted out for particular crimes,” the moon princess returned.

“I see, make me do all the hard work, huh?” the stallion said as he gave Luna an accusing glare.

“Only because thou art so good at it,” she returned.

“Did you ever find where the other humans went to?” Celestia softly asked. Balanced returned his look to the solar sister and shook his head.

“All I know is, they set off one day, seeking ‘something new’ in that ship of theirs. I don’t know where they went, I can only hope they found it.” The foster father of the princesses sighed and lowered his head. “I...I could have kept them safe here. I could have guarded them, but they left...I can’t help but feel...responsible.”

“To be fair, you are a little...extreme in how you deal with perceived threats,” the white alicorn said.

“More like, anything of great power that bears ill will towards ponies has most likely met its end at the end of thine sword,” Luna added. “That may have had some small part in their decision to leave.”

“And what was I supposed to do?” Aspect said as he looked at the sisters. “Let the monsters consume Dream Valley before they eventually found you?”

“No, because then you wouldn’t be our father,” Celestia said before sighing. “Still, it can’t have been good for you to be alone all that time.”

“Who said I was alone?” the stallion said. “I met up with the others I helped bring into the world every now and then, and every so often I made a friend out there. I will admit, though, that you have a point. I came alone because there was nobody to make the journey with.” Balanced Aspect finished off his salad and shrugged. “It’s not like I could very well keep any friends. The fountain dried up after your mother and I drank from it.”

“That does not mean thou should not try,” Luna said. “It is the trying that matters, after all. Thou told us that when We had doubts that We could lead the ponies.”

“Yes, and look where that got us,” Celestia said with a smile. “Diarchs of Equestria.”

“And how many friends do you have?” the stallion replied, causing a silence to descend upon the table as the sisters thought about that question.

“I...try to keep friends around,” Celestia said. “But...it’s hard when they see you as Princess Celestia, and not just Celestia. And Luna…”

“We are out of touch with the modern world,” the lunar alicorn added. “We suppose all of Our friends are...long gone now.”

The both of them looked ready to cry at the thought, and Balanced Aspect changed into his human form and opened his arms up, the sign that he was ready to hug the pair of them close. Something the celestial sisters took advantage of as they walked over to him. Christopher whispered soft words into their ears and hugged them, running one hand down both of their backs in a soothing manner.

“It’s okay, girls, it’s okay,” the human said. “I’m here for you two now. And I won’t leave again without warning you first. I promise.”

After a few minutes, their soft sobbing stopped, and all three of the odd family looked at one another. “Right then,” the human said. “The first thing we’ll need to do tomorrow. Make some friends.”

“I think we might have somepony coming tomorrow that could help you with that,” Celestia said with that familiar mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

The next day came bright and early, no thanks to a certain sun princess. Christopher rolled over and moaned in mock agony as he tried to shield himself from the sunlight. “Celly, put the sun back down, it’s too early for me to be up,” the human whined.

“That’s a shame,” the voice of said white alicorn came from near his bed. “Because I brought something for you to help motivate you.”

A familiar smell worked its way into the human’s nose. One he hadn’t had for so long. Tea was good and all, but this!

This was beyond good! This was beyond compare!

This. Was. COFFEE!

The human rolled over and sat up before grabbing the cup and holding it close, revelling in the warmth and the smell of a well-brewed cup of joe. He inhaled the scent before he started sipping the brew that he had very, very fond memories of. “Oh,” he moaned. “That...is the stuff.”

“Agreed,” the voice of Luna said from the doorway. A cursory glance revealed that she held a similar mug in her magic. “This brew is most potent.”

“It’s been a long while since I had any of this,” the foster father of the princesses said as he sipped at the life-giving brew. “What gave you the idea, Celly?”

“Well, you always were complaining about how you liked mornings just fine...and would love them if they just came later in the day, so I figured some coffee would help you change your tune.”

“You figured correctly,” the human said before sipping again. “This is good stuff.”

“Indeed, this concoction can alter even Our sleep-cycle,” Luna admitted. “Rarely did We see it worth the effort before, but for thou, we certainly would.”

“Well, I’m awake,” Christopher said before glowing and turning into his stallion form. “What say we shock the chefs again and request pancakes for breakfast?”

“That...sounds like a delightful idea,” Celestia said with a smile. “And if I know my student at all, she’ll try to arrive just after breakfast is done, when we open up court for the day, usually.”

“Let’s at least get something to eat before she does,” the stallion said as the three of them made their way to the dining room.

“Pancakes sound like a delightful idea,” Luna concurred.

It was an odd sight that Twilight Sparkle and some of her friends would walk in on. Not only Princess Celestia sitting on her throne, but Princess Luna was sitting on hers as well, with a strange stallion sitting close by, talking and laughing with them like they were old friends.

Then again, Princess Celestia had told them that an old friend of hers would be visiting. They just hadn’t expected somepony so...plain looking. And with the thousand years line that she had added in, they were expecting another Alicorn like them. Not an Earth Pony that barely looked older than twenty with a sword hanging off his side.

Twilight was naturally curious as to what was going on. Fluttershy hid behind her mane slightly at so many unexpected faces, and Pinkie Pie…

Well, Pinkie was Pinkie. Especially in the face of a new pony to meet.

“Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked, causing all three of the ponies at the other end of the room to look towards the entrance. They smiled when they saw Twilight and her friends, and all three stood up and walked over to meet them. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Twilight bowed to the regal Alicorns, and they were waved back up a moment later.

“Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. Permit me to introduce you to Balanced Aspect,” Celestia said as the stallion stepped forward.

“Our foster father,” Luna added, which only caused the stallion to grin at them while they processed that statement.

“Lulu, I think you broke them,” the stallion said as he looked at the three dumbfounded mares.

“He’s your...but how...it’s...not possible,” Twilight said, barely coherent. Pinkie, on the other hoof, was practically vibrating in place. Fluttershy, imagining that somepony that could get away with calling a Princess a pet name had to have some credence behind his claims...actually came out from behind her mane.

After all, if Princess Celestia was wise and kind, surely her father would be as well. “Um...mister Balanced Aspect, sir?” she asked. “If...it’s not too much trouble. Could you tell us how you came to be the foster father for the Princesses?”

“Ah,” the stallion said with a dramatic air. “Now that is a story ages old...one that I’ve not told to too many others, because those that needed to know, did, and those that didn’t need to know, I didn’t tell.”

“Oh, I don’t mean to pry,” the shy mare said, shrinking back a little.

“Father, tell them,” Celestia said with a nudge of her wing. “You know the story better than us.”

“Fine, fine, I will,” the stallion said as both he and the princesses walked back to the thrones and got seated again. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie followed after, all curious about this story.

“It was many, many years ago,” he started. “At least two thousand. Equus was much younger then, it's magical field not yet tamed or ready to be tamed. Strange events were common. Such as portals between worlds. They would sometimes just bring plants. Other times, they would bring curious creatures. And rarely, just rarely, they would bring intelligent creatures through. I was one such creature, and I was brought through near a fountain that had strange writing around its base and a sword embedded in it. I could not decipher the runes, but I was thirsty. So I drank of the water and felt...refreshed. And then I heard a voice.”

“‘What are you?’ the strange voice asked. ‘I’ve never seen something like you before.’ I looked around and saw only a pony approaching me. Her coat was as white as a cloud in the sky, and her mane and tail were as red as roses. Her eyes were a deep emerald. And then her mouth opened, and that voice came forth again.”

“‘Well whatever you are, you’re funny-looking, that’s for sure,’ she said. That was when I panicked. Because that was my first meeting with a talking pony.”

“But, um, mister Balanced...aren’t you a pony?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not normally,” the stallion said, before he and the sword he was carrying began to glow, and his form began to change. When the shifting stopped, there was a creature of myth sitting between the Princesses. A human male, smiling at the gathered ponies.

Twilight tilted her head at the strange creature, already comparing him to the myths and legends she had read while she was in the castle. Fluttershy was curious about the new species she was seeing, and Pinkie…

Was somehow vibrating even more.

“Now where was I?” the human said, putting a hand to his chin.

“Right after you met your first pony!” Pinkie chirped, her voice somehow even, despite the fact she seemed to be… blurring.

“Ah yes,” the human said with a nod. “So where I came from, there were no talking ponies. So I was a little...startled by meeting one. To the point where the first thing I did was pull the sword out of the fountain and point it at her, because I didn’t know what was going on.”

“You were scared,” Fluttershy said softly, to which the human nodded.

“I think the phrase losing my mind was more appropriate,” the human replied with. “‘Stay back,’ I told the pony. ‘I don’t know who you are or where I am, and I need a minute to get my head on straight.’ ‘You’re not going to hurt me,’ she replied. ‘Otherwise you would have pulled that out a lot sooner. Can I get a drink as well? I’m very thirsty.’ I edged away from her as she drew closer, so that I was standing off to one side while she drank from the fountain. And drank. And drank and drank and drank. It was only after she’d had her fill that she stepped back and examined the runes on the fountain. ‘Oh my,’ she said. ‘This...this can’t be right.’”

“Wait,” Twilight said, holding up a hoof. “You both drank from an unidentified fountain of water before trying to read the runes on the side of it?”

“Well, for me it can be forgiven,” the boy said. “I couldn’t read the runes, nor did I have any equipment to try and purify the water of whatever contaminant it may have had. The mare, though, that one I’ll not take credit for. She could read the runes and didn’t until she’d slaked her thirst. And it was then that I found that we’d both drunk from the Fountain of Eternity.”

“The what?” Twilight asked. “I’ve never heard of that before…” And she’d read all the books in the castle. Five times. There was no mention of such a place in any of them.

“You likely wouldn’t,” the human replied. “It wasn’t long after the mare had drunk her fill from the fountain that it sputtered, stopped, and ceased producing water. ‘Oh dear,’ the mare said. ‘Well, I suppose we’ll have to find more water elsewhere.’ ‘We?’ I replied. ‘Yes, we,’ she said. ‘I’ll not leave you alone here, if that’s what you’re wondering. A good pony always helps out those that need it, and you seem like you could use a friend.’ It took her a few more minutes and persuasive arguments, but eventually I agreed to accompany her. And that was the start of my friendship with the mare Written Script.”

“Soooo,” Pinkie said. “She was the Princesses’ mommy? And you both drank from that same magical fountain?” At all three nods, she continued her line of questioning. “Then where is she?”

At this, the human deflated a little. “She...isn’t around anymore.”

“But if you both drank from the fountain, and you’re still here,” Twilight began to point out, at which the human nodded.

“Yes, but most of the power from that fountain went to the two lives growing within her at the time,” he said before giving both Celestia and Luna a rub behind their ears. They nodded again at his words and the rubbing, and the ponies there thought about what he’d said. Their mother had been...pregnant with them, when she drank from the fountain.

“So she’s?” Fluttershy asked softly, and the human nodded. “I’m sorry, you must have been so sad when she…”

“Yes, I was,” the human replied. “But come!” With a clap of his hands, he jolted every pony out of their melancholy moods. “We’re not here to discuss the sad moments in my far too long life.”

“Indeed not,” Celestia said. “My student, it has come to my attention that our father has been without friends for quite some time. If you and he both agree to this, then once he has caught up with Luna and myself, I would ask you to help him acclimate to modern Equestria in Ponyville.”

“What?” Twilight asked with a tilted head. She wasn’t the only one, as the human had turned to Celestia with an expression that said he thought she’d grown a second head.

“Specifically, We would like thou to help Our father make some friends,” Luna added, causing the ponies and human to look at her now.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered as confetti fell from...somewhere. “I have so many things to show you about Ponyville, mister human!”

“Christopher,” the human corrected her. “My name is Christopher Gale.”

“Okey Dokey mister Gale!” Pinkie said. “I’m gonna help you make a lot of friends when you come to Ponyville!”

“...Why does she remind me of Surprise?” Christopher asked himself. Both alicorns flinched at that name, before looking at Pinkie again.

“She...does have many of her character qualities,” Celestia observed.

“Mayhap it is time we upgraded the wards on the castle, sister,” Luna pitched in. “It took us quite some effort before we could repel Surprise back in Dream Valley.”

“Silly fillies!” Pinkie said with a giggle. “Nopony can escape the Pinkie!”

“Yup, now she really reminds me of Surprise,” the human observed. “Well, I’ll be down in Ponyville in good time, and when I am, I’ll be sure to see you, Pinkie.”

“Mmhmm,” the pink pony hummed.

“I will send you a letter when father decides to come down, Twilight,” Celestia said. The purple unicorn nodded even as the human turned to face Celestia again.

“It’s remarkable how I came to the conclusion that I needed to go to Ponyville in the span of less than a minute of being informed of this,” he said aloud, causing Celestia to grin.

“Face it, father, thou require friends, and sister’s student is studying friendship,” Luna pointed out. “It is as perfect a match as ice cream and cake.”

“I know, right?” Pinkie asked.

“If you say so,” Christopher sighed. “Somehow I feel that this will all go terribly wrong.”

“Nonsense,” Celestia said. “It’s not like Ponyville is under any major threat. It’s a quiet little town located just out of Canterlot. I promise you, everything will be fine.”

Author's Note

Hello hello! Welcome to the latest Ausbrony and Thadius collab!

This one has been in the works for a while, and will be on a similar update schedule as the last story. Once a week, you get a new chappy.

Speaking of, let me start this up right now...

Like the story and want to support us? Consider dropping me a tip on my Patreon. Every dollar helps.

Half of the proceeds will not go towards wrecking Diablo 3.

Chapter 2 - A day on the town

The letter had arrived early in the morning. Twilight had been having breakfast with Spike in the library and considering re-shelving some of the books to make more sense of the space she had to organize them in, when the drake burped and a scroll materialized from his fire. She eagerly unwrapped it and read it aloud.

To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

After much convincing, my father will be arriving in Ponyville today on the morning train. Please be there to receive him and escort him around town. I am even now in the process of procuring a house for him to reside in, along with a similar stipend for him to use to provide for his life in Ponyville.

Please, Twilight. Help my father reconnect with the ponies of this day and age. His time on Equus has not been...the most kind to him. He has had to fight nearly every day, against monsters that would have seen him dead if they could have. I want him to see that fighting isn’t needed anymore.

Princess Celestia

After a quick breakfast, a quick check to make sure she’d not forgotten anything, and a quick pack of her saddlebags with some choice reference material, Twilight Sparkle made her way to the train platform, to wait for the Princesses’ foster father. She patiently waited for half an hour until the train from Canterlot pulled into the station. A small herd of ponies walked out and made for the town in general, but one stayed put and was looking right at her.

One that was carrying a sword she’d seen before, though the wings were new. The color scheme and the mark were the same, though. Apparently, he could become multiple types of ponies. She would have to ask about that.

“Hello again,” she said with a smile. “I’m glad to see you.”

“Really now?” the stallion observed. “It’s been a while since I heard a pony say that to me. Well, besides Celly and Lulu that is.”

“That’s one of the things we’re going to address today,” Twilight affirmed as she began leading the stallion into the town. “How long has it been since you had regular, friendly contact with anypony?”

There was a silence as the stallion considered her question before sighing moresly. “At least a thousand years. Maybe more. I visited a few ponies over the last thousand years, but they weren’t regular things at all.”

“That’s quite the gap,” Twilight said. “What were you doing before that?”

“Celestia and Luna had a castle in the Everfree Forest,” the stallion said. “I lived there with them, as a ‘royal advisor.’ Then...Nightmare Moon happened, and I failed to do anything to help.”

That seemed to be a sore topic, so Twilight did her best to recover. “Ah, well, I suppose that would be a good reason, then,” she said, coughing slightly. “So, would you say you had a lot of friends then?”

“Oh, the castle staff were friendly as all heck,” Balanced Aspect said with a smile. “I mean, we all had jobs to do, but that didn’t stop us from socializing and being friendly to one another when we could.”

“It sounds like it,” Twilight said with a smile as she kept leading the stallion towards their first stop for the day. Pinkie would probably try to throw him a party at some point, and Fluttershy wouldn’t be a bad idea either, but she wanted to introduce him to the friends that hadn’t been there first. To that end, the Carousel Boutique and Rarity were their first stops.

Balanced Aspect stopped and gawped at the building he was being led to before he found his voice again. “What. Is that,” he asked.

“That’s Carousel Boutique,” Twilight answered. “Rarity’s place of business. And seeing as she’s a friend of mine, I was going to take this chance to introduce you to her.”

“I feel my masculinity levels dropping just from looking at the thing,” the stallion complained. “And that’s after riding the ‘Friendship Express.’”

“It’s not that bad,” Twilight said before they walked up the front steps and she knocked on the front door.

“Coming~” A voice sang out from the other side. After not more than a few seconds, a white unicorn mare with a curly violet mane and tail, with the same blue eyes as Balanced Aspect himself had, greeted them at the door.

“Twilight dear!” she said, giving the lavender unicorn a hug. Then she looked at the strange stallion and carefully raised an eyebrow. “And who is this gentlestallion?”

Aspect had an...unusual reaction. He softly whispered one name, but it wasn’t Rarity’s. “Majesty?” he said.

“Who?” Rarity asked. “You must be mistaken, my name is Rarity, the owner and proprietor of the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique.”

The stallion shook his head a few times before smiling at the mare softly. “I’m sorry, ma’am, you merely reminded me of a friend I had a...long time ago.”

“I see,” Rarity replied. “And your name, sir?”

“Balanced Aspect,” the stallion said before bowing to her. “At your service.”

“Well you certainly are a gentlestallion,” Rarity said with a small laugh. “Come in, come in. Twilight can tell me all about how you two met over a nice cup of tea.”

“It’s not like that,” Twilight said as the pair of ponies walked into the building. Aspect took note of the many, many dresses on the mannequins lying about and muttered something about his masculinity diving even more. “Rarity, remember that letter I got last week?”

“About the princesses wanting us to visit and see a friend of theirs?” Rarity replied. “I would have gone with you, dear, but I do have a business to run. I can’t go off on every single adventure that walks up to us.”

“I know, and I understand,” Twilight replied as they walked into Rarity’s sitting room. Twilight and Aspect got comfortable before she pointed at the stallion. “This is their friend, come down to visit Ponyville.”

“My word!” Rarity said, taking in the stallion’s very plain appearance. “And you dress like that?”

“What?” Aspect asked. “It’s simple and practical. You would not believe the abuse these saddlebags have lived through.”

“Still, if you are the friend of royalty, you should dress as such,” the white unicorn replied. “I can have a new outfit made for you within a few hours that would properly reflect your status-”

“And what would be the point of that?” the pegasus replied. “I’d likely lose it or get it caught on something. The way I dress suits me just fine.”

“But it is not indicative of you as a pony,” Rarity pointed out. “And I can make outfits for anypony to help them shine as beautifully as possible.”

“Yeah, you’d have your work cut out with me,” the stallion replied. “I’ve been in so many scrapes over the years, I’m not sure there’s anything left to polish.”

“Nonsense,” Rarity said, even as her magic began searching for a tape measure. “I’m sure we can find something for you.”

“This is going to hurt,” Aspect said as he screwed his eyes shut. “You more than me.”

Twilight was worried for a moment, but when it didn’t look like the stallion was moving, Rarity picked him up in her magic and walked over to her fitting room, placing him on his hooves and starting to take his measurements. After a few minutes of this, he eventually opened his eyes and waited for her verdict.

“Perhaps a nice cloak, some sort of ornament for your head,” Rarity said as she passed a sketch in front of the stallion. He took one look at it and snorted, she’d dress him up like a Prince if she could.

“No, I was never one for titles or fancy clothes,” he replied. “I’m more of a stallion of action.”

“That sounds a bit like Rainbow Dash,” Rarity mused. “Perhaps a cape then? Something to billow in the breeze as you stand somewhere dramatically?”

“...Now you’re talking my language,” Balanced replied. “I always wanted a cape.”

“Fantastic!” the dressmaker replied. “Hmm...how about blue, to go with your eyes?”

“That sounds workable,” the stallion replied. Then he realized he’d helped the unicorn get him into more fancy clothing than what he was wearing and blinked. “Oh, you’re good.”

“I am the best at what I do for a reason,” Rarity said with a small victorious smile. “Very well, I will have a fine blue cape for you by this time tomorrow.”

“It better be able to stand up to the elements, along with whatever else might come my way,” Balanced said. “If it’s not as sturdy as my saddlebags, I’ll leave it behind when it gets damaged.”

“Perish the thought, dear,” the unicorn replied as she made a note. “I promise you it will be as sturdy as can be, or else I’ll replace it for free.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” the stallion said. “Well, it was pleasant meeting you, ma’am. I hope the rest of your day finds you well, but I rather get the impression Twilight has more friends she wants to introduce me to.”

“Just a few more, I promise,” Twilight said. “Thank you for seeing us, Rarity.”

“The pleasure was all mine, darling,” the unicorn said as she turned to give Twilight another hug before they left her. “Don’t be a stranger now,” she said from her front porch, before walking back in to work on the cape.

“So who’s next?” Balanced asked.

“Well, Rainbow Dash will likely find us on her own time, but until then, we can walk over to Sweet Apple Acres, where you can meet Applejack.”

Once again, there was silence from her companion. “It couldn’t be,” he said. “I...knew an Applejack back in Dream Valley,” he eventually told Twilight. “She loved apples, but more often than not, didn’t look where she was going and...ended up causing more than her fair share of accidents.”

“Sounds a little like our Applejack, though without the accidents part,” Twilight said, already taking notes mentally that Aspect could draw so many comparisons with the ponies of Dream Valley. “She and her family run Sweet Apple Acres, the largest apple orchard in Equestria.”

“I’m glad to hear the Apple Family is doing so well,” the stallion said as he resumed following after Twilight.

“The Apple family is one of the larger families in Equestria,” Twilight observed as they kept up their trek to the orchard. It wasn’t long before they started seeing apple trees. Rows and rows of apple trees. Aspect whistled as he saw how many there were.

“Goodness, she must have a large family here to help her with this many trees,” he observed.

“Actually, it’s normally just her, Big Mac, Applebloom, and their Granny Smith,” Twilight informed him, causing the stallion to stop and look at her.

“You must be kidding,” he said after a moment.

“Nope,” Twilight replied.

“...Then she has that much more respect from me, for keeping up with such a farm so effortlessly,” the stallion eventually said. It took them a little longer before they found the path leading to the farmhouse of the Apple family. Twilight had no delusions about finding Applejack at home at this hour of the day, but maybe Apple Bloom would tell her where her big sister was. She walked up to the front door and knocked, and as she’d predicted, a little yellow filly opened the door.

“Howdy miss Twilight!” she said. “You lookin’ for Applejack?” Then she noticed the stallion standing just behind her. “Who’s your friend?”

“Somepony I want Applejack to meet,” Twilight said. “He’s Balanced Aspect, and I think he’d like to meet Applejack as well.”

“I certainly would,” the stallion said with a nod.

“Well, okay,” Apple Bloom said with a shrug. “Sis is out by the east orchard. Want me to lead you there?”

“No, but thank you for the offer Apple Bloom,” Twilight said, starting to lead Aspect out to where her friend Applejack was.

It took them a good twenty minutes of walking through the apple trees before they began to hear evidence of Applejack bucking some of the trees. Twilight adjusted her course to take them closer to the sounds, and eventually Balanced Aspect was met with a very familiar sight.

The only thing that looked different at all about the mare from the one he’d known way back when was her cutie mark. Everything else lined up perfectly with her ancestor. Well, and the hat as well. The Applejack of Dream Valley didn’t have a stetson hat, nor did she tie up her mane. Only her tail. Still, despite those minor differences, the two Applejacks were quite alike.

“Applejack,” Twilight said, getting the orange mare’s attention. She turned to look at the pair of them and smiled, looking to Aspect with a friendly face.

“Well howdy there Twi! Who’s yer friend?”

“Balanced Aspect, miss,” the stallion said before bowing to Applejack. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“An’ ah’m Applejack!” the pony said, sticking a hoof out to him. “Put ‘er there, partner!”

Twilight had been about to warn Aspect about Applejack’s hoofshakes, but it was too late. The stallion had accepted the shake…

And didn’t seem all that bothered by the strength of it. If anything, he was giving as good as he was receiving. “Hoo-ee, mister Aspect, you got one heckuva hoofshake. I like that,” Applejack said once it broke.

“Yes, well, it’s not the first time I’ve had to have a strong shake,” the stallion said. “I’m glad I measure up to your expectations.”

“So Twi, who is this?” Applejack asked her friend.

“Remember that friend of the Princess I told you about?” Twilight said. Applejack nodded, and Twilight merely pointed a hoof towards Balanced Aspect.

“Wait. You’re serious?” Applejack said, before looking at the stallion again. “Well, y’all are certainly humble for a friend of Princess Celestia. I was expectin’ somepony a bit more stuck-up.”

“Oh, don’t get me started,” Balanced said with a roll of his eyes. “Everypony thinks that just because I’m one of their friends, I have to be regal and high-and-mighty and holier-than-thou and all that. When in reality, all they ever want is somepony to treat them like ponies, not Princesses. And I’m one of the few willing to do that.”

The revelation that maybe Princess Celestia didn’t like being treated like Princess Celestia all the time was a little shocking, to say the least. Applejack recovered first. “Well, ah can tell y’all are honest, at least. And any friend of the Princess is a friend of ours, right Twilight?”

“R-right,” Twilight said, still coming to grips with the idea that her mentor liked being treated like normal.

“Sad to say ah’ve got a lot of work to do,” Applejack said. “Trees won’t buck themselves. Ah’ll see ya around Twilight, mister Aspect.”

“Fare well, Applejack,” the stallion said, bowing to her again before turning to leave. Twilight followed after him as he led the way out of the orchard.

“Where to next?” he asked once they were back on the road outside the farm. Twilight was jolted out of her thoughts and began leading Aspect again, this time, to Fluttershy’s house.

“Well, now I think we should pay a visit to Fluttershy. She’s Ponyville’s local animal caretaker.”

“Makes sense,” Aspect said as he followed after the mare. “I assume after this, if your friend Rainbow Dash hasn’t made a showing, that we’ll be going on to Pinkie Pie’s place of residence?”

“You assume correctly,” Twilight replied. “I intend to have you meet all my friends if at all possible, before we return to my home.” Before Aspect could ask any questions about that, Twilight plowed ahead. “I have so many questions!”

“I figured you might,” Aspect said with a chuckle. “Just keep in mind, I came here to relax and make friends, which shouldn’t mean reliving any more of the past than I feel comfortable with.”

“Of course not,” Twilight replied automatically. “But surely you can answer a few?”

“That depends entirely on what they are,” the stallion replied before there was a shout from above. With a rush of wind, a sky blue pegasus with a mane and tail all the colors of the rainbow landed in front of them.

“Hey Twi,” the mare said, before looking over at the stallion. “Who’s this?”

“Balanced Aspect,” the stallion introduced himself with his usual bow. “At your service.”

“Really? Cool! It’s too bad I already got my job done today, I woulda had you help me out,” Rainbow replied. “You any good with those wings of yours?”

“I can lift myself off the ground and propel myself in any given direction,” the stallion replied. “Why?”

“Eh, just wonderin’.” Then Dash’s eyes fell on the sword and she grinned. “Wow. Bet you know how to use that thing.”

“A fact the royal guard learned the hard way,” Aspect said with a nod. “They said I couldn’t carry it on the castle grounds, so I told them if they could take it from me, they were welcome to separate the pair of us.” He paused for a second, for effect. “None of them succeeded.”

“Awesome,” Rainbow said. “You and me should totally spar one day. I’ve got a black belt in karate, I bet I could give you a run for your bits.”

“You probably could,” the stallion conceded. “But I’ll have you know right now, I do not fight fair.”

“No holds barred? I can deal with that,” the mare conceded. “Later, then!” With that, she was off into the sky once more.

“And that was Rainbow Dash in a nutshell,” Twilight said. “She’s the lead weathermare for Ponyville.”

“I like her,” the stallion said. “She’s short and to the point. A mare of action.”

The walk continued in mostly silence as the pair made their way to Fluttershy’s house, where once again the stallion stopped in bemusement at the dwelling. “I swear,” he said. “That place looks like a dead ringer for a hobbit home from Tolkien’s books…”

“I’m sorry?” Twilight asked, not understanding the reference the stallion had made.

“Ah, never mind,” he said, waving it off. “So, the shy one lives here?”

“Fluttershy, and yes,” Twilight said, walking up to the front door and knocking on it gently. The door creaked open a touch, before opening a bit wider, showing that familiar yellow pony from before on the other side.

“Oh, hello Twilight,” she said, looking behind her. “Oh, and mister Aspect. Um...would you like to come in?”

“That would be lovely, miss Fluttershy,” Aspect said. The mare softly nodded and opened the door a little wider, letting Twilight and the pegasus stallion into her home. They walked in and sat down in her living room, the stallion looking all around at the furniture and smiling.

“Oh, um, if you want to change your form again mister Aspect, I’d be fine with that,” Fluttershy said. “I can understand you might not be...comfortable as a pony.”

“Only if you’re sure you’d be okay with it,” Balanced said as he looked at the pegasus mare. “I can’t imagine a human is a common occurrence in this day and age.”

“It’s fine,” Fluttershy said. “I’ve already seen you as it once.”

With a nod of assent and that familiar bright white glow again, the stallion shifted into the human that had been present in Canterlot. He sat back on Fluttershy’s couch and sighed. “Holding a formshift for that long isn’t that bad, but it feels good letting go.”

“I can imagine,” Twilight and Fluttershy said in unison, before looking at each other and blinking.

“I was talking about how such a powerful personal transformation spell had to be draining to hold on to,” Twilight said. Fluttershy let out a little ‘eep’ before saying her piece.

“Um, I was talking about how any creature pretending to be something it’s not usually likes being able to be their normal self again,” the yellow mare said.

“Both true,” the human said with a chuckle. Fluttershy timidly approached the human, before asking a question...as well as she could.

“Um...if you wouldn’t mind, do you think I could...examine you?”

Christopher raised an eyebrow at the question, prompting Fluttershy to explain herself. “It’s just...I’ve never seen a human before you. And I don’t know anything about you. With your permission, I’d like to look you over.”

“It’s fine by me,” Christopher said, before pointing over at Twilight, who had a quill and scroll ready. “Though you might want to make your observations a bit more vocal. As it looks like Twilight is ready to take notes as well.”

“Wha- Aspect!” Twilight said, flushing a little at being pointed out. “I’m...merely curious! Yes, that’s all!”

“Oh, I can do that,” Fluttershy said with a nod as she turned back to Christopher. “So...um. If you’d just hold still, please…”

The human did just that, and Fluttershy began looking his form over before making her observations.

“Would I be right in assuming you are naturally bipedal?” she asked. Christopher nodded, and Fluttershy hummed. “And quite obviously an intelligent, tool-using species as well.” Then she got up on the couch with him and put her forehooves on his shoulders. “Say ah, please,” she said, prompting the human to open his mouth. Fluttershy peered into the mouth and nodded, before clambering back down. “Omnivorous as well, I see.”

“Yeah, but I prefer not to eat anything that talks,” the human replied.

“Thank you,” Fluttershy said. “Um, can I also ask that you not eat any of my animal friends as well?”

“I’ll try and hunt away from your hut, Fluttershy,” the human said with a nod. She let out a soft sigh at that, before putting one ear to his chest and listening to the rhythm of his heart. Then she walked to a corner of the room and came back with, of all things, a first aid kit, and began taking more readings.

First she stuck a thermometer in his mouth, before pulling out a small flashlight and shining it in his eyes to watch them react. Then she pulled out a cuff with a pump and a gauge attached to it and asked him to roll up a sleeve so she could take his blood pressure, which he did. And it was only after doing all of this she thought to ask what was, in Twilight’s opinion, the most important question.

“You...are healthy right now, right?”

“Yes,” the human replied after taking the thermometer out. “I assume you’re getting a baseline for later, just in case?”

“Oh yes,” Fluttershy said with a nod. “I’d have to know what healthy for you is before something happened to you. I might do more harm than good otherwise by trying to help.”

“Well, your vitals don’t seem to be too much different from a pony’s,” the yellow mare said. “I hope I don’t have to use this information anytime soon…”

“As don’t I,” Christopher said. “It’s never fun trying to patch yourself up after a fight.”

“You fight a lot?” Fluttershy softly asked.

“Only when I have to,” the human said. “Which was quite a lot in the early days, but not so much nowadays.”

“Oh, that’s good,” the pegasus mare said. “It was nice seeing you again, mister Gale.”

“And you as well, Fluttershy,” the human said before glowing and retaking his pegasus form. “I’ll wait while you tell Twilight everything you found, but then I think she’s going to take me away again to yet another friend.”

“Oh, okay,” the yellow mare said before walking over to Twilight and reciting the facts that she’d just uncovered about the human. Twilight diligently wrote everything down before rolling the scroll up and sticking it in her saddlebags. That would save her time later, having these facts already.

After their goodbyes, Balanced Aspect followed Twilight back into town proper, towards the center of it, where he promptly sat down and pointed a hoof at Sugarcube Corner. “I swear to Yggdrasil, Twilight, if there is a witch in there luring ponies in so she can eat them, I will pull my sword out to deal with them.”

“Don’t be silly,” Twilight said, only slightly mortified he’d jump straight to violence. “That’s just Sugarcube Corner. The Cakes and Pinkie live there and distribute treats to the ponies of Ponyville. Come on, let’s go say hi, they shouldn’t be busy at this time of day.” Apparently, breaking him of his more violent habits would be harder than she thought.

The bell rang as the pair of ponies stepped into the bakery, and Pinkie greeted them with a gasp. Then a bone-crushing hug. “Hiya Twilight! Hiya mister Balanced Aspect! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!”

“Air!” the stallion gasped. “I need...air!” Pinkie giggled and released them from her embrace, causing them to breathe deeply, thankful that they could again.

“So what brings you guys by?” Pinkie asked. “Here for a treat?”

“Just showing Balanced Aspect around town, Pinkie,” Twilight replied. “...Though I wouldn’t say no to something for dessert tonight. What’s good?”

“Silly filly! Everything here is good!” Pinkie said, and the pegasus stallion took note of just how many baked goods there were in here. The smell was practically overwhelming and caused him to salivate now that he’d taken notice of it.

“Hmm,” Twilight said as she looked the bakery over. “How about some blueberry muffins? They work well as a dessert and as a breakfast food, in case we forget.”

“Sure thing Twi! How many do you want?” Somehow, Pinkie was already over by the muffins, and all he’d done was blink.

“Mmm, half a dozen sounds good,” the unicorn replied like nothing was wrong. Or maybe she was just used to it. Or maybe Pinkie was just that good?

He resolved not to question it. Questioning it hurt.

“Okie dokie, that’ll be twelve bits,” the mare said as she procured a small bag and put the muffins in them. Twilight floated the requisite bits out, and Pinkie handed over the goods. “So how are you finding Ponyville, mister Aspect?”

“It’s a nice little town,” the stallion replied. “The ponies here are welcoming and nice, and the ones Twilight’s introduced me to are very friendly. You included.”

“Duh!” Pinkie said. “I’m like, the welcome wagon for Ponyville! Everypony gets a welcoming party from me at some point, to help them get settled in and make more friends around town. I kinda have to be a friendly pony, otherwise I wouldn’t be very good at what I do!”

“That’s a...unique way of looking at it,” Aspect said with a smile. “Still, I’m glad there are ponies like you in the world.”

“Aww, I’m glad I’m here too!” Without warning, Pinkie had bounded over the counter again and was hugging Aspect like he was a close friend. One he slowly, but eventually returned.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered once he did. “All right, I’m thinking a party at your place, once you get a place, so that we can help you break it in.”

“I hereby request that you keep it small, maybe just the ponies I already know well,” he countered with.

“I can work with that,” Pinkie agreed, and they shook on it. Twilight was stunned. Somepony had just successfully negotiated with Pinkie about the nature of their surprise welcoming party.

“See you then, Pinkie,” Aspect said before walking over to Twilight and poking her with a hoof. “Um, Twilight? You kind of have to lead me back to your place.”

She blinked and shook her head, to clear the daze that had settled in it. “Um...right. This way.” She was still slightly shocked that somepony had managed to keep up with Pinkie that hadn’t had all that much time to get used to her...antics. “My home is just over here.”

For a fourth time, the stallion was dumbfounded by architecture. The sight of the Tree-bary caused him to stop and stare for a moment. “You...live in a tree,” he said simply.

“Golden Oaks Library is set into the tree, yes,” Twilight said.

“You live in a library inside a tree,” the stallion said. “Oh, I can think of elves from stories back home that would love you. And the irony is palpable.”

“Irony?” Twilight asked as they neared the front door.

“Twilight, what are books made from?” the stallion asked, causing the mare to grin sheepishly as she got it.

“Aheh...let’s just go inside so I can introduce you to Spike,” she said. Once more, there was that thousand-yard stare.

“Is he a dragon?” the stallion asked, causing Twilight to stumble for a moment.

“Yes, how did you- you knew another Spike, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Once, a long time ago,” he said with a nod. “He’d be so very old now.”

“Well, how about you get to know this Spike?” the unicorn prompted, causing the pegasus to nod. She opened the door and ushered them both inside before calling for Spike.

“Coming Twilight!” he said, descending the stairs. The stallion watched the dragon with rapt eyes, before sighing and shaking his head.

“It’s not the same,” he muttered under his breath.

“Who’s your friend, Twilight?” the dragon asked.

“Spike, this is Balanced Aspect, that friend of the Princess’s that she wrote us about last week,” Twilight said. “Aspect, this is my friend Spike.”

“Hello there,” Aspect said with his usual bow.

“Pleased to meetcha!” Spike said, extending a clawed hand. Aspect straightened himself up and put a hoof in that hand before shaking it with Spike. “So, what’s with the sword? You some sort of guard?”

“You could say that, and you wouldn’t be wholly incorrect,” the stallion said with a smile. “Oh, I have stories I could tell you…”

“Stories that I would be all too glad to hear,” Twilight said as she summoned a blank scroll and smiled at him. Aspect chuckled and shook his head.

“Another time, perhaps,” he said. “Now if I know Tia, right about now, she’ll have managed to find some sort of house that she’ll have purchased in my name so that I can stay here longer-”

Spike’s cheeks inflated as he let off a belch of green dragonfire. It rapidly condensed into a scroll, which fell into his outstretched hand. He pulled it open and read the letter aloud.

To my dear friend, Balanced Aspect.

It turns out, there is a home owned by the local government in Ponyville since the last owner passed away about twenty years ago and left the estate to nopony. I have since purchased it and asked that it be inspected before you move in, as I would rather you not live in an unsafe home. It would please me if you stayed with my student while the estate is examined for anything and everything that could be wrong with it.

Celestia

“Well, guess I’m staying here until their inspection is over,” Aspect said as he looked around the lobby of the tree-bary.

“I guess you are,” Twilight said before a growl made itself known. Twilight and Spike looked at Aspect, who grinned sheepishly as another growl emanated from his form.

“Guess it’s lunchtime,” he said with a small laugh. A third growl came from Twilight’s stomach, and she grinned before looking at him.

“I guess it is,” she replied. “How about we go to a local restaurant and you can regale me with one of your stories while we eat?”

“If you’re sure it won’t put you off your food,” Aspect said as they left the library and made their way back into the town at large.

Author's Note

And so it begins..

Like the story? Consider supporting Aus and me on my Patreon over here.

Half of all proceeds will not go towards looking for a decent challenge.

Chapter 4 - House warming, just not with actual fire

The pegasus stallion stood outside of the home that Celestia had made sure would be set aside for him and stared at it.

Yes, it was an old building, probably about half as old as the town itself. But it was also a massive building. It was probably just a little under the requirements for a mansion and a staff to take care of it. It was far too large for just one pony to live in, especially a pony like himself.

Celestia had made another move before this game had ever started, and he had been too caught up with the dragon and looking for a job to think about countering it.

“So like I said,” the stallion wearing a hard-hat next to him said, “The building checks out. There were a few spots where the floor, walls, or wallpaper needed a bit of replacing, but we took care of that for ya. This place should hold up for the next twenty years, easy, before you need to think about fixing anything.”

“How wonderful,” Aspect said through gritted teeth. Now he just had to come up with a use for all these rooms. As well as clean it up. He could only imagine the dust in there.

“Not a problem, guv,” the stallion said before nodding at him. “You watch yourself in there, it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know the layout.”

How many rooms were in this bloody house that that was a concern?!

“I’ll be sure to draw up a map if I need to,” Balanced said before sighing. “Oh dear daughter of mine,” he muttered. “What have you done…”

The inside of the house was just as dirty and filthy as he imagined, but that was to be expected. He didn’t know how long it had lain without an owner, so it was only natural some dirt would build up. He let out a sigh as he took in the condition of the place. It was probably only as good as it was because of the work those construction ponies had done, but it was still unlivable.

After looking around and making sure the door was shut behind him, the stallion flashed into his alicorn form and put his saddlebags on the floor, bobbing his head to an unseen beat as a glow built around his horn.

He’d had time to practice his magic as a unicorn, yes, but his more...primal magic. Anything that was beyond normal telekinesis. It always worked better if he did it in rhyme. It was classified, in this day and age, as a form of freeform sorcery, as there was no real way to control it beyond the initial parameters, and if it got beyond those that were set, it was often troublesome to dispel.

Fortunately, he’d had plenty of practice not only in thinking and putting his desires to rhyme, but also in managing a simple null-spell. Still, he shouldn’t need it. With a soft glow of magic on his saddlebags, the stallion began his spell with a simple chant.

Mold and mildew, dust and grime,

Let’s clean them all up this time.

An ancient house, far too large,

Let’s show the dirt who’s in charge.

My implements, I summon thee,

Upon this filth, your reign is free.

Clean this house, get it done,

So that I might have some fun.

From the saddlebags, a broom emerged. Then a feather duster, a dustpan, a mop, a bucket, and a towel. Then a second set. And a third.

And they were all moving of their own volition as they seemingly took in the state of the house and then turned to face the stallion that had called on them.

“Yes yes, I know, but Celestia gave me the house after its last owner passed some time ago,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “So it falls to me to get it clean. Which means it falls to you.”

One broom stood in front of the other implements and started pointing at various messes with its handle, before pointing at some of the cleaning utensils. The various devices floated off and began cleaning the house with vigor.

“You all take care now,” Aspect said as he flashed into his pegasus guise. “I’m going to go buy some soap for you. Do what you can without it, naturally, but I shouldn’t be long.”

It wasn’t long after he left his front door again, the sound of a faint tune playing through the house, that Aspect was interrupted. This time, from above, as a familiar form landed in front of him. One with a rainbow tail and mane.

“Hey Balanced,” she said. “This your place?”

“Yes, my daughter just gave it to me,” the stallion said with a sigh. “There is no way I can use all those rooms. She’s outwitted me once again.”

A majority of the ponies that Aspect might have said that to might have taken it to mean that his daughter was wildly successful and clever. However, six mares knew better. Rainbow Dash was one of them.

Rainbow looked at the simply massive house and whistled. “Wow, who knew Celestia was such a ‘Daddy’s Little Princess’.”

“You wouldn’t know it by the way she keeps trying to stick it to me,” the stallion grumbled. “So what if I saved the ponies a dozen times. I was just doing what I’m meant to. Don’t need a reward for that. And I don’t see anyone else lifting this sword.”

“Pfft, I could totally rock that sword,” Rainbow puffed out her chest. “Don’t wanna show you up or anything buuuut…”

Aspect merely raised an eyebrow as the sword...its sapphire pommel somehow seemed to be glinting. Ominously. “You know, the guard said that too,” the stallion said as he continued his trek into town.

“Pfft, well the guard can’t really hold a candle to the best flyer in Equestria now, can they?” Rainbow flapped lazily beside him. “I mean, I’d have totally taken that dragon if Shy hadn’t stepped in.”

“As would I have,” Aspect nodded. “My more...noble form would have gotten him to back off,” Aspect said. “It’s how me and Smaug met.” Fortunately, Rainbow Dash was not the element of Honesty. “So, still feel like trying out the sword?”

“Can I?” Rainbow squeaked before coughing into her hoof and looking away. “I-I mean, sure. I could give it a go. No complaining when I’m better than you though.”

“Give a try,” Aspect said as the town loomed closer. “Just keep in mind, the sword chose the wielder, not the other way around.”

“Alrighty then!” Rainbow nodded and landed in front of him. “Hoof it over B.A.”

Aspect let out a chuckle and pulled the sword from beneath his saddlebags, laying on on the ground between them, the hilt pointing towards her. “I’ll come back once I’m done buying some soap to clean my house with,” the stallion said as he just walked further into the town.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rainbow grabbed the hilt and went to run after him, only to fall roughly when the sword refused to move. “H-Huh? Hey! What the hay!?”

The sword seemed to weigh a ton. How had Aspect moved with it on?!

“He musta used some sort of spell on it,” she muttered as she stared at the offending object. “Haha Balanced, real funny…”

The sword’s sapphire flashed once. Almost as if it was looking at her.

“What the buck are you looking at?” she frowned and yelled at it. “I’m totally gonna lift the hay out of you!!” She grabbed the hilt with both hooves and started to beat her wings as hard as she could. “You’re. Not gonna. BEAT MEEEEEE!!!!!”

The sword, however, was just as immobile as ever. It lay on the road and the sapphire flashed multiple times. If you really were paranoid, you might think that it was doing more than looking at the pegasus. Perhaps even laughing at her.

“Oh, so you’re gonna laugh at me now?” she panted and wiped her brow. “Okay. Now it’s on! She tightened her grip and started flapping harder and faster…

She was going at it for quite a while, long enough that Balanced started heading back. And as he got closer, he saw the mare was rather red in the face…

Then a loud ‘pop’ filled the air and she gave a high-pitched yelp before falling over, her right leg hanging limply at her side.

“Okay, that’s not good,” he said as he calmly walked over, picked the sword up, and stuck it under his saddlebags before inspecting her. “Yup, you went and dislocated your leg because you tried to pick up a magical artifact just a little too hard. I can fix it, though you’re gonna want to be laying down when I do. And probably want something to bite on.”

“Doesn’t… hurt…” she mumbled, the mare was obviously in pain, but her stubbornness made her refuse reality. Aspect poked her leg gently with one of his hooves. She let out a loud yelp and glared at him

“That hurt! You stupid Celestia-damned motherb-”

“My point exactly,” Aspect said calmly. “And please refrain from talking about her like that.”

“Mmrrrr, fine…” she muttered. “Just… hurry up and fix it.”

“My place,” Aspect said. “We’ll fix it there. I saw a sofa that should be clean enough to lay on by now.”

Rainbow groaned as she tried to move, but seeing as how her shoulder and wing muscles were connected…

That started a tirade of inventive swears that even Aspect hadn’t heard of before.

“Yup, looks like I’m carrying you there,” he said as he managed to maneuver the mare onto his back with no small amount of effort. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to carry a pony as a pony.

“Urgh, being carried around by a stallion…” she muttered, blushing about having to be carried. “You better not tell anypony about this. Or I will prank you so hard!”

“First, I raised Tia and Lulu. The world’s experts on pranking. Second, you chose to keep trying to lift the magical artifact after I gave you several hints that that might not be the wisest idea, so this situation is all of your making.” There was silence for a moment before the stallion spoke again. “Granted, I probably didn’t help matters at all by not telling you directly that if you haven’t drunk from the now-extinct well, that you can’t lift the sword…”

“Oh wow, you’re such an ass,” she muttered. “I’m pranking you anyway. And even if the Princesses are prankers, which I doubt, I have a Pinkie Pie. So check and mate!”

“The worst pranking spree back in the hidden valley was when Surprise and Tia and Lulu waged war on one another,” the stallion said. “No chair was safe. No drink escaped being treated with hot-sauce. And lemon juice on all the food. Doorways with buckets as far as the eye could see. I had to escape outside for a week as they burned themselves out.”

“Sounds like a Friday,” Rainbow nodded. Speaking of… they hadn’t pranked Twilight enough yet. The disappearing ink was fun and all, but they needed something that would really drive her nuts.

“Pinkie Pie once filled every bottle of shampoo with itching powder, then glued bubble wrap to everypony’s hooves while they slept.”

“Once my daughters were capable of more than simple magic,” Aspect said as they neared the house, “They routinely practiced their illusions. Dressing up as each other, just to mess with my head. I’ve been a dad to the two most troublesome fillies in Equestria. You can’t top that.”

“I’d respond with ‘Pinkie Pie’, but my leg still hurts,” she replied and groaned. “Are we there yet? You’re walking like a snail.”

“Pardon me if I want to avoid jostling you and if this house is quite a distance from the main town,” the stallion replied as they finally neared the front door. “Now, brace yourself. This is probably going to seem a little odd…”

“Oh yeah, cause an immortal sword-wielding stallion is your typical Thursday,” Rainbow’s snark could have choked a hydra.

Then the door was open, and they were both witness to the army of cleaning implements working without a glow of magic on them to make the house more livable.

“What. The. Buuuuuuck?’ Rainbow blinked.

“Just a small bit of sorcery that I set into motion before leaving,” the stallion said as he noticed that the couch had indeed been cleaned and walked over next to it. “Okay, I’m gonna try to move you to the couch without jostling your leg...oh, wait, duh. We’re inside now.” There was a flash, and suddenly Rainbow was on top of an alicorn.

“Heh, knew I could make you rise to the occasion,” she chuckled.

“Would you like to be jostled?” he returned. “Magic is the safest way to do it. So up we go.” With that, a soft glow surrounded her form and lifted her gently from his back before placing her on the couch.

“Just can’t take a joke,” she mumbled and lay back. This couch was pretty darned comfy actually. She’d make a note to make it one of her napping spots later.

Aspect shrugged his saddlebags off before sticking his muzzle into one...before sticking even more than could logically fit into the saddlebag. Rainbow heard things rustling and clanking from in there.

What the heck was he keeping in there?

“So uh…” she fumbled around for a topic. “What was your wife like? You know, the Princess's Mom. Is she still around?”

Aspect’s ears flicked as he grabbed ahold of something and started pulling it out, revealing itself to be a long tree branch shaped to look like a staff. “Well,” he said once his mouth was clear, “Written Script was a lovely mare. She was kind and understanding and far more patient than I ever was. She helped me when it mattered most, and I did my best to defend her.” Then he sighed. “But...see, she drank from the Fountain of Eternity when she was pregnant. So most of the power from the fountain went to the two lives she was carrying...she was only ageless. Not immortal.”

“Ageless?” Rainbow forgot about her pain for a moment. “So like, she’s still around then? And, how come they don't teach this in school?”

“There was a manticore,” Aspect whispered. “It came by one day when I wasn’t there.”

Rainbow gasped. “You-you mean she…?”

“I found it and gave her a decent burial,” he said with a shake of his head. “It was the least I could do at that point.”

“I’m… I'm really sorry,” Rainbow said, her bravado bleeding away as her ears folded back. “I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s fine,” the stallion said with a wave of his hoof. “I came to terms with it years ago.” He held the long staff up with the other hoof and smiled at her. “Now, we’re here for you, yes? You’re going to want to bite down on this, so say ‘aaah’.”

Her expression said it all really. Still, she vocalised it nonetheless.

“Seriously?”

“I don’t want to have you screaming profanities or my daughter’s name when I fix your leg, so yes, seriously. Open wide and bite down on this.”

Begrudgingly, the mare bit down on the stick as she glared at him.

“Now this,” he said as he drew close and grasped her dislocated leg with both of his forehooves. “Is going to hurt like a son of a diamond dog. But it will only be for a moment, and it will be fixed. Brace yourself.”

Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath…

Then the stallion wrenched her leg back into its normal position with all the strength of an Earth Pony.

“MRRPH FOF AFFF—!!!” Rainbow screeched through her impromptu bit, biting down so hard it’d leave teeth marks in the wood. Tears stung the corners of her eyes as she tried blinking them away, if the pain wasn’t so bad that she could open them in the first place.

“And that is that,” Aspect said. “It’ll die down over time. It’ll probably be nothing more than a dull throb in a few minutes. Still, you should stay off that leg for the rest of the day.”

Rainbow spat the stick out and groaned. “I don’t know what’s worse,” she said and a tiny smirk appeared on her face. “The sore shoulder, or the fact I had your wood in my mouth…”

“Eh, it’s not the first time I’ve done this,” Aspect said with a shrug as he picked the staff up and stuck it back in his bags.

“I don’t wanna know, on either account,” Rainbow replied as she rubbed her leg. “Well this is a great way to spend the night huh?”

“As long as you promise to take it easy on that leg, you can help me explore this place. Haven’t even learned the layout yet. Oh, that reminds me…” The stallion cleared his throat and called out, “Atten-SHUN!”

Instantly, the tools that had been hard at work cleaning the house lined up in front of him. The stallion nodded and pulled out no less than three bottles of soap from his saddlebags. “Right, I brought back the soap like I said I would,” he said, before pouring a little into the buckets and onto the towels. “As you were,” he told them, causing the tools to fly off again, back at cleaning the house up.

“That… is so weird,” Rainbow said. “So, they just do whatever you tell them to?”

“A bit of rhyming magic and freeform sorcery brought them to a state of awareness,” the stallion said. “They’ll be animate until the house is clean, at which point, contract filled, and they’ll go back to normal. They can take simple instructions, but they won’t really stop until the house is more livable than it was when I walked in.”

“So like, if I told that scrubbing brush there to do… like, I dunno. ‘Scrub your hooves’?”

The brush floated over and started polishing the stallion’s hooves. He shot Rainbow Dash an unamused look...before the brush floated over to her and started doing the same thing to her. Well he tried, expect the mare was now clinging to the rafters, a dotted outline was all that remained of her on the couch.

“Don’t. Touch. My hooves,” she growled not unlike an angry cat. The brush just did the best impression of a shrug it could before going back to its job.

“Does somepony have sensitive hooves?” the stallion asked seriously. “I think there’s a lotion for that…”

“I just hate ponies touching my hooves alright!” She lowered herself back down to the ground. She sat there in silence for a moment. “Thanks for fixing my leg… even if it was totally your fault in the first place.”

“Yeah, I know,” the stallion said. “I really didn’t expect you to try so hard, but then again, I should expect as such from the mare to bear Loyalty.”

“Yeah, well…” She just mumbled something and got up to head for the door. “Thanks Aspect, but I should really—” She was cut off as a loud peal of thunder cracked, lighting up the house for a second. Rainbow blinked and facehooved. “I forgot about the storm…”

“Hey, I got plenty of space here,” the stallion said with a wave of one wing. “Feel free to stick around if you want. I just need to find all the rooms in here.”

“Stay… with a stallion?” The mare couldn’t help as a small blush crept across her face. “Y-Yeah, sure… why not.” Her sentence was punctuated by a loud rumble of her stomach.

“First order, kitchen,” he said. “Good thing I also thought to buy food in the town. Didn’t think this place would come with any.”

Rainbow nodded and followed him. She had no idea where she was going anyway. It took them three rooms before they found what looked like a miniature banquet hall, which cheered the stallion up a little.

“Okay, so the kitchen should be off of this one,” he said. “I’ll take that door in the back.”

“And I’ll take this one I suppose…” Rainbow looked around and shrugged. “I’m half-expecting your butler to pop up or something…”

“Don’t give her ideas,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “Don’t have one, don’t need one. I hardly need this place, but I don’t have a plan to give it back in play just yet.”

“Iiiiinteresting,” Rainbow laughed as she walked in her door, only to find a pantry filled with dust and cobwebs. “Whelp, this isn’t it… unless you wanna serve up some spiders and dust bunnies for dinner.”

“Nope, but thanks for finding that. Leave it open and the tools will clean it up when they get to here,” Aspect said as he opened his door. “Aha, found it! Hey boys! We could use your help over here!”

A team of tools floated into the banquet hall before taking note of the pantry and kitchen. The duster and dustpan split over to the pantry, while the mop, broom, and bucket went to the kitchen.

“And in about ten minutes, give or take, we should have a place to make dinner in,” Aspect said as he sat back and watched.

“This is like some little filly’s movie,” Rainbow said as she watched the implements bounce around.

“Well I’m certainly not going to clean every inch of this massive place by myself,” Aspect huffed. “Had enough of that back in the hidden valley.”

“So what’s this ‘hidden valley’ you keep mentioning?” Rainbow asked as she sat at the large dining table. “Your old home or something?”

“Something like that, yes,” Aspect said as he watched the tools at work. “There was Dream Valley, which was the original home of the ponies, and then there was a hidden valley between a few mountains not too far from Paradise Estate. It’s where Written Script and I settled down to raise her children.”

“Dream Valley?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow as the pegasus completely missed the meaning of his words. “Where in Equestria is that?”

“It was located somewhere to the north-east,” Aspect said. “Before the Windegos came and tried to freeze it all over anyways. I led the ponies to the country that would become Equestria, made sure they were safe and all, and then went back to try and fix the problem.”

“‘Try and fix’?” Rainbow echoed, leaning forward in her seat. “So… you failed?”

“Well, the Windegos and their leader are some of my kids, so-”

“WHAT!?” Rainbow was suddenly in his face. “Whaddaya mean ‘your kids’? I thought the Princesses were.”

“They are,” Aspect said with a groan. “This is where it gets complicated.” He thought for a moment, before nodding and taking the sword off of his back and putting it on the floor. “Okay, think of it like this. Anything that drank from the Fountain of Eternity became at the very least, ageless. If they drank enough, immortal. And if they gorged themselves, became an Aspect of Equus. My...job, for a lack of better words, was to go around and right all the wicked Aspects.” He tapped the sword for emphasis. “Then I took the essence they embodied, and crafted something new with it.”

Rainbow's head slowly tilted and Aspect could swear he heard her ticking.

“Uh… wat?”

“Example,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof as the sword flashed. Suddenly, his hoof was on fire. Though he didn’t seem to be in pain.

“Whoa!” Rainbow leapt back and stared at him. “That… That is so cool!”

“From Lavan, the fiend of lava and flames, I got the essence of fire,” Aspect said, before the fire died down. “I took it and molded it, shaped it, and gave the dragons of the day and age magical fire breath, but that didn’t come close to using it all up. So I made a species with it. Technically, all Phoenixes are related to me.”

“...I'd like to call horseapples on that,” Rainbow said. “But I've seen weirder. Unicorn fights in Cloudsdale is up there somewhere.”

“They were weird to watch back in Dream Valley as well,” Aspect chuckled. “Anyways, King Charlatan and his son surrendered their essence of ice to me, so I made the Windegos and their king to watch over the north. Apparently, that whole ‘heart of ice’ thing went a little too far…”

“Yeesh, and I thought foals could be trouble,” Rainbow chuckled before her stomach growled again. “Urgh, are your friends done yet?”

“Just about,” Aspect said as the mop, bucket, and broom floated out of the kitchen. The dustpan and feather duster floated from the pantry into the kitchen for a moment, before they too floated away. “And done. Let’s unload this food and see about dinner.”

“Awesome,” Rainbow grinned as she grabbed the bags and zipped into the kitchen, a fading rainbow trail was all that was left. “Come on slowpoke,” she called from the kitchen.

“You’re really not one for doing things slow at all,” Aspect chuckled as he walked into the kitchen. “You remind me a lot of Firefly. She even spoke fast.”

That was when Rainbow came to a screeching halt. She slowly turned her head and looked at him.

“You… you knew… my mom?”

“Probably not your mom, more like your ancestor, most likely,” Aspect said with a shrug. “Remember, I’m old. I haven’t been in Equestria for a thousand years.”

“Y-Yeah. O’course…” Rainbow shook her head and forced a smile. “Right, so what's on the menu? I'm starving!”

“Right saddlebag,” Aspect said. “I put the food in there, to keep it away from the soap.”

Rainbow fished the food out and looked at it thoughtfully. “Hmm, I bet I could whip up a mean chilli salad with this. Maybe add a little pasta to it?”

“Feel free,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “I got plenty. The stipend Celly got me is pretty generous.”

“Sweet,” Rainbow nodded as she started. The mare paused and turned her head to look at him. “Just so we're clear. We are not telling anyone that I'm cooking for you, yeah?”

“Fine by me,” Aspect said with a shrug. “My cooking is decent, but I always called on Surprise to help me when she could spare the time.”

“The Wonderbolt?” Rainbow asked before facehooving. “Right, long time ago. I keep forgetting.” She turned back to the counter and went to work. The brash, tomcolt pegasus was surprisingly capable in the kitchen. First boiling the pasta, and once that was cooked and put in the fridge to chill, she started on the salad.

“She and that Pinkie friend of yours remind me a lot of each other,” Aspect said. “She liked to pop out of random places and say her name. Often at the worst times. Still a good friend to have around, but I don’t think the old Applejack of Dream Valley would have had near as many accidents if Surprise hadn’t been around to cause them.”

“Wait, you knew an Applejack?” Rainbow gave a scratchy laugh. “Next thing you know, you'll tell me you knew a Rainbow Dash as well.”

“No, but like I said, you remind me of the Firefly of Dream Valley, and I can point out another similarity, at least in the look department. There was a castle in the valley once, and looking over it was a graceful white unicorn with a beautiful violet mane and tail. She was kind and thoughtful to all the ponies that lived there...and I mistook your friend Rarity for Majesty when we first met.”

“Hah! Seriously? I think Rarity likes to think she's a Princess,” Rainbow chortled as she tossed the salad. “Prissy Prima Princess.” Rainbow switched her voice into a scarily good imitation of the mare. “I decree that all the ponies must dress in style and be fabulous!”

“Majesty was scarily powerful, though,” Aspect said with a smile. “She could turn trolls into trees, grant wishes, and perform all manner of transformation spells, to help her deal with any threat to the ponies that lived with her in her castle.”

“Whoa…” Rainbow gave a low whistle as she fetched the pasta from the fridge and mixed it with the salad. “I kinda wish I could meet these old friends of yours. Even if I'd totally beat Firefly in a race.”

“Well, I did put up a monument to them all before we left Dream Valley,” the stallion mused. “I suppose that’s about as close as you could really get these days. I’m not even sure if the old castles are still standing anymore.”

Rainbow paused and rubbed her head. “Sorry if I brought up any bad memories. I have a habit of not thinking before I talk…”

“You’d be surprised what an extended lifespan can do for giving you time to come to terms with situations,” Aspect smiled gently. “Plus, I know my old friends. They wouldn’t want me to mourn the fact that they’d died, but celebrate each new day as it came to me.” He sighed, before looking over at Rainbow. “Wanna know who Twilight reminds me of?”

“Huh? The egghead reminds you of somepony?” Rainbow got two plates and lay filled each with a generous serving.

“Two ponies, actually,” Aspect said as he pulled his plate closer. “The first is who she shares a name and general coloration with. Twilight the Wish-Granter, from Dream Valley. She could grant any wish made around her, if she so chose. She even gave up her own wish one starry night so that others could still wish on the stars. She was never selfish with her talent, only generous and kind.”

“First this Majesty, and now your Twilight? Sounds like wish granting was popular in the old days huh?” Rainbow sat down at the table and took a bite of her food. “Whoofs the sefond?”

“Well, the way she talks when she thinks nobody is listening reminds me a lot of Wind Whistler. She was a pegasus that used the longest, most convoluted words possible to explain something. She never did it to show off her intellect, that’s just how she was. And she was always the one with the soundest of plans.”

“Now that sounds more like Twilight,” Rainbow laughed. “Hey, maybe she'll sprout a pair of wings and really take after her.”

Aspect fell silent as he munched on his food, his ears twitching as he considered the possibility.

“So what about Flutters?” Rainbow asked as she munched on her salad, her face a little red from the heat of the chilli. “She remind you of anypony?”

“Oh, yes,” Aspect said as he was jolted out of the little ‘chat’ he’d had with Yggdrasil. “Posey. She was the gardener for the estate, and she just loved taking care of all the little flowers. Every single one got her love and care.”

“Sounds like Fluttershy alright,” Rainbow nodded her head as she sipped some milk. She found herself at a loss for a moment before a question popped into her head. “So, seeing as how you're not from around here. You got any questions?”

“Nah, I got a recap from Yggdrasil,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “He’s been a good son, keeping watch over the magic of the land and taming it ever since I made him. I know general things about Equestria. Plus I’m much more the learn-as-I-go type.”

“Fair enough,” Rainbow nodded and wolfed down the rest of her salad, before grabbing her glass and downing that too. “Haaaaah! That's much better.”

“I gotta say,” Aspect said with a nod as he finally finished his own dinner, “You make a pretty good simple meal. I hope I’ll be able to more fully stock this place in the near future, maybe get a preservation charm laid into the pantry. Keep things fresher longer. Then I’ll be able to make a good dinner regardless of the season.” He sighed as he looked at the table. “I miss the valley some days…”

“I can’t say I know how you feel,” Rainbow said, before looking away and blushing slightly. What? It was the chilli alright! “But, you seem like a cool guy, so I guess we can be friends if you want.”

“That’s sort of the reason my daughter sent me here,” the stallion chuckled. “Apparently wandering the world for a thousand years doesn’t make you many friends, and she’d like to see me rectify that.”

“So, you're the ‘New Twilight’ huh?” Rainbow giggled and hopped off of her chair. “Just be careful though Aspect. You’re making Pinkie wait for that party… she might just explode if you keep her too long. And Ponyville can't afford to clean up that much confetti and cake batter.”

“I told her to wait until I got a place of my own and was comfortable in it,” the stallion said with a shrug. “I’m honestly expecting any day after today.”

He could swear that the howling wind outside carried a Pink-flavoured giggle with it.

“I'll keep tomorrow free if I can,” Rainbow stretched. “You got a bathroom in here?”

“Maybe?” the stallion said with a shrug of his wings. “I only just got the place after all. I’m pretty sure it should have come with a map.”

“Well,” she hopped from side to side. “Imma go find one.” And like that, the mare vanished from the room and he could hear the sounds of slamming doors coming from deeper within the house.

“I sure hope this place came with one,” the stallion said. “It’d be downright irresponsible if it didn’t.”

He heard a victorious shout, followed by silence. A few minutes later, Rainbow returned and sighed happily.

“Down that corridor and the fifth door on the right,” she said. “Oh, and there's a bigass bedroom in the third door on the left and some massive room at the end of the hall. But it's only got a huge metal, light thingy on the roof and nothing else.”

“Sounds like a ballroom,” Aspect said with one ear flicking. “We had one in the Everfree. That castle is in such a state...Ah well. Celestia went and made another, so no real big deal.” He snorted once. “Seriously, I think she took some inspiration from Dream Valley. One castle is no longer used? Or can’t be used? Just make another, nobody will notice!”

“Well, I don't think anypony knows about the Everfree Castle, so… it worked?”

“And that’s the only slightly upsetting thing about it,” Aspect nodded. “Though I’m pretty sure I’m the last one who gets to complain about unnecessary castles.”

“Considering you practically live in one now?” Rainbow laughed as she looked around. “Oh man, I bet Spoiled and Filthy Rich are gonna be pissed you have a bigger house than them.”

“And also due to what I did the moment I managed to get my hooves on the Flashstone. It was another of those wish-granting artifacts back in Dream Valley, and I persuaded the last holder of it to give it over, promising I’d put it to better use.” A beat passed, and the stallion grinned. “Not one hour later in the hidden valley, did I conjure a castle into existence for us to live in.”

“I just cobbled some clouds together,” Rainbow shrugged. “I change and add to it every now and then.”

“I’m gonna have to see that at some point,” Aspect said. “Never thought giving pegasi the ability to interact with clouds the way they do would turn out this way, but I am not complaining.”

“Oh man, I should drag you off to Cloudsdale sometime,” Rainbow said with a smile. “Actually… the Young Fliers Competition comes up sometime soon. You should totally come see me blow everypony else out of the sky.”

“Sounds like a good time,” Aspect chuckled. “I’ll look into a bit of freeform sorcery to get my storm-causing nature under control before I go. From the name, it implies a city made of clouds, and I’d rather avoid turning the entire place into one giant storm cell.”

“Uh… yeah, that's probably a really good idea,” Rainbow gulped. A storm that big could probably wipe out Equestria. “And with that unsettling thought in my head. I'm gonna head off to bed. There’s gonna be a lot to clean up tomorrow.”

At the mention of those words, the various implements that had been cleaning the house lined up in the dining hall and promptly stopped being animated by magic. Fortunately, the buckets had been on the floor when that had happened. Apparently, the entire house was now clean.

“And I have picking up to do before I can look for my own bedroom,” Aspect said as he moved his saddlebags over to where the cleaning supplies had fallen. “You take care, miss Dash. See you in the morning.”

“Yeah, if you're up early enough,” Rainbow nodded and smiled. “And no ‘Miss’ stuff. Just Rainbow, Dash or any combination of the above.”

“As you will, Dash,” Aspect said with a smile. “Just so you know, I already know you’re faster than Firefly. She kept dreaming of a pony that could one day be faster than a rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash paused and smiled. “She sounds like a pretty cool pony Aspect.” She watched him leave as she fell back onto the couch and closed her eyes.

…

A moment later, they opened as her brow creased. “Wait… ‘watched her kids’? What does he mean by… ASPECT!!”

The stallion stuck his head back out of the hallway he’d walked down with a cheeky smile on his face. “Yeeeees?”

“You… you…!!” She waved a hoof at him. “The princesses… aren't your kids are they?”

“Full marks,” the stallion said with a nod. “I’m just their foster father. I’d say I adopted them, but really, they adopted me into their family.”

“Unbelievable…” Dash sighed and lay on the couch before smirking. “So, you haven't… for a thousand years?”

“Longer, if you can believe that,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I have no biological kids on Equus. All my children, I made with magic.”

“Maybe the stork will bring you some,” Rainbow snorted. “Well, on that note, g’night Aspect.”

“Night Rainbow,” the stallion said as he walked off to find that bedroom she’d talked about.

The next morning, when Aspect awoke from his restful night. The first thing he noticed was that Rainbow was gone, and the second was a plate of eggs and salad on the table with a small note.

‘Thanks for letting me crash here. The couch was comfy~

Next time, you can swing by my place and cook me dinner.

From Rainbow Awesome Dash.’

Aspect smiled and sat at the table, munching on the simple food she’d thrown together and nodding thoughtfully. She knew how to make some things really well. He’d have to look into repressing most of Arabus’ nature sooner than he thought so he could share some recipes from Dream Valley.

Though...he might have to ask the Applejack of this day and age if his land was capable of holding a tree like he’d like to plant. She was a farmer. Ah well, all a matter of course.

Rainbow looked around and sighed, there were leaves and tree branches everywhere. “Urgh, this is gonna take forever to clear up,” she groaned as she passed by Twilight’s place. She saw the mare standing on her balcony, sipping some coffee and a wide grin crossed the Pegasi’s muzzle. She landed on the railing, perching there as she stared at Twilight.

“Sup egghead?” She smiled widely. “I hope the storm wasn’t too rough on ya.”

“It was a little tumultuous, but Applejack, Rarity, and I all had a nice sleepover...well, it was at the very least enjoyable once we all worked out our differences,” Twilight said before sipping her coffee again.

“Hah, Aspect was right. You really do use big words like Wind Whistler.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Did you talk to him about some of his friends?” she asked. “He barely said anything to me when he was staying here…”

Rainbow nodded and rubbed her chest. “Huh? Oh yeah, I got caught out in the storm last night and Aspect let me crash at his place for the night. He told me a ton about his old friends and Dream Valley and his other kids. Oh, and I got to see some weird, freaky and cool magic. No biggie really.” She smirked and turned around, “Anyway, I got a ton to do. Later Twi!”

And with that, she rocketed off above the clouds...leaving Twilight to make several...interesting facial expressions as she considered all the information she’d had dumped on her. Eventually she settled on one word, shouted to the heavens.

“ASPECT!” she screamed, expressing all of her frustration in a single word.

And across the town, the stallion felt a chill go down his spine…

Author's Note

So hey, copying this entire mess after it was imported into another Gdoc, then using find and replace?

Really easy on the whole editing part. The tags weren't a problem at all.

Granted, I still would like to not have to USE that workaround...but you take what you can get.

Like the story? Consider tipping Aus and I a dollar on my Patreon. It's always appreciated and does help.

Half the funds will not go towards secret plans.

Chapter 05 - Interrogations are never gentle

There were very few times in Balanced Aspect’s life where he was downright afraid of a pony. The time when Luna had become the Nightmare certainly counted. Though he was more afraid for his daughters than of them.

This ranked a close second.

Twilight Sparkle stood in his doorway, her eyes blazing with righteous fury as she stared down the pony in front of her.

“You told Rainbow Dash! Of all ponies!?” Twilight took a step forward as a too-wide grin stretched its way across her face. “Oh my dear Aspect. You and I? We’re going to have a nice, long, talk~”

“I think there’s only one real answer to this,” the stallion said...before he vanished from sight, reappearing deeper in the house. “Nope!” Basic winking was something all the unicorn ponies from Dream Valley could do. And it was easily the most intuitive skill for him as well. He began his mad dash away from the crazy mare, winking where he could to cut across rooms.

The air cracked and he could smell burning ozone as Twilight appeared right in front of him with a flash of magenta light.

“I found you~”

The stallion rapidly backpedaled and began winking away again. He didn’t know how much space was in this house, but if it helped keep her away from him, he would be grateful for it!

He appeared in one room, it had some spartan furniture, two armchairs and a coffee table, all covered in dusty sheets. As he turned, her heard the door click and a barrier go up around the room.

And Twilight was sitting in one of the chairs.

“You’re just making this harder on yourself,” she cooed. “Come, sit with me. Let’s talk~”

Aspect sighed as a glow started to build up around his horn. “You can do this one of two ways,” he warned the mare. “The easy way, where you calm down. Or the hard way, where I have to perform sorcery to make you calm down.”

On one hoof, she’d get to see some new magic…

“Look Aspect, I just want to know what you told Rainbow,” Twilight said, now looking like her normal self. “I’d ask her, but she’s either forgotten half of it, made up her own stories, or simply won’t sit still long enough to tell it all.”

“It’s not like I told her everything anyways,” the stallion said. “So, what do you want to know?”

Twilight leaned forward as her eyes shone. “Everything!”

“Pick a spot,” Aspect chuckled. “Pick something to start with. I’m actually a talkative guy. The only problem the ponies back then had was believing me.”

“Yes!” Twilight pulled out a large tome, and it took a second, but Balanced Aspect noticed that every page was blank. “Alright, let’s start with this ‘Dream Valley’ that Rainbow mentioned. I poured through every atas and history book I could find. yet nothing with that name, much less an actual valley with something similar shows up.”

“Well, did you bring a map of Equus with you?” the stallion asked. “I could probably point out where it was.”

Twilight reached into her bag and produced said item. And it was an older one too, just to be sure. Ponyville wasn’t even on it. The stallion hummed as he looked it over, before pointing to the mountains north of the griffon lands.

“Up there,” he said. “I still had the Flashstone at that point in time, so when the valley started to freeze over thanks to the Windegos going a little out of control, I led the migration over to Equestria and simply willed a bridge into being at the narrowest point. It was a lovely place.”

“So… what happened to it then?” Twilight asked. As far as she knew, that whole area was uninhabitable now.

“I led the ponies here, to where they could survive, before going to where Ghelgeth and his kin made their home. It took me days to talk sense into him. But by then, the valley was ruined. I left it in the care of the Flutterponies, and they said they’d try to salvage what they could.”

“But, that area doesn’t exist anymore. It’s nothing but jagged mountains and sheer cliffs…” Twilight paused and frowned. “And, what’s a ‘Flutterpony’?”

“You should have seen them,” the stallion sighed. “They were the perfect fusion between butterflies and ponies, and they were willing to lend their aid whenever the ponies were in more trouble than they could handle. I don’t know...where they went. I wanted to go back to the valley in my wanderings, but I don’t think I could handle it. Too many memories without the ones I made them with.”

“I see,” Twilight said quietly. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you. I get… carried away sometimes.”

“Like I said to Miss Dash,” Aspect said with a wave of a hoof, “I’ve had more than enough time to come to terms with what I’ve lost. It’s just such a pity I had to give up the artifacts from Dream Valley, but I wanted Yggdrasil to grow strong. And magical artifacts make for darn good food for a magical tree. Besides, it’s not like we didn’t get them back in some form or another.”

“Yggdrasil?” Twilight’s curiosity peaked again. “A magical tree?”

“Mmhmm,” the stallion said with a nod. “Planted him right over the remains of the Fountain of Eternity and gave him the artifacts from Dream Valley. Also gave him a bit of magic from, well, everything I’ve ever slain, so he would be connected to the magic of Equus as a whole. It’s his job to tame the magic of Equus, and he’s done a damn fine job of it.”

“So… Yggdrasil is still around?” Twilight asked, getting more excited. “Could… I see him?”

“You might one day,” the stallion chuckled. “I created a fair few kids when I went about righting the aspects. All of them just as immortal as what they’d been crafted from.”

“Oohh~” Twilight’s eyes danced with glee and she started to write, both his words and her thoughts on the matter. “Okay, so Rainbow mentioned a few other things as well. Like some of your old friends?”

“Yeah, a lot of you remind me of them,” Aspect said with a fond smile. “You, for example, share a name with the Twilight from Dream Valley, but she granted wishes to those that were nearby. Your mannerisms, though remind me a lot more of Wind Whistler, a pegasus fond of using lengthy words when saying something like ‘that wouldn’t work’ would do.”

“I do not needlessly extend my words for the sake of showing off the extent of my vocabulary!” Twilight replied with a small frown. “That’s preposterous.”

“She didn’t really do it to show off either, it was just how she was,” Aspect said with a shrug. “Her intellect saved us on more than one occasion, as she always came up with the soundest of plans.”

“Well, I wish I could claim that for myself, but I can’t,” Twilight replied and eased back into her chair. “If not for my friends, I’d have never have stopped Nightmare Moon in the first place.”

“Ponies are always strongest when they work together,” the stallion agreed. “And I don’t believe I ever thanked you for saving my daughter from her madness.” He then sighed and looked at the ground, muttering something that faintly sounded like ‘my fault’.

“I honestly had no idea she was really Princess Luna,” Twilight admitted, not hearing his last comment. “When we used the Elements, I thought she’d simply be sealed away in the moon again. But, you’re welcome none-the-less.”

“The Elements are strongest when they’re wielded by more than one pony,” Aspect said. “My daughters managed to do great things with them together. When Luna was sealed away, Celestia lost the ability to use them. She couldn’t very well harmonize with herself. And now the burden has passed to you and your friends.” He smiled again as he looked up at her. “I do hope you will be able to handle all the things that might need to be combated with their magic.”

“I think it would be better if we never had to use them again,” Twilight said quietly. “I mean, what else could pop up that would require their power?”

“You don’t want to know,” Aspect said with a shudder. “There were a few creatures back in the bad old days that I didn’t kill, but were simply sealed away. I dread to imagine any of them making a comeback.”

“You know what, even I don’t think I want to,” Twilight replied. She knew Aspect was powerful, but if these monsters were too tough for even him…

There was suddenly a furious banging at his door, one that made Twilight jump. Aspect’s form flashed back to his pegasus guise as he walked to the front. Eventually.

There was a lot of space in his house, alright?

After what had to have been at least five minutes of just walking through rooms, the stallion reached the front door and pulled it open. And just as suddenly, he was shoved back inside as Twilight’s friends all crowded him.

“Shhh!” Pinkie whispered. “We came to warn you Aspect.”

“Zecora’s in town,” Applejack nodded. “We gotta stay inside.”

“Oh, a zebra?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen one. A few hundred years at least.”

“Ya can’t go out there!” Applejack exclaimed. “She’ll put a curse on ya!”

“Oh please,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “A proper curse takes time, the right ingredients, and a knack for sorcery. Which Celly tells me they’ve all but managed to confirm is nearly dead in this day and age.”

“But that’s just it,” Applejack continued. “She lives… in the Everfree Forest.”

“That place is so spooky,” Fluttershy added.

“And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff!” Pinkie jumped up and down. “She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!” The mare took a deep breath...

“Ahem,” the stallion said, holding up a hoof. “May I ask a simple question?”

“Yeah, what?” Rainbow asked.

“What are your actual experiences with her to support this line of thinking?”

“Aspect’s right,” Twilight stated. “This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors. Now tell me; what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?”

“Well, she comes by Ponyville once a month,” Rainbow started.

“Oooh, spooky,” Twilight deadpanned.

“Why, I’m just as spooky, considering I got here not a week ago,” the stallion agreed.

“Then she just… lurks by the stores,” Rarity trembled.

“I’m shaking in my horseshoes,” Twilight replied dryly.

“Ever consider that she might be trying to visit, but nopony is ever open? Hardly friendly of you all,” Balanced sniped.

“Then she just… digs at the ground,” Fluttershy added and hid behind Pinkie.

“Oh my!” Twilight gasped with all the mock-shock she could muster.

“You know what, it’d be easy to confirm what’s going on if any of you ever...talked to her,” the stallion posed.

“Seriously,” Twilight sighed. She could feel a headache coming on.

“Yeah, well I heard she eats hay!” Pinkie declared.

“Pinkie, I eat hay, you eat hay!” Twilight almost yelled.

“Yeah, well it’s the eeeeeevil way she eats hay,” Pinkie waved her forehooves. Then she started to sing…

“She's an evil enchantress

She does evil dances

And if you look deep in her eyes

She'll put you in trances

Then what will she do?

She'll mix up an evil brew

Then she'll gobble you up

In a big tasty stew

Soooo... Watch out!”

“Catchy,” Twilight snarked.

“You know what,” Aspect said. “This is just sad. I used to be able to count at least five separate species of ponies back in the days of Dream Valley, and none of them were as scared of each other as you all are over one. Simple. Zebra!”

“This is utterly ridiculous,” Twilight let out a loud, exasperated sigh. “Aspect isn’t even a pony! And yet you’re all fine with him.”

“He’s not…” Rainbow started.

“A pony…?” Rarity concluded.

The five mares screamed and bolted from the house, even Fluttershy, but she was always scared. Pinkie was probably just doing it because everypony else was.

“Oh for buck’s sake,” Twilight facehooved.

“Okay, now I need to know,” Aspect breathed deeply. “Does the town have a lake in it anywhere? I want to see what happens when the ponies of this town meet the Seaponies.”

“Seaponies aren’t real,” Twilight said. “Unlike a Zebra, who is getting all this slander because everypony in this town is a complete—”

“The seaponies are very much real,” Aspect said, already fishing around in his saddlebags. “You just need to know...how to call for-aha!” He pulled out a simple seashell from his pack. “As I was saying. You just need to know how to call for them.” He winked at the mare. “So, how about you tell me if the town has a lake, I go there, and you go actually talk to the zebra of the hour?”

“Fine,” Twilight said. “Go and play pretend with your seashells. I’m going to sort this problem out once and for all.” And with that, she marched from his home to go and find Zecora.

Aspect rolled his eyes and walked out, taking to the skies and looking at the empty streets. There, on the edge of the town, a lake lay waiting for him. He flew and landed near the shore, before winding up and throwing the seashell they’d given him into the lake. And while he waited for a reply, he simply sat on the shore and hummed the tune the seaponies always sang when they appeared.

“Shoo be doo,” the stallion hummed. “Shoo shoo be doo, shoo be doo, shoo shoo be doo~”

An hour passed before there was any real movement on the lake. But when they did happen, the stallion looked up and smiled widely.

Ripples on the lake. Shadows in the water.

And when three pony-like forms breached the surface, the stallion grinned so hard, he felt his cheeks starting to hurt.

“Shoo be doo~” the seaponies sang in concert. “Shoo shoo be doo~ Shoo be doo, shoo shoo be doo~”

“It’s so nice to see some of Neptune’s subjects,” the stallion said as he waved.

“The shell was meant for a human in distress,” one of the seaponies said. “Why do you have it?”

“Ah, well, funny story,” the stallion said, before pointing at the sword still on his side. “I sort of am that human still. I’m just in disguise. And it’s not an emergency, I just wanted to show the residents of Equestria their more aquatic cousins. Seeing as how they’re currently in a bit of a tizzy about a zebra of all things.”

“The king has wanted better relations with Equestria for a while now,” one mused. “Prove that you are who you say you are. Show us some magic that only the human could wield.”

With a sigh and a flash of the sword, the stallion glared at a portion of the lake, that rapidly turned into a small ice floe. “Will that do?” he asked once he turned off his icy stare.

“That it does,” the third seapony said with a nod. “So...what do we do? Just wait here for a pony to come by?”

“That works for me, though could one of you get my seashell back for me please?” the stallion asked. “I’d like to be able to call you again if I actually need to.”

One went below the surface of the water, before returning a moment later with the shell in her mouth. With a concentrated effort on the seapony’s part, a bubble formed on the lake’s surface, and she stuck the shell into it before willing it to float over to the stallion on the shoreline. Aspect gratefully took his shell back and smiled at the blatant control over water.

“So I see you all took quite well to the ability to control the waters like that,” he said, chuckling softly. “Always knew you lot would.”

“Of course we would,” one of the seaponies spoke up. “We’re seaponies. We were already attuned to water. The ability to make it do what we wanted as long as we sang was a wonderful idea.”

He didn’t have to wait long as Twilight approached, looking a little worse for wear.

“Well that could have gone better,” she sighed and he noticed a strange blue flower stuck in her tail.

“Uh-oh,” Aspect said as he backed up. Out of all the things in Equestria. There was one thing he was allergic to, or had such adverse effects that he wished he was only allergic to it. He’d touched Poison Joke once. Never again.

He’d been stuck as a pink pony for three. Days.

“Twilight, do me a favor and take the flower out of your tail?” he asked the mare. “I’m allergic.”

“Huh?” She spun around and looked at her tail. “Oh, one got stuck? They were everywhere in the forest.” She lifted it out with her magic and tossed it aside. “There.”

“Thank you,” the stallion sighed. If there was one thing he never wanted to deal with again, it was Poison Joke. “So, what do you think of my friends?”

“Shoo be doo~” the seaponies sang from the middle of the lake.

“Friends? What… friends?” she stared at the lake and Aspect could literally hear her brain grinding to a halt. “Ah.. oh ahah, hilarious. You got a few ponies to sit in the lake and pretend to be seaponies. Real great Aspect. But a bit too far for a joke right.”

“It looks like she needs more proof,” Aspect said to the three seaponies. They all nodded, and the two on the edge swam away a bit and began humming their iconic song. Soon, a bubble formed around the seapony in the middle, lifting her up out of the lake and clearly showing off her fishlike lower half.

Twilight’s horn glowed for a second, but nothing happened. Well, nothing aside from her shocked expression.

“It’s… it’s not an illusion,” she gasped. “H’ooohmigosh! They’re real!?!”

“The seaponies are as real as you or me,” Aspect said as the seapony in the air was floated back into the lake. “They were good friends of mine once, and could be again, if Neptune remembers me.”

“He does,” the three seaponies chimed.

“Though he mostly said something along the lines of ‘Get our three fastest swimmers over to that shell now,’” one said.

“Yeah, he knew if you were calling, it was desperate,” the second one added.

“Didn’t know it was just a social visit...granddad~”

“G-Grand...dad!?” Twilight blinked slowly and turned her head. “N-Not only… are Seaponies real. But you...But you...But you…”

The three seaponies giggled at that as Aspect shook his head.

“Not like that,” he said. “Neptune is another of my children. Think of him like a Seapony version of Celestia or Luna. He’s in charge of the ocean.”

“Yup!” one said. “And he calls us all his children.”

That did it. Twilight Sparkle let out a small groan as her worldview shattered and she fainted on the spot.

“I think I broke her,” the stallion chuckled. “Ah well. Take a message back to Neptune for me? About how this town could do with a few more Seaponies showing up? Heck, how there’s very little seapony action in my life in general?”

“We can do that,” the three chimed.

“Though we do have the rest of the day to just lounge about,” one mused.

“We could spend it getting to know the locals,” another agreed.

“And it’d make for a more full report to take back to Neptune,” the final one concluded.

“So we’re staying,” they said in unison.

“Fair enough,” Aspect said as he managed to get Twilight Sparkle on his back with no small amount of maneuvering. “I’ll just take her home and see you three later then.”

“Bye granddad~” they waved as the pegasus began the trot back to Ponyville proper. Those seaponies would soon get to know a very excitable mint-colored unicorn…

When Twilight awoke, she groaned softly as she rolled over in bed.

“Urgh… what a weird dream,” she muttered as she sat up and rubbed the side of her head. Her mane appeared to be a mess, so after some shuffling and getting her tired limbs to work again, she made her way to the dresser and grabbed her manebrush…

Twilight’s ear-piercing scream could be heard from halfway across town.

Aspect merely rolled out of bed, blinked a few times, and realized what that must be. “Ah. Twilight is getting to know Poison Joke as well as I did,” the stallion grumbled, though he was smiling as he did. He could only imagine the effects on her.

For him, the fact that he was not waking up pink and with a girly voice meant it hadn’t affected him. One or the other was bad, but that flower just loved to emasculate him.

There was some commotion from outside. And when he looked out his window…?

A white ball of tangled hair.

A cyan pegasus with backwards wings, being ridden by the tiniest pony he had ever seen.

Pinkie with her tongue trailing behind her.

Twilight running, as her horn flopped around like a wet noodle.

And a completely normal-looking Fluttershy.

“Ah, well, they’ve all had their experiences with the flower,” he said. “Though, odd how Fluttershy out of all of them is unaffected. Ah well.” He shrugged as he recalled the zebras on staff had been the ones to eventually supply the cure to the Joke back in the days when there was a palace in the Everfree. And that after his run-in with the plant, they’d kept a good stock of the stuff on hoof.

He figured some ponies were about to find out that their pride wasn’t too tasty and just sat back and waited for them to connect the dots.

Then he realised. This also meant that the only six ponies he knew would be out of town for the time being…

He swore, sometimes he could almost hear Yggdrasil laughing at him across the ether.

“Yes, fine, dammit, alright, I’ll follow the silly ponies into the Everfree,” he muttered. “If only so they don’t get eaten by a random manticore.”

With a check of his saddlebags, sword, and disguise, the pegasus followed the six into the forest at a discreet distance.

When he caught up to them, they were all crowded around a house built into a tree. Kind of, a spookier version of Twilight’s. And Aspect could see the multitude of Zebra decorations and masks.

And then he heard something he would never forget.

Fluttershy singing.

In the deepest, richest baritone he had ever heard.

It was a struggle to hold in his laughter at what he was hearing, but he managed it by sheer dint of it being that same song Pinkie had been singing the other day, to promote fear about the Zebra.

“You saw those terrible things,” Rarity said once the song had finished. “Now do you believe us Twilight?”

This was the sticking point. Would she fall sway to their rumors?

“Scary looking masks, confusing incantations, and a great big bubbling cauldron?” Twilight sighed and looked at the hut. “Everything is pointing to Zecora being... bad. Or... what if Zecora is just making soup?”

He heard a voice from inside the hut, but was too far away to make out what it said. But the effect on the six mares?

“What if she's making Apple Bloom soup?!” Twilight exclaimed and the ponies screamed.

“Ah’m comin’ fer ya Apple Bloom!” Applejack yelled in her teeny-tiny voice and cracked the reins she had on Rainbow Dash. The aerial pony yelped and crashed through the door of the hut, the sounds of destruction and Zebrican yelling could be heard as the others charged in as well.

“And just as I thought,” the stallion sighed. “Well, at least I get to practice my rhyming for a reason other than my sorcery.”

As he stepped out of the bushes, a little earth pony filly walked up behind him.

“Oh, heya mister. What are y’all doin’ out here?”

“Catching up to my friends, and I fear I may need to make amends,” the stallion replied. “They let their fears turn them quite silly, they all acted like they were just fillies.”

More yelling and Apple Bloom frowned. “What in the hay is goin’ on in there?” She trotted forward and past the broken door. Almost right away, the yelling ceased.

Aspect walked up to the door as well and sighed as he saw the destruction they’d caused in such a short time. “I must apologize for my friends,” he said to the zebra. “Normally they are not so destructive in their ends.”

“How dare you!” Zecora yelled.“They come into my home and ruin my work, then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?” Zecora was understandably, quite pissed.

“These ponies are a skittish lot,” Aspect explained. “The days they encounter something strange? More often, they do not.”

“You ruined my horn!” Twilight exclaimed.

“You made me look ridiculous,” Rarity added.

“You made me sound ridiculous,” Fluttershy’s deep tone echoed.

Zecora narrowed her eyes. “It is unwise to venture down this road, your actions will make my anger explode!”

“Do not anger the shaman, please,” Aspect said. “If you are wise, you will get on your knees.”

“Yer such a silly filly,” Apple Bloom giggled to Twilight. “Did they finally get all that ‘curse’ nonsense into yer head? Remember Zecora’s warnin’?”

Twilight closed her eyes. “The blue flowers…”

“That plant is much like poison oak, but it’s results are like a joke,” Zecora said curtly. “I was preparing a cure with Apple Bloom, until you charged in here with cries of doom.”

“I am all too aware of the flower’s power,” Aspect said with a nod. “Fortunately, its effects are easy to scour.”

Zecora turned and gave him a polite smile. “So we finally meet, O’ Aspect of Harmony. Do you accompany this rude little army?”

“I was unaware you knew of my name, or that in this place I had any fame,” Aspect said with a polite bow. “Their attitudes I do not explain, as even to me, there has been rudeness without refrain.”

“Your stories still go around, it’s been so long, we feared you cold in the ground,” Zecora said and looked at the six mares.

“The cure is easy,” Apple Bloom piped up. “All ya gotta do is take a bubble bath.”

“But I checked every book in the library,” Twilight said. “None of them had the cure.”

“This is the book you see,” Zecora pulled out the green-colored tome. “Sad that you lack it in your library.”

“Actually, I do have this book,” Twilight admitted, looking quite ashamed. “But I didn't look inside because the title was so… Weird. Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super. I...I... I'm so sorry, Zecora. I had the answer the whole time, if only I had bothered to look inside.”

Zecora chuckled and shook her head. “Maybe next time you will take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book.”

“To judge by the exterior is rather thin,” Aspect agreed. “It is where the hatred Windegos feed on begins.”

“Do ya think you’d still help them?’ Apple Bloom asked the zebra.

“Mix a bath, I certainly will. But I need a herb from Ponyville.”

“And whenever Zecora goes into town, all the shops are mysteriously closed,” Apple Bloom deadpanned. Aw, she was snarking already~

“I think the cure for that in these mares can be found, assuming they can be bothered to spread good words around,” Aspect snarked with her.

“I think we can help you with that,” Twilight laughed sheepishly.

In town, six mares, one filly. A zebra and a stallion walked as ponies screamed and fled.

“Look Rose! How awful!”

“The wicked enchantress has cursed them all.”

“The horror, the horror!”

Ponies screamed and panicked as they bolted.

“Run, ponies! Run!” Daisy shouted.

Twilight sighed and walked up to the house that the Flower mares had run into. She knocked on the door and when Daisy poked her head out?

“We need to talk,” Twilight said.

“I hope these experiences have not colored your view,” Aspect said as he stood near Zecora. “Perhaps now with the town you could start anew.”

“These mares have proven that they are sorry,” Zecora nodded. “This might be the end of the chapter, but it is just the start of the story.”

“Perhaps I could come and see you again,” the stallion offered. “I would not mind having a new zebra friend.”

“You do well to keep up the rhyme. Perhaps I could visit you next time?” Zecora smiled.

“If I failed to keep it up when I worked my more freeform magic, the results could very well be tragic,” the stallion said with a shrug of his wings. “It follows my intentions, true, but rhyming always makes it pull through.”

“Our ways can be a little strange, but our variety for magic? None else have such a range.” Zecora nodded as one of the spa ponies approached her, asking for the recipe for the herbal bath.

Pinkie erupted from the water and beamed. “Oh, my gosh! I never realized how horrible it is not to be able to talk. I mean, I love talking so much, and when I couldn't talk anymore, my tongue was all 'ehhhh'! It was the worst! Don't you agree, Fluttershy?”

“...yes,” the timid mare nodded in her normal speaking voice.

“Perhaps,” Aspect said to Zecora, “It would be easier if you write it out for them? You need not rhyme when holding a quill pen.”

Zecora nodded and wrote out the mixture for the twin ponies.

Said twin that were looking at Aspect and smiling at him, winking when his attention drifted to them for a moment…

The stallion just snorted and shook his head. He wasn’t looking for that.

“Well now… that was jus’ plumb embarrassin’,” Applejack said to Zecora now that she was normal-sized again. “Ah’m real sorry Zecora. Fer everythin’.”

“I do not have a spiteful bone, but you all will help me repair my home,” Zecora nodded. “We will be friends once it is done. And when we meet next, it will be for fun.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Twilight nodded. “Oh, and Spike? Take a letter please?”

Spike tore his eyes away from a wet Rarity long enough to dictate Twilight’s words.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your "cover" is; it's the "contents" of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Spike nodded and rolled it up before breathing his flame on it and sending it on its way.

“A lesson that is sorely learned, but one I think they have well-earned,” Aspect said. “Eating their pride is a bitter task, but in the end, was it so much to ask?”

“I was having such a good day too,” Twilight sighed. “That blasted Seapony dream was as weird as all getout though.”

“Oh, thank you for reminding me of my friends,” Aspect said. “Perhaps with ponykind they will finally make amends?”

“That… wasn’t… a dream?” Twilight said slowly before swooning. “Okay. I’m done. G’night everypony.”

“One of these days, she will finally see, the majesty that is a Seapony,” the stallion said with a chuckle.

“You’re never going to stop rhyming, are you?” Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow as she tried shaking Twilight awake.

“As you shall surely see, around a zebra, my rhymes flow free,” the stallion said. “Plus it is mental exercise as well, in case I ever want to whip up a spell.”

“It is a means to keep my mind clear, though it is not for everyone my dear,” Zecora chuckled. “Come now, once you have dried yourself. My home will not fix itself.”

“Hey, that’s cheating,” Rainbow said as she pointed out the same-word rhyme. “Can she do that?”

“It is not the strongest rhyme, true, but that does still not excuse you,” Aspect pointed out.

“Darn,” Rainbow sighed as the six mares followed the zebra out of the spa to help fix her home.

And then he realised that they’d left him there.

Alone.

With the twins.

“Well, this has been educational for all the ponies involved,” Aspect said as he took one step back towards the door. He also dropped his rhyme now that Zecora had gone. “But I have things to do at the place.”

“Oh, but Mr. Aspect~” Lotus purred.

“Don’t you want-” Aloe continued.

“The deluxe treatment~?” they said together.

“I’m fine as is, thanks,” he said as he all but bolted from the establishment.

“Ahahahaaha! I can’t believe Aspect would be so silly,” Lyra cackled as she chatted with her new Seapony friends. They’d spent all afternoon talking and had swapped quite a few stories. “Oh hey! Is that him? HEEYYY! ASPECT! OVER HEERREEEEE!!”

The stallion panted heavily as he arrived at the lake. “Haaaah...never going...back there...again…” he vowed as he caught his breath. “I also need to get involved in mad chases more often, I used to be able to go all day at a run without getting winded.”

“Wow, you girls were right. he’s such a lightweight,” Lyra chuckled.

“Yeah, grandpa is silly,” one giggled.

“But we all know him and the stories he told Neptune,” the second added.

“So we know he really did use to be able to run all day without worry,” the third finished.

“Wandering really took a toll on my physical health,” the stallion muttered. “I need to get back into shape.”

“You know,” Lyra smirked widely. “My best friend Bon-Bon is a real health nut. She exercises every morning. I bet she’d love to help you out as well.”

“I just need to get settled in my house, then I can turn one of the rooms into a weight room,” the stallion said as he finally caught his breath. “Then I can take up exercise again. So what have you all been up to?”

“Nothing~” the three seaponies chimed together.

“Just telling Lyra here some stories from old times,” one said.

“About all the times from Dream Valley that you passed on to Neptune,” the second added.

“Especially the parts about all the humans in them,” the third finished. “She really likes those.”

“You humans are really fascinating,” Lyra chirped and smiled at him. “So… can I see?”

“You told her?” Aspect deadpanned at the seaponies.

“Sorry grandpa,” one of them said.

“She sorta worked it out on her own,” another added.

“She’s a pretty smart mare,” the last in the line finished.

“Well, I didn’t graduate from Celestia’s School for gifted Unicorns for nothing,” Lyra puffed out her chest proudly. “So come on human-pony. Make with the magic. Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

“Look,” Aspect said as he rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “I only really just got into town. I would like to get settled in my new house before I indulge any requests such as ‘can I look at the last human in all of Equus’ original form’. Maybe in a few days, if you swing by my place, I’ll indulge you.”

“I’ll do it,” Lyra said. “I’ll start singing ‘that’ song.”

“Look, I’m just not comfortable showing off my original form outside of my house,” the stallion countered. “And I’m still not settled in it yet. I would show you when I was in there, but I’m not, so I won’t.”

“You know she’ll probably follow you home,” one seapony said.

“Nah… it’s alright,” Lyra nodded. “I’ll come by again in a few days.” She looked at her new friends and smiled. “So, are you staying in this lake?”

“We have to get back to Neptune soon,” a different seapony said.

“But I’m sure we’ll be back once he learns that this is where Aspect is staying,” the third one added.

“Yay!” Lyra clapped her hooves and hugged them. “I’ll introduce Bonnie-Bon to you next time. Okay, bye~” she said and trotted off.

“That mare,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “I get the feeling she is going to cause me all sorts of grief later.”

When he got home… something… didn’t sit right with him. He entered the living room and the door closed behind him as a chair turned, Twilight sitting in it with that damned book.

“Hello Aspect, you don’t think I forgot. Did you?”

“I had rather hoped your brush with the Seaponies had caused you to temporarily forget, yes,” the stallion said with a sigh. “Too much?”

She patted the other chair and he saw a large steaming mug of hot coffee, as well as some fresh donuts.

“Let’s talk~”

“Oh boy,” the stallion said. “Carrot and stick. Oh well.” He eased himself into the chair and turned to face her. “Fire when ready.”

Twilight smiled and bit into a donut. This was going to be a loooong night.

Author's Note

Technically both late and not. I forgot to edit and put it up, but it's still Wednesday!

And now we get to see some other Gen 1 holdovers...

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. Every bit does help.

Half the funds will not go towards game breaking.

Chapter 06 - A swarm of problems

A few days had passed. Aspect had more or less settled into the house. He knew where all the rooms were anyways.

Except for what was in the attic, as apparently, the door was busted and wouldn’t open. Still, he had a mental map of the place and could, half the time, walk from one end to another without getting lost.

Given another week, he’d be familiar enough to get to where he was going on the first try. And while everything was technically clean, he still had to go through and remove the dust cloths from all the old furniture. Some of which was likely an antique by now.

He did still find a mostly-empty room in the basement, though. Perfect for turning into a weight room. Once he got his stipend. And figured out where such equipment would be sold.

It was a nice house, overall. He just couldn’t believe that he was living there.

His trail of thought was interrupted by an enthusiastic somepony knocking at his door.

“Heeeey! Aspect!” Lyra called out through the door. “Wakey wakey, Lyra’s here to play~”

The stallion made his way to the front door and pulled the thing open with one hoof. The other still held his coffeemug as he stared at the unicorn on the other side, letting her realize what she’d interrupted.

“Ooh? You made coffee? Looks like I’m just in time then-Guh!” she was flattened as a cream-coloured hoof bonked her on the head.

“I apologise for her,” the new mare sighed. She had a cream coloured coat and a two-tone pink and blue mane. She also smelled quite strongly of sweets. “The moment I found out she had a new friend, I figured I’d tag along so you wouldn’t be subjected to the ‘Full Lyra Experience’.”

“There are some ponies that require a warning label,” Aspect agreed. “Pinkie comes to mind.”

“There aren’t enough labels in Equestria for that mare,” she sighed and held out a hoof. “My name’s Bon Bon. Owner of Sweet Treat Delights and Lyra’s best friend.”

“The bestest,” Lyra groaned from the ground.

“Balanced Aspect,” the pegasus said as he shook her hoof with his free one. “All account layabout and personal friend to Princess Celestia and Luna.”

“Well, certainly quite the claim with that last one,” she chuckled. “And yes, I knew your name already. Lyra hasn’t shut up about you and her seapony friends ever since she met you.”

“Those seaponies were a lot of fun!” Lyra giggled as she got to her hooves.

“They can be,” Bon Bon smiled and then cleared her throat. “W-Well, from what you've told me anyway.”

“Neptune’s subjects typically enjoy spending their free time around ponies,” Aspect said. “Maybe now they’ll show up more often.”

“That. Would be. AWESOME!” Lyra giggled and bounced around. “Now. Coffee?”

Bon Bon groaned and facehooved.

“It’s in the kitchen,” Aspect said. “Had to make it using a pot and boiled water. Nothing like the stuff up in Canterlot at all. I think this house predates modern appliances…”

There was a dotted outline and a cloud of dust where the mare stood.

“Lyra never slows down,” Bon Bon sighed. “I apologise for her in advance.”

“I’m getting the feeling that today is going to be interesting,” Aspect sighed. “Well, come in, I’ll lead the way there.”

“Thank you, sorry for the intrusion,” she said as she walked in.

“This. House. is. HUUUUUGE!” Lyra yelled from… somewhere. “Bonny! I want a house like this!!”

“I think from the sounds of it, she’s found the ballroom,” the pegasus chuckled. “I need to get a new chandelier for that place as well...so many things I need to do around here. So little time before I get visited.”

“Visited?” Bon asked as she followed him. “Expecting somepony?”

“My daughters,” Aspect said as he led the way to the kitchen. “I can’t imagine they won’t pay a visit once they hear that their wandering father has taken very well to his new home.”

“You’re a dad?” Bon smiled and her ear flicked. “You look far too young for that.”

“I’m older than I look,” the stallion said with a wink. “I’m sure you’ll learn why that is during your stay, especially if your friend asks the sorts of questions I’m sure she will be asking.” The door he lead Bon-Bon through was the door to the dining room, meaning the kitchen was just one door away.

“Bonnie!” Lyra zoomed up to them. “BonnieBonbonbonononoBon!”

“...Lyra.” Bon Bon’s eye twitched. “How many cups of coffee did you have?”

“One… two… five, I dunno,” Lyra giggled and bounced around. “Oh! Hey Aspect. Show us some of that sorcery magic of yours!”

“I might need to, to calm you down,” the stallion muttered as he looked at the bouncing mare. He turned his gaze to Bon Bon and smiled softly. “Brace yourself, things are about to get weird.”

“I live and am best friends with Lyra. This is Ponyville. Weird is just another Tuesday for us,” Bon Bon said with a small nod.

Then the pegasus turned into an alicorn stallion.

“Aww, what?” Lyra pouted as she looked at him. “What’s that? You’re supposed to be a human right?Comeoncomeoncomeon!!!”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon sighed. “Humans haven’t existed in Equestria for thousands of years…”

Then the stallion’s horn started to glow as a soft beat came out of nowhere.

This mare’s mind, far too manic,
Now needs just a touch less panic.
Soothe her body, calm her state,
Make this caffeine rush abate.

The magic left his horn and surrounded Lyra’s, doing its best to bring her down from the caffeine high she was currently experiencing.

“Whooooo….oooo…” Lyra’s body drooped and she stopped bouncing. “Whaaaaat?”

“Okay… I need to learn how to do that,” Bon Bon giggled. “But then, no horn. Ah well.”

“Eh, freeform sorcery can be practiced if you have enough power and will, though, word to the wise, you will always want to rhyme and spell your intentions out clearly,” the stallion said as he walked over to the coffeepot. “This was full,” he deadpanned when he looked at its now empty state.

“Thanks for the foood~” Lyra burped. He also noticed the leftover breakfast he had was gone, the plate licked clean.

“I don’t think I can apologize enough,” Bon Bon sighed.

“It just gives me time to make some for you,” the stallion said with a wave of one wing. “Just...take her to a room and entertain her, then come back in about ten-ish minutes. I should have something for you and me by then.”

“Honestly Lyra…” Bon Bon sighed and led the unicorn away. “This is how you act in somepony else’s home…?” Her lecture seemed to continue as she walked off.

The stallion walked over to the counters and began pulling together another few rudimentary breakfasts. While he was doing that, he also filled up the pot of water and set it to boil again.

Within a few minutes, he had hot water, which he passed through a filter filled with freshly-ground beans. More coffee and breakfast were now ready, and he brought the whole mess out to the dining room to await Bon Bon and Lyra’s return. Mostly Bon Bon’s.

The two mares soon returned, the mint-coated unicorn looking rather sorry for herself.

“M’sorry,” she mumbled, before Bon Bon prodded her. “Ah, alright! I’m sorry I acted like a stupid filly Mr. Aspect.”

“To be clear,” the stallion said, before gesturing for them to join him, “I find your enthusiasm about the old ways refreshing, and it fills me with a great deal of hope.”

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ in there somewhere,” Bon Bon said as she sat down.

“But,” he said with a nod, “there’s only so much of being reminded of Pinkie or Surprise I can handle before I start looking into warding spells.”

“So in short,” Bon Bon said to her friend. “Try and act with just a little restraint.”

“Yeah, I got it,” Lyra sighed. “I got a little carried away. I’m sorry Aspect, I’ve just been so excited.”

“Like I said, I find it refreshing,” the stallion said. “I just don’t know what you’re expecting to see here today. Like you expect me to have some sort of long-lost answer.”

“Are you kidding me!?” Lyra exclaimed. “You’re like… like… I don’t know! You’ve been around since before the Princesses!”

“Wait! WHAT!?” Bon Bon gawped at the stallion.

“Technically, I precede them by a fair few years,” Aspect said. “Though when you get to our age, numbers stop mattering so much. Only the relationships matter.”

“Relationships?” That didn’t get past Bon Bon. Aspect had to admit, this mare was a sharp as a tack. “You said you knew the Princesses. And now Lyra says you’re as old, if not older that the alicorn sisters. And then there was that comment about you expecting visitors… and I know Twilight Sparkle is expecting the Princess to show up any day now. She’s been running around trying to get the whole town ready.”

Bon Bon leaned forward, “So tell me Mr. Aspect, just who are you?”

“My name is Balanced Aspect, also known as the last Aspect of Equus,” the stallion said. “It is my job to right those that have drunk from the Fountain of Eternity and gone askew. Though, I do possess another name that two mares in Equestria still call me.”

He sighed and smiled. “Celly and Lulu still call me their dad. And I love it when they do.”

Lyra and Bon Bon were as silent as ghosts. They just stared at him doing a fair imitation of a goldfish.

“I think you broke them,” a voice said from down the table. A rather thin pony in a cloak, with a scythe to one side of his seat.

“It tends to do that to ponies,” Aspect agreed. “How are you doing, Mort?

“Can't complain,” he said as he sipped at his own cup of coffee. “The job's a real killer.”

“As it’s meant to be,” the alicorn agreed.

“W-Who… is that?” Bon Bon said, placing herself between it and Lyra.

“Mort, the grim stallion, the reaper, call him what you will, it’s his job to usher ponies from one life to the next,” Aspect said.

“Cut down on the whole 'restless spirit with undone business' thing,” the pony at the end of the table agreed.

“Also known as another of my children, and he’s a darn sight better than the pony that used to be in his place,” Aspect finished.

“D-death…” Bon Bon paled and backed up a little. “A-Are we gonna die!? I won’t let you!”

“Not only could you not stop me if it truly were your time, this is a social visit anyways,” Mort said as he sipped at his coffee. “I'm given to understand that father lives here, I wanted to be familiar with the place. As well, I've not met my older sisters yet.”

“Well, thanks to Bon Bon telling me, I know that Celly’s due for a visit soon,” Aspect smiled. “You could surprise her.”

“That sounds workable,” the stallion at the end of the table said before putting his cup down. “I will attempt to be around here for the next few days. You can tell me when she's here so we can finally meet, face-to-face.”

“I….I….” Bon Bon was shaking profusely.

Lyra…

Lyra was staring Mort right in the face.

“Heehee, how many can say they’ve stared Death in the face and lived?” she giggled.

“I can honestly say that only happened once before,” the stallion agreed with a dry laugh.

“Yeah, when I made you,” Aspect agreed. “Well, it was fun catching up with you Mort.”

There was a chime from within the pony’s cloak, and he pulled out an hourglass, staring as the last few trickles of sand passed through it. “And it was nice to catch up with you as well father, but alas, duty calls.” He picked up the scythe and gave a wink to Lyra before he walked...through the walls, like a ghost.

“Coooool~” Lyra giggled and looked at Bon Bon. “That was pretty awesome huh?”

“I am so done with today,” the mare groaned and slumped over the table. “I am so utterly, utterly done.”

“Aw, and I wanted to fulfill the promise I made to Lyra as well, but I can’t if it’s gonna break you,” Aspect said. “Lyra, you need to fix Bon Bon before I can show off.”

“Awww, come on Bonnie…” Lyra whined. “Just look at it this way. You can put him through the wringer when you help him exercise!”

A wide smile crossed Bon’s muzzle and she gave a very unsettling laugh.

“I feel like I should be concerned about your motivation methods,” the stallion dryly observed.

“Okay!” Bon Bon smiled. “I feel much better. Now Mr. Aspect, let’s see this human form Lyra keeps going on about.”

“Ahh, this is gonna be so great!” Lyra cheered.

Aspect shrugged, and then his entire form glowed, before being replaced with his more human one. He sat cross-legged in front of his spot at the table, his rune-embroidered robes covering his body as he ate his breakfast.

“Unbelievable,” Bon Bon whispered. “It really is a human…”

“Whooaaa!” Lyra looked him over. “It’s… you’re… not as cool as I thought.”

“Like I said,” the human said as he polished off his breakfast. “I don’t know what you were looking for. I’m pretty much the last one, and I prefer to blend in these days as much as I can.”

“Yes, you’re not very inconspicuous as you are now,” Bon Bon nodded. “Still… wow, I had… no idea such a… stallion? Even existed.”

“I tend to keep to myself, except when I’m actually needed,” the man said as he took a sip of his coffee. “Though that’s rapidly changing the longer I live here in Ponyville.”

“Well, it’s hard to keep to yourself here,” Lyra nodded. “When I moved here from Canterlot, I didn’t know anypony. And, I didn’t really care either. I’ve still got some friends back home, but when one moved away…” She sighed and looked past him, as if she was staring at some distant object. “I came here to find some answers. And I got them… but I think she’s just… forgotten is all.”

“Lyra and I have been penpals for a while,” Bon Bon said and ruffled her friend’s mane. “But the dork never told me she was moving to Ponyville, or I’d have taken her in a lot sooner. I found her three days after she arrived, living in a box like a stray cat.”

“I’m noticing a theme regarding you, miss Lyra,” the human chuckled.

“Huh?” Lyra tilted her head in confusion.

“You have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the things that interest you, but you seem to be lacking a little foresight…”

“A little? That’s being generous,” Bon Bon giggled and Lyra pouted, folding her forelegs as she sat upright in her chair.

“You guys suck,” she poked her tongue out. “I should go hang out with the seaponies instead.”

“Like I said, I find your enthusiasm refreshing,” the human chuckled. “It’s nice to see some pony so interested in the things that were. Even if I was around for most of it.”

“I must admit, my knowledge on the ancient past is… sketchy,” Bon Bon sighed. Seems that quite a lot had been kept from her. “Well, doesn’t matter too much I suppose.” A bell in the distance chimed and the earth pony blinked.

“Is that the time already? I have to go open my store.” She looked at Aspect, “Will you be alright on your own? Or shall I take Lyra with me?”

“Hey! I’m not a little filly you know!”

“Depends on if you’re going to be a good mare or not,” the human said before he re-took his pegasus form. Bon Bon’s sharp eyes saw that as his form flashed, so did his sword’s pommel.

“I’m not a filly dang it!” Lyra pouted harder and Bon Bon giggled.

“She should be no trouble for you, after all… my best friend would hate to sleep on my lumpy couch would she?”

“Geh…” Lyra flinched and shuddered. “Yeah, okay.”

“Good,” Bon Bon smiled and bowed her head at Aspect. “It was nice meeting you. Just let me know when you’re ready to start exercising as well.”

“I’ll need to get the things for it first,” the stallion sighed. “So much to do around this house, so little money. Ah well. Live and learn.”

“You should look for some work then,” Bon Bon smiled. “That’s the easiest way to earn some bits.”

“You’re like, the dad of the Princesses,” Lyra piped up. “Couldn’t they lend you some until you get on your hooves/feet… whatever.”

“Celly tried that,” Aspect chuckled. “Let’s just say, Ponyville now has a very nice emergency relief fund. The stipend should come in soon, which will tide me over while I look for a job.”

“Well, if you insist,” Bon Bon smiled.

“I have an awesome job!” Lyra beamed. “I get paid to eat candy!”

“Nooo, I let you stay rent-free in exchange for taste-testing my candy and performing for the customers,” Bon Bon corrected her.

“I’ll find something in due time,” the stallion chuckled. “Just probably not weather-work until I get my storm-causing nature under control.” He hummed a bit as a thought occured. “I could probably make a charm to keep myself under control, actually. I would just need a gem to act as the focus…”

“If you want gems, Rarity or Sparkler would be the best to ask,” Bon Bon said. “As a last resort, you have the Silver Sensations jewelry store, buuut it’s kinda pricey there.”

“Yeah, seriously, who in this town besides the Rich’s have that kind of money?” Lyra nodded. “Well, I’ll see ya later Bonnie~”

Bon Bon smiled and headed for the front door, only to squeak in surprise when she opened it. “Ah, what on Equus…?”

A small creature flew into the house, a brightly-coloured ball with large eyes and translucent wings flew into the kitchen.

“Awww, it’s so cute!” Lyra giggled.

It was promptly incinerated by a lance of fire coming from Aspect.

“AAHHH!” Lyra screamed when the cute little critter was vapourized. “Wha? What! WHY!?”

“That,” Aspect said as he lowered his flaming hoof, “Was a Parasprite. They’re cute to start with, but if they get any food whatsoever, they multiply into a city-destroying plague. We had an incident where they ate all the food in the Everfree Castle. It took us months to refill the pantries. All in the space of one afternoon.”

Lyra was just looking at the pile of ash in abject horror as Bon Bon gulped.

“W-Well…” she said shakily. “It came from outside, yes?”

“You two need to get back to Ponyville,” Aspect said. “If you see any at all, do not hesitate. They’ll eat everything. Everything.”

“Does that include-” Lyra gulped and shook. “-Us?”

“Not unless someone casts a spell to make them stop eating everything twice,” Aspect said. “The first time, they’ll start eating things that aren’t food. The second time…”

Another parasprite flew inside, but it suddenly paused as it was surrounded by a magenta glow…

“Dammit all!” Aspect said as he incinerated the next. “You two need to leave, now! I can protect my home, easily! You need to look after yours! No mercy for them!”

Lyra was still too shocked to move and Bon Bon sighed before lifting the mare onto her back. “I recognized that magic aura. That was Twilight Sparkle’s…” And with that, the earth mare ran off towards her shop, hoping it was still standing.

The stallion flashed into his alicorn form as he quickly thought up a rhyme and summoned his sorcery.

A plague of insects, infinite in size,
They hide their nature behind a cute guise,
I ward my home, shield it from view,
So that it shan’t be gobbled by you.
Come now Parasprites, try your best,
I’ll incinerate you like the rest!

A pulse of magic erupted from his horn and swept through the house, spreading his sorcery through the entire massive place. With that done, he walked through the front door and took stock of how many of the blasted insects there were.

The swarm was like a dark cloud, descending on Ponyville as it stripped entire buildings down to their very foundations. Ponies ran and screamed, trying to protect what they owned…

And then his world turned pink as Pinkie Pie was but an inch from his muzzle.

“Aspy! I need a tuba! And I need it now!!”

“Feel free to search my home,” Aspect said with a wave of one hoof. “I’m going to go in and see about warding what’s left from the Parasprites.”

Pinkie nodded and zoomed off, he could hear her enthusiastic searching from outside.

And then he felt it, it was still quite a distant ways away. But Celestia’s magic was unmistakable.

“Ah, dear daughter of mine,” Aspect chuckled. “Do you recognize this sad state of affairs?” He walked a little closer as he made sure he was still in his pegasus guise.

The town was in chaos, almost every building was crumbling or had been utterly devoured. Ponies were running around like headless chickens and in the middle of the chaos, Twilight looked like she was about to have a mental breakdown.

“Hehe...hehehe, it’s no problem,” she giggled madly. “All we have to do is build an exact copy of Ponyville. In less than a minute!” She groaned and fell to the ground. “Zecora was right. We’re doomed. The Princess is going to send me back to Canterlot. It’s all over…”

“Well, there’s always the Lavan option,” Aspect said as he walked up. “Or even the Full Lavan option.”

“What?” Twilight blinked when she saw Aspect. She raced over to him and clutched his leg desperately. “Wait, your powers. You could conjure up a new town right? Or rewind time? Or—”

“I was thinking more of burning them all,” Aspect deadpanned. “Then we could rebuild thanks to the emergency fund.”

“B-Burn them?” Twilight replied, but before she could press further, thick polka music started to play.

“Pinkie? We're in the middle of a crisis here. This is no time for your... nonsense?” Twilight tilted her head as the Parasprites stopped their endless consuming of the town and started to bob to the music.

“This is...new,” Aspect muttered. “They never reacted to music before...then again, we never tried music before…”

Pinkie walked past as a one-mare band, the parasprites following her in a single line, bouncing along the ground as she led them towards the Everfree Forest.

“Well, that handles that half of the problem,” Aspect chuckled. “The natural predators of the Everfree will winnow their numbers handily. All that’s left now is to use that fund Tia gave me to rebuild the town.”

Not a moment later, Celestia’s chariot landed near the outskirts of town where they stood.

“Twilight Sparkle, my prized pupil,” she smiled and nuzzled the unicorn. “So lovely to see you again, and all your friends too.”

“Hello princess,” Twilight replied nervously. “H-How was your trip? Hit much traffic?”

“No,” Celestia replied to the odd question. She spied the last of the Parasprites and smiled. “Oh? Ahh, what is this? They’re so adorable~”

“They’re not that adorable,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“I’m not gonna say anything if you won’t,” Aspect said with a smile. Apparently Tia had forgotten about the things that ate her cake once.

“I'm terribly honored that you and the good citizens of Ponyville have organized a parade in honor of my visit.” Celestia hummed as she watched Pinkie lead the bugs off.

“Ahaha! Yes, Parade. Of course,” Twilight was sweating bullets now.

“Unfortunately, that visit is going to have to wait for another time. I'm afraid an emergency has come up in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation.” Celestia sighed. She’d so wanted to stick around for a while too.

“An… infestation?” Twilight blinked, her stomach tying itself in knots.

“Yes, a swarm of incredibly bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town. I'm sorry Twilight, to have to put you all through so much trouble.”

Aspect merely smiled wider. Oh, it would be wonderful when she put it all together.

“Trouble? Oh, no trouble at all really,” Twilight said a little too quickly.

“Before I have to go,” Celestia hummed and smiled at her. “Would you care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship in person?”

“R-report?” Twilight was caught a little off guard.

“Haven't you learned anything about friendship?” Celestia asked.

“Actually, I have.” Twilight smiled and cleared her throat. “I've learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' opinions and perspectives…”

A pair of cymbals crashed.

“Even when they don't always seem to make sense.”

“I'm so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle, and I'm very impressed with your friends as well. It sounds like you're all learning so much from each other.” Celestia gave her a hug using one of her wings before releasing her and walking over to her father.

“And how about you?” she said with a mischievous smile.

“Oh, it was a fun day,” Aspect said with a shrug of his wings. “Met up with a mare who was interested in Dream Valley of all things, brought some Seaponies to town in the recent past, and even met up with Mort today. It’s been great.”

“Well, you seem to be fitting right in then,” Celestia chuckled as she stepped back into her carriage. “Oh yes, I almost forgot…” She floated an envelope over to him. “There’s the stipend I promised you.”

“Much obliged,” Aspect said, even going so far to bow his head to her, every inch the ‘normal’ pony outside of how he talked to her. “Just be careful out there. I still worry about you and Lulu.”

“I’m always careful,” Celestia smiled. “And don’t think I haven’t forgotten about our visit. Lulu and I will come by in a few days to see you.” She nodded to her driver as the chariot took to the sky and flew away.

“Hey, what happened to the princess?” Pinkie asked as she walked back over to them.

“Emergency in Fillydelphia.” Twilight answered.

“Some sort of infestation.” Rainbow added on.

Pinkie Pie gasped. “Oh no! Have they got parasprites too? Well, have tuba, will travel.”

“I think the princess can handle it,” Twilight laughed.

“So you knew what those critters were all along, huh Pinkie Pie?”

“Well, duh! Why do you think I was so frantic to get my hooves on all these instruments? I tried to tell you.” She looked and Aspect and smiled. “Not many of you listened…”

Twilight Sparkle bowed her head in apology. “We know, Pinkie Pie, and we're sorry we didn't listen.” The rest of her friends offered their apologies as well.

“You're a great friend,” Twilight said and hugged the pink mare. “Even if we don't always understand you.”

“Thanks guys, you're all great friends too, even when I don't understand me.”

“And that sums up mares like you and Surprise perfectly,” Aspect said with a nod. “I tried to ask her once how she kept finding us and surprising us. She simply shrugged and said ‘I dunno! I just do!’”

“She sounds fun!” Pinkie giggled and then gasped. “Aspey! We still hafta throw you a party!!”

“How about we rebuild the town first?” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “You’ve saved it, so it’s time to restore it. And fortunately, Mayor Mare should still have quite the emergency fund to draw on…”

“Actually…” Mayor Mare walked towards them. “Those little monsters got into the town treasury…”

“You keep records, right?” Aspect asked. “Please tell me those survived. I know the crown will still honor the terms of the agreement if you can provide proof.”

“Oh, they should be in there,” The Mayor said and winced as the roof of Town Hall caved in with a loud crash. “Somewhere…”

“Right,” Aspect said as he walked over. Hmm, this would be tricky to pull off as a pegasus…

But the beauty of it was, sorcery could be performed by any with the knack for it. You just had to know how. It was easier as a unicorn, yes, as you had a giant focus sticking out of your forehead. But if you knew how to use your hooves or wings as a focus, even an Earth Pony or a Pegasus could perform sorcery…

A beat came out of nowhere as the pegasus bobbed his head, thinking of the rhyme he would use.

A record book, come to me now,
so that this town can answer ‘How?’
‘How can we possibly recover?’
When all they need, is each other.

The stallion flapped his wings once, twice, three times, dispersing the magic that had built up there into the ruins of Town Hall. There was a moment of silence, and then…

From out of the middle of the wreckage, a book floated out on a cushion of air.

“Incredible,” Twilight whispered, watching the magic play out. All he had to do was rhyme? No, there must have been more to it than that.

“Is that it?” the Mayor asked. The book floated over to the stallion, and he took it and flipped through it.

“Hmm...withdrawal, withdrawal, aha! Deposit of one massive check into the town coffers, which was then set aside as the...Sparkle fund?”

“Oh come on!” Twilight yelled. “Seriously!?”

Rainbow and Pinkie howled with laughter, their prank paying off wonderfully.

“Mares and gentlestallions… my ex-friends,” Twilight grumbled as the other two hugged her.

“Right, I’ll send a petition straight away,” Mayor Mare said as she took the book from him. “Still, it may take days, weeks before this town is back to normal…” She looked at Aspect as a grim smile was set into her features. “Could you do me one last favour and signal everypony to gather up?”

“I’ll do you one better,” Aspect said as he turned to Twilight. “Spike is old enough to where he can use his magical dragonbreath, right?”

The Mayor and Twilight blinked before realising what he was getting at. “Hmm, that will speed it up, but still…” The mayor nodded to Twilight as she made a signal flare with her magic.

Soon, almost all of Ponyville had gathered as the Mayor cleared her throat.

“Attention, citizens of Ponyville. Today has been an unmitigated disaster. But luckily, nopony was hurt and homes can be rebuilt. But, that will take some time and some of you are without homes. To those that still do, I implore you, please help those who don’t. I won’t stand by while a pony is sleeping on the streets. So please, open your hearts and homes to them. The city will reimburse you for living expenses.”

Aspect had called Spike over once he’d caught sight of the young dragon and was even now penning a letter to Lulu, telling Spike how to alter the location of where things ended up. Once the Mayor had finished talking, though, he said his piece. “I currently live all alone in the huge house on the edge of town. I’ve got...four bedrooms, a dining hall, and even a freaking ballroom. If any of you can’t find shelter anywhere else, I’d be more than happy to take you in. Especially if you can cook.” With that, the letter was passed off to Spike.

Spike waited as Twilight cast a small spell, designating the recipient as Luna instead of Celestia, and once she was done, he breathed the flame and the letter was on its way.

As they waited, ponies were pairing up, but none had dared approached the strange magical pegasus yet.

At least until Lyra was pushing a rather stubborn-looking Bon Bon over to him.

“Come… on…” Lyra grunted, trying to drag the mare with her magic. “He just… offered. He won’t bite…”

“Lyra and Bon Bon,” Aspect smiled at them. “I had a feeling I’d be seeing at least one of you again.”

“Lyra, no! I’m not—”

“Those little pests devoured Bonnie’s entire house,” Lyra explained, ignoring her friend. “And since her shop was also her house…”

“I will be more than glad to house the pair of you for as long as it takes for your home to be rebuilt,” Aspect said with a bow, wings spread. “I can only hope my hospitality is up to your standards.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to house us both,” Lyra waved her hooves. “I’m crazy, I’d drive you crazy in a day. Just… please take care of Bonnie. I’ll manage somehow.”

Aspect sighed as he stood up before flaring his wing once, sending out a wave of magic and pushing the mare closer to him so he could put a hoof to her muzzle.

“No protests,” he said. “You told me today you were staying with her. If she needs a place to stay, so don’t you. And I would have to be heartless to turn away a pony in need. Because the greatest treasure of ponykind, is our kind hearts.”

Lyra teared up and looked away, wiping her face with a hoof. “T-Thank you, I promise, I’ll try not to be a bother.”

“You’ll break that promise by tonight,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll send you to bed without dinner if you’re bad.”

“Harsh,” Lyra deadpanned.

Spike belched as a letter appeared, bound with a dark blue velvet ribbon. Aspect snagged ahold of it and opened it up, beginning to read aloud the contents of the message. His mind raced ahead, already censoring out his relationship to Luna from it so that the ponies wouldn’t have cause to think that he was anything other than a weird pegasus.

“Fair peasantry of Ponyville.

Firstly, you have Our deepest sympathies for the tragedy that hath struck thy village. Thou shall receive aid in rebuilding on the morrow.

It makes Us most happy you turn to Our aide, in place of Our Sister.

Take that Tia! They like Us better!

Kindest Regards.

Princess Luna Noctis.”

Aspect chuckled to himself as he rolled the letter up and stuck it in his saddlebags. “Nopony tell her Celestia was in a carriage,” he said to the citizens at large. “We’d never hear the end of it.”

“Why’s that?” Lyra asked. Aspect puffed up and did an impression of his daughter.

“Thou didst only write to Us because Tia was in a carriage? We were not your first choice?” He sighed and shook his head. “She really knows how to lay on the guilt.”

“Ah!” Lyra nodded and giggled at his impression.

The crowd soon dispersed, several following Twilight and a few pegasi following Rainbow Dash, hers being the one of the only houses in town that had zero damage. Lyra and Bon Bon just followed behind Aspect, the latter having a saddlebag that contained the only possessions she still had.

But before they could get too far, another mare crossed his path.

“Aspect?” Rarity pawed at the ground. “I do so hate to be a bother but…”

“How bad are the damages?” the stallion asked.

“All. My. Dresses!” Rarity wailed, a waterfall of tears streaming from her eyes. “My home, my business… ruined!”

“I have more than enough space at my home,” Aspect said with a kind smile. “I even have a ballroom that could do with a more gentle touch than mine, if you’d like to help out around the place during your stay.”

“A ballroom!?” Rarity’s eyes danced with creativity. “Ooh, and you’d like me to decorate?”

“Aaaand she’s gone,” Bon Bon giggled. “You certainly know how to rope in the mares huh? You sure us innocent maidens can trust staying with such a casanova?”

“You’ll be fine,” Aspect said with a wave of a wing. “I’m more than willing to help out any who need it without taking advantage of them. If you’re willing to give back during your stay, I won’t say no.”

Bon Bon had a retort for that, but decided to hold her tongue. This would be a good opportunity to learn more about him.

“Well then, as long as that’s settled, let’s go,” Rarity said with a wide smile. She had a ballroom to make fabulous!

Celestia’s eye gave a dangerous twitch as her mane flickered angrily. She remembered these creatures now. These infernal little bugs that were consuming everything in sight…

*~*

A wide-eyed Celestia looked up from her plate where there had once been a slice of cake, only to see a round, red insect cough up another of its fellows, before her father incinerated them both.

“Don’t let these Parasprites get to the larder!” the stallion roared. “Then they’ll multiply without limit, and we’ll be out of food!” Winter was nearly upon them, they could ‘not’ afford such a disaster.

The stallions and mares of the castle took up a battlecry, crushing them with their hooves, or their magic, or anything they could pick up.

“The line must be drawn! This far, no farther!”

And thus the war against the Parasprites began…

*~*

“Princess?” one of the guards asked, sweating in his armour as intense heat emanated from the alicorn.

“You… you ate my cake,” she whispered as she glared at the bugs, her horn igniting with sunfire.

“My turn…”

Author's Note

You know, Mort was originally a little cooler. Talking in Times New Roman while everyone else was in Arial. I liked him like that. Shame he's stuck with just caps now. I blame the site.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really goes a long way.

Half the money will not be spent on birthday presents.

Chapter 07 - The Winter Ball

When Aspect awoke, a gentle and delicious scent of breakfast wafted through the air. Somepony was in his kitchen and what they were creating?

It had been a long time since the stallion had a home-cooked meal. At least a thousand years since he’d been around Equestria. And their wonderfully-stocked larder back in the castle in the Everfree.

Those were some talented chefs, back in the day. He was nowhere near as good, but he could at least make simple meals.

He slowly dragged himself out of bed and started ambling towards the source of the smell. The source it seems, was Bon Bon. She was moving around the kitchen like a dancing fae, flipping pancakes and making fresh juice. The stallion let out a low whistle of appreciation. She was just as talented as the chefs he was used to. Maybe moreso.

She turned her head and gave him an appreciative wink before turning back to her special brand of magic. Lyra had all but floated into the room with the promise of delicious food.

“I smell Bonnie noms~” she purred.

“I’m envious of you if this is a regular thing you get to experience, and I haven’t even tasted it yet,” Aspect said.

Rarity walked into the room a moment later, looking as perfect as always. Her mane bounced with each step as she smiled at the other ponies.

“Why, good morning everypony,” she greeted them cordially.

“Lady Rarity,” Aspect greeted her with a nod.

“Sup Rares,” Lyra grinned and waved from the table, she was already seated and ready to eat.

“At least one of you has manners,” Rarity nodded to Aspect and took a seat as well. “Good morning Bon Bon.”

“Morning~” Bon Bon chirped happily as she grasped the pan’s handle with her tail and gave it a flick, tossing pancakes high into the air and landing on each ponies plate perfectly.

“And with skill like that, I have no doubt that if sorcery were still a thing that ponies in this age could perform, you would be a master at it,” Aspect said with a smile before picking up his fork and starting in on the pancakes.

Sweet merciful…

Aspect hadn’t been one to seek a partner among the ponies in all his long lifespan.

This cooking made him reconsider his stance.

“Marry me?” he asked.

“Bonnie’s mine, get your own!” Lyra glared at him, fully taking him seriously. Bon Bon just chuckled and shook her head.

“I’m flattered,” she replied. The pancakes themselves were so light and fluffy, it could be mistaken for a delicious cloud.

Then he realised that there were two types, as one had apples and banana mixed through them, and the other had chocolate chips.

“Sooo goooood,” Lyra moaned as she ate.

“I think you two are over-reacting just a bit,” Bon Bon said as she sat down to eat as well. “I’m nowhere near as good as Pinkie Pie or Applejack.”

“You’re the best I’ve had in a long time,” Aspect said seriously. “Living on your own makes you appreciate the sorts of things you can only find in civilised company.”

Bon Bon choked on her food as Lyra paused before howling with laughter.

“Darling…” Rarity blushed and hid her mouth with her napkin. “You may want to reconsider those opening words, at least in front of these… uncouth mares.”

Aspect blinked a few times as he rethought his words before groaning. “Seriously? Not cool.”

“You said it,” Lyra cackled. “So Bonnie? Was it good for you as well?”

“LYRA!!” Bon Bon yelled at her, her face aflame with a crimson hue.

Aspect grumbled before digging back into the food. Delicious, delicious food would solve everything. It always did.

“Aw, come on Bonnie,” Lyra giggled. “Hey, if you married Aspect, then you’d be the step-mom of the Princesses!”

Bon Bon ‘eeped’ and ducked under the table.

“You are aware that the Princesses are not my daughters by blood, yes?” Aspect said with a raised eyebrow.

“Still counts,” Lyra nodded. “But BonnieBons is still mine, so you’re outta luck Aspect.”

“Are meals in your home always this… exuberant?” Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“This is the first time I’ve had other ponies around for them,” the stallion said with a shrug. “Though we did always laugh and share a joke or two back in the castle in the Everfree.”

“Speaking of that,” Rarity asked. “You’ve mentioned that castle a few times. Though all I recall is that it was a rather dark old ruin… er, no offense.”

“None taken,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Near as I can tell, Celly abandoned it after the fight was over. Probably just as soon as I left as well. And thus, the small city on the side of Canterlot became the city of Canterlot, and her new home.

“A pretentious city full of mostly unicorns,” Bon Bon muttered, forgetting she was the only one in the room without a horn.

“And I suppose Cloudsdale is just as bad in your eye,” the stallion chuckled.

“What? Oh… I, I didn’t mean…” Bon Bon sighed. “Sorry, just had some bad experiences in Canterlot is all.”

“Aww,” Lyra rubbed her back. “I wouldn’t worry. And at least we know Winter is coming now.”

“Hmm, oh, I suppose it is huh?” Rarity tittered.

“A lot of Earth Ponies start getting irritated come winter,” Lyra explained to Aspect. “Since you can’t grow anything, a lot of ‘em suddenly have nothing to do.”

“Oh for, that’s an old mare’s tale,” Bon Bon snarked back.

“You’re talking to the ‘old mare’ that first made that observation,” Aspect said. “It was just an idle thought, but it rapidly spiraled out of control into a joke among the staff that I had no intention of starting.”

“Wait, you started that rumor?” Bon Bon sighed. “No more pancakes for you.”

“I also made the observation about unicorn horns and pegasi’s wings,” the stallion chuckled. “I’m an equal opportunity observer.”

“You are incorrigible,” Rarity sighed. “Can we move on to a more civilised topic of conversation? Such as discussing any idea you had for the ballroom?”

“Well,” the stallion hummed. “I was thinking something in both gold and azure. I have every faith that when they can, my daughters will visit me, and I’d like something that reflects the both of them.”

The first image she got was like that horrendous house Vinyl and Octavia lived in and she shuddered. “Hmm, that might be a challenge. But leave it to me, I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”

“Also,” the stallion said. “I plan to go into town today, to aid with any reconstruction efforts that actually need any help without revealing to the town at large that I’m anything but a weird pegasus. If you ladies would write down anything you’d like me to get or where you lived, I can check up on those things for you. Or you could come with if you’d like.”

“I believe we’ll go with you,” Bon Bon nodded. As much as she thought of him as a friend, she didn’t want him rifling through what was left of her drawers. “Besides, there isn’t a whole lot left of our home.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect said with a shrug before flashing into his pegasus guise and finishing off his breakfast. “Mmm, that was so good, and over too soon,” he said with a forlorn sigh at his empty plate.

“Well, guess you’ll just have to wait for dinner,” Bon Bon smiled. “And we’ll see if that proposal’s still on the table hmm?” She shot him a sultry wink as Lyra fumed and pouted.

“I’m watching you,” she said, pointing from her eyes to his.

“Madam, I am in no way trying to steal your friend from you,” Aspect said as he put a hoof to his chest. “Hire her on as a chef? Maybe if I could afford such a thing, I would consider it. But I’d not break up a friendship.”

“You couldn’t afford me,” Bon Bon giggled, bumping Lyra’s hoof with her own.

“Well, the next week or so should be interesting indeed,” Rarity chuckled. “Oh, but on the topic of winter. That Parasprite came at a rather unfortunate time. I do hope the town even has enough supplies to last the three months.”

“I’m sure we could reach out to Canterlot and they’d help,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “My daughters are already footing the bill thanks to the emergency fund. I’m sure if we needed to, we could buy all the food everyone needed to eat for winter.”

“Provided the farmers like Applejack and Carrot aren’t too proud to ask,” Bon Bon sighed. “They’re wonderful ponies, but I have never met a more stubborn farmer than the ones here.”

“They are, aren’t they?” Lyra giggled and got to her hooves. “Okay, let’s go and see how much of Ponyville is left.”

“After you,” Aspect said with a bow. The mares nodded and left his home, the stallion locking up after them.

Ponyville… looked a lot worse than it did yesterday. Several buildings had been stripped down to the bare framework. As they passed one building, Bon Bon stopped and stared sadly at it. It was utterly destroyed, a broken half-eaten sign was on the ground, enough of the writing was legible to tell Aspect that this was her shop and home.

“Things can be replaced,” he said softly. “Memories can be remade. Lives...can’t.”

“Yeah, I know,” Bon Bon nodded. It was still hard seeing her home like this. “Well, guess I should get to work.” She entered the space and looked around. “Aspect, could you lift the rubble here? There’s a door to the basement that should have something that’ll help the town.”

The stallion nodded and moved over to where she indicated, using his hooves to shift the rubble that was blocking the door.

“W-Well, I thought your magic would have been easier,” Bon Bon blushed, watching the muscular stallion and licking her suddenly dry lips.

“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m cheating,” the stallion said as he kept moving the fallen bits off the door. “Then again, when am I not?”

“S-Sure,” Bon Bon nodded slowly. Wow, it was really warm today huh? It took a few minutes, but the junk was moved and her cellar door was revealed. Bon Bon pulled a key from her mane and unlocked it, before pulling the door back.

“Okay, everypony follow me,” she said and walked down into the darkness. Aspect nodded and followed after the mare, curious as to what she could be keeping down here that could help the town in its current state.

Bon Bon felt around for the light and the room was filled, causing the ponies to blink a few times to adjust. And Aspect then saw what Bon Bon was talking about.

Almost six months worth of supplies must have been down here. Flour, oats, sugar, bottled water… Enough to last the whole town quite a while. There was also a large yellow crate done up with a multitude of padlocks…

“Well, this’ll help,” the stallion said. “I guess some pony is into preparing for the worst.”

“More or less…” Bon Bon blushed.

“She’s also really bad at ordering stuff, so this is in case she needs stuff in a pinch,” Lyra giggled. “So when we did place orders, we ordered a lot.”

“Also makes sense,” Aspect agreed with a nod. “It’s good to have a buffer.”

“Right, so I’m gonna let Pinkie Pie handle distributing this,” Bon Bon nodded. She set aside enough for them, as well as that trunk. “Lyra, could you take all this back to Aspect’s house?”

“Aww, it looks heavy…” Lyra sighed and nodded. “Fine. But will you ever tell me what’s in that trunk?”

“The bones of overly-curious mares,” Bon Bon replied with a cheerful grin. Aspect blinked before looking at the chest, then slowly looking at Bon Bon.

“Just some personal belongings that shall remain personal,” she said to Aspect. “A mare is entitled to her secrets after all~”

“I was about to say,” the stallion said with a sigh. “Right, shall we look for the pink one, then?”

“You never look for the Pink one,” Lyra giggled. “The Pink one finds you!”

As if on cue, as Aspect walked up and out of the cellar, he came muzzle to muzzle with a wall of pink, staring back with big blue eyes.

“Hiya Aspey!”

“Hello Pinkie,” he said with a chipper smile. “I was expecting you.”

“Aww, you’re no fun when you ‘expect’ me,” Pinkie pouted. Lyra chuckled and rubbed her poofy mane.

“Hey Pinks, think you could distribute all this stuff out to the town. At the very least, there’s stuff here to bake bread and the like.”

“Oohh~ This is awesome!” Pinkie giggled and bounced up and down until Bon Bon put a hoof on her head.

“You will not be using this to bake a mountain of cupcakes,” Bon Bon said clearly. “You will Pinkie Promise right now that the town will get these supplies.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Pinkie went through the motions, even getting airborne at the ‘fly’ part, before pulling out a cupcake for the last bit.

“Good girl,” Bon Bon rubbed her head. “Now hup to it soldier!”

“Ma’am yes Sir!’ Pinkie saluted and pulled out a guard's helmet. Aspect tilted his head a little as the mare acted a bit more randomly than he was prepared for.

“Heh, I know that look,” Rarity smiled at him. “Trust me, you will never get used to Pinkie Pie.”

“I got used to Surprise,” Aspect said with a wave of his hoof. “This is just a new training exercise in comparison.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you darling,” Rarity sang as they started heading for her boutique to salvage anything useful. “So, if I may ask. What made you stop your wanderings?”

“I saw the mark on the moon vanish and knew it was time to come back,” Aspect said. “The longer than usual night was another big clue as well, but the dawn was a good sign. I had hope that this time, when I came to see my daughters, I would see the both of them.”

“So you came back because of Luna?” Rarity mulled over his words and gasped. “Ohh, Iiiiddeeaaaa~!”

“And now you remind me of Hearthrob,” the stallion chuckled.

“Hmm?” Rarity paused, her train of thought halted. “I’m sorry, who?”

“Another of my old friends, she was very busy all the time creating wonderful new outfits for ponies, mostly herself, and kept getting inspired by what some pony else would say. She was after the outfit that would attract ‘A perfect gentle stallion’ to her side.”

“Ahh, a mare I can sympathise with,” Rarity nodded and smiled. “The answer to that is quite simple, but I believe Lyra would be more comfortable saying it.” She blushed lightly and waved a hoof. “Nethertheless, I have a wonderful idea for your ballroom, but I must speak with Twilight first, to see if it’s possible.”

“Fair enough, shall we see if we can find her next, or would you prefer it if we pressed on to your home?” the stallion asked.

“Hmm, I am in no rush at the moment for the design. Let us head for my home so I see what I have to work with.”

“By your lead, milady,” Aspect said with a bow of his head.

“Ever the gentle stallion,” Rarity smiled. “Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to have you propose to me next hmm~?” She winked at him and headed for her Boutique.

“I’ll reserve that for when I see what you have planned for the ballroom,” he riposted.

While nowhere near the state of Bon Bon’s. Carousel Boutique was in no way habitable. Massive holes in the walls and ceiling, and the damage made the stallion wary of going upstairs.

“Well, where should I start?” Rarity said, sighing as she looked at a half-eaten dress.

“I’d be wary of straying too deep,” Aspect said as he looked at the roof. He got the feeling it could collapse at any moment.

“Yes, I’d have to agree,” Rarity said as she floated out some useable ponequins and rolls of fabric. “It’s a pity, I’d like to see what survived up there.”

“As would I, but the first few rules of exploring a building that isn’t structurally sound is to not stray too far from an exit and to never go upstairs,” the stallion said.

“Yes, I’d never be as foolish as that darling, despite the allure of, my work…” Rarity gave a forlorn glance at the stairs and sighed. “Well, I have salvaged what I can from here. Let us be off for now.”

“I have an idea,” Aspect said as he smiled and looked up at the cloudy sky. “I saw a pretty big hole in the roof...as long as I can suppress my stormy nature, I think I can bring a cloud in to stand on so that I can tell you what survived.”

“I appreciate it darling, but there is no need to put yourself at risk for a few trinkets.”

“True, but sometimes the memories we attach to the things means more than the things themselves,” the stallion said. “I honestly don’t mind as long as I don’t start up a storm along the way.”

“If you think you can, but please don’t try to bring a storm into my Boutique. Once was quite enough for that particular event.”

Aspect nodded and walked outside, noticing a cloud nearby that would suit his purposes. His wings flared as he thought of how to word this.

A storm always raging out of control,
For many years, it's been on a roll,
But now I need for it to calm.
My inner nature, needs some balm.
For once now when I touch a cloud,
it needs to not get stormy and loud.

There was a flash of light and Aspect sighed. He’d woven the spell, yes. Now he would need to test it. He flew up to the cloud and hesitated for a moment...before landing on it and wincing. Did it work?

A minute passed and not the slightest hint of grey passed over the cloud. “Nailed it~” he crowed. “Right, one pegasus en route to your upper levels, Lady Rarity.” With that, he maneuvered the cloud so that he and it passed through the hole in the upper level.

“Do be careful in there, it’s rather delicate,” Rarity said to him.

“Yeah, no kidding,” the stallion said. “There are holes eaten in the walls up here.” He looked around, it looked like he was in a bedroom. “Anything you want me to look for in particular up here?”

“Whatever you deem safe enough to take dear,” Rarity said.

“I’m seeing photos, outfits...well, parts of some outfits,” the stallion said. “I think there’s even a jewelry box up here.”

“Oh! If you could get that, I’d be rather grateful,” Rarity said with some urgency. “It has a very important item if those horrendous little bugs didn’t get to it.”

“Let me just…” Aspect pushed his cloud forward and stretched a hoof out to the box, eventually nabbing it and setting it on the cloud. “Got it! Anything else you want from up here?”

“That was all that truly mattered, but if you could get a few of those intact outfits and photos…”

“On my way,” the stallion said, grabbing the closest photos before pushing his cloud over to the others. It didn’t take long for the cloud to have a small array of things on it, but Aspect dared not leave it, for fear of the floor being treacherous. He eventually reached the closet and started going through the dresses, finding a half-dozen that were intact merely because they were in back and hadn’t been eaten yet before the insects were led out of town.

That was all he felt safe grabbing, and he told Rarity as such. “Okay, I think I’m gonna call it here milady. I still feel like this place could come down at any moment, so I’m gonna get out of here while I can.”

“Please do, I’d feel awful if you got hurt,” Rarity said from outside. The entire building suddenly gave a rumbling shake.

“Exit, stage left,” Aspect said as he gave a few flaps of his wings and managed to barely squeeze him, the cloud, and everything on it out of the hole in time. The boutique surged and then a significant portion collapsed in on itself.

“O-Oh my…” Rarity gave a trembling sigh. She dashed over to Aspect and checked him. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt are you?”

“No, I got out of there just in time,” he said before climbing off the cloud and doing a sweeping bow. “Your effects, ma’am,” he said.

“Foolish stallion, you almost got yourself hurt,” she said and wiped her eye. “All for a few things. Still, thank you dear Aspect.”

“Anything to make your stay more comfortable,” he said with a wink.

“You’re…” Rarity sighed and smiled. “You’re one of a kind Sir Aspect.”

“And you know it,” he chuckled. “So, shall we go see miss Sparkle?”

“I’m sure she’s doing her best to help out,” Rarity nodded and started walking towards Twilight’s library.

Aspect wasn’t quite sure where all the chaos had come from. Whether it was Twilight’s reaction to what had happened to the library, whether she had imported the chaos from the rest of the townsfolk onto herself, or whether it was no worse here that it was anywhere else where the building was intact.

But it certainly seemed like she’d...gone above and beyond in attempting to manage the entire rebuilding effort.

“Alright, so if the pegasi can keep the skies clear… No, I don’t care about the weather schedule. The town is in bad enough shape and I don’t need you literally raining on the parade!”

Cloud Kicker glared at the unicorn. “I wasn’t going to cause any rain, you horn-headed moron! As if I would be so cruel.”

“Then why are there pegasi setting up rainclouds?” Twilight said and pointed outside. Cloud Kicker looked and narrowed her eyes.

“Thunderlane, that bone-headed… bucking…” Cloud sighed and shot Twilight an apologetic look before flying off.

“Well, you certainly seem to have your hooves full,” Aspect said as he walked in, keeping one eye on the cloud with Rarity’s things on it.

“What do you…” Twilight whirled around and sighed when she saw who it was. “It’s just you Aspect. Oh, and Rarity as well. How are you holding up?”

“Better than I could be,” Rarity nodded. “Aspect has helped me out greatly as well. But darling, you look like you just crawled through Froggy Bottom Bog. Now, how would you like a magical conundrum to solve?”

“A magical problem?” Twilight’s eyes shimmered.

“This sounds interesting,” Aspect said as he listened to Rarity’s plan.

“Ah,” Rarity turned and looked at Aspect. “Would you mind waiting outside dear? This is a private conversation.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion said with a shrug before walking out. Once he left, Rarity described her idea to Twilight.

Aspect could her the unicorn’s excited gasp from outside...He had to restrain himself from trying to eavesdrop or go back in.

A few moments later, Rarity emerged with a wide smile on her face. “Well then darling, I’m all done here. Unless there’s anything you’d like to do. I’ll be heading home to put these things away.”

“I think we’re good,” the stallion said. “Unless you think there’s any pony else I should be taking in during this time of crisis.”

“Hmm, well unless you feel like helping out anywhere. Twilight would be the best pony to ask,” Rarity had already been given a few requests that would keep her busy. “I have a good deal of sewing to do.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect said. “To home then?”

“Home, dear Aspect,” Rarity nodded. She winced at the thought of all the work she’d have to do tonight. Well, sleep was for the weak and unemployed.

Later that night, Rarity still hadn’t come out of her room, the long pounding sound of a sewing machine was a constant reminder she was even alive. Lyra was just sitting in the living room, strumming on her namesake as Bon Bon cooked dinner, the scents of baking bread and bubbling vegetable stew filled the house.

“Well, I think it might be quiet for a while,” Lyra hummed as she played, her lyre strings chiming along with her words.

“Let’s hope so,” Aspect said as he rummaged through his bag. “Hmm...trophy, trophy, tro- AHA! I was wondering where that was!”

The stallion pulled out a flowerpot with a small sapling in it, a glass dome over it with a slight shimmer the only indication that it was enchanted at all.

“What’s that you got there?” Lyra hummed in her sing-song tone again.

“The only sapling the Tree of Plenty ever sprouted,” the stallion said. “I was hoping to plant it in the spring.”

Lyra tilted her head. That name didn’t ring any bells anyway. “So, what’s the Tree of Plenty?”

“The second thing I made with the Flashstone,” Aspect said. “It was a tree that could bear any type of fruit, and around its roots, all the vegetables we could want sprouted. However, there was only ever one of anything, and it took time to replenish anything we took.”

“I don’t know if something like that sounds like a blessing, or a crime against nature,” Lyra chuckled and shook her head. She plucked her strings and started playing a new song.

“Somepony took well to the Seaponies,” Aspect chuckled. “It’s such a shame that winter will cut us off for three months…”

“Such is life I’m afraid,” Lyra hummed and started up another song. It felt… strangely nostalgic as she plucked away at the lyre strings. Aspect eventually placed it and sighed. That had been...quite the time of trials for himself and the other humans.

Megan had even advocated for the banishing of Grogar rather than the outright slaying he’d have done. And look who was right, centuries later. He just knew the old goat would come back. At least now the essence of Death was in the form of something useful.

“You really are digging up all my old memories,” he said nonchalantly. “I’m surprised the songs survived as long as they have.”

“Hmm?” Lyra paused slightly before she continued. “This is a song my mom taught me, and I think she learned it from Grams. I don’t know the lyrics though, if it ever had any.”

“Oh, it did,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “But that was not a happy time. It involves Death’s previous incarnation and the first time he and I met.”

“Morty?” Lyra tilted her head as she switched things up and played something happier. A quaint little jig from the Equus Highlands.

“Oh there’s a better tune,” Aspect said as he bobbed his head to the beat. Lyra’s horn shone and added a flute sound to the song as she got up and started twirling around the room as the music reached a fever pitch. Aspect added his own stomping in time with the beat, still keeping up with the increased pitch as he started losing himself to the music.

Lyra grinned madly and opened her mouth to add a gentle hum to it, as the two ponies made beautiful and enrapturing music. The song soon came to an end though, as the mint mare fell onto the couch and panted, a happy smile on her muzzle.

“Bravo,” Aspect said, giving her a small round of applause. “Wonderful, truly wonderful.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Lyra sat up and bowed. “I’ll be here all evening.”

Bon Bon walked into the room with a tray on her back, four bowls of delicious-looking vege soup and a loaf of dipping bread with butter and oils.

“I could hear that from the kitchen, it sounded lovely Lyra.”

“I’m not bad at tapping into the latent magical field of Equestria to produce music magic, it’s how most sorcery gets a boost, but Lyra here, she’s a master of the musical arts,” Aspect praised her.

“Eheh,” Lyra blushed and rubbed her head. “I’m not as good as Octavia or Frederick. But thanks.”

“Would somepony mind fetching Rarity?” Bon Bon asked as she set up dinner on the coffee table.

“I’ll go, it’s my house after all,” Aspect said. “I’ll not make either of you do anything you don’t want.” The stallion headed off towards the room where the other unicorn had taken up residence, still humming the tune Lyra had performed as he did.

In short order, he had reached Rarity’s room and was knocking on the door. “Madam Rarity? We have dinner.”

There was no response, and the near-constant sounds of the sewing machine had stopped. The door slowly opened and revealed what was most likely the home of Discord himself. There was fabric everywhere. Whether it was some complete sheets, or just haphazardly tossed off cuts. Several cardboard boxes lined one wall, filled to the brim with beanies and scarves. She must have made enough for half the town, and all in one day?

The unicorn herself was slumped over her table, her hooves still holding a half-complete article.

“Oh dear,” the stallion said as he flashed into his alicorn form and began using his magic. The first thing he did was gently attempt to pry away the clothing she was holding in her hooves so that he could put it on the table.

Rarity snorted and her eyes flew open, “I’m still eating that!!” she shouted and then blinked. “Wait… wha?”

“Come along, milady,” Aspect said as he tugged the article out of her hooves. “You’ve worked yourself to the point of exhaustion. And it’s only dinnertime.”

“Hrrmm?” Rarity rubbed her eyes as he took the article from her. “O-Oh my, no… I was just…” she paused and yawned. “Resting my eyes.”

“Then it’s a good thing I know how to make coffee, you might need some if you intend to keep going.” He bowed and presented her with a hoof. “If I might escort you to dinner?”

Rarity nodded and took his hoof. She glanced around the room and caught sight of her reflection…

“Whahaaa?” And like that, she was gone. And the only indication she hadn’t spontaneously vapourised was the sound of the bathroom door closing. Aspect chuckled and shook his head.

Give her ten, fifteen minutes...maybe even an hour, and she’d be out. In the meantime, he had some soup to go eat.

Aspect walked back to the table and took his place, humming as he lifted up the first spoonful of the soup to his lips.

Rarity strode in a moment later, looking as flawless as always. “Terribly sorry I’m late darlings.”

That was about when the stallion tried the soup for himself and let out the most ungentlestallion moan into his mouthful of soup.

The three mares paused, and all three sported a rather heavy blush at that sound. Bon Bon might have choked on her food again if she’d started.

“Uh…” Even Lyra was speechless. Eventually Aspect swallowed and voiced his compliments.

“It is a damn shame you’re not cooking for Celly or Lulu, I’ll say that much right now,” he said. “I genuinely think you could get a position in the castle with cooking this good.”

“Th-Thank you for the compliment?” Bon Bon squeaked out, trying to get her blush under control.

“You sure you don’t want her all to yourself?” Rarity giggled.

“Bonnie is mine!” Lyra shouted. “I’m not sharing!”

“You all know there’s something fundamentally wrong with insinuating what you’re insinuating, yes?” the alicorn said, waiting for them to get it. “It’s why I didn’t spend any time with ponies like that.”

“Huh?” All three turned and looked at him.

“Is it because you’re human?” Lyra asked bluntly. “Do you not like ponies like that?”

Aspect shook his head, before spreading his wings and giving them a flap. “Little more obvious than that.”

“I’m afraid you’re being a bit too vague dear,” Rarity said as she sipped her soup and hummed delightedly.

“Okay, pop quiz Lyra. Just how long ago was Dream Valley. Do you know?” Aspect turned to look at the mint mare, waiting for her to connect the dots.

“Well it was a really… oh.” Lyra’s ears drooped. “Because… you’re immortal? Is that it?”

“And currently, the only immortals alive are my sons and daughters in one sense or another,” Aspect said with a nod. “I’d rather avoid that.”

“Yeah, that might be best,” Bon Bon chuckled. “But still, you shouldn’t give up on love because of that. Even if… they pass. The feelings in your heart, your memories, they’ll never fade right?”

“True, plus...well, let’s just say that I have the promise of one of my sons to...meddle. He’s done it once with a success, he’s fairly confident he can do it again,” Aspect said before returning to his soup.

“Meddle… how?” Lyra asked.

“Have you all heard of Mi Amore Cadenza?” Aspect asked between bites. “She was just a pegasus until he took an interest in her.”

“Wait, Mi Amore…” Lyra knew that name. She was Twilight’s foalsitter some time ago. They used to play together in the park. “Princess Cadence…” Then she put the clues together, but Bon Bon beat her to the punch.

“Well, while I’m flattered, I don’t think I’m ready to become an alicorn princess,” she said with a light giggle.

“Yeah, most aren’t, though I can promise, you’d have all the time in the world to make your cooking better,” Aspect said with a wink to Lyra. “Like that’s even possible, am I right?”

“Nuuu, then Bonnie Bons would leave me all alone,” she pouted and hugged the mare. Bon Bon rolled her eyes and stroked her mane.

“Nopony is leaving you alone Lyra. We’re best friends right?”

“Mhmm,” Lyra purred as she was petted.

“Ah well, I suppose I shall have to savor your cooking while you are under my roof,” Aspect said with a dramatic sigh. “Such a shame.”

Bon Bon blushed and stared at him with wide eyes. “Y-Y-You… you were serious!? You really want to marry me!?” The hoof resting over Lyra’s neck was now gripping her tightly, the minty pony now turning blue…

“First, you may want to let Lyra go,” Aspect said, pointing at the mare in question. Bon Bon glanced down and gasped, releasing the unicorn.

Lyra gulped down some air and panted. “I thought… I was… gonna die…” She looked around to see if Mort had shown up.

“And second, while your cooking is good, I would need to actually get to know you before I could make that sort of call,” Aspect said.

“Bonnie! You’d betray me so easily?” Lyra feigned a hurt look and got swatted by the mare for her efforts.

“O-Oh my,” Rarity giggled at the show. “Dinner and some entertainment. Perhaps I should visit more often.”

“But take heart,” Aspect said with a smile. “Thanks to your words, I will indeed consider ponies once again. Even if they would rather turn down the offer of immortality.”

“Imagine if Twilight became a princess?” Lyra snorted. “She could be like… the Princess of Chaos or something.”

At that, Aspect actually stopped eating and shook a little.

“Oh dear, I love Twilight to bits,” Rarity chuckled. “But the idea of her having alicorn magic and the authority of a princess?”

Aspect was now muttering something as he stared into his soup, still shaking a little.

“You okay there Aspect?” Bon Bon chuckled. “You look a little pale there. Could be worse…” She smiled and leaned closer. “Alicorn Pinkie Pie.”

“You all know not of what you speak,” he said quietly. “The Aspect of Chaos is still...very much alive.”

“I don’t think I wanna know,” Lyra shuddered, Bon Bon mumbled something and glanced in the direction of Canterlot.

“His rule was terrible, he only saw me as a threat,” Aspect said with a shudder. “All the chaos he heaped upon the ponies was idle musings compared to what he did to me.”

“He was something even you couldn’t defeat?” Rarity sounded surprised.

“I wasn’t prepared for the ways his magic worked then,” Aspect said. “It ultimately fell to Celestia and Luna to gather the fruits of Yggdrasil and use them to bind the wayward Aspect in stone.”

“He was one you couldn’t ‘rehouse’ like you did with Morty, or the dragonfire?” Lyra asked.

“I could have...but he knew the sword could kill him, so he kept me out of arm’s reach from him,” the stallion said. “For all his random nature, he wasn’t stupid. He acted to neutralize the only threat he saw.”

“Sounds like a hassle,” Bon Bon sighed. “Ah well, he’s sealed away now right?”

“And hopefully, he’ll stay that way,” Aspect agreed with a nod before resuming eating his soup. Aww, it had cooled off. Oh well.

“Allow me,” Lyra said and aimed her horn at the bowl and lit it up. Steam started to rise, and she cancelled the spell. “A simple heating spell.”

“Useful for when my oven didn’t want to light,” Bon Bon said. Oooh! When they rebuilt her house, she’d get a new oven!

“Useful indeed,” the stallion agreed as he resumed eating his soup. Mmm, much better~

Later that night, when Aspect was headed to bed. He found something sitting atop of it. When he lifted it, he saw it was a scarf, that started as a sky blue, before transitioning to a sunset orange, then a deep dusk blueish-black. It also had Celestia’s Cutie Mark on the light end, with Luna’s on the dark. A small note was also attached.

‘The warmth of family, to see you through the winter.’

“Now that’s kind of her,” the stallion chuckled. Apparently, Rarity had been hard at work with her scarf-making, and hadn’t forgotten about him either. And who knew? Maybe they’d come around for the winter and really surprise his guests.

In the following weeks, the rebuilding had come along swimmingly. The town just seemed to sprout up again like a weed, and soon life was getting back to normal. The Running of the Leaves was also a thing that happened. And something Aspect wasn’t overly interesting in entering.

The rivalry of Rainbow and Applejack had provided a somewhat distracting show to the otherwise peaceful walk. Twilight had hung back for a bit to chat with him, before saying she was going to sprint on ahead.

He also got to see Celestia again, which was a nice bonus to the day. And all too soon, the day when his houseguests had to leave had arrived.

Lyra scuffed at the ground, her ears flat as Bon Bon rubbed her back. “Well, thank you very much for taking care of us Aspect,” she smiled. “Sorry we imposed on you for so long.”

“Nonsense,” the stallion said with a wave of a wing. “You are always welcome back. I find your company charming now, and I wonder how I’m going to deal without it.”

“More like ‘how will you manage without my cooking?’” Bon Bon giggled.

“That as well,” Aspect readily agreed.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon,” Bon Bon smiled. “After all, you have that party tonight. So there’s that.”

Aspect blinked a few times. “Party?” he asked with a head-tilt.

“You… don’t know?” Lyra asked. “Ponies have been talking about it all week.” She pointed at a section of his house. “That ballroom Rarity’s been hiding in for the last two weeks? Well she finished. So she told us you were gonna throw a party to break it in. Then Pinkie decided to make a celebration for the town being fixed and now it's a big fancy dress ball.”

Aspect was not normally a violent pony by nature. He only resorted to violence when he had to.

But his left eye gave off a dangerous twitch as he was informed of such a plot hatching under his nose without any inkling of it happening.

And to top it all off, he had no formal wear for his pony form at all. Meaning he would have to get some.

Game, set, match, Rarity.

“W-Well, we’ll uh… seeyoulatertonightAspect!” Bon Bon grabbed Lyra and beat a hasty retreat when she saw that twitch.

Aspect calmly walked into his house, shut the door behind him, breathed deeply, and simply waited for the unicorn to make herself known. Knowing her, she would love to strike soon, to finally try and get him in some formal wear…

Unfortunately, the mare also knew whom she was dealing with and sent a proxy.

“Aspect!” Twilight was treading through the snow to reach him, but she hit a deep patch and squealed in shock at the cold when she face-planted the substance. The stallion answered the call and opened the door, looking around before finally spying Twilight’s tail sticking out of the snow.

“Need some help?” Aspect asked.

“Yef pleeff!” came the muffled reply. The stallion flapped his wings once, then again, and on the third flap, a good portion of the snow was gone from his yard in a very strong breeze.

Twilight tumbled back a bit, stopping when the breeze had.

“Knew you were full of hot air,” she smirked as she shook her head and straightened her mane. “Thanks for the rescue.”

“No problem,” the stallion said. He was still mad at Rarity, but that could wait. “So, why are you here milady?”

“Oh, I just came to check on you,” she smiled. “You had three houseguests for a while. Was there anything you needed to claim back at all?”

“Just the usual expenses for food,” the stallion said with a strained smile.

Twilight nodded and wrote that down on a scroll she took out of her bag. “Is everything alright, you seem… strained.”

“Tell me,” Aspect said with a still-strained smile. “Is it now customary to throw dress balls in your host’s house without telling them?”

“That’s…” Twilight tilted her head, and then face-hooved. “That’s why Rarity asked me to give you this?” She summoned a box and floated it over to him. “I’m very sorry Aspect. I can get them to cancel it if you like. Oh, and I know Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were coming, so I’ll have to message them as well.”

“That all depends on what’s in that box,” Aspect said. He opened it to reveal a very nice suit. tailored to fit his pegasus form and he even noticed miniscule gems embedded in the black fabric. In the right light, it’d look like the night sky.

“Well, I suppose I will have to admit defeat,” he sighed. “Lady Twilight, remind me to never try to outmaneuver your friend Rarity ever again. The ball is still on.”

“I can do that,” Twilight smiled as she put her scroll away. “And please, just Twilight will be fine Aspect.”

“Very well then, though if this is to be a formal ball, expect to hear that title a few more times tonight,” the stallion said as he put the suit back in the box, before sticking the whole box in his saddlebags. “Now all I have to do is test to see if this fits and wait around for my daughters to show up.”

“You’re going to show me that bag trick at some point,” Twilight said with just the smallest bit of envy. “Well then, until tonight Aspect.” With a crack of light, she teleported away.

Aspect stared at the mirror. The suit was very nice. Top quality even.

But the question he really needed answered?

How did it fit him so perfectly!?

Had the mare been measuring him in his sleep or something?

That just raised all new concerns, if that was true.

And still, he had yet to have an actual conversation with her. He’d have his chance tonight he guessed.

“FATHER DEAREST!!” Luna’s voice rattled the walls and caused a large crack to form along his mirror. “ART THOU HOME!?”

With a sigh, he grew a horn before focusing his magic on fixing the crack. This only worked half the time, and he’d rather manage it himself without resorting to sorcery. Surprisingly, it actually slowly was fixed, and the stallion sighed. “Luna!” he called out. “Inside voice!”

“Very well Father,” she shouted back, a little quieter.

“Inside inside voice,” Aspect said. “The house isn’t as large as the castles we’ve lived in that you need to yell to find me.”

“But I—” She was cut off as Celestia whapped her upside the head with a wing. Her voice just seemed to float into the room. Magical projection?

“We’re in the living room father, we’ll wait for you here.”

“Thank you,” he said as he gave himself a final check. Everything seemed to be in place.

Then again, he’d never worn a suit before, so he wouldn’t know. With a quick flash back into his normal pegasus guise, the stallion made his way to the living room where his daughters were. When he entered the room, he found himself under the assault of a Luna-strength hug as the little alicorn embraced him, giggling happily.

“Luna,” he said, tapping her on the back. “Air.”

It took Celestia removing the mare with magic before she’d release him.

“Sorry about that father, Lulu’s been rather excited to see you again. Duties have kept us busy though.” The sadness in her voice was evident. Ever since Luna’s… departure, she hated that her responsibilities got in the way of family.

“You mean like that little ponce that tried to separate us?” the stallion asked with a bit of bite to his voice. “I swear, the nobles back in my day knew how to serve the public. And if he’s actually related to either of you, I’ll go out and buy a hat, just to eat it.”

Celestia turned pink and sighed. “When Luna was… lost, and you vanished. I had nopony. So… I turned to one of my Guards at the time. Noble Blood.”

“I think I remember him,” Aspect said. “Used to guard the throneroom, was skilled with the spear?”

“Very skilled,” Celestia giggled and let out a wistful sigh.

“It suddenly makes sense,” the stallion said dryly. “Still, to have fallen from such noble lineage to...that.”

“As the generations went on, they remained close to me, but got more and more entitled…”

“And knowing Tia, she was far too soft to punish that out of them,” Luna scoffed. “I mean, you should have at least beheaded one of them. Worked when Father did it.”

“Lulu, just because I routinely go for the neck, doesn’t mean you get to,” Aspect said. “They’re not immortal terrors. In fact, I think we put some immortal terror into him, the way he squeaked and ran off.”

“Daddy?” Luna smiled maliciously. “We believe We have a most wonderful idea~”

“Would it involve abusing your dreamwalking skill that I gave you to torment your Nth-degree nephew?” Aspect asked. Luna’s ears drooped and she sighed.

“We still cannot do that, enough of Our strength has not returned.” She gave another forlorn sigh, before smirking. “However, remember thy pranks We used to play?”

“Oh dear,” the stallion chuckled. “Just be sure to get a crash course from Tia about modern pranking, you don’t want to pull what seems like an innocent prank and have it cross a line.”

“You mean I can’t open a gate to Tartarus and dangle him in front of it?”

“Considering who’s in there, that’s a fate I wouldn’t subject anyone to,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “By the way, when did we get a three-headed guard dog for that place?”

“Ah, you mean Fluffy?” Celestia asked as her thoughts wandered to her little puppy. “A 2000th birthday gift from Mort.”

“Ah,” the stallion said with a nod. “Speaking of, he was supposed to be here for the whole Parasprite thing to meet you at last, but we know how that turned out. Would you like me to call him?”

“We art confused,” Luna knitted her brow and tilted her head. “What manner of being is this… ‘Mort’?”

“You have to experience him to understand, but suffice it to say that like many beings, he’s like a little brother to you two,” Aspect chuckled. “I doubt that Neptune will attend, I doubt he can at this time. And I don’t think I could get a messenger to Chryssy or Gelgeth. So he’s the only one I can call. Would you like to meet him, Lulu?”

“We would like to meet Our brother!” Luna clapped her hooves and Celestia gulped. This should be interesting. Aspect closed his eyes and concentrated…

The room suddenly got a little colder. Celestia merely kept herself warm with a spell. But Luna?

This reminded her far too much of her previous abode. So much so that she started to shiver, and not from the cold.

“AH, WE MEET AT LAST,” a voice said from behind them. “I HAD BEEN WONDERING WHEN WE WOULD.”

Luna turned her head and her eyes slowly widened when she beheld Death.

Then her horn fired up and she sent a blast of magic at him.

“YOU’LL NOT TAKE MY FAMILY!!” she roared. The stallion merely raised his scythe, which absorbed the impact of the magic without so much as a scratch.

“Calm yourself, Luna Selene. I am here because father called for me. No more, no less.” Mort smiled at her. “Besides, we all know there's only one way any of us could pass, and it's currently sitting in father's room.”

Luna took a step back as Celestia sighed and tossed her father ten bits. Aspect caught it and pocketed the money before greeting his ever busy son.

“Mort, how are you these days?”

“Busy as always, but for family matters, I can put aside the job for a few hours,” the grim stallion said.

“So… he is truly Our brother?” Luna asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Much as your duty is the moon, or Celestia's is the sun, mine is death,” Mort said. “Father made me after slaying the ram Grogar, and my first duty was to see his spirit to Niflehiem, which Gelgeth guards in the icy north.”

“Grogar… Gelgeth…” Luna sighed and shook her head. “We have forgotten or missed much because of our Mistake.” She looked at Mort and bowed her head. “We art sorry for attacking you fair brother.” She lifted a hoof and smiled. “Hug?”

“It ought to be safe enough for that,” the stallion said before drawing close. “After all, you're not a mortal.”

And then Mortal Coil was subjected to his very first ‘Luna-hug’. He was glad he didn’t really need to breathe. He suspected he might not be able to during this.

“So how long do you think she’ll hug him for before she remembers we have a ball to attend?” Aspect asked Celestia.

“Speaking of,” Celestia smiled and looked at him. “You look quite dashing in a suit. And rumor has it that you’ve been spending some time with a certain earth pony mare.”

“Her house was ravaged by the Parasprites,” Aspect shrugged. “I offered to let her stay with me while the town was rebuilt. It was the least I could do. And it wasn’t like I didn’t have the space. Plus, her cooking is amazing.”

“Well, they say the way to a stallion’s heart is through his stomach,” Celestia chuckled. “So, will I get to meet this marefriend of yours? I still have to approve of her.”

“Don’t think you’re too old or too big for me to put you over my knee for being cheeky,” the stallion said with a good-natured wink.

“Hah! With that flank?” Luna cackled. “Thou wouldst need to become a dragon to accomplish such a feat.”

“Sadly, dragon isn’t one of my forms,” Aspect said. “I could always find one to do it for me. I’m sure there are plenty that would jump at the chance.”

“We are not getting a dragon to spank me!” Celestia blushed and huffed indignantly. All was silent for a moment before the context set in and she blushed up to the tips of her ears.

“Eh, I’m sure if Smaug was still around, he’d do it for a song,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I really need to get up to the Dragon territories more often. Them and the phoenixes are some of the only long-lived friends I have outside my family.”

“I will not be spanked by anypony!!” Tia almost screeched.

“Because nopony owns a paddle that big,” Luna chortled.

Then Aspect’s living room became a battlefield as the two sisters wrestled and tumbled. Biting, kicking and using some… colourful language.

“Are they always this...enthusiastic?” Mort asked.

“Are you kidding?” Aspect said. “They’re sisters. Twin sisters, but Tia is older by a few minutes. I should know, I was there for the birth. They used to be worse in the hidden valley.”

“I see,” Mort said before there was a chime. “Oh drat, I thought I put the job off for a few hours. I guess duty calls again father. I will be back whenever I can spare the time.”

“Take care out there Mort, you know I worry,” the pegasus said with a wave of a wing in the stallion’s general direction.

“Of course, father, as always.” And with that, the stallion was gone, walking through a wall like a ghost, leaving behind the bickering sisters and his father. Aspect sighed and tapped a hoof on the floor.

“Are you two quite done?” he asked. “We have a ball that we’ll have to look good for, and here you two are, mussing up each other’s looks. I swear I’m inclined to put the both of you over my knee.”

“She started it!!” Both sisters shouted and pointed at one another.

“And I’m ending it,” Aspect said as he stamped a hoof. “Now, hug and make up, or so help me, I will go human and drag you both into my lap for a spanking.”

Luna and Celestia looked at each other, before doing as he said and making it as over dramatic as possible.

“I’m so sorry dearest sister of mine!” Luna wailed, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Let’s never fight again!” Celestia responded in kind, she even threw up a wall of sparkling light behind them like in those neighponese comics.

“I give it three days,” Aspect deadpanned. “I’ll even bribe your staff to tell me when the fighting starts again. And the best part is, you won’t know until I show up to spank you.”

“Y-You wouldn’t…” Luna gasped.

The stallion just grinned at them.

“He would,” Celestia sighed as a quick spell fixed their appearance. “Well, we shall go and get ready for this party of yours. Do you have a room we could use?”

“Pick a room,” Aspect said with a wave of a wing. “My houseguests have, for the most part, left. Only Rarity remains, and that’s because she organized this ball.”

Celestia and Luna nodded, taking their leave to go and prepare for the upcoming ball. It wasn’t long before he had another guest. One in the form of a pink mare towing a large wooden cart.

“Oh dear,” the stallion said. “Pinkie, I’m not sure that’ll...fit.”

Pinkie looked back, then looked at his wall and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“I think the kitchen might have a door for carts,” the stallion offered.

“Kitchen it is!” Pinkie cheered and went around the house. Once inside, she opened up the cart to reveal a bunch of trays, covered up, and filled with delicious food.

“Catering for your shindig,” Pinkie nodded. “I’ll start setting these up in the ballroom okay?”

“Not like I could stop it now,” the stallion said, as he’d come around to join her. “You do realize that the only reason I didn’t call it off was because you invited my daughters, yes?”

Pinkie seemed to deflate somewhat, even her mane fell limp and her very colour seemed to darken. “I’m sorry…” she said quietly. “We only wanted to surprise you. But… if we’re being a bother, then I can go…”

“And disappoint them now?” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “I would have appreciated being warned that I was going to host a party, though. And you’re cleaning up after it.”

“Okie Doki Loki!” Pinkie burst to life and continued to bounce down the hall. They reached a door to the ballroom, containing the following sign.

‘This room is off-limits to the stallion known as Balanced Aspect, and any and all forms of said stallion until further notice.’

“Well,” he said, turning around. “You go in and ask her how long that sign’s gonna be hanging up there, as I’m apparently not allowed in.”

“Cause it’s a surprise silly~” Pinkie gigged and nuzzled his cheek before disappearing through the door.

“And now we see just how easy it is to spring a surprise on me when I’m not allowed in the room,” Aspect said as he sat and waited. He really hoped he could pull the sign down soon. He wouldn’t want to have to explain it to the guests.

Eventually, Rarity exited the room, looking rather satisfied with herself. “Ahh, I do believe I have outdone myself this time. Rarity truly is a genius!”

“Rarity should have asked permission first,” Aspect snarked.

“Ahhh…” Rarity hadn’t seem him there and Pinkie didn’t warn her. “Ah, h-hello Aspect dear. Oh, that suit looks good on you.”

“Indeed, quite a fine fit, almost as though it were tailored for me,” the stallion said. “Strange, I don’t recall posing for it, or having my measurements taken…”

“O-Oh, ah… I can measure up ponies at a glance,” Rarity said, not looking him in the eye. “Special talent and all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go get ready.” And with that, the mare took off like a flash.

“Mmhmm. Hey Pinkie?” the stallion called out.

“Yeeeees?” she sang back through the door.

“If I promise not to come in until the ball actually starts, will you get rid of the sign? I don’t need guests asking questions about it.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

Aspect tilted his head. “I don’t know that promise. I usually just swear by Yggdrasil.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” she recited. “It’s a binding promise to a friend. Foorreevvveerrrrr!”

“Ah,” the stallion said with a nod. Surprise had liked the more...human version of that promise and insisted that it would keep them honest with one another. He went through the motions for the pink mare.

“Okie Doki Loki,” she giggled and the door opened a crack as a pink hoof reached through and pulled the sign off.

“Thank you,” he said. “Please make sure that nopony else sees it. Like I said, questions, I don’t need ‘em.”

“Gone and gone,” Pinkie nodded. “Oh, and I have cake in here, so make sure Princess Celestia doesn’t try and sneak in.”

“No promises, my daughters are wily about that sort of thing,” Aspect said. “If you have brownies, Luna will try as well.”

Pinkie was silent for a moment, before he heard the sound of some chains and something locking. “Cake and brownies? Nope, none here!”

“Pinkie,” he said. “We kind of need to be able to get in before we can be a part of the party.”

“Silly, I only locked the case with the sweets. I’ll unlock it later.”

And then his doorbell rang. He had a doorbell?

“Watch over the sweets, Private Pie. I have guests to go gather.”

“Sir yes Sir!” Pinkie saluted as the stallion headed for the door. When he opened it, his first two guests were his previous house guests. Lyra and Bon Bon were looking rather well suited so to speak.

“Heya Aspect!” Lyra waved. “Long time no see~”

“G-Good evening Aspect,” Bon Bon said, fidgeting in her dress. She didn’t dress up often and was a little embarrassed.

“It was only a few hours ago,” the stallion chuckled. “Miss me already miss Lyra?”

“Yup,” Lyra nodded as they walked in. “So tell me Aspect, what do you think?” he gave a little twirl and smiled. “Are we cute or what?”

“Quite stunning,” the stallion said with a nod. “I daresay that you wouldn’t be out of place at a more formal ball than mine.”

“Trust us, Rarity would have likely pitched a fit if we’d shown up wearing anything less,” Lyra replied with a flat stare.

“Yes, she wouldn’t be out of place in the Canterlot circle, that’s for sure,” Bon Bon agreed. “And I must say, you’re looking pretty dapper yourself.”

“Maybe he’ll wear that to your wedding?” Lyra giggled as Bon glared at her.

“This is actually the first suit I’ve ever owned,” the stallion said. “Be honest, do I look stupid in it?”

Lyra was about to open her mouth with a smart reply, but Bon Bon cut her off.

“I think you look very handsome Aspect. That’s the truth.”

“Thank you,” he said with a bow of his head. “Well, come on in and head to the ballroom. I’m sure Pinkie will let you at some of the sweets.”

“I hope so, I made some of them,” Bon Bon smiled as they headed off. It wasn’t long before a few more ponies turned up, though Aspect didn’t know half of them. Then Rainbow Dash showed up in all her glory. She took one look at Aspect and frowned.

“I knew it! Rarity made me look like an idiot didn’t she?”

“You’re more stunning than I’ve ever seen a pegasus be,” the stallion said honestly. “I honestly didn’t think you would show up to this sort of thing. I didn’t think balls were your style.”

“They’re not,” Rainbow scrunched up her face and blushed lightly. “But my friends are here, and Twilight said the Princesses would be here too…” She shook her head and puffed out her chest. “I figured showing up would at least add a cool factor to this shindig.”

“That it would,” Aspect said with a nod. “Well, I’m sure you can find the ballroom easily enough. Be sure to enjoy it for me, as I’m not allowed in just yet.”

“Hmm, I do wanna see what Rarity wanted those clouds for,” Rainbow mused as she headed towards the room. “Kay, see ya later Aspect.”

Twilight and Fluttershy were the next to arrive, followed close behind by Applejack and Rarity. Each dress they wore was more stunning than the last.

“Oh my,” Aspect said as he looked the mares over. “Each more stunning than the last. And Twilight! You remind me of my good friends the phoenixes. I suppose as long as you don’t set the ball on fire, I’ll be content to just observe.”

“Oh har har,” Twilight said dryly. “You set one kitchen on fire and—”

“Uh, Twi?” Spike asked, just wearing a simple bowtie. “I think he was just joking?”

“Oh… right, I knew that,” Twilight said quickly.

“Though that does sound interesting,” the stallion chuckled. “Anyway, I do believe Rarity could lead you all there easily. Pinkie should already be there monitoring the sweets and making sure the cake and brownies survive the night...or at least long enough for somepony else to get a bite.”

“You shall come too darling,” Rarity nodded and took the stallion's hoof. “I believe it’s time I unveiled my little surprise. Though you do have to promise me one teensy little thing first. Promise that you can remain patient?”

“I’ve remained patient for a while yet,” the stallion said with a shrug. “I can be more patient if it means getting to see this thing.”

“Hmm, as long as you keep that in mind,” Rarity nodded as she led him to the ballroom. She paused at the door and then with a dramatic sweep, the flew open and he finally got to see it. The room was opulence incarnate. The chandeliers had been polished back to a shining gold, and the whole room was trimmed with whites, golds and cream. When he looked up, a gentle illusion of the morning sky filled the ceiling, with real clouds floating lazily through the sky. They’d entered through a side door, the main one being at the top of a large staircase made of stone. Above the door was a ticking clock, a pale light behind it showed the moving gears.

“Now this,” he said appreciatively. “This is a ballroom. I could easily see a place like this in the Everfree Castle back in the day.”

“I’m glad you like it darling,” Rarity sighed with relief. “Now, I know I haven’t quite stuck to your design rule, as I just couldn’t seem to make it work. But! Then I had the most wonderous idea, which is why I asked you to be patient.”

“I helped with the sky illusions, as well as the surprise,” Twilight nodded.

“And I got the very best clouds I could,” Rainbow nodded. “They have a spell that will prevent them from producing weather as well.”

“Now that, I could easily see applications for,” Aspect said. “Especially around me. I really need to get that nullifying charm made if I ever want to touch clouds.”

The music playing in the background changed, as the large doors on the balcony opened and his daughters entered. Several ponies gave some gasps of awe, first at Celestia and her regal dress. Then Luna entered, and Aspect saw she was wearing a glamour spell, to make her look more like her true form.

“My girls,” Aspect sighed as he stared at them. “Oh, how I wish I could say that in public.”

Celestia bowed her head to a few of the guests, though Luna was a little more apprehensive of greeting anypony. They approached Aspect and Twilight, the white alicorn leaning down to nuzzle her student and her cheek may have touched Aspect’s as a result.

It was enough to put a smile on his face though. He would still have to play the game of words, to make sure nopony got any ideas, but he could deal with it for a night. “So how do you find the ball, Princess Celestia?” he asked, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“I dare say I never expected to find such a place in Ponyville,” Celestia smiled and winked at him. “But you and your friends have certainly made for quite the impression.” She glanced upwards and nodded. “And you have come quite far in your studies Twilight. I am very impressed.”

Twilight blushed and pawed at the ground with a hoof.

“Mmm, it has certainly been tailored with a particular somepony in mind,” Luna said almost curtly as she looked at Celestia. “But tis a fine venue none the less.”

“Hmm, but if I know anything about this band of friends, it’s to always expect more,” Aspect said before looking at Twilight. He suspected something was up, clearly.

Twilight and Rarity just gave each other a knowing smile and the former whispered something to Celestia.

“Oh… oh my,” Celestia gasped and Aspect could swear he saw her blink away a tear. “I do hope that works.”

“Yeah, me too,” Twilight nodded.

“So, why don’t we go see Pinkie?” Aspect asked. “She’s guarding the sweets.”

Both Luna and Celestia’s ears perked up at that and they walked almost briskly toward the pink mare, they kinda looked like two lions about to pounce a poor gazelle…

“Perhaps we should go and save her?” Rarity suggested.

Aspect would have responded, if it wasn’t for Lyra dragging the stallion out onto the dancefloor and pulling him into a medium paced waltz.

“I get the feeling you’re trying to get revenge on me for something,” the stallion said as he kept up with her pace.

“Who, me?” Lyra chuckled as she danced. “Nope, not planning a thing. Can’t a girl dance with a handsome stallion if she wants?”

“You did spend most of your time sniping at me and growling when you thought I was putting ‘the moves’ on Bon Bon,” Aspect pointed out.

“True, and while I won’t apologise, I do have a new outlook on that. I want Bonnie to be happy,” she smiled, and then she got that twinkle in her eye, one that promised… mischief. “So… have fun~”

She pulled him into a twirl and then parted away, the stallion coming to a stop… right in front of Bon Bon.

“I’ll get her for this,” the stallion said as he did the only polite thing and offered his hoof to her for a dance. She took it nervously and then sighed.

“I am so sorry that Lyra is being… Lyra,” the mare said with a small smile.

“It’s better than she was before,” Aspect said. “Though I’m not sure I like this new, mischevious side of her.”

“You learn to live with it,” Bon Bon chuckled as she danced slowly. “This… is the first time I’ve danced with a stallion.” ‘Oh great Bon Bon,’ she mentally berated herself. ‘Just throw that out there! He already thinks you’re weird, let’s add drywood to that flame.’

“Fortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve danced with a pony as a pony,” the stallion said. “Though it has been quite a while since I last did so.”

Bon Bon nodded as they continued their somewhat awkward dance. And when Lyra requested slower music, Aspect could see that the confectioner was going to murder the minty mare later.

“I could almost accuse her of getting some sort of sick pleasure from our discomfort,” Aspect said. “Hey, if we aim for the sweets, we can break this dance up sooner.”

“I-I guess,” Bon Bon blushed and looked away. They continued to move across the dancefloor until they reached the desserts cart. Fortunately, the song also came to an end, so they could break apart.

Unfortunately, Celestia was also at the dessert cart and smiling that mischievous smile of hers.

“I will ask Pinkie to let you at the cake if you say nothing,” Aspect said, pointing a wing at her.

“Very well,” Celestia hummed and smiled at Bon Bon before she walked off. “Have fun sweetie~”

Aspect was never expecting the Earth Pony to actually glare at the princess, before shaking her head and sighing.

“I feel like I missed something,” the pegasus said.

“It’s nothing,” Bon Bon sighed again and gave him a weak smile. “So, care to try my candy?”

“That’s what she said!” Lyra called out and Bon Bon groaned and facehooved.

“If it’s just as good as the rest of your cooking, I can’t wait,” the stallion said with a nod. “Also, I have a promise to keep, so I need to talk with Pinkie anyways.”

Bon Bon nodded and they headed towards the buffet, where Pinkie was holding Luna back with a rolled up newspaper.

“Behold the mighty newspaper,” Aspect said to Bon Bon. “Capable of fending off eight-legged horrors and princesses alike. Bow to its power!”

Bon Bon bowed her head in respect as Luna got bopped on the head again.

“But Lady Pinkie, We wish to partake in the deliciousness of the Brownies.”

“You already ate ten of them,” Pinkie warned. “Other ponies might want some.”

“Did your father not teach you about sharing, Princess Luna?” Aspect asked, still playing the game of ‘I’m totally not related to the Princesses.’

“No, he was too busy traipsing around the countryside,” she fired back.

“Such a pity,” he sighed. “One would think somepony as noble and regal as a Princess would have learned of basic manners.”

“We believe We art showing more than enough manners just remaining in a room that is more or less a shrine to the monarch of Equestria.”

The hurt in Aspect’s face was real. His wings sagged at his side, his head bowed, there was even a tear at the corner of his eyes. “Do you really think...so little of me?” he asked softly. “That I would ask for a room to be done in such a manner?”

“You certainly have not raised any complaints thus far,” Luna replied, looking away.

Bon Bon and Pinkie looked at one another. This had turned from friendly banter to something darker very quickly.

Though, fate it would seem, stepped in as the large clock on the wall started to chime. Aspect noticed it seemed to move a little faster and the room itself began to… change.

The clear blue sky was set ablaze with a brilliant sunset, before the colours darkened as the night fell. An illusion of the silvery moon and an ocean of stars filled the ceiling. The banners changed from a brilliant ivory and gold, to deep purples and blues.

Luna gasped as she put a hoof to her mouth, tears stinging her eyes as she watched the room change, paying tribute to the night itself.

“I had faith,” Aspect said as he smiled at the change. “Faith in the new Bearers that when I asked for a room that would pay tribute to both halves, they would listen. I had faith in you and your sister once. I still do.”

“I’m sorry,” Luna whispered as she looked around the room, before her gaze settled on the stallion. “I’m so, so sorry…”

“I think that when it comes to apologies, I still owe you one,” Aspect said. “For not being there. For not listening. For letting your fall happen in the first place.”

Pinkie and Bon Bon smiled and in a silent count of three, they bumped the flanks of the two ponies, pushing them together.

“I think a dad ought to at least share a dance with his daughters,” Bon Bon whispered into his ear.

“I-!” Aspect said before looking around the room. “You’ve put me in a pickle,” he groused. He could either dance with Luna and endure the questions of everypony, or deny and have to deal with a sad Luna.

He’d done that once. Never again. Her pouty face was the stuff of nightmares.

“This would be a lot easier,” he griped, “If I could simply ‘unmask’ myself, but you just know that would open a whole new barrel of problems…”

“Silly Aspey!” Pinkie giggled. “You think we didn’t plan for that too?” As if on cue, Twilight begun leading most of the ponies out of the hall, leaving behind only a few and ones that were privy to his secret. While the unicorn hated showing off her magic like Trixie had, she could at least buy them a few minutes.

In the end, Bon Bon, Rarity, Pinkie, Lyra and Celestia were the only others in the room. Pinkie and Lyra took some instruments and started playing a gentle song. One that would be easy enough for Luna and Aspect to dance to. And once the beat started, the stallion lead his daughter onto the floor in his alicorn form, a happy smile on his face.

Luna smiled as well, her first genuine one in a good long while. As they danced, she felt she still had some words to say.

“We… I’m sorry I acted like a spoiled filly,” she said quietly as she danced slowly with the stallion. “Ever since our return, we art met with nothing but reminders that ponies have forgotten me, and remember only the Nightmare. Our own hoofmaidens still cower in terror sometimes…” She sighed and lay her neck under his. “I’m sorry… I brought you and Tia so much sadness, so much disappointment.”

“Do you know,” he said as they continued to dance. “That for the first time ever since I took up the sword, I was afraid when you turned? I was afraid...that I wouldn’t be able to do my duty. I loved you even then, Lulu. I still had faith in you, that you could stop yourself.”

“But I couldn’t,” she replied. “I couldn’t stop. My anger, my pathetic jealousy, it consumed me. Even now, even when I returned, I was ready to plunge this world into darkness. Then… Twilight Sparkle and her friends saved me…”

“We owe them more than we can ever repay,” Aspect said. “They brought us together again. And I promise you, that if Canterlot ever gets to be too much, just come here. I’m making this place my home. It could be yours too if you wanted. It’s not as big as the castles...but I think it could handle three alicorns running around.”

“You say that now…” Luna chuckled then paused as her eyes widened in remembrance. “Oh, make that four alicorns.”

“Yes, I had a small chat with Yggdrasil,” Aspect said with a good-natured griping tone. “She was a successful experiment of his. I shoulda known better than to plant him over the ruins of the fountain...now he thinks he can just turn anypony into an alicorn.”

“Mmm, maybe I should ask for a sexy alicorn harem?” Luna said with a cheeky smirk.

“He’s technically promised me one. One. Or at least, he’s said he’ll try again, should I ever find the one,” the stallion said. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up for a little bit. He’s...cheekier than I remembered.”

“Hmm, well Friend Twilight might be a good bet,” Luna smirked. “Your children would be smart and powerful!”

“Let’s just say that won’t be happening for a little while,” Aspect said as the dance neared its close. “At least until she stops looking at me like a history textbook.”

“From what I've been told, she loves books,” Luna said again and wiggled her eyebrows. She suddenly ‘Eep’d’ in surprise when Celestia cut in, dancing away with her father.

“You looked like you needed rescuing,” she chuckled.

“Very much so,” Aspect sighed. “Are the both of you obsessed with my love-life?”

“Luna mostly, I just enjoy teasing you,” Celestia said rather blatantly. “Consider it revenge for the Parasprite incident. By the way, I may not be allowed within Fillydelphia’s city limits for a while…”

“I honestly thought you would remember something that ate your cake before you could,” the stallion said honestly. Celestia gasped and shot him an indignant look.

“Keep going, I’ll tell Twilight I want a report on your human form…”

“So I don’t suppose you’d be willing to do me a favor?” he asked, switching tracks with all the subtlety of a train going past.

“Subtle,” Celestia said. “Alright father, what would you like me to do? You know you only need ask.”

“I don’t suppose I could meet with this Mi Amore Cadenza that Yggdrasil experimented with, could I? If she’s a new Aspect, I should meet her.”

“You want to meet Cadence?” Celestia hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I suppose I could arrange a meeting. She’s currently delegating between us and the Griffons for a new trade route. The current one is in the path of a new dragon's nest.” She smiled and nodded her head. “I’ll do what I can.” A meeting between her and her father. And Celestia might not have mentioned anything about ‘Aspects’ to her yet…

“I miss being able to do things,” the stallion sighed. “Before, all I would have to do is announce myself to the parties involved and get them to work out some agreement. Now you’re making me settle down here and not go charging off into the fray.”

“It’s an age where the sword isn’t necessary to settle things,” Celestia said. “Stop pouting and enjoy your retirement.”

“I’m just saying, I had to do something with all that essence of Arabus. The griffons seemed like a good idea. You could use me as a diplomatic tool too, y’know.” Aspects eyes were hopeful at that. “Heck, I wouldn’t even need the sword if I were publicly unmasked…”

“We shall see,” Celestia said. “But right now, I need you here. Luna’s return has triggered a chain of events. And you’re my ace.” Celestia was holding back, a rather annoying habit she got from him.

“You do know Yggdrasil is only a short walk from here, right?” the stallion deadpanned. “He could tell me all I needed to know in an instant.”

She pulled back from him as the door opened and the ponies started to return.

“Luna and I once wielded the Elements,” she said quietly. “But they have new Bearers now. With Luna’s return… what would happen to others we bound with them?”

Aspect flashed into his pegasus guise as he stared at his daughter, wide-eyed. No. Just…

He couldn’t be returning. He was bad enough once.

“I’m merely guessing at this point,” Celestia replied. “But should he break free…” She turned and looked at Twilight and the others. “Tell me father, who would he go after first?”

“He’d stop them first,” he muttered. “He’s not stupid, he wouldn’t want to go back to his prison. So he’d stop them from being able to. Then he’d go after me again.” And here…

Aspect actually grinned. “I’m not stupid either, though,” he said. “I learned as well. Should he break free, it’ll be a lot less fun for him than he might be thinking.”

“Just as long as you remember who’s in the crossfire,” Celestia said. Her grim expression suddenly changed to a cheeky one and she glanced at Bon Bon. “Now, I believe you have a marefriend to attend to?”

He paused before replying this time. He couldn’t say any of the things he wanted to say, simply because he didn’t want to send a wrong impression to either party. So instead he huffed and pouted. “You learned far too well from me,” he muttered to Celestia.

She shrugged and noted the look on his face. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said innocently. “She’s a mare, and your friend yes? Your own mind was the one that conjured the context.” And with that, she was off to see Twilight.

“Behold my daughter, the master of the game of words and shadows,” Aspect said to Bon Bon. “Rare is ever the day I get one over on her.”

“I know what you mean,” she mumbled and looked at the solar diarch. “A-Anyway. Now that you're free again…” She held up two chocolate bon bons. “Care to share?”

“But of course,” he said as he took one. “Let’s see how sweet they are, compared to the mare that made them.”

Bon Bon turned a spectacular shade of red and stared wide-eyed as he popped the treat into his mouth…

Oh.

Sweet.

Aspects.

This chocolate. Was amazing.

It was probably amplified even more by not being able to reliably get any sweets for the past thousand years or so. It was just…

Could perfection like this exist? He was certain he’d just done a disservice to the world by removing the chocolate from it. His expression slowly morphed to reflect the state of his mind.

“Um…” Bon bon panicked and looked towards Luna, who was standing nearby. “I-I think I broke him. Is he allergic to chocolate? Oh no, what have I done!?”

Luna blinked at the mare’s panic and stepped closer as she looked at her father. Ah, she knew that look. Tia had the same look the first time she was allowed to try cake.

“Fret not dear peasant. That stallion has merely reached true enlightenment.”

Bon Bon blinked and stared at Aspect. “...wat?”

Aspect slowly rolled the treat around in his mouth, enjoying the melting chocolate and letting out soft little whimpers of pleasure. It even tasted good when it was being destroyed! What madness was this?!

Bon Bon sat back with a bemused expression, waiting for him to finish and pass his verdict. Her cooking got him to propose, so this should be interesting. In the meantime, Lyra also walked over and looked at Aspect, before looking to her friend for an explanation.

Bon Bon held up her namesake and Lyra nodded understandingly.

Eventually there was nothing left, and Aspect looked at Bon-Bon before sighing. “That’s it, food is ruined for me forever now,” he said. “There is nothing left.”

“Aww, and that was just one of my standard treats,” Bon Bon sighed. “Wait until you taste my fancier desserts.”

“It gets better?” Aspect whimpered.

Bon Bon turned and walked over to the dessert cart and pulled out a small box. She brought it over to him and opened it, revealing four biscuit-looking things.

Lyra whimpered when she saw those. “B-But Bonnie, did you bring-”

Bon Bon sighed and pointed to a second box, which the mare nabbed.

“Now,” Bon Bon said to Aspect. “Try one of these Macarons.”

Aspect gingerly picked one up in his hoof, looked at it a few times, and popped it in his mouth.

...Goers of the party would later say that if you listened hard, at that precise moment, you would have heard the sound of a stallion’s mind being blown.

“So Aspect,” Bon Bon asked with a cute blush. “Thoughts?”

“If he still has any,” Lyra said with a full mouth. “Your Macarons are weaponized sugar.”

It would take the stallion a full minute to get the treat out of his mouth, mainly because he was enjoying it too much, but once it was gone, he responded the only way he knew how.

By walking forward and kissing the chef.

Bon Bon’s entire form must have turned red. And when he broke the kiss, she promptly fainted on the spot.

“Aww, you broke Bonnie,” Lyra pouted.

“Are those treats that good?” Luna said. “Tch! And I had bits riding on Twilight.”

“Luna, I need a bigger stipend,” Aspect said. “I have to hire her as my chef now, if not outright marry the mare. There’s no way I’m going back to a life without her cooking.”

Lyra hissed at him, not unlike an angry cat.

And that was when Celestia approached. “What was that? And here I thought you wished to be independant. Sorry Lord Aspect. Request denied.”

“First of all, you know I don’t like titles applied to me,” the stallion said with a wave of one wing. “And secondly, I do believe it is a diarchy, is it not?”

“Hmm,” Luna milled the thought around in her head. “While We must admit that her cooking is outstanding, she already has employment. So while We could provide a supplement to thy stipend. The decision is hers in the end.”

“Fine by me,” Aspect said. “Heck, even if she said no, a bigger stipend would give me the means to visit her shop and buy her treats more often.” With that, Aspect held out a macaron to Luna, for her to try.

The alicorn did so… and her reaction mimicked Aspects. She looked to her sister with wide eyes.

“Sister! We must obtain this mare for ourselves!”

“For the love of me…” Celestia sighed.

Bon Bon continued to sleep happily, dreaming of sweet stallions.

“Hey!” Aspect said, going so far as to put a hoof to Luna’s chest. “Back off! Weren’t you the one who just said it was her decision?”

“That was before I discovered she can make pure ambrosia!” Luna declared as Pinkie took the moment to stuff a cupcake in Luna’s mouth. The mare moaned around the treat and sighed happily.

The other ponies present thought it might be a good time to go home now. They bid their hosts a farewell and soon left just the alicorns, a baker and her friend, and the student of the sun.

Bon Bon finally awoke and groaned. “I had the weirdest dream…” she said.

“If it involved a stallion showing you appreciation for your skills with sugar, I can tell you right now,” Aspect said as he tried to get Luna to back up, “It was not a dream. Most likely.”

Bon Bon blushed hard as Lyra glared at him. “Jerk, you totally stole Bonnie’s first kiss!”

Aspect blinked a few times before bowing profusely to the baker. “I am terribly sorry, Lady Bon Bon,” he said, his wings spread as he continued to look at the floor. “I had no intentions of committing such a terrible theft upon your person.”

Lyra suddenly got an idea and whispered to Bon Bon. The mare squeaked and blushed, as Lyra whispered to Celestia and Luna as well.

“Hmm, yes. I believe I wholeheartedly agree to that,” Celestia smirked, and Luna gave a fanged grin.

“Whatever is needed to make it up to the mare that ruined all other foodstuffs for me, I shall oblige by her wishes,” Aspect said, still not looking up.

“Balanced Aspect,” Luna said.

“You have been found guilty, of eyewitness accounts and your own admission,” Celestia continued.

“Of stealing a mare’s first kiss. A very serious crime,” Luna said grimly.

“Punishable by the most extreme methods,” Celestia said. “You are sentenced to one date with the mare known as Bon Bon.”

“I see,” Aspect said. “Does the mare in question agree with this punishment?”

“I-I…” Bon Bon blushed and fidgeted her hooves. “I’m pretty busy at the store. And, I’m kind of a plain mare, just an Earth Pony… Why would you even-”

“Because every single pony is worth the effort,” Aspect said. He’d said those words before, in much more...grim circumstances. But they applied here as well. “Every pony is special, unique, and worth the time it takes to get to know them.”

“Well…” She looked to Lyra for an answer.

The minty mare sighed and looked at Aspect. “I’ll make one thing clear,” the unicorn said. “You break Bonnies heart? I’ll tear yours out and break it in front of you. Got it.”

“I will do my very best,” the stallion said with a raised hoof. “I swear on my sword. May it crumble away if I am lying.”

“Pinkie Promise?” Bon Bon asked.

Aspect looked over at Pinkie before nodding once. “Cross my heart,” he said, “Hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye. I will do my utmost to not break your heart.”

“One date then,” Bon Bon blushed again, it seemed to be her default expression at this point. Aspect smiled and offered her a hoof to help herself up with. She took it and got to her hooves.

Celestia smiled as she looked at her father. It was nice to see him taking this big step.

Heavens know that the second he finds out she hasn’t had a date in three hundred years, he’ll try and return the favour.

“Well,” Aspect said as he looked around for the macaron box. “Today was certainly interesting.” He eventually found the box, just as Lyra plucked the last of the desserts and popped it into her mouth.

“So darling,” Rarity approached and motioned to the room. “Am I forgiven for my transgressions?”

“Long forgiven, as long as you don’t try to do it again,” the stallion said.

Rarity nodded her head and smiled. Pinkie was already zipping around the room and the ballroom was clean in mere moments as she crammed everything into her cart.

“Okie Doki loki. Aspey’s ‘Welcome to Ponyville and congrats on a pretty ballroom’ party was a success!”

“Do you throw parties for every occasion?” the stallion asked with a raised eyebrow.

“More or less,” Pinkie shrugged. “Oh! I have to plan your ‘Congrats on your first date’ party next!”

“...You’re determined,” he said eventually. “I’ll give you that much. But I don’t think everything that happens needs a party.”

“Silly Aspey, of course they don’t need a party, doesn’t mean I won’t do it. I love seeing my friend smile after all~” And with that, she hitched herself up to her cart and bounced away, singing some nonsensical song.

“Well, I believe a sleepover is in order,” Celestia nodded at the remaining mares as they moved to the living room to get more comfortable. “I’m sure my father wouldn’t mind us imposing, would you father?”

“Pick a room, any room,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “Except mine, I’m still getting all my stuff out of my saddlebags and set up in there.” He paused for a moment before raising a wing. “Or the basement. You don’t want to know what’s in the basement.”

“Ohh, you got a dungeon or something down there?” Rainbow chuckled and rubbed her hooves together.

“Surprise Slumber Party!!” Pinkie cheered, popping out of nowhere. And, she had a freaking cannon!

“Yipe!” Aspect said as he ducked for cover. Pinkie pulled the cord and the cannon erupted, covering the room with balloons and sleeping bags for everypony.

And somehow, the mare was now in pajamas. Aspect stopped trying to understand it just in time. He could feel his sanity starting to be worn away already.

“And to answer your question, miss Dash,” the stallion said as he turned to the chromatic pegasus. “The basement holds something incredibly dangerous. So much as somepony breathing on it could set it off and spell all sorts of doom.”

“Your laundry?” she cracked a wide smirk.

“I won’t explain any more, I just know you’re the sort to go and touch it just to try and prove me wrong,” he said with a dismissive wave.

“You’re learning quickly,” Applejack laughed before most of the mares left the room to get out of their elaborate gowns and get into sleepwear. Lyra and Bon Bon bid the stallion farewell and left for their new home. All that was left behind was Twilight Sparkle, and the mare was holding that infernal ledger again.

“Not tonight,” he said with a shake of his head. “I just want to relax and enjoy the night.”

“Aww…” Twilight pouted and sighed. “Well, alright. I learned my lesson the first time.” She sent the book away and teleported her dress off, shaking herself now that she was free of her trappings. “I’ll just wait until we play Truth or Dare~”

“How about,” Aspect said as he smiled at her, “I promise to share one story with everypony...as long as you don’t pull out that ledger of yours to try and document all the little details?”

“Done and done,” Twilight beamed and clapped her hooves. Tonight should prove as eventful as the rest of the day…

Author's Note

Editing this chapter was a pain, I'll tell you that much right now.

One of the images we used was missing. Oh, and I had to go around manually editing the image tags. And swapping Mort's caps for bold. It was...not fun.

But hey, I got it done, that's what counts.

So now we have a pretty pretty ballroom~

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half the funds will not go towards restoring an Aussie's internet connection.

Chapter 08 - Enter Cadence

A few weeks closer to the time when Winter would have to be wrapped up, there was a knock on Aspect’s door. Which in and of itself was surprising. Twilight had a very...precise knock, and Lyra never did. This one was new.

After checking to make sure he was in his pegasus guise, the stallion walked to his front door and opened it. “Hello?” he greeted.

What stared back was a pony he hadn’t met yet. She had a soft pink coat and a long, three-toned mane. A small golden crown sat just behind her horn and over all, she was stunningly beautiful. Large amethyst eyes looked him over and she blinked in confusion.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, even her voice was what perfection would sound like. “I thought somepony else lived here? I um, don’t suppose you know a ‘Balanced Aspect’?”

“That’s me,” the stallion said as he looked her over. “And you would be Mi Amore Cadenza. Do come in, I’ll put the kettle on. We can have tea or coffee, whichever you prefer.”

“Tea please,” she found herself replying. “I’m a little confused. Aunt Celestia said I was to expect an alicorn stallion. Though, I get the feeling she was pranking me…”

“Oh?” the stallion said as he led the way to the dining room. “How so?”

“Well, only three alicorns exist, so I found it odd she mentioned an alicorn stallion,” Cadenza said. “Oh, and please call me Cadence. My full name is a bit of a mouthful.” She walked inside and he noticed that each step was refined and dainty. The very image of a perfect little princess.

“The full story would require a bit of a history lesson,” the stallion said. “I take it she didn’t explain anything about Yggdrasil or Aspects before she sent you here, either.”

Again, that adorable confused look. “Yigdraseel?” she mispronounced horribly. “And what do you mean Aspects?”

“You would think,” the stallion grumbled, “That one of the oldest, living Aspects of the world, would learn to be a bit more mature…”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I offend you somehow?” Cadence asked with a slightly panicked tone. “I’m sorry, I’m still walking on eggshells after dealing with the Griffons. Oh, not literally of course. Why would I step on eggs…” She sighed and thunked her head on the table. “Sorry… I’m kind of a scatterbrain.”

“Here, let me help you focus a little as to the matter at hand,” the stallion said, before there was a flash from his forehead and a horn was suddenly there. “Useful little disguise I use to keep my real nature hidden,” he said. “I figured you deserved the whole story.”

She looked up and gasped. “You really are an alicorn? It’s not an illusion, Celestia wasn’t teasing me?” With her royal facade down, Aspect could see the mare was exhausted. She must have come straight here from the delegations.

“I rather think you might need coffee instead of tea, if we’re going to be discussing as heavy a topic as I’d like to be,” the stallion said. “You look positively bushed. Did the children of the wind really give you as much trouble as that?”

“It was impossible to deal with them at first,” Cadence sighed as her wings unfurled a little. “They wouldn’t even so much as listen unless I paid them gold. They won’t agree unless I paid them. They wouldn't let me leave unless I paid them…”

“Well, I guess that explains why Yggdrasil said he was waiting for a noble one to arise before he would try giving them a ruler,” Aspect mused. “How strong would you like that coffee?”

“As black as Tartarus,” she groaned.

“Coming right up,” the stallion said as he absconded to the attached kitchen and started brewing the stuff. “Be with you in a few minutes.”

“Let’s try this again,” the mare said and straightened her mane up with her magic until she looked a little more reasonable. “I am Princess Cadence, the Princess of Love. Love is my talent and I love it~” she giggled a little at her joke. “Well, to be specific, I specialise in spreading love. Helping remind couples in what they have, or helping ponies first discover that special spark.”

“I see,” Aspect said. “My story is a bit more complex than that, and we can get into it when I’m back with the coffee. Two minutes, by the way.”

Cadence nodded. “Well, mine is a little longer as well. I wasn’t born an alicorn for instance. I actually used to be a pegasus.”

“Yes, Yggdrasil told me as such,” Aspect said. “I wasn’t born an alicorn, nor am I Celestia’s and Luna’s father by blood, but they still call me father for my role in raising them.”

“You keep mentioning this ‘Yeegdraseel’,” she said, greatly butchering the pronunciation again. “Who is that?”

“Also a long story, but one I can get into now that the coffee is done,” the stallion said as he floated a tray out with a pot and two cups poured of the wonderful elixir. He sat opposite the mare and considered how best to start, before shrugging and deciding to go for it once she’d been caffeinated.

She sipped the beverage and let out a moan that would have anyone with a functioning libido standing at attention. “Ahhh, that’s the stuff,” she sighed happily. “Gods I needed that.” She nursed the mug and sighed again. “Gosh, the things I wanted to say to those feathering ingrates…” Cadence gasped and put a hoof to her mouth. “Oh my goodness. Please don’t tell my aunt I said that!”

“Dear, you’re talking to her father,” the stallion chuckled. “My version of diplomacy is far more old-school than yours. I think I can forgive you for thinking something like that when negotiations are done.”

Cadence nodded. She just wanted to go home and snuggle her Shiny. Still, this sounded like something she needed to hear as well. Something important. “Okay, so let’s talk then. How about you explain all these strange words you keep using.”

“Okay, so,” the stallion said before sipping at his coffee. “Around...let’s say, two to three thousand years ago. Sometime in that timeframe, when Equus’ magical field was still wild and carefree. There was a fountain not far from here, with runes engraved around its basin. ‘Whosoever drinks of my water shall have life everlasting and powers untold.’ It was the Fountain of Eternity, and it had a sword stuck into it near the top, with another, smaller set of runes around the point where the two met. ‘I choose my wielder,’ it said. Anyone who drank of the fountain would be an immortal Aspect of the world, vulnerable only to the one who could wield the sword.”

“It sounds like a foal’s fairy tale,” Cadence giggled. “I think I remember reading one like that to a filly I used to foalsit.”

“Yes, well, it was more than just a tale. I drank from it to slake my thirst, and when I heard a noise in the bushes, I pulled the sword out of the fountain and prepared to defend myself. And when it turned out to be just a mare, I slowly backed away as she advanced and drank as well. She was known as Written Script, and is the one who bore Celestia and Luna, even then. And then the fountain dried up.”

“Wait, so not only did you break a fountain of immortality, you also drew a sword against the mother of Princess Celestia and Luna?” Cadence raised an eyebrow, not quite buying his story.

“I calmed down eventually,” the stallion chuckled. “And she won me over into being her friend as we made a journey to where the last concentration of ponies was, safe from the monsters of the age, or so they thought. Dream Valley, it was called then. I accompanied her and got to know her along the way. So much so that when it came time for her foals to come into the world, she naturally asked me to to help me raise them. Something I was hesitant to do at first...but eventually accepted the honor of her calling me their dad.”

“Aww, that’s so cute,” Cadence cooed. “Oh! Did you end up marrying her?”

“Not before…” he shook his head and refocused. “That’s a story for later. Anyways, you wanted to know about Aspects. I slowly learned what it meant to wield the sword. The monsters found Dream Valley, and they seemed, for all intents and purposes, unstoppable. That was until I slew one with my sword, and realized that even immortal terrors had a weakness. The very thing designed to stop them. It and it alone can kill an Aspect. I became ponykind’s sword against the darkness, and I slew every foe that dared to threaten them. Well, nearly every one.”

Cadence visibly paled as she moved back from him. “Y-You killed…”

“Half a dozen or more creatures that had nothing but their own interests at heart,” Aspect said. “Lavan would have thrown the magical field into even more disarray as he became a crystal being. Squirk would have reigned supreme over the flooded remains of Dream Valley with his Flashstone. Crunch would have turned all the ponies to stone. Somnabula would have trapped the ponies in an illusion and fed on their life-force while they withered away. Arabus would have eaten all their shadows. The witches would never have stopped trying to rule over the valley. The Boogeyman would have never stopped trying to torment them. And Grogar would have slain them all and raised their corpses to work and fight for him. I did what had to be done.”

“They were real?” Cadence gasped and he saw her shaking. Actually, forget that. The mare was terrified! “I thought… they were only dreams… nightmares conjured by my imagination…”

“They were the previous Aspects,” the human said. “I didn’t kill them all, but the ones that were unreasonable, I slew. King Charlatan, I spared. But that’s because he and his son surrendered. Turns out, I don’t have to kill an Aspect if it surrenders.”

“What… happened to them then?” she asked hesitantly. She could already feel her stomach churn from the mental images that wouldn’t stop bubbling to the surface of her mind. “The Aspects you… removed.”

“There came a day when I felt, for lack of a better word, magically bloated,” the stallion said. “I realized then that their energy, everything that made them an Aspect, had to go somewhere, and it went into me. So I used that energy to make something new, to spread blessings amongst the ponies or other beings around then.” He took a sip of his coffee and smiled. “One of my projects, one that I am quite proud of, was a single seed planted over the ruins of the fountain, fed an amalgamation of magic, along with two powerful artifacts. It trembled for a little bit, before a crystalline tree sprouted. Yggdrasil, tree of magic and the world.”

“A crystal tree?” Cadence blinked as she had the strangest sense of deja-vu. Why did that sound so familiar? “So, this… Yggdrasil? Is a tree? That you talk to?”

“Considering the amount of magic I fed him, he better damn well be capable of talking to me,” the stallion said. “I gave him a duty, like I gave all the new Aspects I formed. His was taming the magical field, making sure the world’s magic would be more orderly. I made more than one new Aspect with all the energy I’d absorbed, or in a few cases, a new species.”

“This is sounding more like you’re some sort of god, than an alicorn,” Cadence frowned slightly and took a long sip from her coffee mug. “So, what are these new Aspects then?”

“First of all,” the stallion said with a wing raised. “I am not a god. I had to give up the power I’d acquired. I didn’t get to hold onto it when I was done. I still retain a small, tiny fragment, more of a memory of what I once had, from everything I’ve ever killed, yes. But I can be hurt. I can be tormented. I am not infallible or all-knowing. I know my faults. I was made...painfully aware of them.”

“I’m sorry,” Cadence's ears flattened and she offered him a sheepish look that was eerily reminiscent of Luna’s whenever she got scolded. In fact, she seemed to have a few similarities to Luna. “I didn’t mean to offend you sir.”

“Cut the sir, as far as I’m concerned, you’re a granddaughter of mine, and you’ll see why in a minute here.”

“Granddaughter?” Cadence blushed and smiled. “Well, thank you for the sentiment… grandfather.”

“So the new aspects,” Aspect said. “Neptune is the Seapony King, Aspect of the Oceans. Mortal Coil is the Grim Reaper, Aspect of Death. Celestia and Luna, I had nothing to do with, they simply are the best Sun and Moon Aspects we could ask for. I gave Luna her dreamwalking when she complained she had nothing to do at night, so she’s also the Aspect of Dreams. Gelgeth is the Windego king, they live in the frozen north guarding Niflehiem, and as you might expect, he’s the Aspect of Ice. And then we have Yggdrasil, the World Tree. And this is where the relations get a bit tricky.”

“I believe we passed ‘tricky’ a while ago,” Cadence chuckled.

“Yes, well…” the stallion sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “I used some essence of fire to create the Phoenixes, but not a leader for them. Yggdrasil elevated one, making her Pyroclastia, the Aspect of Fire. He’s looking into finding a noble griffon so that he can have an Aspect of Wind. As well as a suitable Diamond Dog so that he can really be hands-off with an Aspect of Earth. And you, my dear, are a result of his meddling. Which is why I see you as a daughter of his.”

“Wait, me!?’ Cadence blinked and shook her head. “No, when I was a young mare, still a filly really. I reversed a love-stealing spell used by a unicorn named Prismia. When that happened, I was transported to a strange plane, where Princess Celestia turned me into an alicorn and adopted me.”

“Yggdrasil is the world tree,” Aspect pointed out. “It is not beyond him to have had a hand in what occurred to you for him to test a theory of his, that he could just...help more Alicorns come into being.”

“So… it wasn’t me?” she said, placing a hoof to her head. “It wasn’t because I helped Prismia change her ways, learning to accept love instead of stealing it? I’m just… the test of some tree!?”

“I could have worded that better,” the stallion said. “Okay, let’s try this: your actions are your own. How you reacted to the situation, is all you. But how the situation came to be? He’s very good at reading into what might be if some minor thing here or there changed. He probably orchestrated Prismia coming ever since he saw that you would be born.”

Cadence wasn’t sure how to process this information. So, her entire life had been dictated by this Yggdrasil? Or, was it more than that? She groaned and put her head in her hooves.

“Yeah, I know,” Aspect said. “Once I learned the depth of Yggdrasil’s seeming powers, I was like that as well. He can’t influence thinking beings, but any random chance, any minor thing that could happen one way or another? He might affect. Chance and fate are iffy things when he gets involved. But he did make me a pair of promises. One of them helps me get to sleep at night.”

He cleared his throat before quoting what the tree had said, word for word. “Father, I promise I will only ever affect the weave of Fate to bring about the best of all possible worlds when it is necessary for me to intervene. No more, no less.”

“And… the second?” Cadence just knew she’d need something stronger than coffee by the end of this.

“Ah, well, the second is a bit more...personal,” the stallion said before blushing and looking away.

“Ooh, sounds juicy~” Cadence giggled. Wait, what was… was that? It was~ “Aspect… Grandfather? Remember what I said about my special talent?”

“All right, fine, I’ll tell you,” the stallion said, before quoting his son’s second promise. “Father, I promise that I will look into ascending ponies into alicorns so that, if you ever do fall in love, they won’t need to leave you in a hundred years time.”

“Ah… well,” Cadence blushed and fidgeted in her seat. “That’s… flattering and all. A little inappropriate given our new relation. And, I already have somepony I like so…”

Aspect rolled his eyes. “Like we’ve already established. You’re the proof it can be done. He’ll probably test it a few more times over the years, to see if anypony can become an Alicorn. And then there will come the day when I actually do fall in love with somepony, and he just claps his metaphorical hands together, and poof, I’m dating an alicorn.”

“But I felt the spark…” Cadence’s eyes widened and she smiled. One that reminded him way too much of Twilight when she became fixated on an idea. “You like somepony~”

“There...might be a pony,” Aspect begrudgingly admitted. “Might.”

There was a high pitched noise, something between a tea kettle and that ringing in your ears you got when standing too close to an explosion. It took a second to realise that it was coming from Cadence and her impossibly wide grin.

“Down, girl,” Aspect said. “We’ve not even had a date yet. Something I’d been meaning to fix today.”

“A date?” She’d somehow said while still making that high-pitched squeal. “Wait, I need to ask you something very important. When… was the last time you went on a date?”

Aspect blinked before looking at the ceiling. “Does... does never count?”

Cadence blinked. Okay Candy, facts time.

One, he has admitted to being nearly three times Celestia’s age.

Two, he has a date with a mare. Need more information there.

Three, has never dated. This… could be a problem.

She took a deep breath then gulped down her remaining coffee. “Alright Mr. Aspect. What you’ve told me, I have to process this. Aspects, destiny altering trees… It’s going to take me a night or so. But the fact that you’re dating? That’s something I know inside and out. So…” She leaned across the table as her eyes twinkled. “Let’s start with what you’d consider a date.”

“I...haven’t ever been on one,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I never got the chance to. No pony ever showed that sort of interest in me before. I was always the defender. Not the one looking for love. And yet, it would seem…”

“Love can find you quite unexpectedly,” she smiled warmly. For the briefest of moments, it reminded him of a mare long since lost to the ages. “It’s rather good at it really. But you didn’t answer my question. Say you take this mare out. What will you do?”

“...Okay, something that very few people know, Cadence,” Aspect said. “I was ripped from my world when I was an adolescent by the wild magic of Equus. I have never had the chance to take a female for a date, nor do I know what I would do on one.”

“Your world?” Cadence knew the existence of other worlds, her aunt had told her as such. Apparently Starswirl and herself would visit dozens of them. “So… are you really a pony then?”

“I wasn’t when I started, but being a pony is comfortable to me now. Helps me blend in. I have half a dozen other forms I could take,” the stallion mused. “Sakes, my old form used to be just a curiosity in the time of Dream Valley. So was sorcery. Now both have fallen by the wayside.”

“Hmm, you aren’t suffering an Identity Disorder, well, you’re not displaying any of the usual symptoms anyway…” Cadence tapped her chin. “And this unknown mare? Is she aware of this?”

“Her friend and housemate is one of the few who are interested in the old history of ponies,” Aspect said. “I showed it off to both of them, and they barely bat an eye.”

“Well, points in your favour already,” Cadence smiled, well beamed more like it. “If she accepted a date, even knowing what you just told me…” She tilted her head back and forth, “Still haven’t told me what you’d consider a date. Or do you simply have no idea at all? If so, just what were you planning on doing?”

“I hadn’t even had time to ask a female from my world on a date before I found myself in this one,” Aspect said. “I’m flying blind into a thunderhead here, Cadence. Twilight Sparkle tried to help with books, but…”

“Twilight Sparkle? You know my little Twiley?” Cadence hopped up out of her seat and then coughed into her hoof before calming down. “Right, sorry about that. But still… quite the pickle you're in hmm?”

“Just a bit,” the stallion sighed. “I want to do right by her, but that’s sort of impossible to do when you don’t know what right is.”

“Don’t fret, it’s actually not as hard as everyone makes it out to be.” Cadence smiled as he felt a little magic rub his head. “Let’s start with what you shouldn’t do, the biggest one is asking for sex on the first date. That will effectively kill any chances you have with this mare if you’re looking for something serious. Well, unless she’s specific type of mare that…”

“I think I got it,” Aspect dryly replied. “What else?”

“Just be yourself. Unless you put on some sort of act or ruse to get her to date you… then I’m going to have to stop you right here.”

“No, nothing of the sort,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “She knows everything about me...well, nearly everything. You’re one of the few that know as nearly as much about me as my daughters.”

“So you’ve trusted her with that much already?” Cadence mused, so he could be quite open with his feelings around those he trusted. Shiny could learn a thing or two from him. “And this mare, what of her? What about her do you know?”

“Besides the fact that she’s an amazing cook, and capable of putting up with all manner of insanity?” the stallion asked. “She’s also kind and loyal to her friends. I don’t know a whole lot about her personally…”

It was interesting that he mentioned her cooking first. “Okay, so now we know that you shouldn’t take her out to dinner. Home cooking is fine, but might suggest you want to be intimate afterwards.” Cadence tapped her chin. “I have an idea, not a typical date, but it would knock a few things off your to-do list at the same time. Practicality with a purpose.”

“I like the sound of that,” Aspect said.

“I can tell you’re the practical sort, and I’ve known you for an hour,” Cadence nodded. Well, she was also really good at reading ponies. “Now, Hearth’s Warming is coming up in a week and a half. Have you done any shopping for it. Gifts for friends… family?”

“I wouldn’t know what to get for half of them,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “The only one I know anything about, really, is Twilight. I think I might have a book in my bags on sorcery from Dream Valley. I’d have to check and make sure it’s not the witch’s manual for magic instead.”

“Yes, let’s not give my favourite filly a dangerous book,” Cadence said with a sudden amount of sternness. “But, back to my original idea. You’re something of a pony out of time it seems. So, why not ask her to accompany you for your gift shopping? You could have coffee at a nice cafe, see the sights and sounds of the festive week. Maybe even make it a day trip to Canterlot?”

“Not the last one,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “She’s had some bad experiences up there. Enough to leave her with a bitter taste in her mouth when she says its name.”

“Hmm, well, Manehatten is only a few hours by train. Shorter if you can charter a chariot…” But then, he was in relation to Celestia. He could probably pull some strings there. “Well, those are some ideas anyway.”

“And a good few ideas they are,” Aspect agreed. “I might be able to get gifts for the Bearers here in town, but something for my daughters might take extra effort.”

“I’d imagine they’d like whatever you got for them,” Cadence said and nodded her head. “Tis the thought that counts after all.” Another question had been bugging her, and while they were on a high note, she decided to ask.

“So… if Celestia is the Aspect of the Sun, and Luna the Moon. Does that make me the Aspect of Love?”

“Actually,” the stallion said, “Yggdrasil said that when you properly come into the fullness of your power, you’ll probably be known as the Aspect of all emotion, not just love.”

“All emotion?” Cadence did that cute head-tilt again and moved on to her true question. “So, does that mean you had to… kill the last Aspect of Emotions?”

“Actually, no,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “I had nothing to do with your ascension. It was all you. Well, Yggdrasil might have pulled a few strings to create the situation, but it was all you ascending. He wanted to prove to me that more could be created without the old being slain.”

“That tree and I are going to have words one day,” Cadence muttered and wished her coffee cup was full again. “Well, that was my main concern. Now…” Her eyes shone and she smiled at him. “If you’ve never had a date… I take it you’ve never been intimate with somepony before?”

“Never had the time to,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “It was mostly ‘go here, stop the monster, enjoy your downtime, rinse, repeat.’”

“Never have time,” Cadence giggled flirtatiously at that. “I do so love that excuse. Shiny tried it on me once… so I snuck into the barracks shower room and—”

“You do realize how old I am, yes?” Aspect asked dryly. “Back then in the bad old days, I really never did have time.”

“Ah… well, then I have little choice then it seems.” Cadence took a deep breath and smiled.

And for the next hour and a half, Balanced Aspect got a lecture on the do’s and don’t’s of intimacy from the pretty pink princess. She held absolutely nothing back in terms of details and… oh sweet Yggdrasil, she even had diagrams! She was like the Twilight Sparkle of sex.

“—And that should about cover mares for all four species types,” she said. “Now, did you want to know anything about others? Perhaps Griffons or dragons?”

“You know,” the stallion said as he shook his head. “I went up against Grogar the Necromancer Ram. And even that fight was less soul-crushing than this.”

“I am just trying to help you get up to speed with modern dating and relationship ethics,” Cadence pouted and frowned. “At least you didn’t run screaming from the room like Auntie Luna…”

“You subjected my daughter to this?” Aspect said. “No wonder she cringed when I asked if she’d found a special somepony in the few weeks she’d been back.”

“Auntie Celestia asked me to,” Cadence defended herself. Celestia herself would look back on that day and smile. Best. Prank. Ever. “Besides, I never even started on some of the more stranger kinks…”

“There’s more?” the stallion choked out.

“You’re not old enough for the Advanced Classes,” Cadence said with a serious tone. “Though, if this mare asks if you have a ‘safeword’? Call me first before saying anything.”

“Got it,” the stallion said, glad that the lecture was over. He wasn’t sure he would be able to unhear the things he’d heard.

Cadence yawned again, the coffee in her system wearing off. “I suppose I should be getting back to Canterlot…”

“I have more than one bedroom in this place,” Aspect offered. “You could stay and rest up if you needed to.”

That did sound appealing… for more reasons than one. Staying here would let her ~~interf~~ keep an eye on her new Grandfather in the dating game.

“Yes, I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” she smiled politely. “Thank you for your hospitality Grandfather.”

“And in the meantime,” he said as he got up from the table. “I have a mare to take out on the town.”

“Have fun on your date, she smiled and waved him off. “Just remember my advice, and you’ll be fine.”

“I’m pretty sure I won’t need ninety percent of it for a good, long while,” the stallion muttered as he left. It was just a simple walkabout to look for Hearth’s Warming presents for the mares that had saved his daughter. And eventually, a longer trip to get something for his daughters, but that could qualify as a second date in and of itself. Assuming he made it that far.

How complicated could this possibly be?

Aspect walked up to the new and rebuilt home of Bon-Bon and knocked on the door with one hoof. Hopefully she was in and in a mood to go on a date.

When the door opened, it wasn’t Bon Bon that greeted him, or the ever-exuberant Lyra.

Instead, a little cream filly with poofy red hair and thick blue glasses looked up at him.

“Oh hello mithter!” she said with a pronounced lisp. “Ith there thomething I can help you with?”

“Well hello there sweetie,” Aspect said with a smile. “Is miss Bon Bon in?”

“Oh?” she turned around and like the sweet, innocent child she was…

“Auntie Bon Bon, your ‘thpethal thomepony’ ith here to thee you~”

The stallion merely smiled, though he grit his teeth behind it. Ah, from the mouth of babes…

“Twist, what in Equestria are you—” Bon Bon froze in her tracks. She had walked out of the kitchen, a cute frilly apron covered in flour, sugar and Celestia knows what else. Her mane and tail were up in curlers and she wore some sort of green paste over her face. Her eyes locked with Aspect’s and she froze like a startled deer.

“Oppth, I think Auntie Bon Bon ith broken,” Twist pointed out.

“If miss Lyra is here, then she’ll be able to fix her,” Aspect said as he slowly edged to one side of the door. “I’ll just sit out here and wait for her until she’s ready.”

Bon Bon practically vanished from her spot, the only evidence showing she was even there was a trail of flour dust leading upstairs.

He could hear muffled voices from upstairs as Twist invited him in. One sounded panicked while the other sounded sleepy.

“Do you want thome tea mithter?” Twist asked him, utterly unfazed by the transpiring events.

“If it wouldn’t be imposing,” the stallion said. “I wouldn’t mind a good cup.”

‘A good hotht alwayth offerth a warm beverage,’ she recited and trotted from the room, returning a moment latter with a pot of apple spiced tea and a plate of candy canes. “Do you wanna try one? I made them mythelf.”

“Oooh, those do look good,” the stallion muttered. “Tea first, sweet after,” he said. “Both should be good.”

“Mith Lyra liketh thith tea ath well,” Twist said as she poured him a cup. More muffled voices and a few loud thumps echoed through the ceiling. “Thee liketh to thleep in though.”

“Ah, a mare I can relate to,” the stallion said. “Whenever I’m not adventuring, I loved sleeping in. I probably sleep in later now than I ever have before.”

“Thounds like fun,” Twist nodded as she placed a small lemon slice on the lip of his teacup. “Her you go mithter. Apple Thpithed tea.”

“Thank you,” the stallion said as he sipped at it. It was sweet, and yet packed a light citrus kick from the lemon. And he felt it warm him as it slid down his throat, the perfect solution to a cold winter’s day.

“That was lovely,” he said with a smile to the filly. Then he reached for a candy-cane and popped one into his mouth. The flavour of peppermint just exploded in his mouth. But not in an overpowering way, just… flavourful. It had a rather nice cooling effect after drinking the tea and this could easily be mistaken for one of Bon Bon’s works.

“You are very good at this,” he praised Twist. “I can easily see you opening your own candy-store in ten years, maybe less.”

“Wooow, really!?’ the filly gasped as a tired-looking Lyra stumbled down the stairs.

“Uurgh! Coffeeeeee~” she moaned not unlike one of Grogar’s creations.

“Sad to say, I didn’t bring any with me,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “You should try this tea, though, it’s invigorating.”

“Teeeaaaaa~” Lyra moaned and Twist giggled, giving the silly mare a cup and she knocked it back in a single hit.

“P’wwwaahhh!’ she gasped and wiped her mouth. “S’no coffee, but it’ll do for now.” She looked at the couch and gasped. “Ooh! hey Aspect! So that’s what Bonnie was freakin’ out about.”

“I heard as much,” the stallion chuckled. “I finally came by to take her on that date that I should do, and I got greeted with what looked like early-morning Bon Bon.”

Lyra blinked and looked to Twist for help.

“Mane curlerth and mathk.”

“Ah…” Lyra snorted, then fell sideways as she rolled around on the floor laughing her flank off.

“I take it Bon Bon won’t be ready for some time?” the stallion asked as he took another sip of tea.

“Three… two… one…” Lyra stopped her giggles long enough to count down before a perfectly radiant Bon Bon descended the stairs.

“Right, now that absolutely nothing happened this morning,” Bon Bon said. “How can we help you Aspect.”

“Well,” he said with a smile. “I have had it made plain to me that I should in fact, purchase some gifts for the mares that helped my daughter in her darkest hour. Would you care to accompany me on a day on the town? You likely know most of them better than I do.”

“Hearth’s Warming shopping!?” Lyra gasped and bounced up and down excitedly. Why was the grown mare in the room more excited about it than the filly?

“Just so,” the stallion said with a nod. “Well miss Bon Bon? The ball is in your court.”

“Ball? What?” Bon Bon was confused for a second. “O-Oh? You want me to accompany you?”

“Are you going on a date Aunty Bon Bon?” Twist asked with a cheesy smile.

“Yeah Bonnie~” Lyra joined in and wiggled her eyebrows. “Going on a date huh?”

“S-Shut up!” Bon Bon blushed and grabbed Aspect’s arm, hauling him out of the room. Though he did manage to snag another candy cane before she fled with him.

Once outside, Bon Bon blushed and sighed. “Geez…”

“I take it the answer is yes,” the stallion teased. Bon Bon pouted and pushed his shoulder lightly.

“W-Well, I did agree to a date so…” she continued to talk, but it kind of dissolved into an incoherent mumble. Aspect merely got close enough to touch her shoulder with his by way of reply.

“W-Well, shall we go?” she squeaked. Gods above that blush was cute.

“Do let’s,” the stallion said. “I barely have any idea where anything in Ponyville is. I need to know what the Bearers like, where it’s located, and what a good price for it is. And you’re the only mare I can count on.”

“Well… I don’t know that much about some of them,” Bon bon said. “Like Twilight for instance. Or Fluttershy, she tends to stay out of everypony’s way. The rest will be a lot easier than you’d think.”

“I’m sure I can dig up an old, safe book for Twilight in my collection,” the stallion said. “She seems the sort to like that.”

“She lives in a library, so that’s probably a safe bet,” Bon Bon giggled as they walked. “Hmm, now Pinkie Pie is easy. Anything candy or baking related. I do recall her saying something about liking this particular type of piping nozzle that I have. I can show you where I bought it from.”

Unknownst to the two ponies, a set of eyes watched them from the rooftop, Cadenza was wearing a thermal body suit and held a pair of binoculars in her magical grasp.

“Cadence?” she turned and saw a familiar minty unicorn on the roof as well, in a very similar getup.

“Lyra! It’s been a while,” the princess smiled and then looked at Bon Bon. “Your friend?”

“Mhmm,” Lyra looked at Aspect. “Relation?”

“Mhmm, grandfather apparently,” Cadence smiled. “His first date. I have to make sure it goes well.”

“Yeah, this is Bonnies first date in a looooong time. Gotta look out for my best friend after all.”

The two nodded and bumped hooves. This now became a joint operation.

“So that’s two covered,” the stallion said. “Hmm. Miss Dash?”

“Also easy. Anything Wonderbolts related. She wouldn't even care if she has it already. But I don’t know if you’re going to be able to get anything here in Ponyville. Cloudsdale or…” she paused for just second. “Canterlot, would be your best bet.”

“Yeah, I’m not setting hoof in Cloudsdale until I can do that without it turning into a massive storm front,” the stallion said dryly. “And I’m also not going to drag you to Canterlot. I could always ask Tia, she might be able to get something from them…”

“...Sorry,” Bon Bon sighed. “You know you don’t have to worry about me right? And I’m sure the princesses would love to see you.”

“I’ll worry about that city when we aren’t on a date,” Aspect said. “Let’s focus on the next in line. Miss Rarity. What could I possibly give the Bearer of Generosity?”

“Rarity could be a tough one,” Bon Bon sighed. “She’s a fan of the upper echelon, high society and all that. Kinda like Ponyville’s own little slice of Canterlot, minus the blind pretentiousness.” She chuckled weakly and shook her head. “I never actually cared for Rarity much, until we spent that time together in your house and I really got to know her. The way she worked her hooves to the bone to help everypony. She has my respect, that’s for sure.”

“Hmm, maybe I could get her some fancy fabric up in Canterlot while I’m picking up something for miss Dash, then,” the stallion mused. “That could work. What about miss Applejack?”

“As long as it’s heartfelt, you could get whatever you want,” Bon Bon said as her mind wandered to her fellow Earth Pony. “Family means a lot to her, so maybe something pertaining to that?”

“You know,” the stallion mused, “I think I have something from the original Applejack back in Dream Valley. I’ll have to look. But if that plan falls through…”

“It is snowy this time of year,” Bon Bon said. “I bet a nice set of boots would go down a treat. Just make sure they’re practical as well.”

“I’ll look into it,” the stallion said. “How about you lead the way to where you got that frosting nozzle you’re sure Pinkie would like first? I can start there at least.”

Bon Bon nodded as she walked with him, and she was walking quite close as well, her shoulder occasionally bumping his and she was trying so hard not to make it look intentional.

“Do you know if miss Fluttershy has any particular favorite among her pe- sorry, animal friends?” the stallion asked. “I got the chance to visit her house once.”

“Hmm, I think her pet rabbit?” Bon Bon asked. “Sorry, I just really don’t know all that much her. Heck, I don’t think I’ve even spoken more than a sentence or two to her the whole time I’ve lived here.”

“A private mare?” he asked. “I can’t fault her for that. Still, I suppose we could see about getting her some fine carrots for her friend. I’m sure they’d go down a treat in the middle of winter and all.”

“Maybe,” Bon Bon shrugged. Her ear flicked as somepony shouted in the distance. Both of them turned to see a sled racing towards them, three fillies clinging for dear life as they rocketed down the street and straight towards them.

“Grab hold of something,” the stallion warned her as he spread his wings. Even at that movement...the air began to stir around him.

Bon Bon grasped a nearby Hearth’s Warming decoration, a large candy cane. The stallion flapped his wings, each time stirring up a larger and larger gale. Before the sled hit either of them, the wind was powerful enough to blow the tops of nearby trees as it did its damndest to slow the sled down.

It slowed and came to a stop as the gale died down, having kicked up a ton of snow and doused half the ponies in the street with it.

“Coooool,” Scootaloo said, pulling down her snow-covered goggles. “That was awesome!!”

“That, was reckless,” Aspect said as he pointed a hoof at them. “You nearly hit somepony.”

“We’re sorry,” the trio echoed as Bon Bon released her grip on the candy cane.

“Scootaloo thought it’d be a good idea to use her wings to make it go faster,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Hey! You two said it was a good idea to get our Sledding cutie marks!” Scootaloo shot back.

Before they could argue, Bon Bon put a hoof between them and broke the fight up before it could even start. “Now look, that was reckless, but it was a mistake. Why don’t you girls go to my shop? Lyra will make you some cocoa. Get yourselves warmed up, then apologise to everypony.”

“Really? Thanks Miss Bon Bon,” they cheered.

“Good luck on your date,” Sweetie Belle giggled as they ran off. Bon Bon blushed and put her hoof to her face.

“Shall we continue before something else happens?” Aspect asked. “I swear, more things happen in this town than should, for it being a ‘sleepy little town,’ like my daughter assured me.”

“We have those fillies and Pinkie Pie,” Bon Bon sighed. “Trust me, this town is anything but quiet.” They eventually made their way to the store, Barnyard Bargains. “Well, this is the place. Owned by a stallion called Filthy Rich. Nice sort, kinda of whipped by his wife though.”

“Ah, I know the feeling,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Sort of, anyways. Whatever Written Script wanted, she got. And if I argued, it only ended up worse down the line when she turned the daughters against me.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon giggled. “Married somepony that knew how to crack the whip huh?” Then she remembered his story about her and gasped. “Oh, I’m sorry… that was insensitive of me.”

“I made my peace with it a while ago,” the stallion said with a soft sigh. “It...hurts to think that I couldn’t do anything to help her then. But then I remember her, and I keep going.”

“You’re a far stronger pony than I,” she mumbled and wiped her eye. “W-Well, enough lollygagging around here. Let’s get those cake nozzles.”

“Yes, lead the way ma’am,” he said, bowing his head to her.

Outside, Cadence watched and shook her head. These two were utterly hopeless.

Lyra soon returned, panting that she had to run halfway across town, just to beat the Crusaders to the shop and then make them cocoa.

“So, what’s happened so far?” she asked the alicorn. “Anything juicy?”

“All they do is... talk,” Cadence sighed. “I suppose they’re still getting to know one another, but still…”

“Urgh, Bonnie’s always like this,” Lyra groaned. “Think we should offer… a little divine intervention again? The sled didn’t work out so well.”

“Yes… I believe it’s my turn now,” Cadence smiled.

For a little town, this store was freaking huge. It really hadn’t taken long for the stallion to get lost and now he was in the section for… mare’s undergarments?

“I think I took a wrong turn at Albuquerque,” he muttered. “Where in the world is the baking section?”

“Oh, hello sir!” a sales clerk greeted him chipperly. She was a rather leggy unicorn with a dark blue coat. “Here to buy your special somepony a little something on her naughty list perhaps~”

“Sorry, no,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “I think I got lost on my way to the baking department. One of the mares I’m getting something for is a confectioner, and it’s her I’m shopping for right now.”

“Hmm, well we have plenty of ‘tear-away’ aprons and book on using food as a… behind closed doors activity~”

“Fantastic,” the stallion deadpanned, “But I still need to get some actual Hearth’s Warming presents. Those mares deserve no less.”

The clerk sweated with nervousness. ‘Ah ponyfeathers, he’s not here for Bon Bon…’ She smiled and nodded in a direction. “I believe the baking section is that way sir.”

“Thank you,” he said with a firm nod, before making his way towards, hopefully, the baking section.

Once he left, the clerk sighed as Lyra moved up next to her.

“Well, what the heck was that?”

“I panicked,” ‘Cadence’ replied from under her disguise. “Dang it, this calls for a gentler hoof perhaps. He’s old-fashioned. We have to appeal to that.”

Aspect had crossed a few aisles and saw Bon Bon looking at a wall of products, before reaching up for a nozzle kit on a high shelf. Standing on the tips of her hind hooves, she was able to reach it, but the sudden weight started to tip her backwards.

“Ahh-”

And suddenly, Aspect was there, acting as a balancing agent for her. “Steady now,” he said. “You wouldn’t want to fall.”

“T-Thank you,’ she blushed, getting back down onto all four hooves. “Quite the saviour aren’t you?”

“I try to be,” Aspect said with a smile. “So, that’s it there then?”

“Y-Yes,” she blushed at him being so close, peering over her shoulder like that. “Where did you go? Find anything interesting?”

“Got lost,” the stallion said as he looked around before flaring one wing and flapping it lightly. The box on the shelf jiggled a little in response. “I’m much more used to straightforward paths. I took a wrong turn and ended up in an underwear department.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon giggled as she pictured that. “Did the feminine wiles of the modern era make you uncomfortable?”

“More like the insistence of the modern store clerk,” Aspect muttered as he flapped his wing again. This time, the box tumbled down, and he caught it with his hooves. “There we are, one present for one Pinkie Pie.”

“Thank Celestia there’s only one,” Bon Bon giggled as they headed for the hoofware section to get boots for Applejack. “Could you imagine two… or three?”

“Surprise,” Aspect said. “She was a good friend. And Pinkie reminds me of her. She would pop out of everywhere, saying her name. Getting the kids to follow her on pranks and mischief in general. Sometimes it felt like we had three of them running around.”

“Wow, must have been an interesting place. Certainly not quiet at least. S-So...um, is… there anything…” she started mumbling again.

“My hearing isn’t that good, Bon Bon,” he said.

“It’s… It’s nothing, nevermind.” she said and shook her head. “Um.. hmm, the problem is that I don’t know Applejack’s hoofsize.”

“Hmm, that is a good point,” Aspect said as he looked at the boots. “Too small would pinch, too large would slip off. ...Idea!”

“Idea?” Bon Bon looked at him. “When powerful magic-user says it like that, my first instinct is to run away from the blast radius.”

“We could ask Rarity!” Aspect said. “She measured me for a suit. Surely she would know Applejack’s hoof size.”

“That’s true,” Bon Bon nodded. “So, to the boutique then?”

Just then, there was a grumble. More of a low roar. And when they finally placed it, Aspect looked sheepishly at her.

“Maybe lunch first?” he offered.

“Was that your…” Bon Bon blinked and laughed. “Oh dear, have you missed my cooking that much?”

“I can’t help it,” he said. “You’ve ruined all other food for me. But I wouldn’t make you cook on a date. Maybe you can pick out a place to eat at?”

“Yes, there’s a nice cafe not far from here,” Bon Bon giggled. His praise about her food never failed to make her smile. “I’ll admit I’m a little hungry too,”

“Oh good,” the stallion said. “So, lunch, talk with Rarity, then come back for some boots for Applejack.”

“Hearth’s Warming isn’t for a little over a week, so there’s no need to rush,” Bon Bon smiled. Once they paid for the things they bought, they exited back outside into the cold and the mare shivered slightly from the sudden change in temperature.

“Why can’t the holidays be in the summertime?” she grumbled.

“You mean like the Summer Sun Celebration?” Aspect asked. “I was actually thinking about giving Luna the idea for some sort of winter solstice celebration, to keep things even between them.”

“Well, there is Nightmare Night,” Bon Bon said.

“That...is not the proudest of celebrations,” Aspect whispered. “At least, not as it began, as I understand it. It’s only because of Celestia’s influence...that it is as...tame as it is now.”

“Yes, I know the origins of it as well,” Bon Bon said with a somber tone. “Sorry I brought it up. I seem to have come down with a rather severe case of hoof-in-mouth disease today.”

“Though the wound may be relatively fresh in comparison, I got over it recently as well. Funny what hugging your daughters will do for you.” He smiled and shook his head, to remove the bad memories. “It’s fine, I forgive you. But I still want to know where this cafe is, miss.”

“I thought we moved past titles, Milord,” she sniped back as she pointed to a cafe on the corner of the street. “Here’s our stop. Now, shall we procure the weapons needed to slay your great hunger?”

“Forsooth, indeed, verily,” he sniped back, enjoying this now.

“Spoils and great victory await,” Bon Bon laughed as they entered. “Greetings fair innkeep. We require sustenance for our adventures.”

“...what?” the gangly teen colt blinked at the weird pair.

“Just… give us some menu’s,” Bon Bon blushed and sighed, a little embarrassed that she got carried away like that.

“Ah well, it was fun while it lasted,” the stallion said wistfully. The colt led them to a booth and passed them a pair of menus before telling them a server would be with them shortly and vanishing himself.

“So miss Bon Bon, tell me a little about yourself while we decide what to order,” Aspect said. “You already know a great deal about me.”

“Ah well… not a whole lot to tell really,” she said and smiled. “I hardly have a three thousand year long life to excite you with.”

“Still, I would like to know a bit more about you,” the stallion said. “Everything I’ve ever done is ancient history. Heck, you could classify all my old homes as ruins. I’d like a little dose of current events.”

“Well… where to start?” she hummed. “I was born here in Ponyville. The shop I run now was inherited from my parents actually. Well, was… until those bugs ate it.” She sighed, that loss still bugged her. But, she got to meet a handsome stallion because of it so… silver lining? “After I finished school here, I moved to a university in Canterlot, where I majored in History, Anthropology and Xenobiology.”

“So basically, all the things that might be of use in examining a history as long and varied as mine,” Aspect summed up. “And I assume you met your good friend Lyra in one of those classes?”

“Yes, the Xenobiology one,” Bon Bon nodded. “I believe Twilight Sparkle took that class too, but I doubt she remembers me. Anyway, I travelled around a bit after graduation, got to see a lot of places… and my fair share of ancient ruins too. I even got to accompany Princess Celestia on one such trip.”

“See? You are exciting, in your own way,” the stallion praised her.

“I guess,” Bon Bon replied, only blushing slightly this time. She was getting better at it. “I moved around a lot, then… some things happened and I wound up back where I began, right here in Ponyville.”

“Still, at least you came home in the end,” Aspect said. “You had some adventures, were probably enriched by them, and got to come home to tell them to others.”

“Not everyone,” she sighed. “But yeah, I guess I did. And my time as a student, that’s where my… dislike for Canterlot comes from. The ponies there, aren’t so nice to earth ponies.”

“The tribes were always meant to mingle, be more together than they ever were apart,” Aspect muttered. “Bigots bring all of ponydom down.”

Bon Bon nodded. “Look, let’s not sour our date with that kind of talk. And you’d best decide on how you're going to fulfil that voracious appetite of yours.”

“I could think of a few ways,” Lyra and Cadence echoed from their bush. Luckily nopony heard them.

“These pasta dishes look filling, and I think I’ll ask for some non-alcoholic cider,” the stallion said. “What about you?”

“I’ll go the same. I could use something to warm me up,” Bon Bon nodded as she looked over the rest of the menu. “Might settle for some coffee though.” She summoned a waiter over and he took down their order before heading off to prepare it.

“So…” Bon Bon asked. “Do you… have a favourite dish?”

“Tia and Lulu will kill me for this,” Aspect said, “But it’s actually not dessert. I really like a nice, simple sandwich, shared with someone I care about at lunch, while we discuss the matters of the day. It reminds me of the times when I didn’t have to run around in Dream Valley slaying things. It was...nice.”

“A sandwich? That’s it?” Well, Bon Bon sure was surprised at that answer. “Well, guess I’ll have to make you more sandwiches then. No more fancy stuff.”

“Oh believe me, the fancy stuff is tasty, but the sandwich is best shared with someone during a warm summer’s day, out on a picnic, just watching the other ponies go about their business.” He sighed and looked around with a happy smile. “There’s just something about...knowing I had a helping hand in all this peace. Even if it was only a minor one. It just makes it all the sweeter.”

“So one of our next dates should be a picnic then?” Bon asked, a hopeful tone in her voice.

“Only if you think you can wait long enough for a picnic to be seasonable,” the stallion teased.

“I suppose I’ll have to at least put up with your for that long,” Bon Bon sighed dramatically.

“True, I have no intention to not come calling for more of your sweets,” Aspect nodded.

“So that’s it, you just want my candy,” Bon Bon said with mock-accusation.

“You have to admit, your talent is remarkable,” Aspect pointed out. “At least I’m not as shallow as to only want you for your looks. Though looking at you, I will say that you aren’t an unattractive mare either.”

That did it, Bon Bon blushed hard and hid behind her menu.

“Ooh, he’s good,” Lyra whispered.

“Mhmm,” Cadence nodded and sneezed, causing the bush to shake.

“And you’re adorable when you blush,” the stallion added. Of course, that only made her blush harder as she made that adorable squeaking noise.

“Would you stop that,” she finally said. “Geez, I feel as though I’m going to turn permanently red around you.”

“Stop being adorable, then,” Aspect quipped

“Stop calling me adorable,” She sunk lower into her seat and he could see the tips of her ears were red. Full Blush Mode achieved.

“Of course, to me, all ponies are cute,” he said matter-of-factly. “I have long theorized it was a defense mechanism made to get me to fight for you.”

“Fear your adorable overlords,” Bon Bon giggled, the silly statement helping her regain some composure. It wasn’t long after that, that the colt returned with their orders.

“Oooh, this looks delicious,” the stallion said as he eyed the pasta.

Bon Bon looked at the food and had to agree with his sentiment. The coffee also had a nice rich aroma.

“Mmm, it’s been too long since I’ve had food that isn’t my own,” she said with a soft hum. “Perhaps I should eat out a little more often.”

“Your food is well and good and all,” the stallion said as he picked up a fork with one hoof. “But there’s something to be said of a meal made by someone else.”

“Yup,” Bon Bon smiled and took a bite. Hmm, the pasta was a little softer than she liked it. But it was still tasty. “Nmm, not bad. Not bad at all.”

“I’m probably biased, but I would still rank this as only the second greatest food I’ve eaten,” Aspect said with a nod of his head.

“Oh dear sweet Aspect. Remind me to take you out to the Apple Family farm one day,” Bon Bon said. “I’m good, but even I can’t compare to then when it comes to apples.”

“Sounds like a date for another time then,” Aspect said. “Oh, remind me to ask Applejack for a favor one day. I still need to plant that sapling, I’d appreciate it if the inheritor of the name Applejack was there to give her honest opinion about where to put it.”

Bon Bon nodded. “So, no Bon Bon’s from your past then?”

“Not that I can recall,” Aspect said with a shake of his head.

“Ah well, at least I don't have a predecessor to compete with then,” Bon giggled. “So, what’s it like having the Princesses as daughters?”

“They’re constantly mischievous and trying to outplay their dad by forcing him to take things he doesn’t want,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “If there were a way to give back the house and not be homeless at the same time, I would have. But now with the perfect ballroom in it, I don’t want to.”

“Rarity and Twilight really pulled out all the stops with that one,” Bon Bon said, and looked at him, tilting her head.

“What?” he questioned, tilting his own head in confusion.

“Just hold still,” she said and leaned closer to him, one of her hooves reaching up to touch his cheek.

Lyra and and Cadence gasped, leaning closer as well. No way! Was… was she really going to…

Aspect merely froze still. Funny how this mare could get him to do that which no other pony ever had. Sure, he’d set down roots before, but he’d never, ever, held still for very long.

Time seemed to pause, her muzzle only a scant distance from his as their eyes locked. She smiled and licked her lips… before pulling back.

“You had some sauce on your cheek,” she smiled innocently.

“Then I thank you for removing it, milady,” Aspect said with a bow of his head.

The bush outside erupted as Cadence jumped from it. “OH COME ON!!!” she screamed out before Lyra pulled her back out of sight.

“You, ah,” Aspect said, before using his hoof to also indicate that she had some sauce on her muzzle as well. “Right about here.”

“Huh?” she wiped her cheek and smiled. “Oh thanks, that would have been embarrassing.”

“ARE. YOU. KIDDING ME!?!?” Lyra screamed this time, before Cadence reined her in. The meal was finished in short order, and the pair of ponies were standing outside the restaurant, before Aspect did something he’d only done once before.

He pecked Bon Bon on the cheek.

The mare squeaked and her face shone crimson once more. “W-W-What was that for?” she managed to get out.

“For being delightful company during lunch, and for aiding me in my quest to procure presents for the Bearers,” Aspect said. “If you think it is undeserved, you could always return it.”

She kissed his cheek back. “H-How about I share it instead?”

“I can work with that,” the stallion said with a happy hum as they continued their quest to get presents.

In a nearby bush, two mare had utterly missed that little display due to their squabbling. Ah well, their loss.

Author's Note

First impression with the new setup and...

I like.

Edit: Okay, minor errors here and there, and sometimes it’s...half the time the options buttons fuck off, so...Maybe not so much like.

So here we have a history lesson. Sorry, there was nothing I could do. There was all this plot there and it just got in the way...

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half of all tips will not be spent on the new version of pokemon. Nope.

Chapter 09 - Hearth's Warming

The day had finally come, Aspect would reflect to himself as he dragged his body out of bed.

Getting something Wonderbolts-related up in Canterlot had been a hassle. The shop had been a madhouse. An absolute madhouse.

Fortunately, getting Rarity some fancy fabric to work with wasn’t so bad. Though it was their last roll on the shelf.

A wonderful mare name Golden Harvest here in town had been happy to provide for him carrots that looked absolutely delicious not a day ago. He’d hit them with a quick preserving charm once he was behind closed doors. Hopefully Fluttershy would appreciate them.

After a quick trip to Rarity’s the other day, Bon Bon and him had returned to the shop and gotten Applejack some boots, and Aspect had even found that ancient, ancient article of clothing he thought he’d had back from Dream Valley.

And he had indeed had an old book of stories from Paradise Estate. Something he doubted Twilight would have. Something Megan herself had brought to this world.

A trip up to Manehatten had found him a jewelry store that had a set of sun and moon jewelry. They were meant to be a matched set, but Aspect would break them up for his daughters.

The only mare in question he hadn’t had the ability to actually shop for was Bon Bon herself. So it was with growing desperation that he’d asked Lyra just the other day as to what Bon Bon would like to get for Hearth’s Warming. That had been… a chore in and of itself…

“So,” Lyra said with a coy smile. “Can’t figure out Bonnie huh? So you came to me instead?”

“I’d hoped you’d have some insight as to what to get her,” Aspect said. “Chocolates seem like such a pointless gesture to the master of the craft.”

“Yup, good sense there. Bonnie is super picky about her chocolates,” Lyra nodded. “Jewelry is also a big no-no, cause it could fall off while she’s cooking.”

“I could try taking her out to a nice dinner, but I get the sinking feeling anywhere that I would define as nice enough for her would have had their reservations booked months in advance,” the stallion mused.

“Right again,” Lyra nodded. “You know, you could give her a deep, passionate kiss~”

“Every time I so much as peck her on the cheek, she imitates a shrinking rose,” Aspect said. “Blooms into a full red, but sinks into the earth.”

“You’ve kissed her on the cheek!?” Lyra must have missed that during her spying. “Aww, I missed out.” She folded her legs and sighed. “Look, I could tell you, I know what she wants. But if you got it, she’d know you came to me. I think as long as your heart is in it. Then she’ll love it.”

“This is the first time I’ve dated in a few thousand years, miss Lyra,” Aspect said. “What do you want as a bribe so that Hearth’s Warming is perfect for her?”

“Alright, alright. Keep your wings on,” Lyra giggled. “Look, you didn’t hear this from me okay? But is just so happens that our little Bonnie is a closet nerd. She just loves collecting these little figurines from a tabletop game. I don’t know if she actually plays it, but she has shelves full of them. I think the Arcade here in town sells a few, and there’s a specialty store in Canterlot that does delivery. Don’t worry if you get a double either, it’ll just give her an excuse to paint it differently.”

It had taken him all of yesterday to both get information from the colt that ran the arcade about the figurines in question that Bon Bon liked, then take that information up to Canterlot in search of said specialty store. And apparently there was a new one that had been released just recently, so Aspect figured it to be a safe bet as one she didn’t have. And by the time he got back and collapsed in the entryway’s couch, placed there specifically for guests suffering from ‘long-day-itis,’ he’d even thought up a story that would put Lyra in the clear.

Go him.

Now all he had to do was actually deliver these presents. Though he had the sneaking suspicion that two of the recipients would come to him by day’s end. Perhaps from Canterlot?

Ah well. He loaded up the cart that Pinkie had left from the Ball a while ago with the presents he’d procured and began plodding into town.

He had mares to see.

Given the location of his house, the closest pony to see was Rarity, as her shop sat on the fringes of Town Square. The snow crunched lightly under his hooves as he approached the Boutique, all decorated and lit up for the holidays. It truly was a wonderful sight on such a cold day.

Aspect unhitched himself from the cart, walked around to the back of it, pulled out a long, circular package, and placed it on his back. The stallion then walked up to the door and knocked a few times before waiting.

The door opened and Sweetie Belle stared up at him, taking a few seconds before she recognised him. “Oh! Hiya Mr. Balanced Aspect. Happy Hearth’s Warming!!”

“And a good Hearth’s Warming to you as well, Sweetie Belle,” Aspect said with a smile. “Is your sister in? I have a gift for her.”

“Sure!’ Sweetie chirped and opened the door for him. “Come inside and I’ll get her for you.”

“I can do that, but only for a moment,” the stallion said as he stepped into the parlor. “I have some other mares to go see today, after all.”

Sweetie nodded and bolted off into the shop, calling for Rarity. A short moment later, the mare in question emerged and smiled at Aspect. “Oh, hello darling.” Her eyes flicked up for a second and she smiled as she approached him. “Now, what can I do for you today?” she asked, kissing him on the cheek.

“Aha,” Aspect said as he noticed the mistletoe hanging above. “Are we waiting for somepony in particular?”

“Perhaps lamenting that a certain mare beat me to the punch, as it were,” Rarity smiled. “Still, perhaps I’ll get a nice surprise this year. So. What can I do for you today?”

“Ah, dear Rarity, you are asking that question wrong,” Aspect said, before presenting her with the gift. “It’s what can I do for you? A token of my esteem, as it were, for services rendered this past summer.”

“Oh my,” Rarity gasped and took it with her magic. “I am to assume I should open it now, or later?”

“Whenever you think you need a nice roll of fabric from Canterlot,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I will freely admit I am no fashionista, but the fabric itself looked nice.”

“Oh dear, and now you’ve spoiled the surprise of me opening it,” Rarity playfully scolded him. She unwrapped it and looked it over. “Oh my, this is simply divine~ I already feel inspiration calling me.”

“Then my work here is done,” the stallion said with a bow. “Lady Rarity, I am pleased you enjoy my gift.”

“I most certainly do,” Rarity nodded and smiled. “Thank you for the wonderful gift Aspect.”

“My pleasure, but if you will permit me to egress from your fabulous presence, I have a herd of other mares to see to on this Hearth’s Warming day.”

“If you must, parting is such sweet sorrow,” Rarity sighed dramatically. “I shall see you again soon Aspect. Have a good holiday.”

“Take care, milady,” Aspect said before turning to leave.

One down, six to go.

Next was Fluttershy. Her house was one of the ones furthest from Ponyville, and the preservation charm would, ironically, only last so long. The stallion walked through the snow, thankful that either the pegasi hadn’t piled it on over here, or that somepony had shoveled out the path to her home.

It took him the better part of an hour to actually reach her front door, though. Once he did, he unhitched himself, found the appropriate gift, and walked up to the door, knocking a few times.

“Eeek! U-Um… W-Who is it?” he heard the timid pegasus ask softly from inside.

“Balanced Aspect,” he said. “I brought you a Hearth’s Warming present.”

There was silence for a moment, before the door clicked and Fluttershy peeked out. “Oh, it’s just you…” She sighed and opened the door. “Please, come inside.”

“Thank you, this will only take a moment,” Aspect said as he presented her with the small, brightly wrapped box once he stepped in. “You’re a hard mare to shop for, but then I realized that you might like something for your friends just as much as you might like something for you.”

Fluttershy tilted her head and opened the box carefully. “Oh my, they look so fresh and delicious,” she smiled. “Thank you very much Mr. Aspect.”

“Just a little preservation charm,” Aspect said with a smile. “Once I heard your favorite friend was a bunny, it was the only logical thing to get.”

“I’m sure he’ll love them, as will I,” Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled the stallion. She smelled like strawberries and sunflowers. “Thank you for such a thoughtful gift.”

“And thank you for everything you’ve done,” Aspect said with a smile.

“That’s quite alright,” Fluttershy smiled and took a step back. “Oh, and do be careful outside. Some naughty foals have been scaring my animals with snowballs all morning.”

“Naughty foals, eh?” the stallion mused. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you again, miss Fluttershy.” He bowed to her once before taking his leave.

Once outside, he was about to hitch his wagon back up when several snowballs impacted it, another volley aimed right for him.

“So, you want to play?” the stallion growled out. There was something almost...dangerous about his voice. Nearly feral. His wings extended as the sensation of gathering power built in the air. Anypony who’d been there for his date with Bon Bon not long ago would have recognized this pose.

This was the pose he took before the winds turned.

Snips and Snails yelped in surprise as a powerful wind was whipped up, burying the colts under a few inches of snow.

“Uuhhh, we give up,” Snails called out.

“Nice try boys,” Aspect said before he hitched himself up his cart and started walking past them again. “Go and be with your families on this Hearth’s Warming. That’s what it’s about. Unless you want me to make snowponies out of you.”

“Yes sir…” they called out after their crushing defeat. Now, where should he go next…?

Applejack ended up being his next stop. She was also pretty far from town, so it’d make sense to get her out of the way as well. Once again, he was in for a long walk. One that gave him plenty of time to take in the cold winter air.

He liked the cold.

It didn’t really seem to take long at all before the stallion was holding two packages on his back as he knocked on the Apple Family door.

The door opened and he was greeted by an elderly mare, who gazed at the stallion with a scrutinising stare.

“Hmm, and who might you be whippersnapper?”

“I’m Balanced Aspect,” he greeted with a bow. “I came to give miss Applejack some presents for Hearth’s Warming.”

“Well, why didn’t ya’ll say so?” she smiled and threw a hoof around his neck. “Applejack! Yer ‘special somepony’ is here ta see ya!”

There was sound from the kitchen, like somepony had dropped a plate before Applejack poked her head out. “Mah what now?”

“Hello miss Applejack,” Aspect said as he discreetly scanned the ceiling for any more surprise mistletoe.

“Well howdy Aspect,” Applejack pulled him inside. “You’ll catch yer death o’cold out there. Come inside an’ warm up.” She also shot a glare to her granny as the old mare just laughed in response.

“I brought some presents for you,” Aspect said. “One that should be given in private, and one that you can have right now.” He messed with the boxes until he held the one that had her new boots in them before him.

“P-Private?” Applejack blushed slightly. “Now lookie here Mister. Ah ain’t that kinda mare—”

“It’s just a hat,” he said with a chuckle. “But I doubt your family will believe the history behind it.”

“A hat?” Applejack tugged on her ever-present Stetson. “Whut about it that ah won’t believe? Y’all shouldn’t put words in mah mouth.”

“I didn’t say you wouldn’t believe it, but your family doesn’t know me as well as you do,” Aspect said cryptically, before pushing the box with the boots towards her. “But first, these.”

“Alright,” she hummed and opened the box. She took out the boots and smiled. “Well, ah reckon these are some mighty fine boots Aspect.” She slid them on her hooves and tightened the straps around the top. Once she slid on all four, she took a few steps around the room to show them off. “Eeyup, mighty fine indeed.”

“I’m glad you like them,” the stallion said with a smile. “Now, why don’t we retire to another room before I give you your second gift?”

Granny Smith let out a wolf-whistle and Applejack groaned and facehooved. “Jus’ lemme get a few things. We’ll use mah room. Upstairs, red door on the left.”

Aspect nodded and went up to her room, to wait for the mare in question. Hopefully she liked it. She already had a hat, after all. he only had to wait a few minutes, before her door opened and the mare stepped inside. She was carrying a tray on her back with two mugs and two plates with some hot apple pie on them.

Bon Bon had warned him about this. The Legendary Apple Family apple pie.

The one dish that even Bons said outclassed her cooking.

He wasn’t sure his taste buds were prepared. There was only room for one mare in his social life like that at a time.

“Figured y’all could use a little snack and somethin’ ta warm you up befer you go,” She set down the tray and smiled. “So, whatcha got fer me that’s so secret?”

Aspect merely smiled while he did his best to put off eating the pie just yet. He wasn’t sure he could handle it. Instead, he presented her with the second box. Applejack looked at it curiously and opened it, revealing the article.

“A hat?” she asked, her eyes flicking up to her own. “Ah don’t get it. What’s so secret about this here hat?”

“Its history,” Aspect said. “Back in the days of Dream Valley, there was a mare that was also called Applejack. A human known as Megan Williams would help the ponies when they needed a more...diplomatic approach to things. One day, she gave that Applejack, this hat.”

Applejack looked at it, running her hoof across it gently. “Are… you sure?” she asked. “This belonged to yer friend. Ah… don’t feel right takin’ it from ya.”

“It belonged to an Applejack once,” Aspect said with a smile. “I feel it’s time it belonged to an Applejack again.”

The apple mare smiled fondly and removed her Stetson, replacing it with her new hat. She adjusted it and tugged it down slightly over one eye. “Heh… perfect fit.”

“Who’da thunk it,” Aspect said, before absently drinking the beverage provided to him. It was amazingly delicious, like a warm hug from the inside out. And seeing Applejack standing there in that hat. It was like seeing the old AJ all over again.

“You remind me so much of her,” he whispered absently. “It’s like looking into the past.”

Applejack blushed slightly and looked away. “Don’t go gettin’ all mushy on me. S’embarrassin’.”

“Oh no,” Aspect said before putting a hoof to his chest. “The mare has engaged her cuteness defense systems. I can’t hold out much longer.”

“Yer a silly pony,” Applejack chuckled and tugged at her hat again. And then Aspect ate the pie without thinking, before letting out a little whimper.

“Aspect?” Applejack blinked as her emerald eyes gazed into his. “You… okay?”

“Ruined,” he said. “Every other food is ruined now.”

Applejack gave him a flat stare. “Seriously? Yer bein’ a tad dramatic ain’t ya?”

“I can never eat anything but your pies ever again,” he said seriously. “How much for a lifetime supply?”

“You’d hafta marry me,” she snarked back.

“Sorry, prior engagement,” Aspect said, once again, quite seriously. “Would bits do?”

“...Ah can’t tell if yer bein’ serious or not,” Applejack said with a small headtilt. “Tell ya what Aspect. Are y’all still datin’ Bon Bon?”

“Yes, and she warned me that this day would come,” he said with a nod. “The day when I ate your pies.”

“Ah’m sure Pinkie would make a joke there,” Applejack said. “Look, ah’ll tell ya what. I’ll teach her how to make it. Ya normally gotta be an Apple to learn how to make these pies, so there’ll be a few strings attached. But if it stops ya from cleanin’ out mah stand everyday…”

“...I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, or the best idea,” Aspect said with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Let’s go with good and you can stop makin’ that creepy face,” she chuckled. “Call it… thanks, fer sharing a little slice of yer friendship.”

“And thank you for the pie,” Aspect said, before swiftly devouring and savoring the rest of the slice. It was so good, it was almost a crime to eat it.

“Yer a silly pony,” Applejack shook her head. “Come on, ah’ll show ya out befer Granny gets another fool idea in her head.”

The stallion whimpered at the thought of no more pie, before rallying as he remembered that he had other friends to see today.

He had been on his way to Pinkie Pie’s, to give her the frosting kit that he and Bon Bon had purchased, when he saw a chromatic streak flying through the sky. Figuring that this might be his only chance, he yelled for the mare that was leaving it. “Rainbow Dash!” he called to the heavens.

There was a sudden shift in the wind, before the pegasus screamed down towards him, landing a few dozen feet away and skidding to a stop. It resulted in a wave of snow that buried the stallion quite effectively.

“You rang?” Rainbow asked. The response she got was muffled until Aspect shook his head free of the snow.

“You mind digging me out, first?” he said with a flat stare.

Rainbow snorted, then fell back laughing. “Bwahahaha! You look like a giant marshmallow!”

“Any day now,” he said, still staring at her. “I’m sure you’ll get your gift eventually…”

“Alright, hey Aspect?” Rainbow narrowed her eyes in cheek. “Chill out.”

“I didn’t know you could be so cold,” he fired back. “Though if you want to see how cold a stare I really have…”

“Hahaha, Snow need to get upset,” Rainbow giggled as she flapped her wings and then blitzed past him, the drag she created tore the snow right off of him before she landed again.

“Muuuuch better,” the stallion sighed. “Now, give me just a moment…” He unhitched himself and walked to the back, pulling out the long, circular tube that held the poster he’d managed to get in the Wonderbolt’s store up in Canterlot. “Got a little something for you up in Canterlot. Last one, too. Had to fight for it, nearly.”

Rainbow blinked and unwrapped the tube before opening it and pulling out the poster. She unfurled it and stared at it. “Is… is this… a signed poster? Like, the one that’s always sold out!?”

“Like I said, the last one,” the stallion said with a nod. “Heard you were a big Wonderbolt fan, figured I could get you a little something while I was in the town.” She carefully put the poster back in the tube, it was probably the slowest he’d ever seen her move.

That moment quickly ended when he received a ballistic hug from the mare. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!”

“Ack!” He said as he fell back onto his flank. “Alright, I’m already dating, you can stop any second now!”

“Ah!” Rainbow jumped back and scuffed the ground with her hoof. “Y-Y’know, s’a cool gift I guess.”

“There’s the mare I know,” Aspect chuckled as he stood up. “I’m happy you enjoy it. Consider it my way of paying you back for services rendered in the summer.”

“S’cool,” Rainbow smiled and brushed her mane out of her eyes. “Sorry for covering you in snow.”

“Forgiven already,” the stallion said with a wave of his wing. “Take care, and Happy Hearth’s Warming.”

“You too,” she beamed and clutched the poster as she flew off, performing a few tricks for him before zipping off and out of sight.

“Hmm, I coulda sworn I was supposed to mention something?” Dash mused and then shrugged. “Oh well.”

Aspect smiled and continued on his way to Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie worked and lived. After her, it would be Twilight, then Bon Bon. He was nearly done.

The stallion knocked on the door after positioning the gift directly in front of him. This one was heavy. The door opened and..

“SUPRISE!!”

“Pinkie,” he said with a sigh. “I came here to give you a gift!”

“Aww, really?” the pink mare hauled him inside where it was nice and warm. “Wowie! That’s a big giftie!”

“And I still have other mares to see today,” the stallion said as he looked around. “Not that I’m not touched that you’re throwing a party, but I can’t stay just yet.”

“Huh? Oh, silly Aspey! This party isn’t for you, but you’re totally invited if you want. The girls should be here in an hour or so.”

“Tempting, I’ll see if I’m free then,” Aspect said. “Go on and open your gift, Pinkie.”

Pinkie nodded rapidly and took the gift, she grunted when she felt it’s weight and tilted her head before tearing into the wrapping paper. When she unveiled it, the pink party mare fell… oddly silent.

“Do you not like it?” he asked worriedly. A silent Surprise was always a bad thing. He could only assume a silent Pinkie was moreso. “Did I get the wrong one?”

“N-No,” Pinkie whispered and he could see tears running down her cheeks. “This… I’m just so…”

“So?” he prodded the mare verbally.

She started to vibrate. This could only end badly, so the stallion backed up a step. Pinkie suddenly exploded, there were even fireworks? Confetti rained down as Pinkie peppered his face in kisses as she hugged him out of nowhere.

“I take it you like?” he barely managed to wheeze out. Pinkie was an Earth Pony, and by default, her hugs were strong. Heck, they were somehow stronger than Luna’s!

“OHMIGOSH THIS IS THE BESTEST HEARTH’S WARMING EVER!!!”

Dear gods! She was even louder than Luna.

“I kinda...need air,” Aspect gasped out. Pinkie blinked and dropped the stallion as she bounced around the room like a mad bouncy ball.

“Pinkie!” Mrs. Cake scolded her. “Not so loud dear.”

The mare came to a screeching halt in mid-air and floated back down to the ground. “Sorry!” she whispered loudly.

“Well, I take it you like your gift,” Aspect chuckled as he stretched. “Good to know I got the right one, then.”

“This gift is amazing!’ Pinkie giggled at a more normal level. “Your cake will totally be the first I use them for.”

“I’m sure any cake you make with it will be amazing,” Aspect said with a smile and a nod. “And thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“It’s just what friends do silly~” Pinkie giggled as she bounced away to put her new favouritest thing in the world away. Sugarcube Corner was decorated nicely. But one thing stood out, a comically large present in the middle of the room. How had he not noticed that until now?

“Pinkie?” he called out. “Who’s the gift for?”

“It’s a surprise,” she giggled back. “You can peek if you want~”

“Eh, if it’s not for me, then I’m not curious,” the stallion said with a shrug of his wings. “I still have other ponies to see anyways.”

He turned around, only to come muzzle to muzzle with a white and blonde pegasus mare.

“SURPRISE!!”

His only response was to sit on his flank, hold up a hoof to point at the mare, and gawp at her.

“Uhh, Pinkie Pinks? I think I broke your buddy!” she called out.

“Hunh?” Pinkie came back out. “Hooboy. Hey Aspey! This is Surprise, she’s a buddy of mine from Cloudsdale and a premier party pony like yours truly.”

“Also a proud member of the Wonderbolts,” Surprise nodded. Eventually Aspect shuddered and got himself under control, before smiling fondly at the mare.

“You remind me of a friend of mine,” he said quietly. “She’s been gone a long time now...looking at you was like looking at a ghost.”

“Surprisey’s a ghost?” Pinkie gasped. “Where’s my vacuum cleaner!?”

“I’m not a ghosty you silly filly,” Surprise giggled and looked at Aspect. “Well, I bet your friend really liked you. We can be friends too if you want?”

“I wouldn’t mind that, though be prepared for weirdness if you stick close to me,” Aspect chuckled. He then looked over at Pinkie and reconsidered his words. “More weirdness, at any rate.”

“Heehee, great-great-great-great-great…” She continued that for a moment. “Great gramma Surprise prolly had a blast around you,” she giggled and looked at Pinkie. “I got some stuff to do, I’ll be back for the party Pinks.”

“Okie Doki Loki!” Pinkie giggled as the white pegasus zoomed out of the door.

“She...knows?” he asked. “What am I asking, of course she knows. If she’s from the same bloodline, then I shouldn’t be questioning it.”

“Some things are best left unanswered,” Pinkie Pie nodded. “Have fun at Twilight’s house okay?”

“Not a problem,” Aspect said as he left. It wasn’t until he was on the road again that he realized that Pinkie had somehow known where he was going.

Don’t question it, he told himself. Questioning it always hurt.

The door to the library received a few good knocks as Aspect stood on the other side with some books. The door opened slightly and Twilight peeked her head out.

“Oh, hello Aspect!” she smiled and opened the door. “How are you this evening?”

“I’m doing well,” the stallion said, before nudging the present in front of him with a hoof. “Brought you a Hearth’s Warming present.”

“Oh, how thoughtful,” Twilight smiled and opened the door. “Come inside and warm up for a bit. Though Spike and I will be going out soon.”

“So I heard from Pinkie,” Aspect nodded before picking the bundle up and moving it to a nearby table. “Well, go on, before you go.”

Twilight nodded and floated over the package, meticulously unwrapping it and folding up the wrapping paper neatly, setting it aside before looking at the book. “A book! But…” she looked it over. “I don’t recognise it.”

Aspect tapped the front cover as he explained. “Back in Dream Valley, there was another human known as Megan Williams. She brought over a lot of things for the ponies. Including books. I figured that would be safer than some book on sorcery or witchery that you might actually try to use.” The simple words of Robin Hood were emblazoned as the title.

“T-This… is a three thousand year old book… from another world?” Twilight’s horn sparked and she beamed widely, enough to rival that of Pinkie Pie.

“I figured it’d be safest in a library, in the hooves of somepony that saved my daughter from her darkness,” Aspect said. Twilight gasped as she looked at the book. They didn’t last that long, she was surprised she wasn’t holding a bag of dust by this point.

“This is… but,” Twilight smiled and wiped her eye. “Thank you Aspect. I promise I’ll take excellent care of it.”

“Thank you,” the stallion said with a bow. “And I have about, oh, a dozen more in my saddlebags, so I’ll keep hold of them in the preservation charm laid into it for future Hearth’s Warming’s.”

“I’ll count down the days,” Twilight beamed as she placed the book inside a nearby glass display case and clicked the lock shut. “This case has a similar charm on it that the Princess taught me,” she said. A quick feel from Aspect showed it was the same one he used.

“I’m glad to see you like your present so much,” the stallion said with another bow, before getting up. “Now if you’ll pardon me, I still have a mare to see today.”

“Alright,” Twilight smiled. “And thank you again for the wonderful gift. I can’t wait to read it.”

“You could probably make copies of it,” Aspect pointed out. “It’s been so long that if there ever were any, they’ve probably all been lost.”

“I’ll look into it,” Twilight smiled. “Have a good night, and tell Bon Bon I said hello if you haven’t seen her yet.”

“Will do,” the stallion said before leaving for the last mare on the list.

Aspect parked the cart next to Bon-Bon’s and removed the last, smallest present from it, before knocking on the door. The door opened and the mare he came to see greeted him.

“A-Aspect?” she blinked, clearly not having expected him. “What are you doing here?”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming,” he said, holding the small present up with a hoof. “Got you something.”

The mare blushed slightly and smiled. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Wanted to, though,” he said. “Go on, take it.”

Bon Bon smiled and gently took the gift, her hoof brushing against his as she invited him in. Her home was delightfully warm due to the roaring fireplace.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked. “It must be cold out there.”

“I don’t mind this cold,” Aspect said. “Now, Gelgeth, his place is cold. However, I will never turn down your hospitality, miss Bon Bon,” he finished with a bow of his head.

“You know you can just call me Bon Bon,” she smiled sweetly as she moved to the living room. “Oh, um, could you wait here a moment?”

Aspect merely sat near the fireplace as he soaked in the warmth before nodding at her. He may have liked the cold, but he loved the warmth once he was out of it.

She set her gift on the coffee table and dashed upstairs. He could hear some rummaging around, before she came back down slowly, a box balanced on her lower back.

“I um… may have gotten you something as well,” she said softly.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said, using her own words against her.

“Well, maybe… but I did,” she grinned. “You know you’re impossible to shop for right?”

“Up until this afternoon, I would have agreed with you,” Aspect nodded. “And then I had some of Applejack’s pie.”

“You didn’t!” she gasped.

“Fortunately, she’s decided that instead of me buying her out of pie every day, she’ll instead teach you how to make it, to avert that potential crisis,” the stallion said.

“How… on Equus did you manage that!?” Bon Bon exclaimed. “Only Apple family members are allowed to know.”

“I may have asked her what it would take to get a lifetime supply of pie,” Aspect whistled innocently. “And given her something from the original Applejack.”

“Original…?” Bon Bon gasped. “Oh you sneaky stallion. Well, I’ll have you know I am not so easily bribed.”

“You haven’t even opened your gift yet,” he said. “How can you know that?”

“Well, let’s find out,” she smiled and slowly opened her box. She gasped lightly as she took the small figure out and looked the box over. “Warmage Athena? But… how did you know? Oh my gosh! You know!?”

“I know barely anything,” he said. “I saw you step into the arcade one day, and I waited for you to leave before I asked the colt what you were up to. He told me you were into these figurines for this game, and that there was a shop up in Canterlot that he regularly got stock from when he could, so I added it to my list of things to check out when I was up there. Lo and behold, this one recently came out.”

“Hmm, so you’re stalking me now?” she smirked and bat her eyes at him. She hadn’t been to the arcade in… Lyra!

“More like trying to be a thoughtful stallion where your happiness is concerned,” Aspect said. “I thought you could do with a nice Hearth’s Warming present.”

“Thank you, she’s wonderful,” Bon Bon smiled. Well, now she’d have to show him. “I don’t know if my gift is as good but…” She held out the box with a blush on her face. The box itself was rather flat and long. Almost as long as his sword…

He gently put it on the table and pulled the wrapping paper back.

“It’s probably silly, I don’t know why I made it,” she mumbled as he peeled back the protective paper and saw his sword in there. No, not his sword… it was… made of candy?

The words ‘Thank you for caring’ were etched into the blade. The stallion stared at it for a moment, a smile slowly growing on his muzzle as he looked at the large treat.

“Um.. do you… like it?” Bon Bon asked hesitantly.

“It looks...delicious,” he said. “You know I love your cooking, Bon Bon. Thank you for making this, and thank you for caring enough to make a duplicate of my sword.”

“I’ve only seen it once, so I hope I got it right,” she said. “That there is butterscotch. And that’s seasalt candy. And no, it doesn't taste like ocean water. Oh, and that’s… something I made recently. It doesn’t have a name yet.”

“This sword will be an adventure, then,” the stallion mused. “Much like the original.”

Bon Bon smiled warmly. The fact that he liked it made her so happy. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Aspect.”

“And to you as well, Bon Bon,” he said with a nod of his head. Some movement caught his eye and he saw a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them, dangling from a rafter.

“Oh dear,” he said, looking up. Bon Bon followed his gaze and squeaked. And while she was thusly distracted, Aspect fulfilled his obligations to the tradition, and kissed her on the lips.

To say Bon Bon was surprised was a grave understatement. But his lips felt so warm~ She was surprised, yes… but she soon closed her eyes and pressed into the kiss a little more. Aspect deepened the kiss, hugging her close with his hooves and wings as he didn’t let her go, wanting this moment to last. It just felt...right.

She moaned lightly into the kiss, her hooves pressed against his chest as he embraced her. She’d never felt like this before about a pony. She eventually broke the kiss, panting from the adrenaline running through her as her heart pounded in her chest.

“W-Wow…” she whispered.

“Mmm...is there anything in Hearth’s Warming traditions about how long I have to kiss you for?” Aspect asked as he kept hugging her close to him.

“We… haven’t even had a second date yet,” she whispered back.

“Do we need to have a second date to share more kisses?” he asked her.

“W-well, I don’t know…” she replied and looked away. “I’ve never had a second date before.”

“I’m perfectly willing to obey whatever standards you set, but that kiss was amazing,” Aspect said. “I almost want another right now.”

“I’m not that good,” Bon Bon said, turning a furious red. Gods above she was freaking adorable.

“Would you like to test that theory?” he asked her. Bon Bon paused, then nodded slowly. Aspect waited until she turned back to him before catching her lips in another, just as deep, kiss.

Not quite as surprised as she was last time, she relished the feeling of her lips pressed against his as she held him in return.

That was until one of her hooves… wandered. Oh wow his flanks were firm. You could roll batter on those things!

Aspect felt that, and felt some of his...lessons, with Cadence bubbling to the fore. He decided it wouldn’t be so bad to return fire, and let one of his hooves wander as well, to her flanks. She let out a surprised squeak and pushed him back.

“W-W-W-What are you d-d-doing!?” she stammered, she was blushing so hard you could see steam rising from her.

“Returning fire,” he said with a cheeky smile. “Let’s just say, I liked what I felt. You must work out a lot to get flanks like that.”

“Oh my gooooosh!” she moaned, hiding her face with her hooves. He could still see the blush as she buried her face in the couch. Aspect decided to do what he did best and sat nearby, before gently rubbing a hoof along her neck to comfort her.

“If it’s any consolation, I didn’t mind,” he said to her.

“Of course the guy doesn’t mind,” Bon Bon mumbled from her hiding place. “Where did that mistletoe even come from? I didn’t put it there.”

That was when Aspect heard some snickering from the top of the stairs, and saw the edge of a mint-green hoof.

“You don’t want to know,” he said dryly. “Look, if you didn’t like it, then I’ll just go…”

“But that’s the problem!” Bon Bon lifted her head to show that cute face of hers, before looking away and mumbling.

“Could you repeat that, just a little louder?” he asked her.

“Geez!” she huffed. “I liked it okay! There, happy?”

“I’m happy if you’re happy,” he said simply. “Would you be happy if we continued? Or if I left?”

“No, don’t leave!!” she said, holding his hoof with hers. “Ah I… I mean…”

A sudden bolt of inspiration as to why she’d be so cautious struck, and he smiled at her. “I was your first kiss. I’m your first stallion in general, aren’t I?”

“H-How did you…?” Bon Bon gasped and narrowed her eyes. “Lyra!!”

“Once you passed out from your first kiss, yes,” Aspect said with a nod. “Would you believe me if I told you you were my first mare?”

“You’re kidding?” Bon Bon frowned. “Now I know you’re making fun of me. You had the Princess's mother didn’t you?”

“It was more of a partnership, less of an actual marriage. She was pregnant when we met, I’m their foster father,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “How about I make you an offer?”

“Do you have any idea how shady that sounds?” Bon Bon giggled. “Alright Sir Aspect. What is thy offer?”

“We adjourn to thy room, where so long as the other is comfortable, we spend our time simply exploring each other to our limits of our courage,” Aspect said.

“That…” Bon Bon blushed heavily again. “Sounds an awful lot like you’re propositioning me Sir Aspect.”

“Not if you go first,” Aspect said, “So that I have a good idea as to what you will and will not wish me to do to you.”

“B-But I haven’t… I’ve never…” Aaaand she was mumbling again. He pecked her on the cheek before drawing back and smiling at her.

“Which is what this is meant to solve,” he said softly. “I promise I’ll take no offense.”

“I’m…” Bon Bon looked down. “I’m sorry. I just don’t think I’m ready. That’s… a little too fast for me…”

“Then I won’t push,” he said with a shrug. “I know better. Thy will be done, Ma’am.”

“Thank you… and, I’m sorry,” she said and then looked at him. “Are… we still dating? I’d… understand if you wanted to see somepony else...”

“It’d be awfully shallow of me to stop seeing you over this,” he said. “Though, if you make that offer to me next time, you won’t find me saying no.”

She mumbled slightly, but it sounded an awful lot like ‘It wouldn’t be the first time…’

“At any rate,” he said. “I have delivered your present and have mine. And we’ve shared a wonderful moment together. I believe I merely require one more kiss to keep me warm and I shall be ready for the road.”

“W-Well,” she said slowly and gulped. “I said… that I wouldn’t… well, you know… But, I didn’t say you had to leave…”

“Perhaps some more kissing, then?” the stallion suggested.

“That might be nice,” Bon Bon smiled and then narrowed her eyes. “But first…” She picked up a cushion and threw it, it ricocheted off the wall and pinged up the stairs, nailing Lyra right in the face.

“Gah!” the unicorn cried out.

“Remind me never to get on your bad side in a pillow fight,” the stallion chuckled.

“Humph! That’s what she gets for eavesdropping,” Bon Bon huffed and folded her arms. Aww, she was even cute when she was mad.

“So,” he said, sitting nearby, one hoof still draped over her neck as one wing lay on her back. “Cuddling?”

“I think that’s a safe enough activi-” she was cut off by a knock on the door. “Oh for Celestia’s sakes, now what?” She got up and trotted over to the door..

“SURPRISE!”

“Eeeeek!”

Aspect merely rolled his eyes. Today had been a long, fun day. And it was shaping up to be a longer one yet.

“What are you silly fillies doing here? We have a par-tay to get to!” Surprise said and flew upstairs, grabbing Lyra and tossing her out the window, the mare landing in Aspect’s cart.. which now had some pillows in there. Then she grabbed the other two and hauled them out of the door, tossing them in too. All within a matter of seconds. She pulled a pair of aviator shades out of her mane and grinned.

“Let’s roll!”

“Bon Bon, if you die, I want you to know that Equestria will never recover from your loss, and that I’ll attend your funeral personally,” Aspect said.

“Wait! WHAT!?” Bon Bon yelped as Surprise cackled and took off into the sky, hauling the cart with her as the earth pony screamed, clinging to Aspect for dear life.

Aspect simply smiled, at least she was hugging him without blushing now. He put a hoof and wing around her as he held her close, wondering what in the world was going on now.

In Aspect’s house, Cadenza woke up from her nap and yawned. Then she frowned and looked out of the window, having the unsettling feeling that she was forgetting something...

Author's Note

Well, half the issues seem to have been resolved. Now all we need is for the options to not fuck off during the typing and we'll be golden.

Another non-episode, but a good setup for things to come.

Like the story? Consider donating Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half the money will not be spent on breaking games over my knee.

Chapter 10 - Wrapping up Winter, or not.

The Hearth’s Warming party had been great. More so once Lyra and Bon Bon regained consciousness. Pinkie and Surprise had managed to throw one heck of a bash.

So Aspect was exhausted by the time he returned home. He could feel Cadence’s magic inside his home… and two others.

Celestia and Luna?

“I do not have time for this,” he grumbled as he made sure his door was closed before flashing into his Alicorn form, and starting to wink across the house until he reached his bedroom.

He landed in his room, only for his form to glow gold as he was teleported to the living room, where his two daughters were waiting for him.

“Father, that was most rude of you,” Celestia sighed.

“I’m worn out from the party,” he said. “I’d rather just sleep.” He was suddenly hugged by Luna as Celestia giggled into her hoof.

“I’d imagine so, if the Element of Laughter had anything to do with it.” She moved next to him and nuzzled the stallion. “However, I happened to mention something to Luna and she insisted on coming right away.

Luna kissed him on the cheek and smiled widely. “Merry Krismas father!”

“It’s pronounced ‘Christmas’ Lulu,” Celestia giggled. “But yes, Merry Christmas father.”

“And merry Christmas to the pair of you,” he said with a sigh. “Celly, check my right saddlebag. I put your and Luna’s gift in there before coming back.”

The alicorn nodded and floated the gifts out as Luna took some out of her own bag and held them up to him.

“You girls didn’t need to get me anything,” he said with a shake of his head. Luna just smiled and shook her head.

“Open it!” she grinned a little too widely.

The stallion let out a small, weary groan as he floated the package closer, before opening it with his hooves. It was… a rock. A small grey rock with some perforation in it.

“What...is this?” he asked.

“A moonrock!” Luna cackled and fell onto her back, giggling madly.

“I see,” the stallion said, pursing his lips. He wasn’t sure how to respond to this.

“She’s been giving them to everypony, claiming they’re ‘souvenirs’ from her vacation,” Celestia sighed. “Now give him the real gift Lulu.”

“Bah, Thou ist a pooper of the parties,” Luna muttered as she got out a second box. Inside was a glowing orb with some very old magic coming from it. “Tis a Wishing Star. Simply hold it and make a wish, if it is true to your heart, this Star shall grant it.”

“I...girls, do you know how valuable this is?” Aspect asked, afraid to touch it.

“Our dreams have already come true,” Celestia smiled as she opened her gift and gasped. She wasted no time in putting the jewellery on. “I think it is past due for yours.”

“Perhaps you could wish for that marefriend of yours,” Luna said and wiggled her eyebrows as Cadence started tiphoofing from the room.

“Cadence,” Aspect said in his ‘father’ voice. “Did you tell them anything?”

“T-Tell them what?” she squeaked.

“Oh, I don’t know, like anything I might have done today,” Aspect said. “For instance.”

“Dear Cadenza hasn’t said a thing,” Celestia said with a nod. “But it sounds like you are hiding something from us father dearest.”

“And what if I am?” the stallion grumbled. “Old stallion like me is entitled to his secrets.”

“True, but we’ll find out eventually,” Celestia smiled and kissed his cheek. “Still, we’ll let you get some rest for now. Come Lulu, Cadey. Let’s go home.”

“Fiiiiine,” the two mares pouted, though the pink one shot him a knowing smile.

“Take care,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. With a flash of light, they teleported from the room, leaving him alone in the massive house once more.

“And that’s them successfully deflected for another day,” the stallion grumbled as he began the long, slow walk to his bed. That night, his dreams were filled with a sweet candy mare...

The day had finally come! Spring had arrived! Or was scheduled to, anyways. Spring was nearly here, and that was good enough for Aspect. He hummed happily as he bounced around in his house, a wordless tune stuck in his head.

There was a knock on his door and once he opened it, it revealed young Twilight Sparkle, who looked a little taken back by his jovial mood.

“Well, somepony’s looking chipper this morning,” she smiled. “Did something good happen?”

“Sorry, I just really like Winter Wrap up,” the stallion said. “It’s an invigorating time when ponies work together to get ready for another year. Makes me so...excited.”

“I know what you mean,” Twilight nodded and stepped inside. “And Ponyville still adheres to old traditions, so no unicorn magic to change the weather directly.”

“Sounds like a waste of time,” Spike grumbled. “Seriously, just use magic and get it over and done with.”

“It actually adheres back to Dream Valley traditions,” Aspect said. “When the only thing all Unicorns could do was wink. Anything more was the work of study, hard work, or your Talent. If we wanted the seasons changed back then, we worked for it.”

“Sounds like a pain,” Spike yawned and Twilight shook her head. She had no idea that the tradition went back so far.

“Well, this will be my first Winter Wrap-Up,” the mare giggled excitedly. “Do you want to come with me?”

“Would love to, but I’m not allowed to,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “I’m limited to observation only.”

“Huh?" Twilight tilted her head and looked him over. “Why can’t you help?””

“My daughters told me, long ago,” Aspect said with a sigh. “That if I partook in any serious weather-shifting, it’d be cheating.”

“I’m sure we could find something for you do do,” Twilight replied. “Just… maybe avoid that unique magic of yours. I heard about that windstorm you cooked up the other day.”

“No, seriously, I don’t stop cheating,” the stallion said. “I might not look it right now, but I’m crazy strong in two things. Both with my wings and just general strength. If I helped out at all, it’d be classified as cheating.”

“You can’t just hold back?” Twilight inquired. “I mean, surely you could do that at least.”

“I…” the stallion lifted one hoof, worked his mouth, before putting his hoof back down. “I’ve...never had to before.”

“So… is that a yes?” the unicorn pressed. “Just think, you could help out Bon Bon then.”

“Just give me a minute,” he said, before walking into his room. A moment passed, before he dragged out the sword and held it so that he was looking directly at the jewel in its pommel.

Twilight watched him intently, curious as to what he was up to. Spike just yawned and lay on her back, wondering when they’d actually get to go.

There was a muted flash from the sword and Aspect’s form, before he staggered a little and exhaled heavily. “Wow,” he said. “This...is gonna take some getting used to.”

“W-What did you do?” Twilight asked, using her magic to steady him.

“Something I’ve never done before,” he said, finally getting his hooves steady. “I held back even more, while holding onto the form. I think...I think I’m just a regular pony now.”

“That must be such a shock,” Twilight giggled. “Welcome to the life of us regular ponies.”

“Well,” he said as he stood in the foyer, with his cape on his back. “What’re we waiting for? We have a season to wrap up!” He even posed dramatically.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, before giggling at him. “Applejack was right, you are a silly pony.”

“Hey, this might be the first time in ages I can touch clouds without them turning into storm clouds,” the stallion riposted. “I think I can be a little silly for that.”

“You’re going to have to tell me why that happens one day,” Twilight said as the three of them finally headed into Ponyville. And when they finally got there?

The entire town broke out into song.

“Now that,” he said, smiling happily, “Is the sort of teamwork I can get behind.” He waved at a chromatic mare flying by. “Ahoy Miss Dash! Any chance I could be a part of your team?”

The mare paused and gave him a worried expression. “Uh, no offense Aspect. But didn’t you say there was that whole thing about you turning whatever you touch into a storm?”

“Fixed now!” he beamed at her. “Turns out, I was using way too much Essence of Storm in my Pegasus form. I’m just another pony now.”

“Well, if you think you can handle it,” Rainbow shrugged. “Go and see Cloud Kicker up there. She’ll give you some directions on where you need to be.”

“Got it!” he said before turning to Twilight. “Best of luck,” he said, holding out a hoof to her.

“Aw, can’t I help too?” Twilight pouted and Rainbow stared at her like she’d grown a third head before giving a light flap of her wings.

“Oh. Right,” Twilight giggled awkwardly and bumped Aspect’s hoof with hers. “I’ll uh… just see if Rarity needs help.”

“Yes!” Spike whispered and pumped his fist.

“Take care,” the stallion said before taking flight. “Uh,” he said to Rainbow Dash. “Would you hurt me if I said I didn’t know who Cloud Kicker was?”

“Nope, it’ll hurt you more when you meet her,” the pegasus chuckled and pointed at a greyish-purple mare with a blonde mane and tail. That’s her. Good luck.”

Aspect blinked at that, before shrugging and flying over to the mare in question. “Hello,” he said to her. “My name is Balanced Aspect. Rainbow Dash told me to check in with you.”

She turned and a smile crossed her lips. “Oh, I’d love to check you alright. What do you say. We find a nice secluded cloud. You. Me. We’ll bang okay?” Her voice was like velvet and her gaze was smouldering. This was a mare that knew what she wanted, and apparently right now? That was Aspect.

“Sorry,” he said, deadpanning at her. “I have a marefriend already.”

“Oh, who is she? She can play too, I don't mind. The more the merrier,” she smiled lewdly. “And the messier~”

“Can we focus on the job at hoof here?” Aspect grumbled. He was really regretting his choice of action already.

“Oh fine,” she shrugged and pointed in the direction of a grey pegasus mare and a black stallion. “Could you help Ditzy and Thunderlane? The last thing we need is that mare setting another tornado on fire.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen alright,” the stallion said. “What’ll I be doing when I get there? I’ve never actually participated in a Winter Wrap up before, I could use a little direction.”

“We need to dissipate the clouds slowly. Too slow and the snow won’t melt. Too fast and it’ll melt too quickly and flood Ponyville,” she clapped him on the back and smiled. “Easy right.”

“Should be,” he agreed with a nod as he flew over to the pair. “Hello,” he greeted them.

“Huh? A new guy?” Thunderlane looked up. “Sup bro?”

“Hi~” Ditzy smiled brightly and he noticed that while one eye was on him, the other seemed to be watching the sky above them. “I’m Ditzy Doo!”

“Thunderlane,” the stallion nodded.

“I’m Balanced Aspect,” Aspect introduced himself. “I hear we’re dissipating the clouds?”

“Yep!” Ditzy punched a cloud and it vanished. “But I gotta go and get the birdies! I love that job.”

“So it’ll be you and me to kick this into gear!” Thunderlane pumped the air with a hoof. “Are. You. Pumped!!”

“Yeah!” Ditzy said cutely.

“So long as ‘kick this into gear’ means ‘doing this in a reasonable and timely manner,’” Aspect said. “We can’t do it too fast or too slow. Just right seems to be the order of the day.”

“Bro, you gotta live loud and live fast!” Thunderlane said with a determined nod.

“Can I live loud?” Ditzy asked. “Except I can’t when Dinky’s napping. then I have to live loud quietly.”

“If you clear the clouds quickly,” Aspect pointed out, “All the snow will melt at once and flood Ponyville.”

“That’d be bad,” Ditzy nodded. “Sorry Thunderlane. We gotta live quietly this time.”

“Dang,” the stallion sighed.

“What the flipping feathers are you slackers doing!?” Rainbow yelled. “Less lollygagging, more cloud kicking!”

“You called~?” as said mare draped herself over Rainbow and kissed her cheek,

“Gah! Kicker!!” Rainbow yelled as the mare flew off, giggling and shaking that shapely flank of hers.

“Let’s just clear a few for now,” Aspect conceded. “Not too much, but not too little.”

The other two nodded and started work. When Aspect pressed his hoof against the cloud, he still half-expected it to start turning stormy, but it simply remained a steely-grey, spitting out a few errant flakes of snow.

“It has been far too long since I could do this,” he said, before turning and bucking the cloud out of existence. As he worked, he also noticed what was going on down below him.

Why was Twilight running away from a bunch of snakes?

“Well, that can’t end well,” he mused as he kept clearing a few more clouds before taking a small break. That’d be good for now, right?

“Hey bro!” Thunderlane called out. “Let’s go. Bon Bon’s giving out hot cocoa! I wanna get me some of that!”

Ditzy had left to get the birds back for Spring, so it had just been the two stallions for about an hour.

“Yeah, that sounds good right about now,” Aspect said with a bit of panting in his voice. Good lord, this was the first time he was normal and he was already exhausted?

Heaven help him if this turned out to be a regular thing. He didn’t think he was cut out for it.

Bon Bon poured another mug as Lyra handed out some cookies to restore lost energy. The candy maker suddenly ‘eeped’ as a certain stallion landed nearby.

“H-Hello Aspect,” she said with a small blush. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“Oooh man, she’s seriously cute~” Thunderlane whispered. “Wish me luck bro!” Before Aspect could respond, he walked right up to Bon Bon.

“Hey babe,” he said, slicking back his hair. “How about you and me go-”

“Not interested,” Bon Bon said flatly and walked past the stallion, who resembled a stone statue.

“Bon Bon,” Aspect greeted her. “This is the first time I’ve helped with a Winter Wrap up. I could do with a pick me up, especially if it’s crafted by your hooves.”

Bon Bon nodded and poured him a mug of cocoa, before putting a pink and a white marshmallow in it for him. “One ‘Bon Bon Special’ for you,” she smiled and held the mug out. Aspect smiled and grabbed it with his hooves, pulling it in to taste.

It was like if you could distill sweet kisses and comforting hugs into liquid form…

He gently set the cup aside, before kissing Bon Bon in thanks.

Thunderlane just stared with massive, wide eyes as Bon Bon giggled and pecked on the lips back.

“Stealing kisses now are we?” she mused. “Such a bad colt.”

“I can’t help it,” he said. “I have to thank you for this somehow. This is what dating ponies do, yes? Use affection on each other in the form of kisses?”

“I believe that is the general consensus,” Bon bon giggled again. That was when Lyra pounced on the stallion and wiggled her eyebrows.

“Where’s my kiss lovercolt?”

“I was unaware we were dating,” he said, wondering what had gotten into the minty mare.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes and pushed Lyra’s encroaching head. “He’s mine.”

“We’re best friends, and friend share right?” Lyra responded and Bon Bon stared at her until Lyra shrugged and hopped off of Aspect, but then stole a kiss on his cheek before running away as Bon tried to swat her with a rolling pin.

“What have I gotten myself involved in,” the stallion sighed, before looking over at Thunderlane. “No, I can’t use him to distract her…”

“Harsh bro. That was cold,” Thunderlane replied.

“Thunderlane, didn’t you used to date Lyra?” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“Yup,” Lyra chimed in. “But I realised that his eyes wandered to other mare's flanks as often as they did mine,” Lyra said and whacked him on the head, the stallion wincing.

“Ah, I was warned about that,” Aspect said with a nod as he picked his cocoa up and started sipping. Oooh~ That’s the good stuff!

“So, why do you look so worn out?” Bon Bon asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you tired.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever helped with Winter Wrap-Up,” Aspect said, flaring one wing and stirring only a minor breeze for emphasis. Bon’s nose crinkled as some snow touched it and she sneezed cutely.

“So I see,” she giggled.

“Thunderlane, how long do you think we have until Dash decides to bust us?” Aspect asked conversationally.

“I give it…” the ground rumbled slightly and the pegasus blinked. “The hay was that?”

“Sounded like it came from Sweet Apple Acres,” Bon Bon pointed out.

“We should probably get airborne again,” Aspect pointed out, before sneaking another kiss on Bon Bon.

“Hey!” she giggled playfully and swatted his flank before he could get too high.

“Dude… do ya have to rub it in?’ Thunderlane groaned.

“We’re still just dating, but I’m optimistic,” Aspect said as they got a good view as to what had happened. “That...is a lot of snow.”

Thunderlane agreed as they saw Applejack yelling at the one responsible.

Twilight Sparkle…

“Oh geeze,” Aspect sighed as he facehooved. “She just couldn’t resist.”

“Oh man, Applejack looks steamed,” Thunderlane said and then flinched. “Heads up!”

“What the buck?” Rainbow looked at the disaster. “Great. Now what!?”

“Rainbow!” Applejack hollered. “We’re gonna talk to the mayor. Let’s go!”

“Whelp, looks like our record as being the last town to wrap up winter is on track,” Thunderlane said as ponies started yelling at each other for the littlest mistakes. It was utter chaos.

“It would really help if we had a plan,” Aspect grumbled.

Applejack, Rainbow and Fluttershy were involved in a three way argument as Thunderlane was talking with Cloud Kicker before he groaned and facehooved. He flew back to Aspect and sighed.

“As if things weren't bad enough. Ditzy flew north instead of south to get the birds…”

“Well ain’t this a right proper disorganized mess,” the white pegasus muttered before looking towards Canterlot. If it weren’t for the distinct presence of the laws of physics and magic, he’d almost think a certain someone had broken free…

“Honestly?” Thunderlane shrugged. “This is one of our better ones.”

A shrill whistle pierced the air and everypony fell silent as Twilight released the bird she'd near strangled.

“Right!” she called out. “What you need is organisation! Now!”

“She is methodical, I’ll give her that,” Aspect said.

A few minutes later, Rainbow flew up to them with a dumbfounded expression.

“She's crazier than Pinkie Pie,” the prismatic pegasus muttered. “Alright everypony listen up! When Twilight gives the All Clear, we're gonna make a horizontal tornado!”

“Never seen one of those before,” Aspect admitted.

“Well you're about to. Front row seats,” Rainbow said. “Now I want everypony in section 23b. Thunder, you get shaping! And Kicker, you're his backup. Flitter, Cloudchaser? You too.”

The four nodded as Rainbow directed some more to go and find Ditzy.

“Aspect, you’re with me,” Rainbow ordered. “Try and keep up.”

“Figured it would be like that,” the stallion said. “Go easy on me boss-mare. I’m just a normal pony now.”

“Normal is for wimps!” Rainbow said and smacked his shoulder with a good-natured punch. Normal Aspect winced at the strength behind it and rubbed his shoulder with a hoof.

“Yeah, I’ll be back to being whatever after Wrap-Up,” he said. “But I figured I could and should help if I toned it down a little.”

“Yeah, Ponyville’s a real stickler for tradition,” Rainbow nodded. There was a signal light from Twilight and Rainbow turned back to the other pegasi.

“Alright, go go go!!” she yelled as they started to fly in a large circular pattern. The winds began to pick up as Rainbow gave Aspect a wide grin. “Ready to punch right through the center?”

“After you,” he said with a wave of one hoof. “I don’t do much stunt flying. I’ll follow your lead.”

“Whoohoo!” Rainbow cheered and blitzed through the center of the ring formation, her drag pulling at the winds and… well damn, they actually did it, a horizontal tornado.

“Come on Aspect! Get those wings in gear!!” Rainbow yelled from the tornado’s apex. Well, nothing ventured, right? The stallion dove into the storm, trying to take the same path that Rainbow had. It was…

Hell, this was fun!

The powerful winds literally stripped the town of ice and snow, the change was almost instantaneous.

“Now that,” the stallion said, panting next to Rainbow Dash, “Was some fancy flying! Heck, I think even the old Firefly would be impressed by you right now!”

“Aw yeah! Who’s the best flyer in Equestria? Oh yeah, me!” Rainbow cackled as the other pegasi shook their heads. If it wasn't mostly true, they might have taken offense.

“That was pretty amazing boss,” Cloud Kicker moved up behind her. “I think I’m in love with you all over again.”

“S-Shut up!” Rainbow blushed as swatted the giggling mare with her tail.

The bright sun shone down as the sky was filled with hundreds of colourful birds. And a rather abashed looking Ditzy at the lead of them.

“Well, that was a success,” Aspect said. “Eventually.”

“Well, better late than never,” Rainbow shrugged. “Ponyville’s always late so…” she paused and looked at the setting sun.

The sun was still up.

“We’re… not late?” the pegasus mare blinked.

“Is that such a surprise?” Aspect asked. “Twilight is very methodical. I should know.”

Cloud Kicker wiggled her eyebrows and opened her mouth to fire a retort…

“Hey, y’all done up there?” Applejack called out. “Then go and get some rest.”

“Yeah, I’ll take that advice,” Aspect said, before holding a hoof out to Rainbow Dash. The mare grabbed it, flashed a wink to Cloud Kicker and then flew off, dragging the halpless stallion along with her.

“So…” the pair of them laid on their own clouds as they stared up at the sky. Rainbow Dash wasn’t overly tired, so she decided to see if he felt talky. “What made you wanna help out with Winter Wrap-up anyway?”

“Twilight asked,” he said. “Plus, this was a good test of whether or not I could tamp my abilities down. Makes it easier to go to Cloudsdale for that Best Flyers thing if I know I don’t even need a charm to stop from turning the entire city into a storm waiting to happen.”

“Oh, you still wanna come to that?” Rainbow asked hopefully. “I-I mean. Cool. Always good to have more fans cheering for me.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen what’s been going on in Equestria,” the stallion said. “I could do with getting out a bit more and socializing.”

“And cheer for your favourite pegasus,” Rainbow added.

“Favorite current pegasus,” he said. “Though you might already have competition.”

“Wait, what?” Rainbow jumped to her hooves. “Who could be better than me?”

“Apparently, one from Surprise’s bloodline,” the stallion mentioned. “She showed up and, well, surprised me the other day. The Surprise of old was fun to have around, a great friend, and a masterful pranker. No idea how the current model stacks up though.”

“Surprise? As in… the Wonderbolt Surprise?” Rainbow replied and shook her head.

“SURPRISE!” the blonde mare’s head burst through Aspect’s cloud and stared at him..

“Hello again,” he greeted her.

“Aww, you weren’t surprised?” she pouted.

Rainbow was clutched her cloud like a terrified cat, her wings standing up straight and her eyes were wide.

“It’s a delicate mental state,” Aspect said to Surprise. “Expecting it and not at the same time.”

“Heehee, you’re funny Aspect,” Surprise giggled and ruffled his mane. “I’ll get you one day. I know it.”

“S-She’s like Pinkie Pie with wings,” Rainbow gasped.

“A highly apt description,” the stallion agreed.

“Yup, Pinkie’s like my sister from another mister,” Surprise smiled widely. “Buuuut I should probably go. Spitty gets real mad when I ditch practice. But, she’s also kinda cute when she’s mad. Kay, laters!” With a flap of her wings, she took off at tremendous speeds.

“Has today been exciting enough yet?” Aspect asked only semi-sarcastically.

“I need a vacation,” Rainbow sighed. “Urgh, let’s go find Applejack and help with the planting. I need a big dose of normal right now.”

“In a town with Pinkie Pie in it on a regular basis, I’m starting to wonder what normal is around here,” Aspect joked as he rolled over on the cloud. “These things are seriously comfy,” he observed.

“Well duh, why do you think my whole house is made from them?” Rainbow said and then gasped. “Oh, I can totally show you my digs now. You should come by sometime.”

“I’ll remember to tamp my abilities down before I visit,” Aspect agreed as he continued to lay there.

“You know, you and me still need to race sometime,” Rainbow said. “But, I’d win anyway. So as long as you try.”

“Yeah, I am definitely not built for speed,” the stallion agreed. “Not unless I’m cheating, anyways.”

“Hah, cheat all you want, I’ll still win!” Rainbow said confidently. “Anyway, I’m still gonna help out AJ. Later slowpoke!” she flashed him her confident smiled and blasted off, leaving a rainbow contrail behind.

“Man,” he sighed as he lay there. “I wonder if I can get...a bed made out of this stuff…” He rolled over again before shaking his head. “Nah, that’d be too tempting. I’d never leave it.”

He never even noticed a pink tail bouncing away. Now she had a birthday present idea~

Later that afternoon, Winter was officially declared Wrapped Up and Twilight was even given the position of All Team Organiser, along with a spiffy vest to go with it.

“So,” Twilight asked as she walked with Aspect. “What are you going to do now?”

“Well, now that I know that I can tamp my abilities down,” Aspect said, “I’ll probably be able to get an actual weather-working job with miss Dash. That’ll probably take up a good portion of my time.”

“Oh right, you still don’t have any work huh,” Twilight adjusted Spike, who was sleeping on her back. “So, if I may ask. Why a pegasus form? Is that the only kind of pony you can become?”

“No, I just like being a pegasus more than most,” he said with a shake of his head. “It lets me take to the skies to detect incoming threats far quicker than an Earth Pony or a Unicorn might. Plus, not all the monsters in the world can fly, either. Or can deal with a pony that can.”

“Do you think the world is still so threatening?” Twilight asked him. “I mean, sure, we had Nightmare Moon, but she’s better now. And aside from the occasional monster in the Everfree. Well, there’s nothing like what you had to deal with.”

“True, but the ponies here have also already seen me as a Pegasus,” Aspect pointed out. “If I were to suddenly show up as something different, then they’d probably wonder just what was happening.”

“Maybe you could live a second life, like one of Celestia’s secret agents,” Twilight giggled.

“My daughter has secret agents?” Aspect gasped. “Why don’t I get any?”

His luck must have been the worst, because Cloud Kicker happened to be flying past at that point and her ear flicked.

He suddenly had a pretty mare draped over his back as she whispered huskily into his ear. “Aww, I’d be glad to give you some~” she purred.

Aspect had no windstorm-like power to call on, no super strength. He merely looked to Twilight with what he hoped was a pleading expression.

Twilight didn’t have to do anything, a cream-coloured hoof took Kicker’s and Aspect found his back vacated as the pegasus mare was whimpering under the leg-lock that Bon Bon had her in.

“Oh Kicky~ You wouldn’t be pestering my special somepony… would you~” Bon Bon smiled cheerfully as she tightened the grip, the pegasus tapping the ground as she shook her head.

“You’re telling me how you learned that later,” Aspect said.

“Sure~” Bon Bon smiled as she let go of Cloud Kicker. “Now Cloudy, he’s off limits okay.”

“Oh, you could have just asked,” Cloud Kicker winced as she rubbed her shoulder. “Fine, no more teasing the sexy stallion…” She moved up next to Twilight and ran a wing along her back. “Now this cute little bookworm on the other hoof~”

Twilight ‘eeped’ and with a flash of light, she teleported away.

“I’m sexy?” Aspect asked Bon Bon.

“Apparently,” Bon Bon shrugged. “Who knew?”

“Well, I’ll trust the expert on this one,” the stallion said, using a wing to indicate Cloud Kicker.

“Yeah Bonnie,” Cloudy said and put a hoof around the mare. “And colour me surprised. I totally had bits on you and Lyra hooking up.”

“Why does everypony keep thinking that!?” Bon Bon yelled, clearly that topic was a sore spot.

“Note to self,” Aspect whispered not-so-softly. “Never bring that up.”

“Darn right you better,” Bon Bon nodded and pushed Cloud off. “Geeze, I mean, Lyra! Really?”

“Hey, don’t blame us,” Cloud responded. “You two do everything together, you live together and you always make these weird bedroom eyes at one another.”

“We do not!” Bon Bon exclaimed.

“Okay, color me curious,” Aspect said, perking up a little at that.

“You mean you haven’t noticed?” Cloud Kicker laughed and flew out of Bon bon’s range. “Just pay attention where they’re together, you’ll see what I mean.”

“I’ll pluck you bald!’ Bon Bon yelled at her as Cloud just blew her a kiss and flew off. Bon Bon huffed and sat down, folding her forelegs.

“Aww, I’m sure she means well, and I don’t mind,” Aspect said as he drew a little closer. “It’s just playful teasing on her part, surely.”

“Stupid feather head,” Bon Bon pouted. She sighed and got to her hooves. “So, what are you up to tonight?”

“Not much, just recuperating from being normal for the first time in a long time,” Aspect groaned. “It’s exhausting.”

“You’re a human under that fuzzy pony exterior,” Bon Bon giggled. “You are far from normal. Buuut, if you’re not doing anything. Do you want to come over for dinner?”

“Food sounds good right about now,” Aspect said as his Ursa of a gut agreed with him. The mare giggled at his growling belly.

“Alright, let’s go and fill you up—”

“That’s what he said!” Kicker called out from somewhere. Bon sighed and facehooved.

During dinner, Balanced Aspect realised a great truth. With newfound perspective thanks to a flirty pegasus, he started seeing things… differently.

“Aww, you made my favourite,” Lyra hummed as Bon Bon served up a delicious looking pasta salad. “I knew you were my best friend for a reason Bonniebons.”

“Only because you’re utterly hopeless without me,” Bon Bon giggled as she set the plate down.

Aspect studiously said nothing, though he did keep watch on the pair of them. Specifically, when they looked at each other. Cloud Kicker had been right, they really did make bedroom eyes at each other, but neither of them seemed to notice.

He could only hope that perhaps, one day, Bon Bon might look at him that way.

“Aspect!” Bon Bon’s voice snapped him out of it. “You okay? You’re awfully quiet.”

“Nothing,” he said with a shake of his head. Though he did whisper one other sentence. Something about Cloud Kicker being right.

“I heard that!” Bon Bon said and pointed a hoof at him. “No candy dessert for you mister!”

“Heehee, I bet the only candy he wants for dessert is on you butt Bonnie,” Lyra cackled as the earth mare turned a deep crimson.

“It’s just, you both make the most interesting expressions when you look at one another,” Aspect said. “Is it wrong of me to notice that?”

Lyra froze as Bon Bon blinked. “But, isn’t that how best friends are supposed… to look…” She turned to Lyra and glared. “Lyyyyyraaaaaa!!”

“Dang it Aspect,” Lyra yelped as she ducked a thrown cushion. “I was two days away from having the record as Ponyville’s longest running prank.”

“I was just having difficulty telling what sort of ‘best friends’ you were,” Aspect said. “Best friends, or best friends with benefits.”

Now it was both mares that turned a deep red, not having expected that to come from him. And worse, they couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not.

Then Lyra decided to roll with it. She moved next to him and licked her lips. “And if we were~?” she purred. “Would you play with us too~?”

“L-Lyra!” Bon Bon yelped.

“Yeah, see, you kinda sabotaged yourself long ago for me to believe that,” Aspect said before eating a bite of his pasta salad. “Mmm, good stuff Bon Bon. But yeah, that whole ‘you jerk, you stole Bonnie’s first kiss,’ implies that not even you’d gotten that far with her.”

“Dang,” Lyra pouted. She really needed to plan her jokes in advance. “Hmm, hypothetically then?”

“Gosh darn it Lyra!!” Bon Bon hid her blushing face behind her hooves.

“Hypothetically I would ask why now of all times,” Aspect said. “I’m already with Bon Bon, you could have told me at the outset.”

“Ahhhh, you’re driving me nuts,” Lyra groaned, scratching her head.

“Noo, you’re doing a great enough job on your own there,” Bon Bon smirked. “Aspect is my special somepony by the way.”

“Ooh, possessive,” Lyra smiled. “Still early days and I don’t see a band on that hoof,” she smirked. Bon Bon just flexed her leg and the unicorn shrank back. “Never mind.”

“Good girl,” Bon Bon rubbed Lyra’s head. “Now go fetch the ice-cream.”

“Ice cream?” Aspect perked up.

“Homemade,” Bon Bon nodded as Lyra left the room, returning a moment later with a small metal bucket. She pried the lid off with her magic and Bon Bon served it up. It was… rainbow coloured?

“You made an ice cream based on Rainbow Dash?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “How do you know if it-” he suddenly choked up with laughter.

“What?” Bon Bon asked, though she had a sinking feeling she didn’t want to know the answer.

“How do you know…” Aspect gasped out. “If it tastes right?”

“Of course it tastes right, I checked it myself,” the mare said, figuring he was questioning her cooking ability. It took Lyra a second too, before she started giggling. “Argh, you too Lyra? Come on. I don’t make it often, but I know for sure it tastes just fine.”

Aspect redoubled in his laughter, before motioning Bon Bon to come closer so he could explain the joke. Bon Bon frowned and scooted closer.

“What?”

He then told her a little of the knowledge Cadence had passed on to him. About how a stallion could ‘taste’ a mare. And how it related to this rainbow-colored ice-cream.

She sat there with an open mouth as she added that to what she’d just said.

“Heehehe, so did you taste the Rainbow Bonnie?” Lyra giggled before a ballistic pillow smacked her in the face. Then the mare turned her attention to Aspect…

The stallion had slowly calmed down from his laughing, though he did still have the widest grin on his face.

“I’m thinking you don’t get any ice-cream now,” she said softly. “I think I’ll make you eat this pillow instead.”

“Aw, well, I can tell when I’m not wanted,” the stallion sighed. “Would it help if I said sorry?”

“Oh no, that’s not going to save you~” she purred. Ooh, that gaze… she was using it on him now.

“I’m pretty sure I don’t like the idea of what’s about to happen,” Aspect said, before dodging over to Lyra’s form and picking the pillow up to defend himself with.

“Oh?” Bon Bon asked and licked her lips. “You mean you don’t want kisses and to be hoof-fed ice-cream~?”

“I wouldn’t mind those things, but I don’t think you’re going to do that,” Aspect said as he kept the pillow close.

“Well, Lyra’s now ‘napping’,” Bon Bon giggled and set her pillow on her back. She took the tub and two bowls before heading for the staircase, her tail swishing to and fro.

“Coming,” Aspect said, before slipping his pillow under Lyra’s head and following after her.

Chapter 11 - A piece of the past

With spring finally being a thing in Ponyville, Aspect had asked for Applejack’s help in planting his sapling near his house. He wanted to be sure he was doing it right, and there was no better pony to call on in his opinion than the one that ran an apple farm and was likely descended from one of his old friends.

The sun had barely risen, its gentle glow pushing back the dark. A series of knocks resounded on Aspect’s front door before his guest called out.

“Hey Aspect? Y’all up? We got some plantin’ ta do.”

The stallion groaned as he rolled out of bed, before slowly trudging to the front door and opening it, thus exposing Applejack to the horror that was a pre-caffeinated Aspect.

“...Y’all ain't a mornin’ pony are ya?” Applejack said with a flat stare.

In response, Aspect yawned widely enough that she could count his teeth, if she were so inclined. He smacked his mouth a few times and gave the mare a stare. “Five minutes,” he grumbled. “Not had coffee yet.”

“Ya shouldn’t be so reliant on that swill,” Applejack shook her head. “An’ get a better night's sleep.”

“I do get a good night’s sleep,” he muttered, before turning around to head to his kitchen. “You just woke me up about half an hour earlier than I usually do.”

“You'll live,” Applejack chuckled. “And ah thought this’d happen, so ah brought ya some breakfast. So unless ya wanna stand on the porch gabbin’ all morning...?”

“C’mon in, I’ll make my coffee, you can put that stuff down wherever. I need to get the sapling as well.” With a wave of his wing, Aspect invited the Apple mare inside his home.

Applejack was never not impressed by the size of the stallion’s home. She wondered how lonely it must have been though, living in this huge house by himself.

They made their way into the dining room and AJ took out the containers that contained apple pancakes and some muffins that were still nice and warm. He walked over into the kitchen and started the process of making some coffee. At Bon Bon’s insistence, he’d gotten a new sort of coffee-maker, and just sat back and watched after setting it up. Soon enough, that sweet nectar that helped mornings be a little more bearable trickled into the pot.

“So, what is this sapling ya wanted planting?” Applejack asked as she took a seat. “Ah kin only assume it's somethin’ real fancy.”

Aspect nodded as he waited for the coffee to finish brewing. Once it had, he poured himself a cup and took a sip, sighing at the taste. Coffee made everything better. “Yeah, I’ll go get it. It’s more of a reminder of the past than anything. But I figured, if I was gonna live here, I might as well plant it.”

With that, he was off again, headed back to his bedroom. Some time passed before the stallion returned, a plant pot with a sapling in it on his back. Applejack looked at it, but didn't recognise it at all. She put a hoof to her hat, the one the stallion had given her.

“So, is that somethin’ yer Applejack gave ya as well?”

“Nah, this is something I made with the Flashstone,” the stallion said as he gently put the pot on the floor. “The only sapling the Tree of Plenty ever had. Figured it was about time to plant it. I’ve had it in magical stasis for a few thousand years.”

“Is it still any good?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, I checked on it every year, made sure the spell had enough juice to keep going,” Aspect said. “Once it grew to this size, I made sure it was basically frozen in time until I found a good spot and a good home to plant it in. I nearly planted it back when I was in the Everfree’s castle, but...Nightmare Moon happened.”

“Ah don't get that,” Applejack said. “Ah mean no disrespect o’course, but how did that happen? And… could it happen again? Ah’d hate to think if Princess Celestia went… well, you know…”

Aspect sighed as he sat at the table. “Okay, when the ponies had moved from Dream Valley to Equestria, and subsequently met my daughters, and were all settled in, Luna came to me one day saying she felt...neglected. That she didn’t have enough to do at night, because everypony was asleep. So, I gave her my dream-walking abilities, so that she could ward off the nightmares of everypony. The only problem was, the dream realm has...parasites in it. And the stronger you are, the more they’re attracted to you. I could fight them off, because I thought they were just normal nightmares and wasn’t about to submit to my fears. But Luna...was unprepared. One latched onto her.”

“An’ that's where the Nightmare came from,” Applejack said with a whisper. “Poor Luna…” She snorted and shook her head. “Sorry fer draggin’ up these memories. Let’s have some breakfast and then plant yer magic tree.”

“It’s fine,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “I’ve had time to come to terms with my failings. Have I thanked you enough yet for bringing my daughter out of her madness? I don’t think I have…”

“T’aint nuthin,” Applejack blushed. “Ah’m jus’ glad ya could be reunited with yer kin again.”

“To be fair, that’s partially my fault for travelling for as long as I did,” Aspect said. “I could have just sat in Canterlot with ‘Tia for the full thousand years that Lulu was banished...but I wasn’t thinking clearly. And then Grogar showed up...and then I stopped looking for reasons to come back.”

“When ah was a filly, befer ah got mah Cutie Mark,” Applejack started a story of her own. “Ah abandoned the farm fer a more fancy life in the big city. But… ah learned you can take the filly out of the farm, but the farm’ll always call ya back.”

“Yeah…” Aspect said as he looked at his empty plate. “I just...I couldn’t bear being around ‘Tia just then. It just...constantly reminded me that I’d failed one of my daughters, so that they turned on each other. It wasn’t until I was certain that the whole situation had been...resolved, that I found I could go to them again.”

“Look Aspect,” Applejack crossed her hooves and stared at him. “Ah won't even try to understand whut it’s like to be as old as you. But leavin’ the princess alone like that?” She sighed and tilted her hat. “Ah know whut it’s like ta lose somepony close.”

“I…” the stallion actually choked up. Clearly he wasn’t as over it as he protested. “I had just lost one of my daughters, because the other had banished her. To the moon. We...we didn’t even know if she could come back, then. And the next time I talked to Yggdrasil, it was after the dust had settled from her return...Every time I looked at the moon, it...it was a reminder of my failure to help her.”

“So,” Applejack said. “Now you've realized yer feelin’s. Think about how those Princesses are feelin’. They may be the Princesses of all Equestria… but they’re your Princesses befer all that.”

“...I’m starting to realize why Celly saddled me with such a large house,” Aspect grumbled. “It’ll be impossible to sell. Meaning that if she ever wants to find me again, she’ll know right where to look. Heck, I would not be surprised if she was looking for a way to pass off most of her duties to a body of government so that she could spend more time with me, like when we were in the Everfree.”

“Well, then.” Applejack smiled at him. “Ah reckon ah should charge bits fer that advice. But let's settle fer a nice breakfast and then we'll see about that tree.”

“You mean the one you already brought over?” Aspect asked with a smirk.

“Yes ya smartflank,” Applejack sighed. “Eat yer pancakes.”

“Fine, mom,” Aspect snarked at her, loading up his plate again.

“Ah’m yer Momma huh?” Applejack smiled at him. “Mebbe ah should have a word with mah granddaughters then? Tell ‘em ta stop sulkin’ around in that there castle.”

“I wouldn’t say no to them showing up more often,” Aspect said. “I think I have penned down somewhere an idea for Celly to use to pass most of her duties off, anyways. Then the job won’t come before family anymore, or at least not as often. She’d like that.”

“Glad ta hear it,” Applejack nodded. She waited for him to try his pancakes, she had spent all morning making them…

Aspect hummed happily as he ate some pancakes. They were good, but he’d already been spoiled on Bon Bon’s food.

“Still can't compare ta that fillyfriend o’yers huh?” Applejack smiled and pat her bag. “Guess ah should take this pie home then…”

“Let’s not be hasty,” Aspect said. “I got a new refrigerator just for things like that. Bon Bon refused to use the old one when she was my guest. Said something about the food turning on her. Had to drag it out and burn it.”

“Ah don't think ah wanna know,” Applejack shuddered. “Well ah guess ah could leave this pie… on one condition.”

“Name it,” the stallion said with a firm nod. He would have this pie!

“Y’all give your daughters, an’ mah granddaughters ah suppose~ Call ‘em up and share it with ‘em.”

“...Fiiiine,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “Let me just dig up that sheaf of papers that I was writing and pass the idea on to Celly, along with a request for her and Lulu to come and share in the pie.”

“Good,” Applejack nodded and started on her muffin. “Be a dear and fix yer Momma some o’that coffee.”

Aspect snorted a laugh as he went back into the kitchen for a moment, returning shortly with a second mug of coffee for Applejack. “You’re really running with this,” he commented.

“Until ah get bored… an’ ah’ve been told ah’m mighty stubborn,” Applejack smiled. She sipped at the cup and grimaced. “Ergh, ah reckon this’ll put me in an early grave though.”

“Hasn’t killed me yet,” Aspect quipped.

“Not all of us are alicorns,” Applejack said and tapped her chin. “You know, Rarity and Twilight love the stuff-” she sipped it and made a face. “-Maybe it's a magic thing.”

“Could be,” Aspect said with a shrug before clearing his plate again. “Okay, I’m fed and caffeinated. I think I’m ready to go now.”

“Righto,” Applejack inhaled her food and down the coffee. “Let’s get ‘er done then.”

Aspect nodded and went over to the sapling sitting in the corner. He touched the pot and closed his eyes. There was the flash of magic, and the preservation charm on the pot disappeared.

“Ready,” he said, putting the pot on his back. Applejack nodded and followed him outside. Once out there, she started digging at the soil, trying various places for a few minutes until she smiled.

“Right here. Dig a hole about two hooves deep and a hoof and a half wide.”

“Good thing I brought my trowel,” Aspect said as he put the pot and his bags down, before rooting around in them and withdrawing a small digging implement. He set about the work, humming a little tune to himself.

What? The song from Winter Wrap-up was catchy.

Applejack raised an eyebrow over his musical choice, but added some lyrics with that southern twang. Once the hole was dug, Applejack loosened the soil around the roots of the plant and delicately placed the plant inside the hole.

“Righto, now fill up that hole nice and tight,” the mare said. The stallion nodded and began packing the loose earth back into the hole around the sapling, making sure not to leave any gaps.

“Good, now all she needs is a good drink o’water and plenty of sunlight,” Applejack hummed and patted the plant. “Some fertilizer might help too. Ah got some back home ah could bring round.”

“Yeah, couldn’t hurt,” Aspect nodded. “It’s been in a magical stasis for a few thousand years. I’ll take all the help I can get to keep it alive.”

“Well, maybe get Twi around here. Ah don't know squat about magic.” Applejack adjusted her hat and nodded. “Ah’ll go get that plant food. Be back a bit later okay?”

“Meanwhile,” Aspect said as he shrugged his saddlebags back on. “I’ll go looking for a watering can and those papers I wanted to send to Celly, then see Twilight about sending my daughter a letter. Be back later myself.”

“Alright, then we’ll meet back here after lunch then,” Applejack nodded and took her leave.

Aspect nodded as well before heading back into his house. He had a draft to touch up and a letter to write to his daughter. Especially if he wanted any pie today.

And he always wanted pie.

Twilight hummed a small tune as she poured over some new books she’d received. She’d just gotten a new delivery, sent Spike to help Rarity and her coffee had finished brewing.

This was going to be the perfect day~

Then there was a knock at the library’s door.

“Of course,” Twilight sighed as she got up. “Naturally, when I want to start reading, somepony wants something.” She flung open the door and stared at the pony on the other side. “What?”

“And good morning to you too, Twilight,” Aspect said. “Is Spike around? I have something I need sent up to Canterlot.”

“Ponyville has a mail service for a reason you know,” Twilight said.

Ah, so this was ‘Uncaffeinated Sparkle’.

“Besides, Spike isn’t here, he’s over at Rarity’s place helping her.”

“And if I wanted to send something directly to my daughters?” Aspect questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Nonetheless, thank you for telling me where the young drake is.”

“The Princesses?” Twilight shook her head and took a long sip from her coffee, sighing contently. “I have something here… just a moment.” She trotted upstairs as Aspect got a look around… and noticed the small bookfort she’d constructed.

“Something tells me somepony was settling in for a long day,” Aspect said wryly.

“And that somepony would be right,” Twilight said as she returned with a ribbon bound with a small golden bit. “Here, this is enchanted with the same spell as Spike’s fire. I have a few in case I need to send Princess Celestia something and Spike is unavailable.”

Aspect nodded and shugged his saddlebags off, rooting around in one before pulling out a small pile of papers. After arranging them and rolling them up, he bound them with the ribbon and looked at his weighty offering. “So…” he started. “Do you just-”

The ribbon shone and the papers vapourised, the magical smoke wafting out of the room.

“Done and done,” Twilight said.

“Thank you,” Aspect nodded. “Also, I have a sapling from a few thousand years ago that I’ve been keeping magically preserved, would you care to take a look at it now that it’s been planted?”

Twilight looked at her books and sighed longingly. “I’ll be back for you soon my sweets~” she whispered and blew them a kiss before heading outside.

“Something tells me you’re just a wee bit into reading,” Aspect joked. “You know, there’s this thing called the outside world.”

“I’ll read about it later,” Twilight replied as she walked towards his house. “So, what’s the tree and what spell did you use?”

“The tree, I’ll be surprised if you heard of, because there was only one before it gave me a sapling to take with,” Aspect said. “The spell was a simple Stasis charm cast on the pot and its contents, refreshed every year.”

“Stasis spells can fail though,” Twilight said. “There was a stallion about… oh, 300 years ago. He tried to put a Stasis spell on himself and wake up in the future. All the archaeologists found was a worn out chamber and a skeleton…”

“That’s why I kept refreshing it every year,” Aspect nodded. “Putting as much power as I could into the charm and checking on it every year to make sure it still held.”

“Hmm, well as you said, I should double check it for you…”

Once they reached the manor, they found the house wasn’t as empty as they thought as two small fillies waited for them. One was a unicorn with a blue body and a white mane, the other was a white pegasus with a pink mane.

“DADDY!” they cheered when Aspect drew close as they shot forward, attaching to his forelegs.

“Celly? Lulu?” he asked, just holding them close. “It’s been ages since you’ve been this small…”

Twilight resisted the urge to ‘squee’.

It failed spectacularly.

“We thought we’d surprise you,” Lulu giggled.

“Are we still cute?” Tia asked.

“You’ll always be my adorable fillies,” he said, kissing them both on the forehead. “Applejack and Twilight are helping me plant the sapling from the Tree of Plenty. Wanna come see?”

“The Tree of Plenty?” Tia blinked.

“You… still have one?” Lulu added.

“So… cute…” Twilight turned away, hoping for a distraction.

“The Tree gave me a seed before we had to leave,” Aspect said. “I’ve been keeping it in magical stasis ever since it grew to sapling size.”

The two fillies clambered up onto his back as Tia took his mane in her hooves. “Well, let’s go see it then. Giddy up Daddy!”

The stallion chuckled as he walked around the house, to where Applejack had told him to plant the sapling. Twilight cooed and smiled, following the family.

“So, Luna and I have a question,” Tia whispered into his ear as they walked. “Like, when are you and Ms. Bon Bon going to give us a sister or brother to dote on?”

“And you should know better than to ask that question, little filly,” Aspect said as he lightly tossed his head. “My dating life is none of your business. Don’t need the pair of you trying to scare the poor mare.”

“Oh, but I do,” Celestia smiled. “But that aside, we’re happy for you father.”

“Sister?” Luna patted the stallions rump. “Does Daddy’s butt look bigger to you? I think he’s eating too much.”

“I will have you know I am at a fine weight,” Aspect huffed. “Besides, I just got some exercise equipment in. Soon I’ll be able to work it off, now that I know how to do so without breaking the equipment.”

“Mhmm, Twilight told us allll about Winter-Wrap Up,” Tia said and then groaned.

Because at the mention of those words, Luna had started singing that infernal song at the top of her lungs.

“She won’t. Shut. Up…” Tia sighed.

“Lulu,” Aspect chided his daughter in his best ‘dad-voice.’

“Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap… Yes daddy~?” Luna paused mid song.

“Stop torturing your sister with repetitive singing,” he said. “There are plenty of other songs.”

Luna paused and tilted her head slowly. “Hmm…” She gasped as she recalled a song that he used to annoy their mother with. “This is the song that never ends~”

Fortunately, by that point in time, they had reached the sapling that Aspect had been carrying around for some thousands of years. “And here we are,” he said, nodding at the little tree. “Well Twilight, what do you say?”

Luna ceased her singing of The Dreaded Song as Twilight walked up to the tree and hummed. Her horn shone as she scanned it and after a few minutes of that...

“The Stasis spell held up perfectly. This tree is in perfect health,” she announced.

“Ooh, she’s good,” Lulu whispered.

“Yay,” Aspect cheered. “Now all we have to do is wait some years for it to grow up, and then Ponyville will be host to the latest generation of the Tree of Plenty.” He looked over his shoulder at the foals on his back. “Won’t that be nice?” They nodded in agreement as Twilight tilted her head.

“So what is the Tree of Plenty anyway?” she asked.

“It was a tree that sprouted every fruit from it,” Aspect said. “I took an ordinary apple tree and altered it with the Flashstone. It also was a wonderful place to have our vegetable garden. As long as we didn’t plant more than one of anything around it, that is. I kinda got fed up with not having some things…”

“Ah reckon ah should call it the ‘Lazy Stallion’s Tree’,” Applejack said as she walked around from the side of the house. She had a cart laden with some foul-smelling substance. She saw the fillies and smiled. “Well now, who are these lil cuties?”

“Ah, Applejack, meet Tia and Lulu,” Aspect said with a nod. “And yeah, it was an excuse to be lazy, but I took the things we didn’t use and gave them to the ponies of Dream Valley...in exchange for things like furnishings for our home. Because someponies made me stop using the Flashstone after that.”

“It was for your own good,” Tia nodded.

“Yeah, what she said,” Lulu added.

“Wait… those’re the Princesses?” Applejack stammered.

Twilight had actually been privy to this form of Celestia’s once before. She used to use it to play with Twilight when she was a foal herself.

“Do they look like Princesses right now?” Aspect asked as he looked back at the foals on his back. “I’m only seeing a horn on one and a pair of wings on the other. No regalia, nothing to state they’re anything more that daddy’s little foals.” Then he noticed Applejack’s smile…

“Oh, good one,” he said with a snicker. “I take it that’s the fertilizer for the tree, then?”

“That it is,” Applejack nodded as she unhitched herself from the wagon and then scooped up Tia and Lulu. “An’ ah missed mah lil’ girls. Come give yer Grandmomma a hug.”

“Wut?” Tia and Lulu echoed.

“She’s just joking,” Aspect sighed. “At least I hope she is.”

“Why is she wearing Applejack’s hat?” Tia asked from their new seat on Aj’s back as Twilight’s eye twitched. Applejack couldn’t be their grandmother. That was impossible!

“I gave it to her for Hearth’s Warming,” Aspect said. “I figured it was only right.”

“I suppose so,” Tia replied.

“Princess?” Twilight asked her. “Applejack… isn’t really your grandmother is she?”

“No,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “I made one little quip about how Applejack was acting like a mother to me, and she’s been running with it all morning.”

“It’s fun,” Applejack smiled.

“We have a grandma!!” Lulu cheered.

“Whoo!” Tia added.

“...I’m going home,” Twilight groaned, blushing from embarrassment. “Good bye everypony.”

“Have fun with your books, and don’t forget to get a little sun and water,” Aspect said with a wave.

“Should ah plant her here too?” Applejack snickered.

“Nah, but one of you should check on her and make sure she gets more fresh air before you lose her to the books completely,” Aspect said. “She’d set up a little fort and everything when I arrived.”

“Oh? She still makes those little bookforts?” Tia chuckled. “You should have seen her as a filly. It was just the most precious thing.”

“Ah’ll make sure,” Applejack nodded as she set the fillies down. “Now, y’all be good fer yer Pap alright?”

“Yes Gramma Applejack,” they beamed and the earth mare chuckled and shook her head as she walked off.

“Oh, an’ you can keep the cart Aspect. It’s an old one, but Mac made sure it still worked fer ya.”

“Thank you,” Aspect said before looking at the fillies. “So I take it you both got my letter.”

“We did,” Tia smiled and looked at the sapling. “It didn’t take long to put together. And as far as the media is concerned, Luna has been stressed from re acclimatising to Equestria, so we’ve taken a vacation to an undisclosed location. My assistants Raven and Kibitz will make sure the kingdom still runs, and Luna and I shall still handle the sun and moon.”

“So we’re here for about… two weeks~” Lulu giggled and bounced around.

“And I’m sure once the new system is fully in place, you’ll find more time on your plates than now and come and pester your old man even more,” Aspect said as he gathered the fillies close in a hug.

“That’s the plan,” they echoed.

Then Tia smiled. “Pie?”

Lulu joined in. “Pie!?”

“It’s in the kitchen,” Aspect said with a wave of his wing. “Just leave some for me and Bon Bon. I’ll be inviting her over once I’m done with the sapling.”

The fillies raced off, wearing grins that Aspect couldn’t see. This meeting with Bon Bon was going to be fun. The stallion sighed as he watched them run off, before turning to the cart of fertilizer and the sapling.

This...was not going to be fun…

Bon Bon hummed to herself as she wiped down the display cabinets of her new shop. Ever since the Parasprites destroyed her last one, she took the opportunity to reinvent the store, now named ‘Heartfelt Delights’

It was a touch bigger than the last one, and even had a small, raised stage for Lyra to perform on whenever she was free. Her new display cases were crystal clean and even had stasis charms on them to keep the candy longer.

All in all, it was a very difficult decision to go home each day.

Apparently the ‘candy weapons’ she made had been really popular with the colts and one little orange pegasus filly, so she had a dedicated case that looked like something from a weapon smithy, several chocolate swords and daggers filled it.

And yet the one customer she longed to see hadn’t shown up in a while. Bon Bon had been rather busy since Hearth’s Warming, so she hadn’t seen the stallion in a while.

Lyra plucked lazily at her lyre, looking at the expression on her friend’s face. Maybe she should go and find Aspect and-
There was a knock at the door.

“They do realise this is a store, and it’s open right?” Lyra asked as she opened the door with her magic.

“Probably Ditzy,” Bon Bon turned her head and her eyes lit up.

Balanced Aspect stood there...and he stank of fertilizer.

Bon Bon’s expression turned from delighted surprise to one of…

“Oh sweet Celestia, you need a shower,” Lyra waved her hooves in front of her face. “I think the paint is peeling.”

“No offense,” Bon Bon said, gagging lightly. “Lyra has a point. You uh… that’s pretty ripe there Aspect.”

“I knew I was forgetting something,” he moaned. “Can I use yours while I’m here?”

“Upstairs,” Bon Bon said. “Lyra? Can you watch the store? And… open a few windows?”

“Only a ritual fire could get rid of this,” Lyra groaned as Bon rolled her eyes and led the stallion upstairs into her apartment.

“The shower is through that door. “I’ll go and fetch you a towel.”

“Thank you,” Aspect nodded as he slipped inside and started the water, doing his best to remove the stink from his body.

Bon Bon sighed as she fetched a fluffy towel. He must have been gardening or something.

Well, that or he went for a dip in Applejack’s pig pen.

She opened a few windows and then opened the door, “I have your… towel…” She just stopped as she realised something.

This was a stallion.

In the shower.

And she could not remove her eyes from the display. Aspect for his part didn’t seem to have heard her as he kept cleaning himself, combating the dirt on his form with as many suds as he could lather onto his body.

Bon Bon swallowed the lump in her throat as she just stared, her ears twitching slightly as a blush crept across her face. She realised where she was and started backing up to make a quiet exit.

And tripped over the plastic stepstool. The clatter seemed to have gotten Aspect’s attention, as he turned around and looked around the shower to look at her. “Oh, you have the towel?” he asked. “I’m not quite done yet. Think you could just leave it there?”

“S-Sure, okay,” she squeaked as she placed the towel down and then bolted from the room at speeds that would have made Rainbow Dash jealous.

Downstairs, Lyra raised an eyebrow as Bon Bon came running out and dove under one of the display tables.

“Do I even want to know?” the unicorn deadpanned.

“Shower. Naked. A gift from the Gods!” Bon Bon squeaked.

“Ahh,” Lyra folded her forelegs and nodded. “Well, did you do it?”

“...W-What?”

“Did you. Do it? In the shower. It’s pretty hot you know.”

“LYRA!!!”

“What, he’s totally gorgeous right? Go up and claim your stallion.”

Bon Bon just groaned as her blush more or less covered her whole body as her brain decided to put pictures to that for her. Which did not help. Especially considering the influx of new material she’d just gotten.

Eventually Aspect walked downstairs, still drying his wings with the towel. “My thanks, mares, for the use of your shower,” Aspect said. “I completely forgot I should clean up after planting that sapling. I was just so eager to get over here and invite Bon Bon over for some of Applejack’s pie that I forgot all about the fertilizer I’d been using.”

“I swear,” Lyra giggled. “Why are the handsome ones always so… dense?”

Bon Bon looked up to see his still damp mane, the way his muscles glistened and rippled in the sunlight. His eyes sparkling and his voice sounded like liquid chocolate.

Then she squeaked and blushed again, hiding under the cabinet. Her coat was redder than Big Mac’s by this point.

“Did I miss something?” Aspect asked, looking at Lyra instead, seeing as she hadn’t decided to hide from him.

“Just Bonnie discovering her sexdrive,” Lyra giggled.

“LYRAAAAA!!!” Bon Bon half yelled, half whined. The minty unicorn just giggled in response.

“I see,” Aspect mused. “So I take it she doesn’t want to come back for some Apple family pie and to meet my latest houseguests?”

“I bet she’d prefer if you ate her pie,” Lyra wiggled her eyebrows. Bon Bon was now trying to see if she could kill the mare with a glare. If she could, Mort would be getting a call about now.

“Ah well,” the stallion sighed. “As long as she stays under there, there is naught I can do. I’d really prefer it if she came back with me.”

“Hear that one Bonnie? He wants you to come with him-GUH!” Lyra groaned as she received an entire cake to the face, at such a velocity that she was knocked off of her hooves and onto her back.

“My only regret,” Lyra rasped. “Is that Bonnie never got some.”

“Shut up and go to Tartarus,” Bon Bon said.

“So, you still haven’t said yes or no,” Aspect pointed out. “Or are you too busy with your new store to come back with me?”

“Lyra, watch the store, I’m going out for a while.”

“The Lyra you are trying to reach is busy. Please leave a message after the beep…. Beep.”

“If the Lyra wants to be fed tonight, she’ll watch the store while I’m out,” Bon Bon said. “And I was planning on making a lily salad too…”

“Okay guys, have fun!” Cake Lyra said as she pushed them out the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which isn’t much. And take pictures.” She closed the door before Bon Bon could offer a rebuttal.

“And this is what I deal with,” she sighed.

“Well, I’m sure my guests will be quite the surprise,” Aspect chuckled as he began to lead the mare to his home. “They certainly were to me.”

“Oh? Do I get a hint?” Bon Bon asked.

“Let’s just say I’m fairly certain you’ll place who they are once you meet them,” the stallion cryptically replied.

“Stallions…” Bon sighed and shook her head. The rest of the walk was filled with small talk until they reached the manor.

And once inside, they discovered a small filly with a bloated belly.

“So. Much. Caaaaaake,” Tia groaned, rubbing her tummy.

“Tia, what did I tell you about overeating?” Aspect chided her even as he gathered her closer to rub her stomach.

“The Pink mare said I could have as much as I wanted,” Tia groaned.

“So naturally, she eats a cake bigger than herself,” Lulu said from the table.

“Aspect, who are these two?” Bon Bon said, garnering the fillies’ attention. They looked like tiny sharks sizing up their prey.

“Tia, Lulu, I know those smirks of yours,” he warned. “You forget, I’ve lived with you when you were planning your pranking sprees.”

“We weren’t gonna prank her,” Lulu said. ‘Not yet anyway.’

“So Daddy,” Tia smiled as Bon Bon’s eyes widened. “Introduce us.”

“Sure thing,” Aspect said, before motioning for Lulu to join them with a wing. The little filly trotted over as they nestled under one wing each.

“Bon Bon,” he said, nuzzling both of his daughters in turn. “Meet Tia and Lulu, my daughters. Little scamps, this is Bon Bon, she and I are dating.”

“Is that so?” Tia smirked.

“Is that so?” Lulu echoed.

“But… I thought that…” Bon Bon blinked in confusion. “They’re your daughters too?”

“Look a little closer,” Aspect urged the mare. “Listen to the sound of their names. I’m sure you’ll put it together.”

“Maybe you should go and get the pie Daddy,” Tia said innocently. “Ms. Bon Bon and us should talk.”

“Only if you promise not to break her,” he said, looking at both of them sternly. “I can’t just go out and get a new one.”

“We promise,” Lulu and Tia said as he got up and left the room. “To try,” they finished as they looked at Bon Bon, who took an uneasy step back.

A flash of light later, and Princess Celestia loomed over the mare. “Well now, I didn’t think we’d be meeting under these circumstances.”

“P-Princess,” Bon Bon bowed to her. “I just-” she was silenced as Celestia raised a hoof.

“I need no excuses,” she said, her unwavering gaze not leaving the mare. “What are your intentions for him? How far have you taken this relationship? And most importantly, what do you hope to gain from it?” Her eyes narrowed as it started to get uncomfortably warm in the room. “If you are seeking nothing other than titles or money… well, I hear Tartarus is lovely this time of year.”

Bon Bon whimpered slightly.

“Tia, you better not have eaten the pie already!” Aspect called out from the kitchen. “I can’t find it!”

Of course not, she’d put it on the top shelf. “Top shelf daddy,” she called back with her filly voice. Turning back to Bon Bon her fierce expression came back. “Well, I’m waiting for your answer ‘Bon Bon’.”

She gasped, she… she hadn’t told Aspect about that. Heck, even Lyra didn’t know about it. “P-Please your Highness. I-I just…”

“Confound it, where in the world is that fancy pie slicer? I know I have one…”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Third drawer on the right Daddy,” she almost shouted.

“She’s stalling,” Luna said as she resumed her true form, though her fur was black and her eyes gained a cat-like slit to them. “And it’s been so long since I had a good meal~”

Bon Bon whimpered again.

“And there we are,” Aspect said, his voice sounding closer. “Pie plated and ready for sharing.”

With a flash, two fillies stood there smiling sweetly as poor Bon Bon shook like a leaf in a windstorm, her creamy coat almost a pale white. Aspect took one look at her and sighed before looking at his daughters.

“You scared her, didn’t you.” He stated that more than asked it.

“We asked some questions,” Tia shrugged.

“There’s asking questions, and asking questions nicely. She’s hardly one of the things I’ve had to face off against, there was no reason to bring ‘the full might of Princess Sol Celestia’ down on her,” her father chided the little filly.

“Are you so sure?” she said and looked at Bon Bon, who gasped. “We’re just worried about you with a mare you barely know.”

“That’s why there’s this thing called dating,” Aspect sighed. “It’s so we can get to know one another.” After another moment, he sighed again. “Look, I know that I still blame myself for not having been there for your mother, but what we had then...it was a partnership. We weren’t really in love. We cooperated to raise you. I’ve never had a pony I loved before, and the first time I show interest in another mare, you two conspire to scare her.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t try to replace Mother,” Luna muttered under her breath. But it was enough for everypony to hear. Bon Bon gasped and put a hoof to her mouth.

“I… should go,” she said quietly.

“No, I invited you,” Aspect said. “This may be a family thing, but if you intend to see this through, whatever this turns out to be, then they’re going to have to get used to you. Besides which, despite however they may look,” and here the stallion fixed them with a fierce gaze. “I know my daughters are mature, reasonable mares.”

Luna just scoffed as Tia remained silent.

“The Princesses, they have a point,” Bon Bon said. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me. But… I know one thing.” She walked over to the fillies and knelt down in front of them. “I really like your father. He’s… the first stallion I’ve ever liked actually. So… I might make mistakes from time to time. I might hurt him by accident. But, I know he has two caring daughters that’ll do anything to keep him safe. And won’t hesitate to tell me when I screw up.”

They remained silent, but Aspect could tell they were listening.

“So, I want to ask,” Bon Bon smiled. “Do I have permission to date your father?”

They seemed to ponder for a moment, before they looked at each other and smiled.

“This one’s a keeper,” Tia grinned.

“I’m glad she has your approval,” Aspect said. “And for what you said, Lulu. I could never replace your mother. She was a kind, thoughtful, wonderful mare. My first pony friend. She helped me get acclimated to this world, and was always there for me when I needed a friendly shoulder to cry on when I was remembering mine. I might have actually grown to love her, if she had survived. Am I sad she’s gone? Yes. There will never be a second Written Script. But perhaps, I can be allowed to love a pony now.”

“You’ve always been allowed,” Tia said and hugged his barrel. “We just have to make sure that the mare loves you back, not your titles or money.”

“I do not understand ‘dating’,” Lulu asked. “What happened to the good old days of, if you liked somepony, just lift your tail and let them have at it?”

“Remind me to ask Cadence back so that you can pick up a few pointers,” Aspect chuckled.

“Oh, the mare I mistook for Celestia’s daughter?” Lulu asked.

“That was… an interesting day,” Tia murmured.

“We’ll have to make a day trip out of going to see Yggdrasil,” Aspect laughed. “He’d probably be eager to catch you up on everything you missed.”

“He talks too much,” Lulu groaned. “Perhaps if I need a good nap?”

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Bon Bon sighed. “I am still alive right? I haven’t been banished to the sun, or the moon, or Tartarus?”

“No, but feel free to come join in on this hug,” Aspect said as he lifted a wing. “They’re remarkably open to being hugged.”

“B-But they’re the Princesses,” Bon Bon protested.

“I promise Sweetie, we don’t bite,” Tia smiled.

“Currently, they’re just my darling fillies, who have sorely missed their dad as he journeyed across Equus for the past millennia. And dating me comes with the fringe benefit of being able to hug them and get away with it.”

“But… still…” She gave Tia an odd look.

“It’s quite alright sweetie. Just drop the titles and join the hug,” Tia smiled again. Even Luna was confused now. What was Celestia playing at?

“Unless you’d rather miss out on the bonding moment,” Aspect said before kissing Tia on the forehead.

“...Fine,” Bon Bon said as she moved closer and awkwardly put her leg around Aspect’s withers. He used his foreleg to draw her a little closer into the hug as they both had a filly attached to their fronts now.

“Ahh, squishy!” Lulu pouted as she was sandwiched between the two ponies.

“I’m thankful Tia isn’t being squished,” Aspect said. “We’d likely have to clean up the floor.”

“You eat one cake. One!” Tia pouted. Bon Bon suddenly had an idea. She kissed Aspect’s cheek and trotted into the kitchen. Deciding to see if she could get a little revenge, she also shook her hips seductively like Lyra had showed her as she exited the room.

“I could almost swear that mare had taken Cadence’s lessons and listened all the way through,” Aspect muttered as he turned away from the spectacle to the two fillies in his grasp. “What?”

“Just what are you staring at?” Tia said flatly.

“Pervert,” Lulu added.

“Shush,” he said before kissing them both. “If you’re going to scare the poor mare halfway to death, then I don’t want to hear you criticizing her attempts. Unless you want me to punish you…”

“I bet you’d like to punish her instead,” Tia giggled and shared a high hoof with Lulu.

“One more crack out of either of you,” Aspect warned, “and no pie today.”

“You know she’s in there alone with that pie right?” Tia said.

“She’ll eat it all!” Lulu gasped.

“Oh for-” the stallion sighed. “Bon Bon, are you eating the pie?”

The door opened and the pie tin slid out, completely empty save for a few crumbs.

“...Not cool, Bon Bon. Applejack made that pie for us to share,” he said sternly.

Tia and Lulu looked like they were about to cry. Before Bon Bon came back out with four plates, each with a slice of pie on them.

“What kind of mare do you take me for?” she asked and smirked. “You act like I’d eat entire cakes if left alone.”

Tia just sat there slack-jawed.

“I probably fed her too much cake when she was younger,” Aspect agreed as he poked Tia’s still round belly. “It’s most likely entirely my fault.”

“Lies, there is no such thing as too much cake!” Tia protested, even as she shovelled pie into her mouth.

Bon Bon smiled and rubbed her head. “Then perhaps I’ll make you one later hmm?”

Tia blinked and looked at her. “Oh. My. Me. I think I love you.”

“Of course, if you want to get on Lulu’s good side, marshmallow anything is the way to go,” Aspect offered.

“So, a nice mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows to go with the double chocolate fudge cake I plan to make?” Bon Bon asked.

“Sister, can we reinstate the royal harem?” Lulu asked. “I’d very much like to show this mare all the pleasures of the night.”

“That sounds so weird coming from a filly,” Bon Bon said.

Aspect reached over to Lulu’s nose and booped it. She scrunched up her face adorably and pouted.

“No trying to take the mare I’m dating,” he said. “I would think you two would know better than that.”

“She has offered us sweets!” Tia replied. “How are we supposed to respond?”

“I have no words for this weirdness,” Bon Bon sighed.

“Welcome to the family,” Aspect chuckled. “It’s stranger here.”

“That’s… mildly understating it,” Tia giggled. Then she and Lulu smirked again.

“Hopefully you’ll either get used to it or get driven off by this,” Aspect said as he ate the pie. Mmm...it was always delicious.

Tia and Lulu had scooted around to face Bon Bon as they stared up at her. They waited until they had her attention and smiled sweetly.

“Ms Bon Bon?” Tia started.

“Are you gonna be our new Mommy?” Lulu added with their cuteness set to max.

Bon Bon just stopped. Between the question, who was asking it, and their cuteness…

The mare just locked up and froze.

“Now look at what you’ve done,” Aspect chided them as he walked over to her. “You broke her.”

Tia and Lulu just giggled and shared another high hoof.

Bon Bon was still frozen in place, her mouth ajar and her eyes wide and unblinking.

Then the stallion kissed her. On the lips.

Hey, the theory was sound.

Too bad it had no effect.

“Give her some tongue~” Tia chuckled in her normal voice. Aspect sighed and shook his head, before hugging the mare close and wrapping her up in his wings as well.

“Mommy?” she whispered. “I’m… a Mommy now?”

“It’s a little soon to be calling yourself that,” he said as he continued to hold the mare. “Though yes, I do technically fall in the single dad territory.”

“Oh… okay then. Excuse me.” Then Bon Bon fainted.

“Ack!” Aspect said as he was the only one supporting her. “Now look at what you two did!” he chided his daughters.

“She did it!” they said, pointing at each other. Then they glared and on top of a fainted mare, he now had two fillies rolling around on the floor fighting with one another.

“Girls,” he said. Then he repeated himself in his best ‘dad-voice.’ “Tia and Lulu! Stop that at once!”

“I will destroy you!” Lulu declared.

“I’ll destroy you more!” Celestia yelled back.

Eeyup… they were ignoring him.

“Sol Celestia and Luna Selene!” he all but thundered at them.

“Eeeep!” They froze mid-fight. He also noticed his hooves were empty, as not only was that enough to wake Bon Bon, but the mare was now clinging to the rafters.

“You two,” he said to the fillies. “Behave. Or so help me, I will dig out the old paddle from the hidden valley and use it on your rears.”

Tia had that smirk again and she opened her mouth to fire a lewd retort. Most likely to do with paddles, spanking and a certain candy-maker.

“Behave,” he said with a hoof raised. “I am more capable than ever of putting the both of you over my knee, now that you’ve taken your younger forms.”

“We’ll be good,” they echoed.

“Bet you’d prefer Bon Bon to be very bad though~” Tia piped up with a giggle.

“I’d actually prefer to catch her,” Aspect said as he positioned himself under Bon Bon. “Promise to catch you,” he said as he raised his forehooves to the heavens. She let go, knowing she could land herself.

But why do that when a sexy stallion could catch you~

She landed in his arms and then pulled him into a deep kiss, causing Tia and Lulu to gag and look away.

Aspect merely hummed into it as he hugged the mare. This was good~ And...was that her tongue?

The answer was yes… yes it was. The stallion responded in kind, deepening the kiss and holding her closer, revelling in the sensations. Oh, and now her hooves were on his flank again as she moaned softly into the kiss. He gently maneuvered her down onto the ground so he could allow his hooves to wander over her form as well.

Until Celestia and Luna wolf-whistled, causing Bon Bon to recall they were there and pulled back with a surprised squeak as she straightened her mane and flushed red.

“As much as I would love to continue this,” Aspect said, giving her one more kiss on the lips. “I do believe you have a Lyra and a shop to look after as well. This was only meant to be a quick visit so you could be aware of my new guests. And the pie.”

“Oh, so you’re kicking me out?” Bon Bon asked. “Well fine, you’ve had your kisses I suppose. See that little fillies? Your Daddy only wants me for my body.”

“Uncouth,” Tia nodded.

“Pervert,” Lulu added.

“Not true,” Aspect said. “There’s your stellar cooking and charming personality as well to consider. I’d suggest we test to see how much you want me, but every time that topic comes up, you turn a delightful shade of red.”

As if on cue, she blushed and looked away.

“Oh, she is delightfully adorable,” Tia said. “Bye for now Miss Bon Bon. Come back again soon!”

“Yup! And bring cake!” Lulu added.

“Like father like daughters,” Bon Bon chuckled and sighed before heading off, leaving the stallion alone with his fillies.

“You two,” the stallion sighed as he walked over to them and drew them close with his wings. “What in the world am I going to do with you two?”

“Love us and feed us sweets?” Lulu asked with her pout on full blast.

“Did that one already,” the stallion said with a nod. “It turned the both of you into little terrors, it did.”

Then they tagged his legs. “Tag! You’re it!” they yelled and ran off into the house.

“As proven,” he said with a smile and a shake of his head, before starting to chase after them.

Author's Note

And now we have some issues again! I had to add the double spacing back in manually, cost me about ten minutes to add all those lines in. Ah well. When we tinker, we often break things, eh? Cest la vie.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half of all funds will not be spent on the Steam Summer Sale.

Chapter 12 - Everypony in that town is crazy!

Tia and Lulu.

They were bored.

Immensely bored.

Their father had applied and gotten a weather job, which he hadn’t told them about. You’d think something as important as that, he’d at least let them know.

But nooo, he’d rather leave two little fillies on their own, with no cake!

“Tiiiaaaa~” Lulu whined for the millionth time. “We art bored. Why does father not want to spend time with us? Is this because We were the Nightmare? Does he hate Us!?!?”

“He doesn’t hate you Lulu,” Tia sighed and rubbed her sister’s head. “Why don’t we go out? Looking like this won’t draw any attention.”

“But, Father said we shouldn’t…”

“We are grown princesses and that ignoramus cannot tell us what to do anymore!” Tia stomped her hoof. “Now come. I know where he keeps his bits! We shall procure cake and milkshakes and have lots of fun without him. What could possibly happen in such a little town?”

Balanced Aspect had just finished work. He felt as though Rainbow Dash had run him through a clothes wringer… She was a hard boss. He knocked on Bon Bon’s door and waited until the creamy mare opened up.

“Hm? Oh, hello Aspect,” she smiled and leaned in to kiss him before her nose wrinkled. “Ooh, somepony’s been working hard.”

“Yeah, Rainbow might be a fun mare to hang out with, but when you’re on her weather team, she’ll work you to the bone,” Aspect said with a sigh. “I’m relearning all sorts of simple things. Like, if I’m acting like a normal pony, take a damn shower when work is over. Can I borrow yours before I ask you for the favor I came here for?”

“Yes you can,” Bon Bon smiled and let him inside. “Lyra’s off in Canterlot visiting friends, so it’s just me here for today and tomorrow.”

A lightning-like shiver suddenly ran down his spine. As well as a deep sense of foreboding. The stallion shook himself as he felt that familiar feeling. Surely nobody would be stupid enough to actually…?

Bon Bon noticed his paused and frowned lightly. “I’m not taking a shower with you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“No, it wasn’t that,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “I just got the terrible feeling that somepony dared the universe, and the universe took notice.”

“It’s like Lyra never left,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “I’ll go and…” she paused as a blush crept across her face. “No, the towels are in the cupboard to your right…”

“Alright, if you say so,” Aspect said with a shrug before walking upstairs to start in on his shower. Bon Bon sighed, for a multitude of reasons.

Mostly because after last time, Lyra had left his towel he used on Bon Bon’s bed… along with one of her… toys.

She watched him leave as her tail twitched.

Well, nopony said she couldn’t sneak a peek~

The show was just as good as last time as the stallion washed himself off, doing his best to get all his accumulated stink off of him in the hot flow of water.

“Sweet Celestia, what am I doing?” she thought to herself. Seems Lyra wasn’t getting her toy back anytime soon…

Tia paused as she strolled down the street with her sister. “Odd… I could have sworn somepony just mentioned my name.”

“Perhaps thou is getting addled in the head in thine age,” Lulu giggled and Tia glared at her. They were heading for Sugarcube Corner, and had to stop for directions three times.

And now they were lost again. Tia sighed, then saw three fillies talking amongst themselves. An orange pegasus, a white unicorn and a yellow earth pony.

“Ah’m tellin’ ya that Pinkie won’t let us try Cutie Mark Crusader Bakers,” the earth pony said to the other two.

“Why? Just because we clogged the taffy machine last time?” the pegasus argued.

“I haven’t eaten taffy again since,” the unicorn shuddered as Tia and Lulu approached.

“Hello!” Tia smiled at them.

“Greetings thy citizens!” Lulu added in her boisterous tone.

“Well howdy!” the earth pony said with a smile. “Are you two new in town?” She then seemed to think it over as she tapped her chin. “Wait...if y’all were new in town, then Pinkie would have thrown ya a party…”

“You called?” Pinkie said, popping up amidst the group as the fillies shrieked. She eyeballed Lulu and Tia with a scrutinising gaze.

“Hmmmmmmm~” she looked them over. “You’re new ponies… but also not new ponies. Odd… I’ll… be back…” And just liked that, she backed up into the tall grass and vanished.

“That, was a rather random encounter,” Lulu shivered.

“We’re looking for Sugarcube Corner and got lost,” Tia explained, choosing not to question that for now.

“Oh that’s easy!” the earth filly said. “We can show you the way, no problem!”

“Most fortitus!” Lulu nodded and smiled. “Verily, may We have thy names? We art named Lulu. And mine sister is Tia.”

“Ah’m Apple Bloom,” the earth filly said, before pointing out her friends. “This here is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”

“Hi!” the unicorn chirped at them. The pegasus looked them over a little before sticking out one hoof for a hoofbump.

Lulu looked at the hoof quizzically before taking it and kissing it, causing the filly to yank it back and shake it. “What are you doing?” she asked the pair.

“Is that not the traditional greeting?” Lulu asked Tia.

“Sorry, Lulu’s… been away for a long time. She’s still getting used to Equestria again.” Tai smiled a little too widely and hoped that these fillies would buy it.

“Oh, like that Aspect feller my sister talks about,” Applebloom said. “Well, come on, let’s get goin’ to Sugarcube Corner.” With that, she turned, and the three fillies began to lead Tia and Lulu through the town.

“Mhmm, Aspect is our daddy!” Lulu stated proudly and Tia groaned. She had absolutely no tact.

“Really?” Sweetie Belle spoke up. “Didn’t know he was married…”

“He wasn’t… our,” Lulu sniffed and rubbed her eyes. Tia sighed and rubbed her back.

“He looked after us after our Mommy passed away,” she explained. “It was a long time ago, but Lulu still gets upset every now and then.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for bringing it up,” Sweetie said. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom nodded her head.

“I git whatcha mean,” the earth filly said softly. “Pain like that...it don’t go away easy.”

Tia and Lulu’s eyes widened and Apple Bloom suddenly had the fillies hugging her on either side.

“Urgh, seriously?” Scootaloo gagged at the mushy scene.

“Shush,” Sweetie said. “I think they need this.”

Lulu’s stomach suddenly growled.

“We require cake,” she mumbled from the hug.

“Cake does do wonders for making one feel better,” Tia nodded. “Would you like some Miss Apple Bloom?”

“‘course!” she said, before breaking the hug with a smile. “Let’s head over to the Corner, Pinkie makes all sorts’a cake there!”

“Yeah!” Sweetie and Scootaloo clapped hooves and the new friends headed for the gingerbread house.

And they got what they desired. Seems that Aspect’s bitbag had more in it than Tia thought as they stared at the three, three-tier cakes on the table.

“I’m in heaven~” Tia hummed and drooled slightly.

“How can you afford that much cake?” Sweetie asked. “How can you eat that much cake?”

Lulu leaned in close and pulled the Crusaders into a hug, “Watch closely now. Thou art about to witness something thou may never see again.”

And the following scene was Tia utterly destroying the massive chocolate cake. It was like a train wreck, utterly disturbing beyond all reason, yet you couldn’t just look away as the filly consumed a cake three times her size.

“Ah saw it, and ah still don’t believe it,” Apple Bloom said as she stared at the messy Tia.

“None do,” Lulu nodded sagely as Tia let out a belch that rattled the windows. They heard Pinkie applauding from behind the counter as Tia gave a contented sigh.

“That was gooooood~” she moaned.

“You’re supposed to say ‘excuse me,’” Sweetie Belle piped up. “That’s what my sister says.”

“Oh, right,” Tia blushed and wiped her muzzle with a napkin. “Excuse me.”

“Honestly…” Lulu sighed as she pushed away an empty plate, having consumed the dessert while the others were enraptured with Tia. “Such manners are unbecoming of you sister.”

“Wait, what?!” Scootaloo said as she took notice of the two missing cakes. “When did you-?!”

“It’s like having two more Pinkie Pie’s here,” Sweetie Belle said in a hushed tone.

“Ah git the feelin’ if we don’t take some of th’ third cake, they might,” Apple Bloom pointed out. Lulu and Tia were already sizing it up.

“Agreed,” Sweetie and Scootaloo said as the three fillies dove in.

A few minutes later, they were utterly stuffed as Tia and Lulu made short work of the remaining cake.

“Ahh, now that was a most excellent lunch,” Tia giggled. “Should we get another for later sister?”

“Hmm,” Lulu tapped her chin.

“Well, well, well…” A nasal voice called out. “If it isn’t the Blank Flanks~”

“Oh great,” Scootaloo groaned as a pink earth pony and a silver earth pony walked up to the table.

“Oh what’s this?” She looked at Tia and Lulu. “You have more friends for that loser club of yours? But they already have their Cutie Marks.”

“Friend Apple Bloom,” Lulu turned. “Pray tell. Who is this most obnoxious filly?”

Apple Bloom snorted at the comment and nodded. “That there is Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”

“Our parents are the richest ponies in Ponyville,” Diamond Tiara said proudly.

“No they’re not,” Tia stated.

“W-What!?” Diamond glared at her. “Just what is that—?”

“Our Daddy is,” Lulu nodded. “He does have the biggest house in Ponyville after all.”

“The Everfree Estate?” Silver gasped. “B-But that’s impossible! The Princesses own that place!”

“Who do you think gave it to him?” Tia smirked as Diamond and Silver stood there, eyes wide and mouth opening and closing a few times as they processed that.

“Come on, let’s go have some fun,” Tia said to their new friends and pulled them away from the frozen ponies. Once outside, Scootaloo howled with laughter.

“Oh man! Did you see their faces? They looked like goldfish!”

“Hmm, they were rather reminiscent of the golden fish,” Lulu nodded and smiled smugly. “Nobility is Nobility. They are rather easy to rile up if you know the correct buttons.”

“So, is that true?” Sweetie asked. “Does your daddy really own that house? Did the Princesses really give it to him?”

“Of course,” Tia nodded. “I am no liar. And our daddy has done a lot for Equestria. The princesses simply wanted to reward him for all his sacrifices.”

“Oh great, another dictionary pony,” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Come ooooon, I wanna do something cool. Like watch Rainbow Dash doing some of her stunts!”

“Yeah, alright,” Apple Bloom conceded. “Maybe we’ll come up with something to do for our cutie mark crusading while we do.”

“Crusading?” Lulu tilted her head. “Sister, I thought the Crusades were outlawed hundreds of years ago? Why do we want to go around slaughtering those who do not Praise the Sun?”

“Different sort of crusade,” Tia said with a wave of one wing.

“Ah.” The small unicorn nodded and floated out a small notebook with her magic and wrote something down. “Very well. Let us crusade for cutie marks!”

Tia waited for the threesome to be out of earshot before continuing her line of thought. “Besides, I think father might have had a hoof in all of them suddenly falling silent.”

“Ahh, so that is the reason,” Lulu nodded. “Very well. We now know better. It still makes Us wonder how three small fillies came up with that name though, without knowing the meaning behind it.”

“We can ask them while we watch the Bearer of Loyalty perform,” Tia giggled. “From what my student tells me, she is quite skilled.”

“Oh,” Lulu smirked. “I wonder how much of those skills your student has… studied~?”

“I’ll be surprised if she ever gets up the gumption to ask any other pony on a date,” the pegasus sighed. “She’s so wrapped up in her studies and trying to make me proud that she’s not living. Or at least she wasn’t before she came here.”

“Give her time,” Lulu giggled. “It’s not like her teacher is setting any good examples when it comes to romance.”

“Maybe if one of the guards actually had the-”

“We’re here!” Apple Bloom said as they arrived in an empty field, Rainbow Dash practicing her moves far above.

“Saved by the filly,” Lulu smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to bring that topic up with Cadenza when we get home sister!” she cackled and ran to join the others.

“Joy,” Tia deadpanned. Lulu wasn’t the only one that couldn’t stand her niece at times. She’d been by to practice her matchmaking every now and then, and the solar alicorn was starting to get just a little tired of it.

Across town, Aspect and Bon Bon decided to take a walk. It was a nice afternoon and she’d somehow convinced him to walk with her instead of relaxing after work.

The promise of kisses might have been a good tipping factor.

“—and so Lyra decides to try and prove me wrong. I have never seen a pony stuff that many gumballs into her mouth before,” Bon Bon giggled.

Aspect just shook his head, not quite believing the story. “The only things I have to compare are what happens when you leave my daughters alone with cake. Or brownies. Or any form of sweet, really. It just tends to...disappear.”

“Sooo, never let them in my shop then?” Bon Bon chuckled as she bumped into somepony. “Oh, I’m sorry—”

“Tch! As you should be, filthy commoner,” the mare retorted. She was a pink earth pony with a styled magenta mane. Her cutie mark was a diamond ring. “Oh, it’s the candy maker. I hope you didn’t get any of that filthy sugar in my coat.”

“Excuse me?” Aspect said, in a tone that could almost be mistaken for polite. “What did you just call my marefriend?” One wing flared out. Unbeknown to Bon Bon, he’d found that he could remotely change if he was operating at full power or ‘normal’ levels, and had settled into his more comfortable guise before the walk. What remained of the power of Arabus the storm demon was flowing through him at full strength now. Which, compared to everything he’d once commanded, wasn’t much, but it was enough to, say, conjure windstorms and affect clouds like he normally did. As well as one other trick.

“Oh look, the Feather Duster is angry,” she sneered. Her nose was so high in the air, it was probably filled with moondust. “I haven't seen you before, so you must be new here. I can’t say I’m overly fond of your taste in mares if that’s what you’re dating.”

“You get one chance to take back what you’ve said,” Aspect said calmly. “Then you’ll find out what happens to beings that make me angry.” And he’d been sharing those stories with Bon Bon.

That was when a cream coloured hoof covered his and she shook her head. “It’s alright. Let’s just continue our walk,” she smiled sweetly. “Have a nice day Spoiled Rich,” she nodded to the mare and led Aspect off.

“I wasn’t gonna hurt her,” Aspect whined as he folded his wing back up.

“I know you weren’t,” Bon Bon smiled as she smacked a nearby wall, the brickwork cracking under the ferocity of the blow. “I was however.”

“Then watch this,” Aspect said with a smile as he flared his wing again, turning to look at the mare that had gotten a little ways away from them. He closed one eye and stuck out his tongue, and there was the feeling of electricity in the air.

Then a bolt of lightning crossed the gap between them, starting at Aspect’s wing and going to the Spoiled Rich’s flank, causing all of her fur to stand on end once it hit. She yelped in a rather indignified way and looked around frantically, before deciding it was best to make a swift retreat.

Aspect had to give Bon Bon credit. She waited a full three minutes before collapsing to the ground, laughing her flank off. It made him happy that he could entertain her and punish an uppity pony.

“Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week,” he said with a wide grin. “And it’ll probably take her a few hours to get her fur tamed again.”

“I’m so calling her Fluffy Butt next time,” Bon Bon said between giggles. She finally stopped and wiped her eyes. “Oh dear. You are getting extra kisses for that one.”

“Hey, if it means seeing you happy, I’ll gladly zap anypony you point me at,” Aspect said. “Just give me a minute between zaps.”

“No no, just her,” Bon Bon chuckled and nuzzled him. “You’re rather sexy when you’re being all noble like that~”

“I’d zap the stupid out of Canterlot if that’s what you wanted of me,” Aspect said as they continued their walk. “Bloody stupid entitled nobles not understanding that my daughters have family too…”

“Seems that the zapping would be more for you than me,” Bon Bon said and nudged him. “Some ponies do find it hard to believe that our ‘Divine Goddesses’ have parents too.”

“Well, one at least,” the stallion said. “So, where’re we going?”

“Do we need a destination?’ Bon Bon asked. “Sometimes the journey is just as fun.” She walked ahead and then turned, giving him a wink. “But I’m thinking… my room. The two of us… an empty house…” She turned and skipped off, giggling playfully.

“Something tells me, she’s going to call in that offer I made her over Hearth’s Warming,” Aspect said as he followed after her. “Oh, but this is going to be interesting.”

“I… have never seen so much tree sap,” Tia shuddered as she tried to wipe the gunk from her coat. “There weren’t even any trees!”

“It’s what usually happens when we get together,” Apple Bloom said. “C’mon, we can use the hose at my place to wash it all off.”

“This is a regular occurrence?” Lulu looked at Tia. “Pray tell, is this town cursed by Discord?”

“Who’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“A monster from a long time ago,” Lulu said and shuddered.

“We… read about him in one of daddy’s books,” Tia tacked on.

“Nope, no monsters here,” Scootaloo said. “Well, other than the stuff that comes out of the forest.”

Tia and Lulu just looked at each other as they headed for Sweet Apple Acres.

“Wooooow!” Lulu gasped when they got there. “This farm is huge!”

“Yup!” Apple Bloom preened. “Run by all the Apples of Ponyville!”

“There’s only four of you in Ponyville,” Scootaloo deadpanned.

“Then her family reunion happens,” Sweetie giggled. “Ponyville doubles in size.”

“...Surely you jest?” Lulu said. “Nopony can surely have that many relatives.”

“We have a separate census at the castle, just for the Apple Clan,” Tia whispered and the unicorn’s eyes widened.

“Are… you part rabbit by chance?”

“Nope, one hundred percent Apple!” Apple Bloom said as she lead them over to the hose. “Okay, Scootaloo and Tia first.” She turned it on and aimed it at the pegasi.

“Wait, wha-urblegrublebalaba!” Tia got a mouthful of water as she was hosed down by the filly. Scootaloo seemed to enjoy it though, she kind of reminded Lulu of a chick in a bird bath.

Tia looked more like a drowned rat.

“We think We like the watered down version of Our sister,” Lulu giggled.

Soon enough, the pegasi had the sap washed out of their feathers, and the earth filly turned it on the unicorns next. Lulu yelped at the cold water, as did Sweetie Belle.

And once there were well and truly soaked?

Apple Bloom found that her hose was taken by a magical blue aura… and Lulu was smiling evilly.

“Uhoh,” she said with a gulp.

“Have at thee!” Lulu cheered and fired a spell that turned up the output of the hose, soaking the earth filly to the bone as well as most of the surrounding area. “Ahahahahaha!” Lulu cackled evilly.

“Ack!” Apple Bloom said from under the torrent. “I surrender, I surrender!” What it actually came out as was up to debate.

A half hour later, five fillies were utterly drowned after the impromptu water fight. However, since most of the ground had been turned to mud, their original goal of getting clean was now an issue once more.

“I think we’re mud ponies now,” Tia said and looked over her form. “Oh well, it’s still better than tree sap.”

“Yeah, this happens a lot too,” Apple Bloom said. “C’mon, let’s wash this mud off inside.”

“Blaaahhhh! I am a monster from the Everfree!” Scootaloo moaned, her mud-caked form ambling towards Apple Bloom. “And now I’ll eat all the little ponies!”

“Oh noooo!” Sweetie shrieked and giggled, running away.

“Oh no ya don’t!” Apple Bloom said as she took a more aggressive pose. “I’ll buck ya clear to Canterlot if ya try anythang!”

“Bwa. Hah. Hah!” Scootamonster chuckled. “You can’t hurt me. I have my mud armo-ooop!?” The pegasus suddenly found herself in the air as Lulu lifted her with her magic.

“We are the Knights of the Princesses!” Tia declared. “And we shall defeat you!”

“Aww, no fair~” Scootaloo giggled.

“We should at least try to get most of this mud offa ourselves,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah know my sister doesn’t like it if I track it in th’ house, an’ Rarity kicked up a real fuss when we used her bathroom…”

“Like last time?” Sweetie Belle said and shuddered.

“We could use our house,” Tia suggested. “Daddy won’t mind a little mud. And the mops will just clean it up anyway.”

“That sounds like a plan!” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “We’ll follow you there!”

Tia and Lulu nodded. This was going to be fun!

“So… this is the Tree of Plenty then?” Bon Bon asked as they stopped by his house to get something to drink. “Hee, I wonder if it can make chocolate?”

“I don’t know,” Aspect mused. “I never asked.”

“Well now you know when it grows,” Bon Bon smiled. “You know, I just figured something out,” she smirked as she walked around him, her curled tail dragging softly across his form.

“Oh?” Aspect said as he turned his head to watch her.

“Well, this house is empty too,” she pointed out. “And there are so many rooms we could pick from~” her lips grazed his muzzle, but her blush betrayed how nervous she was in acting like this.

“We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to,” he said softly to her.

“W-Well,” She blushed harder. “I did promise kisses, which.. I kinda like… a lot…”

“So let’s find an empty bedroom and see what happens,” Aspect said, giving her a quick peck. “I leave it entirely up to you.”

“Hmm, I think I like the sound of… that…” Bon Bon tilted her head and blinked. “Um, Aspect… are soapsuds supposed to be coming from your kitchen window?”

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a moment, before turning and marching into the house. It wasn’t until the door had closed that he flashed into his alicorn form. He continued to follow the sounds of mayhem until he came across what he wished was an unfamiliar sight.

Tia, Lulu and three other fillies were standing on the table as several enchanted mops spun out of control, they were even mopping the ceiling.

“Make them stooooop!” Sweetie wailed.

“I don’t know hooooow!” Tia wailed back.

Then Aspect unleashed a targeted wave of magic from his horn. This was a come-to-life spell gone awry. So all he needed to do was negate it, which he did without touching his daughter’s disguises.

He’d had time to practice his control for his freeform sorcery. He uttered a single word as he did this.

“Stop.”

And the mops did.

“Wait… that was it?” Scootaloo sounded disappointed. Tia and Lulu saw their father and gulped. They were in soooo much trouble. Aspect quickly returned to his pegasus guise and sighed.

“Tia, Lulu, what have I told you about enchanting mops and broomsticks with come to life spells?”

“Uhhh…” Lulu faltered.

“Not to?” Tia hazarded a guess.

“Exactly,” Aspect said with a nod. “They always get out of control. Remember? It happened in our old home as well. And in our second home. I could never leave you two alone with the mops. Or brooms.”

“Nu-uh, there was also the time with the armour!” Lulu pointed out and then smiled sheepishly. “I’m not helping, am I?”

“No… no you’re not,” Tia sighed. “Sorry Daddy, we just wanted to clean up the mud without disturbing you and your special somepony~”

“And now you’ve given yourself a bigger mess to clean up,” Aspect said, before pointing out all the suds still on the walls. And ceiling. “Which is what your punishment is going to be.”

“Yes Daddy,” both fillies sighed and looked at their new friends. “Well, I guess we should say goodbye then.”

“Mhmm,” Lulu nodded.

“It’s nice to see you making new friends,” Aspect said with a smile, before turning his attentions to the three fillies that had accompanied his daughters into the house. “But now my daughters have to clean up the mess they made.”

“Well, it was kind of our fault as well,” Sweetie admitted.

“If we help, can they git outta trouble?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Cleaning… yay,” Scootaloo deadpanned before Sweetie nudged her painfully. “I mean, cleaning yay~” she reiterated with forced excitement.

“Well, if you do, I suppose that might work out,” Aspect mused. “Then I might not have to take their dessert away tonight…”

“Now now, no need to be hasty father,” Tia shuddered. “We’ll get cleaning right away.”

“Go and enjoy your day, We shall clean this room like it has not cleaned before!” Lulu pumped a hoof in the air.

“Is that what got it this way to begin with?” Aspect raised an eyebrow at them.

“No magic, we promise,” the five fillies all said in unison.

“Good,” the stallion said with a sigh before turning around and walking back towards the entrance of the house, wondering where Bon Bon had gone to. When he stepped outside, a pair of creamy hooves snared him and pulled him into Bon Bon’s deep kiss.

“Mmm,” she moaned softly and released him. “Now… where were we~?”

“Well my daughters and some filly friends they made are cleaning up the kitchen, so as long as we keep the noise down, I believe my offer still stands if you wish to use my house,” Aspect said.

“I have the distinct feeling we’d not get any peace if we went in there,” Bon Bon smiled. “Now, let’s head back to mine and see what happens.”

“I am perfectly okay with that,” Aspect said before kissing her. “Lead on, pretty mare.”

“Hmm, pretty mare. I think I like the sound of that,” Bon Bon smiled as she walked off. “Come along now, my handsome stallion.”

“I can deal with being handsome,” Aspect said as he obediently trotted along after her.

Of course.

Now that she was actually in this situation.

Bon Bon had no freaking idea what to do. She was still debating if she should go this far, or…

Aspect was just sitting there on her bed, not doing anything but looking at her, waiting for her to make the first move.

“You know, some advice or input would be helpful,” she asked.

“While technically I have that in spades, you’re also my first mare,” he said. “Plus I was raised to be chivalrous. Your move first.”

“That’s called passing the bit,” she mumbled and sat down on the bed. “I uh… just, don’t know how to start…”

“Well,” Aspect said, shuffling closer. “We could start with a kiss and see what happens next.”

“Um, okay…” she nodded as he moved a bit closer to her. He drew her in and gave her a simple kiss on the lips, before deepening it and hugging her closer to him. She just melted in his embrace as she hugged him back, her hooves pressing the place between his wings. He let out a little moan at that, his wings instinctively flaring as she touched him.

“Interesting,” Bon Bon murmured as she kissed his neck and took a deep breath of his scent. She moved her hooves down, cupping his taut flank and humming appreciatively.

Then he returned the gesture, his hooves rubbing along her cutie marks and getting a good feel of her flank as well. She stiffened for just a second, before relaxing and letting out a soft coo of her own. She nipped at his neck a few more times, her hot breath washing over him as she continued to caress his form.

“Mmm,” he said as he held her close. “Such a pretty pony. What will you do with me?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one to ask you that silly?” She smiled and kissed his nose. “What did that Cadence mare teach you?”

“You don’t want to know,” Aspect said flatly. “Let’s just say I think I know more than I could ever use, and that’s saying something.”

“That bad hmm?” Bon Bon rubbed his side and smiled. “Well… what do you want to do then? Tell me what you’d like us to do.”

“Nothing that you’re not comfortable with,” Aspect said. “That’s sort of top of my list there. And if you do something I’m not comfortable with, I’ll let you know.”

“Well if you don’t tell me, than I can’t tell you if I’m comfortable with it or not, can I?” she said and kissed his nose again.

“Well...I think we could do a little touching,” the stallion said. “You can go first, if you’d like.”

“I guess… we could try that,” Bon Bon nodded and gulped. Her heart thudded in her chest, but she couldn’t tell if she was excited or nervous. Nervoucited?

Aspect merely sat there, though he did widen his legs a little, to make it easier for her to touch him.

She gasped and looked away out of reflex, even as her betraying hoof slid a little further along his thigh…

And when it reached up as far as it would, she gasped and flinched when it came into contact with something very warm.

“I’ve had it for quite a while,” Aspect said, doing his best to keep the laugh out of his voice. “I promise it won’t bite.”

Now there was a mental image she wasn’t sure if she should laugh or scream at. Though it did keep her mind occupied as her hoof absently stroked his growing length.

“See?” he said. “Not so bad, is it, touching me.”

“Oh shush,” she said in response to his cheek. “It’s just the first time it’s been attached to somepony—” Her spare hoof flew to her mouth to silence the rest of that.

“Mine as well,” Aspect said with a nod. “Well, not counting Written Script, but we were hardly together like this.”

Oh thanks Celestia, he seemed to have no clue what she’d been talking about. Still…

“S-So, you and her. You never…”

“No, it was more of a partnership than any actual attraction,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “You are very much my first mare in this regard. And you’re already comfy with touching me like this, so bonus.”

She’d barely registered what her hoof had been doing and now that she was focused on it? She froze up for a moment. A moment that Aspect used to kiss her to distract her again.

That did the trick. Her hoof resumed its task as she leaned into the kiss, her tongue fighting for dominance over his as her ministrations quickened.

“H-Hold up for a moment,” Aspect said as he panted, drawing back from the kiss. She paused, but her hoof remained in place.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing, just...changing position,” Aspect said, before rolling onto his back and displaying everything a bit more lewdly for the mare. She turned a deep crimson and looked away again, even as her hoof continued to pump him.

“If you come a little closer,” he suggested, “I should be able to return the favor…”

“R-Return!” she gasped. “L-L-Like h-how?”

“Well, I’d touch you in turn,” he said simply. “I think if you stand over me I should be able to…”

Bon Bon pictured that and nearly fainted. He could practically see the steam rising from her head as she processed that.

“W-Well… I guess…” She gulped and with shaky legs, did just that, but her tail seemed to keep the treasures hidden for now. Aspect decided to not let that stop him and ran one hoof along her inner thigh, caressing it softly.

That touch nearly caused her legs to buckle as she gasped loudly. He stroked along it again, trying to loosen her up so she would move her tail. She gasped again and once more, her body betrayed her mind as her tail rose, showing off what lay under it. Her face burned with a deep crimson as she bit her lower lip.

“D-Don’t look,” she protested weakly.

“Then how will I see what I’m doing?” Aspect returned as he ran his hoof along the outside of her folds. She let out a slight moan as her forelegs collapsed, landing softly on his belly as she locked her back legs so they wouldn’t do the same. He gently stroked along her folds again, much in the same way she had stroked along him.

She moaned and he could feel her warm breath wash over his member, which now lay right in front of her face. She opened her eyes and gasped, even as her hoof resumed its task of stroking him.

Then his hoof accidentally rubbed across something small at the fore of her folds. She let out a sharp moan, her mouth open as she panted over the touch.

“Hm?” Aspect asked, pausing for a moment. “Did I do something right?”

“Y-Yes,” she gasped, using both hooves to stroke him now, one ran around his medial ring as the other ran along the length of his shaft before teasing the tip.

“Hmm, you know, Cadence gave me a few tips,” he mused, before trying to get her back legs to fold slightly so that she would be in range.

“T-Tips?” she panted and squeaked when he tickled behind her legs, causing her to fall onto him. “Ah! I didn’t hurt you did I?”

Aspect’s only reply?

Apply tongue directly to Bon Bon.

She let out a loud moan, was… was he really… Hooooohmigosh! That felt…

“Aaahhh~” her mouth open as she panted even heavier, her hooves working his shaft with more vigor. Aspect used his hooves to grab hold of her flank and worked his tongue into her, licking along the tunnel he found there. She tasted just as sweet as the candy she made, it was almost like liquid sugar with just a hint of spice.

“Y-You… you’re… haaaahhn~” She moaned again, his tip almost touching her muzzle as she stroked him faster.

Then he bucked.

She gasped, well, tried to as his tip pushed it’s way past her lips, her tongue pressed against the head as she lay there, her brain not entirely sure what to make of this. Then Aspect dragged his tongue through her tunnel, lapping up all her juices before going for more.

She moaned around him as she suckled on his tip, her tongue probing him and rubbing against him as she stroked him once again. Aspect let out a muffled moan of his own into her folds, his grip on her growing tighter.

She squirmed slightly under his grip, before pressing herself against his muzzle more as she gave off a few muffled moans. Aspect kept licking her, finding her taste delicious. His muzzle rubbed up against that little nub again…

She let out a shrill cry and her hindlegs twitched. Buck, she was so close now. She pulled back and licked her lips, undecided on the taste for the moment.

“Ahh, As-Aspect, I’m… I’m going to… you should move…”

If he heard her, he didn’t show it, digging back into her with fervor. She let out another high pitched moan as her body twitched and he felt a flood of juices pour forth as she moaned, gasped and panted as she rode out her climax. Aspect for his part just drank them down. They were just as sweet as the mare they came from.

She groaned as he continued his oral assault, she couldn’t believe he’d just done that. She eyed his member and brought her hooves back up.

Well, fair was fair. She started stroking him again as she nuzzled it, drinking in his musk and letting her soft fur brush over it. She then opened her mouth and dragged her tongue along it, pressing the flat of it against his head as she tasted his pre. Very salty but not… unpleasant.

Aspect for his part let out a groan as he finally pulled back from her folds. “Bon Bon...that...that feels goooood~”

Spurred on by his words, she took the tip into her mouth again and suckled on the tip. Teasing it lightly with her teeth as her tongue flicked the tip, her hooves still stroking his shaft before one moved further down and cupped his balls, caressing them gently with the soft underside of her hoof.

“Oh Bon...Oh Bonnie,” he gasped, doing his best to not buck. “I think...I think I’m close…”

She pulled back, but her strokes quickened. Now it was time to use that advice that Lyra gave her.

“Is that so?” she breathed in a husky tone. Well, one she thought was husky. “What do you wanna do big boy? Give this little mare a treat hmm~?” She was sooo glad he couldn’t see her blushing face right now.

“I-If you want one, it’s coming quickly!” Aspect gasped. She was kind of curious to see it actually. She’d never actually seen this up close before. Her hooves just kept going as she leaned forward and flicked his head with her tongue again.

Aspect let out a grunt as the first blast caught her square in the mouth. She ‘eep’d’ and pulled back a little, but his grip had her pinned. The second one came quickly and blasted across her face. She just kept stroking him, wanting him to be as pleased as she was.

She leant forward and her mouth wrapped around his flared head as best she could. His release kept coming for a little while, right into her mouth before he let out a sigh and fell limp under her. She pulled back again as a few remaining spurts hit her muzzle and neck before he started to deflate a little. Now that she was free of his grasp, she could turn around and it was little secret on what she still held in her mouth, not entirely sure what to do.

Aspect smirked deviously and held one hoof up to her throat, doing his best to stimulate her neck with a long hoof stroke, clearly telling her without words what he thought she should do.

She blinked and nodded, gulping audibly as he could see her swallowing his release.

“I suppose you’ll want to clean up,” he said, pointing at her face. “Will you be wanting anything more afterwards?”

“Maybe I should get a kiss from my stallion,” she smirked and leaned closer.

“Ack!” he said. “I know what you just had in there!” He did his best to lean away.

“Heehee, you’re silly,” she giggled and wiped some of his release from her face with a hoof. Combined with her blush and tired panting. Damn that was a hot look.

“So, what next my pretty mare?” Aspect asked her. “Do you want me still under you, or are we done for now?”

“Well, I don’t know if I—”

Her door flew open as Lyra came waltzing in. “Heya Bonbuns! Guess who’s...back… early... “ She took one look at the scene, and the aftermath all over her friend’s face before she lit up red and bolted from the room, yelling out apologies.

“And then there’s Lyra…” the earth mare sighed.

“Hang on,” Aspect said before flashing into his alicorn form and shutting the door without getting up. He then cast some sort of other spell that affected the air in the room before nodding and returning to his normal pegasus guise. “It won’t last long, but I did just cast a quick and dirty soundproofing on the room. So if you wanted to do anything else, she wouldn’t know.”

“I think she already does,” Bon Bon said. “And… I don’t know if I’m quite ready for that step yet. I didn’t know I was ready for this step…”

“Do you regret it?” the stallion asked softly.

“No, not at all,” she said and nuzzled him, before remembering. “Ahheh, oops?”

“It’s fine, we can use your shower before I go,” Aspect said, kissing a spot on her face that wasn’t covered. She responded by licking his cheek and smiling as she got up.

She smacked her lips and then put that sultry grin on her face. “Mmm, I taste good~”

“I wouldn’t be adverse to getting another taste in the shower if you were up for that,” Aspect growled out. She simply replied by walking into the bathroom, her tail flagged as she wiggled her rump. The stallion rolled to his hooves before following that fine flank all the way to the shower.

“It only now occurs to me,” he said once he joined her, “how little room there is in here...well, with both of us in here.”

“Well, sorry for being a single mare until recently,” she replied as she turned the water on. “What are you going to do about it?”

“See, I would reply with one of the things Cadence taught me, but you just said you weren’t ready for that yet,” Aspect said as he held her close.

“Hmm, well I can still make room,” she nodded. “Let me show you a trick.” She suddenly stood up on her hind hooves, balancing perfectly. “Ta-da~”

“Mmm, now the real question is,” Aspect said before his face nuzzled into her crotch. “Can you hold it while I attend my pretty mare again?”

“Eeep!” she nearly fell forward, grabbing the walls with her hooves. “T-That’s cheating!” she gasped.

“Oh, but you taste so good,” he murred, his tongue flicking out and dragging across her lips. “So sweet…”

She just responded with a moan, her winking marehood was still sensitive from her previous climax.

“I just want to taste you over and over again,” he said, before licking her again. “I never want to stop~”

“T-That’s… aaahhhh~” Bon Bon cried out as she put a hoof to her blushing face, biting down on it.

“I want to wake up to this fine flank,” he said, licking her between declarations. “I want to see you next to me and taste you every morning. My sweet, pretty mare.”

She couldn’t hold it in, between his words and his actions, she climaxed one more time, just as potent as the last. “Ah… o-oh Aspect~! AAaahhhhhh!”

The stallion for his part did his best to drink her juices straight from the tap, humming happily all the while. One of her hooves rested on his head as she gasped with each lick, she didn’t know if she was ever going to stop. Her head swam and it suddenly became very difficult to remain upright.

Aspect kept licking the mare, enjoying the taste of her juices and greedily drinking them down, hoping she enjoying the stimulation as well. He soon found a panting mare draped across his back, her legs no longer wished to remain working.

“I take it Bonnie liked,” he mused.

“Bonnie liked a lot~” she purred and then squeaked. “Y-You called me Bonnie!”

“I figured we’d done this much, I could get away with calling you a nickname,” Aspect said, kissing her inner thigh.

“Y-Yes… I suppose you could,” she moaned. “And… Bonnie is so very tired now.”

“So no third tasting?” Aspect asked cheekily.

“You’re a pervert,” she chuckled and smacked his rump with a hoof.

“Nah, a pervert would suggest laying you out on the bed and mounting you,” Aspect said casually. Then he felt her lock up again and squeak. He could only assume she was blushing up a storm. “Which you’ve already said you’re not ready for, so…”

“You’re terrible,” she finally said. She paused and if it was possible, sounded even more hesitant. “Hey Aspect?”

“Yes Bonnie?” he asked her.

“I… well it’s just…” she paused and fumbled for her words. “I lo… I… I reallylikeyouawholelot!” she suddenly said in a single breath and then squeaked again.

“I like you too, Bonnie,” he said. “I think I’ve shown you that quite a bit today.”

“Multiple times,” she said and then giggled. “Maybe I should bottle it~”

“I guarantee you’ll sell out as soon as it hits the shelves,” Aspect said.

“I… actually now that went to really disturbing,” Bon Bon shuddered. “Hey Aspect?”

“Yeah Bonnie?”

“Would you… like to stay over tonight?”

“I would love to,” Aspect sighed. “But I have to get back home to see to my daughters. Dinner won’t make itself, and I seem to have worn out the best cook in Ponyville.”

“That’s what you get for being greedy,” she smirked as she rolled off of his back and onto her shaky hooves. “Whoo, that… wasn’t the best idea I have had.”

“Want me to carry you, my sweet mare?” Aspect asked her.

“I think… I can make it,” she wobbled. “Tell you what, give me a few to recover and I’ll come over to your place. You must miss my cooking oh so terribly.”

“I did say you’d ruined all other food for me, yes?” Aspect said before kissing her cheek. “I’ll head out ahead of you, make sure there’s no chaos waiting for me at home with the young ones.”

“I’m going to ask about that by the way… that is Princess Celestia and Princess Luna right? Or do you have more foals tucked away somewhere?”

“No, you got it right,” Aspect chuckled. “They’re just taking a vacation while the government restructures itself. And they figured the best place to do that would be with their old father.”

“You must be so devastated,” Bon Bon sighed dramatically as she flopped onto her bed. She didn’t care she was still wet from the shower, she needed to wash the sheets anyway.

“I’ll live,” Aspect said, before drawing close and kissing her on the cheek again. “See you in a bit.”

“Yes, in a bit…” She suddenly reached up and pulled Aspect into a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered to him. “For being such a gentlestallion.”

“I try,” he said, hugging her back and just enjoying the embrace. There was a flash and a click, as Lyra stood in the doorway with a wide smile and a camera.

“Aww, that one’s going in the photo album,” she smiled.

“At least she didn’t snap a picture earlier,” the stallion whispered to Bon Bon.

“I’ll kill her later,” Bon Bon sighed and nuzzled him. This was nice. Bon Bon could get used to this.

Luckily, Balanced Aspect came home to a clean house as Tia and Lulu were playing a boardgame in the living room. Yet, after he hugged his fillies, he noticed an odd, sticky substance that smelled very much like tree sap on his coat.

“How did this get here?” Aspect mused. “Ah well, I can always take a shower. And put you two in the bathtub.”

“Wow, how long has it been since you had to do that?” Tia chuckled.

“So. Much. Tree sap…” Lulu shuddered.

“Well, if you two do need a bath, I do have an actual bathtub in the bathroom,” the stallion said. “It’d be nice to get you clean before Bon Bon showed up.”

“Oh, inviting your future wife over?” Tia smirked. “How very bold of you father.”

“She’ll be cooking for us as well,” Aspect said. “Well, once she makes sure her friend Lyra is set for the night. So it wouldn’t hurt to make sure my daughters are looking nice before she shows up.”

“So, is she thy mate, or chef?” Lulu chuckled. “If so, we have many cute maids at the castle.”

“I’m not about to start dating the staff,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes before he moved over to Tia and started putting her on his back. “It would just get awkward if I visited you.”

“It cannot be any worse than those three fillies we befriended being Aspects of Chaos,” Lulu sighed. Aspect himself rolled his eyes before adding Lulu to his back as well.

“Bath for you both,” he declared. “Then shower for me, and dinner for us all.”

“...Why do you smell like sugar?” Tia asked as she sniffed his coat.

“I just had some sweets while I was over there is all,” Aspect brushed it off. “Come along, bathtime.”

“Yes daddy!” the fillies chimed.

Once they were bathed and brushed, Bon Bon arrived and she had Lyra in tow.

“I’m sorry, she insisted on coming along,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “If it’s a bother however…”

“No no, it’s fine, the more the merrier,” the stallion said with a wave of one wing. “Come in, come in. I’ll entertain the guests while you cook.”

“Well on the upside,” Bon Bon leaned in and kissed his cheek. “We now have a foalsitter while we snuggle.”

“What?” Lyra leaned in. “What are we talking about?”

“Lyra, meet my daughters,” Aspect said as he gathered said fillies close in a hug. “Tia and Lulu.”

“Your what?” Lyra tilted her head. “I thought the princesses were your daughters?”

“They are, but so are these two,” Bon Bon quickly stepped in. “He’s tends to adopt a lot.”

“Ahh,” Lyra nodded. “Well then, Tia, Lulu, it’s nice to meet you! I’m Lyra Heartstrings. But you can call me Lyra.”

“More like sucker,” Bon Bon snorted as she headed into the kitchen. The stallion released the fillies and wondered what they’d do to the mare…

“Ohh,” Tia smiled suddenly. “Is this your marefriend as well Daddy?”

“She’s pretty,” Lulu chimed in as Lyra blinked and blushed.

“Hardly,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “She’s just a friend.”

“Woow, deny it harder next time,” Lyra deadpanned. “But he’s right, I’m a friend of his and best friends with Bon Bon.”

“Oohh,” the fillies said and then smirked at their father. That was the face of pure evil brewing.

“No you don’t,” he said, pointing a hoof at the fillies. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, you can stop right now.”

“We’re not plotting anything,” they echoed and Lyra giggled.

“Hehe, these are my kinda kids,” she smiled. “Shall we plot all the ways we can tease your dad and Bonnie?”

And thusly, three kindred spirits were born.

“They do enough of that on their own!” Aspect said. “They hardly need encouragement!”

The three mares just smiled sweetly at him. This… this did not bode well for the sanity of his future self.

“If you do that, I promise to take Bon Bon out on the town right now,” he threatened.

“Play nice out there!” Bon Bon shouted from the kitchen. The fillies smirked and opened their mouth.

“Yes Mommy~”

Aspect heard his marefriend squeak and the sounds of pots being dropped.

“What did she just say?” he deadpanned at the three of them.

“We are being nice,” Tia and Lulu echoed again. Lyra was too busy laughing to respond.

“And if dinner ends up late because you can’t stop teasing her, you’ll have nopony to blame but yourselves,” Aspect pointed out.

“Oh fine,” the duo pouted as Lyra finally came around. In the end, the four played a game of Battleclouds, but Aspect was fairly certain that Tia and Lulu were cheating somehow.

How else was he losing so badly at this?

“Dinner!” Bon Bon called out, saving him from a total loss by mere moments.

“Whew,” he said, wiping his forehead. “Let’s go eat, huh?”

“You lucked out this time,” Lulu said and drew her hoof across her neck. “Next time…”

“Wow… you really suck at this game huh?” Lyra prodded him. He didn’t hear either of them however.

He was now witness to Bon Bon in a white frilly apron. It was similar to something those Prench maids wore...Though she hardly needed the extra effect to look pretty to him.

And something that ranked just behind the mare wearing something pretty, the food she’d made for them smelled delicious as it sat on the table. And boy had she delivered. A veritable feast was waiting and…

He sniffed the air. There was… something in the oven.

Something… Appley.

Applejack had apparently come through on that promise to show Bon Bon how to bake an Apple Family pie.

“You two are going to be spoiled tonight,” he said to his fillies as he took his place at the table.

“This looks better that the three cakes we had for lunch,” Lulu drooled.

“Lulu!” Tia hissed and winced as she turned and looked at her father. “Ahehe… funny story?”

“I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason behind the two of you eating three cakes,” Aspect said. “Like, how you afforded it.”

“Tia says she’ll pay you back,” Lulu offered as Bon Bon put a plate in front of her.

“Gosh darnit Lulu,” Tia groaned.

“Ah well,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I suppose that’s the price I pay for not telling you both that I was looking for a weather job in the first place. As long as it doesn’t happen again, I’m perfectly fine with this.”

“Yes father,” they both groaned as Bon Bon giggled.

“Tell you what,” Lyra said as she was given her plate. “Canterlot was absolutely crazy. I’m glad I got back as soon as I did… for multiple reasons.”

“Yes, I suppose you are,” Aspect said as he levelled a stare at her.

“Oh do lighten up,” Lyra giggled.

“So, why was Canterlot so crazy?” Tia asked and Lyra nodded.

“Okay, so get this. Apparently the princesses decided to take a little vacation and the local government is in a uproar over it. Canterlot’s mayor is arguing with some lout named Blueblood and some ponies are saying that the Princesses will never come back.”

“Oh, I’m sure they will, in a few weeks or so,” Aspect said with a smile. “Tell me, when was the last time you heard of them taking a vacation? I’m sure they have quite a lot of time saved up.”

“Well yeah, I don’t blame them,’ Lyra nodded as Bon Bon took a seat as she placed the last of the food on the table. “But a lot of Canterlot nobles are up in arms about it. Spouting crap about how irresponsible they are.”

Tia and Lulu just stared at their plates.

“And tell me,” Aspect mused. “What, in the world, are the nobles actually responsible for? Do they even know?”

“That’s a joke right?” Lyra smirked back. “Half the nobles don’t know their own plot from their bitbag. I know Fancy’s doing what he can. But several houses are being rather vocal about it. I don't know which ones though, and most of this information comes from my friend Minuette.”

“Hmm,” the stallion mused, before shooting a meaningful look at his daughters. He had a feeling they’d be paying Canterlot a visit in the near future, to smooth over the transition.

The two couldn’t look more depressed if they tried.

“We cannot do anything right it seems,” Lulu sighed.

“Huh? Why are you…” Lyra suddenly gasped as her hooves went to her mouth. “I, I mean. What do I know, Canterlot’s great, doing just fine, Ahahaha..ha….ha….”

“You can’t predict how every single pony will react,” Aspect said softly. “If you need a day or two to make sure the city’s still there, by all means, go back. I’ll still be here when you return.”

“No!” Tia said adamantly. “We’re going to have a nice dinner with our family!” She took a bite of her food and her eyes widened.

“Uh… Tia?” Lulu waved a hoof in front of the face of her frozen sister.

“Ah,” Aspect said said sagely. “She has reached true taste enlightenment.”

“Now you’re being ridiculous,” Bon Bon snorted as Lulu tried the food.

“This… is the most beautiful thing I have ever tasted!” she said in a hushed whisper.

“Now all you need to do is serve Cadence and you’ll have the approval of everypony that regularly visits,” Aspect said to Bon Bon.

“You’re all silly,” Bon Bon groaned as Lyra chuckled and tore into her meal.

“Father, we wish to ask to marry your marefriend,” Lulu said. “She completes us.”

“Mine,” he said. “Go get your own. If only so I can pull off the threatening father shtick.”

“We shall consider it,” Lulu nodded. “As soon as we find a pony that doesn’t scream ‘Nightmare Moon’ and run from Us.”

“Eh, I’ll be nicer to whichever one you pick up,” Aspect said to Lulu, before turning to Tia. “Yours, on the other hoof, I’m going to come down on like a ton of bricks.”

“Oh, care to explain why?” Tia said now that she’d found her voice again and started eating.

“Simple, whichever one Lulu actually finds will have to get past that fear for about, oh...a hundred or so years,” Aspect said. “Whereas anypony could bribe you with cake to get your attention.”

“That is not true!” Tia huffed indignantly. In her current form, it was all rather adorable.

“Ah, right, a specially shaped cake then,” Aspect said with a nod. “Cadence told me about those too.”

“WHAT!?” Tia blushed an indignant red as Lyra and Bon Bon choked on their food. Lulu just looked confused.

“Or does it need to have a saucy message written on it in frosting before you’ll consider the poor baker worthy?” the stallion mused.

“I… I...ARGH!” Tia glowed a bright white before Celestia sat at the table, glaring daggers at the pegasus.

“You teased me and Bon Bon,” he pointed out. “Fair’s fair.”

She snorted, huffed and then reverted to her filly form. “You suck.”

“Noo, Bonnie does though apparently,” Lyra mused as Celestia near spit her drink as Bon Bon just wanted to hide under the table.

“Lyra,” Aspect warned the minty mare.

“Whaaat, tell me I’m wrong,” she smirked as Bon Bon groaned and shot her a glare. Her death would be long and painful.

“That… was far more I wanted to know about my father than I wanted,” Tia shuddered.

“I have no idea what anypony is talking about!!” Lulu wailed.

“Since Tia seems to get it, she can tell you,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing as he resumed eating.

“I call not it,” Tia said and resumed eating.

“Aww,” Lulu pouted.

“This family is weird,” Bon Bon sighed.

“I know, isn’t it great?’ Lyra giggled.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Aspect said with a nod. Tia and Lulu smiled, while they now had some issues to deal with at home, it was the little moments like this that made it all worthwhile.

“Oh, I just remembered,” Bon Bon said. “Pinkie Pie’s birthday is coming up. I should get her something.”

“Mmm,” Aspect said. “Definitely. Hmm...what would you recommend? I should get her something as well.”

“Miss Pinkie is Our friend,” Lulu nodded. “T’would be rude not to… you know, speaking of birthdays…” She leaned closer and smiled. “I believe you have a thousand of them to catch up on hmm?”

“I have everything I ever wanted right here,” Aspect said, pulling Lulu close and giving her a kiss on her forehead.

“...We meant Us,” Lulu deadpanned.

“Of course you did,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “You know what, if the pair of you go back and make sure the city doesn’t fall apart during the reorganization, I’ll consider actually trying to make it up to the pair of you when you return.”

“Tia, may we lay siege to the Noble populace of Canterlot?” Lulu begged. “You kept all my siege weaponry yes? I remember the good old days when we catapulted nobles into the moat for fun.”

“Uhh…” Tia rubbed her head sheepishly. “They may have been… dismantled?”

Lulu just blinked slowly.

“That explains why there were so many wet nobles back in the Everfree,” Aspect mused.

“Tia commented that they were a bit of a wet blanket… and I didn’t want her to be a liar now,” Lulu smirked.

“Ohmigosh!” Lyra giggled and banged the table with a hoof. “I can only imagine the looks on ponies faces if they could overhear this conversation.”

“It’s pretty funny huh?” Pinkie Pie giggled from next to Aspect.

“You’re gonna have to try harder than that,” the stallion said. “I got training from Surprise in how to expect the unexpected.”

“Okie Doki!” Pinkie giggled and dropped something off to him. “I have Gummy’s birthday coming up soon and thought I’d drop some invites off to you all early, since you’re busy ponies and all.”

She then gasped and looked at the clock. “Oh noes, I left a cake in the oven.” She ran over to Lulu and booped her horn, Lulu gasping as Pinkie teleported away.

“How… what… how did she do that!?” Lulu cried, rubbing her horn.

“You know, that explains so much and nothing at all at the same time,” Aspect said, blinking slowly. “Unicorns in Dream Valley always could wink. I suppose Surprise just used one there. Now all that remains is to figure out how.”

“Did We even teleport her safely?” Lulu gasped and closed her eyes. “...Yes, We feel her presence in Sugarcube Corner. That was… somewhat disconcerting.”

“I’ve seen worse,” Bon Bon shrugged, utterly unfazed. “Have you seen the Pinkie Sense yet?”

“Not yet,” the stallion said with a shake of his head.

“Oh good, I won’t spoil it then,” Bon Bon smirked.

“That’s mean,” Lyra giggled at her. “You’re not even gonna give him a hint?”

“Nope,” Bon smiled.

“I’ve seen and fought weird things before,” Aspect said. “I’m pretty sure she’ll have her work cut out for me if she’s trying to weird me out.”

“Breaking a promise is the fastest way to lose a friend,” Bon Bon and Lyra echoed.

“Fooooreevvverrrrrr!” Pinkie whispered from the pantry.

“Wasn’t she just-” the stallion said, turning to look in that direction. Lulu opened it with her magic but revealed just a pantry, minus one pink pony.

“...Oh, she’s good,” Aspect said with a smile.

“You have no idea,” Bon Bon sighed. She got up and pulled the apple pie from the oven. Soon it was served along with a side of vanilla ice-cream and some chilled cider. “Dessert?”

“Father… is this what true happiness smells like?” Tia asked, swallowing hard.

“This, my daughters,” Aspect said seriously, “Is the famous Apple Family pie. Applejack herself gave the recipe to Bon Bon so that I wouldn’t buy her out of it every day.”

“On the stipulation that I cannot sell it or give the recipe to anyone else,” Bon Bon said. “And… I had to give her some of my tips for making a sweeter jam in return. So I hope you enjoy this.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I think they will,” Aspect chuckled, giving a small go-ahead nod to his children.

They took a bite and if a Changeling had been in the room, it might have exploded from the love these fillies now had for this pie.

“...No words…” Tia whispered.

“Never… in my life… so good…” Lulu managed a few.

“It is pretty tasty,” Lyra agreed and smiled at Bon Bon. “Good job Bonnie.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect said as he took a forkful and practically melted. “I have no idea how old the recipe itself actually is, but you do it wonderfully.”

“Apparently only Granny Smith knows how old the recipe is,” Bon Bon replied and took a bite, sighing wistfully. “Be darned if this isn’t good pie though.”

“If it wouldn’t cause such an uproar, I’d get them to cater the Gala,” Tia sighed. “But the nobles would likely explode.”

“All the more reason,” Lulu giggled.

“You have the option of acting through a third party,” Aspect pointed out. “Hire somepony to cater for you and suggest they try out the wares of the Apple Family. The family might get their chance.”

“We’ll look into it,” Tia nodded as they finished their dessert and got up. “Well, I suppose the fun is over sister,” she sighed and reverted to her true form. “Though, how about you stay here with father. I can handle a few nobles.”

“But sister—” Luna protested, but Celestia held up a hoof.

“But nothing. Your power has yet to return in full and the nobles will…” Celestia sighed and hung her head. “They have yet to come to terms with you returning to power. But I promise that all that nonsense is about to change. By the dawn of the third day at the latest.”

“You know,” Aspect mused. “Just because you’re the older twin, doesn’t mean you get to boss your sister around. Aren’t the pair of you supposed to rule together?” The stallion shook his head. “Even I can see that a powerful message is more powerful if the pair of you are in agreement on it.”

“You know I hate it when you’re right yes?” Celestia sighed. “Very well. Let’s go Luna.”

“Much flank shall be punished~” Luna cackled not unlike her darker half. Her horn flared as did Celestia’s and the two teleported off.

“I wonder if there will be a Canterlot once they’re done,” Bon Bon shrugged.

“If there is, it’ll look vastly different,” Aspect said with a wicked grin. “I basically suggested stripping the nobles of their power and forming a legislative branch made of actual representatives of the common pony, re-elected every two years. I predict they’ll whine like nothing else, but have no power to do anything about it.”

“Great, Bonnie’s in love with a supervillian,” Lyra sighed dramatically.

“Do I get to wear a cape?” Bon Bon asked.

“You can borrow mine,” Aspect said. “And if that’s me being a supervillian, then my goal behind doing that probably disqualifies me.”

“You’re still unleashing quite the storm of chaos on Canterlot,” Lyra mused. She got up and stretched before smiling at her best friend. “Well, see you tomorrow BonnieBuns. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do~” And with that, she ran laughing off into the night.

“I assume you do want to stay?” Aspect asked Bon Bon.

“I might,” she smiled and blushed.

“Do you want a room of your own?” he asked the mare.

“Do you?” she asked back.

“I could go for some cuddling,” he mused.

“Well, you have my answer then,” she smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Well then,” he said, getting up from the table. “Follow me to my room then.”

“So commanding,” she giggled and figured the dishes could wait until morning. “As my lord wishes.” Who knows, she might even return the shower favour~

Author's Note

And thus the lewdness gets started.

Like the story? Consider tipping me and Aus a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way, I assure you.

Half of all funds will not go towards raising an army of the dead.

Chapter 13 - The fitting of a lifetime

The next day was going to be boring by all accounts. Aspect had a mostly empty house, with his daughters going off to Canterlot to hold the city together…

Though he did appreciate the guest he did have~

“And so today I have learned that Aspect before coffee and Aspect after coffee are two completely different ponies,” Bon Bon chuckled as she sipped from her own cup. “Not to mention worldview shattering princesses and a best friend who is going to needle me relentlessly when I get home.”

“Eh, it’s not like we did too much, and all of that was at your place,” Aspect said before sipping at his coffee. “I mean, unless you had a plan before being confronted with morning-me.”

“I might have,” she winked. “But now you will never know, will you~?”

“Well, I don’t have to be on-shift for my weather job for a few hours,” Aspect said. “So there’s still time…”

“But alas, candy does not grow on trees dear stallion,” Bon Bon sighed wistfully. “I have to go and start cooking, some of those candies take hours.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I should be off by fourish, I’ll probably spend my time here once I do get off. Mostly so I can stop using your shower for once. Feel free to come over after then if you want.”

“We’ll see,” Bon Bon smiled. “The stores remain open a little later today, so I won’t be done til around six.” She got up and kissed his cheek. “Though if you stop by, I might be persuaded to whip up some… special candy~”

“So I’ll be showing up at around four ten, four fifteen,” the stallion amended. “I mean, barring some major catastrophe.”

The universe took this moment to sit back and laugh…

“See you then,” his marefriend smiled and gave him a very nice morning kiss before heading off to work.

“And thus I am motivated for the day,” Aspect said, before downing the rest of his coffee in one go. “Good thing it’s clear skies today, I might even be able to get off earlier if I work hard!”

“Hi Aspect!” Pinkie said from his window. “You ready to paaarrrTAY!”

“I have to work, Pinkie,” Aspect said as he walked to the front door.

“Oh yeah…” Pinkie pulled out some papers out of her mane and sorted through them. “Oopsie, I had the script mixed up. So, wanna walk into town together?”

“Eh, I got time before I have to show up for the weather shift,” Aspect said once he was out the door. “I can hang out for a little bit.”

“Woohoo!” Pinkie cartwheeled. “I’m headed to Rarity’s. She’s made some dresses for the Grand Galloping Gala and I can’t wait to see them!”

“Just as long as she doesn’t try to make me one, or ask to make one for my daughters,” Aspect said with a sigh. “They’ve left and I am really fine with the cape she made me. I should wear it more often.”

“Yup, a superhero needs a cape,’ Pinkie nodded. “You already have your mild-mannered disguise and a single weakness. So a cape is needed to complete the set.”

“I do my best to overcome my weaknesses,” Aspect chuckled. “I think of them as learning opportunities.”

“And if Equestria suddenly ran out of coffee?” Pinkie asked, walking backwards in front of him.

“Then it would be subjected to morning-me for about an hour every day as I slowly woke up,” Aspect said. “A nice shower and breakfast work wonders.”

“Fair enough,” Pinkie nodded. She would find his weakness eventually.

“Alright,” Aspect said as they walked through the outskirts. “Now what?”

As the reached the center of town, a weight dropped down onto Aspects back and a pair of hooves hugged his neck.

“Mmm, I smell the scent of, somepony that got lucky~” Cloud Kicker smiled.

“You again,” Aspect sighed.

“Aww, you don’t sound happy to see me,” Cloud pouted and looked at Pinkie. “Heya Pinks!”

“Hi Kicky!” Pinkie beamed and waved. “And Aspect is lucky?”

“Oh yes he is~” Cloud licked her lips. “I bet he had the most delicious candy yesterday.”

“Aww, I want candy too,” Pinkie pouted and then gasped. “To Bon Bon’s!!” and like that she vanished in a pink blur.

“You just had to sic her on my marefriend,” the stallion sighed again. “Off. I’m not a taxi.”

“Nope, more like a warm and fuzzy cloud,” the mare sighed as she reclined, her back against the back of his neck. “So comfy-eeep!” she gave a squeal of surprise as a white pegasus with a green and pink mane pulled her off.

“Sorry about her, she needs a tighter leash I think,” the pegasus mare sighed.

“Ooh, so you’re into pet play huh Blossomforth~” Cloud licked her lips as she pulled the now-blushing pegasus into a hug. “I don’t mind wearing a collar for you~”

“Aaaaah, shutup!” Blossom blushed harder.

“Thank you,” the stallion said to the new arrival. “There’s only so much of her I can take.”

“Cloud Kicker is best taken in small doses,” Blossom sighed and pushed the huggy pegasus back. “My name’s Blossomforth. I handle the more technical things with the weather team as well as being Rainbow’s assistant.”

“She also likes long walks on the beach, tinkering with gadgets and is double-jointed just about everywhere~” Kicker added.

“Balanced Aspect,” the nondescript pegasus introduced himself. “Owner of the Everfree Estate.”

“That mansion on the border of town?” Blossom said, rather surprised. “I don’t think anyone’s lived there in decades.”

“Because you’d have to be richer than the creator to buy the place,” Cloud pointed out. “What, are you squatting there or something?”

“The Princesses gave it to me, as payment for services rendered,” the stallion said. “Also because they know I’d never accept anything else once I got my hooves under me again.”

The two mares just stared at him with wide eyes. Just what kind of stallion was this guy?

“Oh, the Boss is also blowing off work today,’ Cloud said, wanting to change the subject away from the possible brain-breaking topic. “Something about a dress?”

“Figures,” Blossom sighed. “So who is working today?”

“Us, Thunderlane, Flitter and Cloudchaser,” Kicker said. “Lucky stallions, they get to be surrounded by cute mares all day.” Then her eyes sparkled. “Ooh, we have to office all to ourselves…”

“Cloudy. No.” Blossom said firmly.

“Aww,” the mare wilted.

“Sooner started, sooner finished,” Aspect said as his wings flared. “It’s still set for a clear day, yes?”

“Yup, clear skies for the rest of the week,” Blossom nodded.

“Then I’ll get started now,” he said. “I have plans after work. And the sooner ‘after work’ gets here, the happier I’ll be.” With that, he was off into the skies.

“Well… that was… abrupt,” Blossom said to her friend. “Was it something I said?”

Cloud Kicker just shrugged.

Aspect had found his ‘section’ of the sky to keep clear rather easily, and was already hard at it. Being normal felt weird, but at least he wasn’t turning the clouds he was bucking into thunderheads before they had to go.

“Yoohoo, Aspect darling!” Rarity called out from down below. “Could I have a minute of your time please?”

“Just five minutes,” Aspect called down before turning to one cloud and bucking it out of the sky. “I still have a whole swath of clouds to go.”

“Fair enough,” she replied. The first thing that he noticed was that her normally flawlessly styled mane was looking a bit… undone. And she had dark rings under her eyes. “I heard that you would be attending the Gala and wish to know if you desire an addition to your ensemble?”

The stallion decided to pull of one of Rainbow Dash’s tricks and flew right at the line of clouds he had yet to take care of, one hoof extended. His speed saw him through...most of them. He bounced off the last one.

He tumbled in the air, before a light blue aura caught him and stabilised him. “Are you alright?” she called out. “That looked rather unpleasant.”

“Yeah, I just wasn’t fast enough to do them all,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Two seconds, I’ll take care of that cloud and be right with you. After this I’m free for the day.”

“There’s no need to rush darling,” Rarity said to him and sighed. “Believe me… I could use the break.”

“Still, it’d be nice to be done,” Aspect said, quickly flying up and bucking the cloud. The stallion sighed and wiped his forehead before landing in front of Rarity again. “And there, done for the day. What can I help you with?”

“Tut tut darling, it’s what I can help you with,” Rarity smiled. “We need to make a few additions to your cape I made you. The Gala is only a few weeks away after all.”

“Oh, right,” Aspect said with a nod. “That’s back at my home. There’s so little call for a cape. Want me to go get it?”

“Not necessary, I have the patterns memorised,” Rarity nodded. Her stomach gave a rumble and she smiled sheepishly. “Hehe, seems I’m a bit peckish as well. Care to stop for lunch first?”

“My treat,” Aspect said. “You wait right here while I go get my saddlebag and bits, I’ll be back in no time.”

Rarity nodded and remained where she was. Blossom spied the stallion and flew over to him.

“You done already? That was fast.”

“Eh, I picked up a knack for busting things,” Aspect said with a shrug. “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna take a friend to lunch after knocking off for the day.”

“Sure, if you’re done then there’s not much point in sticking around,” Blossom nodded. “Don’t forget to write down how long you worked and which section you cleared in the log book.”

“Will do,” Aspect said with a salute before altering his plans. Log book first, then home, then Rarity.

“You know we have a shower here in the office right?” Blossom pointed to a room on the left side. “If that was your reason for heading home at least. Did Rainbow actually explain anything to you beyond. ‘To kick cloud, place hoof here’?”

“She also said that enlisting with Ponyville’s weather service meant I would have to act suitably awed by her tricks and clearing speed,” Aspect said seriously.

Blossom blinked slowly and facehooved. “Are you bucking kidding me?” she sighed. “Tomorrow… I will show you how to do this job properly,” she groaned. “Until then, enjoy the rest of your day Aspect.”

“And there’s actually a very good reason I’m not using the in-office shower,” Aspect said as he wrote out the rest of the time and section he’d cleared. “Two words, one name.”

“Cloud Kicker?” Blossom deadpanned.

“Cloud Kicker,” Aspect nodded.

“Fair enough,” the mare sighed, she could feel a headache coming on. “Though, she is my friend. And despite her words, she won’t do anything without your permission. She actually has a rather strict set of ‘Rules for Banging’ she follows.” Blossom wasn’t sure which emotion to express for that. “She’s just… persistent. You’ll learn to tune her out eventually.”

“Hopefully,” Aspect said. “Well, take care. I’m off.”

“Good bye,” Blossom waved as the stallion left.

Getting his things hadn’t taken long at all. Say what you would about Aspect’s sense of direction when he was encountering something for the first time or when you changed where things were, but once he got used to a system, he’d remember it for a long time. He picked up his saddlebag, made sure the cape was in it, and flew back to Rarity’s...after stopping halfway out the door and remembering to shower first.

“And back,” he said, touching down lightly in front of her. “So, where to, m’lady?”

“Hmm, I think we should just get a quick snack and head back to my boutique,” she nodded as she got up. She frowned and started muttering. “I have a lot of work to do as is, since a bunch of ungrateful someponies can’t be happy with what I designed…”

“Someone is telling the artiste how to design?” Aspect said with a raised eyebrow. “That hardly seems right. You don’t tell them how to do their jobs. Why can’t they trust that what you’ve made is the best?”

“Because, I want them to be happy with what they’re wearing,” Rarity sighed and hung her head. “Even if I think galoshes is the most hideous idea I have ever heard.”

“Hmm…” Aspect said. “I have an idea. Perhaps if others were to see the result of their design work, it might make them realize just how wonderful your original designs were.”

“Perhaps,” the unicorn said and brushed a lock of mane from her eyes. “Well, its an idea at least. But they are awfully stubborn about it.”

She led him to a small cafe where they picked up some sandwiches and coffee before heading for the Boutique. Once inside, Rarity dropped her saddlebags near the door and Aspect spied five dresses, five wonderful dresses sitting on ponnequins near one wall.

“See, those are wonderful, even I can tell that much,” Aspect said. “And I’m from the era when ponykind didn’t wear much more than ribbons in their manes and tails as a rule.”

Rarity shuddered, not being able to wear a pretty dress? That was a time too horrible to even think about. “Well, with luck, their new dresses will be… just as lovely.” She looked like she was about to be sick. “Nethertheless. Let us move on to you dear Aspect.”

“Rarity,” he said softly. “I know that I have a station. I know that I have a title. But I really would be uncomfortable with anything more than this simple cape.” He got it out for emphasis. “Anything more complex than this...ill suits me. I fell into my role by accident. I fulfill it gladly, but I was never one to lord it over other’s heads.”

Rarity paused and turned to him. “Aspect dear. I am well aware of your aversion to the… theatrics of the noble life. But dressing up a little never hurt anyone. Besides, wouldn't you like to look your best for Bon Bon~?”

“As long as whatever you decide looks good on me doesn’t have a list of instructions for how to take it off and put it on,” Aspect chuckled. “Then I will leave myself to your hooves. For one outfit, at least.”

“Not to worry darling. The idea I have could not be any simpler.” She floated over a sketch book and looked him over. “Now, I assume you will be sticking to your pegasus form?”

“Indeed,” Aspect said with a nod. “It’s one of my more comfortable forms to assume.”

Rarity nodded and started sketching. About ten minutes later, she smiled and showed him her design. Along with the cape, she added a simple sleeved vest with a ruffled collar. The cuffs had some subtle jeweled cufflinks and the jacket itself would be made of a patterned black velvet.

“That looks wonderful,” he said with a smile. “I can see myself wearing that, easily.”

“Now why can’t my friends be so easily pleased?” Rarity sighed and smiled. “Sorry, this complaining is terribly unprofessional of me.”

“It’s just because they don’t understand how to be appreciative of the things they’ve...been given…” An idea struck Aspect, and he chuckled wickedly. “Oh Rarity. Would you say they need a lesson in such matters?”

“There’s no need for that,” Rarity said and shook her head. “Besides, letting you ‘teach’ them is inviting disaster.”

It was then that her boutique door opened and Spike came rushing in.

“Hey Rarity, I have some great news! Hoity Toity is in town. And he wants to see the Gala dresses!”

Rarity looked like she’d just been thrown in front of a speeding train.

“Oh dear…”

“Spike, my dragon,” Aspect said as he walked closer. “Why don’t you take me to this pony? If he’s any judge of beauty, I think we can work out a plan together.”

“Huh? Aspect?” Spike looked to Rarity, then back to the pegasus. “Um, okay?”

“Not to worry,” Aspect said with a wink to Rarity. “I’ll make sure it all comes out well in the end. Just keep those dresses handy.”

Rarity just nodded as Spike led him out of the Boutique. Today… was not going to end well.

Bon Bon sighed as she lay her head on the counter and stared off into space. It had been a quiet day and she'd been looking forward to a certain visitor.

A visitor that hasn't shown up, despite it being over an hour since he said he would.

“Guess he found that catastrophe,” she sighed again.

Then the door opened and Aspect walked in, leading another stallion into her shop. “I’m telling you, they need this,” he said. “Oh, hello there Bonnie. Sorry I’m late, but I was having a discussion with this delightful stallion. Apparently he’s very big in the fashion world.”

“Uhuh, that's nice,” Bon Bon grunted. She was well seated in her ‘I'm ignoring the universe’ mode.

“So anyway,” Aspect said to Hoity Toity, “By the way, these sweets are to die for. These five mares apparently don’t know how to graciously accept a gift, or trust that the mare making their gifts knows her business. So I would really appreciate it if you could...help them learn that lesson, and not hold it against Lady Rarity.”

“Hmm, too many times have I dealt with customers who believe they know better than the professionals.” Hoity nodded to him. “I can do this favour for you. Besides, word has it you have the ear of the Princesses. So, if they were to suddenly hear about my new store in Canterlot and pay a visit…?”

“Perhaps, but I can tell you right now, they’re probably not going to go to it for a while. They’re trying to get away from the city. It falling apart when they took a sabbatical didn’t help matters. They might not get around to visiting your store for a few weeks.” Aspect shook his head. “But on the other hoof, I’m relatively certain the five mares will realize the error of their ways and ask to show off the Lady’s first creations, which are truly worthy of nobility. They’re good friends, you see, and wouldn’t want to cause any actual harm to her reputation.”

“I will be sure to put on my very best act,” Hoity said and smiled. “Still, if there's anything else… like a dinner date perhaps?”

That was when a threatening low growl filled the room.

“Sorry, happily taken already,” Aspect said with a smile. “Though like I said, the sweets here are good.” He then turned to Bon Bon. “What would you suggest I give to this good stallion, in thanks for his agreement to the part?”

Bon Bon glared, before sweeping her hoof over the store. “Whatever you want, I don't care.”

“The macarons, then,” Aspect said, pointing at the tray. “Give me one to give to him. I’m sure he’ll find them as tasty as I did.”

Bon Bon placed one on the counter. “2 bits.” Aspect pulled out the bits from his saddlebag and put them on the counter, before passing Hoity the macaron.

The stallion paused before biting into it. His eyes widened and his sunglasses nearly fell from his muzzle.

“Is… is this what perfection tastes like?” The stallion whispered in awe.

“This, is what you can find if you think to look in a rustic little town like this,” Aspect said with a smile. “Consider it a good faith payment that you’ll uphold your end of the bargain.”

“No need for that, if these outfits are as terrible as you make them to be, I'll not have to try too hard.” He gave a nod to both ponies and took his leave, leaving Bon Bon alone with Aspect.

“So… only a catastrophe huh?” the mare said dryly.

“Sorry I took so long in getting to you,” Aspect said. “I had to head off a potential actual fashion disaster. Now it’ll just look like one for a little bit, and everyone will come out richer for it.”

“Good for you,” she muttered. Aspect being late wasn’t really that big a deal.

Spoiled Rich coming into her store and insulting almost every aspect of her life?

Much more irritating.

“So,” Aspect said. “I am probably invited to the Grand Galloping Gala, and until recently, had no date for it. Would you care to do me the honor of accompanying me there? I’m getting a fancy outfit made and everything.”

“Sure you want a ‘dirty mudcrawler’ sullying your appearance?” she muttered.

“Where did this attitude come from?” Aspect said with a frown. “You were much more chipper this morning…”

“Yeah. Well maybe I was looking forward to a certain somepony visiting after Spoiled Bitch came in and verbally dragged everything near and dear to me through the metaphorical mud!!” She was almost yelling by that point and panted slightly after her little outburst.

Aspect just stood there calmly. Once she was done, he waited for a moment before asking a question that he’d learned was crucial to being a good parent with angry children. “Feel better?”

“Maybe if I punched that sorry excuse for a pony in the face,” she muttered and started feeding her muzzle with macarons.

“If you keep that up, I won’t be able to take you out to dinner,” Aspect chided her.

“Why…” She sniffed. “Why bother with me? You could have any mare… and apparently stallion you could want. Me… I'm nopony.”

“I’m trying to do right by you,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Is it so hard to believe that I find you to be an intriguing mare and wish to pursue a relationship with you?”

Bon Bon sighed and thunked her head on the counter. “Sorry, just upset right now. I know you do right by me Aspect. And I love you for it. Just… urgh!” She thunked her head again.

“Did you just say…” Aspect breathed. “That you…”

“Say what?” Bon Bon asked, already reaching for another macaron.

“You just said you loved me,” he pointed out.

Bon Bon paused as she replayed what she’d said in her head. “...Oh.” She turned her usual shade of red as the macaron sat in her frozen hoof.

Aspect neared the counter, reared up, and used his height to reach over the counter with his muzzle to plant a kiss on Bon Bon’s lips. The mare blinked in surprise before she closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, where they remained for quite a bit until their bodies reminded them that they needed to do a little thing called breathing.

Once the kiss broke apart, Bon Bon smiled bashfully. “So um, you… don’t mind then?”

“I don’t know what you see in this old warhorse, but if you love me, then the least I can do is return your affections,” Aspect said with a wink. “Who knows what’ll happen. And hey, I can safely say that you’re in love with one of the highest authorities in the land. Someone who’s actually important, unlike that mare that upsets you.”

“Oh, or one that just thinks he is?” Bon Bon smirked, looking more like her old self. “So, care to explain why you ditched me in favour of that four-legged bottle of cologne?”

And so Aspect regaled Bon Bon with the tale of the five mares that couldn’t accept a well-made gift, as well as the role that Hoity Toity would play in helping them realize that they should be grateful for what they have and to trust that their friend knew what she was doing.

“All in all, the only regret I have is that Rarity might actually think her reputation is in danger,” Aspect mused. “But if I were to inform her ahead of time, she might alter her performance.”

“Or she’d turn down your idea completely,” Bon Bon said. “Don’t worry, I don’t think Rarity is that much of a drama queen, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“Hopefully,” Aspect said with a nod. “Well, I got my stipend check today. Probably as a ‘sorry for spending your bits on cake’ from Tia. Want to go out to dinner? You can pick the location.”

“Hmm, I’ll let you choose,” Bon Bon replied. “Besides, you still have this Rarity drama yeah? You might wanna see to that first.”

“Eh, I’ve set it up, I wash my hooves of it after this,” Aspect said. “I trust they’ll work it out. And I don’t know a whole lot about this town.”

“You really are hopeless aren’t you?” Bon Bon smiled and shook her head. “Alright then my hopeless stallion. I’ll find us a suitable restaurant.”

“Cool,” Aspect said with a nod of his head. “I brought my cape and everything.”

“Expecting to save the world during dinnertime?” she giggled and booped his nose. “And to answer your earlier question. I would love to attend the Gala with you. Hopefully I can psyche myself up for it.”

“Well, when Rarity finishes my fancy clothes and asks me to come in to get them, I’ll make sure to ask you along as well,” the stallion said. “That way you might have a bit more...motivation.”

“Hmm, and what do you mean by that?” she asked with a cute tilt of her head.

“I just think you might be more inclined to attend the gala with me if you see what I’ll be wearing to it,” Aspect said with a smug smirk. “I mean, it works the other way around, right?”

“I suppose,” she replied with a small nod. “I just hope I can stand being around all those nobles…”

“Aspy!” Lyra tackle-hugged the stallion from behind as she burst into the room. “Watcha doing here? I thought you’d be doing weather work?”

“Finished early, set up some drama, came to take Bon Bon out for dinner,” Aspect said as he did his best to not fall to the ground without getting off of the counter first. “And really Bon Bon, if you think I’ll just leave you alone at the Gala, or go without the ability to zap anypony that would disparage you…”

“Wait, you can do that?” Lyra and Bon Bon echoed. Aspect flared a wing as there was the feeling of static gathering in the air.

“Okay, but you can give other ponies that ability too?” Bon Bon clarified.

“Oh, no, but if you think I’m leaving you alone at the gala, or going without this ability, you clearly don’t know me,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “There was a time when nobles earned their titles through the defense of ponies, not merely inherited them. They were rewarded for their service with their titles and lands, they didn’t merely have them.”

“A lot has changed since those days,” Lyra sighed and then eeped when she saw Bon Bon’s look.

“Would you mind letting go of my stallion now?” the mare said sweetly, and Aspect could have sworn winter had come early. Lyra chuckled nervously and released him, only to be pulled into a Bonnie hug.

“Aww, she was jealous of you, not me,” Lyra giggled and nuzzled her friend.

“Everypony,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “I swear, you’re all just a little weird and crazy in your own ways. This whole town.”

“He finally gets it!” Lyra smiled and patted him on the back. “Now you are truly one of us. Embrace the insanity, come over to our side. We have milk and cookies.”

“Oh no,” Aspect said, shaking his head more vigorously. “Somepony in this town needs to remain sane.”

“Aww, that’s cute,” Lyra giggled. “Twilight used to think the same. And look at her now.”

“Then I’ll try,” the stallion vowed. “I don’t know if I’ll succeed or not, but I’ll try.”

“Goddess-speed good sir,” Lyra saluted and looked at Bon Bon. “So… will you be home tonight?”

“I’m going out to dinner, but I don’t know what my plans are for after,” Bon replied as she finally ate that macaron. “I’ll let you know when I know.”

“Fair enough,” Lyra nodded and looked at Aspect. “You take care of my Bonnie mister. Got that!?”

“Yes ma’am,” Aspect said, pulling off a salute of his own. “I’ll go and freshen up back at home, that’ll give you time to make dinner for your friend, Bonnie. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Will do,” Bon Bon smiled and kissed his cheek. “I um…” she looked away and blushed. “Love you?”

He responded with a soft kiss to her lips, looking her in the eyes as he smiled at her. “Love you too. Take care, I’ll be right back.”

And with that, he was on his way home.

As he left, he could hear Lyra’s excited squeals for another three blocks…

Aspect stood outside of Bon Bon’s shop, waiting for her to be ready to go as his cape blew semi-dramatically in the slight breeze.

He thought it looked cool.

A few minutes later, Bon Bon emerged wearing a simple white sundress and a gold necklace with a blue crystal version of one of the bonbons that made up her cutie mark. Her mane was done up so the two colours were braided together.

“Sorry, did you wait long?” she asked.

“Not long at all,” Aspect said with a smile. “You look lovely tonight.”

“And you’re looking very cool,” she smiled. “Like a dashing hero.”

“Thanks, that’s what I was going for,” he said, leaning down to lift one of her hooves before planting a kiss on it. She blushed lightly and kissed his cheek.

“Well, let’s get going, I wouldn’t want to be late for our reservation.”

“We have a reservation?” Aspect asked as he followed her lead. “News to me, but okay.”

“I had Lyra duck out and make us one while I was cooking for her,” the mare informed him as she led him to ‘Gustave’s Le Grande’. “This place is about as fancy as you’ll get in Ponyville I’m afraid. It’s either here, the cafe, Sugarcube Corner or that seedy bar a few blocks over.”

“Noted,” Aspect said as he opened the door for her. “After you.”

She curtsied and walked up to the greeter just inside. “Hello there. We have a reservation for two? Should be under Bon Bon?”

“Hmm, ah yes, here it is,” she nodded. “Please follow me and I’ll take you to your seats.”

“Shall we?” Bon Bon offered her hoof.

“We shall indeed,” Aspect said as he followed her into the restaurant, taking her hoof along the way.

Once they were seated, the mare that showed them in smiled and Bon Bon suddenly had a sinking feeling.

A moment later, a stallion moved up next to their table and started playing a romantic song on the violin.

“Lyra…” Bon Bon sighed.

“Sir,” Aspect said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I appreciate what you’re doing. I do. But I think my companion and I would prefer to have some calm and peace of mind. Today has hardly been stress-free.”

“My apologies sir,” the stallion replied, looking only a little miffed his music wasn’t appreciated before he trotted off.

“He wasn’t that bad,” Bon Bon giggled. “Oh well, such is life I suppose.” A waiter dropped off some menus for them to look at and Bon Bon struck up some conversation. “So, how was work today? Enjoying being one of us lowly mortals?”

“Work was easy, boring, quick,” Aspect replied. “Not to say it wasn’t fun to do, I always am at my best if I’m at least doing something for my pay. But a clear sky is pretty easy to arrange and keep that way.”

“Well it is springtime,” she nodded. “We usually get some summer showers later on in the season, so I think you might be more busy then. Unless we get a wild storm from the Everfree.”

“Yes, I’ll look forward to that,” the stallion nodded. “And at least I’m getting a slight workout from my job.”

“You say that now,” Bon Bon grinned. “Wait until you have to deal with a tornado that Ditzy somehow set on fire.”

“That...sounds like a problem and a half,” Aspect groaned. “How does somepony even do that?”

“Nopony knows,” Bon Bon shrugged. “One of the many mysteries of Ponyville. Just… don’t ask her. She’s a little sensitive about it.”

“Duly noted,” the stallion said.

The waiter soon returned, an earth pony with a black, oiled-back mane. “Good evening Sir and Madame. Have you decided on your order yet?”

“Yes,” Aspect said as he closed his menu. “I think I’ll take an order of the seared salmon with a garden salad opener and a nice red wine.”

“I’ll have the herb fettuccine,” Bon Bon replied. “And some of this bread and dipping oils as an opener as well thank you.”

“All excellent choices,” he noted as he wrote it down. “I shall have your wine and starters out post haste.” And with that, he took his leave.

“Well that was easy,” Aspect said. “And it’s even something I would ordinarily find delicious as well, so bonus.”

“You mean the fish?” Bon Bon asked. “I heard it’s pretty common up in Cloudsdale. Though, I’ve never been there. For obvious reasons,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah, I can see that,” Aspect chuckled. “Still, I’ll bring something back for you when I go.”

“You plan on going?” Bon Bon asked. “What for?”

“Rainbow Dash has some sort of competition going on up there,” the stallion replied. “Figured I could see the city and catch a good show at the same time.”

“Ah, well that explains it,” Bon Bon said as she adjusted her necklace. “And um, sorry for springing that ‘love’ thing out of nowhere. I wished it had been a bit more romantic, rather than me spitting it out mid-rant.”

“Hey, in my line of work, and with the life I’ve lived, I’ve learned to take what life gives me and roll with it,” Aspect said. “It may not have been the best love confession in the world, but at least you mean it, yeah? We can build on it from there.”

“Still, I want a do over,” Bon Bon nodded. “Therefore, I order you to forget my confession so that I may do it properly.”

“I will attempt to look suitably impressed, awed, and amazed when you confess again,” Aspect said with a nod of his own.

“Your future snuggles depend on you giving a satisfactory reaction,” Bon Bon nodded and gave him a small smile. “Also. Can you tell me more about Written Script? I’d like to know what the mother of the Princesses is like, given now that I know what those alicorns of yours are truly like.”

“She was a good mother, kind to her children,” Aspect said. “Strict when she needed to be, but it usually fell on me to catch them misbehaving in the first place. They obeyed her a lot more than they did me...at least, when she was looking, anyways. And she could tell the best bedtime stories. She never had any problems getting them to bed.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon said, leaning forward slightly. “Do you still remember any of them?”

“She mostly based them around the things that were happening in Dream Valley,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “And it’s been so long now…”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll come back to you,” Bon Bon smiled. A thought crossed Bon Bon’s mind, she’d have to ask her later about it. It was then that the waiter reappeared with their food and wine.

“Your appetisers,” he bowed his head and placed them before taking his leave.

“Ah,” Aspect said as he looked at the corked bottle. “I left my corkscrew at home…”

Bon Bon took the bottle and clasped her teeth around the cork, giving it a yank and pulling it out with a loud ‘pop’.

“Ta-daa~” she smiled and spat the cork out.

“Cheers,” Aspect said as he held up his glass. She filled his up, along with her own before clinking her glass against his.

“And to you as well,” she hummed and took a sip. “Ooh, this is a little stronger than to what I’m used to.”

“I haven’t drunk in ages,” Aspect said with a shrug, before taking a sip of his own. “Mmm, this seems good though.”

“Can alicorns even get drunk?” Bon Bon asked. “Oh wait, you’re human. Well, can they?”

“Technically yes,” Aspect said. “Though after the last time, I would not be surprised if Tia and Lulu keep up charms to keep them sober throughout all their public functions.”

“Last time?” Bon Bon echoed and grinned. “Ooh, that sounds like a delicious story.”

“There was a party in the Everfree’s castle,” Aspect said. “And one of the nobles brought a rather potent liquor. I abstained so that there would be at least one clear head...Lulu’s mostly a sad drunk, and Tia’s a very flirty one. That poor guard was so confused...”

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon giggled. This was even better than she thought. “M-More, details. Must know them~”

“Well Lulu mostly clung to me and sobbed about how nopony liked the effort she put into the night or keeping them all safe in their dreams. Whereas Tia...well, she basically insinuated that she has a thing for stallions in armor. All the guards there got real uncomfortable when they realized just why she surrounded herself with stallions.”

“Ahaha, so it’s true?” she gasped, trying to keep her laughs quiet. “There’s always been these rumors that the Solar Guard was really her personal harem.”

“Not really, though not for a lack of her trying,” Aspect said. “And I know she took at least one guard as a lover. She might have done it again since.”

“I suddenly picture the infallible Princess Celestia as Equestria’s most awkward flirt,” Bon Bon giggled and then paused. “Oh, wait. I mean… sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “They’re ponies too. They stopped being my little fillies a while ago, though they will always be my daughters.”

Celestia sat on her throne as she stared at the two guards that stood on either side of the stairs leading up to it. Court had come to a close and it was depressingly quiet in the room.

“So..” Celestia said as the stallions flinched from the sudden noise. “What are you two up to once this shift ends?”

“Going home to my wife and foal,” the first one said.

“Spending some time with my marefriend,” the second added. They both knew they could talk in front of Celestia. The whole intimidating guard act was mostly for the visitors anyways.

“...Dang,” Celestia sighed and slumped on her throne. This was the fourth pair of guards since she asked today. This was so unfair. She looked at the one with a marefriend.

“...Is she a good marefriend?”

“Thinking of asking her to marry me soon,” the stallion said.

“...Double dang,” Celestia frowned and sighed. “Well, congratulations I suppose.”

“Thank you your highness,” the stallion said, right before the shift change happened and they were replaced with another pair.

“So… are you two single?” Celestia just blatantly asked them as they took their positions. They exchanged a look before the one on the right spoke up first.

“I am,” he said.

“So’m I,” the one on the left answered. “Why?”

“Yes!” Celestia whispered to herself before looking at them. “I wish I brought my library card. Cause I wanna check you out~”

The pair of them blinked and the one on the right mouthed a few words, before the one on the left shook his head. Surely those rumors weren’t true. The Princess wouldn’t be hitting on her guard. Right?

“Do you know what this petryl is made of?” she asked and tapped her neckpiece. “Marefriend material.”

“Your highness, are you…” the one on the left started, before trailing off.

“Ah... heh…nevermindforgetIsaidanything” Celestia blushed and teleported off, her nerves finally getting the best of her.

“I swear she was hitting on us,” the one on the right stated.

“She wouldn’t do that,” the one on the left replied.

“Well, then what were those awkward pick-up lines for?” Right asked.

“She was probably just testing them on us before using them on her actual coltfriend,” Left answered.

“...Poor guy,” Right said with a small nod.

“...And then I had to stop all the broom and mops in the old castle,” Aspect said. “Took me half an hour before I just thought to stop the enchantment altogether. They flooded half the bloody castle.” The wine had lubricated his story-valve considerably.

Bon Bon’s laughter rang out over the restaurant. Apparently she got giggly when inebriated. “Oh my gosh, that’s just too funny. How did Princess Celestia mess that up so badly?”

“She thought enchanting a broom to sweep itself would get her out of chores,” Aspect said with a shrug. “I can see her point, but the key thing to keep in mind when making an army of household implements is making sure they’re your army.”

“Oh d-dear,” Bon Bon giggled and snorted. “That’s just too much. It was like when Lyra decided she could fit all these gumballs in her mouth… she looked like a minty chipmunk.”

“The first time Celly got a taste of cake,” Aspect chuckled. “She looked like she’d just tasted the best thing ever. I was afraid we’d broken her after that.”

“Given she incited civil war with the broom closet, that was probably a very real threat,” Bon Bon snorted. The main course had been delicious, but they’d opted out of dessert, Aspect claiming that anything Bon Bon could make would be better anyway.

“Okayokayokay!” Bon Bon held up a hoof. “I have to ask. There are… books on this. About the subject of Celestia and Luna’s… relationship. Have you seen them?”

“Not personally, no,” Aspect said as he rummaged around in his saddlebags before withdrawing a bitbag and leaving it on the table to pay for the meal.

“Oooh, you might not wanna then,” Bon Bon nodded. “Though, I think Lyra has one... pretty sure she keeps it in her drawer with her toys.”

“And suddenly I am very glad I don’t know,” Aspect deadpanned. “Okay, so where would you like to go next my beautiful Bonnie lass?”

“Bonnie lass,” she giggled. “Heehee, that’s funny-whoop!” she stumbled sideways and bumped into him. “Silly ground. Stop turning sideways.”

“All right, up you get,” Aspect said as he maneuvered his mare onto his back, to better keep her from stumbling. Once again, he was glad that he had practice in carrying ponies as a pony and was cheating again.

“Mmm, take me home and I’ll get you up too~” she purred and licked her lips.

“We going to your place or mine?” Aspect asked her.

“Mines closer,” she said.

“It also has a Lyra,” the stallion pointed out.

“Dun care, let her listen,” Bon Bon giggled.

“Right, your place it is,” Aspect said as he gave a nod to the staff on the way out.

It didn’t take long before they were at Bonnie’s place again, and Aspect pushed the door open before greeting the house at large. “Lyra, hello~”

“Hi?” the unicorn blinked, clearly not having expected them. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking Bonnie home to sleep off the wine,” Aspect said. “I’ll be right down.” With that, he made for the stairs.

“Aww, I don’t wannaa sleeep,” Bon Bon sighed and hugged him. “Come on, let’s have fun~”

“Convince me,” Aspect said as they neared her room.

All he got in response was some gentle snoring in his ear.

“My point exactly,” Aspect said as he neared her bed and gently eased her into it. Unless she woke up now and tried to drag him into the bed with her, he was probably gonna go…

As he walked out of the room.

“Don’t go,” she mumbled. He paused, one hoof on the doorknob, before sighing and turning around. He was probably gonna regret this…

But he crawled into the bed with her and snuggled up close. She sighed happily and hugged him close.

Lyra walked past and turned off the light. “Have a good night you two,” she whispered.

“You as well,” Aspect whispered back. It was looking like a nice calm night next to a pony that loved him.

Bon Bon winced as the morning sunlight caught her in the eyes and she groaned. She felt a warm body next to her and judging by the feathers she could feel, it must have been Aspect. She’d be touched over how sweet he was, if her head didn’t feel like it was going to split in half. She still kissed his cheek and went to roll over… only to be met with another warm body.

Wait… what?

“Mmmm, you were wonderful last night~” Lyra cooed and kissed the mares cheek as Bon Bon’s eyes grew in size while her pupils shrank. Her ears flattened as a single train of thought blazed through her mind.

‘What the ever-loving buck did I do last night?’

She slowly inched her way out of bed as Lyra gave her a smouldering gaze and blew her a kiss. Bon Bon suddenly screamed and bolted for the bathroom.

Lyra remained that way for a few seconds before her body started to shake, then she rolled off the side of the bed and onto the floor, laughing her head off at the successful prank.

Aspect merely grumbled and rolled over, pulling the blanket up past his head as he tried to get some more sleep.

Author's Note

Crazy day today, 'm sorry for the late upload.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way towards a certain Aussie's internet upkeep.

Half the money will not be spent on tornado shelters.

Chapter 14 - Mornings after are dangerous

It had taken the better part of half an hour to calm down Bon Bon. Continued promises from Aspect that he had done absolutely nothing to her in her inebriated state, and that she’d done nothing to him, barely worked.

Promises of vengeance against her roommate were more effective.

“I’ll bucking kill her,” Bon Bon muttered as they walked downstairs. “Mint flavoured unicorn candies will be my next creation!”

“While I imagine they’d sell well with the griffons, that’s not a path you need to go down,” Aspect said as he kissed her cheek.

“Nope, I just won’t cook any meals for her for a week,” Bon Bon said. “I can’t believe she…” The mare blushed, not wanting to admit she hadn’t entertained that idea at least once.

“To be fair, you were heavily drunk and insinuating things,” Aspect pointed out. “I was probably just lucky you passed out when you did.”

“Celestia above… I am soo sorry I acted like that,” Bon Bon groaned and rubbed her head. That spell he’d used for her hangover worked wonders. “I am never drinking again.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Aspect said with a shrug. “You should hear some of the things Tia says when she’s drunk. I think some ponies wrote books based around it. Named Really obvious pickup lines 101.”

“Ohmigosh!” Bon Bon snorted and laughed. “I can never look at the Princesses the same way again thanks to you.”

They walked into the kitchen and Lyra was at the table, plucking at the strings of her lyre and eating a muffin. “Sup?” she said, waving a hoof.

“Oh nothing much, just a little revenge planning,” Aspect said with a smile.

“Oohh, so you think you can tangle with the Lyra huh?” the mare smirked.

“No meals for a month!” Bon Bon uttered as she moved to make some pancakes for herself and Aspect. Lyra gasped and scooted across the floor, clutching one of Bon Bon’s hind legs.

“No, not that Bonnie! Anything but that!”

“You’re being a little harsh on her, Bonnie,” Aspect said, deliberately pausing to give both Bon Bon a chance to reply and Lyra hope.

“Oh, so now you’re taking her side?” Bon Bon raised an eyebrow like a guillotine. “What was that, you’re not hungry either?”

“I’m just saying if you do that, there’s no room for me to get back at her as well,” Aspect said. “It wasn’t just your honor she slighted.”

The eyebrow dropped and Lyra flinched as they were graced with, ‘I no longer give a buck’ Bon Bon. “Fine, do whatever you like. Sounds like you like the idea of Lyra in our bed.”

Aspect responded the only way he could.

He walked forward and kissed his mare, on the lips. She sighed contently and relaxed before pushing him back with a hoof.

“That won’t work forever,” she replied and poked his shoulder.

“Can I have one too?” Lyra asked cutely.

“Sorry, I’m currently dating Bon Bon,” Aspect said as he nuzzled said mare. “Plus I still have to get you back for what you did.”

“Aww,” Lyra pouted and Bon Bon rolled her eyes and pet Lyra on the head, getting a small coo of appreciation.

“Such a foal,” she giggled and looked up when somepony knocked on the door. “Ah, I’m still cooking, could somepony get that please?”

“I’ll get it,” Aspect said as he double-checked that his pegasus guise was the one he was wearing. He walked to the door and opened it slightly. “Hello?”

A mare stood on the other side, and if one squinted, they could swear it was Bon Bon. She looked a tad older, but her manes colours were still bright and vibrant. Her mane was varying shades of pink and yellow, while her tail had streaks of blue, purple and pink. Her coat was a light pink and her cutie mark was pink and purple paintbrush with a few ornate swirls.

And her blue eyes… did not look amused.

She stared at Aspect for a few minutes before speaking.

“Might I ask as to why a stallion is inside my daughter's house so early in the morning?” she said curtly.

Aspect didn’t intimidate easily. He’d faced quite a few horrors and monsters in his day. From lava and storm demons to witches that drained your vitality. He’d met with the king of the dragons and shaped a few races.

This mare had intimidation down, though.

He gulped before replying. “Well ma’am, it just didn’t seem right to leave her on her lonesome after our date last night. She had just a bit too much to drink, so I thought it best to see her home safely.”

“A date?” She stepped forward and he found himself stepping back. “Where you got her drunk? Took her home and stayed the night?”

“It only seemed right to be on hoof to help her deal with the hangover,” Aspect said. “I was the one to order the wine, after all.”

That only seemed to irritate her more as she walked past the threshold and continued to back him into a corner. “Maybe I should educate you on how to respect a lady hmm?” she said, rolling her neck as it cracked.

“I promise you, even though she made quite a few passes at me, I did nothing to her other than put her to bed,” Aspect said. He now had a very good idea that telling this mare that he’d also joined Bon Bon in that bed wouldn’t go over well.

“Aspect? Who was at the…” Bon Bon poked her head around the corner and gasped. “Mom!?!”

“Hello dear,” Toola Roola smiled warmly at her. “Don’t mind me, just going to wipe the rug with this stallion here.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” Bon Bon said as she stepped up to rescue him. “You will not hurt the stallion I love!”

“Love?” Toola raised an eyebrow not unlike her daughter did. It was like looking in a mirror really.

“You know, if I had any doubts about whether the two of you were related, they’d be erased by watching you interact,” the stallion mused.

“You’re still on thin ice young colt!” Toola snapped back at him.

“Mom, please try and be nice,” Bon Bon sighed.

“What happened to that sweet Lyra mare? I thought you two were dating,” Toola asked as said unicorn wandered out from the kitchen.

“Auntie Roola!” Lyra giggled and ran up to the mare and hugged her. “Bonnie and Aspect are being mean to meee~”

Toola’s eyebrow rose once more.

“She insinuated things,” Aspect replied. “I don’t take kindly to what she insinuated.”

“She played a prank on me,” Bon Bon sighed. “I got a little… inebriated last night. And Lyra made me think I did something rather perverse.”

“Sounds about right,” Toola said and clipped the unicorn behind the ear. Lyra winced and frowned as Toola turned back to Aspect. “Well colt. Don’t just stand there gawping like the catch of the day. Speak up and introduce yourself.”

“Balanced Aspect,” the stallion said, even going into a full formal bow with wings spread. “Former knight in service to the thrones. Current owner of the Everfree Estate as payment for services rendered. And currently your daughter’s stallionfriend. A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Toola Roola looked… somewhat impressed. “A knight hmm? Well, Sweetie could certainly do worse.”

“Urgh, stop calling me that,” Bon Bon groaned.

“What’s wrong in using your name?” Toola Roola said and Bon Bon’s eyes widened. “Sweetie Drops is a perfectly good name.”

“Celestia dammit mom!” Bon Bon groaned.

“I have to take your mother’s side in this,” Aspect said as he straightened up. “It’s quite a lovely name.”

“No!” Bon Bon pointed at him. “You are not allowed to call me that. You call me that name then you can call yourself single!”

“I can’t even call you the first half of that name endearingly?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nope. Denied. Forbidden. Permission not granted.”

“Stop being so dramatic,” Toola said and looked at Aspect. “Well, my opinion of you has improved somewhat at least.”

“I’m grateful for that,” Aspect said with another nod of his head.

“Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you like somepony so fast,” Bon Bon whistled. “So you approve then?”

“I never said that,” Toola Roola said with a wry smile. “I still don’t think he’s good enough for you. But I'm a mother, I doubt I'd approve of Celestia herself so…” She looked at Bon Bon and Aspect, along with an odd expression they wore. “What?”

“It’s a funny story we’ll tell you some other time,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “Suffice to say that I’ve learned a lot about Celestia in her service. She’s actually quite personable, once you get to know her.”

“Well I'd imagine so, they are ponies after all,” Toola sighed and shook her head. “Those who think they're some sort of infallible goddesses are morons.”

“That’s what I keep saying!” Aspect said. “I mean, if you want to see a hilarious Celestia, you should try showing up in the middle of the night when she’s been at the wine reserves.”

“Oh, so you have a habit of getting mares drunk in the middle of the night hmm?” Toola looked at him curiously.

“I didn’t say that,” Aspect said with a hint of a smile. “Apparently she needed something to take the edge off after having to deal with her nephew after a rather bothersome day. I couldn’t get two words of my report out without her drunken interjections about what she thought I could be doing instead.”

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon giggled and put a hoof to her mouth. “Pray tell, what were her ideas?”

“Like I said before,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Cheesy pickup lines 101.”

“She flirted with you?” Toola Roola asked.

“More like heavily insinuated that being such a devoted knight came with perks,” Aspect said. “I turned her down, of course, and helped her to her bed. Though not without every guard and maid whispering about the sight.”

Bon Bon just stared wide-eyed at him. Surely he wasn’t suggesting that Celestia actually hit on him?

“Aspect… We’re going to have a little talk later,” Bon Bon warned him. Toola chuckled and sniffed the air.

“Your breakfast is burning.”

“Horseapples!” Bon Bon yelled and ran into the kitchen.

“I wish I could stay for longer once breakfast is done,” Aspect said. “But I do have a job to do around town.”

“Oh, you have a job?” Toola asked him. “May I ask what?”

“Local weatherpony,” Aspect said. “I may not be a knight anymore, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still be useful.”

“A respectable job I suppose,” Toola Roola nodded and rubbed Lyra’s head. “And you need to learn to be good hmm?”

“Fiiiiiine,” Lyra pouted.

“You can still prank her though,” Toola said to Aspect.

“Aw what?” Lyra pouted. “Not fair!”

“After what you did?” Aspect said. “Totally fair, and you’d still get to eat Bon Bon’s cooking.”

Lyra appeared to be weighing her options. On one hoof… Bon Bon’s cooking was amazing… on the other hoof?

Screw it, she wasn’t going without that food.

“Bring it on fancy feathers!” she declared.

“Excellent,” Aspect said with a wide grin. “You’ll not see it coming.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” Lyra shuddered.

“So Aspect?” Bon Bon asked sweetly as they walked. “Did your daughter actually hit on you?”

“No, that was a story from some poor other guard in the Everfree castle’s time,” Aspect said. “He was noble enough to help her to her bed and not take advantage of her. I cobbled together a story to back up my story.”

“You had me worried for a while there,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “Honestly, I do not want to think you’re that kind of stallion.”

“I did what I had to to get your mother off of my back,” Aspect said with a shudder. “I’ll take the fiends of Equus any day. She scares me.”

“She does her job well,” Bon Bon nodded. “Try and get along with her though. She’s nice once she’s not judging your every action and word. She taught me how to cook and make candy you know. And she’s an amazing painter.”

“Hopefully I’ll be able to,” Aspect said, before humming. “Maybe if I think of it like a battle…”

“Please don’t draw your sword against my mom,” Bon Bon sighed. “She’d likely find a way to turn it back on you anyhow. And I like you whole and hearty.”

“Fiiine,” Aspect said with an eyeroll. “Plans today? Besides work for me and you. Do we have any?”

“Not… really?” Bon Bon blinked and then her eyes widened. “Oh no…”

Aspect followed her gaze and saw Pinkie running around with an umbrella hat on, her tail twitching sporadically. He turned back to Bon Bon, only to find her hiding under a nearby cart.

“What?” he questioned.

“Twitchy Tail!” Pinkie yelled and everypony dove for cover, save for Aspect and Twilight Sparkle.

“Pinkie… what are you doing?’ Twilight asked.

“My tail is twitching, so my Pinkie Sense says that something is going to fall,” Pinkie explained.

Twilight blinked slowly. “Pinkie… that is utterly rediculo—” She was cut off as a frog landed on her face.

“Okay, so is the pink one always precognitive?” Aspect asked his marefriend.

“The Pinkie Sense never lies,” she whispered like one of those ponies that survived the Griffon Wars. “Neveerrrrr…”

“That. Is. Ridiculous,” Twilight said as the frog leapt away, apparently dropped by Fluttershy.

“Sorry Twilight, I’m relocating these little guys to Froggy Bottom Bog,” Fluttershy giggled. She scooped up the runaway amphibian and flew off.

“As I said, just because of a coincidence like that…” Twilight started.

“Twitchy tail,” Pinkie cried again, right before Twilight fell in a ditch.

“Yup, calling it,” Aspect said. “Not messing with that.”

“Random body twitches do not predict the future!” Twilight yelled as Pinkie did something else.

“W-What does that mean?” Spike asked and the pink mare looked at Twilight.

“I’ll… run you a bath,” she said and backed up, just as Twilight was splashed with a wave of mud from a carriage.

“There’s a saying from my old world,” Aspect mused. “‘Once is circumstance, twice is coincidence, but the third time it’s certain.’” He shook his head. “Right, Pinkie can predict the future. Not going anywhere near that.”

“No, this is a load of horseapples and I’ll prove it!” Mudlight Sparkle yelled at the heavens.

“Well, so that was interesting,” Bon Bon said now that Pinkie had given the All Clear. “And now you have discovered Ponyville’s greatest asset.”

“So I see,” Aspect chuckled. “So, about those plans. Do we have any?”

“Not really, aside from avoiding my house until mom leaves or dies… whichever comes first.”

“Well, feel free to come over for dinner at my place if you’d like,” Aspect offered. “I should get off soon today, it’s just more cloudbusting for a little bit.”

“Hmm, I could do that,” Bon Bon nodded and kissed his ear. “You’ve been getting off a lot lately huh~” With one last kiss she trotted off, her hips having a very nice sway to them.

Aspect would not admit that he watched that flank for quite a while. At least, not to anypony else.

Work had been boring, more of the same keeping the skies clear that made up a week of nice weather. On the one hoof, Aspect idly wondered when the spring showers would start.

On the other, he was fine with work being boring. Since there wasn’t much to do in his section of the sky, the stallion once again finished early and clocked out, before heading home to check on his tree.

The first encouraging signs were there at least. Fresh green leaves sprouting. Given about, oh, a decade or so, and he might actually have a tree that could bear fruit. He whispered a few words of encouragement to the plant before heading inside to shower.

On his way in, he was interrupted by a cyan pegasus dropping from the sky.

“Hey Aspect, quick question,” Rainbow said to him. “Do you happen to have any healing spells in that bag of tricks of yours?”

“I know a few that can relieve pain,” Aspect said. “I’m definitely more of a sorcerer though. And I wouldn’t use me for anything that required actual medical attention.”

“Oh, cause… Twilight’s in the hospital,” Rainbow said. “Only trying to keep her there is another matter.”

“She really should stay there if it it’s serious enough,” Aspect sighed. “Does she need to be sedated? They can do that there, you know. If a patient is becoming too distressed.”

“She’s been tranq’d enough times to drop a full-grown dragon,” Rainbow sighed. “I don’t think she even remembers the piano that fell on her from thirty feet up.”

“She could be restrained,” Aspect offered. “They have those there too. And if she’s been injured that badly, she should be.”

“Then there was the safe… the wagon…” Rainbow sighed. “I wonder how she isn’t dead, let alone doing… whatever it is she’s doing.”

“I have just the thing,” Aspect said. “Come in and I’ll get it.”

“Thanks,” Rainbow nodded and followed him inside. The stallion motioned for her to sit in the entryway as he went further in, into his bedroom.

Rainbow Dash sat there impatiently for a few minutes until Aspect returned with what looked like a hole-less flute and a small feathered object. “Zebra tranquilizer dart and blowgun,” he said. “Already treated with just a drop of the potion that’ll put anything down for an hour. This thing has worked on manticores and dragons. I promise if you hit her with this, she’ll be out like a light.”

“Mmm, I dunno how I feel about this,” Rainbow said as she took the pipe and dart. “I mean, does it really work that well?” She asked as she played with the tip of the dart… before falling sideways, unconscious before she hit the ground.

“...Well when you come to, you can use it on your friend,” Aspect sighed as he took the dart and blowgun. He’d leave them nearby once he’d treated the dart again and left a note for her…

It’d probably be easier if he just moved her to a guest room while she was out of it. With a flash, the alicorn form of Aspect was back, moving Rainbow Dash along.

Ten minutes later, after having finally seen to it that the blowgun, dart, and note were prepared, the stallion finally entered his shower.

“Hi Aspect!” Pinkie emerged from his shower and her whole body vibrated. “Oooooh, I've been getting this real doozy lately. Just an FYI.” And with that, she was off and bouncing away.

“...Not questioning it,” he said to himself firmly. He had a marefriend that was possibly coming over. Nothing would ruin today.

Well, so he thought.

So why was he in some stinky swamp with Twilight and Pinkie?

Oh right, because apparently this was where Pinkie’s ‘doozy’ was coming from. And that Fluttershy was here and possibly in danger.

“Are you sure about this Pinkie?” Twilight asked as she coughed from some of smoke that blanketed the area.

“Uhuh!” Pinkie nodded. “Oh look! Flutters is over there. HEY FLUTTERSHY!!”

“I don’t think she needs you to scream,” Aspect sighed.

“Oh, hello everypony,” Fluttershy smiled. “Did you come to help me with the froggies?”

A ripple in the water passed by…

“No, apparently Pinkie’s ridiculous Pinkie Sense told us you were in danger.” Twilight deadpanned.

More ripples…

“Everypony,” Aspect said, flaring his wings. “Get ready to run.”

“W-What?” Twilight coughed as the smoke got thicker. “Urgh, what is that smell?”

And that was when the full grown Hydra burst from the murky depths.

“RUN!” Aspect bellowed as he instinctively reached for the full power he possessed in this form, feeling the lightning crackling on his wings. “I’ll distract it, you all get out of here!”

The mares didn’t need to be told twice as they bolted, running for the hills, literally.

The Hydra ignored Aspect and started stomping after the three mares. They looked much tastier, plus there was one for each head~

That was when Aspect shocked the hydra, doing his best to be as annoying as possible.

One head turned and unleashed a breath attack. Aspect rolled, dodged, and unleashed another shocking blast at the hydra. He didn’t bother with verbal taunts, it wouldn’t understand them anyways.

One head looked at the retreating mares. It could catch them later. It turned to Aspect and all three heads unleashed its breath weapon, scouring the ground as it raced towards him.

The stallion took to the skies, doing his best to not fly out of reach of the hydra on purpose. He needed this thing to follow him, after all, and not the others.

The Hydra roared however and started stomping up the hill after Twilight and the others. Aspect swore and started shocking the creature again, hoping to earn its ire and attention once more. It just ignored him, he wasn’t doing much and the pain in his belly was worse.

The stallion did his best this time to bring the full might of what had once been Arabus to bear, shocking as hard as he could.

Okay, so now that the Hydra was pissed off… the others could make their escape.

So why the buck was Twilight charging straight at them with her horn glowing!?

“Twilight, RUN!” he shouted. “I can fly! You can’t! Get OUT OF HERE!”

“I can help get you out of here!” she yelled and tackled him before teleporting just before the Hydra dove at them. They reappeared near the top of the hill, but the Hydra was already coming for them.

“Come on,” Twilight said and pointed to the large stone pillars. “We can cross here!”

“I’ll fly, you teleport,” Aspect said. “Or do you want me to fly you?”

“No, I got this,” Twilight said and started leaping from stone to stone.

Until the last one collapsed and she started falling to her doom… until she hit a massive bubble and it burst, rocketing her into the air and making her land next to Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“Um… wat?” Twilight blinked, wondering what just happened. Aspect had landed nearby and seen the whole thing, just shaking his head.

“And why didn’t you just teleport?” he asked the mare.

“Because I…” Twilight replied as she suddenly recalled she could teleport. And to add insult to injury?

Pinkie vibrated again. “Oh hey, the Hydra wasn't the doozy~”

“The Hydra wasn’t…” Ooooh, that was a dangerous eye twitch Twilight had there. “ WHAT?! The Hydra wasn't the doozy?! How could it not be the doozy?! What could be ‘doozy-er’ than that?!”

Pinkie, Fluttershy and Aspect backed away as Twilight’s twitching got worse.

Then she exploded, literally. Her mane and tail ignited into flame as her coat turned white for a brief moment before she collapsed and returned to normal.

“That reminds me so much of what happens when Celly gets mad,” Aspect mused.

“That’s it,” Twilight sighed dejectedly. “I don’t know how, or why. But Pinkie Pie’s Sense somehow works. Just because I can't explain it, doesn't mean it's not true.”

Pinkie vibrated violently before stopping and smiling. “Oh hey! That was the doozy!”

“Come again?” Fluttershy asked.

“Twilight accepting my Pinkie Sense was the doozy, and boy what a doozy it was!” Pinkie beamed brightly before bouncing off, singing a nonsensical song.

“Believe me, there have been plenty of things I can’t explain over the years,” Aspect said. “At some point I just accepted that they were happening rather than try to explain them.” He looked around, before looking up. “I’ll scout out the location of Ponyville, we can all head back then.”

“Yeah, sure,” Twilight sighed and she and Fluttershy followed after him.

“Sounds like you had quite the day,” Bon Bon chuckled as she ran a hoof down his side as they lay in bed. “As if meeting my mother wasn’t bad enough, you also got the full Pinkie Pie Package.” She smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Do you want Bonnie to make your day better~”

“I could do with a little relaxing now, yes,” Aspect sighed as he lay there. “I’m not heading to the spa again anytime soon. Those two almost got a little too hooves-on.”

“Aww, I'll murder them later,” Bonnie cooed as she rolled him over and started kneading his back.

“And you were just telling me not to be violent before I left,” Aspect said before nearly melting under her touch.

“That’s different,” Bon Bon nodded and smiled. “Tell you what, some stallion makes advances towards me, you can buck him in the babymakers.”

“I wouldn’t wish that on anypony,” her stallion said. “And wouldn’t that mean I’d have to start with Thunderlane for what he tried during Winter Wrap-Up?”

“Hmm, guess you would,” Bon Bon nodded and chuckled as her hooves worked a little lower down his back. Aspect let out a little moan and went even limper.

“Ooooh, yeesss…” he said. “Letting out all the stress after using that much lightning feels so goooood…”

“Oh?” Bon Bon mused as her hooves made small circles up his back and she started kneading his wing muscles. “You like it when I make you feel good huh?”

“You can touch me whenever you want, Bonnie,” Aspect said. “You know that.”

“Is that so?” Bon smiled and kissed his ear. “So if I was to flip you over for the rest of this massage~?”

“Entirely up to you,” Aspect replied. “Just don’t stop touching me.”

On those words, he felt her hooves leave his form, causing him to let out a little sigh as he thought the massage was done.

Then she rolled him over again, her hooves wandering over his belly.

“Well hello again Bonnie,” Aspect said with a happy grin on his face. “What’re you up to today?”

“I'm still a little hungry after dinner,” Bon Bon said and fixed him with a smouldering gaze. “But I think I found what I want for dessert~”

“Oh have you now?” Aspect asked.

She answered as her hooves started to rub… lower.

“Mmm, I guess you have,” Aspect mused. “I don’t suppose I’d be allowed a taste of my favorite honeypot again, would I?”

“Not yet,” Bon Bon said with a sultry wink before she leaned down and dragged her tongue along his growing member, pausing to nibble lightly on his medial ring. Aspect moaned and let out a little buck at her attentions, panting lightly as he grabbed hold of the blanket.

She smiled at that, keeping up her teasing as her hooves continued to massage his chest.

“Oh Bonnie,” he moaned. “You feel so good~”

“Mmm, s’that so?” she murmured, and licked along the length. “What do you want me to do to you Aspect~?”

“Whatever you want,” Aspect moaned. “Just don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

“Close your eyes Balanced Aspect,” Bon Bon whispered to him and kissed him. “I have something special for you.”

The stallion obeyed and closed his eyes, leaning his head back and wondering what she could possibly be up to. He felt her shift around and climb up in top of him. Oooh, was she going to do what she did last time?

He heard her take a deep breath, and something warm, wet and tight engulfed the tip of his member. Aspect let out a suitably appreciative moan. He felt himself be pressed deeper inside as she gasped and moaned.

Wait, if her mouth wasn’t doing that, then…

“Bonnie?” he questioned. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

“O-Open… your eyes… and see,” she gasped and when he did, he saw her atop of him. She was easing her hips down, pressing a little more of him inside of her. Her walls already squeezing tightly.

“Bonnie,” he said, raising one hoof up to brush up against one of hers. “You could have asked. I wouldn’t have said no.”

“You don't… like your surprise?” she moaned out, pressing around half his length inside.

“I love my surprise,” he said. “You just didn’t have to make it one. I wouldn’t have denied you if you asked me straight out.”

“I wanted to,” she smiled lovingly at him. She bit her bottom lip and then pressed down hard, taking almost his entire length. “Ooooh~ The real thing is sooooo much better~”

Aspect took a moment to get his head back on straight after that. When he did, though… “Real thing? Bonnie, has somepony been fantasizing about this?”

Aaaaand there was that blush he loved so much as she froze, eyes wide with embarrassment.

“You’ve been a naughty little pony, haven’t you?” he teased her.

“S-Shut up,” Bon Bon blushed and smacked his chest with a hoof. “Stop teasing me!”

“Says the mare who’s wrapped herself around me,” Aspect pointed out, before kissing her nearby hoof. She mumbled something as her hips fell, taking his whole member as she squeezed it tightly.

“Mmm,” Aspect said, rubbing his hooves along her forelegs. “You doing okay?”

“Mhmm, bit… bigger than I'm used to…” she groaned and fell onto his chest. “It feels really good though.”

“Well I’m glad I’m adequate for your needs,” Aspect said, before leaning forward and pecking her muzzle with a kiss.

“More that adequate,” she smiled and then rolled over, pulling him on top of her. “This is what you want right?”

“I want you to be happy,” Aspect said. “If this makes you happy, I’m all for it.”

“And I want you to be satisfied,” she said back. “So you can start moving if you want. I'm okay.”

Aspect slowly drew his hips back, leaving her feeling emptier than she had been in a while...

“Aspect… wha-”

Then he bucked forward, filling her again. She let out a loud gasp as he did, her hooves shooting and gripping his neck as she moaned into his ear.

“You like?” Aspect asked the mare under him. She let out a small nod and kissed his neck before bucking her hips slightly.

“W-What about you?” she gasped. “You seem… am I good enough?”

“I have nothing else to compare it to,” Aspect pointed out. “But I will say you feel wonderful.” He slowly drew back again, before bucking into her once more. She moaned with each thrust, he filled her so so much she thought she was going to burst.

Then his medial ring grazed her clit and she nearly screamed in pleasure as she held him a little tighter. Aspect nuzzled and kissed her neck as he held himself still for a moment...before repeating that particular bucking motion. It clearly brought her great pleasure, after all.

Her head rolled back as he just kept going, the neighbours were probably going to complain in the morning. Soon he felt her tense up and her walls started milking his member as she climaxed hard.

Aspect just held himself still, he’d been close but he could ride this out. He peppered her neck with kisses as she kept climaxing around him, waiting for her to stop.

“S-So…. Aaaahhhh~” Bon Bon moaned and gasped as electric tingles ran up her spine. She could feel him pulsing slightly, making her coo and her hips bucked again. Aspect caught her mouth in a kiss this time as he held himself still, his tongue prodding at her lips. Her mouth opened, allowing him entry as she kissed him back, moaning lewdly as her hips bucked again.

Aspect played with her tongue for a little bit before drawing back and smirking down at her. “Mmm, you just don’t stop, do you?” he said. “Even after you’ve just climaxed, you want more.”

“Y-You… haven't finished right?” she moaned and bucked again. “Just not inside… okay?”

“I have a better plan to help satisfy that urge of yours,” Aspect said, before slowly pulling out of her. Before she could raise a word of protest, he had put his head between her hind legs and was licking her again.

“Nnnrgghh~” Bon Bon let out a long, drawn out moan. “But… but you…”

He slowly raised his head and started turning around, before he was straddling her entire body. A familiar organ now hung down in front of Bon Bon’s face as he kept licking her, not once stopping.

She just opened her mouth and took it in, suckling greedily on it. She used her hooves to tease what she couldn't fit, before one tried massaging the two orbs that hung behind it. Aspect moaned into her folds, before using his tongue to tease that nub of flesh of hers again. She gave a few muffled cries as she bobbed her head up and down, the tip of her tongue teasing his head and flicking the small opening there.

Aspect let out a muffled cry of his own as he all but buried his muzzle into her folds, sending his tongue deep into her and licking at her inner walls, seeking that sweet nectar again. Of course, he also accidentally lowered his hind legs as he did…

Bon gave a muffled gag as he drove his member deeper inside her maw, the flat of her tongue brushing against his ring and he felt his tip get squeezed by her throat. Aspect let out a long, lewd moan into Bon Bon’s folds as something was shot directly into her throat. He never once stopped licking, though.

Bon Bon squeaked as he released into her, trying to swallow as much as she could, even as it ran from the sides of her mouth. He never stopped licking her walls as his muzzle ground into her clit, trying his hardest to provoke another orgasm from her so that he could drink it down himself. His efforts so netted his reward as the mare gave a muffled scream, her winking marehood releasing a second torrent of her sweet nectar. The stallion kept licking and drinking of her release even as he kept shooting his into his mare’s mouth for a good few seconds longer.

She placed her hooves on his hips and lifted him up and out of her mouth so she could breathe, the last few shots of cum splattering her muzzle as she gasped for air and coughed.

“That… that was...” she gasped as she rode out her own climax. One that Aspect was still licking up, even as she talked.

“Geez, you… really like that huh?” She set his hindquarters back down, her hooves rubbing his back. Aspect shuffled around so that he was looking up at her as he kept licking her, never once stopping, not even when she did.

Okay, so maybe she tasted amazing.

Bon Bon just sighed as she wiggled a bit so she was laying her back against the pillows. She licked the cum from her lips, savouring the taste before swallowing that. “So… we finally did it huh?” She looked down and ran a hoof through his mane. “Promise… you won't leave me now…”

Aspect nodded and punctuated the nod with another swipe of his tongue across her clit.

“I'm trying to be serious here,” Bon Bon pouted and shuddered at his ministrations. “But thank you… Balanced Aspect.”

He merely hummed and kept up his attentions. She was too good to not taste again and again and again~

A few minutes later, he noticed that she’d not reacted for a bit.

Bon Bon had fallen asleep.

He pulled back before licking his lips. “Sweet dreams Bonnie,” he said, reaching up to kiss her on the cheek, before tucking the both of them into the bed and snuggling up next to her.

Hey, who knew. Maybe she’d wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where he was.

...Plus if he woke up with her, he could taste her again~

Bon Bon groaned softly and rolled over, frowning as she found herself overly warm. The reason being that Aspect had a wing over her, and combined with her blankets, she was sweating under it all.

She eased herself out from under him and tiphooved to the bathroom to wash up, both her sweat and from the… earlier activities. After a quick shower and washing out her mouth, she sighed contently and headed back into the room.

She looked at Aspect and wondered what he dreamt about… if he dreamt at all. Well, Luna was his daughter, so it was likely good things.

Then she found herself wondering what making love to him would be like in his Alicorn, or even his human form?

The mental images made her blush.

Then she saw a bulge under the blankets, around where Aspect’s hind legs were. Apparently he was having a very good dream.

Then the mare got a devious thought. Let’s make that dream… better~

She entered under the sheets at the foot of the bed and stealthily crawled upwards until she found her goal. It still smelled like their combined fluids, but it didn’t dissuade her from lightly stroking it with her hoof. Let’s see how much she could get away with without waking him up.

Aspect barely reacted, only shifting a little in his sleep at her touch.

She licked her lips as she inched forward a little and poked out her tongue, licking it lightly as her hoof continued to stroke him. This time he let out a little moan, but nothing else happened from the stallion. He was either really into his dream, or just a really heavy sleeper. Maybe both.

Oh fun~ Bon Bon smiled to herself as she moved her mouth upwards, taking the tip into as she started suckling him, still remaining as quiet as possible. Her hooves moved to massage his balls gently. He seemed to really like that last time.

Aspect let out another moan, this time with a name. Her name. “Bonnie,” he said in a yearning tone, his eyes still closed.

This caused her to pause slightly. Did he wake up? She looked up as saw his eyes were still closed. So… he was even dreaming about her? Aww, that was so sweet and adorable. She was making all his favourites for breakfast.

As soon as she was done here of course. She started bobbing her head again, as her hooves worked his remaining shaft.

Aspect moaned her name again, shifting slightly in his sleeping state...before bucking. She giggled lightly and sucked him some more. She wasn't even sure if she was good at this or not, but he seemed to like it. She took a breath through her nose and pushed herself down further.

Aspect let out a wordless moan before bucking again, sending that shaft further into her maw as he did. She had to hold his hips to stop him bucking too hard, and she started to bob her head faster. His erection twitched lightly in her mouth, signalling that the sleeping stallion was close…

Now to see if she could time this right. She sat up, his member pressed against her belly as she stroked him furiously, not worried about waking him up now. He was going to be greeted with the sight of a painted mare~

All too soon, his member twitched again as he started painting her with his release...and he still didn’t wake up.

“Are you kidding?” Bon Bon said and then leaned forward, taking his head into her mouth and sucking hard on it while he came. The taste of his cum flooded her mouth as he let out a moan...though he still didn’t wake up.

She pulled back and frowned at him.

Okay, she swallowed her mouthful and while he was still hard…

Impaled herself on him and started to ride his dick for all it was worth.

That got him to moan again, but he was still asleep. Celestia, just how heavy a sleeper was this stallion?! She moaned as she bottomed out, burying him inside of her as she clenched her hind legs, squeezing him tightly as she kept bucking her hips.

Aspect moaned again, and this time said something other than her name. “Bonnie, so good...don’t stop,” he said. Either he was just sleep-talking and his dream had changed to reflect reality, or he was just pretending to have his eyes closed.

Bon Bon shook her head and lifted her hips, before slamming them back down and squeezing. Then she released, rose up, and repeated the process. The stallion let out another moan as he lay there under her, occasionally bucking in his sleep, but otherwise not contributing to the effort.

She started bucking faster, now letting out her own pants and moans as her hooves rubbed his chest. “F-Fuck… so, good~” she moaned.

“Bonnie,” he moaned, still seemingly asleep. He bucked again, and she could feel that member inside of her starting to twitch a little. Dammit, she wanted to keep going, but she couldn’t risk getting pregnant.

With a groan, she pulled off if him and got an idea. She nestled his member against her rump, sliding the slick cock up and down as it brushed against the dock of her tail. She blushed over how lewd this must look, but her seemed to be enjoying it. He let out another moan, but the twitching seemed to die down a little as his member was removed from her.

“Are you kidding me?” Bon Bon said. “You sleep though this? And now you wanna get me pregnant!” She groaned and turned around, taking him back into her mouth again. The twitching started up again, though nowhere near as hard as it had been a moment ago.

Then she had an idea, one she'd… tried once with one of her toys.

“You'd better appreciate this,” she said as she climbed back up and aimed his cock with her hooves and pressed her rump down. She gave a hissing gasp as the tip pressed against her tail hole. She took another breath and pushed down, taking him inside her again.

Aspect himself let out a long moan at the feeling as his cock started to twitch a little more at being inside her again. She took a little more and started to move, slowly getting used to having him in this particular hole.

The cock inside of her was twitching a lot, before something warm and fluid was soaking her insides. She let out a low groan as her own fluids coated his abdomen, this felt… a lot better than she thought it would.

His erection slowly started to deflate, and he still hadn’t woken up.

Bon Bon frowned. Then smacked his chest with a hoof. Aspect was instantly awake, and then he did something she hadn’t expected.

He kissed her, right on the lips, the instant he woke up.

The mare squeaked in surprise, backing back and staring at him.

“You had better not tell me you were awake the whole time,” she said with a warning tone. “Though… the fact you slept through all of that annoys me too.”

“No, but I’m pretty skilled with dreams,” Aspect said. “The moment my dream version of you felt too real, I conjured up a crystal ball and scryed myself in the waking world. Then I chose to remain asleep so that I could see what you would do.”

“I feel as though I should hurt you,” Bon frowned as she pulled him out of her ass with a slight wince and a lewd pop sound. “Well, if you weren't so hard to please in the first place. Were you trying to get me pregnant?”

“No, but if you’d like to experience us finishing a round of normal sex,” Aspect said before a horn appeared on his forehead with a flash. “Then Cadenza taught me a contraceptive spell. The option is there.”

“I dunno if I trust magic for that,” Bon Bon sighed and looked at her cum-soaked form. “And now I need another shower.”

“Do you trust me?” Aspect asked her.

“I trust you, but not the spell,” Bon Bon said. She got up from his form and slid off, landing on the floor. “We'll discuss this when we're a little more awake…”

Aspect slid from the bed as well and kissed her again. “Don’t think you’re escaping me, I need to clean up too, as well as pay a part of my sweet mare some special attention~”

“Oh no, you're not getting any for sleeping through that,” she said and booped his nose. “No midnight snacks for you, you greedy stallion.”

“I'll let him,” Lyra called out from the room over. Aahh, gotta love a lack of soundproofing spells.

Aspect blinked a few times before looking at Bon Bon. One part asking if she was serious, and one part asking what his Bonnie thought he should do about this.

“She probably would you know,” Bon Bon said. “And pray tell, what would you like to do Aspect?”

“Nothing that would make either of you uncomfortable,” Aspect said immediately. “I have no idea how close friends you are, or how much you share. But she seems to be really...flirty.”

“Come on Bonnie, share your toys,” Lyra called out with a giggle.

“I'll wring her damned neck,” Bon Bon growled. “Bathroom Aspect. We need to get cleaned up.”

“We’ll see how good you are at dodging my tongue, then,” Aspect said as he followed after his marefriend.

The next morning, Aspect and Bon Bon headed downstairs, only to be greeted by Lyra and Toola Roola at the breakfast table. Both mares watched them enter, but didn’t say a thing as Bon Bon avoided their gazes as she moved to the counter to start breakfast.

Aspect sat at the table, clearly in early-morning low-caffeine mode by the way he didn’t even grunt a hello. A situation soon rectified as Bon Bon placed a mug in front of him.

Toola and Lyra just continued to stare impassively. Aspect grabbed ahold of the mug and started knocking it back, soon emptying the thing and putting the mug on the table. He sighed in relief before greeting the pair of them chipperly.

“Good morning~” he said.

“Well, you seem happy,” Toola said and sipped her own coffee. “And from the sounds of it, you make my daughter happy as well.”

“Mom!”

“Multiple times,” Lyra added.

“LYRA!”

“I do wish you’d taken your house guests into consideration though,” Toola added as Bon Bon wondered if she could crawl into her oven.

“Ah,” Aspect added. “My fault. I guess the unicorn who we normally see for soundproofing forgot to re-enchant the room this week.”

“I think I can fit,” Bon Bon muttered as she looked in her oven. Maybe she could just stick her head in and turn on the gas?

“Well, she’s a consenting adult and you don’t appear to be taking advantage of her…” Toola looked at her daughter and Bon’s blood turned to ice. “You are using protection yes? I’m much too young to become a grandmother just yet.”

“MOM!” Bon Bon blushed hard.

“That hasn’t become a concern yet,” Aspect said. “Though in the event that it does, I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

“You’d better,” Toola Roola nodded. “I don’t want you knocking up my little girl and then running for the hills.”

“That is hardly my way, madam,” Aspect said. “Believe you me, once I’ve gotten a chance to plant my roots somewhere, I stay. And I think there’s more than a few good reasons for me to stay here.”

“Hmm,” she looked him over and then a smile crossed her muzzle. “I’ve decided I like this one Bonnie. He’s a keeper.”

“I already knew that,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “Well, are you done embarrassing me now?”

“Oh heavens no,” Toola grinned as she lifted a photo album onto the table. “Now he gets to see your foal pictures.”

“NOOOOOO!!!” Bon Bon cried.

Author's Note

Oh hey, switching from Firefox to Chrome fixed most of the errors.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half of all funds will not go towards a gaming addiction.

Chapter 15 - Old magic, new fights

“-So in summary, those witches are why I’m leery about letting you learn anything to do with sorcery,” Aspect said, flaring his wing and sending several books back onto the shelves where they belonged. “Not that I think you’ll accidentally call forth a country-wide destroying plague, mind you. But with how easy music magic comes to ponies, and that being a key component to sorcery, the whole rhyming and spelling out your intentions in verse making it easier to use, you could quite easily call up something you can’t easily put down. And I don’t have access to too many magical relics anymore that could stop anything like the Smooze.”

Aspect had had nothing better to do today, after having seen to his weather work, he’d gladly gone along with Twilight’s veiled attempt to needle more information out of him under the guise of needing help to reshelve the library. He’d happily taken this chance to tell the ponies more about Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle. Three of the most...interesting characters from Dream Valley. Witches with a penchant for causing misery to the ponies, the most notable of which being when they called forth the Smooze. An ocean of magical, depression-inducing slime that had grown out of control and covered most of Dream Valley and the Paradise Estates, before the Flutterponies had seen to stopping it.

He hadn’t told them about the straw that broke the camel’s back, though. Namely, when the witches lashed out at the Flutterponies in retaliation, and nearly succeeded in turning Flutter Valley into a wasteland. Megan Williams had seen to the foiling of that plot.

He’d seen to the fact that there weren’t any more after that one.

“Well can you at least explain why they were such a threat?” Twilight replied and snorted in annoyance at the human’s stinginess to hoof over any information. “What kind of magic could they have possibly used that threatened the whole world?”

“In those days, they were relatively young, as far as Aspects go,” Aspect said, looking over the titles to make sure they were all in place. “Given about a century or three, they could have become unstoppable Aspects of Magic. They had books and tomes from their family that were filled to the brim with incantations. If I’d given them time to learn them all back to back, they’d have been insurmountable. The worst thing, though, was the Pictomancy.”

“Pictomancy?” Twilight liked to think she knew a lot about magic, but that was drawing a complete blank. She floated over several thick books, rapidly flipping through them. “I can’t find that anywhere!”

“It was an old art,” the stallion said with a shake of his head. “You’d need Spectra Crystals to properly revive it. And those only form in a magic-rich environment at the end of a rainbow.”

“Spectra Crystals?” Twilight was just hearing one strange word after another. “Well, they certainly sound ominous at the very least.” Still…

“And magic rich? Most of Equestria is magic rich. How come I’ve never heard of them?”

“A natural rainbow,” Aspect said. “Not one that the weather factory puts out. Those are much rarer these days. I think the only place that’s not effected by the factory anymore is the Everfree and places like it.”

“Hmm, I wonder if the Everfree has some—”

“INCOMING!” came a distant shout and Twilight turned her head…

As a blue and rainbow blur slammed into the library at almost supersonic speeds. Plumes of dust rose up from the impact as the whole tree trembled. Aspect had done what he could to cushion the landing for the crashing pegasus, but there was only so much he could do and still have it be safe for her to actually crash into.

Still, he couldn’t deny. Airbags were a useful trick, and far more literal now that he had a lot of Arabus in him.

“Way to go, you rock. Whoohoo…” came Fluttershy’s delightfully quiet cheering as she landed in the window space Rainbow had crashed through. “Oh my, did my cheering do this?”

“Nah, sudden air differentials being popped by a polychromatic pegasus.” Seeing their uncomprehending looks, he simplified. “I made an invisible air balloon for her to land in, but when it popped, the shock sorta...rattled. The place. Which is better than what would have happened if she just hit the floor.”

Twilight coughed as she looked at her now unshelved books. Aspect, the girls, and her had spent all morning shelving these. Well… She turned and looked at the dizzy pegasus. “So, what happened Rainbow?”

“Urgh, that, was a truly feeble performance.”

“Oh,” Fluttershy replied. “I don’t think so. I really liked it when you made the clouds spin—”

“I’m talking about your cheering,” Rainbow groaned as she picked herself up.

“What are you two arguing about?” Twilight said as she looked around the room. This was going to take hours…

“Oh, were we arguing? I’m sorry,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Rainbow, don’t you think you might have picked someone slightly off if you want cheering?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. Someone had to teach Celly and Lulu the Royal Voice after all. Otherwise known as the castle-wide paging system. “I can’t imagine Fluttershy raising her voice for much of anything.”

Fluttershy just looked down, her ears flat.

“Exactly!” Rainbow sighed. “I wish you guys could come to Cloudsdale and see me perform at the Best Young Flyer Competition.”

“What in Equestria is that?” Twilight blinked, earning an incredulous stare from Rainbow. Luckily, Pinkie was there to offer a helpful explanation.

“It's where all the greatest Pegasus flyers get together and show off their different flying styles! Some are fast!” She ran around the room making car sounds. How and why did Pinkie know what a car was and what they sounded like? “And some are graceful. Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Her ‘gracefulness’ made her faceplant a pile of books.

“Golly, ah’d love to see you strut your stuff in that competition,” Applejack exclaimed.

“Yeah, I wish you guys could be there. Fluttershy is great support… but her cheering isn’t exactly inspirational.” She shot the butter-colored pegasus a look. And at Fluttershy’s downcast expression, Aspect sighed and flapped his wings for emphasis.

“Ohh right!” Rainbow smiled brightly. “Sorry Aspect. I forgot you had a pair.”

“That’s what she said!” Pinkie called out from her bookpile. “Whaaat? She just did!”

“Anyway, I’m sure I can come along and see this competition,” Aspect said. “Sakes, the last I’d heard of the city, it was little more than a mobile landing strip for the Wonderbolts. I’d love to see how it’s grown in the last millennium.”

“Wait! You haven’t seen Cloudsdale?” Rainbow blinked and then grinned. This was gonna be awesome!

“Ohh, I wish I could see,” Pinkie pouted. “I'd love to see you make a sonic rainboom! It's like, the most coolest thing ever! Even though I've never actually seen it, but I mean come on! It's a sonic rainboom! How not cool could it possibly not be?!”

“A what?” the only male pegasus in the room asked. Apparently, there were still things he didn’t know.

Pinkie sighed and rolled her eyes. “You really need to get out more. The sonic rainboom is legendary! When a Pegasus like Rainbow Dash gets going sooo fast... Boom! A sonic boom and a rainbow can happen all at once!”

“And Rainbow here is the only pony to ever pull it off,” Applejack nodded proudly.

“Huh,” Aspect mused. “Well, this bears watching. Might even answer a question or two I have.”

“It was a long time ago,” Rainbow said...demurly? What? This wasn’t the brash mare at all. “I was just a filly.”

“Yeah, but you’re gonna do it again, right?” Pinkie asked from her landing spot.

“Aaare you kidding?” Rainbow said hesitantly. Okay, something was definitely up. “I’m the greatest flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale.” It sounded more like a question than a statement. “I could pull off Sonic Rainbooms in my sleep.”

“Wow,” Twilight said, clearly buying it. “If you can pull that off, you’ll win the crown for sure.”

“And the grand prize is a day with the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow let out a fanfilly squeal of excitement. “A whole day of flying with my lifelong heroes. It’ll be a dream come true~” She stood up and dusted herself off. “Well, I’m gonna go home and rest up, don’t wanna be over prepared…” She turned and pointed at Fluttershy. “You need to keep practicing. I need a spectacular cheering squad to match my spectacular performance!” And with that, she rocketed out of the window.

“I’ve watched her practice that move a hundred times,” Fluttershy sighed. “And she hasn’t even come close to doing it. I don’t know if my cheering will be enough…” And with that, she followed her lifelong friend.

“Ah, as I believe one of the storybook villains used to say from long ago,” Aspect said, before adopting a raspy voice. “Her overconfidence is her weakness.” He turned pensive for a moment. “Or was it actually the hero that said that?...”

Everypony just stared blankly at him. Except for Pinkie, she giggled and snorted.

“But I do have to agree,” Rarity said. “I have put on enough fashion shows to recognise stage fright when I see it.” She turned and poked Twilight in the ribs with her horn. “Now go, go on. Find a spell that will get us wingless ponies into Cloudsdale.”

“Oowa!” Twilight let out an odd noise and looked at her. “Urgh, how am I supposed to find a flight spell in all this mess?”

“Flight spell?” Pinkie asked. “One sec!” She pinched her nose and dove into the book pile, emerging a moment later, a book in her mouth before tossing it to Twilight. “Page twenty seven.”

Twilight just stared with wide, open eyes. “I… what… how did you do that!?”

“Twilight, remember what we agreed to regarding Pinkie,” Aspect warned her.

“Right,” Twilight sighed.

“It landed on my face when Rainbow knocked me into the bookcase,” Pinkie explained as Twilight studied the spell.

“Ohh, so it grants the power of flight for three days,” the unicorn explained. “Ooh, but it looks really difficult. I don’t know if I can cast it…”

“You’ve got to try!” Rarity proclaimed.

“Well, looks like I just found a volunteer,” Twilight smiled at her friend. Rarity gulped, but nodded and stepped forward.

“I will. For Rainbow Dash!”

“Well then…” Twilight grit her teeth as her horn fired up with a blinding magenta hue. “Here goes nothing!”

Rarity was suddenly having second thoughts as the pink cocoon surrounded her…

“I think I’ve rubbed off a little much on Twilight,” Aspect whispered to Pinkie.

“Why’s that?” Pinkie said, ohh’ing and ahh’ing at the lightshow.

“Because picking out the first voice to be a volunteer when I said a maneuver was tricky was something I used to do, back at the castle,” Aspect said as the spell progressed, now nearly covering the white mare completely.

“Is that a bad thing?” Pinkie asked as Rarity was engulfed utterly in the light. Then with a spark and some backlash that sent Twilight flying across the room, the spell finished…

And Rarity was revealed.

“Well,” Aspect said, blinking a little. “It’s a little more...flashy than I’m used to, but that definitely looks like a Flutterpony to me.”

“A Flutterpony?” Twilight said dizzily. “Oh hey… it worked…”

“Whah. hah. haaah!” Rarity let out a giddy giggle as she flapped her beautiful wings.

“Beautiful Butterfly wings Aspectman!” Pinkie gasped. “She turned Rarity into an alicorn!”

“Nah, she said it was temporary,” Aspect said with a wave of one hoof. “Plus, believe me, I’d know if there was a new Alicorn in the land. Though that being said, she certainly is running the gamut for old friends she’s reminding me of. First it was Majesty, now my old friends the Flutters.”

“I aim to please,” Rarity took a bow and looked at her wings. “Why Twilight, they’re stunning!”

“And… exhausting…” the unicorn panted. “There’s… no way I can cast that another three times…”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “Maybe if I used some sorcery and essence of Arabus, I could make a cloud you all could stand on…”

“Cloud… stand…” Twilight gasped. “Of course! Why didn’t I think of it before!” She started levitating books, Pinkie hanging onto one and floating with it.

“Wheee!”

“Somewhere… where are you… HAH!” She opened one book and the rest dropped, Pinkie landing right in Aspects lap. “Here it is. A spell that will let us walk on clouds!”

“Yeah, I’d much rather you do it, in all honesty,” Aspect said. “I’m not the worst at sorcery, but there’s less chances of failure your way.”

“I trust you,” Twilight smiled. “And that enchanted cloud sounds like an interesting experiment for later. Right now, let’s cast these spells and head to Cloudsdale.”

“Hi~” Pinkie said, looking up at Aspect from his lap. “Come here often handsome~?”

“Only when Twilight doesn’t take no for an answer,” Aspect replied. “I mean, seriously, does she not think the Smooze is a valid enough reason to not learn sorcery? Heck, the stuff is still imprisoned in Mount Gloom.”

“Twilight is what Twilight does,” Pinkie replied and hopped up when it was her turn. “Try not to worry about it Aspect. Things can get a lot worse~” And with that, she pronked off to be magicked.

“Yeah, no kidding,” Aspect mused, and waited until all three ponies were spelled against falling through clouds before voicing his opinion. “So. Not that that’s not a good precaution to take. But how do you intend to get to Cloudsdale anyways? I mean, from my understanding, it’s a cloud city.”

“I have a plan,” Twilight smiled.

“I should have questioned you about your plan when you brought it up,” Aspect huffed as he did his best to act as another pony guiding the balloon. He didn’t even know where Cloudsdale was and he’d been talked into being a super-pony engine for their aircraft.

“Oh, are you having some complaints there?” Twilight mused and giggled airily. “Is it not a gentlecolt’s way to be the one to escort a mare?”

“Vengeance will be Bon-Bon’s, once I tell her what you did,” Aspect swore. Only she was allowed to pull out the cute eyes.

“Pfft, you’re so whipped,” Pinkie giggled.

“Darling, do be kind to him. He is escorting us and I happen to think his relationship with Bon Bon is adorable~”

“Does she know about… you know what?” Twilight whispered to him.

“Less focus on my love life, more focus on telling me which way to go,” Aspect said. “Remember, I’ve never been to the city. Probably for a good reason, but I can keep it under control now as long as you give me a heads-up.”

“Okay, head up,” Twilight smirked. The pegasus stallion glanced upwards…

And the massive cloud city of Cloudsdale dominated the sky right above them. Waterfalls of rainbows cascaded off of the sides, and countless pegasi flew about the impressive city. Aspect just remembered in time to tamp his abilities down, and with a muted, barely visible flash, he was down to ‘normal’ pegasus levels. Didn’t need to be turning the whole city into a storm after all.

“Okay, so...where to?” Aspect said, still staring at the city. Damn, it was impressive. He knew all those stories about the old cultures from back home hadn’t gone to waste. Apparently the pegasi really like them.

“Hmm, I think that looks like a good place to land,” Twilight smiled as she spied a pegasus with a familiar rainbow mane and tail. Rarity smirked and flew ahead, wishing to surprise her friend…

Rainbow sighed, after a run in with some old school bullies, her enthusiasm was at an all-time low. She hung her head and groaned. “Those guys are right, I’m never gonna be able to do it.”

“But, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy put a hoof on her withers. “Just because you've failed the sonic rainboom a hundred thousand times in practice doesn't mean you won't be able to do it in front of an entire stadium, full of impatient, super-critical sportsfan ponies.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened as her iris’ shrank to pinpricks. If she wasn’t panicking before, she sure as hay was now. She dropped to the floor and covered her head with her hooves.

“Aaaaaah! What do I do?! Everypony's gonna see me fail! The Wonderbolts will never let a loser like me join. Princess Celestia will probably banish me to the Everfree Forest! My life is ruined!”

“Rare?” Fluttershy stammered, not quite looking at Rainbow… but past her.

“Well of course it’s rare!” Rainbow snapped. “The sonic rainboom is way more than rare!!”

“R-Rarity?” Fluttershy completed her word and Rainbow turned, her eyes bugging out even more.

“Rarity? Are… are you… flying!?”

“Well of course darling,” she smiled and spun in a slow circle as she showed off her stunning butterfly wings. “Aren’t my new wings simply smashing? Twilight gave them to me, just so we could come and cheer for you.”

“We?” Rainbow echoed. The cloud in front of her bulged, before a massive balloon was visible, punching its way into Cloudsdale. A familiar pegasus stallion was beneath it, smiling all the while as he gave it that extra push, before dropping off and landing on the city’s clouds.

“You… you guys made it?” Rainbow said in disbelief.

“It’s incredible,” Fluttershy smiled and nodded.

“Yepperooni!” Pinkie giggled and jumped out of the balloon. Rainbow looked on in horror, expecting her pink pony pal to plummet into pony paste.

Instead, Pinkie bounced on the cloud and stood there, like any other pegasus. “Whee!”

“W-Wuh?” Rainbow’s head hurt.

“And she says nothing about the one that could turn this city into a storm cell, but the pink one doing the unexplainable, that causes her brain damage,” Aspect quipped. “I thought that was Tuesday.”

“Oh right!” Twilight looked at the stallion with a worried glance. “Is that going to be a problem? We really don’t need you destroying Cloudsdale by looking at it the wrong way.”

“It wouldn’t take more than a funny look to do that, but I’ve since learned how to tamp down my abilities,” Aspect said, pointing out the fact that the clouds were still white and fluffy. “Ohhh riiiight. You probably already knew about that Rainbow, seeing as you’re the head of Ponyville’s weather team. Nevermind.”

“Yeah, you’re cool Aspect,” Rainbow nodded. “In any case, I’m so glad you guys are here. I might have.. Eh, been getting just a little nervous.”

“And I’m a little bit violent in pony’s eyes,” the stallion deadpanned.

Rainbow tactfully chose to ignore him. “Oh hey, why don’t Fluttershy and I show you girls… and guy, around Cloudsdale?”

“Sounds good to me, I’d love to see what you all have done with the place with a thousand years to make it better,” Aspect said, looking around at the inspired architecture.

“Sweet! Let’s go then,” Rainbow beamed. This was just what she needed to help chill out.

This was… totally not what she needed. It had been barely a half hour, and all she heard was…

“Your wings are so pretty~”

“I reckon that’s the nicest set of wings I’ve ever seen.”

“Marry me?”

Everywhere they went, a small crowd gathered to compliment Rarity’s wings, and the unicorn ate up that praise like a Parasprite at a harvest festival.

“S-So, this is Cloudsdale,” Rainbow tried brushing her worries aside. “Some of the greatest pegasi in history come from here…”

“Like I said, it used to be little more than a mobile airstrip for the Wonderbolts, back when they were the elite of the pegasi strike force,” Aspect said, looking around. “I...may have mentioned the idea of adding a few things here and there to them. You know, so that they could find them easier. I had no idea it would get this large.”

“Well, whatever you said, this is one of the larger cities in Equestria,” Twilight explained. “Only Canterlot and Manehatten beat in in terms of size and population.”

“Yeah, well Cloudsdale is still cooler,” Rainbow huffed as Rarity continued to get attention. “Hey, you wanna see the Weather Factory?”

“Ever since I heard you guys had one, yeah,” Aspect said with a nod. “I mean, Pegasi could already organize the weather pretty well, but I come back and you all suddenly can manufacture rainbows? That is some dedication.”

“Heh, this is gonna blow your freakin’ mind,” Rainbow beamed with pride, pride that wilted when Rarity was barraged by another load of praise.

“Rarity, be careful,” Twilight warned her. “Those wings are made of gossamer and morning dew, they are extremely delicate.”

“Oh, I don’t think they’ll get worn out from being admired too much,” Rarity smiled, bowing to her new fans.

“...Oh bloody hell,” Aspect said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. He knew where this one was going. With his luck...and handicapped as he was?...

This was not going to end...well. At all.

The Weather factory was just as impressive as Rainbow made it out to be. Their first stop was where they made snowflakes.

“Okay, so as you can see,” she said quietly. “Each and every snowflake is hoofcarved. It’s a pretty delicate operation.”

“Yeah, I remember when one pegasus had to get it just right in order for there to be any snow in the winter,” Aspect whispered as well. “Magical seeds for snowstorms, yeah? Kick the whole process off?”

Rainbow nodded, and frowned as a small breeze started blowing. “Ooh!” Rarity cooed as she flew up to admire the ones hanging from the ceiling. “They look even better from up here.”

Unfortunately, her wings kicked up a breeze that scattered all the snowflakes that the weather pegasi were working on. A chorus of groans and muttering started filling the room.

“We uh, should probably go before Rarity ruins winter and causes a drought,” Rainbow said in a hurried whisper.

“Agreed,” Aspect nodded, doing his best to hurry the others along.

The next room made all the girls flinch, because as Rainbow opened the door, a great BOOM resounded.

“Welcome to the Lightning Room,” she smirked. “This is where we make thunderstorms!”

The room was massive, as dark, angry black clouds rolled across the ceiling. Tall, metal rods were placed around the room and acted as lightning rods. “Also, don’t fly higher than those or you’ll get barbequed.” Rainbow replied as one worker wasn’t paying attention to his work, and more to Rarity’s wings.

Aspect could swear he saw the guy’s skeleton when he got zapped. And then he felt a...wrenching sensation inside of him. As though...something wanted out.

“Oh no,” he muttered, doing his best to keep his nature under control. “Girls? I think we’d better move on. Quickly.” Like called to like. Arabus had been the demon of storms and had been at the height of his power before he’d dealt with him. If he didn’t hurry, he might lose the fight.

Rainbow looked confused, but Twilight nodded and they pressed on, the sensation he was feeling died down once Rainbow slammed the heavy door shut.

“You okay Aspect?” she asked, looking a little concerned.

“I...will be,” Aspect said, panting a little. “Arabus...didn’t come quietly. Didn’t surrender. And especially didn’t like it when ponies thought themselves the master of storms…”

“Huh, you might have to explain that one later,” Rainbow said and then smirked. “Sides, he’s never met me. I’ll hoof his flank to him on a giftwrapped cloud!”

“I’ll tell you about the shadow-stealer later,” Aspect said, finally breathing normally. “But I do believe we were here for things besides my reactions.”

“True that,” Rainbow nodded. “The next room is my favourite, and also where my dad works!”

The room in question was the one she wanted to use to surprise Aspect himself, it was where they made the rainbows.

“Okay, wow,” Aspect said, staring at the multicolored liquid. “So, what? Do you use some sort of Spectra crystals to do this? Or…”

“I don’t really know all the mechanics,” Rainbow shrugged. “Dad works here, but he’s in Trottingham visiting Gramma, so he couldn’t be here…” She sighed and saw Pinkie approaching a rainbow pool. “Oh, watch this. This’ll be great.”

Pinkie looked curiously at the pool, before dipping her hoof in and licking the liquid. Her face made an interesting variety of expression as it literally turned every color of the rainbow, before she shot out a gout of flame and panted.

“Spiiicy!” she whispered in a raspy voice, her mouth feeling like she’d swallowed the fires of Tartarus.

“Suddenly glad I didn’t try to taste the rainbow,” Aspect said. “I’ve no stomach for too much spicy food.”

Rainbow turned the most delightful shade of pink and suddenly found the ceiling very interesting. Applejack was busy laughing at Pinkie and Twilight gave a curious look at the prismatic pegasus. Was she feeling okay?

Rarity was talking with two other pegasus stallions, one that soured Rainbow’s mood the second she saw them.

“Urgh, why are you talking to these guys Rarity?”

“Oh look, it’s Rainbow Crash again!” the one with the dumbell Cutie Mark snickered.

“Uhh, yeah, Rainbow… uhh, Crash!” his clearly less… educated friend mimicked.

“They were just admiring my wings Rainbow darling,” Rarity explained.

“Yeah, you should forget that ‘sonic rainboom’ and get a pair like those,” Dumbell snickered. “You might actually stand a chance of winning then.”

The three stallions snickered as Rainbow’s expression fell, her ears lowering as a low groan came from her throat.

“Uhh, why… don’t we go and see how clouds are made?” Fluttershy suggested, wanting to end this before it got any worse. “Don’t you listen to them Rainbow. You’ll win that competition for sure!”

“Are you kidding!” Rainbow’s voice cracked. “I can’t do the sonic rainboom. Just look at these boring old feathered wings. I’m doomed!”

“Rainbow,” Aspect said, looking at the normally brash mare. “I have every faith you will be capable of doing everything you’ve boasted and more. Only an extraordinary pony could succeed where both ‘Tia and I failed.”

Twilight had been busy admonishing Rarity, but to no avail. The unicorn mare let out a laugh as Twilight sighed and walked over to Rainbow. “Hey, are you doing okay Rainbow? You don’t look so good.”

“Of course, why wouldn’t i be okay?” Rainbow said, panting slightly. “I mean, everypony’s so busy admiring Rarity that they won’t notice when I totally blow it at the competition!”

“Hey, that’s an idea,” some pegasus mare called out and pointed at Rarity. “You should enter the competition.”

“Yeah,” an elderly mare said. She looked like Granny Smith with wings and a hardhat. “I could watch your wings all day.”

“Hmm, maybe I should enter,” Rarity mused. “Nopony uses their wings quite like me~”

“WHAT!?” Rainbow screeched as Rarity was led off by the pegasus mob. She groaned and dropped to the floor. “I’m never gonna win now…”

“Not with that attitude you’re not,” Aspect quipped. “You’re the bearer of Loyalty. You helped bring back a shattered and broken family. For buck’s sake, you kicked a dragon in the snout! What is so hard about this one?”

“I…” Rainbow’s pride was shattered right now. “Y-yeah… just, gotta win. No sweat right. I’m… totally awesome?”

That, did not sound convincing.

A short while later, they’d arrived at the massive stadium where the competition was to be held. Rarity and Rainbow were led backstage, where they’d be given a number while everypony else was taken to the seating area.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Twilight asked Aspect as they took their seats. “She still looked pretty rattled.”

“What number was she again? Does anybody know?” Aspect asked the others.

“I think she was number two,” Fluttershy said. “So we shouldn’t have to wait too long.”

The sound of trumpet fanfare filled the arena as the MC took to the podium. “Fillies and Gentlecolts. Please rise for the arrival of our Fair and Illustrious Princess Celestia!”

“That’s our cue,” Aspect said, getting up and going into a full bow.

The regal alicorn made her appearance and Aspect swore she winked at him before everypony took their seats once more.

“Okay,” the MC smiled. “Please welcome our celebrity Judges, the Wonderbolts!”

Three pegasi flew in, Spitfire, Soarin and Misty Fly. The took a seat in the box below Celestia’s as the MC smiled. “My name is Madden, and I’ll be your announcer for today. Now, let’s see which of these young flyers can bring home the winning prize!”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “I wonder how skilled a show we’ll be able to see…” He knew a few tricks. Most pegasi these days might call them cheating until they tried them themselves. It was all about exercising their tribal magic...which, again, Aspect had a leg up on them in that regard. Seeing as how he’d blessed the pegasi with just a touch of Arabus’ power.

The first contestant was pretty good. He performed a few maneuvers, like some barrel rolls and Aerilon rolls, but went facefirst into the cloud wall on the last turn. It took two more pegasi to pry him back out.

“Well, Rainbow Dash should be next,” Fluttershy beamed and got ready to start cheering.

Only, the next contestant wasn’t Rainbow Dash. It was some brown pegasus stallion with an Hourglass Cutie mark.

“I thought this would happen,” Aspect sighed. “I’ll be right back. I think somepony needs a pep-talk.”

With that, he got up and began his mission to sneak into the back room. Somepony needed an encouraging word.

When he got out there, the number of contestants had been whittled down to almost nothing. Rainbow was curled up into a ball and was shaking, muttering unintelligibly to herself. The corner of her number peeled and Aspect saw that it had been removed a couple of times.

“Oh great, it’s worse than I thought,” Aspect said as he sat nearby, running a comforting hoof over her back. “You’re really torn up about winning this thing aren’t you?”

“Win? I can’t win!” Rainbow’s voice cracked. “I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail; in front of everypony. My friends. The Wonderbolts. The Princess…. You….” She looked away from him and shuddered. “I’m not awesome… I’m a joke… I can’t even pull off one trick I did as a bucking filly!”

“Believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel,” Aspect said, not stopping his comforting attempt. “There once was a monster so terrible, so cruel, he threw all of Equestria into chaos for the fun of it. I went out to confront him, because that’s what I do...and he stomped me flat and amused himself by torturing me. Apparently an immortal plaything is the best plaything in the eyes of the mad. And the one thing I thought constantly during our time together? Was how much of a failure I was, leaving this task to my daughters. Leaving him to my girls.”

“The Princesses?” Rainbow’s shaking stopped a little.

“Mmhmm. But once they rescued me, I realized that I was still afraid. I still couldn’t face the pockets of chaos he’d left behind. Those lands that had been so twisted by his touch...I couldn’t go anywhere near them to help the ponies. Eventually it got so bad that my daughters sat me down and told me I needed to unwind and relax, otherwise I might find out just how much stress my body could take. You have a distinct advantage over me in this case. I couldn’t just look for an answer to my problem back then, I had to forge one on my own. Whereas here...here, I can teach you a few tricks that pegasi have all but forgotten.”

“What kind of tricks?” Rainbow looked up, some of that spark returning to her eyes.

Then a door slammed open and Rarity emerged. She was… well, that was some serious makeup. She looked like a Fae about to go soul-harvesting.

“Rarity. Is. Ready!” she declared.

“I don’t know what to say,” the mare running things backstage said. “We only got time for one more performance. If you both want to compete, you have to go out together.”

“I.. .what?” Rainbow shrank back again.

“And now,” the mare said and looked at Aspect. “Sorry sir, you’ll have to return to your seat.”

“Two seconds, just some ancient wisdom to pass on,” Aspect said, before whispering to Rainbow.

“As she is, Rarity is a glorified Flutter. Speed and tricks are not her game. You are a Pegasus. One of the sky-blessed. Let the magic flow through your wings. Feel the air. There is nothing you cannot do if you put your innate magic to it. It is less about what you should and should not be able to do. More about what walls and barriers you tear down in your wake. They say you did a Sonic Rainboom before. If you were half the master of your magic your ancestors were, you could do it again.”

Satisfied, Aspect drew back and nodded once. “That’ll do it. I’ll head back now.” With that, he hummed a happy tune as he walked back towards his seat.

Rainbow sat there, blinking in confusion. “What… What the heck is that supposed to mean!!”

“Think about it!” Aspect called back. “Your wings are too small to properly lift you without magic! Just use it for something other than flying!”

“I… have magic?” Rainbow blinked to herself. “What?”

Outside, Twilight and her friends sat there, talking about the performances they saw.
“I liked number seven, doing fifteen barrell rolls can’t be easy.” Twilight nodded, moving over so Aspect could take a seat.

“Mine was number ten, she looked like such a nice pony,” Fluttershy smiled.

“So,” Applejack leaned close to Aspect. “How bad was it?”

“Assuming she takes my advice and actually uses her pegasus magic for something other than flying and cloudwalking, it’ll be great,” Aspect said. “Granted, she might need a proper education in aerodynamics to make the most of it, but with a strong will like Rainbow’s, she’ll probably brute force her way through it.”

“Sounds like her style,” Applejack nodded. “But uh, Pegasus magic? Y’all sure about that? They don’t have horns or yer fancy skills there Aspect.”

Before he could reply, Madden made his announcement.

“And last but not least, number fifteen, Rainbow Dash and uhh, apparently number four, Rarity Belle.”

A low, ballet song started playing as Rarity flittered out, literally dancing in the air as the crowd ooh’d and aahh’d at her display.

“Yes, Pegasi have magic,” Aspect said. “How do you think they’d fly with wings so disproportionate to their body size if they weren’t subconsciously making it so much easier for said wings to do that feat? A Pegasus truly in tune with their magic would be able to do most of the things their weather factory could do. On their own.”

“That’s possible?” Twilight blinked, the magic talk distracting her from the display. Rainbow had appeared and started her own routine. She was weaving in and around some cloud pylons. That was until her wing clipped the last one and she spiralled out of control, smashing into a wall.

“Hah, good one Rainbow Crash!”

Eeyup, she’d just smacked right under Dumbell and Hoop’s box.

“How do you think I was shelving books with nothing but air power?” Aspect said, raising an eyebrow. “Not just freeform sorcery. Pegasus magic can be truly terrifying if truly mastered. From simple things like generating air currents to lift something, to whipping up a tornado. They can do anything in the air. I should know. I was there when they got that blessing. All they need to do, is flap.”

“I wonder if that’s how Ditzy set that tornado on fire that one time?” Fluttershy questioned as Rainbow had moved to the next part of her performance. She started making a trio of clouds spin, but as she started the third, something shone in her eye and she hit the side of the cloud, sending it spiralling towards the stadium. Celestia let out a gasp and ducked as it struck the wall, just where her head had been.

“Yup, she’s either not taking my advice, or finding the magic tricky to control,” Aspect said. “A solid knowledge of what you want to do helps, but it really runs off your feelings. Pegasus magic is a lot more about emotions than careful runes.”

Rainbow gulped, nearly taking out the princess wasn’t good. Well, there was only one thing left to do. “It’s do or die time Dash,” she said to herself and started climbing higher into the sky.

Meanwhile, Rarity was following suit, and once she reached the apex of her climb, she panted and smiled. “Look upon me Equestria!” she declared.”For I...Am...RARITY!” and with that, she spread her wings, the sunlight filtering through and bathing the stadium in an array of beautiful colours.

“Girls,” Aspect said, taking note of everything going on. “Whatever happens. Don’t ask me to help. Please.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight said, before there was a loud gasp. Being so close to the sun, Rarity’s wings sizzled and vanished with a light poof of smoke. Rarity was suspended in that horrible brief moment where you realised your life was bucked.

Then she screamed as she plummeted towards the ground.

Everypony gasped as the now flightless unicorn was taking the direct route to the ground below. Twilight turned to Aspect and Fluttershy. “You two, you have to save her!”

“I can’t!” Aspect said, one hoof on his chest. “What’s left of the essence of Arabus got riled up by the stormcloud room. If I let it out now, I may not be able to get it back under control today. That’s the only way I’d catch up to her before the ground does, and I’m very sorry to say it’s a close race between her and all of Equestria. If I turn this entire city into a storm to save her…”

The Wonderbolts tore off after her, tearing through the sky like a fish in water. Rainbow Dash was also diving after her, but at the speeds she was going…

And then Rarity’s panicked flailing struck the Wonderbolts, dazing them as now four ponies plummeted to their inevitable doom.

“Dammit!” Aspect growled. “I can’t...I can’t...If I let him out, he won’t go back in the bottle! Tia, bucking do something!”

The alicorn turned, and flashed him that smile of hers, that bucking, smug, ‘Trust me’ smile.

The air around Rainbow Dash distorted, she was going faster than she ever had, but it still wasn’t enough. Even if she could catch up, there were four ponies. Save her friend? Save the Wonderbolts? She could maybe save two at most…

“I need… to be faster,” she growled to herself. “Buck the rule. Buck my limits! I. WILL. SAVE THEM!!”

Then everything exploded! With a resounding boom that half of Equestria probably felt, a massive circular rainbow split across the sky as Rainbow became a prismatic blur. With only mere inches to spare, she scooped up not one, or two… but all four ponies as she made two impossible right angle turns and started flying back to Cloudsdale, a rainbow contrail in her wake.

“Oh. So she listened after all,” Aspect said. “That, or it’s an amazing coincidence that she just kicked reason to the curb and did the impossible.”

“SHE DID IT!” Fluttershy screamed with a volume that would make Luna blush with jealousy. “A SONIC RAINBOOM! WHOOOO!”

As Rainbow descended, several pegasi flew down to relieve her of her furred burdens, the Element of Loyalty near collapsing on the cloud under her. She’d done it, she’d finally done it.

“Rainbow Dash,” Rarity gasped as Twilight moved to cast the cloudwalking spell on her. “You… you saved my life!”

“Oh yeah, I did that too,” Rainbow chuckled, her brash tone and sparkling eyes coming back full force and then some. “Best. Day. EVER!”

“She’s likely exhausted her magic with that display,” Aspect told Twilight. “She’ll need a minute to recover. The fact that she can still cloudwalk means she didn’t use it all. That, or it’s already recovering.”

“I’m so sorry,” Rarity bowed her head. “I… wanted to apologize to all of you, for getting so carried away with my, beautiful wings,” she choked up on those words, she missed them already. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“Eh, no biggie,” Rainbow shrugged.

“Of course,” Fluttershy smiled.

“We still love you~” Pinkie bounced.

“You joined a competition at the last minute, something that you knew your friend had worked hard at training for,” Aspect commented, “With wings that you were repeatedly told were temporary. And did your best to outshine her.” He sighed and shook his head. “This...hardly seems generous. Or loyal.”

“Hey, Loyalty is my shtick,” Rainbow puffed out her chest.

“I know,” Rarity wilted under Aspect’s glare. “It was thoughtless of me to jump into a competition you worked so hard for. Can you forgive me Dashie?”

“Eh, everything turned out alright,” Rainbow shrugged. “You can owe me a favour for doing that, but saving you is a freebie. I never need a reason to help my pony pals.” She leaned over and the two shared a nuzzle. “Maan, I just wish I could have met the Wonderbolts when they were awake.”

“Meet who now?” a voice said and Rainbow turned to see the three hovering there. Her eyes widened more and more. “OhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigosh!”

“Oh,” Aspect said, turning as well. “Well. I do hope you all don’t bear a grudge when I say that the mare here managed to outperform all of you at pegasus magic.”

“Eh, it was pretty impressive,” Spitfire shrugged, though Rainbow was too busy spazzing out to hear her. “She’s got a bright future ahead of her.”

“Indeed she does,” Princess Celestia said as she landed nearby, most of the ponies bowing to her briefly before she waved them back up. Rainbow was still repeating that one word over and over as Twilight and Celestia shared a brief hug. Aspect bowed as well, every inch the normal stallion.

“Princess Celestia!” Rarity exclaimed. “I’m so sorry I ruined the competition. Rainbow Dash truly is the best flyer there is.”

“Oh, I know she is,” Celestia smiled and presented a golden wreath. “That's why, for her incredible act of bravery and her spectacular sonic rainboom, I'm presenting the grand prize for Best Young Flyer to this year's winner, Miss Rainbow Dash!”

The crowded stadium exploded in cheers as Rainbow’s ‘Ohmygosh’s’ only got louder, squeakier and more frequent.

“This, coming from the mare that doubted herself not a minute before the show,” Aspect said, flapping a wing and sending an air current to muss up her mane. Rainbow frowned and ruffled a hoof through her messy mane.

“Yeah well, I’m awesome now,” she replied and poked out her tongue.

“So Twilight,” Celestia smiled. “Did you learn anything from this experience?”

“I did, but I think Rarity learned more,” the unicorn nodded.

“I most certainly did,” Rarity agreed. “I learned how important it is to keep your hooves on the ground, and be there for your friends.”

“...Tia, you are not making friendship a homework assignment,” Aspect deadpanned. “Did you seriously hate your own homework that much?”

Celestia just whistled innocently as Rainbow exchanged some words with the two bullies from before, who now seemed enamoured with the pegasus. Then with a wink and a casual wave, she flew off with the Wonderbolts to get her prize.

“So, did you know most pegasi don’t know they have more magic beyond actually flying?” Aspect said to Celestia. “How many of your Wonderbolts know they could be something grand these days?”

“The Wonderbolts are some of the few that can harness that magic,” Celestia explained. “Most ponies think the black clouds they make are from small machines in their suits.” She sighed and led him away privately. “I… do you promise not to be mad?”

“You know I don’t get mad easily,” Aspect said. “What is it?”

“I may have… eased Pegasi magic training out of history about five hundred years ago,” she admitted like a filly that got caught raiding the cookie jar. Aspect stared at her. And stared. And stared some more.

“There was a group, one that tried to take Equestria from me after the… incident with Lulu. They claimed that if one alicorn went mad, what could stop the other… and… some days, I almost believed them.”

Aspect sighed. It was his classic sigh that punctuated five words. Five words the princess knew well. “I’m not mad. Just disappointed,” he said flatly.

“Which means you’re mad,” Celestia replied. “What was I supposed to do? They formed battleships out of stormclouds. I lost two entire cities to floods, lightning and tornadoes. The pegasi were… too dangerous.”

“And Sorcery and the Gifts of the Earth were any less dangerous to the other two tribes?” Aspect pointed out. “Sakes girl, you’re an alicorn with the gifts of all three. Though...hmm. Sorcery did lead to the Smooze.”

“Yes, ever wonder why no unicorn knows it?” Celestia said with a snippy tone. “Or why somepony like Applejack can’t tear up the very ground? I was… thorough in my purge.”

“Be warned, Celestia,” Aspect said, using the dreaded full name. “Choose your next words carefully. You may have tamed the ponies. I tamed the earth itself for your race. There is more to why the ponies used to be feared as a race than just you and your sister’s magical might. To throw that heritage away because you feared it speaks ill of all my work.”

“I wasn’t afraid!” Celestia near shouted, before looking around and lowering her voice. “We will, discuss this another time. Balanced Aspect.”

And with a flash of golden light, she teleported away. Aspect sighed and shook his head. The old arts were near dead. But…

If he had his way, they would not lie forgotten forever. He looked around the city, doing his best to remember where Rainbow Dash had pointed it out. If he was right…

He took off with a solitary flap of his wings, looking for the Wonderbolt’s headquarters. He had a...proposition to make.

Aspect landed back home. Well, that had been a long day. The offer had been made, though he didn’t expect them to actually answer right away. Merely stating that he was a pegasus with magic training had gotten them to listen. Showing his fine control got them to take him seriously. So now he would wait to see what resulted.

Sakes, there used to be entire martial arts around the tribe’s inherent magics. Magics which he had admittedly augmented. But it was still a joy to see ponies use the gift to the fullest of their abilities.

...He’d never really intended to be the only mover and shaker in the world, after all. He could only be in one place at a time. And hopefully, this would be the point when he would bring back the practitioners of those magics once again.

He knew he’d be able to count on Luna to overturn Celestia’s...little fit about dangerous ponies. She’d be used to them and expecting them even. He’d be surprised if the topic hadn’t already come up.

But for now…

There had been a storm in the Everfree that he’d seen on his way back to town. It had cleared up after about two hours, and he saw a beautiful rainbow as well. He did his damndest to follow both ends of it, and it was only when the thing started to fade that he saw his prize.

Spectra crystals. A whole batch of them. Two dozen of the little things. Raw magic and color in rock form. One would have been enough, now he had spares.

Assuming Tia hadn’t thrown any of them out...he might very well be able to talk to some very, very old friends the next time he visited the castle. Pictomancy portraits were stubborn like that.

He shrugged his saddlebags off in the parlor and cracked his neck. Dinner sounded good after a day like today. Speaking of… a delicious scent wafted in from the kitchen and he could hear humming.

“Well, I don’t get many visitors who know how to cook,” Aspect mused as he made his way towards the smell. “So it’s either my daughters, which would be a surprise, or my marefriend.”

“One guess,” he heard Bon Bon call out. “And the princesses can cook?”

“That’s why I said it would be a surprise,” Aspect said as he arrived in the dining hall. “Then again, I don’t know what hobbies ‘Tia picked up during her thousand years alone.”

“I have no idea I’m afraid,” the earth mare sided as she stopped stirring the pot, before trotting over to him and pulling him into a hug, kissing his cheek. “Hmm, what’s wrong? You seem… not quite yourself.”

“How would you feel if a project you’d been working on for centuries was suddenly all but ruined by your offspring?” Aspect griped. “The ponies used to be feared for a reason, and it wasn’t because they were cute. And then I found out today that ‘Tia’s been easing out the tutoring of your natural magics for the last five hundred years. Earth ponies who don’t know they can call on the earth for strength. Unicorns without sorcery. Pegasi without atmospheric manipulation. It’s a travesty is what it is.”

“Well, I’m sure she had her reasons,” Bon Bon said and stroked his mane. “She’s Princess Celestia for crying out loud. You don’t lead a stable country for a thousand years without knowing what you're doing. Besides…” She booped his nose. “Kids will be kids, no matter how old they are. That’s why a parent will always be a parent. To teach them.”

“One militant group of pegasi was all she cited to me,” Aspect said. “Granted, a little knowledge in the wrong hooves can be a dangerous thing. But knowledge in and of itself is what she waged war on. Knowledge isn’t good or evil, it simply is. And she erased it. If I weren’t immortal, there probably wouldn’t be any record of the old ways.”

“It was… a little more than that,” Bon Bon said. “I know my history, so I think I know what she’s referring to. A lot of books will downplay it. Sugar coat the truth to make it easier to swallow. But…” She moved to the stove and turned the pot down to simmer. “One group? More like… half of Equestria. And it wasn’t just the Princess they were mad at. If Celestia hadn’t done what she did, we’d have likely faced decades of bloody civil war with a lot more casualties. She, may have still been hurting because of the Nightmare Moon incident.”

Aspect sat on the floor and worked his jaw a little bit, before saying two words. “M...My fault,” he whispered. “My fault...my fault…”

“What?” Bon Bon moved over to him. “What’s all this?”

“I shouldn’t have abandoned Equestria,” Aspect said, screwing his eyes shut. “I shouldn’t have abandoned her. I should have revealed myself then, been a guiding force. Not just someone from myth. I should have stayed, I should have helped. It...it’s my fault it happened, I wasn’t there to help…”

Then his cheek stung as Bon Bon slapped it. Note to self, earth ponies hurt.

“Enough of that,” Bon Bon chided him. “Honestly, ‘What if’ ‘Shouldn’t have’ It’s the past. What’s done is done and you can’t change it, unless time travel is in that little bag of tricks of yours.”

“No,” Aspect said, shaking his head and rubbing his cheek. “It’s not. But that doesn’t absolve me of any responsibility at all.”

“Perhaps, but there are only two ponies alive that even recall your involvement, and one of them is as much to blame as you are,” she said and stood up. “So, you think it’s your fault that ponies got too powerful and nearly destroyed themselves. That we shouldn’t have had the power in the first place? Is that right?”

“I don’t regret giving it to you all in the slightest,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “But...had I known. I might have been more...selective in who I taught. Something I’ll be practicing, actually.”

“Like father like daughter,” Bon Bon muttered under her breath. “Come with me. I want to show you something. But!” she turned and pointed at him. “This has to remain a secret. Even from Lyra… especially from Lyra.”

“I can keep a secret,” Aspect said with a nod. “I’m real good with secrets.”

She smiled and led him out back, into the yard behind his house. “Alright then… let’s see…” She closed her eyes and stood there, in utter silence. Aspect merely waited. He was patient.

The earth around her forehooves… moved? Along her left one, a green bud sprouted as a thin vine curled up and around her leg. She raised her right one as a spire of stone followed up and out of the ground, as if chasing the sole of her hoof. She opened her eyes and smiled at Aspect.

“Not all of us forgot,” she said quietly.

“The Gifts of the Earth,” Aspect whispered. “That which I slew Crunch for. It still lives?”

“In certain ponies, yes,” Bon Bon said as she lowered her hooves and shook her left one free of vines. “I… can’t tell you how I know. Not yet. But, trust me okay. The princess always has a reason.”

“Yes, well, that didn’t stop me,” Aspect said. “I still dropped a message off at the Wonderbolt’s HQ. There’s more to fine weather manipulation than what I saw them use today, and if they prove up to the task, I’d see them restored to their full former glory.”

“Hmm, that’d make for some interesting shows,” Bon Bon smiled. “Now, you must be tired after your day. Shall we have some dinner, then I’ll snuggle the stuffing out of you.”

“The only thing that would be able to stop me is my daughters showing up to discuss things with me while we were out here,” Aspect said, nuzzling her. “I have had a long, tiring, disappointing day. And worse, Arabus, or what’s left of him, wanted so badly to get out while I was in Cloudsdale. Can you imagine a storm of that size?”

“Well, that would be problematic,” Bon Bon said with a light chuckle. “My laundry would never dry.”

“Yeah, remind me to never go to the weather factory ever again, at least until I pick out a new Aspect of Air,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “There just hasn’t been a good choice yet. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see one, who knows.”

“Oh, what about Rainbow Dash?” Bon Bon mused as she moved to the stove and started serving up the vegetable soup she’d been making. “Or Spitfire from the Wonderbolts?”

“While Rainbow Dash showed more ability today, what with her Sonic Rainboom, and a larger pool of natural magic to draw from,” Aspect said as he took his bowl, “Ponykind already has the Aspects of Sun, Moon, Dreams, and Love. I was actually thinking a griffon, but Cadenza tells me they’ve become...less than reputable.”

“Hmm, well I’ve met some nice enough griffons before,” Bon Bon smiled. “Gustav LeGrand here in town is a little snooty, but otherwise fine. But, the closer you get to their home well… let’s say you better pack a lot of bits and some mean haggling skills.”

“The day used to be,” Aspect said with a sigh, waiting for the soup to cool, “That I could just proclaim who I was and have the other races fall into line. I never did that to the ponies, I always wanted it to be a mystery to them as to who in the world was making the world safer for them. And now, everyone’s gone and forgotten me. I think the only ones that might have remembered would be the Phoenixes and the Dragons.”

“Well, that’s what happens when you vacation for a thousand years,” Bon Bon chuckled as she poured some wine to go with the soup and placed a loaf of divine smelling garlic bread on the table.

“Everything changes,” Aspect said as he sighed, just staring at the soup now. “Why is it now that the mad words make sense? ‘The only thing that stays the same is the fact that nothing does. Everything you’ve done will be for naught.’”

“Is that what you really believe?” Bon Bon said to him, waving her spoon. “Yes, things change. That much is inevitable, especially in that vast expanse of time. But everything for naught? You have your daughters back. The world has never been more peaceful, you no longer have to kill. And… well you have me, but I guess I’m being a little selfish there compared to the grand scheme of things that is your life.”

“I’ve been disconnected from so many of my children for so long,” Aspect sighed. “Some of them are rooted in place, quite literally. And some just are elusive, especially in this day and age. I have my daughters back...but Celestia and I parted on...less than cordial terms. I think I came the closest to actually threatening her in Cloudsdale. I...I think I’m losing more in the months I’ve been here than I had when I was wandering.”

Bon Bon put her spoon down and sighed. “Well, the solution is simple then.”

“What is it?” Aspect said, suddenly not hungry.

“You have a huge, empty house here Aspect,” Bon Bon pointed out. “Invite them over. All of your children. I’m sure the country won’t fall apart in a week. Talk with them, spend more than ten minutes with them.”

“Ah…” Aspect said. “Okay. Um. Yggdrasil literally is a tree, so he can’t move. And Gelgeth is the head Windigo. He’s charged with the gates of Nifelheim, which holds the spirits of all the slain Aspects behind them. He also can’t come, unless you literally want the spirits of the things from the bad old days to be free. But...the rest has...merit.”

“Exactly,” Bon Bon nodded and resumed eating. “If they can’t come to you…?”

“Yes yes, I’ll see about going to them,” Aspect said with a nod. “Though, I did catch up with Gelgeth like...last year? Year before? I make it a routine every decade or so. Go up north and make sure he’s doing okay. And I met up with Yggdrasil a year ago as well. Wasn’t hard to find him either.”

“A… decade…” Bon Bon sighed and thunked her hoof against her face. “Your family is so weird. Aaanyway, well. Good. I’m glad I could help you. I… don’t like seeing you so down.”

“What’s one more knife in the back, when you’re immortal?” Aspect asked as he ate. “I’d thought that the ponies would be some of the last to do that, but apparently my own daughter isn’t above trampling over everything I fought for.”

“Don’t you snark at me,” Bon Bon threatened him with a sly smile. “I’m not above giving you a spanking.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” Aspect said, looking up. “Twilight pulled out the cute eyes and basically forced me into obeying her whims on threat of cute. I couldn’t resist her. Forgive my indiscretion.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Bon Bon smiled all-too-sweetly. Wwwwhere did she get the garrote wire from? “They’ll never find the body~”

“You can’t kill her, she’s the Element of Magic,” Aspect said, waving her down. “Besides, it was only pushing them to Cloudsdale in their balloon. Not like she tried to make me do anything scandalous. Heaven help me if ponies find out my weakness to cute.”

“You’d only have to worry about it if Lyra found out,” Bon Bon giggled and then lowered her eyes into a half-lidded gaze. “Now, finish your dinner. I want to move to dessert~”

“Yes’m,” Aspect said as his eating redoubled. Sorrow may have made him not hungry, but that gaze suddenly turned his stomach into a bottomless pit.

Author's Note

Yup, loving the fact that Chrome + copy and pasting it all = No errors.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It's always appreciated, and does help.

Half of all funds will not go towards fighting golden Lynels.

Chapter 16 - Family reunion, family party

Balanced Aspect sat on his front lawn, sipping some iced-tea that Bon Bon had made for him before going to work. Twilight and her friends appeared to be taking a break from world-ending crisis and odd friendship problems.

Honestly, it was a rather boring day.

That was until he heard the magical ‘pop’ of teleportation and a series of rather obscene profanities coming from the last mouth he’d expected.

Princess Luna, in all her miniscule glory, was dragging Celestia by the ear with her magic, while the older alicorn yelped and swore in pain.

“Luna! Stop! Bucking, ow!” she yelped as the younger paid no heed as she strode towards her father.

“She finally told you that she all but wiped out knowledge of the Gifts of the Earth, the Air, and Sorcery while the both of us were away?” Aspect said, not looking up.

“Thou is correct in that assumption Father,” Luna nodded curtly. “Tis a foul day indeed, and to hear Mine own Sister is responsible!? Tis borderline blasphemy!” She tossed the alicorn, who moaned in pain and rubbed her aching ear. “Now thou shalt tell Us why, or We shall do something… most cruel~”

“You. Wouldn’t. Dare!” Celestia growled.

“Oh We woulds’t dare!” Luna cackled, dark clouds forming and thunder crashing. “Thy… what is the word? ‘Fanfiction’? We shalt have it published for all the world to witness! Mwaaaahahahahaha!!”

“Yes, tell us Tia,” Aspect said, finally looking up at her. “Tell me how I failed you. Tell me how bad it actually was. Tell me why half the nation rose up in revolt. Tell me what I could have done if I had but been here for you. Go on, twist that dagger a little more. It’s already in there pretty deep, one good yank won’t hurt.”

And then he got to see something he hadn’t seen in over a thousand years. The supposedly infallible Princess of the Sun, Diarch of Equestria, sobbing like a little filly. Even Luna paused and took an uneasy step back.

“Is that what you want to hear?” Celestia suddenly turned and yelled at him, her sadness suddenly turning to rage. “Do you want more lies!? Do you want the blame!? You don’t want to hear that your daughter isn’t perfect!?”

“Nopony is perfect,” Aspect said. “I was willing to be as imperfect as it took me to be for the sake of you girls. For the sake of the ponies. I was willing to kill, slaughter. I only spared once, and that was because he had a son. All that blood, all that power. Sacrificed for you all, so you could lead a more perfect life than the one I had.”

“Well, great bucking job I did of that,” Celestia said with enough snark to choke a Hydra. “Good job Tia. Whoo. Hoo.”

“Right, we’re going to fix this,” Aspect said, standing up and flaring his wings. “I’m going to do what I should have done a long time ago. I’m just going to take my freakin’ Alicorn form, announce myself, and then—”

“And then what?” Celestia said bitterly. “Tell them they can’t count on their princess? That she forced foal booties on an entire species to keep the peace, because she couldn’t lead them properly? Sure, go for your life. You’re the dad, you know best after all.”

Aspect sighed and folded his wings back up. “No...you’re right. You always were the better one at seeing the political schemes. I’d get lost in an hour of trying to follow them all. But Tia, you know this can’t stand. You can’t just...keep them back forever. Knowledge was never meant to be destroyed. That’s one of the worst crimes. What would your mother have said if she knew you went about burning books?”

“Well I wouldn’t know, because she’s dea—”

“TIA!” Luna roared with an amplified voice that sent her and Aspect reeling. “And thou as well Father. That is enough from both of you! If anypony is to blame, tis I. Had We not succumbed to the Nightmare. To Our own petty jealousy. Then Tia would not have been alone to rule! The blame lies with us… alone…” She sniffed, even as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Just… stop. Stop fighting… We… I’ll take all the blame. Please…”

“Lulu, no,” Aspect said, walking closer and wrapping her up in a massive hug, his own eyes watering. “Lulu, you don’t get to blame yourself. I blame me. I gave you the Aspect of Dreams. I didn’t think twice about the nightmares and how they would effect a pony. I opened the door for that parasite to infect you. The fault lies with me. It always lies with me. I wouldn’t blame any of you for anything I’d done.”

“But… if We had been stronger, the Nightmare would have no sway,” Luna said, her voice muffled by the hug and her own crying. “We showed… our little ponies that We are not perfect. That, we are dangerous. Tia… while she did what We think is wrong. She did her best.”

“My best wasn’t enough,” Celestia sighed, moving into join the hug. “And nor are you to blame father. We knew what we were getting into when we accepted the Aspects. You never forced this fate upon us. We walked in willingly.”

“You were born the way you were, my perfect little angels,” Aspect said. “I had...hints from the others. Whispers. Prophecies about ponies that would move the heavens on their own some day. I could have chosen to ignore them, guide you away from your destinies. But you would have resented me even more than you do, I fear, had I done that. My daughters. No matter what you do, no matter how you hurt me, I will always love you.”

“We don’t want to hurt you!” Celestia said, her tears mixing with theirs. “But yesterday, my mistake made you so angry…”

“I can name. Every single foe I’ve ever had to slay, just to make the ponies have a better life,” Aspect said. “I can never forget that moment. That time when it came down to me, and them. That second when it was nothing but a human with a sword and a powerful opponent. I can never, ever forget them. To do otherwise...is a disgrace to their memory. Even if they were terrible, terrible people. You should never forget the fallen and let their sacrifices be in vain.”

“Of course,” Celestia nodded slowly. “At the castle… I have a room. Where there’s a painting for all of them. I… well they may not be accurate, I only went on the descriptions I could remember. But, there’s a painting for every foe you faced… even Discord.”

“The worst thing he ever did to me?” Aspect said, looking up at Celestia. “He talked. ‘Everything you’ve done will be for nothing. Your daughters will abandon you, or you them. Point is, your little broken family will be all the worse when I’m done with you.’”

“So that is it then?” Luna almost spat. “Thou woulds’t believe the words of that mad fool? That Our family is destined for nothing but darkness.” She flared her wings, causing the hug to suddenly break. “Well, I say Neigh! Fie on his words, Fie on him! Tis not he that make OUR destiny!”

“Did it not already come true?” Aspect whispered. “After everything we’ve all done to each other? After all the things we’ve said...would either of you still want me? A broken little human in a pony shell, who is more afraid of losing his family than anything else?”

Luna frowned and looked at Celestia. “Tia? Did We make a mistake? This is father’s house, tis it not?”

“Yes?” Celestia blinked and nodded slowly.

“And, this simpering fool, Tis it not Our father?”

“Ye—”

“NEIGH!” Luna stomped a hoof and her mane flickered like the night sky itself for a moment, her coat darkening from cobalt, to a deep dark blue. “Tis not the father we remember. Our father was brave. Our father was mighty! Our father would not cow to the venomous words of a mismatched moron!!” She stepped forward and flicked her father’s forehead with a hoof. “Yet, tis We who are the biggest fools. None the less, We shall not abandon you over such a trivial matter. Tis been many a moon since We met. We… I, am not about to lose you again. Got that!?”

Aspect didn’t verbally reply to Luna, opting to draw her in for another hug and sigh happily. He looked over to Celestia and flared a wing, two rolled up scrolls appearing in it.

He wanted her to look them over first, so that she knew what he was planning. They were letters to Ponyville’s local school...and her own school of unicorns up on the mountain. Offering to teach them classes that they’d likely never seen before.

The lost arts, lost no longer.

“I’m not going to stop,” he said. “But maybe you two could put together a list as to who would be trustworthy?”

Celestia sighed and nodded. “Yes, I… may have, taught a few ponies. No more than a half dozen of each tribe.”

“You did not tell us this,” Luna frowned, once again reverting back to her more filly-like state. “Ah, Young Twilight Sparkle?”

“No, not her,” Celestia shook her head. “I… there is a far greater destiny awaiting her. One that I only know from the Voice of the World. So far, even I cannot see it.”

“Of course, Yggdrasil would be behind it,” Aspect muttered. “Well...this is going to be interesting to watch. Though, I don’t pretend to know his reasoning.”

“That isn’t all,” Celestia said. “There’s also the matter of the Elements of Harmony, and Lulu and I’s lack of connection to them now. Nightmare Moon broke free, because they turned to stone after I used them on Luna. However…”

“That was not the only time they were used…” Luna concluded, Celestia nodded her head and glanced at Canterlot… and the statue that lay in her garden.

“I’ve learned since then,” Aspect said. “Let him break free again. I’ll slay him this time and make a new alicorn from his bones. I am well and truly prepared this time.”

“I’ll do all I can to delay it,” Celestia said. “But… it is inevitable.”

“Bah, We shall buck him where all stallions do not liked to be bucked,” Luna frowned.

“Anyways, yes,” Aspect said. “The world is endangered, we are one of the most bucked-up families on the planet, which is really to be expected when it’s as old as ours, and I’m going to teach in Ponyville. I’ve already extended an offer to the Wonderbolts, I’m going to send one out to the school in Canterlot and the school here. But while those offers are being sent out…” He walked back to his chair and picked up his sword. “Want to hear what Bonnie suggested I do?”

“Thy Earthbound mistress?” Luna blinked. “Ah, does she wish to incite the harems Tia also got rid of? We have plenty of fine mares in Our guard…”

“Nope,” Aspect said, holding the sword so the pommel jewel was level with his eyes, staring into it. “She suggested I call all my children here that actually can come here so that I can reconnect with them. If I just focus on the jewel like so…”

“All of…” Celestia started.

“The children?” Luna finished.

“Yeah, if I just think about the Aspects like this, sooner or later there should be a-”

Aspect was cut off by a near-invisible wave radiating out of the sword and sweeping out across the earth. A wave that resonated with him, Tia, and Lulu. It was a simple message that they felt more than heard.

Come.

Celestia and Luna sat back, the latter having stolen her father’s iced tea and sipped at it as they awaited what might be a rather impressive show.

“There we go,” Aspect said, putting the sword back in the grass. “I don’t know when they’ll get the message. Pyroclastia isn’t even technically mine, but she might answer. Cadenza doesn’t technically have to either. And Chrysalis is so far away...As is Neptune. Mort, though, can be anywhere.”

“Morty!” Luna squealed and hugged the reaper as he emerged from the shadows. A quick application of shadow magic replaced the ribs she broke.

“Cadenza will show up… provided she’s… not, tied up,” Celestia coughed into her hoof. Her niece had some, strange pastimes with that coltfriend of hers.

There was a wisp of smoke on the lawn...which graduated into a full-fledged blaze, but noticeably didn’t actually burn anything. When the fires cleared, and the smoke faded, what stood on the lawn was a noticeably larger Phoenix, who looked at the lot of them, cocked her head to one side, and trilled a little.

“Oh, it’s been a while,” Celestia said and waved. “If I’d known father was going to do this, I’d have brought Philomena. But she’s getting close to the end, should only be a few more days infact. Hmm, maybe I should bring her to Fluttershy. I bet she’d love to see a Phoenix’s rebirth.”

“So long as you don’t forget to tell her,” Aspect said as he trotted over to Pyroclastia. “It’s been a while, old friend. I’m glad to see you came. I was looking for my children, you see. Trying to spend more time with them like an actual father should.”

The Phoenix responded by pecking him once on the head, sharply, before nuzzling him. Her way of saying ‘You dolt, yes.’

“Hmm, always the way with words,” Luna mused as she waved at the phoenix. “So, do you really think Chrysalis will show up?”

“I hope she does,” Aspect said. “She’s the youngest out of all of you, I made her after I made Mort. I wanted to tell her so many things, but I couldn’t stay in the desert forever.”

“Honestly,” Celestia said. “I’ve never met her. Not even once. I think I saw… her child or something a century ago? I don’t really know.”

“Yes, she’s...secretive by nature,” Aspect agreed. “She’s not exactly the most forthcoming pony either. Though she does play the political game a lot better than you, Tia.”

The elder alicorn just huffed and folded her forelegs, pouting cutely. Then, a pair of strong forehooves nabbed her and she made a sound not unlike a squeaky toy as she was pulled into a crushing hug.

Also, why was she underwater?

“GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS!!” Neptune boomed, clutching Celestia under one arm and waving with the other. He sat inside a large bubble of water and wore a big, beaming grin. “And Little Lulu as well. Come give your big brother a hug!!”

“Neptune!” Aspect said, smiling and waving with a wing. “I’m glad to see you as well! I didn’t expect you to show up as quickly as you did, to be honest.”

“Well, when you called and I sensed Little Lulu and Little Tia here, how could I not!?” the seapony beamed, not realising he was drowning said little sister in his water bubble.

“Just keep in mind, almost all things need air,” Aspect said, pointing his hoof at his daughter.

“Eh?” he looked down and gasped. “LITTLE TIA!” he dropped the drowned rat of an alicorn, and she now made for a rather interesting water feature on Aspect’s front lawn, breathing out a little spout of water every time Luna cranked her tail.

“You always were a hugger,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Not that that’s a bad thing, but being enthusiastic about it doesn’t...tend to go well for others that aren’t Seaponies as well.”

“Tia’s strong, she’ll live,” Neptune shrugged. “Now tell me O’Valiant father! To what to we owe this prestigious event? We have not been all summoned together in…” he trailed off as he pondered. “When was the last time?”

“I think never is an appropriate answer,” Aspect said. “And is so wrong of a father to want to see his children? Gelgeth can’t come, and Yggdrasil is rooted in place, but the rest of you, I sorely missed.”

“We hath a question,” Luna asked. “Who is this ‘Chrysalis’ thou mentioned?”

“She was an experiment in a few things,” Aspect said, rolling a hoof around. “I made her from Somnambula’s essence. I intended for her to be the Aspect of Battle, so that you’d always have a valiant defender when I wasn’t around. I’m not sure it went well, though. I think she might have inherited the witch’s curse.”

There was a moment of silence as all his children stared at him.

“So, she is an alicorn-level Aspect of battle… and possibly insane?” Luna looked at him like he was the crazy one. “Father. We question thou at times.”

“You should have seen her when she was younger,” Aspect sighed. “She was so cute! A little bugpony. First thing I thought when she was made was if I’d done it right. Because she looked like a...corrupted Flutter. But nope, she’s fine the way she is. A little devious, I think she takes the espionage part of battle really seriously. Oh, I wish I’d had a camera.”

“Only you,” Tia sighed and shook her head. “Remember when she challenged a full-grown dragon?”

“She tried her hardest to get him in a chokehold,” Aspect said, smiling at the memory. “It took both of us to get her to stop before she wore herself out.”

“I don’t think Fangtooth the Mountain Render even woke up from his nap,” Tia chuckled, using a quick spell to dry herself off. “So, do you think she’ll show? I haven’t seen her in centuries.”

The air displaced and a rather haggard-looking Cadence teleported in, still trying to fix a serious case of bedmane.

Though, the fluffy hoofcuff attached to her right leg was what drew everyone’s attention.

“Ah, granddaughter? You have a little something right here,” Aspect said, tapping his own rear hoof to let her know. She looked down and blinked once, blushing as she teleported the offending item away.

“You saw nothing!” she replied.

“Of course not,” Aspect said with a straight face. “So, first family reunion in ages. Sorry if my invitation interrupted whatever you were up to. Meet Neptune, the Seapony King and Aspect of Water, Pyroclastia, Aspect of Fire, and Mortal Coil, Aspect of Death.”

“So, there is still no Aspect of Wind yet?” Neptune stroked his lustrous beard. “Have you not yet found a host?”

“I was thinking a griffon, and Yggdrasil is on the lookout for a suitable one. As well as a noble Diamond Dog ruler for Earth. But that could take a while,” Aspect said. “While I might be magically full right about now, it’s nothing I can’t handle. So long as I avoid the Weather Factory’s storm room.”

“What happened when you were there?” Mort asked.

“Arabus’ power tried to break free and turn the whole city into a giant storm-cell through me. Apparently he doesn’t like the idea of ponies mastering his storms,” Aspect replied casually.

“He always was an uppity sort,” Neptune agreed.

‘He was not the last’ Pyroclastia trilled. ‘Several dislike the ponies doing so.’

“Fortunately Crunch is much more docile than Arabus,” Aspect said. “Or were you referring to current problems? Because surely if there were a current problem, my lovely alicorn daughters would bring it to my attention.”

“Tis but the inane prattling of the self-entitled,” Luna spat in distaste. “Tis a shame to see how far the caste that declare themselves ‘Noble’ hath fallen. Why, We have seen but a scant hooffull that deserve the title.”

“Which is why I suggested you strip them of any governing power they had and give it to actual elected representatives,” Aspect said, pointing a wing at her. “That way, you can just treat them as entitled nobs rather than like ponies that actually matter.”

“And that would make me look like I'm turning into a dictator,” Celestia sighed. “Perhaps… I could use your help with it?”

“Gimmie like, two seconds to remember,” Aspect said, muttering to himself. “Legislative, Executive...aha! Judicial! That was the third branch. Turn them from law-passing nobles into the judges for the territories that they claim to hold. And they have to resolve the disputes that arise in a fair and legal way, otherwise their titles and holdings pass to the next in line. Though, there should be a final court above them that can overturn any decisions the smaller ones make. Like, if a commoner felt their case wasn’t heard fairly, they could appeal to said court, and both sides could present their arguments, their evidence, for them to hear. Ideally you should have an odd number of ponies on it. That way votes never end in a tie.”

“Interesting,” Celestia mused, the smile on her face could only be described as unsettling.

“Civil reform aside for now,” Cadence said, having used the distraction to fix herself up. “Have you told them about your marefriend yet?”

The silence was deafening.

“Iiiiii was going to?” Aspect said sheepishly. “You know, get to it eventually, ease them into the idea? Not just blurt out ‘Hey kids! Guess what? Dad’s seeing somepony!’”

Cadence just shrugged as Pyro looked at him, a wide smirk on her beak. How that was even possible was anyone’s guess.

“We… will have a Mother again?” Neptune asked.

“I am sorry you never got to meet Written Script,” Aspect said to Neptune. “But she was a lovely mare. She and I did our best to raise Tia and Lulu right.” He turned to look at the alicorns for a second, before turning back to the Seapony King. “And then I did my best to pick the new Aspects.”

“I know you have,” he nodded and thumped his chest. “I have done all I can to make sure the waters of Equus remain a safe place for any whom wish to traverse it. That said, I am not without my own problems. But, that is a matter for another time.”

“You know,” Aspect mused. “I think I might have something that can help. It’s in my old trophies section in my saddlebags. Took it from Squirk myself.”

“H’oh?” Neptune’s eyes widened. “Is that right? Well, color me interested.”

“Aww, how come he gets a gift?” Luna pouted. “Playing favourites now O’Father?”

“Forgive me if I think he’ll get the most use out of Squirk’s Trident,” Aspect said. “Without the Flashstone, the giant octopus resorted to that to try and fight me. I think it might be magical, but I never really checked. Then again, he had access to literally everything that was in the water, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.” He was happy that the topic of conversation had been successfully shifted away from Bon Bon. He wouldn’t want her dragged into the convention of immortals until she was well and truly ready to meet them. She’d met Mort, yes. But even then, she’d been shaken.

“Hmm, a trident you say. Oddly stereotypical, but… I LIKE IT!” Neptune gave a deep, resounding laugh. “My enemies shan’t know what hit them!”

“Aww, We want a magical weapon to smite thine enemies as well,” Luna pouted more, turning on the Royal Puppy Dog Eyes.

“Ack! The cute!” Aspect said, holding a hoof up to his eyes in an attempt to shield himself. “Turn off the cute!”

“Nevah!” Lulu declared, stepping forwards. “We request a weapon. Preferably a siege weapon.” Then she smirked. “Perhaps a catapult. We could launch Our sister, her flanks could crush a castle~”

“All right, I have just the thing,” Aspect said, before turning to Tia. “Remember that meteor shower about...two hundred years ago?”

“Yeesss?” Celestia’s eyes widened somewhat. Just, what was he? Oh… oh no. “You wouldn’t? She’d bring ruin to us all!”

Luna literally vibrated with excitement.

“Well, I was in the area once the meteors stopped hitting Equus,” Aspect said. “And I might have abused my saddlebags of holding. I’d been planning on making a day trip up to your smithy and seeing if there was anything they could do with the rocks, make a nice gift of it for Lulu. Like a glaive, or a halberd. Maybe put a few sorcerous enchantments on it.”

Luna’s smiled widened, making that little ‘squee’ sound some ponies did. Her eyes were wide and sparkling as she bounced in place.

“Yes yes, you’ll be getting a nice birthday present,” Aspect said, kissing her just under her horn. “Now. If you all don’t mind, I’ll be right back. Just going to nip inside and fetch the trident. Hopefully I don’t fall into my saddlebags.”

‘You speak like that has happened before,’ Pyro said. ‘And do not think I have forgotten. This mare ‘will’ be… tested~’ It was little wonder where Philomena got her mischevious nature from.

“Don’t make me tell Yggdrasil about your misbehavior, young lady,” Aspect said. “I’ll ease her into the idea of my wonderful family, thank you very much. Introducing her to Mort on his own was bad enough.”

“I get that reaction a lot,” Mort said. “Something about how I'm Death Itself just puts ponies off.”

“Tis just the way they are,” Luna snorted. “They act like foals most times. Most still believe Us to be Nightmare Moon. We… do not even leave Our room most days, simply so We do not have to deal with our own maids running away screaming.”

Aspect walked up to Luna and gave her another hug, nuzzling her softly. “If you ever just want a day to yourself,” he whispered to her. “My home is always open to you.”

“Tis… just trading one cage for another,” Luna sighed. “I just… wish I could interact with them again…”

“Well if I actually do end up teaching, you could always come around and see my students, or even see Ponyville in disguise,” Aspect said. “I’m willing to do what I can to help you, Lulu. You just have to ask.”

“We… I suppose I could try,” Luna replied, though she didn’t sound overly confident.

“So,” Neptune decided to try and perk things up. “Whose domicile is this? It’s rather large.”

“Tia gave it to me,” Aspect said. “Probably just so I wouldn’t be able to give it back right away. I’m rather fond of it by now. I might actually stick around for a century or so.”

“Ahh, Tia has always been fond of you,” Neptune nodded.

‘And you doubted her love for you,’ Pyroclastia trilled softly enough that only Aspect heard. ‘She gave you a home, surrounded by friends and within teleporting distance.’

“Just one thing, guys,” Aspect said, looking up from the hug with Luna. “Don’t go in the basement. I stuck the Golden Doors in there. Figured you all deserved to know.”

“That… my dear Father, is asking for trouble,” Neptune chuckled.

“Could you imagine if Twilight found that door?” Celestia mused.

“I put a padlock on it,” Aspect said. “Along with a chain or three to keep it shut. I figured it was safer than leaving them lying around in Dream Valley.”

“When… was the last time you were there?” Celestia asked as they moved inside. “To Dream Valley I mean?”

“I haven’t been there ever since Ponykind left there,” Aspect sighed. “Too many memories. I put up statues of my old friends at Dream Castle before coming back. It’s been...ages.”

“Perhaps we’ll go back there, together,” Celestia smiled as Luna moved up to his other side as he was caught in a Princess-sized sandwich hug.

“All right, so,” Aspect said as he saw his saddlebags. “Give me just one second here and I’ll find the trident. It...might be buried under a few things.” With that, he opened up the left saddlebag and stuck his muzzle into it...before pulling his forelegs in as well and rummaging around, the sound of heavy objects shifting around echoing through the house.

“That… is rather odd to watch,” Neptune nodded to himself.

“He really ‘throws’ himself into his work,” Celestia said with a small smirk.

‘I still don’t see how those saddlebags work,’ Pyro chirped. ‘I know magic is involved, but surely there must be a limit.’

“Father does many odd things,” Luna nodded. “Though, We feel as though the modern mare would pay a great sum for bags like that.”

“Found the rocks!” Aspect said. “And quite a few bits and pieces of armor. I don’t even wear the stuff...oh hello, weapons! Getting warmer.”

“Father, do I want to know why you have a small armoury in there?” Celestia asked, very much hoping nopony of ill intentions ever got ahold of that bag.

“Sentimental value more than anything else. Why else would I save Commander Hurricane’s wingblades? I should open a museum! A-HA! Trident! Okay, coming out!”

The stallion pulled himself free of the bag and twirled the double-ended trident in a hoof, before presenting it to Neptune. The merstallion hummed as he took the gift and gave it a twirl.

“Ahh, this is quite the weapon,” he hummed in a pleased-sounding tone. “Many thanks for this glorious gift. I shall put it to good use protecting the oceans.”

“I know you will,” Aspect said with a smile, before wiping the sweat off his brow. “I forgot just how much stuff I had in there. I am ever so thankful for these things. I doubt modern day stitching could compare to the stuff they made back in Dream Valley.”

Elsewhere, an ivory unicorn’s ear flicked and she let out a small snort. She had the most… itching urge to tell an ignorant stallion off for some reason.

“Well, you’ll never know if you never ask,” Celestia hummed. “So father, what shall we do? You’ve gathered us here, so I figured you had a plan.”

“Part of it was just me wanting to get you and your sister acquainted with your siblings, such as they are,” Aspect said. “Though...Hmm. I wonder. How many of you are feeling up to being...mischievous? We could have a family bonding day and mess with the villagers of Ponyville at the same time.”

Like he even had to ask. Pyroclastia had that smirk again, as did Celestia. Memories of her and Luna’s pranks suddenly came to mind. Hopefully, with a united target of ‘not him’, there would be a way to mitigate the damage. Maybe.

“Well, I’m already disguised,” Aspect said, indicating his pegasus form.

Celestia and Luna took their usual ones, a unicorn and pegasus by the names of Sunny Skies and Moonlight. Pyroclastia shrank down, to about the size of a large robin, while Neptune took a hippogriff form, a long ridge of fur running all the way down his back to the tip of his tail.

“So many rowdy foals to look after,” Aspect said, before looking at Cadence and Mort. “You two joining in on this?”

“I do not think I can,” Mortal Coil said. “Though I do wish I could-” a chime from inside his cloak cut him off, and he pulled out an empty hourglass for emphasis. “The job waits for no pony, myself included. Though, do cause a little extra mischief for me. I have often wondered what it would be like.”

“We shall strive to do so Morty!” Luna nodded with a wide smile.

Cadence shifted into a pegasus, what she used look like before her ascension. A light pink pegasus mare with a bow and arrow for a Cutie Mark. The head of the arrow was a red heart. “Hee, Lovey Dovey at your service.”

“Right,” Aspect said with a smile. “Take care Mort, we’ll go see how much trouble we can make. Children, assemble!”

They did so… poor Ponyville wasn’t going to know what hit them.

“So,” Aspect said under his four foal and one bird load, ignoring the looks the townsfolk were giving him. “Where to first?”

“Hmm,” Sunny tapped her chin and looked around. “I don’t really know. Nothing’s coming to mind…”

“Let’s prank Twilight!” Lovey cackled and rubbed her hooves. “She’s always good for a reaction.”

“Why did I think that it would end in anything but pranks?” Aspect said as he moved towards the treebary.

“Boundless optimism?” Sunny asked as they approached. Lovey moved up and before she knocked, she adjusted her coat colours. She now had a lavender coat with a blueish-grey mane and tail. Once that was done, she knocked on the door.

“...Ohhh, this can only end poorly,” Aspect said with a shake of his head.

The door opened and Twilight poked her head out. “Hello? Oh, Aspect. What can I… do… for you?” she looked down at the little filly before her. “Who’s this?”

“Hi Mommy!” the filly beamed.

Twilight paused. “Um, I think… you might have confused me with somepony else…”

“Nu-uh,” Lovey shook her head. “Daddy’s special. Since he’s human and all. When his magic mixes with somepony else's, we’re born if there’s enough love~”

Aspect could almost hear Twilight’s brain grinding to a screeching halt, then self-destructing. Then those pieces exploded as well.

“Then again, I haven’t made a new Aspect in a few hundred years or so,” Aspect mused. “So you should count yourself lucky, Twilight, that I used your form to base another one off of.”

“I… what...but I…” Twilight stammered, her mouth opening, but only single words or utter gibberish came back out. “This is… but we, we aren’t married… I don’t…”

*thump*

Eeyup, that was the sound of a unicorn passing out on her doorstep.

“She doesn’t take revenge pranks too well, does she?” Aspect asked Lovey.

“Wait til she wakes up,” Lovey grinned. “She’ll likely start planning out schools and want to date you.”

“Well, I’d say my revenge is complete,” Aspect said. “That’ll teach her for using cute on me to get her way. Only family members and Bon-Bon are allowed to do that.”

Pyro pecked the back of his head. ‘The cute?’ she chirped.

“Yeah, it’s a notorious weakness of mine,” Aspect said as he allowed Lovey to climb back on. “Basically a pony could make doe eyes at me and I’d cave just to make them stop.”

“It’s a wonder you aren’t wed already,” Neptune chuckled. “If you are swayed so easily. Perhaps I should mention it to that mare of yours?”

“She already knows,” Aspect said with a wave of a hoof. “I have no idea how Twilight found out. Where to next, my passengers?”

“Ah, well the ‘cute face’ she got from me,” Sunny chuckled awkwardly. “I taught it to her and… well just picture a Filly Twilight using that face. I could have weaponized that face. No evil could have lasted against it.”

“Well that explains that,” Aspect mused. “Oh! I know somewhere we absolutely have to go to! It’ll completely mess with somepony.”

“Uhoh, when father gets that look, trouble follows,” Sunny smiled. “Very well, lead on.”

The party of five ponies and a bird wound their way through town until they reached a particular building. A unique building. The door to Sugarcube Corner dinged open as Aspect walked in with his payload of foals.

“This building is… interesting,” Neptune noted.

‘And it smells like Tia’s bedroom,’ Pyroclastia added.

“Welcome to Sugarcube Corner,” he said. “And three, two, one.”

“HIYA!” Pinkie appeared right in front of him, the payload of foals all flinching and yelping in surprise. “Oooh, are these your kids Aspy? You and Bonniebuns have been busy~”

“Wouldn’t you know it,” Aspect said with a smirk. “But would you believe none of them have been here? I thought it was a situation worth rectifying.”

“Here?” Pinkie screeched to a halt. Literally. He could hear the sound of car brakes screeching. “You mean… they haven’t… new ponies… haven’t… missed birthdays….” she was vibrating now.

“Um… is she… going to explode?” Neptune backed away from the increasingly vibrating mare.

“This is the part where we run away,” Aspect said, double-checking his passengers to make sure they were all on board. “Please hold tight, because we are about to be airborne.”

With a mighty flap, Aspect and his cargo were outside of Sugarcube Corner and flying through the skies. Another flap saw them landing on a low-hanging cloud, one that offered them a prime position to view the upcoming chaos. A discrete bit of sorcery and pegasus magic made sure the cloud would hold up the weight of anypony, not just pegasi. Just in case.

“OhmigoshIhavetothrowyouthebiggestmegapartyofalltime!!” Pinkie said, floating from some balloons behind them. “Apartyforimmortals?SomuchworksolittletimeGottagobye!” And with that, she popped the balloons and fell back to earth. There was Party Science to do!

“...Ohhh dear, my plan backfired,” Aspect said. “Well, that’s going to be interesting.”

‘What… just happened?’ Pyro blinked in confusion.

“You all just met Pinkie Pie and lived,” Aspect said. “I have no idea when she’ll throw her party. Or where. But it will happen. And it’ll be the party of our lives.”

“...” Neptune looked contemplative. “Father. Is she single? Imagine the feasts she could throw when I return from adventures!”

“As far as I know, yes, but she prides herself on being Ponyville’s premier party pony,” Aspect said. “So if you’re after regular feasts, you’d have to actually visit regularly.”

“Ahh, hmm…” Neptune rubbed his beard, only he didn’t have one as a foal. “Well, I guess I could…”

Then their cloud disappeared as somepony bucked it, Aspect had to think quick to keep everypony airborne.

“Whoops, didn’t see ya there,” Rainbow chuckled. “Sorry about that Aspect.”

“Gah!” Aspect said as he flapped his wings to keep himself, and by extension, his cargo, in the sky. “Oh. Hello Dash. If I settle on another cloud, will you buck that one away as well? Flying with this large crew on my back isn’t the easiest of tasks.”

“Ahh, the day called for clear skies, so I was wondering why that cloud was there.” She looked at the foals and blinked. “So, who are the rugrats? You a foalsitter now?”

“You could say that,” Aspect said with a chuckle, looking for another cloud and flying over to it, before making it glow as he enchanted this one as well. “Kids, introduce yourself to the nice pegasus.”

“Hi!” Sunny chirped. “I’m Sunny Days and this is my sister, Moonlight!”

“I am Neptune!” the hippogriff thumped his tiny chest.

“Squawk?” Pyro offered.

“Are you one of our Mommies as well?” Lovey blinked. Rainbow paused and looked at her.

“Um, come again?”

“One of our Mommies. There’s Miss Bon Bon, and Miss Twilight…”

Rainbow blinked, before doubling over laughing. “Bwahahahaha! M-me… and Aspect? Y-Yeah kiddo. When pigs fly and it rains chocolate milk.”

“So,” Aspect said as he sat there, covered in foals. “You performed quite well at the Young Flier’s competition. Finally touched your Pegasus magic, I’d wager.”

“I dunno zip about magic,” Rainbow shrugged. “My Sonic Rainboom was awesome though. And it turns out, I can probably do it again too!”

“Pegasus magic is more about emotion and intent, less about runes and spells,” Aspect said, flapping a wing and causing a breeze to move his cloud a little. “It’s an old art, but it all has to do with making the air easier to move through, or changing the atmosphere to suit your whims. Most pegasi only use a little of their talent, just to fly. They barely scrape the surface of what they can do.”

“Sooo, that means what?” Rainbow blinked.

“PegaMom isn’t very bright huh?” Lovey said.

“It means one pegasus could look after one town, in the old days,” Aspect said. “Maybe a few, so that there was a rotating shift, but you didn’t need weather teams to manage the weather. Pegasi were the masters of the sky.”

“Well, wouldn’t that put a lot of pegasi out of a job?” Rainbow blinked. “I mean, I love my team and couldn’t do the work without ‘em.”

“And that loyalty is why you’re so special,” Aspect said with a nod. “The Wonderbolts used to be the grand masters of the air, standing on par with me when they worked together. Entire martial arts were devoted to fully exploring a Pegasi’s magic. Ponies used to feel safe and secure when they had Pegasi around in the sky above them. Heck, ponies in general used to be adorable balls of danger.”

“Well, that sounds pretty badflank,” Rainbow hummed to herself. “Rainbow Storm Dash. Heh, now that sounds like something I could get behind~”

“And then,” Aspect sighed, looking downcast. “Ponies proved themselves no less infallible than the ones that ruled them. Now I’m one of the only ones that remembers anymore.”

Well that’s how he thought, until he remembered Bon Bon’s demonstration from last night. How many others still knew the secret arts. And for that matter, who in the heck taught her?

“Still, it’s not all bad news,” Aspect said. “I’ve decided that I’ll look into teaching the old arts again. Maybe find a trustworthy pony to carry on with the secrets. It’d be nice to know that I’m not the only mover and shaker anymore. Means the ponies will be able to defend themselves when they, for example, go into the bloody Everfree and meet a Hydra.”

“Well, I could totally take one on,” Rainbow said and puffed out her chest. “Still, that sounds pretty cool. Give me a call if you need a hoof okay?”

“So, if he needs a hoof tonight?” Lovey said, leaving no room to misinterpret her meaning.

“Aspect…” Rainbow replied, a small blush on her face. “That kid of yours has issues.”

“Technically she’s a granddaughter, but I agree with your sentiment,” Aspect said. “Lovey, do you have no off switch? I’m already involved with Bon-Bon!”

“And?” Lovey blinked. “There’s no laws against polygamy.”

“The fact that you know that is disturbing,” Aspect said with a shake of his head.

“I’m educated,” Lovely nodded as Rainbow blinked slowly at the implications.

“Iiiii’m gonna go,” she said and blasted off, the air popping as she went from zero to supersonic in a matter of seconds.

“Well, that’s half the Bearers met,” Aspect said. “Hmm. Don’t really feel like meeting with Rarity right now, and if we met with Fluttershy, she’d probably fawn all over you, Pyro. So...wanna go mess with Honesty’s head?”

‘Oh that sounds delicious~’ the phoenix cooed. ‘Lead the way~’

It was a strange sight that walked onto Sweet Apple Acres that afternoon. One pegasus stallion, with four foals of varying colors, shades, and in one case, species, on his back. As well as a bird of bright red hue about the size of a robin on his head.

‘Oh, I like this place,’ Pyro hummed and trilled. ‘All these trees, perfect for raising young.’

“Right up until you realize they’re all apple trees and are regularly bucked for their fruit,” Aspect pointed out.

‘Ah, that would be…’ the bird paused and shuddered with a chuckle. ‘I have a wonderful idea father, but I need your help.’ She whispered her plan to him, one requiring a liberal amount of earth magicks.

“Oooh, I like the idea of that,” Aspect said with a grin. “Now all we need is to find Applejack…”

***

It hadn’t taken too long to do so. All they had to do was follow the sounds of the thumps of her apple bucking. On the far side of the orchard, they spied the orange earth pony, rearing up as a solid kick emptied the tree of it’s fruit.

“Hmm, Fair Applejack is rather talented in Earth magikcs as is,” Moonlight noted. “Even if she herself does not realise she’s using them.”

“She’s rather in tune with the land, yes,” Aspect said. “She and her family have worked this land for ages. This entire plot of land is Apple Family land, it knows that. It’ll be hard to work anything here...but then again, I have a lot of Crunch left in me. I think I can pull something off.”

Applejack reared up at the next tree, and with one solid kick, she relieved it of it’s appley burden and into the buckets below. Once that task was done, she turned to the next tree.

A light peck from Pyro cued Aspect to get to work. Aspect nodded and planted his hooves on the ground, calling forth what Earth magics he knew.

It was...difficult. Like trying to drag something heavy through tar, which was a testament as to how much power the Apple Clan had put into these lands. But eventually, his magic succeeded in growing new apples on the tree she’d just emptied of fruit. Applejack turned to buck a tree and she blinked.

“Whut the…” she looked to the tree she just bucked. The apples were there in the buckets… yet, the tree was still full. “How the…” Her brow furrowed, before she shrugged and moved the buckets, replacing them with empty ones and bucking the tree again. It emptied and she once again moved on without any fuss.

Once again, Aspect reached out and gave the natural world a tweak, making another set of apples appear on the same tree.

Applejack whistled as she raised her hindlegs… Wait… She looked up at the previous tree. How.. what?

“Am ah workin’ too hard?” she muttered to herself. She rubbed her eyes and once again, moved the buckets and bucked the tree. “An’ stay bucked!” she scolded it before moving on once more.

Aspect decided to wait just a minute this time. He waited for Applejack to buck a new tree, and be ready to move on…

And then he regrew the apples on the tree she’d just cleared.

“OH COME ON!” the mare roared and bucked the tree again, apples falling and rolling across the ground. “There! Come back again. AH DARE YA!”

“I think if I did anymore she might actually snap,” Aspect said. “I’ve pushed it about as far as I can in the name of fun.”

Applejack’s ear flicked and her green eyes turned towards them. “Aspect? That you… wait a durn minute…” She put the puzzle pieces together. “Y’all are in a heap o’trouble!”

“It was just a prank,” Aspect said. “Your family lands are heck to work with, by the way. They’re so thoroughly coated in Apple Family energy that any other Earth pony might as well try walking through a swamp if they want to do something here.”

“Huh?’ She halted her stomping towards them and looked at him. “Come again?”

“Earth magics, the Gifts of the Earth,” Aspect said, gesturing to his hooves, which had small vines growing around them. “An Earth Pony with the proper training can call on the earth for strength, or to make crops grow faster. But the more a pony stays in one area, the more the area likes that pony in question. It’s all about setting down a territory and defending it. And Sweet Apple Acres so thoroughly belongs to the Apple Clan, the only reason I was able to do anything was because I cheated.”

“Well…” Applejack smiled and looked out at her farm. “Ah thank you kindly fer that. We try our darndest to respect th’land and look after her. She’s our life after all, part of the family.”

‘I feel bad pranking her now,’ Pyro whispered.

“So how goes the additions to the farm?” Aspect asked. “After all, you got like...half the sum Tia tried to give me.”

“It’s goin’ great,” Applejack beamed. “We got a new barn, and tha’ rusty old plow of Mac’s got replacing.”

Speaking of, the giant red earth pony approached them and Lu-Moonlight was turning the most interesting shade of pink.

“Howdy Mister Aspect,” he nodded his head and looked at the foals. “Foalsittin’?”

“You could say that and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong,” Aspect said. “Girls? Say hello to the Apple Clan, they’re old friends of mine.”

“Hello~” came a chorus of greetings, though Moonlight’s was rather muted, opting to hide behind her father’s leg.

“You as well Neptune, Pyro,” Aspect said to the other two. The bird trilled and landed on Applejack’s hat while Neptune nodded up at the stallion. The two stared silently for a moment before bumping hooves.

“So,” Aspect said casually. “I might have taken them to meet Pinkie Pie as well. Is she normally ‘randomly explosive’ levels of bad when she meets new ponies?”

Applejack and Big Macintosh looked at one another, before their solemn glance turned back to Aspect.

“Ah’ll pray fer yer,” Applejack said. “Y’all are gunna need it.”

“You inspire so much confidence,” Aspect deadpanned.

“Yer dealing with Miss Pie,” Big Mac rumbled. “Ain’t no way yer gettin’ out of it.”

“That pony is more impossible than Surprise,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “And she regularly showed up out of nowhere, screaming her name.”

“She was a real hooffull alright,” Sunny smiled, though Aspect caught her slight shudder. She was a filly at the time, and to this day swore she might have died from a heart attack from that mare. Pinkie was more… reserved in that area.

She more than made up for it in sheer randomness.

“Well, iffn’ y’all are done with yer little prank, ah have some advice,” Applejack said.

“I am indeed, though I think there’s a stop we’ll be making on the way back to my place. If only because I know all my children will not let it go until we go there,” Aspect said.

They all shared a single, unified nod.

“Well, ya got yer work cut out fer ya,” Applejack chuckled. “Jus’ don’t prank Fluttershy. Even Rainbow and Pinkie know that. Also, don’t prank those two. That… well it won’t end well fer ya. Their prank wars are legendary round these parts.”

“How do you think we got Pinkie to nearly explode?” Aspect quipped. “Prank gone wrong and backfired on me. Ah well. All aboard you little scamps. We have a candy shop to raid.”

Celestia and Luna’s smirks could not have been any wider if they tried.

Bon Bon hummed to herself as she wiped down her counter. Lyra saw fit to make herself some hot-chocolate… then sneezed and blew cocoa powder everywhere. It was like a Chocolate Winter Apocalypse.

Ah well, that was now done and all Bon Bon had to do was wait until the foals were free from school and launch their annual afternoon assault.

And then the bell over her door dinged...a half-hour before school got out. She didn’t have long to wait for an explanation, either, as a familiar voice accompanied the bell.

“I have told you all this multiple times on the way here. Five candies each. No more. Otherwise you’ll make me buy the whole shop out, and that’s not fair to the other foals.”

Bon Bon’s eyes widened and she near gallopped around the counter, seeking out her coltfriend and pulling him into a strong, deep and passionate kiss. One that was only broken when she heard...birdsong? She pulled back, looked up and blinked.

“Um… Aspect dear,” she said. “You have a little something on your head there.”

“I should bloody well hope so,” Aspect said, nodding his head. “Pyro has been quite anxious about meeting you. As has Nep and Lovey.”

And that was when she noticed the four foals, she was… surprisingly calm. Earth Ponies panicked on the inside.

“Aspect,” she finally said, exerting a great deal of self-control. “Most stallions bring their mares flowers or candy… not foals.”

“I’m sorry, but my family wanted to meet you,” Aspect said, crouching a little to let them off and look at the wares. “Also, bringing you candy would be redundant. I tried to get flowers, but the mares that ran the stall all looked at me funny.”

“Rose and her sisters are… odd,” Bon Bon said as the five youngsters all found her to be much more interesting than the candy, particularly the robin and the... hippogriff? “Um, hello?”

“Father?” Nep asked. “Is she the one Young Amore spoke of?”

“Yes, so stop crowding her, all of you,” Aspect warned them. “You’re not too big to put over my knee.”

All the children smirked, and with a flash of light, resumed their normal forms.

All of them.

“And now?” Neptune smirked.

A soft thump filled the void of silence between words.

Ah, Bon Bon fainted.

“And now I am going to put you all over my knee for breaking Bon Bon,” Aspect growled. “I mean, really. You all should know better. How did you think a pony would react to suddenly being surrounded by most of the Aspects of Equus?”

‘Humbled and awed?’ Pyroclastia snickered. She thought this to be most hilarious.

“If it was just Celestia or Luna, maybe,” Aspect said. “Sakes, the power in this room. And that’s before I find two more replacements to round out the list, and without Chryssy besides. I was going to ease her into it. Have you all be normal foals looking for candy. Maybe break it to her once you all were gone that she’d just served the immortals candy.”

“We are sorry,” Luna said as Bon Bon groaned and rubbed her head.

“Urgh, I just had the weirdest… dream…” She looked up and sighed. “Really?”

“To be fair,” Aspect said. “You suggested I call my kids here. They’re the ones that wanted to meet you. You can actually blame Cadenza for bringing you up in the first place.”

Cadence inched away from the group, finding a nearby display very interesting all of a sudden.

“Well, I just botched my first impressions on them,” Bon Bon sighed. “Great, now I’m the ‘Marefriend who Faints.’ Wonderful.”

“I do wonder, though,” Aspect mused. “You didn’t do that when I transformed around you into any of my other forms. Is it because I’m not awe-inspiring?”

“You’re…” Bon Bon rolled a hoof to find the right words. “Well, I guess so in fact. Your human form isn’t exactly Miss Flames and Feathers here.”

Pyroclastia preened and smiled. ‘At least she recognises true beauty.’

Aspect just huffed and sat on his haunches. “Been around for millenia and what do I get? ‘Oh, you’re...okay. You’re not your children, though.’”

Bon Bon wilted and pet his leg. “Well yes, but I don’t love them like I do you. That would get weird for everypony.”

“I know,” Aspect said, nuzzling her back, before glaring at his children. “All of you, back in your guises! If Lyra or anypony else shows up, we’ll have a hell of a time explaining why most of the power of the world is in this mare’s foyer.”

And as if on cue, the minty unicorn walked in, took one look at everyone and blinked. There was a moment of silence, before Lyra shrugged, grabbed a box of chocolate drops and left.

“...Or she could prove to be more accepting than I thought,” Aspect said. “Still. Best to not tempt fate a second time.”

“Yes Daaad,” they all echoed and resumed their disguises. Bon Bon let out a small sigh of relief, she would not have liked to try and explain that to a customer.

“So, aside from a panic attack. What can I get you?” she asked and the foals looked at their father expectantly.

“I said five candies each,” Aspect said. “Pyro, I am watching you, if you try to sneak any maple-sugar candies away, I will tell Pinkie Pie where you live myself.”

The Robin/Phoenix trilled innocently as she flittered off to a deeper part of the store. Celestia was the first to return, a small pile of candies in her magical grip. Aspect flared a wing warningly.

“I said five, Celly,” Aspect said. “I will not have any of you ruining your appetites.”

“But, I’ve eaten entire cakes and still been hungry,” Celestia pouted and then realised she should not have admitted that. “Um, five you said? Right, I can do that.” And then she galloped off as Bon Bon stifled a giggle.

“It’s hard to believe,” she said. “Seeing this up close. They don’t act like the rulers of a nation, or powerful Aspects. They’re just kids trying to pull one over on their grumpy dad.”

“The old family relations never really go away,” Aspect said. “Apparently, even though they’re strained at times, the bonds of family will endure through anything.” He turned and nuzzled Bon Bon. “Thanks for suggesting this. I think we all needed a day to reconnect.”

“Well, a marefriend is always right,” Bon Bon chuckled and returned the nuzzle. Tia and Luna were in the background, arguing over which was greater, licorice or butterscotch. Pyro was trying to lift a candybar four times her size and Nep was still deciding.

And Cadence… she was eyeing some candies of a romantic nature and her horn appeared, sparking pink motes of light.

“Do you have any saltwater taffy?” Aspect asked Bon Bon. “Nep might like it.”

“Hmm…” Bon Bon looked through her display case and smiled. “I do indeed, oh, and um, Pyrolestia was it? She might like some of these.” She set a single piece of candy on the counter. It was a bright red colour.

“Pyro, come over here and try this,” Aspect said, waving her over with a wing. “And Nep, you too. The nice mare has some candies for you both, despite your little mischievous natures.”

They moved to the counter and smiled, each putting the candy in their mouth… and Aspect saw his sweet mare’s sweet smile turn into a sharkish grin.

“Bon Bon, what did you-” Aspect managed to ask. He looked at Nep, whose mouth seemed to be near glued shut from the super-sticky candy.

Meanwhile, the little robin, Immortal phoenix and Aspect of Fire… started to sweat.

“A little word of advice,” Bon Bon said. “Never prank a Ponyville pony~”

“...Ohhh dear,” Aspect sighed. “You realize, of course, that this means war.”

“I have a Lyra,” Bon Bon smirked as she ducked under the counter. “She’s sooo much worse.” She reappeared, with a glass of milk for Pyro and a fizzy drink for Neptune. “As you can see, mixing Alchemy and candy making leads to some interesting results.

“Note, we shan’t mess with thy lover,” Luna said as she placed her five candies on the table. “Um, these are safe for consumption, yes?”

“Yes, those were my Joke Candies. Popular on Nightmare Night and April first,” Bon Bon nodded.

“Ah, so that tradition survived as well,” Aspect mused. “It’s sometimes amusing to see what I remember being mirrored in the modern day.”

“Pray tell, what is Nightmare Night?” Luna asked, you could see the look of contempt on her little face when she said that.

“It’s new to me as well,” Aspect said.

“On the last day of October,” Bon Bon explained. “All the foals and fillies dress up in costumes of monsters or storybook characters, that sort of thing. Then they go around to houses and get candy. If they don’t, the house owner is likely to get a trick instead. Then we make a candy offering to Nightmare Moon…” The words left her mouth before Bon Bon realised whom she was talking to. “Ah…”

Luna was standing very, very still.

“And, pray tell,” she said quietly. “Whose idea was that?”

“Mine,” Celestia said, not moving even as the little pegasus slapped her across the face.

“At a time like this,” Aspect said calmly, though if you looked his wings were twitching. “I can only say one thing. Kids. Get your candy together. I’ll pay and then we can go home.”

They did so, as Bon Bon almost robotically finalised the transaction and bagged the candy up.

“To be fair to you,” Aspect said to Bon Bon before they all left. “I’m not mad at you. I have a policy against shooting the unfortunate messenger. But I think we’re all about to go home and have loud, angry words at one another. I’d rather not subject you to it.”

She just nodded, her eyes not meeting his. If she did, she felt as though she might cry.

“Come by for dinner,” Aspect offered to her. “We should be done shouting each other down by then.” And with that, he was ushering his foals out onto the street. Once they left, Bon Bon turned the sign around to closed and fell to the floor behind the door, quietly shaking to herself.

Aspect waited until they were home and the door was shut before he flashed into his human form, glaring at Tia’s form. “You made a holiday around one of the worst days in our lives?” His voice growled to her.

“No, I turned one of our worst nights into something somewhat enjoyable!” Celestia shouted back, taking her true form along with the others. “Do you know what it was like after that day? Oh wait, of course not. You weren’t there!”

“I would think one of my daughters would be mature enough not to celebrate the downfall of her sister!” Aspect pointed out.

Celestia’s horn flared, before Cadence stepped out in front of her and said a few words that the others couldn’t hear.

“Auntie. Getting mad won’t help. Just explain. We’re family. They’ll understand.”

With a deep, haggard sigh, Celestia powered her magic down and nodded. She put a hoof to her chest and swept it outwards, taking a breath as she did. “Very well. I’ll explain, provided they can listen without aimlessly judging me.”

Luna was still in her foal form. At least like this, she couldn’t do something she’d regret. Her licorice was getting rather angrily chewed though.

“I’m listening,” Aspect said. “But there had better be a good explanation, young lady.”

Celestia was silent as she gathered her thoughts, before continuing. “When Luna… did that. The times after were… well they were horrible. Old Canterlot was in ruins, our Guards were decimated and the thestrals had retreated back to their homeland. Some were nearly killed on sight for being ‘tainted’ by the nightmare.”

“Which is just bloody ridiculous,” Aspect said. “Just because they were nocturnal doesn’t mean they’re to be feared. Sakes, they were some of Luna’s best friends. Are they around anymore?”

“Some returned about… a century ago. But there are less than a dozen in Canterlot,” Celestia sighed. “They either remain in Roamania, or the hidden village of Hollow Shades. Regardless, that’s a tale for another time.” She paced in a small circle, before taking a seat on the rug. “The time after, well I tried my best… but then came that day. Tell me, do you remember what day Bon Bon said Nightmare Night was on?”

“The last day of October,” Aspect replied. “I tried to bring over All Hallow’s Eve, but the ponies of Dream Valley were...less than receptive about a holiday celebrating being scared. What with all the actual monsters around.”

“And, what day was… that day,” Celestia said, motioning to Luna and waiting for her father to make that fateful connection.

“...Oh,” He said weakly. “You know, I was more concerned with lasting the day than thinking about what day it actually was? I didn’t put two and two together until just now.”

“And what of it?” Luna spat. “So We get to be reminded of the exact moment We nearly destroyed everything?”

“No,” Celestia shook her head. “A few months after that day, I thought I’d calmed everything down. Ponies still locked their doors at night and jumped at shadows, but i had assumed that they’d started moving on… then came those damnable ‘prophecies.’ Ones made by ponies that had no skill in telling basic fortunes, let alone reading the script of Fate. They would say that because I alone wielded the Elements of Harmony, that the seal was imperfect, that that day marked Nightmare Moon’s return.”

“So you made a holiday for it!? How does that help!?” Luna’s ire built.

“Tell me this,” Celestia did something that Aspect himself had never seen. She was literally vibrating with rage. “What did… Miss Bon Bon say that they offered to Nightmare Moon?”

“Are you saying...it was worse?” Aspect dared to venture.

“I… do not want to say it,” Celestia said shakily as she trembled. “Please… do not make me say it…”

“I’m already blaming myself for not being here for you,” Aspect said. “You can either let me imagine what it was or tell me.”

“Some… offered livestock, pigs, chickens…” Celestia said in a tone barely above a whisper, though she might as well have been shouting. “Then I got a letter from Clover… she was travelling at the time. One village… they… they offered…” She swallowed hard as new tears fell. “They offered live foals…”

Aspect very carefully didn’t say anything. Much like some of the ponies he was so fond of, he didn’t get visibly mad. He prefered to let his actions speak for him.

“Tia? I feel like tearing down your entire nobility and tossing them in a fire,” Aspect said calmly, wisps of smoke dancing along his form. He might not have more than a touch of Fire in him anymore, but it was still enough for him to get smoking mad.

Celestia offered a light chuckle at that. Maybe she should turn him loose on them, if only to scare them for a few good centuries.

“So…” Luna’s own fire died like an ember tossed into the ocean. “As far as sheer lunacy goes…”

“Oh, Clover tore that entire village apart in rage,” Celestia mused. Her old friend and… well she was a little more that that. Her descendants looked so much like her. “But I assume you want to know how that travesty became what it is today?”

Luna and the others nodded. Except for Cadence, as she knew the story already.

“I love my little ponies to pieces,” Celestia sighed. “But… they can be a little too easy to convince sometimes. It was slow at first, and that was when I started making my… edits to past history. Fortune telling was banned for a little while and the day was actually stricken from the calendar. It took months to alter the courses of the sun and moon to remove the day as a whole. Then I realised I should have just added a day to another month. Foresight is a cruel mistress at times. Anyway. After a generation or two, I started the second phase. The Mare in the Moon story was circulated and I reintroduced the day. It started as the end of the Harvest Season at first, where ponies would offer a portion of the harvest to the Mare in the Moon, to appease her and keep the monsters and beasts from their farms. After that, well… I actually have no idea how the whole dressing up thing came about. My ponies just started doing that on their own. I think one village did it as a part of their festival and it just caught on. From there, offerings of the harvest soon became candy as civilization advanced and the larger cities like Manehatten cropped up. They don’t have farms you see, but still wanted a holiday out of it. And thus, Nightmare Night was born.”

She looked at Luna and smiled. “That was, only a part though,” she said. “What nopony really knows, is the true reason behind the day.”

“I’m guessing you wanted to keep it around as a reminder of everything you’d lost,” Aspect whispered. “Oh Celly. I’m so sorry I left. I really am.”

“Actually grandfather, that’s not the reason,” Cadence said and looked at Luna. “When you returned. As Nightmare Moon. How did everypony react? Were they terrified? Did they raise an army against you?”

“Nay! They did not remember Us at all, save for friend Twilight,” Luna said with a derisive snort, then her eyes widened. “Wait…”

“It took centuries,” Celestia said. “But… it worked. I made them forget… I made them not hate my little sister for her mistake.”

“You were planning for the day when we could be together again,” Aspect said. “You waited for us all that time?”

“I knew the seal would break eventually, and I knew you would someday return,” Celestia nodded. “Clover foresaw that much before she passed. I…” She paused for a moment and shook her head. “Nevermind. But yes. I wanted my ponies to welcome not a murderous warrior and a crazed Alicorn bent on eternal darkness. I wanted them to meet my dearest father and my beloved little sister. But… they had to forget. I know, I know it’s a great injustice to you and your deeds and that my selfishness has caused you both so much pain but I—”

Aspect shut her up by falling to his knees in front of her and drawing Celestia into a hug. And she let out a surprised gasp when Luna followed suit.

“As We said before,” the alicorn of the night said. “Thou did the best as thou could on thy own. We art sorry thou had to do so in the first place.”

“The world is tamer now,” Aspect said. “I’ll still defend any ponies that need it. I’ll still keep an eye on the Everfree. But maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to hang up my sword one day. You know. Once I’ve passed on the last few Aspects to worthy hosts. Maybe I won’t need to exercise my role anymore.”

“I think the world will always need you,” Celestia chuckled. “But, tis a matter for another day also. Right now, there is another pressing concern of utmost urgency.”

“Do tell,” Aspect said.

“Yon concubine, the Lady Bon Bon,” Luna said, taking her true form finally. “We must have upset her with Our foolish display.”

“Oh yes,” Cadence said as her horn shone. “That… that is not the emotions of a happy mare at all.”

“Mmm,” Aspect said. “I know how to solve it. But the question is, are you all okay? If I go to take care of her, will you all be fine if I stop paying attention to you? I sort of called you here for a family day, which admittedly, got utterly ruined towards the end—”

“And there is your solution,” Neptune said and thumped his chest. “She is to be our mother is she not? Then, she is family too. Bring her here and we will all help, especially since it was Tia and Lulu’s fault.”

The alicorn sisters just poked their tongues out at them.

“Right, guises on, I’m out to take care of her,” Aspect said, once more retaking his pegasus form. “I don’t want her overwhelmed when we come back.”

“She will have to get used to it eventually,” Celestia chuckled. “Besides, I have met her a few times already. So it is only Neptune and Pyroclastia she is unused to.”

“Suit yourselves,” Aspect said, going out and heading back to Bon Bon’s shop.

He saw an odd sight, several foals were trotting away from the shop, talking about how weird it was that it’d closed early today. And to their words, when he got there, all the lights were off and the closed sign was up.

Aspect sighed. He knew how much Bonnie needed to stay open. So...apparently today had really hit hard. He cleared his throat and did his best to get the foal’s attention. “Excuse me, but are you all worried about miss Bon Bon?”

“A little,” one filly replied. She had a yellow coat and a slightly off white mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark was a bright sun. If cuteness could take physical form, this would be it. “She’s never closed this early before.”

“I promise you all if you’ll wait five minutes, ten at most, I’ll have her open again,” the stallion promised the foals. “I just have to get in and give her some encouragement.”

“Um, who are you mister?” her friend asked. She was an orange earth pony with three peaches for a Cutie Mark. Then the two fillies shared a look and giggled. “Ooooh~ Are you her Very Special Somepony~?”

“I might very well be, if she’s not mad at me,” Aspect said. “Go and round up your friends please, I don’t want her to lose too much business. Plus I’m sure she’ll have some delicious candies for you.” Aspect waited until they’d scurried off, with giggles trailing after them…

Then he picked up a nearby flowerpot, finding a key hiding underneath. He’d been guessing, but had been happy his guess was right. With a flick of his wing, the key soared into the lock, and he turned it, before taking it out and replacing it under the pot. He walked into the shop after he made sure the spare key was hidden again and that no foal had seen where it was.

He had a marefriend to comfort. The bell chimed as he walked in, signalling to her his presence. He didn’t have to look far either. She was just sitting in the middle of the room, a few dozen candy wrappers scattered around her. She didn’t even look at him as he entered.

“Bonnie?” Aspect said, standing a few feet away. “Bonnie, we worked it out. We’re not mad anymore.”

“It was my fault,” she replied softly. “If I hadn’t been so… so insensitive… I nearly ruined your family day. Just… leave me alone. Find somepony who deserves you…”

“Bonnie, the issue was going to come up sooner or later,” Aspect said, walking close and nuzzling her. “To be honest, I’m glad you brought it up before the day itself arrived. Much better to hear it from the mouth of someone you love than get blindsided by it later down the line. Now we know the history of it. Now we can plan around it. It’s not your fault. So please? Stop blaming yourself. I do enough of that for my entire crazy family.”

“But… Luna she… she was so angry,” Bon Bon said. “I made a foal angry, enough that she struck her own sister…”

“Bon Bon, repeat after me,” Aspect said, turning her to look him in the eyes. “Ready? ‘Everypony in Aspect’s family is crazy.’”

Bon Bon looked at him, she still looked sad but he saw that little twitch in the corner of her mouth.

“‘Everypony in Aspect’s family is crazy,’” Aspect repeated, then smirked at her. “‘Especially Aspect.’ Now you.”

“You’re not crazy,” she said, her shoulders shaking slightly.

“Hel-lo? Have you met me?” Aspect said with a raised eyebrow. “I’m millennia old and I slew a score of monsters. I think that sort of behavior in polite society earns you a special jacket from the ponies in white suits.”

“Hmm, I suppose I wouldn’t mind tying you up for a while,” Bon Bon mused at that thought, before blushing and shaking her head. “But what are you doing here? You should be with your family.”

“Somepony needed a confidence boost to run her shop for the after-school rush,” Aspect said, beeping her nose.

“The after school rush isn’t for a half hour,” she muttered, her nose scrunching adorably at the boop.

“Then explain the mass of foals wondering why you were closed,” Aspect pointed out. “I think you lost a little time, love. Might want to open soon, otherwise I’ll not be the only one that worried about you.”

Bon Bon’s eyes widened as she looked at the clock. “School ended… an hour ago!?” She sat up and started scrambling to clean up her mess, only to slip on a wrapper and faceplant the floor, her rump sticking up and giving Aspect quite the show in the process.

“Up you get,” Aspect said, not rising to the accidental bait and helping Bon Bon up. “Well, I got a few nice foals to round up their friends, so you might get a little business today. And I am sorry that my family ended up costing you so much already. I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

“It’s fine,” Bon Bon rubbed her snout as she turned on the lights and tidied the store up to presentable levels. Aspect could hear the foals outside and moved to open the door for her. Bon Bon’s eyes widened and she held out a hoof. “Wait! D—”

He opened the door and… oh my, well he’d never seen a stampede of foals before as more than two dozen charged over his form and into the store.

“Don’t open the store while standing in front of it,” Bon Bon finished and giggled at him.

“‘S fine,” he slurred from the floor. “Dis is nothing. Grogar’s zomponies were worse. Oh hey, canaries. ‘Zat normal?”

Bon Bon giggled again as the canaries all chanted ‘Pain gives us life’ She moved around and helped him up, giving him a brief, yet tender kiss on the lips.

“Oooohhhhh~” the foals chanted, all staring at the pair.

She blushed and pointed at them. “All candy is twenty percent off!”

The effect was instantaneous. They all scrambled to clear her shelves and empty their wallets.

“Well, that was...something,” Aspect said, shaking his head a little to clear it. “And to think, I thought of teaching the little ones.”

“I wish you luck,” Bon Bon giggled. “They are adorable though… maybe one day I’ll…” She snorted and shook her head. “So, teaching? You’re still going to do that?”

“Somepony has to pass on the old ways,” Aspect said. “I’m not sure if my students will be mares and stallions, or fillies and colts. But in an Equestria where most of the problems have been browbeaten out of the populace, I think this time around, it’ll go a lot better.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll be fine,’ Bon Bon nuzzled him. “This is Ponyville. What could go wrong in such a little town?”

“I would cite the things that have gone wrong already, but I feel my case is already made,” Aspect said. “See to your little pillagers. I’m just happy you’re in a good mood again.”

“Thanks to you,” she said and smiled. “Am… I still welcome around tonight?”

“Of course you are,” Aspect said, nuzzling her. “It wouldn’t be dinner without you.”

“Okay, do I need to bring anything? A salad, some wine? Last will and testament?”

“It’s just dinner, Bonnie,” Aspect said, giving her a brief kiss. “I’ll see you when you feel up to joining us again.”

“I’ll be there soon, I promise,” Bon Bon said as somepony ran in, put an envelope in her hooves and ran out, all in the span of an eyeblink. She looked at it and opened it, reading. “Oh… oh my… You uh, best hurry home.”

“Why do I get the feeling my home will be on fire?” Aspect said to nobody in particular. “They did that once, you know. It took us an entire year to rebuild it.”

“You should only be so lucky,” Bon Bon said and placed the paper on the counter.

Pinkie’s Super Party for Super Ponies!

We have some special guests so it’s time to give them a Ponyville Welcome!

Just come to the big house on the edge of town. Party starts when you get there~

“I fear your children have been left alone in the hooves of Pinkie Pie,” Bon Bon said.

“...Please tell me you’re going to come as well,” Aspect begged her. “I don’t think I could stay sane if you weren’t.”

“Hmmm, convince me~” Bon Bon smirked.

“For once, you won’t have to cook,” Aspect pointed out.

“True,” Bon Bon nodded. “And don’t worry Aspect. I’ll be there. Now, I believe you have a line behind you. I’d best serve them before they eat you instead.”

Aspect took one massive step to the right, to get out of the way of the foals, and shook his head. “Okay. See you when I see you then.” He gave her a bow and was off.

Now, how bad could a Pinkie Pie possibly be?

That… was a lot of ponies. Almost all of Ponyville must have been here. Ponies he recognised and most he barely knew or not at all.

“SURPRISE!” came a cheerful tone as the white pegasus burst out of a bush in front of him. “Ya miss me?”

“Either you’re here about the offer I made the Wonderbolts, or Pinkie Pie invited you to what has to be the biggest party I’ve ever seen,” Aspect said.

“Both!” the mare chirped. “I flew here today cause Pinks invited me. But the Wonderbolts are interested in your offer. In fact, two more will be here tomorrow morning.”

“Oh good,” Aspect said, discreetly making sure that his heart was exactly where it was supposed to be. “Haven’t had a student in some time. It’ll be nice to know the old arts aren’t entirely dead.”

“Yup, me, Spitty and a mystery pony are gonna learn your pocus-hocus,” Surprise giggled. She honestly didn’t know who else was coming, she hadn’t stuck around to hear it. “Still, that aside. Great party huh?”

“Yeah, never thought me and my kids and grandkids would ever get so much press,” Aspect said. “Sakes, most ponies actively avoid acting themselves around us. Then again, we are one of the weirder families.”

“The weirdest, but that’s why it’s the best!” Surprise giggled. “Incoming!”

“HIYA!” Pinkie chirped, popping up on his opposite side. “Where ya been hiding Aspy?”

“Just cheering up Bonnie, she brought up Nightmare Night around Luna,” Aspect said. “We may have had a...falling out about that. But everything’s fine now. Bonnie’s happy, the family isn’t shouting at each other. It’s fine.”

“There… were sad ponies?” Pinkie gasped. “And you fixed them?” And then she put a gold sticker on Aspect’s chest that said. ‘No.1 Happiness Assistant.’

“Yes, well, given our family’s history, there may be a bit more of yelling in the future,” Aspect said. “You don’t just...fix this. But we’re getting better about it. Anyways. What’s this about a party?”

“Well duh!” Pinkie sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically. “There’s five new ponies in town and I haven’t thrown a party for them yet!”

“Five?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “I counted four.”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW, ‘WHAT’ IS SHE?” Mort sighed from behind Pinkie Pie.

“Oh,” Aspect said blankly. “Um. I...what…”

Aspect.exe has stopped working. Abort, retry, ignore?

“And father is broken,” Mort sighed and looked at the house. “Celestia, Luna, we require some assistance.”

The two alicorns appeared and looked at the broken Pegasus. “Oh my, one moment,” Celestia hummed and poked Luna before blocking her ears.

“WAKE UP!” Luna unleashed her Voice at point blank range. Aspect was bowled over and sent tumbling across the lawn, eventually landing on his back. He raised a hoof though, and managed to voice a demand.

“How in the love of all that is holy, did Pinkie Pie manage to touch Mort and drag him here without her dying?!”

Pinkie just shrugged and bounced away.

“I believe she wields chaos,” Mortal shrugged. There was also the promise of cake.

“Right,” Aspect said, pulling himself onto his hooves. “Nearly forgot. Don’t question Pinkie Pie. Okay.” He shook his head to clear it again. “Okay. So this is a party for us all? I mean...as we are? Because I’m pretty sure I’m still supposed to be a pegasus for now.”

“I’d say so,” Surprise said with a shrug.

“That is what Lady Pie explained,” Luna nodded.

“Out of deference to your political games,” Aspect said with a bow to Celestia. “I’ll refrain. I doubt any other form I possess would go over well. Let’s just enjoy the party.”

“Of course,” Celestia said. “Oh, this party does remind me of something. The Grand Galloping Gala is coming up soon. I trust you’ll be attending?”

“The whata what?” Aspect asked with a tilted head. “Oh, that thing Rarity was making all the dresses for. Sorry to say, but I doubt I have an invitation.”

“You do not need one,” Celestia snorted. “Do you honestly think I would need them for my own family? You are always welcome in Canterlot. Anywhere, anytime.”

“Huh,” Aspect mused. “Well maybe then. Depends on if I have too many other things going on. I mean from the sound of it, it sounds an awful lot like a boring night for me.”

“Hmm, I think this one might be interesting,” Celestia chuckled and put that damned ‘I know something you don’t’ smile on her face. “Now, go and enjoy the party. I hear a certain school teacher is around here somewhere.”

“Oh goodie,” Aspect said, perking up a bit. “More students. Young ones at that. If there’s one thing I liked, it was teaching and learning new things.”

“Father?” Was that… Yggdrasil? He normally didn’t talk much if you weren’t in his cave. This was...new.

“Yggdrasil? My son? This is novel, though not unwelcome. Hello. How are you?” Aspect ‘thought’ back.

“As well as I can be… Father, are you near Magic right now?”

“I don’t quite know,” Aspect mused. “Everypony was invited to this party. Yet I don’t see her...which is odd. You would think that with me taking up a teaching role, she would be the first one to pounce on the opportunity to learn…”

“I cannot feel her Father, Magic has… vanished.”

That...was concerning. If Yggdrasil couldn’t feel someone...well. There was still an option. One that he didn’t use all that often. And he wouldn’t have to talk to his children to do it either.

“One second. Let me just…” Aspect reached out with his magical senses for an artifact that he’d buried far beneath Yggdrasil’s roots. The Heart of Ponyland, moved to Equestria after the great freeze. “I guard the Heart, and the Heart guards me,” he intoned.

Instantly he was connected to Equestria on an entirely different level than he had been a moment ago. He could sense things the way Yggdrasil could, now. He looked at Ponyville with his magical senses, and ‘saw’ the trail of Twilight Sparkle going into the Everfree Forest...and not coming back out. “...There is one way this could have happened,” he eventually said to Yggdrasil. “Something like this happened once before, where ponies just...stopped. But seeing as how Mort is here, I doubt she is dead.”

Yggdrasil was silent for a moment. “I am sensing…. Kindness. And… a small amount of Chaos in my forest.”

“It happened before you were born,” Aspect said with a sigh. “Crunch...turned ponies to stone. Because it amused him. It was only after Discord’s...rampage, that I found that some of the creatures he’d twisted...didn’t untwist with the Harmony wave. There is a beast called the cockatrice...that if it looks you in the eye, can duplicate those powers. It tried it on me, but turning me to stone is less of an inconvenience than it would be if it happened to somepony else.”

“I see, I will observe and keep you updated then.”

“Yes, and if too many ponies are turned to stone in the forest...actually, did I not give you some of Crunch’s essence when I formed you? You should be able to scan for statues. I should be able to scan for statues. In any case...if you find any more pony-statues in the forest, just let me know. I know the trick to unstoning them.”

“I see… ahh, I found her. And… a chicken? Well, Kindness is… Father?” Yggdrasil sounded… well, Aspect wasn’t quite sure what emotion that was. Surprise? Slight panic? “Did you give Kindness such a skill?”

“Not that I’m aware of, no,” Aspect replied.

“Well… she has freed both Magic and, the chicken.”

“...You know, I did learn something from the first one I encountered,” Aspect said with a slight chuckle. “If you can outstare them, it causes them to panic and reverse their magic.”

“...Equestria is weird,” Yggdrasil sighed. “Good night father. I think I need to sleep for a bit.”

“Says the crystalline magical talking tree,” Aspect riposted. “Take care. I’ll enjoy the party for you.”

“Say hello to Tia and Lulu for me.”

Inside was just as busy as the outside. Ponies were everywhere and most seemed surprised to see Celestia and Luna walking about. Neptune was busy telling stories of his adventures to some foals and a few stallions… and more than a few mares were swooning over him. Pyroclastia was the center of attention, none dared touch her, bust she basked in their awed looks.

Mortal was understandably avoided, but hey, nopony ran away screaming. Granny Smith was giving him the stink eye though.

“Well, it’s going better than I thought it would be,” Aspect mused. “Now. If I were a school teacher, where would I be?...”

After some asking around, he found her admiring the ballroom. She was an earth pony mare with a mulberry coat and three smiling flowers for a Cutie Mark.

“Hello,” Aspect said, bowing to her. “I understand that you’ve been looking for me.”

“Hmm? Oh, well I heard the opposite,” she smiled back. “I hear you’re going to start teaching something?” She blinked and then held out a hoof. “Oh, where are my manners. My name is Cheerilee. Local schoolteacher.”

“Balanced Aspect, master of the old ways,” Aspect said. “With your permission, I’d like to teach the foals of Ponyville some of the ancient arts. The ones you think are mature enough to handle magical tutoring. I have lots of old lore accrued from my travels, and I can use the pegasus stuff quite easily.” By way of demonstration, he flapped a wing and caused a light breeze to be felt the entire length of the ballroom.

“Wow…” Cheerilee whispered. She’d never seen something like this, or somepony quite so handsome. “Are you sure? If it’s pegasus magic, we only have a few students. And well…” She looked around and nodded. “I’m afraid one of them can’t even fly just yet.”

“Then it’s all the more important that she or he learn,” Aspect said. “Besides, I also know of the Gifts of the Earth and how Sorcery used to work. Earth Pony and Unicorn magics, respectively. It might just be that if a student is having trouble with their magic, that they’re simply in tune with other magic.”

“Hmm, this sounds a little over my head,” Cheerilee frowned, her brow knitting in confusion. “But, I would not be adverse to you coming by the class. You come highly recommended after all. It’s not every day Princess Celestia herself vouches for you.”

“I promise that I’ll do my best to make sure class is conducted in a safe, responsible manner,” Aspect said, holding a hoof to his chest. “I’ll draw up a lesson plan and everything.”

He could almost feel Twilight’s squee from somewhere inside his home.

“Well, let me know if you need any help, I’ll be more than happy to assist you,” Cheerilee smiled and bat her eyes at him.

“We’ll probably want a few training weights for the unicorns...and nice, cushy mats for the pegasi to land on,” Aspect said. “Just to make sure that nothing goes wrong.”

“I’ll request some right away,” she said as she walked towards the door. Were? Her flanks had a nice sway to them. Not that he was looking.

“Well, two offers down, one to go,” Aspect said, idly wondering if he was going to be ambushed by anypony else tonight. Either a unicorn from Celestia’s school or one of the Bearers was his guess as to who would find him next.

“Hey Aspect,” Rainbow said, balancing two cups of punch on her wings. “Thirsty?”

“As a matter of fact, yeah,” Aspect said, guiding a cup to him with a little bit of air manipulation. “I’ve been doing a lot of talking today.”

“Yeah, I’d imagine,” Rainbow chuckled and rubbed her leg awkwardly. “I um… I was wondering…”

“Go on,” Aspect said with a roll of a hoof.

“When you mentioned Pegasus magic,” she said, looking away. “Well… it got me thinking. If I could do something like the sonic rainboom. You said… that was magic right?”

“You broke the sound barrier and caused a shockwave of color,” Aspect pointed out. “Unless you just naturally are that fast, I would say a little bit of magic went into making the impossible possible.”

“Well… I guess I’m awesome like that huh?” Rainbow got some more of her confidence back. “So uh, I was… just wondering. I mean, could you maybe teach me more?”

“Let me give you a little demonstration as to one of the more difficult skills a pegasus used to be able to do,” Aspect said, flaring a wing. It took a moment, before Rainbow realized that the light reflecting off his wing...wasn’t just light.

That was lightning dancing across his feathers.

“Ohmygosh!” Rainbow stared at him like a foal on Christmas. “That’s… there’s no stormclouds here. HOW are you doing that!?”

“Pegasus magic, but as with most things, I cheat a little,” Aspect said. “That doesn’t mean it’s not possible for a pegasus to do, I just have a massive advantage in getting this going sooner.”

“So. Awesome!” Rainbow squeed and flapped her wings. “I so wanna do that! Imagine the tricks I could do? The Wonderbolts will be begging to let me join!”

“My teaching style might be a little rough, just so you know,” Aspect said. “I mean, you were probably taught one way. The way I was taught these things, runs contrary to how most ponies are taught these days. It definitely won’t be easy.”

“Hah, you act like I like the easy road,” Rainbow thumped her chest. Aspect would have responded.

If he hadn’t felt a magical presence. One he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

The Aspect of Battle…

“If you’ll pardon me, I have an errant daughter to go find,” Aspect said, bowing to Rainbow Dash and making his way through the party. Where was she? Chryssy was always so hard to find, but one Aspect always called to another. He knew where his other children were, it was just a matter of focusing on her signature…

He stepped outside, and as the clouds moved from the moon’s light, he saw her.

Standing amongst the trees, She was… taller now. Her black carapace shone like ebony, her hole-filled hooves beling the strength they held. Her mane and tail hung like moss and her draconic, emerald eyes stared right into his soul.

And they burned with anger.

“Chryssy?” Aspect said carefully. “My little grub? You’re...not angry with me, are you?”

That stare just continued until it shifted ever so slightly. His gaze followed and he saw Celestia through the window, laughing at a joke Pinkie Pie told. He could almost feel the Changeling’s hate. But when he looked back to her, she was gone, a few motes of emerald light remaining of her teleport.

“Chryssy,” Aspect said, a tear falling down his cheek. “They’d welcome you, if you but walked in the light with them. Why...why do you hide, my daughter…”

From the darkness, she watched him turn and walk back inside.

“I will have… what is rightfully MINE!”

Author's Note

What are you talking about, I totally didn't forget to upload the chapter. See?

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Chapter 17 - The true depth of art

The day after the party, Aspect actually woke up with a giddy expression on his face. Early. Happy before he’d had his coffee.

Were any of the other Aspects around to see this, they might decry it as something unnatural. Aspect would brush their concerns off and simply smile at them.

He really liked teaching.

He hummed a happy, wordless song as he made his way to the kitchen, still wanting to prepare himself a simple breakfast and cup of coffee. He really wanted to teach, but high-duty pegasus magic on an empty stomach was ill-advised. There was a reason that Commander Hurricane thought food was just as important as medics.

Speaking of the old warmare, he still had her wingblades and armor…

“Well, somepony’s chipper,” Bon Bon chuckled, already in the kitchen and preparing breakfast for him and the others. “This is a first, I thought Mort would have to drag your soul back from Tartarus.”

“I’m gonna be teaching again, Bonnie!” Aspect all but chirped. “Teaching! I love teaching new things to ponies! All the things I taught them over the years became the basis of a lot of important things. It’s hardly the same, but bringing back the old arts is enough of a pick-me-up to make me happy all day.”

Oh gosh, he was just so adorable. “Hmm, well the store’s closed today… could I… maybe come and help? I do know a little Geomancy after all.”

“I dunno,” Aspect said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind having a lovely teacher’s assistant and example. But I was under the impression it was gonna be pegasi today. You’re free to come watch and listen if you want. And maybe you’ll be able to help me remember a few things about how they work.”

“And help you because you’d forget your own head if it wasn’t screwed on?” Bon Bon chuckled. “Look, if you don’t want me ‘cramping your style’...”

“No no, it’s not that,” Aspect said, nuzzling her. “It’s just gonna be...Well, put it like this. There was a reason the insult for a pegasus is featherbrain. Sometimes, that’s what it felt like, trying to teach them their tribal magic.”

“Ahh, well I think I can handle a few foals, despite their size…” Then Bon Bon smirked. Much like a shark really as she produced a little pouch of her namesake. “Aspect, what do you say to a little… experiment?”

“Uhoh,” Aspect replied, gulping. “I doubt this is going to end well…”

“Have you ever heard of ‘positive reinforcement’?” the candy mare asked. “It works, it’s how I trained Lyra not to eat on the bed.”

“It sounds an awful lot like bribing them to do better,” Aspect snorted, scrunching up his muzzle.

“No, it’s rewarding good behaviour,” Bon Bon nodded. “I don’t know about that pegasi magic, but Geomancy requires a lot of patience. And tell me, do you picture Rainbow Dash when you think of a patient pony?”

“...point,” Aspect replied. “Plus, knowing her, she’ll likely show up when the Wonderbolts do.”

“Yeah, her love for those guys is no secret,” Bon Bon chuckled. “And where there’s Rainbow Dash, there’s Scootaloo. And where she goes…” Bon Bon rolled her hoof in the air.

“Should I know the answer to that?” Aspect asked. “I haven’t been here all that long.”

Bon Bon looked at him like his closest relative had just died. “Oh you poor, poor stallion. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you as best I can okay?”

“Bon Bon,” Aspect whined, shuffling away a little. “You’re scaring me.”

“It’s inevitable,’ Bon Bon nodded. “You’ll meet the most destructive force in Equestria. Think of every monster you’ve ever fought, crank them up to eleven, them put them in the bodies of three little fillies.”

“...So what you’re telling me is that somehow, the Aspect of Chaos is both in Canterlot, in his prison, and yet here as well?” Aspect said, raising an eyebrow. “I would not be surprised if that turned out to be the truth.”

“No, don’t be silly,” Bon Bon giggled as she poured his coffee. “These girls are much, much worse.”

“And yet, they’re ponies,” Aspect pointed out.

“No, they’re cute ponies. You never see it coming, even if you know better,” Bon Bon nodded.

There was a loud thump! As Luna fell down the stairs, barely conscious.

“Cofffeeeeeee~” she moaned, sounding more dead than Mortal Coil.

“Lulu, civilized ponies do not moan like zomponies for coffee,” Aspect said, sipping at his.

“Teeeaaaaaa~” Tia moaned, flopping down on top of her sister, who may or may not have made a noise not unlike a squeaky toy.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, our regal and influential rulers,” Bon Bon said and bowed to them.

“Bet you they’d perk right up if they knew where I was keeping the leftovers from the party,” Aspect mused, sipping at his coffee again.

“Caaaaaaaakeee~” Celestia moaned, the Great White Alicorn creeping closer humming something. “Bum Bum…. Bum Bum…. Bumbumubum….”

“Ap!” Aspect sharply replied, beeping her nose. “No cake for breakfast, Celly!”

Then he had a little white filly in his lap. Ponies were cute, Twilight had learned the Cute.

Celestia was the Master of Cute.

“Pweeaassseee?” she blinked, looking up at him with those massive amethyst eyes.

There was only one way out of this. Aspect calmly put his drink down, dramatically gasped, grasped his chest...and then fell back off his chair, lying limply on the ground.

“And the cake tyrant hath been smoted,” Tiny Tia declared. “O’Fairest Bon Bon. Fetch us Our victory cake!”

“Um…” Bon Bon looked at Aspect, not entirely sure what to do here. Her princess had just given her an order… she couldn’t disobey… could she? Aspect was being no help, lying there as though he were dead. Still...he’d chosen not to give up the cake.

And it was then that Luna stole his remaining coffee, downing the mug in a swift, single gulp. “HUZZAH! WE HATH BEEN RESTORED TO OUR GLORIOUS STATE!!!”

“Mother-!” Aspect shouted, now clutching at his chest for a different reason. “Lulu what have I told you about using the Royal Voice when we’re five feet away from you?!”

“Lookit the pwetty birdies~” Tia sang dizzily from her hole in the wall. Bon Bon was a few feet away, upside down as her tail swung from side to side.

“Umm, oops?” Luna chuckled… then teleported from the room. She couldn’t be punished if she wasn’t here~

“Great,” the stallion sighed, picking himself up and pouring himself another cup of coffee. It was going to be one of those days.

Aspect sat in front of his door, waiting. Any minute now...Any. Minute. Now.

He’d been saying that for half an hour, with no results.

There was a pop of air, and then a cloud of dust as Rainbow Dash landed not six feet from him.

“Totally not late!” she declared loudly. “Everypony else is early!” She looked around and blinked. “Huh? Where is everypony?”

“I honestly have no idea,” Aspect replied with a shrug. “I know one of them will arrive likely when I least expect it, and I have no idea about the other two. And I’ve also been informed we may have mini-tagalongs as well.”

“Eh?” Rainbow blinked, before she heard a noise as three more pegasi landed. Her eyes widened as her wings extended in excitement. “Oh… my… gosh!” The last part came out more like a strangled squeak than a coherent word.

“Phew, finally made it,” Spitfire said as she pulled up her goggles. “So, you’re Balanced Aspect?”

“I am indeed,” Aspect said with a nod. “Knowledgeable in Mountain Root, Still Way, and the Gale King martial arts. All revolving around each tribe’s innate magic, honed and taken to their utmost capabilities.”

“Well, it all sounds impressive,” Spitfire said and pointed at her wingponies. “Let me introduce you. This is Fleetfoot and Soarin. They’ll be learning here with us.”

“And me! SURPRISE!” Surprise said, grabbing Aspect from behind.

“Hello Surprise,” Aspect replied, smiling and not even flinching. “Did you have fun last night?”

“The bestest!” Surprise giggled, only a little sad he wasn’t surprised. She’d have to up her game.

Rainbow was still staring at the group of winged performers, and Aspect was fairly certain she was about to explode. He sighed and gently slipped out of Surprise’s grasp, before walking over to the chromatic mare and waving a wing in front of her face. When that failed to get a reaction, he tickled her nose with a feather.

And with a violent sneeze, Aspect looked at his snot-covered feather with disdain. Plus side, he’d likely reset the mare more thoroughly than with a boop. Downside...well, that was pretty obvious.

He used a little air manipulation to get his wing clean, flapping it a few times to make sure nothing was clinging to it before folding it up again. “You good now?” the white stallion asked the chromatic mare.

“The... the…” Rainbow gaped, her mouth opening and closing a few times.

“Oh hey,” Spitfire waved. “I remember you, the filly that won the Best Young Flier’s contest, and saved us from becoming grass pizza. Rainbow Dash right?”

“They know my name!” She squeaked, holding Aspect in a hug so tight, his ribs were already signing their last will and testament. He responded appropriately. For him.

Lightning was appropriate, right? She was a pegasus, in either case. She’d walk it off. Plus it was only a little electricity.

“EEEEP!” Rainbow yelped and leapt back, her body sparking as her mane poofed up into a striking resemblance of Pinkie Pie’s.

“Yay, Mane-buddies!” Surprise giggled, hugging her.

“Did… you just use lightning… without a cloud?” Spitfire raised an eyebrow.

“It’s one of the skills you have to have to be a master of the Gale King,” Aspect said. “Mind you, I cheat. A lot.”

“I-I’ll g-get you b-back f-f-for t-t-that!” Rainbow twitched, making her stutter.

“Calm. Down,” Aspect replied, waving her down with a wing. “We’re not here in any greater respect than teacher and student. There are no titles that you’re not comfortable with on my property.” He then turned to the Wonderbolts and smirked at them. “Pop quiz, hotshots. How many of you felt the magic on the air as you flew in?”

“Well, we need magic to fly yeah?’ Soarin pointed out. “It’s why the Discord Plains is a ‘No-Fly zone’, as the air is magically dead.”

“Yeah, that’s the only reason it’s still around,” Aspect said, before shaking his head. “No, I meant, how many of you felt the spell on the air around my property? I put it in a nice big dome and fed it plenty of juice. One of you should have felt a tingle as you passed through.”

“I did!” Surprise giggled. “It felt niiiiice~”

“Like hay it did,” Rainbow muttered, more upset she got used as a living experiment.

“So, that’s what that was…” Spitfire mused, rubbing her chin.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty nice illusion spell, it’ll hide anything I want from sight,” Aspect replied, pointing a hoof at Rainbow Dash. “She already knows what I’m about to reveal to you four, so she doesn’t have to make any promises. But you lot, if you want me to teach you any of the secrets I know, have to swear on what you hold most dear, that you won’t reveal what I’m about to show you to anybody else.”

The four Wonderbolts looked at one another, before turning back to Aspect. “What, are you secretly Princess Celestia in disguise?” Soarin chuckled.

Rainbow barely concealed an amused snort.

“Nah, but she visits, for a reason I won’t reveal until I hear a promise from you four,” Aspect returned. “It actually all makes sense when you hear it.”

“Well, I suppose,” Spitfire said with a shrug. “This sounds kinda sketchy though.”

“Trust me, Aspect is cool,” Rainbow said, somehow forming a coherent sentence when talking to her greatest idol. “He’d never do anything bad.”

“Kinda against my nature, yeah,” Aspect said, carefully censoring the fact that he’d killed for the defense of ponies out of his personal history for the moment. Defending others or not, ponies in any age didn’t like killing, it would seem.

“Well, let’s see this big secret then,” Spitfire replied with a nod. “How bad could it possibly be?”

Aspect grinned.

Aspect’s entire body flashed.

Aspect was suddenly an alicorn, staring down four Wonderbolts on his lawn, with an amused expression on his face.

They all yelped and jumped back, wings flared with a Fight or Flight response.

“WaitwaitWHAT!?’ Spitfire pointed a hoof. “You… you…”

“I was the one who learned the Gale King from the first masters of it,” Aspect said, carefully raising one wing and causing a slight breeze across his property. “I learned Sorcery from the great unicorn mages. I learned Mountain Root from the noble Earth Pony knights. I am the one that gave the gift of enhanced tribal magic to the tribes, then turned around and learned what that actually meant. I am older than you would believe, and that does not leave this compound, understand?”

The Wonderbolts nodded once, more stunned than anything else.

Then… a net dropped over him? Waitwut?

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS IMPOSTER PRINCESS CATCHERS! YAY!”

There was a twitch of a wing, before Aspect reached out with his pegasus magic and called a greater wind to blow across his lawn. One that flipped the net right off of him.

“I am in no mood for uninvited guests,” he muttered, looking around to see where that net had come from.

“Whoa… that was cool!” a raspy voice said and he turned to see a little orange pegasus filly.

“Are ya really an alicorn mister?” A yellow earth pony said. Her mane adorned with a pink bow.

“He doesn’t look like a princess,” A white unicorn filly said.

“I would certainly hope not!” Aspect replied, holding a hoof to his chest. “I’m a stallion, not a princess. Or a prince. I never took a crown in my life. I’m just a stubborn old pony that refused to die.”

“Bwaaahahahahahaha!” Rainbow cackled. “Princess Aspect. Oh wow, that’s hilarious. Maybe Rarity can make you a pretty dress~”

“Mention that to her and I will shock you frizzy on principle every time I see you,” Aspect warned Dash.

Dash weighed her options. Alicorn Aspect in a dress. Highly tempting…

“So, who are you?” Scootaloo asked and then saw Rainbow Dash. “Ohmigosh! Rainbow Dash is here!”

“Heya squirt,” Rainbow waved.

“Ah know you,” Apple Bloom nodded. “You were there during Winter Wrap Up. And mah big sis Applejack has mentioned ya. But… she didn’t say y’all were an alicorn!” She gasped and turned around. “Ah gotta go tell ‘er!”

“Ap, hold it,” Aspect interrupted, stepping close and physically restraining the earth pony, and on reflection, the unicorn filly. “They already know. But I’ve asked them to keep it a secret. Not everypony needs to know. Only a few do.”

“Aww, okay,” they all sighed. Then they perked up again as they saw the auspicious company he was keeping. “So, what’s going on here?” Scootaloo asked. “Something awesome I bet!”

“I was about to teach the Wonderbolts an ancient martial art that’s been forgotten for centuries,” Aspect said as he released the fillies and walked over to the stuntfliers again. “Right...two seconds,” he muttered, flaring his wings. “What was it...ah yeah!” He held both wings perfectly level at his sides. “First form. Remember this form. Remember this pose, specifically. This is the recovery pose. If, at any point in time, something goes wrong. If you spiral out of control or anything, this is the pose to take to get your head on straight.”

“Aspect,” Spitfire said with a wry smile. “We’re seasoned fliers. We’ve been doing this for years. I think we know how to do a midair recovery.”

“Y’know, I thought that too, until I learned how to whip up my first tornado,” Aspect idly commented. “Was never more thankful for my teachers beating my lessons into my head than when that got out of control.”

“If we’re messing with weather, shouldn’t the local weather team be notified?” Soarin asked.

“Actually, I’m captain of the weather team,” Rainbow nodded. “We know not to touch this area today. And I think between me and four Wonderbolts, we can handle any rouge weathers that pop up.”

“In case you can’t, I’m here,” a new voice said and the Wonderbolts bowed as Princess Cadence stepped out of the house.

“Heya lovebutt,” Aspect said, not even looking behind him. “So,” he continued on, ignoring the shocked looks. “Yeah, the forms are important for a reason. Every motion you make…” He moved his wings in what were, to the others, weird ways for a pegasus to move. Like, who would roll their wings independently of one another like that? “...Is only half the equation.”

“Wait, who moves their wings like that?” Fleetfoot asked. “That’s a bit weird. And not to mention you couldn’t stay airborne doing it.”

“It’s a bit tricky, true,” Aspect nodded. “But like I said, half the equation. The other half,” the male alicorn put his hoof over his chest. “Is your magic. Your inner reserves of pegasus magic. Every pegasus has magic, hay, every pony has magic. Pegasi use their magic subconsciously all the time through two main mediums. Their wings, and their hooves.” He flapped his wings. “Otherwise, how would you fly or stand on clouds?”

“But all pegasi can do that,” Scootaloo said. “You mean to say that’s eggheady magic?”

“No, that’s just scraping the top of what they can do,” Aspect said, flaring a wing. “If a pegasus is in tune with their inner magic and calls it out...and puts a little energy into their wings…”

He flapped a wing, and suddenly there was a strong breeze coming from the north.

“Whhaaa?” Scootaloo stumbled back from the sudden breeze. Even the Wonderbolts looked impressed. If they could do that, they could always have a favourable wind during a performance.

“And that’s before you realize that the Gale King was a martial art developed to maximize what a pegasus could do with their wings and a touch of magic,” Aspect chuckled. “Heck, there’s even a method to flight in it. You know, to keep practitioners airborne so that they could continue to fly and fight at the same time. Because a pegasus is at its best in the air.”

“Well duh,” Rainbow said, but that line only served to make Scootaloo look down, her expression wilting as she sighed.

“Best huh?” she murmured.

“Watch,” Aspect said, raising his wings above his head. “I won’t go any higher than the illusion spell, but just watch at how fast I go with one flap.”

He brought his wings down.

Suddenly, Aspect wasn’t there anymore. It took the others a second to locate him, but he was lazily spiraling about...fifty feet above his house.

Spitfire let out a low whistle, though Rainbow didn’t look overly impressed.

Scootaloo was staring with wide eyes and an open mouth. Aspet was sure he could drop a watermelon and she’d catch it. He eventually landed back in front of the Wonderbolts and folded his wings back up.

“So, I’ve heard of others using it to go about,” he mused. “Hundred and fourty, hundred and fifty feet in the air. All has to do with how much you pump into that flap. And as I’ve learned in my time, wing size is non-indicative of magical reserve.”

Scootaloo just shot a hatred glare at her tiny wings.

Rainbow scoffed and flapped once, almost matching Aspect’s height. But he barely felt any magic from it. And what was there was very raw, as if driven by pure willpower.

“Very good,” Aspect praised her. “But that was all you. Not your magic at all, which is what we’re here to learn.” He waved her back down and motioned for all the pegasi to get in a line.

All of them.

Four Wonderbolts and the Element of Loyalty lined up, Scootaloo just stood to one side with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

“Go on,” Aspect said, gesturing for Scootaloo to get in line as well. “I promise this won’t hurt.”

Scootaloo just mumbled under her breath.

“Look, kid, you’re cute and all, so I can promise you this,” Aspect said. “It may not be easy. But no pegasus who has learned this method stayed ground-bound.”

She just mumbled again and Cadence subtly shoved Aspect towards her. When he was close enough, he sighed and leant down.

“I can’t fly,” she said quietly. “I’m not Rainbow Dash… or, or a Wonderbolt. I’m just… a Blank Flanked dodo.”

“Whoever told you that was saying mean and spiteful things for the fun of it,” Aspect softly replied. “All pegasi can fly. That’s what the Gale King promises. Using your natural magic to lift you into the air, with as few flaps as possible. Some learn through their flight schools, and good on them. But some need help learning. That’s where I come back into the picture. I promise you, little one. Even with wings like yours. You study under me, I’ll have you flying around Ponyville in a year.”

“You… you mean it?” she blinked. She wasn’t crying. Nope. Not at all. Cool ponies didn’t cry. It was just… an invisible cloud raining on her face.

“Promise,” Aspect replied, rubbing her head with a hoof. “Now, you ready to get in line with the big ponies and learn how to fly my way?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo said as she trotted over next to Rainbow Dash.

“That’s real nice of you Mister,” Apple Bloom smiled. “We get picked on a lot fer not havin’ our Cutie marks. But Scoots gets the worst of it, all because of that Diamond Tiara bi—”

“Shhh!” Sweetie said. “Don’t cuss in front of the princess!” she pointed at Cadence.

“Okay!” Aspect said, standing in line in front of all the Pegasi. “Now! The first thing you are going to have to do is get in touch with your magic. And unlike Unicorns, you all don’t have horns. So this is going to be an interesting exercise, wouldn’t you say?”

“Just a bit,” Fleetfoot asked and motioned at Cadence. “And forgive me, but why is the Princess helping us?”

“Because I used to be a Pegasus,” Cadence said, smiling at the shocked looks. “That’s right. And as an alicorn, I can get in touch with my own magic much easier. But I also know a lot about weather. So think of me as your safety net while you practice.”

“Not a bad reasoning there,” Aspect said with a smile. “Now. First form! I want to see you all holding it for a little bit. I’ll explain myself in a moment here.”

“Uh, could you show it again?” Rainbow blushed as he did so, and soon all six pegasi were holding the form. Aspect nodded, then flared and flapped a wing.

Now the wind was in their faces...and running over their wings as well.

Oh. So that was why.

“Now, think about this feeling,” Aspect said. “Lose yourself to it. Get in touch with what it feels like. Focus on nothing but this feeling, and you. Let me know when you feel a tingle in your chest.”

“Is… this what it feel like to fly?” Scootaloo whispered to Rainbow Dash.

“Something like this,” she smiled back. Her chest was nice and warm. She loved this feeling when she flew.

“Pegasus magic is based around emotion,” Aspect continued. “Focus on it. Focus on your feelings. Bring that magic up out of your chest, and into your wings. Make them tingle...and then give them one flap. We’ll see who travels the highest.”

Fleetfoot started, soaring just above the roof. Soarin leveled with her as Spitfire and Surprise rose much higher, as high as Aspect had. Rainbow hovered mere inches below them.

Scootaloo remained more grounded than an Earth pony. Aspect got down in front of her and whispered encouraging words to her.

“Think about what it would feel like, to prove your bullies wrong,” he said softly. “Think about what it would feel like, to finally join the others in the sky. Think about what you want to do most, to fly, and how you want nothing more than to take those first steps. Feel those emotions, feel them burning inside you. Bring that burning up to your wings, and give them one good, hard flap.”

Scootaloo nodded and raised her wings. She wanted this. She wanted so bad to fly it hurt. She brought her wings down and could almost feel the rush of air, picturing herself soaring into the stratosphere.

In reality, she’d only gotten a foot off of the ground, barely higher than Aspect’s chest. He gently reached out a hoof and caught her, smiling all the while.

“You know,” he mused. “For a foal learning one of the more difficult martial arts? You actually did very well for your first try. I can’t imagine you have a whole lot of magic to work with. So a foot off the ground is a foot more than you were making ten seconds ago. And if you keep practicing, keep trying, then you’ll be soaring up onto rooftops in no time.”

“You really mean it?” Scootaloo asked, her eyes wide as she sat on his outstretched hoof. She looked up at the soaring adult pegasi and smiled. “One day. Imma do it for sure!”

“Whoo! Go Scoots!” Sweetie and Apple Bloom cheered, making their friend blush a little. They’d gotten hold of Pompoms and little outfits. Waitwut?

But after a few minutes of cheering, they stopped and looked at their still-bare flanks. “Aww, no Cheerleading Cutie Mark,” Sweetie sighed. “And I’d had such a good feeling about that one.”

“Now Scootaloo, I am going to have to give you homework, but I think you’d probably do it anyways,” Aspect rumbled, rubbing her head with his other hoof.

“Bleh, homework?” the pegasus filly poked out her tongue and made a gagging noise.

“Twenty repetitions of this exercise a day, magic included,” Aspect said. “And remember, when I’m not around to catch you, you assume the recovery pose,” the stallion said, sticking his wings straight out. “So that you glide back down to earth. You need to work up your magic, if you want to get all the way on top of houses within a week.”

“That soon?” Scootaloo blinked and then jumped off of his hoof. “Sweet! I’ll be kicking clouds in no time!”

“Working you up to the point where you can fly is one thing,” Aspect replied. “It’s all the other exercises I’ll be putting you through afterwards that’ll really put you through the magical wringer. By that point in time, though, you’ll be so strong on your off days that you won’t even question how you got that far up. You’ll be enjoying flying so much.”

“I wanna fly sooo baaad,” Scootaloo whispered in awe. “Okay girls! Let’s finish our Crusading for the day! I have homework to do!”

“Aww, how come you get to learn neat stuff?” Sweetie pouted. “I wanna learn magic too.”

“I’ll be paying a visit to the school soon,” Aspect replied with a wave of a wing. “Today was just a special pegasi day. I know things about unicorns and earth ponies as well. Oh! And one more thing.” He crouched down and looked the three fillies in the eyes. “Under no circumstances are you to tell anypony about this,” he said, pointing at his horn for emphasis. “Ya got that?”

“YES SIR!” They shouted with the force of Luna’s voice before galloping off. He turned and saw Bon Bon and Cadence in the doorway, both smiling widely. He flashed back into his pegasus guise and shook a little like a dog as the formshift settled.

“There we go, back to my more normal state,” he sighed. “Well, that’s today’s class taught. Next time I’ll go through the basics of the first form and what adding magic to each step does.”

“Wait, that’s it?” Spitfire asked as the older pegasi landed. “We haven’t even been here ten minutes!”

“Oh?” Aspect said, raising an eyebrow. “Okay then, but you'd all better follow along!” With that, he raised his wings again. “Twenty reps, now! We're gonna give your magic a workout!”

Rainbow and Soarin groaned, while Spitfire smiled proudly. Now this was more like it!

After a few hours of this, the Wonderbolts eventually had to return to Cloudsdale for their own jobs, while Rainbow Dash was laying on his front lawn, her chest heaving and her coat slick with sweat from the exercise that was surprisingly draining.

“I… gaaah, hate… All… My…. Haaaaaate,” she groaned.

“Yeah, not gonna lie, if you’re not trained in the Gale King, then the first week of training is probably going to suck majorly,” Aspect replied, not looking majorly concerned. “It’s more about unlearning than learning. Learning new motions and ways to move your wings as compared to just flapping harder. Though lucky you, they also wanted to know about magic training for pegasi. Which means you get both sets of exercises for the price of one morning.”

“My hated grows…” Rainbow groaned as Bon Bon brought her some iced tea. One she eagerly took and gulped down. “Pwwaah! Thanks, sooo much better!”

“You had to deal with Aspect all morning, that’s not easy on the best of days,” the earth mare smiled.

“And today is a really good day!” Aspect chirped. “Just be glad I didn’t surprise you with the family. Bonnie actually fainted.”

“One time! And you showed up in the middle of work!” Bon Bon blushed and shot him a glare.

“Hahahaha, you guys are a riot,” Rainbow cackled and wiped her eyes. “Seriously though. Can I say something real quick Aspect?”

“If it’s ‘How do I throw around lightning,’ I’m gonna tell you you aren’t anywhere near ready for that yet,” Aspect returned. The prismatic mare shook her head.

“Nah, well… okay, now I only have one thing,” she smirked, before taking a more serious expression. It was still a happy one, just… lacking the ego and confident swagger it usually did. It was the serene kind that he usually saw on Fluttershy. “It’s about what you did for Scoots today. That was… it was really cool. Not a lot of ponies would go out of their way to help a stranger like that.” She snorted and smirked ever so slightly. “Especially one that trapped them in a net not five minutes before.”

“I got worse from Hurricane,” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “She seriously had a brigade drop a lightning bolt on me because I neglected to announce myself. It was her birthday, I was trying to surprise her with a present for once. She saw a strange pony walking around under her cloud and...reacted first. A net’s a small thing in the long run. I don’t mind teaching ponies with ‘runty wings’ how to fly with the Gale King. It’s…” His expression softened, unfocused. “It’s the best thing. Seeing their eyes light up. They’re not discouraged that they aren’t flying as high as the others just yet. They’re happy they’re off the ground at all. I love that expression. I love teaching.”

“Seeing Scoots so happy when she flew like that…” Rainbow’s smiled brightened. “Especially after all the crap that Diamond Tiara kid gives her and the others. I really appreciate it Aspect.”

“You should see their faces when I go to teach at the school in a few days,” Aspect replied, actually smiling wider. How was that possible? “Unicorns are gonna learn the basics of Sorcery, and Earth Ponies are gonna learn the basics of Geomancy. It’s gonna be so awesome~”

Bon Bon secretly wondered how the world was going to change with Aspect at the helm.

“You know, I might just do that,” Rainbow said as she got up. Then she leaned over, kissed him on the cheek and flew off.

Bon Bon just stared at the retreating Pegasus, a few stones levitating up off of the ground around. “Ever heard the saying, ‘Kill two pegasi with one rock’? How about, ‘Kill one pegasus with a lot of rocks’?”

“Bon Bon,” Aspect warned her, putting a wing on her back. “No killing the Bearers. We kinda need them. Especially if the worst came to pass.”

“I’m sure there’s tons of loyal mares around that aren’t after my Aspect,” she said, but the rocks dropped regardless. “Celestia Above, could she at least have been more subtle about it?”

“You mean like Lyra?” Aspect sniped back at Bon Bon.

“You and I both know that Lyra is her own special brand of crazy, and we have been friends for a very long time,” Bon Bon deadpanned. “Gaaaah, fine. You win this time Mister Logical Stallion. At least Rainbow’s kind of cute. And I can’t fault her for her taste in stallions now, can I?”

“Wait, what?” Aspect blinked. “I was just trying to convince you to not kill her. What did I just do?”

“Convince me that jealousy isn’t pretty,” Bon Bon replied. “Besides, I shouldn’t be mad right? We’re actually together.”

“True,” Aspect agreed. “Still, the way you phrased that…”

“What do you mean?” Bon Bon asked him, her head tilted slightly.

“Nothing, nevermind,” Aspect shook his head. “Okay, so. Today is probably gonna be a lazy day, unless I suddenly get a letter from Cheerilee or the school for gifted unicorns about more teaching.” He blinked a few times. “I’m gonna have to get a calendar. Maybe a day planner.”

“Any pony who is not Twilight Sparkle should not be so excited to buy a day planner,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Well, that’s fine. Your cupboards are looking a little empty after last night’s party anyway. Sooo, shopping trip?”

“WE DEMAND COFFEE!” Luna shouted from… somewhere within the house.

“I am going to hang whoever introduced her to that drink,” Aspect muttered. “I’ll write up a list and hitch myself up to the cart.” He nuzzled Bon Bon. “Think you’ll be able to hold down the fort? Or do you want to come with?”

Bon Bon was… was it hot outside? She seemed to be sweating slightly. “S-Sure, I need a few things for the store anyway. Let me grab my bag…” She bolted inside in a rush, leaving him alone on the lawn.

“Everypony is crazy. Is it me, or a function of being around me?” Aspect mused as he walked back inside. He had things to do.

An hour later, and Aspect was ever so thankful for the fact that he’d discreetly enchanted the cart when nobody had been around. Sorcerous enchants could be hard to find if you weren’t looking in just the right place. Charms for lightness and weight reduction for carried things were simple things to use. He never did ask how his saddlebags were made, but he’d wager it was something along those lines. Along with maybe space expansion.

He rethought back to the small armory he had in one saddlebag. Okay, definitely space expansion.

Still, the shopping trip was going well. He nearly had enough to restock his house from ‘Alicorns crashing in my home’ levels of depletion.

“You know, was it necessary to buy out half the market?” Bon Bon asked him as they trotted home. “There are other ponies in Ponyville you know? Or is one of your forms a squirrel and you’re stocking up for the winter?”

“Okay, A, you’re exaggerating,” Aspect fired back. “I bought like, a quarter of the market at most. And B, in case you haven’t noticed, Lulu seems to be crashing with me a lot these days. Not that it’s a bad thing, but if she’s sticking around until the public is comfortable with her again, I’m gonna need to feed her. And Alicorns can eat.”

Bon Bon snorted and smiled. She did notice that they seemed to wolf down her meals rather quickly. Celestia was rather formal when she ate, Luna… was more like a starving Timberwolf.

“Well, that would explain the thirty pound sack of coffee beans you bought.”

“Heya!” a voice chirped, and Bon Bon yelped, falling backwards only to be caught by a golden aura. “Heheh, you’re as easy as always Bonnie.” Lyra smiled and helped her back up. “And Aspect! Heard about the teaching gig. Congrats.”

“My thanks,” Aspect said with a nod of his head. “It won’t be easy. They’ll be whining, stuck up, entitled, stuck in their ways fools.” He paused for a beat. “And then there’s the foals.”

“Hahahah, oh man, I’ve missed hanging with you,” Lyra giggled. “Ooh, speaking of. Bonnie… why were the princesses, a giant bird and a sexy beast of a merstallion in your shop yesterday?”

“Ask him,” Bon Bon expertly deflected and the minty unicorn’s gaze wandered to Aspect.

“Remember Mort?” Aspect asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lyra shivered as her ears flattened and her eyes went wide. Oooh yeah, she remembered.

“Those were the other, currently mobile, Aspects,” Aspect explained. “There are two that can’t come whenever I call. The rest really wanted to meet Bonnie.”

“Huh, so BonBun’s pretty special huh? To warrant that kind of attention.” Lyra swooned and stood up on her hindlegs, to this day, Bon had no idea how she did that so easily. “And alas, I get skipped over. I thought we were friends Aspect. I thought we had something special! But nooo, you only like Bonnie…”

Said earth pony just rolled her eyes.

“Well when daddy starts seeing a new mare and the kids are in town, of course they’ll want to check her out,” Aspect explained. “Besides, you couldn’t handle my level of crazy anyways.”

“You haven’t seen Lyra on sugar,” Bon Bon said. “That’s a ballgame you do not want to play.”

“Aww, you know you love me,” Lyra giggled and nuzzled her friend. “Sooo, Aspect. We’re friends right? Buddies? Pals. Amigoes? Compatriots in arms?”

“What do you want, Lyra?” Aspect sighed.

“Well, any chance a certain Best Friend like moi could get in on this magic class of yours?” Lyra bat her eyes at him. “Pleeeeease?”

“You know what,” Aspect said, smirking at her. “You can join in when you do the same thing the school for gifted unicorns unicorns will be doing. Get a letter of permission from Celestia.”

Lyra’s jubilant expression fell and she sighed. “Okay then Oh Magical Pegaspect! How does one do that?”

“Just write her, asking if you can be allowed to learn the secrets of Sorcery,” Aspect replied with a shrug. “Probably include a good reason behind the asking as well. Heck, I think she might even be around still, so you could pass your letter off to her in person. Unless she vanished when I wasn’t looking. Alicorns are tricky like that.”

“Aspect, quit teasing Lyra,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be faster to just taker her to see Celestia?”

“I swear, half the time when I took my eyes off of them for a second, they were out and about causing mischief,” Aspect sighed. “Nobody told me raising a pair of ponies would be so freakin’ hard. Ah well.” He waved Lyra into line with a wing. “Come on, we’re just about done here.”

“Ah foals,” Bon Bon smiled. “You have to love them… because burying them in the backyard is illegal.”

“Eh, kids aren’t so bad,” Lyra shrugged.

“Well when you’re their intellectual equal, I suppose not,” Bon Bon fired back.

“Huh?” Lyra tilted her head.

“And you told me to stop teasing her,” Aspect replied. “Come on Lyra, we’re heading home. Feel free to join us if you want to make your case to Celestia. Assuming she’s around.”

“Whoo!” Lyra cheered, falling into step along with them. “Sooo, Bonnie?”

“What did you do?”

“Ate your imported oats…” was the unicorn’s sheepish reply.

Bon Bon let out a low groan. “Lyra… those were expensive.”

“I’ll buy you more! Promise. But, they were sooooo gooood~”

“Aspect?” Bon Bon asked. “Can we get Celestia to banish Lyra to the moon for a while. Not long, just a few hundred years or so?”

“Bonnie, you don’t get to just foist your problems off to the next generation,” Aspect chided her.

“Why not?” she replied.

“You both suck,” Lyra pouted. “Seriously. Just go find the nearest cactus and mount it already.”

“You know we love you Lyra,” Aspect chuckled. “You’re just hard to put up with sometimes, but you’ve got nothing on my family.”

Speaking of…

As they approached Aspect’s house, they passed through an illusionary shield… which was currently hiding Celestia and Luna tearing up the lawn with a magic duel.

“Tis most unfortunate… that We shall win!” Luna growled as their energy beams clashed.

“Unlikely little sister,” Celestia smiled. “I mean really, your magic still hasn’t fully returned yet…”

“But nothing!” Luna roared. “We’ll not be a disappointment to Father anymore!”

“Oh bother,” Aspect sighed. They had to be holding it right outside the cart entrance, didn’t they? And the topic of the fight…

“You aren’t a disappointment Lulu,” Celestia said as she dodged to the right as Luna’s beam passed by her. “I believe we moved past all that.”

“We have, but…” Luna powered her magic down, she already spent far too much of it, her reserves still dreadfully insufficient. “Father has suffered greatly because of us. We are his daughters, Tis out job nor to make him worry, but be proud…” Luna sighed as she looked at her wings. “What have We done to make him proud?”

“You came back,” Aspect replied softly. “You saw a problem, and asked for my help in fixing it…You took up the mantle of Aspect of Dreams...You always were my wonderful Luna.”

Luna yelped in surprise and turned around to see him standing there, along with Bon Bon and Miss Lyra. “F-Father? Thou… heard that huh?”

Aspect smiled and walked up to Luna, nuzzling her softly. “Have I ever said how proud you two make me?” Aspect inquired as he looked at both alicorns. “Because you do.”

Celestia was going to mention certain comments he’d said not yesterday about knife twisting, but decided to drop it.

“Nay… but We would hear it over and over without ever feeling bored,” Luna smiled, returning the affection. Aspect opened a wing up and gestured for Tia to come over and get in on the hugging action.

“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Lyra whispered to Bon Bon.

“I know,” she smiled back. “Underneath all that snark and sarcasm, Balanced Aspect really is a wonderful father.”

“Hhmmm, is somepony thinking about foals of her own?” Lyra teased as Bon Bon turned bright red and spluttererd.

“I… what! NO!” the earth mare said and grabbed the wagon, dragging it towards the house. “Stupid nosy unicorns…” she muttered under her breath.

“Granted,” Aspect said to both his daughters. “Both of you have scared me at times. Both of you can make mistakes. But to err is human. Or in this case, pony. It’s seeing your errors and learning from them that defines you. Oh! Speaking of!” He raised his head from the hug pile and looked over at a laughing Lyra. “Come over here, you minty mare. No better time than now to make your case!”

“Oh, right!” Lyra said after coming down from her gigglefest. Ahh, Bons was gonna make her pay for that one. It would totally be worth it.

“Ah, hello Miss Lyra,” Celestia smiled. “It has been a while has it not?”

“Mhm,” Lyra nodded. “How’s the Princess gig?”

“I cannot complain,” the white alicorn smiled. “And you? Still a travelling minstrel?”

“Ehh, if you call going out of the house to buy snacks travelling, sure!” Lyra nodded. The two went back and forth like this for a while, chatting like old friends.

“Well I’m glad to see my daughter has someone she can talk to like a normal pony,” Aspect said, rubbing behind Celestia’s ears with a hoof.

“Father,” Celestia whined. “Don’t treat me like a little filly.”

“You both will always be my little fillies,” Aspect nodded solemnly. “Always. I was there for when you entered the world, and I will be there for you from now on.”

“Awwww~” Lyra cooed.

“Lyra. Shut up,” Celestia frowned and blushed in embarrassment. “So, what did you want to ask?”

“Oh right. Can I learn cool magic please?”

Celesta stood upright, at her full height and spread her wings, looking rather regal and more than a little imposing. “You? You want to learn Sorcery!?”

“Tia,” Aspect warned. “We spent time telling her you wouldn’t pull this.”

“I’m a Princess, can you at least let me act like the crazy powerful and scary alicorn goddess at least once in awhile?” she pouted. Lyra didn’t seem overly fussed though. Her hind legs weren’t shaking. She had an itch. “And sure, I don’t mind. Aspect is the one teaching you, not me.”

“Whoo! Thanks Sunbutt!” Lyra said and did a cartwheel. “I’m gonna learn badflank magic! Sweeeeet!”

“Speaking of, when are you going to send those fussy, prissy unicorns down from the mountain?” Aspect inquired of his daughter. “I want to know, so that I can prepare their foal bottles beforehoof.”

“Ahh, oh, you’re going to love this,” Celestia smiled. That… that was a most unsettling smile. “I have a few prospective unicorns in mind. But it’ll take a while to organise everything. So, perhaps after the Gala? I might be able to organise one or two beforehoof. But this close to the event, there’s just no reasoning with them sometimes.”

“Ergh! The gala?” Lyra shuddered. “Why would anypony go to that thing?”

“Celly, I’m missing something,” Aspect sang. “You said you wanted me there. Now Lyra is saying it’d probably be more productive if I went out to the Everfree coated in barbecue sauce. Which is it?”

“Definitely the latter,” Lyra said with the expression that she’d just eaten a bug. “I mean, all the Gala is, is a way for the Noble caste to show off how much money they have by wearing extravagant outfits, putting their noses so high in the air they could sniff the moon and eating things that look and smell like a Parasprite dipped in foal vomit.”

“...Right,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “Unless you can provide a very good reason for me to go, I think I’d find more enjoyment teaching the foals of Ponyville how to not blow themselves up with magic.”

“Relax, the Gala will be much better this year,” Celestia said with a mischievous smile. “I promise~”

“...Fiiiine,” Aspect rolled his eyes. “But I want no cake dives this year.”

“But! That’s the best part!” Celestia whined.

“Cake dives?” Lyra and the now-returned Bon Bon echoed.

“We used to hold a gathering of ponies back in the Everfree,” Aspect explained. “A get together for the common good as it were. Only noble ponies back then were noble in both senses of the term. They could appreciate a good party and had earned the right to relax. One year, someone brought this massive cake in and set it on the table…”

“And then I took the most impressive swandive right into it,” Celestia smiled. “Luna dared me to do it. Said I would never disgrace myself in front of all the nobles like that.”

“Little dids’t We know,” Luna sighed. “That Our sister dearest had partaken in quite the quantity of ci—” She was silenced by a ribbon of golden magic as Celestia giggled nervously.

“Ix-nay on the ider-cay Luna!” she whispered harshly.

“Mares, why I don’t drink to excess,” Aspect proclaimed with a bow to Bon Bon and Lyra.

“So I see,” Lyra hummed. Not to self, see what Drunk Aspect looks like. Drunk Bonnie was apparently rather affectionate…

“Yes well,” Celestia cleared her throat. “Twilight and her friends will all be there, so you’ll have somepony to spend time with at least. Aside from Miss Bon Bon here.”

“Huh? I’m invited too!?” Bon Bon gasped.

“Celly,” Aspect replied warningly. “I’m not forcing Bon Bon to go if she doesn’t want to. It wouldn’t be ri—”

“I get to go the Gala~ I get to go to the Gala~” Bon Bon sang, bouncing around in a small circle.

“Orrr she could want to go,” the pegasus stallion sighed. “Tia. I’m only going to say this once. Your nobility in this day and age had better impress. Your nth degree grandson didn’t.”

“Ah, you mean that prattling foal Blueblood?” Luna spat. “He is the antithesis of Nobility. In our day, We would have the whelp gelded and put into the Guard, to at least try to be useful…”

“You know what?” Aspect said with a vicious grin. “I’ll come. On one condition.”

“Why do I feel like making a deal with Discord is a safer bet here?’ Celestia groaned. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

“Any noble that insults me or Bon Bon? I’m going to remember their family history and how they got their titles, and bring it up to their faces,” Aspect replied with a vicious smirk. “And considering that we were there for those things…”

“Well, if you think it’d do anything to dissuade them,” Celestia shrugged. She’d tried that a couple of times already. It was often like talking to a wall. “Very well Father. Do as you will. Not like I could stop you anyway.”

“You forget, I was there for them earning their titles as well,” Aspect hummed. “It’ll be easy to pass myself off as a historian, I think.”

“As I said, if you think it’ll work…” Celestia chuckled as her magic cleared up the lawn. “Also, Cadence is looking for you. Something about… chasing rainbows?”

“That reminds me!” Aspect crowed, pointing a wing at Celestia. “Please tell me you didn’t get rid of our old Pictomancy pictures. I came across a batch of Spectra crystals in the forest!”

“Pictomancy…” Celestia’s eyes gazed towards the castle city. “That… is not something I have heard of in a long time. I didn’t think Spectra crystals even existed anymore.” She shook her head to clear the wave of nostalgia. “But to answer your question, of course I still have them. As if I would discard something so important.”

“I just wish I was better in the art of, well, the art,” Aspect chuckled. “I can restore them easily. But I’m no great creator. I have a tome on the theory in my bag somewhere. And to answer your point, the crystals have to form in a natural rainbow in places of high magic. I found one in the forest and chased both ends of it until I saw the things glinting at me. I’ve got about two dozen now. How many pictures did we have?”

“Stars knows,” Celestia shrugged. “I haven’t taken them out on over half a millennia. And, I’ve forgotten things in my old age. But…” She gasped and put a hoof to her mouth. “Mother… There… there is one of…”

“That’s why I asked,” Aspect replied softly. “There’s one of all of us, but there were also the individual portraits as well. If...If I could have stayed, then I would have seen to it that we never lost any of our family. Not truly. Our pictures are some of the best-made.” He chuckled a little and smiled. “How bonkers do you think it would drive Twilight to learn that Starswirl had one of him made...that could climb out of his portrait?”

“She would hunt you to the ends of the earth,” Celestia said absently. “I’ll… be right back.”

That was all the warning they got before Celestia poured a ridiculous amount of pegasi magic into her wings. A single flap and a concussive blast so strong it knocked Luna off of her hooves saw the white alicorn near a kilometer in the air and streaking towards Canterlot like a white ballistic missile.

“Wanna go help your old man make Spectra paint?” Aspect asked Luna as he helped her up again.

“....Ow…” Luna muttered. “She… could have teleported.”

“Give her a moment…” Bon Bon replied as Lyra helped her up. “Then… Mommy’s gonna give that filly a smack for slamming the door.”

“Yeah, she’s probably really anxious to see all our old friends again,” Aspect rejoined. “I mean, these are some of the only static, unchanging things she could have counted on, and one by one, as the magic of the paint faded, they would have just...stopped. Gone quiet. It would have been worse than losing someone to Mort, because these friends? She could still see, frozen in time, every day. I don’t blame her for putting them away. It would have hurt just as much as Luna or I leaving her life.”

Bon Bon looked up at the mountainside city. “One by one, everypony she cared about left. While she remained, unchanging…” It was rather pensive of the earth pony. “The price of immortality I suppose.”

“Which is why I spend a few years with each new Aspect when I make them,” Aspect added. “So that they’ll know that they have someone they can count on. Someone they can call on. Someone they can rely on.” He walked over to Bon Bon and nuzzled her. “Thanks for telling me to call them to me.”

“Yeah well… I figured you’d be too stubborn to,” Bon Bon said with a cheeky smile and smack his flank with her tail. Aspect whinnied a little, before shaking his head and smirking at her.

“I’m sure the idea would have come to me eventually,” he defended himself.

“Mhm,” Bon Bon replied. “I’m sure you would have. Now, come and help me pack all these groceries away while we wait for Celestia.”

“Yup, and then it’s some good old fashioned alchemy to make Spectra paint,” Aspect agreed, nuzzling her. “I think one of the artists did a self-portrait, actually…”

“Ohh, you know… we know a good painter,” Lyra hummed. “Remember?”

“Lyra. No.” Bon Bon said adamantly. “She must NEVER meet them. Nopony would survive. Heck, Aspect barely survived!”

“What are we talking about?” the stallion asked as they moved inside to start restocking the cupboards.

“See, my mother caused him so much agony, he’s blocked the memories,” Bon Bon pointed out. “I don’t care if she’s an amazing painter. No way are we calling her here.”

“Oh,” Aspect replied in a small tone. “Maybe...someone more open to being taught how to paint? It’s just...I don’t think she’d take well to whoever was seeing her daughter telling her ‘I know a better way to do this.’”

“Maybe if you word it… ‘I know another way to do this?’” Lyra pointed out. “I mean, if you said you knew a better way to play the lyre, I’d probably hoofpunch you in the face.”

“Point,” Aspect replied. “Still, let’s get this done, then get some Spectra paint made, then see about those paintings I’m sure Tia will bring back in just a minute.”

“So, you have to repaint them? Is that it?” Bon Bon asked as she started reorganizing the larder. Her eye twitched, Luna had been in here, not because of the utter chaos she left… but by a blue feather she’d left behind. “Two little fillies are getting a spanking,” she muttered.

“More like, I have to apply a fresh coat of color to them,” Aspect replied as he started lifting things with his pegasus magic and floating them in. “Spectra paint is color and magic at the same time. Sorta reminds me of the liquid rainbow I saw up in Cloudsdale. Or is that the other way around? Point is, one it’s been applied to the painting, the magic will seep in and give life and animation back to any dormant painting.”

“Whoa!” Lyra whispered in awe. “You could make a killing with Playcolt—”

“LYRA!” Bon Bon yelled, a fierce blush on her face.

“And the reason why the witches of Mount Gloom were so fierce and feared was because they had a series of Pictomancy portraits depicting their relations, who were also fierce and ruthless witches and warlocks. With a bit of applied Sorcery, the characters in them gained the boost they needed to step out of the paintings and advise the witches on the best way to subjugate the ponies,” Aspect replied, outlining the negative side of Pictomancy for the mares.

“Well… that’s a little terrifying,” Lyra gulped. “I have a dead aunt, Piano Heartstrings. She has a portrait in the family home. Can we keep this paint faaaar away from it?”

“If it wasn’t painted with Spectra paint, it’s not a Pictomancy portrait, and won’t come alive no matter how much we splash on it,” Aspect waved off her concerns with a wing. “I’m not great in the realm of creating new art, but I’m trained enough to be able to restore Pictomancy portraits.”

“Thank Celestia,” Lyra sighed.

“For what?” the alicorn said from right behind her. There was a yelp and minty-coloured flash, and Aspect spied the unicorn dangling from the rafters, the fur on her back standing on end.

“We were just talking about Spectra paint and other sundry articles,” Aspect chuckled, maneuvering himself under Lyra. “Come on, I’ll catch you,” he called to the rafters.

There was a soft thwump as the unicorn landed on him. She was… actually a lot lighter than she looked. And now the warm mare was draped across his back.

“Mmm, this is actually kinda comfy,” Lyra hummed. “Now I see why Bonnie likes to—”

“The last time another mare showed interest in me, she threatened to kill them,” Aspect warned Lyra.

“Oh, somepony hit on you?” Lyra hummed, nonplussed by the threat. She had Best Friend immunity.

“Somepony hit on you?” Celestia asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Who was it again~?” Cadence cooed from the doorway. She could smell lovetalk like a shark sensed blood in the water.

“Nobody of importance, it’s likely nothing,” Aspect brushed the issue aside as he and Bon Bon finished up packing all the groceries away. “Now. Tia, I trust you brought some pictures you would like to see restored?”

“I did,” she replied. Ahh, good ol’ Tia. Lifespan of a mountain, attention span of a gnat. She floated out a bag which opened, and produced several paintings that should not have physically fit in there.

“Someone studied my saddlebags of holding~” Aspect cooed as he looked the paintings over. “Oh. I remember them well.”

“The memories do come flooding back, don’t they?” Celestia said as he got to one painting. A beautiful red-maned alicorn mare with a white coat.

“She was as confused as all hell when those things grew in,” Aspect chuckled. “I just wish she could have stayed...a little longer.”

“So, is this her?” Bon Bon said as she looked at the painting. “She’s very beautiful…” How the heck was she supposed to compete with that?

“I just hope she’s not mad at me for what I did,” Aspect sighed. “After Starswirl’s picture, this is the second most complex Pictomancy picture I’ve ever seen. It can learn and grow, and act just like she would have. The only thing she can’t do is leave her portrait. Which is probably a blessing. She might just slap me one.”

“So wait,” Lyra held up a hoof. “It’s like having a ghost in the painting? Isn’t that… I dunno, unethical?”

“We all had them done, in the bad old days,” Aspect said, choking up a little. “In case...the worst happened.”

Bon Bon put her forelegs around him, hugging him close before Tia, Lyra and Cadence joined the hug pile.

“You won’t lose any of us that easily,” Bon Bon said. “You got me to fall in love with you, so I’m not going anywhere.”

“And where Bonnie goes, I go,” Lyra nodded. “Sorry Aspect, you’re stuck with me now.”

“And I never got to meet you during this time,” Cadence nodded. “We still have a lot to catch up on.”

“Thanks,” Aspect smiled, genuinely touched. “Okay, so who wants to see some old world alchemy firsthoof and see me chewed out by Written Script?”

“Oooh, this is gonna be great,” Lyra giggled.

“Lyra I have told you three times, the doors are shiny. Shiny things from the old world translates to do not touch!” Aspect shouted at her.

For some reason, he felt the need to move their operation to the basement. It just felt right to brew up Spectra paint in a cauldron, and the only cauldron he had was already installed in the basement. Plus, the measurements were already written up for a cauldron-sized serving of Spectra paint.

The major downside? Even though the Golden Doors were chained and locked shut? Lyra still seemed intent on touching them.

“But it’s shiny!” she said and poked at it again. “Come ooooon, tell me what it does or I’ll keep poking it!”

“It could cause an apocalypse of epic proportions if I hadn’t chained it shut!” Aspect growled. “That there is the gateway between the written world and reality.”

Lyra’s eyes widened significantly. “You… can enter the world of books in there?”

“And that is why Twilight must never know,” Cadence added.

“To be fair, it only works on fiction. And the more beloved a legend is, the more likely it has a place in that realm,” the pegasus said as he held up a Spectra crystal, it glinted in all the colors of the rainbow. “Trapped color and magic, check. Boiling water?” He looked into the cauldron. “Check.” He dropped the crystal into the water, which bubbled and frothed in the colors of the rainbow. “Lightning bolt?”

Cadence passed over the jar that held the crackling light. “Lightning in a bottle huh?” she mused.

“That works,” Aspect smiled, picking the bottle up and aiming it at the cauldron, before uncorking it. The electricity rushed out and into the cauldron, causing the concoction to settle and just glint in the low light of the basement. “Mares, I do believe we have ourselves a batch of Spectra paint.”

“Oooh~” they all cooed, looking at the beautiful substance.

“So… now what?” Bon Bon asked.

“Now, I paint,” Aspect stated, turning the lightning bottle into a scoop to pick up some of the viscous liquid. He then extended a wing and slathered the paint over his feathers, turning the entire thing into nothing more than a glorified paintbrush. “Tia, where’s the painting?”

“Right here,” the alicorn said as she floated over the painting. “The magic in these died out a long time ago. I really hope this works.”

“It should,” Aspect replied, cradling the portrait of Written Script with his non-paint-slathered wing. “All I need to do is restore the magic, and...well, face the music I suppose.” With that, he screwed his eyes shut, took a deep breath, and drew his painted wing over the portrait. The multi-hued substance was visible for a moment, before it slowly seeped into the picture.

All was silent as five sets of eyes stared at the painting.

“Um… is… is something gonna happen?” Lyra spoke up. “Cause, I think your painting might be bro—”

Then there was the sound of a yawn, from a mouth that wasn’t one of the ponies there. “Well that was an enjoyable nap,” a new voice said, soft-spoken and reserved. “My word...what in the world have I missed?”

“Sweet Celestia! It can talk!?” Lyra and Bon Bon exclaimed.

“I… I just thought it’d move around or something,” Bon Bon said as Lyra worked her jaw, trying to get it to work.

“M-Mommy?” Celestia said quietly.

“Oh darn it all Christopher, you know better than to hold me off the wall,” the mare said with a sigh. “Go on, go on, put me up, let me get a look at my girls. It’d be better than constantly shifting around.”

“Two seconds,” Aspect said, opting to prop her up against the wall on a nearby workbench. The mare in the painting rolled her shoulders, fluffed her wings, and walked closer to the ‘painting’ to get a better view.

“Well I see Celly,” the cream-colored mare mused. “And...I’m sorry, miss, do I know your name? You look like I should know you. Are you terribly important to have earned the alicorn upgrade as well?”

Cadence was staring wide-eyed, it took a moment to realise she was being spoken to. “I… uh…”

“This is Cadenza,” Aspect helpfully filled in. “She’s a result of Yggdrasil’s...meddling. Apparently he figured out how to bring about Alicorns.”

“I see,” Written Script mused. “And who are the other mares?”

“This,” Aspect said, using his free, non-painted wing to bring Bon Bon closer. “Is my good friend Bon Bon. The unicorn is her friend Lyra.”

“Mmm,” the alicorn in the painting mused. “And where in the world is Lulu? Shouldn’t she be around?”

“She’s… here somewhere mother,” Celestia said, before Bon Bon pulled away from Aspect.

“I’ll go and find her. I’m such a good friend after all…” And with that, she turned and left the room.

“Yep… well done there Aspect,” Lyra said. “Tell me, how does that hoof taste?”

“I was going to work up to that particular revelation,” Aspect sighed. “I didn’t want to lead off with that. Or really...any of them. I mean, we are only talking about the mare that I literally helped raise my daughters with. And the one that we kept with us in spirit. I didn’t want to start off with something like that.”

“Yeah, I guess…” Lyra winced. “Alright, I’ll explain it to her and we’ll let you have family time okay? Want me to tell the bird and that sexy seapony?”

“I think we’ll need more than a minute to break it to Written Script,” Aspect sighed. “It’s going to be...unpleasant.”

Of course it had to be complicated. “Yeah, just remember which one is real,” Lyra replied as she walked out. She’ll take Bon Bon home and get wasted tonight. It’ll be fun.

“Just let Bon Bon know it wasn’t personal,” Aspect called after her, before sighing and turning back to the portrait.

“I take it some time has passed between my restoration periods,” Written Script said wryly.

“You could say that,” Aspect replied, wishing he could wash the paint off. Tonight was not going to be easy. On...anyone.

“It’s been more than a thousand years,” Celestia said. In that time, she hadn’t told her of the Nightmare Moon incident either… “I am sorry Mother. But without the materials, I could not create more paint. Only father here still remembered and he…” She closed her mouth and looked away.

“Yes, your father always was a stubborn sort, but he was also the sort to restore us all, every year on the day,” Written Script said. “I take it that you’ll be fixing this oversight, Christopher?”

“I’ll do my best,” the pegasus said. “You’ll be back to having tea-parties with Hurricane and Pansy in no time.”

“Fantastic, they are excellent company when my family is not around,” Script replied. “So. What happened a thousand years ago to cause this...schism in the family?”

“MOTHER!” she heard a shout from the doorway as Luna bolted inside, leaning up to nuzzle the painting. “It… it worked?”

“The old arts are stubborn ones, my dearest Luna,” Script replied. “Down, though. You know I love you, but I also like seeing the others when they talk too!”

“Fine,” Luna pouted. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you in a thousand years or anything…”

“Yes, we were just getting to that,” the painted alicorn replied as she regained sight of the room outside of her painting. “Just what happened a thousand years ago to cause you all to go your separate ways?”

Nopony spoke for a good long while.

Until Luna did.

“It was my fault,” she said quietly. “All because of me. My rage, my jealousy… I… almost destroyed the world because of it.”

“A parasite latched onto her as well,” Aspect pitched in. “Some sort of nightmarish entity from the dream world. I was able to fend them off without thinking about it, but...it attached itself to Luna and fed into those emotions. Soon...there was no Luna. Only the Nightmare.”

“If I hadn’t been so jealous of Tia and the way the ponies only loved her…” Luna said. “Then it wouldn’t have happened. Tia… wouldn’t have had to send me away.”

“And what happened then...the fact that I nearly raised my sword against our daughter, Script,” Aspect said, crying softly. “It...it broke me, inside. Something snapped. I couldn’t...I couldn’t stay anymore. I couldn’t remain...so I just, wandered. I picked up my bags, packed up my gear, and just...left. I got a little bit of my spark back when I found Grogar and dealt with him more permanently this time, but...I don’t think I could actually fight the way I used to anymore. Not without thinking about my failure.”

“It’s pretty much been this pity party for two days straight around here,” Cadence said. “Mind you, given what’s happened, I hardly blame them. The Nightmare, Aspect’s vanishing, Auntie Celestia destroying literature and history…”

“So basically, they all ignored the one rule that we set down once it became just one Written Script in the painting,” the alicorn summed up. “Family trusts one another, is there for one another.”

“Pretty much,” Cadence said. “Mind you, Discord probably had a hoof in that…”

“Still gonna stab that bastard when he shows up,” Aspect muttered.

“Well!” Written Script clapped her hooves together. “I can tell you all have had a tumultuous time. Then again, you’ve had a thousand years to have said times. But there’s nothing we can do to change the past. Unless Starswirl actually manages to work out his time-travel spell, but that’s another story for another day. Crotchety old fart never did stop, even when it was down to just him and he couldn’t cast any magic for fear of running out of paint sooner. So the best you all can do is move forward. And the first part is forgiving each other.”

Cadence nodded as she pushed the three together with her magic. “That what I’ve been saying. And so had Bon Bon!”

“So, the first part is forgiving Luna,” Script said. “It doesn’t really sound like it was entirely her fault, but Tia, Aspect, you’re both sort of to blame for what happened. For not catching it sooner. So I guess it falls to me for now.” She smiled kindly at Luna. “My perfect little Lulu. I forgive you for what you did. It wasn’t your fault, not really. I don’t hold you accountable. What was the first rule if somepony was possessed or had their mind altered in any way?”

“It’s not thine fault…” Luna mumbled.

“Louder, and get the context right,” Script replied. “Whose fault isn’t it?”

“It is not Our fault…” Luna said again, a little louder.

“Say it like you mean it, filly!” Script chided her. “Where’s the voice that could be heard a castle away?”

“IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!”

Luna’s roar made the building tremble and blasted Celestia and Aspect back from her.

“Check please,” Aspect slurred, raising a hoof.

“I need a necromancer…” Celestia moaned. “That just shaved a few lifetimes off of my immortality.”

“I will tell you to say it and look like you believe it every day if I have to,” Script told Luna. “Now. Someone else has to forgive someone else in your little three-way of blame.”

“I know it’s not her fault,” Cadence shrugged. “But, I also know that Aunt Tia and Grandpa Aspect are gonna be deaf for a while.”

“Lulu always did have the louder lungs, out of the pair of them,” Script mused.

Luna just blushed as two figures poked their heads through the door.

“By the Oceans! It’s true?” Neptune spoke loudly. “Tis really her?”

‘Really? I thought it was the Dragon King,’ Pyroclastia snarked back.

“Oh, I remember Christopher telling me about you both from ages ago,” Script said, looking at the new intruders. “Let’s see...I know the seapony king is named Neptune, but for the life of me, I’ve forgotten the full extent of your name, miss. I know it started with Pyro…”

‘Pyroclastia. Mother-Queen of the Phoenix race and Aspect of Fire!’ the bird trilled with an air of self-importance and puffed out her chest.

“Yes, that was it. Well, come closer,” Script said, urging them on. “Let me get a good look at you. You go to sleep for a thousand years and foals you never knew you had suddenly decide to up and visit.”

They both moved inside, the seapony hovering in his bubble of water while Pryo perched on the floor, looking at the cauldron that was something still standing after Luna’s audio assault.

“Well, I can tell that Neptune is quite handsome for a seapony king,” Script chuckled. “And Pyroclastia, you’re quite magnificent yourself. It’s good to see that you’re both doing well.”

“Ah! I like her!” Neptune thumped his chest.

‘As do I, she recognises true magnificence when she sees it,’ the bird nodded.

“Well, I do have an appreciation for the finer things,” Script smiled. “Now if you could see to the restoration of the one that apparently is the only one that knows how to restore Pictomancy paintings, I could introduce you to the whole party.”

The Phoenix looked at the fallen Celestia and Aspect, then to Luna. ‘Ah’.

A few tears later, and Aspect and his daughter were fighting fit and ready to take on the world.

The painted Alicorn was a different ballgame altogether.

“So, I do hope you kept us all, my daughter,” Script said to Celestia. “I would love to talk to the whole crew again.”

By way of explanation, Aspect waved a hoof at the other paintings in line. “Pictomancy paintings can, if they’re all hung up in the same house, jump from one painting to the next. A picture of Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy can meet even if they’re hung up on completely opposite sides of the house.”

“Woow!” Cadence whistled. “Twilight’s gonna flip when she sees this. She’ll probably want to move in, just so she can ask questions.”

“This is nothing,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “A really skilled Pictomancer can step inside his paintings to work on them from there.”

“So, can you do that?” Cadence asked.

“There was really only one painting me and the girls ever visited,” Aspect replied softly. “I have to have her helping me to get in.”

“Which painting?” Cadence asked, before looking at Written Script.

“That would be mine, dear,” Written said, before gesturing to the room around her. “This is an exact duplicate of ‘my’ room back in the hidden valley, down to the last sheet on my bed. The artist was incredibly skilled and came in here to make sure he’d gotten every single detail right before adding, well, me to it. And he layered so much paint and magic into making me, it was hardly a surprise I came out as well as I did.”

“Wow,” Cadence looked around. “But… I have to ask something. But I don’t want to come across as rude or insensitive…”

“Ask away,” both Written and Aspect said at the same moment.

Cadence winced, this… would likely be ugly. “So, can you explain how you can talk? I mean, you aren’t really her… are you?”

“The magic of the paint and how complex I am enables me to talk,” Written said. “And no, I’m not really her. More like a copy made in case the worst happened and my fillies still needed their mother. Whenever Christopher was taking the fillies out to play, the real me told painting-me all the things that had happened, so that I could learn and respond appropriately.”

“That must have been odd, like a mirror that talks back,” Cadence said. It was odd, she could feel faint love coming from the painting. Even if she was just a magically constructed copy, she could feel the love she had for her family.

Which would make Aspect’s near future all the more difficult.

“So tell me Christopher,” Script said, turning to look at the stallion. “Have you actually fallen in love with a pony yet? Or are you still a happy bachelor going around slaying monsters for the greater good?”

“There, uh...might be an answer to that question,” Aspect said, scuffing the floor with a hoof. The three alicorns in the room all remained silent, none dared breathe a word of this. So they decided to just throw Aspect under the proverbial bus by leaving him alone in the room.

“We’ll leave you two to catch up,” Celestia smiled and led everypony else out of the room. “Have fun~”

Script waited for the sparkles to die down before smiling. “It was that Bon Bon mare, wasn’t it?”

Aspect winced, but nodded. The painted alicorn beamed at him. “Good on you. I died a while ago, and we were never really ‘in love.’ More like a partnership for the sake of the fillies. Sakes, you only learned to formshift after I died! They never bothered to ask how you could be their father if you weren’t a pony.”

“Are...you sure you don’t mind me falling for a pony?” the pegasus asked.

“Christopher, you could fall for anything and I wouldn’t mind. I just want to see you happy.” She pointed a hoof at the paintings behind him. “Now. If you wouldn’t mind?”

The pegasus sighed. “I’ll get to work on them in a bit. I have to hang you up properly first. I’m just glad I have a lot of space around here…”

Aspect sighed, this was the last one he had to restore. Which was good, he’d almost run out of this batch of Spectra paint, he wanted to save the rest of the crystals for later. He’d also hung almost all the pictures up in his home in various locations. Script had gone up in the bedroom, Hurricane and Pansy had gone up in one of the guest bedrooms on the same floor. Starswirl had actually expressed a desire to return to Canterlot once Celly had said she’d filled an entire wing of the royal Archives with the things the original had produced. Still, he’d accepted the fact that the world wasn’t quite ready for Pictomancy to return just yet, and said he’d accept living in this large house...as long as he could get a few things the original had written eventually.

There had to have been two hundred pictures that Aspect had restored and hung up around his house. Which meant he’d have to be careful about thinking out loud, as the walls would likely respond.

Aspect pulled the last picture to himself and had to suppress a pang of sadness. This…

This was Realm’s self-portrait. The original pony had vanished some time ago, they never found his body. Realm had been the most prestigious Pictomancer back at the castle, and had been the one to touch up and improve the pictures that he’d just spent all night restoring. The self-portrait was the last thing they’d found in his room, and they’d dutifully hung it up. And now it was in his hooves again.

“I’m sorry, dear friend,” Aspect said, before swiping a layer of Spectra paint across the picture. “I’m sorry I never found you.”

The paint was absorbed into the painting, and Aspect tucked it under a wing before walking out of the basement. There was one place where he knew this painting would go very well. The gallery, where it’d get a nice sunbeam every morning. It took him a few minutes to get there, but when he did, the paintings welcomed him.

Right up until they saw who he was hanging up. Then they all fell silent, quite aware of the story behind this one.

“Right,” Aspect said, wiping the small amount of tears away. It’d been a long day, and he’d been reunited with plenty of old friends. “I’ll see you all tomorrow morning. I need some sleep before I go to see about teaching the foals.”

…

Later that night, the picture of Realm giggled and looked out towards the real world...before the pegasus colt pulled himself out of the portrait.

“Poor little Christopher,” Realm said with a smile as he stretched. Being confined in a painting for a thousand years was an unpleasant experience, even if it was a self-imposed time-capsule of a sentence. “I never went anywhere.”

Author's Note

I totally didn't get sidetracked with an awesome new idea that I'm writing with Aus, what're you talking about?

Oh, and meet Realm. He'll be sticking around a while.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half the money will not go towards a new keyboard.

Chapter 18 - New teacher in town

Aspect pulled himself out of his bed and smiled at all the ‘good morning’s the paintings gave him. After washing up quickly and replying to the paintings, he made his way through the house, enjoying the chatter from the magical artwork.

This, this felt more like home. It had been far too quiet before. Even with a few alicorns around, he had been missing the constant background noise of the art.

He walked into his dining room and was struck dumb.

Sitting there, at his table, drinking coffee, was a pony that looked very much like Realm from ages ago.

He supposed it could have been a paint duplicate, much like Starswirl, that only now chose to walk out and talk to him, except for one thing.

Painted ponies didn’t eat. They especially didn’t drink.

“R-Realm?” Aspect quietly asked, daring to hope. The dappled pegasus nodded, swallowing a mouthful of coffee before replying.

“Wanted to make sure that Pictomancy survived and that I would be around for your return,” Realm said. “Yeah, my self-portrait was...more like a time capsule.”

The pegasus, more like a colt, really, was swept up in a hug from the larger pony. “Realm! Don’t you dare do that again! I’m happy to see you, but we all mourned you when you up and vanished like that!”

Realm gasped and resigned himself to his fate. He knew that Christopher saw him as the son he never had. Not that he minded. Tia and Lulu were easy to get along with.

There was a whistling sound. It was distant at first, but it was picking up in volume.

If there was an air raid siren, it’d probably be playing right about now.

“This cannot end well,” Aspect said. “Brace yourself.”

There was a rumble from outside, following the sound of something impacting the dirt. It was enough that the other occupants of the house were awoken, Tia and Luna walking into the kitchen.

“Okay, own up,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at the pair of them. “Who tried to push themselves too fast with their pegasus magic? I’d be surprised if you didn’t break the sound barrier on the way over.”

“It wasn’t either of us,” Celestia said with a shake of her head. “We just awoke when we heard the noise.”

“Coffeeeeee~” Luna groaned, flopping over at the kitchen table. Completely ignoring the little pegasus next to her.

“Well then, I guess I’ll be having a word with whoever that was next class,” Aspect grumbled. “There’s a reason you don’t push all your magic into your wings for one giant flap.” The pegasus held a meaningful look at Celestia while he said that. “Anyways, it sounded like that landed nearby. So you two can catch Realm up while I go check on whoever that was. My luck, it was probably one of the Wonderbolts.”

“Realm? Father…” Celestia looked at him sadly. “Realm is gone. Do… you truly not remember?”

“Realm, prove a point,” Aspect replied as he peeled himself away from the small pegasus. Said pegasus nodded and sipped at his coffee, before pulling a face.

“I have no idea how this got more popular than tea,” he muttered. “Way too bitter.”

“Try the cream and sugar,” Aspect replied as he made his way to the exit.

On his way out, he heard dual squeals of delight from his daughters, and a little pegasus getting a two-way Alicorn-strength hug. Aspect smiled as he pressed on, ignoring Realm’s squawk of discomfort.

He reached his front door and pulled it open, and what greeted his eyes was...well, honestly, something he’d been hoping to not have to put up with right now.

He was greeted with the sight of a rather sizeable impact crater, dust and small stones still settling from the point of impact.

Inside the crater lay a blue pegasus, her prismatic mane and tail splayed out and her eyes were closed.

“You know, when I said I would make your earlier boast a reality, I didn’t think you would actually try to pull a Sonic Rainboom off in your sleep,” Aspect grumbled as he walked into the crater. It would take a lot of cheating to fix this. He gently pulled the mare out of the crater, before checking her over for any injuries. Hitting the ground at that speed would probably have left a mark.

Yet, nothing was broken. No fractures or contusions. A quick scan showed her brain wasn’t scrambled. Aside from some minor scratches and bruises… she was unharmed. Though her body was showing some residual pegasi magic. Rather than just her wings, her coat shone with the stuff.

Had she unconsciously projected a shield before impact? Some kind of resistance boost? He knew that most pegasi could do that, but it usually only happened in seriously dangerous situations. Like, if they were about to hit the ground at speeds in excess...of...fast…

“Well I guess that magic training paid off,” he muttered, before pulling the mare on top of him. “Come on, let’s get those wounds cleaned and dressed, and see about getting you fed as well.”

Whyyyy was she nuzzling her face into his mane? And wrapping her hooves around him in a hug? Oh boy...this...would likely only end with Bon Bon trying to kill her again.

Aspect stopped at his saddlebags and carefully slipped the prismatic mare off of him, much to her apparent chagrin, before he ducked his head in one side. A moment later, he emerged with first-aid supplies and began seeing to her injuries.

She was still unconscious, though her snoring was impressive. She could give Luna a run for her bits with that lung capacity. It was a simple matter to clean and dress all her injuries, and he put the first aid supplies away before putting her on his back again.

She’d probably wake up for breakfast, right? Aspect hadn’t yet met a pony that didn’t wake up for coffee. Or tea.

“Help...me…” Realm gasped, still trapped in princess pony hugs. “I see...a light...and terrible paintings…”

“Oh suck it up,” Aspect fired off. “I know you’re not serious. You’re better at the Gale King than I am, if I don’t cheat at it. What was it you said? Something about Spectra crystals rarely appearing in convenient locations?”

“Be that as it may, could you please pry them off of me?” Realm replied. “A lightning bolt to the chest is a terrible way to say hello after...how long has it been?”

“More than a thousand years,” Celestia said as they released him. “You missed quite a bit.”

“Never once thought that a Pictomancer would seal themselves inside a painting to last longer,” Aspect chipped in as he put Dash in a chair. “What gave you the idea?”

“Clover,” Realm replied with a shrug of his wings.

“Um, Father?” Celestia asked. “Why is Rainbow Dash unconscious?”

“Did you do something untoward to her?” Luna questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“For shame father,” Celestia sniffed. “I thought you were better than that.”

“To see Our father fallen so,” Luna sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with a hoofkerchief. “I blame myself.”

“Tis on both our heads,” Celestia continued. “Fear not Sister, we can still help him.”

“Have standards really degraded that much in a thousand years?” Realm asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Mother will be so disappointed,” Celestia wept. “And poor Bon Bon, what will she think?”

“I mean really,” Realm added on, rolling his eyes. “Take her out to see a skirmish, get her her favorite flowers. Don’t just drag her in off your doorstep.”

“And those bandages?” Luna gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth. “Were thou that rough with her?”

“I know Hurricane said she liked it like that,” Realm nudged Luna with a wing. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d learned a thing or two from the old warmare.”

“Ahh, that makes sense,” Luna nodded.

“I have hoofcuffs you can borrow,” Cadence hummed from the doorway.

“For your information,” Aspect said, walking over to the cabinets to prepare a quick breakfast. “She once made a boast that she could pull off Sonic Rainbooms in her sleep. I think she actually succeeded...and of course, crashed into my lawn.”

“Hmm, I wonder why she came here to you of all ponies?” Cadence hummed, before Celestia decided to switch targets.

“Oh Cadenza dear,” she sang and the pink alicorn’s blood turned cold. “Have you told your Grandfather about your coltfriend yet?”

“Ohh, the Aspect of Love getting a coltfriend?” Aspect smirked. “Do I get to pull out my intimidating father role? I never got to with Tia or Lulu.”

“You leave Shiny alone!” Cadence warned him. “And besides, that’s because Tia and Luna are still vi—”

Then she vanished.

“Oh look, Cadenza had to return home,” Celestia sighed. “What a shame.”

“And I know she’s wrong on your account,” Aspect pitched in, putting a breakfast in front of Rainbow. “Blueblood’s existence is a good enough indicator of that. Loathsome as it is.”

“Actually, Blueblood is a descendant of Platinum,” Celestia said with a raised hoof. “They were adopted into my family when she passed on, her children became my own. It was that, or watch the unicorns fight over who would get her position.”

“Huh,” the stallion replied, sitting next to Realm again. “And I half expected Lulu to have found a nice Thestral stallion by now. Or some time ago.”

“Thousand years on the moon remember?” Luna deadpanned. “We have not had time for something as pointless as finding a consort.”

“You know,” Realm replied, rolling a hoof around. “Before. Who was that stallion you were making goo-goo eyes back at the castle? I think you asked me to paint a picture of him…”

Luna looked pensive, lost in thought before she shook her head. “I do not recall. Perhaps if I were to find that painting…”

“No, wait, wouldn’t work,” Realm sighed, lowering his hoof. “Never did get around to it before Clover warned me of the times to come. Didn’t know she was gifted with prophecy until that night. Sorry Lulu. But yeah, I thought you definitely had a stallion back at the castle. Did you not?”

“It would not matter,” the alicorn sighed. “He is long since gone. So that road has no future…”

“Still, you could probably look at your guard for a nice, strapping stallion,” Realm pointed out. “You always did have a thing for leathery wings.”

“Q-Quiet!” Luna blushed and jabbed him with a hoof. “I know not of what thou speaks!”

“Hmm, maybe a dragon,” Realm mused. “They also have scales and are big and...powerful~”

With a strangled choke of embarrassment, Luna teleported from the room. The sudden noise cause Rainbow to snort and wake up, the pegasus looking around and blinking.

“Huh? What? Where am I?”

“You remember your little boast a few weeks ago, about being able to do sonic rainbooms in your sleep?” Aspect inquired, subconsciously drawing Realm in for a wing-hug.

“Yeah?” Rainbow said, rubbing her eyes and stretching her wings. “Urgh, I feel like crud.”

“That’d be because you actually did one, and crashed into my lawn when you did,” Aspect outlined for the chromatic mare. “The only reason you didn’t smear yourself across the ground is thanks to the magic training I gave you. Your body threw up an impact shield right before you hit, one that was fairly powerful.”

“I… what?” Rainbow shook her head to clear it as her mane flipped back into place. “Aw man, I haven't flown in my sleep since I was a filly… how embarrassing.”

“Eh, it’s fairly standard to learning the Gale King,” Realm said with a shrug of his wings, resigning himself to his fate to be cuddled. “I found the best way to get rid of my problem was to burn off as much magic as possible before going to sleep until I stopped sleep-flying. Then I stopped burning my magic off. Might take like...two weeks until your body adapts to having more magic on call.”

“Urgh, what a pain,” Rainbow sighed and looked at the colt. “So, who’s the squirt? Another kid of yours? Man, I feel sorry for the mare that will be your wife Aspect. You pump ‘em out like Fluttershy’s bunnies.”

“I’m adopted,” Realm deadpanned.

“Ahh,” Rainbow nodded and her stomach growled. “Heh, so Aspect… got any food?”

“I made you a simple breakfast,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at the plate in front of her and the mug of coffee. “You didn’t even wake up for the smell.”

“That’s… food?” she said, looking at it. “Aw man, is Bons sick or something. No offense Aspect. But her cooking is waaaaay better.”

“Yeah, she might be slightly mad at me about something I said yesterday,” Aspect replied, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “But hey, I haven’t poisoned myself yet. That counts for something, right?”

“Which is a definite improvement over how skilled he used to be, back at the castle,” Realm added. “The cooks actively chased him out. With knives.”

“Huh…” Rainbow looked at the food, her growling stomach overriding her self-preservation. With a prayer and a deep breath, she inhaled the food.

It may not have tasted good...but she wasn’t throwing up. And she couldn’t deny that it was filling her up. It was probably a really old dish that he’d mastered for the energy more than the taste of it. That, alongside the coffee she had, was enough to get her going now.

“So, speaking of Bon Bon…” Celestia started.

“I’ll hopefully be able to introduce her and Written Script properly at some point,” Aspect interrupted. “Maybe then they’ll both forgive me.”

“I sure hope so,” Realm added on, looking at Celestia. “Your mom’s one of the best works out there. Made sure she was in the best condition before I made myself this ‘coffee’ stuff.”

“Well, in case you were wondering,” Celestia said. “Bon Bon is father’s new marefriend. A little earth pony mare…”

“Oh ho ho, a new mother figure to completely scar?” Realm chuckled. “Oh, this is gonna be good. How much you want to bet she’ll think I’m just a talented colt?”

“Fifty bits says she figures it out before the end of the day,” Celestia said. “She’s rather perceptive, and has already learned we are not a normal family.” Then she looked at Aspect. “That’s if she comes back however. When introducing her to mother, what did you say again? That she was a ‘good friend’?”

“‘Oh hey Written, here’s the mare I’m banging now,’” Aspect replied dryly. “Yeah. That would have gone down a treat.”

“You could have said, ‘Her name is Bon Bon,’ and left it at that,” Celestia pointed out.

“She would have wanted to know why Bon Bon was in the room with all of us,” Aspect countered. “I’m willing to admit my plan wasn’t the best, but that’s not a situation that I was going to walk away from without telling her something about my new relationships. I approached it wrong and hurt someone, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t such a shock to your mother.”

“And father, what do we do when we hurt somepony?” Celestia asked in her ‘Princess Teacher Voice’.

“We make it up to them,” Aspect sighed. “Fine. I’ll stop by their place before I go to the school to teach today. Maybe I’ll be able to salvage this relationship.” He pointed a hoof at Realm. “No breaking anypony.”

“But that’s the fun part!” Realm said with a grin.

“No! I already bucked up once—”

“Just once?” Realm asked, and Aspect groaned.

“Just...I’m out,” Aspect sighed. “Rainbow, try not to feed his dirty jokes. He may only be twelve, but he’s one of the more knowledgeable twelve-year olds out there.”

“Huh, really now?” the mare beamed and then looked at him. “Hey kid… you know what a prank is?”

“Oh, so that’s what they called all the things I did to the staff?” Realm giggled. “But seriously though, I think I better get the rundown from Celly here as to everything I missed. Or at least the highlights. Little tip: Sealing yourself inside a Pictomancy portrait so that you can last the coming ‘thousand tumultuous years’ your unicorn friend predicts is a good idea in theory. In practice...nah so much.”

“Huh… sounds, eggheady,” Rainbow groaned. “Oh hey, you should meet Twilight then, she’d go down a treat. Be right back!” And before anypony could argue, she blasted her way through the door, a rainbow contrail left in her wake.

“Well, why don’t you tell me what I’ve missed, sis?” Realm said, snuggling into Celestia’s side.

“Oh you know,” Celestia said with a wave of her hoof. “This and that, nothing big. Well, except for Luna being infected with a Nightmare Parasite and nearly destroying the world. Then ponies using the Artes to ignite a civil war… Oh, and my last student was corrupted by dark magic and fled to another dimension, there’s also that.”

“Ah, ponies,” Realm sighed dramatically. “Is there nothing they can’t do? Give them a country, they’ll try to ruin it. According to ‘dad’, that’s what they did to Dream Valley anyways. Wasn’t there for that.”

“Yes well…” Celestia didn’t want to think about Dream Valley. “So, what was it like to spend a thousand years in a painting? I imagine you’re feeling pretty brushed~”

“It was actually just as simple as preparing a room, then stocking the room and waiting for the magic to run out,” Realm informed her. “Wasn’t all that hard. And once the room ran out of magic, the painting froze. For me, it was like an eyeblink between then, and now. First thing I heard was Christopher saying he was sorry he never found me after restoring the painting.”

“Hmm, well at least it was quick,” Celestia said and nuzzled him. “Well, then I’ll be the first to welcome you to modern day Equestria. Try not to break my little ponies too much okay?”

“I will make no such promise at all,” Realm giggled.

“Of course,” Celestia sighed and sipped her tea. As if life wasn’t interesting enough…

The bell rang as Aspect pushed the door open, his head suitably bowed as he carried something in a wing. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too badly verbally mauled by his marefriend...if marefriend she still was.

The store looked as it always had, and Bon Bon was behind the counter, but her back was turned to him as she rummaged around for something under there, her flank swaying from side to side in beat with the music playing in the background. He opted to simply wait and not let on that he’d been looking at the show. She was still mad at him, probably.

She finally found what she was searching for, a small candy box? She turned around and placed it on the counter, looked up and…

“Aspect? Oh hello de—” She paused and her eyes widened. “ASPECT!”

“Hello Bon Bon,” Aspect smiled softly. “I, uh, brought you something to apologize.” He flared his wing and sent a bouquet of flowers to land on the counter in front of her. The flower trio had been very helpful in picking out just the right flowers to say ‘I’m sorry’ with.

“Flowers huh?” Bon Bon’s eyes fell into a flat stare. “Well… this is a bother now isn’t it?” She turned around for a moment, taking the candy box with her.

And a moment later, she turned back to him, presenting him with the gift-wrapped box. “So, what should I do with my apology gift to you?”

“I’m perfectly willing to admit that I was in the wrong,” Aspect said. “I should have come clean with Written Script about what you were to me. Heck, I wish you had stayed for the rest of the night, it turns out my house is even more crazy now. You’re gonna have to see it to believe it.”

“Aspect… no, Kris-toe-ferr was it?” That mispronunciation was cringeworthy.

“Close,” Aspect said, doing his best to put his ears back up. A thousand years as a pony and he still didn’t have full control over the things.

“Look, I’m not going to pretend to understand what you and your family have gone through,” Bon Bon said with a soft, sad smile. “I mean, I’ve seen things in my day, sure. But I doubt it’s a drop in a bucket compared to the ocean of crap you’ve had to deal with.” She pushed the box forward, filled with his favourite chocolates. Whether he knew they were his favourites or not.

Special talent, don’t ask.

“So, I can give you all the time you need,” she said. “Just… you will come back to me right? Do… you still love me?”

“Why would you ask that question?” Aspect questioned her. “I never stopped loving you. I just...wanted to build up to it for her.”

“I guess I acted like a silly pony huh?” Bon Bon sighed, looking to the side as the tips of her ears turned red. Aspect reared up, planted his hooves on the counter, and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. He was rewarded with a much cuter blush as she took one of the flowers, nibbling on it.

“So… you still teaching today?” she asked.

“Yup,” Aspect replied as he fell back on his four hooves. “It promises to be...interesting.”

Bon Bon looked at the clock and then smiled, a smile that made him feel warm in… certain areas. “How long until you have to be there?” She asked him as she moved around the counter.

“I think as long as I don’t take until after lunch here, that we should be good,” Aspect mused as he let his eyes roam freely over the earth mare’s form.

“Oh good,” Bon Bon hummed as she switched the sign to closed and drew the curtains down. “Plenty of time to… make up~”

“You know, just this morning I had the most peculiar visitor,” Aspect said. “A certain mare flew in her sleep and landed on my lawn. And when she eventually woke up, she lamented the fact that it wasn’t your cooking she was eating.”

“Oh, are you really talking about another mare right now?” Bon Bon asked as she sashayed towards him, her tail swishing to and fro.

“Well how else am I going to bring up the fact that she freakin’ nuzzled me in her sleep?” Aspect countered.

Bon Bon stopped and gave him a flat stare. “We will discuss this later,” she said with a tone that said discussion may involve loud words. “Right now… I’m going to try a few things Cadence told me about~”

“Just keep in mind, I cheat,” Aspect returned, flaring his wings.

Then the amorous earth pony pounced…

“Aspect,” Bon Bon said as they walked towards Ponyville school. “Did you get into Pinkie’s sugar stash?”

“Nope, why do you ask?” Aspect chirped as they continued on their walk.

“No reason,” Bon Bon chuckled and shook her head. “Stallions, give them a little and they think they’re King.”

“Nah, it’s more to do with the fact that I’m gonna be teaching!” Aspect smiled. “Oh, I do love teaching. Especially foals. They haven’t learned any of the bad habits adults have yet.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon couldn’t help herself. She moved in close, leaning against his side. “So tonight then, do you want to teach me some bad habits~” She moved her lips and nibbled his ear.

“I think you have plenty of those on your own,” Aspect muttered, flicking his ear a little and successfully fighting his blush down.

“Then maybe I’ll teach you a few~” she giggled and bumped his flank with her own. “So, any idea what you’ll be teaching today?”

“The basics of their tribal magics,” Aspect nodded firmly. “I won’t go beyond the basics, even that might take me a while depending on the class size, but that’s the idea today.”

“Hmm, well as far as I know, there’s only around a dozen foals, give or take,” Bon Bon said with a nod. “Ponyville is a small village at best. We’re certainly no Canterlot.”

“Still, it might take me a bit to cover the basics,” Aspect sighed. “Especially considering how long they’ve been forgotten…”

“Well then grandpa, good thing you have a semi-competent Geomancer with you hmm?” Bon Bon said and then her eyes widened. “Oh, I almost forgot. Somepony told me that you’d have a Sorcerer to help as well.”

“Well that’d be...relatively helpful,” Aspect said, his eyes narrowing. “Though I question how said sorcerer would know to be here at this exact moment…”

And when they reached the path that led up to the school, Balanced Aspect saw exactly who was helping him.

It was a white unicorn filly, with a cotton candy pink mane and tail with deep amethyst eyes. Her Cutie Mark was a smiling sun. She spied the stallion and smiled brightly, waving at him. He sighed, before walking up to the mare and shaking his head slightly.

“Celly,” he sighed again. “Really?”

“Nope! Incorrect!” the filly declared. “I am Sunny Daze, Number One student of Balanced Aspect and I’m here to help!”

“I do hope you didn’t leave Realm unattended,” Aspect mused. “That colt always did get up to all sorts of trouble.”

“Of course not,” Sunny shook her head as she jumped up onto his back. “Lulu’s with him… and I believe Miss Dash went to fetch Twilight.”

“Well suddenly my mind is put at ease,” Aspect returned with no small amount of snark. “Fine. Let’s see about teaching the foals their tribal magic without blowing them up.”

“Oh, this will be fun!” Sunny giggled as she took his mane in her hooves. “Giddy up Daddy!”

“You’ll give the game away if you carry on like that,” Aspect warned her as the three of them entered the schoolhouse.

“Boo, you’re no fun,” Sunny pouted as she jumped down. “Fine. I’ll be good, Teacher.”

Inside the classroom, Cheerilee tapped her hoof on her desk to get her student’s attention.

“Class? Listen up please. We have a very special guest with us today. But before we introduce him, do you all have those forms I sent home to your parents?”

They all nodded as the forms were passed forwards. Cheerilee looked over them and nodded to herself. So only a hooffull of students had gotten permission.

“Alright class. Now, I’d like to introduce you to Balanced Aspect.” She gestured to the door as the stallion entered, filly at his side and Bon Bon in tow. Cheerilee smiled and tapped her hoof again.

“Now class, say hello.”

“Hello Mister Aspect!” they all said with a well-practised tone.

“Hello class, I hope you all got permission for me to be here,” Aspect replied, smiling all the while. “It turns out, I may even have more I can teach later on, and I would really rather be allowed to teach it to you than have to refrain. My classes are going to be fun for you and me.”

A pink hoof rose into the air before the filly attached to it stood up. She was a little pink earth pony wearing a diamond-studded tiara. She had blue eyes and a white and purple striped mane.

“Excuse me Miss Cheerilee,” she said, making Sunny wince. She’d heard that tone before, from many a noble in Canterlot. “But the letter said something about magic. Pray tell, how does a Pegasus use magic? Everypony knows only unicorns can use it—” Then Aspect caught the sneer she shot at Sweetie Belle and a little blonde lavender filly. “—Well, most unicorns anyway.”

“That,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at her. “Is an excellent question! Once upon a time, many years ago, ponies knew about more magic,” he weaved a story for the foals. “Magic that any pony could use, no matter their tribe. But ponies weren’t always kind with it. So as punishment for their cruelty, the knowledge faded from their minds. I,” the pegasus said, holding a hoof to his chest. “As part of being a knight of Celestia, went to a lot of old, dusty ruins, and found a few books everywhere. I put enough of the puzzle together to be able to reclaim the lost arts. So that’s why I’m here. To teach the kindest class this side of Canterlot the lost magics.”

“Whoa! You’re a knight of Celestia?” one colt asked, a little painted earth pony that bore an uncanny resemblance to Realm. “Me dad used to be a Royal Guard fore he got ‘urt.”

“Hammer Hoof,” Sunny muttered under her breath.

“I still don’t see how a Pegasus can use magic,” Diamond Tiara continued. “I say it’s a total load of—”

“Let me ask something of the pegasi, then,” Aspect said, turning to Scootaloo. “Little one, how do Pegasi fly or stand on clouds?”

“Magic, duh,” Scootaloo puffed her chest out.

“That again?” Diamond sneered and Aspect saw Scootaloo wilt. “Everypony knows you can’t even fly Blank Flank. You’re too scrawny to be an Earth Pony as well.”

“Little Scootaloo here came over to my house the other day and crashed into a session that I was giving to some other, bigger pegasi,” Aspect said, waving her forward with a wing. “Why don’t you come up here? I have faith you’ve not learned enough to bonk your head into the ceiling, and it’d be a good demonstration to the rest of the class.”

Scootaloo nodded and stepped up to the front. She spread her wings but Aspect could see her shaking a little. And under the gaze of the two bullies… no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t work up the concentration to even achieve lift.

“I wonder what a Cutie Mark in failing looks like?” Diamond giggled and bumped hooves with the silver filly next to her.

“Diamond Tiara!” Cheerilee started, getting out of her seat.

“Miss Cheerilee,” Aspect said, not even looking up from Scootaloo. “I must respectfully tell you that there are apparently two fillies I will not be teaching the secrets of Geomancy to. I will not allow the ancient arts to be misused ever again. And if they can’t be kind, then they won’t learn from me.”

Cheerilee nodded as the two fillies stared back with wide eyes.

“You can’t do that!” Diamond said. “My Mommy and Daddy are very influential ponies!”

Aspect looked up and glared. “I am a knight of Princess Sol Celestia, she who raises the sun. The only reason I am here teaching you is because she said there were no more monsters for me to fight. I am an adult, little filly. You cannot bully me. I have stared Death Himself in the face and made him blink. So sit your flank back in your seat and be quiet.”

Every colt and filly in the room stared at him with wide eyes, now suddenly quite fearful of the stallion.

Then Sunny stepped up. “I’m sorry, this old fuddy-duddy gets cranky in his old age,” That got a few laughs from the children. “But he is correct, we’re here because we listen only to Princess Celestia. We have the right to choose whom we teach. So currently, we will select just three of each pegasus, earth pony and unicorn to start with. If the teaching goes well, we can start to expand.”

“Nah, I like teaching,” Aspect said, waving off his bad mood with a wing. “You should see me before I have my coffee.” That drew a few more laughs. “Anyways! Please keep your comments to yourselves for a minute.”

Then he dipped his head and whispered to Scootaloo. “Remember. Remember the feeling. This is your moment. This is your time. Prove to them you are as much of a pegasus as any other pony. Show them who is right and wrong. They aren’t even a factor anymore. They don’t matter. Nothing matters but you...and showing the world that you can slip free of its bonds of gravity.”

“Time to make gravity my bitch!” Scootaloo shouted, much to Cheerilee’s chagrin. She spread her wings again and closed her eyes as Aspect felt the slight rise in Pegasus magic.

Even he couldn’t help the slight grin adorn him muzzle when she flapped her wings and her hooves left the ground, and then a steady buzz kept her aloft.

“The Gifts of the Sky,” Aspect said with a slight bow. “Capable of getting and keeping any pegasus pony aloft, no matter their wing size. Pure magic fuels the takeoff and the flight. The only downside is, the pony’s magic reserve is the factor behind how long they can stay up, not how skilled they are in flight school. If you run out of magic mid-flight, you can’t even cloudwalk until a little bit comes back.”

“Cause I’m awe-Oof!” Scootaloo went to brag, only to drop like a rock with an impressive faceplant. “...ow.”

“And that was a perfect demonstration of what happens when you don’t concentrate,” Sunny smiled.

“Excuse me, but who might the two of you be?” Cheerilee asked.

“Oh? I’m Sunny Daze, this old farts best student, and this is Miss Sweetie Drops, his assistant.”

When Aspect turned to see Bon Bon, he saw some kind of glamour spell around her, changing her coat and mane colour. Her coat was now a rich, milk-chocolate brown, whilst her mane and tail were a cream color.

“Sunny is going to be the practical instructor for Sorcery, which will be for the unicorns of our choosing,” Aspect illuminated, turning back to the class. “And Sweetie here will instruct some Earth Pony foals in the art of Geomancy. Anypony who has permission slips and wants to learn, please raise your hooves. My lovely assistants here will go through and pick the foals they want to tutor.”

Almost the entire class raised their hooves. So for Sorcery, Sunny went first. She hemmed and hawed over her choices before settling on three.

Sweetie Belle. Rarity’s sister, blank-flanked and apparently magic-less… for now.

Dinky Doo. Ditzy Doo’s daughter. She seemed to as powerful as Sweetie Belle when it came to magic.

Ruby Pinch. The daughter of Berry Punch. She had a rose-colored mane and tail and bright green eyes. Again, she barely knew how to cast at all.

As Bon Bon looked around, she needed to pick at least three earth ponies. In the end, she chose...

Pipsqueak, the little pinto colt from before. He was quite a bit on the small side, and lacked a Cutie Mark.

Applebloom, Applejack’s sister and one of the Cutie mark Crusaders.

Lily Longsocks, a little pink filly with a purple mane and a hedgehog Cutie Mark.

Meanwhile Aspect smirked down at Scootaloo and looked at the rest of the class. “Hmm...who do I pick?” he mused out loud. “I already have one student here…”

There were several pegasi present, such as Featherweight, Alula, Zipporwhill, Rumble, Piña Colada and Aura.

“You and you,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at first Featherweight, then Rumble. “Come on up here.”

The colts nodded, some of the filly’s looking a little dejected that they didn’t get chosen.

“Hey now,” Sunny smiled again. “Just because you didn’t get chose this time, doesn’t mean you won’t the next okay. Our goal is to teach all of you eventually.”

“Mmhmm, but learning these things aren’t easy,” Aspect nodded. “And we have to make sure we’re doing it safely as well. Still, we will teach you all these ancient secrets. It’s not just a one and done thing. We’ll picking up new students eventually. Promise.”

“Okay class, the rest of you are dismissed for the day,” Cheerilee nodded as most packed their things and shuffled out. Diamond Tiara still shot a glare at Aspect as she turned and stormed off with a huff.

“Let’s take the lesson outside,” Aspect said to the assembled fillies and colts. “Miss Cherilee, you do have that weight and mat I asked for, right?”

“Yes of course, I’ve set them up out in the playground,” she said and led him out there. And true to word, she had a large crashmat made of cloud set up, as well as several different-sized weights.

“Excellent,” Aspect nodded approvingly, before nudging Scootaloo with a hoof. “You know what you should be doing over there. Go on, go exercise on the mat. I’ll talk to these colts and get them ready to join you in a minute.”

Scootaloo nodded and jumped up onto the puffy cloud, before taking the stance and concentrating. Aspect nodded and motioned the colts to stand in front of him.

“Line up, line up,” he urged the two pegasi. The colts did so, though they kept shooting glances at Scootaloo, whom was already airborne again.

“Okay, so,” Aspect spoke up, grabbing their attention before he flared a wing. “You’ll be learning what she already has. A pegasus’ magic is based around emotion. Specifically, around the emotions you feel when in flight.” He brought his wing down, and the wind...shifted. Now it was coming from behind him. “Okay, both of you, hold your wings out like this,” Aspect demonstrated, holding his wings perfectly level to either side of him.

They looked at one another, before shrugging and doing as he said, spreading their wings to mimic him.

“Now what Mister Aspect?” Rumble asked.

“Now, focus on the feeling,” Aspect replied. “Focus on what it feels like to have the wind in your face and running over your wings. Really lose yourself to it. Let me know when you feel a tingly sensation in your chest.”

They remained there for a moment, but so far it seemed to be taking longer than it did with Scootaloo. That girl seemed to have natural talent. It was a solid twenty minutes before Featherweight spoke up.

“I think I feel it?” he asked.

“I feel hungry,” Rumble nodded.

“Focus on building up that feeling, of that joy of what it feels like to fly,” Aspect urged them. “Bring that emotion to bear. Then when you feel a tingly feeling in your chest, imagine it flowing up to your wings, and give them one, good flap.”

They nodded and both gave a flap, Featherweight got a good foot off of the ground, whilst Rumble only got half that. A quick glance at Scootaloo showed her hovering at a height that would put her just over his alicorn form.

“It’s okay boys, this is one of the more difficult magics to actually learn,” Aspect praised them. “You have to both be in touch with your emotions...and not let them rule you entirely. It’s a delicate balance. Most just choose to be emotional. The rest is simply about building up your magic, which Scootaloo started doing yesterday. Speaking of,” he said, turning to her. “Not bad for two days worth of work, little one! We’ll have you on roofs in no time!”

“You know it-ooof!” She ate cloud as she failed to keep concentrating. “Dang it!”

“Recovery pose!” Aspect barked. “Even without magic it’ll keep you gliding. You should be assuming that pose whenever you feel yourself fall! Sheesh...I thought with no bad habits to unlearn, you’d be a quicker study.”

“Oh come on! I’ve been doin’ this for a day, cut me some slack Teach!” Scootaloo frowned as she stood back up and spread her wings, taking off once more.

“It’s hard to recover with only four feet of fall time,” Sunny giggled. “They’re foals teacher, not you. Or, should I tell them about the time you learned that magic~?”

“Fair enough, fair enough,” Aspect relented, before looking up at Scootaloo again. “Okay, fine, but from now on I want to see you gliding back to earth, not just falling, okay? The higher you go, the more important it is that you do that. Otherwise you might just break something, and that’ll stop you real fast.”

Scootaloo gulped as her ascendance lowered a little, her desire for soaring to the stratosphere wilted by the prospect of a sudden stop.

“There we go. A little more respect for gravity, even if you are ignoring it a little bit right now,” Aspect said with a nod. “Because it is a cruel and harsh mistress. So make sure you pay her all due respect as you come back to her embrace. As we go through the forms, you’ll learn a few things you can do besides gliding to slow your descent. But until then, if you go up high, the first thing I want to see you do when you feel yourself falling is snapping your wings out. Got it?”

“Yes sir!” they nodded as they headed over to the crash mat with Scootaloo, who actually started showing them what she was doing.

Meanwhile, with Sunny and her tiny charges…

“Okay,” she asked, looking at the three tiny unicorns. “Now, who knows how unicorn magic works?”

“Um, don’t you just concentrate really hard until something happens?” Sweetie asked.

“They don’t teach magic here,” Dinky pointed out.

Sunny sighed. Of course not. Still, as Aspect would put it, they had no bad habits to unlearn. “Some unicorn magic works like that, like levitating objects,” Sunny conceded. “Or making a light. That’s actually just focusing a lot of magic in your horn and willing it to be bright. But the more complex stuff needs runes, and formulas, and diagrams.” She paused for a moment, before smiling. “Sorcery doesn’t need any of that.”

“Wait, it doesn’t?” Ruby blinked. “Why not?”

“Sorcery works on a different level,” Sunny said. “It only needs two things, though it benefits from a third. The first thing it needs, is somepony with a strong will. The second thing it needs, is for you to get in touch with the musical nature that everypony has.” She nodded her head. “And the third thing that it benefits from, is spelling out what you want to have happen in rhyme. The best Sorcerers can carry a tune wherever they go and have a rhyming dictionary with them to help them look up words.”

“So wait,” Dinky held up a hoof. “We have to sing to use Sor-Ser… Saucy?”

“Sorcery,” Sweetie corrected her. “And yeah, we have to sing it?”

“You don’t have to sing it, but you do have to carry a beat in your head,” Sunny explained. “You do have to have a rhythm, a tempo. One, two, three, four,” she outlined. “One, two, three, four. You have to hold that rhythm in your head until the magic is cast, because that’ll be the basis for what it’ll do.”

“So does that mean Miss Zecora is a Sorcerer?” Sweetie asked. “Cause she rhymes. All. The. Time.”

“But she doesn’t have a horn,” Dinky pointed out and tapped her own. “So, can only unicorns be Saucy Miss Sunny?”

“Zebras have a special kind of magic that shares many things in common with Sorcery,” Sunny said. “They benefit from rhyming and carrying a tune in their heads, but they have their own ways of doing things. And Sorcery can be practiced by anypony, though non-unicorns will find it harder.”

“Oohhh!” the three fillies chorused.

“One more question,” Berry asked. “How come you’re teaching us when you look like the same age?”

“Ah…” Sunny paused and giggled. “I’m older than I look. Now, shall we get started?”

“Yes Ma’am!” the three fillies saluted and giggled.

“Okay, so, this is the important first lesson,” Sunny said, levitating a small ball over. “I want you all to get a feel for your magic, and a feel for a beat. Just a simple one. Raise your hoof when you think you have both. The magic should tingle in your horn, and the beat you should feel in your chest.”

“Um, how do we feel our magic?” Sweetie asked. “Because, I seriously doubt I even have any…”

The other two nodded. Miss Cheerilee was a great teacher, the best really. But, an Earth Pony just didn’t know how to teach magic…

“Yeah, this is where it gets tricky,” Sunny nodded solemnly. “Some ponies say they focus on what they like most in life. Others say they just think about magic and their horns glow. It’s different for everypony. You just have to try. The easiest way for a horn to get glowing is if you think about making it glow...which means you have to focus on it first, which will make focusing on the beat in your chest harder when you’re trying to maintain a magical glow. Nopony said Sorcery would be entirely easy, I’m afraid. But if you learn what to do, commit it to memory, it’s oftentimes faster.”

The three looked at one another, but nodded and closed their eyes. Sweetie went for the direct route, just picturing her horn glowing. Ruby thought about things she liked, like flowers and stuff.

Dinky went for the emotion road, think about her Mom and her sister… And lo and behold, she was the first to get a purple glow emanating from the tip of her horn. Ruby was second, getting a cerise glow to her horn. Sweetie eventually managed a small, flickering lime green glow from hers.

“Okay,” Sunny nodded again. “Now. I’m going to hum a simple beat. I want you all to hear it in your heads, feel it in your chests. Nod your heads when you have the beat and the magical glow going at the same time. Ready?” With that, the tiny unicorn hummed a simple ‘one, two, three, four,’ beat. Like a metronome, really.

Now this was interesting, whilst Dinky was the first to get her glow, Sweetie was the first to get the rhythm. Her horn’s light pulsing with the beat. Again, Ruby was second with Dinky coming up last, though hers was slightly off beat.

“Okay, so, miss Sweetie,” Sunny said, turning to the pearl unicorn filly. “Here’s what you need to do next. Bring that magic down from your horn and picture it filling your mouth. Sorcery works based on spoken component as well. We’re only going to try one spell right now, and it’s going to interfere with the others. So you two, don’t panic, okay?”

The three nodded, Ruby and Dinky doing their best to keep the beat going as Sweetie did as she was instructed, picturing the magic in her mouth… kinda like pudding.

“Now, and this is important, you can’t say anything while your mouth is full of magic unless you mean it,” Sunny said sternly. “Right now, I only want you to say one thing.” She put the weight between them and nodded her head once. “I want you to say ‘stop,’ or ‘halt,’ or ‘cease,’ or any meaning of the word. If you do it right, it’ll interrupt my magic, and the ball will fall. Got it? Nod your head.”

Sweetie did so, nodding her head once. The magic was tingly. She opened her eyes, her hoof tapping the beat as she stared at the floating ball.

“Stop!”

Instantly, the magic rippled through the world, and the ball fell to the earth. It also interfered with the other two fillies, temporarily interrupting their magic to their horns. The wave of null-magic just barely brushed against Sunny, making her smile at how strong a sorcerer the young Sweetie Bell was already.

“That,” the filly proudly exclaimed, “Is your first spell. It’s called ‘Dispel.’ And unless a work is warded against it, and most works of magic aren’t, then it can stop almost any sorcery or magic going on. This will prove most useful, I think, if three little fillies get it into their heads to practice sorcery off of school grounds.”

Well, there went her Crusading plans for this afternoon.

“Can we try next?” Ruby asked. Sunny nodded and lit up her horn after a moment, the ball levitating between her and Ruby.

“Now be warned, little fillies. This spell interrupts all magic for a moment. So don’t just go around telling ponies to stop what they’re doing. Because unless they’re warded against a dispel, they’ll fall out of the sky if they’re pegasi, or drop what they’re doing if they’re unicorns. Understand? It’s safe to practice here, because we’re all expecting it.”

“That… sounds pretty dangerous,” Dinky said. Her Mommy was a pegasus and she didn’t want to hurt her. Ditzy had enough trouble flying as is.

“Granted, you have to be taking these steps to make it work,” Sunny explained. “And most sorcerers take a simple precaution to make sure that they don’t go around dispelling things willy-nilly.” She paused for a moment before saying what it was. “They say ‘please’. ‘Please stop’ isn’t a dispel. Just telling somepony to ‘stop’ while you have a beat in your heart and magic on the tongue, is a dispel. Understand? So be careful.”

“So, we have to watch what we say?” Ruby said. “I dunno if I wanna learn this stuff now…”

“Sorcery is all about saying what you want to have happen, and then making music and magic do it for you,” Sunny said. “It’s really hard to accidentally do something, as a matter of fact. The two major parts of it are exertions of will. You have to have a beat. You have to have an idea of what you want to have happen. You have to summon your magic. It’s not like you’ll light up your horn and turn your classmate into a frog by accident.”

“So, we don’t have to worry about blowing stuff up with casual conversation?” Sweetie asked her, still looking worried, but not quite as much as before.

“Nope, but you also need to be careful to not say something you don’t mean when you start a sorcery, and you have to be sure you are meaning exactly what you say,” Sunny explained, before putting the ball down. “For example...if I were to simply say…” the unicorn looked down at the ball and tapped her hoof three times, before saying, “Rise!”

The ball slowly rose until it was about head-height, with no magical glow around it visible.

“Whoa!” the fillies gasped. Ruby and Dinky looked at each other and nodded. They mimicked Sweetie’s actions from earlier and followed Sunny’s instructions.

“Stop!” they echoed together. Instantly the ball plummeted back to earth, the magic rippling through the air as Sunny merely smiled at the three fillies.

“Now fillies, keep this in mind. Stop is your go-to spell to make something stop working. The more imagination you put behind what you say, the more the magic will try to do just that. Watch.” She tapped her hoof three times, then smiled and said “Rise!”

This time, the weight lifted up and circled each filly’s head, before returning to its original position between them all.

“See?” she pointed out. “Same word, but this time I thought about putting on a small show for you all.”

“So, it’s about how we think as well?” Sweetie asked her. “Urgh, this is hard.”

“Magic often is,” Sunny agreed with a nod. “But this way, you don’t have to memorize a long list of runes and equations and the like. You just have to think about what you want to have happen, and say what you think is the right word. And remember, simpler is better. You could draw out a long, tedious rhyme, to say you want the plates to go on the table...or you could simply say ‘Lift’ and have it happen just as you picture it. Or you could just say the word, and the magic would perform its basic function. It’s all really up to you and what you think you need.”

“My head hurts,” Ruby groaned.

“So… is that it?” Dinky asked. “We just focus magic into words? How come this is a lost art? It seems kind of...basic.”

Sunny turned pensive for a moment, thinking of the best way to say this to the fillies. “Because the unicorn ponies of ages ago...didn’t use their talents nicely. They kept saying things that the world didn’t like having happen in it, so the world made sure that they forgot how Sorcery worked. A curse of silence was put on all the unicorns that used their talents for mean, wicked ends, and the books were lost and forgotten. But now...now we hope that the ponies of this age are nice enough for us to bring it back.”

“That’s kinda scary,” Dinky gulped, Ruby nodding.

“Yeah, well a meany butt like Diamond Tiara might try that, but we won’t!” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Don’t worry Sunny!”

Sunny smiled at them and did her best to control her emotions. Such brave, proud fillies that were sure they wouldn’t let her down. It was almost enough to bring a tear to her eye. After all, her father wasn’t the only one who liked teaching.

“Can I tell you three a secret?” Sunny asked in a whisper.

They all nodded and leaned in close. They were young schoolfillies. Secrets were their bread and butter.

“The dispel can also disorient an earth pony for a moment,” Sunny whispered. “Makes them dizzy. But I know three nice little fillies like yourselves wouldn’t abuse that fact, would you? Only if you really needed to use it.”

They blinked, before that little tidbit caught on…

Then they grinned like three hungry piranhas…

“Remember, no abusing Sorcery,” Sunny said warningly. “You wouldn’t want to end up like the old mages.”

“Yes Ma’am!” they saluted again. Aww, they were so adorable.

Meanwhile, Bon- err, ‘Sweetie Drops’ was teaching her little students. She explained about ‘setting down roots’ as it were, that the longer you made a space your own, the more power you could draw from.

“For instance,” Bon Bon said. “Young Apple Bloom. For you, your farm would provide an incredible amount of power, probably more than anywhere else in Equestria. This playground is a good neutral spot. You kids spend a good deal of time here, and the land knows that and will protect you. But especially moreso for Miss Cheerilee. The land sees her as the guardian of this place, so she could draw much more power from it.”

Mental note, teach Cheery the Geomancy basics.

“So, what sort of things can you do with Geomancy?” the little filly, Lily asked.

“Hmm, well let’s see,” Bon Bon smiled. “Wait here just a moment would you.” She turned and left, returning a moment later with their teacher. “Okay, so for this, I’ll need Cheerilee’s help.”

“My help?” the schoolteacher asked, holding a hoof to her chest. “Um, miss Sweetie, I don’t know anything about Geomancy. What do you need my help for?”

“Well, whether you know it or not, this land listens to you and you alone,” ‘Sweetie’ smiled. “Geomancy is all about drawing power from the earth, and the earth lives as breathes as much as we do. I can use my power here, but that would require a good deal of coaxing, or brute force, the latter could damage the land quite a bit. So…” She turned and smiled at the schoolmarm. “I need you to give permission to the land for me.”

“I, um…” Cheerilee started, before looking at the faces of her students, practically begging her to let the mare show them something awesome. She sighed, but smiled as she nodded. “Okay. Just for a little bit. I...don’t even know how to do this, to be honest.”

“It’s quite easy,” Sweetie smiled. “I want you to close your eyes and and focus on your hooves. Tune out everything else, all the noise, your own thoughts. Feel the heartbeat of the land and focus on that. If the Land answers, you’ll hear it’s voice.”

Cheerilee nodded slowly and closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to focus on what the mare had told her. It took her a minute, but… “I...think I hear something? It’s...it’s more like one of my foals just went ‘huh?’ to be honest…”

“You’ve never spoken to it before,” Sweetie Drops smiled. “It’s alright. Introduce yourself, it will learn who you are. Remember, this is the land you’ve made your own. The land each and every one of your smiling flowers has grown upon. Even you yourself once bloomed here.”

Not a moment later, Cheerilee gasped and put a hoof to her chest. “It’s...it’s so warm. Like a thick wool blanket on a cold winter’s day. It’s so...welcoming.”

“That’s the Land’s magic. And that’s how everypony feels around you my dear,” Sweetie Drops smiled. Cheerilee smiled and put her hoof back down, before her brow furrowed again.

“Ah...okay. So I can...apparently talk to the land,” She voiced. “So...do I tell it to let you to do things now?”

Sweetie nodded. “Just ask if I have permission to tap a little of it’s power. Tell it you wish to grow your garden a little.”

“O-kay,” the schoolmarm said, focusing her mind again. “Um...I think I got an affirmative answer? It’s...it doesn’t really talk like we do. It’s more of feelings and impressions…”

“Mhm, you learn to read them as well as words the more you practice,” Sweetie Drops smiled as she attuned herself. Oh, Cheerilee was spot on, the land was kind of foal-like in its disposition. Though given the location and its inhabitants, that wasn’t at all surprising. “Hmm, let’s see here…” She raised a hoof and then brought it down in a soft tap, as flowers starting blooming around her hooves.

“Pretty!” Lily gasped, Apple Bloom nodding in agreement. Pipsqueak didn’t look that impressed though.

So the she brought up her hoof, a spire of stone following it and she tapped it once, some of the stone and dust fell away, revealing a small statue of Cheerilee.

“Oh my,” the schoolteacher blushed, having opened her eyes shortly after she heard her students exclaim about the flowers. “That is quite the impressive feat, miss.”

“Hmm, the carvings a little rough, I’m out of practice,” Sweetie sighed. “But yes, you can achieve many a thing using the earth. Let’s say… you’re in a forest and somepony gets lost. If the land listens, you can find them literally with your eyes closed.”

“Oh, well, that could prove most useful indeed,” Cheerilee admitted.

“Mhm, you can also do fun stuff like…” She turned and pointed at Aspect. He was busy teaching his own students, not noticing the vine creep up out of the ground and then smack his rump. The stallion whinnied and turned to look at the earth ponies with half a glare. Sweetie drops just whistled innocently as she turned back to her class, her feigned innocence ruined by two fillies and a colt cackling loudly at the prank.

“You can do lots of things really, speed up growth of plants, call upon the land to defend yourself and others. Sorcery and Gale King magicks are all about controlling oneself and the magic they use. Geomancy is about working together with the land. Do you understand so far?”

The foals nodded, friendship was an easy concept to understand.

“Right, now lets begin with the basics…” Sweetie looked at Cheerilee. “Do you want to stay and learn a little too?”

“I really shouldn’t,” the schoolteacher tried to deflect…

“Oh come now, you just got to talk with your Land. Do you really want to ignore it now?” Sweetie smiled... well, sweetly. “Besides, you’ll need to know the basics once these little ones start practicing. I won’t always be here to assist you know.”

“...I suppose I can learn a little something,” Cheerilee said with a happy smile, tapping one hoof on the ground as she thought about the voice she’d felt more than heard.

“Excellent,” Sweetie smiled. This… felt kind of nice actually. She loved it when the kids came into her store, but getting to know them like this? Getting to help shape their lives? She wished she had one of…

Her eyes widened.

“Oh ponyfeathers.”

“What do you mean, dad isn’t allowed to go out fighting monsters anymore?” Realm questioned Luna as he worked on a new portrait of her. “That’s kind of his thing. Go out, fight a monster, save a village, pass it off as just him doing his job, lather, rinse, repeat.”

“Except there aren’t really any monsters to fight,” Luna sighed. “We art as disappointed as thou Young Realm. But tis the sad truth… Equestria… has become boring.”

“Well if there’s one truth to what dad does, it’s make things un-boring,” Realm said as he put the finishing touches on the painting. Just a regular portrait, not a Pictomancy one. Those were more challenging, more fun for him to test his skills with. He turned the easel around and showed Luna the portrait he’d painted of her. “What do you think?”

“Hmm? A fair likeness,” Luna nodded. “But what is thy plan Realm? Do you wish to—” She was cut off as somepony knocked at the door.

“One of us should probably get that,” the pegasus spoke up after a moment. “...They know you’re here, right?”

“We do not know,” Luna shrugged. “We did have that wonderful festival the night before last. Perhaps a disguise would be prudent nonetheless.” She became her Cloudy Nights form and walked to the door, opening it.

When she saw who it was, she dropped the disguise and grabbed the mare, pulling her into a bonecrushing embrace. “Friend Twilight Sparkle! We have missed thou!”

“P-Princess…” Twilight gasped and tapped her back. “Breathe… can’t… guk!”

“Lulu, you know the only reason I can stand up to your hugs is because I’ve gotten used to them,” Realm called out from the drawing room. “Stop suffocating whoever it is you’re hugging and let them breathe.”

“Ah?” Luna released Twilight, the little unicorn gasping for some much needed oxygen.

“T-Thanks… for… the save,” she panted. “I thought I was gonna die.”

“Tch! Dramatic much?” Luna pouted.

“This family is all about drama,” Realm piped up. “I mean, have you seen what we’ve done lately?”

“...Thou makes a point, but We reserve the right to be most unhappy about admitting that,” Luna frowned, folding her forelegs and pouting some more.

“So who is it?” Realm called from a few rooms away. “And they know dad’s out teaching, yeah?”

“Teaching?” Twilight’s eye twitched. Aspect hadn’t told her about teaching. “Well to be honest, I don’t know why I’m here. Rainbow Dash just dumped me here, saying something about, and I quote ‘Painted Eggheads’ and flew off after that.”

“I’m not an egghead!” Realm replied with an angry snort. “I’m an adventurer. A traveler. But most importantly, I am an artist.”

“An artist… wait, who are you?” Twilight asked. “Don’t tell me you’re another one of Aspect’s children.”

“Adopted,” Realm said from the drawing room. “He didn’t make me, but he did teach me all the things I know. Then I outstripped him in Pictomancy and the Gale King. He threw a small party in my honor for outdoing him and making him prouder of me.”

“Pictomancy?” Twilight blinked. She was beginning to get used to her worldviews being shattered by this family. “What the heck is that?”

“See, this is what Clover predicted, back at the castle,” Realm sighed. “That our ways would become forgotten. I sealed myself in a painting for a thousand years until Pictomancy, such as Aspect practices it, came back. Then I popped out and took up the brush again.”

“Clover? As in, Clover the Clever?” Twilight hurried into the room to see a little pinto colt painting something at the table. “You knew the Clover the Clever!?”

“She and I had great fun at the castle,” Realm said, not looking up from his painting. “And then she went and showed that she could prophesize, meaning I had to prepare for the coming thousand years or risk Pictomancy being forgotten. Everypony thought I was dead, which I’m still sorry about, but hey! The art will live on.”

“Well yes, Clover made quite a few scarily accurate prophesies over the years,” Twilight nodded. “But Pictomancy? What’s that? And who are you?”

“Pictomancy,” the colt said, making sure to put a few more touches on the room itself that Luna was sitting in, “Is the art of bringing life and magic to paintings. It needs Spectra paint, which is apparently really rare in this day and age. And I,” he finished, flaring his wings. “Am the greatest Pictomancer of the Everfree Castle.”

“That old pile of ruins?” Twilight pointed out.

“Yeah...it used to be a more impressive title,” Realm sighed. “Still. All the paintings around here, I either did, or touched up.”

“All the paintings…?” Twilight looked around and… did that painting just wave at her?

Yes, yes it did.

So she did what any refined student of Princess Celestia would do.

She shrieked and fainted.

Realm snickered and looked up, before blinking. “Okay...I thought Clover was from a thousand years ago? Why am I looking at her now?”

Several portraits chuckled at him.

“Somepony’s got a cruu~uush~” he heard Written call out in a singsong voice.

“Not me, no sir, no way,” Realm said as he hung up the Luna portrait on the wall. “I just met the mare. Plus apparently she faints easy. Not something that I’m looking for.”

The fainting spell didn’t last long as Twilight groaned and sat up. She saw the moving paintings and sighed. “Oh wonderful, there goes a year or so off my life. Typical visit to the Aspect household…”

“I don’t blame you,” Realm said as he turned to look at the Clover lookalike. “Apparently Pictomancy’s been forgotten for ages. Plus you can’t really easily make or maintain the paintings without any Spectra paint, and that’s rare as heck these days.”

“Spectra paint, Pictomancy…” Twilight groaned and shook her head. “Okay, give me a second. It’s bad enough that there’s absolutely no reference books at all to any of this. I have no idea why, but the written history we have doesn’t match up with what Aspect has been telling me.” She looked at the colt and smiled. At least he looked normal. “Let’s start over. Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle, personal student of Princess Celestia!”

“Realm,” the pegasus colt said, sticking out a hoof. He waited until she was shaking it before he dropped the rest of his titles. “Master of the Gale King martial art, greatest Pictomancer to come out of the Everfree Castle, and adopted son of Balanced Aspect.”

“Yes, I caught all that before,” Twilight nodded and looked at the moving paintings. “So I’m guessing this is Pictomancy.”

“A part of it, yeah,” the colt said with a nod. “Granted, Pictomancy is to painting like the Gale King is to flying. A different way of doing the same thing, really. Only one of them’s a lot more fun.”

“So, what else is involved beyond magical paint,” Twilight asked as she looked at the Luna painting. “I mean, I’d imagine talent as a painter is needed. The more real the image, the more potent the enchantment?”

“That helps too,” Realm agreed. “But what really helps is imagination. Being able to visualize exactly what you want to paint. After all, Spectra paint’s not exactly easy to work with.” He walked over to a set of saddlebags and rummaged in it for a second, before pulling up a jar of what looked like liquid rainbow, with the colors constantly shifting and changing.

“You can paint with that?” Twilight blinked. “Ohh, could I please have a sample? I’d love to run some tests on it.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a spare jar, and Aspect’s got a pretty large batch of crystals,” Realm replied, before hoofing the paint jar over to her. “Little tip. Be careful trying to paint with it. Your imagination is what it draws off of, which is why most Pictomancers are hooves-on with the paint.” He flared a wing. “I prefer to slather it over a wing and draw it across a canvas. Physical contact is better, it has a better chance of picking up exactly what you’re thinking of.”

“Oh no, my art skills are pretty laughable,” Twilight giggled as she took the jar and stared at it. “What I’m interested in is the magical properties and why it can bring paintings to life. Aspect has been pretty stingy with telling me anything about all this magic that supposedly doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Oh no, it still exists,” Realm smiled at her, as his flared wing was suddenly coated in lightning. “I mean, I can still use my pegasus magic and the Gale King, so clearly it exists. Logic therefore dictates that at some point in time, ponies simply forgot about it.”

“Hmm,” Twilight tapped her chin and then smiled. This colt was far more open than stingy old Aspect. “Would you like to come over to my library? I can show you the town along the way.”

“Let me check my stuff,” Realm said, before sticking his head in his saddlebags. “Hmm. Paints. More paints. Canvas. Paintbrushes…” He pulled his head out and looked in the other side. “And still empty because of my time capsule project. And because I haven’t found any Spectra crystals on my own yet. Gonna need to fix that. Still!” He pulled his head out of his saddlebags and shrugged them on. “Traveling artist, ready to travel! Let’s see the outside of this mansion that Celly gave dad!”

“Oh, this will be fun~” Twilight clapped her hooves. Maybe now she’d finally get some answers~

Author's Note

HAH! I didn't forget this time!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and I a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all proceeds will not go towards an Aussie's internet bill.

Chapter 19 - Adjustments Required

Okay, Realm had to admit it.

This...Ponyville? Still a silly name in his opinion. But. It. Was. Inspirational!

The fact that such a bright and lively town could exist so close to the Everfree, which he was given to understand was one of the few monster-filled places left in Equestria? That either spoke of insanity or hardy folk.

...A bit of both was probably the answer. ...And now he was wondering what it meant that he used to live in a castle in the middle of the bloody thing.

“That stand there belongs to the Flower Sisters… also, they faint over everything,” Twilight said, though that last part came out in a much drier tone.

“That just means they’re delicate,” Realm replied, doing his best to keep the other half of his answer in check. He wanted to surprise the mare when it would be funniest, not in public. Unless the situation called for that, of course.

“Lily!” Roseluck called out. “The stems on these petunias are broken!”

“What!?” her sister cried out as she looked at the broken flowers. “The horror! The horror!!”

And the pair swooned dramatically and fainted.

“...I see what you mean,” Realm chuckled. “They do love their drama, don’t they?”

“Oh, that’s normal around here,” Twilight said, though he noticed a small tic in her eye. “You want drama, then I’ll introduce you to Rarity.” They passed by several other places, like a bakery that looked like a giant gingerbread house, a store that only sold Quills and Sofas, and a joke shop whose roof was a giant jingly hat.

“And this,” Twilight pointed at the large tree they’d arrived at. “Is Golden Oaks Library, and also my home.”

“Okay, several points of order,” the colt responded, flaring a wing. “First. That is amazing, that you managed to put a library inside a living tree.”

“Mhm, it’s something to do with the magical properties of the Everfree bleeding into the town's magical leylines, and some good old fashioned Earth pony know how,” Twilight explained. “It’s also bigger on the inside by a factor of four. Using some very old Spatial Pocket Dimension magicks.”

“Sorta like how the saddlebags dad and I have work,” Realm mused. “Though I think dad’s was weaved specially, it can hold a lot more. Second, I think I might want to paint...the entire town. But that’d require a lot of poking around and asking permission if I were going to make a Pictomancy picture out of it.”

“You can do that? Impressive!” Twilight hummed, wondering how a whole town would work. “Anyway, come inside and I’ll get us some tea.” She opened the door and walked in, and as Realm followed, he walked right into someone.

“Oh, you okay?” Spike asked as he held out a claw.

“Oh wow!” Realm replied, eyes wide as he looked Spike all over. “An actual dragon! I never got to see one to paint for my paintings before.” He sat back on his haunches and smirked at Spike. “I mean...sorry. I did it again, didn’t I?”

“Eh, I get that a lot… well, except for the painting thing, that’s new,” Spike said and smiled. “Most ponies just ask for a photo.”

“Pfft, that’s lame,” Realm replied with an eyeroll. “Then again, back in my day, they were only just starting on that sorta technology. I think the most they had were black and white. I prefer color and motion to my paintings.”

“Oh, we have cameras that take recordings, then can be played back on a crystal projector,” Spike explained. “Twilight doesn’t have one but… I think we have an instant camera around. Lemme go find it.” Before Realm could say otherwise, he dashed off to find said device.

And so Realm finally got a good look at the building. A lot of the shelving and furniture was actually carved into the walls. And it was spacious too, possessing multiple levels.

“Living in a library,” Realm chuckled as he looked around. “Starswirl wished he could have done that. Celly and Lulu kept telling him no, though. The most they allowed him to do was look after the Archives. Didn’t stop him from sleeping in the office half the nights, though.”

He walked past one out-of-the-way shelf and noticed the bearded stallion staring back. It would seem Miss Twilight Clover Clone was something of a fan, having set up a little shrine to the old coot. Aside from his picture, there was the complete collection of all the books he wrote, as well as some things like some of his favourite sayings and his biography.

“Hmm,” Realm mused as he sat at one of the tables. “Wait around and be bored...or get to painting. But what to paint?...”

When Twilight and Spike eventually returned to the room, they found that Realm had completely taken over one table with his painting supplies, an easel holding a canvas nearby as he looked around him. Every so often he would add a little color to whatever he was painting, and he didn’t seem to have noticed they’d returned.

“What the?” Spike blinked, then smiled and raised the camera. There was a bright flash, followed by a whirring sound. Fortunately, Realm hadn’t been in the middle of adding anything to his painting, but it did disorient him. For a second. He was used to throwing around lightning after all.

“...What in the world was that?” the colt asked, blinking the spots out of his eyes.

“This,” Spike chuckled as he held up the camera. Then the photo that had been spit out of the base of the object. He held it out for Realm, as it depicted the colt at his easel, painting away.

“...I can honestly say this is the first time someone’s painted me while I’m painting,” Realm replied. His eyes lit up as a thought occurred to him. “Oh, I should have tried that! Painting another Pictomancer while he’s painting me! Darn it, now it’s too late.”

“Is it?” Twilight asked him. “Couldn’t another painter just do that using Spectra Paint?”

“I mean, maybe,” Realm said with a shrug of his wings. “But I doubt they’d be able to put the same amount of work into it that I can. There’s a vast difference between being a painter and being a Pictomancer. It’s not just the paint.”

“So what is the difference?” Twilight asked as she sat down, setting down three cups of tea. “I mean, you’re talking about Pictomancy and Gale King, and Aspect has mentioned Sorcery, but he refuses to tell me what it is or how to do it!”

Realm picked up his tea and sipped at it before sighing appreciatively. “No offense to Lulu, but tea’s better.” He ruffled his wings and picked up his brush again, deciding on a lavender color as he answered the mare’s questions. “Well...I guess the easiest way to describe a master Pictomancer is...there’s no line between art and reality for them. They’re able to capture reality in their art, and visit it, and make it even more complex and fleshed out. They can add layers and layers of complexity to their works, to include the ponies they paint, until it reaches the point where you have to actually remind yourself they’re painted ponies.”

“Wow…” Twilight gasped. She'd seen a lot of portraits in her time. The castle had plenty after all. But it was easy to tell the difference between them and the real thing. “So can you do that?” She asked. “Make a painting indistinguishable from reality?”

“I once painted a portrait of Starswirl so complex, the old coot dragged himself out of his painting,” Realm boasted as he kept painting. “Daft old stallion isn’t happy he’s back and not in Canterlot. Wants to read what his original self wrote so that he can keep up the work.”

Twilight froze, her teacup clattering to the floor, spilling the tea everywhere. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open.

“Mind, the only other thing that comes close to that is the portrait of Written Script,” Realm said. “It was pretty basic before I got to it. Then I improved it to be nearly as good as Starswirl. I got the feeling that if she could climb out of her portrait, it’d have caused...a little bit more trouble for the family.” The pinto pegasus kept painting the purple pony while she was pricelessly unspeaking.

“I… but… Starswirl…” Twilight stammered. Her brain was so overloaded with the mere thoughts that she could actually talk with the greatest mage of all time. There was little room for anything else.

“Uhh, Twi?” Spike waved a hand in front of her. “Great, now she's broken.”

“Ask her parents for a new one,” the colt quipped, smirking at the drake. “I’m sure they’ll get right on it.”

“Huh?” Spike blinked and tilted his head. “How? Does the stork bring replacements?”

“Oh you are so precious,” Realm cooed. “I’ll not ruin that just yet. Though if she remains stuck for much longer, I’ll have to zap her to reset her.”

“No need, just let me know when you're done and I'll show you her reset button,” Spike shrugged as he picked up a comic book and started to enjoy his newfound time off.

About ten minutes later, the pinto pegasus nodded and started packing up his art supplies. “Come here and tell me what you think of it,” he called out to the drake. Spike picked himself up and waddled over.

“Oh wow!” he gasped, looking at the piece. “It’s like looking through an empty picture frame. Or a mirror.” The likeness, the attention to detail. It was as if Twilight was sitting right there. The only give away fro the drake was that he couldn't see any heat coming from it. Now that he thought about that… He slowly turned and looked at Realm.

“Sorry about not including you in it,” the colt apologized, rubbing his head with a hoof. “But you kind of did wander off and read your book. I can’t just paint ponies...or dragons, I’ve just met from memory.”

“It’s alright,” Spike said with a shake of his head. He always did have it harder seeing the heat from a Pegasus. Maybe that was it. “Lemme wake Twilight up.” He turned and poked her with a claw. “Hey Twi? You’re gonna be late for a test.”

“TEST!?” Twilight shouted and jumped to her hooves. “Oh my gosh, I’m late! I’m gonna… be…” She paused as her brain caught up and she turned to Spike. “That, that was not funny!”

“I beg to differ,” the drake snickered.

“Yup, no problem telling them apart anymore,” Realm chuckled before turning the easel around and displaying Twilight’s portrait to her. She stopped giving Spike a noogie and looked at the painting.

“Wait… you, painted me?” she blinked, blushing slightly. Nopony had ever painted a portrait of her before. Especially such a good one. “I… wow, I don’t know what to say. Well, aside from thank you and that I’m flattered,” she smiled.

“Yeah, you look a lot like Clover,” Realm nodded. “It was easy to draw a lot of similarities between you, but she wouldn’t get that fussed about missing a test. She’d still try to make it, of course, but she wouldn’t go into a full panic about it. Now, missing a party with Princess Platinum…”

“I… look like Clover the Clever?” Twilight blinked. “N-No way, you’re just saying that.”

“Nope, you totally do,” Realm affirmed. “First thing I thought when I looked up and saw you was wonder if I was still a thousand years ago or not.”

Then he was treated to the most adorable sight of a blushing Twilight Sparkle. And then he had to seriously reconsider if he had a crush or not.

He’d had one for Clover, but that had been Clover. This was decidedly not Clover. Clover didn’t idolize her teacher to the extent this mare did. As well, he was a dusty old relic from a thousand years ago, much like his dad.

Yet, his dad had found somepony...Plus, he was just about to hit those awkward years when he would start becoming an actual stallion. Hormones were about to play a big part of it.

“S-So, you really have a moving painting of Starswirl the Bearded?” Twilight asked.

“Painted it myself,” the colt boasted. “Kept layering the magic and color until it came alive, then had to ask him to hold still so I could keep going and going. I lost count of how many layers he had in the end, but he and the original were nearly interchangeable. The main differences between a painted pony and a regular pony is that painted ponies don’t eat, they especially don’t drink, and they can’t cast magic.”

“A Starswirl that can’t cast magic?” Twilight looked… rather sad actually.

“Yeah, Twi’s a huuuuge Starswirl nerd,” Spike shrugged. “She even dresses up as him for Nightmare Night.”

“I think, though, that I have a solution for the last one,” Realm smiled. “I’m gonna need Spectra crystals to make it work, though. And apparently, ponies have forgotten about them.”

“Well, how do you find them?” Twilight asked. “If Aspect found some, then surely we can as well right?”

“They need a natural rainbow, and a place of high magic,” Realm illuminated. “The annoying part, though? If there are going to be any formed, they’ll form only at one end. You have to gamble to find them, because when the rainbow fades, so won’t the crystals unless they’re harvested.”

“Natural-forming rainbows?” Twilight knew of them of course. Pegasi-made ones were a little brighter and lasted far longer. but natural ones weren’t unheard of. “Hmm, well the Everfree Forest is the best bet. But that place is extremely dangerous and…” She trailed off and shivered.

“The last time Twi went in there, she got petrified by a cockatrice,” Spike explained. “If Fluttershy hadn’t come along when she did…”

“Yeah, that’s why I know the Gale King and a few other tricks,” Realm chuckled, before flaring a wing. To demonstrate what he meant to the drake, the wing suddenly had lightning dancing along it. “I’m not a grandmaster, but I’m pretty sure I’m the most potent one around. Besides dad, and he cheats.”

Twilight was conflicted. Seeing such new magic and getting to experiment was Spectra crystals was one thing. But having to go back into the Everfree…?

“Hey Twi, nopony’s gonna force you to go,” Spike pointed out.

“I have to face my fears eventually,” Twilight said. “Besides, how would I visit Zecora if I’m too scared.” She looked at Realm and smiled. “Besides, I have my little Knight here to protect me right?”

“Next time there’s a natural storm out in the Everfree, I’m totally coming over here to get you if there’s a rainbow,” Realm promised. “You’d better be ready or I’m dragging you out there.”

“Well, somepony’s eager,” Twilight giggled. She looked at the painting of herself and smiled, it really was a wonderful piece. She refilled her teacup, wiping away the mess she’d spilled with her magic. “So, tell me about yourself Realm.”

“Not a whole lot to tell,” Realm replied with a shrug of his wings. “The important stuff, you already know. I found out I had a knack for both Pictomancy and the Gale King when I was younger, and then Clover told me her prophecy. So I packed up and waited for the time when Pictomancy came back.” He sat back down at the table and sipped at his tea. “Though most mares are surprised when they learn I’m only twelve.”

“Wait! You’re nearly half my age?” Twilight almost choked on her tea. He seemed so much more mature. “You look young, but I didn’t want to assume…”

“Sheesh, are ponies these days so soft that they aren’t grown up before they hit their teens?” Realm asked with an eye-roll. “Granted, I think I’m a bit of a special case. It’s not every day you get taken in by Aspect and get taught how to defend yourself.” He carefully left out that he’d been the one bugging Aspect for the lessons. For reasons.

“Yes, Equestria isn’t as violent as Aspect seems to think it used to be,” Twilight chuckled. “Well, the occasion ancient evil pops up, but that’s when me and my friends step in.”

“Twilight wields the Element of Magic,” Spike explained.

“Aaah,” Realm replied, understanding a bit more now. “So, what? Dad’s retired? He always did say that one day he would want to be, just so he could enjoy time with us a little more.”

“Well at the very least, there aren’t any of the things that he said used to roam around,” Twilight said as she pulled out a book of Starswirl’s ‘Magical Creatures: What they are and where to find them.’ “Perhaps the biggest threats would come from a Star Beast such as an Ursa Major… or a full-grown Hydra.”

“Yeah, he wouldn’t be crazy enough to go after a star beast,” Realm said seriously.

“Well that’s good to hear,” Twilight started.

“He’d sic Lulu on them,” Realm finished with a grin. Twilight actually did choke on her tea that time.

“P-Princess Luna!?” she coughed. “B-But she’s so… small.”

“Ohhh yeah,” Realm mused. “Forgot about that. She used to be the go-to mare for dealing with them. I think she was the better battlemage out of the two of them. It’s been a thousand years, though. Tia could have pulled ahead.”

“Princess Luna used to be that strong?” Spike asked with just a hint of awe.

“Yeah, she did,” Realm nodded. “Plus, you know, Alicorn of the Night. The beasts were confused for a second before she dealt with them. I wished I coulda seen it happen once. It’d have been great subject material for a portrait.”

“Well, Twilight fought an Ursa Minor!” Spike said proudly, though Twilight looked rather abashed. “Put it to sleep and levitated it all the way back into the forest...from the center of town!”

“Yup, definitely battlemage material, if she can do that,” Realm agreed as he drank his tea. “I mean, their size alone...she must have some serious power behind that horn of hers.”

“Yeah, Twi’s crazy powerful,” Spike said again, that proud tone in his voice.

“I’m not all that,” Twilight blushed again. “And it was going to wreck the town and hurt ponies. What was I supposed to do?”

“And Lulu says Equestria is boring,” Realm chuckled.

“It’s fun, if you know where to look… speaking of, I’d keep my eyes open if I were you,” Twilight said with a wry smile.

“Pinkie Pie?” Spike questioned.

“Pinkie Pie.” Twilight nodded.

“Pinkie Pie?” the colt asked with a quizzical expression.

“Pinkie Pie!!” the pink earth mare said, crawling out of a space in the bookshelf. “Oooh! New Pony!!”

“What in the what?!” the colt said, jumping back and pointing a hoof at the suddenly appearing pony. “How in the?!”

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie and I love making new friends!” she giggled, ignoring the poor colt’s brain breaking. She took in a sharp breath and then started to sing, music playing from… somewhere.

♫~Welcome welcome welcome
A fine welcome to you
Welcome welcome welcome
I say how do you do?
Welcome welcome welcome
I say hip hip hurray
Welcome welcome welcome
To Ponyville today~♪

She paused and held up a hoof. “Wait for iiiit…”

There was a loud boom from the shelf as the room was filled with balloons and streamers, a full, three-tier cake appearing on the table, complete with twelve candles.

“Realm?” Twilight sighed. “Meet Pinkie Pie.”

“She reminds me of Puddinghead,” Realm muttered to himself, trying to shake off the brain breakage. “Only...taken to extremes. She was never as bad as this.”

“Puddinghead?” Twilight blinked. He’d also mentioned Starswirl. Did that put him from the Unification Era?

“Pudding? I LOVE pudding!” Pinkie giggled as she reached into her mane and pulled out said dessert. “Want some?”

“...I’m going to close my eyes now,” Realm uttered. “Let me know when the world makes sense, so that I can open them again.”

“With Pinkie around? Fat chance,” Twilight giggled, glad she wasn’t alone in the migraines that Pinkie caused. “There’s a small trick to Pinkie. Whatever she does, whenever she does it?”

“It’s Pinkie being Pinkie,” Spike finished, eating the pudding that the pink mare had given him.

“That doesn’t help,” Realm groaned, opening his eyes. “I just...how. How do you live with her?”

“Pinkie is a great friend,’ Twilight said as she hugged her. “Just, try not to think about how she does what she does.”

“I’m sorry,” Pinkie said to him, her ears flattening and… was her mane… deflating? “If I was a little too much for you…”

Oh great, sad mare alert. Realm couldn’t have that. “No no, it’s just...I’m sure I’ll get used to it. Eventually.” He looked at the cake warily. “Hoooow did you know how many candles to put on it?”

“Pinkie Sense!” she beamed, her mane poofing up again. “Also, I need to know your birthday! And Aspects, cause he won’t tell me cause he’s a Meanie McMeanerson!”

“I don’t think dad actually celebrates his birthday anymore,” Realm mused. “I mean, I know that he still observes it, but he never tells us when. I think to him, the more important dates are our birthdays. The only one who might know would be Written…”

Pinkie’s eyes widened and she smiled brightly. “Thanks Realmy!” she giggled and bounced away, singing some non-sensical song.

“Who is Written?” Twilight asked. “And why did you just unleash Pinkie on them?”

“Written Script, the painted version,” Realm supplied. “Back in the bad old days, all the ponies had Pictomancy pictures done of themselves in case the worst happened. Written Script has the second most complex painting ever, just under the Starswirl one I did. So, uh...yeah. I don’t know how Pinkie knows where to go…”

Twilight’s stare flattened. “Spike?”

“Pinkie Rehabilitation Kit?”

“Yup,” the unicorn said. “Come on Realm. Let’s go find Written Script. She’s… going to need painkillers or… probably therapy.”

“Oh, it won’t be hard to find her,” Realm brushed off as he shook his head. “She can’t leave her painting, or any painting in the house. She’ll be there. And painted ponies don’t eat or drink anything from this side of the canvas.”

Written Script nodded politely to Hurricane and Pansy. “It is delightful that you could join me once again, dears,” she said to the two mares.

“Yeah, that husband of yours coulda done with remembering us sooner,” Hurricane grumbled.

“Commander, I, uh, think she said before…” Pansy spoke up, such as she did.

“Pansy has the right of it, he was never my husband,” Script nodded her head to the yellow mare. “He was ever so kind and helpful though.”

“Yeah, I know, I know,” Hurricane grumped. “Can’t a mare be cranky after a thousand year nap?”

“Yuperooni!” Pinkie nodded from next to her. “Nightmare Moon was all, ‘Black Snooty’ when she woke up from her moon nap too.”

The three painted ponies paused and then, as one, slowly turned to look at the pink mare that so much looked like Puddinghead.

“I...beg your pardon,” Written Script said, blinking in surprise. “I was unaware that there were Pictomancers strong enough to enter paintings besides young Realm in this day and age.”

“Picto-whatnow?” Pinkie blinked as she sipped some tea. “Ohh, painty. Anyways, I’m Pinkie Pie. Realmy said I could ask you when Aspect’s birthday was.”

“Ah, I heard about this from my daughters,” Written nodded as the other two mares were boggled by the pink pony even more. “That old warrior stopped celebrating once I passed. I never forgot the date, though.”

“Ohh, I have a thousand birthdays to catch up on?” Pinkie said as she pulled out a pencil and a notepad. “Plus Tia and Lulu, Pyro, Neppy, Realm, Morty, Iggy… and all of you…” her frown deepened with every name. “That’s a lotta parties…”

“You don’t need to throw everypony a party, Pinkie,” Written said. “You should only do it if you enjoy it. A cutie mark should no more define you or limit you than your name does. As long as you enjoy the life you live...that’s the greatest gift you could possibly give the old swordsman. He fought for peace and prosperity for you all for so long. A smiling face is all he wants to see from everypony.”

“Not throw a party?” Pinkie gasped. “I LOVE to see all my friends smile! And you guys have been gone for sooooo long, you need to meet everypony and make new friends. Like grumpy ol’ Starry! He and Twilight can be egghead buddies. And, I bet Dashie would love to meet Canie here, and Pansy and Flutters would get along, Flutters has the most adorable critters!”

“You know what?” Script asked, before beeping the pink mare with a hoof. “I’ll make you a promise. You promise me that you won’t do any more than you feel comfortable doing, and I’ll tell you Aspect’s birthday. I have no idea how old he actually is, but I know when he used to celebrate the day.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened to impossible levels as a massive grin split her face. “Deal!”

“November first, or as he called it, ‘All Hallow’s day,’” Written Script said to her. “Apparently it had something to do with a holiday back from his world revolving around being scared. I don’t think that ever caught on here…”

“Oooh, you mean Nightmare Night?” Pinkie gasped. That was perfect! She could throw a spooky birthday! And… and there was still all the painted… ponies?

The pink mare was vibrating now, the painted scenery rippling around her.

“Okay, Puddinghead was never this bad,” Hurricane pointed out, edging away from the pink mare.

“I think she’s just...a little too excitable for my tastes…” Pansy demurely added.

“I… have… the best… ideas… EVER!” Pinkie rocketed into the air on that last word as fireworks exploded and streamers and confetti rained down. “I have to plan! Thanks for the info Scripty!” She landed on all fours and bounced towards the ‘painting’ on the wall that was actually looking out into Aspect’s bedroom. She bounced right through it like an open window, humming the whole time as she vanished from sight.

“I think I might have just doomed us all,” Script mused as she looked around the room. “Oh dear. This will take some time to clean up.”

“Tea party called on account of unexplainable pink pony?” Pansy offered.

“Sounds good to me,” Hurricane added...before their eyes fell on the cake that had appeared between them.

“It...looks painted,” Script mused, touching it with a hoof. “But...how did she do that?”

“Who cares? Cake!” Hurricane cheered.

And so the three painted ponies learned the most important lesson about dealing with the Pink One.

“Well, I think that turned out pretty well,” Bon Bon smiled as they walked home from the school. “I’m surprised how quickly those little ones took to the lessons. It took me weeks to learn what they did in an afternoon.”

“It helps to have someone that was there for the founding of it feeding them lessons,” Aspect pointed out. “Plus, they’re young. No bad habits to unlearn just yet.”

“That reminds me,” Bon Bon said. “What kind of ‘bad habits’ are you talking about?”

“You know,” Aspect replied, waving a wing. “Thinking that not all ponies have magic. Or that they have to flap really hard to take off. Or that they have to use symbols to cast spells. They’re simple habits to fall into, but those are the sorts of things that hinder learning these sorts of magic. Thinking ‘I can’t’ is more debilitating than failure. It means they won’t even try.”

“Ahh,” Bon Bon nodded. “I see, yeah… took me awhile to wrap my head around the fact that Earth Ponies can use magic. Still, I’ve seen a lot of weird things, that fact doesn’t even make my top fifty…”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get a new thing to put in your list when I tell you this one,” Aspect chuckled. “Pictomancy is back. Quite strongly so.”

“So I noticed,” Bon Bon nodded, though her tone took a more sour note.

“More than just her,” Aspect clarified. “Celly bought over all the paintings. One of them was, I thought, just a self-portrait of the greatest Pictomancer of the castle.”

“Lemme guess, he or she talks too?” Bon Bon asked.

“More like...it wasn’t a self-portrait,” Aspect said, smirking a little. “More like a...time capsule.”

Bon Bon paused and turned to him. “Huh?”

“Yeah, the greatest, most prestigious Pictomancer of ages past sealed himself inside a painting and is now out and about,” Aspect illuminated. He paused for a beat before dropping the other horseshoe. “And he’s twelve.”

“Of course he is,” Bon Bon deadpanned. She was quickly adjusting to the fact that she shouldn’t be surprised about anything that involved Aspect. He was being put in the same category as Pinkie.

Speaking of, the Pink One herself bounced down the street, humming away merrily before stopping in front of Aspect.

“Can I...help you?” Aspect asked, not sure if he should have asked.

“Au contraire,” Pinkie said, twirling a long French mustache. “It’s what I can now do for you~” She smiled and hugged her friends before bouncing away. Aspect specifically heard her say ‘November 1st’ though.

“Well that was about par for the course,” Aspect muttered. “I don’t know what she’s talking about though.”

“Welcome to the club,” Bon Bon smirked as they kept walking. “Though, she usually acts like that when she’s planning a surprise party for somepony.”

“Father?” Sunny spoke up and pointed at a blue unicorn walking around, looking for something by the sights of it. “What is Lulu doing?”

“Didn’t you say you left her in charge of Realm?” Aspect pointed out.

“I did…” Sunny nodded.

“Oh bloody hell, Realm is out unsupervised,” Aspect sighed. “I don’t want him to be arrested for being a public menace. Or whatever they can charge a twelve-year old for.”

“Father!” Lulu ran up to him. “We uh… have a small problem! We cannot locate Realm, not since Twilight Sparkle came to visit.”

“He’s out with a pony that’s basically identical to Clover?” Aspect said before groaning. “Great. He had a crush on her, you know. I saw it. And now...bloody…” He shook his head. “Girls, we need to search the town for him before he opens his mouth and says something a twelve-year old shouldn’t know anything about.”

“Twilight would likely be oblivious to it anyway,” Sunny snorted. “Still, they might not be in too many places. We should split up. You and Miss Bon Bon head for Twilight’s library. Lulu and I will head home and see if he has returned of his own volition.”

“Great, with any luck we’ll be able to find and corral the colt before he gets in trouble,” Aspect agreed, looking at Bon Bon. “Ready to help me find my adopted son?”

“I believe I can help with that,” Bon Bon said with a small smile as the group split up. As the pony pair passed through town, a third joined them, literally dropping from the sky into a casual trot.

“Sup?” Rainbow Dash asked, as Bon Bon growled only slightly.

“Just looking for a pinto pegasus before he puts himself in a pickle,” Aspect informed Rainbow Dash.

“Hmm, about… yay high?” she asked, holding a wing about Realms height off of the ground. “Painting butt mark?”

“Says lewd and flirty things when he’s around a mare he likes, and did I happen to mention that Twilight is a dead ringer for Clover the Clever, who he had a crush on?” Aspect rattled off as they approached town again.

“Seriously?” Rainbow snorted and started giggling. “Oh now this I have to see! Yeah, I saw him and Twilight heading for the library.”

“Hopefully we’ll be able to stop him from opening his mouth too much,” Aspect muttered. “Clover had been on the verge of actually saying yes, you know. Once he turned into a stallion and all that, she would have been willing to put up with him. And then he up and vanished.”

“Ponies were sure different back then huh?” Rainbow said. “I mean, dating a kid?”

“Well, life-expectancy wasn’t as long as it is now,” Bon Bon said with a small nod. “There simply wasn’t time for long, drawn out courtings and the like. Winters were harsh and life was even worse before the Unification. That’s why ponies also married into herds, to try and get populations back up after the Windigoes…” She paused and saw Aspect and Rainbow looking at her. “What? I read books you know!”

“Is it weird I find it fascinating that you know so much about the life I lived?” Aspect mused aloud. “It’s like you purposely learned everything about me before meeting me.”

“I-I just read a few history books is all,” Bon Bon blushed profusely.

“Sooo, what’s a ‘herd’?” Rainbow asked as they walked.

“Seriously?” Bon Bon blinked. Sure, it was very rare these days but… “Rainbow, did you ever read a book at school?”

“Meh, too busy being awesome!” Rainbow pumped a hoof in the air.

Bon Bon groaned and facehooved. “Aspect… explain to her. Lest I smack it into her…”

“A herd was how mares back in the old days shared stallions,” Aspect explained. “It was typically seen as the stallion’s role to defend the herd from threats, while the mares did their best to keep society turning. Eventually the gender roles evened out, but back then, there were still a few less stallions than there were mares. So they decided to share with mares they could agree with. I’m given to understand it’s a practice that’s fallen out of use, what with the gender ratios starting to catch up to normal.”

“Wait, you mean… like a harem out of Rarity’s tacky romance books?” Rainbow blinked, though she seemed to have a slight pink tint to her cheeks. “Sooo, does that mean you used to…”

“Never me, I was never that important enough,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “I never went around and proclaimed myself. I was just a royal advisor with occasional dalliances in knight-like behavior when needed. Like avenging a town that had fallen to manticores and rescuing an extremely talented pinto pegasus out of the ruins.”

“Dude, you should write a book or something,” Rainbow chuckled, her wings standing up straight as they walked and Bon Bon was looking even more irritated.

“And how would you explain half the things I do without me revealing myself?” Aspect sighed. “No, I’m happy this way. I’m retired in all but name...except when you and your friends go out to the bloody swamp and wake up a freaking hydra.”

“Hey, that was Fluttershy,” Rainbow said with a small huff, as her tail brushed his flank. Bon Bon grabbed her leg and pulled her out of the sky.

“Aspect, honey. Dash and I need to have a little chat about something. We’ll catch up okay~”

“All right, just don’t take too long,” Aspect agreed, leaning over and kissing Bon Bon on the cheek. “If he’s not in the library, I don’t want to imagine where he’s gone to. Or what he’s up to.”

“Not to worry,” Bon Bon hummed. Rainbow was trying her best to fly away, but Bon Bon’s grip was like iron. “We’ll be riiight back~” And with that, she dragged the protesting pegasus off to parts unknown.

“Welp, time to check the library,” Aspect said aloud as he knocked on the front door of the place once he arrived. “Hello? Anypony home?”

The door opened and Spike looked up with a flat stare. “You know this is a public library right?”

“It’s also a residence,” Aspect pointed out. “I don’t want to walk in and accidentally catch an eyeful of Twilight dancing to a tune only she can hear.”

“Trust me, Twilight dancing is a dangerous thing,” Spike chuckled. “Nah, she’s just chatting with her new friend Realm. Kind of a weird kid, but he seems alright.”

“Oh good, there’s still time,” Aspect sighed, before giving Spike a headrub and walking in. “Okay, where’s the damage?”

“Twi’s bedroom,” the dragon nodded. “She said she had some history books up there she’d lend him to help catch up.”

“And suddenly, my mission gains urgency,” Aspect uttered before ascending the stairs and listening for the sounds of conversation.

“Hmm, that’s weird,” Twilight said, sounding confused. “I know they’re here somewhere…”

“Maybe you’re just not looking hard enough,” Realm said. “What about down there, near the bottom?”

“Hmm,” came Twilight’s reply. “Ah, one second…” Then came the sound of books being moved about. This of course gave the colt the view he’d been looking for. Namely, of a flank in the air. One that swayed back and forth as she looked through the shelf.

“Magical Mysteries… comics… Gardening 101… more comics…” Twilight frowned, her tail flicking in annoyance.

Realm kept himself quiet, just enjoying the view. Clover had eventually grown wise to his games and refused to play them with him. He wouldn’t complain about a fresh mare to the games.

“AHA!” Twilight cheered and yanked a positively massive tome out from behind a stack of Spike’s comic books. “Found it! I don’t know how I missed something so big...”

“You can say that again,” Realm accidentally said aloud.

“Yes, it might take a little getting used to,” Twilight hummed and looked at his dinky little saddlebags. “I don’t even know if it’ll fit…”

“Oh I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Realm smirked. He was enjoying this now.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Twilight smiled as she put the book on the bed. “Just go easy, it hasn’t been used in a while, so I don’t want it damaged by you being too rough.”

“Oh, I can go as fast or slow as I need to,” Realm replied, barely holding back a wider smile and his laughs.

“That makes me feel better,” Twilight nodded as she wiped some dust off of the book. “Some ponies just have no respect these days. It’s a learning experience after all.”

“Well I can start whenever you’re—” Realm got out, before the door was slammed open and Aspect was there, glaring at him. “Um. Hi dad! How...much of that did you hear?”

“Enough,” Aspect rumbled. “Wait in the hallway. I’m going to have words with Twilight.”

Realm pouted and picked up the large book, before barely wedging it into his saddlebags, where it promptly disappeared.

“Oh wow, it did fit after all,” Twilight gasped and looked into his bag. “It’s in so deep!”

Realm chuckled once, before he slowly walked out of the room, and Aspect closed the door.

“Twilight, I have to warn you about my son,” Aspect said simply.

“Warn me?” Twilight blinked and looked at the intruder. “Maybe i should be warned about you, barging uninvited into a mare’s bedroom like that. I thought you were a gentlestallion Aspect. So far, your ‘son’ there has been far more pleasant and welcoming. He even painted the most amazing portrait of me.”

“Twilight, my son had a crush on Clover the Clever,” Aspect illuminated. “The mare you’re a dead ringer for. And he’s also incredibly perverse. I don’t know how he learned the things he did. I’m blaming the other founders for corrupting him, to be honest.”

“Perverse? He’s been nothing but an absolute delight,” Twilight replied, looking even more annoyed. “Besides, he’s just a child and I am not Clover the Clever…” She could never be as good as that…

“He was just about to be a stallion, back by the old laws,” Aspect informed her. “And you’re pretty similar in looks to her that he might not watch his words around you. I want you to think Twilight. Did you or he say anything that could have had a double meaning? Because I will bet you he’s been playing his games with you.”

“A double meaning? Like what?” Twilight blinked, utterly confused.

“Hard,” Aspect started. “It can refer to difficulty...or when applied to sex, the rigidity of the stallion’s member. Thick, how wide something is...also used as a measurement for a stallion’s member. Deep, referring to depth, or how far a stallion can shove his member into a mare’s—”

There was a shriek, followed by a bright flash of light and Twilight was gone, the potency of the teleport left scorch-marks on the wooden floor.

“No fair!” Realm cried out from the hallway. “You ruined my fun!”

“I was not about to have someone who didn’t know better exposed to you,” Aspect riposted, before walking out and picking his son up and putting him on his back. “Let’s get you home before you cause any more trouble.”

“Yes dad,” Realm pouted. And he’d just been about ready to spring a lewd question on the mare.

“So, that’s it huh?” Bon Bon said, having dragged Dash all the way to her store. After a lot of coercing, Bonnie had finally gotten Dash to admit that she might have been crushing on Aspect a little. “Well, I guess I’m surprised more than anything.”

“Huh? Why?” Dash asked, scarfing down the candies that Bon Bon used to bribe her. What? They were good. And it’s not like Bon Bon had laced them with a truth potion…

“Well,” Bon Bon looked a little bashful now. “I guess… I sort of figured…”

“That I was into mares?” Rainbow sighed. She’d heard this a lot growing up. Especially in Flight School. “It’s my mane. You know it’s natural right? My dad has the same mane colouring. And if he were into stallions, then how did I get here?”

“Alright, alright, sorry for assuming,” Bon Bon held up a hoof. “Just… well I suppose my next question is why?”

“Well…” Rainbow blushed and looked down. “I don’t know when it started, I’ve always thought he was pretty cool. I mean, he has awesome magic, that cool sword and he fights monsters! But… he’s also kind. Kind of dense and he likes to stick his nose in, when he’s not putting his hoof in his mouth…”

“And half his damned leg,” Bon Bon replied dryly. “Yeah, I noticed that. And his family is really weird.”

“But awesome!” Rainbow said. “I mean, three alicorns, a phoenix, a seapony-thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a dragon somewhere.”

Both mares made a note to ask him that.

“Okay, so you admire him,” Bon Bon said as she sat at the table. “But, when did you start… liking him.”

“The Young Fliers Competition,” Rainbow Dash nodded. “I was… okay, I was freaking out pretty bad. I thought I’d hidden it, cause I didn’t want to worry the others…”

“But he noticed, because he’s perceptive when he wants to be,” Bon Bon guessed, the rainbow mare nodding in response.

“Yeah, he came backstage and gave me some advice. I still tanked most of the performance, but if it wasn’t for him, I might not have gone out there at all.”

“So, that’s it?’ Bon Bon asked. It wasn’t a very… solid reason. If that was the case, she should be crushing on a therapist…

“No, that started it I think,” Rainbow continued. “What really sold me, was yesterday with Scootaloo. Seeing him help her out like that. Nopony asked him to, yet he still went out of his way to help the squirt out. I mean, sure she’s a cute little fan and all. But she doesn’t deserve that crap that little Diamond brat heaps on her,” Rainbow stomped a hoof. “But seeing her face light up when he taught her how to get her hooves off of the ground?”

Bon Bon had seen it a lot, especially today. He was a amazing father figure, despite his… quirks. She sighed and sipped her mint tea. “Okay, I guess I can see that. But… we still have a problem.”

“Yeah, I know you guys are together,” Rainbow nodded. “And, I’m sorry I was flirting so openly like that. I don’t know what came over me.”

“He’s pretty sexy,” Bon Bon giggled. “Really, I can’t fault you for taste at least.”

“Yeah, but he’s still your stallion,” Rainbow said, looking… rather annoyed actually. “For the Element of Loyalty, I’m not really being that, moving in on another mare’s stallion…”

“Look Dash, can I call you Dash?” at the pegasi’s nod, Bon Bon continued. “I’ll admit, I was a bit annoyed at first. This whole thing with Written Script still has me… feeling off I guess. So yeah, seeing you do that made me see red. Well, at first…”

Okay, that was… not the response Rainbow was expecting. She looked up to see Bon Bon… blushing?

“I’ll admit you’re a pretty decent-looking mare. I mean, that mane and tail of yours is actually quite pretty. And those firm flanks are just—”

“Whoawhoawhoa!” Rainbow flushed crimson and put her hooves up. “W-What the heck Bon Bon? Why are you—”

“Well, I guess… I don’t really mind all that much,” Bon Bon said softly, barely above a whisper. “I mean, if you don’t mind we could always…”

Rainbow gulped hard, she wanted to fly away and forget this ever happened.

Instead, her mouth opened.

“Always?” she said in a raspier tone than normal.

“We could…” Bon Bon said, blushing to the tips of her ears. “Maybe… share him?”

*pomf*

Rainbow’s wings shot out so fast it actually hurt slightly. “S-S-Share? What the HECK!?” then she recalled the conversation from earlier. “Waaaaait, you… you mean that… that HERD thing?”

Bon Bon just nodded, she was pretty sure her whole coat was glowing red now, and Rainbow wasn’t faring any better.

“W-Well… horesapples Bon Bon, you sure know how to throw a curveball…” Rainbow Dash groaned. She scarfed down more sugar and swallowed. “Okay… so uh, so let’s say I’m considering that. Hypnotelepathy.”

“Hypothetically,” Bon Bon corrected.

“Yeah, that…” Rainbow’s discombobulated mind was racing faster than she could ever hope to fly. “What… what would other ponies think?”

“Well…” Bon Bon sighed. “Honestly? Who cares? It’s our life. We can do whatever we bloody want,” Bon Bon tried out that word Aspect liked. “It’s not illegal or anything. I think some ponies might think it’s weird, or even complain but…” She nodded once and slammed her tea back like a liqour shot. “Buck ‘em.”

Rainbow snorted… before busting out with a loud laugh. “Buck ‘em huh?”

“Yup!” Bon Bon nodded, also grinning. “Buck ‘em right to Tartarus.”

“Well… alright then,” Rainbow nodded. Bon Bon blinked as her grin fell and her mouth opened in shock.

“So… wait! You mean…”

“Well, I suppose we can at least try right,” Rainbow smiled, before those eyes wandered over the candy-maker. “And, while I may not be exclusively into mares… I never said I didn’t like ‘em…”

“I...uh...I…” Bon Bon stammered and blushed brighter as the lithe pegasus moved around the table, wrapping her wings around her and licking her lips.

“Maybe I should… sample the goods before committing to a purchase~” Rainbow’s eyes drooped into a half-lidded gaze, Bon Bon’s legs felt like jelly under that stare. Sure, she and Lyra had… messed around before but this…

“I...um…” Bon Bon’s mouth refused to work. “We should...really talk to Aspect…before we...you know…”

“Maybe,” Rainbow smirked as she leaned closer, her lips brushing Bon Bon’s with feathery lightness. “But I don’t think he’d mind…”

“Oohhh…” Bon Bon shuddered. Goddess, she just wanted this sexy mare to ravish her. But… she’d flipped out over Written, and that was just because of a few words. If she slept with somepony else… Aspect would never forgive her.

So with a sigh, she pushed the pegasus back and shook her head. “No, until we sort this out, it wouldn’t be right.”

Rainbow winced, seems she’d come on a little too strong. Dammit, she’d spent too much time with Cloud Kicker.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Rainbow Dash nodded. “Alright, let’s go find him then.”

“Wait, NOW?” Bon Bon blinked.

“Why not?” the pegasus shrugged. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner I get dessert~” She wiggled her flank and that tail hid nothing for the candy mare. Bon Bon swallowed a lump so big, she felt like she was swallowing a baseball.

“R-Right… Aspect… find… talk…” she simply said and stood up, walking with less coherence than a drunk. Rainbow just chuckled and followed her.

It was good to be Rainbow Dash. very good indeed~

“So in short young colt, control your tongue,” Aspect finished. They’d gotten home and Aspect had wasted no time lecturing his adopted son. “Times are different now. You won’t be a stallion according to law for...how long, Celly?”

“Four years,” Celestia said, now back in her true form. Spending too long in a smaller form was lite wearing a dress that was a little too small. Alright for a while, but very uncomfortable after a long period. “Sixteen is the age for sexual consent in Equestria. Before, it used to be if you had a Cutie Mark, you were considered an adult in most senses.”

“This is utter manure,” Realm muttered. “I was about to be a stallion and now suddenly I hafta wait? This is just utter bull-”

“Language,” Aspect warned him. “And I know what you would pull when you thought of it. Unless you were actually awake for those thousand years, no, no you are not a stallion.”

“Shoot,” Realm replied, stamping a hoof. “But that means I don’t get to mess with ponies! And you should have seen the flank on the Clover lookalike! It was just—”

“Realm…” Did uh… did it just get a lot warmer in here? He turned to see Celestia looming over him, her mane flickering like a wildfire. “What did you say about Twilight Sparkle?”

Realm squeaked, curling up into a ball, doing his best to look adorable so the angry big sister wouldn’t smite him.

“How would you like to spend another thousand years in that painting?” she said, stepping closer. “If you aim that perverse little mind at my student again…”

“I didn’t know!” Realm said in a squeaky voice that fully illustrated how little of a stallion he was. “Plus dad ruined the game. She knows about my nature now.”

“Twilight, while a highly intelligent mare, is also adorkabally innocent and naive,” Celestia said, her mane calming down. “She has never had a special somepony before. So likely, she’d have ignored your ‘game’ utterly until you either gave up, or did something truly stupid.” Then something flashed and a scroll appeared. “Well now, speak of the devil…”

“What does she have to say?” Aspect questioned his daughter.

Celestia read through, her smile wavering with each line. She sighed and cleared her throat.

‘Dear Princess Celestia.

Today, I think I have learned that all colts are indeed perverts. No matter how old they are. If I wasn’t interested in a special somepony, I sure as heck am not now!

Colts suck.

I’m seriously considering a marefriend. Do you think Rainbow Dash is single?

With love… are you sin—

Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia finished and looked at the scroll. Twilight must have been really upset for her grammar to be this atrocious. With a sigh, she turned to the pair of stallions. “Alright,” she said a little too calmly. “What the absolute bloody hell did you two idiots do to my cute student!?”

“Realm,” Aspect said, holding out a hoof. “Quill and scroll.”

Realm nodded and fished the items out, before also hooving over some ink. Aspect immediately got to work writing a reply. “And while I do this,” the stallion said, the quill flashing over the scroll. “You can own up to your sisters what you did.”

“I, uh...may have made her look at the bottom shelf of books just to get a look at her flanks,” Realm started.

Celestia’s horn flared and she summoned a long belt…

“And played word games with her that she didn’t respond to,” Realm added on. “I enjoyed them, though.”

Celestia cracked the belt like a whip.

“And then I made sure that she knew what was going on,” Aspect finished. “So that she wouldn’t fall prey to him again. I think I’m just about done here though.”

“You’re not going to sit for a century!” Celestia said, whispering like Mortal Coil himself. “I’ll beat your flanks redder than an apple!”

“Before you do, quickly look at this,” Aspect interrupted, holding out the letter for Celestia to read. She took the paper and read aloud.

Dear Twilight Sparkle.

I can assure you that not all colts are perverts. Spike, for instance. Realm is just a...special case, brought on by the times he was raised in. Back then, colts were stallions when the situation called for it. If he makes you uncomfortable, and he really should, then simply avoid playing his word games with him. Colts in general are decent beings, and mares can have their own shortcomings. In short, it depends on the ponies in question. If you don’t feel like entering that sort of relationship with somepony, then that is your decision to make.

If however you do feel like it, I’m certain Cadenza will be able to provide you with a decent crash course in the subject matter. Especially as she appears to be in a relationship herself.

Keeping Realm on a shorter leash,

Balanced Aspect.

“Okay, one… we are not inflicting an unchained Cadenza on Twilight. Nopony deserves that,” Celestia deadpanned. “Still, though a little long-winded, it’s detailed enough for her… don’t you think so Twilight?”

It was then that Aspect noticed that Celestia’s horn had been glowing the whole time. With the telltale pop of teleportation, Twilight appeared in the room, her horn glowing as well.

“I’m sorry for inflicting an unchained, undisciplined Realm on you,” Aspect said to her, bowing his head and splaying his wings. “It should have been my responsibility to realize who you resembled and how he might react.”

“No… I was just… too blind to see it,” Twilight sighed. “This is embarrassing, a twelve year old has more knowledge on relationships than me.”

“I’m not so sure about the relationships aspect,” Aspect replied, getting up from his bow. He pulled Realm close with a wing and put him in a headlock. “This little colt hasn’t exactly expressed interest in a lasting relationship. He’s just a massive pervert lusting after something he hasn’t had yet. I blame the other founders besides Clover. They were regular visitors at the castle and they only indulged his curiosity for terminology.”

“The Unification Era was… weird,” Celestia chuckled and nuzzled her student. “Well, consider this a lesson in growing up. And, not all colt are icky okay?”

“Yeah well…” Twilight blushed. “He… he saw my…” She couldn’t even finish she was so embarrassed.

“Something I will be making sure he doesn’t make a picture of,” Aspect nodded firmly. “Trust me, I can keep him on a short leash if I have to, to make sure he behaves.”

Realm whimpered, still curled up and trying to be adorable.

Then Twilight smiled.

“Oh that’s alright, in fact, I have an idea if you permit me Aspect.”

“I’d like to hear it first,” the stallion stipulated. “Adopted or not, pervert or not, he’s still my son.”

“Oh, nothing much,” Twilight smiled as she replaced Celestia in looming over him. “I’m just thinking if he likes mares so much… spending a day or two as one should be fun no?”

“I don’t like this version of Clover anymore,” Realm whined.

“On the condition that you put a timer into the spell so that it wears off automatically, and a trigger so that you can take it off whenever,” Aspect stipulated.

“Hmm, I guess,” Twilight grinned sharkishly.

“Dad!” Realm piped up, upset that he was being betrayed like this.

“You made this bed,” Aspect told the colt. “Now you get to lie in it.”

“Oh, I bet he’ll find a nice stallion or two that will let him do just that~” Twilight said, her grin widening.

“No! Please no! Anything but that!” Realm replied in haste and with a flap of his wings and a flare of Gale King wind, he fled the room.

Once he was gone, Twilight sighed and looked at Celestia. “Did I do that right? I said it just like you instructed.”

“T-That was… most well done,” Celestia said in a shaky tone, barely concealing her giggles.

“Bet he’ll think twice about flirting with a mare now,” Aspect sighed. “I’ll just threaten to sic you on him if he doesn’t behave.”

“I didn’t mean to scare him so bad!” Twilight said with wide eyes. “I just did what the Princess said!”

“Trust me, I was this close to letting you actually cast that sort of spell on him,” Aspect returned, holding his wingtips close to one another by way of demonstration. “It’d serve him right to be on the other side of the fence once in a while. That colt’s got a very active imagination, and he does his best to fuel it.”

“I don’t even know a spell like that,” Twilight sighed. “I’m going to find him, apologise and start over.” She turned and walked off, grumbling about how perverts were one thing, annoying adults were another.

“Well, at least he learned respect for all of a second,” Aspect sighed. “I’m still going to keep him on a short leash, though. We don’t need him getting any ideas.”

“You might as well tame Discord while you’re at it,” Celestia sighed as somepony knocked on the door. “Hm? Expecting guests?”

“Not really, no,” Aspect replied as he walked to the front door and peeked out it. As he did, a pair of cream-coloured lips met his.

“Hello love,” Bon Bon smiled once she broke it. “I’m back, a little later than I thought. Sorry about that.”

“Hello there,” Aspect smiled back at her. “So how did your talk go?”

“It… went in a much different direction than I expected.” she said with a blush. “That’s… why Rainbow Dash and I are here to talk to you. We’ve come to an… understanding of sorts and want your opinion before proceeding.”

“O...kay?” Aspect blinked, before opening the door wider. “How about you come in and we can get you introduced to Written Script, properly this time?”

“Um… well you see, I think, I just made things more complicated,” Bon Bon said quietly as she walked in, Dash following her.

“It can’t be that bad,” Aspect brushed off as he looked at a nearby painting. “Where’s Script?” he asked of the artwork.

“Drawing room,” the pony in the painting replied. “Attending a ball with some of the nobles.”

“Thank you,” Aspect nodded to the painting before leading the way. “This way. We’ll get you and her properly met and then you can tell me whatever it is you’re going to tell me.”

“Um… I really think we should tell you first,” Bon Bon squeaked.

“No, I messed up,” Aspect replied, shaking his head. “I should have been honest from the start. I put a strain on our relationship and I’m going to fix it.”

Rainbow groaned. “Urgh, you’re taking too long. Let me explain it.”

And then she kissed him. With tongue.

Aspect responded the only way he could, really. With his eyes going wide and his wings ‘pomf’ing out.

“Yeeaahhh,” Bon Bon said slowly. “We uh… kind of sorta agreed to try the whole herd thing. Turns out Rainbow likes you.”

Rainbow would add her two bits. She was still busy kissing though. Eventually they had to come up for air and Aspect took a moment to get his head on straight. “I...what?” he gasped out.

“Yes, as I said…” Bon Bon blushed. “I guess… if you don’t mind, well… I don’t either…”

“I can honestly say that this is not a thing that has happened to me before,” Aspect muttered.

“Ya think,” Rainbow shrugged. “Well, it was Bon’s idea. And, well I’m cool with it if you are. We talked about it for a while. But, it’s still your decision.”

“I...well…” Aspect mused. “Hmm...Okay. One condition.”

“Condition?” Rainbow and Bon Bon echoed. Celestia was just standing there with an open mouth. How… How did her father do this!?

“No fighting over each other,” Aspect laid down. “No fighting over spending time with each other, and we don’t go to bed angry if we can avoid it. Got it?”

Rainbow smirked. She turned and grabbed Bon Bon, drawing the mare for an almost more passionate kiss than the one she gave Aspect.

“...Okay, so that works too,” Aspect squeaked. “You, uh. Certainly move fast.”

Bon Bon was flustered as all heck, before melting into the kiss and moaning softly.

*pomf*

And there went Celestia’s wings.

“Let’s...take this elsewhere, before Realm comes back,” Aspect urged the mares. Rainbow broke the kiss and licked her lips as Bon Bon collapsed to the floor, panting softly.

And Twilight stood in the doorway with wide eyes.

“Or precisely this happens,” Aspect sighed.

“R-R-Rainbow…?” Twilight stammered. “What?”

“Oh, heya egghead,” Rainbow waved. “Yeah… well, turns out I kinda like the eggheads here as well. So uh, this happened.”

“Come on,” Aspect said, nudging Rainbow and Bon Bon with a wing. “Let’s take this out of the foyer before Realm comes back. You don’t want him getting wind of it just yet.”

“S-Sure…” Bon Bon murmured. Aspect led the way, leading the two mares out of the foyer and leaving Twilight there with her thoughts. Celestia could deal with that.

“Okay, so,” Aspect said as he opened the door to his bedroom. “We need to figure out what’s going on when and where.”

“How… do you mean?” Bon Bon asked. “I’m really confused right now.”

“Yeah, I got that impression,” Aspect chuckled, before leaping up on his bed and settling on it. “Well, let’s put it like this. Rainbow, what do you want out of this?”

“Well…” Rainbow shuffled on her hooves, looking a little awkward after being put on the spot. “I dunno really. I mean, I kinda like you… and Bon’s fun in her own way. I guess… Argh!” She scratched at her head. “I’m no good at all this ‘feelings’ crap!”

“Okay, fine,” Aspect invited with a roll of one hoof. “Show me what you want.”

“Mrrr, now this is awkward n’stuff,” Rainbow blushed. She took a breath and remembered what he’d said about confidence. “Look Aspect. I like you okay, I probably have for a while now. And ever since you helped Scoots like you did, I respect you a ton.” She’d calmed down a little and took another breath. “I… haven't had the best record with special someponies. I’m ‘too intense’ or ‘they don’t wanna deal with me’ so… I can’t guarantee you won’t get sick of me like all the others…”

“That hardly sounds like a fate I would want to bestow upon the bearer of Loyalty,” the stallion idly observed aloud, before petting the bed with a hoof. “Come on. Invitation is still open. Show me what you want. I don’t think Bonnie will mind.”

Bon Bon nodded, while she was still getting used to this, a part of her wanted to see this too.

“So uh… what, do you want me to do?” Rainbow asked. She’d been so confident with Bon Bon… what was different now? Aspect smiled kindly at her before repeating himself.

“Come up here and show me. Actions speak louder than words. I’ll tell you to stop if I feel like you’re going too far, or Bonnie will.”

Oh… Oh!

Then Rainbow’s demeanor changed. She stepped closer, a confident sway in her flanks as she walked up to the bed. “Show you huh? I can do that.” She climbed up onto the bed and crawled towards him, her tail swishing to and fro.

“Don’t forget to make sure Bonnie can see what you get up to,” Aspect reminded her before mentally turning himself over to the prismatic mare’s mercies.

“I can see just fine,” Bon Bon said from the side of the bed as Rainbow started trailing small kisses up his form.

“Turn over, onto your belly,” she said in a husky, breathless whisper. Aspect mentally shrugged and turned so that he was laying on his stomach, wondering what she could get up to. Once he was, she crawled up so she was laying over his hindquarters as she pressed her muzzle into the space between his wings. Finding a small cluster of nerves there, she opened her mouth and nibbled it lightly.

The result was an instant wing-boner from the stallion as he tried to fight down a blush. That had felt...very nice.

Then she moved along his wingjoints, pulling and nibbling as she brought up a hoof and started to rub along the ‘arm’ of his other wing.

“Oohhhh,” Aspect moaned, enjoying the feeling immensely. “That feels...very nice. I haven’t had someone around to preen me in...ages~”

Oh? He thought she was preening him~

Rainbow smirked as she moved in, and nibbled the elbow joint of his wing, pressing her tongue along the joint as she let out a rather lewd moan. Aspect’s response was a moan of his own as he did his best to not shift. Something else was responding to her attentions now, and she still wanted him on his belly.

“Hmm, somepony likes,” Bon Bon smiled as she leaned closer. “Well Aspect? Doing such naughty things with another mare, and in front of me no less. Such a naughty colt~”

And with that breathless whisper, she drew him in for a sensual kiss while Rainbow just kept teasing his wings. The stallion moaned into the kiss, not sure what was going on anymore, but liking it all the same. His wings twitched as Rainbow kept teasing him, while something else...throbbed.

“Heh, I wonder how much he can take?” Rainbow chuckled as she nuzzled his wingjoints again.

“Should we find out?” Bon Bon mused.

Aspect didn’t exactly have much of a mind left, overwhelmed as it was by everything they were doing to him. He’d never been touched by another pegasus before. At least, not like this.

“Wow, I don’t think I’ve even seen him so twitchy before,” Bon Bon giggled. “What did you do to him?”

“A little of this, a little of that,” Dash smiled and ran a hoof down his back. Then in a flash, she was behind the earth mare, pulling her upright onto her butt as she nibbled at her neck and shoulders, Rainbow’s forehooves roaming over her chest and belly.

“A-Ah!” Bon Bon let out a small shriek of surprise, which quickly became one of pleasure. “Oohh~”

“She’s...good,” Aspect managed to get out, slurred though it was. What? He was still feeling it. And now he was wondering why nopony had ever stuck with this mare. He looked up and saw a rather glorious sight, Bon Bon propped upright , her hindlegs splayed outwards as Rainbow assaulted her neck in nips and kisses as her hoof teased the small nubs below her belly. Bon Bon’s mouth was open as she panted, her face flushed pink.

“I’ll give...her this,” Aspect said, his mind slowly congealing. “She knows how...to warm up...a pony...or pair.”

“Y-Yes…” Bon Bon said, though whether that was a statement about the lavish affections Rainbow was placing on her, or the answer to Aspect was up for debate. Then Rainbow found her marehood and spread it with a hoof as she made eye contact with Aspect. She slowly spread the mare for his viewing pleasure as she winked, placing a long, sensual lick along Bon Bon’s neck.

“Mmm,” Aspect mused, enjoying the view. “Gonna get her nice and slick, Rainbow?”

“Mmm, she’s already pretty wet,” the pegasus chuckled, taking one of her ears and nibbling on it as Bon Bon squeaked and moaned in response, her juices flowing down the cyan hoof that lovingly rubbed her clit.

“I do hope you realize, though,” Aspect mentioned, “That your earlier teasing and this show have created a rather pressing problem. If you wear out poor Bonnie, then somepony else will have to help me deal with it.”

“Oh?” Rainbow hummed in a less-than-innocent tone. “And what did you have in mind?”

“Probably something along pinning you to the bed and screwing you until you screamed my daughter’s name,” Aspect said without missing a beat.

“Hmm, and if I don’t wear the little candybutt here out?”

“Then turnabout is fair play, I’d say,” Aspect grinned. “I’m pretty sure she’d enjoy a chance for revenge and to explore a pegasus mare.”

“Aw horseapples…” Rainbow muttered as she felt Bon Bon tense up, before she suddenly turned and pinned Rainbow to the floor. Okay, the pegasus was not expecting her to be this strong. “Um… parley?”

“This isn’t a ship, and I’m not Captain,” Bon Bon smirked as she went for the direct route, moving to all fours and grabbing Rainbow’s hindlegs, spreading them as she dove right in. Dash moved a hoof to her mouth, letting out a muffled moan as the mare’s tongue went to work, licking and lapping at her clit, before probing her entrance.

“Ahhh… f-fuck!” the prismatic mare hissed, gripping at the rug with her forehooves.

“Oh Bonnie, did you hear that?” Aspect asked as he jumped down and let his little problem be on display for the prismatic mare. Only...that wasn’t that little.

Bon Bon’s mouth was occupied, she she wasn’t in any position to respond.

“Poor little mare has a potty mouth,” Aspect continued as he walked over to Rainbow’s head. “Better give it something to do.”

That got a satisfied hum from the candy maker, she closed her mouth around Rainbow’s mound, moaning loudly and pressing her tongue against her clit, flicking the little nub rapidly.

“A-Ahhh~” Rainbow gasped, her eyes widened as she started to pant.

Then something large and leaking a salty substance was introduced to her mouth. Aspect had taken his moment and given Rainbow something to do with her open maw. Namely, he’d shoved the tip of his length into it. She let out a surprised and rather muffled squeak, her tongue pressing against the tip out of reflex.

Bon Bon smiled as she looked up from her own spot, before leaning forwards and pressing her muzzle against his weighty sack, the tongue lolling out as she licked the orbs.

“Not that I don’t appreciate it,” Aspect said, running a hoof along Bon Bon’s head. “But we should make sure our new toy is properly slick, don’t you think? She’ll already be seeing to me for a moment...and then I’m thinking we switch ends.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon mused as she stroked Rainbow’s moist slit with a hoof, before bringing it up and hovering the appendage under his nose. “Tell me what you think.”

“Mmm, nice and slick,” Aspect smirked. “Okay then. Once she’s gotten me nice and slick too, we’ll see about the trade off.” He bucked his hips a little to see how much she could take in her mouth.

He got a few inches in before she coughed slightly, so she wasn’t quite as experienced in that department. Bon Bon moved back and licked her lips. Aspect nodded and pulled back out of Rainbow’s mouth, to let himself hang free. Apparently Bon Bon either had a plan or wanted something.

Her plan was to show Rainbow how it was done, as she eased Aspect back and then proceeded to take more than three quarters of his member into her mouth, a slight bulge in her throat showing how deep it was going.

“Holy Horseapples….” Rainbow breathed, her eyes wide. “Buck that’s hot…”

Aspect moaned softly in pleasure as one hoof stroked along Bon Bon’s mane, wondering how long she’d do this. He wasn’t complaining, heavens no. Just wondering when he’d get to move to the next thing in the lineup.

Bonnie moaned around him, before pulling all the way back, his member sliding free with a wet ‘pop’. She panted a little and looked at Rainbow. “I’ll teach you that if you show me the wing thing you did.”

“Deal,” Rainbow nodded as the two bumped hooves. Oh dear, ten minutes in and they were already conspiring against him.

“Fun as that may be,” Aspect said, before walking around Dash and nosing Bon Bon. “Why don’t you go see how talented her tongue is? I’ll be here, tending to her other needs.”

“Oh, and what if I wanna watch what you have planned?” Bon Bon smiled. “Go on, do whatever you want to her~”

“Waitwha?” Rainbow blinked.

That was all she got out before Aspect lined himself up and sunk the tip and a good half of his shaft into her folds. Even a rudimentary lubrication job like the one they’d gone through did wonders. She let out a loud moan, her wings twitching as Aspect probed a little deeper… before hitting some kind of barrier?

“...Dash, have you never?...” Aspect asked, suddenly stopping.

Rainbow blushed and looked to one side. That expression said it all.

“Are you sure you want to?” Aspect inquired, still holding himself still.

She was still for a few moments, before closing her eyes and nodding.

“Okay, um...this is probably going to hurt,” Aspect warned her. “Do you want me to do it fast or slow?”

“W-Who do ya think you're talking to?” Rainbow blushed. “Pfft, come on, bring it!” She bit her lower lip and braced herself, this was probably going to suck. Oh... well, Bon Bon kissing her, that was nice…

And then Aspect bucked his hips once, powerfully, giving the prismatic mare beneath him everything and tearing the barrier asunder. She let out a loud screech, though that was muffled by the kiss as she trembled beneath him.

Okay, buck! That had hurt. She’d crashed from a hundred feet up and that was a walk in the park compared to that. Aspect stroked one of her wings soothingly, whispering soft words to her. He also held himself still, waiting for her to get used to him before he continued.

Bon Bon broke the kiss, rubbing the lip and Rainbow had bitten. Well, it did save her from screaming down half the house.

“Buck…” Rainbow groaned. The pain was sharp and intense, but it was subsiding quickly, replaced by the full feeling of him inside her.

“Just let me know when you’re ready,” Aspect told Dash soothingly.

“Y-Yeah… you can go,” she nodded, the pain was mostly gone now. Bon Bon continued to stroke her wings as she placed gentle kisses along her neck.

Then Aspect pulled out, until just the tip was inside her. He held it there for a second, letting her feel the emptiness…

And then he thrust forward again, filling her up quite deliciously.

Rainbow let out a deep moan, this time was much better, as he was given a fresh coat of her juices. Not to be left out, Bon Bon sat upright beside her, spreading her legs and rubbing her own pussy for Aspect’s viewing delight.

Aspect was struck with a sudden idea, and used a wing to point from Bon Bon...to Rainbow’s mouth. She could be using it for something other than moaning. And speaking of...Aspect gave her another thrust. And then another, settling into a steady rhythm, wanting to make sure she enjoyed her first bucking.

Bon Bon nodded and stood over Rainbow, the pegasus mare latching onto her flanks and pulling her down, placing a sloppy kiss on her marehood. Bon gasped from the rather sudden and enthusiastic efforts, now moaning herself.

That was when Aspect leaned forward and caught Bon Bon in a kiss, effectively silencing everypony in this three-way. He picked up his speed a touch, enjoying how tight Rainbow was to not. And damned was she tight, even moreso than Bon Bon. Though being a slightly smaller mare might have helped that.

Bon Bon moaned into the kiss as Rainbow took her clit between her teeth, nibbling and sucking on it. Aspect just kept pistoning into and out of her, wondering how long somepony as fresh as Rainbow could possibly last.

He got his answer as she let out a loud moan and her velvety walls squeezed him like a vice, milking his member for its seed as she came. Her body trembled and her wings twitched as she pulled back from Bon Bon moaning and panting with each twitch of her marehood.

“And to think, I’m not quite there yet,” Aspect mused aloud. “Though I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere for a minute, she’s so tight around me.”

“Mmm, so what will you do?” Bon Bon purred as she rubbed her clit with a hoof. “Where are you going to put that generous load of yours~?”

“Let’s ask her where she wants it,” Aspect replied, before leaning down and nibbling at Dash’s neck. “Mmm, where do you think I should cum?”

“N-Not… inside…” Dash panted, her brain felt numb. “Dun wanna… can’t…”

“Well she doesn’t want it in her,” Aspect said, before looking at Bon Bon. “What about you? Any bright ideas as to where I should spend it?”

“Well, that’s all up to you isn’t it?” Bon Bon winked at him. “I won’t complain with what you decide.”

“Mmm, I’m highly tempted to blow a load in each of you,” Aspect growled to them both. “But I know better. Still…” He trailed one hoof down Dash’s body and rubbed at her clit before starting to buck her again, just as fast as he had been going. “Tell me again why I shouldn’t do it to you, Dash.”

“I don’t…” Dash bit her lip, trying to answer but all she could do was moan under his touch.

“Now now, don’t be mean to her,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Getting pregnant would certainly put a dampener on her career dreams.”

“Well then, I could aim for a different hole with her,” Aspect mused. “Or I could avail myself of you, my sweet candy mare. What do you think I should do?”

“Well like I said, as long as you adhere to Dashie’s wishes, I don’t mind,” she cooed and kissed his cheek. “Inside, or a shower... Do. As. You. Like~”

“Well then, sweet mare, would you object to taking a load in you?” Aspect asked, pausing for just a moment.

“As you wish,” Bon Bon hummed as she turned around, straddling Rainbow Dash as she pressed their bellies together. Aspect pulled out of the one mare and plunged into the second, filling Bon Bon with his length. She let out a coo of pleasure, that full feeling was becoming something of an addiction.

“Mmmm, very nice,” his sweet mare sighed contently. “So tell me, what are you gonna do to me~”

“I am going to fill you up,” Aspect grunted to her, now going quite fast in his thrusting, almost slamming their hips together. “And then I am going to introduce Dashie to the wonderful world of how to take a load without getting pregnant.”

“I-Is that… so?” Bon Bon panted, gripping the pegasus under her as the stallion rammed his length into her. “You… like that huh?”

“Dash may be tight, but you’re skilled,” Aspect uttered, before firmly gripping her. His thrusting became erratic, shorter, as his length throbbed within her.

“Mmm, that I am,” Bon Bon moaned, giving the exhausted Rainbow a lazy kiss. “You… you gonna breed this mare now?”

“Here...it...comes!” Aspect snorted out, before he began filling Bon Bon with his release. Long streams of his cum erupted into her tunnel, filling her up. Bon Bon gasped, before her own climax joined his and he felt her walls clamp shut, milking his cock for its seed, each shot emptying into her womb as she cried out in ecstasy.

It lasted for what seemed like forever before Aspect shuddered and pulled free of the mare, quickly dropping next to her and nuzzling and cuddling both her and Dash. Bon Bon also collapsed, Rainbow wincing as the mare fell on top of her.

“Urh, thanks BoulderBon,” the pegasus smirked and smacked her flank. She peered around her and saw the mess Aspect left behind. “Tartarus, you think you stuffed her enough?”

“Mmmnope, I’m still good for another round,” Aspect smirked, before rolling Bon Bon off of Dash and pulling the pegasus mare away from the mess, so that he could cuddle her alone without the fear of either of them getting sticky. “Gimmie like...five minutes to recover and I’ll rock your world again.”

“And I’m just tossed aside,” Bon Bon sighed dramatically. “Well, I suppose Dashie has to catch up somehow~”

“I’ll snuggle you after stuffing her, promise,” Aspect told Bon Bon. “After all, I don’t think this is gonna be any easier on her.”

“Huh?” Rainbow blinked. “Say what now?”

Aspect smirked, looked down, and used a hoof to adjust himself. Dash suddenly felt his length prodding at her again, but it wasn’t at her pussy this time...it was somewhere...lower. Rainbow let out a loud squeak and blushed hard.

“H-hey! J-Just what do you think you’re doing!?”

“Giving you a load where it won’t do you any harm,” Aspect said matter-of-factly before he pushed the tip of his head into her pucker. Her eyes widened and she glared at him.

“W-What? That’s weird! Why would you do that?” Oh gods, she looked like an angry chipmunk. Aspect leaned down, kissed her, and shoved his slickened member as deep into her as it could go in one thrust. She let out a loud noise, something between a moan and a shout of protest.

“Ohh, she’s gonna smack you when you’re done there,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Better enjoy it while it lasts.”

Aspect put one hoof between them and used it to rub at Dash’s clit, trying to make her associate pleasure with the feeling of having her backdoor invaded as he started properly bucking her. He didn’t unseal his lips from hers, though. And wouldn’t until she stopped trying to yell at him.

Once he broke the kiss… well, she wasn’t quite done with him.

“Ahhhh, fuck!” she hissed. “I’m gonna bucking kick your… aaahh~”

“See like this,” Aspect said, starting to pick up the pace a little. “You don’t have to worry about getting pregnant. And after the initial weirdness, it feels good, doesn’t it?”

“N-No! It… feels weird,” Rainbow blushed and looked away. “I mean… you’re weird!”

“Well maybe I just need to try harder,” Aspect mused, before using his hoof to rub her pussylips as he kept pistoning his length into and out of her rear. She couldn’t help but let out a moan. Goddess, why did she like this? It was her butt. Was… was she a weirdo?

“Just tell me how much you like it,” Aspect whispered to her. “And maybe I’ll let you cum~”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, so he was going to play that game huh? Actually… that gave her an idea…

“I-It’s weird!” Dash replied, though it was sounding less and less convincing. “Jerk…”

“Everypony has things they like more than others,” Aspect said, giving his hoof rubbing her a new mission. He trailed it over that sweet, tight flank he was bucking, rubbed her cutie mark…

And then spanked Dash. Lightly, but there was definitely a smack there.

And she responded with a loud squeak and blushed. “W-What was that for!?”

“For not admitting that you enjoy it,” Aspect grinned down to her, rubbing his hoof into the freshly-spanked flank. Dash glared at him again, but Bon just grinned along with Aspect.

“Spank her again,” she egged him on.

“What? No!” Dash’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t da—”

*Smack*

Exactly where the first one had landed as well.

Rainbow let out a yelp… well, that sounded like more of a moan actually. But her blush intensified. Aspect rubbed the tender spot with his hoof, smirking as he kept bucking her at a steady, even pace. He didn’t need to cum just yet. He needed her to admit that this was a valid alternative for her.

“Asshole,” Dash muttered under her breath.

*Smack*

Okay, that spot had to be getting sore now. But her moans were getting much louder. Did…

Oh, she was enjoying getting punished like that. The near torrent of marecum running down her legs was evident enough of that. Experimentally, Aspect spanked her other flank now, just to give the first one a break and to see how much she enjoyed fresh pain. Another spurt from her winking sex as she moaned, biting down on her hoof to try and keep the noise she made down.

“Mmmn~ Now that is hot,” Bon Bon purred as she moved behind Aspect, rubbing his balls with a gentle hoof.

“We could totally put her into a haze just by spanking her,” Aspect pointed out, doing exactly that and giving Dash a fresh spanking on both flanks. She moaned again, her eyes rolling back as she came for… well, she forgot how many times she came.

“Now now, don’t break the poor girl,” Bon Bon chided him. She leaned down behind him, putting that muzzle and tongue to work against his balls and the base of his shaft. Aspect grunted before leaning down and whispering something to Dash. A question.

“You like this, don’t you, little toy?” Aspect grunted to her.

“Y-” Dash gasped as he pushed deeper. “Yes… it feels… really gooood~”

“You want my load inside you, don’t you?” Aspect prodded her, holding himself deep inside the mare.

Rainbow bit her lip again, remaining silent. Aspect responded to that by running a hoof over one of the sore parts of her flank. She eeped and looked away, her face burning red as she mumbled something.

“Louder,” Aspect told her, grinding his hoof into that part of her flank.

“I-Inside me,” she gasped, looking both needy and indignant at the same time. “Just… I want it inside okay!?”

“Was that so hard?” Aspect asked as he started picking up the pace, feeling his second load coming just around the corner. Bon Bon stroked the base of his shaft and giggled… before spanking his rump with a nice, loud smack. Aspect was caught off-guard and thrust very hard into Dash all of a sudden. Dash let out a loud yelp, before that turned into a very lewd moan.

“Ooh, that was fun~” Bon Bon hummed as she circled his Cutie Marks. “Seems little Dashie isn’t the only one who likes it~”

“S-She scares me,” Dash panted. “Assertive Bon Bon is scary.”

“To be fair...she’s been the assertive one for me constantly,” Aspect pointed out as his thrusting turned erratic, opting to hold himself as deep in the mare as possible instead of pulling out anymore. “Here it comes, Dashie…”

Bon Bon leaned back down and with a small hum, ran her tongue around the shaft that wasn’t buried inside the pegasus mare. Aspect grunted, locked lips with the mare he was stuffing, and came, filling her rear with his seed as it erupted out of him. Rainbow gasped, holding him with her hooves as what she thought was both the best and absolutely weirdest feeling overcame her.

“Mmmm, not a bad sight at all,” Bon Bon hummed. “I still think she could use a glazing though~”

Aspect just remained still, holding the mare close as he filled her, kissing her and waiting for the twitching to stop. All too soon it did, and he pulled his limp cock out of the cyan flank it had been stuffed into. His seed poured out of her not a moment later, forming a sizeable pool on the floor under her flank as she panted heavily.

“I guess that works too,” Bon Bon shrugged. Then smirked as she leaned down, her flank in the air as she made quite a showing of cleaning the mare up with her tongue.

“Gods damn it, mare,” Aspect swore as he looked at the sight. “Do you want me to die of dehydration? I’m seriously considering pinning you for round three.”

“Hmm, that sounds like a problem for you,” Bon Bon hummed as she slowly licked the cum from around Dash’s ass, licking up past her clit and swallowing the mouthful with a loud gulp. “I’m just enjoying my dessert~”

There was a flap, a thumping feeling on her back, and something prodding her pussy again. “No, I’m pretty sure it’s a problem for you now,” Aspect whispered in her ear.

“Oh, mind explaining how?” Bon Bon giggled, wiggling her rump so he couldn’t aim properly. Aspect growled in her ear and shifted himself around until he caught again and quickly thrust into her.

“Like that,” he replied smugly as the tip sunk into her once again. Bon Bon smiled and sighed contently.

“Still failing to see that it’s a problem,” she cooed back. “You sure you can last?”

“Mare, I will rut you into the ground if that’s what it takes,” Aspect swore. “Plus. I cheat. I always cheat.” He bucked his hips again and sank a good third of his shaft into her.

“Oh? Are you saying you can’t do it without cheating?” Bon Bon taunted him.

“Pussy,” Rainbow smirked.

“Putting up with one mare saps a normal stallion dry,” Aspect pointed out, running his hooves over Bon Bon’s flanks. “But putting up with the needs of two? Yeah, I better damn well cheat if I want to make them moan my name.”

“I suppose,” Bon Bon hummed. “But we can’t be up here all day, we still have to chat with your ex-wife.”

“She isn’t going anywhere,” the stallion replied as he gave a mighty buck and sank himself fully back into Bon Bon. “You put on a show and got me hard again, I’m going to deal with it in the best way possible.”

The mare moaned as he buried himself inside her. “I was just cleaning up after you, it can’t be helped you’re a pervert,” Bon Bon giggled.

“Oh, he is huh?” Rainbow said, still pinned under them. “Well Aspect? You gonna pony up and fuck her or what?”

“I think I’ll fuck her, then you again, just to see if you’re more open to a second round than you were the first one,” Aspect mused. “Maybe then I’ll be able to let sleeping mares lie.” He pulled back and started humping Bon Bon vigorously, wanting to see how quickly he could make her cum.

Bon Bon moaned loudly as she all but collapsed on top of Dash, the pegasus mare holding her steady as the stallion rutted her.

“Ohh, you should see her face,” Dash cooed in a tone that only seemed to make him harder. “Pound that sweet candy flank Aspect!”

Aspect grunted and kept up his fast pace, knowing that neither of them would last long if he kept it up. He just hoped she would finish first.

“Mmm, harder Aspect~” Rainbow continued, throwing in a sensual moan or two of her own. “She’s begging for it, give her what she wants, stuff her full, breed her Aspy~”

Bon Bon’s own moaning almost drowned out her voice, her eyes were rolled back as she lay atop of the pegasus, just letting Aspect do as he liked. If she’d come by now, she had no idea.

Aspect grunted, thrusted harder, harder...and then didn’t stop fucking her, even as he filled her up again with his third load that day.

“Aaahhhhh~ Assspect!” the mare cried out, moaning as Rainbow rubbed her flanks and winked at Aspect. Bon Bon’s walls squeezing him rhythmically as she climaxed again.

“Daaaamn,” Rainbow whistled. “You two can really put on a show.”

“Don’t get too comfy,” Aspect grunted as he eventually slowed down, before stopping and pulling out of the candy mare. “I believe I promised you another round.”

“You’re gonna die at this rate,” Rainbow chuckled. “It’s cool, I’m pretty tired anyway.” She was worried he’d push himself too far, despite whether she wanted him to or not.

“...Fine,” Aspect finally relented. “For now.”

“Ohh, sounds like a threat,” Rainbow chuckled, trying and failing to shift the thoroughly fucked Bon Bon. “You sure you’ll even walk after this?”

“Not without cheating,” Aspect said, casually shifting Bon Bon to one side of the prismatic pegasus before lying down between them and hugging them both close to his sides with his wings. Bon Bon was already out like a light, still panting even in her sleep.

“So… I take it I convinced you then?” Rainbow said with a teasing wink.

“And we convinced you,” Aspect replied, nuzzling the mare. “Mmm. Well this was a delightful experience.”

“Hmm, a stallion not complaining about screwing two hot mares… what a shocker!” Rainbow said with no small amount of snark.

“Aww, you’re snarking already!” Aspect cooed. “You’ll fit right in with the family.”

“Mhmm, well you ‘fit in’ me just fine,’ Rainbow smirked.

“Barely, you were very tight,” Aspect replied, leaning down to whisper in her ears. “I’ll enjoy seeing how long that lasts,” he promised the mare before nibbling on the ears. Rainbow moaned softly, her tail brushing up against his member.

“Mmm, you better stop tempting me into round four, though,” Aspect warned her. “Otherwise I might just see how long you can last.”

“Pfft, as if!” Rainbow snorted. “You’re the one tempting me. I’m still good, you’re the half dead one.”

“I’m seriously abusing the definition of ‘Earth pony stamina’ here, but I am pretty sure I could keep going if I had to,” Aspect replied, nibbling along Rainbow’s neck.

“Uhuh,” Rainbow smirked.

“You’re gonna make me do it to shut you up, aren’t you?” Aspect returned to staring at Dash’s face, his gaze half-lidded in annoyance.

“Nope, never said anything of the sort,” Rainbow hummed, closing her eyes. “That’s you coming to conclusions, after ‘cumming’ to my charms of course~”

“Right,” Aspect said, getting up and standing over Dash. “Round four it is then.”

Then his world spun as the pegasus surged upwards and lifted him off of the ground, before tossing him onto the bed and pinning them there.

“Round four it is~” she cooed and licked her lips.

“You either better make your move or get ready to go back on the bottom,” Aspect warned Dash. “Because you have about five seconds before I put you there otherwise.”

Then she all but buried his shaft inside her as she slammed her hips down in one motion.

“Good move,” Aspect gasped out.

“All my moves are good~” Rainbow said as she flared her wings for more support as she started raising and lowering her hips. He could feel his medial ring slip past her opening, making her moan and gasp each time it did. He raised his hooves and gripped her flanks before he started bucking into her as well, timing it to match each thrust.

“Mmmm, that’s the spirit,” she moaned. “Ahhh~ Fffuck that’s good!” Her tight walls squeezed him and each time she lifted up, he felt like he was just getting sucked right back in again.

Then Aspect smirked and smacked her flanks. She let out a small whine, followed by a moan as her rutting picked up pace a little.

“Somepony likes this~” Aspect teased her. “Not an hour ago you were a virgin and look at you, already coming back for a second round.”

“S-Shut up,” Rainbow whinnied lightly as she picked up speed again, her tail whipping around and slapping his flanks with it.

“Mmm, better be careful though,” Aspect warned her. “Naughty little Dash might get a load in her pussy if she keeps it up like this.”

“Well you better warn Dash beforehoof,” she said back in the same tone. “Or this’ll be the last ride you ever take.”

“You’re good for a little bit,” Aspect soothed, before smacking her flanks again. “Besides, I have other ways to get you to cum first~”

Then Rainbow’s wings drooped, her primaries touching his as he felt her pegasus magic mingling with his own. He knew unicorns could do this with their horns but…

The sensation was novel, but not enough to get him to cum. Not just yet. One hoof went to her lips and started rubbing her clit, while the other one rubbed the sore spot it had made on her flank.

“B-Bucking cheater,” she muttered. She didn’t have the upper hoof here, all his sensitive points were on his back, and she lacked experience for anything else.

Wait, would that work?

She focused… which wasn’t easy, as she started exercising the muscles in her hindquarters. She wanted to try and squeeze him with the muscles in her pussy, though she wasn’t sure if it was working or not…

Aspect’s breath hitched as he felt, quite suddenly, her tunnel getting quite tight. Fuck! Now he couldn’t move through her so easily!

On the upside, though, it felt amazing.

She tried flexing different muscles, having the effect of the muscles pulsing around him as she continued to ride him, not slowing down at all. It was like when Bon Bon used her mouth, the tight warmth and wetness of Rainbow’s, now sucking him hard each time she pulled out. She couldn’t keep this up for long, she could feel her climax building.

“Fuck fuck fuuuuuck,” Aspect moaned as he lay back. “If...if you keep that up, I’ll…”

“Are… are you close?” Rainbow huffed, she was on the edge… just a bit more…

“I can’t hold it for long,” the stallion warned her. “You’d better…”

“Fuuuuuck!” she cried out, her climax finally tipping as she came, her warm juices flooding his member as her walls spasmed, her body trembling.

“It’s comiiiiiiing,” Aspect cried out as his cock twitched inside her. Rainbow groaned, barely pulling herself off of him as she fell forward, landing on his chest as his member settled on her ass, her tail brushing against his weighty orbs.

It was right about then that, if Bon Bon had been awake, she would have seen him glazing the Dash. His member erupted one last time that day, sending seed washing over Dash’s body. The pegasus panted hard as she felt the warm liquid splash her rump, back and wings.

“F-fuuuck,” she groaned. “How… much you...got in there?”

“I have no idea,” Aspect panted as he finally stopped. “Fuck...that’s...okay. Are we good now?”

“Yeah… I’m done… I’m so done…” Rainbow said as she lay there, still panting from the efforts. “This… totally didn’t go the way I expected…”

“Are you complaining?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nooope,” Rainbow chuckled and yawned. She still needed to clean off before this gunk dried though. So with a weary groan, she pulled herself up. “Bathroom?”

Aspect pointed at the far door with a wing. She nodded and followed his direction. A shower sounded really good right about now.

The stallion chuckled before going back to Bon Bon and laying next to her. Cuddles for everypony involved.

Author's Note

And here we see the dangers of associating with a unification-era colt...

Like the story? Consider tipping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really is appreciated.

Half of all funds will not be spent on a starship.

Chapter 21 - Tragically short modeling career

The morning started out not unlike any other, Aspect rolled out of bed and went to find the elixir that would allow him to resemble something akin to a functioning member of society. Celestia still hadn’t returned from Canterlot and Pup seemed to be settling in nicely.

However, something was new about this day.

Namely the cyan pegasus sitting at his dining table, a mug of fresh brew waiting for him.

“Morning,” she waved. “Bout time you woke up.”

“Stuff it, I’m old,” Aspect sniped back as he drew closer, before grabbing the free mug and downing it in seconds.

“Morning~” the caffeinated pony chirped at her as he lowered the mug.

“...I literally have no words for that,” Rainbow shrugged. “Have fun with Candy flanks last night? Sorry I didn’t come by, had to catch up on the weather work I ditched to go save Rarity.”

“It’s fine, I know your job comes first,” Aspect waved with a wing. “Besides, I have to get used to my new lows anyways.”

“Lows?” Rainbow questioned. “Whaddaya mean?”

“I just gave up the Aspect of Earth,” Aspect elaborated. “It’s what was providing me with super-pony strength and stamina. Now the only thing running through me is the Aspect of Air. Meaning I can still turn clouds stormy and cheat at the Gale King and Pegasus magic, but I’ll wear out like anypony else.”

Rainbow’s smiled widened. “So… you don’t have as much stamina huh~?”

“It’s a sad truth, but the world needs a new Aspect more than I need to be a superpony,” Aspect replied, sighing as he looked into his empty mug.

“Aww, so we won’t see any repeats of the other night?” she hummed, moving around behind him. “So the next time Candyflanks and I team up…”

“You both will probably win, yeah,” Aspect agreed, his brain not quite processing what was going on. “Still. Pup’s gonna be a better Aspect of Earth than I ever was.”

“You think so?” Rainbow mused as Bon Bon came downstairs, her mane and tail done up in a classic ‘bedhair’ style. “Oh, mornin, Sweet cheeks!”

Bon Bon just rolled her eyes as she took a seat, stealing Rainbow’s coffee. “Urgh… I’m exhausted today…”

“Sounds like breakfast in town, since we all know what you think of my cooking,” Aspect quipped. “Let me just check up on the others and I’ll be ready to go.” He moved to stand up from his chair.

“Hey,” Rainbow asked. “You two look pretty beat, why don’t you go to the spa? I know Rarity and Fluttershy go today as well.”

“Ooh, I haven’t been to the spa in ages!” Bon Bon sighed and turned to face Aspect, setting her Cute to maximum.

“All right, fine, you could have just asked,” Aspect chuckled. “No need to cute me into taking you. I’ll go make sure the others are okay first, then we can head out for a day on the town. Breakfast and spa visits for all.”

“Yay~” Bon Bon said before falling forward and snoring on the table.

“Heh, I’ll get her, you go and find your rugrats,” Rainbow chuckled. Aspect walked over and gave Rainbow a kiss on the cheek before walking off, humming a little tune as he did and leaving said pegasus to grumble about sappy stallions.

So along with Bon Bon and Dash, Luna and Realm also decided to tag along. The two of them were looking forward to a professional preening, though Realm seemed especially interested when the fact that the spa was run by twin mares was brought up.

Once inside, the mare to greet them had a blue coat with a slicked back pink mane. A white headband kept it out of her eyes as she smiled at the group.

“Welcome to ze Ponyville spa,” she said with an exotic accent. One that reminded Aspect of an Eastern European one. “My name is Lotus Blossom, how may we help you?”

“All right,” Aspect said, before pointing at Luna. “Professional wing care.” The hoof shifted to Realm. “Real professional wing care, he uses his wings as a paintbrush.” He leaned in to whisper to Lotus. “But be careful around him. He might look like a colt, but he’s a pervert.”

“But he iz but a child,” Lotus blinked. “Ahh, he iz getting to zat age?”

“Exactly,” Aspect agreed, without elaborating. His hoof shifted to point at Bon Bon. “She’s worn out from all the adventures around town, so she could use a bit of pampering.” Then his hoof shifted to point at Rainbow. “Captain of the Weather Team, professional athlete. I think the massage would go down a treat on her.”

“So, two wing care packages, a deluxe package and a massage and spa package,” Lotus nodded. “And, for you?”

“Well, I’ve never been in one, and I’ve been a knight for Celestia for a long, long time,” Aspect replied, bowing and spreading his wings slightly to the mare. “I place myself in your hooves.”

“Ohh, such a gentlestallion,” Lotus giggled. “Zen we will show you to ze spa and massage tables as well.” She pointed at a cupboard behind them. “You will find ze robes and slippers in there, once you are done, head through zat door zere,” her hoof moved to another door.

“You heard the nice mare,” Aspect said to the assembled crowd, leading the charge and reaching the cupboard first. He passed out robes to Realm and Luna, letting them get dressed before turning to Rainbow and Bon Bon. “And one for you two too,” he said, holding up a larger robe than the child-sized ones for Bon Bon and Rainbow in both hooves.

The door opened to reveal another mare, she looked near identical to Lotus, only with an inverted colour palette. A pink coat with a blue mane and tail in an identical style. “Welcome honoured guests,” she greeted them. “I am Aloe and my sister and I will be your hostesses for today.”

Aspect nodded at her, before pointedly gesturing for Aloe to talk to Lotus. He didn’t want either sister to be unprepared for his adopted son. It was a statement of fact that he felt that he had to warn nigh everyone now, after that incident with Twilight. Plus, he didn’t know if Realm knew about his...arrangement. Or might look to replicate it.

Lotus nodded and whispered something to Aloe, the mare smiling. “Ah, well we cannot have zat,” she said and winked at Aspect. “With your permission, I have a ‘special’ treatment for ze young gentlecolt.”

“If you’re sure,” Aspect replied with a shrug of his wings. They were the professionals, after all.

The group was led inside and Aspect saw that this building was massive. They had a large wooden tub, more like the size of a small swimming pool. Several smaller baths that looked like they were so shallow, they barely covered one’s hooves. And, were those baths filled with… mud?

Aspect elected not to question it. He wasn’t in for the full package anyways. As long as Bon Bon and Rainbow Dash were happy, he’d be happy. He had his suspicions about whether or not Realm would be happy. And Luna would probably enjoy it. He didn’t recall there being such services offered back in the castle.

Luna was led off to a separate room, and after the door closed, there was a yelp from the mare inside. Seems Luna preferred her true form when being preened.

“If you would come zis way,” Aloe said to Aspect and Rainbow. “I will show you to ze sauna while our masseuses finish up wiz anozer client.”

“Sounds good to me,” Aspect replied, bumping flanks with Rainbow. “A nice soak before we get massaged.”

“...Do you know what a sauna is?” Rainbow blinked. “Alright, show us the way ladies.”

They were soon escorted to the steam rooms, and best of all, they had the whole room to themselves. For Aspect, all he saw was a room made of treated wood, a bench went all the way around and a metal bowl in the center holding a pile of dark stones.

“O...kay?” Aspect more asked than said as he walked in, not sure what he was supposed to do here. Rainbow directed him to sit on the bench as she tossed some water into the stones. They hissed loudly as thick steam filled the room.

“And now we sit,” she said as she lay down, stretching her wings out and sighing.

“Seems...rather fancy for a steam room,” Aspect replied as he stretched out on another bench. Aloe had left and closed the door behind her, clearly going back to see to some of the other, numerous clients they had today.

“I dunno what it’s for,” Rainbow shrugged. “Rarity mentioned something about toxins and skin… meh, I just chill here before getting a bath and massage.”

“It’s probably good for you in some fashion or another, I would imagine,” Aspect replied as he just lay stretched-out on his bench. “Pretty relaxing, all things considered. Never been in one before.”

“Mmm, and the time alone is good as well hmm?” Rainbow purred, her tail flicking against his flank.

“I’m getting ideas and having trouble not acting on them,” Aspect warned her as he lay there, not quite meeting her gaze.

“Oh, what sort of ideas?” Rainbow hummed, whistling innocently.

“The sort of ideas that leave us in a hot and sticky mess,” Aspect elaborated. “Which we’d have a heck of a time explaining away, as we’re in public.”

“Hmm,” Rainbow smiled and winked at him. “Is that so~” her tail brushed up against him again.

“Plus I don’t think you learned that thing from Bon Bon yet,” the stallion elaborated. “So that method of hiding the mess is out.”

“That thing?” Rainbow blinked and blushed. “W-Well… shut up.”

“I mean I could stuff it somewhere else,” Aspect mused as he turned onto his side and reached a hoof out to touch her flank. “But the problem with that is, it’d leak.”

Rainbow went to respond, but the door opened as two more mares entered the room, Rainbow recognised them as Carrot Top and Ditzy Doo. ‘Dang it, just as it was getting good.’

“Oh, hi Rainbow Dash!” Ditzy waved and looked at Aspect, one golden eye focused on him while the other found the ceiling very interesting. Aspect sighed and rolled onto his belly before waving at the pair.

“Hello,” the stallion said to them both. “I don’t believe I recall your names, I’m sorry to say.”

“I’m Carrot Top, I own and work the carrot farm here in Ponyville,” the orange earth pony smiled.

“And I’m Ditzy Doo,” the pegasus beamed happily. “You teach my daughter Dinky magic.”

“Oh?” Aspect replied, raising an eyebrow. “Mm. It’s possible. We only took nine students out of the class. What sort of magic? I teach Aeromancy and the Gale King, my assistants handle Sorcery and Geomancy.”

“Um, well she’s a unicorn,” Ditzy said and looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry, I really didn’t understand a lot of what she said. My Little Muffin is much smarter than her Mommy.”

“That’s something to be proud of,” Aspect smiled at her. “I know that my kids are going to go on to do great things. All because I was there to help them get started.”

“Dinky is the world to me,” Ditzy smiled as she took a seat next to Carrot. She looked between him and Rainbow Dash and her eyes slowly widened as she started to blush.

“We’re just in here for a bit of steam before we get massaged,” Aspect explained. “I’ve never been to one and I think miss Dash here could use a visit every now and again.”

Dash groaned and thunked her head against the bench.

“Am… I missing something?” Carrot blinked.

“No,” Ditzy giggled. “Just funny to meet a pegasus that sees even less than me~”

“I’ve been out of touch for a while,” Aspect admitted with a shrug. “Chasing monsters and the like. My social skills might be a little bit rusty.”

“Ah, that might explain it,” Ditzy mused as Rainbow glared at her. “Oh, don’t look at me like that Dashie. I’m glad you found a special somepony.” And that caused the blue mare to blush and splutter.

“What? How do you figure that?” Carrot blinked, just as lost as Aspect.

“She’s practically screaming it,” Ditzy hummed. “I mean, the pert ears, slightly raised wings that show the underside. Her tail flicking slowly…”

“Oooohhkay!” Rainbow blushed brighter. “I think we’ve been in here long enough! Let’s go Aspect!”

“Ap,” Aspect interjected, catching Rainbow before she could leave and drawing her in closer. “Tell me honestly. Have I been blind? It’s been ages, I don’t think I properly learned how to speak ‘Pegasus’ before I left. You can be honest, I won’t be offended.”

“Ahhh…” Rainbow wilted as Ditzy giggled again. “Oh shut up… Clouds, this is so embarrassing… Was I really telling that much?”

“Mmm, I might have been teasing a little,” Ditzy giggled. “But trust me Mr. Aspect, she hasn’t been shy in showing other pegasi you belong to her.”

“Oh really now,” Aspect grinned as he looked at the pegasus in his grasp. “I belong to you, do I?”

“I… argh, shut up…” she blushed harder. Coupled with the steam meant he had a rather red pegasus in his grip instead of blue.

“You,” Aspect started, before leaning in and pressing their muzzles together. “Are going to teach me how to speak pegasus when we get home. Got it? That way I don’t get caught off guard again.”

“I...um…” This was rather new, seeing Rainbow Dash all cute and flustered.

Carrot and Ditzy were also staring rather expectantly at them.

“This is better than those romance novellas,” Carrot whispered.

“I know right,” Ditz giggled and licked her lips.

Aspect decided to go full hog, and kissed Dash.

On the lips.

With tongue.

One she was too surprised to return as the other two mares stared with wide, expectant eyes. Dash soon recovered and pushed him back onto the bench, deepening the kiss.

Aspect smirked and reached up to hug the mare, running his hooves over her form. Hey, he could get used to a steam room if things kept getting steamy in it~

Rainbow moaned into the kiss, those tight flanks of hers were just the most delightful things to touch. She wrestled his tongue with hers and moaned again as he touched her Cutie Marks.

“...wow…” Carrot and Ditzy breathed, staring wide-eyed at the pair making out right in front of them. Eventually, though, the fact that they had an audience meant they had to stop. It took a remarkable amount of self-control to not pin Dash to the bench and screw her through it like the naughty pony she was, but Aspect pulled it off. He pulled back from the kiss and brought Dash in for a simple hug, nuzzling her and smiling at her.

“Awww,” Carrot and Ditzy sighed, both at the cuteness, and the disappointment that the show was already over. The grey pegasus’ wings were flared out and the earth pony panted slightly.

“Tch! M’not cute,” Rainbow pouted.

“Not yet you aren’t,” Aspect muttered up to her. “Gimmie like five minutes at home, I can make you be cute with just a touch~”

“S-Shut the buck up!” Rainbow squeaked as the other two blushed hard.

“My adorably beautiful pegasus,” Aspect cooed. “You’re so pretty~ So attractive~”

“Quittit!” Rainbow said, hiding behind her wings.

“I mean honestly, have you mares seen her flanks,” Aspect asked the others, trying to get backup. “Apparently all her training isn’t for looks.”

“Well, I do have to admit that despite her attitude, Dashie is pretty adorable,” Ditzy giggled.

“Mhm,” Carrot nodded as Dash sunk further into the corner. Maybe if she curled into a little red ball of embarrassment, nopony would notice her.

Aspect got up and sat next to Dash, nuzzling softly at the wings she was hiding herself behind. Maybe he had pushed it a little far, but all those words had been true.

Then she launched herself at him, tackling him to the bench and kissing him with unbridled passion.

Okay, apparently she didn’t hold it against him. Or responded to being embarrassed with lavish displays of affection. Either were good by him. He felt his wings pop as she pinned him to the bench.

“Whoohoo, go Dashie!” Ditzy cheered as the pegasus showed her stallion who wore the metaphorical pants in this relationship.

Aspect growled and reached up with both hooves, gripping the smaller mare by the barrel before flipping the situation around. Now, he was the one pinning her. One of his hooves wandered to her flank and rubbed her cutie mark as he enjoyed the smaller mare below him.

Rainbow squeaked from the sudden role reversal, but moaned as he touched her. Okay, so her flanks were a sensitive spot huh.

Aspect leaned back and pulled Dash into a sitting position, never once breaking the kiss. Now they were on equal footing, and he didn’t stop touching her flank with one hoof or another.

Oh yeah. He liked steam rooms now.

“This… is kinda hot,” Carrot breathed heavily, her unblinking eyes staring at the scene before them. “Should I feel bad for enjoying this.”

“Shush! We’ll scare them off,” Ditzy whispered back.

Aspect slowly pulled away, looking Dash in the eyes as he smiled at her. “To be continued,” he promised. “Just not in public.”

“Awwww!” Carrot and Ditzy whined again.

“Huh… what the, you’re still here!?” Rainbow squeaked, her eyes widening. And with a burst of speed, Aspect was left hugging a fading rainbow.

“Well, guess it’s on to the next part for me,” the stallion sighed dramatically as he waved good-bye to Ditzy and Carrot Top. “Take care. I have a mare to go wrangle and ensure gets to the massaging table.”

They watched him leave and looked at one another.

“We have got to come to the spa more often,” Ditzy said, Carrot nodding in agreement.

After the sauna, he found Rainbow and once he’d calmed her down with nuzzles, they headed for the massage room. Aloe and Lotus were waiting and two tables were free.

Ten minutes prior…

“So, what shall we do for you little colt?” Lotus purred as she helped Realm up onto a table.

“Such a handsome little zing,” Aloe agreed.

“Well my wings get a lot of work,” the pinto pegasus said, stretching them out as far as he could. “I could do with some help there...one colt is only good for so much.”

“Mm, such an impressive wingspan for one so young,” Aloe hummed as she touched a wing.

“Perhaps we should do somezing… special~” Lotus said, her mouth close to his ear.

“Oh?” Realm asked as he looked at the twins. He honestly liked them a lot, from an artistic standpoint. They matched very well. He would have loved to have given them a more...personal examination. “What sort of thing would you do?” he asked, feigning innocence.

“Mmm, we have a ‘special’ service for somepony like you,” Lotus replied.

“One zat will make you feel…” Aloe leaned down. “Oh. So. Good~”

“What, like some kind of special preening, maybe a massage?” Realm asked. He’d had to be the ‘cute little colt’ on more than one occasion, and it had paid off.

“Oh somezing like that,” Aloe giggled.

“Your fazer told us all about you,” Lotus replied as she nuzzled behind his ear. “So… we shall give you our very best~”

Realm felt, for the first time, a pang of uncertainty. The last time his father had told someone about him was that Clover lookalike...but the way they were acting, they weren’t acting like they knew what he was…

“Close you eyes little colt,” Aloe said, nuzzling him as well.

“And you shall receive pleasures unknown~” Lotus finished.

Realm closed his eyes, wondering what the next step was…

Then, after a moment, he felt somepony tending to his wings and it was divine! Whomever it was, really knew what they were doing. The colt let out a pleased little sigh as his body sagged a little. He hadn’t preened in ages and sorely needed this.

Various oils were applied to bring out the feather’s luster and a conditioner added to soften them. Loose feathers were pulled and others straightened. And all of it was done without an iota of pain. The slight itching misaligned feathers brought melted away. The colt had dutifully kept his eyes closed through all of this, not wanting the sensation to end like he imagined it might if he opened his eyes. It just kept getting better and better the longer it went on. Surely it had to stop at some point, right? It couldn’t go on forever.

And once that was done, a pair of hooves begun to massage his back, working out all the little knots and kinks that had built up from hunching over an easel. Realm let out a little moan at that, all but melting under the touch as he finally gave up the fight to remain seated, instead opting to lay down.

Shoulders, back, legs… His body felt like jelly under the touch.

“How does such a little colt get so much tension?” a flamboyant voice said, a voice that definitely wasn’t one of the twins… or a mare for that matter.

Realm debated internally about whether or not he should be offended that he’d been passed off to a stallion, before the absolute bliss that he was experiencing told him otherwise. No, he could deal with not being touched by a mare, if this stallion was as good at caring for customers like he clearly was. But he’d figure out a way to get back at the twins.

Maybe an anonymous picture left on their doorstep in the middle of the night.

Back in the adjoining room, Dash and Aspect were at the mercy of the twin’s expert hooves. The stallion feeling a thousand years of tension and stress melting away like water off a duck’s back.

“Ohhh, you have no idea how good that feels,” Aspect moaned as he lay there. “So many old hurts just evaporating…”

“You have a lot of tension,” Aloe noted as she rubbed his shoulders. “You should have come to see us much sooner no?”

“Oohh yeaaahhh~” Rainbow groaned not unlike in a way that Aspect only heard in one other… more private place. “That’s the stuff~”

“Couldn’t...too busy. Might come back though,” Aspect replied before moaning again. “Oh yeah. That feels so good…”

A gentle aroma filled the room from the incense as the twins finished up their work and smiled. “Zere we go, Miss Dash, Mister Aspect. Once you are able, we have a bath waiting for you.”

“Gimmie like...five minutes to enjoy this,” Aspect said, lazily waving a hoof at them. “I’ve never felt so free…”

“Take all ze time you need,” Aloe giggled as the pair left the couple alone to relish this.

“Ahh, damn they’re good,” Rainbow sighed happily. “I feel like a puffy little cloud on a clear day.”

“I feel fresh and ready to take on anything,” Aspect grinned. “I didn’t know just how much tension I was carrying around before now. Holy heck do I feel amazing!”

“Wanna get that bath?” Rainbow asked as she stretched. “Before the oils in our feathers get all sticky?”

“Oh, so that’s why you went for the shower the other night,” Aspect mused ‘innocently’. “Yeah, okay, we should probably do that.”

Rainbow blushed and spluttered. “W-Well, what was I supposed to do!?”

“Wait until the morning, when we could all share one?” the stallion suggested with a wide grin. “I’m sure Bon Bon and I would have loved to help get you clean...and dirty, and clean again.”

“Urgh, you’re such a perv,” Rainbow rolled her eyes as they made their way to the large bath. Rarity and Fluttershy were in there, as well as Bon Bon, who was looking rather blissed out.

“Ah, hello!” Aspect greeted Rarity and Fluttershy as he and Dash joined the other mares in the tub. “You know, I was starting to doubt that we’d run into you here, and yet we eventually met!”

“Oh, Aspect?” Rarity looked quite surprised. “I didn’t think you to be the spa type.”

“I mostly came for the others, but I will definitely be coming back for their massages if nothing else,” Aspect replied as he felt the water wash the oils out of his feathers. It had a rather… nice scent to it as well, the mineral waters relaxing him more.

Rainbow moved up next to him and smiled at the others. “Yeah,” she agreed… as something touched him in a rather… intimate place. “It was pretty nice to just come and chill.”

“Really get rid of your tension,” Aspect agreed as he did his utmost to control himself. “Which, considering our active lifestyles, we could really use. Heck, I bet Applejack could do with a massage here every now and then, considering how much farmwork she does.”

“I know darling,” Rarity sighed. “She and Rainbow Dash are impossible! If only I could get them in my store for an hour. Oh the wonders I could work…”

“Pass,” Rainbow shrugged as her hoof started to move. “You know I can’t stand all that frou-frou stuff.”

“I’ll bring it up with Applejack to at least get her to consider coming in here on occasion,” Aspect said with a shrug of his wings. “Maybe if I point out they do massage packages to loosen a pony up, make them fit for work again, and would likely explain what a room is meant for if they asked, she’d consider it. Though I might have to go the dreaded route of paying for her first trip myself, but if it gets her in here more often, I’d gladly sacrifice some bits. Some things you really should just have done, especially if you constantly push your body to the limit.”

“Yeah, but AJ is busy a lot of the time,” Dash nodded, throwing her tail into the mix, brushing up against his underside as her hoof picked up a little more speed. “It’s hard to find time to do it.”

“Okay, so I find a day when she’s not busy with something or other and induct her into the ways of the spa, got it,” Aspect nodded knowingly, having a harder time keeping himself under control now. Still, he had a few tricks for that left that he could employ. “Maybe if I bribe Applebloom, she’ll tell me her sister’s schedule.”

“I wouldn’t use underhoofed tricks against Applejack,” Rarity warned. “That will not end well for you darling. But, if I may be so daring. Could I ask a favour of you?”

Rainbow ducked under the water, presumably to rinse her mane… and he felt a tongue go somewhere…

“I’m listening,” Aspect replied, hiding his buck with what little was left of his mind after all the teasing they’d done to each other.

“Well you see, dear Fluttershy has kindly agreed to model a few outfits for me,” Rarity said. “Perhaps, you might model a few stallion ones. I don’t know all that many that would be willing…”

“I don’t know,” Aspect mused. “I mean, it would mean you’d put me in a fancier outfit than my cloak…” Sweet gods, when would that mare stop!

“Oh please!” Rarity begged and… what that Rainbow’s mouth!? “It’s just for a few hours at most, a few photos. Nothing much and all you would have to is stand there.”

“Well, okay,” Aspect agreed. “Just this once.” Surely she’d stop. She still didn’t know the trick. She knew the trick, When did she learn the trick!?

Wait… where was Bon Bon? When had she left the bath? Aspect looked around without trying to look like he was looking around.

Four hooves… oh bucking dammit!

“Is everything alright?” Fluttershy asked. “You look a little red Aspect.”

“Fine, just fine,” Aspect replied with a smile. “I’m just gonna dip in, rinse myself off real fast.” Before the others could reply, the stallion had ducked into the bath and was giving a look that all but screamed ‘Really?!’ at the mares under the water.

Once he reappeared, Bon Bon and Rainbow followed.

“Phew!” the prismatic mare sighed. “Thought I’d never get that gunk outta my wings.”

“Well, you have to be thorough,” Bon Bon smiled.

“Indeed you do,” Aspect agreed without a hint of bite to his voice. “I think I’ll stay here for a bit and make sure myself.” And give time for something else to die down.

“Well, I’ll see you at my boutique this afternoon then,” Rarity smiled as she and Fluttershy got out of the bath. “Enjoy your stay dears. Tatah~”

Fluttershy offered a small wave as the pair left, leaving the trio alone in the bath. Aspect sighed before looking at both of the mares in turn. “Bon Bon,” he started. “Did you have an enjoyable stay at least?”

“Mmmm, I feel like a new mare,” she sighed and rolled her neck. “How do you ponies go on adventures like that on a weekly basis?”

“Practice,” Rainbow nodded and smirked at Aspect. “What’s that saying? Turnabout is fair play?”

“Did something happen?” Bon Bon blinked.

“Steam room,” Dash replied flatly. “And in front of Ditzy and Carrot as well.”

“To be fair, I only started a bit of it,” Aspect rejoined. “You responded. Enthusiastically.”

“Bite me,” Dash huffed and folded her forelegs. Aspect smirked playfully and leaned in to nibble at her ear. She squealed and backed away next to Bon Bon, who nibbled her other ear.

“Mmm, tasty bird pony~” she cooed. “What do you say Aspect? Shall we have some lunch~”

“I do wish I could, but I have to go see to whatever Rarity wants of me,” Aspect replied with a sigh. “Though, I will say she blushes adorably when you compliment her figure or beauty, if you’re after that.”

“Aww,” Bon Bon sighed, dropping Dash. “That’s not fair. You get to play with her the other night, and in the steam room, now you’re running away?”

“Well I do have to do other things as well,” Aspect replied, moving over to kiss both mares on the cheek. “Mmm. But I will eagerly respond to whoever is free to join me tonight.” With a cheeky wink, and a light spanking of Dash’s flank, the stallion was off, out of the bath and the door.

“Argh! He totally got away scot-free,” Dash pouted.

“Don’t worry,” Bon Bon said and rubbed her hooves together. “I have a plan~”

“So,” Aspect stated as he looked at himself in the mirror. “Literally just stand here, wear this, and look good?”

“Indeed,” Rarity nodded as she set some feathers and sequins onto Fluttershy’s outfit. Aspect’s was a black suit with red velvet lining. A fedora adorned his head with a phoenix feather poking from the band. “Hm... She's going to want to see attitude and pizzazz.”

“Oh, well, attitude, I can do,” Aspect retorted, ruffling his wings a little and gazing through half-lidded eyes.

“Attitude, not a poor attempt at seduction,” Rarity deadpanned. “Try again.”

Aspect closed his eyes, adjusted himself slightly to flare his wings in a slightly menacing fashion, and opened his eyes again. Only this time, he was glaring with a steely glint in his eyes. One hoof was even pawing at the ground, like he might charge into battle at any moment.

“That is even worse,” Rarity sighed and shook her head. “You look like a bull about to charge. Just… sophisticated. Can you try that perhaps?”

“...I’ve been away from civilization for a thousand years,” Aspect deadpanned. “I mean, I could try imitating those ponies up at Canterlot, but I doubt I’d be able to do it well…”

“Just… show me what you’ve got,” Rarity said like she was talking to a foal. Aspect sighed, relaxed for a second…

And then adopted a much more regal bearing. He held himself in a confident, sure manner, as he gazed caringly at Rarity. He’d been lying when he said he didn’t have practice imitating the ponies from Canterlot.

Celly and Lulu still made their home there, and he’d gotten plenty of practice imitating them, or rather, imitating the show they had to put on for others.

“Ahh! Perfect!” Rarity beamed as she placed a few pins in his outfit. “Just like that and you’ll have them eating out of your hoof.”

“That’s not the only thing he like to eat out of,” Rainbow snickered, causing Twilight and Pinkie Pie to blush.

Aspect glanced to his right as he saw Rarity using Spike as a pin cushion while she made some adjustments to Fluttershy’s outfit.

“I would imagine that might hurt,” the stallion commented. Even his voice had changed slightly, to better imitate the ones he was basing this mimicry off of.

Spike shrugged. “Thick scales. Can't feel a thing. And even if I could, there is no pain that would keep me from assisting the most beautiful creature in the world.” He turned to see if Rarity was out of earshot, before looking back at the other ponies. “I'm gonna tell you four a secret. But you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

Aspect merely gestured for Spike to continue with a hoof.

“I promise,” Twilight agreed.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Pinkie agreed, actually sticking a cupcake she pulled from her mane in her eye.

“Sure,” Rainbow said.

Spike looked around again before taking a breath. “I have a crush on Rarity!”

Pinkie gasped in surprise. “I promise not to tell!”

“I’ve heard weirder, but I’m the best at keeping secrets,” Aspect agreed amicably.

“Really?’ Twilight deadpanned. “Everypony knows about your—”

“Twilight!” Pinkie scolded her. “You promised Spike you wouldn't say anything. He trusts you. And losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever!”

“But—”

“Forever!!” Pinkie said in a lower tone, one that sent shivers up the spines of the equines for some reason.

Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes. “My lips are sealed. Though I'm pretty sure Rarity is gonna pick up on your feelings.”

The doorbell rang and a pony burst in. She was an earth pony with a light blue coat and a bleached white mane and tail. She wore a full body dress, black and white striped with a little magenta around the skirt. The ascot she wore accented that as well.

And for some reason, she also wore a pair of rather large purple glasses… or goggles. It was hard to tell.

“I, Photo Finish… have arrived!” she declared, her voice hinting at an Austrian accent. Aspect opted not to say anything, instead deciding to see how this played out. It was already shaping to be interesting, based on her verbal tics.

Rarity tittered as she walked over to her. “Photo Finish, I must say what an honor this is—”

“We begin… now!” the mare said, taking out a camera.

“Attitude and pizzazz,” Rarity stage-whispered to the pair of dressed up ponies.

“Now, show Photo Finish something.” the mare said, her camera flashing as Fluttershy did practically nothing but cower. The mare moved between the two of them, Aspect doing his best to hold the regal pose that he’d practiced earlier. “No. Yeesss. No…. yeeesss.. NO! YES! Enough!” And as quick as it started, she stopped and put her camera away.

“Well that was painless,” Aspect mused aloud, still in his mimicry of his daughters.

“She hardly took any pictures,” Twilight commented.

“I’m so sorry,” Fluttershy whimpered. “I tried my best.”

“Well, the headdress is too big for you and cape had too much sparkle,” Rarity sighed. “I can't believe I ever thought I could impress her.”

“Fashionable ponies are different,” Aspect commented, finally dropping his mimicry and returning to normal. “What was the name of that stallion that you had judge your fashion show? He was...unique as well.” He would refrain from saying how out of respect.

Photo Finish held up a hoof. “It would seem that I, Photo Finish, have discovered the next fashion stars of Equestria!”

Rarity blinked. “Wait, really?”

Photo nodded. “Yes. Really. And I, Photo Finish, am going to help her to shine all over Equestria. Tomorrow, a photo shoot in ze park.” she paused for a moment. ”I go!”

And go she did, the mare vanishing as quickly as she came.

Rarity’s smile could not be any wider. “Did you hear that? I am going to ‘shine all over Equestria’.”

“Good on you both,” Aspect replied, under the impression he wasn’t wanted for this. “I’ll still attend to see how it goes, but I don’t think there’s much call for a stallion model.”

“Oh, the male model industry is just as large as the one for mares,” Rarity said with a nod. “Stallions wear clothes too. So naturally, I’ll need your assistance. If it’s compensation you’re worried about, I’ll be happy to pay you.”

“I really don’t need payment,” Aspect said with a shake of his head. “But I honestly don’t think I can do it too often. What with Pup, teaching at the school, teaching the Wonderbolts...my schedule is looking pretty cramped as it is. I’ll help out a friend every now and then, but don’t expect it to be a regular thing.”

“Of course,” Rarity nodded. “If I’m being a bother, just say so. I’m sure I can make do with Fluttershy…” She turned and looked at Rainbow. “And Rainbow likes to act like a stallion most times…”

“Hey!”

“Well, I have a home to make sure is still standing,” Aspect replied, before looking at the various pins keeping the outfit on his body. “Um. Little help?”

“Oh, of course,” Rarity smiled as she assisted him in getting undressed. Once he was free, she packed the outfit away, along with the one that Fluttershy had on.

“Well, I should get back to the library,” Twilight said and looked at Aspect. “Oh, and could you tell Realm he’s forgiven? That aside, I did enjoy talking with him.”

“If I can find him,” Aspect replied with a snort. “I think he’s looking for a practice yard to train in. I should see about building one. Maybe a nice peaceful garden to meditate in.”

“Well, the library is always quiet,” Twilight said. “He’s free to paint there until you have something. Anyway, I should go. See you later.”

“Later,” Rainbow nodded as she and Pinkie left. She was busy waving, she didn’t notice the stallion coming up behind her…

At least, she didn’t notice him, until he started nibbling the tip of one of her ears. She let out a rather high-pitched squeak and flew up to the ceiling, glaring down at the stallion.

“Y-You… You…” She blushed and waved a hoof at him. “Cheater!!”

“All’s fair in love and war, and with you the lines oftimes do blur,” Aspect quipped at her.

“Oh great, now he thinks he’s a zebra,” she rolled her eyes. “Hmm, well if you can catch me… you get a prize~ 321GO!” And with a blur, she shot from the room and out into the sky.

“Apologies mares, but I have a suddenly appearing engagement,” Aspect said to Rarity and Fluttershy, before he was off as well. If anybody had been looking, they would have seen a muted flash from his body as he started channeling the full Aspect of Air once again.

The two pegasi landed on Aspect’s front lawn, a hair’s breadth between them. Favoured winds and other Aspect tricks saw that he caught up quickly, but it was up for debate on who won the impromptu race.

“Hah! I totally won!” Rainbow cheered. “Whoo! Yeah! And the crowd goes wild. Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!”

Aspect smirked, reached out, and pulled Dash into a quick kiss. Well that shut her up rather quickly and effectively.

She pushed back after a minute and stared at him. “Hey, I won. No prize for you.”

“Au contraire,” Aspect smirked, before parroting her exact words back at her. “‘Hmm, well, if you can catch me...you get a prize~’” The stallion trapped her in a hug and smiled at her. “I caught me a Dash.”

“Ahh horseapples,” Dash swore. “Well… fine. I guess you do get a prize then.”

“I’ll be sure to cash it in later tonight,” Aspect smirked at her, before grabbing her flank. “Aren’t you the weather captain for Ponyville? I wouldn’t keep you from your highly important job.”

“...I’m late?” She looked at the distant clock tower. “I’m LATE!?” She rocketed off, leaving a cloud of dust and an upside down Aspect in her wake.

“Well,” Aspect mused to himself as he picked himself up and looked at the house. “I suppose I could do other things while everyone else is busy.” He idly wondered when any of the other alicorns might pay Pup a visit. He wanted to be there to see that.

Inside the house, he was greeted with quite the sight.

Princess Celestia, still in her full regalia…

Putting away an entire three-tier cake with a look of utter contempt on her face, oddly switching to a second of bliss with every bite before flipping around to rage again.

“And this is why my food bill is so high,” Aspect deadpanned. “Maybe you should level a tax on the noble houses that don’t know how to take ‘no’ for an answer. Call it the ‘idiot tax’ and send it to me so I can keep you swimming in cake when you come to visit.”

“I mean this with the utmost amount of love I have,” Celestia replied in a dry tone. “Go jump off a cliff into a cacti field.”

By way of answer, Aspect merely flared his wings with a cheeky grin on his face. “But seriously,” he stated after a moment. “What is it this time?”

“Ohh, you know,” she replied with a mountain of sarcasm. “Just tried taking your advice. Unfortunately, I cannot revoke noble titles without reason. If they committed some sort of crime, then yes. But it’s not illegal to be irritating and stupid.” Another slice of cake made it’s way home. She was like a piranha with a sweet tooth. “Despite the fact that they’re nothing but overgrown foals… no, I revoke that, I’ve met foals with more sense…”

“And this is why I wish Chryssy was more social,” Aspect sighed as he shook his head. “She’d be able to help you pass the legal documents through the proper channels in a week.”

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve only met her once,” Celestia sighed. “And Luna never has…”

“Though I know that there’s someone here you haven’t met yet~” Aspect smiled at Celestia. “Didn’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?” Celestia muttered and her eyes widened. “Crunch is… Where’s your Earth magic!?”

“Found a new Earth Aspect,” Aspect hummed. “And let’s be honest, we needed one.”

“After so long…” Celestia stood up and with a quick spell, cleaned herself off. “Right. Show me to him or her.”

“No idea where he is, to be honest,” Aspect replied, before looking at the nearest painting.

“Drawing room,” the subject within replied. “He’s fascinated by the moving pictures, now that he’s actually noticing us.”

“Right,” Aspect nodded in thanks to the painting. “Thank you.” He turned to Celestia and waved a wing. “Shall we?”

Celestia nodded and headed for said room.

Pup stared at Commander Hurricane, the two locked in a fierce, intense match. But when Celestia and Aspect entered the room, the sound of the door made him blink and he groaned.

“Dang it! I was so close that time!”

“Are you...actually having a staring contest with the painted ponies?” Aspect inquired, befuddled as to what he thought he’d be accomplishing with that.

“Yes! And I almost beat the bird pony!” Pup sighed.

“You wish, runt,” Hurricane taunted him. “I could go all day!”

“That’s what she said!” a voice in the background shouted. Hurricane, to her credit, didn’t blush. Instead she grinned and waggled her eyebrows at Aspect, who groaned and facehooved.

“Can we please stop giving the painted ponies ammunition?” he begged.

“On one side,” Celestia smirked. “They can only window shop~”

“You’re not helping,” Aspect hissed. “Can we just get this introduction out of the way?”

“Of course,” Celestia chuckled. She stepped closer to Pup, who flinched and backed away when he saw her. That… that was a big pony. “Hello little one,” Celestia smiled warmly. “I hear you’re a part of our family now.”

“I...I…” Pup stammered at the massive alicorn. Aspect walked over to the small Diamond Dog and put a wing on his back comfortingly.

“Relax,” he soothed. “She’s just curious about you. We haven’t had an Earth Aspect in so long. She’s my daughter, she won’t do anything to you.”

“Wha…” Pup blinked. The Equestrian Princesses… had parents? Well… that was just plain unfair.

“Whatever is the matter little one?” Celestia knelt down to look at him. Pup backed up again, but Celestia pulled him closer with a wing. “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

“That’s not… what they said,” Pup finally spoke.

“What who said?” Aspect asked with a cocked head.

“The ponies at the kennel for pony pups,” he said. “I was there… after I was born. It’s why I can speak and read better than the other Dogs. But, once I was old enough, they gave me to the dogs. Says that I wasn’t a pony and that the Princess didn’t want dogs in her kennel, only ponies.”

“The townsfolk around here might be a little wary of you at first,” Aspect soothed. “But here, in my home, you will always be welcome. This family doesn’t discriminate. Heck, we have a freaking Phoenix and Seapony, and a Windego as well.”

“A… what?” Pup knew was a Phoenix was, but not the others. Scratch that, he’d met the Seapony. The heck was a Windego?

Celestia listened to his story and nodded. “I will… look into things.” She’d heard some rumors in the past, and a few pieces fell into place. “But father is right, you have all of us now, and you’ll find nothing but friends here in Ponyville alright?”

“A-Alright,” Pup nodded. “I’ll try… as soon as I beat that old bird pony in a staring match!”

“Old?!” Hurricane screeched. “Oh it is on runt!”

Celestia just shook her head. “It’s good to see you too you old warmare. And I heard you met a descendant of yours.”

“She looks like me, but she doesn’t look like she’s seen a decent scrap in her life,” Hurricane scoffed.

“She kicked a full-grown dragon in the face,” Celestia smirked. “Besides, Equestria’s a more peaceful place these days. There hasn’t been a large scale battle for six hundred years.”

“Just the one?” Hurricane asked with a raised eyebrow.

“It’s not like I go and send untrained mares out to fight dragons on a regular basis,” Celestia deadpanned.

“Let’s just ignore the fact that I only found out about it because of the smoke,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes.

“Because your go to response is ‘How quick can I kill it?’,” Celestia deadpanned. “The dragons would have wanted my head if you’d done that. Have you met the Dragon King? He’s rather cranky at the best of times. Like you without coffee, and that’s on a good day.”

“I’m the one that nicknamed him Smaug, and he liked it,” Aspect quipped. “Besides, I wasn’t gonna kill him.”

“No, likely make him wish he were dead,” Celestia sighed. “Also, have you seen Cadence? I looked for her after I teleported her to Canterlot, but I can’t find her anywhere.”

“Well if she’s lost, it’d only take a little looking to find her,” Aspect replied. “Or I could ask. Or maybe she’s just looking for some private time. She did mention a coltfriend…”

“Oh right, Shining Armor did just get back from a trip with the Long Patrol,” Celestia nodded. “Hmm, perhaps you might like to come with me back to Canterlot then?”

“I have things to do here in Ponyville,” Aspect replied. “Have to make sure Pup gets settled in here, have to keep a watchful eye on Realm, have to attend a photoshoot tomorrow as a model, have to teach whoever shows up next…”

Celestia blinked. “I’m sorry what?” Did… he just say, model?

“Yeah, you were here for the teaching thing,” Aspect nodded as though there were nothing wrong.

“Nonono, circle back around,” Celestia said. “Did you say… model? As in… a fashion model?”

“What of it?” Aspect asked with a raised brow.

Celestia had a mental image, one of him in a puffy collared shirt, tight latex pants and waaay too much body glitter.

Pup, Aspect and the paintings were treated to Celestia collapsing, unable to stand as she was laughing so hard.

“And this is why I don’t tell my daughters what I get up to,” Aspect sighed, before putting a comforting wing around Pup again. “Come on. Let’s see if there’s anything left for you to discover in this old house.”

“Well, I haven’t been into very many rooms,” Pup admitted. He turned and looked at Hurricane. “And I’ll get my revenge!”

“Anytime runt!” Hurricane cheered. “I’ll be here, bring your A-game next time!”

“Only if you bring yours…” Pup shot back as they reached the door. And just before it closed… “Old bird pony~”

“That’s it!” Hurricane yelled back as she began chasing after them through the paintings.

Early the next morning, Aspect was awake, caffeinated and now waiting in the park as Celestia’s sun had started its climb into the sky. Gods above it was early. What pony in their right mind was awake at this hour?

Yes, Celestia was, he still stood by his previous statement.

“Aspect!” Rarity tittered as she arrived, a clothes rack and Fluttershy in tow. “Good to see you could make it. Thank you.”

“For a friend I can sacrifice some time,” Aspect replied as he shook the sleep off. “Realm’s busy painting, and Pup is exploring the house, so I’m free for today.”

“I still appreciate it,” Rarity smiled as she moved through her outfit designs. “No, no, no, yes! That is definitely the one. Photo Finish is going to love it. Everypony is going to love it!”

“Oh, I am so excited for you.” Fluttershy smiled as Rarity started putting the chosen outfit on her. “Just don't forget us little ponies when you become the most famous designer in all of Equestria.”

“Never,” Rarity replied as she chose a rather dapper-looking suit for Aspect.

“I just hope this is all Photo Finish needs,” Aspect added as he put on the suit carefully. “I don’t mind helping you out, but I do kind of need my free time again.”

Rarity opened her mouth to respond, but she was interrupted by Photo Finish arriving, carried on a platform by a pair of stallions. “Put me down here,” she instructed as the stallions let her down. She took one look at Fluttershy’s outfit and sighed. “Oh, nonononononono. The model should be in something simple! Something inspired by... the nature!”

Rarity’s brow knitted into a frown for a half-second. “That's just what I was thinking. Um... give me a moment and I'll, uh, put a little something together…”

“That will not be necessary,” Photo Finish held up a hoof as her assistants removed the dress that Fluttershy had on.

Rarity’s frown returned, and deepened. “But... but... how are you going to help me ‘shine across Equestria’ if I don't design something new for these pictures?”

“Ahh,” Photo Finish turned and looked at the designer. “I am not going to help you shine across Equestria. I am going to help her shine.” The mare pointed at Fluttershy. “She is my star.” Photo pointed at Rarity and Aspect. “You and You! Go!”

“...Well, that’s rather rude,” Aspect huffed. “You could have said that back at the boutique.”

“I did, you misunderstood is no fault of mine,” the mare replied and waved them off. “Now go, I have a photoshoot to do.”

“Rarity…” Fluttershy looked dejected. “I can’t do this…”

Rarity swallowed the lump in her throat. “Oh, but you must, Fluttershy. Photo Finish wants to make you a star. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I know we were both hoping it would be my lifetime, but nonetheless you can't throw away this chance. You must do this for me. You must. You must! You must!”

Fluttershy looked… apprehensive. But she nodded regardless. “Alright then,” she said as Photo Finish dragged her away.

“Come Flootershy, It is time to make… ze magicks!”

Aspect sighed as he took his suit off with the same amount of care he’d put it on with and hoofed it back to Rarity. “If it helps any, I rather liked the hat you put on me back at that boutique,” Aspect told the fashionista as they left. “An actual Phoenix feather? Rather bold.”

Rarity sighed as she put away the outfits and wheeled the clothes rack off without a word. The stallion shook his head. He could see where this was going…

He just didn’t know how to resolve it. Or even if he should intervene.

After attending his classes at Ponyville School, Balanced Aspect now sat in his backyard, illuminated by the late afternoon sun as he instructed Pup about his various abilities as the Aspect of Earth.

“Okay,” Pup groaned. “So… I’ve learned that exploding rocks is a bad idea. Sorry about those windows…”

“It’s fine,” Aspect waved off. He could afford to have them replaced. “Let me see if I can’t explain it for you…” The stallion mused for a moment. “Okay. So a normal Diamond Dog has very little magic, right? They can interact with the earth, but they don’t have the ability to use magic as actively as the ponies can. Your problem is, you now have way too much and are trying to get used to how much is enough for anything you try to do.”

“It’s hard,” Pup said as he looked at his paws. “I mean, I know what I wanna do… but it gets… arrgh, how do I explain this!?”

“You’re trying to use a trickle of water, and the entire stream comes gushing out?” Aspect offered. “Except you actually have an ocean hiding behind that trickle now.”

“I… what’s an ‘ocean’?” Pup asked, momentarily forgetting his woes.

“Huge body of water at either end of the continent,” Aspect explained. “So vast you could swim in it for a year and not reach the other end. Neptune rules them with the Seaponies.”

“Fishie ponies?” Pup wondered what they were like. He had… a promise with water. If water stayed away from him, he stay away from it. “Why are there so many different ponies? There’s only one kind of griffon, one kind of Dog…”

“I honestly don’t know why there are so many types of ponies,” Aspect replied with a shrug of his wings. “I didn’t create the situation. I just used it to my advantage. I’m not responsible for that one.”

Pup just shrugged, wasn’t that important anyway. “Alright, back to training.”

“Okay…maybe this time,” Aspect told the small Diamond Dog, “You could try using only a touch. The barest bit of your power to do things. It’ll happen slower, but it’ll still happen. We’re trying to get you used to your power, not use it all up.”

“Alright then,” Pup closed his eyes. “Um… what should I do?”

“Let’s start small,” the stallion instructed. “Just bring up a small pillar of stone. Just a tiny one. You don’t have to get fancy with it.”

Pup nodded and raised one of his paws. Just a small pillar. Nothing fancy. Use as little power as possible… The earth started to part as a spire of stone, about as round as a pony’s hoof started to rise. Slowly and surely…

Then a door slammed nearby and the pup yelped, his power flaring up. The spire soon bursting into a small tower that rose higher the the house.

“Well...now we know not to startle you,” Aspect quipped as he looked towards the source of the sound. “You wait here. Don’t try anything until I come back. I want to make sure nothing happens that could startle you again.” With that, the stallion was off to investigate what it could have possibly been.

As he walked though his home, he was sure that the noise had come from the kitchen. Had his daughter launched another raid on the fridge… whyyyy was the fridge shaking? Without a second thought, Aspect opened it to investigate.

Fluttershy… was in his refrigerator…

“I’m fairly certain you’re not a food,” he commented dryly.

“Can… I hide here for a while?” she asked before sighing. “Oh, I’m sorry. You probably want to use the refrigerator…”

“What do you need to hide from so badly? And please, come out of there when you tell me,” Aspect replied, holding a hoof out for her to use to pull herself out. One she accepted, but then quickly moved to close the curtains on all the windows in the room. Outside, Aspect could hear voices… from what sounded like a lot of ponies.

“Are you being followed?” Aspect asked, looking at the windows with a glint.

“Something like that,” Fluttershy sighed. “It’s just this model thing… ponies are everywhere! I can’t get a single moment to myself. They stalk my home, where I go, what I do… I’m sorry… I just thought, this would be the safest place, but I’m inconveniencing you.” She sighed again and peeked through the windows. “I’ll make a break for it when the coast is clear, I promise…”

“You know my home is open to everyone,” Aspect sighed. “You’re not a bother. I have more room than I know what to do with, most days. But if this thing is so stressful for you, why are you still doing it?”

Fluttershy sat down at the table and groaned. “I don't like being a model. No, I hate being a model. All this attention is awful, just awful. And I'm only doing it because Rarity told me I must. I must! I must!” She sighed again and put her head in her hooves. “I must…”

“Then I’d say you need to have a talk with Rarity and tell her that you don’t like it,” Aspect stressed, walking over and lifting Fluttershy’s head up a little. “Friends look after one another. They don’t force each other into doing things they don’t want to do.”

“Oh no, I could never do that,” Fluttershy said and shook her head. “Rarity would be devastated. This is her dream.”

“Her dream was to have her fashions spread across Equestria,” Aspect pointed out. “That’s not happening. True, she missed out on her chance, but that’s more Photo Finish’s fault for not seeing the work she put into them. A friend wouldn’t force another friend into doing something if they truly didn’t like it. And you need to stand up and tell her that you don’t like it. Otherwise that?” He pointed out the window, where there were still voices coming through. “Will keep happening.”

Fluttershy bit her lower lip. He made a lot of sense. Maybe… if she just talked to Rarity…

“Okay, I’ll try,” Fluttershy said with a small nod. “Thank you Aspect.” She smiled, the first smile she’d had all day. “I can see why Rainbow is so smitten with you.”

“Yeah, now if she just stopped blowing off work to hang out with me, she’d be responsible enough to, wouldn’t you know it, spend more time with me,” Aspect chuckled. “By the way. You’re very cute when you’re smiling. Just thought you should know.”

Fluttershy squeaked and blushed. “I’m… cute?” She ducked behind her mane, now blushing even more.

“Not helping, you’re even cuter when you’re blushing,” Aspect explained. “I should know. I have an eye for cute ponies.”

Fluttershy was just reduced to squeaking now, turned more crimson than Applejack’s apples.

“Well, when you recover, you can go talk to Rarity,” Aspect finished, before giving her a quick hug. The stallion then decided to do something about the trespassers on his lawn.

He always wanted to be a cranky old man…

Outside, well over a dozen ponies, all with cameras littered about, searching for the elusive pegasus mare.

“She has to be here somewhere,” one said.

“I saw her fly this way, you think she’s in the house?”

“Dunno, anypony knows who lives here?”

“Probably nopony important…”

There was the sound of a throat being cleared coming from behind them all. The first one who turned to look got a sight that he wouldn’t soon forget.

A white pegasus stallion, with a grey mane and tail…

Whose wings were coated in lightning.

“I’ma only say this once,” the stallion said with a terrible accent. “Git off mah lawn.”

“Bwah? Who’s that guy?” one paparazzi asked.

“Beats me,” another said, snapping a photo of the lightning-coated pegasus.

Then the stallion demonstrated just how much control he had over the lightning…

By zapping the camera out of the hooves of the one who carried it. Said stallion yelped out of surprise and a little fear…

Then the entire herd ran for it, not wanting to see if he started aiming at them instead.

“And that is the distractions done for the day,” Aspect sighed, ruffling his wings a little as the charge dissipated. Arabus would never calm down, it seemed. Always eager to have his power used, but his influence over it was...bah. And he’d been working on it for ages.

Still, he had other, more present Aspects to worry about. The stallion trotted around his house to find Pup still there, along with the pillar of stone he’d unintentionally called up. “Okay, the distractions are gone,” he stated to the small dog. “So we can try exercise two now.”

“Exercise two?” Pup blinked. He’d heard some shouting outside, what had happened out there? “What’s Exercise Two? Teacher.”

“Okay, so, you have a large column of stone here,” Aspect replied, pointing at it with a wing. “But I can’t have that sticking out of the ground around here. So what you’re gonna do, is put it back in the ground.”

“Seems easy enough,” Pup nodded. “Lemme guess, slow and steady again?”

“Yup, you have the gist of calling your power up, so we’re gonna try a new exercise as well,” Aspect nodded. “Visualization.” At the pup’s uncomprehending blink, he elaborated. “Imagine your magic as a giant paw, pressing down slowly on the top of the column. Even if you only use a little magic, it’ll go faster and with more control if you imagine how it should work, instead of just forcing more magic at the problem. Less explosions that way.”

“Ooohhh,” Pup nodded understandingly as he tried this new method. The pillar trembled as it started to press into the ground with a low rumble. After a minute or two of focus, the top of the pillar slipped into the earth. A patch of displaced dirt was the only indication it was there at all.

“And there you go,” Aspect smiled at the small Dog. “You’re getting the hang of it. You’ll grow into your power and be able to use more and more for these exercises as time goes on. Soon you’ll be able to call up mountains.”

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration isn’t it?” Pup deadpanned.

“The power of the Aspect of Earth is not to be underestimated,” Aspect replied seriously. “It will probably take you time to grow into that much power, but I know for a fact that one of the major jobs of the Earth Aspect is to call up new ores and gems from the planet’s molten core. I tried to do that for years, but I soon learned...I was not ready for that much weight on my shoulders. When the time comes that you fully grow into your power...there is nothing on this earth that could stop you, save me. Mountains will move because you asked them to. Swaths of land shall be green and fertile because you blessed them. And the mines that will be needed to find all the ores you bring up shall be extensive.”

“I… could really do all that?” Pup asked, his voice having no small amount of awe in it. “That… sounds like I’m going to be a god.”

“Only of the earth,” Aspect pointed out. “Pyro is the queen of the Phoenixes, and mistress of the flames. Neptune is the lord of the seas. There are about a dozen Aspects in this world. You are going to be one of them, when you grow up. Earth is a powerful aspect, true. But each and every one has things it can’t do. For example, you won’t be able to do a thing with water, or fire. You can combat them, but you can’t do anything with them.”

“Ah… I wouldn’t want water anyway,” Pup shuddered. “Nu-uh, no way. I hate taking a bath.”

“You do realize that if you’re going to be staying in my house, there are certain standards of hygiene I will require you to uphold,” Aspect stated matter-of-factly. “I realize you don’t like baths. But I’m not going to let you get away without them.”

Pup’s eyes widened.

“Are you going to run?” Aspect questioned in a dangerous tone. “Because I still have the power of one Aspect running through me. You won’t get far.”

“You’ll never take me alive!!” Pup declared and prepared to dig away…

“Rotten cheater,” he muttered as he pouted in the bubbly bathtub, weeks of dirt, grime and other things scrubbed from his fur.

“There are lots of illnesses that can be fought just by keeping clean,” Aspect stated as he kept scrubbing. “Plus, you’ll look far more attractive to others if you keep yourself clean. Not just ‘some dirty Diamond Dog,’ but ‘A dog of standing and taste.’”

“Says the grumpy bird pony hermit on the edge of town,” Pup snarked back.

“Even when I was wandering the wilds, I kept myself clean,” Aspect replied as he dumped a fresh load of water atop the pup’s head. “I don’t understand why you don’t like taking a bath. Explain it to me.”

“Gee, let’s combine getting wet and being underground,” he said back. “You’d wind up covered in mud and all that digging meant you were just gonna get dirty again anyway. There was no point.”

“Fair point,” Aspect conceded. “But that’s likely because the dogs haven’t discovered proper plumbing yet. Or towels.”

“Towels?” Pup stood up suddenly and started to shake, spraying water everywhere until his top half was dryish. “Who needs ‘em?”

“...Somepony who wants to remain dry,” Aspect replied as he stared at the pup, his top half now soaked. “Or somepony who wants his house to remain dry.”

Pup looked around and smiled sheepishly. “Ehehe… oops?”

“Come on, you’re about as clean as I think you can get in one session,” Aspect replied, dumping a final load of water over the pup to rinse him off with. Before he could object, or shake again, the stallion pulled the pup out of the tub and set him on the bathmat. It was a near thing, but Aspect managed to get a towel around the weaponized wetness before it started flying.

“Graababahaba!” he growled as the towel was scrubbed over his head. “Oh come on!”

“Having fun?” Bon Bon smirked, standing in the doorway with a bemused expression on her face.

“Just inducting the newest addition to the house in the art of the bath,” Aspect replied over his shoulder as he kept drying the pup. It was a struggle, but one he seemed to be winning.

“You look more like a dad struggling with an unruly foal,” she giggled. “Need a hoof?”

“Just one, bring that mirror over here,” Aspect replied, pointing a wing at it. “I want him to see what he looks like when I’m done.”

Bon Bon nodded and brought it over, before sitting down and propping it up in front of her. “Like this?”

“Yup, and...done!” Aspect proclaimed as he whipped the towel off of Pup and turned him to face the mirror. “Get a good look at yourself. This is what you look like after a nice bath.”

“Ahh, why am I cute and fluffy!?” he whined, his fur puffed out adorably. “I’m not supposed to be cute! I’m supposed to be cool!”

“Oh, well. I suppose I could comb it down for you.” Aspect mused as he poked around the bathroom. He eventually emerged with a brush and started combing Pup’s fur down, to tame it a little for him.

“Mmmmm~” his tail thumped the ground as his eyes closed in bliss. “This feels goooood~”

“Who knew,” Bon Bon chuckled. “The puppy likes a brushing.”

“The secret weakness of Diamond Dogs, the unconquerable brush,” Aspect quipped as he kept it up. “Whenever you feel a bit more normal, feel free to look at yourself again. I think I’ve got your head fur under control.”

“Maybe a proper grooming might be in order, get a fur trim and whatnot,” Bon Bon suggested as Pup looked at himself. He had to admit, he didn’t think his fur could get so shiny. A small smile appeared on his muzzle.

“See? I see that,” Aspect smirked as he kept up the brushing. “You like the way you can look if you put a little effort into it. It’s all well and good to work hard, play hard, get dirty. But staying clean is the trick. That shows others that you take care of yourself, in every way. From the ones that matter to the small things. Image, is important.”

“Is it really?” Pup said and looked at him. “Is that why you hide yourself?”

“I hide myself for a number of reasons,” Aspect replied. “The first of which is, my daughter Celestia has spent ages building a house on the mountain, and playing games of words with the ones that think they’re better than everypony. If I showed myself, proclaimed myself, suddenly it would be my job to take over. I don’t want to take that from her. Plus, I am terrible at the political game.” The brush was set to one side, its job done. “The second reason I go around like this is because it’s easier to blend in with the ponies if I am a pony. Plus, going around as a pegasus means I can more easily tap into the Aspect of Air if I need it.”

“I still like you for you though,” Bon Bon smiled and kissed his cheek. “No matter what you look like.”

“I know, and thank you for that,” Aspect replied, before looking back at Pup and scratching behind his ears with a hoof. “So. How about we make an appointment to go down to the spa and see if they can groom you there in the near future? See if they can’t make you look any better?”

“A...spa? What’s that?”

“A place where you can relax… well, mostly,” Bon Bon giggled as she ran a hoof down Aspect’s back.

“It’s also a place where they make ponies look better,” Aspect explained. “I don’t know if they’ve ever had a Diamond Dog customer, but we can ask and show off that you’re well-mannered.”

“This is gonna be a hassle huh?” Pup sighed. “Ponies… don’t like us. They don’t like anything that isn’t a pony.”

“Hey,” Aspect softly said, nuzzling the pup. “I care about you. And they’ve already accepted that I’m weird. If need be, I will carry you into the spa on my back and ask them to see to you on threat of me never coming back if they don’t.”

“Don’t worry,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Ponyville is as weird as you can get, you’ll fit right in.” She tapped her chin and looked at him. “How old are you anyway?”

“I… don’t know,” Pup sighed. “I don’t know when I was born, or where… just that, my Mom is a pony. I dunno where my Dad is…”

“Hey,” Aspect replied, holding the Pup from behind in a hug. “It’s okay. Though...I think we might need to make a few trips to figure some of those things out. I doubt we’ll be able to answer the question as to who your parents are. But we can probably go to the hospital to see if they can help us determine how old you are. Plus, we should probably make sure you’re up to date on your shots as well.” He sighed as he looked at Bon Bon. “Looking after a new life is complicated.”

“Apparently so,” the mare smiled and nuzzled the pup as well. “And you can count on Aspect. He’s actually quite reliable sometimes.”

“All I ask is that you bear with me, okay?” Aspect asked Pup. “These early days are going to be new, probably uncomfortable. But I’ll get my act together and help you out as much as I can. I have...like, two other things going on as well. And that’s not to mention my relationships.”

“Relationship!” Bon Bon corrected him. “We’re all in this together. Me, you and Rainbow. Lyra… well I hope she takes the news well. Our own friendship is… unique.”

“Just as long as she doesn’t ask to jump in as well, I think I’ll live,” Aspect chuckled. “C’mon Pup. Let’s get this nice-looking dog off to the hospital and see about those appointments.”

“Okay teacher,” the dog responded as he tossed the towel and followed him out. Meanwhile, Bon Bon thought it was time for Aspect to meet her other family member...

Author's Note

This one is all me forgetting, sorry. Got caught up in something.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does go a long way to making Aus's life a little more bearable.

Half of all funds will not be spent on a brand new farming game. Promise.

(Aus already got me one, the bastard. Hates my free time, yes he does.)

Chapter 22 - Maid to order

Nurse Redheart looked over the results of the tests she’d performed on the young Diamond Dog, a small frown on her muzzle.

“Well,” she finally said. “While I can’t be a hundred percent sure… we don’t know a lot about Dog physiology I’m afraid. But… I’d probably put him between ten and twelve years old.”

“Split the difference, call it eleven for the sake of it,” Aspect nodded. “At least until something comes along to correct us. How’s that blood work looking?”

“It’ll take a few days to get a result,” Redheart responded. “I’ll admit, we’ve never met a half Dog/half Pony before. I had no idea it was even possible.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect chuckled. “What else...oh yeah. He’s been living with the dogs on the outskirts of town until a few days ago, except for when he was very young and in a pony city. I don’t suppose you’d have a booster shot that would make sure he doesn’t immediately fall sick lying around?”

“I do,” the mare nodded. “But without those blood results, I don’t know what effect they’d have. Those shots are tailored to a pony, and I have some griffon ones here too. But if the worst happens, we won’t know how to reverse the effects. Though I imagine if he hasn’t fallen sick by now, a few more days won’t matter too much.”

“Translation,” Aspect spoke to Pup, rubbing him behind the ears. “‘Let the ponies that went to school for this do their work, you ungrateful customer.’”

“Glad to see that you understand,” Redheart smiled sweetly. “Now will that be all today? I have a pregnant mare to tend to next.”

“For now, yes,” Aspect nodded as he guided Pup onto his back for the walk home. “But do let me know when the work is done. I’m anxious about the town and Pup making a good impression on each other.”

“I'll do the best I can,” Redheart nodded. “Just… keep him away from densely populated areas like the park and markets. Also the school, those kids always have a cold or some such.”

“Will do,” Aspect saluted with a wing before they were off. “See?” he said to the pup on his back as they made their way home. “It didn’t hurt too bad, and they’ll make sure you don’t get sick easily in the future. Plus they gave you a lollipop.”

Pup would have answered, but his mouth was full of candy and his eyes were as wide as saucers. “What… is this delicious stuff!?”

“Candy,” Aspect replied as they made their way to the massive house he called home. “Suck on it to get more flavor. It won’t last forever, but it’s good while it does.”

“Sooooo gooood~” the pup moaned, enjoying his treat. “This is waaaay better than rocks and rabbit jerky.”

“Don’t mention the meat-eating around the yellow and pink pegasus,” Aspect warned the pup. “She’s the animal caretaker for Ponyville, her favorite friend is a bunny. I don’t know how she’d take it.”

“Ahh, well I never liked rabbit anyway, too stringy,” Pup shrugged.

“We can go hunting later, I’ll need meat soon anyhow,” Aspect explained. This put Pup in a visibly happier mood as well. He was so tired of eating rock soup all the time. Hmm, maybe candy soup?

On their way home, Twilight brushed past Aspect, but seemed to be so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice him. She just kept muttering to herself as she walked away.

“Well that’s a first,” Aspect mused as they kept on their way to the home. “Normally she has a small list of questions to ask.”

“Wasn’t she one of the ponies that was with you in the den?” Pup asked. “Cause she’s talking to herself… Dog’s do that when they go mad…”

“Eh, I tended to talk to myself when I was alone, helped me organize my thoughts better,” Aspect replied with a shrug of his wings. “I’d do it at home, but nowadays I have all the pictures hanging up. It’s not a bad thing. Just a thing ponies do. She’ll be fine. She’s probably just stressed out over something.”

“Oh… Well, you’re her friend aren’t you?” Pup pointed out. “Shouldn’t you...I dunno, help her or something? Isn’t that what friends do?”

“I’ll explain when we get home,” Aspect promised. “Let’s just say that I’ve already intervened once. I’ll hold off on doing any more until I’m ready to get involved with crazy shenanigans again.”

“Well, if you say so,” Pup shrugged and followed the pegasus stallion.

At this point, Aspect was almost used to random ponies popping up in his home. Still, one of the ponies that awaited him when he and Pup arrived was new. He was a tall unicorn stallion. A pure white coat and a two tone blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was a shield with a five-pointed magenta star.

“Hello Grandfather!” Cadence waved and ran over to hug him. “I finally managed to escape Canterlot and those nagging nobles. All thanks to my knight in shining armor here.”

“That joke is never going to get old, is it Cadie?” the stallion sighed.

Aspect took the hug without complaint; Luna’s were stronger. He eyed the stallion warily, quite sure that this was the coltfriend he’d been warned about. A mischievous glint came to his eyes.

“Oh, introductions!” Cadence beamed. “Grandfather? This is Shining Armor, my most wonderful fiance and Captain of the Royal Guard. Shiny? This is—”

“Balanced Aspect,” Shining Armor said. “An immortal human with relations to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

“Oh you’re read up,” Aspect smirked at the stallion. “But did Cadenza tell you why she calls me grandfather, or is that a surprise I still get to spring on you?”

“One, anypony as powerful as you, and so close to the Princesses I swore to protect, of course I’d learn about you. And two, I assume because Princesses Celestia and Luna are her aunts,” Shining replied stoically. “Or is there something I haven’t been informed about?”

“Yup, first rule of the house,” Aspect replied with a nod of his head. “Leave the titles at the door. Nothing more than you’re comfortable with, and you’d best believe if you bring yours, I’ll bring mine. We’ll talk about how we’re actually related later, maybe.” He went to the door and was about to open it, before turning and pointing a wing at the stallion. “Another thing. Drop the guard act when you’re in here. If something serious were to actually happen here, in a house that is regularly visited by the forces of the world incarnate, then we’ll have bigger problems than how many guards we need.”

Shining sighed, it was bad enough that he was so far outclassed by the ones he had to protect… it was another to have somepony actually point it out.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong,” Aspect spoke up, having picked up on that. “I find it quite admirable that ponies think my daughters need defending. And there are still things they can’t do. For example, be everywhere, or know everything that’s going on. And don’t point it out to Lulu, but she can’t do one whiff of fire magic. It’s just too much her opposite. Like ice is to Tia.”

“Huh… that, I did not know,” Shining said and his eyes twinkled. “Like how Cadence is a lousy flier, especially for a pony that used to be a pegasus~”

“Shiny!” Cadence blushed. “That was meean!”

“Everypony has their weaknesses and their strengths,” Aspect agreed. “Though if there’s one thing you’ll always have over us immortals, it’s numbers. Get enough ponies in one place, focused on one goal, the impossible can become possible. Celly and Lulu didn’t always raise the moon and sun, you know.” With that, the door was pushed open and they were all ushered inside by the stallion.

“I’ve always wondered that,” Cadence asked as they entered the house. “I know that before the Discord Era, it was Unicorn’s that rose the sun and moon… but what about in your time? During the Rainbow Valley and all that.”

“Dream Valley, and it was still unicorns,” Aspect said. “Entire villages would take turns gathering around monuments to focus their power. They had to have a rotation going, otherwise those that participated too much risked straining their magic to the point where they could no longer use it. That became less of an issue when I gave out some spare power to the pony tribes...but it still wasn’t good by any stretch of the imagination. By the way, don’t mind the paintings.”

“Paintings?” Shining blinked and turned to look at one… which turned to look at him. He gave a startled yelp and backpedaled away from it. The subject in question just chortled as it moved on to the next painting.

“Yeah, Pictomancy. I should also warn you there’s a perverted pegasus colt wandering the halls, as well as a painted copy of Starswirl the Bearded. I think that’s just about everyone…”

“Starswirl… how is Twilight not living here?” Shining chuckled. “She’d flip her horn if she heard that.”

“She knows,” Aspect sighed. “Probably has something to do with aforementioned pegasus.”

“I’m surprised she’s not lurking around here then,” Shining smiled. “She’s a huuuuge Starswirl fan. I’m pretty sure she knows more about him that he ever did.”

“Yeah, about that,” Aspect intoned. “There’s a thing going on today. Has been for a little bit. It involves the Bearers, I’ve noticed that crazy things just seem to...happen, around them.”

“Ahh, she seems to find something every week huh?’ Shining chuckled. “You could write a serial novella about her and her friends.”

“Oh,” Cadence smiled. “By the way. Shining Armor here is Twilight’s big brother.”

“Aaah, that explains the slightly similar cutie marks, then,” Aspect nodded sagely. “Anyways. Pup? Feel like doing a scouting run of the house and telling me who all is in residence?”

Pup put his paw to the floor and closed his eyes. “The big bird is on the second floor… the seapony in the bathroom, also on the second… And I can’t feel the princesses. And, there’s two ponies in your bedroom.”

“Really Neptune, just gonna abandon your kingdom entirely?” Aspect muttered before looking at a nearby painting. “Mind passing along word to my guests that I’m home with more guests?”

The subject nodded and walked out of her frame, reappearing in one further along the wall.

“That… is so weird,” Shining muttered as he watched the pony walk off. “And… was that Private Pansy from the Unification Era?”

“It was indeed,” Aspect agreed as he thought about the best place to have a meeting. “Hmm. Dining room or ballroom?”

Cadence’s stomach gave a loud rumble.

“Dining room it is,” Shining chuckled before Cadence was pulled into a rather wet hug, along with Aspect.

“My dearest family!” Neptune cried out. “I have just realised how long I have been away from my kingdom and I must return posthaste! But I did so enjoy meeting family again after so long!”

“Take care out there,” Aspect croaked out.

“Assuredly I shall do as such father!” Neptune nodded as he gave the pair one last crushing hug before setting them down. And then with a whirlwind of water, he vanished from sight.

“Well…” Shining looked at Cadence, admiring her with a wet mane. “That was interesting.”

“That, was Neptune, ruler of the oceans,” Aspect sighed as he contemplated shaking himself dry...then realized Pup was standing right there. “Bathroom first, then the dining room.”

“I’ll be back as well,” Cadence said and looked at Pup. She was sensing odd magic from him. “The dining room is over there Shiny, we’ll only be a moment.”

“Alright,” Shining replied, kissing her cheek before she walked off.

Only a few minutes later, a well-dried Cadence and Aspect walked into the dining room. “I’ve been told my cooking is abysmal, though palatable, so I doubt you want me cooking,” the stallion opened with.

“Ditto… unless military rations are your thing,” Shining chuckled. Cadence sighed and shook her head.

“Don’t look at me, I can’t cook either.”

“Well, we’re utterly boned,” Aspect sighed.

Cadence’s eyes sparkled. “Speaking of… I hear you have two marefriends now~”

“I’m not sure how it happened myself,” Aspect replied with a shrug. “One second I’m trying to take Bonnie off to see Written, the next a prismatic pegasus is kissing me.”

“Wait… you have two marefriends?” Shining blinked. “And here I thought you would be an honourable sort…”

“For your information, they know and sprung the arrangement on me,” Aspect sniped back. “Besides, I’m never honorable in combat. There’s time for honor when you’re paying your respects. When you’re fighting for your life and the survival of ponykind as a whole, honor goes out the window.”

“Sorry, Shiny’s a bit like his grandfather in thinking a pony should only have one,” Cadence said and nuzzled him. “But his stick-in-the-mud’ness is just one of the things I like about him. He’s so cute~”

“I-I’m not cute!” Shining argued back.

“Yeah, I’m not seeing it,” Aspect agreed. “He’s more rugged than cute.”

“See? He gets it… though I’m not sure how I feel about another stallion complimenting my looks,” Shining blinked slowly.

“Ah, don’t sweat it,” Aspect waved a wing at the unicorn stallion. “I’m just what you would call a connoisseur of cute. I’ve seen it so often I’ve become quite skilled at picking it out.”

“I grew up with a filly Twilight Sparkle,” Shining countered. With a smile, he cast a Memory recall spell and a picture appeared in the air.

“Yup, fillies are definitely the cutest,” Aspect agreed. “At least, as long as they’re not abusing their cuteness to get things from you. Tia and Lulu were terrible about that. The moment they realized they had ‘cuteness powers’ they started to abuse them.”

“Hahah, Twilight did that all the time to get cookies,” Cadence giggled. “Then one day, I distracted her with a picture book…”

“And then Bookworm Sparkle was born,” Shining concluded.

“Unlike me, who still has cuteness abused against him on a nigh daily basis,” Aspect replied with a sigh. “Ah well. At least it’s not ‘can I have a cookie’ or ‘can I have another story before bedtime’ anymore. Now it’s just…”

Cadence’s eyes widened and she leaned in closer. “Ooh~ You have some juicy details?”

“Please don’t enable her…” Shining said with a long-suffering sigh.

Aspect smirked, and opened his mouth. Cadence was prepared to hear details about his love life. What she got…

“Daddy, can you stay?”

Cadence blinked. “Um… I’m sorry… wat?”

“That’s really the reason I’m here, and not travelling Equestria, to see what they’ve done with it,” Aspect explained. “My daughters cuted me into staying in one place.”

“Oh…” Cadence sat back, blushing slightly. She… wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that.

Shining just stared. Aspect had shut down the alicorn utterly. He had to learn his secrets!

Then the dining room door opened and… a maid entered? Cadence and Aspect immediately recognised Bon Bon in the frilly dress, as she carried a silver tray on her back.

“Greetings honoured guests,” she smiled as she set the tray on the table. “My humblest apologies for being so late. But however, lunch is now served.”

“I did not tell her to do this,” Aspect preemptively defended himself from Shining.

“Hmm, your maids don’t make lunch?” he asked.

“He jests,” Bon Bon smiled. “Our Master is a very generous sort. Very… giving~” She turned to set the second tray town, giving Aspect a nice upskirt view.

“Of course,” a second mare said as Rainbow Dash walked in with a tea tray on her outstretched wings. “Our Master is the odd sort. Here is your tea by the way.”

Cadence was trying not to bust a gut here, her red face was evident she was trying immensely hard.

“I’m being serious,” Aspect tried to defend himself once again. “I would never tell my marefriends to do this.”

“These are your marefriends?” Shining blinked as he looked at the two maids.

“The Master loves us very much~” Bon Bon hummed and kissed Aspect’s cheek.

“And so, we would do anything for him~” Rainbow added and winked at the pegasus stallion.

“I’ll hold you to that when we no longer have guests,” Aspect promised them. He pointed at the chairs to either side of him with a wing. “For now, join me.”

“Oh but Master~” Bon Bon cooed.

“It’s not proper to eat with the guests,” Rainbow finished as the two mares smiled and headed for the door.

“I really don’t know why they find me interesting, or why they continue to toy with me like that,” Aspect sighed. “They know it’s only going to end one way.”

“Oh?” Cadence snorted, taking a sip of tea to try and calm her incoming gigglefit.

“Yes, and if I didn’t have guests, I’d be doing that right now,” Aspect sighed, again. “But there are certain things you don’t do.”

“Mister Aspect… who do you think my marefriend is?” Shining sighed. “I’m surprised she hasn’t started giving you advice yet.”

“Can I!?” Cadence asked excitedly.

“Down,” Aspect told Cadence. “You already did that.”

“But I have mooore~” Cadence hummed and rocked from side to side. “Especially now you have two cute mares~”

“Cadence, down!’ Shining said and the alicorn pouted, folding her forelegs and puffing out her cheeks.

“In any case,” Aspect started as he picked up a teacup. “So. Shining Armor. Brother to the new Bearer of Magic. And that’s about all I know about you besides the fact that you’re clearly a guard. Oh. And dating my granddaughter.”

“Yes well, I’m Captain of the Guard actually,” Shining replied and nuzzled the pouting Cadence. “And there’s also that. I love Cadie very much.”

“Well I know that the one that would be more entitled to chime in can’t, not without us going to him instead, so I’ll ask you in his stead,” Aspect stated before downing some tea and smiling at the taste. “Good stuff. Anyways. You promise to be there for her? No matter the situation?”

“I’ll take on the whole damned world if it came after her,” Shining said, his gaze becoming a steely one. “And I know, that if the threat is big enough to be one for an alicorn… well I probably won’t stand a chance…” he put his hoof on Cadence’s and smiled. “Doesn’t mean I won’t bucking try though.”

“Ah,” Aspect smiled. “You remind me of me when I was young. When all I had was a sword and the will to help the ponies, and my first mission was invading the castle of nightmares with Megan to try and rescue the captives and stop Tirek. She handled that with the Rainbow of Light, but I was right there next to her, willing to do...something. Anything, to help.”

“Your point?” Shining asked.

“You aren’t one of us,” Aspect pointed out. “I respect that you love her. I do. And her prospects for finding immortal love are dreadfully thin. But there’s nothing anyone can do to stop the inevitable. Heck, there’s even an Aspect devoted entirely to the inevitable.”

“So what…” Shining frowned and slammed a hoof on the table. “Are you saying I can’t protect her? That I’m not strong enough!?”

“I’m asking the both of you one simple question,” Aspect returned, raising a hoof, before pointing it at the pair. “Is this worth it?”

“It’s always worth it!” Shining said with a fierce glare. “Come heaven or Tartarus. It’ll always be worth it!”

Aspect gazed at them a moment longer, before nodding once at him. Then he turned to Cadence. “Is it worth it?” he asked her softly.

“You tell me,” she smiled back and kissed her husband-to-be deeply.

“Congrats, colt,” Aspect smiled at the pair. “You pass. Because true love isn’t something that’s convenient. It’s not something you can say ‘oh, I’ll get to it later.’ It’s something you fight for.”

“Speaking from experience?” Cadence teased him once she broke the kiss. “Sorry Grandfather, but I think I know just a little more on the subject of love than you.”

“What is Equestria, if not my greatest labor of love, to tame the world for the pony race?” Aspect quipped.

“Oh fine, I’ll give you that,” Cadence said and then smirked. “You seem intent on collecting every single uninvolved mare at this rate anyway~”

“Hardly,” Aspect shook his head. “I’m just happy to teach ponies and help out my friends when I can. I wasn’t expecting a second.”

“You know, a proper herd is usually five or six,” she hummed. “About one stallion for every three mares.”

“...And with my luck, Bon Bon will have heard that,” Aspect sighed. “Look, just...no. Okay? I gave up the Earth Aspect. I don’t have super-pony stamina anymore.”

Shining rubbed his chin and smiled. “I could run you through some basic Guard training. Stamina building and the like.”

“I have a basic weight room in one of my basement rooms,” Aspect explained. “I just have to get used to my new lows before I can start improving on them. I’ve been running with both Earth and Air at full power for so long, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not be full of power.”

“Well, the offer’s always open,” Shining nodded as he took his lid off of his food tray. “Ooh, this looks pretty good,” he commented. “Who cooked this?”

“Likely Bon Bon,” Aspect commented as he pulled the lid off his. “Tell you what. Write up a list of exercises and I’ll see about adding what I can. I have plenty of things to do around town as it is. Between training Pup, teaching the foals, teaching the Wonderbolts, which is a weird sensation to me, and the random things your sister and her friends get up to every week, my plate is pretty full as it is.”

“I’d hate to be you,” Shining chuckled and shook his head. “But sure, I can do that. As long as you try. No point in it if you don’t stick with it.”

“Like I just illuminated, no promises,” Aspect pointed out. “We’re literally sat in front of a font of wild magic and monsters. It used to be tamer when ponies lived there. Since they’ve been gone for a thousand years, monsters have taken over. Anything could come out of the treeline tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t tempt fate like that,” Cadence chuckled. “You already had a Hydra, an Ursa and Celestia knows what else.”

“I must have missed the Ursa by a hair, I doubt I would have missed something that large trundling out of the treeline,” Aspect muttered. “Oh! And let’s not forget the Parasprite plague.”

“Oh yeah, Twiley’s letter mentioned those,” Shining chuckled. “And the Ursa… which she dealt with single-hoofedly or so I was told.”

“I’m gonna have to ask about that one,” the pegasus mused. “But yeah. For a ‘sleepy little town,’ I don’t seem to be able to do much in the way of being retired.”

“Could you really sit still?” Hurricane chuckled from a portrait. “Why couldn’t I get immortality? I’m missing all the fun stuff!”

“And then you have the constant reminders about Pictomancy and Realm,” Aspect continued. “Which means I have to keep more of an eye out.”

“Do I want to know?” Shining raised an eyebrow. “Well, I probably don’t…”

“Nope, but I’ll explain later,” Cadence giggled and ate her meal in record time. What? She was starving. “And speaking of… Did I sense a new Aspect?”

“Mmhmm, Pup is the new Earth Aspect,” Aspect explained as he continued on his food. “Needed a new one anyways. Job’s been vacant way too long.”

“And a new Aspect of Air?” Cadence asked him. “I know Arabus has been giving you trouble lately.”

“Haven’t found one yet,” Aspect replied with a shake of his head. “I can handle him, he’s just one. Now I can focus more of my efforts on taming and removing his influence from my mind. When the time comes to pass the essence off, I’ll only be giving over the power, not the influence.”

“So, what will happen to the influence then?” Shining asked. This sounded like it could be dangerous.

“When the time comes, that the spirit is finally laid to rest, Mort will come to carry it away to Niflheim, where all the past Aspects reside. Watched over by the Windego king, Gelgeth, no spirits escape his gaze or domain,” Aspect intoned before finishing off his lunch.

“This crap is way above my pay-grade,” Shining sighed. “Well, whatever. As long as you have a handle on it and the princesses trust you. I’ll defer to their judgement.”

“It’s all very complex, true,” Aspect agreed before grinning maliciously. “Oh, and we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet!”

“Of course you haven’t,” Shining sighed. “You know, I’m gonna go pay my sister a visit since I’m here. I need some normalcy right now…”

“Looking for normal? In Ponyville?” Aspect laughed loudly. “Oh, that’s a good one.”

“Nopony likes a smartass,” Shining muttered as he stood up. “Well, it was nice meeting you Mister Aspect. Look me up the next time you’re in Canterlot.”

“Take care,” Aspect waved with a wing. “Maybe next time you’ll be made of sterner stuff.”

“Grandfather!” Cadence scolded him. “Don’t pick on Shiny or I will be very cross!”

“Fine, fine, out of respect,” the pegasus chuckled as he took another sip of tea.

“Good,” Cadence said and smirked. “I hope Rainbow’s father knows what you’re doing with his daughter~” And with those parting words, she left his home with Shining Armor.

“She just had to bring that up, didn’t she?” Aspect muttered. “Ah well.”

Well on the bright side...now that his guests were gone, he could go see about his apparently acquired set of maids.

Inside the house, he found his little maids talking in the kitchen as Bon Bon was doing the dishes.

“Oh man, did you see his face?” Rainbow cackled in her raspy tone. “I thought he would pop a blood vessel or something. It was amazing~”

“It was quite fun wasn’t it?” Bon Bon giggled. “I do hope he isn’t too mad.”

“What this?” they heard in Aspect’s rumbling tone. “My maids, gossiping about me behind my back? Well we can’t have that.”

“Eep!” Rainbow yelped and jumped into the air. Bon also turned, her eyes wide with surprise.

“H-Hello Aspect…” she gulped. “Um… nice day we’re having?”

“Oh yes, it is,” Aspect agreed with a malicious smile. “It’s about to be a lot nicer. For me anyways. See, it would appear that a few maids got me all worked up in front of guests. Guests. We can’t be having that. But fortunately…”

He paused dramatically before finishing his statement in a lower tone. “Those guests are gone now.”

“Uhhh…” Rainbow gulped. “Y-Ya know, I just remembered some weather work i have to do. GoodluckBonIgottagobye!” she made a break for an open window…

Only to find herself smacking right into it as all the windows and doors shut. Aspect folded his wing back up with a smirk. “Really now, it’s like you thought running away would save you,” Aspect hummed as he walked over to Rainbow Dash.

“Oh crap,” Rainbow gulped. “Bons? A little help?”

Bon Bon was already sneaking out of the room.

“Running will only save you for so long,” Aspect called out as he reached Rainbow and ran a hoof over her flank. “You can either suffer for what you did or let it happen when you next decide to spend the night. Because I have a long memory.”

“Oh ponyfeathers,” Rainbow gulped as Bon Bon found herself teleported back into the room, the faint glow of Cadence’s magic around her. Oh goodie, his granddaughter left him a candy treat~

“Mmm, now what was it you said earlier?” Aspect mused as he ran his hoof over Dash’s cutie mark. “‘We would do anything for him?’”

Rainbow couldn’t help but let out a small shiver. Well, might as well make the most of it.

“W-Well… my Master,” she said in a timid tone, sounding not too unlike Fluttershy. “What… do you wish of me?”

“The pair of you,” Aspect started, before sitting on his flank and spreading his legs to display himself for them. “Can get me ready. Because I recall some teasing that happened in the dining room that I need to pay back.”

“And, how would you like us to do that?” Bon Bon asked, coming up behind him and nibbling his ear.

“I suggest the pair of you use those mouths for something other than teasing me with,” Aspect pointed out matter-of-factly. “You can even take this chance to show Rainbow that trick of yours.”

“Not much of a trick, as it is practice,” Bon Bon mused as she leaned down. “The trick is knowing how to suppress the gag reflex.” She opened her mouth and with one, slow movement, took almost his entire length in a single go.

“Holy buck!” Rainbow whispered. Aspect let out a little moan of his own, before running a hoof through Bon Bon’s mane. The mare responded by letting out a low, loud moan around him as she pushed down a little more, until her nose met his belly.

“Mmm, now you should let Rainbow have a turn,” Aspect replied through a pant of pleasure. “And give her pointers as well.”

Bon Bon moaned again and slowly pulled back up, nibbling on his medial ring as he did. She eventually pulled back, pulling off of him with a wet pop. “Mmm, how was that? Master~”

“Quite well done,” Aspect praised her. “Now, help your fellow maid as best as you can. Something tells me she might need it if she seeks to replicate that feat.”

Rainbow gulped and leaned down. “Okay… no sweat, I can totes do this.”

“Just relax,” Bon Bon smiled as Rainbow licked the tip, before pressing it past her lips. “Don’t be so tense…” She rubbed the mare’s back soothingly as Rainbow went a little deeper, Aspect feeling himself slip further inside her mouth.

“Good so far, but listen to her,” Aspect added as he began running a hoof through Dash’s mane. Rainbow nodded, listening to Bon Bon’s voice.

“Breathe through your nose, not your mouth,” Bon Bon instructed. “Relax your throat…”

Aspect felt his tip move into her throat as she pushed deeper. He could see the bulge from the outside and buck it was a tight fit! He moaned appreciatively, doing his best to not add to her woes and holding still. She pushed a little further down, getting past his medial ring and taking more than three quarters of him, holding there before she had to pull back, coughing slightly.

“That is still quite impressive,” Aspect praised her.

*hack* “Urgh, sorry… I wish I was as good as Bon Bon when it came to that… geez, how many coltfriends have you had?”

“None, I used… other means,” Bon Bon blushed. “I also don’t have a gag reflex, so that helps.”

“That’s perfectly okay,” Aspect chuckled. “Everypony is good at something. Just because you aren’t as skilled at that, doesn’t mean you don’t have other ways to get one over on me.”

“True enough~” Rainbow purred as she moved around to his back. “Oh Bonnie, you mind taking that side?”

Bon Bon nodded as Rainbow started nuzzling and nibbling his wingjoints again, while Bon Bon resumed deepthroating him. The combined sensations were enough to get the stallion moaning in pleasure, and now that he didn’t have super-stamina, it was actually a fight to hold out for very long.

Rainbow moved down his left wing, licking, kissing and preening it as Bon Bon pulled back up, suckling on the tip as she stroked his remaining shaft with her hooves.

“Mmm, you gonna cum?” Rainbow whispered into his ear. “I bet you do~ Tell me Master~ Where do you wanna do it~?”

“F-Fuck,” Aspect moaned as he felt his peak approaching. “N-not yet. Can’t cum yet. Haven’t...seen to either of you yet.”

“Aww, I bet we can make you cum a whole bunch,” Rainbow nibbled his neck. “Better hurry Master, tell us where you wanna cum~”

Aspect let out a small growl as he looked down at the mare sucking him off. “I’m well ready,” he told Bon Bon. “Present yourself.”

Bon Bon blinked in confusion. Aspect illuminated his plan for her after that.

“I’m putting another load in you,” he told the candy-mare. “And then I’m going to make sure Rainbow isn’t saying that teasingly.”

“You’re gonna get me pregnant one of these days,” Bon Bon mused as she turned around and lifted her tail for him. Instantly, Aspect was on her back, pressing his length against her folds as he got into position. Ohh, she was already so wet. Such a naughty little maid.

“Mmm, be sure to fuck her good and proper,” Rainbow egged him on. Aspect pushed himself inside of Bon Bon, letting his length fill her and sighing in bliss.

“Not sure I can last too long, to be honest,” Aspect spoke up as he started to move. “You both did a number on me.”

“Aww, and we’re just getting started,” Rainbow mused as Bon Bon started to moan softly.

“Mm, I should be good for another round after this one though,” Aspect explained as he started picking up speed. “Plenty of time to pay attention to you.”

“Promises promises,” Rainbow chuckled as she moved back to his wings. Aspect moaned and gripped Bon Bon tighter as he felt his peak come back towards him. In a matter of moments, he’d probably…

Bon Bon moaned and squeezed her thighs together, tightening around him. That did it for the stallion, with a louder moan and a shorter thrust, he buried himself inside the mare beneath him and unloaded inside her.

“Ahhhnn~” Bon Bon let out a long moan as she felt herself get filled by him. It was so warm and filling her so much~

Aspect held himself still until he stopped twitching, before sighing and slowly pulling out of Bon Bon. He then turned his gaze to Rainbow Dash and smirked. “Next,” he said. Bon Bon sighed softly and looked at her leaking rump.

“Uhh, good Aspect?” Rainbow gulped. “Heel.”

Aspect smirked before flipping the mare off of him. He’d done it just right, too: she landed on the floor right in front of Bon Bon, so she had a front row seat to those leaking, dripping folds. He then repositioned himself so that he was sitting behind her, stroking her flank with a hoof. “Well don’t just make Bon Bon have to deal with that mess,” he said as he stroked her mark. “Eat her out.”

Rainbow blushed hard, but nodded as she pulled Bon Bon closer, giving Aspect quite the show of the pegasi’s tongue licking her folds, Bon Bon moaning softly as a result.

It was a good show, and she was taking to it well. But all the same, he knew what got her off.

He lightly smacked her Cutie mark with a hoof. She let out a yelp, followed by a slight moan and a slightly deeper blush.

“Ahh, you ass!” she hissed. In response, Aspect smacked the same side, slightly harder. He was rewarded with another moan and a more defiant glare.

“I didn’t tell you to stop,” Aspect pointed out as he rubbed the spot he’d been spanking with a hoof. Rainbow gasped, but resumed ‘cleaning’ Bon Bon as the earth mare sighed contently. That pegasus was pretty skilled with her tongue.

Aspect nodded, then spanked Dash’s other mark. Hard this time, enough to sting a little. She actually yelped that time, and he noticed her marehood getting rather damp.

“What a naughty little maid, getting off to being spanked like this,” Aspect mused aloud. “Mmm. Punishing her only turns her on.” He grabbed her flank with both of his hooves and rubbed the marks, grinding his hooves into the spots he’d been hitting. Rainbow groaned into Bon Bon’s own pussy, her own dampening even more as a few droplets hit the floor beneath her.

“I think I’ll keep on doing this to you until you finish cleaning out Bon Bon,” Aspect stated with a nod as he pulled one hoof back to smack her flank again. “Let’s see how focused you can remain, shall we?” Smack.

Rainbow panted as she doubled her efforts, licking Bon Bon for all she was worth as the earth mare moaned louder. Aspect smirked and decided to reward the pegasus. So the next time he pulled his hoof back, it wasn’t to smack Rainbow.

It was to grind said hoof into her lower lips, letting her feel something paying attention to her damp folds for once. Rainbow groaned and wiggled her hips a little, her aching nethers demanding attention as she buried her muzzle into Bon Bon, eliciting a deeper moan from her.

“Mmm, I think it’s just about time to reward this naughty little maid, don’t you?” Aspect asked Bon Bon. “She’s so enthusiastic…”

“O-Oh yeesss~” Bon Bon groaned. “Rut her good, punish this ahh~ This little maid!”

Aspect nodded and stood up to adjust himself, even getting a hoof involved to make sure he was pointed in the right direction. It didn’t take long for Rainbow to feel something flat and hard poking at her netherlips. She wasn’t given too long to think about it, as it started pushing into her as well. Rainbow let out a crying moan as he pushed deeper, Bon Bon stroking her mane as she drew the pegasus in for a kiss, licking some of her own juices from her lips.

The stallion grunted as he started to properly screw the pegasus, moving in and out of her at a decent pace now. She was so tight!

“Mmm, what’s it like?’ Bon Bon asked. “Rutting this cute little maid, I bet it’s nice~”

“It’s like a warm, wet vice for my dick,” Aspect huffed as he did his best to push into and out of Rainbow Dash. “She’s so tight...so wet…” He pulled one of his hooves back and smacked her flank again. The pegasus moaned, a fresh coat of juices covering his thrusting member.

“Ohh, she that’s tight?” Bon Bon purred. “And do you like it, My Master~?”

“Mmm, I do, but I think it’s about time I changed what I was doing, lest I put a load where it’s not wanted,” Aspect replied, slowly drawing fully out of Dash. Now his member prodded at Dash’s other hole.

“Mmm, you really wanna fill her though, don’t you?” Bon Bon chuckled.

“Yes, but giving her a foal would be detrimental to her career and goals,” Aspect pointed out as he pressed into Dash’s flank. “Filling this hole, however…”

“Oh, so you’re liking that huh? Such a kinky master we have,” Bon Bon cooed. “Isn’t that right Dashie?”

“Mmm, nn~” Rainbow moaned, wiggling her hips. Aspect responded by smacking her flank again as he pressed deeper into her, giving Dash his entire length. The pegasus moaned louder now, as Bon Bon was content to watch for the moment.

Actually, she stepped forward and pulled Aspect into a kiss, her tongue intertwining with his a she moaned softly into his mouth. Then she got an idea, she pulled back and took something from her skirt, putting it into her mouth. She chewed for a moment and pulled Aspect back into a kiss, and he discovered her mouth was filled with melted chocolate.

“Mmm,” he moaned into her mouth as he kept pounding Dash’s flank. Now if only the little pegasus would admit she’d liked this…

“Ahhh~” the pegasus cried out. “Harder… fuck my ass harder!”

Well, Aspect got his wish. He began screwing her as hard as he could manage, doing his best to ream the poor little pegasus with all the force he could muster. Dash almost screamed with pleasure as Bon Bon just quirked an eyebrow. Huh, who knew the little mare was so kinky. She smirked and moved behind Aspect, doing her best to copy Rainbow Dash’s efforts with his wings.

Aspect let out a moan as he felt even more pleasure surge through him. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he’d filled both of them.

“Ohhh, are you getting close?” Bon Bon purred into his ear and nibbled on it. “Are you going to fill up that little mare under you~? Show that maid who her Master is~”

“Can’t help it...she feels too good,” Aspect panted out.

“Ohh, does she now?” Bon Bon said teasingly and then accidently found that spot between his wings that he liked.

“Fuck!” Aspect swore as he bucked extra hard that time. Rainbow let out a particularly sharp moan as well, her hooves trying to find purchase as the stallion rutted her into the floor.

It wasn’t long before Aspect let out another moan, his length throbbing and twitching inside of Rainbow Dash. The mare let out her own cry as she felt that familiar feeling of his load filling up her lower intestines, her hooves going down to rub her belly as she felt him just unload into her. She almost swore she saw her stomach swell from the amount.

“...F-Fuck,” the stallion huffed as he kept cumming. “My little maids are quite good at getting me to let loose,” he teased.

“Oh but Master,” Bon Bon replied in that same tone. “That was only round one.”

“Wait, what?” Dash asked, her eyes widening.

“Oh, I like the sound of that,” the stallion chuckled as he drew Bon Bon closer.

Twilight groaned as she settled down onto her couch. Seriously, this entire debacle could have been avoided if Rarity and Fluttershy had just talked to one another in the first place. At least it was nice to see Cadence and Shining Armor again. The skies outside were darkening, seems a Wild Storm had popped up over the Everfree, so the town’s weather pegasi were racing to make sure it didn’t enter Ponyville.

“A wild storm… now, why does that sound familiar?” the unicorn blinked. She could have sworn there was something to do… somepony mentioned something…

Then there was a rapid series of knocks on her front door. Almost as bad as Pinkie, if Pinkie actually used doors.

“Public. Library…” Twilight muttered as she opened the door with her magic. She was too tired to deal with this right now. “Pick a book, write your name in the ledger. You have a week to return it,” she said listlessly.

“I’m not here for a book, I’m here for you!” she heard in a familiar tone. “Starswirl and I got up to some real brainstorming! I have so many ideas! And now there’s a wild storm in the Everfree! Come on, come on, get ready!”

….wut?

Twilight blinked and looked up at the chatterbox. “Oh, it’s you Realm.” She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes. “Get ready for what? Is this a euphemism of yours? I thought we talked about that.”

“Nah, not like that,” Realm brushed off, before reminding Twilight of the important part. “Wild storm in the Everfree means Spectra Crystals. Or at least, it will do if it breaks up in time for the sunlight to make a natural rainbow. Which means I’ll have a supply to try out my ideas with! And I promised you I’d take you out to one, so you could see the crystals yourself.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as all her fatigue vanished. Her magic called out a set of bags and in a literal flash, appeared at Realms side with a burst of teleportation. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!”

“Actually, you might wanna make yourself some coffee real fast,” Realm pointed out. “I saw how tired you were. I pick up on details, I’m an artist, it’s my job. And it could be a while before the storm breaks up to the point where a natural rainbow forms. If it happens before sunset. I’ll keep an eye on it while you get your energy back.”

He made a good point. “Alright, do you want something? Juice box maybe?” She couldn’t stop the teasing smirk on her face.

“Nah, I’m energetic as it is. I was actually having tea when I heard the storm over at the house, then I remembered all my plans and promises and got ready to visit you.” Realm walked over to a window with a prime view of the Everfree and fixed his eyes on the storm on the horizon.

“Ahh, to be young again,” Twilight sighed wistfully as she moved to the kitchen. Spike was helping Rarity again today, so she would have to fetch her own coffee. Luckily it was the one thing she could make without it becoming charcoal. A few minutes later, she had a small cup for now, and filled a thermos with the rest. “So how deep into the Everfree are we looking to go?” Twilight asked.

“Wherever the rainbow forms,” Realm replied without looking at her. “If we get lucky, one end will be in Ponyville, which means it won’t have the crystals at that end. So we’ll only have to go hunting down the other end, making it a quick mission. Like as not, though, both ends will pop up in the Everfree, and I’ll have to guard you on the way to check out one end. At which point, it’s a gamble if we picked right.”

“You'll guard me?” Twilight asked as she walked back into the living room, sipping at her cup as she offered Realm a plate of apple slices. The colt gratefully took it, all without taking one eye off the window. He then demonstrated his Gale King skills for the mare, flaring a wing and running electricity up and down it.

Twilight snagged his wing with her magic, staring at it. “How do you do that!? Do you generate the electricity yourself? Or maybe draw in static from the atmosphere? If you generate it, is magic involved? Some kind of electrical sac or gland like eels? Oh, what if--”

“You know, it would probably go faster if I actually had a chance to reply,” the colt pointed out.

Twilight stopped and smiled sheepishly. She released his wing and took a sip of her coffee. “Eheh, sorry.”

“Anyway,” Realm continued as he did his best to remember the lessons and not lose track of what was important. “It’s a skill of the Gale King martial art, which is based around taking a pegasus’s natural magic to the limits of what it can do. Very few can actually manage to generate lightning. Those that do, and possess the magic and will to take their studies further...well, Commander Hurricane wasn’t just called that. She actually could make hurricanes.”

Twilight blinked at that one. Note to self, sleep over Aspect’s place and interview all those portraits.

“Ditzy Doo set a tornado on fire once,” Twilight said, remembering that story that Rainbow told her one day.

“She’d probably be a very strong Aeromancer, if she were properly trained,” Realm commented as he kept his vigil.

“Also…” Twilight pawed at the ground. “I'm sorry for threatening you the other day. I just… well that's what the Princess told me to say, not that I'm blaming her but…” She blushed slightly and looked away. “No pony’s ever thought about me like that before.”

“I find that hard to believe, even in this age that says I won’t be a stallion for four more years,” Realm snorted. “You’re an attractive mare, miss. And I’m not just saying that because you remind me of Clover. You’re intelligent, think of your friends, and can be quite the firebrand if provoked.”

Note to self, heavily blushing Twilight was cutest Twilight yet.

“Are you teasing me again?” she mumbled, taking a heavy gulp of her hot coffee. Her eyes widened and she yelped as the liquid scalded her tongue.

“Hey, easy on the hot stuff!” Realm told her, turning away from the window to look at her in concern. “And no. You taught me my lesson about teasing. I’m being honest with you. I just wish there were a mare in this day that had half your qualities and a smattering of interest in me.”

“Times have changed I’m afraid,” Twilight chuckled, still blushing a little. “W-Well, if I had to admit… if you were a little older I might have…” She trailed off and found a nearby book suddenly very interesting.

“Hey look!” Realm said, pointing a hoof at the window. “There!” Against all odds, though the storm hadn’t fully broken yet, there was a rainbow. And true to luck, one end of it did land in Ponyville. “We have a heading!”

“Oh!” Twilight grabbed her bags and nodded. “I can teleport us to the edge of the forest, save us some time.”

“Make sure to not lose sight of the end of the rainbow,” Realm agreed as he bounded over to stand next to her. “Otherwise we’ll have to reorient, and we’ll lose time.”

Twilight nodded and her horn flashed, and when the light faded, Realm saw that they were at the edge of the forest, the rainbow directly over their heads. Twilight smiled and brushed off her foreleg. “Perfect landing. Now, lead the way Sir Realm.”

“Right, follow me,” Realm replied, pushing into the forest. “We shouldn’t have long to go, if the rainbow is so close over our heads. Look for shining crystals, you really won’t be able to miss them. If we get lucky, we might even get to see them forming.”

“Okay,” Twilight nodded, her heart racing with excitement as she entered the forest with him. The trees grew dense very quickly, Twilight’s heart still racing and… her breathing was growing heavier?

“We should find some soon,” Realm muttered as they pushed through the underbrush. “Nopony’s ever seen them actually forming before. We just know where to look to harvest them.”

“Y-Yeah… s-s-sure…” Twilight replied, her eyes darting around, and then let out a loud yelp when the wind rustled a nearby bush.

“Hey, relax about, oh, just a little,” Realm called back. “Yeah, I get it, it’s the Everfree. Remember, I used to live in the middle of it. You acting anxious and scared is just gonna call attention down onto us. Be confident. You have no idea how many monsters can smell fear.”

“Scared? I’m not scared!” Twilight said, though the waver in her voice screamed otherwise. “I-I mean, it’s not like that Cockatrice is waiting to turn me to stone again right!? I’m just excited about the stones, not about being a stone, right!?”

“Oooh, I remember those,” Realm replied with a wince. “Yeah. Okay. Luckily for you, I know a trick to dealing with them. Dad was not happy I was going out into the forest with them about, so he made sure I could pull this trick off. I can’t out-stare them, but I can make them think twice about staring at me.”

Twilight’s breathing calmed a little. “Y-You promise?”

“Yup, just make sure that you’re not looking at me either. It works based on your line of sight. If you’re looking at me, you’ll be effected as well, and that’s not an impression I want to leave on such a pretty mare.”

“Sure… sorry I’m being such a wimp,” Twilight sighed. “Rainbow would probably laugh at me right now.”

“Everyone has things they’re afraid of,” Realm said as he pushed through another bush. “For instance. I’m afraid of a lot of silly stuff. Mostly because Dad made sure I was capable and trained for the harder stuff. Because hey, he knew I was going to follow my dreams. Better to make sure I was prepared for anything that might happen. But he kinda...left out things like...social skills.”

“Yeah well, I’m not exactly a social pony either,” Twilight giggled, already feeling worlds better. “I couldn’t even tell when a colt was hitting on me.”

“I got all my training from Hurricane, and only now am I seeing how wrong she was,” Realm said as he pushed past a final piece of shrubbery and gasped. Twilight’s horn shone and she took a stance.

“What is it? Monster?”

“You’re gonna want to see this,” Realm softly replied as he gestured for her to come closer with a wing. Twilight stepped closer, craning her neck to look over his shoulder.

There was a small clearing in front of them, and materializing out of a white mist were crystals, growing like sugar candy. One finished growing, coming to a point, and the rainbow above streamed down to fill the crystal, causing it to swirl within in all the colors.

“Oh… wow…” Twilight breathed softly. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Are...Are those Spectra crystals?”

“Yup, and we got here in time to see them grow,” Realm replied in just as soft a tone. “But as wonderful as it is to see them growing, we only have as long as the rainbow lasts to harvest them. Quick, we have to get in there and get pulling.”

Twilight nodded and her horn lit up, but the second her aura touched the stones…

“Yeoch!” she exclaimed, rubbing her horn. “What was that?”

“They’re wild magic trapping color, they wouldn’t take well to being harvested except by touch,” Realm explained as he walked closer to the crystals. He touched the one that had finished and twisted it, before pulling and removing the whole thing from the ground. “There’ve been very few unicorn Pictomancers, but they all said the same thing. Touching them is the only way to harvest them. Blink closer, sure. But don’t try to harvest them except by touch. Otherwise something something magical feedback, I wasn’t listening.”

“Ah, alright,” Twilight nodded and she touched a crystal delicately, and once she realised she wasn’t gonna get zapped again, she gave it a pull. She was quite surprised to find how easy it came out. “Huh… it’s lighter than it looks.”

“Magic and color,” Realm replied as he moved on to the next, not even bothering to bag the crystal he’d pulled out. “What’s important is the amount you get out before the rainbow fades. We can pack them up later.”

“Right, pulling,” Twilight nodded as she started yanking more crystals. By the time the rainbow faded, they’d managed to secure twenty six of the gems.

“Phew!” Twilight wiped her brow and giggled. “These have to be the shiniest weeds I’ve ever pulled.”

“I’ve never managed to get them all before,” Realm replied as he looked up at the fading rainbow. “Wow.” He looked back down at the supply and smiled. “This is probably enough for my plan…” He nudged one over to the unicorn. “You can have one.”

“Really!?” Twilight held up the crystal to look at it before placing it in her bag. “Thank you so much!” The unicorn smiled happily as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Realm blinked.

The pegasus blushed and looked down at the crystals, suddenly finding them very interesting.

He’d...not even teasingly, had Clover ever…

“Still, we shouldn't linger in the forest too long,” Twilight said as she helped him pack the rest of the crystals. “Is it safe to teleport with these?”

“Oh!” Realm snapped out of his kiss-induced daze, helping Twilight to pack the crystals away in his bag. “Yeah. It’s safe to teleport and do magic on them after they’ve been harvested. They’re just picky about the whole being harvested process. Only the touch of a hoof will do.”

“Alright,” Twilight grinned, happy she wouldn’t have to walk back through the forest. “Say when, and I’ll send us straight home.”

“Let’s get all of these packed away first,” Realm replied as he stuffed yet another crystal into his bag. Twilight nodded as she helped, reaching for another crystal as her hoof brushed against his, but she hadn't seemed to notice. Realm did though, and blushed again as he kept his focus. Barely. They had to get these crystals packed before something showed up.

A distant roar… one that was still a little close for comfort.

“Okay, double time it is!” Twilight replied hastily and shoved the rest of the crystals inside. That roar was getting very close… very quickly. Once the last crystal was bagged, she grabbed the colt and hugged him close as she teleported…

And reappeared in Aspect’s kitchen, still holding onto Realm.

The colt would have said something...if he hadn’t been blushing up a storm. Twilight released him and looked around.

“Huh? I was aiming for the living room… also, what is that smell?” she wrinkled up her nose at the heavy musk that filled the room.

“You don’t want to know,” Realm sighed as he got his blushing under control. “Um, thanks again for helping me and all. I doubt it would have gone as well as it did if you hadn’t been there to assist.”

“Too bad I was acting like a filly half the time,” Twilight chuckled. “Thanks though. I think I actually feel a little less afraid thanks to you.”

“Hmm, if you’re still scared of the cockatrices, there is a simple trick you could use to avoid them,” the colt mused. “Back in the day, the ponies learned that if you just blocked their line of sight, you could avoid being turned to stone. It takes them a moment to warm up their stoning gaze. So if you had...what was it dad called them? Sun-glasses?”

“That… might actually work,” Twilight mused, then her eyes widened. Seeing the expression on her face when she came up with an idea was a wondrous thing to behold.

“Right, well, you go have fun with that,” Realm told the unicorn as he tried his best to not get distracted again. “I have to create things.”

“Actually, I think i might stick around,” Twilight smiled. “I’m curious as to why you needed so many crystals, plus I’d like to talk with some of the portraits here.”

“Suit yourself,” Realm replied as he adjusted his saddlebags. “I’ll be in the basement. It’s where dad put the cauldron for making paint, and I might need a lot of paint for this.”

“Okay, have fun Realm!” Twilight smiled and waved. “Thank you for the crystal!”

Realm nodded as he left for the basement. He’d been gathering materials for this ever since he and Starswirl had come up with the idea. A small set of stonecutter’s tools, a easel with a large canvas, and the makings of a frame for the picture he was about to craft had all been set up in front of the cauldron. As well as buckets and buckets of water, because he had planned for a lot of paint for this.

Ponies kept telling him that his title wasn’t impressive anymore. That the Everfree Castle was just a bunch of ruins.

Well, he’d show them what it used to be like.

Author's Note

Hah! Got it up early for once!

And surely this will end well. Yup.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon.

Half of all proceeds will not go towards grinding against bosses.

Chapter 23 - Ascending Art

The colt stared at the lump of stone he’d managed to craft after about thirty solid minutes of working the crystal. If you looked at it right, it could resemble a heart. It wasn’t the prettiest heart. Nor did it look particularly well-crafted.

Then again, Realm was no sculptor. But when the final cut had been made, the entire thing flashed once. He took it as a sign and stopped, now holding his first, crude attempt in his hooves. The first part had been done. The second part…

“Are you sure?” he asked the painted stallion next to him. “We don’t know if this will work.”

“We won’t know until we try, and I’m well and truly ready for whatever outcome results,” Starswirl replied before huffing. “Now go ahead. Give it to me.”

Realm nodded and held the stone in one hoof. “Say aaah.”

Starswirl rolled his eyes but opened his mouth, and Realm put the Spectra Heart on the stallion’s tongue. There was a gulping sound, and then it was gone.

A moment passed in which nothing happened. “Did it work?” Realm asked.

“I don-” Starswirl managed to get out, before his entire body glowed with all the colors of the rainbow. The room was illuminated for what felt like forever, and when the lightshow died down, Starswirl…

Definitely looked more detailed than he had been before. He breathed out in astonishment. “Amazing,” he said aloud. “Introducing a core of color and magic to a painted pony did have positive effects.” He looked at a nearby bucket of water and performed the crucial test.

He tried to lift it, with his horn.

It took a moment...but soon, his horn was aglow, glowing with all the colors of the rainbow as a similar glow overtook the bucket. Out of shock, he dropped the bucket and held a hoof up to his horn. “Did you see that?!” he proclaimed loudly. “Magic! I can actually do magic now!”

“You’ve caught up to your original in almost every way,” Realm smiled. “I mean, you’re still made of paint. But you’re so detailed now, I doubt any other painted pony will ever compare to you.”

Neither of them noticed that on his flank, Realm’s marks began to glow softly…

“Now,” the colt said as he slathered some Spectra Paint on his wing and turned to the canvas. “Phase two. Lay the groundwork, then add the frame.” He drew the wing over the canvas and focused his mind. The rainbow paint resolved into a sight that Starswirl hadn’t seen in...well, technically a thousand years.

The Everfree Castle. So detailed, so faithful to what he’d seen, that he could swear it was just the same, and that was only from the exterior. Realm huffed and panted, but nodded once.

“Good, the background layer is laid,” the pinto pegasus nodded, before darting to the framework he and Starswirl had assembled. It took the two of them a moment, but eventually the pair snapped the wooden frame around the painting-in-progress. However, this was no ordinary frame.

Dotted around the edges were eight holes. And Realm had eight small crystals that would fit in those holes, which he proceeded to install. If this worked like they thought it would…

The last crystal was wedged into the final opening, and the surface of the painting...rippled. Like water. Realm grinned, and his cutie mark glowed brighter.

“Congratulations,” Starswirl nodded his head. “You’ve successfully made the first portal into the realm of paint.”

“Yeah, but it’s not done yet,” Realm replied as he scooped up more paint and bottled it up. “I have to finish the painting, get the interior down exactly the way it used to be. I want to impress with this thing.” With a double check of his supplies, the colt walked into the painting without a fuss at all.

Starswirl shook his head as he sought to get used to the idea of his newly gained magic. This would take some practice…

Hours had passed. Starswirl would have said he was getting bored, but there was always something to do. Some theory to confirm, some calculation to run. He’d brought plenty of paper to write his ideas down on.

However, every time the colt came out of the painting to get more paint, the wizard noticed he seemed to be getting...weaker. His mark, which he hadn’t noticed before, practically blazed brighter every time. It was almost like he was...feeding the painting his very essence as he sought to complete it.

He’d already run through three cauldron’s worth of paint on it. The last time it’d taken him two tries to conjure up the lightning needed to make the paint.

Realm coughed as he appeared again. “More paint,” he muttered, looking in the cauldron. “Need...to make more paint…”

“Look, Realm,” Starswirl said, putting one hoof on one of the colt’s. “It’s not healthy to throw yourself into your work like this. Take a break, get some rest. It’ll be here for you to finish.”

“No!” Realm protested. “Just...Just one more batch of paint. I can...I can finish it. I have to finish it.”

Starswirl sighed, before deciding to indulge the young master. A glow of his horn saw that the cauldron was refilled with water and that a crystal was plunked into it. “Okay. Now can you mix it properly?” Already, the water was boiling.

Realm shakily extended a wing and stuck out his tongue as he tried to focus. Sparks danced once...twice...on the third time they caught, and he fired a weak bolt of lightning into the water. The paint mixed and he cheered, causing Starswirl to sigh.

Fine. One more load of paint wasn’t going to kill him, right?

It had been half an hour since the colt had gone in with the last application of paint from this cauldron, and he’d yet to return. Starswirl was starting to get worried. The door to the basement opened and Twilight poked her head in.

“Ah! Starswirl?” she gasped, “H-Hello…”

“The Clover lookalike again,” Starswirl nodded, his eyes still focused on the painting. “No, it’s no good. I’m going to have to go in there to find him.”

“I’m not Clover!!” Twilight yelled. “Argh! You insufferable—” She put a hoof to her mouth and gasped. “Ohmigosh! I yelled at Starswirl the Bearded! I’m sorry!”

“I’m used to it,” the painted pony said. “But if you’ll pardon me, we might actually have a problem on our hooves. You see, every time Realm went in there with another batch of paint, he came back out all the weaker for it. He’s apparently making a very complex Pictomancy painting...one that seems to be draining him to make. It’s been half an hour since he went in with the last load.”

“Went in?” Twilight looked at the monstrous painting. “How long has he been in there?”

“He’s been working on it for hours,” Starswirl replied with a sigh. “Right. Time to go in and fetch him out. Hopefully he’s just collapsed out of exhaustion.”

“Yeah, let’s go save him,” Twilight said and headed towards the painting. The moment she touched a hoof to it, she found herself being sucked in. She didn’t have time to contemplate it; one moment she was in the basement, the next, she was on the pathway leading to an impressive castle. Starswirl joined her a moment later, already leading the charge as his horn glowed.

“Huh? What? WHAT!?” Twilight looked around frantically. “What happened!?”

“The young master made a portal into the realm of paint, so that everyone and anyone could walk in, even if they weren’t a Pictomancer,” Starswirl explained. “Keep up. I think he’s in the throne room.”

“This is sooo weird…” Twilight murmured as she followed the stallion. He seemed more… lifelike in here. Heck, everything looked lifelike. It was like she’d stepped through a window into the outside.

Starswirl led the way, his horn aglow as he kept searching through the castle for the young master. It took them a few minutes to reach the throne room, during which time Twilight was treated to a view as to what the castle looked like a thousand years ago. Everything was correct, down to the last detail. Not that she’d know, but Starswirl did.

“Where are we?” Twilight blinked. “It… kind of looks like the Everfree ruins.”

“This is the castle it used to be,” Starswirl explained. “Realm painted it from memory.” The pair of them arrived at a pair of large doors, and Starswirl pushed them open.

The scene beyond that was something they wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

Realm.

On the floor.

Paint spilled around him.

But most notable was the red on the floor around his head. That wasn’t paint. Twilight gasped and ran towards him. Her horn shone as she started a scan, praying to the Creator that he was still alive.

“We have to get him out of here,” Starswirl muttered as he looked around the room. “I’ve heard of Pictomancers losing themselves to the art. I didn’t think the art would consume them.”

“His injuries don't appear too severe,” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you know any…” Twilight frowned and groaned. Painted Ponies couldn’t use magic. “I'm going to lift him now. Keep an eye on his condition please.”

Starswirl nodded and looked at Realm before pausing and freezing. After a moment of utter shock, he walked forward and used a hoof to part his messy mane, revealing something they’d both overlooked.

A horn on his head.

“Sir Starswirl?” Twilight blinked. “Has Realm always been an alicorn?”

“No, but we can worry about that when we’re free of this place,” Starswirl muttered. “Every painting has a feeling. This one is complete...but I can feel the hunger it had to get that way. If it hadn’t been finished, we likely would not have survived our trek to find the young master. Quickly. Let’s take him to a healer.”

Twilight turned rather pale at the thought of being eaten by a painting. “I’m seriously starting to dislike Aspect’s home,” the unicorn muttered as she carefully carried Realm to the window of the painting. “So I just… step through again?”

“Yes,” Starswirl said, pointing out the elaborate frame with Spectra Crystals. “You can ask him about the idea behind the portal later. Let’s get him out of here.”

Twilight nodded and walked through. “A teleport would be too risky… Can you watch him? I’ll return with a doctor quicker than you can say ‘Starswirl’s Fourth Omnidimensional Theorem’.” And with that, she vanished with a burst of light. Starswirl did his best to make sure the young master was comfortable, before realizing that it would probably be better if he was in his own room. He horn-wrote a quick note to the young mare before lifting Realm onto his own back and starting to make his way through the house. Hopefully she’d be back soon. He really did like the young master.

And true to her word, she returned not seconds later, before he’d even gotten the chance to leave the room, a rather irate earth pony nurse with her.

“Now look here Miss Sparkle, you can’t just teleport in and—”

“You need to help him!” Twilight cut her off, aiming the nurse’s head at Realm.

Nurse Redheart gasped and took her bag off while she looked at him. “He’s suffered a serious injury to his head. Blood from the orifices, and…” She pulled out a crystal, which didn’t seem to do anything. “No light… his magic is virtually depleted… and, is he supposed to have a horn and wings?”

“Recent addition,” Starswirl quipped. “He was a pegasus until he got the bright idea to paint a picture that almost ate him alive.”

“...I’m not going to ask,” Redheart deadpanned. “Okay, so somehow he grew a horn as well.” She wiped away the blood from his coat with a cloth and shone a light in his eyes. “No response. We need to get him to the hospital asap!”

“Would a teleportation be risky?” Twilight asked her.

“I don’t know,” Redheart said. “Maybe. But moving him would take too long, none of us are fast enough…”

“Two seconds,” Starswirl said, before looking at a nearby painting. “Find the Hurricane lookalike, tell her it’s an emergency. Realm’s life hangs in the balance.”

Pansy nodded and flew away rapidly, off to search the house for the chromatic mare. Starswirl had barely turned back to the others before the door to the basement burst open and Rainbow flew in.

“What’s up? What’s the emergency?” she asked and saw Realm. “Ohh, that’s not good.”

“Yes, is there a wagon here? Otherwise we’ll need you to carry him,” Redheart said, and sniffed the air. “Did uh...we interrupt something?”

“More or less,” Rainbow shrugged, her tail hugging her form. “Right, it’ll be easier if I carry the squirt.”

“Not too fast, or you’ll aggravate the injuries,” Redheart instructed. Rainbow saluted and placed Realm on her back before flying off towards the hospital. “Miss Sparkle?” the nurse asked. “Can you teleport us back?”

Twilight nodded and look at Starswirl. “Please tell Aspect about this,” she asked before the two mares vanished.

“So long as the colt pulls through okay, I’ll have no qualms about being the messenger...or the enabler,” Starswirl muttered as he looked at the painting. It was uneasy, looking at the thing that had nearly claimed its creator.

If not for the portal ringing it, he’d likely just burn the damn thing.

Twilight sat by Realm’s bed. She hadn't left since she arrived and despite Redheart’s many attempts, she likely wouldn’t until Realm woke up. Unfortunately, the colt seemed to be deep in the throes of a coma at this point, likely brought on by his utter and complete magical exhaustion.

It hadn’t taken long for word to reach Aspect either, so Twilight simply waited by Realm’s bedside, reading a book titled ‘Daring Do’. One she read aloud to the colt, coma or not.

She hadn’t gotten far into the book before Aspect calmly walked into the room and sat next to her. “How is he?” the stallion softly asked in a break between sentences.

Twilight placed her bookmark on the page and closed the book. “I honestly don’t know,” she replied quietly. “He’s suffering one of the most severe cases of magical exhaustion I’ve ever seen. The doctors aren’t sure if he’ll even be able to use his magic when he wakes up,” The doctors had said if he wakes… but Twilight refused to accept that. “If only I hadn’t taken him to get those damned crystals…”

“I think I can explain it,” Aspect whispered. “He probably burned all his magic out making the painting he did. Making it so realistic and faithful to the original, as well as that portal. And then...well, ascending is never easy on a body, especially a drained body.”

“That begs the question,” Twilight frowned and glanced at the colts horn. “How did he become an Alicorn? And I swear, I’d better get a straight answer from you this time.”

“I honestly can’t explain it,” Aspect replied. “I can guess though. I’ll have to ask someone else for the fine details, but I can take a stab at explaining how it happened.”

“Well, stab away,” Twilight said as she set her book to one side. Aspect took a deep breath as he thought about the best way to phrase it, before replying to her.

“The closest thing I can think of is that...in that moment. He truly lived for all things related to Art. He almost literally gave his life to complete his work. That sort of effort...doesn’t go unnoticed. He made a Pictomancy painting that all could enjoy, truly enjoy. One so vast and detailed that...were it not for the fact that it’s a painting, I could have sworn it was the exact same place that I used to live in a thousand years ago. He almost died for his work. And it is always rewarded, though in this case...quite instantly.”

“Yep, being put in a coma is a great reward,” Twilight replied dryly. “Still, I guess we won’t really know until he wakes up.” She looked back to Aspect. “So you saw the painting? Did you go inside it too?”

“It was one of the first things I did after panicking about my son being in the hospital,” Aspect chuckled after his response. “I have every faith in this era’s medical science. I just wanted to see what had almost consumed him before coming over. It’s quite realistic, you know. I’ll probably put it up in the drawing room...or better yet, let Realm give it over to Lulu and Tia, let them see how much their little brother’s progressed.”

“Have I ever mentioned how weird your family is?” Twilight mused as she straightened her mane and rubbed her eye sleepily.

“Multiple times,” Aspect nodded. “And I think you need some rest. It’s probably been a long day for you. Go on. I can watch him. I’ll be here for him when he wakes up.”

“No… not going to leave until he wakes up,” Twilight nodded, though that nod might have been her drifting in and out of sleep, her eyes blinking slowly. Aspect merely smirked and waited for the inevitable. It happened a few moments later, with Twilight laying her head on the end of the bed, snoring softly.

“Just a shame I don’t know nearly enough fine control to give his magic a jump-start,” Aspect mused as he sat in a chair, waiting. Soon enough, the message would reach Tia or Lulu about Realm being in the hospital. Maybe one of them knew such a skill. If not, they’d have to wait for his body to wake up the natural way.

And in the dark room, a new light source made itself known. Aspect turned his head and saw a gentle, magenta light coming from Twilight’s horn while she slept. And after a moment… the same glow started coming from Realm’s.

“She really does care about him,” Aspect noted, smiling all the while. If they were lucky, that might be just what the colt needed.

Realm came to. He knew he came to because everything was pain. It was literally the worst moment in his life. Nothing else compared to this pain. Everything felt like he’d overused it. Even his head had a splitting headache. All his muscles ached, all the way to his tail. His tail!

He groaned as he came to, able to do that much at least, and looked around.

Why was he in a bed?

Why was Twilight Clover at the end of it?

What had he gotten up to last night?

The mare in question groaned as the sunlight peeking through the windows hit her in the eyes.

“Urgh, turn the sun off Celestia, it’s too early…”

“She never does,” Realm rasped, instantly thinking twice about talking due to how much his everything still hurt.

Twilight’s eyes shot open, instantly regretting that action as light flooded her vision and she groaned, putting her hooves to her face. “...Ow,” she muttered. “Realm… are you awake or am I hallucinating from lack of sleep?”

“I’m awake,” Realm replied, wincing in pain. “Everything hurts.”

Twilight rubbed her eyes and sat up. “Well I’m not surprised after that performance,” she said, now a little more awake. “You certainly know how to impress a mare.”

“...Thanks?” Realm said, now not sure what was going on. Tia and Lulu had said he wasn’t ready for that by the standards of this age. So...surely she wasn’t talking about that. Right?

“I mean, I’d never expect that you’d be able to go inside like that,” Twilight said with a hint of awe. “It was a bit weird at first, but once you were in, well I’d never experienced anything like that before.”

And now the colt was blushing a little. If he could actually talk without pain, he be asking for clarification.

“Your attention to detail, the skill of your wings… It was just… wow!” Twilight sighed as she recalled the painted world. At this point the colt couldn’t even look at her.

“Twilight,” Celestia chuckled as she entered the room. “I’d stop now if I were you, Realm is far too young to have a heart attack.”

“Huh?” Twilight blinked as the alicorn walked towards them. “I was just talking about his painting.”

“Didn’t exactly sound like it,” the colt softly muttered to himself.

“Twilight,” Celestia shook her head and chuckled. “Remember what we said about Realm? Now, go over what you said and apply it without that context.”

Twilight frowned in confusion as she did… before a blush slowly crept across her face and she buried her head in the blankets, mumbling something about being ruined for marriage.

“I take it nothing happened last night then,” the colt spoke, finally able to do so without causing himself pain.

“Oh something happened alright,” Celestia said with a light titter. “Just not what you’re imagining. Oh and…” She pointed to her forehead with a wingtip. “You have a little something here.”

Realm crossed his eyes, wondering what she could mean...and then went very, very still.

“And yes, it’s quite real,” Celestia took some small joy in his expression.

“No,” Realm breathed.

“Yes,” Celestia nodded and smiled. “From what I can tell, you poured so much into your work, pushed past what should have been possible and created something so… new and so… powerful. It would seem that fate saw fit to reward you for such an effort.”

“To be fair, I made two new things before I went into improving the painting,” Realm explained. “A Spectra Heart for Starswirl, and the Painted Portal.”

“Yes, Starswirl has been… odd since yesterday. He blames himself for your injuries, yet is ecstatic about being able to cast magic.”

Realm groaned as he thought about how best to approach that. “I wish I could tell him I’m fine…”

“You are far from fine,” Nurse Redheart said flatly as she strode into the room. “Your internal magic has been pushed to the point of near non-existence. Your magical circuits are so burned that we’re still unsure if you’ll even be able to cast again. That would include from your new horn, to your ability to fly.”

Aspect had woken up at some point during the talking going on and snickered to himself. At everyone’s questioning looks, he turned to Tia and asked a simple question. “Remember the last time we heard that diagnosis?”

Celestia pondered and tapped her chin. “Remind me? I’m getting forgetful in my old age.”

“You and Lulu had just grown your new additions and passed out after saving me from Discord,” Aspect reminded her. “The doctors were sure you’d never fully recover.”

“Ohh, that’s right,” Celestia chuckled and nodded. “Yes, well back then, doctors thought leeches cured most things and so called ‘medical’ spells often caused more harm than good.” She looked at Redheart and nodded. “If he is indeed a true Alicorn, then his regenerative powers will be much more enhanced. Any damage to him that didn’t cause death, will heal eventually.”

Redheart sighed and rolled her eyes, muttering something about Alicorns and being impossible.

“I agree,” Aspect nodded without a hint of sarcasm. “Completely and utterly. You should have tried raising a pair of to-be alicorns. Oh I wish I had a camera back in those days.”

“Pass,” Redheart sighed as she checked Realm’s vitals. “I’d like to keep you here a little while longer, horn and fried magic aside, those head injuries of yours concern me the most. I’ve arranged for a scan later today, make sure your eggs aren’t scrambled.”

“Too late for that, Hurricane taught him everything she knew,” Aspect chimed in. “Colt’s as crazy as a Diamond Dog trying to fly.”

“I have you as a father, that’s a good contribution to my insanity and personality,” Realm snarked back.

“You’ll fit right in with the others when you recover,” Aspect replied, smiling. “It’ll probably take him...three days at least to even begin to heal from this,” the stallion informed the nurse. “Alicorn or not, there’s not a whole lot his body can do without magic. Though magic infusions can help. Kickstart his own into working.”

“Oh, like Twilight did last night,” Celestia nodded as the unicorn mare’s eyes widened.

“I… did what?”

“Infused him with some of your magic in your sleep,” Celestia chuckled. “Mind you, you haven’t Sleep Cast since you were a filly, I guess you were worried about your friend hm?”

“Uhh...thanks?” Realm offered to Twilight.

“Uhh...no problem?” Twilight said back, just as confused.

“Indeed, it’s not everyday somepony gets magic from an Alpha+ unicorn,” Celestia chuckled. “We’re lucky she didn’t overload and explode your head.”

Realm let out a meep as he did his best to shy away from the mare without aggravating what felt like a thousand injuries. His guess on that number wasn’t far off the mark.

“Your family… I swear…” Redheart groaned.

“Tell me about it,” Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes. “And I couldn’t ‘explode’ you Realm. At most, I’d have given you a nasty migraine and maybe a few lost memories from the burnt out synapses and thaumatic cortex of your new horn. But given you're an alicorn, your magical reserves are likely far higher that what I could hope to fill.”

“Not all alicorns are the same,” Aspect said mysteriously. “Realm might not have much in the way of magical potential. We won’t know until he recovers. Speaking of which, we should probably let the good nurse work on him.”

“I’m sure Realm would appreciate that,” Celestia winked as she walked from the room.

“...Is everypony quite done being a pervert?” Twilight groaned and followed her. Aspect lingered just a little longer, just to ask one thing of Redheart.

“Please take care of my son,” the pegasus asked of the nurse.

“Of course,” Redheart nodded and started shooing them out of the room. “Now scram. You’ve been here long enough outside visitors hours.”

Aspect chuckled as he left, leaving the nurse alone with the newest alicorn. A situation Realm wasn’t entirely ungrateful for~

“Honestly,” Redheart sighed as she checked his IV drip. “Can’t this town go one week with a monster popping up, some great disaster befalling us or somepony changing species?”

“Things would get awfully boring if nothing happened around here, though,” Realm observed. “And really, a town sat right in front of the Everfree, one of the largest fonts of wild magic? You’re going to get strange stuff happening. Doubly so if nopony is in there anymore trying to tame it.”

“‘Go to Ponyville’ they said, ‘It’s a sleepy little town’ they said…” Redheart shook her head as she fetched a bedpan. “Alright kid, you need to go?”

“I’m good for now,” Realm shook his head, wincing. “I could use something for the pain though…”

“Hmm, well I’ll see what I can do,” Redheart replied as she set the pan next to his bed for easy reach when he did need it. “Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere,” the colt moaned. “I don’t know how you even strain your tail, but it hurts there too.”

“Likely the dock of your tail, the hairs can be quite sensitive with the right nerves pinched,” Redheart looked over him. “Can you move your wings?”

Realm did his best to move one of his wings, and bit back a curse at the pain from trying. After a moment to let it pass, he shook his head. “That’s a no,” he informed Redheart.

Redheart nodded and gently rolled him onto his belly. “Alright… I’m going to press a few places. Rate the pain from one to ten for me.” And with that, she touched the back of his neck, just below the base of his head.

“Not...as bad as it could be,” Realm replied. “Probably a three, four...Three and a half.”

Redheart remained silent as she pressed lower, this time at the base of his neck and around his shoulders.

“Definitely a five,” Realm responded. “It’s pretty close to a major sore spot.”

Redheart paused briefly and then gently pressed the space between his wings.

“Seven!” Realm hissed. “At least. It’s not the worst spot by far, but it’s worse than most.”

“And here?” she asked, pressing his lower back, just above his rump.

“Uh...actually back down to four-ish levels,” the colt replied. “I mean, it’s still more sore and painful than I’ve ever been, but compared to everything else it’s pretty tolerable.”

Redheart nodded once more, then moved to the elbow joints on his wings.

“Eight!” the colt squeaked. “Wings...highly sensitive!”

“Curious,” the nurse said and then lightly touched his new horn.

The words he used...well, coming from an adult they would have been fine. Redheart blinked and took a step back.

“Right, so some medication for a headache would be best… and some soap for that mouth,” she added with a sly chuckle.

“I just...how do I even think of using this thing when it hurts so much?” Realm replied, thinking about touching it himself and then thinking better of it.

“It’ll be fine once your magic and stamina build back up,” Redheart replied as she scribbled on a form. “Until then, I’d suggest you don’t play with it.”

Realm did his best to conceal a smirk as he heard that. Something that wasn’t hard with all the pain he was feeling.

“Right,” Redheart looked over him. “Wings and Horn are the most troublesome spots…” She looked down and a thought occured. “How about your hooves?” She moved down to touch one of them…

Oh, there was that mouth of his again.

“Right, wings, horn and hooves,” Redheart noted. “The main magical focal points of all three types of ponies. Maybe you being an alicorn has something to do with that. I wish I hadn’t shooed away the princess now…”

“Just...you heard dad,” Realm gasped. “I’ll recover...eventually. And then I have to figure out just what the buck I’m supposed to do now.”

Redheart nodded and fixed his blankets. “Just lay here, I’ll fetch you some pain killers alright. But given the pain in your hooves, do not try and walk. If you need help, call for one of us and we’ll do what we can to assist you okay?”

“...I feel so useless right now,” Realm sighed as he lay on the bed.

“I’m sure you’ll be running around with the other kids in no time,” Redheart smiled. Mental note, get Tenderheart to take over. She was much better with the foals. “I’ll be right back alright. Don’t go anywhere.”

Realm slowly turned to look at her, before looking at his wings and hooves. Silently asking the question ‘just where the buck would I go?’

Redheart just chuckled to herself as she walked out of the room.

“So wait, Realm became an Alicorn!?” Bon Bon exclaimed as Aspect told her on what had happened. Rainbow’s reaction was a shrug and that she’d check it out after work. Bon Bon was a little more… excitable. “How the heck is that possible? Does that mean he’s immortal now? Oh dear Stars, an immortal twelve year old pervert…”

“Okay, A, he’ll still age until he reaches adulthood, at which point his body will grow larger to accommodate his power,” Aspect explained. “B, we’ll learn how much of an alicorn he is by how quickly he recovers from his exhaustion. Tia and Lulu were five days. Five long, sleepless days for me. And C, I don’t quite know how. My current theory is he basically became a living embodiment of not just his mark, but all things related to Art.”

“All things?” Bon Bon replied. “That’s… a pretty broad spectrum. A lot of things could be classified as art. Music, poetry and literature… even my candy making and cake decorating.”

“Why do you think he burned himself out?” Aspect quipped. “He strained his body’s magic so badly trying to accomplish the impossible, push the envelope. He only touched on a fragment of what he could do, but that was enough for his unconscious body to seize it and make it his.”

“So… what the heck is he going to be capable of then?” Bon Bon asked and looked to Written Script. “You’re the first alicorn we know of. Any ideas?”

“Had the fountain blessed me with just a touch more power for myself, I have every notion I might have become the alicorn of the written word,” Written replied. “Which, if you think about it, is a terribly large burden. No less large than the one that the young colt might have just had placed on his shoulders. What did you call them, Christopher?”

“I think I know what you mean,” the stallion mused. “Yeah...there was a story about sisters who basically were the embodiment of the arts from an ancient culture, long ago.” Aspect chuckled. “Fancy that. My son is now a Muse.”

Bon Bon’s eyes widened. “A...a Muse? As in, the Fae that inspire, but at sometime lethal cost?”

“I hate how that story got twisted,” Aspect muttered, before shaking his head and clearing his throat. “The Muses, in the story I know of, were demigoddesses. They inhabited a mountain and lived together, occasionally going out into the world and finding a worthy artist that aligned with what their realm coincided with. It’s said that the merest glimpse of one could inspire an artistic person to new heights, in an attempt to capture the immortal beauty in song, word, paint, verse...you get the idea. They never purposely sought the end of any artist. But some couldn’t get the image of what they’d seen out of their minds, sadly...which is where those darker stories come from. Not everyone was capable of withstanding their full presence.”

“Wow…” Bon Bon whispered as she sat down. “So, will he become like that? I find an existence where almost nopony could look at him, let alone talk to him would be pretty lonely.”

“Hopefully not, but who knows?” Aspect shrugged. “If his sphere of influence is Art, then I suppose he’ll learn all sorts of new things, since he used to limit himself to just Pictomancy and painting. Though I will say that I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired when I went to see him. He might develop that power in time, he might never learn it.”

“If he does, there’s always a few glamour spells he can use to… dampen the way others perceive him,” Starswirl said with a nod. He looked at Written and the others. “So, I wonder if he can get you lot out and about as well?”

“I honestly don’t want to,” Written replied, sipping at her painted tea. “It would cause no end of strife if I left my painting. As long as there’s that barrier there, my family won’t ever make that mistake of thinking I might be one and the same as the original. And can you honestly say that you think half of the painted ponies would be good if they were let out of their paintings?”

“Yeah, Old Hurricane would likely incite another war,” Starswirl chuckled.

“I heard that!” they heard from two rooms over.

“You were meant to, you stuffy old crone!” Starswirl shouted back.

“...This house is weird,” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“Fun, isn’t it?” Aspect chuckled. “Okay. So Realm will likely be in the hospital for about a week, and...oh. Ohhhh. Oh I just thought of something,” the stallion said as his mind did some mental gymnastics. “Bon Bon, would you say Rarity is an artist?”

“She is an Artiste,” Bon Bon said, mimicking her accent a little too well. “At least she is, according to her.”

“Well I suppose she’ll be a good litmus test to see if Realm actually can inspire others…” the stallion mused.

“Well that should be interesting,” Bon Bon sighed. “Just… don’t use me as a guinea pig without asking okay?”

“Promise,” Aspect agreed before nuzzling her. “Let’s just...relax, okay? I was honestly not expecting this. My nerves are a little shot.”

“Would you like me to whip up some of my mint tea?” Bon Bon asked.

“That would be lovely,” Aspect sighed as he decided to collapse in a chair. “I’m just...Well I know what I’m doing for the next few days. Sticking around and checking in on Realm every day.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine, he’s a tough kid,” Bon Bon said and then giggled. “Maybe convince Twilight to give him a smooch if he gets better without any fuss.”

“I would never do that to Twilight,” Aspect replied with a huff. “Force her to put up with my son? Because you know he wouldn’t leave it alone after that.”

“Oh wow… harsh,” Bon Bon chuckled as she made her way from the room, but something tackled her out of sight...

“Hiya Aspect!” a mare said after she picked herself up from Bon Bon. Seems Lyra was in one of those moods again. “How’s everypony’s favourite harem leader?”

“Oh, you know, just stressed out after one of my kids landed himself in the hospital,” Aspect replied. “Something about nearly dying for his art. How’ve you been?”

“Dying? Oof, that’s rough,” Lyra winced and shook her head. “You know, I think you need cheering up. Whaddaya say?”

“Say yes,” Bon Bon shouted from the kitchen. “Or she’ll keep bugging you until you do.”

“Anything to make the following days less gloomy and stressful,” Aspect replied, sighing afterwards. “It’s not easy on me either.”

Lyra beamed and took out her lyre, giving it a few strums to test how in tune it was. After a minute of playing random notes, she closed her eyes as she started plucking the strings.

At first, Aspect merely listened. Eventually he closed his eyes and let himself be washed away by the music, letting it soothe his woes and worries. Not even the change in tone bothered him, he welcomed anything to keep his mind from focusing on what had transpired. When the song ended, he opened his eyes and smiled at Lyra. “That was wonderful,” he praised her. “Thank you for that.”

Lyra took a small bow and smiled. “You’re welcome, I do love playing for an appreciative audience.”

“Only because she loves getting her ego stroked,” Bon Bon snarked back, to which Lyra just poked out her tongue.

“Still, I shouldn’t worry about Realm,” Aspect said before sighing, letting his worries go. “Celly and Lulu pulled through just fine. He will too. And then he’ll be raising all new sorts of hell.”

“One would think you’re used to it by this point,” Lyra chuckled. “Also… can I be real with you for a second? There’s something I wanna get off my chest.”

“Uh, sure,” Aspect replied after thinking about it for all of a second. “What’s up?”

“It’s about the whole teasing thing, you know, when you got together with Bonnie,” Lyra replied, blushing under her minty fur. “I was… well I was kinda jealous. Jealous that somepony could get closer to her than I could. I… want to apologise for that.”

“None needed,” Aspect said with a smile. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be together in the first place.”

“I guess… and, now you have Rainbow Dash. Seriously, I have to know how that happened. I figured you’d go after somepony… I dunno, hardworking I guess. Like Applejack or maybe Fluttershy, that girl is seriously adorbs.”

“As I keep saying,” the stallion interjected, holding up a hoof. “They sprung it on me. I have no idea how this happened.”

“Yeah,” Lyra added. “But you aren’t complaining about it are you?”

“Not yet at least,” Aspect replied. “But twice the mares means twice the issues that can crop up. There are bound to be bumps in any relationship. Now I have twice the trouble that can appear.”

“Prepare for trouble,” Lyra beamed.

“And make it double,” Bon Bon added her two bits.

“So, how does the whole thing work anyway?” Lyra asked. “Does one have to hoof over a resume or something? Hey, if you added a unicorn, you’d complete the set.”

“Like I said,” Aspect replied, pointing a wing at where Bon Bon was. “They did it to me. Ask them.”

“Ehh, sounds like a hassle if you ask me, I’m fine being friends,” Lyra replied and another question came to mind. “Hey, do you play any instruments? A couple of thousand years is a long enough time to learn one.”

“No, but I am pretty in tune with the music magic that pervades the land,” Aspect replied. “I’m told I have an amazing singing voice.”

“Ohh, those little musical numbers?” Lyra asked, to which he nodded. “Yeah, anypony can sing when the Harmony kicks in. Try hearing Rainbow sing outside of one, she sounds like a dying cat.”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon chided her as she walked back into the room, a tray of tea on her back. “That’s mean… true as it may be.”

“Yeah well… I say we hear what he sounds like without it,” Lyra nodded. “Know any songs? There’s a good chance I know the tune.”

“Not...off the bat,” Aspect mused. “I’ve not got a good memory for them, I’m sad to say.”

“Ahh, oh well,” Lyra shrugged. “I’ll get you one of these days then.”

Bon Bon poured three cups of tea, passing them to the other two ponies. “So what sort of shenanigans can we expect from this house now?” the mare asked. “What with Alicorn Realm and now Starswirl able to use magic…”

“Heavy use of sorcery to- no, no, that might dispel the magic behind Starswirl,” Aspect mused. “Well, we’ll have a lot of magical happenings going on, that’s for sure. I would say I had them under control, but I can’t exactly use a dispel safely if Starswirl is in range. Or around any of the Pictomancy paintings, come to think of it.”

“Whelp…” Bon Bon smirked a little. “Sounds about normal for Ponyville. Can’t be any worse than Ursa’s and Hydras.”

“You say that now,” Aspect pointed out. “You have yet to see an alicorn growing into their magic.”

“Eh, I’m a unicorn and my magical spurts weren’t bad,” Lyra shrugged. “How bad could it be?”

“The sun once did a figure eight, and the moon had an image of a foal sticking its tongue out,” Aspect deadpanned.

Lyra and Bon bon stared… before bursting out into a severe case of the giggles.

“And keep in mind, when he recovers, he’ll have a whole lot of power at his disposal, and he’s quite perverted as...well…” Aspect paled as he looked in the general direction of the hospital. “I...forgot to warn the hospital.”

“You mean the hospital…” Bon Bon started.

“...Full of cute nurses?” Lyra finished her sentence.

“Okay, A, that was creepy, please don’t do that again,” Aspect shuddered. “And B...well...hopefully they’ve figured it out by now.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine…” Lyra smirked.

“...I mean, they’re smart mares,” Bon Bon concluded.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” they said in perfect unison.

“Now you’ve gone and jinxed it,” the stallion muttered to himself as he did his best to fight off the shivering feeling.

“Is this better Mister Realm?” the unicorn nurse asked. She had a blue coat and a lime green mane as she adjusted the projector from atop her little ladder. Her tail swished back and forth as she stood on her hind hooves, trying to straighten it.

“Mmm, now it’s a little too far to the left,” the colt replied as he was staring at something other than the picture on the wall. “I think you overcorrected.”

“Drat!” the mare muttered. “Give me a moment… I’ll get it right in a second.”

“Take all the time you need,” the colt replied as he kept watching the show, and not the one on the wall.

The rest of the evening was uneventful compared to recent events. Lyra had conked out in the living room, so they let her crash on the couch before Aspect and Bon Bon retreated to bed. Rainbow had left a note saying she wouldn’t be around tonight, wanting some rest as there were some kind of plans for early tomorrow morning.

“So it’s back to just you and me,” Aspect mused as he cuddled the candy mare.

“Mhm, though in Rainbow’s defense, would you have let her sleep anytime soon?” she giggled, nuzzling him gently.

“Considering all that’s happened? Probably. I’m not up for much right now,” Aspect replied, sighing softly. “Just...too worried I suppose. I know I shouldn’t be, he’ll pull through, but...there was a moment when he apparently looked like he might actually die.”

Bon Bon smiled and placed a chaste, gentle kiss on his lips. “It’s because you’re a worried father. And a good father at that. I’d be worried if you weren’t concerned.”

“I worry about all my kids, no matter how they came to be called that,” Aspect replied, nuzzling the mare softly. “I just wish I hadn’t been doing...things, while he was busy becoming an alicorn. Kinda puts a damper on the mood.”

“Try as you might, you can’t be there all the time. They’ll get up to mischief whether you’re around or not,” Bon Bon said. “But they’ll always count on you when it matters.” She snorted lightly and shook her head. “Sorry, guess I shouldn’t be lecturing when I’ve never actually had a foal of my own.”

“Mmm,” Aspect agreed wordlessly as he embraced the mare. He held her, not wanting or needing anything beyond the feeling of someone who loved him in his bed. Tomorrow would come, and it would bring its share of troubles. But right now, he just needed her.

And she was happy to be there, stroking his mane softly with a hoof. She’d always be here for him as well.

Author's Note

This won't cause any problems, surely.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all proceeds will not be spent farming cute things.

Chapter 24 - Control your brooms

Morning rolled around, Aspect was already used to waking up with a warm body next to him. It was a feeling he was very glad to be used to. Breakfast was soon had and Bon Bon shuffled off to work, having set aside a lot over the last few days.

And when Aspect arrived at the hospital to visit Realm...?

He found the diminutive alicorn reclining in bed, being hoof-fed grapes by an earth pony nurse. She had a yellow coat and a curled two tone blue mane, while a unicorn and a second earth pony massaged his hooves and wings.

“There we are,” Tenderheart said as she continued on his hind hooves. “Are they still hurting you sweetie?”

“Less and less with your magic touch,” the colt replied smoothly.

“I’m sure your magic will be back in no time,” Snowheart, the one feeding him cooed. “Until then, let us take care of you okay?”

“Mmm, I could get used to this,” the colt muttered as he all but melted under their touches and attentions.

“Such a good little colt,” Nurse Sweetheart giggled. “I wish all the kids were as easy to look after.”

Aspect...wisely decided not to poke the situation he found and instead sought out Nurse Redheart. Maybe she could explain what was going on. He found the mare in the Nurses’ office, talking with what looked like a lanky filly in a nurses’ cap. Her ears flicked as Aspect knocked on the open door and she looked up.

“Ah, Mister Balanced,” she greeted him. “Good timing, I have something for you.”

“Oh good, I have something I want to bring up to you as well,” Aspect returned as he stepped into the office. “You first.”

“I got the results for your Diamond Dog guest back,” she said as she held out a file. “This is your copy, along with the medical records for your son upstairs. Also…” She pulled out a small box. “This is a booster shot for Pup. Do you know how to give one?”

“Not off the top of my head,” Aspect replied, shaking it. “My medical knowledge is pretty rusty.”

“Nursery Rhyme?” she turned to the filly. “Could you go by this gentlestallion’s home later and administer this shot to the Diamond Dog pup that lives there?”

“Yes Ma’am!” she saluted and tucked the box into a padded saddlebag.

“Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Redheart asked Aspect.

“Well, it’s just,” Aspect thought of how to best approach the situation, before deciding to just be blunt about it. “There are three nurses apparently ‘tending’ to Realm’s every need. Including a hoof massage and feeding him. By hoof.”

“Yes,” Redheart sighed. “They’re rather smitten with him I’m afraid.”

“It’s just,” Aspect decided to inform her, “He may be a colt, but he’s reaching ‘that’ age. And he already has a working knowledge of what’s to come.”

“Kids grow up so fast,” Redheart sighed. “Very well, but you can relax, despite them cooing over a cute kid, the nurses won’t do anything untoward. That’s both illegal and unprofessional.”

“I just don’t want them to be shocked or taken advantage of,” the stallion informed her. “He likes staring at flanks, for instance.”

“Looks never hurt anypony Mister Balanced, but I’ll bring it up with them,” she chuckled. “Also, there is a matter I’d like to bring up, regarding his and Pup’s education.”

“Aaaah…” the stallion stalled. “Whaaaaaat about it?”

“You see Mister Aspect, by law, I have to report any…incidents…such as abuse, or lack of care when it comes to minors.” She cleared her throat. “Now don’t get me wrong, I know that you are a fine stallion, and that the princesses vouch for you. However, if they are not enrolled in some kind of education, such as private tutoring or a public facility…Well…”

“Okay, see, I would agree with you there,” Aspect nodded. “However, Realm probably wouldn’t be able to go to a normal school around here, what with his new...addition, and Pup would probably be discriminated against. I know they should be educated, but I don’t exactly have a lot of options here.”

“I’m a medical professional, not an educational one,” Redheart said. “I would advise you speak to Miss Cheerilee, or perhaps the princesses. However, something has to be arranged or I will have to report it by law…”

“I promise to look into it,” Aspect told the nurse. “Assuming that there are options that I can pick around here, I will do my best to arrange something.”

“That’s all I ask,” Redheart nodded and smiled. “Now, I have some nurses to corral. Was there anything else?”

“Just one thing,” Aspect replied. “You should probably do some bloodwork on Realm and give him a booster shot as well. The last access he had to medicine was a thousand years ago.”

“…” Redheart stared at him like he’d grown a third head, before grabbing a large case and trotting towards Realm’s room.

“And like that, I think he’ll be sufficiently punished for taking advantage of the nurses here,” Aspect chuckled, before looking at the young nurse left in the office. “Ready to come back with me and give a shot to a Dog?”

“Yessir!” she saluted cutely as she adjusted her bag.

“Pup, come out from under the chair,” Aspect pleaded with the Diamond Dog.

“Nope!” the dog shook and pointed at the filly with the needle. “She’s gonna stab me with that spear of hers.”

“It’ll barely hurt, I promise,” Aspect replied soothingly. “She knows what she’s doing. Isn’t that right?”

“Yup!” the filly nodded. “This is only the little one… if you want the big one…” She pulled out another syringe, this one almost as big as she was.

“I’lltakethelittleonethankyouverymuch!” The dog yelped and climbed out from under the chair.

“Good boy,” she giggled as she poked him arm with the normal needle, and after a moment, pulled it back out. “See, nothing to worry about.”

“And now you won’t get sick so easily,” Aspect soothed. “Meaning you can actually come with me to the town next time.”

Rhyme giggled as she rubbed his furry head and put a lollipop in his mouth. “Okay, that’s all from me. I should get back. Goodbye puppy! Goodbye Mister Balanced Sir!”

“Take care,” Aspect replied, waving as the filly left.

“She was nice,” Pup grinned as he suckled on the lolly. “Kinda scary, but nice.”

“Those in the medical field tend to be,” Aspect mused. “Now I have to go see a teacher about something. Do you want to come with me, or would you rather practice your magic out back?”

“Oh! OH!” he bounced up and down. “Check it! I learned a new thing!”

“Okay, I have time to see this,” Aspect chuckled as he rubbed Pup’s head. “So what did you learn?”

“How to turn my skin into stone!” he beamed. “And still be able to move while doing it.”

“Just be careful with that,” Aspect warned the pup. “It’s useful, but you don’t want to mess that sort of skill up. You might end up turning other things to stone.”

“Right,” Pup nodded. “Sometimes it doesn’t work, and I just surround myself with a ball of stone… so yeah, still working on that. Miss Written’s been giving me a few tips.”

“Mmhmm, she’s pretty good at that,” Aspect nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be an impressive skill when you get it down. Why don’t you practice while I go see somepony in town?”

“Aww, and you just said I could come with you,” he pouted with a small whine.

“Do you want to?” Aspect asked the pup. “It’ll probably be really boring.”

“I lived in an underground cave and stared at rocks all day,” he said with a dry tone.

“Fair enough, climb on,” the pegasus returned. “Town awaits.” The pup beamed and climbed up onto his back. Time for adventure!

“So, where are we going anyway?” Pup asked, now walking beside him. He found he got antsy without feeling the earth under his paws.

“To see a friend,” Aspect replied. “She’ll be able to help me with a problem I’ve been informed of.”

“We’re not going to see your marefriend are we?” he asked flatly.

“Nope, somepony else,” Aspect replied. “She’s friendly. I think you’ll like her.”

“Most of you ponies aren’t bad,” Pup nodded. As they walked past Sugarcube Corner, it had occurred to Aspect that he hadn’t been accosted by Pinkie today… and when they passed Carousel Boutique and the library, both had closed signs on them, despite it being the middle of the day.

“I guess the girls are out today,” the stallion mused as they walked through town. “Wonder what they’re up to.”

Then he felt something hit him and he tumbled across the ground. When he finally came to a stop, he found a dazed grey pegasus mare atop of him.

“Um...are you okay, miss?” Aspect asked as he did his best to come to terms with what had happened.

“Ahhh, oops, my bad,” she bubbled dizzily before shaking her head. She stared at him with her mismatched golden eyes before pulling out a letter. “Dahdahdahduhdaaah! A letter for you Aspect~”

“Thank you,” the stallion returned, gingerly taking it before looking down. “Could you get off me, please?”

The mare blushed and got to her hooves before helping him up. “Sorry about that. Oh! I wanna thank you as well.”

“Thank me?” Aspect asked, tilting his head slightly. “Whatever for?”

“My little Dinky, My Muffin,” she beamed brightly. “Ever since she started learning that funny singing magic, she’s been so happy. And I hear I have you to thank for that.”

“Oh, you know, just doing what I can,” Aspect demurred. “If ponies are good enough to learn it again, then who am I to keep it from them?”

Ditzy Doo smiled and pulled him into a brief, but tight hug. “You’ve helped more than you know. So thank you again… I know… how it is to be a single parent.” And with those curious words, she flew off into the sky.

“Well that was interesting,” Aspect mused as he walked over to Pup and rubbed the Dog behind the ears. “And thank you for not jumping in and assuming the worst.”

“If you couldn’t handle it, what chance would I have had?” he replied with a small smirk. “You know… I think I noticed something.”

“Oh?” Aspect asked as they resumed their walk through the town. “What’s that?”

“All of your friends are female…”

“Coincidence,” Aspect replied. “I just haven’t met many stallions yet.”

“Uhuh,” the dog smiled slyly. “Is that the real reason?”

“Like I have any choice in the matter of who I meet,” Aspect quipped. “I can’t control anypony beyond me.”

“Well, I guess I count as a male friend,” Pup chuckled. “So, what’s the letter you got?”

“I’ll look at it when I have a spare moment,” Aspect replied as they came up on the schoolhouse. “Okay, you wait here, I’ll be right back with my friend. Hopefully.”

Pup nodded and leaned against a nearby tree.

As he reached the door, a bell inside rang and he could hear a stampede of tiny hooves quickly approaching from the other side of the threshold. Remembering the last time this had happened, he quickly stepped to one side to let the foals pass. The door slammed open as they poured out for recess time, none even noticing the stallion standing there.

As Miss Cheerilee exited the building, she did notice him and nodded politely. “Ah, Mister Aspect? I thought the lessons weren’t until tomorrow?”

“They are, this is something different,” the stallion replied, before gesturing towards the interior. “Do you have a moment?”

“Oh, of course,” she nodded and followed him inside and back into the classroom. Once they were, she closed the door. “So, what’s this all about? I hope nothing’s wrong?”

“Just a small problem I was made aware of,” Aspect replied. “It’s come to my attention that two of my charges require a formal education. One of them is...displaced in time, and the other has been put under my care by his former guardians. Both of them need lessons in modern Equestria.”

“Oh, is that all?” Cheerilee sighed. She thought he’d be cancelling his lessons or somesuch. “That’s not a problem, two more students are more than welcome.”

“You should probably meet them before you come to that conclusion,” Aspect replied. “I’ll just go fetch the one that can move about right now and bring him to you, if that’s okay.”

Cheerilee nodded, rather curious as to who he was wanting to enroll. The stallion walked out of the room for a moment. When he came back…

Standing next to him was a small, rather cute-looking, Diamond Dog pup. Cheerilee resisted the urge to squee and pet the ever loving daylight out of him.

“So, who’s your friend here?” she asked.

“This, is Pup,” Aspect replied, nudging him forward with a wing. “I’ve tried to get him to choose a more normal name, but he’s yet to pick one. He’s special.” The stallion nosed the small dog forward. “Go on, go say hi to her.”

“Oh… um, hello there,” he nodded quietly. “It’s… nice to meet you.”

“Well, he’s certainly more eloquent that the Dogs Rarity told me about,” Cheerilee smiled, before that faltered. “Oh, I’m sorry, that was rude.”

“Nah, they’re kinda dumb,” Pup shrugged. “I mean, they kidnaped ponies, even after I repeatedly told them it was a bad idea.”

“Pup here is on a mission to learn and become smarter than the average Dog, so that when he goes back to lead them, he can do it well,” Aspect informed the teacher.

“Oh, such a noble goal,” she smiled and nodded. “Very well, he’s quite welcome to join the class.” She looked around and lowered her voice. “We have… a few troublemakers. Ones that might tease him. But I’ll do what I can to make him feel comfortable and welcome.”

“Thank you,” Aspect replied, dipping his head. “The other one is currently in the hospital after a magical accident. He won’t be out for a week, maybe more, maybe less. It’s all dependant on how well his body responds to treatment. You should meet him as well before deciding on if he is welcome as well.”

“All are welcome in my classroom,” Cheerilee said, sounding surprisingly serious. “If they require teaching, then I’ll teach, no matter the species.”

“Fair enough, I’m just asking you to take a look before you decide that’s also applicable to him,” Aspect returned. “His name is Realm. And...fair warning. He’s nearing the age where a colt stops being a colt, and has more knowledge than that. He probably won’t try anything with his classmates. I taught him better than that.”

“Ahh, that age,” Cheerilee nodded understandingly. “Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with that countless times. It won’t be an issue.”

“If you say so,” Aspect said. “You should still meet him. I promise he’ll be a surprise. Once you have time, just ask the nurses to show you where he is.”

“I’ll drop by to say hello,” Cheerilee nodded. “Also, that earth pony mare that was with you last week, Miss Sweetie Drops? Is she related to Bon Bon at all? They look awfully similar.”

“They might be cousins, I’ll have to ask when I see either one again,” Aspect replied. “They did mention something along those lines when we were introduced, but I can’t recall the fine details.”

“Fair enough, I was just curious,” the mare said. “So, when were you looking to enroll them? There’s a few things I’ll need to arrange, and also the enrollment forms you’ll need to fill out. Along with a few liability and insurance forms.”

“Probably whenever you think it’s feasible, I’m hardly the expert here,” Aspect demurred. “I know Realm won’t be ready for a week or thereabouts, so that gives me some time to get this paperwork done.”

“Alright. So let’s say two weeks then, just to give him time to recover,” the mare replied and took a few forms from a filing cabinet. “Just have these back to me beforehoof okay?”

“I’ll do my best,” Aspect replied, nodding seriously as he took the forms under one wing. “For now, I think the pup and I will go out and visit the town a little.”

“Alright, take care,” Cheerilee nodded. “And we’ll see you soon Pup.”

“Sure,” Pup nodded as he followed the stallion out. Once they made their way away from the schoolhouse and back towards town, the dog paused long enough to briefly nuzzle the stallions side.

“Thanks a bunch… for doing that.”

“I told you I would get you educated,” the stallion promised the dog. “Now all you have to do is pick a new name for yourself.”

“I still have no idea,” the pup sighed. “What kind of name would even be good?”

“If the library wasn’t closed, I’d take you in there to look at a list of common names,” Aspect replied. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something soon enough.”

“Well, you have some books at home yes?” Pup asked him. “I could look through those. I sorta know how to read…”

“I can help teach you, if you want,” Aspect replied. “It may have taken me a bit to get a hang of how ponies write, but I learned it. I can pass that skill on to you.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” Pup nodded his head respectfully.

Above them, Aspect’s hearing caught the sound of a few pegasi grumbling as they shunted clouds for the overcast afternoon. One mare, one with a yellow coat and a blue mane was especially vocal.

“Seriously, Dash just ditches us to go Celestia knows where… A little notice woulda been nice.”

“It’s fine Raindrops,” her partner said, a black stallion with a grey mohawk. “You know she has ‘special exceptions’.”

“Tch! Sounds like an excuse to ditch work,” Raindrops grumbled as she bucked a cloud.

“Yup, something weird is going on, and for once, it’s going on outside of the town’s borders,” Aspect chuckled. “Ah well. I’m sure they’ll come back eventually.”

“So, we get a normal day then?” Pup asked with a hopeful tone.

“I bloody well hope so,” Aspect grumbled. “After Realm’s little stunt, I could use some peace and quiet right now.”

Aspect could almost hear Fate itself chuckle…

“So…” Pup looked at the scene that unfolded before them. “This is a normal day?”

All throughout Ponyville, inanimate objects had sprung to life, performing whatever tasks they were designed to do. Brooms swept every inch of the village… and it’s residents. Toasters sprayed a near continuous barrage of crispy bread. Water flowed from overfilled sinks and baths, forming rivers in the town. And it all seemed to dance to an odd tune...

And amidst the chaos sat three young unicorns, their attempts at Sorcery were on full display.

“I just don’t know what went wrong!” Dinky wailed.

“I didn’t mean it!” Sweetie Belle moaned.

“Take note, Pup,” Aspect said, sweeping a wing out to the scene. “This is what happens when Sorcery gets out of hand.”

“You don’t have hands,” Pup commented with a teasing smirk.

“You know what I mean,” Aspect grumbled before shouting over to the fillies. “First lesson!”

The three fillies turned to the source of the booming voice and their eyes widened. Oh Sweet Celestia, they were in soooo much trouble.

“First lesson,” the stallion reiterated for them.

They gulped and nodded slowly. Aspect sighed and waved a wing at the chaos. “Well go on, dispel it! Sunny should have taught you that as your first lesson!”

“Dispel?” Ruby Pinch panicked. “How do we do that again!?”

“I...I can’t remember…” Sweetie tapped her head and then Dinky Doo gasped. She said something to the other fillies and they nodded.

“Nik Nok, Tick Tock! Work’s done! Time to stop!” they all shouted together, channeling their magic through their mouths. The result was… interesting. All the appliances and tools suddenly froze… hovering for a moment before returning to a dormant state.

“And that is how you properly stop a sorcery that’s gotten out of control,” Aspect said from nearby. “The trick most ponies have to learn is to not panic and remember the first lesson when things start getting bad.”

“We’re sorry,” the three fillies said in unison. They really did look quite embarrassed. It was then that Sweetie Belle stepped forward.

“It was all my fault,” she sighed. “I was singing and… I guess I was using Sorcery by accident.”

“And we only made it worse when we tried to help,” Dinky added, Ruby nodding with her.

“The first thing you have to remember is not to use your magic during songs,” Aspect told the fillies. “Otherwise things like this keep happening. I remember when I taught my daughters sorcery. The place was just full of animated brooms that ended up flooding the place. Took ages to get the water damage fixed.”

“So!” a rather haughty tone called out as an earth pony mare strode towards them. She had a pink coat and a cerise-hued mane and tail. Her nose was turned upwards as she stared at the three unicorn fillies like they were something foul that she’d stepped in. “You are the little miscreants behind this? I should have known it’d be three little Blank Flanked unicorns behind this mess.”

“They’re just relearning an ancient art, there are bound to be bumps and trips along the way,” Aspect explained cooly. “They’ll emerge all the stronger for it and become some of the first Sorceresses in this age. Nopony gets anywhere without making a few mistakes.”

“Oh yes, and you must be their… teacher,” she sneered on that last word, saying it like it was a great insult. “I’ve heard all about you and your… lessons. Ones that you didn’t deem fit to teach my perfect little Diamond.”

“That’s Diamond Tiara’s Mom?” Dinky whispered to Sweetie.

“Ergh, the apple doesn’t fall far huh?” Ruby nodded.

“Ancient my flank, you’ve been nothing but trouble ever since you arrived in this town,” Spoiled sniffed. “And now you're corrupting the minds of the foals too? I’ll see to it that you’re not only driven from the school, but the town proper!”

Aspect flared a wing, and lightning danced along it. When he spoke next, it wasn’t with an angry tone. Angry was for stallions less mad than he was.

“The ancient arts,” he whispered. “Were once known to ponykind. The reason they were forgotten a millennium ago. All record erased, those that knew them struck dumb. Was because ponies like you would abuse them for their own profit, dreaming themselves better than the Princess. I found a cache she missed. I learned them. Mastered them. Knowing that. You would still meddle with my affairs?”

To her credit, Spoiled only flinched slightly. It did take a moment for her to respond though. “Tch! Resorting to violence and threats now? All the more reason a… a barbarian like yourself has no place in our community!”

“Oh, you misunderstand,” Aspect replied with a grin. “I wouldn’t do a thing. The seed has been sown, though. Knowledge has been shared. If you would stop me from teaching, I imagine my students would have something to say about that. And keep in mind, if you did stop me from teaching them, things like this? Would keep happening. Face it,” he summed up. “From my first lesson in that schoolroom. You lost.”

Spoiled’s glare killed any thoughts the three fillies had of adding their two bits.

“Well then,” she replied and turned around. “The hedges could use a good pruning. What’s one or two more… troublemakers evicted from our town?”

“Do go on and try,” Aspect called after her. “The Princesses gave me the Everfree Estate, I’ve been looking for a reason to give it back!”

After she left… the three unicorns looked even more worried than they did a moment ago.

“M-Mister Aspect?” Ruby asked, her voice quiet. “Are… are we gonna hafta leave town… cause of what we did?”

“No, no you will not,” Aspect explained, bowing down to them and gathering them in a hug. “I think this falls under the ‘Sparkle Fund’s purview. But you all have to do one very important thing. Can you promise me that?”

The three nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“You all have to go around and say you’re sorry to all the ponies you affected today, and clean up your mess. No Sorcery. Other magic, that’s fine. But don’t try to magic the mess to clean itself up. Spoiled talks a big game. But having a good relationship with the ponies helps more than all the money in the world. If they want to know what happened, be honest with them. Tell them you had a magical accident that got out of control, but you’ll be more careful in the future. Because you will be, right?”

“Yes sir,” they nodded as he released them.

“But, what about you?” Sweetie asked. “Will you still be allowed to teach?”

“Mrs. Rich is the head of the school board,” Dinky explained.

“She can try to stop me,” the stallion replied, puffing out his chest. “But I’ll always teach ponies. Anything she would use to try and stop me, Miss Cheerilee would inform me of. I will find a way. And worst comes to worst, you all can come to me if you want. My door is always open.”

“If she doesn’t get you kicked outta town,” Ruby muttered.

“Where would you go?” Sweetie chimed in. “You said you wanted to give your house away?”

“It was a joke more than anything else,” Aspect replied, rubbing Sweetie behind the ears. “Meant to inform her just what sort of money she’d be running against. Because let’s face it, what does she care about beyond that?”

“Sticking her nose up so high she can probably smell the moon?” Ruby offered with a cheeky smile.

“Mmm, I may be quirky, but the town has a better opinion of me than they do her,” Aspect nodded. “Because I walk into town every day, buy things I need, and am polite to all the ponies I meet. Plus, where was she when the Parasprites ate the town? Not offering her place up to house others, I hear.”

The fillies didn’t know, so they had no answer.

“Maybe I should go and pee on her lawn,” Pup snickered, speaking up for the first time in a while.

“Then you wouldn’t be any better than her,” Aspect replied. “Sinking to her level doesn’t work. I should know.”

“Sounds like a story,” Pup replied as the fillies bid their goodbyes to start their tour of apologising to everypony.

“Yeah, not one we need to go into now,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “But if she wants a battle, I will gladly show her just who she’s meddling with. I might not be as adept at Celly at the game of shadows, but nobody, absolutely nobody, can out-stubborn me. I have the patience to grind a mountain into dust. By hoof.”

“Until you gave that power to me that is,” Pup smirked.

“I could still do it,” Aspect retorted as they made their way to his home. “It’d just take longer.”

“Fair enough… worse comes to worse, just sic Old Hurricane on her,” the dog snickered.

“And have somepony else deal with her? She’s bad enough as is,” Aspect retorted. “Let her try. It’d be a welcome challenge. I have literally thousands of years on her. I will be able to dredge up more counterarguments than she can dream of.”

“Should be fun, just make sure I have enough popcorn,” the canine mused as they got to the door and he opened it, standing to one side. “Age before beauty.”

“Nice to know you think I’m old and ugly,” the stallion snarked at the dog.

“You said it, not me,” the pup snarked back.

“Yup, snarking like a pro,” Aspect smiled. “Well, let’s see what happens. She may be the head of the school board. I’ve been putting up with ponies like her since before she was born. There is a method. The first thing she will do is underestimate me.” The stallion nodded at all the paintings as he walked by. “Fortunately, I read every part of the charter before I got involved with the school. Every part. Three times. The worst thing she can do is call an emergency vote, but that requires that I be informed and brought forward to defend myself. They aren’t allowed to vote unless I fail to turn up, and believe you me, I will be in town tomorrow. And every day.”

“Huh, you really have thought this through huh?” Pup mused as he and Hurricane shared a brief glance at one another. “Almost like you knew trouble was going to happen.”

“What trouble could possibly result from giving ancient powers to fillies and colts that can barely tap their own?” Aspect replied with as much snark as he could muster. Even Hurricane cringed at that one.

Pup shuddered and shook himself. “Okay, dial it down a little huh? In any case, you also shouldn’t give her more than what she has… This isn’t a fight you can win by splitting the earth open.”

“She’s a conniving, manipulative mare who is slighted because I’m not teaching ‘her precious girl’ these powers. Met them all the time when I was in the business of teaching ponies back in the castle. So she’ll do whatever she can to make my life Tartarus,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes. “Little do they know, I’ve been there already. All the money in the world won’t buy them the influence I already have with the ponies that matter, and they can’t buy me off either. Reality won’t conform to their views, meaning for once in their lives, they have to suck it up, grow up, and deal.”

“Somepony’s a little hot under the collar,” Written chuckled from a painting. “Everything alright dear Christopher?”

“Just another rich pony thinking they can out-stubborn me,” Aspect replied. “Humans are persistence hunters, and being made immortal did wonders for my sheer stubbornness. She’ll try and fail like all the others.”

“Ahh, one of those types,” Written nodded. “Remember the good old days, when a pony could be satisfied with a plot of land and three meals a day?”

“I dunno, I was always the castle type,” Aspect chuckled. “You made me stop though. Something about getting everything I wanted being bad for me.”

“That… and you’d get fat,” she chuckled and looked at his belly. “Miss Bon Bon seems to be filling you out nicely though. I may have to have words with her on adjusting your diet.”

“I just need to exercise more,” Aspect brushed off. “Though I think I’ll hold off on doing it until this...Spoiled Rich actually makes her move. Along with whatever other move she might be planning. I know her type. She’ll try something obvious, then try to sneak something in when I’m not looking. One letter is all I need to send to stop the second.”

“You intend to drag our girls into this?” Written replied, not looking too amused.

“Not physically, no,” Aspect replied with a shake of his head. “I’ll just ask Celly to write a letter about my good character and how I should continue to teach at the school. I won’t even open it before delivering it to the board. Something like that should shut Spoiled down totally.”

“Or give the noble caste another piece of ammunition for their ‘Princesses abusing their power’ tripe,” Written snorted. “What I would give to unleash my special brand of scolding upon those spoiled foals.”

“...Okay, besides coming up with an awesome plan for the Gala,” Aspect smiled at her, “Remember, in this current guise, I’m one of Celly’s knights. Nothing suspicious about her doing that for one of her ‘warriors having trouble adjusting to a more peaceful life.’”

“I hope you know what you’re doing dear,” Written sighed and smiled at him. “So how is little Realm doing? We haven’t heard much, being confined here and all that.”

“He’s recovering in the hospital, he’s undergoing the same sort of strain Celly and Lulu did when they first ascended,” Aspect replied. “It might be a week, more or less, before he returns. Have you all checked out the castle he painted for you?”

Written looked a little… abashed. “To be perfectly honest, we’re a bit nervous given what happened to the colt. Starswirl wants to make sure it’s safe before we all go exploring.”

“Mm, probably a good idea. I stepped hoof in there and didn’t come out any worse for it,” Aspect replied. “Still, it’s wise to get more intel before charging in. Like me. Did clean the blood up though. Couldn’t have that marring the masterpiece.”

“Ever the thoughtful type,” Written giggled.

“I’m surprised even the old bird is scared to go in,” Pup smirked at Hurricane. “I didn’t know pegasi were descendants of chickens.”

“Buck you, that painting almost ate it’s maker!” Hurricane shouted. “Let’s see you walk into a dragon’s mouth without any fear!”

“I’m just teasing,” Pup smirked. “You bite better than half the dogs I know.”

“Okay, well, I should get some early rest today,” Aspect replied. “I’m going to need to be up bright and early and bushy-tailed if I’m going to catch Spoiled Rich off-guard.”

“No mares tonight?” Written asked. “Where’s that adorable Rainbow one?”

“Off with her friends doing something,” the stallion returned. “Don’t know what, but I know that for once, the crazy that’s going on around here isn’t their fault.”

“You got that letter didn’t you?” Pup reminded him.

“Oh yeah,” Aspect softly said as he pulled it out and opened it.

Yo, Aspect.

The girls and I are going to Appleloosa with Applejack, to… deliver an apple tree or something. I dunno.

Anyway, we might be gone for a bit, so it’ll just be you and candybutt for a while.

Peace,

Rainbow Awesome Dash.

“Well, I know where and a general assumption as to how long,” Aspect mused before digging into his pack. He came back with a scroll and an enchanted ribbon, which was how he sent messages to Celestia normally when he was on the road. He penned a brief missive about how he suspected he would need her to write a character assessment for the ‘knight’ he was pretending to be and whether or not she thought he was suitable to teach. Underneath that he explained why he needed it, briefly outlining his day, the fillies’ Sorcery getting out of control, and had to restrain himself from writing exactly what he thought about Spoiled Rich.

He finished the letter up with ‘Love, Christopher,’ and wrapped it in the ribbon, before sending a spark of magic through it. Instantly, the message burned away in golden fire, which turned to ash flying on the wind as it sought Celly out.

“Whoa, what was that?” Pup asked as he watched the smoke fly away. “Why’d you burn your letter?”

“Those ribbons are enchanted with dragonfire, the mystical sort,” Aspect explained. “Each one can go to whoever I think of when I give them a spark of magic. I sent that one to Celestia, because I didn’t think the mail service was running right now, or would be nearly as fast as I needed it to be. I only use them when I absolutely have to.” His gaze hardened. “This mare is going to learn that there are some ponies...you simply don’t mess with.”

“Huh, you’re pretty serious about this huh?” Pup replied. “Well, I guess I should do a little reading. Where’s your library?”

“Oh yeah, I did promise you that,” Aspect agreed, before walking through the halls. A short while later saw them in the library of the mansion, which Aspect had taken to stocking with all sorts of books. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” he promised the pup, sitting at a nearby desk and smiling.

“Okay, thanks,” the canine nodded as he looked around the room. “Do you have any books on what my powers can do? Maybe myths and stuff?”

“Sorry, I’m sorta obscure in that way,” Aspect chuckled. “But I can always recount my legends to you another time. When I’m sure you won’t go out and try some of the things I did before you’re ready for it.”

“I’m more looking for a name really,” he responded and took a random book off of the shelf.

“Once again, sorry, there’s only been one Aspect of the Earth before you, and we know what happened to him,” Aspect replied. “I could recount some old myths from my old world. Greek is a favorite of mine, they have such a rich culture.”

In a flash, Pup was sitting on the floor in front of him, tail wagging.

“Well, I suppose it all starts with Kronos and the Titans,” Aspect began, deciding to weave the story of the gods of Greece from the very beginning.

Pup lay on his back, thinking of all the stories that Aspect had told him. Night had long since fallen and the pegasus had gone to bed, ready for the battle that awaited him. Still, those stories, they’d been so… unreal, yet completely awesome.

And he smiled, because he’d finally picked a name that sounded good.

“I think… from now on,” he said to himself as he closed his eyes. “I’ll be… Artemis.”

Author's Note

You know how it is, you live your life, you're doing fine, then the county sends you a jury summons.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent catching them all.

Chapter 25 - Round one, tie

Spoiled Rich smirked to herself as she strode towards Ponyville School. Arranging an emergency vote was almost too easy. With that incident from yesterday, these idiot commoners were much more panicky than usual. A few words here and there and she’d have both that stallion and his whole freakish family thrown out of town.

Which was why it was such a surprise to see that stallion casually lounging around outside the schoolhouse, reading the morning paper and drinking a cup of coffee. He glanced up to look at her, before returning to the crossword. “Eleven letters for narcissistic,” he muttered.

“W-What are YOU doing here?” Spoiled exclaimed. How was he here? Did he know about the meeting and planned to sabotage her? Or maybe he’d threaten her again?

“Oh nothing much, just stopping you from breaking your own charter,” Aspect replied, reaching into his saddlebags and reading from a sheet of paper. “In the event that an emergency vote is called for to discuss a teacher’s behavior, the teacher in question must be present so that they may defend themselves. Standard stuff really, just saving you the trouble of tracking me down.”

Spoiled snorted. “That only applies to ‘official’ teachers hired by the School Board, not… barbaric drifters like yourself.”

“Actually, I think you’ll find,” Aspect returned as he rummaged in his pack, before pulling out another form. “That even when I was hired on, the form said supplementary teacher. I do believe Cheerilee has the authority to hire on whoever she deems worthy for that position, am I right? After all, the School Board is so busy with matters beyond her understanding.”

Spoiled growled under her breath. That Cheerilee was a pain in the flank. If she wasn’t such a good teacher, she’d have her fired as well. Hmm… now there’s an idea~

“Fine,” she said. “Do come inside then. I’m sure this day will turn out alright after all.”

“A word to the wise, before you begin,” Aspect returned as he put all his paper in one saddlebag. “This is your last chance to call this off. You can’t imagine the bog you’re about to set hoof in if you do call for a vote. I won’t have you saying the phrase ‘you didn’t warn me.’”

“Humph! If you think paltry threats are going to dissuade me, you are sorely mistaken,” Spoiled huffed and walked inside, waiting for Aspect to bear before closing the door in his face. Aspect didn’t even flare his wings before a massive gale blew the doors open for him, allowing him to stroll in and carefully ignore the mess he’d made of her mane.

“Did I forget to mention I’m a master of Aeromancy? Silly me. I’m just so used to using the wind to do things for me, I forgot to mention it,” the pegasus replied as he walked past her.

Spoiled bit her lip to suppress the scream of rage as she fixed her mane and walked in after him. Sitting in the room were a few ponies, one was a stallion with a silver coat and a white mane and tail. His cutie mark was a trio of silver bars.

Miss Cheerilee was there, as well as a half dozen mares and stallions Aspect hadn’t met before.

“So,” the silver stallion asked as Aspect and Spoiled entered the room. “What’s this meeting all about?”

“Apparently miss Spoiled here finds some issues with my teaching methods,” Aspect replied as he sat at a chair. “And she honestly thinks that calling me here at an ungodly hour is going to accomplish anything. I would have preferred to do this sort of thing after lunch, after seeing to my children and making sure my hospitalized son is okay, tending to my garden, things like that. But some ponies simply have to prove they’re better than others.”

“Yes, because your personal life is so much more important that the amount of property that was damaged yesterday because of your… supposed teachings,” Spoiled sniffed. “The town was turned upside down yesterday, and as if having that purple unicorn here inviting disaster on a weekly basis wasn’t enough.”

“To be fair,” Cheerilee pointed out. “Ruby, Sweetie and Dinky did apologise for it and spent the whole day helping clean up the mess, without magic I might add.”

“And it wouldn’t have happened at all if this stallion thought it’d be a good idea to teach such dangerous magic to mere children!” Spoiled continued, the silver stallion and a few others nodded in agreement.

“Tell me,” Aspect said softly. “Do you know how dangerous an Earth Pony is? How little force it would take to cave in a ribcage? One well-timed buck, that an untrained foal could do, and somepony would need serious hospitalization.”

The room had fallen deathly silent at that. Even Spoiled Rich couldn’t refute that.

“How about a pegasus learning to fly?” Aspect continued. “They might take their friends up and up and up...and not have had their parents yet teach them that only pegasus ponies can walk on clouds. Or a unicorn throwing rocks around. They could easily put eyes out. The point I’m trying to make here, is everypony can be dangerous. I don’t see you doing something about everypony.”

“Because everypony knows that,” Spoiled scoffed. “You’re teaching pegasi and earth ponies how to use magic! You’re only making them more dangerous!”

“Now look here,” Cheerilee started as she rose to her hooves. “You can’t just—”

“Oh yes, thank you for volunteering,” Spoiled sneered. “He would be doing as such if it wasn’t for your brilliance. Tell me Cheerilee, would you let any random stranger come off the streets and near our children? Relations to the Princesses or not, he is a stranger and you leave him alone with our foals!”

That seemed to get a rise out of the other ponies as their frowns started to turn to glares at the earth pony mare.

“Actually,” Aspect spoke up, raising a wing. “I have never once conducted any of my own special classes with the chosen pupils without her supervision. Even she is being educated in the ways of Geomancy, and she can pull the plug on this operation at any point in time, and I will listen to her implicitly. The only reason I continue to teach the foals is not for the money, which, let’s face it, even if you doubled the small salary Cheerilee is able to afford to pay me, wouldn’t be enough for anypony to live on, but because I enjoy seeing the foals’ happy smiles. Actually, while I think about it, miss Cheerilee, what do you get paid?”

“I doubt what Miss Cheerilee gets paid is any of your business,” the silver stallion said curtly. “We’re here to discuss about the dangers of you teaching your strange magic to foals!”

“Au contraire,” Aspect retorted, pointing a wing at him. “It is highly important the amount of funds Cheerilee has access to. Both for herself and for the classroom. If she is able to live a better life, come into work well-rested and prepared for the day ahead, then she would be able to hold her head up high with pride when she says that she is a teacher for such a diverse community as Ponyville. And the more things she can afford to educate the foals on, the more opportunities they have access to later in their lives. So that she doesn’t have to hire whoever she can manage, but has options in what they’ll learn, I request to know exactly what she has access to, and whether or not her funding is comparable to other teachers across Equestria.”

“I’ll have you know she receives the same wage as any other teacher of her skill, and of a class her size,” the silver stallion said.

“Four hundred, fifteen bits a week,” Cheerilee said plainly. “Before taxes.”

“Foals are the future,” Aspect replied simply. “Would you want any foal to have to say they didn’t know how to best go about solving a problem because they didn’t learn the skills to do as such in their school? What a dark and dreary place the future would be, if they didn’t know how to solve anything that came their way, didn’t dream, didn’t hope to make the world a better place. I motion that the board look into the effects of a higher-paid teacher’s effects on their students and apply the same research to the same school they’re sending their own foals to.”

The Board looked at one another, Cheerilee gaping at Aspect like he’d grown a third head. This wasn’t the first time she’d brought up a pay rise, but she’d been ignored almost every time. If it wasn’t for the fact that teaching was the only thing she knew how to do…

“And I motion for the board to consider what will happen if this madstallion is allowed to teach his dangerous magicks,” Spoiled continued. Then he caught a look in her eye… one he did not like in the slightest. “Dangerous magicks that put his own son in the hospital mind you. In an attempt to create an alicorn!”

You could have heard a pin drop as the room fell silent and all eyes looked at Aspect.

“Actually, the truth of the situation is that there is in fact a new alicorn in Ponyville, but he is quite weak at the moment,” Aspect agreed with a shrug. “He is the alicorn of Art, near as I can figure. But becoming one is not without its drawbacks. He is currently sensitive all over his body, most notably his new horn, along with his wings and hooves. Anypony that doubts this is free to look him up in the hospital, under the name of ‘Realm.’ And while he is a practitioner of one sort of magic that I teach, it is not that that brought him low. It is an art that I am not proficient in, and his act of living for it and nothing else. I was half thinking of putting on an art show in my home, to allow all to see and be inspired.”

“A likely story,” Spoiled scoffed. “Silver tongue spinning lies and slander. I bet your boy believes every word too doesn’t he?”

“There are only three alicorns,” the silver stallion added. “One simply does not… become an alicorn. Else we’d have a whole lot more of them.”

“Likely an attempt to overthrow the very princesses he claims to serve,” Spoiled said.

“Believe what you will, ponies have free will to think what they want,” Aspect shrugged. “I can only offer the proof that exists. Although if one of you wants to go check on my word, by all means, I’ll wait for you to confirm it. You need only glimpse his wings and horn to see that I hide nothing from you. Meanwhile, you have a mare who only thinks to attack my honest word sitting next to you. Remind me, which was an aspect of Harmony, again? Was it Honesty, or Spite?”

“Oh, we aren’t doubting he became an alicorn, I’ve already seen him for myself,” Spoiled replied. “What we’re doubting is the method you claim he became one, and the fact our own foals are left in your hooves, and that a teacher we supposedly trust is allowing this!”

“I will admit, in a moment where I was looking after my other charges, I took my eyes off of Realm and allowed him to do as he would,” Aspect nodded. “I taught him everything I could, and then he outstripped me and proved himself my better in the realm of the arts I taught him. He ended up nearly sacrificing his all to bring to life one painting. One glorious creation, that now hangs in my drawing room. The onus lies on me for not wondering what he was up to sooner, but he was brought to medical attention in time. As for your other claims,” Aspect replied, before reaching into his bag and pulling out a letter, displaying the crest in wax for all to see.

The symbol of the sun. More importantly, the symbol of Celestia’s cutie mark.

“As I’m sure you’re all aware,” Aspect said softly. “Forging a royal seal is grounds for imprisonment.” He then passed the scroll over to Cheerilee, for her to read aloud to the gathering.

To whom it may concern.

This stallion, the one by the name ‘Balanced Aspect’, has been a treasured Knight of the Two Princesses for most of his life. While he may come across as curt or even a little smug, his sense of honor and duty know no limits.

Over the years, he has taken many a young under his wing, to either care or teach them in whatever manner he could. All had lived better, enriched lives as a result. What they can do, what they ‘could’ do and what they ‘did’. All because of the generosity and care Aspect has shown.

Discounting the countless times he has saved all of Equestria from the horrors that even your deepest nightmares couldn’t hope to conjure, a little leeway in his attitude is given. Most would have lost their minds at what he has lived through.

Why I remember one such pony, Opulent Riches. While Aspect may not recall every student he has had, I’m sure even he would remember that little hoofull of a filly…

Cheerilee paused in her reading and raised an eyebrow. Spoiled sat there for a moment… before her eyes started to widen.

“Took ages to learn that the best things in life weren’t things that you bought, but things you nurtured and cared for,” Aspect replied, nodding his head. “Became a better pony for it. Don’t know what happened to her after that.”

“You know…” Cheerilee smiled and looked at Spoiled. “Wasn’t your great grandmother named…”

“Enough of this farce!” Spoiled stomped a hoof. “We already knew he has the Princesses favour!”

“So what’s good enough for the Princess, is not good enough for you?” Aspect questioned the board. This was the crucial moment. Ponies were herd creatures. The Princess was seen as the leader of the herd. If they thought they would be breaking away from the herd by defying her...

The board looked amongst themselves, before the silver stallion looked back at him.

“The Board moves to postpone any decisions until further studies can be made. That will be all.”

“My thanks,” Aspect said with a nod. “I’m sure that the board won’t hold these magical hiccups against my charges too badly. You don’t make a unicorn foal pay for the damages it causes when it has magical surges, after all, or a pegasus foal pay for all the delicate vases it knocks over. Or all the things an Earth Pony foal breaks when they start getting their strength.”

All the Board members left, one by one until just Spoiled Rich remained. And she looked none too amused as she glared at him.

“You can’t hid behind the Princesses tails forever,” she glowered. “You’ll slip up and reveal yourself for what you truly are. And I’ll be there to say ‘I warned you!’” And with that, she flicked her tail across his muzzle as she walked out of the room.

“And that, is how you outstubborn a rich mare,” Aspect said to nopony. “Divert the conversation, bring up any amount of other topics, and always, always, be honest, even while you’re bringing up all manner of skeletons in their closets. Proving you have nothing to hide while showing they do.”

“Enjoying yourself father?” A voice echoed in his head.

“Oh, you know, just dealing with the messes I seem to leave in my wake for once,” Aspect mentally replied. “I do hope you had nothing to do with that Sorcery getting out of hoof.”

“Who me? Now why ever would I want to teach the fillies a valuable lesson like what would happen if their powers are misused? Honestly father, you think so little of me.”

“Mmhmm. And I’m sure helping them remember the first lesson a little more wasn’t a boon as well,” Aspect thought back as he made his way towards the hospital to check on Realm.

“Something about omelettes and eggs, that is the saying no?” Yggdrasil chuckled. “And tell me, what of my new baby brother? I hear that was quite the sight… despite a few kinks.”

“I wish you could see the painting he crafted, the things he made. I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a full week to recover, though. He truly lived for the art in that moment. I can almost feel his essence in the things he made.”

“Yes, I hear his latest is quite the ‘blast from the past’ so to speak,” the tree replied. “But do try to keep a better eye on him eh?” The tree paused and decided to ask something else. “And… what is your goal with Loyalty? Why get involved with somepony with such a destiny?”

“She chose me, not the other way around,” Aspect replied. “She’s free to leave at any time. Anypony’s free to leave whenever they want. But as long as she’ll have me, I’ll strive to be at least as loyal to them as they are to me.”

“And you couldn’t have said no in the first place?” Yggdrasil pointed out. “Tell me father, why get embroiled in this. You know she has a great destiny awaiting her, along with the other Fragments of myself. One that may very well put you in danger as well. Even now, I can see Fate shifting, changing...”

“Then I will deal with the hand I have been dealt when the time comes,” Aspect replied. “There are things I know that none are permitted to understand, comprehend. I have an ace in the hole, as it were. Should any situation truly turn dire. I have prepared for it, for ages.”

“…” Yggdrasil remained quiet for a moment. It was his Power that let him see what was to come. And how he wanted tell of what he knew. But he could irreparably damage the future if he did.

“I know, my son. The fabric of Fate is your charge, and you wish to preserve it as best you can. You needn’t worry too much about your father. I’m hardier than I look. I’ll do my best to keep the future going. That’s what I’ve always done.”

“If only you could see what I can…” he sighed and decided to take a risk. “I foresaw Nightmare’s return. The seal weakening ever since my Fragments broke away from Tia… father, Nightmare wasn’t the only thing my Fragments sealed away…”

“I know,” the stallion replied, thinking of the statue he’d seen out the window in Canterlot. “When that day comes, that old ‘friend’ and I will have a discussion. One he won’t like.”

“I pray success finds you…” Yggdrasil said and brought up his third topic. “And… correct me if I am mistaken. But I thought I sensed the Aspect of Battle in Ponyville a while ago.”

“She attended the party, but only for a moment,” Aspect agreed. “I don’t know what we’ve done to her to make her so...antisocial. I’ve tried reaching out, over the years...she’s always shied away.”

“I’m sure you’ll meet again soon. Just keep in mind who she is alright?”

“I will try,” Aspect replied as he neared the hospital. “Stay safe.”

“You as well,” Yggdrasil replied before he cut the connection.

“Hello,” Aspect said to the nurse behind the desk after walking through the main doors of the hospital. “I’m here to check on Realm.”

The nurse’s look went from cheerful… to a deadpan expression. “Oh… him.”

“What did he do this time,” the stallion sighed.

“Please, explain to your son that while this is a hospital, we do not… ‘play Doctor’ here,” the nurse said in a tone that implied somepony had spent too long around Realm before realising the truth.

“I warned Redheart to warn you about him,” Aspect returned. “He’s just reaching that age. I tried to rein him in, but an aunt corrupted him quite thoroughly.”

“We were warned, but not quite prepared,” the nurse sighed. “Anyways, as long as he stays off of his hooves, he can return home. He’ll need bedrest for the rest of the week however.”

“So basically carry him home and make sure he doesn’t try walking anywhere,” Aspect summed up. “I can do that.”

“We have a wheelchair you could put him in,” the nurse said. They walked in as another nurse exited. It was Nursey Rhyme, the little filly nurse and she’d just spent the last hour talking to Realm.

In rhyme.

All. The. Time.

“I used to carry him when he was smaller, I can do it again if I have to,” Aspect replied. “Plus, I was never good at using those things.”

“Aright then,” she said and looked at Realm. “Good news… for us. You’re going home with your dad now.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect replied, walking over to the colt and pulling him onto his back. “Bad news, you’re confined to bed until you fully heal.”

“Aw, what?!” Realm exclaimed. “Come on!”

“And no art supplies, since you tried hitting on your nurses.”

“That’s torture that is!” the young artist protested.

“Seems you have everything in hoof,” the nurse replied and pulled out a roll of tablets. “Give these to him, one every four to six hours. He’ll be fine soon enough.”

“Can do,” Aspect replied, sticking them in his bag and making sure everything was secure before nodding once. “Thank you for your service. Did you already take care of his shot as well?”

“Sure did, that was fun, wasn’t it kiddo?” the nurse flashed a dangerous smile. Realm whimpered and buried his face in his father’s mane.

“Aaah, kids, what else are you gonna do but scar them,” Aspect said fondly. “Welp, time to go home, say goodbye to the nurses Realm.”

The colt whimpered again.

“Goodbye,” they all smiled, that smile reminding him of what would happen if he tried that again.

This time Realm let out an actual cry as he did his best to squirm away from the nurses. Nurses who just continued to smile and wave as he left the hospital.

“Everypony in this town is mental,” Realm muttered as they left the hospital.

“You’re learning,” Aspect quipped.

Their trek home was a quiet affair. And when they returned home, Aspect found three Wonderbolts waiting for him. Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Soarin.

“Hello there,” Spitfire waved. “We’re here for our next lesson.”

“Gimmie just one minute to make sure everyone else is situated,” Aspect replied, looking back at Realm pointedly before returning to gazing at the Wonderbolts. “Though, thanks for showing up. I needed something to do to take my mind off the crazy that’s been going on as of late.”

“You live in Ponyville and you complain about the level of crazy?” Spitfire snorted. “That’s like living on the sun and complaining about the heat.”

“I just had to stop a Sorcery getting out of control, defend myself in an impromptu court full of rich, stuck-up snobs, and deal with my son ascending,” Aspect replied in a deadpan. “And that’s without the Bearers around to make it all worse.”

The three pegasi now pointedly stared at the tiny alicorn on his back, their eyes and mouths slowly widening in shock.

“Yup, Ponyville and everypony in it is crazy,” Aspect nodded before pushing the front door open. “Okay, be right back.”

Three minutes later, the stallion emerged again, humming happily to himself. “All right, fall in!” he told the Wonderbolts. The result was immediate, the three forming up and saluting with perfect precision.

“Okay, so, you all have learned how to draw your magic into your wings,” Aspect hummed. “Now I think we should focus on an exercise that you all might actually find difficult.” He raised a hoof and pointed it at them. There was a puff of air that came from it, blowing their manes back. “Channeling your magic into your hooves. You do it subconsciously when you cloudwalk or work with clouds. Channeling your magic into your hooves is more difficult. Done right, you can create little puffs like this one. Or…” He put his hoof back down and smiled at the Wonderbolts. With a puff of dirt, he was about a foot off the ground.

“Wait…” Spitfire held up a hoof. “Did you just generate wind through your hooves to achieve lift?”

“Mmhmm, points to the studious mare,” Aspect replied as he landed. “You can use this skill to generate thrust in any direction you point your hooves. Help make sharper turns mid-air, or take off from a standing start. Or if you wanted to get clever, you could use it to push a cloud along from a distance.”

“Interesting, we could stop rogue storms without getting too close,” Fleetfoot mused. “So I take it that that’s what we’re practicing today?”

“Mmhmm, and it’ll be a little harder than you’re used to,” Aspect returned. “If you just gather the energy in your hooves and give it a push, it’ll generate a puff of air. What I’m looking for is a coordinated four-hoof liftoff today. No wings. Just using the power that you can push through to your hooves to take off. Even if it’s just an inch of the ground, so long as you managed to push the power through all your hooves, it’ll count. Whoever gets to twenty-five first can take a break first.”

“Uh… Teacher bro?” Soarin lifted a hoof. “You gonna tell us how to do the wind hoof thing?”

“It’s simple, you call on the same sort of energy that you pushed through to your wings,” Aspect replied. “Only this time, you’ll be pushing it down into your hooves. Let it pool for a second or so, and then give it a shove outside your body. That’ll generate the wind. The trick is making sure all four hooves have an equal charge.”

“Ooohkay?” Soarin looked at his hooves. So, they’d be trying to fly… with their legs?

Spitfire was the first to try, but her wings twitched and she accidentally used last week’s lesson. Getting a little airborne with her wingpower, she swore and lowered herself back down to try again.

“Nice to see the lesson still stuck,” Aspect smirked. “I know your instinctive response is to use your wings, you’re pegasi after all. That’s why this lesson is so hard. You have to avoid your wings and still take off. It confuses most.”

Spitfire nodded, then her eyes opened as she got an idea. “Hey teach?... Got any rope?”

“Aaah, I was wondering when somepony would ask!” the stallion smiled at them, before ducking inside for all of a second and pulling out three lengths of rope. “Most teachers bind their student’s wings before they start this lesson, I was waiting to see who would ask first! I wanted to see if you could do it without needing your wings bound, but if you ask, I can certainly do that for you.”

“Hehehe,” Soarin snickered. “Or maybe you were just waiting for Spitfire to ask you to tie her up?”

“S-Shut up!” Spitfire actually blushed. “Happen to have any muzzles as well Aspect?”

“Ohh, kinky,” Fleetfoot joined in with a giggle of her own, leaving Spitfire’s face to turn scarlet.

“Sadly I’m taken, so that won’t be happening,” Aspect returned as he pulled a length of rope over to Spitfire. “Okay, keep those wings folded,” he commanded the mare, before setting about winding the rope around her middle. A knot at the top made sure she wouldn’t be using her wings anytime soon.

She shifted around a little, it wasn’t too tight but her wings wouldn’t be able to move. “Perfect,” she mused as she stomped her hoof on the ground. “Okay, take two then!”

Aspect moved to Soarin and Fleetfoot, the latter deciding to make it as uncomfortable as possible for him with the sounds she made. Spitfire just rolling her eyes.

“Less yap, more flap,” she commanded. “Or… you know what I mean!”

“Yes Ma’am,” they saluted.

“Once again,” Aspect said as he sat in front of the three. “Pull your magic out of your core, hold it, and then send it down into your hooves. Then give the magic a shove out of your body.”

Soarin tried...only he pushed out of just his front hooves… which led to an impressive backfip and a faceplant that made his teammates wince.

“Half there,” Aspect stated. “Don’t worry. I’ve been informed that once you learn how to do it, it’s a trick that you don’t easily forget. Which is also the point of making you do it so many times.”

“Oh, untie me for a sec, I wanna show you something!” Spitfire said almost eagerly. Aspect rolled his eyes before pulling on the knot, causing the bindings to become undone in a second as the rope fell off her form.

She spread her wings and her teammates eyes widened. It was too late for them to escape as she slammed them down. There was a sound, like a heavy ‘whump’ and the blast of air that sent them tumbling head over hooves. With a single flap, the pegasus mare had launched several hundred meters into the air.

“She,” Aspect stated as he picked himself up and looked up at the speck she had become. “Has been practicing her pegasus magic building exercises.”

“Day and night…” Soarin groaned as he picked himself up for the second time in as many minutes. “Guess that Rainbow mare really ruffled her feathers. But yeah… Spitty’s training has been intense.”

“I can tell somepony is going to be put out of sorts when she hears about this,” Aspect snickered. “Oh well. So yeah, you all have pretty large pools to draw from. It’s just, awakening those pools to more active manipulation isn’t the...easiest thing. Unless you practice nigh-constantly.”

“Give her a month… maybe two and she’ll likely outperform you,” Fleet said as Spitfire landed, slamming back down into the ground with one hoof raised, looking a lot like a superhero from a comic book.

“So… how was that?” she asked, only slightly dizzy from the rapid ascent.

“Pretty good, especially for someone that only just learned about it,” Aspect nodded. “There are other ways to use that skill as well, which I’ll show you next time. But if you’re done showing off your impressive magic pool, we do have an exercise we’re trying to accomplish.”

“Oh… right,” Spitfire smiled sheepishly as her wings were bound again and they went back to the exercise. Soarin would faceplant a few more times, but it was Fleetfoot that actually managed to do it first. The mare hovered a few inches off of the ground, before the gusts died out and she dropped back down.

“Did… did I… do it?” she panted.

“Mmhmm,” Aspect smiled at her proudly. “Now, while the sensation is fresh in your mind…” he pointed a hoof at her. “Twenty four more reps! Don’t you dare forget how!”

“I take back what I said the other day,” Fleet sighed at Spitfire. “He’s waaay worse than you.”

“Yup! That’s why he’s great,” Spitfire chuckled as she started to get the hang of it as well. After a few hours, even Soarin was doing it, and eventually, Aspect had three hovering pegasi, wings bound, floating in front of him.

“Perfect!” Aspect cheered. “Okay. Now, do you all feel tired? Or do you think you’re up for another lesson right now? Answer honestly.”

Spitfire nodded. “While I’d like to say we could go…” the others nodded. “We’re a little beat. Is it okay if we rest up for a bit. Grab some lunch?”

“That’s fine,” Aspect replied, before pointing at the ground. “Land and I’ll take your bindings off, you all can go into town and grab a bite to eat.”

As he did, a voice called out and he saw Bon Bon trotting up the road towards them, a basket of sorts balancing on her back.

“Heeey! Aspect!” she called.

“Hello dear,” Aspect called to her. “Let me just see these featherdusters off and you and I can eat.” He winked at the Wonderbolts to show he wasn’t serious with his insult as the last binding was released.

“Ignore him,” Bon Bon said to them. “I figured he’d be putting you poor dears through Tartarus, so I made enough lunch for everypony.”

Fleetfoot and Soarin exchanged hoofbumps.

Spitfire spoke up however. “You really don’t have to do that Miss?”

“Bon Bon, and yes I do. Knowing Aspect, he was going to enjoy a delicious lunch while you lot had to go and buy your own?” She looked at the stallion with a raised eyebrow.

“I was perfectly willing to make my own, or buy my own, as my mood fancied,” Aspect retorted.

“Well, I’m here now,” Bon Bon nodded. “Have to make up for my absence anyway. Didn’t want my widdle snookums getting lonely~” She added a nuzzle for added effect.

“D’aawww,” Soarin and Fleetfoot snickered.

“It’s not like I didn’t have ten other things to take care of as well,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes before nuzzling back. “But yes, I do appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to visit me.”

“Well I heard that Realm got out of the hospital, and I feel bad I wasn’t able to visit him,” Bon Bon nodded. “And I know their food is terrible, so I figured I’d bring him a treat to cheer him up.”

The three pegasi caught the scent of what was in her basket and their stomachs gave a unified roar.

“Well, that settles that,” Bon Bon giggled. “Let’s go inside and I’ll prepare lunch.” She looked around and blinked. “Hmm, where’s Dashie?”

“She and the others are out of town, doing a thing,” Aspect replied, rolling his eyes as he led everypony inside. “Like things aren’t crazy enough without them anyways.”

“That Sorcery incident,” Bon Bon shuddered. “I figured that was three naughty fillies. It took all morning to clean my kitchen after that… ah well.”

Spitfire looked around the spacious kitchen until she spied a painting and trotted up to it. “Hey teach… Is this a painting of the Commander Hurricane?”

“After a fashion, yes,” Aspect replied, noting that the paintings had noticed the ‘fresh ponies’ and decided to act like normal for now. The moment Spitfire turned to look at him, Hurricane made a face at the mare behind her back.

“She was my idol growing up,” Spitfire smiled. “I was raised on her old war stories… wishing I could be at least half the mare she was. I mean, her single-hoofed assault on a Griffon slaver camp? That was legendary!”

The moment Spitfire turned back to look at the picture, Hurricane was in the same pose she had been when the ponies had entered the room. Now, though, a painting across the way was moving. Painted ponies were so mature, laughing at the fresh stock silently behind their backs.

Spitfire offered a salute to the old warmare, smiling at her. And then she was shocked out of her feathers when the painting saluted back.

Her eyes widened and in a flash, zipped behind Aspect. “Y-Yo teach… that… that painting moved!”

“I know,” Aspect replied, motioning to the table with a wing. “Sit down and try not to be too shocked. You must have impressed her if she saluted you.”

“I...I...what?” Spitfire blinked, now noticing that a lot of the paintings were moving.

“It’s like a freaking carnival,” Soarin whispered, sticking close to Fleetfoot.

“Think it’s haunted?” Fleet gulped.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she stirred the pot of soup. “Would you brushbrains quit teasing them, or I won’t give you the surprise I have.”

“Aww,” all the paintings said at once.

“We were having fun with the new ponies!” one spoke up, an image of Smart Cookie.

“Eh, they’re alright in my book,” Hurricane replied, puffing out her chest. “They at least know tales of us, so that’s something.”

“You like anypony that sucks up to your ego,” Starswirl snorted.

“Mares and stallion, Pictomancy,” Aspect explained. “The ancient art of bringing art to life. In the case of ponies and the like, you can make paintings with a populace that can talk back to you. I have to be careful thinking out loud in here, because the walls literally have ears and will talk back to me.”

“I… just…” Spitfire stared… mostly at Hurricane. “She heard all that!?”

“Ya damn right I did!” Hurricane replied. “Good on ya for knowing the tales! I was a master of the Gale King and Aeromancy back in the day, and if this runt of a pegasus is teaching you anything along those lines, then I’ll be damn proud to say I was the head of the Wonderbolts again!”

“Yeah, Spitfire’s totally awesome,” Soarin spoke up, much to his captain’s embarrassment. “She’s not captain of the Wonderbolts for nothing ya know!”

“I’ll hold my judgement until she learns the trick this runt of a featherhead can do,” Hurricane replied, before looking at Aspect. “When are you gonna show them how to throw lightning?”

All three Wonderbolts turned to look at the stallion.

“I’m gonna run them through basic air manipulation first,” Aspect replied. “Make it to where they can make a storm go away or come into being with a few well-applied flaps. Run through the aerial tricks they can pull off with the Gale King. Only when I’m sure they have the magic pools and fine control needed for it, will I teach them how to throw lightning around willy-nilly.”

“Good answer,” Hurricane nodded sagely. “It’s not a toy, it’s a tool. Remember that, featherheads. It’s not something you play with. It’s something you use for a purpose.”

“Obviously,” Spitfire snorted and shook her head. “We’re not foals Aspect. We know how to handle lightning.”

“One of the trainings we have to go though is weather manipulation,” Fleetfoot said. “Performances aside, the Wonderbolts are still a part of the Equestrian military.”

“One moment, that’s all it needs,” Aspect said. “One moment when you aren’t thinking about it. And the lightning you would use would backfire on you. Every time when I called it up before, I was able to hold it in check. Simply because I knew how to hold it, knew the trick to keeping it contained. If I failed that, at any moment, I would zap myself. And zapping yourself with the Gale King hurts. It’s all about a particular state of mind as you give it a spark of magic to start. And if you think of anything other than that trick to hold it…”

“It’s fine, we’re not going to ask for advanced techniques when we haven’t got the basics,” Spitfire said as Bon Bon placed some bowls of soup and hoofmade bread on the table for everypony.

“Mmhmm, wiser than half my students by far,” Aspect replied, before adopting a higher-pitched voice. “But sir, I wanna throw lightning around nooooow!” he mock-whined. “Only Realm was actually gifted enough to handle it,” the stallion muttered. “All the rest had to build up to it and didn’t manage it until they were stallions.”

“Well, Fleetfoot and I are screwed,” Spitfire chuckled, earning a small shake of her friend’s head.

“You know what I mean,” Aspect chuckled. “The colts came to me to be taught. For some reason.”

“While the fillies and mares, I handled,” Hurricane piped up. “Damn, I wish I wasn’t just a painted pony. I could give so many lessons!”

Spitfire turned, her eyes sparkling. “Any ideas or advice you have would be a great benefit Ma’am!”

“Hey, easy on the hero worship,” Hurricane chuckled, but ate it up all the same. “Well...okay. There’s gonna come a day when the runt there thinks you all are ready for lightning. And I’m gonna warn you all right now, it’s probably also gonna be his last lesson with you all. But training never ends. If you all actually can manage to throw around lightning, then you’ll be ready for the things I know.”

Spitfire’s tail might have been wagging at that particular piece of information.

“I left something in the Everfree painting,” Bon Bon said. “A little gift from Pinkie Pie… how she makes cakes out of paint is beyond me…”

“I’m not complaining,” Hurricane replied. “But I still don’t think any of us are ready to go into that place. Bucking thing nearly ate its maker.”

“Well it’s the only one I can enter,” Bon Bon replied. “Just get Starswirl to go and pick it up.”

“What am I? A messenger service?” the old stallion grumbled.

“Until Realm can get back on his hooves and do something about the way that painting feels, yes, yes you are,” Hurricane sniped back. “Unless the oh so powerful Starswirl the Bearded can accomplish it without him.”

“You know as well as I do that paintings are his department… and I’m only a copy of Starswirl… you puffed up old thunderhead.”

“Oh you are dead!” Hurricane called as she began flying through the paintings after the mage.

Said mage just stepped outside of his painting and into the kitchen, poking his tongue out at the pegasus mare.

“Little tip,” Aspect said to the other pegasi in the room. “Never call her old. Call her an old warmare, that’s the only way she’ll accept it.”

“Bah, that old windbag can go suck a cloud,” Starswirl chuckled as he left for the newest painting to fetch the cake.

“Well,” Aspect said, finishing off his lunch. “Whenever you all think you’re ready, I’ll give you a new exercise to practice at your own pace.”

“Cool,” Spitfire nodded and turned back to her soup. She dipped some bread and took a bite, her eyes widened. “Oh feathers, this stuff is amazing!”

“Marry me?” Soarin begged Bon Bon.

“Ohh, a proposal from a celebrity,” Bon Bon chuckled and bat her eyes at him.

“What, I’m not enough for you?” Aspect asked the candy mare.

“Well, I am pretty famous,” Soarin chuckled and buffed a hoof against his chest. Bon Bon smiled and kissed Aspect on the cheek.

“Flattered as I am, Aspect got to me first I’m afraid.”

“Well, hitting on my marefriend aside,” the stallion returned, kissing Bon Bon on the cheek as well, “I’ll be waiting for you all on the lawn. This particular exercise will be interesting.”

“I feel worried… should I be worried?” Soarin gulped.

“Probably, you hit on his mare you moron,” Fleetfoot chuckled.

“I wouldn’t worry,” Bon Bon smiled. “He’s not a vindictive stallion… I think.”

While Aspect was inflicting new tortures on the pegasus trio, Bon Bon headed upstairs to find Realm’s room. Pausing at the door, she raised a hoof and knocked.

“Come in,” she heard the colt call from inside the room. She nudged the door open and stepped inside… only to shake her head at the sight.

“Realm,” she said calmly. “Didn’t your father say ‘No art supplies’?”

“I’m just painting with them,” the colt replied, even though nothing was on his canvas. “It’s not Pictomancy, it won’t strain me.”

She looked at the paints and saw no Spectra paint amongst them. “Very well, just be careful okay?” She pulled up a stool and sat on it, sitting upright like Lyra often did. “You know, my mother’s a painter… turns out I didn’t have a hoof for it though… despite many, many lessons.”

“Some people just have a different knack for art,” Realm replied. “Or express themselves differently. There’s no one way to go about it.”

“True, and I found my love of creating candy,” she nodded. “I guess it’s art in it’s own way. It looks good, people enjoy it. Speaking of…” She pulled out a bowl and a hoof-sized loaf of bread. “I made you something to eat. Probably better than the dreck they gave you at the hospital.”

“Oh, thanks,” Realm said, looking at it. “Might as well, I’m not getting anywhere on my painting.”

“I imagine your wings and hooves hurting isn’t making it easy,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Did you need some help eating?”

“Yeah, probably,” Realm said with a wince as he tried to use a wing and flinched from the pain. Bon Bon nodded and lifted a spoonful of soup, blowing gently on it before holding it up to his mouth. He took a bite, the celery soup was cooked perfectly, the vegetables still crunchy and there was just a little bit of kick with the added herbs.

“Mmm...thanks,” Realm replied after gulping it down. “You’re right, it is better than the stuff at the hospital.”

“Well I should hope so,” Bon Bon nodded as she continued unto the bowl was empty, mopping up the rest with the bread. “And now… be a dear, close your eyes and open your mouth.”

Realm sat back, eyes closed and mouth open like instructed, waiting for whatever she had in mind. Then he felt something settle on his tongue, something… chocolaty~ He opted to close his mouth and savor the taste instead of say anything about it.

Bon Bon waited until the chocolate melted… and he reached the popping candy inside…

“Mm!” the colt exclaimed, opening his eyes as he felt the candy pop on his tongue. “Tingly!”

“I thought you might not have had that before,” Bon Bon smiled. “My own invention actually. You like?”

“Didn’t know you could do this!” the colt replied, swishing the candy around. “Pretty neat!”

“Mhm, though unicorns give me an odd look when they try it… but nopony will tell me why,” Bon Bon sighed. “It was Lyra’s idea actually. I just made it a reality.”

“That’s what art is,” Realm replied as the candy stopped popping. “Having the courage to take dreams and imagination and make them real in one way or another.”

“Thanks kiddo,” Bon Bon smiled and placed a light kiss on his forehead. “Now you rest up and get better quick okay? Everypony’s worried about you.”

“I’ll try, but no promises,” Realm returned as he lay back on his bed. “My everything hurts…”

“Hmm… well, maybe I'll sneak you some ice-cream after dinner,” Bon Bon smiled.

“Ice cream?” Realm asked with a tilted head.

Bon Bon paused, blinked and looked at him. “You’ve… never had ice-cream?”

“Why would you freeze cream?” Realm asked. “That sounds unappetizing.”

“Hmmm…” Bon Bon tapped her chin. “Well I won't spoil it for you. Only that this will change your life.”

“I doubt it,” Realm scoffed. “I coulda been a knight if I didn’t like painting as much as I do. You’ll have to try hard to ‘change my life.’”

“Well see~” Bonnie sang as she got up. “Anything else you need kiddo?”

“Anything that dulls pain would be great,” the colt replied. “The stuff they gave me is wearing off…”

“I'll go and see what's in the medicine cabinet,” Bon Bon said and trotted off, returning a few minutes later with a small bottle with a red liquid inside. “Here we are, one painkiller potion.” She uncorked it and held it up to his lips. The colt thankfully drank down a little of the potion, sighing in relief as he felt it get to work.

“Oooh, that’s better,” he sighed.

“I can imagine,” Bon nodded. “Do you have any requests for dinner?”

“Anything that is better than what they served me,” Realm replied. “I like your cooking, miss Bon Bon.”

“Such a charmer,” the mare smiled. “But none of this ‘Miss’ stuff. I'm not that old.” She kissed his forehead again, tucked in his blankets and trotted from the room.

“You’re very good with him,” she heard from a nearby painting. Turning to look revealed Private Pansy staring down at her with a kind smile.

Bon Bon put a hoof to her chest, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. “I will never get used to that,” she sighed and looked at the painted mare. “Um… Pansy right?”

“That’s right, and it’s rare to find somepony that can put up with Realm’s...quirks,” the mare replied. “Most get driven off by his attitude.”

“Oh he's alright,” Bon Bon smiled. “Besides, it's only natural for a colt his age to be curious about mares. Hmm, I wonder if Aspect ever gave him The Talk?”

“Hurricane, the real one, did that ages ago,” Pansy giggled. “He knows a lot already.”

“Ahh,” Bon Bon nodded and a thought occured. “I wasn’t too… motherly was I? I don't want him to think I'm trying to take her place or anything!” The mare was actually looking a little panicked now.

“Realm’s tale is a little different from Celestia and Luna’s,” Pansy explained. “They didn’t have the same mother at all, but manticores did play a factor in how they came to Aspect’s care.”

“Oh no…” Bon Bon put a hoof to her mouth. “I'm so sorry.”

“It’s fine, it really is,” Pansy smoothed over. “Realm’s been needing a good conversation partner...besides one that he’s painted. It’s nice to see him connecting with ponies in the new age we’re all in.”

“Well he seems to get along with Twilight pretty well,” Bon Bon smiled.

“Mm, and I hope he makes more friends,” Pansy added as she nodded her head. “But for now, you should probably go on to making that dinner you talked about.”

“Oh! Right!” Bon Bon exclaimed and cantered down the hall, yelling out a farewell.

“She’ll do well in this family,” Pansy smiled to herself as she watched the mare go.

Author's Note

Hey, a chapter released on time! Who'da thunk it?

Spoiled Rich does not know the mountain keep which she is assailing.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way.

Half of all funds will not be spent trying to beat the Trial of the Sword on Master Mode.

Chapter 26 - Advanced Lessons

Dinner was a pleasant affair. Aspect told Bon Bon what he'd been up to, along with the progress of the Wonderbolts. The mare had made a rather nice quiche for the meal, a nice red wine she got from Berry Punch to go with it. Lyra joined them for the meal, so the conversation around the table never stagnated.

And after dinner, she decided to make good on her promise to Realm. She'd be lying if she didn't admit that she wanted to see his reaction more than anything.

When she trotted into room, she noticed he'd eaten all of his dinner, an act that put a smile on her muzzle.

“Heya kiddo,” she greeted him. “How are you feeling?”

“Blargh,” the young alicorn said, falling on his side. “Kill me now.”

“Well if I did that, your dad might get upset,” Bon Bon chuckled as she took a seat next to his bed. “Hmm, what if I told you that Twilight will be back tomorrow.”

“Eh...I mean on the one hoof, she’s not bad looking, but on the other hoof, she’s scarily powerful and so not interested in me,” Realm returned.

“Isn’t she your friend?” Bon Bon deadpanned and shook her head. “Well, whatever. I have something for you, something that is bound to cheer you up~” She placed the silver plate on the bed and removed the lid.

Inside was the mother of all chocolate banana splits. Two bananas, topped with crushed almonds and chocolate sauce, laid on a bed of neapolitan ice-cream and diced strawberries.

“I present to his Highness, the fair Prince Realm of the Paint. Ice cream!”

“It...it looks more like a work of art than a dessert,” the colt breathed out.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, coming from one such as you,” Bon Bon chuckled and dipped a spoon into it, taking a bit of the fruit and ice cream. “But it’s still meant to be enjoyed, so say ahh~”

Realm dutifully opened his mouth and waited.

Bon Bon placed the spoon inside and…

Pure pleasure exploded across the colt’s brain. This...this tasted fantastic. This tasted like nothing he’d ever had before.

“So, is it ‘life changing’?” Bon Bon smirked, relishing the expression on his face. “Or did I perhaps fail at my appointed task?”

“Less talk,” the colt muttered as he ate it. “More of this.”

“Yes your Majesty,” Bon Bon smirked as she kept spoon feeding him until the bowl was licked clean.

“That...that was too good,” the colt muttered. “How...how can something like that exist? How hasn’t everypony eaten that stuff?”

“Well I don’t know when it first came to be,” Bon Bon shrugged. “But… almost everypony likes ice-cream… unless your lactose intolerant or have no soul.” She giggled and rubbed his head. “Told ya you’d like it.”

“Fine, you win,” Realm replied, huffing. “That was good. Very good. And I might just change a few things about my life because of it. Namely, how to acquire and eat more of it.”

“And point to Bon Bon,” the mare nodded smugly. “I’ll have a talk with your father, maybe he’ll keep a better stock. This stuff I had to make from scratch, but you can normally buy tubs of it.” She picked up the dirty dishes and placed them on her back. “Okay kiddo, you get some rest now okay. There anything else you need?”

“Nah...but thanks,” the colt said, laying back and sighing happily. At least one good thing had come out of this. He’d gotten to taste ice-cream.

“Alright, sleep tight,” Bon Bon smiled as she fixed his pillows and gave his forehead a kiss. “See you in the morning alright.”

“See you,” Realm muttered softly, closing his eyes. Bon Bon turned out his lights and left the room, the door ajar slightly to still let just a little light in as she smiled to herself, trotting down the hall.

“I… wonder if having a foal is like this?” she wondered to herself.

And for once, the paintings didn’t speak up, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

The next morning, Aspect awoke, feeling Bon Bon lying next to him, the warmth of her body was a nice comfort. He yawned and cracked open an eye… only to see a large pair of magenta-hued eyes staring only centimeters away from his own.

“Hello Dash,” Aspect muttered, before closing his eyes again. “Did you have fun on your trip?”

“What? No yelp? No filly esque scream?” Rainbow sounded a little disappointed at the lack of reaction. “Bah, you’re no fun. But yeah, was a’ight. You know, aside from falling off a train and Pinkie inciting a war through a cabaret song.”

“Well, I’ve learned that trying to understand the pink one is an exercise in madness, so really, you should stop,” the stallion said, before raising a wing. “Wanna cuddle? Room for one more.”

Her response was to just flop on top of him unceremoniously as Bon Bon cracked an eye open, expecting to see Aspect…

“Hiya,” Rainbow said and poked out her tongue, Bon Bon gasped and flinched back, before narrowing her eyes as the pegasus mare giggled.

“So hey, the Bearers are back,” Aspect spoke up from underneath Rainbow.

“So hey, I noticed,” Bon Bon deadpanned and booped the mare's muzzle as Rainbow snickered and cuddled against Aspect. “Maybe Ponyville should learn what a cuddler our dear Rainbow is?”

“Do it and I’ll prank you til the end of time,” Rainbow threatened.

“Nah, we just need to stick a bell on her,” Aspect replied. “Then we won’t be caught so off-guard.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Rainbow yawned as she settled into the hug.

“Plus, if you actually pranked us, I’d sic my daughters on you,” Aspect said. “You think you and Pinkie are good? Celly’s had a thousand years to refine her pranks.”

“Pfft, seriously?” Rainbow snorted from somewhere amongst his chest fur. “She’s like… the princess. All prim and proper and stuff. I bet she wouldn’t know a good prank if it bit her.”

“The guard’s uniforms,” Aspect said simply, waiting for the question he knew would be coming.

“What about ‘em?” Rainbow asked.

“Back in the Everfree Castle, we had a saying,” Aspect explained. “‘You could use his skull as a dustpan, and his mane as a brush!’ It spoke as to how useless a noble was. Well, Celly liked that saying, and used it about quite a few guards sometimes. Apparently one got promoted to the Captain of the guard, and didn’t really know what the saying meant...so he altered his uniform to look sort of like he had a big brush sticking out of his helmet. Given a thousand years without her explaining the joke, and...guess what Lulu and I did the first time we saw it?”

Rainbow paused, thinking about it and giving up cause she was too tired. “What?”

“Apparently Lulu laughed her head off when she saw the captain for the first time,” Aspect explained. “I had to suppress a chortle when I saw their uniforms. Celly plays pranks and games...just really, really long ones.”

“Sounds like a long time for a payoff,” Rainbow shrugged, nuzzling further into the hug.

“So, what about the stories that the Guard used to be Celestia’s personal harem?” Bon Bon asked, Rainbow’s ear flicking up at that one.

“Probably because she kept trying to make it like that,” Aspect explained. “Trying, and failing. You two should see her trying to get her guards to realize she’s hitting on them sometime. It’s a great cure for a bad mood.”

Rainbow started shaking in his grasp, a fit of giggles already claiming her as she conjured a mental image of Celestia using cheesy pick up lines.

“Oh come on,” Bon Bon snorted. “You cannot tell me that in over a thousand years, she hasn’t learned how to romance somepony?”

“I think that’s half the reason Cadence was picked to ascend,” Aspect replied. “So that somepony could finally teach her what not to do.”

“I don’t know if that’s hilarious… or just plain sad,” Bon Bon sighed and sat up. “Well, I’ve got to get ready for work. I have a lot to do if I need to take an hour or two off to train the kids today.”

“Mmm, I’ll be there in time to join you for teaching,” Aspect replied, drawing Rainbow in for snuggles. “For now I’ma snuggle this nice talking pillow.”

“Of course,” Bon Bon chuckled and kissed both ponies before getting up. “Enjoy doing nothing while I have to slave over a hot stove all day. Ahh, to be the responsible one in this relationship.”

“And actually,” Aspect said, before letting go of Rainbow. “You probably have some catching up to do with the weatherponies around here.”

“Eventually,” Rainbow sighed, nuzzling him again. “Cloud Kicker’s responsible. And if there hasn’t been a snow storm or fire tornado in the last couple of days, then we’re cool.”

“Nah, I insist,” Aspect replied, nudging her with his muzzle. “Go out and be responsible, I have to take care of Realm anyways, make sure everything is in shipshape in the house. I promise we can cuddle when you come back.”

Rainbow groaned overdramatically as she rolled out of the bed. “Urghh, fiiiiiiine, haven't seen me in two days and you’re already kicking me out.”

“And inviting you back, because as Bon Bon pointed out,” Aspect quipped, before kissing her cheek. “We all should be responsible ponies before we have fun.”

“Yeah yeah, Mister ‘I let three fillies turn the town upside down’,” she smirked and hovered into the air. “Fine, I’ll be back. Later!” And with a blast of air, she rocketed from the nearest window.

“Right,” Aspect rolled out of bed. “Take care of the house, then be back in bed to greet Rainbow again.”

In all honesty, taking care of Realm hadn’t taken all that long, and the other minor things he had to do barely took up any time at all. He was back in the bed, lying on his back and bemoaning his fate of being bored within an hour.

“Something the matter?” Written asked from her portrait. “You seem… antsy today.”

“Just...stir-crazy, I guess,” Aspect replied, rolling over onto his chest. “I said I had things to do so that Rainbow wouldn’t feel left out of the whole ‘being responsible’ shtick. But I only had so much, and now I’m regretting sending her away.”

“Oh? Then why not just go find her then?” Written pointed out. “You didn’t sit around in one room waiting for me in the castle did you?”

“But she might actually be busy being responsible,” Aspect replied. “Plus she said she’d come back.”

“Hmm, and yet, I recall something Little Tia said… something about, making friends?”

“I am not a grumpy old hermit,” Aspect grumped. “I’m just patient is all. I’ll give her another hour and if she hasn’t come back, I’ll go out looking for her.”

“Says the stallion literally talking to the walls,” Written teased him with a smug grin.

“I’m used to Pictomancy, your argument is invalid,” Aspect replied, before sticking his tongue out at her maturely.

“You know, I wonder if that Rainbow mare knows about your ticklish spots,” Written wondered aloud.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Aspect replied.

“Wouldn’t I?’ Written smirked back. “You know Tia got her prankish nature from me~ Even so, which silly human was it that taught me about pranks in the first place? I can’t seem to remember.”

“I still maintain that maybe she’s just busy,” Aspect returned. “She is the weather manager for the entire village. One hour, and then I’ll go out. Promise.”

“One of these days…” Written sighed and shook her head. “Well if you insist. And how is Realm doing? I’ve noticed that Bon Bon seems to be doing a remarkable job taking care of him.”

“He’s adjusting well, though his everything is still sore,” Aspect replied. “It’ll probably take him a full week to actually recover. And let’s not even mention how getting used to his new horn is going to go. Alicorn-level magical surges are nothing to sneeze at.”

“Ah yes… that’s, going to be messy,” Written shuddered. “Well you seem to have everything in hoof at least. Though knowing your luck, something big is going to bite you in the flank sooner or later.”

“Probably, though I am thankful that a good...ninety percent of the things from the bad old days are dead,” Aspect nodded. “Now it’s just minor things, like hydras and Ursas. Things that can actually, you know. Be handled by somepony other than me.”

“Unless Tartarus opens, then you’re screwed eight ways to Sunday,” Written replied dryly. “Well, I’m not too worried. My girls are strong, you’re finally back and I see you’ve been training some other ponies as well. Just… watch out for manticores hmm?”

“I swear if there is one species that has it out for us all,” Aspect rumbled.

“Yes, your luck with them has been… poor,” Written agreed. “Also, you might want to brace yourself.”

Aspect had all of a moment to think about that, before a polychromatic blur slammed into him, bouncing the bed a few times before coming to a stop, Rainbow sitting atop of him.

“Oh hello,” Aspect said up to her. “You know, I was this close to coming out and looking for you.”

Written snorted derisively from her place on the wall.

“Lemme guess, he was just laying around here moping and griping as usual?” Rainbow smirked.

“Mhm,” the alicorn nodded.

“Figured,” Dash tacked on.

“...You are conspiring against me, aren’t you?” Aspect glared at Written.

“Would I do that?” Written replied oh-so-innocently as she turned away. “Oh and Rainbow dear?”

The mare turned and looked at her.

“He’s ticklish on the bottoms of his hooves.” And with that, she left the picture as Rainbow turned and her smirk grew to unsettling levels.

“No,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at her. Which, in retrospect, was a bad move. She snagged his hoof as she flared a wing and started her assault on the soft underside. Aspect snorted and did his best to contain his laughter, but couldn’t stop the grin breaking out on his face.

“Tickle tickle~” Rainbow smirked. “Come on, let’s hear a giggle from the grumpy pone.”

“No!” Aspect managed to blurt out, still containing his laughter. “Not gonna...give you...the satisfaction!”

“Yes you wiiilll~” she cooed, grabbing his second hoof and started tickling that too. The snorting increased, and something seemed about ready to burst out of Aspect’s mouth, but each time it nearly did, he pressed his lips together. If there was one thing he was, it was stubborn.

“Coochie coochie coo~” Rainbow persisted. If there was one mare that could out-stubborn him, it was her.

And then she heard it. It existed for all of a second, before he managed to press his lips back together, but she heard it all the same. The rare, coveted, Aspect Laugh.

She released him and pointed. “Aha! I heard that! You. Laughed!”

“I did not,” Aspect returned, thankful the tickling had stopped. “You must be hearing things.”

“I heard it too,” Hurricane chuckled from the painting, having watched the whole event.

“Lies and slander,” the stallion huffed, crossing his forelegs and looking away. She used that to grab his hooves and start tickling him again. Aspect snorted once more, shaking his head. He wasn’t going to give in again!

Then she yanked him forward and pulled him into a deep kiss, her tongue pressing against his lips. Aspect let out a moan before pulling his hooves free and wrapping them around her, hugging her closer. The paintings wisely saw where this was going and left. Though Hurricane might have paused to watch… only to have Written drag her away.

Rainbow hummed into the kiss and then pulled back, smiling. “Is that better then?” she purred in a sultry tone, her gaze becoming a half-lidded one.

“Mmm, much,” Aspect returned, running a hoof down her side to rub at her flank.

“So,” the mare mused as she moved her hoof across his chest. “Did you miss me?”

“Mmm, of course I did,” Aspect replied, groping that flank and getting a good hoofful of it. “I missed having you here, waking up with you…” He whispered the next part. “Stuffing that cute little rear of yours…”

Rainbow blushed and swatted his flank with her tail. “Such a naughty stallion, what am I going to do with you?”

“Probably take everything I have to offer,” Aspect casually stated before lightly smacking her flank.

“Mmm,” she moaned a little at that. “And… what might you be offering?”

“Oh, you know,” Aspect said. “Just a good old round of me rutting you through the bed.” He swatted her flank again, still being light enough to not cause any actual pain...yet.

“Hmm, s’at so?” Rainbow mused and put her hooves on his chest. “And if I have… other ideas?”

“Oh?” Aspect replied, getting a good hoof of her flank again. “And what sort of ideas might this naughty mare have?”

“Hmm…” She tapped her chin and grinned. Getting off of him, she moved over to his walk in wardrobe and disappeared inside. Aspect merely sat back and waited, wondering what the prismatic mare might have planned.

“So,” he heard her call out. “You like teaching, yeah?”

“It is what I find the most joy in, yes,” Aspect replied, still sitting on the bed.

“Well then…” the door slowly opened and Rainbow Dash emerged. And what she was wearing well…

“So,” she replied coyly and bat her eyes. “Will you teach me something then~?”

“Mmm, better idea,” Aspect murred as he drank in what she was wearing. “Pop quiz. Show me how you’d arouse and please a stallion.”

“Ohh, I… suppose I could do that,” she replied and blushed. Climbing up onto the bed, she looked over his form and he caught a glimpse of what was under her skirt. She was even wearing a cute pair of white panties.

She edged closer, one hoof starting to caress his thigh.

“A good start,” Aspect praised her. “Not going directly for the main objective. Warm the stallion up first.”

She moved in a bit closer and started placing kisses along his chest, slowly moving up his neck and along his jawline, before placing a deep, sensual kiss on him lips.

“Mmmm,” Aspect murred into the kiss, breaking it after a sufficiently long enough moment had passed. “Very good, very good indeed. You do know quite a bit about arousing a normal stallion. Now,” he stated, before flaring his wings. “Advanced question. How would you go about arousing specifically a pegasus stallion?”

She smiled as her hoof moved to the elbow of his wings, softly rubbing it as she moved around behind him and started nuzzling the space between his wings. Aspect moaned at her attentions, his wings stiffening a little so that she’d have maximum space to work with.

She pressed in a little further, now adding some nibbling and soft moaning to her nuzzles as she used both her forehooves to tease his wings. Her tail flicked around and brushed up against his flank and thighs. Aspect moaned louder, doing his best to hold himself still as she teased him.

“You’re...quite the...good student,” he panted out.

“Mmm, I have a… good teacher~” she purred into his ear and nibbled on it slightly.

“I think...you’ve just about...managed it,” the stallion panted. “So...now that you’ve...passed your...first test…”

“Oh, I passed huh?” Rainbow moved back around in front of him and smiled. “And, what’s my grade Teach?”

“Solid A,” Aspect replied, and a quick look down would prove that wasn’t the only thing that was solid.

“Ohh, this next test looks… hard,” she murmured and licked her lips.

“I’m sure you’ll manage it,” Aspect smirked at her.

“So, what’s next then?” she asked him. “Another pop quiz, or is it free study time?”

“Yup, your turn to do what you can to pleasure a stallion,” Aspect said, making sure not to block her access at all. “Go nuts.”

“Okay then,” she said with a teasing wink. She drew closer, before poking out her tongue and dragging it slowly along his length, pausing to kiss and nibble the tip as she started working her way back down again.

“Ooooh buck,” Aspect moaned softly. She’d gotten good at this.

She moved a bit lower, nuzzling his weighted orbs and took in his scent, moaning softly as she opened her mouth and took one in, suckling on it gently.

“You’ve learned...quite a bit...from Bonnie,” Aspect groaned as he felt her work on him.

“You think so?” she mused as she worked her way back up… and then took his head into her mouth and started to press down, inch by inch sinking into her maw. Aspect hissed as he felt this, knowing instinctively that she hadn’t learned that yet, but enjoying it all the same.

Then she kept going, more and more until he felt her nose touch his belly. His eyes widened and he looked down, just in time to see her look back and wink, before moaning loudly around him.

“Holy...buck…” Aspect whispered as he saw her accomplish that which had previously thwarted her. “Has somepony...been practicing?”

She just hummed as her throat squeezed him, her tongue toying with his shaft as she started bobbing her head, those rose-colored eyes never leaving his as she winked at him again, following up with another moan.

“Not...gonna lie,” Aspect moaned, doing his best to not buck. “Pretty...bucking hot…”

She moaned again, bobbing her head a few more times before pulling almost all the way back up. Keeping just the head in her mouth, she suckled on that as her wings moved around, the feathers wrapping around the rest of his shaft and sliding up and down the slick member.

“Buck!” Aspect swore, only his extreme force of will preventing him from doing just that. “Okay...I think...I think if you keep it up too much longer...I might finish early.”

She smirked and pulled back away from him, licking her lips in a sultry manner. “Ohh, sorry about that Teach…” She gave him another half-lidded stare. “Guess I’ve been a naughty filly~”

“And what does the naughty filly get?” Aspect returned, playfully scowling at her.

“Ohh, are you gonna punish me?” she hummed, wiggling her flank.

“Ohhh, I might just have to,” Aspect mused. “Mmm...now how should I do that? Should I just spank the filly until her flanks are red and raw?”

“Ohh, you’d like that huh?” she chuckled, waving her skirt-clad flank in his face.

“Or should I hold the filly down,” Aspect started, even as he ran a hoof along her flank, “And screw her until she cums?”

“Choices, choices,” she purred. “Better make it fast, Rainbow’s are notorious for not sticking around long~”

“Oh who said I had to pick?” Aspect all but growled to her. “I’m sure I can combine the two. Now you naughty filly…” His hoof lightly smacked her flank. “Why don’t you go ahead and present yourself?”

“Oh?” Rainbow hummed and shot him a challenging look. “Why don’t you make me?”

“Because I don’t want to damage your pretty little outfit by ripping it off of you,” Aspect replied, smacking her flank again.

“Aww, you don’t like playing rough?” she teased again, shaking her tail at him.

“I want you to be able to use it again, so there’s a limit on my roughness,” he retorted, before rubbing her flank where he’d spanked her.

“Fair enough,” she mused as she slid out of the white panties teasingly, making sure to make it as slow as possible, using her tail to hide anything underneath though.

“Mmm, you do enjoy teasing me,” Aspect noted aloud. “Now is that a normal thing, or a revenge for kicking you out thing?”

“A little of A, a little of B,” she mused as she turned around and sat on her rump, her hind legs spread but her tail hid everything as the painties dangled from one of her hooves. Then, with a casual flick, she kicked them off and they landed right on his muzzle, his nose filled with the scent of her arousal.

“Mmm, you are a naughty little filly, aren’t you?” Aspect growled low in his throat. He easily swiped the panties off his face and to the side, giving Rainbow a lustful gaze.

“Mmmaybe,” she giggled and flicked her tail from side to side. “What are you gonna do about it, Teacher~”

“I think I’m gonna have to take your tight little rear for a ride you won’t soon forget,” the stallion replied. “Shouldn’t you be presenting, filly?”

She turned around and lowered her front half, raising her hips and flicking her tail to one side to show off her dripping marehood to him.

“Mmm,” Aspect hummed, rubbing her lower lips with a hoof...before transitioning seamlessly into smacking one of her flanks with the same hoof. She let out a soft squeak and her flanks wiggled ever so slightly. Compared to Bon Bon, who had a little plush in her rump, Rainbow was nice and taut, she may have been a smaller mare, but he could see the muscle under that cyan fur.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” she snarked when she caught him staring.

“Why would I ever need to?” Aspect replied, smacking her flank again. “The real thing’s far more entrancing.”

“True enough,” she said after squeaking from the smack again. “So, what are you gonna do?”

“I’ll let you pick,” Aspect murred as he returned to rubbing her lips. “But you only get to choose one. Whichever one you choose, that’s the one I’m screwing until we’re both done.”

“Ohh, so forceful,” she purred. “How about you tell me which one you want~”

“Mmm, I do that, you might wind up with a foal,” Aspect murred. “And we can’t be having that, can we? Not if you’re going to shoot for the stars…”

“Maaaybe,” Rainbow hummed and shrugged. “Or maybe, Bon Bon got me onto a little potion… one so I don’t hafta worry ‘bout that crap~”

“So your first instinct is ‘let’s test it out’?” Aspect chuckled.

“Why the buck not?” Rainbow shrugged. “S’not like it’s gonna work with Bon Bon now is it? Unless one of your weird-ass spells turns her into a bro.”

Aspect slowly lowered his hoof. “Explain,” he stated, his previous mood gone.

“Explain what?” Rainbow blinked in surprise at his sudden stalling. “I can’t test the potion with Bon Bon, she can’t get me pregnant now can she?”

“Oh good,” Aspect sighed, his joviality returning. “For a second I thought you might be saying the potion wouldn’t work with Bon Bon because, oh, I don’t know...she was already pregnant.”

“Huh? Nah, she’s been on it the whole time or so she says,” Rainbow replied. “Why do you think she lets you do it inside of her all the time?”

“Totally calling her out on it when we have a moment together then,” Aspect smirked. “Anyway. Good mood back. Where does the naughty filly want it? Unless she’s gotten a taste for having it shoved somewhere else.”

“Maaaybe, but I’m just a helpless schoolfilly,” she replied and shook her costumed butt. “At the mercy of her… big, strong teacher~”

“Mmm, you get ten seconds to decide,” Aspect informed her. “Then I’m taking charge.”

“Like I haven’t told you to do that already,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. She started to get up. “Maybe I’ll see what Candybutt’s up to…”

There was a moment when she was standing up on the bed.

The next moment, she was pinned to the bed by the stallion on her back, a large, thick head prodding at her lower lips as he growled dominantly in her ear.

“I’ll take that as a no?” she chuckled, her wings fluttering.

Then she felt that thick head spread her wide open as he thrust into her, in one smooth motion. Her mouth opened in a silent cry as her forehooves gripped the bedsheets. That was only a prequel to what was to come, however. Aspect pulled all but the head of his shaft back, before pounding it back into her.

Rainbow let out a loud moan this time, bucking her hips back to meet his. It was all she could do from this position, pinned under him. She was utterly trapped.

So… why was she liking it so much?

Aspect snorted in her ear, a more animalistic, instinctual sound than actual communication, and the pace picked up a notch. It wasn’t a gentle lovemaking session anymore.

No, now he was absolutely rutting her, pounding her mercilessly.

“Ahhhh~” Rainbow’s raspy voice moaned out, almost drowned out by the wet slaps and stallion grunts that filled the room. “C-Celestia! That’s just… aaahhhhh~!”

The stallion grunted a few times, his thrusting starting to become more erratic. And previous sessions with him told Rainbow exactly what was coming. She gripped the sheets tighter and turned her head to look at him.

“Mmm, you gonna fill me up?” she purred huskily between pants and moans. “You gonna breed this silly little schoolfilly?”

Aspect grunted, snorted, and bit onto her rainbow mane as his cock started twitching inside her. Once...twice...the third time was when it started filling her up with his essence. She felt his cock flare inside of her and she gasped as his hot seed started filling her.

“Ahhh, ommyyy gooosh!” she moaned as her own climax kicked in, squeezing his member for all the seed it could produce. It kept going for a few seconds, before the stallion grunted and fell down on top of her, his cock keeping it all in place as he panted heavily.

“Oh… oh wow…” she panted. “S-So that… that’s what it’s like huh…” She collapsed under his weight, her own stamina spent for the moment.

“That...that was pretty buckin’ hot,” Aspect said, finally back in his right mind.

“Yeah?” Rainbow mused from under him. “Any… bit in particular?”

“Pretty much...all of it,” the stallion panted out. “You’re...quite the mare.”

“I aim to please,” Rainbow groaned. “Urgh, come on dude, you’re heavy.”

“Just...one moment,” Aspect replied, getting a hoof under him and rolling himself off of the mare. His length came free with a lewd popping noise, allowing his essence to run free from her at last. She let out a small groan as she started leaking their combined fluids onto the bed as she slowly inched forwards, leaving a sticky trail as she ambled towards the bathroom.

“And that...was amazing,” Aspect panted as he stared up at the ceiling.

“Have fun did you?” Hurricane chuckled from the painting.

“Buck off, I needed that, she needed that...it was too good to have you ruining it,” Aspect grumbled, before rolling again to lie on his belly, to make sure nothing was exposed for any longer than it should be.

“Baah, what kind of mare do ya take me for?” Hurricane scoffed. “I’m happy for ya. At least you found a couple of mares that’ll put up with your snarky arse.”

“Says the mare that corrupted my son,” Aspect snarked back.

“Yeah well…” the painted mare shrugged and whistled innocently. “S’not like you were gonna give him the birds and Breezies talk. Not like you and Written ever did anything. I’m impressed you even know how it works.”

“Blame Cadence,” Aspect grunted. “In any case...I’ll need to wash up after she’s done and get ready for the foals.”

“Fair enough,” Hurricane shrugged. “Just… you better bloody look after my descendant alright? Or I swear I will find a way to park a thundercloud up your flank!”

“Noted,” Aspect chuckled, before deciding to close his eyes and wait. A few moments later, a freshly washed pegasus mare draped herself over him, her coat still slightly damp from the shower as she nuzzled his neck and cheek. Aspect returned the nuzzle before lifting himself off the bed and walking towards the bathroom, now taking his turn to wash up.

“So, Mini-me,” Hurricane spoke up. “You like Aspect huh?”

“Well… yeah,” Rainbow replied. “I mean, he’s alright I guess. Kind of snarky and a bit of a hermit. Sorta like… Twilight if she was grumpy all the time. But he’s cool. He… he’s better than the others at least. Not that they set the bar very high mind you.”

Hurricane raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Rainbow sighed. “Other stallions and mares, they… couldn’t get used to me I guess. Stallions didn’t like a mare that was stronger than them, and mares didn’t like the fact I wasn’t very fillylike.”

“Hah! I know those feels,” Hurricane chuckled.

“Aspect and Bons… they seem to like me so far,” Rainbow continued. “Still… only a matter of time before they get sick of me too.”

Hurricane closed her eyes and sighed. “Look kid, I’ll admit that Aspect is so dense, I swear light bends around his head sometimes. But look, he ain’t the sort to ditch you for some stupid arse reason like that. Hell, if anything, he likes you even more because you can challenge him. Don’t let Written’s cutesy act fool ya, she was a hellstorm when she got mad.”

“Was not!”

“Ah shush, big ponies are talkin.” Hurricane shouted back and turned to Dash. “Just, don’t give up on him eh? And he’ll never give up on you… ahh, speak of Tirek himself…”

Rainbow blinked and looked up to see him in the doorway. “So uh… h-hey Aspect.”

“Hey,” he said, looking between Rainbow and Hurricane. “Surprised the pair of you haven’t gotten into an ego contest yet.”

“Hah, if she’s half the mare I think she is, then she’s…” Hurricane paused. “What’s the word? Cool?”

“Awesome, but cool also works,” Rainbow nodded. “And yeah, you’re pretty awesome yourself. Especially if you had to put up with Aspect for so long.”

“Mare, you don’t even know what I had to deal with,” Hurricane sighed.

“And thus, my torture is complete, with the past and present agreeing to torment me,” Aspect intoned in a deadpan voice.

“Oh please, I have to balance it out somehow,” Rainbow chuckled and kissed his cheek. “Wait til you see Bons in that uniform~”

“I’m sure she’ll find all new ways to torture me as well,” Aspect chuckled, nuzzling her. “Anyways. I have a class to teach. Take care, you.”

“What, is that all, you’re gonna love me and leave me?” Rainbow pouted. Aspect rolled his eyes, before drawing her into a deep, sensual kiss. One she eagerly returned as she wrapped her hooves around him.

“Whoo, you go mare~” Hurricane cheered, as Rainbow threw a pillow and knocked the painting off of the wall. “...ow.”

Aspect held it for a little longer, before breaking it a smirking at her. “Better?” he asked.

“I guess it’ll have to do,” Rainbow shrugged. “Fine, go and teach your kidlets. I suppose I’ll just nap here for now.”

“Yup, but first,” Aspect said, before walking over and picking up the painting, hanging it back on the wall. “Better, Hurricane?”

“Eh,” she shrugged. “You’re not mad right? Just… thought I’d offer some advice is all.”

“Nah, just as long as you all don’t divulge all my secrets,” Aspect replied. “And on that note, I have a class still, so...mares, it was a pleasure.” He flapped his wings and vanished out the open window.

“Right,” Hurricane chuckled as he left, Rainbow rubbing her hooves in delight. “Now, we know his ticklish spots. What’s next?”

Cheerilee looked at at Aspect and Bon Bon in her ‘Sweetie Drops’ disguise. “Hmm, where is little Sunny? Is she not teaching Sorcery today?”

“The girls got a good lesson about that during the week,” Aspect explained. “I think their families have restricted their magical useage to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Ruby, Sweetie and Dinky all sighed, seems they weren’t getting any lessons today.

“Serves the little Blank Flanks right,” Diamond snickered under her hoof. “If I had that power, I wouldn’t let that happen.”

“If you had that power, we’d be well on the way to the arts being lost again,” Aspect sniped at her. “And until you can demonstrate otherwise, you’ll be off the list.”

Diamond just snorted and folded her hooves.

“So, what are we learning today?’ Scootaloo buzzed excitedly.

“Aaah, well, this is going to be an interesting skill for the pegasi,” Aspect replied. “But first, let’s go out back and see how well you’ve progressed in building up your mana pools, eh?”

“Kaaay,” the trio of foals echoed as they followed him outside. Meanwhile, Sweetie had led the potential Geomancers off for some quiet meditation, to improve their skills in listening to the Earth.

“All right, so,” Aspect said, grateful that Cheerilee had seen to it there was a cloud again. “All of you. Up on the cloud, one big flap, and don’t forget the gliding pose to come back down.”

“Yes sir!” they all nodded. Scootaloo made it up on the second attempt, while the other two took a few more tries before they were able to get up onto the cloud as well. Stopping to catch their breath, they glided they way back down.

Rumble’s faceplant when they landed was rather impressive.

“All right, so you all have been practicing, some more than others,” Aspect noted. “Okay, we’ll try the second exercise then.”

“Is it shooting lightning?” Rumble asked excitedly.

“What?” Scootaloo asked with an adorable tilt of her head.

“My big brother Thunderlane saw it,” Rumble clarified. “Mister Aspect can shoot lightning from his wings!”

“Cooooool,” the other foals echoed.

“Nope,” Aspect smirked at them. “You’re nowhere near ready for that yet. The second exercise is simple.” He then posed a question to the foals. “How do Pegasi walk on clouds?”

“With our hooves,” Scootaloo pointed out and the others giggled.

“Mmhm,” Aspect said, before raising a hoof and pointing it at them. All of a sudden, there was a puff of air that blew their manes back. The three blinked, though Featherweight stumbled a little from the sudden breeze.

“What…. What was that?” Rumble blinked.

“That, was me using my magic through my hooves,” Aspect stated. “It’s a useful trick. Try to see if you can do it.”

“But… we’re pegasi, not earth ponies,” Scootaloo pointed out.

“I know, this is about the limit of what a pegasus can do with their hooves,” Aspect returned. “But it’s useful for later on down the line. Go on. Try to draw your magic through your hooves. Let it pool there...and then give it a shove outside your body.”

The three foals just looked at him like he’d grown a second head.

“Okay,” Aspect sighed. “Remember how you took off? Send the magic to your hooves instead of your wings. You should be able to make little gusts that way.”

“Sooo… we fly… with our hooves?” Rumble blinked and looked down. “I dunno… that sounds kinda… weird?”

Featherweight and Scootaloo just stood on their hindlegs and flapped their forelegs.

“Eventually that’s the plan, yeah, but for now I want to see if you can manage even a gust,” Aspect replied. “It’s a handy skill to have under your belt. Try sending the magic to just one hoof to start.”

Meanwhile, Bon Bon’s meditation was going well… until the land decided to be mischievous… and her and her students had to free Cheerilee from a cluster of vines.

Aspect’s students were having a hard time grasping this new lesson. It required a little more understanding of innate magic, so a more experienced flyer could do it, like the Wonderbolts had.

So far, none of them had pulled it off, even after a half hour of trying.

“Arrgghhh! This SUCKS!” Scootaloo yelled, getting more and more frustrated. “I can’t do it!!”

“That’s fine, not everypony can do it on their first try,” Aspect replied soothingly. “It’s hard enough for some to find their magic and use it to take off. Usually they have to get that lesson down before they can ignore putting magic in their wings. When they can, though…” Aspect put all four hooves on the ground and concentrated.

Within a second, he was levitating off the ground via four small gusts being provided by his hooves.

The three just stared in awe, though he could see the frustration in their eyes over their own inability to do so. He landed and smirked at them, before holding one hoof out and using it to generate just a small puff of wind.

“I won’t be mad or disappointed if you can’t do this lesson today,” Aspect said softly. “It just means you need more training with your innate magic, is all.”

“But… I need to able to do this,” Scootaloo sighed as she looked at her hoof. “If I can’t… Then, the Diamond is right…”

“Want to know a trick?” Aspect asked the foals.

They all looked at him expectantly. With a smirk, he reached into his bag and pulled out three lengths of rope.

“Uhh, what’s with the rope?” Scoots asked him. During her crusades with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, her track record with rope wasn’t a friendly one.

“Simple,” Aspect replied. “If I bind your wings, then you can’t accidentally send your magic to them. Giving you more of a chance to send it to your hooves. And if you manage it once, you won’t ever forget the trick.”

“Uhh, I dunno about that…” Scootaloo said. She wasn’t a fan of having her wings touched.

“Here, let me demonstrate,” Aspect said, before motioning Rumble forward. The colt nodded as he did and in a few moments, had the rope tied around his waist.

“This is so weird,” Rumble muttered.

“Featherweight, your turn,” Aspect said, holding up the next length. “Meanwhile, Rumble, concentrate on calling up your magic and sending it down to your hooves.”

Featherweight followed suit, and Scootaloo last, though she still looked uncomfortable about having her wings tied down. And once that was done, they started the lesson again.

Cheerilee had been rescued successfully, though her blush shone through her mulberry coat. That group had resumed meditating and Aspect’s charges were still trying to produce any sort of reaction from their hooves.

“Don’t try to force it,” Aspect told them. “If you’re having trouble putting magic to your hooves, just call up more magic. It can’t do anything with your wings, so sooner or later it’ll trickle down to your hooves. Or if we run out of time, I’ll have you all step on the cloud to try and make it happen on its own.”

He felt somepony watching him and glanced up, seeing Rainbow Dash lazing on a cloud as she peered down at them. He waved a wing at her before sighing. “Okay, who wants to try stepping on the cloud?” he asked his charges.

“How? Our wings are tied,” Scootaloo said, but her eyes widened as Rainbow landed next to Aspect.

“Hey now squirts,” she said. “You think I became as awesome as I am overnight? Practice makes perfect am I right? If this old hermit says you got what it takes, then you got what it takes.”

“I dunno…” Rumble sighed.

“Hey!” Rainbow almost shouted, making them flinch. “What are you? A pegasus? Or a mouse?”

“Uh, a pegasus?” Rumble replied.

“Exactly!” Rainbow stomped a hoof. “We’re awesome! It’s in our blood. So I want you squirts to jump on that cloud and show this lesson who’s boss!”

“It might be a good idea to close your eyes as well, focus on the feeling of your magic as you set hoof on the cloud,” Aspect mentioned.

The foals all looked at one another and nodded. Closing their eyes, they climbed up onto the cloud. Scootaloo was the first to notice a weird tingling in her hooves. Weird, she’d never noticed it before when cloudwalking.

“Um, are my hooves supposed to itch?” Featherweight called out.

“That, is the feeling of your natural magic kicking in, and allowing you to cloudwalk,” Aspect said. “Focus on it. Don’t lose it.”

Then a *paff* sound echoed out and Scootaloo squealed, tumbling head over hooves on the cloud. “W-What the heck was that!? What hit me from underneath the cloud?”

“Congratulations Scootaloo,” Aspect smirked. “Your magic pooled in your hooves and caused a gust of air to come out. In short, you did it.”

“I… wat?” Scootaloo blinked, stuck headfirst in one of the clouds.

“Dang it, Scootaloo beats us again?” Rumble pouted. Once the lesson was over, each of the three at least got some kind of reaction, nothing near the level of his older students, but they’d get there in time.

“So?” Bon Bon mused as they walked home together. “How did your lesson go?”

“Well enough, they’re picking up the advanced lesson now,” Aspect replied. “Pretty soon they’ll be causing all sorts of wind through their hooves. Who knows, we might have the future Wonderbolt squad here in town.”

“My own went alright… until the earth decided to enact a neighponese comic scenario on Cheerilee,” Bon Bon sighed. “Well in any… case…” She paused as they got to the front door, they could hear, voices. Familiar ones.

Lyra… and another mare that sent chills up Aspect’s spine.

Toola Roola.

“Oh no,” Aspect whispered. “Odds on her being here because of the new alicorn?”

“Odds on her being here because she found out about Rainbow Dash?” Bon Bon gulped as she opened the door, the brightly coloured mare laying eyes on the as soon as they entered.

“So,” she said and crossed the room towards them. “My daughter wasn’t enough for you hmm?” This wasn’t an earth pony mare stalking towards him, this felt more like a pissed off Momma Manticore.

“You talk like I was the one to suggest anything,” Aspect riposted. “I would have been happy on my own. Grumpy, but happy, especially now that I have a teaching job again. Anything more than that was her idea.”

Toola glared at him, before her mood flipped like a switch. “Hah, he grew some balls since last time. Good colt.” She slapped his back and chuckled. “So next item on the agenda.” She pointed to the paintings, which had been still and silent since she’d arrived. “Who’s the Pictomancer in the house?”

“Pictomancy is a lost art,” Aspect replied. “I know of it, but I’m hardly skilled enough to bring it back. I’m afraid you might be mistaken, miss.”

Toola Roola narrowed her eyes. Bon Bon took a healthy step back from him. He was on his own now.

“Colt,” she muttered. “I like you, that’s the reason I let you date Bon Bon. That and I want grandfoals sometime in the future. But do not treat me like a bloody idiot. I’m too young to be senile and I saw that painting of Commander Hurricane move when I arrived.” She snorted and poked his nose. “Besides, you think I can’t tell when Spectra paint’s been used? I can almost taste the magic coming from them.”

Aspect stared at her for a moment longer, before looking over at Hurricane. “Really?” he asked the painting.

“I thought I was quick enough,” Hurricane sighed. “Damn perceptive for an earther, I’ll give her that.”

Toola Roola just smiled smugly. “Besides… you can’t escape the eyes of a Pictomancer~”

“Wait! YOU know Pictomancy!?” Bon Bon exclaimed.

“Mhm, got ahold of a vial of Spectra paint some… fifteen years ago now. Wasted it on a painting of a cat…”

“Must have been quite the shock when it started moving,” Aspect replied. “How have you been getting more? The recipe was something I unearthed fairly recently...and doesn’t lend itself well to Earth Ponies on their own making more.”

“It was the one and only time I ever obtained some,” Toola sighed and shook her head. “I’ve always wished I could work with it again. But I didn’t even know what it was called until I studied up on it.”

“Well, the artist for all of these...actually,” Aspect mused, before shaking his head. “No. The artists for these are long dead. The restorer for them, the one who improved them and made them far more layered and detailed, is currently...indisposed.”

Toola raised an eyebrow.

“He burned himself out making one of the greater Pictomancy paintings I’ve seen,” Aspect explained. “Nearly cost him his magic and his life, but he’ll recover.”

“I see,” Toola said. “So, where’s the painting?”

“Hanging in the gallery,” Aspect replied. “It also has something ringing it that I think you might find...interesting.”

“Oh?” Toola’s ears perked up. “Explain if you would please?”

“It’d be easier to see it,” Aspect returned with a shake of his head. “I don’t think you’d quite believe it or its properties until you’d experienced them for yourself.”

“Interesting,” Toola mused as she walked over to one painting, one of Clover the Clever. “Whoever this artist is, he’s quite skilled I’ll admit. The life in these pieces is quite extraordinary.”

“Whoa… you never compliment somepony like that,” Bon Bon gasped, earning an eyeroll from her mother.

“To be fair, Pictomancy is about three things,” Aspect replied. “The paint, your imagination, and how many layers you can add. They were already pretty good paintings before he got at them. He just...made sure they were as good as they could possibly be. Aside from his more personal project, which of course got as much love as he could ladle on.”

“You know, I think I might have to extend my stay,” Toola hummed. “I was just curious about your, menage a trois, but now I’m highly curious about both Pictomancy and this artist of yours.”

“So… you’re staying?” Bon Bon blinked and sighed. “Do you even bother asking?”

“Balanced dear, you wouldn’t mind if your charming future mother-in-law stays a while?” Toola Roola smiled sweetly.

“Just as long as you don’t pester Starswirl when you meet him,” Aspect said, looking at the doors before picking the one that led to the gallery. “This way to the painting.”

“...Who the buck is Starswirl?” Toola asked.

“Oh she is going to have a field day when she meets him,” Clover giggled. “I think he was finally exploring that painting today, Aspect.”

“Oh good, two birds and all that,” the stallion smiled.

Toola Roola simply shrugged as she dumped her bags on Bon Bon. “Take care of these honey. I have a painting to look at.”

“...Sure, make yourself at home,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she trotted off to put her things away. Well, so much for peace and quiet around here.

Author's Note

No I totally didn't forget until now. Lies and slander.

Toola's back. How long will she last?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does go a long way to helping Aus have a livable life.

Half of all funds will not go towards getting Stardew for the Switch.

Aus already did that and I have no interest in getting it myself for another platform. If you have any tips or tricks to give him to help him past his first year, leave them on his page.

Chapter 27 - A-Muse-ing Consequences

“So… this is it huh?” Toola Roola stared up at the massive painting of the Everfree Castle. “It certainly has quite a vibe about it, doesn’t it?” She moved up to it and felt herself being drawn closer. She frowned and stepped back, shaking her head. “Gah! What the buck was that?”

“That,” Aspect said, tapping the frame. “Would be the portal. Careful you don’t get too close.”

“So, you weren’t kidding about being literally lost in the painting huh?” Toola paced back and forth in front of it. “I’ll admit, I’ve seen some stuff in my life, but a painting you can step into? Here I thought that only worked with books and comics.”

“Mm, a decently trained Pictomancer actually can step into any Pictomancy painting they want to,” Aspect replied. “This one, however, has a portal ringing it to make it easier for everypony else.”

“So, anypony can step inside huh?” she looked the piece up and down. “It certainly has an ominous feel about it.”

“Yeah, it nearly...well, the closest thing I can come to describing it is, ate, its painter alive. Fortunately he was pulled from the painting and hospitalized in time. And maybe, given a fresh coat, he’ll be able to change the feeling of it.” The stallion shook his head though. “However, that’s something for another day. He’s on strict bedrest. No Pictomancy, no stressing his magical systems at all until he’s recovered.”

“Fair enough,” Toola nodded and gave the painting one last look. She was annoyed that she didn’t know how to fix it. She’d only dabbled the once, so she was under no assumptions that she could fix this. “I’ll have to meet with him once he’s well.”

“You could meet with him now, he’s actually here,” Aspect informed her. “Just, not able to indulge in Pictomancy. I would say he shouldn’t paint either, due to how sore he is, but not only is keeping him away from paint an exercise in futility, he says he’s just not inspired at the moment.”

“Well why didn’t you say so,” Toola beamed. “Now, let’s go and find this colt eh? I want to see what kind of competition I have in him.”

“Fair warning, he’s...well, I’ll explain as we move,” Aspect said as he began leading Toola. “Okay, so do you know what happens when the magic runs out of a Pictomancy painting?”

“Enlighten me,” Toola said as she followed him through the winding halls.

“Essentially, the painting freezes and will need to be refreshed with another coat of Spectra Paint. Realm...used to be the painter for the Everfree Castle, when it was a castle. Friends with the founders as well. Clover, however, predicted that there would come a day when the arts they knew would fade...so he sealed himself inside a painting. A painting that I recovered and restored.”

“Risky,” she muttered. “What if something had happened? Say the painting got damaged somehow?”

“Yeah, that would have put an end to his time-capsule project real fast,” Aspect chuckled. “He is, however, still a colt, so technically I am his guardian until he adjusts to the new age he’s found himself in. And then a few more years besides as he grows into being a stallion.”

“So, what kind of kid is he?” Toola asked as they neared the room.

“Perverted, as he’s just on the cusp of ‘stallionhood’, as it were,” Aspect replied. “Beyond that, he’s incredibly creative, as befits his new station.”

“Huh, one of those kids huh?” Toola chuckled. “You shoulda seen Bonnie at that age. So adorable, and so easy to tease. Bring up anything romantically involved and she turned into a tomato.”

“Mm, I’ll keep that in mind,” Aspect idly replied, filing the information away for later. “Also, he can be dangerous. He hasn’t harmed me, or any pony...but a martial art they practiced back in those days was the Gale King. He’s a master of it, able to conjure lightning at a whim. Or...he could, were his magical systems not stressed.”

“So, a lover and a fighter eh?” Toola chuckled as she put a hoof on the door. “Sounds like a real marekiller when he grows… up…” She’d opened the door and Aspect peered inside to see what made her pause.

Twilight was laying on a chaise lounge, on her side as she propped her head up with one hoof, her tail draped over her waist. Her eyes moved from a half-lidded gaze to surprise when she spied the two ponies.

“Oh hey guys!” she smiled and waved with her free hoof.

“...Realm,” Aspect growled out.

“Hey, I asked for her to take a pose,” Realm defended himself. “This is the pose she took.”

“Huh? You told me to sit like this,” Twilight argued. “Why, what’s wrong…” She blinked and her eyes narrowed. “He did it again, didn’t he?”

“Eeeyup,” Aspect nodded. “And if he painted that…”

“Can’t, hooves too sore to hold a brush still,” Realm replied. “But it was quite inspiring!”

“Reaaallllmmmmmm!” Twilight stood up, her horn sparking to life as her mane started moving under the power she was emanating.

“OhyegodsIforgotshe’saminiatureStarswirlHELP!” the colt blurted out before doing the best he could to hide: cowering under his blanket.

Twilight looked at Aspect and winked. She had… a plan.

Realm felt a weight on his bed, somepony had just climbed up onto it.

“Ohh Realm~” Twilight said in a singsong voice.

The colt eeped and scooted away from the bump on the bed.

“Come one Realmy, I’m not mad,” Twilight hummed as she pulled the blanket down. He saw her face, her eyes narrowed into a half-lidded gaze and she bit her lower lip. “You know, if you wanted inspiration~ All you had—” her hoof trailed along his leg. “—To do was ask~”

The colt squeaked and blushed, now not able to meet her gaze for an entirely different reason.

“So tell me,” she hummed and her voice dropped into a husky whisper. “Do you want to be a stallion~?”

The colt’s face burned bright red, but the mare could still see him nod slightly.

“Do you wanna know a secret?” she said, her lips near his ear.

Realm gulped, but nodded ever so slightly again. He could feel her breath on his ear as she leaned closer… and with the slightest whisper…

“Gotcha~”

And with a happy hum, she jumped off of the bed and trotted out of the room. Realm blinked, too stunned to even look at her flank as she left, and shook his head to clear it.

“Wat?” he asked dumbly.

“She got you,” Aspect replied with a chuckle. “Anyways. Let miss Toola get a good look at you. She’s been dying to meet the greatest Pictomancer of the Pre-Classical era.”

“This kid?” Toola cackled. “This kid just got played like a freaking fiddle. How is he the greatest Pictomancer?”

“He earned that title for not only improving all the pictures the Princesses had at that time, but for creating something quite...unique,” Aspect said, noticing that Starswirl had followed them into the room through the paintings on the wall.

“Well all I see is a kid with a nosebleed cause a cute mare played him,” Toola chuckled some more, wiping a tear from her eye. Then she paused and looked closer. “You ah… he has wings and a horn…”

That was about when Starswirl stepped out of a nearby painting and nodded at the mare, before turning to Aspect. “It is about time for young master Realm’s medication,” the bearded painted pony stated. “And I will be off to my lab to conduct research for the next six hours.”

“Yes, thank you Starswirl,” Aspect replied with a wave of a wing.

“I...wha?” Toola blinked at his sudden appearance. “Alright, what the buck is that?”

“I, madame, am a painted copy of Starswirl the Bearded,” the painted stallion retorted. “The young master made me when he was but six, and kept layering the paint on and on and on. I am the most complicated painted pony to date, for multiple reasons.”

“But… you’re… not in a painting,” Toola blinked, trying to wrap her head around this as she walked closer, before reaching out and touching him, he… felt like, dried paint?

“Indeed not,” the stallion replied. “I am complex enough to be able to leave my painting, or any painting, should I so desire it. My recent detailing is a gift from what the young master’s latest project produced.”

“Huh…” Toola continued to poke and prod him. “How… interesting. Painted ponies, little alicorns… this house is… interesting.”

“The others call it a madhouse,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes. “As in, all the madness not focused on the village condenses here.”

“At any rate,” Starswirl said, gently taking Toola’s hoof and stopping her from poking him anymore. “I will be off for now. There’s a theory I’m dying to examine.” With a nod to everypony in the room, Starswirl jumped back into the nearest painting and walked out of it.

“Interesting…” Toola said monotonously as she continued to poke thin air. “This house is… interesting.”

“Aw shoot,” Aspect sighed, poking his head outside of Realm’s room. “Bonnie, I broke your mother!”

“How!?” came the shout back. Another shout, one of surprise told him that Twilight had ambushed Starswirl.

“She met Starswirl and Realm!” Aspect replied. “Also, Twilight, you leave that painted pony alone!”

“But… research!” she shouted.

“This place is a bucking madhouse,” Bon Bon added.

“That’s what I said!” Aspect agreed.

“Can I help?” Lyra shouted. “I feel left out.”

“The more the merrier! Know how to reset Toola?”

“Toola, Bonnie’s pregnant!” Lyra called, in that instant, Toola Roola was up in Aspect’s face.

“What did you do to my daughter!?” the mare growled.

“Nothing of that nature, but I’m glad to see you’re unstuck,” Aspect replied, gently pushing her away from his face. “And now I know what not to expose you to.”

“Wha…” Toola shook her head and sighed. “Right, this house is weird. Still…” She turned to Realm and settled her gaze on him. “So, you’re the Pictomancer huh?”

“Mmhmm,” Realm replied as he shook off the stunning effect Twilight had had on him. “Mostly I practiced by restoring and improving the ready-made Pictomancy pictures around the castle. Starswirl was my first original creation.”

“Quite the creation,” Toola Roola nodded. “I also saw your ‘other’ piece. Quite the imposing creation you have there.”

“Yeah, I’m probably going to have to go over all of it with another coat of paint,” Realm winced. “Just to try and get rid of the feel of it that all the others tell me it has.”

“Have you even seen it yet?” Toola blinked.

“Not personally, no, but I get visitors,” Realm said, pointing at the paintings. “And if they don’t like it, then I need to do some more work on it.”

Toola nodded… then put Realm on her back and started to trot from the room.

“Hey what?” Realm asked, slightly confused. “Um...help?”

“Sorry kiddo, you’re on your own,” Aspect chuckled.

“Kids these days,” Toola muttered as she walked down the hall. “Honestly, think they can paint a piece and then forget about it.” She continued to grumble and mutter in this fashion until she reached the room where the painting was held. Stepping inside, she walked right up to it, turning slightly so Realm could get a good, long look at it. “Alright kid, tell me what you see.”

“It’s...the castle,” Realm breathed. “The castle I lived in. I...I recreated it?”

“You did more than that,” Toola nodded. “Look long and hard. Tell me what you feel from it.”

Realm closed his eyes, before wincing and trying to draw back. “Oh. Oh that doesn’t feel right at all. No Pictomancy painting should feel like that. Yeah I’ve heard of pouring your heart and soul into your work, but that...that’s taking it to an uncomfortable level.”

“Mhm, it’s almost oppressive, like it wants to swallow anypony that even looks at it,” Toola nodded. “What you’ve made is undoubtedly impressive. And you’ve put a lot of heart and soul into it… but it’s lacking life. I trust you’ll fix this when you can?”

“Yeah, fresh coat of paint,” Realm replied. “I can change the tone when I can use magic again. It’s a simple matter of adding a little more definition...like, I dunno. Clouds and a day/night cycle that mirrors our own.”

“You can do that?” Toola blinked, rather surprised. “Get a painting to change time and weather?”

“Yeah, but I always found it easier to do it from the inside,” Realm explained. “It’s not easy, but it’s the easiest way to add more definition at this stage of the painting’s completion. Besides just redoing it from the ground up.”

“Too bad I have no idea how to do that,” Toola sighed more to herself than him. It was frustrating, seeing a kid half her size and a quarter of her age, do things she could only dream about. “Well, I just wanted you to see it. Let’s go back.”

“Yeah…” Realm sighed. “It’s kinda sad, seeing how ponies these days don’t know how to create Spectra paint. It’s a simple recipe...well, simple if you are or know a pegasus, I suppose.”

“I only ever got to use it that one time,” Toola said as she returned the colt to his bedroom. “Guess I’m not the artist I thought I was…”

“I could teach you,” Realm offered. “There’s really only a few things to learn about Spectra paint and how to use it. The hardest part is finding the crystals to make the paint.”

“So I’ve heard,” Toola said as the whole house suddenly shook with a muffled explosion.

“Our bad!” Twilight and Starswirl called out.

“...I suddenly regret giving him magic,” Realm sighed.

“I’d question that, but I don’t think my poor Earth pony brain could handle it,” Toola Roola sighed. “So kid, you serious about those Pictomany lessons?”

“Yup,” Realm nodded once. “Like I said, the hardest part is getting the crystals and making the paint. The crystals only form at the end of a rainbow in a place of wild magic, and those...aren’t the safest places anymore. And the paint is made by dropping a Spectra crystal in a cauldron of boiling water, then adding a lightning bolt to it. Makes a lot of paint at once. Everything after that is easy.”

“So, you think you need a pegasus for the lightning?” Toola asked. Depending on his answer, this should be fun.

“Most need one,” Realm replied. “Or did. I can do it on my own without a cloud. Most need a pegasus to get them a stormcloud, because magical lightning doesn’t work. I dunno how the world’s changed, though.”

“Tell your dad to take you to Cloudsdale sometime. I think you’ll get a real kick out of it,” Toola chuckled. “In any case, guess I’m sticking around for a while. If you’re gonna teach me Pictomancy, then I can at least teach you how to paint.”

“...You teaching me how to paint,” Realm replied, before snickering.

“What, you think those scribbles on the wall are art?” Toola said with a small smirk. “I have a camera that can do the same thing with the push of a button. So yes, I’ll be teaching you how to paint you little brat.”

“I wasn’t allowed to touch Spectra paint until I had managed to impress my caretaker,” Realm replied. “With a portrait of Clover so realistic that it was almost like she was there. She kept it, though. Point is, I can paint. I can paint real well.”

“No, you can copy well,” Toola pointed out. “When you’re well, I’m taking you to Manehatten. We’re going to visit the art gallery there and you can see what you’ve missed since you were gone.”

“...There’s no way out of this, is there?” Realm asked.

“Sorry kiddo, I’m calling it how I see it,” Toola hummed. “Now you rest up, I have a daughter to go and embarrass and a new mare to grill.” She stood up, scratched his ear and trotted from the room.

“I wish I was well enough to walk already,” Realm muttered as he lay on his bed. “...If only so I could try to run away…”

The next few days passed by with relative ease. No disasters or dramas to speak of.

Hence, Ponyville was overdue for some. Over the last day, Twilight had been working herself into a tizzy because Princess Celestia was coming for a visit, so the whole town had to be prepared naturally. Balanced Aspect thought she was being a tad dramatic over the whole affair, but trying to talk Twilight down was a futile effort in and of itself.

Aspect merely shook his head and continued on his way after his third attempt. Celly would hopefully come around to see her little brother when she visited. The colt had even said he was starting to feel a little better in recent days...which meant his magic was coming back. That meant he would be able to test and see just how much of a Muse Realm had become. Maybe covertly mentioning it to Rarity that there was a new Alicorn on the block would get them in the same room together…

Since Toola had been staying here, Bon Bon stayed as well, not that that bothered Aspect. The house was lively once again. He’d started to notice it once his kids had left, how big and empty this place was.

And it was a little after noon by the time Celestia had arrived at his house, a hooffull of her guards in tow.

“Do they know the rules of the house, Celly?” Aspect asked from inside the house, holding the door open for them and giving them all a once-over.

Celestia rolled her eyes as the guards looked quite shocked with how casually this stallion addressed the princess. “No, because I know how much you adore explaining things to them.”

“Right,” Aspect said, before clearing his throat. “Beyond this door, colts, there are no titles, no honors, no stations. We’re all just ponies. Either accept that, or stay the buck out of my home.”

They all turned and looked at Celestia, who just giggled and nodded her head. The pair of guards removed their helmets, which broke the enchantments that made them all look alike. They were both mares. One was a tan earth pony with blue eyes and a snow white mane and tail. A diamond-shaped patch of white fur on her forehead and her chest seemed to be of a similar tone.

The other mare was much more interesting. Her coat was a rich chocolate brown and her mane and tail were a platinum blonde. But it was her eyes and wings that threw Aspect for a loop. Her eyes were cat-like in appearance, while her once-pegasus wings changed to a pair that was a deep purple in colour and resembled a bat’s or dragons.

“A thestral?” Aspect questioned. “Haven’t seen one of those in an age...ah, where are my manners. Well if you’re willing to obey my rules, fillies, by all means,” the stallion said, stepping to one side and permitting the party entrance to his home.

“Of course sir,” the earth pony nodded. “Oh, my name is Epona, and this is my partner, Midnight Song.”

The thestral remained quiet, but bowed her head to him.

“And I am Balanced Aspect, and I thought I told you all to forget the titles and the bowing,” Aspect snorted, rolling his eyes. “Get in here. Celly, you have somepony to meet, I’m sure Twilight’s told you all about it.”

“Oh, she has alright,” Celestia nodded and a smile crossed her muzzle. “Also, you haven’t seen my wayward student by chance have you?”

“Not since this afternoon when I was trying to get her to relax regarding you coming to town,” the pegasus said as all three mares filed into his home. “Okay, so a couple of things you all might want to know. First, and don’t freak out, but the paintings are alive.”

“Pictomancy,” Epona said. “Yeah, the princess gave us a rundown on what to expect. And Princess Luna said that they might try pranking us.” She eyeballed one of the paintings and smirked. “Yeah, we’re onto you cheeky painted ponies.”

“Aww, phooey,” the painted Puddinghead pouted, crossing her forelegs.

“Second,” Aspect continued, impressed that they’d covered that. “My marefriend and her mother are residents of the house, when said marefriend is not running her candy shop in town. If you come across a highly critical earth mare painter, don’t make eye contact and do your best to get out of her line of sight.”

“I heard that you sassy little brat!” a voice called out from somewhere inside the house. Epona snickered into her hoof, while Midnight remained silent and stoic.

“And third, you may run into a Diamond Dog pup named Artemis. Don’t worry, he’s friendly, and is growing into his power over the entire earth. I’m taking it upon myself to teach him until he reaches adulthood,” Aspect finished. “At which point, his destiny will be his own to make. I...think that’s about everything.”

“Understood sir!” Epona saluted and beamed brightly. Midnight… just said nothing as usual. Aspect sighed and walked over to the thestral mare, before reaching up and flicking one of her eartufts with a hoof. She let out a surprised squeak and bared her fangs at him with a hiss, before catching herself and taking a step back.

“Ah, she’s um… not used to ponies much,” Epona explained.

“Hmm…” Aspect hummed, before remembering how he used to deal with the thestrals back at the castle. “Look, relax, pull the stick out of your plot, and you can raid my pantry. Just hit up the market yesterday, the fruit should still be fresh.”

“Pot să-l-au bătut cu bastonul?" Midnight asked Epona and the earth mare sighed and facehooved.

“Middy, fresh fruit… and he says you have dibs—” That was all she got out before the thestral mare vanished from sight. The sounds of cupboards opening and closing could be heard from the kitchen.

“Welp, gonna have to make another run afterwards,” Aspect sighed. “Not like I wouldn’t have to anyways.” He playfully eyed Celestia before snorting. “Anyways. Little Realm should be up in the guest room, let me lead ya to him.”

“Show me… and Epona dear, keep an eye on Midnight would you?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Epona saluted and trotted off. A moment later, “Oh gods! Midnight what are you— eeeek!”

“She’ll be fine,” Celestia said calmly. “Now, show me my new little brother hm?”

“He’s gotten a lot better since last you saw him,” Aspect returned as they walked the halls. “He’s not sore anymore, which I think means his magic is recovering. Five days, that’s just about what you and your sister had as a recovery time for when you ascended.”

“Sounds about right,” Celestia nodded. “I’m actually more impressed the house is still standing. Remember the southern tower of the castle?”

“Nopony remembers the first southern tower of the castle,” Aspect returned. “That’s where you were when the magic surges hit. We had to rebuild it, because that’s where the medical equipment was. From the ground up.”

“Point made,” Celestia giggled and skipped slightly. “Ohh, this will be fun. A new alicorn since Cadance. I wonder what kind he’ll be?”

“Art, and everything that comes with it,” Aspect replied. “This is Realm we’re talking about. If he was going to have a sphere of influence, it would be paint-related.”

“An Alicorn of the Paint… or maybe arts in general,” Celestia hazarded a guess. “Well, let’s take a look at him.” She opened the door with her magic and strode inside.

Realm was lying on his bed, a paintbrush in his hooves as he worked at his easel. Fortunately, it was not Spectra paint that he was working with, as Aspect said he wanted to be sure his magic had fully recovered before working with that just yet. The colt barely looked up as Celestia and Aspect walked in, so focused on his painting he was.

“Well, he seems to be in better spirits that what Luna was,” Celestia chuckled. “At least he’s not running around crying with an orange stuck on his horn.”

“And you had to get used to your new wings,” Aspect retorted. “I swear you knocked more walls out than you did yourself.”

“Oh shush,” Celestia said. “Now Realm? Might I make a few checks on you? Make sure you actually are an Alicorn.”

The young colt nodded absently as he dabbed a bit of purple on his paintbrush and continued painting. Said painting that floated away from him as Celestia held the colt still while she ran a few scans with her magic.

“Let’s see here… magical flow is stable, detecting… Pegasus… Unicorn, ahh there you are, Earth pony magic too. Tell me Realm, any pain in your hooves and horn?”

“Yeah, when I was basically drained of magic they were as sore as could be,” Realm huffed, upset his painting had been taken away. “They’re recovered now though. Maybe a dull throb if I really push it, but I just wanna paint.”

“Hmm, the signs match then,” Celestia nodded as she continued her scans. Her golden magic pulsing up and down his body. “Hm? Now… now that is interesting isn’t it?”

“What?” Realm asked. It was his body, he could be curious.

“Your excess magic is already starting to bleed out,” Celestia said as she stopped her magic and returned his art supplies. “Like with my mane, only yours… is coming out as some kind of aura.”

“What sort?” Aspect asked. It was his son, he should know.

“Hard to tell, my own magic suppresses it, so I don’t feel it much,” Celestia replied. “Have any normal ponies been in contact with him over the last day or two?”

“Only me, Bon Bon, Toola, Lyra…” Then Aspect realized he hadn’t actually seen any of those ponies today. “Maaaaybe I should check on them.”

“It might be an idea,” Celestia nodded. “Given that he’s an artist, his powers might be of a similar vein, perhaps something akin to a Muse.”

“Yup, I thought he might be,” Aspect replied. “Okay, you have fun with him, I’m going to go make sure all those ponies are okay.” With that, the stallion was off. Celestia chuckled, thinking she should have told him about Philomena.

“Oh well, he’ll figure it out,” she mused.

Aspect’s first stop was Toola. She was in the same house after all. He found the mare in the study, sitting at a large easel as she painted a portrait of Canterlot… from memory.

“Hello,” she said without turning around. “How’s it going?”

“Just checking to make sure you’re okay,” Aspect said. “Realm apparently has an aura. We’re checking to make sure that nopony who’s interacted with him is adversely affected.”

“Well, I feel fine,” Toola said as she put the finishing touches on her painting and set it aside on the pile… Oh.

There was a stack, of roughly a dozen paintings or more and she was already reaching for another blank canvas. The stallion reached out a hoof and grabbed ahold of hers, stopping her for a moment as he thought of the best way to do this. In the end, he decided on a simple Dispel.

“And stop,” he said, putting magic behind the word and letting it ripple only a little into the world, just enough to touch Toola.

“I...I can’t.” She almost yelled at him. “I need to paint… I… I need to…”

“Okay, this has gone on long enough,” Aspect snorted, flaring his wings and nodding his head to an unseen beat. When he next spoke, it...echoed.

“Painting one just to begin again
Will surely drive her round the bend.
I tell this magic, release her now,
No if, and, buts, or how.”

The Sorcery echoed throughout the world, the much stronger working actually distorting the air as it left Aspect and impacted Toola. The mare’s eyes widened and she shuddered, small tears forming in her eyes before she blinked them away and looked around.

“I… what? Where am I?” she said, sounding a little dizzy. “Colt? What are you…”

“You touched Realm’s aura, apparently he has one for art,” Aspect replied. “I had to work a sorcery to get you to stop. I’m going to go check on Bon Bon and Lyra, just to be sure they weren’t affected...though they probably were.” He sighed, folding his wings up again. “Whatever you do, don’t go in Realm’s room until we’re sure he has that aura under control. Understand? He’s a living Muse now.”

“Well, isn’t that just bucking wonder—” Her ears flicked and she frowned. “What’s that screeching coming from your kitchen?”

“Thestral raiding the fruit stores,” Aspect replied without missing a beat. “Don’t go in there either.” He turned and all but galloped off as he went to his next target.

“Uh… sure?” Toola blinked.

Bon Bon’s candy shop. The sign said closed, but he knew she was open for him. Trying the handle revealed that it hadn’t been locked, and he walked into the store. It was dark, but he could hear the sounds of something in the kitchen. Somepony was in there, and muttering to themselves a lot. Aspect braced himself as he braved what could very well be a warzone.

He… wasn’t wrong. Batter splattered the floors, walls… even the ceiling. Benchtops were littered with dozens of beautiful cakes and sweets, all the while his sweet mare was vigorously stirring a bowl, while her eyes kept dancing to the oven and a cooling rack with yet more sweets.

“Perfect, perfect… it’s not perfect,” she muttered. “The Princess is coming and I have to be perfect. Everything has to be perfect! I’ll show those Cakes they’re not the only ones. Twilight chose meeeheheheee~ I’ll bake the perfect cake!”

Aspect sighed before flaring his wings and putting as much power as he could into one simple command, letting it ripple into the world. “Cease and desist.”

Bon Bon dropped the bowl, her eyes wide and unblinking, like she’d been frozen in place. Even the bowl seemed to slow and stop before hitting the ground.

“And…” Aspect said, before tapping her on the back of the head and breaking the spell. “Resume.” Hopefully that would be enough to break her out of her trancelike state. With a loud clatter, the metal bowl hit the linoleum floor as Bon Bon slumped forwards. She groaned as she lay on the floor, putting a hoof to her head.

“I… what happened?” She glanced up and blinked again. “Aspect?”

“Long story short,” Aspect stated, “Realm is a Muse now, so don’t go anywhere near him until he gets his aura under control. I’m gonna check on Lyra, make sure she’s okay.”

“Lyra? She’s… upstairs I think,” Bon Bon said again. “Wait… how did you know, where to find me?”

“You hadn’t come over since last night, when Realm said he was feeling well enough to hold a brush again,” Aspect informed her. “This was the second place you’d be. Not that I can blame you, with your mother in town.”

“Yes well…” She looked around and gasped. “That-that is a lot of cake.”

“That’s what being under a Muse’s influence does to you,” Aspect replied. “Take a minute, get it all out of your system while I check on Lyra.” He left the kitchen to go check upstairs. Okay, Bon Bon’s room, bathroom...This must be Lyra’s room. He mentally braced himself and knocked on the door.

“Yeah?” Lyra called out from within.

“It’s Aspect,” the stallion called. “Just checking up on you. Haven’t seen you in a bit. You doing okay?”

The door opened and he was greeted by the sight of her room. It was… surprisingly normal. A large bed lay against one wall, filled with an abundance of plush toys. A music stand with some sheet music and a large wooden clarsach. It stood a little taller than the mare that played it. A bookshelf with a variety of literature, from music books to romance novels, even a couple of comic books.

Lyra herself sat at a desk, sitting upright like a human would as she scratched away with a quill on paper.

“Lyra, you...feeling okay?” Aspect asked cautiously.

“Huh? I feel fine,” she said with an airy wave of her hoof. “Bon’s been acting kinda nuts. So I’m staying outta her way. Wanna hide here until the Bakeapocolypse ends?”

“Just stopped it actually, but I think I should warn you before you head back to my place,” Aspect said, still not quite trusting this. “Realm...has an aura. He’s practically a living Muse now. So uh...until he gets it under control, we’re...kinda gonna have to make sure any artistic ponies stay away from him...anypony creative, really…”

“Aww, you think I’m creative? That’s sweet,” Lyra giggled.

“Sure you’re feeling okay?” Aspect quizzed. “No burning need to write sheet after sheet of music out?”

“Well… now that you mention it…” Her horn glowed and her door closed behind him. She turned around and stepped off of her chair, walking towards him. “There is a burning need I’ve had… for a while now actually~” She suddenly moved closer, quite quickly actually.

Aaaand that was Lyra’s tongue in his mouth! The stallion fell back, not sure what was going on anymore, but he knew that this was bad. Who knew how Bon Bon or Rainbow would take it.

“Mmm, you taste pretty good,” she mused as she straddled him. “Now, it’s unfair to come in before I finished that love ballad i was working on. But oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.” She licked her lips and smiled seductively. “Now… wanna see how I taste~?”

“I need an adult,” Aspect whimpered.

“Oh honey, we are adults… and we’re going to do very adult things~” Lyra purred and moved in closer…

Bonk

It was almost comical in both sound and nature, as Lyra rolled to one side and clutched her now aching head as Bon Bon tapped her hoof with a rolling pin.

“Geez Lyra, I leave you alone for a day, and this is what I come in to?”

“Owwies! Bonnie! That really hurt~”

“Good,” Bon Bon huffed and helped Aspect up. “You okay?”

“I’ll live, though the scars will last a lifetime,” Aspect shuddered. Bon Bon rolled her eyes and tapped his noggin with the rolling pin.

“Don’t be so dramatic, she’s not that bad a kisser—” She suddenly put a hoof to her mouth and looked away.

“Not asking how you know that,” Aspect stated more than anything else before screwing his eyes shut. “Just gonna...walk home and forget you said that.”

“Dammit Lyra!” Bon Bon threw a barrage of stuffed toys at her, the mare yelping.

“Ahh, what’d I do now?”

Aspect was already out of the room and out of the house.

As he reached the town square, he quite literally bumped into Twilight Sparkle, the mare yelped after she ran into him, falling onto her back.

“What in the world?” Aspect asked, shaking his head to clear it. “Oh. Twilight, hello. I was just on my way home—”

“Ohmygoshohmygosh! Pleeeease tell me you’ve seen a weird-looking sick bird!” she panicked, dancing on the tips of her hooves nervously. “I really don’t want to be banished and imprisoned in the place I’m banished to.”

“What?” Aspect asked, blinking as he was caught off-guard.

“Sick bird, pink skin… not a lot of feathers,” Twilight explained as she looked around. “Ohh, she’s going to be furious!”

“I...honestly have no idea what’s going on,” Aspect replied. Was...was this normal?

“Argh, you’re no help,” Twilight growled and a shout caught her attention. Both ponies turned to see Fluttershy pointing at the top of a statue of Celestia, a… well as Twilight put it, a rather sick-looking bird was perched on top of it.

“Wait, isn’t that?” Aspect muttered as he stared at the bird.

“Philomena! Come down this instant!” Fluttershy ordered. The bird looked at her, before gagging and pitching over. As it plummeted towards the ground, it suddenly burst into flame, Fluttershy’s leap to catch it only left her with a hoof full of ashes.

“Riiiiight, Celly said she had one,” Aspect nodded sagely, as if everything made sense.

Everypony let out a loud gasp, Aspect noticing all of Twilight’s friends had shown up.

“Oh… on no…” Fluttershy whimpered.

Aspect merely sighed. Why did all phoenixes have to have a flair for the dramatic?

And then Celestia arrived, flanked by two more of her guard as she strode towards them, her wings flared wide and nose slightly upturned, looking down on her student and the sobbing pegasus.

“What’s going on here?” she asked in a curt tone, her eyes locking onto Twilight.

“Your majesty, there’s been a terrible accident,” Twilight stuttered.

“It’s all my fault,” Fluttershy whimpered.

“No Princess,” Twilight shook her head. “Fluttershy didn’t know any better, it was my fault.”

“But I was the one that did it,” Fluttershy argued. Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.

“You were only trying to help.”

“Some help I was,” Fluttershy mumbled.

Twilight sighed. “Look, will you let me do this? She’ll go easier on me.”

“But it’s my fault!”

“No, it’s my fault!”

“No, it’s my fault!” Pinkie declared loudly and blinked. “Wait, what are we talking about?”

Fluttershy exhaled. “Thanks for trying to protect me, Twilight, but... Princess Celestia, I'm the one who took your pet bird. I really was only trying to help the poor little thing. Then I was gonna bring it right back to you, honest. So, if you wanna banish me and then throw me in a dungeon in the place that you banish me to, then that's what I deserve.”

“Good lord, you let slip that you banished your own sister to the moon for being possessed and they imagine the most terrible things about you, don’t they?” Aspect quipped.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Come now Philomena, you’re scaring everypony.”

The pile of ashes… twitched? Before they ignited and a brilliant light exploded from within. And when it dimmed… a stunning Phoenix hovered there.

“W-What happened to Philomena?” Fluttershy stammered.

“This is Philomena, nothing unusual… for a Phoenix.”

“Wait,” Twilight held up a hoof. “You mean like Pyroclastia?”

“Yes, Philomena is her daughter actually.”

“What’s a phoenix?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well,” Celestia mused. “A phoenix is a majestic and magical bird. While it appears healthy and happy most of the time, every so often it must renew itself by shedding all of its feathers and bursting into flame—” her voice lowered. “—Rather melodramatic, if you ask me.” She cleared her throat and continued the explanation. “It then rises from the ashes, fresh as a daisy. All just a normal part of the life cycle of a phoenix. I'm afraid mischievous little Philomena here took the occasion to have a little fun with you, Fluttershy. Say you're sorry, young lady.”

The bird squawked a few times and hid her face behind her wing.

“I knew that some of the birds I blessed with fire would turn out to be like that after a few centuries had passed,” Aspect sighed. “You know, I’m fairly certain she gets her mischevious streak from somepony she spends a lot of time around.”

Celestia looked as innocent as a newborn foal.

“So... aren't you gonna banish me? Or throw me in a dungeon? Or banish me and then throw me in a dungeon in the place that you banish me to?” Fluttershy asked and Celestia shook her head.

“Of course not my little pony, wherever would you get a dreadful idea like that?”

“I guess I have some imagination,” the mare deadpanned, glancing at an increasingly embarrassed Twilight.

“Do I have to tell your mother what you’ve been up to?” Aspect asked the phoenix with half a glare.

The bird looked increasingly worried now.

“Fluttershy really did try her hardest to take care of her,” Twilight explained.

“And I do appreciate that your heart was in the right place, child.” Celestia leaned down and nuzzled Fluttershy. “But all you had to do was ask me and I could have told you Philomena was a phoenix and saved you all this trouble.”

Fluttershy nodded, blushing a little from the contact. “I know. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Next time I'll ask before taking matters into my own hooves.”

“Wise words,” Aspect stated, still not easing up on his glare for Philomena.

“Should I write a letter to you about that lesson Princess?” Twilight asked.

“It’s alright, I think I can remember,” the alicorn chuckled as Philomena landed on Fluttershy’s back, giving the pegasus one of her lovely feathers.

“Ohh, it’s lovely. Thank you Philomena. No hard feelings.”

“Better,” Aspect stated, visibly relaxing and easing up on his glare. He saw Rainbow whisper something to the bird, who nodded and flittered over to the stoic stallions guarding her cage.

Extending her wings, she started tickling their noses until the two burst out into raucous laughter.

“Oh look at that, they can loosen up,” Aspect smirked.

“So it would seem,” Celestia chuckled. “And what of you dear Aspect. You look like you just saw a ghost. Is everything alright? No problems with Miss Bon Bon… Miss Lyra?”

“Everything will work out, given time,” Aspect replied, ruffling his feathers.

“Hmm, sounds like a story somepony doesn’t want to tell,” Celestia replied in a sing-song tone. “Oh well.”

Philomena flew off with Fluttershy and the others, who decided to head to Sugarcube corner for an afternoon snack, leaving Aspect alone with his daughter.

Once they were long gone, Celestia let out a hearty laugh. “Oh my gosh, did you see their faces? I thought Twilight was going to have a heart attack!”

“...You planned this,” Aspect stated. “To do what?”

“Well my goal was to try and get them to loosen up a little around me,” Celestia said. “I consider them friends, yet it’s always ‘Yes Princess, no Princess. Let me refill that Princess.’”

“Another reason I don’t go around unmasked,” Aspect grunted.

“Yes well, some of us don’t have that luxury,” Celestia replied back with a biting tone. “Maybe I should question why you have mint-scent lipstick on your mouth.”

“Maybe I should question why you can smell that from fifteen paces away,” Aspect sniped back.

“Alicorn super powers,” Celestia fired back. “But you didn’t deny it daddy~”

“No reason to deny a theft,” Aspect retorted.

“Ohh, somepony’s sour over a sweet kiss,” his daughter continued to tease. “So I don’t get another Mommy then?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Aspect snorted. “Keep it up and I’ll put you over my knee, and damn the consequences.”

Celestia held a wing tip to her forehead, then trailed it across so it hung over Aspect’s. “Hmm, that’d be a neat trick.”

“You know I can do it too,” the stallion warned her. “Go on, off with you. I’m going to see if I can’t get Realm to taper his aura down in time for well...anypony to visit or see him.”

“Oh, well if you say so. Also… whatever became of my sweet thestral guard? I haven't seen her all afternoon.”

“She better not be raiding my pantry still,” Aspect grumbled. Upon arriving home, he made a beeline for the kitchen, only to see every piece of fruit he owned was savagely sacrificed to the bat-shaped goddess. She lay on her back on the table, her stomach slightly swollen and she belched loudly. Upon hearing Aspect enter the room.

"Vom avea mulți copii!"

“Equestrian!” Aspect replied. “Do you speak it?”

“She… doesn’t, actually,” Epona said with a serious blush. “You ah… really don’t want to know what she said.”

"Toți copiii!" Midnight replied with that accented tone, putting up a hoof for emphasis.

“I believe,” Celestia chuckled as she ducked into the room. “Dear Midnight is counting how many foals you’re going to have with her.”

“Yeah no,” Aspect stated. “Celestia, please make sure she speaks Equestrian before she comes back.” If ever.

“Well, you invited her in as an equal,” Tia replied, sounding quite serious. “Then provided a banquet for her by saying your house was hers. As far as Thestral culture goes, you proposed to her and she accepted.”

“...You cannot be serious,” Aspect stated.

Celestia didn’t even crack a smile.

“Please tell me you can take her back,” Aspect pleaded.

Celestia looked at him, her large amethyst eyes blinking… until the corners of her mouth tugged upwards and she snorted… followed my Midnight chuckling as she sat up.

“You are right Lady Sun,” she said in a thickly accented voice. “He is fun to tease.”

“...” Aspect didn’t say anything before looking slowly at Midnight. “How much of the teasing was serious?” he inquired.

“Hah, you are a funny stallion… not husband material though,” she snorted. “Eh, what is word… Ahah, Too much baggage.”

“Funny, I thought having a lot of issues was a sign of being complex enough to have issues,” Aspect quipped.

“It would mean…” Midnight’s brow furrowed. Clearly the Equestrian language was not her forte. She turned to Epona. "Fii dragă și spune-i că pur și simplu nu ar lucra ar tine?"

Epona rolled her eyes. “She wants to say that it just wouldn’t work out between the two of you.”

“And you would be the first to think that today,” Aspect smirked at her. “Bravo for being sane enough to see this place for the madhouse it is and deciding you don’t want any.”

Midnight just shrugged and nodded.

“Aww, and I wanted to see how far that would go,” Celestia pouted. “Dang it Middy.”

“Though, serious question, is what Celly said about my actions and how they could be taken in Thestral culture true?” Aspect questioned Midnight.

Midnight looked at Epona again.

“Contrary to Equestria, Thestrals are a rather male dominated society,” Epona explained. “If you travelled to Hollow Shades, you’ll find they’re a little more ‘Equestrian’ there. But in their home country of Roamania, where Midnight comes from, the mares are rather… second class compared to stallions.”

“So what, I shouldn’t offer my home to any thestral females that come knocking on my door, or open up my pantry to them?” Aspect pressed.

“In Equestria, you’ll be fine,” Celestia chuckled. “We’re attempting to… equalise things in Roamania. But a thousand years of history is difficult to change overnight. Midnight here is the first of many that we’ll help.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded, before taking in the carnage in the kitchen again and sighing. “And now I have to go restock. I swear I’m the market’s best customer.”

Midnight pulled out a small bag of bits and presented them to him. “To pay, for what I eat.”

“It’s fine...but thank you,” Aspect said, gratefully taking the bag. “And how recently did you start learning the language?”

“A few weeks,” she murmured, blushing somewhat. “I am… not well at it yet.”

“You are still doing quite well for someone who did not grow up learning it,” Aspect praised her. “It took me months to learn how to write when I started.”

“I thank you,” she bowed her head. “Father of Sun and Moon.”

Epona’s jaw dropped.

“Aaah, so you picked up on that did you?” Aspect asked with a smirk.

“Yes,” Midnight nodded. “Especially when lady Sun called you father when telling me of joke we played.”

“Oops?” Celestia chuckled nervously.

“I...what...you’re...but…” Epona looked back and forth between Celestia and Aspect.

“Maybe this will help,” Aspect stated, before flashing into his alicorn form.

*thud*

“Aaaand she’s out,” Celestia chuckled as Midnight blinked and looked at her fallen friend with a soft sigh.

“Ponies are strange,” she muttered.

“I’ll teach you a phrase for when something happens,” Aspect said to Midnight, before clearing his throat. “Everypony in this town is crazy.”

“Everypony in town, crazy,” Midnight repeated and gave him a fanged grin.

“Perfect,” Aspect said with a nod. “I use that one a lot. More than I thought I would need to for a sleepy little place like my daughter promised me this was.”

Midnight nodded in agreement.

“Well, maybe if somepony wasn’t a millennia old hermit, I wouldn’t have to cram friendship down his throat,” Celestia muttered under her breath.

“I’m sorry, your duty is...what again?” Aspect asked.

“Oh cram it,” Celestia muttered.

“Thought so,” Aspect smirked, before returning to normal. “Aaah. Okay. So…” He walked over to Epona and poked her a few times. “She’s really out of it, huh?”

“You… broke her,” Midnight added helpfully. “But Midnight know trick.”

“By all means,” the stallion said, stepping back. Midnight licked her lips.

*chomp*

And bit her right on the Cutie Mark. Epona awoke with a loud squeal and glared at Midnight Song until she noticed the stallion, before dropping into a low bow. “Your… Highness? Majesty? Um, Kinglyship?”

“None of that,” Aspect said, waving her off. “What did I say before you came into my home?”

“No titles,” Midnight pointed out helpfully.

“No honors,” Aspect tacked on.

“Oh… um, of course but…” She blinked and looked at Celestia. “Is he really your—?”

“Adopted and yes, but do keep it a secret for now yes?” she replied and nuzzled her guard, the mare blushing and nodding.

“Bah, my Epona, silly Sun Lady,” Midnight waved her off with a hoof and pulled Epona into a winghug.

“Why me?” the earth mare sighed.

“You signed up for coming to Ponyville,” Aspect pointed out. “You had to know the level of crazy you were getting into.”

“I… might have left that out,” Celestia chuckled.

“Good luck getting another detail willing to watch over you here,” the stallion replied. Celestia sighed as both her guards nodded in agreement.

“Now father, don’t you have a Muse to subdue?” Celestia said, putting on her princess-like tone of voice.

“He’s not going anywhere, and now that I know he is one, I can easily mitigate the effects,” Aspect waved a wing. “Go on, play the games. I’ll be here when you get a free day, little Celly.”

“I’ll prank you so hard one of these days,” Celestia muttered. “Fine, I’m returning to Canterlot. Farewell father. Midnight, Epona, come along.”

They nodded their heads to Aspect, before following the alicorn out of the door.

Author's Note

Hello again, uploading on time, who'da thunk it?

Meet Midnight! She's Aus's character, once again. My goodness, she shows up a lot, doesn't she?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to helping Aus live a nice life.

Half of all funds will not be spent on industrial heaters.

Chapter 28 - Prince of the Schoolyard

It had been a quiet couple of days, once Aspect was able to quell the Muse-like aura that Realm emanated. Now he and Toola would either be found painting together… or arguing about painting together.

Twilight had once tried to put her two bits in about art and the tirade she received from the pair lasted over an hour.

“So,” Toola hummed as she stared up at the ominous painting of Everfree Castle. “Finally ready to tame this beast huh?”

“First thing I do with my magic when I get it back,” the colt stated as he adjusted his saddlebags. He’d turned a fair few crystals into paint and stored them in jars, to carry it all inside. “The same thing that caused me to lose it.”

“Need a hoof?” the earth mare asked him. “Not sure how much help I can be, but better than going at it alone.”

“No, it’s fine,” the colt said with a wave of one wing. “I’m sure it’s not going to be a big deal at all. I’ll only be walking into a painting that tried to eat me and attempt to tame it. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Right, so in I go then,” Toola nodded and leapt at the painting, diving in first.

“...I don’t know what she thinks she’s going to do there, but…” Realm sighed before walking into the painting as well, appearing on the path to the castle. Inside, he found Toola Roola looking around at the scenery, her mouth ajar with surprise.

“This is a painting?” she murmured, not noticing Realm’s appearance. “Tartarus, now this is something else.”

“Yeah, greatest work yet and it still feels half-done,” Realm replied, shrugging off his saddlebags and pulling out a jar of Spectra paint. He slathered some on his wings and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. With a wave of his wing, it began.

A cloud appeared in the sky, followed by another, and another. Each time he waved his wings, more clouds appeared, soon dotting the artificial sky with enough clouds for any painted pegasus to use as a comfy bed.

“Interesting,” Toola stared up at the sky. Something still felt wrong. But what? It bugged the mare to no end, like an itch you couldn’t quite reach.

Then the colt put more paint on his wings, having used up all that he’d slathered on in making the clouds. And with a mighty effort, he waved his wings, grunted….

And a painted sun came into view above the clouds. Once it did, the feeling of hostility from the world around them all but vanished.

“Mmm, nice and warm,” Toola Roola hummed. “Hey colt, how does that paint work exactly? In here, it seems… different somehow, like an extension of your creativity?”

“That’s how it always works,” the colt replied, putting another jar on his wings. He’d had to use up an entire coating making the sun. “If you hold an image in your mind as to how it should work, what you want to make with it, then it works on that. Physical contact helps as well. Never met a Unicorn Pictomancer who didn’t use his hooves to spread the stuff around.”

“I see,” Toola nodded and closed her eyes to think. What was it that bugged her about this place? The castle was so real, the forest, the trees, the warm sun. She could hear her heart beating in her chest, the paced breath from her muzzle, Realm’s more laboured breathing… Gods, the quiet was almost deafening.

Then she gasped aloud. “That’s IT!”

“What?” the young Pictomance asked. “What is?”

Toola ignored him for the moment, a million thoughts racing through her mind. She walked over to one of the jars and dipped the tip of her tail in, before closing her eyes…

Then, a little grey rabbit appeared, leaping up in front of Realm before scurrying off into the bushes.

“Oh,” the colt replied. “Then again, I’ve not done a whole lot of outdoors paintings before...guess that detail slipped my mind.”

“For a painting that almost cost your life, it certainly… lacks…” Then Toola got an idea.

A crazy one.

“Hey colt,” she hummed. “This paint, is it limited to visual representation?”

“As in, do you have to know what it looks like to make it?” the colt tried to elaborate. Toola shook her head and her manic grin widened.

“Wait here, I wanna try an experiment!” she chuckled and then ran off through the portal, leaving Realm alone. “And don’t move! You get hurt and I’ll kick your flank!” she shouted.

“...Well that bodes well, I don’t think,” Realm muttered. And he’d just been about to make a moon as well…

Luckily, Toola hadn’t taken very long, only about fifteen minutes. And given the way she was panting when she returned, she must have been running non-stop.

Also, she wasn’t alone.

“Um… heya kiddo!” Lyra waved, though her face was torn between her usual joy and slight confusion. “Do you know why Mommapone dragged me in here all of a sudden?”

“No clue,” the colt replied. “We’re busy taming the painting, though. Might have something to do with that.”

“Just… gimme… urgh, getting old sucks,” Toola wheezed as she tried to catch her breath. After a moment, she inhaled and sighed deeply. “Okay. Now, I want to try something.” She looked at Lyra and that grin returned. “Hey Minty, you got that harp of yours?”

“Always, also, it’s called a—”

“Don’t care,” Toola interrupted her. “Gimme.”

Lyra sighed, but handed her the instrument. The mare giggled and she promptly dunked the thing in Spectra Paint.

“Ahhh, what the buck!?” Lyra yelled.

“I have never seen this before,” the colt admitted.

Toola took it back out as the paint seemed to seep into the instrument before she handed it back to Lyra.

“Okay Minty. Now I have a request,” she said, Lyra giving her beloved item an odd look. “I want you to think of… forest sounds.”

“Wut?” Lyra blinked.

“Forest sounds,” Toola repeated. “You know, bird songs, wind rustling the leaves, small critters doing critter things.” Her smile returned and she beamed bright. “I want you to paint with sound itself!”

“That...would be awesome, if it worked,” Realm said, not sure how he didn’t think of it.

“O-Okay… I guess, I could try,” Lyra nodded as she held her instrument. “But, I can’t play that sort of sound…”

“You don’t have to,” Toola nodded. “Just feel it, deep in your heart. Look Lyra, you’re one of the most imaginative and emotional musicians I know. You can do this!”

Lyra’s eyes widened and she smiled, closing her eyes and focusing.

Nothing happened… not at first.

Then Realm’s ear flicked, was that, the… faint sound of a bird call? He looked and a robin had appeared on one of the tree branches, chirping away. Toola’s tail swished and flicked, small animals appearing as Lyra gave them a voice, literally.

And then he heard other ambient sounds, leaves rustling in the wind, the sound of water of a distant, unseen stream. And every now and then, faint music would play, little harp strings plucked in time with nature’s symphony.

The painting was coming alive. And instead of feeling an oppressive atmosphere that hungered...now it was just the opposite. Now it felt bursting to the brim with life and activity.

“It works, It actually works~” Toola smiled, not even noticing the faint shining coming from hers and Lyra’s Cutie Marks. Inspired by the success, the colt put more paint on his wings and swept them in front of him again. He felt rather than saw the moon appear, and smiled to himself. Another application of paint, and he finished off the cloud and storm layer, making sure to make it as varied as it would ever need to be. A flick of his wings saw the cloud layer set to random, while the sun slowly started to move through the sky, in time with the normal one.

And now...now the painting was well and truly tamed, a true masterwork.

“Whoo, I feel… sleepy,” Toola hummed, sitting down rather suddenly.

“Careful,” the colt said, drawing closer to both mares. “You’ve exerted your magic a lot today. You’ll need to get some rest before you wind up like I did, burnt out. Thank you, but you really should get something to eat, some rest.”

“Yeah… sounds good,” Toola murmured. “Iz your painting good now?”

Realm closed his eyes and concentrated, humming softly as he felt out the painting. Thanks to all the work done on it, very little of it’s ‘hungry’ nature remained. He nodded once as he opened his eyes. “It’s perfect now,” he replied to them. “Let’s get out of here before you pass out in here.”

“Sure,” Toola murmured as Lyra propped her up, sighing and chuckling. Still, this had been quite fun for the unicorn mare. Lyra wondered just what other adventures awaited her in the future… and if she'd still be welcome.

Meanwhile, Aspect was having troubles of his own. Namely in the form of the greatest forces of chaos and destruction since Discord.

The self proclaimed Cutie Mark Crusaders. He once toyed with the idea of telling them about the Crusades of earth… Though ponies were a tad too innocent for such tales.

And speaking of tales. The three fillies demanded one from him.

Namely the origin of his Cutie Mark.

“Urgh, I still say we find Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo muttered. “Nopony will have a story as awesome as her.”

“I’m not too certain my story is meant for young ears anyways,” Aspect replied. “I mean, my duty is quite important, even if I haven’t gotten to exercise it in some time.”

“Oh please?” Applebloom asked, her eyes widening as her bottom lip pouted. This was a pony’s true power. The Power of Cute. And that little filly was at Grandmaster levels. “We want our Cutie Marks, so we’re hearin’ whut other ponies did ta get theirs.”

“All right, all right,” Aspect waved her off. “Fine. But keep in mind, I’m old. Things were different way back then. Let me see...which one to tell you all…”

“Uh, your Cutie Mark one?” Scootaloo deadpanned. “Unless you have more than one Cutie Mark.”

“Can you share if you do?” Sweetie asked quite seriously.

“Fine, the one where I learned what my duty was,” Aspect nodded. “Ages ago, ponies lived in a place called Dream Valley. It was nice there, lush fields, trees ripe with fruit, towns cropping up everywhere. Beautiful place, really. And then one day the magic started to act up, more than usual. The magic of Dream Valley was being wrested from six very important wands by a fiend known as Lavan. Originally he was a Lava Demon. But by the time Wind Whistler and I got to where he was draining the magic from the wands, he’d turned into a being made entirely of crystal, and was attacking the ponies whose job it was to watch after the wands.”

“Minus the monsters, that place kinda sounds like Equestria,” Sweetie pointed out. “We got lots of greenery and fruit and towns.”

“Mm, it was simpler then,” Aspect absentmindedly nodded. “Also a reason I led the ponies here when the Windigoes came, but that’s a story for another time. Where was I? Oh yes, he was attacking the ponies. Well, we were deep in an underground cave, and every time he missed, the terrain Lavan had hit instead became crystalized, like him. So I got an idea. I stood in front of a crystallized cave wall, and the magic bounced off of it and hit him, stunning him. Then the six ponies put their wands where they needed to be to recharge them, and the magic of the land was restored...but there was still the problem of Lavan. While he was stunned, I used my sword to shatter his crystal body, and it broke instantly. He turned to dust that dissipated almost instantly...and it was then I realized my purpose. To find the great evils of the world that were threatening the ponies...and deal with them. And that was when I got my mark, of a balanced set of scales. Because it was my job to rebalance the forces of the world every time they went astray.”

The three fillies sat there, gawping at the tale with wide eyes and wider mouths. A stunned silence filled the room.

“Mmmhmm,” Aspect nodded. “Did that quite a few more times. Squirk, Arabus, Crunch, Grogar...The witches of Mount Gloom, that enchantress that came by, and the Boogeyman. Slew them all, rebalanced the scales.”

“But why?” Sweetie piped up, the first to find her voice again. “Couldn’t you have just… I dunno, talked to them? And if it’s balance, then isn’t too much good a bad thing for you?”

“I was not the Diplomat the world called for,” Aspect sighed. “That was not my role. There once was a fountain...not far from here. Those that drank from it were granted great power and life everlasting, if they drank enough. I drank only a sip compared to the ones that gorged themselves. But it was enough to grant me life unending, and enable me to wield the blade. The world...was in balance, when it was just the world and the ponies in it. But when the great evils rose up to torment the ponies, it became my job to level the playing field for the ponies. And more often than not...they were not interested in talking. And, most troubling of all...there are still some evils in this world, simply biding their time.”

“I guess that makes sense?” Sweetie blinked.

“Of course it does!” Scootaloo beamed. “He’s… like a superhero! I mean, still not quite as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but he’s a close second.”

“Mmm, well, give it time,” Aspect chuckled. “Hopefully I’ll never have to demonstrate the full range of my powers, but for the longest time, I was the weakest, the smallest, of the forces in this world. But I grew stronger with every evil I slew, and most importantly, I sat back, I watched, I learned. I asked questions, I observed what ponies did, and I grew stronger, more sure in my powers the longer I lived among them. These days I’m more of a sleeping Ursa than anything else.”

“Ten bits says Rainbow would still win,” Scootaloo puffed out her chest confidently. Sweetie and Bloom just rolled their eyes.

“Well, thanks for the story,” Sweetie said. “But, I don’t think we’re gonna get our Cutie Marks in monster slaying.”

“Well we haven’t tried it yet…” Scootaloo pointed out and the other fillies started getting a thoughtful look in their eyes.

“Ap, no,” Aspect said, holding a hoof up at them. “Your sisters would kill me if you went into the Everfree to hunt monsters. Or anywhere to hunt monsters. Promise me you won’t go anywhere near any monsters.”

The three looked at one another and sighed. “Fiiiine,” they echoed. “Cross our hearts, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eye.”

‘Fooorrreevvveerrrrrr…….’

The stallion wisely chose not to question it. Questioning Pinkie ended up hurting. He simply nodded and smiled at the fillies. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find your marks one day,” he told them, rubbing them behind the ears.

“Argh, but that’s the problem!” Scootaloo pouted.

“We want ‘em now,” Applebloom sighed.

“Still, thanks for the cool story,” Sweetie added.

“Mmhmm, and remember, no monsters,” Aspect told them. “Go on then, try something. I’m sure you’ll find your marks one day.”

“Okay, can we please find Rainbow Dash now?” Scootaloo sighed. “I wanna hear her totally awesome story!”

“Alright, alright,” Sweetie rolled her eyes. “You wanna come too Mister Aspect?”

“Nah, I have to prepare Realm for his first day of school,” Aspect replied. “Make sure he’s got his magic under control before he goes and all that.”

“We’re gonna have a new pony at school?” Sweetie squeaked, bouncing up and down.

“Assuming he stops having adventures for one day, yes,” Aspect chuckled. “Two, actually. I’m sending them together.”

“Two?” Scootaloo and Applebloom looked at one another.

“Yup, but saying more would ruin the surprise,” Aspect replied. “Go on, go hear your story.”

“Okaaaay, fine,” Scootaloo whined as she jumped onto her scooter, Sweetie and Applebloom piling into the attached wagon. “Later Teach!” And with a buzz of her wings, they rocketed off down the road towards town.

“Cute kids. Could do with more dedicated adult supervision,” Aspect noted aloud. “Still. Nice to have somepony I can tell my old stories to.”

“Feeling nostalgic old man?” Hurricane said from one of the portraits. “Now you can’t complain when I feel like telling old war stories.”

“It’s slightly different,” Aspect replied. “When I tell a story, it’s about one pony standing against the monsters. When you tell a story, it’s about the days the three tribes fought.”

“Yeah, but so much flanked gets kicked. Everyone loves a tale with flank kicking, especially when Hurricane was doing the kicking!” She pumped her hoof in the air. “Oh, you also need to check out the painting Realm did. Before you go and see him, have a look at what your boy accomplished with the help of his friends eh?”

“I’ll put it on my list,” Aspect replied. “Hmm...is there anything to do today besides that?” The stallion mused to himself before shrugging. “Guess not. I can take a look.”

Aspect wandered through his house before finally ending up at the painting Realm had managed to create, and even from the outside he could tell that there was something different about it. It took him actually stepping in to place it.

This...this felt like a real and proper, complete painting now. Like its own little bubble of reality. Sakes, there were even animals in the forest. Which begged the question ‘what would he do if one of them wandered out of the painting’ but...that would be later. Right now he just wanted to soak it all in. His ear flicked as he heard some music wafting in the background, a familiar lyre being plucked.

Seems his boy had a little help with this endeavour. He would have to properly thank Lyra later. Wait a tic, Hurricane had said ‘friends.’ Plural. Hmm. Who else…

Ah yes. Toola. Had she forgiven him for that stint when he was getting his magic under control already?

Aspect popped out of the painting and hummed to himself. He just thought of something to do. Find Artemis first, then put them both together for the news that they’ll be attending school tomorrow. He’d check the library, the pup usually was in there.

And there he was, pouring over some vocabulary books and writing guides. He let out a small growl and tossed his quill, scratching at his head.

“Bones! This is impossible! How do ponies learn this stuff?”

“With a kind, understanding teacher,” Aspect spoke up, looking around. “I see you’ve been busy trying to learn as much as you can before going to school.”

“Well, I don’t want to be the ‘stupid dog’ now do I?” he snapped, before sighing. “Sorry, this is just a little frustrating. Getting used to the topside world is gonna take a while.”

“Hey, like I said, it took me ages to learn how ponies write,” Aspect replied. “Well, more like months. But still, I didn’t want to appear dumb either. I had a nice mare to help me learn the writing system, and it still took me months to learn. Don’t worry. That’s perfectly normal. Plus side, you’re still young. You’ll be able to learn it faster than I did.”

“Harder to teach an old dog new tricks huh?” he smirked back.

“Eh, there was a study done a while back,” Aspect replied with a shrug. “Younger kids learn new languages faster or something like that. I forget the details. Anyways, I wanna bring you to meet Realm. Come tomorrow you both are going to school, so I figured it was time you at least met.”

“Huh, oh um… that weird magic I’ve been feeling?” he asked as he stood up. “The one you told me to stay away from?”

“What about it?” Aspect replied as he began leading the way.

“Is that him?” Artemis asked.

“Possibly, he has developed a new sort of magic,” Aspect replied. “Or to put it another way, he’s mastered the secrets of an old one...and is exploring its depths with some friends. He’s been rewarded for all his hard work. I think you’ll recognize what he is when you meet.”

“I will?” the pup blinked as he continued to follow his Alpha. “Well, lead on then.”

“Here’s a hint,” Aspect looked over his shoulder with a smile. “He’s like you. In one regard anyways.”

“He’s another dog?” Artemis asked, his tail wagging in hope.

“Nope, but keep guessing,” Aspect chuckled.

“Seriously? You’re really playing this game?” Artemis asked in a flat tone.

“I’m sure you’ll get it sooner or later,” Aspect hummed. “There’s only so many ways someone else could be like you after all.”

“They’re stuck under the same roof as you?” the canine snarked.

“HAH!” Hurricane called out from somewhere in the house.

“Last guess, we’re here,” Aspect chuckled as they reached the door to Realm’s room.

“He’s an Aspect?” the pup hazarded a guess.

“And bingo,” Aspect replied, opening the door and letting the two see each other.

“Whoa, you bought me a puppy?” Realm asked.

“Whoa, you bought me a snack?” Artemis replied back.

“Don’t make me get the newspaper, I will happily use it on both of you,” Aspect told both of them. “Realm, this is Artemis, the Aspect of Earth. Artemis, this is Realm, the Aspect of Art. Play nice you two. You’re both going to the same school tomorrow.”

“Seriously… and wait, is he an alicorn?” Artemis blinked.

“An intelligent dog?” Realm snarked back.

“This is not playing nice,” Aspect observed. “Fine, I guess I can make you both dinner before going over to miss Bon Bon’s for my own.”

Artemis let out a low whine. “Do… you have to cook?”

“If you two aren’t going to at least try to get along,” Aspect nodded. “Then yes, yes I do. Nothing else seems to be getting through to you.”

Artemis sighed and looked at Realm. “For the sakes of our tongues and stomachs—” he held out an open paw. “—Friends?”

“...I can try,” the young alicorn replied, begrudgingly putting one hoof in the dog’s paw.

“Much better. And who knows, you might have more in common than you think,” Aspect nodded at them. “Now you can either talk with each other or not, your choice, but you are going to the same school tomorrow, so—”

“Wait, what?” Realm asked, befuddled. “School? I didn’t sign up for this.”

“You’re in luck then,” Aspect smiled at him. “I signed you up for you. You start tomorrow, now that you’re well.”

“...Oh this bites,” Realm muttered.

“Eh, could be worse,” Artemis shrugged. “At least you’re a pony…”

“I honestly don’t have a problem with you being a dog,” Realm said. “I just...ponies are gonna look at me funny too, you know?”

“Cause you’re a pony princess?” Artemis snickered.

“I am a colt, thank you very much,” Realm sniffed. “That didn’t change.”

“Lucky you then,” Artemis mused. “Well, I guess school won’t be so bad. Lemme guess, we can’t show off our powers though?”

“Oh no, by all means,” Aspect replied, shocking the both of them. “Realm just has to keep his aura under control, and Artemis, no harming anypony, on purpose or accident. Besides that, I have absolutely no problem with you expressing yourself. Just keep in mind, Artemis. If you don’t know if something will harm a pony, err on the side of caution and don’t create a situation where they’d be hurt, got it?”

“I’ll keep it toned down,” the canine promised.

“Art time will be interesting,” Realm mused.

“So, the both of you are on board with going to school with each other?” Aspect asked.

“I guess so,” Artemis said. “As long as Princess here is alright with it.”

“Call me that again and I’ll not be so kind,” Realm replied with a glare.

“With skin that thin, you’d never last as a dog,” Artemis replied. “Well, I always did want a little brother.”

“I’m twelve, and a thousand years ago I’d be close to being a stallion,” Realm replied. “Now I have to wait six more years. It’s unfair is what it is.”

“Shoulda been a dog. We can go the moment we figure out how it all works really,” the canine replied with a small chuckle. “So about your age is when we start having pups of our own.”

“You two better not be getting any ideas,” Aspect warned them.

“Me? Never!” Realm promised with a too-innocent smile.

“Should I introduce him to some Diamond Dog females?” Artemis asked Aspect.

“And now I know you’re getting on too well,” Aspect replied. “Nope, nope, and nope. We will not be having any of that under this roof. Understand? Not until you’re actually of age.”

Artemis lasted all of a about a second before he started laughing. “Ahahaha, oh wow, Miss Tia was right! That worked out great!”

The stallion blinked before facehooving and drawing that hoof down his face. “Tia…” he moaned.

“Yeah, big sis always was a fan of getting one over on dad,” Realm agreed with a chuckle. “Now, about those—”

“No!” Aspect barked out. “I was serious! You get to wait young colt! And believe you me, I will know if you didn’t!”

“Awww,” Realm pouted.

“Ah well, I don’t know any girls anyway,” Artemis shrugged. “None wanted anything to do with the ‘pony pup’.”

“Well this town is just full of mares,” Realm replied. “We’ll explore it one day and I’ll show you.”

“That’s it, I’m out,” Aspect shook his head. “I am not having anything to do with you two anymore.” The stallion turned and left the pair of youngsters to their own devices.

The following day, it was time for the two males to go to their first day of school. Though trying to get them up that early in the morning was a chore in and of itself. Thank god Bon Bon’s hash browns were able to get them up.

And soon, Aspect delivered them to the place of learning.

“Kinda… small for a school isn’t it?” Artemis pointed out. “I mean, is there more than one in this town?”

“Nope, just the one, and Miss Cheerilee takes care of educating all of Ponyville’s foals,” Aspect replied, knocking on the door before opening it and poking his head in. “Ah, hello! Just dropping off the youngsters so that they can start their first day,” he said to the teacher.

“Oh?” Cheerilee looked like she’d completely forgotten that was today. “Well, don’t just stand there, bring them inside.”

Aspect nodded and motioned for Artemis to go in first. The Diamond Dog stood there for a moment, before stepping inside. Most of the foals gasped when they saw him, so he looked down at the ground, refusing to meet their gaze.

“Ahh, you’re Pup, right?” Cheerilee asked, but he shook his head in response.

“N-No ma’am, I’m called Artemis now.”

“Oh, well what a fine name. Well everypony, this is Artemis. He’ll be joining our class today from now on.”

Aspect looked around the room. Several foals looked nervous. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and some of his other magic students looked delighted though.

And then there was that Diamond Tiara filly. He could almost hear the gears in her head turning as she stared at the canine.

“And for student number two,” Aspect said before anypony got too caught up in staring at Artemis. With a little shove, the pinto alicorn was urged into the classroom...where he actually appeared to be a little nervous. He’d not really been around colts and fillies his own age before. It was all about impressing the adults with his skills. He’d never been with an equal in terms of age.

Everypony fell silent, even Artemis looked up, wondering what the fuss was about.

“Well,” Cheerilee asked, getting over her own initial shock quickly. This was Ponyville, she’d seen weirder. She walked up next to him and knelt down. “Care to introduce yourself to the class?”

“I-” Realm started, but stopped when he heard his voice going to a dreadfully high pitch. He coughed and fluttered his wings a little to get it back under control. “I’m Realm,” he said with a more normal tone. “I’m...good at art.”

Then he heard it.

“She’s pretty cute huh?” a yellow-maned unicorn colt whispered to his equally dim-looking friend.

“Snails…” Cheerilee sighed and facehooved. “Realm here is a colt.”

The unicorn blushed and looked down as the class giggled.

“Tho… doeth that make you a printhe?” a red-maned filly called out with a pronounced lisp.

“Unlike some others, Realm hasn’t been coronated,” Aspect explained.

“Don’t want a crown either,” the young artist muttered. “Lotta work for nothin’. I’d rather paint.”

“How boring,” Diamond Tiara sighed loudly. “You seem to be a pony of considerable class. Why wouldn’t you want to be better than everypony else?”

“Dad taught me a phrase, one my sisters seem to have forgotten,” Realm spoke up. “‘Iron bars don’t make a cage, and heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ It means you don’t need to be in a dungeon to be just as trapped as if you were. How many duties and responsibilities do the Princesses have? When do you think the last time they got to be themselves was? I’d rather be free and me than be chained to a throne and denied the right to do what makes me, me.”

Then the unthinkable happened.

Diamond Tiara… fell silent and… oddly pensive. Everypony in class looked more shocked at that than at the dog and pony show going on at the front.

“W-Well, rather insightful for one so young,” Cheerilee said and glanced at Aspect. “Would you like to stay and observe the class Aspect?”

“I could, but I trust you with their schooling,” Aspect nodded. “Just keep in mind. Artemis is from a Diamond Dog colony, so there’s plenty of things he doesn’t know. And Realm trapped himself in a painting for a thousand years and only just got free, so he knows less.” And with that bombshell dropped, the stallion turned away and left with a smirk on his face.

Realm’s expression dropped. Oh brother. He’d really get it now.

“I see,” Cheerilee nodded and turned to face them. “Well, you two will be staying after class so I can catch you up a little mm?”

“Yes ma’am,” Realm replied, not looking directly at her for fear that he’d disappoint her.

“Now now, no need to worry. I know special circumstances surround you both, and I’ll do my best to catch you up in no time alright?” Cheerilee smiled at them and pointed at two free seats. “Also, Artemis was it? We’re having a seat made to better suit your build, but it won’t be ready for a few days. Is that alright?”

“Oh, yes… you don’t have to though…”

“It’s fine, it was something that Aspect arranged ahead of time, but our carpenter came down with the flu.” She led them to their chairs and tapped her chin. “Hmm, well for now. We were learning math yesterday. But given our new students, let’s switch to history for now. We’ll cover highlights of the ‘After Celestia’ era, which is a few decades after the Pre-Unification Era.”

“I sort of missed the end of it,” Realm admitted as he settled into his own seat. “I got a warning from Clover about some sort of terrible darkness and decided to wait it out. Guess I forgot to make sure there was somepony on the other side to pull me out.”

“Pfft, you talk like you were actually there,” Diamond scoffed, already back to her usual self.

“Starswirl always was a stuffy old stallion, and Hurricane loved to boast,” Realm replied without even looking at her.

“Yeah right, you expect us to believe that?” Diamond retorted as Cheerilee sighed. Realm looked up to see a mare that had long since suffered this sort of behaviour.

“Okay, fine,” Realm said, now turning to look at her with a smile. “Without me telling you, name the rest of the founders. I could do it in my sleep, they were such good friends of mine.”

Diamond Tiara blinked as the rest of the class waited with bated breath. It was like watching a lion stare down a cobra.

“Puddinghead, Hurricane, Clover, Platinum, Smart Cookie and Pansy,” Sweetie recited perfectly, earning a round of groans and giggles. “What? I’m right aren’t I?”

“Mmhmm,” Realm nodded. “And Hurricane loved the chocolate pudding the chefs made at the castle. Something Puddinghead actually didn’t like. She’s the one that got Princess Celestia hooked on cake.”

“Are you saying the Founders knew the Princesses personally?” Cheerilee asked.

“Uh, duh?” Realm replied. “They were just getting Equestria started after Discord happened, they needed somepony to tell the Princesses all they could about the three tribes. The Founders made good go-betweens while Celestia and Luna learned what it meant to be rulers. Or at least, that’s what dad told me anyways. Personally, I think they just didn’t want to have to do all the paperwork.”

“Well, I’ll be…” Cheerilee mused as she paced around the front of the classroom. “The history books never stated how close they were to the princesses.” She turned and looked at Realm. “If you’d be so kind, could you tell us other stories?”

“I was twelve,” Realm replied. “I don’t know a whole lot of stories from that time, really. I lost my family when I was six, and then my dad found me and taught me art and how to defend myself. Equestria from a thousand years ago...wasn’t exactly tame.”

“Bound to be more interesting than Miss Cheerilee’s lesson,” Scootaloo giggled and that earned her a small glare from the earth pony teacher.

“Most of the stories I know are things from when the three tribes fought, anyways,” Realm replied. “Hurricane just did not have an off switch. And they aren’t...stories I would share.”

“Why not?” Applebloom asked. “Yer the same age as us right?”

“I’ve been told ponies in this day are...softer,” Realm replied. “Don’t react well to stories of violence.”

That got them all thinking, and now Scootaloo and Rumble were the only ones still excited to learn them.

“Perhaps another time then,” Cheerilee wisely decided. “Now, let’s move on to the era of the single princess…”

Later that afternoon, the students had all left for the day and that now left Artemis and Realm alone with Cheerilee, who was busy assigning them textbooks on math, history, language and social studies.

“Here is a list of the pages we have covered already,” she said to them. “Now, I’m not expecting you to catch up overnight, but try not to take too long in doing so okay?”

“This...is a lot of reading material,” Realm muttered as he looked at the pile of books.

“You don’t have to read the entire book, just the subjects we’ve already covered this term,” Cheerilee said. “I know it seems like a lot. But the two of you seem quite bright. I’m sure if you applied yourselves and worked together, it’ll take no time at all.” She finished by giving them a sweet smile.

“Oh sure, totally,” Realm replied, poking the pile with a hoof. He could do this. He could absolutely do this. He knew he could.

“That’s the spirit,” Cheerilee nodded as she turned around to find her lesson plans. She’d need to rearrange a few things. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“Nah, I think I’m good,” the alicorn colt said, still eying the pile of work. This...would probably take a while, but he could do it.

“Psst!” Artemis whispered and poked him. The canine was pointing at something, namely a teacher rummaging around on a low bookshelf.

“She’s our teacher, quitit, she’ll assign us more,” Realm hissed as he looked back at his pile.

Artemis shrugged, maybe Aspect’s tales of the kid were exaggerated? “Well I guess.”

“Alright you two,” Cheerilee got up and dusted her forelegs off. “I think we’re done here. See you for class tomorrow hmm?”

“Yes Miss Cheerilee,” Realm replied, every inch a perfect student. Artemis nodded as she let the two outside and free to return home, though now they were weighted down with many, many books.

On the way, Realm suddenly found his burden lightened, as he books now floated beside him, captured within a magenta aura.

“You know,” Twilight chuckled as she took Artemis’ too. “You do have a horn you know.”

“Give me a break, I got it like last week,” Realm replied, reaching up a hoof to poke at it. “The only magic I can do is a passive aura that inspires artists to paint and bake themselves to death. And I barely have that under control.”

Then Twilight moved into his personal space, her eyes shining brightly.

“Would you like to learn magic?” she asked, excited at the prospect of teaching the young alicorn.

“Eep!” Realm replied, scooting away as his aura flared up once out of shock before dying down again. “Artemis, help! She’s being scary again! Clover was never scary!”

“Pfft, you’re on your own here,” the dog shrugged. “Sorry Miss, but Realm here doesn’t seem to be fond of teachers much.”

Twilight deflated and sighed. “Okay… I guess Aspect would want to teach you anyway.” The fact that he called her ‘scary’ was disheartening as well. With another sigh, she teleported away… though that meant the books she was carrying had their lives reasserted by the harsh mistress of gravity… right on top of the pair.

“Note to self,” Realm slurred out. “Never call her scary again.”

“Yup, you’re a real ‘hit’ with the ladies alright,” Artemis replied dizzily.

“Let’s just go home an’ learn,” Realm said, before shaking his head. “I dun wanna anger any more mares today. Maybe waiting would be good for me…”

“Or stick to your own kennel,” the dog grunted, picking himself up. “Plenty of fillies your own age I’d say.”

“These days, fillies my own age are soft,” Realm replied. “There’s not a mare that would look at me and take me seriously, no matter how long I waited. Ponies in general are softer these days.”

“Well then aren’t you out of luck,” Artemis chuckled as he picked up the books. “Maybe a dragon is more your speed then?”

“Maybe, I dunno, I never met one,” Realm replied. “Aren’t they supposed to be big and scaly and breath fire?”

“Hey…” A small, scaled dragon paused in front of them. “You guys… seen a… purple unicorn?” he panted, looking rather out of breath.

“Yeah, Twilight Clover was just here,” Realm replied, pointing back where they’d been a minute ago. “Blinked away when I declined her magic tutoring lessons. I honestly wouldn’t mind, it’s just...the way she asked...kinda creepy.”

“Twilight offered to teach?” Spike rubbed his chin. “Huh? Well Celestia did teach her, so… eh, she’s prolly back at the library then. Well, thanks guys.” And with that, he waddled off.

“And that,” Artemis said with a small flourish. “Was a dragon.”

“Smaller than I thought,” Realm replied. “And where were the wings?”

“All I know is that he’s still a baby dragon,” Artemis shrugged. “You wanna know more, go ask him yourself.”

“Eh...maybe. He was a guy though, so...anyways. We got a lot of work to do. Better get home and tell dad.” Realm shrugged his books back on his back as he began walking towards the large home on the borders of town.

Upon arriving home, Realm was greeted by a pony he wasn’t expecting. A tall, white alicorn with a gentle smile.

“Hello little brother,” Celestia hummed. “How are you?”

“I’m doing alright,” Realm said as he set his pack down for a moment, sighing in relief. “First day of school went...okay. Keeping my aura suppressed went okay as well. Only one flare up, but that was because I was caught by surprise.”

“Mm, I had heard about that,” Celestia chuckled as she she led them inside. “She sent me a letter actually. Asking the most interesting advice.”

“She got in my personal space and had a manic grin on when talking about teaching,” Realm whined. “Not even miss Cheerilee is so chipper about teaching.”

“Twilight is… enthusiastic at times,” Celestia chuckled. “I can’t blame her, you are the newest alicorn after two centuries. Not to mention the second male alicorn as well.”

“Yeah, and the only thing I can do is live up to those blasted stories,” Realm muttered.

“Well, that will be a challenge,” the oldest alicorn chuckled. “Especially since you ascended so young.”

“Doesn’t help that I didn’t grow up with this thing,” Realm replied before poking his horn with a hoof. “I can’t even get it to glow.”

“Well, you’ll have all the time in the world now,” Celestia replied. “Father has told you about being an alicorn yes? Such as the immortality and whatnot?”

“I kinda picked up on it when you two were still around after a thousand years,” Realm deadpanned at Celestia.

“Yes well, we were born alicorns,” Celestia pointed out. “For starters, we aren’t limited by the form we are bound in.”

“...So, what?” Realm asked, tilting his head. “You can...do what exactly?”

“Well for one…” Celestia said and sighed. “He told you nothing did he? For one, Luna and I got older, instead of being stuck in the form we ascended in.”

Ah, there was the little hint of panic in Realm’s eyes.

“Well, you don’t mind being twelve years old for an eternity right?” Celestia asked.

“T-That...that can’t be,” Realm squeaked, his voice changing pitch as his aura started to flare. A voice that made Celestia’s ear flick.

“Ah, so that’s started too. I um, well… I’m sure you’ll look pretty in a dress,” she chuckled.

“Y-You’re lying!” Realm pointed a hoof at her. “You have to be! There’s no way I could…”

“Ever wonder why there’s no male alicorns?” Celestia said with a low chuckle. “I’m sure Luna misses that every now and then. And sometimes I wish I still had my little brother.”

“D-Dad,” Realm pointed out. “He’s still a stallion.”

“He is also a shapeshifter,” Celestia reminded him.

“No, no no no,” Realm panicked, breathing heavily. “There’s no way. No no no no no…”

“It’s not so bad,” Celestia said softly. “Besides…” She knelt down and smiled. “I have one more thing to tell you.”

“What could possibly make this any better?!” Realm shrieked, his voice cracking again.

He could almost feel his sister’s smile.

“Gotcha~”

Realm blinked.

Realm tilted his head.

Realm.exe has suffered a fatal error.

“Holey Holes!” Artemis howled with laughter. “That… that was both savage and beautiful.”

“And that,” Celestia said in a serious tone. “Is what you get for upsetting my student. You made her cry. Now fix it, or my punishments will continue.” With a smile and a sisterly nuzzle, she teleported away just as Aspect walked into the room after hearing the squeaky shouts.

“I missed something,” Aspect noted as he looked around.

“It was beautiful,” Artemis chuckled, still on the floor. “That white princess. She broke him~”

“Aaah, well, that might explain why the library was closed…” Aspect mused.

Realm shook his head slightly as he came back to himself, all he knew was that there was a new command in his brain. Patch things up with the Clover clone.

He sighed before walking out of the house on his way to the library. This...would likely not go well.

Once he reached the building, he was surprised to find that he was able to enter quite easily, in fact, he just walked right on in.

What was was weird, was the way Twilight Clover greeted him.

“Oh, hello Realm,” she said, though her tone was… flatter, for lack of a better word. “If you want books on magic or art, you can find them over there.” She gestured with a hoof before turning back to her book.

“Actually, I came to talk to you,” Realm replied, mentally steeling himself for the conversation to come.

“What about?” Twilight replied, closing her book. “Aren’t you scared of me?”

“Well, you’re...enthusiastic, but I suppose that’s better than not caring,” Realm replied. “Look, I’ve had this horn for all of a week, and if you want to try and teach me how to use it...I’d appreciate it. I would like to learn how to do more than just turn my aura off.”

Twilight’s ear flicked, and unbeknownst to him, it took a great deal of self-control to not bounce around the room. “Oh, wouldn’t somepony like Aspect or Starswirl be better… instead of a lookalike?”

“They’re...dated,” Realm replied. “As well, Starswirl’s only a copy. And dad’s more into Sorcery. I might go to him later for that sort of tutoring, but...I need to learn actual, modern magic, to go with an actual, modern education.”

“Then ask Princess Celestia,” Twilight said bitingly. “I’m just the unstable, scary librarian. You’re scared of me, Aspect won’t teach me Sorcery, but considers mere fillies more capable…” She could feel her irritation building, not because of the words, but because she felt they were true. “Well you don’t have to worry, I’m not going to bother you or anypony else anymore. Tomorrow morning, I’m moving back to Canterlot.”

Then she heard sniffling. And when she looked up?

Realm was crying, giving her big doe eyes as he looked at her. “I just wanted to be your friend,” he said, snuffling a little as tears gathered in his eyes. “I just wanted to learn magic from the best unicorn around…”

“I…” Twilight paused. Oh horseapples. She had no idea how to deal with this. She… why was he crying? She was the one that felt like crying! If he kept that up then…

Spike walked in with a platter of tea and biscuits, only to find both ponies bawling.

“What… the…?” the dragon blinked and set the tray down before he rubbed his eyes. “I seriously don’t get ponies…” He quickly scrawled a letter and adjusted his flame, sending it off to a certain male alicorn on the edge of town. He could come and deal with this.

A few moments later, Spike felt a letter returning, and he belched up a short scroll with a simple message on it.

Let them hash it out, Spike. Trust me, it’ll be good for both of them. - Aspect.

Spike groaned and put a hand to his face. “Emergency Ice-cream it is then,” he sighed and waddled back off to the kitchen.

After a few moments, Twilight finally calmed down a little, sniffling and rubbing the tears from her red eyes. “W-Well… that, was foalish of me.”

“Yeah...I mean, there are tales about Sorcery getting out of hoof,” Realm said. “Heck, apparently while you and your friends were away the Sorcery students turned the town inside out with a simple spell gone amok. Took dad yelling at them to fix it. And that was on accident.”

“So I heard,” the mare responded, sitting up and patting the couch next to her.

“And yeah, you may be enthusiastic, but that’s a good thing, really,” Realm continued as he sat on the couch. “At least you still fit in. At least you’re not displaced by a thousand years and have to relearn everything…” He wasn’t bitter, no. Not at all.

“Not everything,” she said. “And to be fair, Princess Luna’s in the same boat, and Balanced Aspect could do with a social etiquette lesson or ten.”

Realm soon found something cold deposited in his lap. A pink cardboard tub and a silver spoon.

“Here,” Spike said as he gave Twilight one and waddled away. Twilight wasted no time in prying hers open and stuffing a spoonful of vanilla ice-cream into her mouth. Realm had been given a tub of chocolate. And it was delicious.

“Yeah,” the colt said between bites. “Dad always was the hack-first ask-questions-later type.”

“I’m sure Bon Bon appreciates his sword skills,” Twilight said between her own munching.

Realm snorted, before shaking his head. “So anyways. Yeah. You have friends. You have ponies that care about you that are your own age. I don’t even have that. You’re better off than me in this town. No running away, okay? Who else will I learn magic from?”

“You’re serious?” Twilight asked him. “About learning magic I mean?”

“Yeah. I mean, at least learning the basics like lifting things would be great,” Realm replied. “I can’t even get a light yet. The most I can do is keep my aura under control.”

“I can do that,” Twilight said and wiped her nose on her foreleg. “And… can I admit a secret to you?”

“Sure,” Realm replied as he reached the halfway point in his tub of ice cream.

“I guess… I didn’t mind the ‘attention’ you gave me,” she said with a small blush. “Nopony… has looked at me like that before.”

“...You know, that kind of takes the fun out of it,” Realm dryly replied. “I mean, it’s one thing to be a supposedly innocent colt getting glimpses. It’s another thing to have the target aware. And a different thing entire to have them not mind.”

“I didn’t… Gah!” Twilight blushed harder and looked away. “I just, well…” She groaned and sighed. “I’m Princess Celestia’s student. Trying to find a colt or marefriend is… impossible. Well, one that cares anyway. They see me… as some sort of stupid prize. All because I’m close to the princess. And, it’s not her fault. I don’t blame her at all.” She stared into her ice-cream bucket, like it held the answers she sought. “But I guess it’s just a game to you too. You’re still a kid after all and now I’m starting to sound creepy…” Twilight was certain she couldn’t be any more embarrassed than she was now.

“Yeah, but I think I’m starting to learn something about mares,” Realm returned.

“Do I want to know?” Twilight asked with a wry smile.

“Don’t mess with mares,” Realm wisely said. “They are complicated, complex creatures that no stallion can hope to understand. Looking is fine, but...anything more is asking for trouble.”

Twilight couldn’t help it. She burst out into a fit of giggles, not stopping for a solid minute or two.

“Ahaha, oh… seems you figured out something that not even grown stallions know,” the unicorn said once she'd caught her breath. “Don't worry though. I'm sure you'll find a nice marefriend eventually.” Then she gave a little wiggle of her eyebrows. “Unless you want a harem like your dad?”

“I mean I wouldn’t say no, but more mares means more problems, and I don’t think I could actually handle one,” Realm replied.

“Well, you’re still a colt,” Twilight chuckled. “Look, just… enjoy life. Love is complicated and you have all the time in the world for that okay? Trust me, you’re in such a rush to grow up that when you do, you’ll wonder where all the time went.”

Realm paused and sighed. “I...don’t know if I know how,” he said. “I come from a...harder time. Where you had to be hard enough to survive and grow up as well. I...don’t know if I can just…”

“Be a kid?” Twilight finished for him.

“Yeah,” Realm nodded. “I...my parents weren’t...around for long that I can remember. Aspect’s the only dad I’ve known for six years. I’m not complaining, but...he didn’t ever turn me down when I said I wanted to learn things.”

“Yeah, he’s quite the teacher,” Twilight said flatly, still sore he wouldn’t teach her Sorcery. “Still, he seems like a good dad.”

“Keeping in mind he’s from the bad old days,” Realm returned. “I’m not sure he knows how to relax and have fun either.”

“Well, guess you're up a river without a paddle huh?” Twilight giggled. “Still, I’m not the best pony to ask about fun. Well, what other ponies consider fun. Unless you feel like reading a good book?”

“I don’t mind reading, but it’s not exactly what I consider the most soothing activity,” Realm replied. “Still...I’m sure I’ll find something.”

“Well you’re in school now right?” Twilight pointed out. “Trust me, if a shut in introvert like me can find friends, then you’ll have no problems at all.”

“Assuming I ever get through my homework,” Realm countered with a roll of his eyes.

“Do you want help?” Twilight’s eyes were sparkling again. She loved homework!

“If you’re willing to come back and help me and Artemis...poor puppy’s really trying to learn how to write,” Realm replied.

There was a blurred movement, Twilight’s ice-cream bucket still hovered in the air as the mare holding it vanished, returning a moment later with saddlebags laden with various quills, books and other study materials.

“...You’re really eager,” the colt noticed.

“I…” Twilight paused and blushed. “Oh shush.”

“No no, it’s good,” Realm replied. “Means you’ll take it seriously.”

“Well of course, homework is important… if you failed, you could get—” she paused and gasped. “—A bad grade!”

“Considering my dad didn’t grade me when he taught me, forgive me if I don’t faint at the thought,” Realm said, snickering afterwards. “Still. Let’s see about lessons for the puppydog and I.”

“Mhm,” Twilight nodded as the two left for Aspect’s home. When Spike returned, he was greeted with an empty library and two empty ice-cream buckets.

“Seriously?” the dragon sighed.

Author's Note

Everything works out with ice cream. Everything.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon.

Half of all proceeds will not go to the new Mario game coming out on Friday. Mine's already preordered.

Chapter 29 - Secrets, Lies, and Monster ties

Aspect expected a great many things to happen in Ponyville. From rampaging monsters to surprise Pinkie Parties. Even Applejack and Rarity were ponies he was cautious of for causing some sort of malady or mayhem.

The one pony he didn’t expect it from was the one that now had him trapped at her house.

Okay, trapped was a strong word. But he felt he might make her upset if he just up and left. Trapped by guilt.

“So?” Fluttershy asked as she motioned towards the plethora of animals and critters that inhabited her home. “Are there any creatures here that you’d like as a pet?”

“I…” Aspect looked at them before sighing. “I don’t know, Fluttershy. I honestly don’t. I never had a pet in Equestria before. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Well, it’s quite simple really,” the kind mare smiled. “Simply choose one you’d like.”

“But…” Aspect sighed. “But I don’t know what I want for a pet. And I wouldn’t want a pet that didn’t want me as well.”

“All my pets for adoption want a loving home,” Fluttershy said. “And well, let’s start with something basic. Like a kitty or a puppy.”

“Okay,” Aspect replied, looking at the available kittens. “I’ll admit, they’re cute.” There was an adorable fluffy white one with blue eyes, a little calico and a black cat with the bluest eyes he’d ever seen.

Then there were the dogs, a fluffy Husky pup, a Germane Shepherd, and a little puff ball that wouldn’t stop yapping at him.

“Then again, I already have a Diamond Dog pup in my home,” Aspect replied. “I wouldn’t want him to feel like I was trying to...replace him or anything.”

“Hmm, that’s a good point,” Fluttershy agreed and nodded. “Well, how about a bird then? I have dozens of different kinds. Parrots, eagles, flamingoes?”

“They’re quite attractive as well,” Aspect replied as he looked them over. “But Pyroclastia is a phoenix, she might not take well to another bird hanging around me. And she’s the Aspect of Fire.”

“Um, well…” Fluttershy was starting to get flustered. But she would not give up! Balanced Aspect would find a pet, if it was the last thing she did. “How about a fish? They’re pretty easy to take care of…”

“Neptune,” Aspect replied. “Aspect of the seas, Seapony king. Probably not a good idea. My son can be...dramatic.”

“I...um...well…” Fluttershy suddenly held out a hissing snake. “Snakes! Everypony loves snakes!”

“Not if they’re poisonous,” Aspect returned. “I don’t mind them personally, but I don’t think any visitors I might get will be so appreciative. I think Tia actually has a fear of them.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy put the snake down, then gasped. “I have the perfect pet!”

And thus, a moment later, Aspect was being hugged by a full grown grizzly bear.

“Fluttershy,” the stallion gasped. “I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can provide for a bear. No offense. I wouldn’t know where to start.”

“Harry, put him down please,” Fluttershy instructed as the bear did so, patting Aspect on the head before wandering off. Then the pegasus mare smiled. “Hmm, you’re used to to what some ponies call monsters right?”

“I won’t deny that I’ve faced my share,” the stallion returned. “The weird and strange aren’t so odd to me.”

“Well I do have this little guy,” Fluttershy said and revealed the critter.

A manticore.

A baby manticore.

“No,” Aspect said quite quickly. “No no and no. I just...no. Me and manticores...we don’t get along.”

“Is… something wrong?” Fluttershy asked him.

“Manticores and I have a history,” Aspect replied, backing up a touch. “One that usually ends in blood.”

Fluttershy seemed to turn a little green at that, even as the Manticore kitten looked up at Aspect… then darted forward and started nuzzling his leg.

“Ack!” Aspect kept backing up until his flank hit the wall.

“Okay,” Fluttershy scooped the kitten up and gave it a nuzzle before putting her outside. “Perhaps… we can try again another day.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” Aspect replied. “I just don’t think I’m very pet-friendly.”

“You and Rainbow Dash both,” Fluttershy sighed. “So um… is it true you’re dating both her and Bon Bon?”

“I don’t even try to understand how it happened,” Aspect returned, nodding his head. “But somehow they both came to me. So...as long as they both want me, I will do what I can for them.”

“So… how do you feel about it then?” Fluttershy asked as she poured him a cup of tea to settle his frayed nerves. “Do you like them both? One more than the other?”

“Liking one more than the other would be a disservice to them both,” Aspect answered as he took the cup of tea and sighed. “I do like them both. I do. I just wish I knew what I did to make me seem worth the trouble to both of them.”

“Well have you tried asking them?” Fluttershy suggested. “I don’t want to meddle, but, communication is important.” Her eyes widened and she started waving a hoof. “Oh, but I’ve never been in a relationship, so I don’t really know, Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”

“No, you’re right,” Aspect replied, waving a wing at her. “I have asked them a few times. But they just giggle, or, well, Rainbow snorts, and they say something to the effect of ‘you know why.’ I honestly don’t. So...I mean, I’m trying.”

“Rainbow…” Fluttershy put her hoof to her face and sighed. “She hasn’t changed a bit. Well, trust me okay. If she’s not giving you a straight answer, then it’s likely something sweet and loving. You know, the complete opposite of Dashie.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion chuckled as the tea soothed his nerves. “Well, I thank you for trying to find me a pet. I am a difficult stallion to shop for, though. I find all the things I desire when I look at my family, and they recently came to visit for the first time in ages. So...again, thank you for the attempt. Maybe I can come back some time and you can try again?”

“Yes of course,” Fluttershy nodded and smiled warmly. “Hmm, what to try next time? Ohh, I have so many more~”

“Take care, fair Fluttershy,” Aspect nodded his head at her before turning to leave her abode. She bid him farewell as well, as Aspect made the journey back home.

“And so, you see how if you carry the X, you get this answer?” Twilight said as she gently walked Realm and Artemis through basic algebra.

“Okay, wow, suddenly that problem is ten times easier,” Realm blinked. “It was a mess of letters and numbers a minute ago. How did you do that?”

“It’s pretty easy,” Twilight said and showed him the steps she took to get there. “See? To solve linear equations, you add, subtract, multiply and divide both sides of the equation by numbers and variables, so that you end up with a single variable on one side and a single number on the other side. As long as you always do the same thing to BOTH sides of the equation, and do the operations in the correct order, you will get to the solution.”

“So...basically treat this symbol,” Realm started, tapping the equal lines with a hoof. “Like a mirror, and do what you can to remove things on both sides?”

“Exactly!” Twilight beamed and clapped her hooves. The owl perched on her back hooted a cheerful tone as well.

“That’s...a lot simpler than I thought it would be,” the alicorn colt blinked. “Why couldn’t it be explained like that?”

“Numbers, letters, fractals, equations…” one could almost see the steam rising from the Diamond Dog’s burnt out brain. “At least rocks make sense…”

Twilight just smiled and pet him on the head. “There there, you’ll get it eventually. I mean, it took me until I was ten before I could do advanced physics and trigonometry.”

“Please tell me that’s not next,” Realm begged.

Twilight checked the books and sighed. “Sadly not, we have history next…” She legitimately looked disappointed at that.

“Oh thank goodness,” Realm sighed, drooping slightly. “I thought my brain was going to fry if we stayed any longer on math.”

“Math is love, math is life!” Twilight said with a small frown.

“I’m an artist, I can barely make heads or tails of math on a good day,” Realm replied.

Twilight just shook her head and sighed. “Well alright. Let’s move on then. To history!”

There was a snort from one of the paintings, and turning to look revealed the painted form of Commander Hurricane standing nearby.

“Oh no, don’t mind me,” she said, waving a hoof. “It’s not like we were there for any of it.”

Twilight’s ear flicked, but she chose to ignore that comment for now. “So where are you up to. Ah…” her eyes narrowed into a flat stare. “The Unification Era. Of course…”

“Now that was a heckuva time!” Hurricane whooped. “Pegasi throwing storms around, Unicorns casting spells left and right to alter the weather and rip up the ground! Earth ponies tossing boulders like catapults! Oh it was grand! So much flank got kicked!”

Twilight’s ear flicked again. “In the past, unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies didn’t share the same land like they do now. Pegasi controlled the weather, unicorns the sun and moon and earth ponies the food. That said, they would hold these various resources at ransom to make demands of the others.”

“And they would totally kick the flank of anyone who made demands, half the time,” Hurricane replied. “Sorcery, Aeromancy, Geomancy. What did we need armies for when we had adepts in those arts? One battalion of Aeromancers could kick up a storm that could wipe a village off the map. I could make hurricanes.”

“BUT!” Twilight talked over her. “This kind of behaviour couldn’t last. An uncontrollable winter started to settle over the lands. The others blamed the pegasi, earth ponies were blamed for the lack of food and unicorns for hoarding their magic…”

“Yeah, we all had to abandon Dream Valley,” Hurricane sighed. “Aspect led the way, but he was in his other form then. He led us to a new land, that we called Equestria, before he said he would ‘deal with the problem.’ He probably shoulda stuck around a little while longer…”

“But the winter soon followed. The three tribes fighting and bickering seemed without end, and that, seemed to spurn the chilling cold…”

“Yeah...Then again, if Aspect had frickin’ told us there were such a thing as ice spirits,” Hurricane grumbled.

“And yet, even as the cold encroached on the last remaining ponies, the leaders of the tribes and their assistants. The three leaders continued to fight one another, even in the face of certain demise…”

“I still say we coulda fought them off if we fought together,” Hurricane huffed. “But you know, friendship and all that.”

“And then, Smart Cookie, Clover the Clever and Private Pansy finally realised that they shouldn’t be fighting, but working together. The light of their friendship burned away the Windegoes and restored peace and harmony to the land.”

“And thanks to Aspect intervening in the far north, they’ve never come down beyond the frozen north,” Hurricane replied. “Something about how they’re his kids too.”

Twilight slowly turned towards the painted mare and narrowed her eyes. “Is there something you’d like to contribute Miss Hurricane?”

“Nah, just pointing out the holes in your story,” Hurricane smirked. “I mean, really. There must have been other times ponies didn’t always feel so hunky-dory and happy with their fellow equine, and ya never wondered why the world wasn’t freezin’ over again?”

“Well… I just… you were in a war!” Twilight countered. “Ponykind has never done anything that bad ever since.”

“Ehhh,” Realm rubbed the back of his head. “I mean, Tia did have that little tiff with some separatists who thought she might not be fit to rule...dad told me.”

“Yeah she…” Twilight paused and blinked. “Whatwhat!? Princess Celestia would never do something like that. She’s kind and benevolent and—”

“Erased all knowledge of Sorcery, Geomancy, and Aeromancy,” Hurricane spoke up. “Mostly so that could never happen again. She tamed the pony races so she would never have to face a nation divided against her.”

“Well…” Twilight hadn’t heard of this. Did… the princess really do that?

“It’s true,” Realm replied. “Why do you think Dad has to reteach it?”

Well that was a good point. But why would the Princess destroy knowledge? It just didn’t…

“I… have to go, good work today,” Twilight mumbled as she gathered her things and left rather suddenly.

“If it helps,” Realm called after her. “Tia and Dad made up about that.”

Twilight just grunted a response and left the trio be, brushing past Aspect as he entered but didn’t say anything to him.

“...Dare I ask?” Aspect inquired as he drew near.

“Miss Twilight Clover was just getting a revised history lesson,” Realm replied as he began reading the history books and groaning. “Oh come on. It did not happen like that.”

“She seemed more upset over that thing about Princess Celestia,” Artemis pointed out. “That old mare’s commentary didn’t help either.”

“Twilight is apparently her student,” Aspect explained. “So...maybe she doesn’t realize that the longer you live, the more chances you have to make mistakes?”

“Wow, being immortal sucks huh?” Artemis commented and looked at the ageless painted mare and the two alicorns. “Eh… no offense.”

“None taken, you’re part of the club kid,” Aspect replied, rubbing the dog behind the ears with a hoof.

“Waitwhat?” the pup exclaimed. “Seriously!?”

“Yup,” Aspect returned, poking him in the chest with a hoof. “Being an Aspect means you’re as much as part of the world as the part you represent. The only way we could kill you, besides my sword, is if all the earth in the world suddenly didn’t exist.”

“Well… that’s, a heavy thought,” the pup muttered as he sat down rather suddenly.

“Yeah...you had a choice at least,” Realm muttered as he looked at his horn.

“Sorta,” Artemis replied. “I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into,” he looked at the math books, glad that was over for the time being.

“I told you you would be important,” Aspect said, before nodding at the pup. “That’s why it’s so important that you have a good foundation. Learn what you can while you can.”

“Yeah, I know…” Artemis sighed. “You should have seen some of those foals though. They looked like I’d jump up and eat them.” He sighed again and shrugged. “Still, can’t blame them I suppose. You ponies really don’t like carnivores.”

“Herd instinct, can’t really blame them,” Aspect quipped. “So long as you don’t do anything, they’ll get over it.”

“Here’s hoping,” the canine replied. His nose twitched and he sniffed the air before frowning. “So… what’s up with you? You smell… afraid of something.”

“Miss Fluttershy was trying to set me up with a pet,” Aspect sighed. “It was nice of her and all, but I don’t think I’m a very ‘pet’ sort of pony.”

“Huh…” the dog sniffed again. “Wait, why do I smell a Manticore? Why kind of pets does this pony have?”

“All kinds,” Aspect returned. “And good nose on you. But no, no worries. I told her no.”

“What can I say? I’m still a dog,” Artemis grinned. “Oh, and math sucks by the way. Completely.”

“Eh, simple algebra isn’t so bad,” the stallion returned. “I rather enjoy solving for variables. It’s like a word puzzle in number form.”

“Like you couldn’t get any weirder,” Artemis sighed.

Then Aspect heard a scratching at the front door.

“Who could that be?” He mused as he turned around and went to the door. “It’s not like everypony around here doesn’t know how to knock…”

Upon opening it, nothing stood out at his line of sight… then he heard, purring? And something rubbing his leg. The stallion looked down and he backed up as fast as he could, but he couldn’t escape the little monster attached to him.

“Realm, Artemis! Help! Somepony help!” he called out as the Manticore kitten att- viciou- nuzzled him.

“What’s going on in here?” Artemis asked as he ran in, Realm following. “And why do I smell… Manticore!?”

“Dad, move away!” Realm said, one wing lighting up with a brief spark. “Dammit, I can’t use lightning, I’m still recovering fully! Dad, move!”

“I’m trying!” the stallion whined, in full panic mode as he kept trying to put distance between him and the bru- mon- cub.

Artemis looked at Aspect, then at Realm, and then finally at the tiny cub the size of his head. “You’re kidding?” he said flatly. “You’re kidding right? How can you be afraid of that? It’s tiny!”

“Dad and I have lost a lot to manticores,” Realm replied. “They seem to be intent to cause misery.”

“Ohh, this one is malicious,” Artemis snarked as he pick it up by the scruff of the neck. “Careful there Aspect. Wouldn’t want you to get nuzzled to death… that said, that is a real likelihood from that poofy pink mare.”

“Just...just see it out,” Aspect panted. “We’re not looking after a manticore.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you,” Artemis said as he held it up. “If it followed you all the way here? Then you’ve imprinted on it somehow. You’d have to kill it to get rid of it completely.”

“I...I’m not going to kill a cub,” Aspect replied. “I have standards. It can’t have done anything yet.”

“Well, you don’t have to,” Artemis said as he created a blade of stone. “I’ll do it.”

“No!” Aspect said, holding up a hoof. “It’s...an innocent,” the stallion sighed. “Even if it is a manticore, it’s an innocent one. You can’t just kill whoever or whatever because it’s inconvenient.”

Artemis remained that way for a moment and then smiled. “Good, then your fear isn’t completely irrational.” he commented as he held the kitten. “So, what do you want to do with her then?”

“I...I don’t know,” Aspect sighed. “I just...I have a bad history with Manticores, okay? They...took Written. They took Realm’s parents. I’m...not sure.”

“No, that one particular Manticore took away Written,” her painted doppelganger said from the picture frame. “And honestly, that was how long ago now? She wasn’t immortal, so she’d have passed eventually anyway.”

“...Can you even tame a Manticore?” Aspect asked dubiously.

“Well, why don’t you find out?” Written chuckled. “You’ve slain a lot of monsters over the centuries, taming one shouldn’t be too difficult should it?”

“I pose that it’ll be harder,” Aspect replied. “Killing one is simple. Swing, slash, done in a flash. Taming one sounds like a lifelong effort.”

“Yours or theirs?” Written quipped back.

“...Oh ha ha,” Aspect returned. “I...guess. We can ask Fluttershy about what to feed you.” He wasn’t looking at the little cub with as much fear anymore.

Written Script smiled at him, glad he was finally putting that little piece of the past back where it belonged. One step at a time…

Then the door burst open and a frantic Twilight Sparkle burst in, looking around wildly.

“What’s the problem?” Aspect asked.

“Spike? Is he here? Please tell me he’s here!?” she almost yelled, grabbing Aspect by the shoulders.

“I haven’t seen your dragon friend all day,” Aspect replied. “Why, is something wrong?”

Twilight’s panic wilted as she stepped back and slumped. Her ears drooped and she took out a small note. “We… had a fight earlier. About my new owl assistant,” she murmured quietly, a defeated look on her face. “Spike he… he ran away…”

“There’s only one place he could go and still not be detected,” Aspect inferred.

“What? Where!?” Twilight jumped back to her hooves.

“The forest,” the stallion pointed out. “Realm, Artemis, you have the run of the house. Tell Bon Bon where I went if she asks, and no staying up past your bedtime. Sword or no sword?” he asked the mare.

“I…” Twilight paused and after a moment, nodded her head. “Just in case okay?”

“Sword!” Aspect said, holding up a hoof. There was a whistling sound through the house before the sword landed, hilt-first, in his hoof, and he stuck it under his saddlebags. “Let’s go.”

Twilight nodded and together, the pair made way for the Everfree Forest.

“How… are we even going to find him?” Twilight said as they entered the dark woods. “The Everfree is enormous. He could be anywhere!” Her ears twitched as her eyes widened. “What if… oh, what if he’s in trouble? What if a Cockatrice got him?” She started to breathe heavier, old fears coming back in full now.

“Hmm...too bad I wasn’t a scout,” Aspect mused. “I’d track him if I could. I never got too into outdoors survival.”

“I’ve got it!” Twilight suddenly beamed as her horn lit up. “Spike’s fireproof...so I’ll just burn the forest down. Easy Peasy!”

“I applaud the idea, but it won’t work,” Aspect replied. “Not only would Fluttershy not like it, the forest is a font of wild magic. It’ll act to protect itself. Think of it like a giant pony. You setting a fire triggers the immune system...in this case, timberwolves.”

“Wood burns,” Twilight replied darkly. “If they’ve hurt Spike—”

“Or Hydras, or Manticores, or Ursas,” Aspect continued. “Really, anything that annoys the forest, the forest can use anything in its borders to drive the invaders out.”

“Well then what do we DO!?” Twilight yelled. “I… I can’t… if something’s happened to him then I’ll…” She was riding a fine line between distraught and utterly breaking down. Then she heard a noise, a soft hooting. Looking up, she spied Owlowiscious sitting in a tree and pointing with his wing.

“Huh?” she sniffled and looked to where he was gesturing. Little red footprints on the ground… that smelled oddly like ketchup.

“Okay, that’s a clue I can get behind,” Aspect said. “You’ll have to tell me about the ketchup later. For now, there’s no way this got here on its own, so let’s follow the obvious track!”

“R-Right,” Twilight nodded and followed the pegasus stallion, Owlowiscious flying on ahead.

And when they arrived at a large cave, Aspect could feel the ground shaking and the deep, rumbling roars that could be heard from inside.

“Dragon,” he groaned. “This could not be worse.”

Twilight was already charging inside…

Aspect groaned and followed after her, hopefully this drake would be open to reason. Inside, he saw a massive green dragon trying to snap at Twilight’s owl as it buzzed around it’s head as a distraction, while the mare ran over to Spike, scooping him up into a hug.

“Let’s go, ponies and bird!” Aspect told them as he took up a position between the dragon and Twilight. “You can bloody teleport!”

“Oh… right,” Twilight picked up Spike and started to charge a teleport spell, but not before a massive spiked tail fell towards them.

Aspect was fast, he intercepted the tail and blocked it with the flat of his sword. “Calm yourself, wyrm, lest I decide to tell Smaug of what you have done,” the stallion shouted.

The dragon flinched. Who… was this pony to invoke the name of the King?

And it was in that moment that Twilight teleported them outside the cave.

“And running!” Aspect spoke up, sticking his sword under his saddlebags again. “Tearful reunion when we’re not in front of a dragon cave!”

“Right,” Twilight blinked and chased after him, even as the roaring dragon could be heard behind them. “It’s going to catch us at this rate!”

Then Owlowiscious took the lead, dodging and weaving through trees as the ponies followed him, eventually losing the dragon in the dense foliage.

“Okay, so, what have we learned about the Everfree?” Aspect asked between gasps.

“That it sucks,” Twilight muttered. “I hate it. Utterly.”

“Don’t run away into the Everfree… choose someplace sunny next time,” Spike tacked on.

“More like, don’t go into the Everfree,” Aspect returned. “It took years to get it remotely accepting of the castle, and that was with Earth Ponies trying to soothe it at every opportunity!”

“Okay, okay, I messed up…” Spike sighed. “It’s just, I thought you didn't need me anymore. And that you didn't love me anymore.”

“Spike.” Twilight pulled him into a hug. “Sure, I was disappointed, but you are my number one assistant! And friend. And you always will be. It's just that sometimes I need some help at night. I can't ask you to stay up late. You're a baby dragon and you need your rest. Owls are nocturnal. So I asked Owlowiscious to help. But not to take your place. No one could ever replace you, Spike. Not even when you are being a jealous numbskull.”

“Amazing what jealousy will make ponies, and dragons, do,” Aspect mused.

“Yeah, I’m sorry for being so jealous Twi,” Spike said softly.

“And I’m sorry. I should have been more sensitive,” the unicorn said back, hugging him again. She looked up at Aspect. “And thank you Aspect. That… might have turned out much worse if it wasn’t for you.”

“Yeah, dragons in general aren’t the friendliest of creatures,” the stallion returned.

Spike snorted and folded his arms.

“You’re the exception,” the stallion chuckled and rubbed the little guy on the head with a hoof.

“And Owlowiscious... I know now that you weren't out to take my job. Forgive me?” Spike asked, the little owl hooting in response.

“Whoo?”

“Me. Spike! Forgive me?”

“Hoo?”

“So uh, how did you guys find me anyway?” Spike asked as they headed back to town.

“Followed the ketchup-dragon tracks,” Aspect quipped as he escorted them all out of the forest.

“Owlowiscious was the one that pointed them out,” Twilight followed up. “Also, you're getting a bath when you get home.”

“Aww…” Spike groaned.

Aspect had seen Twilight and Spike to the borders of town, before making a detour. He had a pegasus to visit. If he was…

*Gulp*

If he was going to be looking after a Manticore, best to figure out what to do first.

It didn’t take him long before he arrived at Fluttershy’s home, and he steeled his nerves before knocking on the door with a hoof.

And it didn’t take long for the pink-maned yellow pegasus answered the door. “Oh, hello Balanced,” she said in her soft tone. “Welcome.”

“Hello Fluttershy,” Aspect nodded at her. “I have a...small issue that I’m hoping you can help me with.”

“The missing Manticore cub?” she hazarded a guess. “She’s at your house, isn’t she?”

“Yes, and the Diamond Dog I have living with me says that, short of killing her, something I’m not interested in doing, there’s no way to get her to leave,” Aspect replied. “So uh...how do I look after a Manticore?”

Fluttershy turned rather pale at the mention of killing the cub. But he said he’d not do that so she put it in the back of her mind. “W-well,” she said shakily. “There’s quite a few things you should… wait, look after? You… wish to adopt her?”

“Well I’m not just going to abandon her in my own home, that’d be silly,” Aspect quipped. “She followed me home. I think she’s asking if she can keep me at this juncture.”

And then Fluttershy hugged him and gods above she was stronger than she looked. Aspect could feel his ribs protesting to the bearhug as she giggled over him accepting the cub as a pet. And considering she had a bear around, she probably could practice said bearhugs on him as well…

“Okay, it’s not the end of the world,” Aspect managed to breathe out. “Just...can you help me?”

“Oh, yes!” she flew inside, effortlessly dragging him along as she started gathering various items. Soon, Balanced was laden down with a food and water bowl, a collar, books on taming and raising Manticores, toys… the pile was almost as big as he was.

“Fluttershy, this is great and all,” Aspect eventually spoke up, being careful not to move too suddenly. “But uh...what do I actually feed her?”

“Oh…” She moved to a cabinet and Balanced’s knees nearly buckled when she placed a massive bag of food on his back with the rest of the stuff. “This is Manticore Munch. It’s tasty for them, and provides all the nutrients they’ll need. Alternatively. You can use fish and chicken as well.”

“Maybe I’ll mix it up every now and then,” the stallion huffed. “Get her a fish for good behavior. It’d be nice to break out the old pole.”

“Oh, and you might want to pay Zecora a visit,” Fluttershy said to him. “Even a young Manticore’s sting can be very painful without treatment. So I’d stock up on antivenom.”

“Duly noted,” Aspect nodded. Home first, to drop this burden off. Zecora second. A thought occured. “How...much should I feed her? Wouldn’t want to over or under do it.”

“About a quarter of her weight,” Fluttershy said. “I gave you a book that has a section on Manticores. So that should help you further.”

“Thank you,” the stallion nodded and slowly, carefully, made his way to the door.

“Take good care of her,” Fluttershy waved. “I’ll come by to visit, but don’t hesitate to come to me if you need anything.”

“Will do,” Aspect called over his shoulder. He was glad they didn’t live too far apart. But every step would feel like ten, with this load.

Eh, it would be fine. He’d carried Tia and Lulu before. Not at the same time, but it surely couldn’t be harder than an alicorn.

Well… he was stallion enough to admit when he was wrong.

Looking at the interior of his house… covered in painted paw prints.

And a happy as heck Manticore kitten that was now a rainbow of colours, having found Realm’s supply of paint and decided to play.

“...Yeah, it was a good thing Fluttershy gave me some toys for you,” Aspect stated as he looked around the house. “This...this is gonna be heck to clean up.”

“Um, wow…” a voice said from behind as Rainbow and Bon Bon walked in. “Nice place you have here,” the pegasus snickered.

“Realm… got creative did he?” Bon Bon was barely holding in her own giggles.

“Naw, my newest tenant did,” Aspect replied as he shrugged his burden off onto the ground, where it made an audible ‘thump’ as it all hit. Without any effort, he scooped up the cub and held it close with a wing. “Come on little one. If you’re going to play and get dirty, you’re going to have to suffer the torments of a bath as well.”

“Is...is that… a manticore?” Bon Bon exclaimed.

“Wow, when you choose a pet, you don’t half-ass it huh?” Rainbow whistled.

“She chose me,” Aspect grumbled. “So now I have to look after her. Because heaven help me if I have to face a disappointed Fluttershy.”

“Did she use the sad eyes?” Rainbow asked. “Those are dangerous. She could rule Equestria with those eyes.”

“How do you think she trapped me to try and give me a pet in the first place?” Aspect retorted, leaving the room with the cub under one wing. “You, are in trouble,” Aspect told the Manticore. “Not a whole lot, I don’t expect you to know better yet. But you are going to have a bath.”

The kitten just purred, it’s tail swinging back and forth lazily.

“You want some help cleaning?” Bon Bon asked. “I’m used to it after living with Lyra for so long.”

“Eh, I’ll make Realm do it,” Aspect called back. “Though if one of you could nip down to Zecora’s and ask her for some anti-venom for a Manticore, that’d be swell. Until the little one learns who not to sting, I’ll probably need it.”

“I’ll do it, I can be back in ten seconds,” Rainbow nodded and rocketed off into the sky. Bon Bon watched her go and sighed.

“You know, her work colleagues have been giving her a hard time,” the mare said.

“...Why? She’s the weather captain, she should be taking her job seriously,” Aspect replied.

“Not about her job,” Bon Bon clarified. “About us.”

“...Remind me to accompany her to the station one day,” Aspect growled. “I will be having some words with her co-workers that’ll make them think twice about talking about us.” Eventually the stallion found the bathroom and pushed the door open. “All right, first bath for the little cub,” he said out loud, kicking the door closed after him so she couldn’t escape.

The kitten saw water… and Aspect saw paint as she started struggling and squirming. He did his best to hold her still with his wing as he ran the bathtub, not plugging it up and waiting for it to get warm. He had to duck once or twice to avoid her tail, but soon the bath was full and the kitten mewling loudly.

The stallion put her in the bathtub, still not blocking the plug up, as he let her get acquainted with the water at her own pace. “There you go, it’s not gonna hurt you,” he soothed.

The kitten still kicked up a stink over getting wet. But at least she wasn’t trying to impale him with her tail now. Aspect looked around and found a washcloth and a bar of soap, grabbing a hold of both and working up a nice lather on the washcloth. He held the kitten still, gently, with one hoof, while the other got to work cleaning the paint out of her fur. The soap he put down for the moment. Luckily the paint she’d gotten into was water soluble. Or else Aspect would be having a hard time with this.

A slamming door downstairs told him Rainbow was back as well. Well… least she used the door this time. The stallion chuckled as he kept on cleaning the kitten off. “This is what’s gonna happen every time you get in Realm’s paint,” he told her, a part of him not believing she’d understand what he was saying. Another part of him reminded him that this was magical-pony land, where every animal was aware to some degree. “You get dirty, I clean you off.”

The kitten almost looked like she was pouting. Well, at least she’d stopped struggling now. The water was kind of nice.

“You’re like a dad bathing his foal,” Bon Bon giggled from the doorway.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Aspect replied as he gently kept up the cleaning. “There you go. And you were making such a fuss earlier. Don’t you want to look nice?”

The kitten stared at him… before shaking herself off and getting as much water on him as possible.

“Nice try, but we’re not done yet,” Aspect chuckled as he went on to the most dangerous part of the Manticore, her tail. “Now, hold very still, little one,” he told her. “This is the last of it.” He began to slowly clean off the tail, starting at the base.

The tail twitched as the kitten begun to shake. Ahh, someone had a ticklish tail. Aspect did his best not to tease the kitten as he kept cleaning her off. Fortunately none of the paint was on her stinger, but there were a few spots up to it. He carefully kept cleaning, not lingering at all if he could avoid it on any one spot.

And soon, the kitten was clean and purring loudly as she splashed the water with her front paws.

“And there you go,” Aspect chuckled as he put the washcloth back on the hanger and the soap where he got it from. He pulled out a big, fluffy towel and sat nearby, waiting for her to say she was done and wanted to be dry.

The kitten’s tail slapped the water as she played for a bit, before jumping out and giving a vigorous shake of her body. Aspect wrapped her up in the towel and helped her get dry, letting her feel the warmth of it sinking in as he did his best to help her.

“Pet or no, I still see some daddy in you,” Bon Bon giggled. “Hmm, have you got a name for her yet? We can’t just call her Manticore.”

“I’ve got nothin’ in that regard,” Aspect replied as he rubbed the kitten a little more before eventually turning her loose. She blinked, realised she was free and bolted out the door, likely off to cause more mischief.

“Well, hopefully she doesn’t do anything too drastic before she finds the toys,” Aspect sighed. “I still have to put all of that away too.”

“As I said, I’ll help,” Bon Bon chuckled. “I seem to practically live here now anyway. Hmm, speaking of. Is mom being insufferable as usual?”

“I’m sure Realm would be more suited to telling you than me,” Aspect chuckled as he got up and started making his way towards the front of the house. “They’re practically inseparable now.”

“Oh geez, you know she’ll probably try and adopt him right?” Bon Bon sighed and rolled her eyes. “Mom loves kids. Still pesters me as to why she doesn’t have grandfoals to spoil yet.”

“Sorry, Realm’s mine,” Aspect chuckled. “Paperwork was filed centuries ago and everything.”

Bon Bon smirked and slid up next to him, giving his ear a light nibble. “Maybe we should work on grandfoals then~”

“I’m not particularly sure that’s a wise move,” Aspect mused. “I mean, at the rate I seem to be taking on boarders, I’ll be overrun in a month. Less if any of my charges decide to take on a pet.”

“Aww, one of Lyra’s dreams was to become a zookeeper,” Bon Bon giggled. “Maybe just leave her in charge.”

“I am not turning my home into a zoo,” Aspect replied. “...Maybe a three-ring circus if this keeps up.”

“Hmhmhm, well at least I know who the clown’s going to be,” Bon Bon booped his nose.

“Yeah, Realm, he can face-paint himself,” Aspect quipped.

“Ha! So, does that make you the stage magician? Or maybe a lion tamer? You already tamed one rainbow lion.”

“Just wait till Lulu hears about this, she had the weirdest pets over the years,” Aspect replied as the entered the main room. “And I’m pretty sure Tia would outperform me in magic.”

Bon Bon chuckled, then decided to bring up something with him. Her bosses at S.M.I.L.E were curious, but she was even moreso.

“Hey Aspect?” the earth mare asked as he eased himself into his favourite chair. “What do you know about Rune magic?”

That prompted Aspect to sit up very straight and draw in a hissing breath. “How did you hear about that?” he asked her.

“Through some ponies that I cannot name,” the mare replied, a little surprised by his reaction. “I will say that someone as powerful as you hasn’t gone unnoticed by… certain groups. And those groups like to stay very well informed.”

“Well,” Aspect mused. “How best to put it...there’s...tiers, of magic. There’s the things everypony can do, like almost all Earth Ponies have greater physical strength. Almost all Pegasi can fly. And almost all unicorns can use telekinesis and light, things like that. A small step up from that, are pony’s talents. They’re the thing that only they will ever be the best at. A step up from that, and a large one, mind, are the Aspects of Equus. Forces of nature. Not unstoppable, as any one could counter another, in theory. Except for things like Mortal Coil, in which case we’d need some sort of Aspect of Life to be his particular counter. Following me so far?”

“I… think so,” Bon Bon nodded. “Natural magic. Cutie Marks. Aspects…”

“Now, the thing that was meant to bridge the gap between the Marks and the Aspects, that was the gifts. Geomancy, Aeromancy, and Sorcery. Pretty potent stuff, when wielded right. And it is a nice bridge.” Aspect nodded once, before uttering a phrase that Bon Bon hadn’t expected to hear. “Runes...they’re above everything.”

“Everything?” Bon Bon quirked an eyebrow. “What… what about something like, the Elements of Harmony? Or the long lost Crystal Heart?”

“The Elements are good, yes, and they’re another way for Ponykind to stand up against a wayward Aspect. But Runes...they’re basically the language of Magic Itself. They’re deeper than it all. I have my suspicions about the origin of Runes, but...a true Runemaster...they would require the efforts of all the Aspects of Equus, and the Elements to stop, if they were dark. Because Runes have words to describe anything and everything you could possibly want to do. And the world itself listens when you spell it out in Runic.”

“Aspect…” Bon Bon frowned, trying to picture what that could entail. “That… sounds very close to, a godlike power.”

“There are a few things to stop it from being abused,” Aspect replied. “First, you would have to know all the Runes to use it effectively. And most of the Runes were written down in ancient temples back in Dream Valley, so, you know, good luck to anyone looking nowadays. And second, even if you had great magical power to fuel a Runic array, it would still be incredibly draining. Even to a pony like Twilight Sparkle. Runes are not cheap. The last true Runemaster was Queen Majesty.”

“Queen?” Bon Bon closed her eyes, running over every piece of history she knew. “How long ago was this? I don’t even recall a ‘Queen Majesty’ in recorded history.”

“She was from the days of Dream Valley, so, you know, couple thousand,” Aspect informed her. “She was the one true protector of Ponykind before myself and the Diplomat came around. And she used the power of Runes to turn trolls into trees, grant wishes, and the like. She was incredibly powerful. And she responded to threats to ‘her subjects’ with extreme prejudice.”

“So, how come the Princesses, or the Element Bearer’s aren’t privy to such power then?” Bon Bon sat on the floor next to him. “If this Runic Magic is so great, shouldn’t there be somepony to wield it?”

“There is a reason Majesty was the last Runemaster,” Aspect replied. “She was also the greatest one. And the most sensible. She had ponies go around the temples and copy down all the Runes they could find, and send them back to her. Then she had other ponies go around and block off the temples where the runes were. She compiled, tested, and made a grand tome of Runic Magic...which nopony ever found. She hid it away, only using Runic Magic when the situation was truly dire.”

And Bon Bon could tell...from the way Aspect had paused. From how the story itself unwove...there was more to it than that.

“You said, nopony ever found it,” Bon Bon spoke up, a small smile on her muzzle. “But, you’re not a pony.”

“...Fine,” Aspect grumbled. “She hid it away from all the ponies, left in a secret compartment in her library, just for me to find. And I didn’t even think of practicing it. Of using it. Not for the longest time. Until the day...when he ripped me away from my girls, and forced them to call on a magic that could counter any Aspect.”

Bon Bon was silent for a moment, she saw the way his eye burned with anger. “You’re talking about Discord, aren’t you?” she said quietly.

“The chaos and madness he left behind...that was what drove me to be stronger,” Aspect nodded. “The torment I endured...I wanted to let my girls know, I would never fail them again. So I worked with Starswirl the Bearded. Three days, and three nights. Gold thread spun by sunlight, silver thread spun under the light of the moon. Both sets weaving and spelling out runes in my robes...so that I would never be weak again.”

“Weak?” Bon Bon chuckled and lay her head in his lap. “You’ve lived for thousands of years. You raised what must be the strangest family to ever exist. Your daughters are our great rulers, our protectors. And you…” She smiled and turned her head to look up at him. “You’re the stallion I fell in love with, Dashie too. You aren’t weak Christopher. You never were.”

“If you say so,” Aspect replied. “The Runic Tome is never leaving my saddlebags. The world only needs one Runemaster at a time. If two true masters of the Runes were to clash...there is literally no telling what might happen.”

Bon Bon sighed, her back rising and falling with the deep breath. “Then do me a favour. If anypony asks you about it. And if they mention my name. Don’t tell them. Tell them… I don’t know. Tell them the art doesn’t exist anymore. This… needs to be kept a secret. I almost regret asking myself now.”

“There’s a reason I let the art die out,” Aspect nodded. “There’s a reason Majesty had it hidden away. Runes...they’re supposed to be my greatest secret.”

“So… why did you tell me then?” Bon Bon asked him, nuzzling his lap. “You could have lied to me.”

“You told me your secret,” Aspect pointed out.

“Only a little bit, s’not like you know all the details,” Bon Bon murmured.

“Let me put it like this, you know how the Discorded Desert is a magical null zone?”

“Yeah,” Bon Bon nodded. “What of it?”

“You know how you haven’t heard of any other Discorded areas left behind after his last little romp?” the stallion continued.

“There are more?” Bon Bon said, her head jerking up and regretting that, Aspect pillows were comfy.

“There were,” Aspect replied. “I took care of them. Runic power at its finest.”

“You… undid them…” Bon Bon frowned. “Okay, I’m calling horseapples on that.”

“Nope, there are Runes for order and harmony and the like. Really easy to project an Aura of Order and hold it to undo Discord’s work,” Aspect replied. “As well, the Desert is the only one I can’t touch. No magic, means it won’t work in there.”

“Yes it’s why we use it to…” Bon Bon paused. “Eh, nevermind.”

“Anyways, yes,” Aspect continued. “Runes. Incredibly powerful. I can use them, but I don’t. Mainly because that while I might be the perfect candidate for Runemaster...even for me, it’s a little winding to do any exhaustive works with Runes. I’m mostly saving my power for when we absolutely need them.”

“And since you’re an Aspect down, you’re not quite as strong anymore, are you?” Bon Bon said and nodded. “Well, not to worry. I’m sure you won’t be needing that power anytime soon.”

“Eh, in an ideal world, I would have already found a candidate for the Air aspect as well,” Aspect replied. “I’m not supposed to hold onto such power as long as I have, but really, I’m just waiting for the right one.”

“Well, you’re hardly making an effort to look for one either,” Bon Bon chuckled and poked his belly. “Getting lazy in your old age hm?”

“I still say a Griffon would be idea,” Aspect harrumphed. “The problem will be finding one that has a strong connection to them and is worthy of the power. I want a leader for them, like Celly and Lulu are for you.”

“The griffon’s have been leaderless for a long time,” Bon Bon said. “Ever since they lost the Idol of Boreas to a cyclops.”

“I’m sure that if I simply wait a little longer, I’ll hear of a griffon leader figure emerging...or one that, if given the power, would make a good leader,” Aspect replied. “Cause there are precious few ways to take it back.”

“Well, I haven’t been to Griffonia, so I only know from secondhand reports,” Bon Bon informed him. “The place is a mess. Most griffons only care about one thing, and that’s gold.”

“I can wait,” Aspect replied. “One day, I’m sure somegriffon will be worth the time.”

“Here’s hoping,” Bon Bon sighed as Rainbow Dash entered the room. The earth mare turned her head to look a the pegasus. The very… alone pegasus. “Daaaash? Where’s the kitten?”

“Uh…” Rainbow Dash looked around. “I dunno.”

“Do you at least have the antivenom?” Aspect asked.

Rainbow puffed out her chest proudly, the fur there floofing up not unlike a bird. “Oh sure, I visited Zecora ages ago. Like… that was about fifteen minutes now. Get with the modern era Bal.”

“Okay, good.” The stallion nodded. “Now all we need to do is find the kitten before she gets in more troub—”

There was a crash and a shriek. Seems Lyra had found the kitten first. And she didn’t realise the kitten was friendly.

“Dash, get a toy for the kitten to play with. I’m gonna go stop anyone from doing anything they’ll regret,” Aspect told them as he darted off to where the screams were coming from.

He found the minty mare standing on a chair as the manticore batted at her tail, Lyra’s panicked expression told Aspect everything he needed to know. Except for of course, the most crucial thing. He scooped the kitten up with his hooves and held her close, before looking up at Lyra.

“Did she sting you?” he asked as he kept the cub entertained by tickling her belly.

“N-No…” Lyra said in a stuttery voice. “W-W-Why do you have a Manticore!?”

“She picked me, not the other way around,” Aspect replied, now beeping the little one’s nose gently. The kitten batted at his hoof, mewling and squirming.

“...You and Bon Bon are made for eachother,” Lyra muttered as she climbed down from the chair. Aspect gently set the Manticore on the ground. It scampered up to Lyra, but she rapidly backed away from it.

“Just let her get a feel for you,” Aspect replied. “She’s just curious about the new pony. I had cats ages ago. They want to know about you once, and then they really only care about you if you go out of your way to be interesting. Like if you have food.”

“Coulda got a cat… or a dog… but nooo, you had to get a flippin’ manticore,” Lyra muttered as the kitten sniffed her, grew bored and ran off.

“She picked me, not the other way around,” Aspect replied. “You never really tame a cat either. The cat is the master of the house, you’re just the peon that lives with it and takes care of its needs.”

“So, like Bon Bon then?” Lyra quipped with a sly smirk.

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Aspect replied.

“Ehh, what’s she gonna do?” Lyra waved a hoof… then shivered as she felt a presence behind her.

“No chocolate for a week,” Bon Bon growled, Lyra turning with a pitiful expression.

“A week!?” Oh come on Bonnie! That’s harsh.”

Aspect wisely kept his mouth shut.

Yup, just another average day in the Aspect household...

Author's Note

Hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

Meet the manticore. She's cute, ain't she?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not go towards finding the dark side of the moon in Odyssey.

Chapter 30 - Parties for one and pranks for some

Balanced Aspect was a very old stallion. And over the many, many centuries, he’d like to have thought that he’d seen a lot, that absolutely nothing would surprise him anymore.

Until he got an invitation in the mail.

For a birthday party.

For… a baby alligator…

“Yo! Aspect?” Rainbow poked the stupefied stallion with a hoof as he just stared at the blindingly pink invite. “You uh, you okay buddy? You’ve been standing there for a while now. Any longer and you’ll start growing moss on your fur.”

“Does she...do this often?” Aspect asked finally.

“Huh? Oh yeah? It’s Gummy’s birthday huh? Sweet!” Rainbow Dash stretched her wings and cracked her neck. “I mean, yeah, she throws parties for everypony… and Gummy is like, her best friend… besides,” she smirked and kissed his cheek. “What have you learned about Pinkie Pie?”

“She’s more unpredictable than Surprise,” Aspect sighed. “Fine. Just...what do you get a baby alligator?”

“Eh, just bring whatevs,” Rainbow shrugged. “Pinkie’ll be glad if you just show up. Otherwise…” the mare tapped her chin and shrugged. “Ask Candyflanks. Anyway, I gotta work, laters!” She turned, gave him a deep kiss and then rocketed into the sky for weather duty.

“Mkay,” Aspect mused. “I think I’m going to hit up Fluttershy for a recommendation, then see if there’s like...a pet store in town.”

There was a crash from inside and… and, yup. The Manticore kitten had found one of Realm’s paintbrushes and was now giving it a good chew, even as the puny alicorn chased her around.

“Darice!” Aspect called out. “Come here!”

The Manticore paused, her ear flicking at the strange name. Though somehow, it seemed to ring a bell inside of her as she turned and waddled over to Aspect, barbed tail swinging back and forth in a lazy wag.

“Give that here,” he said, softly tugging on the paintbrush and dangling a toy mouse in front of her with his other hoof.

Darice let go of the thoroughly mangled brush in favour of her plushie prey, batting the mouse down the hallway with a paw and then chasing after it.

“Sorry about this, son,” Aspect said as he held up the mangled brush.

“I just...I swear I put those away, in my saddlebags,” Realm muttered as he took the brush and sighed. “Well, I guess I’m going out into town to see if they have an art supplies store. I need a replacement for this one.”

“Just make sure your homework is done,” Aspect replied. “And don’t forget your magic practice.”

“I know,” Realm replied. Aspect nodded once at the pinto alicorn and gave him a soft rub on the head with a hoof before setting out for his first destination for the day.

First stop, Fluttershy.

Her cottage was as lovely as always, It did look like something straight out of a Tolkien book though. Aspect knocked on the front door, received the expected squeak of surprise and mild panic, before the door cracked open and Fluttershy peeked out.

“A-Aspect?” she opened the door more and breathed a sigh of relief. “Hello. What can I do for you? Oh! Has the kitten caused you any trouble? Oh please tell me she hasn’t hurt herself or somepony else. Maybe I should—”

“The only thing that’s happened is her being a cat and thinking everything is a chew toy,” Aspect replied, shaking his head. “No, actually, I have a different question.” He pulled out the invitation he’d gotten by way of explanation.

“Oh, Pinkie’s party for Gummy?” Fluttershy said, holding up her own. “What about it?”

“What do you get a baby alligator?” Aspect asked.

“Ahh,” Fluttershy nodded, now understanding his dilemma. “Hmm, well if I remember correctly, Pinkie recently ran out of scale polish. You could get some of that. I’m fresh out as well however. But Barnyard Bargains might stock it.”

“My thanks,” Aspect nodded his head. “See you at the party, then.”

“Of course,” Fluttershy smiled back as he left for said supermarket.

And it was busy, half of Ponyville must have been in here, buying something or other. And it was huge, probably the biggest building in Ponyville by far.

Aspect had no idea where ‘scale polish’ would even be, but he had nothing but time to wander and look. And who knew, he might come across something interesting in the meantime.

He had to give this store credit, it sold just about everything, though a lot of it was fairly generic.

Then he heard an unfortunately familiar voice. A rather antagonistic mare that was currently discussing something with an earth pony stallion, one with a brown coat and a black mane and tail.

“And then he has the gall to put a filthy mutt in the class! A predator!” she complained. “What if our little Diamond gets hurt? Who will carry on the family name then?”

Aspect merely did his best to ignore her. It wasn’t easy. Didn’t these ponies believe in signs for anything? He would have to go down every aisle at this rate.

“Well dear, I’m sure it sounds simply horrible…” Oh geez, that stallion could not have sounded less interested if he tried. “But honestly, if Miss Cheerilee allowed it then—”

“That mare couldn’t teach a dog to sit… well, maybe she’ll get that chance now,” Spoiled Rich chuckled at her own tasteless joke. “I swear... just give me ten minutes alone with the School Board…”

Aspect grit his teeth. Ignore her. Just ignore her…

“...I’d get rid of that useless teacher and those troublesome students. The mutt, that freak son of his, and those Blank Flanks that constantly harass my poor Diamond.”

“Because there’s another teacher within ten miles of this town that has the spine to stay and teach the spoiled brat you’ve turned your daughter into, much less put up with the weekly disasters we experience,” Aspect couldn’t stop himself. “Also, I believe it’s the teacher’s job to pass or fail students, not yours. She’s the one who has dominion over who is and isn’t a student.”

Spoiled jumped a little and turned around, trademark sneer on her face. “Oh, well look at what the Hydra dragged in… And what did you say about my beloved Diamond? She’s ten times the pony anything from you could ever hope to be… oh wait, all yours are adopted aren’t they?”

“There is more to being a parent than bloodlines,” Aspect snipped back. “It’s about actually connecting with your children, teaching them the same solid values you were taught. Of course, anything that raised you, I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole that was on fire.”

“Now, now…” the stallion present stepped between them. “Let’s not be hasty, plus I don’t want a scene in my store…”

Spoiled snorted loudly and turned away, walking off in a huff. The stallion sighed and shook his head. “She wasn’t always like this you know…”

“She’s raising her daughter in her image, or so my students say,” Aspect snipped. “You can either do something about it, or your entire family will be the rotten apple of the bunch.”

The stallion sighed, nodding his head slightly but said nothing as he followed her.

And oh look! Just beyond where the spoiled pony was, the scale wax! Excellent! Aspect picked up two tins.

What? Spike might appreciate it. He hummed as he went down the aisles towards the register...and paused as he passed one particular aisle.

Hmm. Party hats. In a rainbow of colors and patterns. And they had a nice little top.

He knew a pink party pony that might appreciate that. Plus it might get her off his case for...a day. He picked up two boxes full and nodded to himself as he checked out. The price was pretty good too, well the hats were cheap at least.

Not too much call for scale wax, so the price of that was a bit much. Ah well.

The time showed he still had a little while before the party started…

Best to head home and put these things away, then. He could also go by the library and drop off the extra tin.

Yeah, library first, home second.

When he got there, he… noticed Twilight acting a tad strange around him. At the very least, she seemed to be careful with what she said around him.

“Oh cool,” Spike said when he was handed the tin. “You really okay with it? I mean, this stuff isn’t cheap.”

“I picked it up for you,” Aspect replied. “Why wouldn’t I be okay with it? Go wild. Just not too wild. Like you pointed out, not the cheapest stuff.”

“Okay, well, thanks!” Spike smiled. “Soo, anything else we can do for you?”

“One thing,” Aspect said, before pointing a wing at Twilight. “You’re skating around me like I’m a hole in the ice. Fess up. What’s going on that you’re treating me with foal gloves?”

“Huh… n-no I’m not, ahaha! W-Why would you say that?” Twilight’s eyes were like a deer in the headlights.

“Twilight, you’re a worse liar than Applejack,” Aspect deadpanned.

“Lying, I’m not lying… I’m, um…”

“Realm didn’t tell you?” Spike deadpanned. “She and he had a big old heart to heart the other day.”

“That doesn’t explain why she’s treating me like a button that’s labelled ‘do not press’,” Aspect replied.

“Some things were brought up, and now Twilight’s afraid you’re angry at her.” The dragon sighed and shook his head. “Ponies are so dramatic.”

“...This is making less sense by the second,” Aspect sighed. “Why would I be angry at her? Hell at this point the birthday party for Gummy looks sane by comparison!”

“Because I was angry at you for not teaching me any of the unique magics you have okay!” Twilight half-shouted, her eyes narrowed into a frown. “Yet apparently, foals are perfectly fine to teach!”

“There’s a difference between a foal and an adult pony,” Aspect replied. “There’s one very important difference that makes it so much harder to teach a full-grown pony anything.”

“And what’s that?” Twilight’s inner fire sputtering out.

“A lifetime of experience,” Aspect replied. “A lifetime of knowing, for sure, that this is how things are done. To teach an adult is to make them unlearn their skills. Not all are as malleable as I might like. Pegasi, they can learn it. Earth Ponies, no problem. But the most pushback I ever got from teaching adults was from the Unicorns.”

Twilight blinked slowly as that realisation dawned on her. “So… a pony like me…”

“You would have to learn an entirely new method for casting magic, that goes against all your other skills. It would grate on your nerves. Also, quick litmus test. Spike, how organized is she?”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidding? Right? She has a checklist for her checklists!”

“So yeah,” Aspect replied with a nod. “It would probably go against the fiber of your being to learn Sorcery.”

“How so?” Twilight spoke up. This was the most he’d ever talked about it with her. “I mean, you’ve never told me a thing about it. E-Even the Princess won’t tell me…”

“It’s about tapping into the natural musical magic of the world, and using it to power your spells in rhyme and verse,” Aspect replied. “Music, rhythm, harmony, all in concert to bring about deep magics. The sort of which can’t be easily reversed. The only way to undo a Sorcery is with another Sorcery, or a deeper magic.”

“Deeper magic, like, the Elements?” Twilight continued to ask, writing this down.

“Something like that,” Aspect nodded. “So yeah. Sorcery isn’t something to idly teach. We have to pick the right ponies. Foals have a greater appreciation for power, because they have none.”

“So, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks huh?” Twilight sighed and set her scroll aside. “Well… not going to lie. That’s a bit depressing. Could, I ask a favour maybe?”

“You can ask,” Aspect nodded. “No promises about whether or not I’ll be able to fulfill it.”

“Could I, attend the classes you teach. At the very least, I’d love to see the learning process and take notes.”

“You can try, but you’ll be missing the first few lessons,” Aspect pointed out. “It’s not easy coming into a lesson halfway.”

“Well, then you just get to tell me all about them,” the unicorn smiled widely.

“Maybe,” Aspect replied. “I’ll ask Tia if she thinks it’d be a good idea. If she agrees, you can attend.”

“Spike, take a letter please~” Twilight sang as she skipped towards him.

“Aaaand I’m suddenly getting the idea this will not end well for me, soooo...exit!” Aspect called out as he backed out of the library.

Yup… Tia was totally going to make him pay for that later. He could tell. On the plus, the party was drawing near so he figured he had just enough time to go home, get what he needed and be at Sugarcube Corner right on time.

Or in this case, drop off the party hats for when he needed a gift idea for the pink mare and then head over to the corner. Also, enough time to make sure Darice was being well-behaved.

And to his surprise, she was. He found her curled up asleep in the living room, right in a beam of sunlight that streamed through the open window.

“Aww…” Aspect cooed as he walked into the house. She was so adorable while she was this small. Then her tail lashed out and stabbed the carpet a few times in her sleep.

Okay, less adorable. Hmm. He should probably feed her while he was here. He walked over to her bowl in the kitchen and carefully scooped out some dry feed for her, plonking it down into the bowl.

“Hmm, off somewhere?” a voice asked to see Hurricane lazing on a painted cloud.

“The Pink One has a party for her pet alligator today,” Aspect replied as he put the rest of the food away. “She’ll throw a party for anything. And we already know she’s unpredictable. So I figured it’d be better to attend than risk her ire.”

“A party… for an alligator… oye,” Hurricane shook her head. “What the hell has Equestria come to?”

“More peaceful times, apparently,” Aspect replied. “Heck, I have a freakin’ manticore living with me.”

“So I saw… did you finally go nuts? Immortality send you round the bend?”

“Got guilt-tripped into it,” Aspect sighed. “It’s not like she can really hurt anypony who lives here. Who knows, maybe this will be the one manticore that redeems them to me.”

“Hah! Guess we’ll see,” the painted mare shrugged. “Well, I’m gonna jet. Written wants to see if the weather in the Castle painting can be manipulated. It’d give me something to do at least.”

“See you later, you old warmare,” Aspect replied as he nodded at her.

“You two, you old troublemaker,” she nodded back and flew from the canvas.

“Well, off to attend a party,” Aspect chuckled as he made his way through his house again.

“HHIIII ASPECT!” Pinkie launched herself out of the doorway as he went to raise a hoof to knock, the pink mare dangling around his neck in a hug. “I’m soooo superglad that you made it!”

“Pinkie…” Aspect gasped out. “Air!”

“Ahh, I keep forgetting some ponies need that,” Pinkie said and released him, before hugging his barrel. “I haven’t seen you in a super long time.”

“Sorry, been busy,” Aspect replied, carefully hugging her back.

“Baah, you’re soooo boring sometimes, you gotta get out there and live!” She giggled then a super serious expression crossed her muzzle. “Okay, real talk. You and Dashie. Are you treating her good?”

“Of course I am,” Aspect replied with a firm nod. “Oh, remind me to go to work with her one day and talk to her coworkers for her. I’ve been hearing...things.”

“Things?” Pinkie asked him in a surprised tone.

“Things,” Aspect intoned.

“Things huh?” Pinkie’s voice was… oddly calm and reserved. That… that could not mean good things for the ponies involved. He remembered the few times Surprise truly got mad…

“Trust me Pinkie, I can handle it,” Aspect soothed. “I just have to go in one day. It’ll stop, promise.”

“Oh fiiiine,” Pinkie perked back up and cartwheeled backwards into the room. Twilight and all her friends had gathered, and Pinkie had also invited Bon Bon and Lyra to join too. The stallion went around and made small talk with everypony, catching up with them as he relaxed and enjoyed the party.

Never in his long life, did he think he’d enjoy a birthday party for an alligator of all things. And Pinkie had loved the gift he brought for her beloved pet, stowing it in her mane as she collapsed his lungs with another hug.

“Pinkie…” Aspect gasped out.

“Ahh, sorry!” she giggled and released him. “Sooo, are ya having fun? Huh?”

“It’s quite the fun party, yes,” Aspect agreed.

“Whoohoo!” Pinkie backflipped. Okay, what? How does a pony backflip?

Even Gummy’s tail wagged back and forth with the music playing.

“I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand Pinkie,” Aspect sighed.

“Nopony will ever understand Pinkie Pie,” Twilight sighed, standing behind him. “Also, I have a small question.”

“Fire away,” Aspect returned.

“What does Princess Celestia mean when she says. ‘Aspect has til tonight’?”

“Til tonight...to what?” Aspect replied.

“Well she never said, aside from ‘getting your affairs in order’?”

“It can’t be that bad,” Aspect replied. “Let’s just enjoy the party.”

“Yeah,” Twilight nodded as Rainbow flew up and grabbed ahold of her stallion, dragging him off to the dancefloor, Bon Bon soon joining them for a three-way dance. It was a little hard to keep up with both mares, but it was something Aspect managed to get the hang of eventually.

And that was when he noticed everypony else had stopped to watch the trio of lovers dance.

“Aww, how sweet~” Rarity cooed.

“Mhm, s’pretty adorable,” Lyra nodded.

“I’m glad I have your seal of approval, ladies,” Aspect replied with a bow. Bon Bon just chuckled and Rainbow Dash was a blushing, stuttering mess. One that Aspect was quick to nuzzle lovingly. And that only made her worse.

“Aww, Dashie is soo cute~” Pinkie giggled. “Gummy thinks so too.”

“Gah! I-I am NOT cute!” Rainbow stuttered. “I am cool, and awesome, and amazing… but I am NOT cute!”

“Nopony said you couldn’t be all those things,” Aspect pointed out.

“Aspect… don’t you dare call me--”

“Fine, but one day you will accept the title,” Aspect replied, nuzzling her again.

“The day I accept that is the day you declare yourself an Alicorn Prince of Equestria,” she retorted.

“Hmmmmm…” Aspect hummed.

“Aspect, you are not assuming command of a nation, just to get Dash to admit she’s an adorable little mare,” Bon Bon chided him.

“That seems like a good reason to take control to me,” Aspect retorted. “Besides, you already know that I see all ponies as adorable.”

“True, true,” Bon Bon nodded and Lyra smirked.

“Oh. does that mean I’m adorable too?” she hummed, batting her eyes at him.

“Like I said, all ponies are adorable,” Aspect replied. “Foals moreso.”

Lyra smiled… then paused as that comment registered. “Hey!” she shouted, as everypony else shared a laugh.

A while later, the party ended as the group went their own ways. Pinkie thanked everypony for coming and three mares were following Aspect back to his house.

“So…” Rainbow said once she was sure they were out of earshot. “We have a secret we gotta share Aspect. And this is the hardest secret you will ever need to keep okay?”

“Listening,” Aspect replied.

“Okay, so tomorrow is Pinkie Pie’s birthday, and the girls and I are gonna throw her a surprise party. You think you can help us out?” Rainbow asked.

“Keep a surprise…” Bon Bon started.

“From Pinkie Pie?” Lyra concluded.

“The master party planner?” Aspect tacked on.

“YES!” Rainbow nodded. “Can you imagine it? Pinkie’s always throwing parties… but when was the last time she had one thrown for her?”

“Huh… I… don’t actually know,” Bon Bon mused.

“Okay, for the record, I am pretty good at keeping secrets,” Aspect stated. “Most ponies, not so much. That’s why Honesty is a virtue. So...I can do it. Just...try not to let her find out yourself.”

“Yeah. this’ll be freakin’ epic!” Rainbow cheered and looked at Aspect. “Hey… maybe, we should show Bon Bon our latest ideas~”

“Ideas?” Aspect tilted his head.

“Ideas?” Bon Bon echoed.

“Ooh, ideas?” Lyra chimed in.

“You know… a certain…” Rainbow paused and tapped her chin. “Uniform~”

“Ooooh, ideas,” Aspect mused. “That might be worth showing off.”

“What… are you two planning now?” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“And can I join in?” Lyra asked, her tail wagging.

“Lyra, no,” Aspect told her. “Not for you.”

“Aww…” the unicorn pouted and Bon Bon just chuckled, patting her back.

“And maybe we’ll show it off to you when we get home, Bon Bon,” Aspect smiled.

“Hmm, curious…”

“I’m never gonna get somepony,” Lyra pouted.

“I’m sure there’s a pony out there for you,” Aspect replied. “Granted, I don’t know who they are, but I’m sure they’re out there, just waiting for somepony as eccentric as you in their lives.”

“Yeah… you trying to cheer me up and making me even more depressed…” the minty unicorn sighed and hung her head.

“There’s mint ice-cream in the freezer,” Bon Bon pointed out.

“Whoohoo!” Lyra cheered and gallopped off to raid Aspect’s kitchen.

“Nice to know she’s easily bought,” the stallion chuckled. Bon Bon giggled and bowed her head.

“Mint ice-cream, works everytime,” she mused and bumped his flank with her own. “So… what’s this idea hm?”

“Oh, well why don’t we go up to the bedroom, and Dashie can show you this nice little uniform she found…”

“Hooboy,” Bon Bon chuckled and followed them. This should be interesting.

The next morning dawned bright and early. Aspect yawned as he went through the morning ritual. Oh, yeah. Today was a day when he would have to keep a secret from Pinkie Pie.

Eh, how hard could it be?

“HI ASPECT!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing out of his shower.

“PINKIE!” Aspect shouted, jolting back. “What are you doing in there?!”

“Silly Aspect, I came to invite you to Gummy’s After Birthday Party!” she sang, bouncing around the room. “Since everypony said they had sooo much fun yesterday, I thought, why not do it again today. So, it’ll be this afternoon at Sugarcube Corner!”

“I am terribly sorry, Pinkie,” Aspect replied to her. “But I have previous engagements. I can’t always party, but I do love it when I can. Maybe next time?”

“Oh…” Pinkie deflated a little, but perked right up. “Okie Doki Loki then! Ohh, is Dashie here?”

“She took off already,” Aspect replied. “Before I could go with her too. I think she’s trying to hide it from me.”

“Huh, oh, you mean that meanie mcmeanerson at her work?” Pinkie frowned. “Hmm, Dashie isn’t so good at dealing with emotional stuff.”

“I’m getting that sort of impression, yes,” Aspect replied. “Well, thank you for the visit Pinkie. Perhaps I’ll be able to attend the next party.”

“Okie doke, I still got a whole lotta friends to party with~” she giggled and paused mid bounce… in mid air. Complete with screeching car brakes sound effect. “Oooh yeah, try using whipped cream instead of chocolate sauce next time, it’s really fun~” And then she continued on her way, humming a merry little tune.

“...Not even going to ask how she knew that,” Aspect muttered, before continuing on his way. He had a party to help set up. And a perfect gift for her.

As he took care of a few things in town, Aspect stumbled across something that made him pause. Twilight was sneaking through town with a package on her back.

And about a dozen feet behind her, was a bale of hay, wearing an overcoat and groucho glasses…

“Just ignore it, Aspect,” the stallion muttered as he went about his chores.

A rainbow streaked overhead as he was heading home, Rainbow busting some clouds before angling down and landing in front of him.

“Yo, sup?” she said, wiping some sweat from her brow and flicking her mane.

“Besides you?” Aspect quipped before kissing her. “Not much. Was thinking of heading out to wherever you and the others were holding the party for Pinkie.”

“Ahh, well about that, I’m kiiiinda hiding from Pinkie at the moment, so yeah, mind harbouring a fugitive for now?”

“Just get inside and don’t answer the door,” Aspect replied. “But first, where’s the party at?”

“AJ’s barn,” Rainbow nodded.

“Thank you,” the stallion replied as he double-checked his saddlebags before heading out again. Rainbow watched him close the door and sighed. Well, technically she wasn’t lying about housesitting. And…

“Stupid Raindrops,” she muttered. “I can get a relationship by myself…”

Aspect made sure to take the long way around to the Acres, not wanting to risk going through town and possibly catching Pinkie’s attention. If she found out about the party before the party was ready, then there would be no surprise. So…

He made it there without incident, and saw Applejack and Rarity setting up decorations. The farm mare was the first to notice his arrival.

“Oh, howdy there Aspect, y’all here to help out?”

“Mmhmm, brought a present and I’m willing to lend a hoof where needed,” Aspect replied as he reached into his saddlebags and brought out the two boxes of party hats, setting them on the table.

“Oh, Pinkie’ll flip when she sees them, and we totally forgot ‘em, so thanks,” Applejack nodded.

After a while, Twilight, Shy and Rainbow showed up to finish things off, the latter having narrowly avoided Pinkie and Aspect was roped into… making construction noises. With powertool noises…

Which he wasn’t even sure was a thing in Equestria. But if it meant fooling Pinkie…

And… it worked? Well… kay.

And after a while longer, the party was ready to go. All that was left was for the guest of honor to arrive.

“Aspect, Rainbow? Could you go and get her please?” Twilight asked.

“Oh no,” Aspect replied, crossing his forehooves in front of himself. “No no no. I am not getting anywhere near her. At least not on purpose. There’s no telling how she’ll respond on a good day.”

“Don’t be such a wuss,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Come oooon.”

“I’m not going and that’s final,” Aspect huffed. “That mare is crazy incarnate. Yes, she’s a good friend, but we just spent all day lying to her. For a good reason, but I’m pretty sure she won’t take it well.”

“Aspect, Pinkie is fine,” Rainbow sighed as she dragged him out of the door. “Come on, we’re burning daylight.”

“Does the word no mean anything?!” Aspect cried and broke free. “Look. I just...I get a bad feeling about this, okay? I’m actually scared of going there. Please don’t make me.”

“Aspect, what the hay?” Rainbow let him go as she dropped down and frowned. “Why are you? You’re actually scared of Pinkie Pie? I mean, you’re a friggen alicorn.”

“And she’s a pony that can’t be explained,” Aspect illuminated. “Now unhinge that pony, and you can see why I might be a little wary of her.”

“Aspect, Pinkie’s a bit strange, but she’s not crazy,” Rainbow’s frown deepened. “And, I don’t appreciate you dissing my friends like that.”

“Look, I’m sure she’s a fantastic friend, and a wonderful pony. But please, please don’t make me go with you to get her. I’ve learned to listen to my gut when it says something is a bad idea.”

Rainbow sighed and turned around. “Fine! I’ll be back soon,” she said rather curtly and flew off, literally leaving him in the dust.

“I hope she’s fine,” Aspect sighed as he walked back in. “Rainbow’s off to get her,” he told the other mares. “I declined to go. Let’s get the last of these decorations up.”

“Uh… sure?” Twilight replied as the group watched him work.

Aspect sighed as he turned to the mares. “Over the years, I’ve honed my danger sense, so that I know when something is up. When something is afoul. It’s how I learned of some of the greater evils being around and up to no good. I...felt it. And right now my gut is telling me...that going to get Pinkie is a bad idea.”

“But, darling,” Rarity said. “So, you’re fine with sending Rainbow Dash… alone, to something you’re scared of.”

“I tried to get her to not go as well, but she just saw it as me wussing out,” Aspect sighed. “And if I went now, Rainbow Dash will likely not accept it as me being sorry. More like, me trying to prove myself better than her. I hope she’s fine. I just...Pinkie is...inexplicable. And trying to predict her reaction...likely won’t go well.”

“Well, ah still reckon yer fretting over nuthin’,” Applejack shrugged. “Well, while we wait fer ‘em to show up, let’s get to it.”

About ten minutes later, there was a bang at the barn door and Rainbow was dragging Pinkie in by her tail.

And… the pink mare looked different. Her vibrant pink coat was a more dulled colour and her impossibly poofy mane and tail were flat and hanging limp.

And that scowl, Aspect had seen pissed off dragons that didn’t look as terrifying.

He opted to simply act like a part of the scenery. He knew that was a bad idea.

“Surprise!” all the mares cheered, but Pinkie looked anything but.

“I really thought she’d be more excited,” Fluttershy said and Pinkie’s eye twitched.

“Excited?” Pinkie raised her voice. Aspect had never heard her yell in anger before. “Excited?! Why would I be excited to attend my own farewell party?!”

Oh yeah. She’d snapped.

“Farewell party?” Twilight questioned.

“Yes!” Pinkie screamed, actually lifting off of the ground in rage. “You don't like me anymore, so you decided to kick me out of the group and throw a great, big party to celebrate! A ‘Farewell to Pinkie Pie’ party!”

“Pinkie, the party is for you,” Aspect said softly. “But it’s not like that at all. Take a look around. At all the banners, streamers, cake. What do they say?”

“And then there’s YOU!” Pinkie said in a scarily calm tone. “‘Oh, sorry Pinkie, I have things to do today.’ Well duh, you’d rather party with them, than with me!?”

“Pinkie, please,” Aspect replied, before inclining his head at one of the banners.

“Yeah, why in the world would you think we didn’t like ya sugarcube?” Applejack said softly.

“Why? Why? Why?! Because you've been lying to me and avoiding me all day, that's why!” Pinkie yelled.

“Well duh!” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “A surprise party is supposed to be a surprise.”

“If this is a farewell party,” Twilight said. “Then why does the cake I got say ‘Happy Birthday Pinkie Pie’?”

And then Pinkie paused… slowly looking around the room.

Could it be she was actually listening to them?

Pinkie squeaked and then she… well, exploded might be a good word for it. Colour returned to her coat and her mane poofed up like a swelling balloon, She reached out with her arms and somehow dragged every pony in the room into a hug. “Because it's my birthday! Ooh, how could I have forgotten my own birthday?”

“Because you’re so busy throwing parties for everypony else?” Aspect offered. “Selfless, I think is the word I’m looking for here.”

“And you like me so much you decided to throw me a surprise party!” Pinkie exclaimed and hugged them tighter.

“That what we’ve been trying to tell you darling,” Rarity breathed a sigh of relief.

“Aww, you girls are the bestest friends ever!” Pinkie giggled and looked at Aspect. “You as well!”

“Thank you for finally seeing it that way,” Aspect replied, before turning to Dash. “How bad was it?”

“I’m just glad I haven’t been replaced by a bucket of turnips,” the pegasus replied.

“Told you,” the stallion sighed.

“Huh?” Twilight overheard that. “Turnips?”

“You do not want to know,” Rainbow shuddered.

“So anyways, the party!” Aspect spoke up.

“Agreed,” Applejack nodded. “Alright girls, enough of this gab! Let’s Party!!”

Aspect watched the girls dance in a conga line, and somehow agreed to make this Gummy’s After-Birthday party as well… because, well because Pinkie Pie. He’d learned to stop questioning it by this point.

Twilight had also written something, before sending it off to Celestia. Presumably one of her ‘Friendship Reports’.

Soon the party had to come to an end, and Pinkie promising not to throw yet another one tomorrow. And now he and Rainbow walked home together, the sun setting in the horizon.

“It was nice to throw a party for Pinkie Pie for once,” Aspect mused.

“Yeah, despite the creepy town I went though to get her there,” Rainbow said. “Seriously, she was having a party with a bucket of turnips, a bag of flour and a rock… a rock I somehow got into an argument with…”

“I told you,” Aspect replied. “My gut is never wrong.”

“Yeah yeah, all hail Aspect’s All-knowing digestive tract,” Rainbow snarked and poked him with a wing. “Still… let’s not not throw Pinkie a surprise party again eh?”

“I think she’ll see it coming the second time around, but I agree with the sentiment,” Aspect chuckled.

“Hey Rainbow,” a mare’s voice called and the cyan pegasus groaned. She cast an irate glance up to see a yellow pegaus with a blue mane and tail.

“Raindrops…”

“You on another pity date?” she chuckled and Rainbow clenched her jaw. “I mean, Bon Bon letting you borrow her coltfriend again~”

“It’s amusing, hearing the preconceptions of the less well-informed, isn’t it?” Aspect asked Rainbow. “It’s like she doesn’t know about herding at all.”

“Well have fun,” Raindrops smirked, ignoring Aspect. “Make sure you return him in the condition you got him eh?” And with that, she flew off.

Rainbow stood perfectly still, aside from her left rear hoof tapping a rapid staccato against the ground. She wasn’t pissed… oh no, pissed was for ponies faaar calmer than she currently was.

“Watch,” Aspect said, flaring a wing. Lightning danced along it...and struck true, hitting the pegasus that had dared to insult them from far away. She let out a yelp and nearly fell out of the sky, managing to land on a cloud.

“Wh..whoa, Aspect! What the hay?” Rainbow shouted.

“I did it for Bon Bon and Spoiled Rich, besides, that was a love tap,” Aspect replied. “If I had actually meant to hurt her, she wouldn’t have survived the strike, pegasus or not.”

“Bon Bon, okay then,” Rainbow nodded. “But. Uh, why Spoiled Rich?”

“Spoiled Rich insulted Bon Bon, so I zapped her,” Aspect elaborated. “So any time I hear Raindrops insulting you, I can do the same.”

“You zapped her?” Rainbow exclaimed. Then snickered. “Her nose is so pointy, it probably acted like a lightning rod.”

“You’d think so,” Aspect chuckled.

“You know…” Rainbow turned and stared at him, her eyes drooping into a half-lidded gaze as she chewed her bottom lip. “Standing up for me like that… I kinda liked it~”

“And to think, one day, you’ll learn how to toss around lightning like that too,” Aspect smiled at her.

“Hmm, that’ll be neat,” she hummed, stalking in a circle around him. “But, you know what I wanna do right now?”

“No?” Aspect offered.

Rainbow Dash just smirked as she advanced on him.

Okay, so… that happened.

Also, he thanked the stars that his house was on the outskirts of town… and prayed that nopony saw that happen.

“Oh would you lighten up?” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Geeze, it’s not like you haven’t done that before…”

“No, I’ve done it plenty of times,” Aspect replied. “In public, though?”

“Eh, you certainly weren’t complaining~” Rainbow smirked and bat her eyes at him. “Admit it, it was fu~un.”

“Why do I get the feeling you wanted to be caught?” Aspect mused aloud.

“Hmm, maaaybe~” Rainbow mused a she practically skipped down the hall.

“Are you going to do it again is the question,” the stallion asked more of himself than anyone else.

“Maaaaybe~” The pegasus sang back as she vanished from sight. She had an earth pony to find.

“I swear, these mares are insatiable,” Aspect muttered to himself, right before his vision was filled with a golden light and Celestia teleported into the room, sweeping the stallion up into a hug.

“Hello father!” she said in a singsong tone.

“What did you do this time?” Aspect asked. “That’s your ‘I ate all the cake before dinner’ tone.”

“What? Poppycock,” she muttered, a feather wiping some crumbs from her lips. “I simply came to see you and…” she paused and sniffed him. “What’s that smell?”

“Ap, no, we’re discussing why you’re here using that tone on me,” Aspect replied. “Nice try. That’s the tone you use when you’re trying to get out of trouble for something you’ve already done. Would it have anything to do with you sending Twilight a letter telling me to prepare my last will and testament?”

“Oh… that,” Celestia replied and her hug got tighter. “Perhaps… you could tell me, why your letting her study that magic hm?”

“How many times did a unicorn that merely used magic and spells...manage to reverse their thinking, and learn Sorcery as well?” Aspect asked. “Especially one that has checklists for checklists.”

Celestia sighed and let him go. “Dammit… she’d probably learn it anyway,” Celestia sighed. “Just, promise me one thing okay?”

“I can but try,” Aspect nodded at her.

“Keep an eye on her. I love Twilight like the daughter I never had but sometimes…” Celestia paused, like she was being careful about her wording. “Sometimes she’s just…”

“Just?” Aspect prodded.

“...Accident prone,” Celestia finally settled on.

“I think I can avoid that with two simple words,” Aspect replied with a smile.

“Oh?” his daughter asked. This ought to be good.

“‘Safety checklist,’” Aspect replied.

“...Why?” Celestia groaned and facehooved. “Why did I NEVER think of that?!”

“The simplest answers are the ones that stare us in the face and make us feel stupid for not seeing them,” Aspect chuckled.

“Hindsight is a bitch?” Celestia mused, remembering the many times he said that.

“As well, ‘If it were a snake, it would have bit you,’” Aspect added on.

“Apt, Twilight is terrified of snakes,” Celestia giggled. “Hmmmm,” She stretched her wings and yawned. “With the Gala coming up… I’ve been so busy, sorry Lulu and I haven’t visited.”

“It’s fine, I understand,” Aspect soothed over. “You two have obligations, duties. I knew that the moment the pair of you moved the heavens on your own. That you were destined for great things.”

“Comes with the territory I suppose,” Celestia shrugged. “So, are you still attending the Gala. It should be quite interesting this year.”

“Oh yes,” Aspect smiled. “And the wonderful madame Rarity has provided some last-minute outfits for two surprise guests. That old rule about Aspects getting in free stands, yes?”

“Of course,” Celestia nodded. “I gave Twilight and her friends their tickets a while ago.”

“I dare say that the sight of two more immortals at your little party will make it quite the talk, don’t you?” Aspect grinned.

“...Father, what are you planning?” Celestia said and sighed. “You’re going to bring Realm and Pup, aren’t you?”

“Actually, the pup is called Artemis now,” Aspect returned. “And perhaps I might. I might need Realm for my plan.”

“Plan, what plan. You never said you had a plan!?” Celestia sounded panicked now.

“Just a plan to...liven up the party,” Aspect chuckled darkly.

“Father… please, what are you planning?” Celestia’s panic increased.

“You’ll find out,” Aspect smiled at her. “I promise, it’ll be a Gala you won’t soon forget.”

“...I need to warn Luna… the moon’s supposed to be nice this time of year,” Celestia said flatly as she vanished with a gold flash.

“Oh, this will be fun,” Aspect chuckled.

“Sooo,” Clover hummed from a nearby portrait. “How was your day?”

“In a word, hectic,” Aspect replied. “Trying to keep a secret from the pony incarnation of chaos so that we could throw her a party for once...not easy.”

“Oh, you mean like that time we tried to throw one for Surprise?” Clover asked. “How long was Hurricane stuck flankfirst in that thunderhead again?”

“A few hours while we looked for an artist,” Aspect chuckled. “Mkay. Everypony knows the plan?”

“More or less, I think Hurricane and Platinum are especially looking forward to this,” Clover chuckled.

“Oh wonderful,” Aspect smiled. “This...is going to be the best Gala ever.”

Murphy could not have smiled any wider. Welp! Time to get to work~

The following morning had Aspect up a bit later than usual, but to his surprise, he found Realm and Artemis sitting at the dining table, either they hadn’t gone to school yet… or had pretty much turned around and come right back.

“Care to explain why the pair of you aren’t in school today?” Aspect asked as he looked at both of them.

“We tried,” Artemis said as he flipped a pebble between his fingers.

“New teacher isn’t very nice...” Realm concluded. “She wouldn’t let Artemis in class, so I ditched as well.”

Aspect growled.

Aspect saw red.

Aspect didn’t say a word as he turned and left his home.

Miss Rich wanted to play these games?

Fine.

He could play. Step one: Finding Miss Cheerilee.

“Aspect?” Rainbow trotted downstairs, rubbing her eye with a wing. “Sup dude…” She saw his expression and frowned. “Uh, you okay?”

“Just gonna murder a pony, be right back,” He stated.

“....what?” Rainbow blinked and shook her head to wake up a little. “Okay, whoa. Chill. Did Raindrops do something again?”

“Spoiled Rich managed to get Cheerilee replaced,” Aspect retorted. “So I’m going to undo her little stunt. Publicly.”

“Oooookay, you’re starting to scare me there… uh, wait here… I’ll go and get Bon—”

It was too late, though. Aspect had already shrugged his saddlebags on and was out the door.

Tracking down Miss Cheerilee hadn’t been hard. At all. Just follow the sounds of a distraught, despondent schoolteacher. In other words…

A local coffee place, where the teacher was drowning her woes in caffeinated beverages, at least until Berry’s place opened and she could switch to alcohol…

“Miss Cheerilee,” Aspect said as he sat down in front of her. “I understand that you are, tragically, available. How would you like to get back to teaching?”

The mare sighed and looked up. Oh geeze, yeah, she looked terrible. “What do you want Aspect? I am in no mood for games…”

“Well, I came up with two plans on my way over here,” Aspect replied. “The first is, that I sell a lot of the rare relics and minerals and the like that I have collected over the years and use the proceeds to hire you on as a tutor to my kids. As well as to all the other foals, and pass out fliers offering them kinder, nicer classes at my mansion of a house. You’d make more money than you ever did under the school board, and still get to teach. Bonus, the only one you’d answer to is me.”

“A little underhoofed isn’t it?” Cheerilee asked, the usual bubbliness in her voice was gone.

“Considering that the likelihood I’ll be allowed back in to teach any of my classes is virtually nil, I’m feeling vindictive. Let’s see the school board stay strong when there are no students in their school. Bet that’ll make Spoiled think three, four times before she tries this again. Or if you’d prefer a second option, I like it too.”

“Fine, I’ll humor you,” the mare said. “What’s the second option and does it involve fire?”

“Nah,” Aspect replied, he swore he heard her mutter ‘pity’ under her breath, before his smile became even more mischievous. “How well-trained are you in Geomancy? Because I think that’s still technically your turf she’s horning in on. She can hardly give classes when the earth itself conspires against her.”

“Mister Balanced Aspect,” Cheerilee looked up from what appeared to be her fifth cup of coffee. “Are you suggesting that a grown mare stoop to launching petty pranks with possibly dangerous magic against another member of the community?”

“More like, making her think ‘her’ classroom is haunted by vengeful spirits level of pranks, thus making her quit, allowing you to swoop back in and reclaim your job,” Aspect returned.

“Tomato, tomato,” she said, using two different pronounciations. “Let’s get spiritual~”

Bon Bon frowned as she stared at the schoolyard, hiding in a bush with Aspect and Cheerilee.

“Okay, can somepony run this by me again?” she asked. “As to why Rainbow Dash burst into my kitchen… landed on a cake I’d been working on all morning… and now I’m facefirst in Cheerilee’s bushes?”

“Spoiled replaced Cheerilee,” Aspect summed up. “So we’re going to make the replacement realize the land itself does not want her there, and get her to quit. Cheerilee doesn’t have the fine training for that level of harassing pranks, though. So we could use your guiding hoof.”

“And you couldn’t just go to the Princess about this because…?”

“Oh, I have the response letter from them already, I plan to shove it in Spoiled’s face when she shows up asking ‘what the hell is going on here,’” Aspect replied. “As well as a second surprise I looked into. But first, I want her to realize that all she has wrought, I can undo, without them.”

“Stallions…” Bon Bon sighed. “Alright, let’s help Cheery get her school back.” She placed her hoof over Cheerilee’s, eliciting a slight blush from her.

“I need a direct connection through you to the land,” Bon Bon said. “While like this, you’re basically the bridge between us. Otherwise I won’t get anywhere.”

“Ah,” the earth mare nodded and closed her eyes. She could hear the land’s voice again. “It sounds… unsettled? Why?”

“The land is like that when a new pony moves in, it’s...confused for a time as to who it should listen to,” Aspect replied. “If the new pony is kind, the transition is painless. If the new pony isn’t…well, put it simply, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting the land to listen to you.”

Cheerilee nodded. If this new teacher was okay… well, sorry in advance about this. All was silent for a moment, then the ground started to shake slightly.

“Oooh, this’ll be interesting,” Aspect mused as he watched Bon Bon work.

At first, the ponies inside looked a little surprised at the sudden earthquake.

Then vines rose from the ground, dancing when the teacher was looking, but vanished when the students tried to see.

“Ooooh,” Aspect smirked. “Oh, that’ll be fun to try and explain.”

Bon Bon chuckled as the bewildered teacher rubbed her eyes… and saw a field of flowers… that constantly changed colours like a deranged kaleidoscope. All Aspect did in response was chuckle darkly and rub his hooves together, sad that he couldn’t participate to any great extent.

“Now… are you ready for this?” Bon Bon asked. “You see, Realm showed my your personal library of books. And I’m a bit of a horror buff you see…”

“Oh?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow.

Bon Bon smirked as two large stalks raised on either side of the school house, and two massive red flowers bloomed. “This is called the Pepper flower, because its spores looked like red pepper,” Bon Bon explained.

“Okay,” the stallion returned. “And this is scary how?”

“With a little help from our adorable Dashie…” Bon Bon pointed as the mare pushed a raincloud into place and gave it a kick. Meanwhile, Bon Bon rose some iron bark from the ground and made them rub together, causing a blood curdling shrieking

With a crack of lightning, the rain poured… and mixed with the red spores in the air…

A second later, it looked like it was raining blood.

“Oooooh, Aspect likes,” the stallion all but purred.

They saw the pegasus teacher and students run screaming from the building, not even noticing what was causing the effect, one that Bon, Cheerilee and Dash quickly cleaned up, leaving no evidence behind.

“Mmm, excellent,” Aspect smiled. “Think we’re ready for phase two?”

“”M’a little tired for some reason,” Cheerilee said, shaking her head.

“Because I channelled my power through you,” Bon Bon said, and Cheerilee blinked.

“That reminds me, you’re a Geomancer too Bon?”

“Well of course I am, we’ve done… this…” Her eyes widened and she facehooved. “Oh horseapples.”

“Explanations later,” Aspect replied, standing up out of the bush and shaking the leaves off of himself. “We need to get Cheerilee behind her desk before Spoiled shows up.”

“Okay, why?” Cheerilee asked.

“Because Spoiled isn’t the head of the school board anymore, much as she might like to tout her connection to it,” Aspect replied. “Turns out I have more land and assets than she does. Funny thing, eh? Old stallion that owned the place before me had a lot of land that came with the place. Granted, about half of it is in the Everfree, but even without it...”

“Get to the point,” Bon Bon said.

“It is remarkably easy to overturn a decision one school board member made, when you have all the others attending a meeting, and they know you have ties to the Princesses,” Aspect replied. “Miss Crabtree here technically didn’t make it half a day before she was ousted. Any schoolteacher that turns away an alicorn from attending isn’t someone they want in their school.”

“...Aspect, you scare me sometimes, you know that?” Bon Bon muttered. “Exactly who rules Equestria here? The princesses, or you?”

“Celly and Lulu can keep their castle on the mountain, I’d be happy with getting Spoiled out from underhoof down here,” Aspect muttered back.

“If you two are done, shall we?” Cheerilee said as she stood up and started walking towards the school. Some of the panicked students ran up to her, but a few gentle words calmed them down and she herded them inside.

Aspect smiled as he sat outside the front door to the school, simply pulling out three scrolls from his saddlebags and holding them in his hoof as he waited. He’d noticed Diamond Tiara hadn’t been one who’d come back just yet...three guesses where she was.

And lo and behold, the mare of the hour was soon stomping towards the school, her face contorted with rage.

“Miss Cheerilee,” she said in that haughty tone of hers. “Just what are you…?” Her eyes fell on Aspect and she sighed. “And how did I know you would be involved…”

“Your singular action was revoked this morning by the school board,” Aspect replied, hoofing over the first scroll. “Shame on you for not informing them that you were getting her replaced. I also got her a nice pay raise while I was at it, turns out, that study came out in her favor.”

Spoiled’s eye twitched. “When the education department hears that she’s bringing dangerous carnivores to the school…”

“And your teacher turned away not only the tame half-pony Diamond Dog pup that came along, but the alicorn colt that accompanied him that tried to get him in,” Aspect returned. “For shame.”

“A dangerous carnivore, part of a gang responsible for foalnapping ponies,” Spoiled replied. “And not to mention your chimera son, whose legitimacy as an alicorn has yet to be—”

“Actually, it was confirmed by Princess Celestia herself,” Aspect replied. “All three tribal magics, and a unique magical aura that he generates as a part of burning off his magic. He’s learned to suppress it, which is the only reason ponies aren’t going half-mad with inspiration from being around a living Muse. As well, the pup was never actually a part of the foalnapping of ponies. Not only was he much too young, he confessed to me he actually set some free from the others. They’ve also kicked him out so he can focus on learning and growing strong enough to lead them. Imagine, a dog taught by ponies, taught their values. It could be the start of actual acceptance, and you would stand in the way of that with your bias. For. Shame.”

Spoiled looked anything but shamed.

“And, I suppose playing some petty pranks on poor Crabtree is your…” She sighed as Crabtree whispered in her ear. “This land is NOT haunted, don’t be ridiculous!”

“Actually, no,” Aspect replied. “This is my revenge.” He hoofed over the second scroll. The one containing the minutes of the board meeting where he’d been elected the head of the school board.

Spoiled looked at the scroll, her eyes widening with every word. “This… this cannot be true…”

“And of course, we mustn’t forget the backing of the Princesses,” Aspect replied as he hoofed over the third scroll. The one that would be the final nail in the coffin, the one he’d calmed down and written to both Tia and Lulu for.

“WHAT!?” Spoiled screamed, looking at the paper. Her face went through a variety of motions, before she let out a raged cry and stormed out of the schoolhouse.

“And there we have it,” Aspect mused. “Finally. She may still be a school board member, but she cannot attack me or my children through this venue again.”

“So um…” Crabtree stood there. “Well...what do I do?”

Cheerilee sighed, she was likely only following Spoiled’s orders and really had nothing to do with this. “Well, how long have you been a teacher?”

“Only a few months,” she replied with a weary sigh. “Guess it’s back to Fillydelphia then…”

“Well,” the fuschia mare hummed. “I could always use a teacher’s aide, or maybe we can work a rotating shift? I’d not say no to a little time off, especially now that we’re getting more students and a larger curriculum.”

“And as the head of the school board, I can reinstate you as a teacher right now if I pleased,” Aspect replied. “As long as you make me one, simple, promise.”

“W-What’s that?” Crabtree whimpered. To be honest, this stallion scared the feathers off of her.

“Don’t turn Artemis away again,” Aspect stated. “He may be a Diamond Dog, but he’s a pup that never harmed anypony and only wants to learn. He has the makings of a leader in him. I would like to say that we had something to do with that when he eventually goes back.”

“Y-Yes!” Crabtree nodded. “I’m sorry about that… Spoiled told me, well, simply terrible things about them. Things I’m beginning to think weren’t true.”

“She doesn’t like me at all,” Aspect pointed out. “So anything she said about me or my children, was said so that you would do exactly what she wanted. Only this time, she bit off more than she could handle. Because now...she can’t do it again.”

“I doubt she’s done,” Cheerilee sighed. “Well, come on Miss Crabtree. Let’s get some proper introductions out of the way, and then we’ll have a bit of fun for the day.”

“And I’m just thankful this was as easy as it was,” Aspect sighed. “Because I am seriously running out of gambits to try on her.”

“Sucks when you can’t just use a sword on your problems huh?” Bon Bon smirked as she led him out of the schoolhouse.

“Things were so much easier to solve when they were actively trying to destroy the valley,” Aspect muttered.

“Such is the way of life,” Bon Bon nodded sagely. “Come on, come by my shop and I’ll give you some sweets to perk you up.”

“And suddenly life is amazing~” Aspect replied with a skip in his step.

Author's Note

I have been busy, I will tell you what.

And so the spoiled one is sorted for a time.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really goes a long way to making Aus' life more livable.

Half of all funds will not be spent power moon hunting.

Chapter 31 - The Gala before the storm

Bon Bon growled as she grabbed the stallion by the rump and sat him down. “Aspect! Would you sit still? Tying a tie isn’t easy when you keep fidgeting!”

“I’m sorry, it’s just, there’s so much to do, so much to prepare! And after this we have the little ones to take care of. Is Lyra on board with coming over to take care of Darice?”

“Yes, she’s a bit miffed that she got passed over for supplying music… that role was given to Miss Octavia and her quartet,” Bon Bon sighed. “I had to bribe her with so many sweets. Poor dear, she was so upset.”

“She’s a great musician, don’t get me wrong,” Aspect replied as he finally sat still. “I just get the feeling...she’ll be glad she wasn’t there tonight.”

“Oh, is your famous gut telling you something?” Bon Bon chuckled as she finally finished dressing him.

“More like common sense when you hear about all the other plans,” Aspect replied, before pointedly looking at an empty painting on the wall. Most of them were. The vast majority, as a matter of fact. The only ones that were out and about were the Founders, for now, and Written. And they were doing sweeps, to round up the others and bring them to the larger-on-the-inside castle painting.

“Which reminds me,” Bon Bon said. “How do you plan to get that massive painting up to the castle?”

“Saddlebags,” Aspect replied bluntly. “They can hold just about anything. Realm’s aren’t as good, but they should be able to handle that picture.”

“...” Bon Bon blinked. “Aspect, that thing is huge. Just how do you intend to fit it inside such a small hole?”

“Hey, I fit the Golden Doors inside my saddlebags,” the stallion replied. “Granted, I had to basically shrink them off the rock wall they were on. But I managed it.”

“You could have just said ‘Shrinking Spell’.” Bon Bon deadpanned and shook her head. “Okay, I’m going to go and get dressed. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Take care,” Aspect called after her, before turning to Written. “Are the others ready?”

“As ready as they’ll ever be,” Written nodded. “Though I believe dear Hurricane is looking a little too forward to tonight’s festivities. Oh, and Starswirl won’t be coming. He said, and I quote, ‘It’s a frivolous waste of time when I could be researching instead’.”

“Fair enough, I just thought I’d offer tonight,” Aspect smiled. “What better way for the Alicorn of Art to make his splash than by bringing to life all the nobles of yesteryear?”

“It should be most fun… but, are you sure about this?” Written asked. “Once you unveil us, there’s no taking it back.”

“Pictomancy was important, once,” Aspect replied. “It was a respect field of art, once. And it’s something Realm is quite skilled in. I would love for nothing more, than my son to be able to practice his art, and not be labeled as a crazy pony.”

“I guess,” Written nodded and smiled. “You know… I think Written Script would be very proud of what you’ve done so far.”

“Some days, I get that feeling too,” Aspect nodded. “Well, if everypony is ready, I think it’s just about time for you and the founders to join the picture.”

“Of course,” she smiled. Turning her head, she let out a small gasp and grinned. “Ohh, you lucky stallion you~” And with that, she turned and left the portrait.

“Tch! She had to say that, didn’t she?” Bon Bon frowned and Aspect turned to see her in her Gala dress. It was a deep blue with varying shades of purple. The front of the dress was made like a vest, with short sleeves and a high, ruffled collar. The rear was blooming like a flower, the outer dress spread out, while the under dress trailed down past her legs and onto the floor, a pink sash around the waist tied it all together.

Her hooves were adorned with silver slippers, and a silver band around her right foreleg completed the outfit.

“I say that Rarity outdid herself with your dress, and you can’t tell me otherwise,” Aspect said as he drew closer and planted a kiss on her lips.

Bon Bon waited til he broke the kiss and smiled sheepishly. “Heh… thanks…”

“Now,” Aspect mused. “Time to get part one of my master plan.”

“You know you sound like a villain right now,” Bon Bon mused as she followed him through the house, towards the massive painting of the Everfree castle.

“I just want to liven up what has surely become a dull party,” Aspect replied. “It’s not like I’m planning world domination or anything.”

“Only because you’d complain that ruling the world is too much work,” Bon Bon snarked back.

“Celly and Lulu have problems with just one city, no thank you about putting me in charge of everything,” Aspect replied, pulling a face.

“Called it,” Bon Bon smirked as they entered the room. “So, will everypony be okay inside the painting if you shrink it?”

“It’ll be fine,” Aspect replied. “Just watch.”

Bon Bon nodded and took a step back, giving him some space to work.

“Everypony in there?” Aspect asked of the castle painting.

“Aye!” Hurricane called out. “Let’s get travel-sized!”

“Oh don’t you worry, it’s my bags you’re going into,” Aspect said as he shrugged his saddlebags off. He carefully reached out, grabbed ahold of the painting, pulled it off the wall, and set one corner of it in his bags. And then they seemed to...stretch a little at the opening, before the painting just...vanished into his bag.

Bon bon just stared, her eyes wide with her mouth hanging open.

“Saddlebags of holding, from Dream Valley,” Aspect said as he shrugged them back on. “I think runes were involved in their making.”

“I… just... “ Bon Bon shook her head. “Wat?”

“Hey, don’t knock it,” the stallion replied. “If I were skilled at weaving and crafting with runes, I’d make second...third, set.”

“Every mare alive would kill for a pair of bags that could hold everything,” Bon Bon sighed. “Well, now you’re done breaking physics, shall we get going?”

“Just let me think,” Aspect mused. “Suit, check. Lovely mare, check. Painting, check. Young ones. Young ones?”

“GET BACK HERE YOU INSIPID FURBALL!” Realm roared as he chased the manticore, who had one of his brushes again.

“Darice!” Aspect called out. “Drop it!”

She did so and rounded a corner, Realm went to stop… but fast-moving hooves and polished floorboards do not mix… and the end result was his horn stuck in the drywall.

“Sun-bucking-darnit!” he yelled. Aspect reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a plush mouse toy and tossed it across the room to distract the manticore before helping Realm up.

“I told you to lock them up if you don’t want her getting into them,” Aspect said to the pinto alicorn.

“I did… she ate the lock…” Realm groaned. “Well, it was an old brush anyways. So, ready to go yet?”

“Nearly,” Aspect said as he looked the little colt in his suit over. “Where’s Artemis?”

“Waiting outside,” the alicorn responded. “He’s nervous about going to Canterlot though.”

“He’ll be with you, me, or Bon Bon the whole time,” Aspect replied. “It’ll be fine.”

“Well, let’s get going then,” Bon Bon said. “No point in delaying any longer… oh, question. How are we getting to Canterlot?”

“Well, we have options,” Aspect mused. “I could use runes to just transpose us there…”

“Didn’t you say that runes are a last resort defense?” Bon Bon questioned him. “And now you want to use the most powerful artes in Equestria as… a taxi?”

“Just saying I could,” Aspect huffed. “It’d be faster. Alternatively, I could send for a carriage.”

As he said that, an enclosed carriage dropped from the sky, two large white pegasus towing it.

“Sir Aspect?” one asked. “We are here on order of Princess Celestia to escort you to Canterlot.”

Bon Bon just ogled the handsome guards.

“Thank you,” Aspect nodded before turning to Artemis. “Okay. I’m going to make a wild guess here. Diamond Dogs and height get along about as well as they do with water.”

The dog was literally shaking in his boots.

“Hey,” Aspect said, walking close and hugging the pup with both wings. “It’ll be fine. The carriages are enchanted. While in flight, nothing can fall out. I promise.”

“Plus the windows can be blacked out with a spell,” the guards nodded. “Do not worry sir, you will be perfectly safe.

Artemis shuddered, but nodded as Bon Bon nuzzled his paw. Inside the carriage was lined with a chocolate brown velvet and Artemis sniffed and frowned as they entered.

“Why… does it smell like cake in here?” he asked.

“All of Celly’s carriages end up smelling like it eventually,” Aspect quipped as he got settled.

“That… is just a little bit sad,” Bon Bon chuckled as everyone was seated and the carriage jolted, before lifting into the sky.

“I will say that at least she is predictable in her vices,” Aspect returned. “Mostly because they were spoiled as foals.”

“Ah, so you’re the spoilering type,” Bon Bon nodded. “Does that mean I have to be the tough parent?”

“Good luck with that, they’ve had about a thousand years to get that way,” Aspect informed her. “I’d love to see you try and stop them from indulging their sweet tooths though.”

“I… what?” Bon Bon paled as she considered that. “I… could never… the princesses!? I’m not their…” She burned bright red as her brain fizzled out over the thought of the most powerful ponies in the world calling her Mom.

“So, the both of you know the plan, yes?” Aspect said as he looked at Realm and Artemis.

“Ehhh… remind me?” Realm chuckled as he sketched Bon Bon’s ‘broken face’.

“Well for you it’s simple,” Aspect replied, patting his bags. “Set up this painting, and anytime a noble doubts that you’re a true alicorn, ask them their lineage...and let their painted ancestor chew them out.”

“Ahh, do you think we have enough ancestors?” Realm noted. “I mean, not everypony is related to the Founders.”

“That’s why we also got the nobles of the past, the ones that actually, you know, did things,” Aspect illuminated. “Must be about a hundred and fifty, two hundred painted ponies in one painting.”

“Ohh yeah,” Realm nodded. “Well, this ought to be educational…”

“My gut is telling me tonight is going to be the single biggest disaster in Equestria,” Bon Bon groaned.

“And you,” Aspect said, as he poked Artemis on the nose. “Your job is to stay by me, look respectable, and answer questions intelligently. For your very first Gala, you’re going to simply show the others that Diamond Dogs are not all thuggish brutes, got it?”

“But… they kind of are…” Artemis pointed out.

“For now, yes,” Aspect replied. “But you’re the cornerstone to that no longer being true. You’re going to be the change for them all. If we start with one destined for greatness...a whole species can change. It’s like planting a seed. It will eventually become so much more than just a small kernel.”

“That… was really cheesy Dad,” Realm chuckled.

“Also accurate,” Aspect nodded. “As for you, I want you to show the nobles that you’re having none of them for a reason. To remind them that not all power in this world is beholden to them. That you will forever be out of their reach. Just don’t lose control of your aura.”

“Especially on a mountain city,” Bon Bon added.

“Great… totally not nervous. At. All.” Artemis mumbled and folded his arms.

“It’ll be fine,” Aspect replied. “Just look dapper and try not to smile to the point where you show off your teeth. Fangs make ponies nervous.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” he said and rubbed his jaw.

The ride took little time, and soon Aspect saw the mountain city come into view, the carriage circling around to land at the palace entrance, a multitude of carriages already there.

And even from here, he could feel the musical number happening, the Harmony almost demanding he join in.

“No no no,” Aspect muttered to himself. “No. No, no, no. Don’t do this to me…”

And then Bon Bon started humming, her hoof tapping the carriage floor as it got closer.

“What… the heck is going on?” Artemis asked, unaffected by the strange display.

“Equestria is a magical place,” Aspect explained. “So much so that random bursts of Harmony magic can make ponies burst into song. But for me, it can be dangerous. Because if I don’t keep a hold of my Sorcery…”

Then Bon Bon started to sing...

“♪Here at the Gala, there’s but one thing I desire,
A night of wonder and romance with the ones I love,
And hope that nothing catches fire~
Right here at the Gala♫”

“Must...not…” Aspect gritted his teeth.

“♪Here at the Gala, I’ll show them all who's best,
That my skills with a brush, will always pass the test.
I’ll prove to them all that I’m not some foal,
Right here at the Gala!♫”

Aspect tried. He really did. He did everything in his power. And that was probably the only reason his Sorcery didn’t get involved.

“♪Here at the Gala, time with those I love,
Showing them that they’re the ones I’m thinking of,
Proving to everyone family means the most to me,
At the Gala, for all of them to see♫”

Bon Bon stared at him with wide eyes as the song down below finished.

“I don’t like the fact that the music makes me sing against my will, okay?” Aspect muttered.

“Are you kidding, your voice is amazing!” Bon Bon squealed and clapped her hooves. “Ohh, you have to sing more often.”

“I’ll consider it,” Aspect muttered unconvincingly.

Bon Bon just smiled. She would hear him sing again, and make sure their little Dashie gets to as well. Speaking of, she wondered if they were here yet.

“We have arrived,” the guards called out as as a valet opened the door for them.

“Welcome, sirs. Madam,” he bowed. “To the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Thank you,” Aspect rejoined as he stepped out of the carriage and helped everyone inside out. Bon Bon was the first out, followed by Realm and Artemis, the latter two already getting some stares and whispers.

“Yup, this is going well already,” Realm sighed and adjusted his jacket. “Can I go home now?”

“Nonsense, this is supposed to be your splash, your big debut,” Aspect replied as he reached into his bags and pulled out the painting from within, putting it on Realm’s back. “There are your subjects, go knock them dead.”

“You know how heavy this thing is right?” Realm groaned as Artemis stepped up to give him a hand.

“Well, shall we?” Bon Bon asked, offering her hoof to him.

“Tonight is going to be so much fun,” Aspect replied with a grin.

Walking up the red carpet, they entered the front of the palace, where Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle stood, the former greeting each and every pony that walked in. It took close to twenty minutes before Bon Bon and Aspect could climb the stairs and reach the teacher and student pair.

“Welcome, Miss Bon Bon… Sir Balanced Aspect,” Celestia bowed her head politely.

“Thank you for welcoming us, Princess Celestia,” Aspect replied, bowing his head as well. “I hope you have an enjoyable night.”

“Well, this Gala should shape up to be very interesting,” Celestia chuckled. Twilight also bowed her head and greeted them, and Aspect got to see the dress she was wearing. It very much suited her, in his opinion.

Realm couldn’t actually bring himself to say anything about it, though he did blush and avert his eyes. He also muttered something about staring into the sun too long.

“Oh, hello Realm,” Twilight waved at him and smiled. “You look very handsome this evening. Oh, would you like a hoof with that painting?”

“I…” Realm squeaked out, before clearing his throat. “I’ve got it,” he said in his normal tone of voice. “Uh...thanks for the offer, though. I can...tell you’re busy.”

“Are you alright young Realm?” Celestia said with a knowing smile. “I don’t mind Twilight stepping away for five minutes to help you.”

“See,” Twilight nodded and lifted the painting in her magical field. “Now, where did you want to put this?”

“Preferably on a stand in a nearby drawing room,” Aspect spoke up. “So that he doesn’t end up too crowded. Also so that he can make sure no food or drink can spill on it.”

“Hmm, oh there’s a room adjacent to the ballroom that isn’t being used, let’s go,” Twilight said and trotted off, taking Realm along with her.

A pony from behind Aspect coughed into their hoof, the line still being held up by the Pegasus.

“Apologies,” Aspect said as he took Bon Bon to the side. “Let’s join the gala, dear.”

“Yes, thank your Highness,” she bowed her head to the alicorn and they headed to the main ballroom.

It was… well it was just about typical of every other stuffy social event ever. Hundreds of nobles, all discussing some new fashion trend or business. Poor Artemis looked rather out of place, and more than once he’d been mistaken for a waiter or some kind of castle servant.

“Are you sure it was a good idea for me to come along?” he whined to Aspect.

“Okay, maybe it wasn’t the best idea,” Aspect admitted. “But free food. And drink. Plus, you can always attend a Gala for free. It’s an old rule, set down by the founders of it. Any Aspect of the world can attend the Grand Galloping Gala. It’s meant to attract the immortals to attend one, so they can meet up and swap news, compare notes.”

“And yet, I see only you, myself and the Sun Princess,” Artemis deadpanned. “Where’s the Moon Princess, is she not attending?”

“She only did get back from the moon recently,” Aspect pointed out. “Though I suspect if I called, the others would come.” Suddenly, Aspect’s grin became even more devilish.

“Aspect, no.” Bon Bon booped his nose. “No summoning ancient and powerful immortals to scare the noble ponies.”

“Oh come on, a little brush with Mort would do them all some good,” Aspect replied.

“And say, in their panic and stampede,” Bon Bon pointed out. “That in this crowded room, somepony were to accidentally touch him?”

“That whole touch of death thing is like an aura that Realm emits,” Aspect replied. “He can turn it off. He just doesn’t because sometimes, he gets an unruly client.”

Bon Bon stared hard at him. “You do realise what you just did to poor Mort yes?”

“What?” Aspect asked her, not quite getting it.

“Oh… you’ll see eventually,” the mare replied, taking a cue from Celestia’s Book of Being Enigmatic.

Across the room, a poofy pink pony vibrated and smiled widely. Somepony was getting the biggest hug EVER the next time he visited.

Displaced air next to Aspect told him a pegasus just landed next to him, and a pair of cyan lips on his cheek told him which pegasus it was. He turned his head to see Rainbow Dash, clad in the Gala dress Rarity made for her.

“You are beautiful right now, I hope you know,” Aspect said to her, before turning to Bon Bon. “Both of you.”

Bon Bon blushed and Rainbow snorted, hiding behind a hoof as she made an overdramatic cough.

“PSh! Yeah, I’m… totally awesome and stuff too ya know,” she replied.

“Anyways, so how’s your first Gala going?” Aspect asked them both.

“Better if I could get the Wonderbolt’s attention for more than thirty seconds,” Rainbow grumbled and frowned. “But everytime I try, like, a billion ponies get in the way…”

“You do remember the whole ‘you training with them’ thing you’ve got going on, yeah?” Aspect asked.

“I knowwww, but I’ve been so busy with work that I haven't been able to come lately,” Rainbow sighed. “And besides… This is like, The Gala! If I could spend a little time with them outside of training…”

“Good luck with that,” Aspect said to her. “Might go a little better if they weren’t so surrounded, though. I mean, they are supposed to be celebrities, yeah?”

“I’m an Element of Harmony! How am I not famous as well?” Rainbow groaned. “It’s not like I helped save the world or anything!”

“The biggest heroes don’t need to do big things,” Bon Bon said with a smile. “They just need to do the right things.”

Rainbow just stared at Bon Bon and snorted. “Wow… that was kinda cheesy Candyflanks.”

“But no less true,” Aspect pointed out.

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow sighed. “At least the others are probably having a better time…”

“Oh ye of too many expectations,” Aspect replied. “This party is boring. It probably has been for a thousand years. That’s why I brought Realm along.”

And on that cue, he spied a pair of nobles exiting an adjoining room, looking as though they’d seen a ghost…

“And so the fun begins,” Aspect chuckled.

A familiar voice caught his attention, and he spied Rarity trotting after a stallion with far too much beauty products on. His golden mane practically shone and his white coat gleamed. And Rarity was positively smitten, as she might say.

“Well, this is shaping up wonderfully,” Aspect chuckled. “I think I know why Celly invited you all here.”

“Huh… why?” Rainbow asked, trying to get a better view of the Wonderbolts.

“Where do you think she gets her mischievous streak from?” Aspect inquired. “She wants you all to liven the party up.”

The Pegasus hadn’t heard him though, opting to zoom off in search of her idols. Bon Bon groaned and put a hoof to her forehead.

“This can only end badly,” she sighed.

Rarity and Blueblood stood before Realm’s painting, the latter of the pair staring at it with disdain.

“Urgh, it’s hardly art now is it?” he snorted. “Far too… realistic. I could get the same thing with a camera. Where’s the actual art behind it?” He spied a mare in the background and chuckled. “Take that mare for instance. Her cloak looks like a piece of ratty carpet and that crown is so… urgh, gaudy. Who in their right mind would wear such a horrid thing?”

Then the painting did something he hadn’t expected. It turned to look at him, looking him up and down before snorting.

“This?” she asked, poking the cloak and crown. “I never actually had these, but I was painted with them. It was thought that since I was the last Runemaster, I deserved a regal bearing. I wanted to dress up for the Gala. Fitting accessories, since I was the only queen Ponykind ever had. A mare of deeds and actions rather than just titles.”

“Hrm, what’s this?” Blue blinked and Rarity’s eyes widened.

“Prince Blueblood. I really think you shouldn’t—”

“Hush, the stallion is talking,” Blueblood stopped her. “Now, what manner of trickery is this? Some kind of tacky illusion mayhaps?”

“What manner of trickery is this?” Majesty parroted at him. “A tacky stand-in for a real noble? Where’s the badges of honor, the list of military service? Your trophies, both your slain monsters and scars you got doing them? In my day, a true queen could protect all of her subjects at once. Frequently I did so with a single spell.”

“Tch! Where is the artist? I should show him some manners for such blatant insults from a… a figment of one's imagination,” the stallion snorted as Rarity slowly backed away. “Military… tch! The army is for poor ponies whom cannot find any other real standing in life…”

“Who said that?!” A mare’s voice screeched from the painting. “I’ll rip him limb from limb! I’ll buck him from here to Cloudsdale! And when he begs me for mercy, he’ll know to say my title!”

“You’ve gone and done it now,” Majesty chuckled. “You went and insulted the military in front of Commander Hurricane. She was the drill instructor other drill instructors fought to get away from. She charged into battle because she was bored. Fighting was her life. Oh, and a little thing you might want to know about this frame?”

Then the painted pony reached out of the painting and tapped at it.

“It lets us out if we want to be~” she sang.

Forget backing away, Rarity was galloping from the room as fast as she could. Forget Blueblood, he was on his own.

“I…” Blueblood stared at the painting and then chuckled. “You have got to be joking. Is Auntie Celestia’s school playing an illusion prank? Hilarious…”

“Let me phrase it in a way your mind can understand,” Realm spoke up, finally looking up from his painting...and flaring his wings to emphasize his point. “I am the Alicorn of Art. This? This is what got me that station. It’s no joke. This is my debut. And if you hang around here for ten more seconds, we’ll get to see just how much pain a painted pony can inflict upon a real one. Hurricane has an awful lot of sky to get through, but that won’t save you forever.”

“An ancient featherduster from Hearth’s Warming?” Blueblood snorted and noticed the wings. “And you? You got wings? For painting! I am Prince Blueblood the 16th. Royalty is literally in my blood! I am descended from Princess Platinum herself and if anypony deserves to be an Alicorn Prince, it is I!”

There was silence from the painting, and then the voice that was off-canvas spoke up again. “Oh boy. He’s gone and done it now,” Hurricane said. “Five, four, three, two, one…”

“Ex-cuse me!?” A new voice spoke up. “Did I hear that snobbish excuse for a fop say he deserved to be alicorn royalty simply because he was descended from moi?!”

“And just so you know, before you get your royal arse hoofed to you by none other than Princess Platinum,” Realm said, before pointing at his horn. “I got this for the painting. Now enjoy.”

Majesty stepped to one side, and from the castle, the mighty doors opened, and out stepped a pony he was very familiar with. Her portrait only hung up in his manor as a matter of pride, after all.

“Oh horseapples…” Blueblood swore.

“So,” Platinum said as she stepped out in front in her full regalia. “This is the little brat that dares think himself worthy of the line of Platinum?”

Blueblood was shocked into silence at first, before he shook his head and glared at Platinum. “And you are just a magical figment of days long past! I am Prince Blueblood the 16th and I’ll not be made a mockery of by a pretend pony!”

“I was the princess of Unicornia, not because of my lineage, but because of my deeds,” Platinum sniped. “The throne could have just as easily gone to one of my sisters. But because I defended our fledgling nation from Pegasi and Earth Pony attacks, I was named next in line to the throne. The common pony rallied around me. And it took a literal incarnation of hate made ice for us all to get along, at which point Equestria was founded. What great deeds have you done? Because I will wager the location of my scepter that you are nowhere near impressive enough to warrant a claim to my throne.”

Blueblood’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound seemed to come out.

“I was the grandmaster, premiere Sorceress in the day,” Platinum continued. “I wielded an art unlike any other, tapping into the very magic of the land to perform great deeds. With a rhyme, I could erect a shield around a city. With a phrase, I could break up a hurricane whipped up by Hurricane. With a simple word, I could rain terror. The only one that could possibly match me in Sorcery these days is Aspect himself, and that is because he has had time to refine his artes, young half-baked heir. And even then, I would not dare challenge him, for he is the holder of Majesty’s majesty.”

Blueblood finally found his voice and gave a derisive snort. “Pah! And I should believe the outlandish tales of a makebelieve pony such as yourself?” he replied back. “I am a Prince by right and I’ll not let some loudmouthed whorse tell me otherwise!”

Majesty and Platinum glared.

They stepped closer to the painting.

There was a ripple effect…

And suddenly the room was host to four ponies, two of which were painted.

One of which had a horn that was glowing and dragging Blueblood closer with an aura that shifted through the spectrum.

“Care...to repeat your words...gelding?” Majesty hissed. And even Blueblood could tell if he opened his mouth...it wouldn’t be an insult.

It would be a promise.

The stallion wisely kept his trap shut. But the fear in his eyes spoke volumes.

“I do believe he’s learned his lesson,” Platinum noted.

“Pity, I had so wanted to try casting again,” Majesty mused. “It wouldn’t be that hard to remove them. He hardly seems to know how to use them in the first place.”

His mouth opened, letting out a terrified whimper.

“Keep in mind this,” Platinum said to him. “In my day, nobles earned their position. They did great deeds to protect and serve the common pony. Because we all knew a simple truth. We’re outnumbered. If the common pony got tired of a noble...they could just as easily strike us down and replace us. Noble blood sheds just as easily as any other.”

His terrified whimpers increased.

“Now go and do the Platinum name proud,” Platinum told him, patting him on the head. “Starting by apologizing to that mare for not listening to her. Then go out and earn your title. Who knows? Maybe one day you will actually do what I could not, and earn wings. I doubt it, though. Realm had to sacrifice almost all of his life to earn his horn.”

“I…” Blueblood turned and bolted from the room, his tail literally between his legs as he cried for his mother.

The two mares waited for about five seconds before breaking into laughter, laughter that lasted as they returned to their painting and awaited the next snobby noble.

“So… what, was that?” Rarity blinked, coming out of hiding.

“Your noble date being shown he was only noble in name and title, not deed and worth,” Realm replied. “It has many meanings. Most of which, these nobles have forgotten.”

“He wasn’t… the stallion I imagined him to be,” Rarity sighed. “But then, I suppose it was my fault, pushing my ideals on a stallion instead of knowing the real one.”

“Oh don’t worry dear,” she heard Platinum say from the painting. “He comes from a strong lineage. He just needs...a firm hoof, to guide him into being the noble he needs to be.”

“Well, then I hope he does as such,” Rarity nodded. “But I think I have had quite enough of the Grand Galloping Gala for one evening…”

Out in the main hall, Aspect was sharing a dance with Bon Bon… up until the music suddenly changed. Rather than a gentle waltz, Pinkie Pie had somehow gotten up there and was leading the band into a quick paced Pony Polka.

“Uhoh, the madness begins,” he chuckled, before changing steps and dancing a polka with her instead. Across the room, Applejack was wheeling in some massive three-tier cake, muttering something about nobles and fancy tastes.

And as if in slow motion, Pinkie stage-dived…

Right. Into. The cake.

“...And Celly won’t be happy,” Aspect noted aloud. “In fact, we should probably move towards the edges…”

Then the massive double doors leading outside burst open! Dozens upon dozens of animals streamed into the room, running in fear as a dishevelled Fluttershy appeared.

“YOU’RE. GOING. TO LOVE ME!!”

“...Why is it always the quiet ones?” Aspect moaned. “Let’s run for it!”

“W-What about everypony else?” Bon Bon asked, as a series of statues were knocked over and shattered, Rainbow Dash at the center of the destruction she just caused. Blueblood ran past them, crying about something and Applejack was yelling at Pinkie Pie for ruining the cake.

The regal Gala had devolved into complete and utter madness.

“Look, we’ll talk about it when we’re not in the middle of chaos made manifest,” Aspect replied as he ushered Bon Bon along. “I saw a nice doughnut shop on the way here. We’ll go there, sit down, have some chocolate and think about this.”

“Done,” Bon Bon nodded and the pair left, the earth mare leaving a silent prayer for the castle’s cleaning staff.

Turns out that Aspect wasn’t the only one that had the idea of a doughnut shop. Spike was there when they arrived, drowning his woes in hot chocolate and glazed doughy goodness. And not long after, Twilight and her friends arrived, looking like they’d stepped off of a battlefield instead of a ballroom. It wasn’t long after that that a certain pair arrived, Realm being helped with his massive painting by Artemis, and the smaller, but still large for a doughnut shop, party, settled in to relax after that...madness.

‘So… does anypony wanna talk ‘bout whut happened?” Applejack asked.

“Pretty cut and dry,” Aspect said, looking at all the mares. “You all had expectations for what the Gala would be like. Even I had a few. But you all tried to change the Gala to suit your visions.”

“And I’d say it worked splendidly,” a voice asked as Princess Celestia walked in, smiling brightly. “I haven’t had that much fun at the Gala for centuries!”

“And because if she told you she wanted you all there so that you would liven the Gala up,” Aspect nodded, “Then you all would think she was joking.”

“Wait,” Twilight held up a hoof and looked at Celestia. “You knew this would happen? Why didn’t you stop us? We ruined everything!”

“I’m pretty sure everything was ruined ages ago, when it stopped being a get-together for the ponies that actually did thing to improve the lives of the common pony,” Aspect pointed out. “I was of half a mind to invite the other Aspects to the party.”

“I’m rather glad you didn’t,” Celestia sighed. “Heavens know what that foolish king would do…”

“He’d probably just sit in the fountain in the gardens and...wait, no, he can control water, nevermind,” Aspect mused. “He’d probably get bored of the party and turn it into a pool party.”

“Exactly,” Celestia nodded. “Which would have triggered Pyroclastia, and then you know the kind of panic Mortal would have inflicted.”

“He can turn off the touch of death,” Aspect pointed out. “He’s just never done it. It’s an aura, like Realm’s, only kept to touch. Granted, everypony would be very spooked out, but I say a brush with death would have livened the party up.”

“Of course you would think that,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. “And of course, Luna slept through the whole thing…”

“I can’t blame her, she’s still within Woona range,” Aspect chuckled.

“Woona?” Rainbow blinked and stared at him.

“That’s what she called herself when she was a foal,” Aspect chuckled. “She couldn’t quite get the L right for a little bit.”

“Awww~” the mares all cooed in delight. And elsewhere, a certain alicorn of the night suddenly felt like murdering her father.

“Regardless, you needn’t feel bad about tonight,” Celestia smiled. “The ballroom might be unsusable for a while.. Oh, and Miss Dash?”

“Yeah?” Rainbow looked up.

“You owe the Royal Family roughly two-point-seven million bits for those broken statues.”

Rainbow’s eyes slowly widened as her iris’s shrunk to the size of a pinhead.

“Don’t make me come over there, Cewy,” Aspect said to her.

“I’m only kidding,” Celestia chuckled. “And call me that again and I’ll banish you to the moon.”

“Luna wasn’t the only one who couldn’t pronounce their L’s,” Aspect said to the other mares. Celestia’s cheeks turned pink and Aspect vanished with a flash of golden light.

“Princess!!” Twilight exclaimed but the alicorn raised a hoof.

“Don’t worry, I only teleported him onto the roof,” she chuckled. Yet, it took Aspect a full five minutes to come back, and when he did, he was glaring a little at Celestia.

“Really? The roof of the castle?” he deadpanned.

“What?” she said to Twilight. “I never said which roof~”

“You’re just lucky I didn’t come back with reinforcements, I could see Luna’s room from where I ended up,” Aspect riposted.

“She’s probably still sleeping, so good luck waking her,” the alicorn quipped back.

“So… still the Best Night Ever?” Pinkie asked, blowing bubbles in her milkshake.

“Well, we’re all together now,” Twilight nodded. “So yeah, definitely the best night.”

“And in the end, that’s what matters,” the stallion agreed.

“And to think, it only took extensive property damage, sending several elite nobles into therapy, a cleaning bill larger than Rainbow’s ego and complete and untold chaos,” Bon Bon smirked.

“Hey, they brought it on themselves,” Realm replied. “They doubted whether I was real. So I just...let their ancestors chew ‘em out.”

“I don’t think poor Blueblood will ever be the same,” Rarity giggled and Celestia blinked.

“Platinum… what did you do?” she said to the wrapped painting.

“Majesty may have threatened to geld him,” the painting replied.

Celestia just applied her hoof to her face.

“To be fair,” Realm pointed out, “He shut up.”

“And ran screaming from the room,” Rarity added. “It was rather entertaining.”

“...I feel as though Aspect could be blamed for a lot of this,” Bon Bon mused. “Bringing the painted ponies was his idea after all.”

“And I don’t regret it for a moment,” Aspect nodded.

“So… next year’s Gala then?” the earth mare asked the Princess.

“Let’s survive the fallout of this one first,” she chuckled back and bit into a donut. “Also… Miss Pinkie Pie? I believe I heard that you ruined a perfectly good apple cake?”

“Run,” Aspect whispered dramatically.

Pinkie nodded and bolted, the white alicorn soon giving chase.

“Ah well,” Aspect smiled as he watched the scene. “At least we had fun.”

Author's Note

Well, surely things can't get more chaotic than that, right?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on Final Fantasy World when it comes out on Steam.

Chapter 32 - Dealing with a troublesome past

A simple trip to see the Canterlot Gardens, that was all Cheerilee had planned. It seemed simple enough and the Princess herself had helped arrange it. It would be better if the trio dubbed ‘the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ would stop arguing though.

Ah well, even the best of friends fought sometimes. But after arguing in front of a Draconnequus statue, Cheerilee was about ready to ground the lot of them.

She never heard the deep chuckle that seemed to come from the statue itself.

Aspect had been walking around town when he saw something that grated on his nerves.

Something that seemed against all reason and logic, against nature itself.

A cloud zooming by made of cotton candy, dribbling chocolate rain.

He knew that magic. He’d felt its touch before.

He quickly changed targets to head home instead. He had defenses to make sure of.

The storm had come. And he wanted his house to be safe from what was to happen.

Both from his side...and his own.

After a few hours, not much had happened. Rainbow had said something about being called to Canterlot and had flown off, but he hadn’t heard a word from them since. Trying to send a dragonflame letter only caused it to return… as a variety of fruit.

“Aspect,” Artemis whined and scratched at his head. “What’s going on? Why do I feel like an earthquake is coming?”

“Chaos is coming,” Aspect replied as he flashed into his human form, his robes glinting slightly. “You and Realm are not to leave. If anypony shows up, let them in. This house is warded against Chaos. He cannot touch this place.”

“Chaos?” Artemis blinked and looked at the human. “Urgh, what did you do to Miss Pinkie Pie this time?”

“Worse,” the human said. “Worse than her. Far worse.” He walked off. He had things to gather. A sword and a book.

“Worse than Pinkie? That’s possible?” Artemis said aloud as he left.

Within the next hour, things had gone from bad to…

Well…

Houses floated in the air upside down. The sun and moon switched places every few minutes. Roads were replaced by slippery, soapy trails. The ground was checkerboard patterned and in the middle of it all, a mismatched creature sat on a large throne, chuckling at the madness he was unleashing.

And then the creature heard a voice he hadn’t heard for a thousand years. It was a little hard to place it...he wasn’t begging for mercy.

“You know,” the voice said from behind him. “Before you came around, it was a lovely day. The sun was shining. Birds were singing. Flowers were blooming in the park.”

“Urgh, I know!” Discord sighed. “Good thing I came to spice up your dull, orderly lives.” In a flash, he teleported behind his throne to look at the pony that dared speak to him. Oh, not a pony, a human in fact. “Well well well, if it isn’t little Christopher. And here I thought you’d died or something… pity.”

“For ruining things like this, naughty little boys like you,” Christopher said...and then his arms glowed as his eyes burned.

“Should be burning in hell.”

Discord didn’t get a chance to react before a powerful magic grabbed ahold of him and sent him pinballing across the sky, slamming into one object after another before slamming him into the ground at Christopher’s feet.

And that was a lot of lasers pointed at him.

“Urgh, and you still have that wonderful temper of yours I see,” Discord sighed. “A thousand years and you still can’t appreciate a good joke.” He held up something, a snowglobe and held it between him and the lasers. Inside it… was a familiar white Alicorn. “See, even little Tia’s getting in on the action.”

“Oh don’t you fret, I know she’s sturdy,” Aspect sniped. “Besides which, there was…” He snapped his fingers a few times. “What was it, what was it...I was supposed to tell you something.” A tune had started playing in the background. “Something about...oh, just give me a second, I’m sure it’ll come to me.”

Christopher put his hands together in front of his face...and when he spread them again, his robes lit up like a christmas tree, runes spilling across its surface and spelling out powerful spells.

“Well… that’s bothersome,” Discord frowned. “Oh wait a moment would you? The show’s about to start!”

“Oh, didn’t you hear, Discord?” Aspect said as he held up a hand, and a sword landed neatly in it. “The show started ten seconds ago. I’m sorry to say, though, it’s an execution, and you’re the main star.”

“Bah! You’re so dramatic,” Discord sighed. Those annoying runes were repelling his power. Seems that someone had been expecting his arrival and planned accordingly.

Still, what was Chaos without the ability to throw a wrench in the works?

“So tell me?” Discord hummed. “What was it like coming home after a thousand years? Was it fun? Were you welcomed with open hooves? Because, you know that nopony needs you yes~?”

“The day I can lay my sword down at the roots of Yggdrasil and leave it there will be a glad day indeed,” Christopher replied. “Because it will mean that I don’t need to wield it anymore. It is a duty I fulfill. Nothing more. I will move on to other things when I need to. Nice try, though.” The human kicked off from the ground and hovered in the middle of the air. “Now. Are you going to try and run, or will you make it easy for me to finally slay you?”

“Aspect?” a voice said as he glanced behind him. Twilight and four of her friends stood there, though Spike was there and Rainbow absent, the latter wearing the Element of Loyalty. “Is… that you?”

“No, it’s a heffalump,” Fluttershy snarked. “Geeze Twilight, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?”

“It’s not Aspect, it’s a… flyin’ apple,” Applejack’s eyes shifted from left to right as her muzzle scrunched up.

“Uh, can we please get this over with?” Rarity sighed. “I have a date with MY diamond!”

“Tch! Whatever…” Pinkie muttered, frowning.

Christopher didn’t even flinch. He’d accepted the consequences of assuming this form.

“Urggh! I don’t CARE!” Twilight yelled and pointed at Discord. “Can we just Rainbow him and deal with it later!”

“Ohh, this should be good,” Discord cackled and munched on some popcorn. The group floated into the air, light pouring from their Elements… before the energy imploded and sent them flying in opposite directions.

“Ohh, looks like we have some technical difficulties,” the Spirit laughed.

“I… I don’t understand…” Twilight murmured.

“Course you don’t, you never do when it actually counts,” Fluttershy snapped and tossed her Element aside. “I’m done being your friend.”

A murmur of agreement saw four of the Elements at Twilight’s hooves, Spike gathering them up as the ponies went their separate ways, Twilight looking more disheartened by the second as her coat colors dulled.

“And like dominoes, the last one falls,” Discord mused. “That was almost too easy.”

“Bravo, you eliminated the peaceful way of dealing with you,” Christopher said. “You know, in all honesty, you probably should have left it around. Because now...there’s only you, me, my sword...and let’s not forget the fact that I wield Majesty’s majesty.”

“Oh yes, your Runes and Sword, ooh, scary,” Discord trembled, falling to pieces before pulling himself together. “But you know, I happen to know your weakness~”

“Let me put it to you simply, Discord,” Christopher snarled. Actually snarled. “You can’t best me. Anything you do to try and deter me? I’ll come at you harder. Humans are persistence hunters. And in the case of you...everything is worth killing you. Because that’s exactly what you’re threatening. Go ahead. Ask me if I’ll throw it all away, just to slay you.”

And Discord didn’t even have to look anywhere but his eyes to know the answer to that.

“So…” the Spirit mused, his eyes flashing. “Even your dear… beloved Bon Bon~”

“She’ll understand,” the human replied without missing a beat. “She used to hunt monsters. She knows what it’s like.”

“Provided she lives long enough,” he chuckled and sapped his talon. “I do believe an old friend of hers wants to visit. My Bugbear is ever so hungry for something sweet~”

“Then I’ll just have to kill you quickly,” Christopher said, holding up his sword. “By the power vested in me as the Balancer, I hereby find Discord guilty of abusing his chaos for his own wicked entertainment purposes, tormenting life to bring himself joy instead of using it for productive ends, moving the world along. He has abused his station as an Aspect…”

“Oh do stop, you’re making me blush,” the Spirit giggled.

The sapphire in the pommel flashed, turning red. “And the world agrees with me,” Christopher smirked. “Your sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.” That tune from before had started up again.

Discord sighed and rolled his eyes… before picking them back up and putting them in his sockets. “Oh dear Chrissy. You know death sticks to me about as well as a diet does to little Tia.”

If one listened closely, they could almost hear the indignant screams from the snowglobe he still held.

“Besides, who would be an Aspect of Chaos otherwise. You know as well as I do that I’m the only one that can wield this power effectively.”

“The proffered cure is worse than the disease,” Christopher retorted. “Lavan was slain, reformed. Squirk was slain, reformed. The world gained new Aspects in place of what they once were. One by one, all the evils of the old world have been slain, reformed. Even Grogar has died, and he was the Aspect of Death. You are one of the last.”

“Bah! Don’t lump me in with those cliche idiots,” Discord frowned, actually looking quite mad at that. “They were… eh, well they had it coming,” Discord shrugged. “Besides, I think it’s starting to look like rain…”

And then one of the floating houses started to fall of Christopher.

The human fired a blast of magic upwards, and suddenly the house was back where it was meant to be: on the ground, with five feet around it back to normal.

“Funny thing about your chaos,” Christopher mused. “Remember all those wonderful little traps you left behind after you last romp? The only one I can’t undo is the magic-null zone. Everything else? I got very good at cleaning up after.”

“Well aren’t you just a little ball of annoyance?” Discord spat. Well this was bothersome, he’d only counted on the Elements of Harmony being a threat. Humans were so annoyingly stubborn.

“And do you want to know the best part?” Christopher said with a wicked smile. “This isn’t even all of what I can do. No, this is just what I prepared for you. I have a special surprise for the Aspect of Darkness, if he ever leaves Tartarus. One that’s arguably more powerful.”

“What?” Discord yelled. “I am so much more powerful than that old geezer!!”

“I could simply increase my aura here,” Christopher countered. “And catch you in a zone of Order. You’d be nullified. In fact…”

“You… you…” Discord roared and threw the globe aside, it exploded into… cake batter as it buried the now restored alicorn inside as he vanished with a flash of light.

“Twilight and her friends were taken in by his tricks,” Christopher said as he helped Celestia up. “If there’s anything you can think of that would help her shake it off…”

“I… I failed…” Celestia shook, not caring about her current battery state. “I underestimated him, and my precious Twilight and her friends have paid the price… all-all of Equestria will pay the price of my stupidity!”

“No,” Christopher stated as the runes on his robe fairly shrieked with power. “Because you have a fallback plan. I will hunt him down, run him to ground, keep him from causing too much chaos. But if you can help your student, if there is anything you can think of...it wasn’t your fault. His nature is to be unpredictable. If ponies truly are the masters of this world, you will think of a way to realign the Bearers.”

“I… I don’t know,” Celestia almost yelled, tears falling from her eyes. “I…”

“Wait…” the human mused. “There...wasn’t there...something about letters she sent you?”

“Her Friendship Reports?” the alicorn sniffled. “What of them? What good would they do?”

“If you can turn her back to normal,” Christopher stated, “Then she could return her friends. Would you say those reports were written with all her heart?”

“Yes…” Realization dawned on her and she smiled. “Yes! Oh father, you’re a genius!” She exclaimed as she pulled him into a hug.

“Brace yourself,” the human said after breaking the hug. “Rune based transport isn’t the same as what you might use.”

“I’m ready,” Celestia said, flaring her magic as she cleaned herself off.

There was a flash of magic from the human, and Celestia was gone, displaced back to her tower bedroom. Christopher hovered a little higher as he looked around the town.

“Be vewy vewy quiet,” he said, his eyes aglow. “I’m hunting Discords.” He then began flying around the town in hunt of a certain mismatched creature.

“Bonnie… w-what’s going on?” Lyra whimpered as she stared out at the chaos that used to be Ponyville. “Is this… more Sorcery disaster?”

Oh how Bon Bon wished that was all. “No Lyra… this is much, much worse.” She sighed and turned to her. “Look. I want you to do something very important okay?” Without waiting for a response, she continued. “I want you to go straight to Aspects house. I have no doubts that it will be a safe place. Take anypony that you can find with you.”

“W-What about you?” Lyra stammered. She’d noticed that Bon Bon had excluded herself from that plan.

“I’m going to buy you some time,” she said with a nod.

“What? NO!” Lyra said, grabbing her hoof. “That’s a bad plan. A terrible plan! I hate that plan!”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon sighed and pulled her into a hug. “I can’t explain right now okay? Just go, be safe. I promise you that I won’t be going anywhere. And that I’ll buy you all the mint ice-cream in Equestria when this is over.”

“I don’t care about ice-cream!” Lyra cried. “I want my best friend to safe!”

“And I will be,” she smiled, her ear flicking as a distant buzzing grew closer. Damn, she was out of time. “Just go! I promise you that I’ll be fine.” She pulled out a case and opened it, inside was a massive crossbow. A large barrel attached to the base. The barrel split in half and opened, crackling with lightning as the weapon hummed.

“B-Bonnie?” Lyra whimpered.

“I said I’d explain later,” the earth mare smiled. “Please go, be safe. I love you Lyly.”

The minty unicorn nodded, tears stinging her eyes. “Love you too… candybutt.” And with a yell, she took off running, praying to any deity listening that her friend would be safe.

Bon Bon smiled and turned, mounting the weapon onto a tripod and aiming it at the approaching Bugbear. “Bring it,” she smiled… and fired...

One would think that tracking the Aspect of Chaos would be easy. Sadly, all the chaos he spread did wonders to hide him from Christopher’s enhanced sight.

Which was when he got the bright idea to start restoring the world to normal around him, to draw the spirit out. If he couldn’t find the spirit, he’d make the spirit come to him.

Then a short distance away, he saw a lance of energy burn a hole through the ceiling of a house, and he could feel large amounts of Geomancy being used.

Christopher saw red.

In an instant, he was behind what had to be the ugliest monstrosity outside of Discord he’d seen.

And, it was tied up with thick vines, unconscious and covered in cuts, bruises and burn marks. Sitting atop the beast was an earth pony mare, shouldering what looked like the unholy child of a crossbow and a plasma cannon, while idly sucking on a lollipop.

“Oh, hello Aspect,” Bon Bon waved. She too had a few injuries, mostly some tangles and messed up fur and a few minor cuts. “And how is your day?”

“Oh you know, just tapping into the forces of the universe to hunt down a wayward Aspect, nothing too major,” he said idly as he looked at the scene. “So he wasn’t kidding about the bugbear. Nice to see you had it handled. Was worried for a second there.”

“Mmm, well…” truth be told, Bon Bon had been freaking terrified. No, she was a tough mare and wasn’t going to cry. It was… yeah, it was just raining is all.

“Anyways, if Discord set him loose on you, then there’s no point putting him back wherever he came from,” the human said. “He’ll just let him out again. Better if you sit on him until this madness is resolved. You seen a cowardly chimera around here?”

“No, but I’m going to put a hole in his head if he shows up,” Bon Bon said and drew the bolt back on her gun.

“Good mare,” Christopher nodded. “Lyra been sent to the home?”

“Yes...I told her as such, but my secret has been shot to Tartarus,” the mare sighed. “I hope your home is safe.”

“The moment I realized that he could break out, I laid runes into the walls to protect it from Chaos,” the human replied. “I’m sure it’s irking Discord something awful that he can’t touch my home. In fact, that’s a splendid idea. I’ll go look there.”

“If he hurts Lyra… I’ll kill him,” Bon Bon said with a frown. “And Dashie? Is she okay? I have a real bad feeling about her.”

“She’s one of the Elements, so I doubt she was allowed to escape unmolested,” Christopher replied. “However, the backup plan for restoring them is underway. One way or another, this will end.”

Then Bon Bon tossed her weapon aside as she put her forelegs around his shoulders and kissed him, almost enjoying her first moment with his human form. “Protect them okay?” she smiled once she broke the embrace. “I know you can.”

“I’ll do what I can, what is necessary. Never fear, I planned for today,” the human replied, hugging her back before backing up and nodding at her.

With a soft ripple throughout reality, the human simply was gone.

“You might have planned,” Bon Bon whispered as she resumed her guard over the monster. “But Discord might not adhere to that…”

Discord stared at the home, his magic unable to touch it. This was rather annoying, all those fun toys inside and someone had locked the toybox.

Then he felt a chill crawl up his back as a familiar aura seeped into the surrounding air.

“Found you~” the human’s voice said from behind him

“Oh that’s bad,” Discord gulped as he teleported again, reappearing a few dozen feet away. “Honestly Christopher. So angry, you should chill~”

And then a mountain of snow fell on the human. But all the snow that touched his aura evaporated, and the rest just sort of...lay there.

“So this is what the mighty master of chaos is reduced to when his little toys fight back,” the human mused. “Puns and indirect attacks. Honestly, you were more impressive when you ripped me from my girls and forced them to take up a power they were not ready for.”

“Oh honestly, are you still mad about that?” Discord shrugged.

“You tortured me!” Christopher yelled back. “Mostly because I was the only ‘toy’ that wouldn’t break no matter what! You tormented me, planted seeds of doubt in my mind...and when the time came, when Luna fell, I failed. But no more.”

The aura grew brighter, and brighter. “I will not fail the ponies again. I will protect them, from anyone, everyone! Any Aspect that seeks to harm them, I will deal with! Even if it’s my family or me, I will guard them!”

“Ah, so you’re sore about Luna’s little temper tantrum,” Discord chuckled, putting on a pair of shades. “So, my little Nightmare seed actually took hold eh? Huzzah for science! Good thing she’s the gullible sort~”

“Time to end this,” Christopher snarled, and a book appeared in his free hand, runes covering and spilling from the pages. Points of lights formed around the human, each one the base for a laser attack. “Any last words before you’re slain, Discord?”

“Tag, you’re it!” he smiled and vanished with a flash of light.

“DISCORD!” the human yelled to the heavens as the points of light vanished. He growled before taking to the skies once again. He would have this Aspect slain if it was the last thing he did!

Then a distant explosion rang out, coming from the center of town. Christopher adjusted his course. Explosions always warranted investigation.

What he saw…

Three little fillies, throwing everything they had at the Spirit as he floated there with a bemused expression.

“So, what interesting little mages you are,” he mused. “But, you’re hitting well out of your weight class. Let me show you~”

With a snap of his talons, Scootaloo started floating upwards, her personal gravity space inverted. Sweetie Belle lost her voice, unable to utter even a squeak and Applebloom’s legs turned to wood and bark, roots binding her in place.

Christopher snarled from right behind Discord again. “This is the sort of shit I was talking about, you foul, misbegotten son of a goat!”

“Oops, I got caught,” he chuckled and pointed at the ever rising Scootaloo. “Better catch her, I still have things to do~” And with a crack, he teleported again.

Christopher sighed and simply expanded his aura to include the three fillies, using a little magic to draw Scootaloo into it. In a matter of moments, the Chaos was undone, returning them to normal. “Don’t ask,” he said to them in a gruff voice, hiding his own for the time being. “Just listen. Go to the large house on the edge of town. I’ll give you all your personal auras so he can’t touch you on your way. Once you get there, you’re safe, it’s been warded against Chaos.”

“We…” Sweetie Belle sobbed, glad she had her voice back. “We just wanted to help... but…”

“Don’t get me wrong, you three did well for fillies,” the human said, still disguising his voice. “And unlike most ponies, you stood and fought back. You’re braver than most. But this is a matter that you can’t exactly help in until you’re a little more grown. Well on you for trying, though. Who knows? Maybe in a few more years you’ll be strong enough. But for now, safety is your priority.”

Applebloom looked at him, a curious expression on her face. “We’ll go, but… ah’m worried about mah sister,” she said. “She keeps lying about everything, is… she gunna be okay?”

“Chaos will be undone today, this I promise you,” Christopher told them all. “Now go to the sanctuary while I hunt the beast.”

“Yeah, okay…” Scootaloo trembled, being led off by Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom stayed a moment longer, before running past him.

“Good luck Aspect,” she smiled and chased after her friends.

“Ah well, I accepted those consequences when I assumed this form,” Christopher muttered as he rose again. Discord, for being the master of Chaos, was also a creature of habit. Case in point, the same old tricks being used time and again. So...where would he go…

The human blinked out of existence again. Time to scan the major population centers of the town.

When he found the creature again, he was sitting on his throne. He looked… somewhat beat up actually. Some fur was missing and the area was saturated in a magic that wasn’t his own.

“Aww, the poor little Discord finally get a taste of what it’s like to be on the short end of the stick?” Christopher asked in a mocking tone of voice. “Don’t worry. You won’t be feeling it for very long.”

“Mm, something like that,” Discord sighed. “She put up a little more fight than I imagined…” And as he said that, some rubble from a nearby building crumbled as a very weary-looking Luna stepped out, her royal regalia shattered as her horn flickered dimly.

“We… are not… done yet,” she panted.

“Luna, I have this,” Christopher said, holding up his sword for emphasis. “I can handle him. One chop and it’s all over, our chaos problems will be solved.”

“I will NOT lose!” she roared. “I will… I will not fail you again! Never again!”

“Aww, isn’t that adorable?” Discord chuckled. “It’s cute when the kids wanna play with the grownups eh Chrissy?”

“And she would be old enough, powerful enough, to take part, if not for the whole sojourn on the moon,” the human replied. “By the way, Luna? He admitted he had a hand in it.”

“I know,” Luna growled and Discord clapped his hands.

“Why Christopher! That’s a marvelous idea!” Discord cackled as a dark cloud started forming around Luna, the mare clearly not doing it herself. “Who’s ready for a blast from the past?”

The human growled and a point of light formed around his body, preparing yet another laser to strike Discord with, so that he could end this, once and for all…

When a pulse of magic caused him to flinch. The moon rose, bathing the chaotic town in a pale glow.

“Mmmhhmhmhm,” a deep, mature cackle rose from the clouds covering the ground. A pony rose, her coat as black as night and her azure-coloured armour gleaming in the moonlight. Her eyes opened, revealing teal, cat-like eyes. “Finally! Nightmare Moon is free at last!!”

Christopher raised a hand and conjured five runic shackles, made from nothing but his magic, and set them around her hooves and horn. “We can deal with you when Chaos is dead,” he muttered.

“You think you can bind me?” she chuckled and turned into an ethereal mist, escaping the confines of her shackles. She appeared before him, smiling down at the human with a fanged grin. “Are you scared of me?”

“No, honestly, the emotion I have for you is more blind seething rage, but that’s overshadowed by Chaos at the moment,” Christopher replied. “So if you have any survival instinct whatsoever, you’ll get out of my face. Or your head will roll before his.”

“You would kill me?” she chuckled. “Oh, so feisty, is that what you would have done last time too? Kill your sweet little daughter?”

“That, was when I failed,” Christopher growled at her. “And then? No, no I wouldn’t have. But today? I made a promise. Even if it’s my own family, even if it were me. I will no longer fail to protect the ponies. So either stand aside, or bare your neck. Because I literally do not have time for your shit.”

“A pity,” Nightmare Moon sighed and turned as Discord was paused in throwing a bolt of magic at the distracted pair. She fired a lance of pure plasma, the Spirit ducking to avoid losing his head. “However, I will not let Discord harm you…” She turned and for a brief moment, her teal eyes looking less catlike, and more like the adorable alicorn of his. “She and I, we have an accord. So for now, you keep your head… father.”

“We’ll discuss this later,” Christopher said to Nightmare Moon. “If he’s done as I suspect, I’ll welcome you into the fold. That is, as long as you abide by the rules. Otherwise...well, I’m going to have to take drastic measures. For now, reality is more important. You distract him. I only need one opening to stop him from running.”

“Humph, just don’t get in my way,” Nightmare scoffed as Discord facepalmed.

“Seriously? It’s so hard to find a good minion these days…”

“I AM NOPONY’S MINION!” Nightmare Moon bellowed. “Bow to your Queen!” And with a surge of magic, she fired more burning plasma…

Christopher flew into the air and prepared two...four...ten lasers...and a moment later, after Discord had dodged Nightmare’s attack, the lasers of orderly influence started to rain down from above. Everywhere they landed, reality asserted its normal self, but they were all focused on hitting any part of the draconequus they could.

Said Spirit let out a howl as one laser hit him, then Nightmare unleashed her spell.

It was like a piece of the night sky was torn out and enveloped him, swirling as it grew darker, Christopher could feel the cold, even from where he stood and his eyes widened when he realised what she was doing. He wasn’t witnessing a shroud, or some kind of magical field.

He was seeing a localised spell… the literal heat death of the universe…

“Nightmare, reign it in,” he told her as he landed as close as he dared. “He was hit by a laser, I doubt he had the power to resist that for very long.”

“I will return him to nothingness!” Nightmare/Luna spat as her horn’s cornea shone like a star. “For what he has done to Us. I. Will. KILL HIM!”

“And if you make me kill you?” Christopher retorted. “Let me deal his punishment!”

Nightmare narrowed her eyes. Then with a scream, she cancelled the spell… and all that remained of Discord was a white, withered husk.

Christopher almost felt sorry for him. Almost. He leaned down and picked Discord up, holding him by the neck. “You’re the one that brought out the Nightmare,” he said to what was left of Discord in there. “Time for you to pay for all you’ve done.”

“Well, good thing I still had that trick eh?” the husk crumbled to dust as Discord hovered above them. “Shedding my skin, a little trick I got from the Changelings. Oh, speaking of, how’s Chrysalis doing? Or did you abandon her too?”

“Oh what will it take to kill you already?” Christopher growled as he lashed out with a surge of order-based magic.

“More that what you’ve got,” Discord chuckled as he ducked under the beams in slow motion, while wearing a black trenchcoat and glasses. “Look, just give it up and face it. I am the one enemy you will never beat. No matter how much power you have, no matter if you get help or not. You. Cannot. Win!”

“You really think I’m going to just surrender this world to you?” Christopher snarled as he held up one hand. A spark danced there.

But it was no ordinary spark. Discord could feel, even from here, the barely restrained magic.

Oh chaos help him. The boy was going to split atoms with magic to make bombs big enough to hit him.

“So you’ll destroy it instead?” the Spirit said aloud. “And kill all the little ponies you’re trying so hard to save?”

“If need be, I will destroy everything to eradicate you,” the human snarled. “I’m not going to let you continue to exist anymore.” And here his expression actually softened. “Chaos isn’t good or evil. It just is.” Aaaand it was back to his fierce warrior gaze. “But you, you’re the one entity that can’t be trusted with the power you have, because you’ll never just let the world be!”

And then a mirror popped up in front of him, showing his reflection, the hate-filled glare, the Runic power that threatened to tear the very world asunder in the name of revenge.

“Isn’t it funny?” Discord said flatly. “How you’re becoming the very thing you hunt… just to get your revenge on me.”

Words echoed in his head. His own words.

‘I’ll kill you!’

‘I’ll destroy everything!’

‘You don’t deserve to exist’

He actually paused for a moment, took a step back...and dismissed the spark. “You’re right. ‘He who hunts monsters should take care to not become a monster.’ I forgot that.”

“What are you waiting for!?” Nightmare yelled. “Finish him!!”

“And if I become like Discord in my quest to destroy him, what good will that do the world?” Christopher replied. Most of the power he held wound down, now just trimmed down to his aura of order that kept Discord’s influence at bay. “No. I’ll hunt him, yes, kill him, eventually. But I won’t become like him. Because then I am not worthy of the sword.”

“DISCORD!” a voice called out and the trio turned to see Twilight and her friends. All of her friends. And all wearing the Elements.

“You’re reign of evil is over! It ends here!” the purple unicorn called out.

Discord sighed as he floated down to his throne. “Oh my, this again? And what do you band of former friends hope to acheive?”

Twilight scowled and happened to glance at Aspect and… “Nightmare Moon!?”

“Hello Twilight Sparkle~” the dark mare waved and smirked at her.

“Worry about her later,” Christopher said. “Reality at stake here?”

“Oh yes, do give it your best shot,” Discord waved. “I mean, if you think you can…” His eyes widened as a rainbow glow surrounded the group of mares. “Uh… o-oh hey… let’s uh… let’s talk about this huh?”

“Like you let me talk about it when you kidnapped me a thousand years ago?” Christopher retorted. “See you in another millenia, Dipcord.”

“YOU—” that was all Discord got out before the rainbow blast hit him, and from Christopher’s side, Nightmare vanished, stepping into the light also, a soft smile on her face.

The human let the runes die on his robes and put the book in a pocket in them, also sheathing his blade as he did his best to hold off the exhaustion for the time being.

The rainbow light faded and Twilight and her fellow Elements were lowered to the ground as the massive dome of Harmony undid everything on the town, returning it to normal.

And when it faded, Luna stumbled out from beside Discord’s statue, looking rather weary.

“Welcome back, daughter mine,” Christopher said as he gathered up Luna in a hug. “Glad to see they worked a second time.”

“What?” a bone chilling voice said from behind him, as Nightmare Moon nuzzled the side of his head. “No hug for me? Those Elements really hurt you know?”

“I suspected this might happen,” Christopher chuckled as he gathered up the other alicorn. “So, who got what?”

“Nightmare… Moon?” Twilight gasped. “Girls! Form up, we aren’t finished yet!”

“She was just pulled out of Luna by the Elements,” Christopher stated. “Do you really think they’ll work on her a third time? Most things don’t get two. Or would it be a fourth time?”

“I lost count,” Nightmare shrugged. “And this was the deal Luna and I struck. I kept her alive after Discord attacked and honestly, I expected to die. Guess the Elements were feeling sorry for me or something.”

“We still do not trust thou,” Luna said quietly from Christopher’s embrace. “However… t’would appear she got the Dream Aspect.”

“So more Nightmare, less Moon,” the human mused. “And you’re still Luna. Because that won’t be hard to keep track of at all.”

“I’m sorry father…” Luna replied, leaning into his hug.

“Bah! Harden up already,” Nightmare scoffed and stared at the bewildered Twilight and her friends. “Oops, looks like we broke them~”

“Keep in mind, little lady,” Christopher said, before booping the nightmare alicorn, “You are never too old or big for me to put you over my knee. So behave yourself.”

“Bite me,” she replied. “I still hate you, so keep that in mind hm?”

Twilight’s daze was cut off as a pair of white hooves pulled her into a hug, Celestia having teleported in and embraced her little student, before doing the same to her friends.

“Well, you have a choice,” the human chuckled. “Me or her. Spoiler, you won’t survive her hugging.”

“Seriously?” the nightmare pony replied before a white blur tackled Luna and Christopher, pulling them into a tight embrace.

“Glad to see you too, Celly,” Christopher said, patting her on the withers. “But if you don’t let me go quickly, we might lose our latest addition.”

Celestia turned and spotted Nightmare. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t vaporise you!”

Nightmare merely pointed to Christopher.

“The Elements pulled them apart,” the human said. “They gave her a second chance, a purpose. She’s Dreams now, Luna is just the Moon. So why not let her try her hoof at actually being good for once?”

“Like you gave Discord a chance?” Celestia riposted. “She’s Nightmare Moon. And you’re putting her in charge of pony’s dreams!?”

“Is that discrimination?” Nightmare replied.

“Shut up!” Celestia growled as she fired up her horn.

The human pulled apart from Celestia...and stood between the pair of them. “No,” he said simply. “If either of you want to hurt each other, you’re going through me. End of story.”

“I can do that~” Nightmare grinned. “You want to go Tia? You have no Elements this time, nothing to save you at the last second.”

“I’ll rip you apart with my bare hooves,” the elder alicorn snorted.

“I’m really confused,” Twilight admitted as ponies started coming out of their homes, curious to see what was going on this time.

“Look, the Elements would have just put Luna back in charge of her body if Nightmare were totally irredeemable,” Christopher pointed out. “But they separated them. Because, in one moment, one fleeting moment...Luna and Nightmare agreed that family mattered. They both acted to defend me from Discord.”

“If anypony is going to kill you, it’ll be me,” Nightmare nodded. “I can’t let that mismatched freak steal my thunder.”

“You’re an idiot,” Luna sighed. “Look sister, father is correct. Nightmare, while brash, loud and a moron, is one of us now.”

“No, I still hate all of you, Luna gets a little bit of credit… and Twilight Sparkle is adorable, so she gets a freebie too,” the black alicorn smiled. “Ohh, maybe I should make her my student. I could teach her many fun things~”

“And that’s enough of that,” Chris said as his rune-covered robe lit up again. Before anypony could stop him, a beam of power lanced from his hand and hit Nightmare Moon directly.

There was a puff of magic…

And suddenly the Nightmare was no bigger than Sweetie Belle.

Nightmare Moon slowly looked down, her face contorting into a look of pure rage. Which, was admittedly quite adorable in foal form. “You… you… WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?!”

“You’re right Lulu,” Celestia chuckled. “She really is a moron~”

“You obviously can’t be trusted with your duties until you learn how to, well, not be a nightmare about them,” Christopher stated. “So until you learn how to behave yourself, you’ll be stuck like this. It’s a unique curse, one I made when I was feeling less murdery towards Discord. The more mature you are, the more maturity you’ll get back.”

“WHAT!?” Little Nightmare raged as she threw a tantrum. “I’m going to end you for this!”

“Will somepony please explain what’s going on!?” Twilight shouted above her.

“In a moment Twilight,” Celestia smiled. “I promise. But first…” She turned to Christopher. “Are you alright? You’ve used a lot of Runic power. Even for you, that cannot be easy on your body.”

“Yeah...I think in about two minutes here...Or two seconds,” Christopher muttered as he put a hand to his head. “Oh boy. Yup. Gonna have to lay down. That was a lot of power…”

He didn’t even hit the ground before his eyes rolled back into his head. He briefly heard his daughters calling for him, even as he drifted into the darkness…

Lyra raced home, heedless of any warnings that Realm and Artemis threw her way. She didn’t care. She had to find Bon Bon! She had to find her best friend and make sure she was okay.

What she found was a mostly destroyed home… again. And the aforementioned Earth pony shucking off the rest of her armour. That monstrous crossbow lay against one wall, and Bon Bon turned to see her longtime friend cautiously enter the room.

“I guess… I have a lot to explain don’t I?” the earth pony sighed as she removed the last of her dented and broken armour. “Goddess… where do I even start?”

“The beginning is a good place,” Lyra said. She’d been ready to hug the stuffing out of her. But seeing all this? The desire to know why overrode everything else. “I thought… we were friends, that we told each other everything…”

“We do, it’s just…” Bon Bon sighed and looked away. “I couldn’t tell you. For your own safety.”

“Horseapples!” Lyra yelled and stomped a hoof. “You… you have some giant bloody weapon! You took down some bigass Bee/Bear/Thing—”

“Bugbear,” Bon Bon interjected.

“I DON’T CARE!” Lyra yelled. “You know everything about me. What I love, what I hate… what I’m afraid of…” Lyra sat down, abruptly. “I-I feel like I don’t even know you now.”

“Lyra…” Bon Bon sighed as she reached out for her, before pulling back. “Okay. from the beginning then…”

Inside a large hospital room, eight mares and one pissed off filly all sat around or near a bed holding a creature that almost none knew walked among them. The human was injured, all ones of his own making as his extremely-overtaxed magic literally broke his body down. Celestia and Luna had been able to stop the degradation, but it would take time for his body to heal again.

“I cannot believe that this is really Balanced Aspect,” Rarity commented. “If I may be so bold as to ask what he is?”

“A human,” Celestia spoke calmly. “And yes, this is what he truly looks like, though he prefers a pony form to blend in easier.”

Rainbow Dash was silent, self-loathing at the fact she’d abandoned her friends, abandoned those she loved for… for some stupid illusion. Her scowl grew, despite Pinkie’s gentle nudges to try and comfort her.

“So, what happens now?” Twilight asked. “A lot of ponies witnessed the battle between Balanced and Discord. And they’ll all have questions.”

“And I plan to answer those,” Celestia nodded. She did have a few plans in mind already, and was sure that Christopher wasn’t going to enjoy it when he finally awoke. Well, she could always use the Cute if he got too mad. Realising she was spacing out, Celestia turned her attention back to Twilight. “I would like you six to watch over him, do not allow anypony aside from medical staff in the room alright?”

“If somepony touches him, I’ll break their legs,” Rainbow growled, her wings fluttering with irritation.

Celestia made a note to have somepony discreetly talk with the six of them. Discords mind games were no joke, and these mares could seriously hurt themselves or somepony else if left unchecked. The last time she ignored a pony’s mental state… she paid the price for a thousand years.

Speaking of…

“So?” the foal-sized Nightmare grumbled from within the bubble shield that Celestia kept her in. “You going to let me out of this stupid hamster ball or what? It’s not like I can do anything in this condition. The unconscious monkey is still stronger than me at this point.”

“And her?” Twilight asked, as Celestia ignored Nightmare for now.

“Like it or not, she is an Aspect now, and it was my father’s decision to keep her around, and only he can undo whatever it was he did to her.”

“I hate all of you,” Nightmare pouted. “So. Much. Hate.”

“It’s something we can deal with once Father awakes,” Luna said. “For now, the Nightmare shall be staying with us in Canterlot.”

“Yaaay,” Nightmare deadpanned. “How wonderful…”

Again, she went ignored as Celestia nuzzled Twilight. “I have to go for now. So I’m leaving him in the hooves of you and your friends. Can I trust you with this important task Twilight?”

“Yes,” Twilight nodded seriously. “You can count on us your highness!”

“Good,” the alicorn smiled. “Best of luck, and I’ll see you soon.” And with those parting words, she, Luna and the imprisoned foal vanished with a flash of golden light.

The next week or so was going to turn Equestria on it’s head… all because of one individual.

And he was going to sleep through the whole thing.

Author's Note

Happy Thanksgiving, Aspe-...

Oh, right, he can't hear me.

Like the story? Consider dropping me and Aus a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to paying Aus's internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent catching them all.

Chapter 33 - Welcome back.

Sunlight streamed through the window of the private hospital bed. It was a familiar feeling to Aspect, he swore Tia rose the sun just to fuck with his ability to sleep in.

Wait…

The sun...was raising because Tia told it to? The last thing he remembered was…

“If I have to destroy it all to keep you from doing so yourself, so be it.”

...Yeah, not his...proudest moment.

A sound caught his attention as somepony next to him stirred. He cracked one eye open to see Rainbow Dash’s head on the bed next to him, snoring softly and drooling on the sheets. Her back rising and falling with each breath, her wings twitching on occasion.

...How long had he been out that she had come to see hi-

Aspect paused as he realized something quite vital when reaching out to ruffle her mane. He had hands. Oh, yeah...he was a human. That...was going to be hell to explain.

Then she yawned and her eyelids opened, her rose-hued eyes staring into his own.

“...hubbawha?” she blinked slowly. “Whazzat? You awake?”

“The last thing I remember was trying to blow up Discord,” Aspect, no, Christopher said quietly. “What...happened since then?”

“You’re awake!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, fully waking up. “Holy Horseapples. We thought you were gonna sleep forever… I-I mean. Not me of course. You’re almost as cool as me. I knew you’d pull through.”

“I...put my body through quite the strain,” Christopher explained. “If I were mortal, I’d be dead by now. That’s why I’m the only one that can wield the power I do. I needed to sleep to recover all the energy I’d expended.”

“Please, I beat Nightmare Moon and that weird Noodle guy, and all I did was walk it off,” Rainbow smirked proudly. “Yup, still waaay cooler than you.” Then she looked him over and her smile faltered. “But, you and I. We need to have some words. I’m sure you know what about.”

“Yeah,” Christopher sighed. “I...probably should have told you about this.”

“Oh, sorry Dash, should have mention I’m a different bucking species!” she snarked. “Yeah, you should have told me. What about Bon Bon? Does she know? Does anypony?”

“I kept it a careful secret until Discord happened for a reason,” Christopher carefully explained. “The last humans native to this world left ages ago, in a big ship that carried them across the ocean and out of sight. I searched for them for ages and never found them. What do you think the ramifications would be if somebody found out there was one left?”

“That nopony would know what the Tartarus you are,” Rainbow replied with a frown. “I… I don’t even know if I know you anymore.”

“Rainbow,” Christopher said softly. “I kept it a secret because there are those that remember. There are those that study the old tales. Lyra, Bon Bon. They knew about humans before I met them. And I keep the fact of my relationship to Celestia, my true relationship, a secret as well, for another reason. If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a politician. Celly is though, and for all her age and wisdom, if I were to unmask myself...it might be like pulling down a house of cards.”

Rainbow wanted to be mad, but when he said that… she fell oddly quiet.

“...Rainbow, who knows?” Christopher asked.

She sighed and stood up. “You fought that chaos thing all over town, then collapsed.” She put a hoof on the bed and shook her head. “Most of the town saw you, and the princesses caring for you. But…”

“But?” he verbally prodded her.

“The Princess made a statement a few days ago,” Rainbow finally said after a moment’s pause. “About the attack by Discord. And about her father…”

“Oh,” Christopher said in a small voice. “Um, do you have…”

“Have what?” Rainbow tilted her head.

“A copy,” the human finished. “I...should see what she said.”

“Ah, well…” she looked around. “Sorry, not on me. But she mentioned her dad was an Alicorn that had been away for a really long time. Only us ponies in Ponyville know you’re a… skinny minotaur thing.”

“Still, this is going to throw everything into disarray,” Aspect groaned. “On the one hand, I didn’t want that...but on the other, I wasn’t going to let Discord run free again. He did enough damage last time. The longer he was loose, the greater chance he might turn the whole world into a place like Ponyville had become.”

“You think?” Rainbow snorted. “He… he made me abandon my friends… abandon you and Bonnie. You’re lucky he’s stone or I’d punch him at Rainboom speeds.”

“Oh I’m still of a mind to find wherever his statue ended up and give him a much more stern talking to than just trying to explode him,” Christopher agreed, with a look of rage, before he mellowed and looked at Rainbow. “Rainbow...I promise you, everything I did had a reason. Everything I kept from you, I did so that Celestia wouldn’t have to worry about the nobles trying to throw her off her throne. I honestly shouldn’t have told you I’m their foster father at all, but I cared too much to keep it from the Bearers. I never kept anything from you because I thought you couldn’t handle it, or out of malice. I swear.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Rainbow said. “What I care about is that you… you couldn’t even tell me who you really were. I told you deep, personal stuff and you…”

“I did what I could to tell you the same,” Christopher replied. “My stories about the valley, my friends? All I did was omit the fact that I was a human. They were all truthful. One day, when I can stomach the thought of going back to Dream Valley? I’ll take you and Bon Bon there and show you where I lived. Where all the ponies lived. The monuments I put up to them all.”

“On one condition,” Rainbow finally said. “I’ll stay with you on one condition.”

“Name it,” the human replied without missing a beat, fully prepared to pay whatever her price was.

“No more lies,” she said with a firm nod. “I see you now. The real you. So, no more lying to me or to Bonnie okay!”

“Okay fine,” Christopher chuckled. “Permit me to reintroduce myself, then?”

“You may,” Rainbow said, giving a flourished bow. “Your princess accepts your humble request.”

“I am Christopher Gale,” the human began. “Wielder of the Sword of Balance. Ponykind’s sword against the darkness. Rebalancer of the Aspects that have gone astray. Foster father to Celestia and Luna, and actual father and grandfather to most of the current forces of the world. Current possessor of the Air aspect.”

“Eh, too long, didn’t read,” Rainbow shrugged. “Better question is, do I keep calling you Aspect? Or Christopher?”

“Whichever you feel comfortable with,” Christopher replied with a shrug. “It’s not like I can’t take either form. I’ve only had millennia to practice my formshifting.”

“So, can you only turn into this or a pony?” she asked him with a curious tone.

“Eh,” Christopher shrugged. “I mean, there are other forms I could take. Not Diamond Dog or Dragon though. I had nothing to do with either of them. I could be a Seapony, since I helped give them a king from my raw magic. Spent a lot of time around them to the point where it was just faster to become a Seapony and swim with them. I’ve got...quite a few forms in my repertoire.”

“Griffon?” Rainbow suddenly asked. “C-Cause you know… that’d be kinda awesome.”

“Yeah, I made them,” Christopher nodded once. “I could do that. Easily, they’re really attuned to Air, and I’ve only been holding onto it for a few thousand years.”

“Interesting…” Rainbow rubbed her chin before blushing slightly. “Y-You know, cause that’d be pretty cool.”

“Eh, I’ll think about it,” the human shrugged. “So...what did I miss?”

“Eh, not that much,” Rainbow said with a small shrug. “I mean, aside from the Princesses news. Bon Bon has been taking pretty good care of your house. Though your son has been crawling up the walls with worry. And the kids at school miss you too.”

“Ah geeze,” Christopher muttered as he started to push himself up from bed. “Great...I have work to catch up on.”

“Oh, and you also missed Twilight enslaving most of the town with a spell after she went completely crazy,” Rainbow shrugged.

“...What?” the human deadpanned.

“Something about a deadline and… what was it, Want it-something,” Rainbow said. “It was kinda funny. The whole town fighting over a doll.”

“Oh for the love of...Heartthrob came up with that spell in Dream Valley, and we quickly labeled it as some of the fouler magic we’d ever encountered,” the human groaned. “The Want-It, Need-It spell is the closest thing to outright mind control I ever saw a pony make. She quickly decided she didn’t want anything to do with a spell that instilled mindless devotion instead of true love.”

“Yeah well, dunno where Twilight learned it, but it was pretty funny,” Rainbow snorted. “Don’t worry, Celestia sorted everything out. And we’re pretty sure it was just all the stress of that event catching up with her.”

“Yeah...that wasn’t an uncommon thing in the days after Discord’s sealing the first time,” Christopher nodded once. “Some ponies just...snapped after so many changes to reality that sanity sort of...broke them.”

“Yeah well… luckily Twilight snapped back,” Rainbow shuddered. “In any case, I should go and get the others.”

“Yeah, I’ll just wait here while I try to figure out if I’m okay then,” the human replied, reaching over and tousling Dash’s mane. “I promise I’ll be right here.”

“You flippin’ better be,’ she nodded and prodded his nose with a wingtip before taking off out of the window. Apparently the door was too slow for her.

True to his word, Christopher simply sat on his bed as he ran through a checkup of all his magic, just to be sure he still had it.

About ten minutes later, the poor door to his room was practically bucked off of it’s hinges as Bon Bon flew in, throwing herself onto the bed and hugging the man tightly.

Bon Bon was an earth pony, her hugs were very strong.

“Can’t...breathe…” Christopher gasped. “I see...a light…”

“You idiot!” Bon Bon yelled at him, ignoring his plight. “What were you thinking? Using so much Runic magic. Were you trying to kill yourself!?”

“Tell Celly...to lay off the cakes...she’s getting fat,” the human groaned before his head lolled to one side.

Bon Bon looked down and released him. “Oh stop being so melodramatic. I know you aren’t that weak.”

“Dead humans don’t need to be yelled at,” Christopher muttered as he lay back on the bed.

“Yes they do,” she said and jabbed his shoulder. “Do you have any idea how worried we’ve all been? Not to mention what I’ve had to deal with for the last three and a half weeks while you’ve been napping.”

“Three and a half weeks?” Christopher sat back up. “I was out that long?”

“Give or take a few days,” Bon Bon said as she calmed down. “Running your house is like running a zoo. I have no idea how you do it, and your newest resident hasn’t been making it easy.”

“Newest resident?” the human asked, parroting her words back at her. “What newest resident? Have Artemis or Realm been acting up?”

Bon Bon blinked and looked at Rainbow as she entered the room. “Doesn’t he remember anything from after the fight?”

“I dunno,” the pegasus shrugged.

“Do you not remember?” Bon Bon blinked slowly as she turned back to Christopher.

“The last thing I remember from the fight is trying to blow up Discord with runic magic,” the human admitted. “Everything else turns fuzzy from there.”

“You mean you don’t remember us shooting Discord with weaponized Friendship? Or the fact that you have a new daughter?” Rainbow added.

“...What in the world happened to conclude the fight?” Christopher asked.

“I’ve only got second hoof details,” Bon Bon said with a sigh. “But at some point, Nightmare Moon got involved.”

“...And yet it’s daytime,” the human pointed out.

“When we used the Elements, it got her too,” Rainbow said with a puzzled expression. “Somehow… it revived her.”

“Then?” Bon Bon concluded. “You turned her into a filly. She is… less than amused. Oh, she also has Luna’s Aspect of Dreams.”

“...Because life loves being complicated,” the human sighed.

“Yup,” Bon Bon agreed. “Also… I, might have to go away for a while.”

“Oh?” Christopher asked.

Bon Bon looked at Rainbow and sighed. “My cover is blown as a Monster Hunter. I… don’t know if I can stay in Ponyville… S.M.I.L.E. is looking to relocate me to the Coltish Isles.”

“Let me put it to you like this, Bon Bon,” Christopher said in a low voice. “You might as well tell them that no matter where they relocate you, I will find you and take you back here. In a single. Day. If they even try to put you somewhere where I might not have access to you? I’ll make Discord look tame. By staying here, you’re keeping a bigger monster than they can ever hope to deal with, tame.”

Bon Bon snorted and smiled. “Figured you’d say that. So I told them where to stuff it already,” she smiled and flexed a hoof. “That said, they might try to memory wipe me, so uh… mind if I hide out in your house for a while?”

“Two seconds,” the human said, before sighing and looking away. “Or...it would be that quick if I were wearing my robe. I could put a mental reinforcing charm on you that they couldn’t get past.”

“Sounds good,” she smiled as she moved up next to the bed. “And yeah, we kind of had to remove it to dress your wounds.”

“So, what’s he wearing then?” Rainbow happened to ask.

“Not a whole lot if I’m honest,” the human replied. “I hope you saved the robe, it took me days to make it right.”

“We did, I washed and repaired it,” Bon Bon nodded.

“So… nothing then?” Rainbow mused, trying to peek under the sheets.

“Hey!” Christopher slapped the sheet back down. The pegasus giggled as she tried to nose back under it again. She was worse than a curious cat.

“I said quitit,” the human grumbled as he pushed her back a touch.

“Aww,” Rainbow giggled. “I wanna see how you stack up in this form.” Then she smirked and waggled her eyebrows. “Do I have to break out the schoolfilly outfit again?”

“I’m not gonna do it in a hospital, Dash,” Christopher grumbled. “Who knows when the nurse could walk in.”

“Ohh, Redheart is a pretty fine mare,” she said seductively, before Bon Bon pushed her from the room.

“We’ll take our leave. Is there anypony you wanna see?” the earth mare asked him.

“Not in particular, but if they want to see me, I won’t turn them away,” the human replied. “Hopefully I’ll be out soon. Keep the robe handy, I want to put it on and put the charm on you the moment I’m out.”

“Will do,” she smiled. “Oh, I’ll send Realm around okay? He’s been dying to see you.”

“That sounds good,” Christopher nodded once before he sat back on the bed and sighed.

Bon Bon opened the door, only to be bolwed over by three fillies that used her as a springboard and landed on the bed.

“See, I told you!” Scootaloo declared.

“Huh, guess you were right,” Sweetie added.

“That really you Aspect?” Applebloom asked.

“Hey hey, careful, easy there,” the human chuckled as he gathered the fillies closer. “Yes, it’s me. I’m a bit of a shapeshifter after all my time on this world. But this is what I originally looked like.”

“Coooool,” the trio exclaimed.

“Are you a monster?”

“An alien!?”

“No, he’s totally a superhero!” Scootaloo nodded.

“Sorry, just a standard old human,” Christopher chuckled, messing with each one’s mane a little. “Granted, I have a few magical artifacts here and there that help me a lot, but at the end of the day, all I want is to hold my family close and know that everything I worked for is still standing.”

“Well…” Scootaloo blushed a little. “We just wanna say thanks.”

“You really helped us out when that scary guy showed up,” Sweetie added. “Scootaloo woulda floated away to the moon.”

“And I woulda been a tree,” Apple Bloom nodded. “So thanks a bunch Teach.”

“I couldn’t let my three favorite students suffer, that wouldn’t be like me,” the human chuckled as he gave them all a brief scratch behind the ears.

“Man, Aspect’s too awesome,” Scoots smiled. “So how long until we can learn that cool glowy stuff you used?”

“How about never?” Aspect deadpanned. “Runic magic is fatal to non-immortals. It drains your life to cast. The only reason I used it is because Discord broke free and I needed to keep him occupied.”

“Awww,” the fillies chorused. Then they yelped as a flash of light filled the room and Princess Celestia appeared.

“Wow, the princess!” the trio gasped, switching targets and dogpiling the poor alicorn.

“Well, that takes care of my filly problem,” Christopher chuckled.

“And we’re escaping while we can,” Bon Bon nodded. “See you see Chris.”

“You keep watch over Bon Bon, Dashie, don’t let her out of your sight until I get out of here,” Chris called after the escaping mares.

“Will do,” she called and giggled. “A real close watch~” he then heard Bon Bon yelp and Rainbow get slapped.

“So what’s this I hear about a new tenant at my place?” the human asked the alicorn that was being mobbed by fillies.

Lighting up her horn, Celestia lifted the three fillies off of her and placed them on her back. “Yes,” she said with a tone that Christopher recognised as her ‘I’m mad but others are present’ tone. “All your doing I believe.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I didn’t remember the end of the fight?” the human dared to ask.

“Of course you don’t,” Celestia sighed and turned her head. “Would you mares please excuse us? I need to have a private word with Christopher here.”

“Awww,” the trio echoed, until Celestia floated out some bits to get ice-cream.

Chris never knew that the trio could teleport…

“Be honest with me,” he said to his daughter. “How bad is it.”

“I’m more annoyed you let the Nightmare stay, instead of destroying her once and for all,” Celestia said. “And on top of that, you allowed her to keep the Aspect of Dreams!”

“Like I said, I don’t...remember the end of the fight,” Christopher replied. “The last thing I recall was trying to blow up Discord…”

“And Ponyville, but we’ll discuss that later,” Celestia said sternly. “I’ve been spending the better part of a month cleaning up. Ponies here know about you now, though only a few know who you are. But I had to make some sort of announcement, so… Guess who has a father again?”

“I heard about that much,” Christopher nodded. “But you need to tell me what happened at the end. My memory goes fuzzy at that, probably because of all the magic I was using.”

Celestia sighed and nodded. “At some point during the fight, Luna got involved. And somehow, Discord reawoke the Nightmare inside her. But when Twilight and her friends activated the Elements of Harmony to seal away Discord, it caught the Nightmare too. One would have assumed they would destroy her again…”

“That didn’t happen for a reason,” Christopher spoke up. “I recall her, even in her Nightmare state, agreeing with Luna about one thing. That family and the world were important. She chose to stand with me instead of against me. She’s not totally irredeemable.”

“Well that remains to be seen,” Celestia said. “The other Aspects have been notified, all except Mortal Coil. And Yggdrasil has been oddly quiet for some reason.”

“Probably because I nearly went too far,” the human groaned. “It took Discord showing me a mirror for me to stop.”

“I don’t understand that,” Celestia frowned. “Why would Discord do that? Why would he stop you, and seal his own fate of being defeated. It makes no sense!”

“This is Discord we’re talking about,” Chris pointed out. “If not for the precautions I took to ensure that I wouldn’t fall to his magic, his plans might still be ongoing now.”

“And they would have if he just let you rampage as well,” Celestia sighed and rubbed her temple. “Regardless, the Nightmare is pi-- rather annoyed at you for turning her new body into that of a filly.”

“That...sounds like runic curse number 51,” Chris mused. “The deaging one.”

“Regardless, prepare for that when you get home…” she paused and looked at the door. “Also, regarding mIss Bon Bon…”

“I’m quite aware of who and what she is,” Chris said in a low growl. “And if your agents don’t keep their hooves off of her and cease any attempts to mind-wipe her, Discord will look tame. I can always go bigger and badder. Nothing is going to take the mare I love away from me, understand?”

“I understand fully,” Celestia chuckled and smiled. “Also, hearing how much you love her, that makes me rather happy.”

“Thank you,” Chris nodded once. “I also hear that your student rediscovered an old vile spell?”

“Ahaha….” Celestia chuckled nervously. “Please don’t hold it against her. She was holding back a lot after the battle with Discord. Having your heart crushed as hers was… it was not easy. But her friends are there for her.”

“Oh no, I’m fine with not punishing her,” Chris replied with a wave of his hand. “Heartthrob learned her lesson after a single day with that spell on when the Big Brother ponies came around. Devotion doesn’t equal love, and with so many wanting the same thing...madness that could not easily be undone reigned.”

“Yes well,” Celestia fluttered her wings a little. “And how are you feeling?”

“...Remarkably well rested after that,” Chris said after a moment. “I won’t know how my magic is doing until I get my robe back. Or Majesty’s tome. I’ll need to touch it to learn.”

“Both are waiting for you at home, and under some heavy seals,” Celestia added on. “The last thing I needed was Twilight learning about Majesty’s book.”

“There is a reason there have been no mortal runemasters,” Chris agreed. “Not since her.”

“Twilight would likely find a way,” the alicorn rubbed her eyes. “In any case. I need Alicorn Aspect to make an appearance in Canterlot soon.”

“Wait, what?” Chris blinked.

“Well I need my father to make an official appearance,” Celestia hummed, greatly enjoying the look on his face. “I can’t very well have announced you, and then you never show up~”

“You do realize, of course, that this is going to mean I am never going to get any sleep,” Chris muttered.

“Hmm, welcome to the last one thousand years of my life,” Celestia smiled as she teleported from the room.

Chris sighed again as he wondered when he would be free to leave.

He tried sneaking out, but Nurse Redheart was a formidable opponent… and apparently could call a filly-sized nurse that barked like a dog and wielded a very large syringe. So he elected to wait for the time being. For now. Maybe next time he’d try becoming something different.

That was an idea, maybe if he turned into a pegasus, he could sneak out the window…

“FATHER!” a massive voice boomed as Luna teleported into the room with a crack of magic and lightning. “FEAR NOT, FOR WE HATH RETURNED!”

“No, that’s okay, I didn’t need to hear today anyways,” Christopher whispered.

“MANY PARDONS...er, We mean, sorry Father. We were feeling rather excited to hear that you had returned to Us.” Luna rubbed the back of her head sheepishly as Redheart poked her head through the door and settled an icy glare on the loud Alicorn. “Again, very sorry,” she said in a loud whisper.

“Okay...better,” the human muttered. “Yes, I get it that I’ve been out a while. I knew going in that this was the price I would have to pay to fight Discord.”

“Then why do it?” Luna uttered. “Sister had a plan for Friend Twilight and the other Elements. Now…” The alicorn sighed as she flopped onto the bed, her twitching ears demanding rubs.

“Because I wasn’t just going to let him hurt ponies,” the human replied as he rubbed Luna behind the ears. “I wasn’t just going to be sidelined like last time. I would do my best to make sure that his chaos was at the very least combated if not contained.”

“Well, you did prevent him from extending his influence beyond Ponyville,” Luna sighed blissfully at the rubs. “For that, Tia and I are grateful, but We shall box thine ears if thou ist foolish enough to do so again.”

“I don’t have the tome or the robe right now, and Tia tells me he’s been beaten,” Christopher replied. “Granted, I have words for the stone bastard, but they can wait until I’m in Canterlot.”

“Yes well, Tia has his statue under lock and key so to speak,” Luna stated as she turned her head so he could scratch the other ear. “Mmmm, We have missed this~”

“I’m just going to say something that’ll make him think twice about pulling this sort of stunt again,” Christopher said in a chipper manner. “Have I ever told you I’m not as strong as I could be?”

“We believe thou,” Luna nodded as she let out a small sigh. “Tis too bad you do not have the Aspect of Combat anymore. Thou would have made short work of the vile chimera.”

“Eh, the world needed her more than it needed me to be a super-warrior,” the human shrugged. “In any case. I’m spent. I can’t even feel my connection with my sword. I need to get out and get home.”

With another crack of light, his world blinded for a moment. When he was finally able to see again, he was lying in his own bedroom, Luna looking down on him and a surprised Written Script sitting in her painting.

“...Okay, did not consider that,” Christopher blinked. “You know Redheart is going to be after me, yes?”

“We shall defend thee from that demonic Nurse,” Luna stated with a stomp of her hoof, cracking the floorboard under her.

“Hey, careful, this place has to last you know,” the human chuckled as he began looking around. “Now, where could they be?...”

“Where might what be dear?” Written asked. “Yes, I’m fine too, thank you for asking.”

“Just looking for the robe and tome and sword,” Christopher said to the painting. “Apparently Tia is about to introduce her father...or, well, the Alicorn form of him anyways. So I need to dress up, and I would rather not have Twilight find any of Majesty’s things, or made from them.”

“I have them here inside the Painted World,” Written explained.

“Oh, well that makes that...a little complicated,” Christopher replied. “I mean, yes, it’s safe there. But there’s really only one portal in, and even if we forgo that, I would still need your help to get in.”

“Mhm, so yes, they're perfectly safe,” Written smiled. “Also, I’m fine, thank you for asking.”

“I get it,” Christopher sighed. “I was out for a while. But I knew going in that fighting Discord was going to come with a price tag. I’m sorry I wasn’t here and that I sort of...can’t quite grasp that I was out for that long, and am still treating it like it was three weeks ago. But I wasn’t going to let him torment ponies like he did before. Like all the other monsters did before. Because if there’s one thing I do, it’s fight monsters, Written.”

“I know, good to see you’re as obtuse as ever,” she giggled. “It’s been… interesting here. Bon Bon has done a wonderful job keeping everypony in line so far.”

“Apparently she has her work cut out for her,” Christopher pointed out. “Do you know I don’t recall actually doing runic curse fifty-one to the Nightmare? Or any bit of the last part of the fight that resulted in her being her own entity?”

“ASPECT!!!!”

The house trembled from that magically induced roar.

“You may not,” Written chuckled. “But she sure does.”

“Yes, well...I just need my things and to be in Canterlot soon,” Christopher said as he stood up and neared the portrait. “Tia’s planning on introducing me.”

“So I heard,” Written mused. “And how are you doing Lulu?”

“We art doing fine mother,” Luna nodded. “Tis… weird, being separated from the Nightmare like that.”

“I can imagine,” Written nodded and looked at Chris. “Stop trying to climb into that painting. Hurricane has gone to fetch your things and bring them to you.”

“All right, fine,” Christopher grumbled as he laid back down in the bed. “So now it’s just a matter of who gets back first. Hurricane or Nightmare…”

Luckily for him, the old warmare was the first to return.

“Hey Monkey!” she called out. “Heads up!”

And like that, she tossed the sword, robe, and tome through the painting and right at him. Chris caught the sword by the hilt in one hand as the tome flopped onto the ground, and the robe fluttered on top of it. And instantly, he let out a sigh as he felt so much better.

“That’s the ticket,” Chris chuckled as the sword glowed faintly at being reunited with its master. “Okay then!” He put it down and grabbed his robe, shrugging it on and nodding once. “Remind me to see Rarity about some more clothes,” he spoke aloud.

“BALANCED ASPECT!” He heard a tiny voice roar from the other side of the door. “I’M ABOUT TO—”

*thump*

…

*tumpthumpthump*

“Unlock this door so I can destroy you!”

“I think not,” Christopher chuckled as he picked up the tome and put it away in his robes, before flashing into his pegasus stallion form. “Now! To my saddlebags, then to Canterlot!” he boldly proclaimed.

“I WILL END YOU!” Nightmare Moon roared again as she banged on the door with tiny hooves.

“And now, for my next trick!” the stallion chuckled as a gust of air suddenly grew in the room.

One moment he was there, the next, the door burst open in a sudden gale...revealing naught of the stallion.

“ALL. MY. HAAAAAATE!!!” he heard her voice on the wind.

“So in short,” Celestia said to the court full of Nobles and reporters. “After a very long sabbatical of travelling around the world, my father, as well as Luna’s, has finally returned to Equestrian soil.”

“Is he an Alicorn too?” one reporter called out.

“Yes,” Celestia nodded. “The very first male Alicorn actually.”

“And what of your mother?” another called out.

“She…” Celestia actually looked a little crestfallen. “Has been gone for a very long time.”

Several ponies smacked the reporter upside the head.

“In any case,” Celestia forced a smile and gestured to the large double doors. “I present to you, Balanced Aspect!”

There was a rush of wind from all around, and when the doors opened, Balanced Aspect was standing behind them, in his Alicorn form, shaking his head a few times. “I am never going to get used to wind-based transportation,” he muttered.

His senses were assaulted with camera flashes and a barrage of questions before Celestia got the ponies to settle down.

“Please, give him some space,” she chided them. “And one question at a time… starting with,” she pointed a a cute, bespectacled mare. “You.”

“S-So…” she asked demurely. “Are you, truly the father of our beloved Princesses?”

“I am indeed,” Aspect nodded once as he stepped forward.

“Are you really an Alicorn?” another asked. “It’s not some illusion or spell?”

“I truly am, though I do have a myriad of forms I can take,” Aspect replied. “I am, first and foremost, a shapeshifter. I spent ages learning how to control my own magic, after all, and using it to blend in with the species of Equus wherever I went, spreading harmony and understanding.”

That got them mumbling to themselves, before a noble spoke up.

“And if you are their father? Does that make you… King? Will you assume control of Equestria?”

“Ap! No!” Aspect pointed a hoof at the noble. “No, no, and no! I have not been here for the past thousand years. My duty is to the world, not Equestria. I traveled it and saw the sights, made sure everything was as it should be. I am not up to date on that which a ruler of this land would need to know. Celestia has been, and Luna is learning. They are your princesses. I’m merely an old warhorse.”

“War?” one pony asked. “What in Equestria is that?”

Celestia visibly winced.

“Something you hopefully won’t ever have to experience,” Aspect smoothed over. “Now. I am old, tired, and finally back. I’m trying to have a nice, quiet life. And what do I find but a troublesome chimera on my front lawn, turning the town upside down? So I did what I do best. I went out to fight the monster and keep him focused on me while the others worked out how to seal him away again. It’s what I do.”

“Isn’t that what the Royal Guard is for?” one snooty noble asked. “On that topic, the last few events have been handled by common civilians of all ponies. What’s the point of our tax dollars going to a Guard that can’t do a thing when we actually need them?”

“Do you know how the guard started?” Aspect asked quietly, in a tone that demanded others listen. “Nobles pledged their lives to serve in the protection of the Princesses and as enforcers of their will. It was respected both for the makeup of those that served showing how truly noble they could be, as well as how skilled they were. In the old days, a town was proud to have a Guard barracks in it, because it meant that no Manticores, Timberwolves, Hydras, or any other monster would dare threaten a pony. Nobles did this...because they knew that they should serve the commoners. Because when the situation is dire? Noble blood spills just as easily as any other. It became their job to make sure that there was no blood spilled.”

That got an eerie silence throughout the room, aside from Celestia’s hoof hitting her face.

“Tell me, what were any of you doing when Night Eternal gripped the land?” Aspect asked. “Offering shelter, burning lights, reassuring the commoners while trying to find a solution yourself? That’s what the nobles of my era would have done, rather than just leave it up to chance. What were you doing when Chaos gripped the world? Trying to make a safe place in the midst of madness, helping the less fortunate who had gotten mixed up in the mad draconequus’ machinations? Or were you cowering in your homes that all your money had bought you, with not a lick of courage to be found?”

Celestia opened her voice to say something, but a Noble beat her to it.

“Who do you think you are!?” he demanded. “Coming in here and telling us what to do? Why should we listen to the words of a total stranger?”

Aspect flared his wings as he stared down at the pony. “I am Balanced Aspect,” he intoned, and would not admit to using a bit of his attunement to Air to cause a brief rumble of thunder as he dressed this pony down. “Wielder of the Sword of Balance. It was by my hoof that all the old monsters, from the days of Dream Valley, the ancestral home of ponies, were slain and their essence reformed into gentler, kinder, guiding forces of this world. I was the one that tamed this world for you and your kind. I was the one that guided the ponies to this land when the Windigos came and froze Dream Valley. I was the one that blessed your kind with much greater attributes. Greater attunement to the earth, skies, and magic. I am the fulcrum upon which the world turns. You will be dust and irrelevant long before my time comes.”

“S-So?” the Noble said, standing his ground surprisingly enough. “You think having a pair of wings make you better than me? You don’t know me! You know none of us. You’re a relic of an era long past!”

“I would be happy to be that relic, to hang up my sword for good, were I certain that the nobles of the present era could take care of the present era,” Aspect replied. “I knew Princess Platinum. I knew the only Queen ponykind ever had, Queen Majesty. And they did more for their subjects than I have heard any of you do.” His gaze swept over the crowd. “Is there no noble here who can say that they have done this? That in the face of adversity, they acted in the other’s interest before themselves? That when they were faced with a choice between helping their fellow pony or themselves, they chose friendship over greed?”

“Some have,” Celestia whispered as the room stayed quiet. “I’ll introduce you later.”

“You alicorns…” the noble spat on Aspect’s hooves. “You think you’re so damned high and mighty. We unicorns ruled long before your freakish kind showed up!”

And Celestia facehooved for a second time.

“And lo, you and yours would summon the Windigos again,” Aspect intoned. “And freeze all Equestria with your tribalism. Were ponies not meant to walk together, in harmony? It is only through each other that we accomplish feats such as a kingdom of equality. You think you’re so special because you have a horn on your head.” Aspect smirked. “In my time, I knew pegasi and earth pony nobles. How the mighty have fallen, if they cannot open their minds.”

“Bah! Windigos are nonsense. Stupid stories to scare foals on Hearth’s Warming,” the unicorn fired back. “We can change the weather. We can grow crops. We have no need for anypony else!”

“A simple question I pose to you, then,” Aspect replied, flaring a wing to point at Celestia. “If the Windigos are nonsense, and nothing magical froze over Dream Valley...what is keeping Celestia from going back to her ancestral home? She is the sun. She could simply thaw it, if it were possible, and reclaim all of Ponykind’s ancient homelands. Except...the only thing that can thaw Windigo ice, is the Fires of Friendship. Not even Celestia can melt the solidified hatred that exists there.”

“Maybe because like our precious Guard,” he sneered. “Our Princesses are just as usele—”

And suddenly, the noble felt as though he were staring down a dragon that was as big as the palace, ready to pounce on him if he said one more syllable.

“Oh, I’m sorry, were you saying something?” Aspect asked as he broadcast his killing intent to the noble. “Do go on.”

Except every instinct the noble had was telling him to run away screaming his head off.

His legs trembled, refusing to move. And… yup, he just wet himself.

And nopony else in the room dared assist him. Except one.

“Now now,” the white unicorn said, stepping closer. “I believe your point has been made good sir, there is no need to continue this display any longer hm?” he brushed his electric blue mustache and smiled. “He was most out of line, insulting your daughter and our beloved Princess like that. On his behalf, I do apologise.”

Aspect relaxed just a touch, and the feeling went away, suddenly all smiles again. “There are a few things you don’t do around me,” the stallion agreed. “Insulting my children is one of them. Not that they need defending, but I did my best to raise each and every one properly. Hearing them defamed says to me that someone thinks I should have done things differently.” He huffed and ruffled his wings. “Try being a single father to two fillies that can’t stop pranking each other for a week at a time.”

“Father!” Celestia ruffled her wings and blushed.

“Hah! I imagine so,” the stallion nodded and looked at the petrified noble. “Somepony be a chap and escort dear Golden Hoof home eh. He needs a bath and a spot of tea I dare say.”

Two more nobles practically leapt at his word and did just that, as Celestia escorted the rest of the reporters away, leaving Aspect alone with this new unicorn. “Quite the display there, I nearly swallowed my monocle out of fright.”

“Trained under the martial artists of the old world,” Aspect rolled his neck. “They taught me that when you need to dissuade someone from attacking you, your presence is as just a potent weapon as your hooves. Broadcasting your killing intent can help you avoid a fight, or gauge how one will go.”

“Ahh, I thought that was Dragon’s Stance,” he mused as he took his eyepiece off and held out a hoof. “Fancy Pants, at your service.”

“Balanced Aspect, though you knew that already,” Aspect chuckled and shook the offered hoof. “I must say, you’re already setting a better tone than that other one.”

“Yes, terribly sorry for that one,” he sighed. “Though in his defense, you are an unknown being of great power. Our first instinct is fear, and some tend to lash out at fear.”

“Like I said, I am more than happy to just hang up my sword and be an old relic,” Aspect sighed. “I don’t fight monsters because I like it. I fight them because somepony has to. What I really want to do is be a teacher. Live my days brightening up young lives.”

“And I hear you’re doing a fine job of that in Ponyville,” the stallion chuckled, moreso at Aspect’s surprised expression. “I’m rather good friends with the Princess old boy. So I know a few things.”

“Well, I see that for once, I’m known for a good reason before I meet somepony,” Aspect chuckled. “I cannot count the amount of times the founders thought I was a spy for the others…”

“Hah! Don’t be surprised if that is still something you will have to deal with,” Fancy laughed. “You did admit to being a shapeshifter.”

“Yes, well, how did you think I was blending in if I couldn’t hide this?” Aspect asked as he touched his horn with a hoof. “Being an Alicorn would attract more than a little attention to myself.”

“Just a tad old boy,” Fancy smiled. “And don't worry about those dunderheaded nobles. Most, under that pride, self entitlement and wealth, are good ponies at heart.”

“Hmmph,” Aspect snorted. “Well, I just hope that others don’t dismiss the alicorn when he warns them about not being a self-righteous little...anyways. Let’s change the topic before my entire day is soured.”

“Fair enough,” the unicorn nodded. “What would you like to discuss?”

“Do you know of a good museum that deals in Unification-Era artifacts?” Aspect asked. “I’ve been meaning to donate quite a few of mine.”

“Hmm…” Fancy tugged thoughtfully at his mustache. “Let's see now. Perhaps the Central Canterlot Museum would be best.”

“Perfect!” Aspect smiled. “I wouldn’t just want them to be put somewhere and forgotten, you see. Somewhere where ponies might actually see them, that works for me. Almost everything in my saddlebags qualifies as an artifact.” He blinked a few times before adding, “And the saddlebags, now that I think about it.”

“Haha, I'd imagine you'd have a wealth of stories to tell,” Fancy Pants mused, before his eyes widened slightly. “Now there's an idea. Perhaps document your stories. I'm sure plenty of ponies would like to read them.”

“Assuming they would believe them,” the alicorn pointed out. “Or would even want to listen, considering all I’ve done. I’m not Ponykind’s sword against the darkness for nothing, you know.”

“The world is a vast place Sir Aspect. And perhaps you could use an assistant?” the stallion suggested. “A writer who could use their name to help push it out to more ponies?”

“I’ll...consider it,” the alicorn nodded once. “There are some tales that don’t need to be retold.”

“I'd imagine some are… quite violent,” Fancy agreed. A moment later, a weary-looking Celestia ambled back into the room and groaned loudly.

“You were the one that wanted to introduce me as an alicorn, I’ll remind you,” Aspect called to her. “In any case, this charming stallion and I have a museum to check out. I think it’s high time some of my armory and relics found a proper home.” The alicorn flared a wing, and from behind the door where he’d been standing, his saddlebags and sword floated out and settled across his back.

“What? You're leaving already?” Celestia asked him.

“Introducing me is half the battle,” Aspect quipped. “The other half is good publicity. What better way to do that than to donate to a museum?”

“I suppose,” the alicorn sighed. And here she wanted to spend the day with him.

“I have a lot of catching up to do,” Aspect returned, walking closer and nuzzling his daughter. “But I’ll come back eventually. You can’t have me for the whole day, but I’ll spend some time with you when my business is done.”

“Alright,” Celestia smiled softly. “Go and donate your toys. I'll be here making sure Equestria doesn't burn down.”

“I was unaware Pyro was in town,” the stallion quipped playfully.

“Cute, but leave my little ponies unattended for too long and who knows,” Celestia shrugged.

“We can be rather exuberant sometimes,” Fancy mused with a light chuckle.

“...Did we really need an Aspect of Fire then?” Aspect mused, before chuckling. “I jest, I jest. Okay then, Sir Fancy Pants. Lead on!”

“Right this way then,” the stallion nodded as he headed for the door. Today should prove very interesting indeed.

Author's Note

I half considered introducing a three week pause here, to match up with what Aspect went through.

And now things get...interesting again. There's a plot at work y'all don't know of, but you'll find out~

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to paying Aus' internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent farming Ultra Space.

Chapter 34 - Alicorn Errands

The museum that Fancy Pants had led the newly-revealed Alicorn to was fairly impressive. Nice marble structure, pillars, and of course it was also fairly large as well. Though Aspect wouldn’t be surprised if there were just a lot of unicorn-central artifacts in there. Things like Platinum’s dinnerware or the like, what with that one noble he met still...coloring his view.

Surprisingly enough, it hosted a wide variety of exhibitions. Everything from Ancient Zebrica to dinosaurs… wait, Equestria had dinosaurs!?

“Well, color me impressed, some are interested in history,” Aspect chuckled. “And look, I’m not the oldest thing around!”

“Not by much if the rumors are true,” a mare's voice chuckled. Aspect turned and was greeted by an older Earth pony, perhaps in her mid forties? She had a grayish coat with a striped green and cobalt mane tied up in a bun. A pair of half moon glasses rested on her muzzle. “So, you're our Princesses papa eh?”

“That I am, and I’ve accrued quite a few relics in my time,” Aspect confirmed. “Unification-era, pre-Unification era, and just a few from afterwards.”

Her eyes widened as she stepped closer. “Are… you’re not kidding are you? That would be a rather cruel joke…”

And that was when Aspect noticed something. Amidst the fossils, artworks and the like.

There was very little in the way of pre-Unification era objects.

“I saved what I could before the Windigoes came and froze Dream Valley,” the Alicorn replied, nudging his saddlebags with a wing. “You would not believe the amount of things stuck in here.”

“You have a Pocket Dimension charm on your bags too… wait, are those…” She stepped closer and looked at the bags themselves. “May I ask… who made them?”

“Heartthrob of Dream Valley,” Aspect replied. “She wove the usual enchantments into the stitching of the saddlebags. I just keep them in shape.”

“I knew it!” the mare beamed. “I have something to show you, would you come this way please?” And like that she trotted off down a hallway. The stallion shrugged before following after her, curious as to where this was going.

He eventually arrived at a sealed room, barred by a heavy cast iron gate with a magical and physical lock.

“Here we are,” the mare beamed. “This is the Vault, where we keep particular artifacts not… suited to be on display to the general public.”

“Mmm,” Aspect nodded once. “There were a few like that, but they’re inert now, or gone. I made sure of that.”

“Well, I have something here you might be interested in,” she nodded. “Oh! I haven’t introduced myself yet have I? My name is Treasured History. It’s a true pleasure to meet you.”

“Balanced Aspect, though I think you already knew that,” the stallion chuckled. “Now, what’s so important that you had to lock it away?”

“Ah, would you permit me to tell a little story?” she chuckled as she took a brass key and unlocked the physical lock. “Did you know my family is nobility? Well, it seemed that my unicorn parents weren’t too impressed their firstborn was an Earth Pony. So I got a job as an assistant to the previous curator.”

“Which apparently paid off, if you’re now the curator yourself,” Aspect deduced.

“Indeed,” Treasured nodded. “But, my family has quite the history. It was how I earned my Cutie Mark,” she showed her flank, adorned by a scroll bound by a golden clasp. “By tracing back my family’s history to the PU era!”

“Oh?” Aspect smiled. “Well, it’s nice to know that some ponies haven’t forgotten entirely where their roots lie.”

“Mhm,” she nodded as she used a glowing stone to unlock the magical seal. “And it was all due to one item I found buried in the attic.” She opened the door and stepped inside. There was a long corridor, the first section were small to large drawers that stacked up to the ceiling, followed by a larger area for bigger items. Aspect followed her as she moved past a few objects and artifacts until she stopped at one drawer.

She opened it and a soft smile crossed her muzzle as she reached inside and pulled out a book.

It took Aspect a moment, but then it clicked. He knew that book.

Or more, he knew the Cutie mark adorning the cover. Three winged hearts…

“That’s...Heartthrob’s mark,” he breathed.

“Yes it is,” she smiled as she held out the book for him. “She’s my ancestor. This book was passed down, generation to generation. But to meet a pony that knew her personally?”

“Times were...much simpler then,” Aspect nodded once, a faint tear coming to his eye. “We had our share of excitement, but for the most part...when there wasn’t a monster, it was peaceful. And she looked forward, every day, to not just finding her own one true love, but helping the others look their best for their loves as well.”

“I want you to turn to page 43,” Treasured said. Aspect carefully lit up his horn and began gently moving the pages, mindful of how old this book must be.

‘Dear Diary.

Aaargh! Aspect frustrates me So. Feathering. MUCH! >o<

I can tell how much he likes Written, and she totes like him back. But he’s more dense than that sword of his and can’t see what right in front of him!

Still, I know they care for each other in their own way. Love comes in all forms really. I mean, I love everypony here in the Valley. And in different ways too. And, well I guess I kinda like Aspect. I mean, he is pretty cute. And super dependable.

Also, you can’t tell him this Diary. I would die of embarrassment. >///<

But back on topic. I have a plan tonight. To finally get those clueless ponies together. Heehee, this’ll be fun~’

“So that’s why she kept trying to suggest I take Written out to moonlit, romantic venues,” Aspect muttered.

“I’ve read that book cover to cover, and it never gets old,” Treasured smiled. “Also, I’d like you to have it.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly-” Aspect tried to decline.

“I’ve made copies of it, but I think the original should be yours,” Treasured said with a soft smile. “She was your friend, and a dear one if her diary is anything to go by.” The mare closed the drawer and closed her eyes. “Please, I want this.”

“I...fine,” Aspect sighed as he put his bags down and rummaged in them for a moment, before gently putting the book away. “I suppose I can put it on the shelf back home.”

“I’m glad,” Treasured smiled. “Now—” her eyes sparkled brightly. “—You said you had donations for me?”

“Just give me a moment,” Aspect chuckled as he moved to the other saddlebag. “Let’s see here...I have plenty of things from the Founders, a few pieces of art from Dream Valley, and...oooh, that’s a nasty reminder…”

“Hm? What is?” she asked, trying to get a closer look.

“Okay, first off, stand back, I’m going to go from oldest to youngest here,” Aspect said through the saddlebags, before he pulled out a painting. A remarkably well-preserved painting, but a wonderful painting of a small, pink set of houses in a picturesque valley. The sun had just risen over the horizon and spread a cheery orange glow across everything.

“Wow…” Treasured breathed. “Who’s the artist?”

“Masterful Pallet, from Dream Valley,” Aspect replied. “He did another one, this was just of Paradise Estate. Let me look for it…” And like that, the stallion was sticking his head in the bag again.

“...How big is that bag?” Treasured blinked slowly.

“I lost count,” Aspect replied through the bag again. He pulled his head back, this time showing off a castle that also lay within a valley between two mountains, with a massive, impressive tree in the courtyard. “And this is where I raised Celly and Lulu in our little hidden valley.”

“Oh wow!” History exclaimed, looking at the piece. “I-I had no idea. Heart described a few places, but to actually see them…”

“Sadly that’s about it for pre-Unification artifacts that survived,” Aspect replied. “The others were either dangerous, as in the case of the Golden Doors, or destroyed, as was the case with the Flashstone and the Six Princesses Wands. But we got them back, in one form or another.”

“Six Wands?” Treasured asked curiously. “What are those?”

“They were wands that could control the clouds, manipulate plants, all sorts of things, just for a regular pony. They were meant to control the flow of Ponyland’s magic, make sure it was in balance,” Aspect replied. “Then we had to abandon the valley, and the caretakers of the wands entrusted them to me after they found they didn’t work outside the valley.”

“So, they don’t work anymore?” Treasured sighed. “A pity, I would have loved to have seen them.”

“Well they didn’t,” Aspect replied. “Then I had the bright idea to, once the Windigos were dealt with, move the Heart of Ponyland from the valley, since ponies weren’t living there anymore. Once the Heart and the Wands were in range of each other again, the wands worked once again. But I made sure to put them under the watch of someone who would never falter and make sure they weren’t used for ill intentions. So far, nobody’s found him, and nobody knows of the wands to go looking for them.”

“How very mysterious,” Treasured cooed as she thought of all the wonderful things this stallion must have seen. “Tell me more.”

“There was also a wonderful artifact known as the Rainbow of Light, received in ancient times from the Moochik, a curious little creature who lived in a mushroom, one as big as a house,” Aspect illuminated. “It could banish any evil and restore balance and light wherever it was unleashed...except in one, near-fatal case.”

“Oh?” Treasured had taken a seat as she wrote this down. It sounded fascinating!

“The witches of Mount Gloom conjured an unstoppable tide, an implacable enemy, a foe without measure...known only as the Smooze. It was an ocean of purple sludge that poured forth from their volcano, and it covered everything. Anyone that was caught in it, even a drop, became depressed and listless. And anyone who was caught under it…” Aspect shook his head. “The Rainbow tried to stop it...and failed.”

“I thought the valley was frozen over,” Treasured frowned. “Are you saying, that was not the case?”

“Oh no, it was,” Aspect replied. “At the last second, when the Smooze assaulted Paradise Estates, and the ponies gathered atop the roof...their allies came in to help. The Flutterponies. Oh, you should have seen them. They were the fusion between butterflies and ponies, each one capable of magic. They lived in their own valley about...ninety percent of the time. But when the ponies needed them, they came out to help. As they themselves would say, nothing could stand up to the power of all their wings working in unison to dispel evil, or more simply put, their Utter Flutter.”

Treasured stared at him. “You have to be pulling my leg. Flutter Ponies are a myth…”

“Two seconds,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof before diving back into the bag. A moment later, he pulled out a stone half as large as himself that faintly glowed with an inner radiance.

“The Sunstone from Flutter Valley,” he proclaimed. “Once Celly took control of the sun, it wasn’t an issue for them anymore. In fact, they needed to give it to me to make sure their plants wouldn’t burn under too much sun.”

“That’s…” Treasured stared at the stone with no small amount of curiosity. “Incredible! What does it do exactly?”

“Well, as you might imagine, growing plants that need a lot of sun is a little hard in a valley,” Aspect pointed out. “Not as much light as could be there. This stone can simulate sunlight in any area. It recharges with but an hour of natural light a day. If we took it outside, it would start to get very warm in Canterlot.”

“That… sounds like it could be dangerous,” Treasured gulped. “While I would love to display it. Perhaps we’d best craft a replica instead.”

“Mmm, probably for the best,” Aspect agreed. “Still, it should help to dissuade any rumors that Flutterponies aren’t real. They were the caretakers for Flutter Valley. Pretty magically powerful, when they could be convinced to come out of their homes.”

“Do you have anything else?” Treasured asked. “While that stone is amazing, I like to think that my museum is a place of learning, as well as a treasury of the past.”

“Well...there is one thing,” Aspect mused. “But it’s probably best that you have replicas crafted of them as well.”

“Okay, what is it?” she asked, hopping cutely on her hooves.

Aspect reached into his bag and didn’t emerge for a very long time...and when he did, it was with four golden horseshoes in his mouth. “Mimic’s horseshoes,” he said. “She was descended from the first unicorn in Dream Valley. With these, she could glow brightly, read minds, see the future, and even fly. She left them to me when she passed.”

“..Can they really do that?” Treasured asked. “I mean, can anypony use them? Or just unicorns?”

“Anypony could use them,” Aspect nodded once. “That’s why they’re so dangerous. Can you imagine somepony knowing the future all the time? You wouldn’t be able to stop him. Or somepony that could read minds. Once again, they wouldn’t be somepony you could easily dislodge from a position of power.”

“Indeed,” Treasured nodded as she stared at them. “What I wouldn't give.. Just to try,” she sighed. “It was, hard, growing up in a family of magic users. As a filly, my parents would make me wear a fake horn at social and public events… just to avoid the shame.”

“I’m very sorry about that,” Aspect replied sincerely. “But these are some of those sorts of things that ponies shouldn’t have access to. The real ones, at least.”

“Yes, I suppose,” she said. “I um… if even only for a minute…”

Aspect stared at her.

Really stared at her.

To the point where it was uncomfortable.

Before sighing and nodding. “Fine. But only one, you understand? And I’ll be timing you.”

“Really?” she gasped and stared closely at him, her nose touching his.

“Just one, but I don’t know which one is which anymore,” Aspect replied. “So…”

She nodded and held up a hoof. “I trust you,” she smiled.

Aspect shrugged and pulled the first shoe out of the pile, before pressing it to her hoof. She looked down at it and blinked slowly.

“So um… how do I use it?” she asked sheepishly. “I don’t feel any different…”

“Well, since you’re an Earth Pony, it should kick in in a moment,” Aspect replied. “Earth ponies primarily conduct their magic through their hooves. So when your magic activates this magic, the horseshoe should start—”

And then her eyes glowed a brilliant white as her expression fell blank.

“Now, was that the mind-reading one or the future-telling one?” Aspect mused.

“Beware Balanced Aspect.” her voice came out hollow and reverberating. “Beware the storm that approaches. The dark, shifting cloud, and the claimer of souls…”

That was all she got out before the magic overwhelmed her and she fell sideways unconscious.

“Well that’s ominous, I don’t think,” Aspect snorted. “Well, let’s get that off her and hope she recovers soon, I still have two more categories to go through.” The stallion quickly popped the golden shoe off and stuck the four shoes back in his bag, hoping that separation was all the mare needed to recover.

A minute later, she finally came to, holding a hoof to her head. “Owww… wh-what happened?”

“You got the future-telling one, said a troubling prophecy in one of those properly echoing voices, and fell unconscious,” Aspect told her. “In all honesty, I probably should have seen that last part coming. These things are crazy old and not gentle, sometimes.”

“Urgh… I don’t, remember anything,” she groaned as she wobbled, having to lean against the alicorn for support. “Next time I ask to wear an ancient and powerful artifact… please talk me out of it.”

“Hey, at least you proved that the magic in them is still strong,” Aspect joked to her. “So that’s something. And that’s the last of the things from the pre-Unification era that survived. I have a small armory of things from the Unification era, and one thing from after it….though I really don’t know how old it is.”

“Well what is it?” she asked excitedly, forgetting her trauma from before. “Perhaps I could offer insight?”

“Well, the only one that really knows is dead, for a good reason,” Aspect replied before he ducked his head into his bag again. He wasn’t gone for as long this time, and when he pulled his head back, his horn was glowing as a bell bigger than either of them was pulled free of his bags. There was a crack running down one side as it came to rest in the hallway.

“This,” the stallion said, and a smaller bell, a perfect replica of the larger one, down to the crack, came out as well, “Was the bell of Grogar the Ram. Anytime the small one rang, the larger one, which was where he stored his dark powers, gave him more magic to work with. It was only by forcing a crack into them that I could undo his powers. Because although ringing the large one could banish Tambleon back into the realm of Shadows...that would just make him a present-day problem. I was more of a mind to stop him once and for all.”

“Tambelon was real too?” she exclaimed as she grabbed a book from a nearby shelf. “That was just before the Discordian Era yes? Most records from before that point were destroyed by Discord. So this is why all this is so great!”

“Tambleon is still real,” Aspect replied. “But...you really shouldn’t go there. The barrier between worlds is...thin there. And what’s on the other side isn’t any nicer now that Grogar’s gone. It’s not a place for sane ponies to go.”

“Yes, I think I’ll be avoiding that,” Treasured nodded. “I’m a scholar, not an adventurer.”

“In any case, I don’t know how old the bell is,” Aspect replied. “Grogar showed up in Dream Valley, but he was banished back to the Realm of Shadows. He showed up again shortly after Nightmare Moon, but he didn’t get another chance then. I don’t know how long he was...lurking in the darkness.”

Treasured shuddered and looked away. “Sometimes I wonder… why our history was so dark. And I am thankful for the peace we’ve had so far.”

“That’s why Ponykind has me,” Aspect chuckled. “Your sword against the darkness. I do what I must to make sure your lives are brighter.”

“You’ve mentioned this sword before,” Treasured nodded. “Do you have it on you?”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded once. “The guards got uppity about me carrying a sword in public, so I stuck it in the bags. It’s sort of my badge of office.”

“May I see it?” she asked. “You know, unless that will knock me unconscious as well.”

“No, that shouldn’t be a problem,” Aspect chuckled as he ducked his head back into his bags, reaching a hoof in as well. Soon enough, he pulled out his long sword, laying it down before the mare. “Word of advice, though. Don’t try to pick it up. It’s picky about who holds it.”

“Right, not going to touch this one,” she nodded as she looked over the weapon. “I don’t know much about swords, but it looks incredibly well made. I mean, it looks brand new, instead of being as old as history itself.”

“Part magic, part me taking care of it,” Aspect replied. “I do what I can.”

She made a few notes on it and smiled. “Would you be willing to allow a replica of this made too?”

“Of course, though you don’t have to worry about the bell,” Aspect replied, pointing his horn at it. “Not only did all the dark magic escape out of the crack, but I personally purged both of them of any taint, enchantments, magic, and so on they could have held.”

“So… are you saying I can display them here?” she asked him. She admittedly had had the question on her mind, only she got distracted by shiny things…

“And that’s not all I have,” Aspect said, before poking his right saddlebag. The sound of shifting metal caught her attention. “I have a small armory of the things the Founders had from the days of the Unification.”

“Eeeeee~” she danced on the tips of her hooves.

“Okay, okay, let me just…” Aspect opened the right saddlebag and lit up his horn. A few moments passed, before the armor started to assemble itself into suits right in front of her. A few Earth Pony suits, a few Pegasus battle armors...and for the unicorns, all that came out were a few robes.

“Oooohhhh~” she cooed as she stared at object after object. This was just too much. She couldn’t believe the wealth of history he was unloading.

“I honestly thought about opening my own little museum, but I figured that donating to one would be better,” Aspect replied. “I also have a few tomes from the founders, though you might want to go through them before you decide to display them.”

“BOOKS!?” Treasured exclaimed, booping his nose with hers again. “Show me please!”

“Give me just one moment here,” Aspect said as he pulled back and then began looking in his saddlebags. “Nope...nope...not that one...noooo...Aha! One, two, three, four, five...all six!” Out came the stallion’s muzzle and an assortment of books, each one with the cutie mark of one of the Founders on them.

“Wait… I know some of these Cutie Marks,” she said as she looked them over. “These are the Founders. Princess Platinum. Clover… Hurricane… woooooow!”

“Their diaries,” Aspect nodded once. “Well, Hurricane didn’t really keep a diary. She was more of a fan of going out and kicking flank, so her book is definitely about the turbulent times.”

“How very interesting… may I, read all of these?” she asked with wide eyes.

“I wouldn’t bring them out if I hadn’t meant for you to have them,” Aspect smiled at her.

“Eeeeeeee~” the mare squealed and actually hugged him. “Ohhh thankyouthankyou! I can’t wait to read them, about all that knowledge and history! Ponies from all over will love these!”

“Yes, well, let’s see…” Aspect mused. “Okay...so you can easily get four golden horseshoes made. And a replica of the Sunstone. You can have the paintings, though don’t be surprised if Tia and Lulu ask for duplicates. Everything else? Yours to do with as you see fit.”

“Oh, I already have ideas for a new exhibition,” Treasured smiled. “And you can be sure you will get an invitation to the opening night.”

“Mmm,” Aspect nodded. “I’ll be happy to not be carrying those things around anymore, to be frank. Though if you want to find some of the biggest, most dangerous artifacts...I still have the Golden Doors. Come around and take a look sometime if you want to make a replica of them. I shudder to imagine them being opened by accident in a museum.”

“Golden Doors?” she asked him as they started to head back to the lobby where Fancy pants was waiting.

“Mmm, Heartthrob should have written about them,” Aspect nodded once. “She met Prince Charming. The only problem was, he wanted to charm everypony. And of course, the longer he was outside his story, the less charming he was.”

“Oh, I remember that entry,” she giggled. “I thought she might have made the whole thing up, like an odd twist on the fairy tale.”

“Afraid not,” Aspect replied. “The Golden Doors are very much real, and if they’re ever opened, they allow the realm of fiction to bleed into reality. That must never happen, because if the characters stay out too long, their stories begin to fade away, like they never were.”

Treasured gasped and shook her head. “Ohno, that would be terrible!”

“Indeed,” Aspect nodded once. “Fortunately, that realm has a guardian, who comes out and collects any characters that wander away. Just as fortunately, he hasn’t had to do anything, because I made sure the doors stayed closed.”

“A Guardian? Who?”

“Only the archetypical dragon, the one that most think of when they hear the phrase ‘A dragon kidnapped the beautiful unicorn noble,’” Aspect replied. “He’s basically the big, scary monster from all the stories...but he’s clever enough to know that he needs heroes to fight him, so he acts to defend his ‘realm’ from vanishing.”

“Huh… what an odd choice,” she mused as they exited the Vault. “It makes sense, still odd though.”

“He’s the one that made me think that maybe, just maybe, not everyone that I fought was evil,” Aspect agreed. “In any case, if you want to get some fake Golden Doors in here, I can show you the real thing, but they’re sort of stuck in place now.”

“I’ll come and see them soon then,” she nodded before pausing. “Um… where, exactly am I going?”

“I live in Ponyville,” Aspect smiled at her. “It’ll be really hard to miss my place, don’t worry. Just ask around and someone will direct you to me.”

“Ah, well thank you again,” Treasured smiled. “I can't even begin to tell you how this is going to help the historical society, not to mention all the ponies that will learn from this.”

“If I can help but one pony learn from the past, then my job is done,” Aspect said seriously.

“A whole lot more than one will learn from this,” Treasured nodded and clapped her hooves together. “Ooh, I need to start designing the exhibition right away!” With a bow of her head and one last wave, she galloped off.

“Seems that went well then?” Fancy Pants asked as he walked back over to him.

“Oh, you know, just unloading a few thousand years worth of history, nothing major,” Aspect quipped. “The dangerous things will have replicas made of them, while the non-dangerous things will go on display.”

“As it should be,” Fancy nodded. “While I doubt anypony would try something, why take that risk eh?”

“Indeed,” Aspect nodded once. “Now...where’s a good smith? I have about...two tons of rock that I need processed.”

“Hmm, a metal smith eh?” Fancy scratched his chin. “I’m, not too sure actually. How about we check the Artisan District. Somepony there might know.”

“That works,” Aspect smiled at the noble. “...Is it weird if I say I only just now noticed how light my saddlebags are getting?”

“I can only imagine dear boy,” the unicorn nodded. “Quite the literal and mental weight off eh?”

“Part of it, part of it,” Aspect agreed as he followed Fancy Pants. “Nice to know that the things I’ve been gathering are going to a good home at last.”

The noble stallion led the alicorn to a quaint little coffee house. It was shaped like a fallen log, with a heavy oak and iron door leading inside. Though pushing on it, it seemed to have a lightweight charm.

“Here we are,” Fancy beamed. “One of the finest places to get coffee in Canterlot, even if it isn’t the most well known.”

“Mmm, truth be told, I could do with a cup,” Aspect mused. “Well, I’ll trust your judgement on this.”

Inside, a tall, leggy mare greeted them. She could actually look Aspect in the eye. She had dark crimson eyes and a tan coat mottled with darker brown stains and spots. Her milk chocolate mane was tied up into a messy bun and she wore a friendly smile.

“Welcome to the Daily Grind,” she said. “My name is Mocha Latte, what can I get for you find gentlestallions this afternoon?”

“Whatever the house speciality is, and directions to a forge that’s worth the time to find,” Aspect replied.

“Well, somepony doesn’t beat around the bush does he?” Mocha giggled. “So for the house special… well, only those that truly need it get it. But I have a few other… brews…” She looked at him and blinked, before rubbing her eyes. “Um, forgive me but…” She looked him over. “Are, you an alicorn?”

“At the moment, yes,” Aspect replied with a wink. “Would you prefer I was something else?”

“Huh?” Something else?” Mocha looked, very confused. She tilted her head slowly as her ears wiggled a little.

“Observe!” Aspect proclaimed, before swapping his form out for a Pegasus guise, then to a Unicorn, then an Earth pony, before ending as an alicorn again. “Benefits of being old and wanting to blend in, you tend to pick up shapeshifting,” he explained.

Moach blinked, then leaned in close.

“Are you a Changeling?” she whispered.

“Nope, but ask me about them again some other time, it’s a fun story,” Aspect replied with a cheeky smile. “I’m just very old, and I’ve had time to practice turning into a lot of things.” By way of demonstration, he became a minotaur, then a griffon, and then his alicorn self again. “Still don’t have Dragon or Diamond Dog yet, I should fix that,” he muttered.

“I… uh…” Mocha tilted her head slowly. This was… new.

“But that’s for another time,” Aspect replied, turning to Fancy Pants. “For now, let’s seat ourselves, shall we?”

“Indeed,” Fancy nodded. “Where might we sit Mocha dear?”

The tall mare blinked again and shook her head. “Oh um, right this way please,” she said and led them to a small booth. It had comfy, plush couches to sit on, separated by an ornate wooden table. “Would, you like some food with your drinks.”

“Mm, I am a bit peckish,” Fancy nodded. “You, Sir Aspect?”

“It’s remarkable what a magical coma will make you miss, I am positively famished,” Aspect replied. “I mean, I can get by without eating, but like many things, I prefer not to.”

“So, food and coffee it is,” Mocha giggled. “Would you like to order or…”

“We shall defer to your judgement my dear,” Fancy winked at her. She let out a little giggle and trotted off. Fancy turned back to Aspect and smiled. “Trust me, she is a fine mare and an even finer cook. We’re in good hooves.”

“I’ll trust you,” Aspect nodded once as he mentally went over his list. “Hmm...Diamond Dog I could...oh duh. I could just borrow Artemis for a moment. And Dragon...that solution has been staring me in the nose too, hasn’t it?”

“Something bothering you old chap?”

“Oh, it’s just a hobby of mine,” Aspect replied, waving a hoof. “I try to be able to blend in wherever I go. But I never did manage a Diamond Dog or Dragon form before.”

“Well, I can’t imagine how often those forms would be,” Fancy chuckled. “A dragon would stick out even more than an Alicorn.”

“True, but one of my threats I make to my daughters whenever they bicker is that they’re never too big or too old to put over my knee,” Aspect clarified. “And they like to counter that yes, their Alicorn selves are. I just want to see their faces when I turn into a dragon.”

“I admit, it would be quite amusing,” Fancy Pants chuckled. Idle conversation passed until Mocha brought over their coffee. Two mugs of steaming, fresh elixir.

“Brace yourself,” Fancy said seriously. “I don’t know what kind of coffee you’ve had until now. But I am certain it won’t compare to this.”

“Fancy, it took ponykind thousands of years to invent coffee in the first place,” Aspect deadpanned. “I treat every cup with the respect it damn well deserves.”

“Well then, bottoms up,” the stallion mused and took a sip of his, sighing contently. Aspect nodded as he pulled his own cup close and sipped it as well. It was rich and smooth, blended to absolute perfection as the earthy-scented drink slid down his throat. Not overly sweet, nor too bitter.

“This,” Aspect noted aloud as he set the cup down. “Is a work of art in liquid form.”

“That it is,” Fancy nodded. “I told you so did I not?”

Before Aspect could reply, the mare returned with several plates in her magical grasp. One was a large serving of fries, fried to perfection. An assortment of condiments like salt and sauce followed. Another plate of crisp salad, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and the like, covered by a fragrant dressing. She also placed a side of fried eggs with sakura petals, as well as a loaf of fresh baked bread and various dipping oils.

“I hope you're hungry,” she smiled sweetly.

“Dear, I could feast like the king I’m not,” Aspect replied. “Well, help me out here Fancy, I can hardly eat all of this myself!”

“Oh?” the stallion chuckled. “If you’re Celestia’s father, I’m sure her appetite had to come from somewhere eh?”

“You should have seen their mother when she was pregnant with them,” Aspect quipped.

“I can only imagine,” Fancy laughed as he started on the salad. “So, if I may ask… are you their biological father or…”

“Foster father,” Aspect replied. “Their actual father, I don’t know. But I was good friends with their mother, to the point where when they grew up enough to talk, they called me daddy.”

“Ahh, well that’s rather adorable,” Fancy chuckled again. “It’s just me and Fleur right now. A foal might… complicate matters.”

“Ah well, you have the opposite problem of me then,” Aspect quipped. “I have far too many children.”

“All adopted?” Fancy quirked an eyebrow.

“In one fashion or another, yes,” Aspect nodded. “And grandchildren. I honestly wasn’t expecting the grandchildren. But it is what it is. At least when they visit, my house doesn’t feel so empty.”

“Always a plus,” the unicorn nodded.

After they’d finished eating and Aspect was properly stuffed, the noble unicorn covered the tab and Mocha smiled.

“So, what did I hear about a smith?”

“Ah, well, there was a meteor shower a few hundred years ago,” Aspect replied. “I was in the neighborhood and picked up the rocks that seemed to have a sort of silvery ore in them. So I was hoping I could find a smith that could extract and process the ore, make a nice gift of it for Luna.”

“Hmm, well I do know one,” Mocha rubbed her chin. “And he’s made works for Princess Luna before.”

“Perfect!” Aspect beamed at her.

She giggled at his sudden enthusiasm and flicked her long silky tail. “Well, let's go and pay him a visit hm?”

“Well, I shall leave you in Mocha’s capable hooves,” Fancy exclaimed. “I have a few things to take care of.”

“Fair enough, but thank you for taking time out of your day to show an old stallion like myself around,” Aspect replied, bowing his head to the noble.

“Think nothing of it,” Fancy nodded. “I’ll warn you now, do try and avoid Jet Set and Upper Crust. That pair will either brownnose you, or outright be hostile towards you.”

“If I encounter them, I’ll be sure to ignore them,” Aspect replied with a smirk. “Works well either way.”

Fancy chuckled and nodded to him and the mare before taking his leave.

“He’s a nice stallion,” Moach hummed. “One of the few good ones. If I still liked them, I might have quite the crush on him.”

“Ah, well, it’s not my place to pry,” Aspect replied with a smile. “Still, nice to know they’re still around, noble nobles.”

“Mhm,” Mocha sighed. “Too bad they aren’t like they used to be way back when,” she said as she locked up her store and adjusted her saddlebags. “Did you know nobles used to enlist in the military? The Griffon wars changed that, because the Nobles were too scared of losing everything and their family line dying out—” She blushed and looked away. “Sorry, I tend to ramble sometimes.”

“Oh great,” Aspect muttered. “I have another species to reprimand…”

“Hmm? What was that?” Mocha asked.

“Nothing, just preparing a scolding,” the stallion replied. “Shall we see this master smith you tell me might be able to help me?”

“Of course,” Mocha nodded as she started to lead him deeper into the District. They passed by various interesting places, and Aspect noted that the architecture here was very different to the rest of Canterlot. Not as uniform and more… free.

“Mmm, quite inspired architecture,” Aspect noted aloud. “Nice to see that ponies can occasionally break the mold and be themselves.”

“That’s what this area is for,” Mocha hummed. “Basically, the story goes is that during Canterlot’s construction, there was an argument on how the city should be built. Whether a more uniform design befitting a capitol city, or something more unique.” She turned a corner and started heading down an alley. “The nobles wanted a more uniform, formal design and seeing as how they were the ones putting more time and money into building it…”

“Eh, I was never one for the repression of expression, I can’t see Celly agreeing with them about it either,” Aspect pointed out.

“Well, in the end, Celestia was outvoted on the city’s overall design,” Mocha explained. “But, are you ready for this?” she let out a little giggle. “The princess used her own bits to purchase this entire district… then gave it to the artists with the explicit instructions of… ‘Go nuts’.”

“There we go, that’s what I would have done,” Aspect smirked. “If they’re blocking you, circumvent them entirely. There’s more than one way to solve a problem...unless it’s a math problem.”

“True enough,” Mocha smiled. “I suspect I’ve had the princess in my store before. There’s a cute pegasus mare that frequents it. And we’ll just say I have a sixth sense when somepony is hiding something.”

“Mmm,” Aspect nodded once. “Well, they’re shapeshifters as well, they can change their forms. They’re not as gifted as me, but I did teach them how to disguise themselves.”

“Huh… maybe I’ll ask,” Mocha mused. “Or not. A mare is entitled to her secrets.”

As they moved down the alley way, a distant ringing sound was getting louder.

“Is that what I think it is?” Aspect asked.

“Mhm,” Mocha nodded and smiled. They reached the end of the alley and at the far end of the wider area, sat a very old-timey forge. Made of cobblestone, iron and wood, it brought back a lot of nostalgia for the old alicorn.

“Aaah, the way things were done in the old days,” the stallion sighed. “Some things just can’t be beat.”

“You and Silver are going to get along fine,” the mare mused as they got closer. “Silver? You in?”

“Eh, whozzat?” came a thick, highlander accent. “Mocha lass, that you?”

“Aye,” she laughed, mimicking his accent. “That it is.”

“Och! I missed ya girl,” he laughed back and stepped into view. He was a unicorn, a dark blue coat and a long, silver mane, tail and beard. His Cutie mark was that on an anvil and hammer, and his eyes were a bright arctic blue. “Now who’s this, yer new coltfriend?”

“W-What? No!” Mocha blushed and waved a hoof. “He’s come here looking for you.”

“I asked this delightful mare to lead me to a smith that would be capable of helping me,” Aspect replied. “Said you even did orders for Princess Luna.”

“Aye, that I did,” he replied, scratching his beard as he looked at Aspect. He’d seen this look before, the stallion was eying him up, they type to discern a pony from a glance. “So lad, those wings and horn real?”

“That they are,” Aspect replied. “I just have been going around in disguise for the longest time.”

“Interestin’,” Silvermane nodded. “Well. ah guess ya seem like an alright sort. The lovely lass here wouldn’t have helped you otherwise.”

“I try to be a nice sort to those that deserve it, yes,” Aspect replied as he took his saddlebags off. “I have a bit of a challenge for you, if you think you’re up to it.”

The stallion gave Mocha a quizzical look. “Yeh have some odd friends lass.”

“Mhm,” Mocha hummed as she started to unpack her saddlebags.

“And a challenge eh?” the muscled unicorn cracked his neck. “What sort?”

“There was a meteor shower a few hundred years ago, I was in the neighborhood,” Aspect explained as he pulled his bags off and set them down. “So I might have scooped up the ore-bearing rocks and put them in my saddlebags. Figured I could find somepony to make something of it later.”

The stallion’s eye gave an almost near imperceptible twitch as he stepped closer. “Yeh nae pullin’ mah leg are yeh?” he asked. “Yeh actually managed to get you some genuine Star Metal?”

“I’m old,” Aspect deadpanned. “You would not believe the things I’ve got. But yes, I have the fallen meteors in my saddlebags. I’m willing to let you work with it on one condition. I want a halberd of it made for Luna.”

“Fer the wee Princess?” he looked surprise. “Might ye indulge an’ old stallion as tae why?”

“One thousand years of missed birthdays,” Aspect summed up.

“Apparently he’s the Princess's father,” Mocha filled in the missing information.

“Is that right?” Silvermane mused as he looked Aspect over again. “Well I’ll be a Breezie’s uncle. Ain’t that sumthin’.”

“Like I said, I’ve been in disguise for a while and I’m really old,” Aspect replied. “Blending in comes natural to me, but apparently Celly was of the opinion to bring me back as this.”

“The Princess is wise, but she’s still a mare,” Silver chuckled, before he saw the glare that Mocha had settled on him. “Ehe, not that there’s anythin’ wrong with that…”

“Better,” the unicorn mare huffed as she poured two mugs of brew.

“Well ah kin do that,” Silver nodded. “Ah worked with Star Metal befer, so ah know how tae handle such a temperamental mistress.”

“Oh good,” Aspect nodded with a smile before he opened up his right saddlebag, his horn glowing.

There was the sound of shifting metal...and then a procession of rocks began being stacked up next to Silver’s forge. The pile it made ended up being larger than said forge.

“There were a lot of rocks there,” the stallion explained. “I didn’t want to miss one.”

“That’s… quite the collection,” he chuckled. “Far more than for jus’ a single halbred.”

“Well, I need to pay you somehow,” Aspect replied. “I said I’d let you work with it as long as you made a halberd. Never said you couldn’t play with the rest.”

“Is tha’ right?” the stallion rubbed his beard. “So yer sayin’ in exchange her a weapon fit fer a princess… ah get the rest o’ this metal?”

“Are the terms agreeable?” Aspect asked.

“Lad… yeh could by a country with that amount of metal. Are yeh absolutely sure?”

“What would I do with it?” Aspect fired back. “I just want something for Luna. Anything else you decide to do is entirely up to you.”

“Hmm…” a few ideas were already forming. “Well if yeh certain lad…”

“I’m sure,” Aspect nodded once. “I already have a sword. I’m good for weapons myself. I just want a nice present for Luna.”

“Hmm, yeh have a blade?” he asked. “Might ah take a look at it?”

Aspect nodded once and reached into his bag again, this time drawing the blade out by hoof and setting it down between them. “Careful,” he warned the smith. “It doesn’t like being held by anypony but me.”

The stallion looked at the blade with a discerning gaze, before slowly picking it up and turning it over. “Hmm, it’s quite heavy,” he murred. “Or it’s being sassy at me, ah cannae quite tell.”

“...Okay, that...that shouldn’t be possible,” Aspect stuttered. “It’s perfectly capable of controlling its own weight and it chose me to wield it...nobody else, and I do mean nobody else, has even managed to budge it off the ground before. It’d be like picking up the entire fountain it was embedded into!”

“Hmm, maybe it knows ah mean it no harm,” he mused. “Weapons are… temperamental sometimes. Besides, ah have no interest in wielding it. Ah jus’ wish tae get a few ideas…”

“...Huh…” Aspect sat back and thought about it. “You know, I basically have goaded everyone into trying to wield it...maybe that was it, the fact that they were trying to wield it.”

“Quite possibly,” Silver mused as he hoofed it back to him. “It’s a fine weapon, and ah have the perfect idea fer yeh commision.”

“Thank you,” Aspect replied as he took the sword back and stared at the sapphire in the pommel. “We’ll be having words later,” he promised it, and all it did was let out a cheeky flash before the stallion put it back away.

“Lunch is ready,” Mocha hummed, getting the old stallions attention as he trotted over.

“Och! Yeh spoil me lass. Dunno what I’d do without yeh?”

“Probably die of starvation,” she said back in a sweet tone.

“Harsh… but no less true,” he nodded as he held up a mug. “Boy, come share a drink with me. A toast to our new friendship.”

And Mocha’s eyes widened in fear.

“Sure, why not,” Aspect replied as he walked over and picked up another mug. “To friendship!”

Mocha took a step forward. “Aspect! Wai—”

The alicorn tipped the mug back and began drinking.

Oh… that was why Mocha looked worried.

Ever swallowed dragon fire? Well, this drink was a little like that.

Only hotter.

The stallion gallantly held on, drinking what he could stand before lowering his mug and looking at it. When he opened his mouth, a cloud of smoke came out, and he let out a little gasp. “I didn’t know I would be drinking the fuel for your furnace,” he choked out.

“...Now tha’s an idea…” Silver mused.

“You are not using Dragon’s Tongue Herb to fuel your furnace,” Mocha chiding him as she poured a glass of ice-cold milk for Aspect. “I tried to warn you. That’s fire brew, and this old idiot is the only one that can drink it without throwing up, passing out or running away screaming.”

“It’s not...so bad,” Aspect wheezed. “Though...I’ve not had spicier before.”

“Yeah, most do say that,” she sighed as she passed him his milk. “Here, but don’t expect to be able to taste anything for a while. Heck, I’m surprised you can still talk.”

“Old, healing factor,” Aspect croaked out as he gratefully gulped the milk down.

“Haha, I like this one,” Silver laughed as he clapped Aspect on the back. Hells bells he was strong for a unicorn. “Yeh made a fine friend with this one lass. “Maybe you’ll consider stallions again eh?”

“SILVER!” Mocha yelled, her face an adorable shade of red.

“Better,” the alicorn rasped after drinking his milk.

“No, stallions are NOT better,” Mocha huffed. “Stallions are jerks…”

“Meant I was better,” Aspect clarified with a chuckle.

“...oh,” Mocha blushed. “Excuse me, I’m going to go and stick my head in the furnace now.”

“Don’t, be a waste,” Aspect said before coughing. “Too many tasty treats gone.”

Aaaand there was that adorable blush again.

“Yeh married lad?”

“Silver! I swear to Celestia I will stuff you in that furnace in a minute!”

“In...any case,” Aspect replied, coughing again and doing his best to enunciate. “Let’s...avoid drinking that sort of stuff in the future, eh?”

“I’ll do what I can,” Mocha giggled.

“And now I’m caffeinated, it’s time tae work,” Silver clapped his chest.

“Right, thank you,” Aspect nodded once. “Take care with that stuff, I don’t know when the next meteor shower will be.”

“I will,” he nodded. “Leave yer contact details, so ah kin tell yeh when the halberd is ready.”

“I’m really hard to miss,” Aspect chuckled. “I live in Ponyville. Just ask around for Balanced Aspect, you’ll be sure to find me.”

“Aye, fine. Ah kin do that,” the smith responded. “An’ fair warnin’ Ah’ll make the best damned halberd you ever saw.”

“Fair enough, I would expect nothing less,” Aspect chuckled. “Take care, master smith.”

“Aye. You as well lad. Give yer kids mah regards eh? An’ mebbe…”

“He is not setting you up with Luna you old perv,” Mocha sighed and swatted his head with a hoof. “Come on Sir Aspect. Let's leave him to work.”

“Mmm, I should probably be getting back to Celly by now,” Aspect mused. “You take care now. I’m off!” And with that, the alicorn flashed once before vanishing from sight.

“Aww… I wish I could teleport,” Mocha sighed as she started heading back to her shop.

“For the last time--” Celestia’s voice was calm, but those that really knew her could tell she was incredibly irritated. “--He is not available for comment. He wishes to be left in peace. Now leave!”

Just as Aspect teleported in, the reporter scurried past him, barely giving him a second look as Celestia slumped into her throne.

“And I have taken care of the things that I can now do as an Alicorn in your town,” Aspect proclaimed, before taking note of his daughter’s state and sighing. “Oh dear. Have the public been abusing your good nature again, Celly?”

“Do you think anypony would notice if I dropped the sun on Canterlot?” she whistled innocently.

“Look, if you really want to get rid of a city, I still have the Air aspect,” Aspect replied. “One good storm and it’ll all be washed away. I’ve never been stronger in it.”

“...tempted,” Celestia sighed. “But no. And if you ever unleash Arabus in my city, I will scold you for it. I'll make Mom's lectures look like bedtime stories.”

“Yeah, if I ever went all out...well, he’s still not quite quiet in my head,” Aspect shook his head. “He’s been dead for ages and he refuses to accept it. In any case! You,” the stallion walked up to Celestia and poked her in the chest. “Get your sister. We’re going on a trip around your city. I’m going to spend some time with my girls before I have to go back to deal with the latest terror that’s been unleashed.”

“We're going out?” Celestia blinked.

“I'm afraid her schedule is much too full for that,” a white coated, brown maned earth mare said.

“Answer me this one simple question,” Aspect replied in a calm, almost too cheery voice. “Is there anything on her schedule she absolutely needs to do besides tend to the heavens with her sister?”

“Father, stop intimidating Raven. She's very cute and good at her job,” Celestia chided him. “And Raven. Ignore this old coot. He talks a good game but he'd never hurt you…” Tia turned and the temperature in the room dropped. “Would you father?”

“Eh, it’d take a lot,” the stallion agreed. “Still not ruling it out just yet, but first impressions are good. But allow me a rebuttal, Celly.” He cleared his throat and stated the next several things as fact.

“It has been...a few ages, proper, historical ages, since I’ve been able to properly embrace you like a father, as yourself. As myself. But, since you’ve been so kind to unmask me in your city, there is absolutely nothing stopping me from making up for lost time with my girls.” He paused and looked over to Raven. “Is there?”

Raven sighed and snorted. “Bloody Alicorns. Fine. I'll rearrange your schedule princess.”

“You are the best,” Celestia cooed and nuzzled her, eliciting a blush from the normally stoic Raven. “Now father, let's go find Luna.”

“Thank you,” Aspect said to Raven before he led the way out of the throne room and paused for a moment, before shaking his head and deferring to Celestia. “You take the lead, I have no idea where I’m going. For all I know, I’d wind up in the kitchen, then the guard’s barracks, before I found Luna.”

“Or with your luck, the mare's bathroom,” Celestia chuckled.

“It’s not my fault I never really needed a proper sense of direction,” Aspect snorted. “I just used landmarks to find my way. This castle is all the same motif, one hallway after another. I don’t know how you find your way.”

“I have my ways,” Celestia giggled. No way was she telling him she placed tracking runes everywhere. That would spoil her mysteriousness. “Luna should be in the Courtyard training I believe.”

“Ah, well, lead the way then,” the stallion replied. “Also, if she tries to hug me I’m hiding behind you.”

“I won't act as your meatshield,” the mare snorted as she led Aspect through a series of corridors. Yeah, she was taking the long way just to confuse him.

“Well I’m hardly going to say no to her right out,” Aspect countered. “I’m just going to try to get her to tone it down a notch.”

“It's Luna,” Celestia countered. “Since when have her and ‘toned down’ ever gone well in the same sentence?”

“All I’m saying is, it’d be hard to take you both to dinner with collapsed lungs,” the stallion riposted.

“You're immortal, you'll live,” Celestia giggled as they reached the courtyard. Aspect had to blink twice as he took the sight in.

Dozens of unconscious guards littered the ground as the sound of clashing steel rang throughout the courtyard.

His trained eye followed as he saw his daughter sparring against a thestral mare. Both wore wingblades and… oh, that batpony was actually very good at what she did. It took a lot to put Luna on the defensive. Aspect opted to simply watch and wait, wanting to see how this played out before interrupting. If he caused Luna to lose because he distracted her, she would never forgive him.

Luna’s horn lit up and fired a beam of magic, one the mare narrowly dodged before lashing out with a blindingly fast kick that caught the tip of Luna’s horn. Something that made all the magic users watching wince.

“Low blow,” Aspect hissed.

Luna yelped in pain but still fought, lashing out with her blades again. The two exchanged more blows and… wait a minute. That bat pony looked familiar…

Oh yes. The one that had eaten him out of house and home when she visited. Then that prank…

After a few moments, the two dropped back down to earth, sheathing their blades and bowing.

Then Luna saw Aspect and her smiled widened… aaaand oh dear, she was running very quickly towards him.

“Celly?” Aspect whispered.

Celestia was about twenty feet away with a smug smile in her face.

“Oh bugger,” the stallion braced himself.

Luna skidded to a stop in front of him. “Hello father!” she beamed. “I'd hug you, but I'm rather gross and sweaty. How are you? Oh! Did you see my fight? Did I do well?”

“You did quite well,” Aspect replied, slowly untensing as he realised he wasn’t about to die. “Even though your opponent pulled off a rather low blow.”

“Oh, well yes. That stung,” Luna rubbed her horn. “But would your opponent offer such courtesy in a real fight?”

“True enough,” Aspect nodded once. “In any case. Go get cleaned up. I’m taking you and your sister out for a night on the town. As ourselves for once.”

“HUZZAH!!” Luna bellowed and knocked him over with her voice as she grabbed Celestia and teleported off.

Meanwhile, Midnight stood over Aspect with a sensual, half-lidded gaze.

“Bună ziua soț. Te simți bine ~?” she asked him in her chocolaty tone.

“Hold out your hoof for a moment,” Aspect told her as he held out his. She blinked, but smiled and did so, taking his hoof. There was a tingle all across her form, and then a flash from Aspect…

And when the light died down…

Oh.

That was an impressively rugged Thestral stallion in front of her.

“I have not used this form in some time,” he said as he shook his head and flapped his new wings. “I needed to refresh my memory on how it was done.”

Aaaaand that was Midnight kissing him, quite passionately too. Oh wow her tongue was long… and dexterous. His eyes widened comically as he was kissed, not sure what to do now.

She moaned into the kiss as her wings stroked his form before she released him and smiled. “Soțul meu este chiar mai frumos. mânjii noastre va fi glorios~♡”

With a flick of her tail, she sauntered off and… yup, she was hiding nothing from his sight.

“Something tells me she’ll collect on that one day,” Aspect grumbled as he flashed into his alicorn form again and looked around. “Now...risk moving from here, or...yeah, I’ll just wait at the front.” The stallion flapped his wings and soared around the castle. It looked much smaller from outside.

Author's Note

And so the newly revealed Aspect makes a bigger splash.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. Half of the money goes directly to Aus' internet bill.

Half of all funds will probably be spent on christmas gifts for people.

Chapter 35 - Home again

“So I believe the plan is a nice dinner,” Celestia started as the trio of alicorns headed into the city.

“Actually, the plan is ‘wherever you really want to go’,” Aspect clarified. “Not ‘where can Princess Celestia go’. ‘Where will this age-old family go for a reunion dinner?’”

“A TAVERN!” Luna cheered. “We shall eat and drink and be merry!”

“Really?” Celestia deadpanned.

“Remember what happens when you get drunk,” Aspect warned Luna.

“No?” Luna tilted her head cutely. “Does that matter? Are we not out to have fun?”

“Hmm…” Aspect mused. “Well, what do you say, Celly? Straight to a tavern?”

“Luna will not stop otherwise,” the alicorn sighed. “Very well, let’s go. I know an excell--”

“Follow meee!” Luna laughed as she flew off, leaving Celestia to groan again.

“Guess we’re following her,” Aspect chuckled as he took to the skies as well. Celestia’s groan evolved into a facehoof before following after them.

The tavern in question… was it a tavern? It looked like an old church, back from when Celestia was revered as an actual Goddess. She’d long since put a stop to that, but buildings still stood even today.

“What the…” Celestia stared at the old building. “Why are we here?”

Lights and voices could be heard, so the building was definitely in use.

“I assume we’re about to find out,” Aspect mused as he pushed the front door open.

Or he would have… if it wasn't locked.

A metal plate slid open and a pair of golden eyes peered out.

“Password.”

“I don’t know the password, do you?” Aspect asked Celestia. The mare just shrugged.

“Allow me,” Luna smiled as she stepped closer. She gazed the other pony in the eyes.

“You can lead a horse to water, but I'd rather have ale.”

The plate slid closed and with a click, the door opened. Aspect blinked a few times before looking back to Luna. “And how do you know that?” he asked.

“My Night Guard frequent this tavern,” Luna explained. “And from what they tell me, it's quite good.”

“Ah, well then,” the stallion replied. “By your leave then.”

Luna nodded and stepped inside, Celestia following and Aspect bringing up the rear. And once he got inside… this, was not what he was expecting.

Almost all the patrons were thestral, save for the occasional pony and even a griffon or two. Music from a live band played in the background while the ale flowed freely. The decor still fit the old church. Lots of stone, brass and iron fittings and heavy timber furniture. Even most of the stained glass windows were still there, either surviving the centuries or restored. It really did remind him of an olden pub, where the boys would gather after a hard day's work.

“Now this,” Aspect preened, “Is a tavern.”

“Aye!’ Luna said and stomped a hoof loudly. The resounding boom brought quiet and hushed whispers.

“Oh my me, what is she doing?” Celestia asked her father.

“I have no idea,” the stallion whispered back.

“Hear this!” Luna shouted out to the room. “Tonight! I bring my beloved sister! And my honoured father to drink and dine with us! You will show them respect. You will show them courtesy… and most importantly…” Luna smirked. “You will show them a most wondrous evening. For tonight. The bar is open to all!”

And the cheers that erupted could have drowned out her Canterlot Voice.

“Well, tonight just got more interesting,” Aspect mused.

Luna wasn’t kidding either. The food and drink here was really good, courtesy of a thestral mare named Ruby. She had a crimson red mane and tail, her eyes a deep gold and her Cutie Mark was an ale mug.

“Having a good time?” she asked the trio, setting some more fries on the table. “I do hope so.”

“Just the fact that these two are relaxing and letting their manes down for once,” Aspect indicated his daughters, “Is enough for me.”

“Aye! Tis the most fun We have had in an age!” Luna cheered, thumping a mug down on the table. Discreetly, Celestia and Aspect had requested she be slipped non-alcoholic ale. So far, she hadn’t noticed.

“I will admit that this is nice,” Celestia nodded. “I’d have preferred something more… refined. But this is enjoyable nonetheless.”

“Relax, get into the spirit a little more,” Aspect cooed to his daughter. “It’s a tavern! This place is meant for us to let go and enjoy ourselves!”

Then the music changed to something more… upbeat.

And Celestia smiled. “Father, dance with me?”

She hadn’t even had to ask, the stallion was already standing next to her seat with a hoof outstretched to take her to the dance floor.

Celestia smiled and took it as the two moved out the floor, ponies making way for them as the alicorn mare teleported away her royal trappings, her shoes and torc. “So… shall we show them how it’s done?” she smiled.

“It’s been an age since I danced, forgive me if I’m rusty,” Aspect replied. “You lead, I’ll pick it up after a minute.”

Celestia rolled her eyes as her hooves started to tap with the beat, before she really picked up as she danced the Highlands way, much to the cheering of the other patrons. True enough to his word, after a minute to watch and remind his body how to move, the stallion soon joined in, dancing opposite her as he smiled at Tia.

“That’s the spirit!” Luna clapped and whistled as the royal pair danced away, a bright, genuine smile on Tia’s face.

“Room for one more!” the stallion called out to Luna.

“I’ll pass,” Luna replied. “You two have fun.”

“Oh come on, this was meant for the both of you! Live a little Lulu!”

“Oh… fine,” Luna giggled as she got up. And soon all three alicorns were dancing away, the crowd cheering and clapping as they tore up the dancefloor. The bat ponies stomped their hooves and soon a small crowd joined the trio, all of them laughing and smiling.

And from the corner of his eye, Aspect spied Midnight sitting on one of the rafters, waving at him and giggling. He gave her a cheeky wink before he resumed dancing with his daughters.

Midnight blinked… before vanishing from sight.

“Oh, I wish we had done this so long ago,” Aspect sighed as he kept up the pace.

“Indeed we should have,” Luna nodded.

“There’s always another time,” Celestia said. “Unless you plan on going somewhere again.”

“Hardly!” Aspect chuckled. “I’m having way too much fun!”

The music soon came to an end though, but before they could return to their seats, one of the band members stood up.

“Hey bats, birds and demigods! We have a special treat for you tonight. Our very special Songbird has decided to sing for us!”

And the thestral side of the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Oh, this sounds interesting,” Aspect mused.

A spotlight fell onto the stage as Midnight came in from the side, smiling and waving a wing at the crowd.

“Ooh, we’re in for a bit of a treat,” Luna hummed.

“Does she sing often then?” the stallion asked.

“You could say that,” Luna replied as gentle piano music started to play… then?

Midnight Song started to sing!

Aspect found himself swaying to the beat and letting the music fill him, enjoying every second of the song. And when it was over, he didn’t stomp his applause like the rest. Instead, he simply bowed to the thestral. A full, proper bow.

Midnight smiled a fanged grin as she stepped off stage, returning his bow with her own.

“You like?” she asked in her thick accented tone.

“It was quite moving,” Aspect replied as he stood back up. “I always say that when you sing, you should put your heart and soul into it.”

“Thank you,” she nodded once more.

“As amazing as always,” Luna pet her head with a hoof. “Very well done Midnight.”

“I had no idea such talent existed,” Celestia breathed. “You aren’t professional?”

“No… I, only sing when I want,” Midnight explained. “Vocea mea ... nu este întotdeauna folosit pentru distracție.”

“Ah… I see,” Celestia nodded. “Oh right. Of course. My apologies.”

“In any case,” Aspect smoothed over. “That, was quite the song. Thank you for treating us to it, again. It made our night out that much brighter.”

Midnight smiled and nodded again.

“And now we drink once more!” Luna cheered as she headed for the bar.

“Oh dear,” Aspect sighed as he made to follow after.

“...♫Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor~”

Luna danced dizzily through the streets, singing at the top of her lungs as her bare hooves clicked on the cobblestone path.

“Thought we were keeping her on the non-alcoholic stuff,” Aspect muttered as he watched his daughters.

“I thought you were watching her,” Celestia sighed as Luna danced… rather seductively around a lamp post.

“Got kinda hard when she made sure I was slipped a few alcoholic drinks as well,” the stallion pointed out as he barely managed to hold a straight line.

“Right…” Celestia cursed her inability to get drunk. She pulled Luna down with her magic and sighed. “If I teleport, you’ll leave your stomach all over the palace.”

“Wheeee, I can fly!” Luna giggled as she floated in Tia’s magic.

“Yeah...teleporting like this is a no go,” Aspect muttered. “As is flight...magic in general is a bad idea.”

“Help?” a voice asked as Midnight caught up with them. “You look… like you need so?”

“Ah, thank you Midnight,” Celestia sighed. “Yes, let’s get these drunken louts home.”

Midnight giggled as she helped steady Aspect by leaning against him.

“There we go, now the world’s stopped spinning,” Aspect muttered.

“One more step…” Midnight said as she helped Aspect into a room. She didn’t know which one, but it was a room with a bed. That would do yes? “Silly stallion.”

“I blame Luna...she got at the alcohol...then got me to the alcohol,” Aspect muttered. “Oh hey, a bed! That looks comfy…”

“Very silly,” Midnight giggled cutely as she helped him over to the bed, trying to assist the larger stallion into it. Eventually he managed it, and then he turned and did something she hadn’t been expecting.

He picked her up and cuddled her with his bare hooves, treating her like a stuffed animal.

“Ahh, what… what you doing this?” she asked, clearly flustered.

“Cute little pony,” Aspect muttered. “Not used to sleeping alone. So I’ma sleep with you.”

“That… sound very naughty,” she chuckled. “You sleep, then I go.”

“Naughty?” Aspect questioned as an ear flicked. “I can do naughty.”

Suddenly something was pressing against her flank. Something big and hot and leaking. And that got a good blush from her as her emerald eyes widened.

“D-Dar… tu nu mă iubești…”

“Such a pretty little pony,” Aspect cooed as he stroked her mane. “Such a pretty language...such a pretty mare…” He then whispered huskily. “Imagine the foals.”

And then she eep’d again, her fluffy ears wiggling.

“Mmm...hard not to notice when a mare’s flirting with you,” Aspect whispered to her. “Especially when she flashes you everything, and then does something she normally never does. Admit it, cute little pony. You like me, don’t you?”

“N-No…” the mare responded with a fierce blush.

“Oh, tha’s right,” Aspect chuckled, and the form around her shifted…

And suddenly she was being cuddled by his ruggedly handsome Thestral form. Aaand now she was blushing even more fiercely.

“Armăsar nechibzuit” she mumbled.

“How about now?” Aspect whispered to her.

“You are drunk…” she muttered.

“I know what I saw,” Aspect affirmed. “You want this. You want to feel this with me. Tell me I’m wrong, and I’ll stop. But if you do want this...then you don’t have to say anything.”

She took a deep breath. “You… have mare already.”

“Is that all?” Aspect asked. “I have two, actually. I have a herd. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if I told them.”

She paused again, then nodded. “...amenda”

“Well then, cute little pony,” Aspect whispered into her ear. “Let’s see about spreading the love, hmm?” His lower legs shifted and that long, hot length dragged across her flank. She let out a small moan, pulling his head closer and kissing him deeply.

Then the head caught on her lips and hung there, not pressing forward, not moving back, just prodding her there. The mare let out a little whimper, he felt so big…

“Don’t you worry, little mare,” Aspect whispered to her. “You won’t get pregnant from this. Not yet, no. I’m simply going to show you pleasure, the sort of pleasure you can get from a stallion you tease all day. I’m going to take care of you. I’m going to make you writhe in bliss. I’m going to love you gently. And one day, you’ll want it again, and you’ll find me again…” He slowly pushed forward, the head spreading her lips.

She let out a small gasp, murmuring something softly. “In seara asta este efemeră. Numai un vis să treacă, nu pentru a realiza…”

“And when you remember where I live, and come to me again,” Aspect whispered to her, “I’ll take care of you...again, and again, and again. I’ll explore every inch of you, to find out how to tease you, how to touch you, how to caress and love you...and one day, you’ll say the magic words to me.” He was still pushing his length into her, slowly, carefully.

The mare shuddered in his grasp, her mouth partly open as she exhaled with each inch that was pressed into her waiting depths. And by the gods she was tight, even more so that Dash…

“One day, you’ll know enough Equestrian to beg me for foals,” the stallion breathed into her ear. “And one day, I’ll make you my own guard and wife so I can give them to you.” Aspect stopped for a moment, before he began to slowly pull back.

She let out a small gasp again, biting down on her hoof as he left an empty feeling inside of her. But when she opened her eyes?

Those were not the same eyes of the submissive mare he’d just started rutting.

“Nu sunt de acord…” she uttered before licking those pearly white fangs. “It… is you who will beg..”

Then she slammed her hips down on his member, squeezing it hard with her soaking marehood.

“You really think so?” Aspect huffed to her. “I’m going to make you mine, pretty little pony. You taunt me and tease me, so reap your rewards.” He used a hoof to stroke along her wings, feeling for sensitive spots, like Dash did with him.

She let out a shudder, before smiling. She leaned down, letting her long tongue drag along his neck as she bit and nibbled at the skin, muttering sweet words in that intoxicating language of hers. Aspect smirked as he moved his hooves to grab ahold of her flanks, gripping her for leverage and to feel her up. He then slowly drew back again, before slamming his hips forward.

Midnight let out a loud moan, before biting down on his shoulder. The sensation was… odd. One would have expected pain, instead, immense pleasure flooded his system, filling him with warmth.

“You are going to be mine, even if I have to rut you through this bed,” Aspect whispered to her as he began to set a rather upbeat pace. She matched him, slamming her hips down to meet his as he felt his head bump against her cervix, filling the mare completely.

“Is that all?” she whispered into his ear, nibbling on it gently.

“If I go any harder on you, there’s no telling what’ll happen,” Aspect replied. “But I can...stimulate you.” His hooves ran across her wings, little bits of electricity dancing and stimulating her nerves far more than his bare touch could. She let out a small ‘eep’ as the lightning tingled her, and he felt her contract hard around him, her juices coating his member as she came, panting softly as she bit her lower lip to suppress the moans.

“I’ll screw you until you’re hardly more than a puddle of pleased mare,” Aspect promised her, not letting up for a second either with the rutting or the stimulating. “I’ll screw you until you’re begging me to finish.”

Midnight pulled off of him and turned around, laying her front half down on the bed as she presented herself to him like a good little mare, her sex winking and dripping for him. Aspect let out a murr as he walked up behind her, before mounting her and pressing his head to her folds again.

“Pretty little mare knows what to do,” he cooed to her. “You’re just lucky you haven’t begged me yet, otherwise I would give you foals for this. But until you learn how to, I will keep myself infertile...for now.” He pushed forward and let one hoof stimulate one of her wings.

Midnight let out a small ’skree’ noise as he entered her waiting pussy again, biting down on the bed sheets as he filled her with his girth. As tempting as the thought was for foals… She wasn't ready for them yet. Aspect held himself within her for a moment, filling her entirely, before he drew back and began to start bucking her ruthlessly, making the bed squeak with every motion. Each thrust getting a squeaking moan from the mare as she gripped the bedsheets, trying not to be pushed off of the bed from his thrusting, her heated snatch squeezing his cock almost painfully tight within its velvety walls.

“My pretty little mare,” Aspect whispered to her as he kept screwing her without pause. “Mine.”

Midnight just moaned and whimpered, still riding the high of her orgasm even as he kept rutting her. Her juices soaking the sheets below them.

“Beg me,” he whispered in her ear, his strokes turning long and deep as they thudded against her deepest barrier, causing it to dimple slightly from the pounding it was getting.

Midnight panted, her eyes rolling upwards. “I-Inside…” she gasped. “Please…”

“What do you want inside you?” the stallion mused as he ran a hoof along her wing. “Just my cum? Or do you want to carry my foal?” Even as he finished that question, he ran a stimulating charge along her wing to send another bolt of pleasure to her core. A core that he was still ruthlessly fucking.

“No… no foal…” she gasped. “I… I cannot, aaaah~♡”

“I can keep going and going,” the stallion told her, now running a hoof along her other wing and stimulating it in much the same manner. “I told you I’d please you. I told you I’d make you beg for it.”

The mare whimpered, her body trembling as her mind went blank with pleasure and lust, the batpony little more than a fuck toy for him now as another orgasm rocked her form.

“Say it,” he urged her. “Beg for it. Beg for what you really want.”

“Aah… y-you… your cum… please!” she screeched, her marehood clenching down on him.

“Just my cum?” he prodded her.

She moaned more, too lost in her haze of lust to mount a proper response.

“You don’t want to be bred like you deserve?” Aspect prodded her.

“...nnnrgh~ noooo~” she gasped, her tongue lolling out. And then Aspect pulled a dirty trick.

He reached down, twisted her around so she was on her back without pulling out, and then applied the same stimulating charge...directly to the mare’s quivering clit.

Her high pitched shrieking skree of pleasure shattered a nearby glass of water, her eyes wide as her vision exploded with white dots.

“Let me make you mine forever,” the stallion urged her. “Let me claim you like none other can.”

Her hooves moved to hold him close as her walls tightened again, another climax claiming her as she moaned into his ear. The stallion huffed as his thrusting became shorter, more erratic.

“Now or never. What do you want?” he asked her one last time.

“Please…. No…” she pleaded him, barely able to form even those words. Aspect grunted, but acquiesced. She wouldn’t get pregnant...this time.

And then the flood started. Midnight moaned whorishly as her insides were filled with his warm cum, flooding her womb and spilling from the sides. He could even see her belly swell a little from the torrent he stuffed her with.

“Mine,” he whispered to her. “Maybe not this time, but soon...you’ll ask for one. And I will give it to you.”

She leaned up and nuzzled him, almost purring with a warm smile. It… was a nice dream at least.

“Remember,” he whispered to her, nuzzling her back. “You know where I live. Come find me, and I’ll do it to you again and again. I won’t let you go unfilled.”

He liked her body, that was certain but…

“Time to sleep,” she whispered.

“Mine,” the stallion muttered again as he got comfortable on top of her and used her like a pillow…

When he would awake the next morning, it would be to a powerful headache and an empty bed. Though the signs and scents of what he'd done remained.

“Did I...do something?” Aspect asked as he cleared his head, before the memories came flooding back. “Oh...oh. Oh...kay then. Um...well...this is...awkward.” Aaaand he had a boner too. Great. Well...best to head to the bathroom. To clean himself up and see to other things as well.

Then the door clicked open…

“Father?” Celestia poked her head inside. “There you are! I came to see if… you…” the regent of the sun, the mighty white goddess… saw her father's state and turned a deep shade of red.

“I think cleanup is going to be a bit involved this morning, Celly,” Aspect replied as he ambled off to his bathroom.

Only for the door to open and Midnight stepped out, dripping slightly as she looked Aspect over, smiled, and took her leave.

“Well that answers the question as to whether or not it happened,” Aspect muttered as he walked in. A long, cold shower. Yes, that would help.

Celestia watched the thestral leave as she put two and two together.

And just as the stallion turned the water on…

“FATHER!!!”

A nice, cold shower, and a magically reinforced door. That would help.

Still, he had to come out sometime, and Celestia was not one for forgetting.

The lecture during breakfast was legendary in proportions. Her tirade had been going for a full half hour and didn’t appear to be stopping any time soon.

“I can’t believe you were so foolish!” she scolded him. “What will dear Bon Bon and Rainbow say about this hm? Or mother? She’ll be absolutely appalled.”

“...Are you quite done?” Christopher asked pointedly when she stopped for breath.

“Ooh no, I am far from done in pointing out how colossally stupid that was!” Celestia snapped at him. “What kind of example is this setting for Realm? That a stallion can bed any mare he pleases, so long as he is inebriated enough?”

“And remind me, whose responsibility is it to raise him right?” Aspect asked. “Because last I checked...yup, still mine. Then again, remind me, who managed to out-think us all and get himself sent forward a thousand years, to the point when Yggdrasil could actually help him ascend?”

“No changing the topic!” Celestia aimed a fork at him, still with a piece of pancake on it. “I ought to—”

She was interrupted by the doors slamming open as a rather dishevelled Luna stumbled into the room, her crown askew on her head, her wings in need of a good preening and her fur was sticking up in all places.

“Coffee…” she grumbled, her gait having a slight limp as she walked over to the table.

“My point,” Aspect replied as he used his magic to slide the rest of the pot over to where Luna sat, “Is that we are dealing with a colt more clever than we think he is. He is also not your responsibility to raise right. Unless, of course, you were to try to take what’s rightfully mine.” The dangerous growl at the end of that statement reminded Tia of a dragon noticing a thief in its horde.

“It has been a thousand years father,” Celestia said as her horn shone. “I have grown much stronger since then. You would not leave the fight unscathed.”

“Celestia, my daughter,” Aspect said quietly. “Nothing would stop me from keeping my family safe. Act against that...and believe me. I will remind you why the Griffons once thought me a god to their kind. You want that city-destroying storm? It would only take minutes.”

“And if you threaten my little ponies like that,” Celestia’s eyes blazed white. “I will show you why I am the Aspect of the SUN!”

“Would you two save your little pissing match until after I’m caffeinated,” Luna groused as she poured a cup. “I was up all night, I am tired, exhausted and utterly stuffed. So shut up or I’ll bury the both of you…”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied, sipping his own coffee. “Besides, one of my rules is no direct tussles between Aspects. I’m not about to break that rule myself, but I will rise to a challenge if someone breaks it first.”

“I’m not going to take him away you idiot,” Celestia sighed. “Honestly though. Act your age once in a while.” She sat down at the table and resumed eating.

“Which one, my mental age or my physical age?” Aspect replied. “Because mentally I’m still that stupid eighteen-year old who drank from the fountain, and physically I should be dust if I hadn’t.”

“Hah. hah.” Celestia deadpanned.

“Is this about Midnight?” Luna asked and looked at Aspect. “Ohh, finally slipped it to her huh? Good for you~”

“Thank you,” Aspect nodded once. “At least one of my children can be respectful of my choices, even when inebriated.”

“Eh, I was expecting it,” Luna mused and looked at Celestia. “Do not worry Mine Sister, For you see… I know a see~cret~”

“Oh dear,” Aspect sighed as he shook his head. “In any case, daughters mine. I’ve been away from home and the tiny miniaturized terror known as the Nightmare for too long. I should head back there and try to rein her in before she gets used to her reign of terror.”

“Oh right, I’d forgotten about her,” Luna replied as she drained the rest of her coffee. “I’m going back to bed. Do try and lighten up Tia.” With a flick of her tail, she walked from the room…

And Aspect was left with the scent of and knowledge of exactly what Luna was doing in her room…

“So, seeing as how Luna removed the stick from her plot,” Aspect mused as he charged up a runic teleport spell on his horn, “Maybe I should find somepony who could do the same for you, hmm?”

And before Celestia could respond, Aspect popped away in a small burst of displaced air. Celestia frowned as she continued her breakfast. She loved her father dearly, but sometimes he could be so…

Aspect popped back into his room back home and sighed, quickly losing the horn and shaking his head as he settled back into his pegasus guise. “And that takes care of that,” he muttered. “Now. If I were a tiny tyrannical terror, where would I be?...”

The house was… oddly quiet actually. Even the paintings on his wall were barren. He exited the room and into the hall, only to receive the same treatment.

Then he heard noises from the kitchen…

“Yup, raiding the cake stores, called it,” Aspect nodded good-naturedly as he walked towards the kitchen.

When he got there… it was, a sight he hadn’t been expecting. Mini Nightmare was seated in a highchair, eagerly awaiting whatever it was that Bon Bon was cooking on the stovetop. Her candy-marked flank shaking back and forth as she hummed away, neither having noticed his presence.

“Okay...that’s new, and entirely unexpected,” Aspect muttered as he watched from the doorway.

“Commee oooonn,” Nightmare whined. “How much longer Bonnie!?”

“Just a few moments more,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Honestly. You never stop eating do you?”

“It’s been a millennia,” she riposted. “And then it was all Luna’s tastebuds. Plus… your food is good,” she mumbled the last part.

Aspect had officially seen everything now. Bon Bon had tamed the Nightmare with cooking.

“So should I turn over any more terrors from ages past to you when I de-age them?” Aspect joked from the doorway. “Mini-Discord would be putty in your hooves in minutes.”

“Yeek!” Bon Bon flinched as she spun around, wearing a cute, frilly pink apron as a wooden spoon dangled from her mouth. “Um… I… Aspect?”

Then she flew across the room and trapped him in a hug with all her Earth Pony strength.

“I see a light…” he gasped out as he fell to the floor, one hoof stretched to the ceiling. “Tell Rainbow Dash...to wear her frilly maid outfit to my funeral.”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she released him. “What a drama queen,’ she chuckled.

“So…” Nightmare mused. “Aside from making Bonnie my Head Chef upon my conquest of the world. I can take out Balanced Aspect with a simple hug. Good to know~”

“Ap,” Aspect rolled over, before pushing himself up and walking over to the table. “Let me tell you a little story, Nightmare. I’m sure you know some of it, but I doubt you really know all of it.”

“Later,” she dismissed him with a wave of her hoof. “Bon Bon is making vegetable stew and I simply must try it. If I am to hear your exhausting excuse for wit and idle threats, do it while I eat.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect mused as he sat at the table. “Just thought you might want to know how the Nightmares came to be. You know, the Boogeyman, the old Aspect of Dreams.”

“Well when a Mommy Nightmare and a Daddy Nightmare love each other and are feeling horny…” Nightmare Moon started.

“Or when a sadistic human drinks from a fountain that grants him power over dreams and can’t spend all his time torturing everyone in their sleep, yet has to do so so that the other evils of the time won’t bully him,” Aspect sniped back, “Then he creates the Nightmare Forces to act to torment others. Forces that fell under my domain when I slew him in a panic and absorbed his power. Forces which I banished to the dark side of the moon, so that ponies would never have to worry for their sleep again.”

“Mm, and that worked out real well for you huh?” Nightmare sniped back as Bon Bon set a bowl down in front of her. She smiled widely as the earth mare looked at Aspect.

“Would you like some too dear?”

“Just a moment,” Aspect replied. “Maybe a bowl while I finish telling the story?”

Bon Bon nodded as she fetched a bowl and poured some for him and herself as she sat down next to him, her head leaning against his shoulder.

“Alright, go on then,” Nightmare waved a hoof at him.

“For countless centuries, I was the only one attuned to the Dream Realm for the Nightmares to get a real fix on,” Aspect continued. “And I thought the dreams they made were just ordinary nightmares...so I ignored them. They never got a lock on me. But when my little girl...my little Luna, said she wanted something more to do at night, I surrendered the Aspect of Dreams to her, to make her the Alicorn of the Night. She who would protect and watch over us always when we were slumbering. I didn’t know that she was more vulnerable than I was to the Nightmares...that one could infect her, twist her, turn her against her family.” Now Aspect’s voice was dangerously cold. “And the thought of the one that succeeded, sitting here in her own body, acting like nothing is wrong at all? Can you imagine how I actually feel about that? The night when I failed to act, failed to raise my sword to defend my child?”

“Well, then you abandoned the other one for a thousand years, so I guess you really aren’t that great a dad huh?” Nightmare challenged him. “Go on then. Slay me. Bring all that anger down and strike me dead. It won’t change the past and you will get to keep your title of the most dangerous creature on the planet.”

“I could do that,” Aspect nodded once. “I could very well do that. I could slay you and return you to being a normal Nightmare, reclaim the Aspect of Dreams from you. But this is the path we’re on now. And I will tell you this. The dreams of ponykind haven’t been maintained for a thousand years, and it is entirely your fault. Imagine the damage to the dreamscape. As well, I maintain a fragment of the magic I took from all my victims. Not enough to step into your hooves, but enough to be a lucid dreamer in my own head. When you get the magic to dreamwalk...you’d best stay out of my head. Or I will make you feel all the fury you so rightly noticed I might have.”

“Mhm,” Nightmare opened her cat-like eyes. “All my fault hm? Tell me Aspect… No, Christopher. How does it feel to be the greatest hypocrite on the planet. Must be great to do whatever you want, then foist the blame off onto somepony else huh?”

“What are you—?” Bon Bon started.

“All my fault?” Nightmare repeated. “I wasn’t the one that shunned your dear daughter. I wasn’t the one that lavished her sister with all the affection. I wasn’t the one that didn’t even care enough to notice her suffering in the first place!”

“It’s true, I failed her,” Aspect nodded once. “I thought things were going well. I thought my girls had everything in hoof. I thought they were fine. I will admit, I share the blame. Had I but noticed they were not getting equal billing, perhaps the entire thing could have been avoided. But you’re missing something, dear Nightmare.” Aspect shook his head. “I paid both of them the same amount of attention. I loved them both equally, I love all my children and grandchildren equally. I don’t dare play favorites when my wards can be said to be the pillars upon which the world is founded.”

“Well Luna sure didn’t feel that way,” Nightmare huffed as she ate her stew. But her mood had soured and the food didn’t taste as good now. “Her problem now. You wanna talk about her, ask her yourself. You’re not going to kill me? Then shut up and eat your marefriend’s meal.”

“One last thing,” Aspect said as he turned to his own stew. “I wasn’t kidding about that curse. Until you actually grow up, and stop being a Nightmare at your core...someone worthy of wielding the power of Dreams? You’re not going to grow up. You will be the eternal little sister to Realm, someone who could probably do your job if he had to.”

“Least I’m not a giant prick with a god complex,” she muttered into her bowl. Aspect, however, heard it and put his spoon down.

“I was holding back,” he stated simply. “If you wanted a god, I could burn the runes into my very bones. I wouldn’t need my robe for a medium, and I wouldn’t get winded casting them. But do that, and I’m not worthy of the sword I wield to keep the world in check. Instead of being the fulcrum, I’d become the one pushing the lever around. If Discord acts up again, I just might. You don’t rank that high.”

“So you say,” Nightmare said as Bon Bon got up from the table and walked away, leaving her food untouched. “It’s not always about raw power Aspect. Now go after her and apologise.”

“It’s also not always about what you can do,” Aspect stood up. “‘Should’ needs to enter the equation. Morals of others, consideration. Otherwise...well, you match your mental age.” And with that he was off after Bon Bon.

“Hmf, so you say,” the tiny alicorn said to herself.

Bon Bon walked down the hall, pausing to sigh slightly… She reached behind her to undo her apron, but couldn’t quite reach.

“Come on… stupid thing,” she muttered.

She felt a presence behind her, before the knot was undone. “I’m sorry, Bon Bon,” she heard Aspect’s voice say. “I messed up at being normal again, didn’t I?”

“What was your first clue?” Bon Bon said with a curt tone, before sighing again. “Sorry, these last few weeks have been… trying.”

“I’m very sorry,” Aspect reiterated. “It’s just...she’s a physical embodiment of everything I failed to do. Like Discord. It’s...it’s going to be a while before I get used to seeing her like this.”

“Tell me Aspect,” she said and turned around. “You’ve been in a coma for weeks. Then you disappeared to Canterlot. When you finally come home. The first thing you do is go all ‘Alpha Male’ on a filly.” She poked his chest with a hoof. “What should you have done instead?”

“Probably come back here first,” Aspect ruefully admitted. “But my life is never dull. The moment I woke up, ‘Tia sprung a press conference on me...with me being my Alicorn self. I wanted to come back here, Bonnie. I did. But...the ability to hug my girls in public. The ability to bond with them properly again...I love you. But I missed that too.”

“Not that,” Bon Bon shook her head. She moved forward, her apron slipping slightly as she smiled at him. “I know you’re an important stallion. But you came home and yelled at a foal Aspect.” She put a hoof to his chest. “I’m still waiting for my kiss you silly stallion.”

Aspect smiled softly and kissed her on the cheek. “That’s not really a foal,” he groused. “I just turned her into one. That’s an ageless terror in the body of a foal that once possessed my daughter. The only reason she’s still alive is because she at least showed one moment that meant she could possibly be redeemed.”

“Christopher,” Bon Bon poked his nose. “She’s got her problems. But she is quite cute you know. Just give her a chance. I mean, would you rather take a sword to a problem? Or would you prefer to make something good from it peacefully instead?” Yeah that was hypocritical coming from her, even so…

“We’ll find out,” the stallion replied. “If she doesn’t act mature, she’ll never get her maturity back. If she can’t see that the world is more important than her, if she can’t put her ambitions aside...if she doesn’t grow up and repair the Dreamscape? Then she’ll never really be welcomed as the princess of Dreams.”

Bon Bon paused as a vision came to mind of a small black filly with an oversized crown and laughing maniacally on a high backed throne.

The mare was now snickering as she used Aspect for support.

“Right,” Aspect suddenly recalled something and held a hoof up to Bon Bon’s head. There was a muted flash of light, and he smiled. “And there we go. Mental stability runes around your memory, along with an alarm and tracker to tell me where you are if they get tampered with. Triple redundant on the protections.”

“Huh?” Bon Bon tilted her head in confusion. “Ooh, I see.” She chuckled and kissed him lightly. “You’re cute when you’re worried about me.”

“It’s part of my makeup to worry when my marefriend has connections to a mysterious organization that may or may not mind wipe her,” Aspect fired back before kissing her on the lips.

“I wonder if I ever told you who’s in charge of that organization,” Bon Bon said. “You know her quite well. Mare, white coat. Sun on her flank?”

“Oh, so she’d know better, would she?” Aspect chuckled. “We still have our fights, about trivial things. But one would hope that nopony would dare try to take you from me.” He leaned against her and sighed. “I missed this,” he softly whispered. “Being here with you.”

“Mm, is that so?” she replied, leaning back. “Anything in particular perchance?”

“Just...I can’t pick one thing, they’re all part of such a delicious package,” he replied, wrapping a hoof around her. “Missed you...and Rainbow too of course.”

“Speaking of,” Bon bon giggled. She leaned in close, her mouth next to his ear. “How was Midnight~?”

Aspect very carefully did not react. He slowly pulled back and looked Bon Bon in the eye, silently demanding an explanation.

“Well?” Bon Bon said. “Don’t lie now. I know something happened.”

“Okay, how?” the stallion asked.

“Okay, new question,” Bon Bon smirked. “Tell me, does Midnight seem like a stupid mare to you?”

“No,” Aspect replied. “Just...how do you know anything happened?”

“Because she isn’t a foolish mare,” Bon Bon replied knowingly. “She came by here and talked with me and Dashie. She wasn’t about to go out and steal another mare’s stallion. So we gave her our blessings, because she’s just so danged cute!”

“...O...kay then,” Aspect replied. “Well, I’m glad that’s...dealt with at least. Hopefully I’ll remember what led to this.”

“Oh, and speaking of Dash, she’s in the hospital,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “She attempted something remarkably stupid and sprained both her wings. So she’s grounded for a week or two.”

“Ah,” Aspect nodded once. “Well, hopefully she’ll recover soon. Oh! I should probably swing by the library, there’s someone there I really should see. And the rest of the kids as well.”

“Well Realm and Artemis are at school right now,” Bon Bon said. “I’m thinking we might send her there as well. After all, she might not know much about modern Equestria.”

“...Once we can be sure she won’t try to take over the school for an army of minions, I can agree to that,” Aspect rolled his eyes. “In the meantime, I’m going to go visit the Library, then Rainbow Dash.”

“Equestria Falls to an Army of Adorable Foals,” Bon Bon quipped. “Hmm, sad part is that I could see that happen.” She rubbed his head and turned. “Well if you have to go. I’m going to take a shower okay?” She walked off, her apron hanging loosely from her body as her rump swayed with each step. “See you when you get back love,” she called out.

“...Hate to go, but I love to watch her leave,” Aspect shook his head before heading out. He had a dragon to see.

As he reached the library, he could hear multiple voices inside, several familiar ones at that. A certain warmare’s was unmistakable.

“So this is where they went,” Aspect muttered as he knocked on the door. It slowly opened as Spike poked his head out.

“Huh?” he blinked and smiled. “Ooh, hya Aspect. What’s up?”

“Two things,” the stallion replied, holding out a hoof. “First, I need to borrow a bit of your magic. I’ll give it back, but Dragon isn’t one of my forms, and if I have a sample of your magic, I can change that.”

Spike slowly tilted his head. “Huh…?”

“Just...grab my hoof, Spike,” Aspect instructed. “It might tingle, but I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“I… need an adult?” Spike blinked again, before taking his hoof. True to Aspect’s word, there was a brief tingling sensation all throughout his body, like the room suddenly dipped a degree or two, before it was back to normal.

“Awesome,” Aspect smiled at the dragon. “Now I can try turning into a dragon later. Second thing-”

“Second?” Spike asked.

“Has Twilight...borrowed any Pictomancy paintings from my house while I was indisposed?” he asked.

“Oh yeah,” Spike said as he opened the door to reveal most of his Pictomancy cast. Hurricane was telling some story about the good old days while Pansy was correcting the more… embellished parts. Starswirl, Written and Twilight were all studying some kind of book.

“Oh great,” the stallion muttered. “Look, I don’t care if you come over to study them. I don’t care if you take them here to study them, as long as they consented. I just ask for them to be returned sooner or later, okay? Realm and I are really the only ones that can restore them if something goes wrong.”

“Oh stop worrying,” Written chuckled and looked over at him. “We had to do something while you were indisposed. So we decided to see the town you chose to live in. Platinum is over at Miss Rarity’s while Smart Cookie is at Miss Pinkie Pie’s abode.”

“Yeah, so stop crying like a filly,” Hurricane chuckled.

“I just worry about all of you,” Aspect sighed. “I just don’t want something to happen that can’t be fixed.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Pansy smiled warmly. “Realm made sure we are quite sturdy. And Miss Twilight has cast a variety of protection spells on our portraits. All precautions have been made Sir Aspect.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” the stallion replied, looking around the room. A thought occurred to him as he looked at Twilight. “Twilight...I just had an idea that perhaps you and Realm could work on.”

“Oh?” the unicorn poked her head up from the book, peering around Starswirl’s hat. “Like what?”

“Linked portraits,” the stallion summed up. “So that one second they could be at my place, and in the next they could be here, without anypony having to move them. Back in Realm’s day it was impossible, but…”

“Hmmm…” Twilight put a hoof to her chin as she lowered her head in thought. Her thinking face was pretty cute. “Perhaps. I mean, portal spells are easily achieved. But linking multiple ones to the same portal. That’s much more difficult. There’s a risk of getting separated in the multiple streams. You know, a little piece coming out here… some there…”

Pansy eeped and hid behind Hurricane.

“I was thinking something more along the lines of...how do I say it,” Written mused. “Making them all a part of the same network. So long as the portraits match, then the inhabitants can go from portrait A to B or C. So that they can choose where they want to be, instead of locked away inside my house...without the risk of rain washing them away should they choose to walk outside.”

Twilight nodded. “Hmm, that might—” She suddenly stopped as her eyes widened. “I have an idea!” she said excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

“Great, you and Realm can work on it,” Aspect replied, bowing his head. “Just make sure you remember where you found them, please. I missed Hurricane’s snark, believe it or not.”

“Aww, I knew you loved me~” Hurricane cooed, petting his head condescendingly. “But let's face facts. You could never handle a mare like me. I need a real stallion~”

“And there it is,” Aspect chuckled as he left. “Okay, I’m gonna go check on Rainbow, see if I can’t offer some condolences to the whole spraining your wings thing.”

“She WHAT!?” Twilight yelled from her spot, scaring the crap out of the bearded stallion. “Nopony told us that she was there!”

“...What?” Aspect blinked. “One would think that her well-being, as your friend, would be...you know, up there on your list of things to care about. Doubly so since she’s such a...enthusiastic trick pony.”

“Hey!” Twilight said sharply. “I didn’t know she was in hospital. Nopony told me and I've been here studying.” She summoned her saddlebags with an item summoning spell. One of Aspect’s spells. “Alright. Let's get going.”

“...You’re telling me how you did that later,” Aspect mused as he led the charge to the hospital.

“Huh?” Twilight blinked as she followed him. “Oh! Lady Written taught me a few of your spells.”

“...That one is based around how the sword always comes to me in a time of need,” Aspect whispered to himself. “And she just...took to it like a duck to water…”

“Did Lady Written ever use the sword?” Twilight asked her.

“No,” Aspect shook his head. “I...we’re talking about it later,” he reiterated. “For now, let’s head on and check on our resident speedster.”

“Oh… kay,” Twilight wilted as she followed quietly behind him. Aspect sighed as he heard that tone.

“Look, I’m not upset,” he called over his shoulder. “I’m just...processing how you managed a sorcery.”

“A… what?” Twilight blinked. “But, all I did was cast a normal spell like Miss Written instructed. Though I first had to use a vocal invocation, I managed to tweak it so I could use a quick cast.”

“The most basic of sorceries are simple words,” Aspect instructed. “Things like ‘Stop,’ or ‘Up,’...or ‘Come.’”

He heard a scratching sound and turned briefly to see Twilight writing all this down. He chuckled and continued with the basic instruction.

“Another thing a sorcery requires is clear visualization for what you want to have happen,” Aspect led with. “And the last thing, that usually ties it all together, is a beat. It draws on music magic. And the more complicated your casting...well, then you have to delve into rhymes to get your intended meaning across.”

“Is that why Lady Written had me tapping my hoof while I learned to cast it?” Twilight blinked. “Wait, she taught me Sorcery? I… I can learn that? Is, that why you got mad?” she said as her ears flattened again. “I… know you don’t want me learning a lot of things that you know…”

“It’s not that I didn’t want you to, it’s that I didn’t think you could,” Aspect replied. “Sorcery is dangerous. It’s...a deeper form of magic than just spells. And the only thing you could pull on to undo a wayward sorcery is another sorcery. You have to be very, very careful when using it. It doesn’t just pull on your own magic. It pulls a little of the Harmonic magic that causes those random musicals to feed its workings. That makes it very powerful. The first thing all nascent sorcerers learn? ‘Stop’ or ‘Cease’ or the like, when imbued with Sorcery...is a general Dispel. Tell me she taught you that at least.”

“Hmm, she did…” Twilight nodded. “But I haven’t tested it yet. I don’t know how much power to put into it or…”

“Use it carefully,” Aspect warned her. “Because it doesn’t just stop Sorcery. It’s an interrupt for all magic, save anything deeper than it. If you used it around a pegasus in flight, they’d fall to the ground. Getting the idea?”

“That… sounds a little dangerous,” Twilight gulped.

“Yes, Sorcery is not something to be wielded lightly,” Aspect nodded once. “It’s one of the few ways Harmonic magic can be...twisted. So think very, very carefully before you do anything with Sorcery.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t learn it after all…” Twilight mumbled, the Want it Need it Incident coming to mind.

“I wouldn’t be adverse to you learning it,” Aspect stated seriously. “But you would have to treat it with the same level of respect that you treat the Elements of Harmony.”

“I respect all kinds of magic!” Twilight said with a sharp nod. “I just… I thought, that you didn’t like me. That’s why, you wouldn’t teach me anything. I mean, you’re teaching foals this stuff and yet…”

Aspect turned and put a hoof under Twilight’s chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes for his next statement. “I do like you. I like you and all your friends, for bringing my Luna back to me. I will never be able to repay you for that. I just want to make sure that this time around, when the knowledge is distributed, it’s used by those that will never misuse it, even by accident. I want it to be respected, acknowledged, and not tampered with. I honestly, honestly, did not think that since you’d spent so long learning how to cast one way, you could readily adapt to the free-flow nature of Sorcery. I’m not mad to be disproven wrong. I’m just cautiously optimistic.”

“I suppose, and my track record hasn’t been fantastic lately,” Twilight said, blushing cutely from the sudden physical contact. “Maybe I’ll stick to study… and leave the practical side alone.”

“Then how would you learn anything?” Aspect asked as he turned to the hospital again. “Studying will only get you so far. Sooner or later, you’ll need to experiment. But I’m sure if you come up with a safety checklist, you’ll never need to fear for anything getting out of—”

A flutter of paper and he had an extensive checklist floating in front of him.

“Heh,” Aspect chuckled. “Okay then, I’ll see if I can’t impart a little knowledge onto you.”

“But first, let’s go see our crash-prone pegasus,” Twilight said as she rolled up the list and stored it away. “I’m sure she’s bored out of her mind.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded.

When they arrived, they found said pegasus strung up like and looking rather upset about it. Her hind hooves were in a cast as were her wings. It also offered the pair a free show as the nurse changed Rainbow’s blanket.

“H-Hi Rainbow,” Twilight blushed and looked away. It-It was just hot in here. Yup. Totally not questioning her sexuality at all.

“Hello love,” Aspect walked up to Rainbow and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“A-Aspect? Twi?” Rainbow blinked and snorted. “The heck are you two doing here? I told the docs not to tell anypony.”

“Bon Bon told me,” Aspect replied. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come to check on you?”

“And see me like this, yeah I did,” Rainbow sighed. “Guh, just… don’t tell anypony else okay? Especially Pinkie. You know she’d make a big fuss out of it.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion chuckled. “But you just know they’re going to check around anyways. And if you think Pinkie doesn’t somehow already know…”

“Yeah yeah, I know,” the pegasus sighed. “Well, I should only be in here for tonight and tomorrow night. The Doc says the healing magic is going well. I should be flying again in a week.”

“Well, that at least is something,” Aspect agreed, nuzzling her softly. “So dare I ask what you were doing that landed you here?”

“Something awesome,” Rainbow smirked.

“So something stupid and dangerous then?” Twilight riposted, making the pegasus wince.

“It woulda worked… maybe,” the mare pouted, folding her forelegs. “And I only broke a few things…”

“Maybe you should have someone go over your tricks with you before you do them in the future,” Aspect pointed out. “So that you end up here less often.”

“Maybe… but this one is top secret,” Rainbow said with a small smirk. “It’s gonna totally kick butt when I get it to work.”

“Okay then, in that case, I’m going to have to taunt you with something every time you land in here,” Aspect teased her.

“Huh? Like what?” Rainbow said, tilting her head to the side a little.

Aspect merely smirked at her. He would wait until Twilight left.

“Like what?” Rainbow said again. “C’moooon, tell meeeee~”

“Mmmmnoooope,” Aspect smirked, inclining his head in Twilight’s direction.

“What?” Twilight blinked and Raibow got a knowing look in her eyes.

“What indeed,” she smirked. “Go on Aspect, I’m sure Twilight wouldn’t mind learning~”

“Learn what?” Twilight said, still confused.

“Well okay then,” Aspect replied, before there was a muted flash.

In the next moment, a griffon that was one and a half times as big as Aspect had been was in the room, with white feathers that turned blood red at the tips. He stared at Dash and licked his beak suggestively.

“Ohwow~” Dash shuddered, she could already feel herself getting wet at the sight of him.

“What does a Griffon have to do with learning?” Twilight asked innocently. “Is this a flying thing?”

“Oh I’m gonna fly high alright,” Rainbow murmured, her eyes drinking in that luscious form.

“This is a really old form of mine,” Aspect stretched his wings...and they barely fit in the room. “And every time you land in here, unable to move, I’m gonna tease you with it.”

“...How is that some sort of punishment?” Twilight asked, starting to get frustrated with not knowing. “Can’t you two make sense?”

“I could explain it to you, but Tia would kill me,” Aspect replied. “So instead I’ll refer you to Cadance.”

“Wha? Why would Cadance know what this is about?” Twilight pouted.

“Aww, you need to stop picking on her,” Rainbow chuckled. “Hmm, I wouldn’t mind watching actually. Too bad I missed the Midnight thing. If she actually did it that is.”

“Mm, that’s for me to know, and you to find out when you get out,” Aspect smirked, before turning and walking out of the room...showing off that form’s impressive toned muscles. He could almost feel Rainbow’s eyes burning holes in his flanks.

“Twi… tell me that isn’t the best ass you’ve ever seen.” Rainbow purred, eliciting a blush and a squeak from the purple unicorn. Aspect decided to be cheeky and swayed his tail just right.

And that was Twilight covering her face with her hooves, trying to hide the blush that burned across her face, while Rainbow merely let loose a catcall. Aspect mentally let out an evil laugh in his head before he walked away. Once he was clear of the room, he returned to being a pegasus and left the hospital.

After leaving Dash drooling and Twilight a blushing puddle, Aspect headed towards the schoolhouse. It was getting late in the afternoon and he had two boys there to pick up, not to mention a schoolteacher that had gone without a magic instructor for the last few weeks…

The stallion just sat outside the school and waited for his wards to walk out and notice he was there. Soon...unless he missed his guess.

And on cue, a flood of foals poured out of the building a few moments after the bell chimed, some stopping in front of him. The three fillies known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, as well as Realm and Artemis.

“You’re back?” the fillies echoed.

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded once. “Figured I should tell your teacher I’m available for lessons again...as well as pick up my wards here.”

“Hello,” Artemis waved. “I was wondering when you might get back. We’ve all been quite worried about you Sir Aspect.”

“None of that Sir business,” Aspect snorted. “I’m still just Balanced Aspect. None of my recent deeds warrants a Sir.”

“Well, you did save us all from Discord’s madness,” Artemis pointed out. “Realm and I have been doing our best to be the Alpha’s of the house, have we not?” He turned and looked at the little alicorn.

“That Nightmare has been doing her best to be a real-” Realm began to utter.

“Pain,” Artemis butted in, putting a paw over his muzzle. “Sorta mean, but not really dangerous. I think she knows we’re stronger than her.”

“Well of course you are, for reasons I’m sure you’ll learn eventually,” Aspect nodded once. “Well...oh, duh. Other thing I need to do. Artemis, can I have a paw, please?” Aspect held out a hoof. “I just want to do a thing real quick.”

“Oh… kay?” Artemis blinked as he put his paw on the stallion’s hoof. There was a brief tingling sensation, and Aspect smiled before pulling his hoof back.

“Thank you, that should round it out nicely,” the stallion mused. “Now, all that’s left is to see your teacher and tell her I’m finally out of the hospital…”

“So I see,” Cheerilee said as she trotted up to him. “I wanted to speak to you about that actually.”

“Uhoh,” Aspect joked. “Boys, when a female says she just wants to talk to you, you listen to that shiver running down your spine. That’s your survival instinct telling you to get the buck out of there.”

“Ooohh,” Realm and Artemis nodded at the sage-like wisdom.

“Hilarious,” Cheerilee deadpanned and looked at the trio of fillies. “Girls, when a boy is in trouble, you never let him forget it okay?”

“Yes ma’am!” they saluted.

“So how bad is it?” Aspect asked.

“A private chat if you don’t mind,” Cheerilee said and nodded towards the schoolhouse.

“Welp, this might take a while boys,” Aspect waved as he walked into the house. “Tell Bon Bon it wasn’t my fault!”

“Am I gonna get another Mom?” Artemis asked, making Cheerilee splutter and cough. “Do I call her Miss Cheerilee or Mom as school?”

“Aaaand let’s just table that discussion,” Aspect deadpanned as he quickly ducked into the schoolroom.

“What do you guys think?” Artemis asked as the group of friends walked off.

“Lucky… you'll get hints on all her surprise tests,” Scootaloo frowned as the banter continued.

“So, what’s the problem?” Aspect asked as he sat at one of the desks...albeit awkwardly.

“I'd like a few answers,” Cheerilee said as she sat at her own desk. “A lot happened when Discord showed up. I'm still trying to process some of it.” She took out a book and opened it. “So tell me. Who was that bipedal figure that was hospitalized after the fight?”

“Ah, one of the difficult questions,” Aspect mused. “How much do you know about the nature of the world? Because otherwise some of the things I’ll be saying are going to be difficult to accept as being true or not.”

“I can hear dirt talk to me, and I'm an Earth pony using magic… Besides this is Ponyville,” Cheerilee snorted and shook her head. “I doubt this could get weirder.”

“There are forces in this world that are more or less the pinnacle of what they represent,” Aspect began with. “Artemis is the Earth Aspect. There is a Seapony King that is the Water Aspect. There is a Phoenix Queen that is the Fire Aspect. These forces...they are titans when they use their full power, or in the case of Artemis, grow into it. It is my job to make sure these forces stay in check. What do you suppose Discord is?”

“I fear to state the obvious and say Chaos?” the mare asked, a little unsure.

“Indeed,” Aspect nodded once. “I am a master of an obscure branch of magic, that is so old, it is the language of magic itself. If ever there were another who knew the sort of magic I hold, then it would fall to me to deal with them. However, it is also perfect for dealing with Discord, because even he cannot counter it. He is Chaos from the bad old days. One of the things I did not deal with to tame the world for ponies. That was the Elements of Harmony...and no matter what they are unleashed on, they cannot kill. Merely lock away, or purify. To permanently deal with threats, it falls to me.”

“So you have killed then?” Cheerilee asked. “And don't tiphoof around the subject. My father was a Royal Guard…” She looked away for a split second, as a bitter memory came to mind.

“I’m pretty sure the statute on the killing I’ve done has long since worn out,” Aspect joked. “The only things I’ve killed have been clear and present dangers to the ponies. The most recent one was...near a thousand years ago? Grogar the Ram Necromancer came back. Didn’t get to make much of a name for himself in this era, but that was because I was in the neighborhood.”

“Sounds like a story in and of itself,” Cheerilee said. “Look. I'm going to cut to the chase Aspect.” She set her book down and focused her attention solely on him. “If I am to keep letting the kids learn from you. I need to be able to trust you.”

“What do you need to know?” Aspect asked.

“Who are you?” Cheerilee asked clearly. “No lies. No masks. I want to know who I'm trusting my foals with.”

Aspect was silent for a time. “You really want to know?” he finally asked. “Once I unmask myself, there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle. You can’t unknow this.”

“What? Are you some eldritch abomination?” Cheerilee quipped.

“No, but it’s not any easier to accept,” Aspect sniped back, before squeezing himself out of the desk he was sat behind and walking up to Cheerilee’s desk.

There was a muted flash of light, and then Christopher Gale the human was standing before her with his arms crossed, looking down with an expression of amusement.

Cheerilee blinked, then rubbed her eyes. “I…” She got up and stepped closer. “No… way…”

“Told you,” the human all but sang to her.

“I… but how?” Cheerilee gaped at him. “I-I thought humans were just an old piece of lore. Something that never actually existed.”

“The last human left thousands of years ago,” Christopher replied. “All the old kingdoms saw the great Windigo Freeze coming and left before they could become victims. The only one who didn’t sail away with them was the Diplomat, the silver tongue to my steel sword that the world called on. I’m just too stubborn to die.”

“Incredible,” Cheerilee poked at him with a hoof. “This is really you? Not some disguise?”

“This is what I was born to look as,” Christopher nodded once. “Of course, over the years, I’ve gotten very good at disguising myself as any manner of creature.”

“So I've seen,” Cheerilee mused as she stepped back. “Well, I can at least see why you pick a pony form. This town is quite good at freaking out over little things.”

“How much panic do you think I’d make if I appeared as a dragon?” Christopher replied with a wicked grin.

“Don't even joke about that,” Cheerilee giggled and prodded his leg. “Alright. I'll let you keep teaching on one condition.”

“Go on,” the human raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what conditions she could put on him.

“That light in your eyes. The pure joy I know you feel when you teach them,” she said softly. “Never lose that feeling Aspect.”

The human paused for a moment, before smiling at her. “Why do you think I asked if I could teach them?” he replied. “I’ve never felt more...alive, connected to the world, as when I’m teaching something to the next generation.”

“Then I'll see you for class tomorrow,” Cheerilee giggled and held out a hoof. Aspect flashed back into his pegasus guise and gently took her hoof, before kissing it, making her blush lightly.

“Tomorrow then,” he promised her.

She fanned herself with a hoof as he left the building, sighing and shaking her head. “If only… Well, time to grade papers~”

Author's Note

This is why you don't succeed at getting Aspect drunk.

Attention, all Patreon supports. Patreon is now going to start charging you more, and they say it's so the creators get a bigger cut of the pie. When in reality, they're charging you 2.9% + 35 cents so they can skim off the top of our success. I'll understand if you have to drop your support or tone it back, I'm looking into other ways to make it possible for you to give us money so we don't have to deal with this if they don't fix it before the next donation cycle.

Chapter 36 - A nightmare settling in

Aspect hummed as he lay in his bed. Well, fun with Dash was out for the night, but he could still practice formshifting. He even had a new form to try out!

With a muted flash of light, an adolescent dragon, no bigger than the bed, lay curled up on top of it, still reading from his book on runes. His scales were red in color with a golden underbelly, and he hummed happily to himself. Just a touch of his age to fuel the transformation, and he skipped right over the hurdles of ‘too young’ and ‘WAY too old.’

The door opened and Bon Bon walked in, closing the door behind her as she turned around and…

“Yeeeek!?” she yelped, backpedaling and trying to reach for the door handle in a panicked hurry.

“Heya Bonnie~” Aspect replied. Yes, his tone was rougher, far deeper, but there was that familiarity that only he could bring to her name. “Like my dragon form? Just picked it up today.”

Ban Bon paused and turned slowly. “A-Aspect? Is-Is that you?”

“Yup!” the dragon preened as he carefully put the book on the nightstand. “Now I can become a dragon whenever I want! We can thank Spike for helping me with this. It’s been long in the coming.”

Bon Bon took a deep breath and exhaled. “You damn near gave me a heart attack you jerk.” She moved over to the bed. “Honestly…”

“Well I mean, I needed to try out the form before I forgot how to use it,” Aspect replied as he coiled around her. “Otherwise I’d lose access to it, and that would be sad.”

“So your transformations require regular use, or you’ll lose them?” Bon Bon blinked, blushing from the sudden contact of his warm scales.

“I have to stretch out the ‘muscles’ with them at least once a century, otherwise I might forget how the transformation is supposed to go,” Aspect replied, moving so that she could see into the book he had picked back up and opened in front of her. “And seeing as how I already stretched out my Diamond Dog in the back yard— Thank Artemis for that one, by the way,— I decided to try out my new form. Preferably somewhere where the public wouldn’t see it. I was also making a note of the new forms in my book, and seeing which ones I haven’t used in a while.”

“And what ones might those be?” she asked, peering down at the pages. She wasn’t used to Aspect being quite this… large. That said, he was quite pleasing to the touch, and so so delightfully warm.

“Well I have all three forms of pony, as well as Alicorn,” Aspect pointed out with a claw, his scales gliding over her fur. “Griffon, because I made them. Minotaur, because I met them. Same with the Zebras, they really helped me get into touch with this transformation magic in the first place. I technically have a Phoenix form, since I made them too. I just rarely get it right. Human of course. Seapony, because it makes visiting Neptune easier. Thestral, thanks to them being Lulu’s favorite. And then there’s the two new ones, Diamond Dog and Dragon.”

Bonnie gave a pleasurable shudder at his touch. “What about other things? Say… Breezies or a monster like a Timberwolf or Manticore?”

“I could try, but I would need to get close enough to one to sample their magic first,” Aspect mused as he slithered back. “I don’t think I’ve met a Breezie before…”

“Really?” Bon Bon blinked. “They pass through Ponyville every year around the same time. Fluttershy and a group of ponies help them migrate, as even the tiniest breeze makes them float off course.”

“Hmmm, well, maybe I’ll look into it later,” Aspect mused as his coils around Bon Bon shifted and…

Oh, now that was unfair.

“Um… Aspect? Honey?” Bon Bon tried to shift around. “I um… I can’t move.”

“Hmm?” Aspect turned and blinked a few times. “Oh...sorry.” A few coils came undone and most of his body was on the bed now.

There was still that damn unfair one that brushed between Bon Bon’s legs, though. She blushed hard and eep’d as he did that. She turned to look at him with a mixture of confusion and… slight interest.

“So really, I think I’ve exercised all but...my Zebra form as of late,” Aspect mused as he shut the book and slithered back to the nightstand, draaaaaaging that coil across Bon’s body. She let out a gasp and a slight whimpering moan as he did that, his scales getting slightly damp as she screwed her eyes shut and blushed harder.

Aspect paused as he put the book back on the nightstand, before turning his head to look at Bon Bon with a slightly quirked gaze and wicked smile. “Does my sweet mare like my new form?” he purred.

“Y-You’re cheating!” she gasped, trying to fight down the rising heat in her core. “A rotten, dirty… sexy cheater.”

“Mmm…” Suddenly, Aspect was coiling around her again, from bottom to top. And every time those coils around her shifted, the bottommost one brushed up against her most sensitive part.

“A-Ah~” Bon Bon gasped again. “N-No fair.” She couldn’t move again and yet, neither he nor she seemed to mind this particular arrangement in the slightest. His bottommost coil started to get wetter as her heated sex started leaking onto him.

“I’m not even really touching you,” Aspect purred as his head observed the mare from above. “And you’re already leaking onto me. Do you really find this form that arousing that you can’t contain it?”

“S-Shutup,” she murmured as her eartips burned red, she bit her lip, trying to contain her moans.

“Is it the form?” Aspect mused as he shifted his coils again. “Or is it something...more?”

She eeped when he squeezed again, doubting she could blush any further than she could now. “T-the form…” she uttered quietly. He must never know…

“Mmm...I doubt it,” Aspect reached up and trailed a claw through her mane. “You said I nearly gave you a heart attack when you saw me earlier…so something about the situation must be arousing to you. Care to tell me, or shall I just keep pleasuring you until you do?”

“I… won’t say,” she murmured. “Not telling.”

“Reallllly?” Aspect asked, his coils shifting again. She squeaked loudly and looked away.

“N-Not… telling,” she gasped, trying to break free.

And then suddenly she was free, Aspect letting her go and just hovering midair. “Fine,” he replied good-naturedly. “It’s obvious you won’t tell me of your own free will, so until I know what I’m doing right, I just won’t do it in case I do something wrong that makes you not like it.”

“I…” Bon Bon blinked, she’d expected him to keep going. This… was somehow worse. She screwed her eyes closed and then just blurted it out.

“I like being tied up okay?” she said a little too loudly.

Aspect lowered his head and looked her in the eye, before kissing her on the lips. “We all have things we like,” he said to her softly. “I don’t think any less of you.”

“You’re a tease and I hate you,” she pouted cutely and folded her arms.

“Oh?” Aspect grinned at her, even as he began to lower his body back down. “Not even if I do...this, will you change your tune?”

His long body began to slowly wrap itself around Bon Bon, giving her plenty of time to ask him to stop, to get out of the way…

Not that she actually did…

Eventually that serpentine body was entirely wrapped around the small mare, every coil pushing into her as his body kept moving around her. If she liked being tied up before...what was it like being wrapped up entirely in another living thing?

His answer came she she closed her eyes again, her body trembling as he felt something wet soak his lower coils… did… did she just cum? Just from that?

An embarrassed look and a blush gave him his answer.

“Somepony likes my new dragon form~” Aspect teased as he lay still around her for a moment.

“O-Oh be quiet,” she panted. “You owe me Mister… I wanna know something you like.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused as the coils began to shift around her, taking up a new pattern.

Now something was prodding Bon’s lips. Something hard and pointed. She gasped again and squirmed, not that she could in his tight embrace.

“I wanna know~” she moaned out.

“That...is my secret,” Aspect chuckled. “No, but truth be told, I don’t actually know. I only became sexually active what...a few months ago? I don’t think I have one yet.”

“Mmm, everypony has something,” she sighed, rubbing against him. “Go ahead, I won’t laugh.”

“Honestly, I’m pretty sure I’m vanilla as ice cream,” Aspect insisted as his coils shifted and the tip started to catch on her lips…

“Mm, well you like being dominant,” she said as she rubbing herself against the tip. “And you seem to like uniforms, if the maid and schoolfilly outfits are anything to go by.” She smiled up at him and hummed. “Maybe Nurse Bon Bon should play doctor with you sometime~?”

“She’d be the first Nurse to get a look at an adolescent dragon,” Aspect promised as he began to shift again, the tip pushing deeeeper…

Bon Bon let out a groan as she felt him start to fill her. “Mmm, what did you do with Midnight?” she asked him. “Did you like it?”

“I don’t really recall it,” Aspect replied. “I was...rather drunk.”

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon giggled. “You don’t remember anything?”

“Nope, my mind blacks out somewhere after the thirtieth tankard of ale,” Aspect admitted as he kept pushing his length into his mare.

Bon Bon moaned as he bottomed out in her, his pointed tip pressed against her barrier as he felt teats press against his scales. She hugged his member tightly, her soaked walls gripping him.

“Mmm…” Aspect murred as he held himself there, before he began shifting his coils back and forth, rapidly drawing his length out of Bon Bon before shoving it back in. Everything but the head came out, and just as the tip was about to reach the air, the coils reversed and slammed it all back into her.

“A-Aaahhh~” Bon Bon gasped as a fresh coat of juices splashed his cock and coils. “Nooo, you beast,” she moaned out. “Not inside mee~”

“Oh you adorable little mare,” Aspect mused to her, drawing a claw down her face. “You stepped into the lair of a dragon. That means...I get to do whatever I want to you~” All this time, the screwing didn’t stop. It didn’t even pause.

“Y-You monster,” she gasped, trying to get out of his coils. “Nnoo, I don’t want too~”

“Oh, it’s far too late,” Aspect chuckled. “I’m going to hoard you here forever, and screw you constantly until your belly bulges with a Kirin~”

“A...aahh~?” she groaned, keeping up her futile resistance. “Noo, not inside. I don’t want a foal. Let me go you… you… aaahhnn~”

“And not just one,” Aspect whispered to her. “I’ll keep you here as my little breeding mare...again, and again, and again. I’ll repopulate the Kirins thanks to you.” Bon Bon moaned louder as he kept fucking her, her blush ever-present as her mouth opened, her tongue coming out as she panted needily.

“I…” she gasped. “Y-You’re going to breed me?”

“No,” Aspect replied, poking the end of her snout with a claw. “You’re going to beg for it first. Then I’m going to fill you, night after night, until it takes. However long it takes.”

“Ahhh~” Bon Bon cried out as another orgasm ripped through her. “Please nooo~”

“I am patient,” Aspect replied, his coils never stopping. “You’ll beg for it soon enough. And when you do, I’ll give you everything you ask for.”

The small mare gasped, moaning louder as she rocked against his dick. “M…” she opened her mouth. “More… please… fuck me more.”

“Not good enough,” Aspect replied. “You need to beg better than that, pretty mare. You have to want it.”

“I…” Bon Bon bit her lip as she felt an intense feeling of pleasure. “Please, fill me up. Make me your broodmare and breed mee~”

“Louder,” Aspect urged her as he started screwing her harder anyways, his coils positively thrashing about like a snake now. Bonnie let out a loud moan as she came again, her eyes rolling up.

“Ahh, this beast is going to breed me,” she moaned. “I’ll… I’ll be a breeding pet forever… Ahhhnn~” Her walls constantly squeezing and milking him for his seed now.

Aspect let out a growl as he slammed home one last time. Bon Bon felt his length twitch inside her a few times...before the drake’s essence began to utterly fill her. Bon Bon groaned as she felt his cum start to flood her, fill her waiting womb with hot seed as she came once more, drooling slightly as her mind went white.

Eventually Aspect uncoiled from Bon Bon and just lay down in a loose coil around her, panting as well. That had been...fun and exhausting at the same time.

Bon Bon moaned as she fell back against his coil, her belly expanded from the torrent he’d pumped into her, her lips drooling cum onto the bedsheets.

“Mmm...I like being a dragon,” the serpent mused as he trailed a claw over her belly.

“I… I’ll bet you do…” she panted as she lay there. “Don’t… you dare… tell Rainbow.”

“Mmm, but then how can I tease Rainbow in front of you later?” Aspect replied. “After all, she has a thing she likes too.”

“She does?” Bon Bon blinked, turning her head over to look at him. “Like what?”

“She has a thing for gryphons,” Aspect explained. Bon Bon opened her mouth, but closed it and merely hummed. She stared down at her swollen belly and let out a small sigh.

“I’m not actually gonna get pregnant from that am I?” she asked him.

“Oh no,” Aspect waved a claw. “It’s fine. I know better than to take that as consent.”

“Good dragon,” Bon Bon giggled as she pet his head. “Sorry… if I sounded weird. It sounded a lot better in my head, guess I’m no good at playing the captured princess huh?”

“Mmm, well you’ll have plenty of time to get better at it,” the dragon murred to her. Bon Bon gasped and poked him with a hoof.

“Oh no, are you going to capture more innocent mares you naughty drake?”

“More like play with the one I have captured, over and over again,” Aspect replied as his coils shifted behind her ever so slightly. Bon Bon blushed as she felt him stir.

“You… you beast,” she gasped. “Will your desires never be sated?”

“Mmm, maybe one day,” the drake mused as he trailed a claw over her belly. “For now, why don’t I make up for the month I was away?”

“What… did you have in mind?” Bon Bon said, trembling in anticipation as to what he had planned.

“Oh...just a few more hours of keeping my captive mare tied up,” the dragon explained before his coils closed around her again, keeping her still.

“But… but I’m already so full,” she gasped, getting wet at the feeling of being helplessly bound.

“Did I say I would be screwing you?” Aspect asked as he resumed reading his book, for all world unconcerned about the squirming mare in his coils. “No, I’m just going to read while you’re stuck like this.”

“W-What?’ she gasped. “That’s… That’s not fair!”

Aspect looked over and traced a claw between her eyes. “Toys don’t get to complain,” he hissed.

“A… toy?” Bon Bon blinked, not quite getting his meaning. Was he treating her like a teddy bear?

Then the coils shifted around her again, reminding her who was in charge of her predicament. She gasped again and pouted.

“I’m… not some plushie for you to hug while you read,” she huffed.

“Mmm?” Aspect mused as he resumed reading. “No, you’re my little pony toy alright. And when I’m in the mood to breed you again…” she felt his shaft trace along her flank, “I will make use of my little toy. But until then, get comfortable. You’re not going anywhere.”

Oh?

Ooooh, he meant that kind of toy…

Well damned if that didn’t get a soft, yet rather lewd moan from her as she blushed and looked away to hide her sudden arousal.

“This is going to be a long night for you, pet,” Aspect chuckled as his coils shifted again.

“Buh… but dinner,” she moaned. “I… I have to—”

Aspect’s coils shifted again, and suddenly she was staring at his long, draconic dick. “Dinner is served,” he idly noted.

Bon Bon just let out a small ‘eep’ in surprise and shock. Aspect said nothing more, simply reading his book as the length twitched in front of her. The mare stared at him for a moment longer, before opening her mouth and extending her tongue, letting her panting breath wash over him as she started to lap at his member, pausing slightly as a spicy flavour hit her tongue. The drake said nothing in response, even as his length twitched a little more.

Until he moved a bit closer, her bound form only let her keep up the sexy tongue bath his dick was getting, the mare moaning slightly as she reached the tip, her tongue prodding at the slit there and licking up any precum that escaped.

The coils shifted a little...and the dick was suddenly pressing deeper into her mouth. Bon Bon let out a muffled moan as he felt her throat tighten around his dick, her tongue coiling around the base as his whole member was buried into her waiting maw.

“MMh… mmph!” she gagged a little, but let him use her however he wished. She was his toy after all, a furry, squishy pony to warm his cock with~

“Do a good job, and you’ll be fed,” Aspect told her as his coils shifted back and forth, drawing his length out of her maw a short ways before hammering back in.

“Mm, mmmph. Aahh,” she moaned louder as he fucked her mouth, her tongue twisting and lapping at his dick as her throat kept squeezing him. A glance back saw that she had a rather fetching bulge in her throat when he bottomed out in her, drool and precum running down the sides of her mouth.

So Aspect decided that his lowest coil would rub right between her hind legs, even as he kept using her mouth for his own pleasure. He wouldn’t just take from his little pet, he’d give something back as well. She was so wet down there, he could feel a mix of her cum and the cum that still filled and sloshed around in her womb coat his scales as she continued to moan almost whorishly around his cock, struggling weakly against his tight embrace.

Aspect’s coils shifted again, and he drew his whole length out of her as he looked her in the eyes. “Beg for it,” he ordered her. “And you might get some relief.”

“Nnrgh…” She looked down at him. “N-No…”

“Toys don’t get to say no,” Aspect replied, his coils shifting and slamming his length back into her maw. “They get used. The only words they can say are ‘Yes,’ ‘Harder,’ and ‘Master,’” the dragon trailed a claw between her eyes before he wrapped her up entirely in his coils. The only part still visible from the outside was her muzzle, and only when he drew his hips back longer enough… before thrusting inside again, the mare moaning and gagging around his dick.

Aspect kept this up for a little while, just using Bon Bon while he read his book, before he set it down again and drew his hips back once more. “Beg,” he ordered his toy again.

But Bon Bon was curious to see how far he’d go. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her so…

“N-No…” she coughed out, more drool and pre dripping from her lolling tongue.

Aspect wrapped her back up and moved her around this time, laying her on her back as he kept using her mouth. His coils shifted around her hind legs, to reveal her folds to him.

And then Bon Bon became intimately familiar with how long a dragon’s tongue was. He heard and felt her moan loudly around his cock. It was any wonder half of Ponyville hadn’t heard her by now… Her juices were as sweet and delectable as ever. The dragon kept his tongue writhing about inside her, even as he used his teeth to graze her lips...and a nub at the top of them. He felt her tremble and shake, her mouth open to moan and pant, only to be filled with hot dragon dick…

Then a rush of sugary liquid coated his tongue as she gave a muffled shriek and came. Aspect licked all the fluid up, before he moved his coils around again, once more letting her talk.

“Bad toy,” he admonished her. “I didn’t tell you you could cum. Beg for forgiveness from your master.”

“I…” Bon Bon took a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry… please… forgive me,” she moaned out.

“Maybe I should breed you for that,” he mused, trailing a claw down her belly. “Make you remember to ask before cumming in the future.”

“But… nnn~ I-I’m already… so full…” she moaned out, panting hard at his touches, her breath washing over his cock, now growing cool in the open air.

“And imagine how you’ll swell with child,” Aspect cooed to her. “Unless you have some other way I should punish you for your disobedience, toy?”

“I…” she gasped. “I’’m just… just a toy. For my Master. He should… do as he likes~”

“Very good, toy,” Aspect praised her. “For now, I think I’ll do as promised and feed you. But later I might breed you for your insolence, give you a permanent reminder.” And before Bon Bon could say anything, that dick was shoved back into her maw. She moaned around him again, her tongue lazily lapping at him as her energy was spent, she really was just a toy for him now. One to please himself with over and over.

Eventually she felt that length start throbbing again, before it jammed its way into her throat and began filling her stomach with his release, causing her to swell a second time. She really did look pregnant now, as he unloaded his cum into her belly, the mare groaning around him, unable to stop him as it started to run down her jaw.

Time passed, and the length stopped twitching as he drew it back, letting her breathe again as his coils shifted around her. Only her muzzle was poking out this time, and Aspect hovered over her head. “Mmm...my little stuffed pony,” he murred. “Going to fill you up again later. Give you a reason to be so stuffed. Breed you...time and time again. My little toy for pumping out kirins.”

Bonnie just panted and moaned a little, her womb and belly full of his essence.

“Mmm.” Aspect trailed a claw along a bit of belly that was exposed. “Think about it. Nothing more than being filled with your master’s cock, day in, day out. Feeling his progeny growing within you. Knowing you’re nothing more than his toy as he uses you, time and again…” He whispered the next part. “You like it, don’t you?”

“M-maybe…” she said, her mind finally clearing some of that lusty haze.

“Say it,” he ordered her. “Beg for it. Beg to be filled forever with my children.”

Bon Bon gasped, opening her mouth to reply when…

“HEY!” Nightmare Moon banged on the door. “What the hell is taking so long! I’m hungry and it’s dinner time!!”

Aspect sighed as he uncoiled from Bon Bon. “You take the bathroom, I’ll distract her,” he offered. “Then later we can pick this up again.”

Bon Bon just groaned, her swelled form unable to move…

The dragon rolled his eyes and picked the mare up, carrying her to the tub in the adjoining bathroom. She kissed his cheek and giggled.

“I’ll be done in a moment… or ten,” she said, looking at her belly. “You really went all out huh?”

“And only the first half was teasing,” Aspect replied, running a claw down her belly before floating over to the bedroom door to distract an upstart foal.

“What am I going to do with you?” she sighed and shook her head as she started the lengthy job of cleaning up…

“So…” Nightmare said as she sat in the living room while Realm painted away on a large canvas. “What’s your deal? Never seen such a small alicorn before.”

“What’s your deal?” Realm fired back. “I’ve never seen a living embodiment of annoyance before.”

“Ooh, what a witty and simply scathing retort,” she mocked. “What’s next? You’ll go a tattle on me to daddy dearest?”

“If I wanted to deal with you, I’m a master of the Gale King,” Realm replied. “You don’t rank my attention yet. Like a moth wondering why the fire’s hot.”

“Ooh, scary,” she chuckled. “Come back when you’ve taken an entire kingdom and can move the moon. I might actually think you’re a worthy opponent.”

“The stories tell of an alicorn that was Cel’s equal,” Realm fired back. “You look like a filly that just got her Ursa plush taken away.”

“And you look like one of your tacky paintings,” she said with a wicked smile. “Did you fall in a bucket of paint, or were you born that way?”

“And you look like an ink blot that someone forgot to clean up,” Realm retorted. “Honestly, black went out of fashion last season.”

“Ohh, did your boyfriend tell you that?” she shot back. “Goddess knows you’re aiming waaay above your height range with Sparkle… shorty~”

“What, like you stand a chance?” Realm replied. “Last time I checked, heroes didn’t date ex-villains, even if they were cloyingly adorable. Hell, father’s quite fond of killing them.”

“Mhm, he did a great job of that with Discord… what, twice now?” she smirked. “And twice with me too. And believe me, If I had my full form back, Twilight would be panting my name in a day~”

“Willingly?” Realm fired back in a moment.

“Does it really matter~?” she murred back. The seductive look on a little filly was… contrasting to say the least.

“Then I guess you fail,” Realm replied, turning back to his painting. “If you don’t take others into consideration, their wants, needs, desires, and seek to meet them, fill them with more than just an obsession over you, then what you get is a pale imitation of love. You have to draw them to you slowly. Otherwise...it’s hollow. Like your heart.”

Nightmare sat back and crossed her forelegs. “I doubt it’d be hollow, I don’t have a heart to begin with remember.”

“Well, if the Elements separated you and gave you a body, then yes, you do have a heart,” Realm replied. “You’re not just some magical construct, alternate personality, or whisp that we’re imagining. You’re a pony in every sense of the term. Now you have to decide what that means to you. Because according to what dad did...until you grow up mentally and are safe to be around, you won’t grow up physically.”

“Well, by magically neutering me, I’m perfectly safe unless you want your ankles gnawed on,” she huffed. “And a bit hard to ‘grow up‘ when everyone treats you worse than a venereal disease!”

“Then maybe you should change your approach and the way you act so that others see their fears and hate are misguided,” Realm replied as he kept painting. “Otherwise you’re just perpetuating the cycle.”

Then her eyes widened as she almost sparkled. “Oh, but I am ever so sorry about being such a bad filly,” she said in a much higher tone, something akin to Sweetie Belle’s voice. “I promise I won’t ever, ever do it again.”

“Better, but you need to leave out the sarcasm,” Realm shuddered just from the voice of it. “You need to actually be sorry about it.”

“Urgh,” her deadpan snark returned full force. “I’d rather rut myself with the stick in your plot than act like that for real.”

“Okay, logical question time,” Realm retorted. “Say you succeeded. Say you brought night eternal. What then?”

“Then what?” she said as she sat back in her plush armchair. “Then I rule this land properly. All this ‘Love’ and ‘Friendship’ garbage that Celestia perpetuates? What an absolute crock. Ponies used to be a race you didn’t fuck around with. Griffons, Yaks and Minotaurs… they all think we’re weak now. We ostracize our own kind for bucks sake. Tell me kid, what do you think would happen if a Thestral landed in the middle of Ponyville. Or maybe a Zebra or Kirin?”

Realm stared at her for a moment, before smirking. “You’ve failed to answer the bigger question. You bring night eternal. How are the crops growing? How are ponies eating? In less than a month...what subjects do you have?”

“Such simplemindedness,” she scoffed. “You think I hadn’t thought of that? There are plenty of plants that grow in the dark. Take the Everfree as an example. It it almost perpetually dark in there, yet life not only grows, but thrives. True, not all plants are suited to it. But that’s what greenhouses are for. Or even artificial sunlight spells. Besides…” she sighed and looked out the window. “I would return the sun eventually. Nighttime eternal… Even I know the longterm plans aren’t stable. But I would need to solidify my rule first. One must hammer weak meatl, in order to make it unyielding. These soft, lovey-dovey ponies must be broken down, before they can be forged into something tougher.”

“And how many would break down completely?” Realm offered. “A world filled with an Everfree forest, or using facilities that would take months to set up...neither of which are good options. Only the most desperate would scrape through while you set up little places for them to hide in. Your rule would go down as the worst in history after the first month. Say what you will about Celestia...she kept the ponies alive for a thousand years.”

“And to what effect?” Nightmare said. “The Elements of Harmony were a last resort. Something to use when ALL other options were exhausted. Now cut to today. They seem to be the first call to port. As Celestia has left NOTHING for ponies to defend themselves with. Mark my words child. There will come a day when not even Aspect can tackle a threat… and then what? Will you rely on your infallible Princess then? A mare that sits on her fat flank eating cake all day. Let’s face it, not even she could take me on in a fight. She too, had to rely on something as powerful as the Elements.”

“That as may be, but Aspect knows he can’t stand up to everything on his own,” Realm replied. “He’s teaching the foals he can trust the ancient arts, as they’re known these days. He’s building up the pony’s strength again. Maybe, if you could be trusted, you could do the same.”

“What? Teach foals the way of destroying your enemies?” she mused. That idea was rather amusing actually. “Aspect should focus on increasing the power of the strong, like the Element Bearers. Foals are all well and good. But that fruit will take generations to ripen.”

“True,” Realm shrugged his wings. “Or, if you actually got your maturity back, you could strike at the heart of the matter...and teach the military.”

“Oh please, you call those fancy tin cans military?” Nightmare actually laughed. “I could march up with a literal army of foals and still take the capital within a day.”

“So some long-term goals,” Realm pointed out. “Let’s lay out a plan. Work on your image here, admit that your plan was shortsighted and try to get the goodwill of the town. Maybe see how things are these days before you can determine what, if anything, actually needs fixing.”

Nightmare paused… then looked at him and said the last thing he expected. “Alright then.”

“Wait are you actually agreeing with me?” Realm was nonplussed.

“I’m nothing if not flexible with my plans,” Nightmare nodded. “And you’re going to show me. You seem ever so intent on seeing me change. So, let’s see you try. Take me out on the town and show me this world is actually redeemable.”

Realm shook his head, trying to clear it of the thoughts that maybe Nightmare wasn’t so bad. She’d been nothing but a terror. “Well...fine. Tomorrow then. But I’m going to give you one last thing to think over, a line that father kept telling Celly and Lulu. ‘It is far harder to depose of a leader that is loved than one that is hated.’ Who knows...maybe you’ll enjoy being loved enough that you won’t try to overthrow everything out of jealousy again.”

“Not jealousy, for that is behind me,” she said as she got off her chair and walked towards him as he painted away. “But it’s still rather fun to be bad sometimes~” She leanedf closer and then kissed his cheek. “Until tomorrow, Big Brother~”

And with that, she trotted from the room with a light yet somewhat menacing giggle.

“...I have so many questions,” Realm muttered to himself.

Dinner was an interesting affair. Bon Bon had left to take some to Rainbow Dash, refusing to let the mare suffer through that dreadful hospital food. Meanwhile, Aspect sat at the table with Realm, Nightmare and Artemis.

And why was Nightmare waving and smiling at Realm?

Aspect tried not to think about it.

“So, did everyone have a good day?” he asked.

“Yeh, school’s been okay,” Artemis said. “Math is really hard though. I don’t get all those numbers n’junk. But Sweetie Belle’s been helping me out heaps.”

“I still get crap from that Diamon brat for being a ‘Fakicorn’,” Realm huffed.

“And I’m going out with my big brother tomorrow to see the town~” Nightmare beamed in her squeaky high tone. “Isn’t that something, Daddy~?”

“...” Aspect stared at her for a moment. And another moment. Before sighing and shaking his head. “What happened?” he asked Realm. Artemis also stared at him.

“...I have no idea,” the little alicorn sighed. “I’m pretty sure she’s just messing with us.”

“Aww, big bwutha’s sooo mean to widdle Marey,” the Nightmare pouted. She looked at Aspect with those way-too-big glittery eyes. “Daddy, Marey just wants to be a good widdle girl now.”

“...If that were true, you’d have gained a few years back at least,” the stallion pointed out. “It’s not an all-at-once thing, it comes undone the more effort you put into it.”

Nightmare shifted from cute and sparkly to death and snark.

“Are you fucking kidding?” she said and folded her tiny legs. “What kind of messed up spell is this anyway? Do you have some foal fetish or something?”

“And there it is,” Aspect deadpanned back. “For your information, it’s a spell I made to try and reform Discord. Tossed it out because I couldn’t get the mental regression part right when I was making it. Be glad you have your memories.”

“Mental!?” Nightmare glared at him. “That… has got to be some kind of illegal. I…” She shoved her empty plate back and stared at him. “I hate you!”

“Artemis,” Aspect spoke up. “Do you hate me for basically taking you from the only world you ever knew?”

“Well, my old life kinda sucked,” Artemis replied with a wave of his paw. “And I—”

“How is his point any comparison?” Nightmare said. “You gave him power. You probably picked him out of a ditch and made him a demigod! Me? You stripped me of my power, my dignity and my own body! Something I have never had! And don’t give me that ‘You have your life’ crap. Because I’d rather be dead than suffer this humiliation any longer!”

Aspect slowly got out of his chair and walked over to Nightmare, before putting a hoof to her form.

There was a flash of runic light…

And the curse was broken.

“I have done no more to you than you would have done to those that stood in your way,” the stallion replied. “I have shown you what you would have become, by being it myself. Can you honestly look at what I have done to you and say that it was not a fitting punishment for your misdeeds, both previous and yet to come?”

“And what of yours?” Nightmare said to him, staring down at her adult form. At this point, she’d been a filly longer than this one, so this felt… odd to her. “I could name numerous ones and yet you don’t punish yourself in such a way.” She took a deep breath, feeling her lungs rise and fall with each one. A small thrum of power showed her horn light up, then fade out. Her wings twitched on her back, her feathers tickling her sides. All of this was a new sensation.

“Put it back,” she replied. “Under a few conditions.”

“Listening,” Aspect replied.

“One. As long as I am in this house, I retain my adult state,” she said. “And in times of emergency. I cannot fight as a foal after all. Two. I want you and yours to forget what I was. It is hard to try and get over past sins when you keep dragging them through the mud over and over.”

“I can modify the curse,” Aspect mused as he held up a rune-covered hoof. “I can make it into a reflex of your magic, make it so that it has to be triggered for you to activate either state. But you will have to earn your forgiveness. I won’t promise that I’ll forget what you’ve done. But I will stop mentioning it. It’ll be your job to make good memories to outweigh the bad.”

“I will… attempt as such,” Nightmare said with a small sigh. “Your insufferable nature does not make that easy. But I suppose I shall be the bigger mare here.” So said the tall alicorn that looked down at the pegasus.

Aspect nodded and touched her with his hoof again. The runes settled into Nightmare’s form and disappeared. With a flash, she resumed her filly form and rubbed her head.

“That may get old fast,” she sighed. But she looked slightly older now. Around the same age as the Crusaders. “Fine. As my first act of this… being nice garbage. I shall apologise for what I have done thus far. Using Luna like that… t’was just my nature, as would be any beasts. But the time sealed away let me think. As did the conversation we shared before, during Discord’s little tantrum.” She closed her eyes and folded her wings. “Please accept my most humble apologies, Christopher Gale. Hero of Equestria.”

“None of that now,” Aspect rubbed her head with a hoof. “Family doesn’t need to be so formal with each other.”

“Family now is it?” she asked with a mix of bemusement and disbelief. “A moment ago, I was something foul you scraped off your hoof.”

“A moment ago, you hadn’t grown up enough to admit you once did wrong,” Aspect pointed out. “Forgiveness begets forgiveness.”

“Huh, so that’s how it works huh?” Nightmare mused. “Well in any case…” She turned and put her glittery look back on. “I hope Big Bwutha is looking forward to our date tomorrow~”

“Artemis, she scares me,” the alicorn whimpered to the Diamond Dog.

“Don’t look at me man, you’re the ladies colt here,” Artemis said as he gnawed on a bone. “Back home we had a saying, you sleep in the hole you dig…” He looked at Realm. “And you’ve dug pretty deep there bro.”

“Great, help me fill it in,” the colt hissed as he tried to edge away from the filly.

“Dude… I’m not into younger fillies,” Artemis chuckled at his own joke.

“Sooh, so naughty~” Nightmare giggled. “Would you like to become a stallion Big Brother?” a flash and he had the adult Nightmare looking over him, smiling seductively. “I don’t mind at all~”

“...I need an adult,” Realm whimpered.

“Oh sweetie,” Nightmare smiled a fang-filled grin. “That’s the best part. I am an adult~”

“Nightmare, heel,” Aspect called to her. “If you’re making somepony uncomfortable, odds are, it’s something that wouldn’t earn you any maturity back under your old curse.”

“I’m just teasing,” she giggled airily as she stood up and walked towards the exit of the kitchen, her round, bare flank swaying hypnotically. “Sweet dreams little prince,” she chuckled as she vanished.

“...I need help,” the colt whimpered as he hunched forward in his chair.

“You okay there bro?” Artemis asked, leaning towards him.

“Not really, no,” the colt whimpered. “It’s...she confuses me.”

“How?” the canine asked, tilting his head. “Isn’t she just messing with you?”

“Tell that to my libido,” the colt muttered.

“Libido? What’s that?” Artemis asked. “Is it food? Cause I’m still hungry. I could go for some dessert.”

“Well, there should be a few treats in the pantry,” Aspect mused, trying to get the dog to leave so that Realm could leave as well with his more...personal problem.

“Woo!” the dog cheered and wandered off in search of treats. As soon as he was gone, Realm got up and went, quite stiffly, towards his own room. He would need a lot of time to deal with this.

“You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family,” Aspect sighed.

Nightmare lay in her bed, granted it was a tad small for her full-sized form, but she’d deal with it for now. Tucking her legs under her, she closed her eyes and her horn started to shine an azure blue.

“Okay… let’s see if I can do this,” she muttered to herself as she prepared to enter the Dreamscape.

When she next opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a void, a long winding path made of stars as countless doors of all kinds and make stretched out before her. Looking up revealed nothing but the night sky and a deep sense of familiarity.

“Hmm, easier than I thought,” she mused as she looked around. Her ear suddenly flicked as she turned, staring into the teal eyes of Princess Luna.

“Hm? I’m surprised to see you here,” Nightmare mused and licked her lips. “Long time no see little sister~”

“I am older than you,” Luna commented. “And just because you possess the Aspect of Dreams, doesn’t mean I forgot the spells to Dreamwalk. It simply comes easier to you than it does me now.”

“Hmm, well I suppose,” Nightmare commented. “So…”

The pair remained quiet for some time, just… staring at one another. Their gaze occasionally drifting to look someplace else.

At least until Luna nodded. “Awkward is it not?”

“Urgh, you’re telling me,” Nightmare said with an exasperated sigh. “Honestly, I had no idea my life would take such a turn. I thought the Elements would simply destroy me for good. Not give me a form of my own…”

“The Elements cannot destroy or kill, else they’d have done so the first time,” Luna commented. “They simply offer order. Balance. Honestly though? I was not expecting it either. I was still surprised you offered to help back then…”

*~*

“N-Nightmare Moon!” Luna gasped, her wings flaring as her horn shone. “Not again! I shall not let you take control. I will sooner destroy myself!”

“Oh calm down,” Nightmare sighed, her from barely visible, parts of her flickering in and out. “That idiot Discord sought to allow me out again. But I barely have the power left to assume an incorporeal form, let alone possess you once more.” She sighed and looked the Moon Princess over. “I… have a request actually.”

“And why should I listen!?” Luna yelled. “The last time I heeded your voice, I nearly killed my father and sister! I was sealed away, lost to them for a thousand years! That is time I can never get back!”

“So then don’t,” Nightmare said. “I’ll fade away soon. I can no longer draw power from you. The Elements separated us almost utterly. I’m barely more than a memory at this point.” The mare looked at her fading from. “But… I do not wish to die like this.”

Luna glared at her, but remained silent for now. Nightmare took that as her cue to continue.

“Christopher. Balanced Aspect… your father. Whichever title you prefer…” Nightmare looked out into the distance. She could sense what was happening. “He will utterly destroy Discord. That is certain… but.”

“But what?” Luna snapped at her. “Father will not lose to that monster again.”

“No, he won’t,” Nightmare replied. “But to destroy a monster, one sometimes becomes an even bigger one.” The Nightmare looked at him. “Runic magic. Those not destined to wield its might pay a tremendous cost. Be it magic, life… or sanity. Your father holds a personal grudge against Discord, so that make it even easier for the magic to prey on him…”

“And what would you know?” Luna said harshly, her tone losing no bite.

“Because it’s not to dissimilar to myself,” Nightmare replied, her body fading more. “I… do not wish to see this happen. I had great rage against the world that shunned our kind. Your own anger and unhappiness is what drew me to you. But… you lost so much because of me. I… wish to try and make even some amends.”

“Lies…” Luna sneered.

“Not this time,” Nightmare said, little more than a shadow and a voice. “As I said, I do not wish to die. Even if you help, I’ll fade regardless. Tis inevitable… But, please allow me to do so on my terms. I will fight Discord with you. Together, we had great power. More than even Celestia herself. I shall give you my magic and me, your form. Together, let us make Discord wish he’d stayed in stone.”

“Why…?” Luna said, more quietly now. “Why would you help?”

“Who knows…” Nightmare’s voice a scant whisper. “Perhaps I truly have gone mad. Perhaps I wish to relive those old days. Perhaps I want to see the look on Discord’s face when his plan backfires most spectacularly…” She faded more… her form gone. “I truly am sorry Luna. Sorry I destroyed your family like I did. Sorry that you suffered such isolation… Sorry… for everything really…”

Luna closed her eyes. She recalled a lesson long ago. Back when she was a filly. One that her mother and father taught her.

‘Revenge is satisfying, but ephemeral. Forgiveness is difficult, but eternal.’

“Art thou truly the feared Nightmare?” Luna snorted as her horn shone. “I remember a ferocious creature that would never give up so easily.” She glowed brighter, searching for the Nightmare’s consciousness. “Now let us wipe that smug smirk off of Discord’s face.”

*~*

“So here we are,” Luna said as she sat down. “How… are you doing?”

“As well as can be,” Nightmare replied, wondering how they slipped into such… common smalltalk. “Your father is an insufferable ass. Not to mention a shameless pervert.”

“That he is,” Luna giggled. “I’m surprised you haven’t killed each other to be honest.”

“I provoked him,” Nightmare said and then smiled. “He’s rather susceptible to a sob story and a puppy dog face.”

“How do you think We… I got away with so much as a filly?” Luna giggled. “So, are you prepared to take over watching the Dreamscape?”

“The Nightmare watching over Dreams… there has to be some kind of irony there,” Nightmare Moon mused. “Not just yet. I… am trying to work through a few things. Getting used to my own body… It’s not easy.”

“I cannot imagine,” She stood up as her form started to fade. “Seems I have reached my limit here. But we shall talk again soon. Nightmare Night is coming up. And We… I shall be celebrating in Ponyville this year. Do not tell father, I wish to keep it a surprise.”

“Nightmare… Night?” Well, now wasn’t that the most interesting thing she’d heard today. “Very well. See you then Luna.”

“You as well,” the Princess nodded before fading from the Dreamscape. Nightmare remained a moment longer. Simply collecting her thoughts before entering true sleep.

...Not before she found Realm’s door and left an… intense dream for him. One involving a certain purple unicorn~

The mare could help but let out an evil cackle as she left the Dreamscape for the night.

“So… you’re gonna show me what’s so good about Ponyville hm?” Nightmare mused as the filly walked alongside Realm. “Better be good.”

“Well, for a start, if the scenery isn’t to your liking,” Realm led with.

“It’s too bright, the ponies are staring at me and this town is woefully small,” she deadpanned.

“Well then, plan B it is,” Realm chuckled as he began leading the filly towards the center of town and…

Was that a gingerbread house?

“You have got to be kidding,” Nightmare said flatly. “Did you ponies seriously bake a house?” She stared hard at it. “What about when it rains? Do they just bake another one? How do they even bake something that size?”

“...Yeah, I’m gonna need the help of someone who can out-random you,” Realm muttered before he raised his voice. “Pinkie! New pony!”

POW!

Nightmare was knocked head over hooves as a Pink mare stood over her, beaming brightly. “OOohh! A new pony. What’s your name? How long have you been in Ponyville? Do you have any friends? Oh of course you do, cause I’m your friend. When’s your birthday? Do you like parties? I love parties! I should throw you one—”

Nightmare jammed a hoof in her mouth, but the muffled noises showed Pinkie neither cared, nor stopped talking.

“What… what is this thing?” she gasped. “It’s… a monster!”

“That, is Pinkie Pie, Ponyville’s resident party planner and welcome wagon,” Realm replied. “You might as well let her talk, get it all over with at once.”

Nightmare blinked. This was one of the Element ponies right? She hesitantly removed her hoof and…

“And then I said ‘Banana’s? Are you nuts’?” Pinkie giggled and looked down. “Soo, who’s this Realmy? I got a real keeny sense of Major Fu…”

“I’ll let her introduce herself, assuming she can even remember her name,” Realm replied.

“One, I believe you mean ‘Deja vu’,” Nightmare groaned and facehooved. “And two, my name is Night-” No wait, that might cause a scene she was in no mood to deal with. So, what should she go with? Night Sky? Meh. Nyx? Urgh, Gods no.

“Black Snooty?” Pinkie offered.

“No!” Nightmare snapped and paused. “Wait… what?”

“Silly Nightmare. Still, I’m sure you’ll pick something cute. Until then…” She bounced away, singing some nonsensical song.

“I… think I need to lay down,” Nightmare groaned.

“Let’s go inside and get you something to eat,” Realm suggested.

“No way! That insane mare is in there!” Nightmare yelped. “Take me home so I can run myself through on Aspect’s sword.”

“Okay, no,” Realm replied, using a wing to pull her close even as he walked up to the door. “You need to have something from Sugarcube Corner. It will literally make your day.”

“Urgh, it better do,” Nightmare groused as she begrudgingly followed him. The door chimed as they walked in, and the scent of all the baked deliciousness wafted over to Nightmare for the first time.

“W-What is that?” Nightmare asked as she sniffed the air. “It’s… like nothing I’ve ever…”

“Not even Canterlot has stuff like this,” Realm bragged. “Trust me, I looked while I was there. It really does pale in comparison to Pinkie’s treats.”

“So… what does she make?” Nightmare asked as she sat at a table and looked at the menu. “None of this makes sense. What the stars above is a ‘cupcake’?”

“Something that must be tasted,” Realm replied with sagelike wisdom.

“Urgh, cut the dramatics,” she sighed and looked up. “Fine, let’s taste this thing then.”

“Pinkie!” Realm called out to the mare. “A cupcake for a sourpuss.”

“Cooooming~” she sang out before bringing out a plate that had a variety of cupcakes on it. One appeared to be shaped like a love-heart and could be split down the middle.

“Itchy rump, twitchy ear and eye flutter,” she said to the colt and bounced away. Realm had no clue what that meant, or why she included that cupcake. He pushed one towards Nightmare, before taking another and removing the paper lining, demonstrating how you were supposed to eat it.

He’d been in Ponyville for a few months now...and these things still tasted too damn good.

“Your face is weird,” Nightmare said about his blissful expression as she lazily unwrapped one and bit into it…

Sweet Stars Above… how? HOW!? How could something this good actually exist?

Realm chuckled and reached a hoof over, helping her keep her mouth closed with an audible click.

“That… that cannot be real?’ she said, staring at the treat. “Something this good. It must be some kind of spell or magical elixir.”

But then… Bon Bon’s food was also amazing. Was this what she’d been missing out on. She tossed the wrapped and thumped the table. “I demand another!”

“We’ve got plenty here,” Realm pointed out as he polished off his own cupcake and began taking another. As he did, somepony sat down beside him.

“Hello Realm,” Twilight smiled as she wiggled to get comfy. “I’m surprised to see you up and about so early.”

“Yes, well, somepony is an early bird, despite what we might think,” the colt grumbled.

“Hmm?” Twilight turned her gaze and looked at NIghtmare. “Now who’s this? A new friend of Aspect’s?”

“Oh? You know very well who I am Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare chuckled, using her adult voice.

“Nightmare Moon!” Twilight hissed under her breath, lighting up her horn.

Leaving Realm free to stuff a cupcake in Twilight’s mouth. The mare blinked before swallowing the treat.

“Do you normally leave creamy goodness in mare’s mouths in public~?” Nightmare teased as Twilight tilted her head in confusion.

“Just...stop,” the colt groaned. “I’m trying to defuse the situation here.”

Twilight swallowed the treat he’d put there and sighed. “So… might I ask why innocent little Realm is wandering around with a diminutive conqueror?”

“Can’t talk, eating perfection,” Nightmare waved, cramming another cupcake into her mouth.

“Trying to show her why reforming is a better option,” Realm replied as he picked up another cupcake.

As he did, Twilight reached for one and they nabbed the two heart halves. Twilight cooed and picked hers up. “Ooh, Pinkie only makes these on Hearts and Hooves day,” the unicorn said. “A rumor in Ponyville says that if you eat one with your special somepony, you’ll be together in happiness forever.”

And that was Nightmare gagging on a chocolate chip muffin.

“Of course, that kind of thing has no scientific basis whatsoever,” Twilight shrugged. “And it’s not like Pinkie doses her goods with love potions or that kind of thing.”

“Aheheheh...yeah, that would be silly,” Realm chuckled.

Twilight nodded as she ate her half of the treat and sighed. “Mmmm, but it is good though. I could certainly be happy eating one of these with a special someone.”

Realm gulped, his hoof still holding his half of the cupcake...really not sure about this.

Nightmare for once, was too busy eating her own treats to tease him, while Twilight simply hummed with happiness over her own as she sat next to him, her tail swaying and brushing up against his.

A damn confusing technical sibling to one side of him, and a mare he was crushing on so hard on the other.

The colt didn’t know if he should eat it or not. If he did, he’d be playing into the rumor and confirming he wanted that. If he didn’t, Nightmare might take it and eat it.

“You gonna eat that?” she asked with a mouthful of crumbs, pointing at his lovey dovey treat. Her horn lighting up to take it.

Realm growled, and more out of a desire to stop Nightmare from having it than out of a desire to be with Twilight, he jammed the treat in his mouth and bit down. It was utterly divine. The perfect blend of sugars and spices. He glanced at Twilight as the mare offered him a sweet smile and a light and airy giggle.

Realm had never been more conflicted about a pony than right then.

“Everything okay?” Twilight’s question snapped him out of his introspection. “Was it not to your liking?”

“No, it was great,” Realm replied. “Just...trying to process how good it was. You know, being stuck in a painting for a thousand years and all that.”

“I can’t even imagine,” Twilight nodded and pulled him into a hug. “Still, you have heaps of friends here now. So no sealing up in a painting again okay mister!”

“Okay, okay,” Realm groused good-naturedly. “I’ll tell you the next time I need to step into a painting for a thousand years.”

“Good, because I’ll come after you,” Twilight nodded as she stood up. “Now, you take care. I need to run some breakfast back to Spike.” She looked over at Nightmare and frowned. “And don’t you cause trouble for him. Or else you’ll answer to me.”

“Oooh, scary,” Nightmare mused as Twilight walked off. Realm watched her leave and when he looked back…

Nightmare had the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.

“What?” the colt asked.

“Oh wow… you really have it bad for her hm?” she mused. “You know, I could help you… or compete with you~”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the colt muttered as he stared at the destroyed plate of cupcakes.

“So you don’t mind if I woo her then?” she smirked. “I’ll invite her over so I can use my true form too~”

“Do that and I’ll seal you in a painting,” Realm sniped back.

“Ooh, so scary,” Nightmare cackled. “Now hurry it up. I wish to see the rest of this little hovel before lunch.”

“And talking like that is just going to endear you so much to the locals,” Realm pointed out.

“Then what should I call it to appease the peasantry?” Nightmare asked seriously.

“A quaint little town,” the colt replied as he stood up from their table.

“That’s being a tad generous is it not?” Nightmare deadpanned as the duo left the bakery and back out onto the street.

“Like your...what, third chance is with you?” the colt pointed out.

“...Touche,” Nightmare replied as she looked around. As she did, she bumped into a mare and fell backwards, shaking her head to try and clear the daze of literally being kicked in the face. “Who dares strike me!”

“Hmm?” the mare looked down, her pink coat and purple mane filling the filly’s vision. “What’s this, somepony’s brat?”

Realm saw Nightmare’s eyes narrow.

“Watch where you’re walking,” Spoiled Rich huffed and waved the hoof Night had run into. “Honestly, I could have gotten hurt with that stubby little horn of yours.”

“Stubby…” Nightmare twitched.

“Now move along you little blank flank, I have important adult matters to see to,” the mare turned up her nose at the Nightmare. “And watch where you’re going in the future. Some ponies are actually of worth in this town you know. We don’t need some brat getting underhoof.”

The Nightmare that was now visibly shaking with rage.

“No,” Realm pulled her back and wrapped a wing around her. “No you don’t. Don’t you dare do that. Father would not be happy if you did, even to her.”

“I will unleash the fire of Tartarus on her!” Nightmare screeched as Spoiled walked away. “I will make her cry, and beg and scream for mercy while she licks my hooves! And then, once she is finally broken, nothing more than a pony-shaped shell! Will I grant her the sweet reprieve of death!”

“Yes, that about sums her up, but no,” Realm replied. “Not even that would make her regret what she’s done. She’s just about the most stuck up pony you could ever meet. Don’t even try.”

Nightmare was fuming. But to Realm’s great surprise. She took a deeeep breath and exhaled. “Fine. Let us go. I find my day has been soured by filth and require some cleansing of the fun kind.”

“Well, let’s see what we can find to do,” the colt mused as he began leading the filly through the streets, looking for something to distract her with. Meanwhile, Nightmare wondered if she should freeze that mare’s still beating heart… more than it already was. Or maybe feed her limb by limb to a Tartarus demon.

So distracted she was, that she didn’t notice that she’d been lead to a rather fancy-looking house until they were on top of it. “Let’s see if she’s in,” Realm muttered as he walked up to the door and knocked on it.

“The hell?” Nightmare looked at the building. It was awfully gaudy looking. It didn’t really mesh with the rest of the town. Like the Gingerbread bakery… or the joke shop with the jingly hat roof. Or… Actually scrap that. It fit perfectly.

“Cooo~ming,” came a singsong tone before the door opened, revealing the beautiful white unicorn. “Welcome to… oh? Why hello there little Realm. What brings you here?”

“I have a little filly here who doesn’t own a stitch of clothing, not even a set of saddlebags,” Realm replied as he stepped to the side and revealed Nightmare from behind him.

“Wait? Wha—” Nightmare started, only for Rarity’s loud gasp to cut her off.

“Ooh, this shall not DO!” she said as she dragged the pair inside with her magic. “We shall fix this-this travesty post haste!”

“...Urge to kill all male alicorns rising…” Nightmare uttered.

“Say that once Rarity’s done with you, I dare ya,” Realm replied as he was along for the ride.

“Urgh…” Nightmare groaned as she looked around. “Why is this such a big deal? Clothing is utterly pointless. My armor is more than satisfactory for instilling fear into my enemies.”

“Contrary to your belief, dear,” the nightmare heard from a painting of all things, “But there are things that clothing can do better than armor. I did some of my best political subterfuge in my lovely gown, for instance.” Checking the picture and some of the memories she shared...okay, borrowed from Luna revealed that it was Princess Platinum’s portrait talking to her.

“Oh, if it isn’t the embodiment of vanity and pompousness itself,” Nightmare retorted with a smirk. “I didn’t think you were still around.”

“Oh, I’ll last as long as darling Realm remembers to refresh my paint,” the mare cooed to the male alicorn. “In any case, think of the fine clothing as a sweet scent a predatory flower emits. It’ll draw your prey in to the point where you can strike.”

Okay… a little filly’s smile should not have that many sharp teeth.

“Hmm, well if you put it that way,” she chuckled as her draconic eyes flashed dangerously.

“Of course, you will have to sharpen your weapons, that is, your wit, to the point where you can utterly verbally eviscerate someone with one sentence,” the painted mare continued. “After all, with just one line from me, I was able to turn your opinion completely around. Given a little more time I could convince you it was entirely your idea to come here.”

Nightmare paused and just looked at the mare… before drifting her gaze over to Realm.

“Are you sure I was the only Nightmare?” she asked. “That mare scares even me!”

“Princess Platinum was no pushover,” Realm chuckled. “She turned the Still Way into an art. She didn’t have to talk to destroy her foes in the pre-Unification era. And any fancy ball she attended? Dad put it like ‘putting chum before a shark.’”

“Your father always did have such a way with words,” Platinum cooed.

“I think I just made my first friend,” Nightmare said with an awed tone. Any further contemplations were cut off by Rarity returning to the room.

“Oh darlings,” she cooed. “Come come. I have some wonderful outfits ready for you.”

“Perfect~” Nightmare cooed as she was led away into another room, leaving Platinum with Realm.

“And to think, my likely descendant...well, my doppleganger at least, can match me for words when she puts her mind to it,” Platinum chuckled. “Give her about a year with me, she’ll be better at it than I ever could be.”

“Okay, now you both scare me,” Realm uttered.

Then a cold chill filled the room, an aura of death that chilled the male alicorn to the core.

“I’m going to slaughter you all…” Nightmare growled out as the pair turned… to see her in the pinkest dress they’d ever seen. A tall, steepled hat with a veil. A frilly pink dress that trailed behind her, a massive bow on the back. Everything about it screamed ‘Little Filly Princess.’

“Gah!” Realm covered his eyes with a hoof. “It’s like Pinkie Pie exploded all over her! Pink and black do not mix!”

“Consider this my own personal revenge,” Rarity smirked as she pet Nightmare’s head. “I just couldn’t help myself.”

“I would approve if I wasn’t trying to desperately unsee it,” Platinum muttered.

Nightmare tore off the dress and hat, tossing them aside.

“Yes yes,” Rarity chuckled and picked her up. “Come along, I have something that will look perfect on you. Something real this time.”

“One chance…” the filly growled. “Then everything burns!”

…

A few moments later, the pair came back out. This time, instead of the gaudiest outfit known to ponykind. Filly Moon was dressed in a silvery-grey sleeveless turtleneck. A pair of azure boots trimmed with faux fur adorned her boots and a pair of black and gold trimmed saddlebags on her rump. Her mane was tied back into a ponytail with a ‘Silent Princess’ flower near her right ear.

“I look utterly ridiculous,” she muttered.

“That looks like it’d be good for winter,” Realm muttered as he looked at the outfit. “Hmm...why gold and not silver?”

“Something to allow the bags to stand out a little,” Rarity nodded. “Gold is such a regal colour. So naturally it should suit. Plus I have a second pair should she regain her… mature state.”

“Hmm…” Realm looked Nightmare over again. “I think it looks nice,” he finally said. “Then again, my tastes are horribly out of date. But I wouldn’t imagine to tell a fashionista how to do her job, and I’d expect her to extend the same courtesy to me should I choose to paint her.”

“Oh?” Rarity paused. Well, she’d come back to that. “I have a few more that might work. But I think it best that I design something from scratch. I simply don’t have anything else to suit her colors.”

Still, at least Realm had succeeded in diffusing the Nightmare. The tiny alicorn sighed and shook her head.

“Fine, I don’t care,” she sighed. “And I have my adult form back. So… I suppose you could do something for that.”

“Ooohh~” Rarity hummed. “I shall need measurements—”

“Then you’ll have to come back to Aspects house,” Nightmare said. “I can only take that form there. Such are the stipulations for my… parole as it were.”

“Besides, it’s probably better that we get her a nice outfit for her first day of school,” Realm pointed out.

Nightmare paused as her head slowly ticked around to face him. “.....What?”

“It’d probably stand out more if you didn’t go to school,” Realm pointed out. “Besides, as long as you’re a filly under Aspect’s roof...well, the local government thinks it’s best for all his ‘children’ to go to school.”

“Like Tartarus,” Nightmare snorted. “And technically, I’m a grown mare while under his roof. So there.” She poked her tongue out to prove her point.

“And when you go out and they start asking questions?” Realm pointedly asked.

“Lock them in their own minds for an eternity of nightmares and torment?” the filly replied a little too seriously.

“It’d be easier to go to school,” Realm pointed out. “Besides...you remember that mare? Her filly goes to the school as well.”

“Her… filly?” Nightmare blinked slowly. “You… you mean a stallion willingly put his dick in that thing!?”

“And what was it you were just saying about wanting to get back at her?” the colt mused.

“Well, I’m not about to torment a filly for her mother’s actions,” Nightmare scoffed. “I’m evil. But not that evil.”

“Her filly is no better than her,” Realm deadpanned. “Within the first day, you’ll have all sorts of reasons.”

Thaaaaat was not the laugh of a nice pony… or a sane one. Realm had to admit that the mare knew how to do an evil cackle. He sighed and turned to Rarity, hoping she at least knew how to defuse the situation.

“Try not to leave a body,” Rarity said and the Nightmare nodded eagerly. Rarity looked at Realm and shrugged. “That little filly makes dear Sweetie Belle’s life a living nightmare… er—” she looked at the black-coated filly. “—No offense.”

“So I have a rival eh?” Nightmare smirked. “Oh, I think school might be very fun don’t you dear big brother~?”

“Here lies Miss Cheerilee’s professional career,” the colt intoned, holding a hoof over his chest. “It died with her hope of having a normal class.”

“She’ll have three Aspects in her class,” Nightmare pointed out. “Such is life.”

Across town, a mulberry-coated Earth Pony mare suddenly shuddered. Why did she feel like she’d made a very poor choice somewhere in life?

“Well...let’s get you a few nice outfits and then we can see about other distractions from your dastardly plans,” Realm urged her.

“Oh, we going to go and visit your marefriend?” She cooed at him and bat her eyes.

“Oh? Does my little Realm have a sweetheart?” Rarity piped up, ever the lover of gossip.

“Oooh, yes,” Nightmare chuckled. “Why. You know her quite well. She’s—”

“—Not important right now!” Realm stuffed his hoof in her mouth and chuckled. Well...so much for this day being normal. Or easy.

Why him...

Author's Note

If I don't say it, it doesn't count, right?

While Patreon has reversed their proposed fee changes, the fact that they proposed them at all leaves me wary of using them as an online tip jar for much longer. Still, as long as we do, half of all funds will go towards paying Aus' internet bill so that we can keep writing together.

And hey, who knows? If we get desperate for characters to move things along, we might look at our list of donors and go, 'hmm. Well, we can use that name.'

The other half will most certainly not be spent on last minute Christmas gifts. Nope. Not at all.

Chapter 37 - Griffon playtime

“Now Rainbow Dash,” Doctor Horse muttered. “Stay off of those wings for a couple of days. And do try and not do this again… even though you likely will… Honestly, I might as well keep a bed with your name on it.”

“Sorry doc,” Rainbow smirked. “I just have too much awesome for my body to contain.”

“That body will be six hooves under if you keep this up,” Doctor sighed. “Now keep those bandages on. And I’ll send Nurse Redheart around to change the dressings.”

“Yeah okay,” Rainbow sighed. “Uh, well I won’t be able to use my house. So send her to that big mansion down near the forest.”

“Friend lives there?”

“Eeehh, something like that,” she shrugged as she signed the paperwork and spat out the pen. “Thanks for patching me up again.”

“It’s a full time job at this point,” he sighed as he helped the pegasus off of the bed and she went on her way. Outside, she was met by Twilight carrying a massive, wrapped square object. Rainbow just raised a questionable eyebrow.

“I’m returning Aspect’s portraits,” she answered. “And keeping a watchful eye on you.”

“Urgh, fiiine,” Rainbow groused good naturedly. “Let’s go.” And with that, the pair of friends headed for Aspect’s mansion.

Aspect let out a yawn as he sat at the table. Breakfast had ended some time ago, but his brain was still catching up. What was there to do today? The wheels spun, but nothing caught in his memory. He must need more caffeine. His two… no, three children were off at school. Getting Nightmare to go was… surprisingly easy. That concerned the stallion just a little. Bon Bon was off at work, and he hadn’t seen Lyra around since he woke up.

Then with a loud BANG that totally did not startle him. The kitchen door flew open as a prismatic-maned pegasus pony strut inside, Twilight Sparkle following closely behind.

“Rainbow’s home baby!” the mare shouted.

“I thought that level of dramatic was reserved for aspects,” the stallion muttered.

“Baah, like I’ll lose to any of them!” Rainbow snorted as she started to walk closer. “So… sup?”

“As far as I can tell, not much,” the stallion replied. “The kids are at school, Bonnie’s working, and- oh! Perfect timing!” he spoke as he noticed Twilight bringing in the paintings. “It was starting to get quiet in here. I could actually hear myself think.”

“That sounds dangerous,” Rainbow snorted. “Ten bits says it was something perverted.”

“W-What?” Twilight blushed, nearly dropping the paintings.

“Ooohyeah,” Rainbow chuckled and nudged her. “Careful Twi, or he might come after that starry lil butt of yours next~”

“Har har,” Aspect deadpanned. “Well, I have something to do that’ll keep me occupied until lunch at least.”

“Oh?” Rainbow mused as Twilight unwrapped the paintings. Clover. Starswirl. Written Script, Hurricane and a few others. He did notice that Platinum, Pansy, and Smart Cookie weren’t amongst them though.

“Mmm, well, I think I can take a wild guess as to where the others are,” the stallion mused as he looked the paintings over. “Yeah, carrying these all over the mansion to hang them up where they’re supposed to be will take me a bit. So thanks for the distraction I guess. It’ll help delay me until I get an actual plan in mind.”

“Do you want some help?” Twilight asked. “Spike took a trip to Canterlot today for some comic book convention. So he’ll be there for a few days.”

“Let me think,” Aspect hummed as he tapped his chin a few times. “No, I think this is one of those lazy days where I actually don’t have anything to do. I mean, there are things I could do, but they don’t need to be done right now. So really, a small chore like this is perfect for keeping my mind distracted.”

“Oh… well, alright.” Twilight set the last painting down and headed towards the door. “I’ll see you both later then. Take care Rainbow.”

The pegasus nodded as Twilight left, before setting a flat stare on Aspect.

“What?” Aspect asked. “I was honest and actually just about to thank her for offering to help.”

“Dude… read between the lines,” Rainbow facehooved. “She said Spike went to Canterlot and she just returned all her paintings… in other words. Who else is at the library right now?”

“Well when you put it that way, I feel like a heel,” Aspect muttered. “...I really need to get used to acting normal, don’t I?”

“Eh, you’ll get there,” Rainbow chuckled and knocked his shoulder with a hoof. “Don’t worry. She’ll probably just reshelve her books. We can invite her over for dinner or something.”

“Ah, so those bandages aren’t just decorative,” Aspect noted aloud. “You’re actually staying for dinner.”

“Ehh, well…” Rainbow scratched the back of her head. “I sorta, kinda… can’t fly for a few days. So maybe, I was…” She blushed and looked around, as if somepony was watching. “Maybe I could stay here with you?” she said in a quiet, raspy whisper.

“Well I wouldn’t say no, sweet Rainbow,” Aspect chuckled as he drew close and pecked her lips with a quick kiss. “After all, I would have to be a most ungenerous friend indeed to force you to find shelter elsewhere.”

“Yeah well…” Rainbow blushed again before quickly pecking his cheek. “So it’s cool then?”

“Of course,” Aspect nodded once. “We’ll come to some sort of arrangement later.” He picked up the paintings and put them on his back as he walked off down a hallway.

He heard hoofsteps behind him as Rainbow followed, looking around the empty hall. “Eesh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this place so quiet before. No wonder you look all antsy.”

“That is part of it, yes,” Aspect agreed as he spontaneously grew a horn and began using his magic to put the paintings back as he passed the empty hooks.

“Man that looks weird when you do a transformation like that,” Rainbow shook her head. “Wouldn’t that tall, skinny form be good? You have claws with that one right? The one you used to fight Discord.”

“True...but in case you hadn’t noticed, this house was built to be pony-sized,” Aspect pointed out. “I couldn’t exactly just become anything when inside.”

“Eh, I guess,” Rainbow nodded. Truth be told, she just wanted to see that form again. Given that Bon Bon said that was what he really looked like. “Also… I, want to apologize.”

“Oh?” the stallion asked as they walked past where Platinum was supposed to be. He almost reflexively put a painting up, but remembered that he didn’t have her back just yet. “Whatever for?”

“I…” she paused as h heard her voice crack. “I should have been here. I should have… should have been with you and my friends…” She sat down and stared hard at her hooves. “I-I wasn’t strong enough. He… he made me think a bucking cloud was Cloudsdale! I-I’m so damned stupid!”

“Hey,” Aspect turned and put a hoof under her chin, so she was looking him in the eyes. “Stop doubting yourself. There is nothing Discord cannot do to the unprepared. The only reason I actually managed to put up a fight against him this time? He got me the first time we met. If you had it rough now...imagine what he did to me, when I was the only thing he perceived as a threat, and I didn’t have half the abilities I do today. It wasn’t me that beat him, not even close. Even I can fail, Dashie. The point is, what are you going to do now? Whine about how much stronger he was...or pick up the pieces and make a new strategy from them?”

“Why do you think I’m all busted up?” she gave a weak chuckle. “I uh… might have tried something dumb.”

“Oh dear,” Aspect sighed as he nuzzled her. “What did you do, my little speedster?”

“You… promise not to freak out?” she asked him, sounding very hesitant.

“I will do my best,” the stallion replied. Rainbow Dash took a step back and extended a hoof. She closed her eyes for a moment and then Aspect felt a breeze tickle his ears.

“Oh, you managed wind generation?” the stallion raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s pretty impressive.”

The he yelped as an errant spark of electricity snapped out and struck him on the nose, like a rather powerful zap of static. He rubbed his nose and looked at Dash.

“Was that…” he breathed, unable to finish his thought.

“Huh? Oh… yeah,” Rainbow rubbed her hoof with the other. “Sorry, I can’t really control it all that well. Or, you know… at all...”

“Still, that is a step in the right direction,” Aspect praised her. “Lightning is a finicky trick to actually control. It’s all about holding a certain state of mind, which most ponies can never find.”

“And I tried to combine it with a Sonic Rainboom…” Rainbow winced, preparing for the verbal lashing she was likely about to receive.

Only to be surprised when all she heard was a ‘huh’. She looked over at the stallion to find him rubbing his chin again.

“Okay, so aside from the fact that you did it without the safety of other Gale King students nearby to catch you, that actually sounds like an interesting idea,” Aspect pointed out. “I have no trouble with you trying to combine lightning into your tricks, it’s probably how you’ll earn your mastery. But just be careful enough to be around someone that can catch you in the future?”

“If they were fast enough,” Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief. “I dunno how AJ’s gonna fill in the crater I left on her farm…”

“Easy, Applebloom or Artemis can do it,” Aspect shrugged. “Now what I will berate you for is trying to put lightning into your tricks when you couldn’t control it. You’re gonna need a lesson or three to actually master lightning.”

“Yeah I know,” Rainbow groaned. “Spitfire already chewed me out for it. As did Bon Bon.” The mare sighed and shook her head. “I just… wanted to be stronger.”

“Even for everything I brought to bear against Discord?” Aspect started, before pecking her on the cheek. “It wasn’t me that beat him. It was you girls and your friendship that sealed the deal. All I did was distract him. You’re strong as it is, Dashie.”

“Yeah… maybe,” she replied and sighed. “Come on, let’s get the rest of these paintings up.”

Aspect continued his chore in silence for a bit before speaking up again. “Does it really bother you that much, that you couldn’t stand up against the literal embodiment of Chaos? Something that I myself can’t properly put down?”

“It bothers me that I was taken out so damned easily,” she muttered. “That he was able to trick me without even getting into a fight in the first place.”

“That’s sort of his thing,” Aspect nodded once. “He gets in your mind and screws with you. The easiest fight is one he doesn’t have to fight. Plus, if even one of you had gone unmolested, that would have given Twilight hope, and then she might have put it all together sooner. Of course...there’s a pattern here. The first time, he came for me, and was beaten by the Elements. The second time, he was went for the Bearers...and underestimated them.” Aspect glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “He won’t make that mistake again. He learns every time he’s beaten. That’s why I’ve saved my best trick until I know he needs power of that quantity to be taken down.”

“Huh?” Rainbow blinked and stared at him. “What trick?”

“I pray you never have to learn,” Aspect shuddered. “Let’s just say if I ever use it? I won’t be worthy to carry my sword.”

Rainbow continued to stare, but decided to drop it. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she couldn’t make him. Time to change the tempo of this conversation.

“So?” she murred and gave him a half-lidded gaze. “How much did you miss me? Or were you too busy raiding the candy jar~?”

Aspect stopped walking for a moment, before leaning over and nipping between Dash’s wings, at a spot he knew was sensitive. Her wings went to flare out, only to be kept bound in her bandages, still didn’t stop the muscles from trying…

Which was now why the mare was letting a string of curse words that would have made Hurricane shed a tear of pride.

“Oh...crap, sorry,” Aspect muttered as he flattened his ears. “I...guess I need that practice a bit more than I thought…”

“Eehhoowowow,” she winced as her muscles settled. “S’cool, I didn’t think that would happen either,” she replied and nuzzled his neck to comfort him. “Come on, do I look like Fluttershy? I’m a bit sturdier than that.”

“Guess that killed the mood, though,” the stallion sighed. “I was trying to be clever about my answer and I screwed it up…”

Then he felt her tail brush up underneath him. “Well, you’re much too clumsy to see to me right now,” she mused. “Maybe there’s a big, strong griffon around that can do a better job hm~?”

“Let’s get this last portrait hung up and we can see about that,” the stallion murred to her. It wouldn’t be that long of a walk. Maybe a minute at most to get Starswirl back in the library.

“If you say soo~” Rainbow hummed as she followed behind him… before she got cheeky and leaned forwards, nipping at his rump. Aspect let out a cry of his own as his wings half-popped out.

“Heheh, I may be off season, but you’re still game,” she mused as she moved lower and nibbled at the dock of his tail. Aspect let out a little growl as he turned his head back to look at her.

“Oh you are going to get it when we get to the bedroom,” he promised her.

“Words are words,” she teased back as she pushed her muzzle a little lower as he walked, taking a whiff of what lay a little under his tail, her nose bumping the sack there. “Mmm, I wonder what's in here~” she mused and poked out her tongue, taking a small lick.

“Something that’s going to be going into a troublemaking pegasus in a bit,” the stallion grumbled back as they finally appeared in the library. With a burst of magic, the painting was back where it was supposed to be, and Aspect was free of his little chore.

“Promises, promises~” Rainbow called in a singsong tone, the mare already booking it down the hall. Aspect flashed into his Griffon form and gave chase, not letting that rainbow tail out of his sight for a second.

She weaved through halls and then ducked into a room, the griffon chasing a second later to find the mare reclining on a bed, not even out of breath.

“What took you so long?” she asked with a cocky smirk.

Then Aspect was on the bed with her, and she was forced to realize something. This griffon was big, even by griffon standards. It was like an alicorn version of a griffon, without the horn. And Rainbow Dash was a rather small mare...

“This form,” he murred to her as he traced a claw down her back, “Was the form I was given after making the griffon race, some thousands of years ago. The griffons call it Bloodfeather. Imaginative, I know...they wanted me to stay as their emperor. I declined, but gave them a good basis for their society. I pointed them in the right direction...and barely used this form again.” He nipped at one of her ears.

“Mm, so I traded a colt for an emperor huh?’ she murred at his touches. “Yup, sounds awesome enough for somepony like me.”

“You really think so?” Aspect chuckled as he touched between her wings, letting his claws prick and tickle her sensitive skin there.

“C-Careful,” she hissed as she fought to keep her wings down. “And yeah… mmn, damn those claws feel nice~”

“It’s just too bad you can’t use your wings for a few days, I would love to tease and torment you like this,” Aspect murred as he trailed his claws further down her back. She wiggled her rump slightly as her tail flicked here and there.

“You would,” she chuckled, staring at the tight bandages that wrapped all the way around her barrel. “Well such is life. But I’m sure a smart griffon like you can, improvise~”

Aspect leaned over and whispered in Rainbow’s ear, even as his claws circled her other pair of lips. “Such a beautiful pony, all tied up for me so she can’t get away,” he muttered to her in a husky tone. “Whatever should I do with her?”

“Mm, speaking of tied up,” Rainbow mused. “Bon Bon brought me dinner last night and told me aaaall about a pervy dragon that might live here.” She opened one eye to look at the griff. “I wonder if you’re just as bad?”

“If by that you mean ‘I’m going to keep this sweet little pony here and breed her for hours and hours,’ then yes, yes I am,” Aspect chuckled as his first claw began slipping into her lips.

Rainbow gasped and swatted at him with her tail. “And who said you were allowed to do that huh?”

Aspect let out a little growl as his claw went into her up to the first knuckle, the tip tickling her walls. “You seem to think I need permission to hold you down and rut you senseless,” the griff growled to her.

“Yep,” Rainbow smirked, despite the ever-present blush on her face as she fought back a moan. The griff then inserted another claw and set the both to wiggling inside her. She let out a small hiss which soon delved into a sensual moan as he teased her walls with the flexible digits. “Ahh, ffffuck that’s good,” she sighed.

“I bet I can get you to cum without screwing you,” Aspect teased her as he began pulling his fingers out, before pushing them back into her, making sure to only gently drag his claws across those inner walls.

“Nnnrgh, bucking… cheater,” she moaned as she positioned a hind hoof and started rubbing where she assumed his member should be.

Don’t judge! She’d never looked at a griffon that way before.

“Oh, little pony wants to play too?” Aspect churred, before standing up and positioning himself over her, all without drawing his fingers out of her. Now she had a first-hand view of his pointed, thick, barbed cock as it hung down in front of her face.

“It… looks weird, kinda like a cactus,” she commented as she sat up. Gods, he was tall enough that she could almost sit upright under him. “Hmm, now what should I do with this?” she murmured as she reached out, stroking it with the soft underside of her hoof, feeling the ticklish little barbs covering it. Aspect let out a little churr as he felt her touch him, his fingers inside of her touching her inner walls...and soon a third finger was trying to push its way into her.

“G-Gaah, I… I don’t think that’ll f-fit,” Rainbow panted, her head leaning against his chest.

“Mmm, won’t stop me from trying,” the griffon mused. “As though you got a say anyways. That’s cute.” The finger spread her wider...wider…

And with a lewd popping sound, it barely fit in her, spreading and filling her deliciously. Rainbow fell back, biting down on her hoof as she let out a few curses and some moaning, her fluids soaking his digits as she started to pant hard.

“Mmm, such a tight little pony,” Aspect mused out loud. “The more you struggle, the longer it’ll take for you to realize the same thing the candy mare did.” Those digits started to push against her walls, spreading her just a little bit more.

“W-What?” she gasped, her eyes shooting open as she felt herself pushed to her limits.

Aspect reached down with his other hand and pulled Rainbow Dash up, looking her in the eyes as he fingerfucked her. “You’re my toy,” he hissed to her. “And I don’t play gently.”

“Gaah, not cool,” she said and beeped his beak. “I’m hurt ‘member. Gotta play nice with your toys.”

“I might be motivated to,” Aspect mused as he slowly tucked Dash under him again, putting her muzzle-first with his cock once more. “If said toy got me ready for the main event.”

“You owe me,” she smirked as she brought a hoof up and started to stroke his member again. Then, she slowly opened her mouth and gave it a tentative lick.

“Your pointy bits taste weird,” she murmured.

Aspect got a mischievous glint in his eyes as he slowly drew his fingers back, the tips of his claws barely grazing her inner walls as he prepared to take this up a notch.

Rainbow gave a small head tilt. “What are you up—”

Then Aspect flipped Dash onto her back and kneeled down, not even giving her a moment before his beak was shoved into her folds. His tongue eagerly lapped up her juices as he explored her depths with his new mouth.

“A-Aaahh~” she moaned out. “I-Idiot. Wings… hurt… haaaaah~” she writhed under him, her small frame shaking from his ministrations. The griffon merely hummed as he kept up his attentions, not letting a drop of what she produced go to waste as he eagerly lapped along her walls.

“Bucking, cheater,” Rainbow panted as she closed her eyes while another shudder wracked her body, this one was much stronger as she let out a loud moan, a flood of juices coating the griffon’s beak as she came and came hard.

The griffon merely rode it out, drinking it all down and humming happily as he brought pleasure to the smaller mare. When her orgasm did taper down, he pulled out of her and set her back on her belly, before sprawling out on his back. This position had the advantage of letting his generous endowment be on display.

“Ahh...haaah…” She panted and wiped her brow, now slick with sweat. “Geez, well I guess I can give you that one,” she smirked and looked at him. “Well well… what do we have here hmm?”

“Looks to me like a little mare got me all worked up without seeing to me,” Aspect rumbled. “I wonder how she’s planning to rectify that before I make her…”

“Mmm, I suppose I can do that,” she mused as she climbed up onto his chest. “The question is, how does my big, strong, griffon want me to do that?” she ran a hoof along his length, enjoying how it twitched under her touch.

“The more you get me lubed up, the easier it’ll be on you later,” Aspect murred to her. “If you actually get me to cum, I’ll even go so far as to take it easy on you.”

Did he just challenge her?

Oh… Rainbow assumed he did~

She leaned over and with a sensual purr, engulfed his member with her mouth, suckling on the tip with her soft underhooves rubbed up and down the rest of his tool.

“Mmm,” Aspect mused as he snaked one claw under her flank and began just playing with her lips again...to include flicking her clit every time he passed it. She flinched when he did, but kept at her task as she took more of him into her mouth.

Then she started to use her tongue. The wet appendage swirling around his dick and squeezing it as she slid one hoof down to play with his massive balls at the base of his shaft, while the other continued to slide up and down the parts she wasn’t sucking on.

“Mmm, you’re good at this,” the griffon murred as he didn’t stop playing with her for a second, even as his cock twitched a few times in her grasp. “You really want to be rutted into the mattress, don’t you?”

She guided one of his talon to hold her around the neck. He wondered why… until he felt a bulge forming there as she slipped the head of his cock into her throat, her mouth only leaving a hoof’s width unswallowed as she moaned around him.

Then she felt that talon move from her neck to the back of her head, gently but forcefully pushing her down that last hoof length. She gagged a little, but managed to take his entire dick into her waiting mouth and throat, just holding him here as he pushed on her.

That was about when Aspect began fucking her throat, drawing his hips back and pushing them forward, rubbing his dick along her throat and smearing his pre deep inside her. Of course, he didn’t stop toying with her either, still rubbing her other set of lips to make sure they were properly lubricated for what was to come.

She just huffed and moaned around his cock, letting him do as he pleased while her hooves toyed with his balls, stroking and lightly squeezing them as he felt her start to get wet again, her fluids running down his scaled talons.

“Mmm, my little toy,” Aspect murred to her. “Should I pull you off and breed you now? Fill you so full of seed you won’t be able to walk?”

She simply replied by moaning around his cock again, her drool running down his length and wetting his balls as she continued to fellate him.

“Mmm, that wasn’t a no~” Aspect sang as he felt something start to grow inside of Dash’s maw. He pulled back just a touch and let her see…

His knot starting to inflate, and how big it got.

Well that was new? Was he going to pop or something? The hell was that?

So naturally…

She poked it with a hoof.

Aspect let out a lewd moan as she touched his knot, the bulb practically throbbing as his thrusts jammed it up against her lips, but never forced it past. For that she was glad, the thing was nearly the size of her hoof!

It didn’t stop the smirk from growing, or the pair of little hooves that cupped said knot and started to rub and stroke it, occasionally giving it a gentle squeeze. Soon enough, she felt his entire length throb inside of her before she felt him let go with his load, deep inside her. So deep that it bypassed her tongue and went straight to her stomach. She pulled back, mostly out of total shock from suddenly getting a bellyful of cum just like that…

Only to have Aspect put a claw to her head and force her back down, making sure it wasn’t just half his load going inside her. She groaned as she swallowed as much as she could, but the sizable load was quite impressive as it started to run down the corners of her mouth, the room filled with the sounds of her loudly gulping down his cum.

Eventually the griffon finished, and let her up again, panting a bit himself as he pulled his cock free of her maw. It came out with a loud pop, Rainbow coughing lightly, but turned to face him.

“Heh, I win kitty~”

“So you do,” Aspect murred as he gently took Dash off of him and lay her on her belly...before he loomed over her again. Only this time, she felt a long, wet something on her flank.

“Mmm, gonna fill a different hole now?” she mused, wigging her flank. “Cause damn can you cum. My belly’s so damned full right now.”

“Mmm, I’m going to breed myself a little speedster,” Aspect mused as he adjusted his hips, until he felt his length catch on her lips. “Make a little blueberry out of her.”

“Urgh… that pun was just… just plain bad,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “And besides, I won’t be a speedster if you make me fat with foal.”

“Then I’ll just keep you here as my little breeding toy,” the griffon murred to her as he used a claw to press her head into the mattress, even as his pointed length began to spear her lips.

“MMmnnn, d-don’t you have… B-Bonnie for that?” she gasped as she felt that massive member start to spread her tight lips.

“Oh, but see, with her, I’m making Kirins,” Aspect murred to her. “With you, it’s Hippogriffs. I’ll keep you here, fed, cared for...full of cock…”

“I dunno, I’m hard to catch,” she murred back, wiggling that taut rump of hers.

“Like you said, you won’t be a speedster when you’re fat with foal,” Aspect cooed to her as he kept pushing his length into her, wondering how much she could take. She moaned and bit her lip as he kept filling her, before his head pressed firmly against a barrier, getting almost all of his cock inside of her.

Then Aspect slowly drew back, his barbs stimulating her walls as he did…

Before jamming the length back in, ramming against that barrier. Rainbow let out a sharp moan as she felt him hit her hard like that, her wings twitching under her wrappings as she panted, biting her lower lip.

That was just the first of many, as he set a hard, fast pace for the poor mare. Each time he pulled back, he only waited a moment before hammering his length into her cervix. Each time he hilted, he didn’t wait nearly as long before starting the cycle up again. If Rainbow didn’t know any better, she could swear he was trying to get in.

“T-That’s not gonna fit you aaaaaahhhh~” she cried out, biting down on her hoof now as she was pushed further into the bed by his bulk. “Gaaah~”

“Bon Bon said the same thing,” Aspect grunted to her as he didn’t stop for a second. Was he imagining it, or did it give for a second there? Rainbow couldn’t respond, she just gave some muffled screams and moans as he rut the little mare under him furiously. The griffon growled and redoubled his efforts, coming down harder and harder in an effort to push past her barrier…

Something had to give and eventually, his pointed tip pushed past with a light ‘pop’, Rainbow squealing loudly as he did from shock and a little pain. The griffon held himself there for a bit, to let her get used to the feeling. He wouldn’t completely fuck her senseless. Not until she could enjoy it.

Eventually, Rainbow’s chest heaved as she panted hard, moans escaping her mouth as she felt more full than she ever had, his length twitching inside her as she blushed to the tips of her ears.

“I…” she panted hard. “I can’t believe you…”

“Mmm, that’s phase one,” Aspect purred down to her. “Phase two: Filling you even more.”

With that, the griff pulled back out to the tip, and slammed the whole thing home again, not giving her cervix time to rest as he filled his mare. She moaned louder now as he filled her with his entire length, her walls stretching out, but still hugging him tightly as he kept filling the moaning, writhing mare over and over.

“Say it,” he murred. “Say what you are.” He punctuated this statement by grinding his hips around when his cock was at its deepest in her.

“A pretty… blue pegasus?” she cheekily moaned out.

“Wrong,” the griffon informed her as he began to slowly draw out of her, letting those barbs stimulate her all the more. She let out a long moan, her hooves gripping uselessly at the sheets as her juices dripped down.

“Y-Your toy?” she gasped.

“Better, but you’re missing a few words,” Aspect replied, halting with half his cock out of her.

“L-Like… w-what?” she moaned, squirming as she tried to move.

“Oh...the words ‘breeding’ and ‘Master,’” he purred to her, running the claw that wasn’t keeping her pinned to the bed down her face. Coincidentally, one that still glistened with a bit of her fluid. Her tongue lolled out, licking some of her own fluids from his claw.

“So… a-a breeding toy… for my Master?” she panted.

“Mmm, better,” Aspect murred to her, now pushing the rest of his length back into her. “You’re going to swell up so nicely with my young…”

Rainbow saw what he was getting at and played along. “So… you do this to all the pretty pegasi you capture?’ she panted. The size difference was almost ridiculous, she was like a filly to him.

“The rest of them I ransomed back,” the gryphon murred. “You’re the first one I’m going to keep. I’ll breed you every day until I see it took, and once your womb is free, I’ll get right back on filling it up again~” He didn’t let up for a second, still pounding into and out of her.

“You… really like breeding little mares huh?” Rainbow moaned out, turning her head to the side to look up at him.

“I like breaking little mares into being my cocksleeves,” the gryphon corrected her. “Once they beg me for my young, I know it worked.”

“Mmm, kinky,” Rainbow smirked at him, her walls gripping him tightly still. “Such a naughty Lord.”

“Such a slutty little mare,” Aspect cooed to her as something large began to swell at the base of his cock.

“Ahh, is… is that...?” Rainbow gasped out. “You lied… you said you’d go easy on me if I made you cum before.”

“Oh? Do you want me to go harder on you?” Aspect murred. “I always could...I could force it in instead of easing it into you.”

“Please no…” Rainbow whimpered. That said… it might also be nice. Gaah, stupid brain thinking stupid sexy stuff.

The griffon began pushing the knot into her with every thrust, trying to spread her wider still as the knot demanded entrance. He kept this up for a second each time, before pulling back and hammering home again. It took a few thrusts, but with a satisfying ‘pop’ and a loud moan from Rainbow, he finally worked the knot inside her, her tight pussy squeezing it hard.

“Say my name,” Aspect growled down to his newest toy as he felt his cock throb.

“Aahh… Christopher~” Rainbow moaned out, feeling another climax wrack her form, the little mare shuddering under him. Aspect used a claw to reach under her and attack her clit, viciously stimulating it and driving her to new heights, somehow not cumming through it as he breathed heavily.

“Wrong name,” he eventually said when she stopped squirming. “Starts with an M.”

Rainbow couldn’t really respond at this point, her mind clouded with lust as she just twitched and moaned. The griffon sat back on his haunches and pulled Rainbow up against his chest, running his talons through her chest fur as he held her close.

“I know you can moan it out, you little slut,” he cooed in her ear. “Say my name, pet. Say what you want me to do to you.”

Rainbow panted hard, it took a few moments but…

“M-Master…” she moaned. “P-Please fill me up. Please give me your cum~”

“Little pet wants her master to breed her?” Aspect cooed as he ran a claw over where his cock bulged out her belly.

“Yes…” she moaned. “Please hurry master. I want your foal~”

Aspect let out a little caw as he ducked his head and nipped at a spot on Rainbow’s neck, even as his cock began to twitch. “Then master’s foal you shall have,” he whispered to her as his rod began filling the mare up again. She moaned as she felt him unload into her womb, her belly bulging slightly from the sheer amount he pumped into her. The mare falling limp from exhaustion as he held her there.

After a solid minute of him inflating the mare, Aspect huffed as he felt the flow ebb off. He slowly pulled back and made sure the cervix caught again before pulling the rest of his dick back. Now his load was sealed up in her belly. The mare groaned softly, rubbing her swollen form with a hoof.

“You… better not have put one there,” she murmured. “Or’ll kick y’ass…”

“Oh Rainbow,” Aspect mused as he stroked her face. “No, I didn’t. This time. But should you ever start a session with those fateful words? I make no promises.”

“You’re such an ass,” she chuckled, beeping his beak again.

“Mm, guilty,” Aspect chuckled as he draped a wing over her form. “Now why don’t I give the swollen mother a little more privacy, hmm?”

“You’d like that huh…” she mused as she nestled into his side. “What is it with you and breeding anyway? You want another kid that badly?”

“I think part of it is that my mental age is perpetually stuck at the time when I drank from the fountain of eternity,” Aspect mused. “It’s preserved me, but...well, you woke up the horny teenager in me. So...yeah, I’m perpetually stuck in the mindset of screwing a female full in more than one sense. I can act mature, but when you get me like this…”

“Hmm, maybe I just won’t screw you anymore then,” Rainbow teased him, tickling his ribs with a hoof.

“If you honestly think you could hold out,” Aspect teased back. “Besides, if I got too pent up, I’m sure Bonnie would help.”

“Or that little ‘Midnight’ snack of yours?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I honestly don’t remember what happened,” Aspect held a claw to his chest. “But if she does turn up asking for help, I won’t turn her down. That’d be pretty unlikely though.”

“Too bad,” Rainbow sighed. “She’s pretty hot. I’d so bang her.”

“Mmm, well, I’m not going to pressure her into anything she’s not comfortable with,” the griffon mused as he nuzzled Rainbow. “You are beautiful like that, you know. Tempted to make it stick~”

“S-Shut up,” Rainbow blushed and spluttered. “S-Stop saying weird stuff.”

“Mmm, and for dessert tonight, stuffed mare,” Aspect hummed as he began trailing his beak lower…

“H-Hey!” Dash blushed harder and tried to push his head away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, you know,” Aspect hummed as he rotated Dash a little so that he could reach his prize. “Tending to my pet’s needs. Seems she’s still in command of her senses. Why don’t I make her cum until she can’t remember her name, hm?”

“N-No way, I’m injured you butt!” she bopped him lightly on the head.

“Are you sure?” Aspect breathed, letting his hot breath wash over her flank. Rainbow shuddered and glanced at a clock…

“W-Well, unless you want Nurse Redheart to walk in on us…”

“Mmm, a day’s worth of bliss versus the wrath of the nurse,” Aspect mused as he nibbled lightly on her flank. “Decisions, decisions…”

“Gaaah, you’re such an ass,” she groaned. Her winking slit leaking some of his fluids out.

“Well, what will it be, pet?” the griffon asked.

“Don’t blame me if Redheart yells at you for breaking her patient,” Rainbow snorted, but didn’t stop him, her belly lessening a little as the fluids started pooling under her flank.

“Mmm, let’s see about that, shall we?” Aspect chuckled as he began eating out his toy again.

Thankfully, it wasn’t Redheart that busted them. But Bon Bon did separate the pair to make them look presentable for when their guest did arrive. However, Redheart wasn’t the first to show up.

As Aspect reclined in his living room, a golden flash of light heralded that Celestia had just teleported in. She was bare of her usual golden regalia, so this wasn’t a formal visit by any means.

“Oh, hello there,” Aspect smiled at her, walking up and giving his daughter a hug. “How are you doing?”

“I… could be better,” she said with a dejected sigh. “Honestly, I’m surprised you’re being so affectionate with me after our last talk.”

“Family fights at times,” Aspect waved it off. “As long as you understand that I am doing the best I can, then we have no problems.”

“I still want to apologise,” she said as she sat down. “I would never try to take Realm from you. And… it has come to my attention that Captain Midnight had permission from your mares to… do the things that occurred.”

“Permission that was retrieved after the fact,” Aspect pointed out. “I still don’t remember what happened exactly.”

“Yes well… I still do not appreciate you threatened my city and ponies to prove a point,” Celestia said and poked his chest with a hoof. “But I still am sorry for speaking to you like that.”

“And I’m sorry I threatened to unleash the might of the air,” Aspect replied. “I should have been a bit more personal. Like looking for your cake vault.”

“I do not have a cake vault!” Celestia blushed and stomped her hoof indignantly. “Your mares are right. You are an ass sometimes father.”

“That’s just how I show affection beyond hugs; playful teasing,” Aspect chuckled as he hugged the larger mare around the neck. “Your mother picked up on it rather quickly.”

“How she put up with you is anypony’s guess,” Celestia rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised you haven’t picked on Luna for sharing your little… drunken escapades. At least you only had one partner…”

“Considering she hasn’t even seen anypony in the last thousand years?” Aspect asked. “I think I can cut loose on teasing her. But you missy,” Aspect poked Celestia with a hoof. “When am I gonna start seeing some grandchildren out of you?”

“G-Grandfoals?” she gasped and blushed. She needed to change his aim. “W-What about Luna? Ask her and the half dozen guards she bucked. I’m sure they’ll comply.”

“You’re the older twin,” Aspect replied, poking her chest. “Plus you had a thousand years without me or her looking over your shoulder. Surely you found somepony.”

Celestia was awkwardly quiet about that.

“...Celly, even I’ve bucked somepony by now,” Aspect said. “You’re not telling me you…”

“I haven't okay,” she mumbled and looked away, scuffing her hoof against the floor.

Aspect sighed as he shook his head. “Celly, Celly, Celly...Okay. I want you to do something for me. I want you...to listen to Cadance. And ask her about how to make your pick up lines...less awkward, okay? Trust me, it’ll help.”

“My pickup lines are not awkward… are they?” she mare asked, her ears folding back as she looked at him with a confused expression.

“I was there when you tried them on that colt a thousand years ago,” Aspect deadpanned. “Unless you’re telling me you improved them in that time…”

“That colt was just too immature,” she huffed. She was Princess Celestia, every colts dream mare. She just… wasn’t interested is all.

“Daughter, listen to me,” Aspect pulled her muzzle down and looked her in the eyes. “Take Cadance, take a disguise, go out on the town to a bar, and listen to mares and stallions trying to pick each other up for a night. It’ll help familiarize you with what is and isn’t a good pick up line, especially with Cadance’s commentary.”

“But… she’s so embarrassing when it comes to that sort of stuff,” Celestia whined. “That mare has no filter when it comes to lewd things. I feel sorry for Shining Armor.”

“And how do you think it’ll go if you do get a colt?” Aspect asked, poking her in the chest. “He’ll expect more than a nice conversation over tea eventually. You have to desensitize yourself to the nature of what you’re doing somehow, otherwise you’ll blush perpetually.” Not that that wasn’t the most adorable thing.

“Hey,” Rainbow leaned against the doorframe, causing Celestia to flinch from surprise. How long had she been there? “I could help out you know? Sounds like the Princess could use a good wingmare.”

“Mmm...probably a good idea,” Aspect nodded a few times as he thought the idea over. “Alright Dash, I’ll trust you. You find a colt that wouldn’t just look at her for her title, and help them get together.”

“Heh, roger that boss!” Rainbow saluted, then paused. “Oh, what if she likes mares instead?”

“Then I guess it’ll be Luna’s job to give me grandfoals,” Aspect replied. “And apparently she has quite the selection to choose from.”

“Nice! Go Luna,” Rainbow chuckled.

“I am perfectly fine with stallions thankyouverymuch!” Celestia pouted. “I came here to apologise, not get picked on for being a virgin!”

“You’ve never gotten laid!?” Rainbow gasped as Celestia groaned and facehooved. Hard.

“Hers is now the second-longest virginity on the planet,” Aspect agreed.

“I hate you both,” she muttered. “I bet Discord hasn’t gotten any either.” Then she blanched and dry heaved. “Ergh, I did not need that mental image.”

Aspect crossed his eyes and shuddered. “Do not need to think about that, do not need to think about that…”

“Yeah… so not going there,” Rainbow agreed. “So, when do you wanna start Princess? I’ll need to heal up first. Can’t pick up guys looking like this.”

“You’ll also need to team up with Cadence so that she can give a nice educational lesson to Celly during the whole thing,” Aspect pointed out. “That way she can do it on her own next time. Assuming it goes well.”

“Girls night out?” Rainbow gasped. “I could steal Bonnie for myself and bring my friends. Twi seriously needs to get some…”

“Miss Rainbow!” Celestia groaned. “I do not need to think about the filly I practically raised like that!”

“Aww, I best Aspect doesn’t mind,” the pegasus chuckled. “I bet he’d not say no to tapping that pretty purple plot~”

“It would be entirely her decision,” Aspect deferred. “Though I will point out, I do not make it a habit to go out and get drunk, so you’d have your work cut out for you.”

“Father, you will not seduce Twilight,” Celestia said. “It’s bad enough you doing such things with Hurricane’s lookalike…”

And now that image was in his head.

“...Yeah, but she isn’t, though,” Aspect pointed out. “I mean, the ego’s the same, but Hurricane woulda punched me a dozen times if I tried seducing her.”

“Try two dozen,” a painting on the wall spoke up. “And a buck to the nuts for good measure.”

“Ouch,” Rainbow winced. “And if he came at you as a giant griffon promising to make you a broodmare?”

“He what!?” Celestia looked like she was about to faint.

“Eh, giant griffon, maybe,” the painted mare hummed. “Though I’d have to show him who was really in charge if the tried the rest of that.”

“Tried that… didn’t work, though I am injured,” Rainbow mused.

“Maybe I can show you a few moves later,” Hurricane replied. “Dunno how effective they’d be on a giant griff. Never knew they were a thing, really.”

“Well, he’s like… Celestia-sized,” Rainbow said as she recalled his transformation. “Filled me like a water balloon.”

“Ahhh, I don’t need to hear this!” Celestia cried out with embarrassment and with a flash, teleported away.

“Mmm,” the painted mare hummed. “Well, we’ll think of something.”

“You and I, we’re gonna be great friends,” Rainbow chuckled as she and Hurricane shared a nod. Then she looked at Aspect. “Oh, speaking of nights out? Are you all geared up for Nightmare Night?”

“Eh, I was mostly thinking I would be the one staying at home and giving out the candy,” Aspect shrugged. “I could put up some illusions the day of to scare the foals, but they’d be a little draining, hence the me staying in bit. I was gonna ask Pinkie for a few bags of candy to give out as well. Or maybe I could just buy some nice big bars of it from Mr. Rich’s store. I’d like to be known as the good neighbor.”

“Fair enough,” Rainbow chuckled as she heard a knock at the door. “Seems Redheart is here.”

“Well, guess you have a checkup to take part of,” Aspect chuckled as he opened the door. “Ah, my favorite nurse!” he greeted the mare. “How are you?”

“Better if your accident-prone mare would stop landing on her face,” Redheart grumbled as she looked her over. She prodded her stomach and frowned. “What’s this? Gorge yourself the second you got free?”

“Eeeh…” Rainbow smirked mischievously. Aspect had one change to either stop her… or book it for Yakyakistan.

“Something like that,” Aspect interrupted. “So, what’s going on here? All I was told was that you were visiting.”

“Just making sure she’s healing up and to change her dressings,” Red said as she looked over the pegasus. “Hmm, your bandages have come loose. You tried flying I bet.”

“Eeehh…” Rainbow hummed. She just kept getting openings.

“She may have had some exercise when she came back and forgot she shouldn’t use her wings,” Aspect helpfully supplied. “It won’t happen again until they come off, I assure you.”

“Good to hear,” Redheart nodded as she undid the bandages and Aspect could see the singed or outright missing feathers. Rainbow looked like she’d lost a fight with a blender. The nurse applied some cream and reapplied the gauze and bandages. “Now do try and be careful this time,” she chided the pegasus.

“I’m sure she will be,” Aspect replied, concealing his own internal wince at the sight of her wings. “How long do you think it’ll take for her to regrow those?”

“With the cream and the magical healing she got, maybe a few days,” Redheart said. She turned and fixed a professional glare on him. “Also, while I won’t outright ban you from intimacy. Do try and be careful. While it is extremely unlikely, the chance of her not healing right and never flying again isn’t completely zero.”

“So basically, you’re on a no-sex diet until you’re in the air again, Dash,” Aspect summed up. “Guess you’ll just have to deal.”

“Says you,” Dash poked her tongue out.

“Also avoid excessive alcohol consumption and avoid any drugs more potent than a standard painkiller,” Red said. “And also any high concentrations of magic. It could disrupt the medical magic still in your system.”

“Yeah, gotcha,” Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Eesh, are you sure she’s even safe to be around me?” Aspect asked jokingly.

“Just reign in the magic tricks Mister Gale,” Red warned him. “Also, I hear you have yet another small one living with you? She’ll need a physical and immunisations if she hasn’t had them.”

Oh that should impress the Nightmare. A day of sticking needles in her.

“True, I have no idea the state of her physical body,” Aspect mused. “I’ll get Realm and Artemis to bring her in soon enough, they’re the only ones that would be able to do it without suspicion.”

“As long as you do,” Redheart sighed. This family was the reason she had a glass of wine after dinner. “Now I have other work to do. Take care Aspect. Rainbow.”

“You too Nurse, thanks for your time,” the stallion waved.

“Just call me Red,’ she replied and with a flick of her tail, she took her leave. Rainbow waited til she heard the door close and looked at him.

“Aww, you had to interrupt me huh?” she smirked. “Don’t want her knowing all your perverted secrets~?”

“Did you hear what she said?” Aspect asked with a raised brow. “How do you think it would have gone if we told her we’d done that already?”

“She’d have really let us have it,” Rainbow winced. “Her lectures are like Rarity, AJ and Twilight combined.”

“So no, we won’t be telling her anything we did,” Aspect summed up. “We’ll just settle for not getting lectured, thank you, and also not doing anything more that would result in being lectured.”

“I told you,” she waggled her ears at him. “But noo, you had to go all Alpha male on me huh?”

“You weren’t complaining,” the stallion reminded her. “As a matter of fact, you were begging to be filled.”

“Like you gave me a choice in the end,” she said back. “Well, I’m gonna get prepped for that girls night out tomorrow. You wanna tell the Princess to clear her schedule?”

“I’ll send her a message through Spike,” Aspect waved a wing. “Oh wait...hmm. I’ll send her a message anyways. In the meantime, I have decorations to set up and chocolate to obtain.”

“Good luck, hopefully they aren’t sold out,” Rainbow said as she wandered off to nap.

Aspect had gone for the chocolate first, bringing a hefty sum of bits and his saddlebags with him as he wandered into Filthy Rich’s store. He found the stallion of the pair far easier to deal with. He had a mission to obtain as many full-sized chocolate bars of as many types for giving away come Nightmare Night. Then he had to work on his illusions for the same night. He had a few in mind already…

Thankfully, Filthy still had quite the stock of candy to pick from. So Aspect happily took a shopping cart full and reached the register. He paid for the bars and stepped outside, thankful his bags could hold more than they appeared to. Something… off came to mind though, like he was forgetting something important.

It wasn’t until he’d walked a few block, idly nibbling one of the bars that it occurred.

His marefriend owned a candy shop…

...Hmm. Well, variety was the spice of life. He could always add more chocolate to the stuff he’d be giving away and give the young ones a taste of both. Making sure to stuff the chocolate back in his bag, he whistled a tune as he headed for her shop.

Her store was… busy.

The mare ran back and forth, tending to the customers inside while some ponies still lined up outside, waiting to get in and praying there’d still be some left. Aspect rolled his eyes and joined the line, thankful his preservation charms on his saddlebags wouldn’t let the chocolate heat up too much. He wouldn’t abuse his privilege to get to the front.

After about a half hour of waiting, he was finally able to set hoof through the door as the last few customers trickled out. Her store had… well ransacked might be an apt term to describe it as Bon Bon slumped over the benchtop, groaning softly.

“You look like Pinkie Pie might if she was just told there wasn’t any more sugar,” Aspect noted aloud.

“So… tired…” Bonnie sighed. “Nightmare Night. Hearths Warming and Hearts and Hooves day. The holidays can suck it.”

“I can see why you’d say that,” Aspect chuckled. “Guess it’s a good thing I got some chocolate bars to give away from Filthy Rich before coming here, then. I wouldn’t want to make you work any more tonight.”

Bon Bon pulled herself off of the counter and fixed her mane. “Did you seriously think I wouldn’t have some set aside?” she mused as she pointed at a bag in a cooler. “In there should be enough to get through the night. Provided Pinkie doesn’t eat it all.”

“You are a lifesaver,” Aspect replied, kissing her on the cheek. “Tonight will be awesome for the foals. I should cement my reputation as the ‘cool neighbor’ once and for all.”

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon chuckled. “I know that look on your face by now. What are you planning mister?”

“Oh, just a few illusions to scare the foals,” Aspect chuckled as he put the bag inside his saddlebags. “It’ll be great. And some that will only trigger on their way out too.”

“Nothing that will require years of therapy, got that?” she said and poked his chest. “I can however, give you a mission of the utmost importance.”

“So long as I can give you one in return,” Aspect replied. “You share yours first.”

“You have to scare Rainbow Dash,” she said. “Every year, she pranks everyone and she’s too damned good to get caught herself. It’s infuriating!”

“If I wanted to prank her, I could just...nah, that’d be in bad taste, I wouldn’t do that,” the stallion mused as he thought it over. “Hmm...oh! That could work...wait, no. Not allowed to do any big tricks. Gah...coming up with a prank for her is hard.”

“See!” Bon Bon said. “And no matter what, she’ll always find a way to one up you. Only Pinkie has ever gotten one over on her.”

“I think I can pull off a good prank on her,” Aspect mused. “Maybe. But then again, she’s injured. I don’t think I should.”

“Well, It’s not for a few days,” Bon Bon said. “But all the stores close tomorrow to set up for it. Even I’ll be opening a stall with all kinds of themed treats to sell.”

“My industrious little marefriend,” Aspect cooed as he nuzzled her. “Well, we’ll see. I have some illusions to set up for the night. Also, Rainbow is planning a mare’s night. I’m gonna get her to move it up to the day after Nightmare Night so you can actually partake of it if you want to.”

“A mare’s night?” Bon Bon blinked. “Well, it could be fun I suppose.” She nuzzled him back and smiled. “I’ll be back tonight, once I’m done tidying here.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion replied. “Also, Rainbow’s on no sex until she heals. Or drugs, or drinking...or even attempting to use her wings.”

“She’s going to be impossible to deal with,” Bon Bon groaned. “And you know how fucked we both are once she recovers right?”

“Don’t you mean, how screwed she’s going to be?” Aspect chuckled.

“Ohno, we’re totally dead,” Bon Bon shuddered. “In any case. Go head on home. I’ll catch up later okay?” She closed the gap and placed a loving kiss on his lips.

“Mmhmm, see you soon,” Aspect replied to her once the kiss broke. He turned and began walking for home, a happy hum in his heart as he began going over his plan for the illusions.

Math was pure evil and nopony could tell Realm otherwise. It also irked him that both Artemis and Nightmare were so damned good at it.

These fractions. They mocked him!

And during this frustrating period, somepony knocked on his door. The colt muttered as he slammed his book shut, before walking over to the door and jerking it open.

Okay, so maybe he was in a bad mood.

“Oh, was I disturbing you?” Twilight asked, blinking at his angry expression. “I'm sorry. I could come back later…”

“No, no, it’s fine,” the colt muttered as his expression slowly brightened. “I need something to distract me from fractions anyways.”

“Math homework huh?” Twilight giggled. “I'd be happy to help out afterwards.”

“Oh?” Now the colt was curious, if his raised brow was any indication. “What brings you here then?”

“Something regarding your work actually,” Twilight gestured to his art supplies on a nearby desk. “I had a thought regarding your living portraits and was hoping we could work together on something new.”

“I am always up for new ideas in the art department,” the painted alicorn agreed. “Come in, come in, let’s talk about this.”

She nodded and stepped inside, looking around his room. “Nice room you have here.”

“Yeah, well, it took me a while to get it decorated,” the colt replied as he pushed the stack of sketches off to the side to clear some space next to his canvas and easel. Off to one side was his bed and bookcase, which had mostly school-related books on it. He hadn’t found a good book to read for fun yet. And dotted around the walls were various works that he’d accomplished since he was set free of his self-imposed prison. Most of them were of Ponyville, Twilight noticed. “So, what’s this about then?”

“Well,” she said and took out a notebook. “I was thinking about the Painted ponies and giving them a little more freedom.” She showed him her notes… almost none of which made sense, given they were advanced Thaumaturgic equations. “What if you painted a few portraits. And I linked a portal spell through them. Allowing them to travel to other houses around town, without ever leaving the painting, or having their own removed and carted around.”

“Hmm,” the colt mused as he considered the idea. “That would be useful. Though you do realize, they would still be limited to Pictomancy paintings. I would have to paint a few more paintings for...well, whatever house they ended up in if you wanted them to have more freedom than just the portrait they arrived in.”

“I understand it'll be hard,” Twilight replied. “But I think the reward will be well worth the effort.” It sounded like it would take a while… which meant he could spend a lot of time with her.

“Oh, agreed!” the colt replied. “I’m all for them having as much freedom as they can. Otherwise, well, they’re limited to being...echoes trapped in a building. Little more than ghosts. That’s not what I wanted when I painted them. I wanted them to be as free as any other pony, to carry on the legacy of those they were painted after.”

“Well, this idea could be a good stepping stone,” Twilight nodded and smiled. “Thanks. I was kinda worried you might shoot the idea down.”

“No no, I’m all for it,” the colt nodded. “It’ll probably take a while to actually do, though. And I can’t imagine that they’d be too eager to test it out…”

“Well we can enter paintings too right?” Twilight pointed out. “I'd be happy to test it before we risk them.”

“...Fair point,” the pictomancer mused. “It’ll probably be safer for us to try.”

“Well, now that those plans are settled,” the mare smiled. “Show me this dastardly math that has you so frustrated.”

“Right this way,” the colt replied, leading her to his desk where the book and worksheet were. He sat down at the desk while Twilight looked it over.

Oh goddess, her cheek was almost touching his own as she hummed. “Ahh, I know these ones,” she sighed nostalgically. “Okay, you see these numbers here?”

Barely. He was just a bit distracted. “Uh-huh,” he replied nonetheless.

“Well,” her horn lit up as she took his pencil from his magical grip and… ohmy, he'd never mixed his magic with somepony else before. It felt so… Her magic was so warm and gentle, but he could feel the power it held. “If you take this number and carry it here. You'll get your answer.”

“So...like…” Realm didn’t want to break the moment, but he had to if he was going to follow her instructions. “Like that?”

“Mhm,” Twilight smiled as she guided his pencil. “And if you should subtract here on this one. You'll find most of these problems are that easy.”

“I...didn’t know it was this simple,” the colt muttered as he did his best to both absorb the information and the sensations. It wasn’t easy.

He did one on his own and Twilight’s smile showed he was correct. And if that didn't make him sure, the way she nuzzled his ear was.

Oh goddess, the way she…

Okay, that sealed it. Now he had to impress this mare. His pencil practically raced along the problems as he tried to solve them all. Twilight blinked in surprise as he solved one after the the other.

One or two he didn’t get quite right. But he seemed to be an amazingly fast study.

“Wow, you did pretty well,” she smiled as she checked his work. “Great job Realm,” she praised him as she nuzzled him again. Ooh, she smelled like vanilla~

The colt couldn’t mount a reply to that...he was just a bit too lovestruck to be coherent.

“Is everything okay?” Twilight looked at him, before placing her forehead to his to check his temperature. “You look tired.”

Aaaaand that was the colt blushing as he practically swooned.

“Maybe you should take it easy tonight,” Twilight suggested as she stepped away. “Should I go and fetch Aspect?”

“Nah...nah it’s fine,” the colt muttered as he waved off her concern. “I’ll...manage.”

“Well, if you say so,” Twilight replied. “So… what's it like? Being an alicorn I mean.”

“Meh...mostly my horn keeps snagging on things,” the colt muttered. “It is taking a while to get used to the idea of having a spear sticking out of my forehead suddenly. And there was the ascending process itself, which wasn’t easy either. Dad’s the only one that managed it seamlessly with his shapeshifting, and I’m betting he cheated.”

“He does seem like the kind,” she giggled. “And I doubt it's a true alicorn. Not like yours or any of the Princesses.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” Realm sighed as he went over the problems again and tried solving the ones he’d gotten wrong another time. He had until tomorrow to finish the worksheet, after all.

“So how's your magic coming along?” Twilight spoke up. “No itchy horn? Or heavy fatigue after casting?”

“No, but then again I’m still getting used to it too,” the colt replied as he puzzled out one of the problems. “It’s not like I was born with it.”

“I can't imagine,” the mare giggled. “Imagine if I suddenly sprouted wings? I'd have no clue what to do with them.”

Of course he had to go picturing Twilight as an alluring pegasus mare...he barely controlled his wings in time.

“Oh, not that I'm pretentious enough to think I could be an alicorn,” Twilight waved a hoof and blushed cutely. “A-Anyway. I should get out of your mane for now.”

“Well, I mean...if you think so,” the colt replied, realizing he didn’t have a good enough reason to force her to stay and regretting it.

“Was… there something else you needed?” Twilight asked. “Honestly. Spike’s away right now. So… I'm kinda bored at home.”

“I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to stick around,” Realm replied. “I just...don’t know what I could do to entertain you.”

Twilight looked around at his meager book collection. He could really use a few more.

“Oh, I remember,” Twilight hummed. “You wanted to paint me right? Well, I have nothing but time right now.”

“I mean, do you...want me to?” the colt asked, blushing a little. “You were...pretty vocal a while ago.”

“Well I mean,” Twilight’s cheeks flushed. “As long as you don't make it a provocative one.” To be honest, she was trying to remember why she was so against it in the first place. So much had happened in the last few weeks. “Let's um... call it an apology for getting you caught up in my little ‘episode’ a while back.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve already been forgiven for that a few times over,” the colt chuckled as he walked over to his easel and made sure the canvas was fresh. “Well, if you’re sure. Just take whatever pose feels natural to you.”

“Natural?” Twilight pondered on that. She tried a few… thinking of famous paintings she’d seen. Like the Marey Lisa and such others. She lay on her side, her tail covering her modesty.

“Draw me like one of your Prench mares,” she said in a rather good and surprisingly seductive Prench accent. She might as well have fun with this right?

And that was a slight nosebleed from the pinto colt. He wiped it away and got his paints ready.

Best. Day. Ever.

Author's Note

Today's chapter was delayed due to spending time with loved ones over the holidays.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar over Patreon. It goes a long way to paying his internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent catching everything, again.

Chapter 38 - What a fright

Aspect chuckled to himself as he sat next to the front door. It had taken him most of today, and there was still one to go...but the illusions were set up. The sign was placed. And he was even recovered from setting it all up. All he had to do now was give those brave colts and fillies their candy.

He sat there… unawares of the approaching danger… until a resounding crack of lightning sparked right behind him!

The stallion merely turned his head as he caused lightning to dance on his own wing, wondering who would be so foolish as to challenge him with lightning.

“Aww COME ON!” Rainbow groused, dressed in what looked like a darker version of a Wonderbolts uniform. “Gaah, shoulda known that wouldn’t work on you.” She gave her newly healed wings an idle flap in irritation.

“Sorry, you’re going up against the one that’s been the Aspect of the Air for millennia,” the stallion chuckled. “A little lightning won’t spook me.”

“Aww…” Rainbow floated down her stormcloud a little lower. She stared at him before her goggled eyes suddenly went wide. Aspect quirked a brow, wondering what she was looking at, before turning to look in that direction.

Then the mare’s head fell right off of her shoulders, landing in front of him and just staring back.

“Aspect… I can’t feel my legs…” she said slowly.

Aspect slowly backed up, his mind whirring as he wondered just what in the hell was going on.

“Your face…” the head of Dash moaned out. “It… It’s…”

“Hilarious!”

He turned to see… Rainbow Dash? She was sitting nearby next to a filly Nightmare as the headless version vanished like the illusions he’d spent all day crafting, the two mares sharing a high hoof.

“Not cool, Dash,” the stallion muttered as he shook his wings and head to clear his mind. “So not cool.”

“Haha! We soooo got you,” the mare sniggered as she grabbed her cloud. “Anyways. I have a town to spook the living daylights out of. Later!” And after blowing him a kiss, she rocketed off.

“Like you’re going to be any better to those poor foals,” Nightmare mused.

“Just waiting for my ‘kids’ to be off trick-or-treating before I turn on the final surprise,” Aspect chuckled. “I fully intend to earn my ‘cool neighbor’ status.”

“Pass,” Nightmare shrugged. “Do you honestly think I’d earn any points for scaring ponies?”

“Considering that the whole night is about foals earning enough candy to pay Nightmare Moon tribute...yes, yes you would,” Aspect replied.

Then Nightmare Moon got a very wicked idea. She was going to score SO MUCH candy! Lightning flashed as she let out a booming cackle.

Before she suddenly stopped.

“GAAH! I can’t take my adult form outside the grounds of this home!”

“How about this,” Aspect replied. “I’ll let you use it once. Like a costume. But the moment you take your foal form again, that’s it for the night, understand? So you’d better make it count.”

She nodded… before she suddenly slumped over. Was… wait, did she just fall asleep?

“Orrr...you could be so sleepy that you can’t participate anyways,” Aspect sighed as he delayed giving out the candy for a bit to go over and pick her up to put her to bed.

Then the filly snapped awake just as suddenly. “Change of plans!” she said. “…and, why are you holding me?”

“You fell asleep, I thought you were too tired to participate,” the stallion replied before putting her down. “So, what’s going on then?”

“Huh? Oh, Luna dragged me into the Dreamscape,” she said with a shake of her head. “Apparently she’s coming here for Nightmare Night. Given that apparently she’s never celebrated one before.”

“Well, I thought that would be obvious,” the stallion replied. “Well in any case. You go have fun with the others. Leave your old man to be the one putting the foals through their paces.”

“You are way too into this,” the filly rolled her eyes as she put on her new bags that Rarity gave her and trotted out the gate, Artemis and Realm following behind her. Meanwhile, Aspect could hear the sound of tiny hooves approaching his gate. Showtime!

“So, why are we going to Sparkle’s house?” Nightmare sighed as Realm took the lead of their little party. “Ten bits says she’s studying and not even participating in tonight’s events.”

“For much the same reason we’re bringing you along,” Realm replied. “To try and break her out of her bookfort shell and join in on the town’s festivities.”

“...Alright, show of hooves on who imagined Sparkle actually has a fort made of books,” Nightmare deadpanned. Realm declined to raise a hoof. But Artemis did, along with the little Moon.

They reached the door and Realm knocked… the door opening a moment later with Spike dressed as… a dragon?

“You do realize that’s...kind of redundant, right?” the male alicorn asked with a head-tilt.

“What?” Spike blinked as the door opened wider to see Twilight dressed in a rather accurate depiction of Starswirl the Bearded.

“Pfft, big brother’s crushing on an old man,” Nightmare sniggered. Realm nudged her with a wing as he forced a smile on his face. He’d gone as a rather faithful representation of a Unification-era squire...not that he ever was one. Nor would he likely be accepted now.

“Told you you should have dressed as Clover,” Nightmare continued to giggle under her breath. The colt rolled his eyes as he bowed in front of the Starswirl replica.

“Shall we enjoy the night, milady?” he asked.

“Quite,” Twilight nodded, the bells on her hat jangling as they stepped outside. “Also watch your candy, Pinkie’s on a mission tonight.”

“I’m gonna score sooo much,” Spike beamed, holding a bucket.

“And you’re the reason dad has two stashes of candy,” the colt deadpanned.

“Hey man, I live for nights like this,” Spike replied. “And you think I’m bad. You should see Princess Celestia. She takes—”

“Ahaha, I don’t think he needs to hear about that,” Twilight zipped his mouth shut with her magic.

“In aaaaaany case,” Realm continued. “Why don’t we go out and see what everypony’s done?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Twilight nodded as Spike munched on some candy. Suddenly, a crack of thunder filled the air, Twilight shrieking loudly as she grabbed the nearest object and hugged it close, that object being Realm.

Realm was not complaining about the situation.

“Hahaha, your faces were the best yet,” Rainbow cackled from her cloud. Spike was choking on candy, until Nightmare slapped his back. And Twilight had a deathgrip on Realm as she glared at Rainbow.

“That wasn’t funny!’ she yelled.

“You’re right, it was hilarious!” the speedster cackled as she flew off. Twilight sighed, before looking down and quickly released Realm.

“Oh! I’m so sorry about that,” she apologised. “Rainbow really startled me.”

“So not an issue,” the colt muttered as he swayed on the spot.

“Well, that’s good,” Twilight smiled. “Now, should we check out some stalls? Or maybe play some games?”

“Yeah, that sounds good,” Realm replied, not really thinking that hard about his answer.

Nightmare rolled her eyes and jabbed his sides with a wing. “Let’s check out the stalls before all the good stuff is gone,” she said. “Then some games, pointless as they are.”

Twilight nodded as she took the lead, Spike hopping up onto her back. The colt sighed as he tried to keep the memory of that hug in mind for as long as he could.

Pinkie stared at the long path that led towards Aspect’s house. The sign promised a bountiful harvest of candy but… She had the twitches about what lay beyond.

“Okay everypony,” she said to her group of foals. “Let’s stick together. Who knows what’s beyond that gate…” Hoof by hoof, she slowly inched forwards with the foals in tow.

It wasn’t long before a massive being flashed into existence near the path, a huge towering creature made of fire, captured in a silent roar.

“KYYAAA!” Pinkie shrieked as she bolted ahead, the foals following behind her, echoing her screams. What the heck was that thing!?

Of course, at that rate, it wasn’t long before she ran into a few more. A massive being of stormclouds, holding a lightning bolt...a giant octopus wielding a trident and piece of jewelry, attacking with a red beam...and a huge dog made of stone, captured mid-pounce as he leaped directly at them.

Pinkie ducked, thinking to avoid them as the foals huddled around her, shaking. She looked around at the fearsome creatures. She was scared, but she had to get her prize… and remain strong for the foals.

“Oh!” She stood up and smiled. “Silly me!”

As she reached Aspect’s doorstep, he head her and the foals singing a silly song about giggling at the ghosties. He waited for the song to finish and the knock before opening the door and smiling widely at the foals. “Did you all enjoy my little lightshow?” he asked pleasantly.

“Ahh, it was super scary!” Pinkie giggled and despite her laughter, he could see her shaking ever so slightly. “Okay! We made it to the door. Sooo…”

“Nightmare Night, what a fright, give us something sweet to bite~” the foals sang.

“And what a selection I have for you all tonight,” Aspect smiled as he brought his bags over. “You all can pick. One full-sized candy bar...or one treat from miss Bon Bon’s shop that she made specially for tonight.”

Obvious choice.

Bon Bon’s candy won hooves down, though Pinkie managed to snag one of each from him, clucking like a chicken as the group laughed and headed back down the path.

And just as Aspect’s door clicked closed…

A huge skeleton of a goat appeared on their way back, a fel green power glowing around his horns and a bell around his neck.

The screams were almost music to his ears as he watched them from the window, as the group bolted like bats outta hell from his yard. He had to fight not to laugh like one of those villains himself as he saw them run.

This...took a close second to teaching the foals for one of his favorite leisure activities.

After some time in scaring and handing out the treats he had. It was time to hit the town and try to find his mares. Rainbow would likely be elusive, but at least Bon Bon told him where her stand would be.

He eventually found her, the mare was wearing a skintight black dress, a pair of forward-facing curved horns on her head as slist in the dress highlighted her legs and rump. Her tail was tied into a right braid with a pointed tip at the end.

Sweet, caring Bon Bon.

Dressed to kill as a sexy Succubus.

Damn if he wasn’t tempted to make good on that, but...he knew better than to try in public.

“Hi honey!” Bon Bon waved him over. “Did you just get here?”

“I think I’ve scared half of Ponyville senseless with my lightshow tonight, and the foals have stopped trying,” the stallion replied as he nuzzled her. “So I think I’m clear to come out. Just in case, though, I left a sign and the bowls of candy out in case I missed a group.”

“Ah, I see,” Bon Bon nodded as she passed him a little bag. Inside was some chocolate-coated caramels, shaped like scary pumpkins. “Here, these are for you love.”

“Oooh, delicious looking,” the stallion mused as he tucked them under a wing. “I’ll try one in a bit. How’re you holding up?”

“It’s been steady,” she nodded. “While I do gripe about being busy, I can’t complain about the bits.”

Then something hugged Aspect from behind as he felt a pair of fangs chomp lightly on his neck. He turned to look and wasn’t surprised by who he saw there. Lyra, dressed as a vampire as she smirked mischievously.

“Hiya Aspect,” she chuckled. “Nice to see you ‘Not Coma’y’.”

“Mmm, well, it’s good to not be in one,” the stallion replied as he rolled his neck a little. “How’ve you been?”

“I’ve…” she sighed and got off of him. “I had a lot to think about. But… I’m okay now. And, I wanna apologise to you.”

“For what?” the stallion asked.

“When you started dating Bonnie,” she said and she scuffed the ground with a hoof. “I probably made you uncomfortable a few times. It’s just…” She looked around and once she was sure nopony was listening in. “I was jealous of you.”

The stallion quirked an eyebrow, silently prompting her to continue.

“I… kinda liked Bon Bon, as in… like liked her,” she said. “And then when you came along and… well,” she sighed and looked down. “It was like you stole her away from me. All because I never had the courage to take the step you did.”

“Ah,” Aspect mused. “Well, I suppose I should apologize, then.”

“Nonono,” Lyra waved a hoof. “I wasn’t even sure of my own feelings. And then I made things kinda weird.” She sighed again. “Then that stuff with Discord happened. Bon Bon… told me what she did and who you really were.”

The stallion sighed and gently nuzzled the silly unicorn. “We all have our secrets to bear,” he uttered softly. “It just so happened for us, ours overlapped.”

“So I saw,” Lyra said with a chuckle. “Look, I’m not gonna say I’m totally over Bon Bon. But, we talked a lot and, we’re still gonna be friends. So, I’ll try not to be as weird anymore okay?”

“That’s fine,” the stallion replied, pulling back and smiling at her. “I’m happy you were able to work that out. I would hate to come between two ponies and their friendship.”

Lyra nodded and smiled brightly. “So, vhat do you zink of my sweet leettle mare?’ she said in a really bad accent as she bumped up against Bon Bon. “She’s pretty damned sexy huh~?”

“L-Lyra!” Bon Bon blushed, now feeling a little self-conscious about her revealing outfit.

“Mmmm~” a very sensual voice whispered into Aspect’s ear. One that made his fur stand on end and his wings fly up as a new set of very real fangs tickled his neck. “She is very sexy no?” Midnight Song whispered into his ear. Aspect blushed as he looked back at Midnight and smiled at her.

“Ah...hello again,” he greeted her. “How have you been?”

“Very well,” she murred as her long tongue flicked at his lips before she got off of him. “Tonight is business… and maybe some pleasure~”

“Oh?” the stallion asked as he got his wings back under control. “Your Equuish is coming along nicely, by the way.”

“I am learning, yes,” she said. The mare then leaned in close and whispered, “Dar ai spus că limba mea a fost foarte frumos.”

“That it is,” the stallion agreed. “Something I myself can’t do right off the bat, no pun intended, - I can understand languages, I’m just horrible at saying them myself. So I assume you came down with my daughter, then? Did you perhaps volunteer for this particular assignment for a reason?”

“I was chosen,” Midnight said as she stepped back and he could see her in the Night Guard’s armor. An azure hue similar to the armor that Nightmare Moon once wore, a draconic eye in the center of the breastplate. The armor had flexible, linked plates that covered most of her body, and he spied a pair of sheathed wingblade tucked under her leathery appendages. Metal boots adorned her hooves, the forehoof ones possessing retractable blades.

“And an intimidating guard you make for my daughter as well,” the stallion agreed. “Quite impressive.”

“I try,” she nodded as dark thunder clouds suddenly filled the air, cackling menacingly. Midnight smirked as they started to swirl. “And so the Princess arrives.”

“Luna always was one for dramatics,” the stallion chuckled. “Ah well. Tonight promises to be fun.”

The clouds parted as a rather intimidating chariot appeared, being pulled by two burly thestral stallions. Luna leapt from the chariot, descending to the ground as her form was wreathed in a black cloak. As she landed, the cloak flared and turned into a swarm of bats that flew away.

“And there she is,” Aspect smiled as he watched. “Mmm...let’s let her enjoy herself. She always did like pranks. Something tells me she’ll take to this holiday like a fish to water.”

“CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!” Her Royal Canterlot Voice boomed out. “FEAR NOT! WE ART BUT HERE TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY THIS FINE EVENING!”

“...Aaaand just like that, maybe we should tell her about what not to say,” the stallion deadpanned. “Telling panicky ponies you’re here to keep them safe will make them wonder what there is to keep them safe from.”

And true to his word, some ponies were already freaking out.

“Well that went well,” Bon Bon deadpanned, as Midnight merely remained rather impassive looking as she started walking towards the Princess.

“Maybe also tell her to tone down the shouting a bit,” Aspect mused. “The RCV went out of fashion while she was away. I’m sure Celestia would have told her that.”

“There is always a plan to the Princesses actions,” Midnight mused as she walked away, her long, blonde tail flicking nicely over that armored rump of hers. Aspect would not admit he watched that rump go unless he was called on it.

“You know,” Bon Bon mused. “Watching another mare’s rump in front of your marefriend is rude Aspect~”

“I was doing no such thing,” the stallion scoffed.

“Suuure,” Lyra rolled her eyes.

“What’s going on?” said a… a rather effeminate Starswirl as she walked up next to Aspect.

“I see someone has been spending a lot of time with Starswirl, to the point where you got his courtly outfit right,” the stallion noted.

“FINALLY!” Twilight said with an exasperated sigh. “Everypony thinks I’m an old man, or a witch or something,” Twilight looked around and blinked. “So, what’s going on here then?”

“Luna reintegrating back to society,” the stallion explained. “It’s...there are a few bumps along the way so far.”

“Ahh,” Twilight nodded as the Princess strolled towards them with a small smile.

“Greetings everypony,” she said, Midnight at her side. “Tis a fine evening is it not?”

“Mmm, we have some things to go over still, the finer points of public speaking in this day and age...but overall, a very ‘you’ entrance,” Aspect replied as he pulled Luna into a hug. One the strong alicorn returned as she looked at Twilight.

“Ah, Starswirl the Bearded… thou even got the bells right,” she nodded, sounding impressed.

“I love your family,” Twilight said to Realm. “They get me…”

“Or they’re just incredibly old,” the colt pointed out. “Buck, even I knew who you were, and I’m technically chronologically about as old as they are.”

“That too,” Twilight giggled and ruffled his mane. “Maybe you should wear the beard instead old man~”

“I could not pull off a good Starswirl,” the colt huffed.

“So, are you enjoying the festivities, Luna?” the stallion asked as the hug broke.

“There seems to be an appropriate level of… fun,” she nodded before a smile crossed her muzzle. “Tis a good thing I am here to, ‘spice it up’ as they say.”

“Oh well if you want a challenge,” Aspect smirked at her.

“I have made preparations already,” Luna chuckled and waved a wing. “So do not worry, tonight… I will have so much fun scaring these little ponies witless.”

“Beat you to it already,” Aspect smirked. “The foals will have nightmares for days.”

“Only the foals?” she mused. “We shall top that.”

“Oh dear,” Midnight shook her head as the Alicorn strode off to find something to do for now.

“Well I think the town should be worried about that,” Aspect mused. “Ah well. It’ll be fine. Probably.”

“You worry too much,” Midnight chuckled as she looked at Bon Bon. The Earth pony stared back for a moment as the thestral drew closer.

“I’m a father, it’s my job to worry,” Aspect replied. “Especially when my children are what they are.”

“So…” Bon Bon looked at the batmare. “You and Aspect hm?”

“It is why I spoke to you,” Midnight nodded. “And…”

“And, you know what that would entail yes?” the earth pony asked again.

Aspect turned to look at what was going on, now curious himself.

“Yes, you are his first,” Midnight nodded and lowered her form, spreading her wings out. Aspect knew this tradition. It was almost as old as he was. Midnight was placing herself at Bon Bon’s mercy. Should Bon Bon disagree, she would stomp the mares wings and break them. “I recognise you as Lead Mare. You possess the First Right. I Midnight Song, submit to you.”

To say he was stunned was a little bit of an understatement. She...actually wanted in?

“Wow… how old is your culture?” Bon Bon giggled, but took on a straight face. Midnight was taking this seriously, it was only right she do the same. “I, Lead Mare Bon Bon, recognise Midnight Song and her desire to enter the herd. Lead Stallion Balanced Aspect has also recognised her through consummation. Please rise, our newest member.”

Midnight smiled as Bon Bon helped her up, then the earth pony let out a startled squeak as Midnight pulled her close and trapped the mare in a very steamy and sensual kiss.

Aspect just watched, wondering how long this would continue. He wasn’t complaining about the situation at all. Twilight blushed brightly and quickly moved to cover Realm’s eyes from the sexy display of two mares making out in the middle of the street.

“I didn’t know herds were still practiced,” the colt spoke up, unphased by the sight. “Now I have a lot more thinking to do…”

This only served to make Twilight blush more as Midnight eventually broke the kiss, leaving a flustered and panting Bon Bon on the ground as she licked her lips.

“This mare is quite delicious,” she purred and looked at Lyra. “Is she one of yours too Aspect?”

“Noooope!” Lyra squeaked and hid behind the pegasus stallion.

“Not that she didn’t try a few times,” Aspect replied, poking her with a hoof. “Come on, the sex- I mean spooky thestral won’t hurt you.”

“No way, she’ll eat me alive like she just did Bon Bon,” Lyra blushed and squeaked again, keeping her pegasus-shaped shield where it was. Aspect sighed, before taking a big step to the right, to expose the unicorn to the tender mercies of Midnight.

“Maybe I should taste this one too,” Midnight purred as she advanced… before switching targets and smooching Aspect instead.

Once again, the stallion was not complaining in the slightest. He simply drew the mare in for a hug and held her close as he kissed her.

“Honestly, why do you even need so many mares?” Twilight asked, looking away from the public displays of affection.

“I think it’s less of a need and more of the universe trying to rebalance itself,” Realm spoke up. “After all, if Bon Bon was his first, that would imply he’s been chaste all this time.”

“...Oh,” Twilight blinked as she released her hold on Realm. “Maybe I should read up on this, if only so I can understand it a little better.”

“You’d have to order a book from the archives, the courtship rules they’re using are that old,” the colt pointed out. “Almost as old as he is.”

“Well, I do have to got to Canterlot the day after tomorrow to pick up Spike,” Twilight rubbed her chin and looked at Realm. “Did you want to come? I could use a pony who already knows what they’re looking for.”

“I can give you a title,” the colt mused. “And I might recognize the book...but I dunno, the castle was awfully stuffy the last time I was there.”

“We don’t have to go there,” Twilight shrugged. “And I know a really great donut shop that has the best coffee.”

“Aren’t the Archives in the castle, though?” the colt asked. “I mean, they were in the Everfree castle…”

“Next to the castle actually,” Twilight said with a small nod. “They used to be in the castle about a century back, but then it grew too large, so they separated it into a new building.” There were some screams coming from down the road, ones Twilight recognised and sighed. “That sounded like Pinkie… I’d better go see what’s wrong.” She waved at the others and trotted as fast as her outfit would allow.

“Sooo…” Lyra said as she filled in the silence that followed. “Should we be concerned that Twilight just asked a twelve year old out on a date?”

“What’s a date?” Realm asked with a tilted head.

Lyra blinked and looked at Aspect. “Ya know, I think your dad’s the best one for this. Later!” and like that, the mare ran off as well.

“Oh sweet gods,” the stallion murmured as he put a hoof to his forehead.

Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “What my idiotic Lyra means Realm. Is that a date is something of the romantic sort. Like hanging out with a friend, but you do it with your special somepony instead. And I highly doubt that that was what Twilight was intending. She likely didn’t even realise how it sounded.”

“...I didn’t even realize how it sounded,” the colt whimpered. “Did...Did I mess up?”

“Likely not,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Twilight almost certainly didn’t mean it like that.” She looked around then beckoned for him to come closer, while shooing the others away, Aspect included. Realm gulped as he stepped closer, wondering what more sage advice could possibly come.

“Okay, now I’m going to ask something,” she said as she knelt down to his height behind the stall. “You like Twilight don’t you? As in, like like.”

“I, uh...yeah,” Realm blushed a little. “At first it was because she looked just like Clover, but...now that I know her a little better it’s...for an entirely different reason.”

“And what reason might that be?” Bon Bon asked as she offered him some little chocolates.

“Just...everything about her,” the colt muttered after he’d had one. “She’s attractive, she’s intelligent, she’s creative. How hasn’t a colt tried his hoof at her already?”

“I honestly have no idea,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Well, that’s not true. Since she’s been in town. She only ever spends time with her friends. Most of the stallions around here think she only likes mares.” Hell, for all Bon Bon knew, that was actually true. It’s not like she knew any better.

“Oh…” the colt muttered, dejected suddenly. “I...I guess…”

“Well I don’t really know,” Bon Bon said. “Besides, it’s rude to assume something like that about somepony. But, there might be a small problem about all of this.”

“Oh?” the colt asked, perking back up as he looked at Bon Bon.

“Your age,” Bon Bon said. “It’s… not legal for a grown mare or stallion to be romantic with a pony younger than eighteen. So…”

“...Darnit,” the colt sighed as he looked back to where Twilight had gone. “I...I can’t ask her to wait six years for me.”

“Well you could certainly try,” Bon Bon giggled. This was just so adorable.

“No, it...wouldn’t be fair to her,” Realm sighed. Aww...he’d just gone through his first heartbreak. And he was being surprisingly mature about it too. Only a little sigh...nothing like a big cry or wobbling lip as he pined after her.

“Well who really knows how life is going to work,” Bon Bon said as she rubbed his back. “Besides, I bet there’s a lot of cute fillies at your school.”

“Yeah…” Aaaand now he was laconic, giving off monosyllable answers.

“Maybe ask your father for some advice?” Bon Bon offered. “He somehow got three mares… still trying to figure out how that happened…”

“Dunno,” the colt replied. Yup, total mental shutdown. Well crap, now Bon Bon had no idea what to do.

She peeked up over the desk and spied Aspect. She gave him a panicked look and beckoned him to come over. The stallion perked his ears as he walked around the stall, wondering what it could be.

“I broke him!” she stage-whispered to Aspect and pointed at the dejected Realm. “Halp!”

“What the...how?” the stallion asked as he poked Realm, who barely grunted in response.

“We were talking about his little crush on Twilight,” Bon Bon sighed. “Then I brought up the whole ‘age difference’ thing…”

“Oh...yeah, that’d do it,” Aspect sighed. “Okay...so we need to cheer him up somehow. In the meantime…” He picked the pinto alicorn up and slung him onto his back, using his wings to make sure he was settled before walking off. “Let’s see about Pinkie helping us with this one.”

“You sure she can help with romance?” Bon bon blinked. “This sounds more like Princess Cadance’s venue.”

“I was more looking into her helping us cheer up a foal,” the stallion replied. “She’s Laughter, she should be good at that.”

“Well, follow the screams I guess,” Bon Bon shrugged as Midnight followed along beside them.

“I do not see the problem,” she said, her sensitive hearing overheard everything. “The colt wishes for a mate in that purple unicorn yes?”

“He’s too young for her, the mandatory minimum for romance is eighteen years old, he’s only twelve, and he’s realized how unfair it would be to ask her to wait,” Aspect summed up.

“I heard that,” Midnight replied. “Bah, such a thing is not a problem in my country. Well… he is an alicorn no? Is he immortal? Ageless?”

“Yes, but asking her to wait for that long and spurn anypony else that comes along just for him is a bit selfish, don’t you think?” the stallion pointedly asked.

“Then what of an age spell?” Midnight suggested. “What is a few years to the ageless?”

“Those are a morally grey area,” Aspect mused. “The reason the age limit is there is so he can grow up and be mature about the relationship rather than just latch on like a foal with a crush. Plus, they’re really easy to abuse if the caster siphons the lost years into himself. I knew an enchantress that did that once...which is why I’m not comfortable with them at all.”

Midnight winced, she’d stepped on a thorn there. “Ah, I am… sorry for suggesting such a thing.”

“No no, it’s fine, you couldn’t know,” Aspect waved a wing. “She’s not an issue anymore anyways. I made sure of that. Still, the experience sort of soured them for me.”

They eventually found Pinkie Pie, the chicken-suited mare running in terror from a fully grown Nightmare Moon.

“Come back little pony!” she cackled loudly as she gave chase. “I only wish to EAT YOOOUUU~”

“Midnight, Bon Bon, make a note,” Aspect deadpanned. “Never give Nightmare free reign on Nightmare Night again.”

“Noted,” both mares replied as the Nightmare flew off to terrorize more citizens as Pinkie literally screeched to a halt in front of them, her ears flopping and her eyes blinking.

“A sad foal has been detected!” she declared and suddenly grabbed Realm. “We need ice-cream and funtimes STAT!”

And with that, she ran off, taking Realm to parts unknown.

“Well that was easier than I thought it would be,” Aspect noted aloud, before turning to the mare on either side of him. “So what now?”

“Well, I’m done with my store for tonight,” Bon Bon said.

“And I do not know where the Princess has gone,” Midnight sighed, looking around for the charge she was supposed to protect.

“One would imagine, not far from the Nightmare,” Aspect pointed out as he looked back along the path his newest ‘daughter’ had carved. The town shook with a thundering boom and he heard two Canterlot Voices shouting at one another.

“...Well I think we found her,” the stallion deadpanned as he walked towards the source of chaos.

The found the pair in the center of town, Nightmare in her full armor whilst Luna wore the gleaming silver armor of a paladin. The two battled it out in a rather flashy and dramatic fashion, but Aspect could tell all the spells were naught but illusions. They looked dangerous and impressive, but nothing more. As such, he simply opted to watch and wait, even holding up a wing to forestall Midnight to go towards her charge.

She pushed his wing aside so she could get a better view, she knew what was going on.

Eventually, the battle ended as Nightmare Moon lay on the ground.

“I have been defeated…” she hissed as she floated up. “But know this. I will return next Nightmare Night! And I will bring eternal night… FOOREVEERR! AAAAHHHAHAHAHAHA!” And with a loud crack of light, she vanished.

“Well I think Ponyville is about to make a mark on the map for ‘most dramatic Nightmare Night’,” Aspect chuckled.

Ponies cheered Luna over her ‘victory’ as the mare landed, bowing and smiling as a foal Nightmare was revealed to be on her back. The pair just chuckled as they started heading towards Aspect.

“Have fun you two?” the stallion asked with a playful smirk.

“Immensely,” Luna smiled as she looked around at the happy ponies.

“I get to win next year and terrorize everyone, all night~” Nightmare chuckled darkly.

“Oh dear,” the stallion sighed. “However will we cope with a two-foot high terror?”

“I’ll bite you,” Nightmare warned, flashing her fangs at him.

Then another pair of fangs grazed his neck. “MMm, that does sound good, doesn’t it?” Midnight purred sensually in his ear.

Aspect actually blushed at that. “Ohkay!” he said a little loudly. “So, moving on. Quickly. Is there anything left to do at the fair or did you all scare all the stand owners?”

Bon Bon just stared in amazement at Midnight. Oh she had to teach her that.

“There is plenty left,” Luna said as she pointed at the owners returning to their games. “Now that that is done. Tis time for fun!”

“And something tells me your passenger is looking forward to the end of the night,” the stallion pointed out.

“So. Much. Caaaandy~” Nightmare purred with a wide grin.

“Just keep in mind, I’m going to make sure you can’t eat it all at once,” the pegasus warned. “Not only is it bad for your teeth, you’ll stay up all night and ruin your sleep cycle for school. Especially when you crash from all that sugar.”

“Ooohno, I will savour it,” Nightmare mused as she rubbed her hooves together.

“As I will savour my little treat,” Midnight said, nibbling Aspect’s ear from his side. Once more the stallion blushed as he coughed awkwardly.

“So...the fair?” he tried again. This mare needed to stop being so sexy dammit.

Bon Bon needed this mare’s secrets!!

“Sounds good,” Luna smiled and grabbed her father’s hoof, dragging him away. “Huzzah! We will have ALL THE FUN tonight!”

“Yes...” Midnight said as her silky tail trailed under Aspect’s belly before he was hauled away. “Yes we will~”

The fair was...well it was full of fun games that the others enjoyed.

Bon Bon didn’t know it was possible to be as bad at carnival games as Aspect was. Somehow the spiders in the spider-tossing game landed on his back. And when he dunked his head for apple bobbing, he caught a fish.

“I...but...what...how!?” Bon Bon gaped at him. “Honestly, it’s almost hilarious at how bad you are.”

Midnight was under no such reservations as she laughed heartily at him.

“Okay, new game,” the stallion walked up to the pumpkin-chucking catapults, pulled a lever, and watched the pumpkin sail up.

...Only to have it somehow land on him.

Midnight Song just laughed harder as she looked at the stallion dripping in pumpkin pulp. The stallion’s wings were twitching, a visible sign of his annoyance as he stood there.

“Oh...ohmy…” Bon Bon giggled, trying to hold back the laughter as she put a hoof to her mouth to hide her growing smile.

“I’ll be riiiiight back,” Aspect said in a cheerful voice, before blasting off. It wasn’t long until they saw a bolt of lightning strike up into the sky as the stallion vented his frustration from the closest river.

“Hahah, oh now he’s mad,” Bon Bon giggled. “Poor boy. Maybe we should cheer him up later?”

“I have a plan,” Midnight smirked and licked her fangs.

Eventually the stallion came back, dripping wet but clean. A momentary spark crossed his figure and the water evaporated with a soft hiss. “Better now,” he sighed. “Okay, what next?”

His answer came from the stage, as a rather fetching Zecora, her mane down in long silver tresses as her slender form was clad with a sleek, black dress.

“Listen close, my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary. Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you wary.”

“I think it best if the both of you were ‘mysteriously’ missing for this,” Aspect said to Luna and Nightmare.

They vanished without a trace after that. Ooh, Luna was getting very good at Shadow Stepping.

“Every year, we put on a disguise, to save ourselves from her searching eyes.” Zecora’s green powder created surprisingly real illusions, the green hues saturating it made them look even more sinister.

“Not a bad show, all things considered,” Aspect muttered to Bon Bon and Midnight.

“But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing!” He heard Pinkie and some little colt scream at that one.

“Hungrily, she soars the sky. If she sees nopony, she passes by. So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe another year!”

“...Okay, yeah, I still owe Celly an apology for yelling at her about this,” Aspect muttered. “Much better than what it used to be.”

Zecora led them through a thicket of trees as they approached a statue of Nightmare Moon herself, reared up and looking quite fearsome.

“Uh, Miss Zecora,” a painted colt spoke up with a thick Trottingham accent. “If we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon, so she won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give her some of our candy?”

“A perfect question, my little friend. For Nightmare Moon you must not offend.” The wind started to howl as Zecora turned. This mare could be amazingly creepy when she wanted to be. “Fill up her belly with a treat or two, so she won't return to come eat you!”

“...Yeah, much better than it used to be,” the stallion muttered. “Though I just know the little Nightmare is getting a kick out of it.”

“Just dump your candy and let’s get outta here!” Pinkie yelled, then screamed as the lightning flashed and the statue of Nightmare Moon came to life, cackling madly. The foals… plus Pinkie, screamed and dropped the loot before hightailing it for the bushes.

“Citizens of Ponyville! You were wise to bring this candy to me. I am pleased with your offering. So pleased that I may just eat it... instead of eating you!” The mare giggled as she looked at the massive stash.

“Having fun?” Aspect deadpanned from off to the side.

The Nightmare shifted back to show that it was Luna in disguise.

“Immensely,” she giggled. “Though, I do feel a little bad scaring them so. Especially in that form…”

“I used all the former Aspects to make a haunted pathway up to my house,” Aspect informed the mare. “And saved a special one for the path out.”

“Of course you would,” Luna rolled her eyes. “But even so…” She paused as she felt something tug on her flowing mane. She turned to see a small pinto colt dressed as a pirate.

“Princess Luna?” he asked. “Do you think… you could come and scare us next year as well?”

“You mean,” Luna looked a bit puzzled. “You liked being scared like that?”

“Yahuh, it was scary, but fun~” he beamed.

“It’s fun to be scared when you know it’s not going to hurt you,” Aspect summed up for his daughter. “It’s a thrill, a rush.”

“I… well I suppose I can do that,” Luna nodded as Aspect spied filly Nightmare making off with a candy bag as big as she was.

“Yay!” Pip cheered as he hugged Luna’s leg. “You’re my favouritest Princess ever!”

Luna blinked as a wide smile crossed her muzzle. The foals and other adults soon left, leaving her alone with Aspect and his mares.

“Hear that?” Luna bounced. “I’m his favourite! Hah! Suck it Tia!”

“Well that’s certainly not going to go to her head or anything,” Aspect mused aloud. “Sakes, if not for his lack of bat wings, he’d probably sign up to be in your night guard.”

“Hey now, I can include ponies that aren’t thestrals,” Luna poked out her tongue. “But they’re the only ones that actually trust me as of yet.”

“Oh, so I don’t count?” Aspect teased back. “I’m touched.”

“Oh, you want to be in my Night Guard?” Luna teased back. “I doubt you could handle it.”

“He’d fold like a deck of cards,” Midnight smirked.

“Plus I have too many other priorities,” Aspect pointed out. “I don’t need to be running around with fillies and colts thinking they can measure up to me.”

His world spun as he landed on his back, Midnight’s armoured hoof on his chest.

“Hmm, perhaps foalsitting is a more apt job for you,” she mused and licked her fangs seductively.

“Okay, so the last time I saw action was about a thousand years ago,” the stallion groused. “And the Discord thing ended without me working up a proper sweat. I’ll admit to using magic to win where I could. Still, there are things that once stalked the night. Terrors ponykind has forgotten. I’m the reason that’s happened.”

Midnight chuckled and looked him over. “I am sorry. I believe the words you meant were. ‘Please go easy on me Mistress’. No?”

Aspect chuckled, shifted to his thestral form…

And suddenly he was the one standing over Midnight, pushing a hoof into her armored chest to keep her down. “No, I don’t believe so,” he mused.

“Are you two seriously going to do that right here?” Bon Bon deadpanned as she pulled the batty Aspect off of Midnight… and maybe felt up that rump a little.

“She challenged me,” Aspect whined. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because there could still be foals nearby, and they do not need that kind of lesson,” she hissed and bopped him on the head. “And you too Miss Midnight. Don’t keep teasing Aspect.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Midnight said softly and looked down. Aspect sighed and gently broke his way free of Bon Bon’s hold, before walking up to Midnight and nuzzling her.

“Hmhmhm, seems I know who’s in charge of this relationship,” Luna chuckled as she spread her wings. “Nonetheless, I must return to the castle. Midnight Song, let us depart.”

“Yes Highness,” Midnight saluted and looked over at Aspect.

“Ah ah ah, miss moon,” Aspect chided her. “Miss Midnight here has formally requested entry into our herd. I do believe you can spare her for one night while we go over the finer details?”

“She is on duty right now,” Luna said to Aspect in a serious tone. “Fret not, you shall see her again soon enough Balanced Aspect.”

The stallion stared at his daughter for an uncomfortably long time, before turning to Midnight. “I’m trusting you to hold her to those words,” he said to the thestral mare.

And Midnight just gave him that smile. One that screamed ‘I know something you don’t’ as she took wing next to her Princess and the duo flew off.

“Well, tonight was fun,” Aspect smiled as the edge of his right wing glowed with a golden light that shot off into the darkness. “And...there. The illusions are turned off. I’ll dismantle them tomorrow, but we should be able to walk home without seeing what I put the foals through.”

“Sounds good,” Bon Bon nodded as she started to follow him. “I wonder what happened to Rainbow Dash? I haven’t seen her all night.”

“She’s been pranking the town,” Aspect replied. “Now remember, tomorrow, you, her, and any of her friends she wants to join in, are going to give my daughter a night off and some sorely needed advice. What with Dash finally healing, she’s ready to help lend a hoof. You ready for that?”

“I can do that,” Bon Bon replied. “I think… It’s still, odd, to be giving advice to Princess Celestia of all ponies. I mean, she’s perfect. What can I possibly do?”

“Everypony has their failings,” Aspect pointed out as they made their way along the treeline to his house. “It’s the mark of a truly gifted pony to not only understand that, but seek to fill in the holes in their being.”

“And you certainly love to fill in ponies holes huh?” Bon Bon giggled, before blushing and putting a hoof to her mouth. “Ah, no wait. I’m sorry…”

“Well that’s not...untrue,” the stallion mused as he walked closer to Bon Bon and bumped flanks with her.

“Yeah but still,” Bon Bon’s face burned. Gah, dirty jokes really weren’t her forte.

“See, Celestia’s failing is she’s completely and utterly awkward when it comes to romance or dating at all,” Aspect explained. “She can’t make a pass at a stallion without it sounding horribly cliche. I’m hoping that you all can agree on some pointers for her, to help ease her into the idea. I would appreciate it if my virginity was the one that had lasted the longest on the planet.”

“Is that something you should be proud of?” Bon Bon arched an eyebrow. “And, I don’t feel comfortable that you’re basically asking your marefriend to get your daughter laid.”

“Okay, A, she’s a grown mare, not a little filly, even if she always will be my little filly,” Aspect countered. “And B, she’s way too uptight. The nobles she has to deal with day in and day out have something to do with that. She needs to relax, and have fun at the very least. Sex can come later, but it would probably do wonders for her stress levels if she finally got up the courage to see at least one stallion like that.”

“Still awkward as all getout,” Bon Bon sighed. “But fine, I’ll see what I can do for her.”

“That’s all I ask,” Aspect replied. “I’ve gotten word out to the other mare I want to join you on this little get-together tomorrow night, and it promises to be a doozy of a time.”

“Oh dear, what have you done now?” Bon Bon groaned as she opened up the door and screamed as a monster stared back from the other side. The mare panted and clutched her chest as the ‘monster’ pulled off its mask, Rainbow cackling.

“Aaand that’s all of ‘em,” the pegasus snickered.

“Something tells me Nightmare isn’t the only one to like tonight,” Aspect sighed as he rolled his eyes. The thestral stallion walked up to Dash and kissed her nonetheless.

“Heya Aspect,” Rainbow beamed as she sat down and flexed her wings. “You have fun tonight too?”

“Imma kill ‘er,” Bon Bon growled as she got back up.

“I’m sure you would have had more fun if you had seen me at the fair,” Aspect chuckled to the mare. “And Bon Bon, no killing. It’s been a long night already. Let’s just get some sleep, eh?”

“Yeah sure,” the pegasus sighed as she stretched her wings again. “I suppose I should get home. Been freeloading here long enough as is.”

“Who said you had to go?” Aspect asked with a quirked brow. “You’re always welcome here, Dash.”

“Yeah I know, and you’ve been super cool with me over that last couple o’days,” the pegasus said with a smile. “But I need some Dash-time okay? So Imma fly.” She kissed them both on the cheek and rocketed off.

“Ah well, such is life,” Aspect sighed. “We can’t always be together, but I will cherish every moment that we are.” He wrapped a leathery wing around Bon Bon and drew her close, nuzzling her as he reveled in her warmth. “So, what say you to some cuddling?”

“I think it sounds good,” Bon Bon smiled as she closed the door behind her. “You get into bed. I’ll be along shortly okay?”

“Love you,” the stallion called as he walked away. She responded by giving her rump a cute flick as she left the room to check on the kids.

It wasn’t long before Aspect got to the bedroom and made for his bed, quickly getting comfortable under the sheets and sighing. Today had been exhausting…

One by one, Bon Bon peeked in on the other residents, though the one she worried about the most was Realm. She reached his door and knocked on it, hoping he was in a better mood.

“What is it?” she heard the laconic reply.

Oh dear, seems Pinkie was only a temporary fix. She opened the door slightly and poked her head in. “Hey there,” she said softly.

“Oh. Hi,” he muttered. Was that some of his art on the easel? It looked...dark.

“Is… everything okay?” she asked carefully.

“Oh, it’s all fine, why wouldn’t it be?” the colt replied in a deadpan.

“Mhm, and your father is a patron saint of virtue,” Bon Bon replied in the same tone. “Look Realm. I didn’t mean to bring you down so much with what I said. But you would have found out sooner or later.”

The colt sighed as he turned over in his bed. “That doesn’t stop it from hurting,” he whimpered. He was then pulled to the side, with Bon Bon pulling him into a soft hug.

“I know it doesn’t,” she said. “And you’re a very sweet colt. I know that whatever mare winds up with you will be very lucky to such a charming stallion as her mate.”

The colt sighed as he decided to give Bon Bon a bit of information. “I haven’t been keeping my supression charm up,” he told her. “I just… I haven’t felt inspired at all since you told me. And I think my magic’s reacted. I’m...less than a Muse now.”

“What do you mean by that?” Bon Bon blinked. It sounded familiar but…

“I’ve...lost my spark,” the young alicorn sighed. “I know it was coming, but...I just, don’t see a reason to paint anymore.”

“So you’ve got a little artblock huh?” she rubbed his back with a hoof, admiring his soft coat. “Well, you’ve been a painter for a long time, and you’ve known Twilight for a very short time. Surely she wasn’t the entire reason you painted.”

“She was the best one I had in this new, unfamiliar age,” the colt sighed. “And now I can’t have her.”

“As a lover, perhaps not,” Bon Bon said and turned his head so she could look in his eyes. “But as a friend, I know she’d jump right on board with that Realm. She’s already told me how mature you are for your age. And she’s rather excited about this project you’re both working on.”

“As...long as she’s happy,” the colt sighed. “Then...I can accept that.”

Bon Bon smiled, then had an idea, one Aspect might not approve of. “Why don’t you come out with us mares tomorrow?” she asked. “You’ll be able to learn all about how dating works in today’s age.”

“Aren’t I a bit young for that?” the colt asked.

“We’re only going out for drinks,” she replied. “You can stick with juice and soda. But a change of scenery might do you good. And Rainbow aside, I think all the mares will behave themselves.”

“I...suppose,” the colt sighed. “Well…” His mane and tail moved briefly in an unseen wind, before the colt’s horn flashed and they stopped. “Felt that,” he muttered. “Not taking that chance again. I guess if I’m not being melancholy, it’s enough to keep me...plugging away.”

Bon Bon giggled and rubbed his head. “Try not to get so down, the future isn’t set in stone after all.” She kissed his forehead and stood up. “Sleep well, my little artist.”

“Yeah...you too,” the colt sighed as he turned to the dark piece...and put it in the trash.

Bon Bon closed his door and sighed. She so did not have the experience to help with a colt’s first heart break. She eventually made her way to Aspect’s room and closed the door behind her, groaning as she vanished into the adjoining bathroom.

Meanwhile the stallion had slipped into a pseudo-sleep state as he lay there. He could go either way, really. And for some reason, he hadn’t stopped being a Thestral yet either.

He felt a weight on the bed, and something moving underneath the covers. He turned to where it came from, blinking blearily as he opened his eyes.

Then he felt something hot and wet brush up against his sheath, a large bump under the covers as somepony lavished him with kisses and licks. The stallion murred as he reached a hoof down to try and tell who it was. But all he felt was some mane and a pair of ears.

Then there was some movement… and he felt a second tongue lapping at his rapidly growing member. Hmm? Dash had gone back, right? He moved a second hoof down to check…

And then something got in his way as a third mouth joined them.

Wait, what? He opened his eyes to check on what was going on. He moved the blanket away to find, Bon, Midnight and Dash all servicing him with their mouths, three sets of eyes looking back at him.

“...Not complaining about it at all,” Aspect mused aloud. “So...who wants to be screwed first?”

All three looked at each other… before the trio started taking turns in sucking him off, first Bon Bon and that sweet mouth and her soft, gentle moans. Then Rainbow and the small mare managing to deepthroat the stallion, then Midnight and that damnable tongue of hers, able to coil and lick his balls as she sucked him.

“Mmmph,” Aspect grunted as he lay there and took it. “Okay, better question. Who doesn’t want to be bred tonight?”

And his three mares giggled as they just kept going~

“I might just take that as consent, you know~” Aspect teased as he ran a hoof through Rainbow’s mane.

“You know my rule,” Bon Bon said and poked his belly. “Plus mom would skin you alive if you knocked me up before marrying me.”

“And I wanna be a Wonderbolt, can’t do that with a fat belly,” Rainbow agreed.

“We’ll see,” Midnight hummed as she deepthroated him again.

“Ohhh fuck, you’re good at that,” the stallion moaned as he lay there, trying to prop himself up to watch the show. “So did you three...plan this?”

“And keeping it from you was quite difficult,” Bon Bon hummed. “Unless, you don’t like this idea of mine…”

“Did I say that?” Aspect asked as he pulled Bon Bon closer and gave her a kiss. The mare moaned into the kiss as Rainbow and Midnight licked at his tool, the mares moving up and down his member with their tongues.

Then he felt something new. His head trapped between their mouths as the pair made out, with his cock in the middle. The stallion did his best to not buck as he felt that one. It wasn’t easy.

“Hah...hah...okay,” he panted as he broke the kiss with Bon Bon. “If you all keep this foreplay up, I probably won’t last.”

“Oh?” Rainbow mused as Midnight took Bon Bon’s hoof and he got to see the two mares kiss, the earth pony squeaking when the bat put her tongue into the mix.

“Nope, I definitely won’t last,” the stallion admitted as he watched the show. “At this rate I’ll likely cum from just watching you all.”

“Hhm, I wouldn’t mind seeing that,” Rainbow chuckled as she crawled up next to the pair and grabbed Bon Bon’s ass, spreading them to show off her sweet, pink lips. Aspect’s breath hitched at the sight, wanting to get involved...yet holding back until his mares called him into the fray.

“Like what you see?” Rainbow hummed as she extended her wings and pulled Midnight’s tail to one side, showing off her dark lips and glistening pink insides. “Mm, such tasty-looking mares huh?”

There was a muted flash behind Rainbow, and she suddenly had a very familiar weight bearing down on her.

“New plan,” he growled into the smaller mare’s ear. “I’m going to screw you first. And you’re going to make sure Bon and Midnight get the same amount of attention that you are.”

Rainbow glanced back to see what on earth he was up to now...Only to come muzzle-to-beak with Aspect’s Bloodfeather form, his cock already poking at her flank as he practically loomed over her.

“Oh...hi?” she squeaked as her ears lowered. Hooboy…

The griffon took a claw and used it to gently guide her face back around, until her muzzle was pressed at Bon Bon’s lips before letting go, his message quite clear.

Rainbow opened her mouth and begun to eat the mare out, her tongue moving sloppily over her sex as Bon Bon started to moan louder. The griffon nodded in approval as he used one claw to line his own member up with Rainbow’s plot, before he slowly pushed his cock into the small mare. Rainbow’s own moans got louder as he started to spread her wider, her wet snatch sucking his member inside of her as she was pressed deeper into Bon Bon’s own winking sex.

“Mmmm,” Midnight broke the kiss and hummed. “I feel left out now~ What. To. Do…”

Aspect smirked as he trailed a claw down Midnight’s flank. “I could help with that,” he offered. “It doesn’t take much effort to reduce Dash here to my little toy. I could spare some attention for you. I have a claw free, as well as my mouth.”

Then she moved under him and he felt her mouth around his balls, her fangs grazing lightly against them as she let out a lewd moan around him, her hooves groping at his ass as he thrust into Dash.

He wouldn’t complain at all. In fact, it just invigorated him to thrust harder, trying to wear Dash down to the point where she could take his entire length faster. The pegasus mare just moaned louder into Bon Bon, spurring her to do the same.

Then he felt Midnight’s tongue curl around the base of his cock and squeeze it, before moving down as the mare licked him… while he fucked Dash.

Okay, it was official, Midnight had earned a good breeding for all the stunts she thought to do. The griffon growled harder as he felt his climax approach even sooner. Too soon. He had to get his whole length into Dash, or he’d never be able to tie her…

Then as he buried himself inside Dash again, he felt the tip of Midnight’s tongue prod at his cumslit, rubbing it as she moaned. Rainbow couldn’t take dick and tongue as the mare came, milking his cock as she gave a muffled cry into Bon Bon’s sweet cunny.

The griffon let out a louder growl as he kept hammering into Dash, trying to force his whole length into her even as he felt his knot start to inflate. If he didn’t manage it soon…

Then Midnight slurped her tongue back… only for it to wrap around his knot and squeeze it hard as he drew back to thrust in again…

The griffon let out a final growl as he pulled Dash back onto his length, this time not taking no for an answer as he jammed the poor mare as deep onto his length as he could force her. In a matter of moments, he came, filling her up as he did his best to not let a single drop fall, Midnight still tongue squeezing his knot as Rainbow groaned as he filled her with cum.

“Mm, having fun up there?” Bon Bon panted and chuckled lightly.

“Just giving Midnight something to snack on while I see to you,” Aspect replied as he puffed over Rainbow’s form. “I hear cream-filled pony is very tasty.”

“Mmhm~” Midnight moaned, licking the pair of them as his cock gave a few more twitches as he finally stopped. Aspect pulled out and lay Rainbow on the bed, kissing her gently and stroking her mane to show her he cared.

The mare just groaned as white cum oozed out of her, Rainbow panting as she looked up at him.

“Would you stop breaking that poor filly,” Bon Bon chuckled.

“Oh, alright then,” Aspect chuckled as his form flashed.

Suddenly, Dragon Aspect, his form long and sinuous, was making a lazy loop around Bon Bon. “I guess it’s your turn then~”

“Ummm, eep?” the mare blushed. “N-Now hang on just a minute mister…”

The dragon soon coiled all around the mare, wrapping her up tightly in his embrace as his eyes gazed into hers. “Mmm...my little pony,” he murred as he shifted his coils around her.

“H’oh, now what’s this?” Midnight hummed. “Aren’t you a pony of many tricks.”

“And for my next trick,” Aspect boasted as he kept shifting his coils, never letting Bon Bon have an inch of space. “I’ll make my candy toy cum without fucking her.”

“And how might you do that?” Midnight asked, running a hoof along his scales.

Aspect smirked as he made sure one bit of his length ran between Bon Bon’s hind legs...and just kept dragging his scales back and forth, constantly stimulating her. The bound mare blushing and moaning as he did so.

“Hmm, I do not understand,” Midnight replied.

“See, she likes being tied up,” Aspect explained as he ran a claw over Bon’s face. “To know that she’s at my mercy. I could just stay still and frustrate her...but I am a kind master to my little toys. As long as she admits she’s mine…”

“So cruel,” Midnight mused as she pet him. “Treating your beloved mare like toys.”

“Oh, but they like it, and they know it’s all in good, dirty fun,” Aspect replied, stroking Bon Bon’s cheek. “Isn’t that right?” he asked the mare he was currently coiling, even as those coils shifted around her again to stimulate her.

“Ahhh~” Bon Bon moaned, trying to struggle against his bonds as her sex leaked all over him.

“My oh my, you’re all much naughtier than I thought,” Midnight mused.

“Mm, to be fair, this will be, what, the second time I’ve done this to her?” Aspect asked as his coils shifted again. “I just got the dragon form a week ago, I’ve been putting it through some delicious paces.”

“So I see,” Midnight mused as she peeked through the coils and gave Bon Bon another kiss while Rainbow watched them, idly rubbing her sex with a hoof.

“See, all she has to do is admit she’s my little toy, or cum first,” Aspect shifted his coils once more to stimulate his captive mare. “And then she’ll get the dicking she deserves.”

“Oohmy,” Midnight hummed as the latter came true, Bon Bon letting out a loud, muffled squeak as he felt her tremble and soak his scales.

“Mmm, and now…” The coils shifted again, and they moved Bon Bon with them. No longer was she just bound in a cocoon of scales.

Now she was being held up by his strong, long body as it wrapped around her, keeping her upright and on display as his draconic length prodded her folds.

“Mm, so you’re going to fill her?” Midnight asked, before leaning down and taking him into her mouth to get a taste of him in this form. Aspect let out a little shudder as she did that, letting her lube him up for what was to come, though he really didn’t think he’d need it, considering how wet Bon Bon was.

The bat was just as skill with handling this form as well, with her tongue swirling around him as he felt her throat hug his dick nicely. The dragon reached back and stroked the Thestral’s mane, before gently urging her off his dick.

“Aww, over already?” she pouted, her tongue flicking his pointed tip.

“It’d be torture to make Bon Bon wait any longer,” the dragon pointed out as he readjusted himself so the tip was resting within the candy mare’s lips. Bon moaned as he started to press inside her, her lips spreading as he almost glided into her.

“Mmm, I bet she feels nice,” Midnight said, moving up to embrace Aspect’s head.

“Mmm, all of my little ponies do, I’m sure,” the dragon replied, before kissing her on the lips as he began thrusting into and out of the mare he’d coiled around, filling her utterly and completely. Midnight returned the kiss as Bon Bon’s moans grew louder, as did Rainbow as she rubbed her pussy faster, blushing as she watched the show Aspect put on.

Eventually the kiss broke, and Aspect looked back at Bon Bon and asked her a simple question. “So what are you?” he questioned the candy-mare.

“Y-Your toy,” she moaned. “Your little broodmare Master~”

“Going to raise me a nice, healthy brood of Kirins?” he teased her as he didn’t stop for a second, feeling his length slam up against her cervix with every thrust.

“Yeees,” she moaned louder, her walls squeezing him. “I’ll give you your foals over and over,” she moaned.

“Constantly filled until it takes, and even after to reward you for being such a good little mare,” Aspect cooed to her. “My little toy that will never need to leave the bed. Fucked until she can’t remember her name, only her purpose…”

“Aaaahhh~” Bon Bon moaned as she came again, clamping down over his member as Midnight sat back to watch as well.

“Mine,” Aspect growled as he thrust particularly hard at the end, feeling her barrier dimple slightly as his length began to twitch. Bon Bon just groaned, falling limp as her energy was spent, panting hard from her climax and the rough fucking.

Then the dragon pushed past her last barrier and began pumping his seed directly into her womb. Midnight watched with fascination as her belly swelled a little from the amount the dragon pumped into her.

“Oh wow…” she breathed, a hoof rubbing her own sex. “How… interesting~”

Eventually Aspect had no more to give, but by then it looked like Bon Bon really was pregnant. The length slid out of her, and he let the mare fall onto the bed as he uncoiled from around her.

“Hmm, so you do this often?” Midnight mused. “Transformations and sex? Must be tiring.”

“I’ve built up my stamina over a long time,” the dragon replied as he turned away from placing a final kiss on Bon Bon’s head. Now the drake was focused on her. There was a muted flash…

And a thestral stallion only slightly larger than her was sitting in front of her on the bed. “I do believe I have one mare left to go,” he noted aloud.

“Mm, do you now?” Midnight mused as she lay on her back, propped up by some pillows. “And what does my armăsar frumos have in mind for me hm?”

“That depends,” the stallion mused as he slowly walked up to her, his hot breath washing over her folds. “Does this beautiful mare desire to be bred, or simply screwed?”

“No foal yet,” she murred. “But play by all means. You seem to very much like it~♡” She widened her legs for him, letting him look right at her winking pussy as memories of their last time bubbled to the surface.

“Mmm,” Aspect mused as he licked her a few times, before showing off just how good he was with a thestral tongue. It was like riding a bike, he never did forget the tricks he could do with it. Only now, he was using it for an entirely different purpose, as he tried to push and swirl his tongue everywhere inside her.

Midnight gasped as a hoof went to his head, stroking his mane as she pushed his muzzle further into her leaking puss.

And holy crap, she tasted like mangoes. If he didn’t know better, he'd swear she leaked actual mango juice.

The male thestral just smirked as he pushed his tongue as deep into her as it could go, before it tickled and teased her cervix as he tried to taste the deepest parts of her. And every inch was just as sweet as the last.

The mare moaned as she stroked his mane with her hooves. It actually felt rather soothing as she continued to pant lightly. The stallion didn’t stop for anything, not even his own throbbing length, as he continued to service the last mare of the night.

“Having fun there?” Rainbow sided up next to him. “How's she taste?”

Aspect pulled back and gave Rainbow a kiss with tongue, holding it for a moment, before pulling back and going back to his task to make Midnight forget how to walk.

Rainbow blinked. “Wait… izzat mango?”

“Seriously?” Bon Bon asked as she inched closer, though her belly made it much harder. “Nnn, I wanna try too~♡”

The stallion rolled his eyes before giving Bon Bon a taste as well, letting her get a nice, long feel for it before he once more resumed tongue-fucking Midnight silly.

“Wow… she really does taste like that,” the mare gasped.

Midnight groaned as she put both hooves on his head, bucking her hips up as she moaned loudly. Aspect just replied by putting both of his hooves on her flanks and diving deeper in, letting his tongue try to tease her final barrier open as a finisher.

Midnight’s eyes shot open as she let out a loud screech, her walls clamping down on his tongue as she flooded his mouth with her sweet juices. The stallion drank it all down, even as he made sure not a drop went to waste, collecting it all as he did his best to make sure she enjoyed the prelude.

“Haa… haaahh~” Midnight’s chest rose and fell with each breath. “Ești foarte bun, armasar dulce~♡”

Aspect slowly drew back, letting Bon Bon and Rainbow see the long, glistening length as he slurped it back in slowly. “As are you, delicious mare,” he replied. “Are you ready to be bred? You’ve earned it with all your attention tonight.”

“Mmmm~” Midnight purred and wiggled her flanks. “Come to me my sweet.”

Aspect slowly walked forward and stood over her, his length trailing along her chest. “You will bear my young,” he promised her as he reached down with a hoof and pushed his length back, so the tip caught on her lips. “And together, we will give Luna a strong contingent of Night Guards to watch her.”

“Mmm, so many strong foals,” she sighed. “Little alicorn thestrals~♡”

“I am going to keep you here, next to the others,” The stallion continued, starting to push forward, his length practically gliding into her. “And you will all bear so many foals for me. There won’t be a time when you aren’t full of them.”

“Mmm, such a perverted stallion, making a broodmare of somepony he just met,” Midnight sighed as he filled her to his hilt, his flare sitting snugly against her cervix. This sweet mare was a perfect fit for him~

“Mmm, but what a lovely mare to do it to~” the stallion teased back as he began setting a steady pace of pulling halfway out and filling her back up again.

“So how does she feel?” Rainbow whispered into his ear and nibbled it. And the stallion discovered how sensitive thestral ears were.

“She’s juuuuust right,” the stallion whispered back as he started thrusting a little harder now, letting Midnight feel it every time.

“Mmm, almost makes me wish I could fuck her like that,” Rainbow murred as she kissed his neck and shoulders while Bon Bon deflated enough to start teasing his wings.

Midnight put her hooves on his chest as she moaned, her mouth open as she felt him fill her up. Aspect decided to give her something to do as he kissed the mare, never once stopping in his screwing of her.

Her kisses were a little less refined, a testament to his ability to throw her off her game. But damn if she wasn’t almost as good. Aspect hummed into the kiss as he kept filling her up, his memories of that night coming back a little more.

Ah, so...okay then.

One hoof went to one of her wings and trailed a small charge of lightning across it to stimulate the mare’s nerves. The thestral eeped and shuddered as he zapped her, looking at him with a mix of lust and want as she nibbled at his neck.

“Mmm...my pretty little mare, you came back to me,” the stallion whispered to her.

“Of course,” she hummed as she grazed his neck with her fangs. “You married me remember?” Reminding the stallion of the prank she pulled when they first met.

“Oh but of course,” Aspect chuckled as he kept up his pace. “I guess that makes you mine to do with as I please~”

“So naughty,” she chuckled. She bit into his neck a little, not enough to break the skin, but still pinch. “Ei bine, de acum, oricum ~”

“Mmm,” Aspect hummed as his thrusting became a bit more rapid. “And soon to be claimed once again.”

“Mm, what are you going to do?” she murred, leaning up to nibble his ear. “Tell me~”

“Breed you like you deserve to be, of course,” Aspect replied as his other hoof began stimulating her other wing now. “Make you swell with my foals, now and forever.”

“You really want a foal hm?” she murred as she licked his cheek. “Well, maybe if you’re a good stallion~”

“Oh, but I can be very, very good,” the stallion purred back as he put a hoof right above her clit...and lightly, ever so slightly, sent a single charge through it. She let out a trilling ‘Eeeeeee’ sound that was… well it was pretty damned adorable as she blushed and stuffed a hoof in her mouth out of embarrassment.

“Mmm...what was that?” the stallion asked as he upped the pace again, making his strokes both long and fast as he practically hammered into her with every thrust.

“N-Nothing!” she gasped, her eyes closing as she fought down a climax, hoping to last a little longer.

“It sounded like a little bat calling out to be bred~” the stallion teased as his hoof lightly rubbed her clit, threatening to shock it again at any moment.

“Eeeeeeee~” came that adorable sound again as Midnight’s hooves gripped the bedsheets, her pussy clenching down hard on the stallion as she came hard under his threat. He hadn’t even had to touch her…

“Beg for it,” he urged the bat once she came down from her high. “Beg to carry my foals...and I might ease up on the torture.” His hoof twitched through her belly fur, inching down south again…

“You’re such a tease,” Bon Bon chuckled as she rubbed between his wings. “Can’t you just rut a poor mare normally for once?”

“Please fill me,” Midnight panted, her back arching as he thrust into her. “Vă rog să-mi mânji tale dragostea mea~”

“Mmm, well if you insist,” the stallion chuckled as he hammered home a few more times...before Midnight felt a warmth blossoming deep inside her as his length delivered his hefty load. The mare cooed as she felt him fill her up, panting softly as she trapped him in a kiss as she did.

“Mmf,” the stallion let out as he held himself there for a while. Eventually his cock ran dry, and he pulled out, though not without peppering a line of kisses down Midnight’s neck.

Rainbow panted, having come down from her own climax she brought herself to, before leaning against the stallion. “You really like her huh?” she asked in that cute, scratchy voice.

“I like all of you,” the stallion replied. “Just as much as each other. If I could wake up every day to your faces, I would be a happy stallion.”

“Hmm, well I don’t like you,”Bon Bon said as she moved up to his other side, sandwiching him between her and Rainbow.

“Oh?” the stallion turned to the candy mare.

“No,” she smiled and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. “I love you Christopher~”

The stallion chuckled as he wrapped his wings around both of the mares at his side and sighed. Today...today had been just perfect.

Author's Note

Tada! Aspect has put on a show!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It does go a long way to paying his internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent on the Darkening of Tristram.

Chapter 39 - Birthday Gifts

Waking up under a cuddlepile of sexy mares was certainly an interesting and new experience for the stallion. Rainbow and Midnight on either side of him, their warm wings draped over him and the candy mare he held in his hooves. He could stay like this forever.

Nature, however, sadly called. Now he had to work out how to get out of this pile. Preferably without waking them.

First, he took stock of the situation...then he tried slowly easing himself out from under the wings of the aerial two while replacing his presence with Bon Bon.

“Running away?” Midnight whispered, one eye open as her draconic gaze settled on him.

“I have to use my bathroom,” he whispered back. “And I was going to come back...after making some coffee as well.”

Midnight stretched her wings as she got up as well, yawning somewhat cutely. “Mmm, then I shall awaken myself.”

“Your first duty,” Aspect replied as he finally, gently, got Bon Bon in place. “Keep cuddling the stuffing out of these mares while I tend to a few things.”

MIdnight sighed, but lay back down. “You are going to make me a lazy mare,” she said with a light chuckle.

“One day won’t kill you,” the stallion chided as he walked over and kissed her on the nose. “Now, they’ll probably wonder where I am once they are up, so just lead them over to the dining room. Also, try to avoid tickling Dash. It’s adorable, but she doesn’t appreciate being woken up like that.”

The smirk on Midnight’s face could not have been wider. Aspect chuckled as he wandered off to his bathroom.

A few seconds later, he heard squeaking and a loud peal of laughter from Rainbow as Midnight tickled her relentlessly. The stallion shook his head.

A few minutes later, the now-a-pegasus walked through his bedroom and paused as he looked at the bed. Rainbow was on her back, panting as she blushed red, her breathing broken up by light giggles as Midnight’s tail thrashed about before she pounced, the two’s ticklefight turning into a wrestling match as Bon Bon facehooved and shook her head.

“Aaaand that is an adorable sight,” the stallion chuckled as he continued to walk to the dining room, so he could make coffee for his mares.

After setting down a pot of coffee on the table and making sure it was set for everyone, he was pleased to see that Realm wasn’t...quite as broken as he had been. He was sketching a little in a small pad, but that was better than him being dead to the world over heartbreak.

Of course, getting him to actually respond was just as futile, as once he was absorbed in his art, there was no getting through to him. He barely grunted when the cup was put in front of him. Aspect shook his head and sat at his place at the table.

Then Realm had a bat looking over his shoulder, a mare he hadn’t seen before as she peered at his drawings curiously, her cheek up against his.

“Gah!” Realm cried out as he jumped about a foot in the air.

“So, who is this one?” Midnight asked as she caught Realm and snuggled him close. “He is cute.”

“Realm, the young Prince of Art,” Aspect replied. “Realm, this is Midnight Song.”

“...Uh, nice to...meet you?” he squeaked as he felt her snuggle him. “Dad, I need help.”

“Hmm, I did not know a male alicorn existed aside from you,” she murred, nuzzling his cheek. “Can I keep him?”

“Mine,” Aspect replied playfully. “I’ll share if you want, but you already know the terms for that.”

“Yes I do,” she hummed and looked at Realm. “Hmm, what should I do with you now? I am most tempted to cuddle you all day.”

“Meep,” the colt muttered as he blushed profusely.

“And he gets cuter?” Midnight giggled as she nuzzled him more. “Foals are so adorable.”

“True, but I missed out on much of his formative years,” Aspect replied. “He’s adopted.”

“You’re not helping!” the colt cried out as he tried to get free.

“Aw, he has no mother?” Midnight said as she hugged him to her chest. “Then I shall be mother for him. As your mate, it is my duty to care for you and yours.”

“Wait what?” Realm asked as he found himself somewhere warm and fluffy.

“It is alright, mother is here for you now,” Midnight cooed, wrapping her wings around him.

“I feel so confused,” the colt muttered.

“What is Midnight doing?” Bon Bon quirked an eyebrow as she walked in.

“Giving Realm a little loving,” the stallion replied.

Then Realm had two mares snuggling him as Bon Bon giggled and joined the snugglefest.

“I have never been more conflicted than this,” the colt muttered as he resigned himself to his cuddly fate.

“Well, don’t look at me for hugs,” Rainbow snorted as she sat at the table. Pilfering some of Aspect’s coffee. Why were all his mares so good at appearing out of nowhere?

“Yeah, you’d probably try to toughen him up,” the stallion chuckled. “Let me tell you, that wouldn’t work.”

“True, the kid’s kiiiinda wimpy,” Rainbow shrugged. “It’s a shame, but even somepony as awesome as I can’t do anything with that.”

“He’s a Grandmaster of the Gale King,” Aspect replied, timing it as she sipped his coffee.

“Meh, I could take him,” Rainbow shrugged.

“You’d have to get the jump on me,” the colt replied. “And as long as you flew, I would know you were coming.”

“You’d have to be quick,” Rainbow said with a smirk. “And there ain’t nopony faster than me.”

“I don’t need to be faster than you to charge my fur with lightning,” the colt fired back.

“I kick thunderclouds for a living kid,” Rainbow ruffled his mane. “A lil spark like you doesn't scare me one bit. Heck, I bet Aspect is the only one in this house that could take me.”

“That ‘lil spark’ was getting tutoring from Hurricane herself before he skipped the past thousand years,” Aspect pointed out.

“Can either of you do a Sonic Rainboom?” Rainbow challenged.

“Power, not speed,” both Aspect and Realm echoed.

“We’re built for endurance,” Aspect pointed out. “We may not out-speed you, but we’ll fly for longer than you.”

“What, you think I can’t do distance?” Rainbow scoffed. “I could fly all the way to Appaloosa and back nonstop if I wanted.”

“Hmm, well I could beat all of you, at the same time, so that ends that discussion,” Midnight smiled as she continued to pet Realm.

The small colt was conflicted about the attention. On the one hoof, he was a grandmaster of the Gale King and a mighty warrior.

On the other hoof...it’d been a while since he was treated like a colt.

“Mm, shall I cook my new son breakfast?” Midnight hummed as she rubbed his ears.

“If you think you can measure up to Bon Bon’s cooking,” Aspect dared the batpony.

“Let us find out,” Midnight smiled and rolled her neck until it gave a satisfying crack.

It should not have been possible to ignite a kitchen like that, unless a certain fire bird gave up her Aspect of Fire to the batpony.

Aspect sighed as he shifted to his unicorn form and channeled his magic into one very visible rune...that slowly became a short sentence of them...which flew into the kitchen and exploded in light.

Shortly afterwards, it was like the kitchen was...unburning, like time itself was rewinding in the kitchen. Within a few seconds, it was as good as new...and Aspect was panting heavily.

“And that...is why you keep me around for disasters,” the stallion muttered as he downed his coffee and shivered.

“What… what was that!?” Rainbow gaped at him with wide eyes. “It’s… like you hit rewind.”

“Because that’s exactly what I did,” Aspect nodded once. “I’m the only one that can use it safely, as far as I know. Supposedly there’s some sort of ponies out there that could use Runes with a lessened threat to their very being, like Queen Majesty once did...but I’ve yet to find any of her blood. If I were normal, that would have shaved a month off the end of my life.”

“Cool,” Rainbow said as Midnight looked rather disheartened, holding a plate of what appeared to be deep-fried charcoal with a side of ash. Aspect sighed and walked up to her, nuzzling her and wrapping her in a wing.

“It’s okay,” he cooed to her. “You tried. Maybe we’ll get you some cooking classes.”

“I tried once,” she said as she set the plate on the table while Bon Bon moved to cook an edible meal. “Do all ponies jump screaming from windows?”

“...Depends, were you in Ponyville?”

“No, Canterlot,” she sighed. She knew she sucked at cooking but… weren’t mother's supposed to be good at that sort of thing. All she was good was for swinging a sword or laying with somepony…

“Well, I used to be terrible at cooking too,” Aspect began.

“At least yours is somewhat edible,” Rainbow said, staring at the black lump of Midnight’s plate with morbid fascination.

“My point is, I can teach her,” Aspect continued. “And she can pick up a few tips from me and hopefully not set my kitchen on fire next time.”

“Well, if you say so,” Rainbow shrugged.

“I apologise,” Midnight said to Realm.

“You should have seen dad’s first attempts at cooking,” the colt waved off. “It was so bad, they had to ban him from the kitchen for months.”

Midnight giggled a little at that one, as Bon Bon placed a stack of pancakes in front of the colt. She was glad this morning cheered him up a little more.

“Okay then, so poking fun at me aside,” the stallion huffed. “Hmm...what to do on all hallow’s day…”

Then Rainbow and Bon Bon froze, the latter dropping her mixing spoon with a loud clatter.

“What?” the stallion asked. “Did I say something?”

“Bon Bon?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah… um, sorry Aspect. I just remembered that something came up.” She kissed him on the cheek as the pair grabbed Midnight and left in a hurry, the door still swinging before the pair of males could register what just happened.

“...I missed something,” Aspect noted aloud.

“Mmm. Gonna make a new memorial then?” Realm asked.

“I probably should,” the stallion sighed. “They deserve to be remembered, if nothing else.”

“Just don’t ask any of your kids to join in on your odd little ceremony,” the pinto alicorn pointed out. “Today’s a school day.”

“Fine, fine. Take care then son.” Aspect downed his coffee before he began walking out in search of some good quality stone.

“So… is the target in sight?”

“Yes, he appears to be making some kind of stone marker.”

“Hmm, could be important. Let’s let him finish before we strike.”

“Roger that. I will continue to observe the target.”

“He won’t know what hit him~”

Aspect stared up at the monument. It was all he could give them now. His sword had claimed everything from them. Even though he’d had to kill them...they deserved to at least have some marker for their passing. If only to prevent anyone else from turning out like them.

Lavan. Crunch. Squirk. Arabus. Somnubula. Grogar. Draggle. Reeka. Hydia. The Boogeyman.

King Charlatan was marked down as the only one who surrendered. Tirek was marked as ‘Imprisoned’, as was Discord. Though he really didn’t like that second fact. If he’d had it his way…

He breathed in, and breathed out. His way nearly destroyed everything. He had to let go of the hate, lest he become that which he fought. It felt...good to have a monument to pay respects to again.

My fallen foes, I hope you find the peace in Niflheim you could not in the mortal world. I do not relish in your deaths, but bemoan the necessity of them in the first place. Rest in peace, fellow Aspects.

He looked up, he’d felt a presence as he saw Luna and Celestia on either side of him.

“Come to witness an old man’s failings, have you?” he whispered as he stared at the names who had ‘Killed’ next to what they had been an Aspect of and their crimes listed.

“We’ve come to see a man who risked everything to keep our kind safe, despite never being asked to, nor rewarded for doing so,” Celestia said quietly as she draped a large, white wing over him.

“And this burden you carry is one that will never leave, yet you carry on nonetheless,” Luna said, her wing joining the mix.

“Of course,” Aspect nodded once. “I am the Sword against the darkness. Yet with Discord...I came very close to falling into that darkness. To having my name put up on this monument. Being so old, having the same job for so long...it wears at you. Especially when it revolves around the point of a sword. I...I don’t know if I can do this anymore. I am so close to not being worthy.”

“You will always be worthy,” Celestia said and nuzzled him. “But you can afford to relax father. The world is peaceful, aside from the occasional hiccup. You needn’t be so on edge anymore.”

“I...I suppose,” the stallion sighed. “I just have hopes that they really do find peace.”

“I’m sure they have,” Luna nodded. “Being an Aspect, tis a heavy burden for anypony to bear, and the recent ones are the youngest that have even been. If you wish to make a better future, teach them.”

“Not to mention Yggdrasil making more pop up out of the woodwork,” the stallion snorted.

“Well, I’m so sorry that inconvenienced you,” a voice echoed in their minds. “And apologies for being quiet. I was trying not to draw Discord’s attention.”

“I can imagine that,” Aspect snorted once. “Plus, he’s practically your opposite. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actively fought your attempts to manipulate him.”

“...Hmm, now that is an interesting idea~”

“Well,” Aspect sighed as he laid a hoof on the monument. “I’m done being melancholy for one year.”

“Shall we then?” Celestia asked, holding out a hoof.

“Mmm,” the stallion nodded as he turned and hugged his daughters. “I’m proud of you both,” he said. “You’re the best daughters I could have asked for.”

“Well obviously,” Luna said as Aspect turned around and…

“SURPRISE!” A yellow-maned white pegasus leapt out of Celestia’s mane, popping up an inch from Aspect’s nose. The stallion, having been completely relaxed, actually was shocked by it, as evidenced by his short shout of surprise.

“Haha! I finally got yooouu~” Surprise giggled, still clad in her Wonderbolts uniform. “Come oooonnn slowpoke, everypony’s waiting!”

“Buh?” Aspect spluttered. “Everypony? Waiting?” To say his brain needed a jump-start was being generous.

“It’s simple father,” Luna chuckled and whispered in his ear. “Go to the ballroom inside. You’re going to get what’s been coming to you for a long time now…”

And with those words, the three mares teleported away, leaving him alone.

“...I am so confused,” the stallion muttered as he walked inside and began the quest of seeking out his own ballroom. Easily his favorite room in the house thanks to all the work Twilight and her friends had put into it.

When he walked inside, all the usual enchantments were disabled, leaving the room in total darkness. But, many years in fighting told him that he wasn’t alone in the room. The very air made his skin prickle.

“Okay, let’s just…” he turned into an Alicorn and began looking for the lighting enchantments, pouring a little power into them so that he could at least see his surroundings. If he was going to be ambushed in his own home, he would at least see it coming.

Then the room was flooded with light as dozens of voice all shouted the same phrase.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!”

The stallion blinked a few times as he looked around the room. He saw Celestia and Luna, Twilight and her friends. Bon Bon and Midnight. Lyra, almost all his kids. Realm and Artemis near the front, while Pyroclastia was perched nearby. Several of the Wonderbolts, Cheerilee and the students at the school he taught. He even spied Mortal hanging out in a shadow in the corner… So many ponies…

“I...is it really?” the stallion asked.

“November 1st, my dear,” Written Script spoke up from a painting on the wall. All his painted friends were there, wearing festive hats somehow. Though Hurricane and Starswirl looked less than amused about it.

“I...I had turned it into a time to remember the fallen, forgotten any reason to be festive for so long,” the stallion choked out. “You all...did this for me?”

“Well duuuh,” Pinkie rolled her eyes, only to have Bon Bon put a hoof over her mouth.

“You honestly think we wouldn’t do something for your birthday?” she smiled and trotted up to him, kissing his lips lightly. “Silly stallion.”

“Just tell me nobody tried to make a cake big enough to hold all the candles you would need on it,” Aspect chuckled. “I think it would be a fire hazard.”

“Nah, this isn’t one of Tia’s birthdays,” Luna smirked, earning her a cuff upside the head from Celestia’s wing.

“And I did have to talk Rainbow out of having us three jump out of a cake,” Bon Bon facehooved.

“For one thing, while I would appreciate it, the others would likely see it as a waste of cake,” Aspect pointed out. “And secondly, there’s children here.”

“Which is why I was successful,” Bon Bon said.

“Happy birthday,” Twilight waved as she walked over, the rest of her friends with her. “Did we surprise you?”

“Definitely,” Aspect admitted as he found his pet manticore and put her on his back. “What about you, Darice? You enjoying yourself?”

“Mrwar,” the winged scorpion-cat meowled as she nuzzled his neck.

Then the voices stopped as the door opened, a fully grown Nightmare Moon walking in and looking around, though the mare still looked half asleep. Everypony aside from a few had just stopped and stared at her.

“Oh, hello Moony,” Aspect greeted her like it was a normal occurrence. Herd creatures, he reminded himself. If you act normal, if you set the trend, they’ll be less likely to buck it. It had helped him so many times in the past with defusing an angry mob. “Apparently today is my birthday.”

“Ah, so that’s what this ruckus is,” she yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Well, good for you, or… whatever.”

“Care to join us?” Aspect asked. “There’ll be cake.”

The mare seemed to turn a bit green at the mention of sweets. “Urgh, pass,” she muttered and looked at the ponies. “Besides, I seem to not be welcome here.”

“Aww, you know you always have a place here,” Aspect replied, pulling her into a hug. “But I’ll respect your decision. Just try not to terrorize the rest of the town, okay? I think about half of it showed up for my party.”

“Tempting,” her eyes flashed as some of the crowd flinched. “But let’s face it. Scaring Ponyville isn’t exactly a challenge.” She turned around and as she reached the door, she paused.

“Happy birthday Aspect,” he heard her murmur, but by the time he turned to look at her, she was gone.

“Well, with that out of the way,” the stallion began, “Let’s get back to the party, eh?”

With the party in full swing, it was time for the next big event.

The presents.

Most ponies that got him something honestly had no idea what to actually get him. Some were rather generic, like a scarf for the winter or something for his home.

The ones that knew him better had more personal items.

First up was Pyro, the large phoenix giving him a vial with some clear liquid.

Phoenix tears.

“I’ll cherish these...and label them so I don’t accidentally think they’re water and drink them,” the stallion chuckled as he carefully put the vial in his bags for later. You only had to have one alchemy related accident with a clear potion to take to labeling things.

Twilight gave him exactly what he expected, a book.

One of social etiquette. Seems the mare did have something of a sense of humor after all.

“Ah, I see a book holding exactly what I seem to lack in this day and age,” Aspect joked as he hefted it. “Hmm, perhaps I should read it before too much longer.”

“It won’t help,” Rainbow called out.

Next up was Spitfire and her Wonderbolts, who gifted him with his very own exclusive uniform for training, as well as a metal pin. Crossed with the lightning bolt in the logo was a sword.

“You know, Hurricane joked about getting me in her chain of command ages ago,” Aspect chuckled as he tucked the uniform away. “Guess this finally completes that.”

“About time,” Hurricane called out. Gods, her and Dash were eerily similar…

“Well if you had been less forceful about it…” Aspect countered with.

Celestia and Luna had something rather nice. It was a globe with an extremely detailed diorama inside. It was an enchanted scene, so if one looked close enough, the scene inside moved with little bitty ponies doing their thing.

But the location of the scene?

They’d had a globe of Dream Valley made.

“I…” Aspect choked up a little as he stared at it. “You girls...you have no idea how much this means to me.” He could make out familiar faces inside the globe, including two little troublemaker fillies.

“It was rather difficult to make, but well worth the effort,” Celestia smiled.

“I’ll cherish this,” he promised them, gently laying a hoof on it.

Midnight even had a gift. A pair of wing blades tailored to his thestral form. They shone with a polished gleam, the blades themselve made of sturdy mythril and the hilt and attachments were ornate and comfortable to the fit.

“Oh, now this is nice,” he murred as he looked them over. “I’ll have to practice with them.”

“That is the idea,” she smiled. “I could use a training partner that I don’t bre-- er, I meant keep up. Yes. Hah, Equestrian is a silly language.”

“Mmmhmm,” Aspect smirked at her as he put the wingblades away.

Rainbow Dash bought him a pendant with a cloudy gem in it. Inside the gem was a ittybitty cloud that sparked with lightning.

“Oh, now that’s clever,” he praised her as he held it up and stared at it. “You’re going to have to tell me how that works later.”

And then came Bon Bon’s gift. When he looked at her, she simply smiled and mouthed ‘later’. He raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. Well, he’d worry about it when the time came.

And then Pinkie wheeled out the cake and… oh lord, she’d outdone herself. This monstrosity was five tiers tall and was massive. At least six feet wide and almost as tall.

“...Were you planning to feed all of Ponyville with this thing?” he asked.

“Yahuh?” Pinkie nodded. “Buuuut not everypony could show up, so I’ll save ‘em a piece.” She bounced around as she beamed. “So whatcha think?”

How… did she find out his favourite flavours?

“I think you’ve outdone yourself here,” the stallion chuckled as he looked the cake over. “Just...where can we even start?”

Then Pinkie brandished a rather large knife…

Aspect’s eyes momentarily widened at that.

She cut into the cake, expertly cutting out equal sized pieces, and when Aspect bit into it…

Bon Bon made amazing sweets, but Pinkie proved she was still the best baker in Equestria.

“...If not for the fact that you’re needed here in Ponyville, with your friends, I’m pretty sure Celly would have tried to steal you away for her own kitchen,” Aspect finally said.

“I tried…” Celestia pouted.

“My sweets are for everypony,” Pinkie nodded and smiled. “Happy Birthday Aspect. I hope you’re having a good one.”

“It’s my first one in a thousand years or more, so...yes, yes I am,” Aspect smiled at them. “Honestly...thank you all. I’d forgotten the date.”

“Well it’s a good thing I remembered to tell Miss Pie,” Written chuckled as Aspect spied Bon Bon leaving the room, her tail having a nice sway to it. Once again...he’d worry about that later.

“So...what’s next on the agenda, miss Pie?” he dared to ask the pink mare.

“Hmm, well I figured we’d play some games, and I know Bonnie made some stuff but I can’t find them or her. Can you get her while I corral some foals for a little game?”

“Can do,” Aspect replied as he went after where that mare had gone. What could she be up to?

He eventually found her in their bedroom, just looking out the window.

“I was wondering when you’d get up here,” she said softly. “Did Pinkie send you?”

“Apparently I’m meant to come get you and bring you back to the party,” Aspect replied. “But something tells me there’s more going on here.”

“A little,” she said. “I just thought some privacy would be best to give you your present.”

“Okay then…” Aspect was confused for a moment. “What would that be?”

“Well…” Bon Bon turned around. “You recall that you can do a thing. To stop us getting pregnant.”

“Yes, I’ve kept my little charm up to make sure on my end nothing happens without explicit, non-coerced permission,” Aspect nodded once.

“Well…” Bon Bon smiled as she moved up to him. “You see, I think… you might need some more practice with that dragon form of yours.”

Aspect raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” he asked.

“Dragons are very resistant to magic,” she said with a nod. “So, while your charm was there, it was weakened. And you were very… proficient in terms of production.”

“...Okay, but you’ve been taking your own contraceptives as well, right?” the stallion asked. “I’ll just adjust the charm whenever I become a dragon and we’ll be out of the danger zone.”

“They only work on ponies,” she smiled and nuzzled him. “Aspect. I’m pregnant.”

Aspect sat back on his haunches and gawped at her. “I...you...bwuh?”

“And it’s okay,” she said as she nuzzled him again. “I don’t mind. I’ve been thinking about it since I found out this morning.”

Aspect’s brain had all but turned off at the notion of having a biological kid.

“Chris?” she poked him with a hoof. “You okay hun? I thought you’d be happy about this.”

“...Your mom is going to murder me,” the stallion eventually said.

“Huh? Oh… probably,” she said and nodded. “I’ll make sure it’s a nice funeral.”

“I should probably marry you all,” the stallion mused. “If only so the child isn’t born out of wedlock. And so that the others don’t feel left out.”

“There’s no rush, we have months to worry about that,” Bon Bon said. “That aside, I did expect to have a foal, not a kirin.”

“Ah, well…” Aspect chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “I guess...we get to have a little firebreather, eh?”

Bon Bon just giggled and kissed him. “We’ll tell Rainbow, Midnight and the kids. But let’s keep it to just family for now okay?”

“It’s nice that you already think of Midnight as family,” Aspect smiled at her before gently rubbing her belly with a hoof. “...I can’t apologize enough,” he said. “If I had been thinking…”

“I said it’s fine,” Bon Bon said. Well, if he’d seen her initial freakout when Pinkie said that. Then she bought a test, just in case Pinkie was being Pinkie…

She brought him into a hug, with his head against her belly. “Look Chris. I love you okay. And having your child? I’m happy with it. So don’t worry and focus on the fact you get to be a dad again.”

“True,” the stallion chuckled as he hugged Bon Bon. “The last children I was there for from the beginning were Celly and Lulu, really. Everyone else, I either found someone and raised them up, or twisted my magic and made a new one entirely. This? This is rare, for me.”

“Well, are you okay?” Bon Bon said. “I mean, I want to have this child with you Aspect. But, if you don’t…”

“I’m fine with it,” Aspect replied. “I’m father to most of the forces of the world. I’m father to the griffon race. I can deal with being a father once again.”

“Super dad huh?” Bon Bon giggled and nuzzled him. “Mmm, love you~”

“Love you too,” the stallion replied as he hugged her a little tighter. “...guess I still should keep my charm active for the others, though. Dash probably wouldn’t take it as well as you, and Midnight is...enigmatic.”

“She is an odd one,” Bon Bon nodded. “And yes, if you actually knocked up Dash, she would likely actually kill you.”

“Mmm...so save it until she’s a Wonderbolt, then?” the stallion replied cheekily.

“Hmm, well that’s something you’d have to ask her,” Bon Bon giggled and rubbed her belly. “Well I guess you got your wish. Master~”

“Once again, not intentional,” the stallion pointed out. “But at least we learned something about my dragon form from this.”

“Yes we did,” Bon Bon mused and booped his nose. “Now, should we return to the party before somepony sends search and rescue for us.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect mused as he got up, before beeping Bon Bon back. “No alcohol for you from now on, missy.”

“Yessir,” Bon Bon chuckled. “It’s alright, guess I’m the responsible one tonight then.”

“Mmhmm,” the stallion nodded once and pecked her on the lips. “Right. Party. Panic about fathering a Kirin later.”

“Yeah, oh, speaking of tonight. I’m taking Realm with me too okay?” She kissed his lips and quickly trotted from the room.

“...And now I want to know what the bloody hell is going on tonight,” the stallion sighed. “Oh well. The girls need this, so I’ll stay away.”

Still didn’t stop that insatiable curiosity of his though.

“So, who's coming along tonight?” Rainbow asked as she followed Bon Bon and Midnight through the streets of Ponyville. “And why’d ya bring the midget?”

Bon Bon looked at the painted colt next to her. “Because I want to show him how socialising is done in this era, and I also want some intelligent conversation when the rest of you inevitably get drunk.”

“Psh! I can totally hold my liquor,” Rainbow snorted. “So Squirt. You looking forward to hanging out with a ton of sexy mares?”

“If I thought I actually had a chance with any of them, I’m sure I would be drooling,” the colt replied with an eye-roll.

“Well, there's always a cradelro--”

“We are NOT going there!” Bon Bon scolded her and swatted the pegasus. “Now we're meeting everypony else there, so hopefully…”

By the time they got to Ponyville’s quaint little bar, Celestia, in a unicorn disguise. Lyra. Twilight and Rarity were waiting. And to Realm's surprise, Miss Cheerilee.

“‘bout time Bonbutt,” Lyra chuckled. “We were starting to wonder if you got lost.”

Bon Bon just snorted as she looked around. “So is this everypony?”

“Seems like it,” Cheerilee said as she spied Realm. “Oh? I wasn't aware one of my best students was coming too.”

“I needed lessons in socializing,” the colt replied.

“And your father allowed it?”

“Eeh, he can't argue with me right now,” Bon Bon chuckled. “I’m not drinking tonight, so I could also use the company.”

“And I’m pretty sure nopony will sell alcohol to a minor,” the colt pointed out.

“No, Berry’s good for following the rules… most of the time,” Cheerilee nodded.

“Less yappin’ more partying,” Rainbow said as she herded them inside.

The inside of the bar was quite nice. It had a very ‘old timey tavern’ feel to it, one that Realm found rather comfortable. Cast iron candelabras lit the room, decorated by heavy, hardwood furniture. A long bar was near the front, with a wall of bottles of varying kinds behind it. Then you had a section to seat a few dozen ponies, followed by an open dance floor with a raised stage.

“It’s very homey,” the colt mused as he looked around. “It’s almost like a tavern from…”

“A long time ago?” A voice finished as they saw a mare behind the bar. The Earth pony had a purple coat, with a pinkish-red mane and tail. “That's the idea lil dude. Wanted my place to feel more friendly, instead of all that blaring neon the Canterlot places love.”

“It is rather lovely,” Celestia nodded.

“So, what brings a bevy of fine mares to Berry’s tonight?” the barkeep asked. “Oh, and Cheerilee.”

“Go drown in a wine barrel,” Cheerilee deadpanned as the two sisters stared at one another.

“That’s Berry Punch, Cheerilee’s twin sister,” Lyra said to Realm.

“They, uh...do that often?” the colt asked.

“You mean you don't fight with your siblings?” Lyra asked as Nightmare bubbled to the surface of his mind.

“...Okay, I didn’t use to,” the colt muttered.

The two sisters stared at one another, before giggling and sharing a hoof bump.

“So what brings you all out tonight?” Berry asked.

“Just a well deserved night out,” Bon Bon replied. “So could we start a tab? We'll pay at the end.”

“Sure,” Berry nodded and looked at Realm. “Hmm? He looks a little young. Cheerilee dating her students now?”

“B-Berry!? That is not funny,” Cheerilee stomped a hoof.

Well that was doing wonders in Realm’s adolescent imagination. He blushed and made darn sure his wings stayed at his side.

“Haha, you’re too easy Cheery,” Berry winked at Realm. “So kiddo, who might you be?”

“Realm,” the colt squeaked out.

“Ooh, the lil alicorn kid,” Berry mused. “Don't worry. I'll make sure these ravenous mares don't eat you.”

And that was the colt squeaking again as his feathers stood on end.

Cheerilee sighed and rolled her eyes. “Come on, let's find a seat.”

They got one close to the bar, seeing as there weren't that many ponies here yet. The group started out light, ordering a round of sparkling cider while Bon Bon and Realm got juice.

“Oh, that reminds me,” the candy mare said. “Everypony. This is a friend of Aspect’s,” she motioned to Celestia.

“Sunny Daze,” the mare smiled and waved. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“Finally, somepony with class,” Rarity smiled. “Unlike a certain somepony…”

“What?” Rainbow pulled her face out of the bowl of peanuts

“We're here to show Sunny a thing or two about dating,” Bon Bon said, before realizing a fatal flaw in her plan.

Most of the mares here were single. Nor had they even dated.

Bon Bon groaned and put her face in her hooves.

“And apparently my method of being social is out of date as well,” the colt pitched in.

“This is gonna be a riot,” Lyra giggled. “So, there isn't much to do here yet. So what do?”

“Are you okay to be here?” Twilight asked Realm as she sat next to him. “I heard you weren't feeling well.”

“I’ll...be fine. Eventually,” the colt replied as he focused on his juice.

“Oh… well, alright then,” Twilight said before looking back. “Are you still excited for our Canterlot trip?”

“It promises to be enjoyable if nothing else,” the colt replied, doing his best to not look at the mare while he said that.

“Anyway,” Bon Bon spoke up to avoid that particular awkwardness. “So does anypony want to eat before we start?”

“I could eat,” Rainbow nodded.

“Same,” Twilight agreed. “Though maybe something light? There was quite a lot of food at the party.”

In the end, Bon Bon ordered a round of nachos and some fries, as a few more ponies filed into the bar. There were maybe two dozen or so now.

“This looks...interesting,” Realm mused as he poked a nacho with a hoof. “Is this another food I’m unfamiliar with?”

“You never had nachos?” Rainbow asked as she grabbed a chip coated in salsa and sour cream. “Go ahead and try some.”

Realm did his best to copy her, dipping the triangle chip into the provided dip and munching on it…

His eyes widened as his chewing slowly stopped.

All the mares paused, curious about his reaction.

Eventually the colt swallowed his mouthful and sighed. “Okay...no complaints about this era’s foods at all,” he practically moaned.

“And your first lesson was nicely demonstrated by Realm,” Bon Bon giggled “The quickest path to a stallions heart is through his stomach.”

“Huh…” Sunny hummed as she wrote that down… as did Twilight. “Is that how you wooed Aspect?”

Bon Bon blushed and looked away. “Well… he certainly doesn't complain about it.”

“Well duh, cause your cooking is awesome,” Rainbow beamed, then looked at Midnight. “Unlike Little Miss Arson here.”

“Du-te suge o lamaie,” Midnight said to her and poked out her tongue. Not understanding a word, Rainbow just looked at Realm.

“Maybe Bon Bon should make some nachos sometime huh?”

“I wouldn’t complain about it,” the colt mused as he picked up another chip and munched on it, his wings fluttering a little at the sensations on his tongue.

“We’ll see,” Bon Bon giggled as she sipped her juice. “So, Sunny. What are you hoping to accomplish tonight?”

“Well,” the mare rubbed her hooves together. “Getting a date seems so… sudden. So, maybe just observe and see where it is that I’m supposedly going wrong.”

“It’s alright, dating honestly doesn’t interest me much either,” Twilight said as she set her glass down. “Between all my projects, my work in Friendship studies to the Princess and the near weekly disasters that seem to occur, I really don’t have time to think about it.”

Sunny stared at Twilight and sunk her hooves into her face. She was never going to get grandfoals out of her to spoil at this rate...

“But all that aside,” Twilight continued, missing the looks she got. “I guess… I’m just waiting for the right one to come along you know.”

“What do you mean?” Midnight verbally prodded her.

“I’m… well,” Twilight sighed. “I wan’t somepony who ‘gets’ me you know? I never had colts crushing on me or anything growing up. I was just the super smart weird filly. Books were my best companions. And since coming to Ponyville, nopony here has shown any real interest either…” She sighed and looked down at her empty glass. “Maybe… I’m just not pretty enough or something.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” the only colt at the table snipped.

“Huh… oh,” Twilight blinked and to his great surprise, blushed a little.

“Yeah...but I can’t ask you to wait six years,” the colt sighed. “That’d just be unfair to you. Honestly, I don’t know how somepony else hasn’t seen your beauty beforehoof.”

“Wow, you're a regular cassanova huh?” Lyra giggled as Twilight blushed further and started to sink under the table.

“I’m just being honest,” the colt replied. “I mean, when I look at her, I see an attractive mare. And anypony that knows her knows she’s incredibly smart, with a charming, winning personality. How she doesn’t have to beat the stallions off with a stick is beyond me.”

Twilight was literally smoldering at this point, you could almost see the steam rising from the top of her head… which was the only visible part above the table.

“If we're all quite done breaking Twilight,” Bon Bon sighed.

“Why? It's fun,” Rainbow chuckled. “Go on Realm, I wanna see if she passes out.”

“Okay,” the colt shrugged. “You’re incredibly kind and patient with anypony you perceive as a friend, even going so far as to forgive my more mature games with you once we got better acquainted. The way your eyes sparkle when you get the bit of a new research project in your teeth sends a delightful shiver down my spine, knowing that you’re about to be in your element once again. And honestly, you’ve been the best magic instructor I could ask for, offering tips and tricks that help me get my new magic under control far faster than I could have managed on my own, or with dad helping.”

The tips of her ears blushed under the praise she got as she managed a meek nod to him.

“Flustered by a colt, yup. Twilight has reached a new level of adorkable,” Rainbow giggled.

“I’m just being honest with her,” the colt whined.

“Thank you for the compliments,” Twilight murmured. She couldn’t help but remember the conversation she had with the colt back when he asked for magic lessons.

“Right, so who wants to hit the dancefloor?” Rainbow asked, before deciding to drag Midnight away for a few.

Meanwhile, Sunny ordered a round of stronger drinks as the bar filled up with more ponies. There were a few decent stallions and mares present.

“So um… what now?” Sunny asked.

“Don’t look at me, I don’t know,” the colt replied as he cradled his juice cup.

“Well, can you tell us why you think you haven’t been successful in getting a date?” Bon Bon asked the mare. “If we can find the problem and fix that, I’m sure you have stallions chomping at the bit to date you.”

“M-Must you be so… crass?” Sunny blushed as she looked around before lowering her voice. “Well… it’s come to my attention that my approach is one of the issues. Apparently I’m… awkward.”

“I’d trade being awkward for being too young in a heartbeat,” Realm muttered.

“Why do I feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle here,” Bon Bon groaned as she looked around. “Well, okay. Let’s say you wanted to ask a stallion out. How would you do so?”

“Well… I can’t just, do that with a total stranger,” Sunny said as she looked around. Then her eyes settled on Realm.

“Why do I get the feeling this is not going to end well?” the alicorn muttered.

“Well, some harmless practice might actually be good for the both of you,” Bon Bon nodded, being the only mare at the table that actually knew who both of them were. Even Midnight was not clued in to Sunny’s true identity. “After all, you’re hardly going to date each other now are you.”

“...” The colt didn’t say anything, but did sigh and nod his head. Seemed he would at least consent to being practiced on.

“This… is still weird,” Sunny frowned slightly. “But, seems I have little choice. So, what should I do?”

“Well, say you wanted to ask a stallion on a date, what would you do?” Bon Bon asked.

Sunny nodded and turned to Realm. “Ah… hm. Are you really a Gale King master? Cause you just blew me away.”

“...That, was bad,” Realm deadpanned.

“I… lost my teddy bear, would you sleep with me instead?” Sunny tried.

“...Even worse when I consider it seriously,” the colt cringed.

Sunny blinked and pouted. “W-Well, what would you know? You’re twelve!”

Realm sighed and turned to Twilight. “Your name does you justice, because you outshine all the stars of the night sky,” he told her.

“Meep!” Twilight blushed lightly, doing a rather fair impression of Fluttershy.

“Oh… like flustering Twilight is hard,” Sunny scoffed as she turned to the purple mare. “You’re like a good book. I could… er, read you all day?”

Twilight’s blush vanished, replaced by a confused expression as Bon Bon facehooved.

“No no, you’re doing it wrong,” Realm chided her. “More like...miss, can you check me for any love magic? Because I fell for you when I saw you.”

“Ohh, that one’s good,” Sunny said as she wrote that down. “Now, what if I was say… hitting on a Royal Guard.”

Realm mused for a moment. “Male or female? What tribe?”

“Let’s go… male pegasus,” Sunny nodded and looked at the other mares. “What? I like the feeling of feathers okay!”

“I bet that spear’s not the only thing I can make stand at attention,” Realm offered.

Sunny blushed as that implication set in. “How… did you get so good at this?”

“Hurricane,” the colt deadpanned. “She was the one who taught me everything I know. And when I asked why, she said something about revenge against dad.”

“That figures,” Sunny facehooved. She would have to have a talk with that mare. Maybe get some advice herself.

“Your family is so bloody weird,” Bon Bon sighed and looked around. “Oh, can I tell you guys something kind of important?” Twilight had almost died at this point and had left to go wash her face, leaving the earth mare alone with the royal siblings.

“Sure,” the colt replied.

Bon Bon took a look around, Rainbow was dancing with Midnight still and Cheerilee was talking with Berry at the bar. “Well, you know that your father and I have been… intimate with each other yes?”

“Obviously,” the colt rolled his eyes.

“I do not need to picture that, but go on,” Sunny nodded.

“Well… how should I put this,” Bon Bon said, tilting her head in thought. “Let’s just say in about thirteen months, you’ll have a new brother or sister.”

“...Wait what?” the colt asked. “I mean, I get the implications, but the timeframe…”

“Yes well,” Bon Bon blushed. “It’s not… a foal persay.”

“It either is or it isn’t,” the colt deadpanned.

“It’s not a pony foal,” Bon Bon said and blushed harder. “Aspect may have… been kind of, sort of a dragon at the time…”

“...And now I wish I could drink,” the colt muttered.

“I think I need a stronger one,” Sunny seconded as she looked at her glass. “So… you are with the foal of a dragon?”

“A Kirin, is what Aspect called it.” Bon Bon nodded. “Dracony is another term I know is used. While rare, it has happened before with… overly adventurous ponies.”

“Mental image, mental image,” the colt muttered as he downed his juice. “This does nothing!”

Sunny groaned. “Well… congratulations on your upcoming child,” she said. “But, please stop with the explanations. A simple ‘I’m pregnant’ would have sufficed.”

Bon Bon giggled, the ability to make the most powerful pony in Equestria squirm like this was kind of fun.

“Huh?” Rainbow plonked her flank down inbetween Realm and Sunny. “What’d we miss?”

“Something good,” Midnight hummed, sitting next to Bon Bon. “I heard everything~ My hearing is quite good,” she whispered, nibbling the mare’s ear lightly, making her squeak.

“Nothing important,” the colt dismissed with a wave of a wing. “In any case…” he looked around for Twilight, wondering where she’d gone. He spied her near the doors to the bathroom, where she was backed up against a wall with her ears pinned back. Two stallions were in front of her and she looked extremely uncomfortable. “Back in a second,” he said, before getting up and walking silently up behind her aggressors.

“Come on babe,” one slurred slightly. “Pretty lil thing like you shouldn’t be alone.” He looked her over as Twilight’s skin crawled.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll go stargazing,” his friend chuckled, blatantly eying her Cutie Marks.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Realm asked in a too-innocent voice as his wings danced with lightning on them. “There’s a sudden unexpected storm front. And for some reason, the lightning is highly attracted to drunken morons.”

“Huh?” the first turned around. “Some brat kid? Ain’t you a lil young to be here halfpint. Go home and suckle yer momma’s teat or sumthin’.”

That earned him a lightning bolt to the face strong enough to blast him into the bar wall.

“I am the squire of the Everfree,” he said calmly as his other wing twitched a little towards the other stallion. “I have more honor and virtue than you will ever earn. I have protected ponies from monsters time and again. I just wasn’t expecting to find two here, preying on a poor mare. Ah well. I can work a little smiting into my visit.”

Then Berry stepped forward. “What’s going on here?” she demanded. “Who’s making a ruckus in my bar!?” The whole place had gone quiet, now watching the disturbance. Realm’s lighting was… less than subtle.

“Eeeh, come on,” the second stallion huffed, putting a wing around Twilight. “We’s jus’ havin’ a lil fun wiv the cute Miss here.”

“Twilight, any self-defense magic you might know would be appropriate now,” the colt urged her. “I’d rather not hit you by proxy.”

Then the stallion was hoisted, not by magic, but by Berry’s bare hooves.

“Get outta my bar you bums,” she yelled as the stallion was literally thrown out the door. The one that Realm hit got back up, his face singed as his horn started to light up.

“I want you to think very carefully about that,” Realm urged him. “You might have a horn...but so do I. What does that tell you about the consequences of attacking me?”

“Don’t you threaten him!” Twilight said and her horn flashed, and with a small ‘pop’, the stallion vanished from sight, Twilight teleporting him to parts unknown.

“My lady,” Realm bowed as he dismissed the charge on his wings. “Shall this squire see you back to your seat?”

Twilight nodded and he felt her magic grip take his wing, sending a pleasurable shudder along his spine as Berry looked at the rest of the patrons.

“Alright you jokers, show’s over. Get back to drinking and being merry eh? But do stupid shit like that and well… you saw what happens.” She smiled down at Realm. “Well, you’re a gallant little knight eh? Maybe I should hire you as security when you get a bit older.”

“Everything’s all about ‘when I get older’,” the colt griped. “I swear, once Hurricane finished teaching me, I went out and found the Manticores that left me an orphan. I’m more mature than half your patrons.”

“Just the way the world is kid,” Berry nodded as she went back behind the bar. “Enjoy being a kid while you can. You can’t get those years back after all.”

Realm shook his head as he escorted Twilight back. “Just a few drunken morons that needed to sober up, nothing major,” the painted colt explained as he retook his seat.

“Shall I go and dispose of them?” Midnight growled, baring her fangs.

“Midnight, stay,” Sunny warned as the bat sat back down and nodded. “Are you alright Twilight?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine,” the mare said, before kissing Realm’s forehead. “Thanks to my little gallant Sir Realm here.”

Aaaaand that was the colt blushing and hiding his face behind a wing.

“Well, as long as you are okay,” Sunny nodded as Cheerilee returned, Berry carrying a tray as she sat it on the table.

“A round of drinks for you all,” she said, placing non-alcoholic cider in front of Realm and Bon Bon, everypony else got a martini glass with an odd blue liquid in it. The colt wasted no time in drinking some of the cider, sighing happily as the focus was off of him.

Twilight was too rattled to bother questioning it as she knocked back her drink in a single gulp, getting some cheers from Berry and Rainbow…

“A-An sho…” Twilight wobbled back and forth as Realm and Bon Bon tried to keep her upright. “It’s shimple really. Jus… just gotta… use more magic. Ye.”

“Because that never backfired before,” Realm pointed out.

“It’s… baaah,” Twilight waved a hoof. “Maaan, it’s totally shucks ya know! Why you gotta do that Realmy?”

“Just pointing out that sometimes, ‘more magic’ isn’t the solution,” the alicorn pointed out. “Sometimes, a more clever trick is what you need. Something nopony thought of.”

“Nooot thaaat,” she hummed and rubbed his head. “Why you gotta be shooo smol? I’d sooo date you if you were bigger… hehe~ hic.”

“I know, but I’m not going to make you wait for me,” Realm sighed. “You should find some stallion…”

“Stoopid laws,” she murmured. “I’d totes make you a stallion now…”

“Ooohaky, we’re moving away from that conversation,” Bon Bon said loudly. “Come on Twi. Let’s get you back and I’ll make you some coffee to sober up.”

“Yeah, that’s probably best,” Realm agreed as he kept up with the mare.

“Fiiiiine,” Twilight moaned loudly. “Ya know what?”

“What?” Rainbow giggled as she followed from the air. Drunk Twilight was hilarious.

“Imma give Aspect a real piece of my mind!” she said with a nod. “He thinks he’s aaaaaall that. Wiv his fancy sword and sexy butt.”

“I really don’t think you should,” Realm urged her. “You’ll probably say a few things you’ll regret…”

“Liiike what?” she said with a slur. “That he’s a stupid tease. And… and…” She trailed off. “I’ll fink of sumthin.”

“I really think you should just go home and sleep this off,” the colt replied. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“I feel GREAT!” she said and then her horn lit up…

…

Aspect was resting on his bed, before a bright magenta flash filled the room and he was buried under a pile of pony. Five mares and a pinto colt lay dizzily on top of him.

“Can we come in?” Twilight asked.

“...What?” he asked, completely caught off guard by the situation.

“Hi,” Bon Bon groaned, her head spinning from the sudden group teleport. “Twilight is…”

“Hilariously drunk,” Rainbow added.

“...I see,” the stallion mused. “Okay. I’ll handle this.”

“Like yoooou handle your mares,” Twilight giggled and beeped his nose. “Naughty colt.”

“And now I see how much she had to drink,” Aspect sighed. “Okay, well, it’s late. Realm, bed.”

“...Okay,” the colt replied as he gave Twilight a curious look before leaving.

“Well… this is awkward,” Cheerilee said, now in Aspect’s lap once the other mares had shifted.

“No kidding,” the stallion sighed. “Okay, so…” He gently moved Cheerilee out of his lap before focusing on Twilight. “What is it you want to say to me?”

“You!” she poked his chest. “I…. I forgot.”

“Okay, drunk Sparkle is fun,” Aspect agreed. “Rainbow, you’re her friend. Why don’t you find her a place to sober up?”

“I remember!” She said and poked his chest again. “One… yer a jerk. A stoopid, sexy, nice flanked jerk…”

“...Did you teleport here to try and complain about me, or compliment me?” Aspect asked.

“I dunno…” she looked him over, the stallion currently in his alicorn form. “I know. SCIENCE tiem!” She poked his horn. “Sooo, I wanna see the difference between a male alicorn and a mare.”

“Oh, I know one difference,” Rainbow gave a lewd chuckle and waggled her eyebrows.

“Rainbow,” Aspect chided her. “We let this go until she passes out.” The stallion raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “So...what were you planning?”

She just looked him over. “Differences,” she said. “I mean… Tia’s got a huuuge horn. S’why all the doors in her castle are sooo tall.” She prodded his horn. “Your is shorter…”

“But it’s what you do with it right?” Rainbow snickered.

“And then there’s yer butt,” Twilight said, spalling his flank with a hoof. “You got dis nice, tight butt. Luna has a cute butt too. And Tia’s goot a big squishy cakebutt. Though it’s also nice.”

“Rainbow, make a note, drunk Sparkle is far less reserved about her opinions,” the stallion pointed out as he just sat there for Twilight, waiting until she was done.

“Noted,” Rainbow giggled.

“Aaand then you went and stole Rainbow!” Twilight pointed out. “I mean, rude. What if I wanted my own harem huh? Ever think of that?”

“Waitwhat!?” Rainbow snorted.

“And apparently she possesses more than just friendship for her friends. Some of them at any rate,” Aspect noted aloud. “Do you still harbor that sort of emotion for Rainbow?” he asked the drunk mare.

“Big words, shuddup,” Twilight murmured. “Rainbow’s cute. But she’s good wiv you. I know you treat her right mkay?”

“And what about you?” The stallion asked. “What do you want?”

Twilight frowned. “I can’t have what I want. I… shouldn’t even think that.”

“Everypony should be happy,” the stallion pointed out.

“But I shouldn’t… think about Realm like that,” she said with a stomp of her hoof. “He’s too young… but he’s so sweet. He’s a foal… but he’s the only one that ever paid attention…” And now Direct Twi was becoming Sad and Regretful Twi.

“I’m sure if you look, you can find another stallion, one closer to your own age than him,” Aspect urged the mare. “He can’t be the only one that likes you.”

“Actually,” Rainbow whispered. “She’s not wrong. Nopony has shown interest in her as far as I know since she came to Ponyville.”

“Well that’s silly,” Cheerilee said, still here. “She’s such a lovely and beautiful mare.”

“Talented, smart, engaging,” the stallion continued. “It’s almost criminal that somepony hasn’t shown interest in her.”

“Somepony her age anyway,” Cheerilee said. “Honestly, if she liked mares even I might…” She suddenly blushed and zipped her lip.

“...In any case,” the stallion continued. “Clearly, Twilight needs a special somepony her own age. Somepony who can tell her she is beautiful and wonderful every day. Any suggestions, Rainbow?”

“Hmm, I dunno,” Rainbow shrugged. “I really don’t see any of my friends that way. And honestly, they’d have to be a total egghead to keep up with her.”

“Miss Cheerilee, who would you say is the smartest pony in Ponyville, aside from Twilight?” the stallion asked.

“Well…” Cheerilee rubbed her chin. “Miss Sparkler is a magnificent organiser. And there’s that stallion that runs a coffee shop in town. I hear he’s quite the avid reader. But honestly, Ponyville is almost all farmers and the like. The library was almost unused until Twilight came along.”

“Every farmer has to pay taxes and take into account expenses and what their money is currently tied up in,” the stallion pointed out. “Show me ‘just a farmer’ and I’ll show you a keen financial mind.”

“True enough,” the mare nodded as Twilight’s hooves suddenly grasped Aspect’s rump.

“It’s like… polished stone,” she said, running her hooves in small circles.

“Twilight, what are you up to?” Aspect asked as he turned his head to look.

“Getting a feel of what life is like to have a special somepony,” she murmured. “I still don’t see the big deal. It’s just a butt. Everypony has one…”

“Okay, and now Twilight is getting gropey,” the stallion pointed out as he scooted forward, breaking her hold. She grabbed him with her magic, but her lack of focus saw her grab the part she was looking at, he felt her aura tingle and caress his rump and what lay under it as she tried to lift him.

“Meep!” Aspect’s wings flared at that. “Okay, somepony stop her before she does something she’ll regret!”

Rainbow was too busy laughing and Midnight just smirked as she enjoyed the show. Cheerilee just did not want to get involved any deeper in this already weird situation. Aspect got up and turned to look at Twilight.

“Okay miss, I think you’ve had just a bit too much to drink,” he started off with, poking her chest with a hoof.

Then she booped his nose with a hoof and smiled cutely.

“—And you should probably go to bed,” the stallion continued. “Before you do anything else.”

Then she kissed his nose.

“Like that,” he supplied. “Twilight, you’re drunk, you really should—”

Then she kissed his lips, as everypony just stared at Affectionate Twilight. Aspect eventually broke the kiss and stared at Twilight.

“Please tell me that’s the liquor talking,” he begged nobody in particular.

“Mmm, you taste good,” Twilight murred as she stroked his mane. “Maybe I should use you for practice. Tia didn’t teach me anything about romance. But she’s kinda hopeless at it…” She leaned in close to try and kiss him again…

“Twilight, you really shouldn’t—” the stallion began, trying to persuade her with words. She slumped against him, her body smelled like ink, paper and vanilla as her soft fur pressed against his own. The small unicorn leaning into the male’s embrace as her face was buried in his neck.

“Aaaand she’s out like a light,” the stallion sighed as he signaled Dash over. “Find her a room to sleep it off in?”

“Sure,” Rainbow nodded as the unicorn was placed on her back. As she left the room, a wide smirk crossed her muzzle. She knew exactly what to do.

“I… should go,” a blushing Cheerilee said as she got up. “This was… weird.”

“Take care miss,” Aspect bowed, picking up one of her hooves and kissing it to show his chivalry. “Maybe next time you’ll not fall into such company as this.”

“Oh, with you around, I have no doubt my life will be normal anytime soon,” Cheerilee chuckled. “Take care Aspect. And see you at school tomorrow to resume those lessons of yours.”

“Mm, she’ll get a hangover-cure potion once she wakes up,” the stallion promised as he watched her go, before turning to Midnight and Bon Bon. “Any reason none of you moved to stop that mare from assaulting me with drunken affection?”

“I found it arousing,” Midnight said rather blatantly. “I am most surprised you resisted.”

“Because she was drunk,” Aspect pointed out. “I’m not going to take advantage of someone not in their right mind.”

“So what was your excuse with me?” she purred, reminding him of their drunken night together.

“Reversed of this scenario, I was drunk,” the stallion pointed out. “Which, by the way, not happening ever again. Apparently I get pushy when I’m drunk. I’m not going to force someone into something ever again. In this case, it worked out, but that’s not really a good reason to engage in a relationship. Granted, now I know you a little better. We…” He scratched his chin. “The best way I can explain it is, we did everything backwards. We engaged in the sex first before we built a relationship together to determine if we wanted to.”

“Hmm, you know I could have stopped you had I chosen,” Midnight replied. “You forced me into nothing I did not already want dear mate of mine.”

“So what am I supposed to do with Twilight? Just...seduce her while she’s drunk?” Aspect shook his head. “No. Realm would kill me. Celly would kill me.”

“And Spike would kill you,” Bon Bon added. “Now, I think we should get some sleep don’t you. Twilight will be less than happy with her hangover tomorrow.”

“Just some rest sounds good to me,” Aspect agreed as he settled back into the bed. Rainbow returned soon enough, chuckling to herself as she climbed onto the bed. “And what’s so funny?” the stallion asked as he cuddled her close with a wing.

“Oh nothing,” Rainbow mused. “Tonight was fun, and Realm saved Twilight from some creepy drunks. So I figured I’d give him a lil reward.”

“...You do realize that is the opposite of helping the poor colt,” the stallion pointed out. “Less so if she wakes up in the middle of the night still affectionate.”

“Eh, once Twi is out for the count, it takes nothing short of a tree through her window in the middle of a rainstorm to wake her.”

That statement was… oddly specific.

“And Drunk Twi?” Aspect asked pointedly.

“Who knows,” Rainbow shrugged. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

…

Realm awoke feeling odd. Something was pressing down on his body firmly and when he opened his eyes, taking a moment to adjust to the darkness…

He saw a sleeping Twilight hugging his form close to her chest as she slept.

“...Okay, this...I like this but…” the colt was conflicted. On the one hoof, he wanted this. On the other hoof...he wanted her to be happy with a stallion her own age. The mare just snored peacefully, she looked rather cute like this, even if her breath did smell like alcohol.

“Miss Twilight?” Realm gently shook her shoulder, trying to get her to wake up.

“Mmm,” the mare murmured, but didn’t stir beyond that. Realm shook a little harder, trying to get her awake enough to realize what she was doing so she could find another bed.

Eventually, the mare stirred, slowly blinking her eyes as she looked around. “Huh… wha?”

“Miss Twilight, you should really find your own bed,” the colt insisted.

“Where… am I?” The mare blinked, then put a hoof to her head. “Hmm, Realmy?” she said, looking down at the colt in her hooves.

“Miss Twilight, you should fi—” the colt started to insist again, before Twilight hugged him close and nuzzled him softly.

“...You really should find a stallion of your own,” the colt whispered.

“Why do you have to be so young?” she sighed, her cheeks getting wet. “And… why do I have to like you? I’m… I’m not supposed to. It’s wrong.”

“I like you too miss Twilight,” the colt replied. “If it was a thousand years ago, I might act on it. But...it’s not. So…”

“Yeah… I should go,” Twilight murmured as she moved to get up. Realm sighed as she left.

“Miss Twilight?” he called after her. “You deserve to be happy. I’m sure someday, you’ll find a stallion that will make you happy. You can’t not find him, for my sake. Okay?”

Twilight paused at the door. “I found him already,” she said. “I just… have to be patient.” And with that. She left his room.

Realm got up and growled before he darted after her, his short legs helping him catch up with the unicorn quite quickly as he sat in front of her. “No,” he said, poking her chest with a hoof. “I’m not going to make you wait for me. You find someone that makes you happy now. I’ll survive, I will. But it’d be criminal to make you wait six years to be happy with me. I am not going to take your time up while you wait for me. You find somepony else. And you be happy with them. For me. I’ll survive, knowing you’re happy.”

Twilight had no idea what to make of that. Her mind felt clouded from the night out, but his words sank in. She just stared at him for what felt like an eternity…

“Buck,” the colt swore under his breath. “I wouldn’t care if you bucked dad, just find somepony that makes you feel like the special mare that you are.”

“Your dad’s a real perv,” Twilight chuckled and reached out, rubbing his mane. “You really are too old for your age Realm. I’ll… try okay.”

“I’ll team up with Spike if I have to, to get updates on your love life,” the colt threatened.

“I’m sure you’ll have better things to do,” Twilight smiled and pet him on the head. “I’ll keep what you said in mind okay. Though maybe your dad has enough mares… or he’ll get all of Ponyville in his harem.”

“It’d run him ragged,” Realm chuckled. “The next disaster would run him over because he was too exhausted.” The colt shook his head. “Well...just keep in mind. Somepony, anypony that makes you feel special. You deserve to be happy now.” And with that, the colt got back up and began walking back to his room.

“So do you,” Twilight said as she walked down the hall. It was going to be a loooong walk back to the library…

Then she remembered that Aspect had a nice, big, warm bed…

Aspect sighed contently under his mare pile… so much so that he almost missed somepony else snuggling against his side. A familiar scent of ink and vanilla…

The stallion slowly turned to look at what he thought shouldn’t be there… And the amethyst eyes of Twilight looked back.

“Just for tonight,” she murmured as she cuddled closer.

“...That’s what Midnight said,” the stallion pointed out.

“You don’t seem to be kicking me out though…” she pointed back.

“You don’t seem to be nearly as drunk as you were,” Aspect conceded. “Anything that happened would be on you.”

“I don’t even know what to do,” she whispered. “S’not like I’ve ever snuggled with a stallion that wasn't Shiny or my dad…”

Aspect pulled her close with a wing and kissed her on the lips, letting her feel what it meant to be held in a loving embrace that wasn’t family. Maybe it was the drink, but her face exploded with a blush, even if she did kiss back just a little, her inexperience showing.

“There’s a lot more,” the stallion replied. “I could teach you, if you’d like.”

“Part of me wants to say yes,” she murmured. “I just got dumped by a twelve year old…”

“That’ll be the heartbreak,” Aspect sighed. “That’s nearly as bad as being drunk, really. I’m not going to make a move on you in that st—” She leaned forwards and kissed him again.

“I did kind of like that though.” She murmured as once she broke it.

Aspect blushed this time as he cuddled the mare close. “Ah...kay then,” the stallion’s brain restarted. “So, uh...how, far do you want to take this?”

“I don’t really know,” she said, her body feeling hot. “I… don’t think I’m ready for that yet…”

“Well, there are ways to get around that,” Aspect pointed out. “I could just not go that far, but still give you pleasure.”

Twilight paused. “Like… what?”

“Well first it would be something like this,” the stallion said, holding her close and kissing her neck. “To warm you up.”

Twilight gasped, the small unicorn shifting slightly in his hold. “My… I’m really hot as is. I don’t…”

“Not like temperature,” the stallion explained as he trailed a few kisses down her neck. “I’m talking arousal. If you’re warmed up, aroused, then the next part is all the better.”

“How… can you tell?” she asked him, panting lightly from his kisses, her body tingling.

“Well for me, I’ll smell it,” the stallion explained. “For you, you’ll feel the area between your hind legs start to grow wet. And when that happens, I’ll know you’re ready.” He punctuated that statement with another kiss...to the mare’s horn.

Twilight gasped at that one, the shifting around now meant he was on top of her as she lay under him, her blush visible, even in the low light. The stallion trailed some kisses down her neck and shifted slowly south, kissing her belly before he reached something just north of his target.

Gently, softly, the stallion kissed her teats.

And at that, Twilight let out a soft, adorable moan, even as her tail tried to hide her lower parts from him. The stallion let out a chuckle as he kissed one nipple, before moving to the other one, lavishing them both with affection.

Twilight moaned again, her short, little gasps and hitches in her voice were just too cute.

Then Aspect felt movement next to him.

“What are you doing?” he felt Bon Bon whisper in his ear as Rainbow moved up his other side and Midnight on his back.

“Giving Sober Twilight some attention, since she asked for it,” the stallion softly explained, before he gently took a nipple in his mouth and suckled on it a bit, teasing it with his tongue and teeth gently. She actually tasted quite lovely, as Bon Bon shook her head.

“There really is no helping you is there?” she mused as Midnight moved down behind him and
pressed her face up against his lower parts, her tongue washing over his sheath as Rainbow opted to watch for the time being.

“Mmm, actually, there’s an idea,” Aspect sat up and motioned Midnight to continue. “See Twilight, this is the act of Oral Sex, one partner using their mouth to pleasure another. It’s similar to what I would do to you, except clearly you’re a mare, so I would have to use what you have in place of a member.”

Twilight watched as Midnight expertly licked Aspect’s rigid member with her tongue. Moaning softly as she rubbed her lips up and down his shaft. Twilight’s blush only grew as the batpony winked at her as she started to take it into her mouth, bobbing up and down as lewd slurping sounds filled the room.

“It is quite pleasurable to receive,” the stallion continued in his lecture-like voice. “So all you have to do is move your tail, and we can begin.”

“He is somewhat good at it,” Bon Bon teased as she held her hoof. “But nopony’s going to pressure you Twi. And i don’t mind, no matter your decision.”

“I…” Twilight was clearly at a crossroads while Midnight deepthroated his whole member and moaned lewdly around it.

“Perhaps a demonstration?” Aspect mused, before pulling Rainbow’s flank close and licking along her lips.

“G-Gah! Why me?” she gasped, even as she leaked a little. “It’s… embarrassing with Twi watching.”

The stallion didn’t reply verbally, just opting to hold her in place as his tongue continued to lap at her folds. Soon enough, that tongue then began slipping inside her, letting her feel his long, slimy tongue lick at her walls, the mare moaning as she lay her head back.

“Fuck… it feels good though,” she groaned. “He’ll pay for this later… but aah~ Damn…”

Twilight still watched, as Bon Bon rubbed her hoof. And even from being nose deep inside Rainbow, he could smell Twilight’s growing arousal. The stallion just kept up his oral assault on the chromatic mare, letting that tongue slip as deep as it could inside her. He wiggled it back and forth to get as much of Rainbow’s essence from deep inside her as he could, before pulling back and lapping at her clit.

With a loud shriek, Rainbow came as her juices squirted his muzzle, the mare gripping the bedsheets as she arched her back. And the whole time, Midnight hadn’t stopped servicing him either. She now lay under him, just letting him thrust down into her mouth, fucking like he would her other holes.

The stallion let go of Dash and let her lay on the bed, before pulling his cock free of Midnight and bending down to whisper a simple question to her. “Foal or no?” he asked, the only indicator she would get as to what he would be doing next.

“Not yet,” she said back. “But have a look at that~” She tilted his head up as Twilight moved her tail, her dock and tail hairs coated with her juices as she gasped, a hoof idly touching somewhere as she flinched like she just got shocked.

And still, Aspect continued his lecture-like tone. “Now that, was oral, both mare-on-stallion and stallion-on-mare,” he said as he turned Midnight so that they were perpendicular to Twilight. This meant she saw everything that was about to happen. “This, is more traditional intercourse. Wherein a male takes his member,” like he was doing, “Presses it up against an aroused female,” and oh boy, Midnight was aroused, “And puts it inside her depths.” And with one shove, the length was buried inside her.

“But… it’s so big,” Twilight gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth. “How does that not hurt?”

“Bon Bon, would you care to answer while I put on a typical mating display for Twilight to watch?” the stallion asked as he began slowly withdrawing, leaving just the tip of his length inside, before pressing it all back in at a steady pace, the low lewd sounds of their mating quickly filling the room.

“A mare is kind of… stretchy down there,” Bon Bon said as they watched the perverted pair. “It hurts like the dickens the first time or two. But it’s amazing after that.”

Midnight panted as she held him closer and whispered. “Asta te dai jos dragostea mea? După ce ea ne-ceas?”

“Just a little bit,” he whispered back as he kept thrusting, keeping it slow so Twilight could enjoy it. Bon Bon’s hoof wandered to her own sex, idly rubbing it as Twilight just continued to watch, her scent filling his nose as he rutted the tight batmare under him.

“Corrupting such an innocent mare,” Midnight whispered. “For shame my love.”

“I’m just making her realize what she wants, what she needs,” the stallion whispered back. “Can’t you smell it? She might ask for more than just my tongue before I’m done with you.”

“Or you could put her out of her misery,” Midnight mused and nibbled his ear. “Eat her out while you fuck me~”

“I want her to say what she wants,” the stallion countered. “So that she gets exactly what she asks for.”

Midnight just moaned as he filled her up. Twilight looked at Bon Bon and Rainbow, both mares nodding.

“Could you…” she said quietly, though he managed to hear her over the sounds of his lovemaking. “Do what you did to Rainbow… maybe?” She blushed harder, squeaking softly at the lewd things she just said.

Aspect just smiled at her, before motioning her closer with a wing. “Bring that flank of yours over here,” he urged her. “And I’ll make you beg for more.”

“W-What?” she squeaked out as Rainbow helped her, her sticky, wet pussy now on display for the stallion as she lay next to Midnight. Aspect leaned down and let his warm breath wash over the folds, before his tongue came out and licked them, once.

Such a sweet, tart, and delicious flavour. Very different to any of his mares as Twilight gasped, trying to cross her hind legs out of instinct. Of course, this only trapped his head in with her folds as he began licking in earnest. Twilight’s moans increased in volume as did Midnight’s, the pair of mares moaning at the pleasures they received.

Then Aspect took his tongue, prodded at Twilight’s folds, and began slipping it inside slowly, tasting her walls and the source of the flavor directly as his tongue squirmed within the mare’s core. She tasted even better on the inside, her tight hole squeezing his tongue as her juices ran down his chin. He felt Midnight contract her muscles, her walls squeezing his member rhythmically. Aspect rode out the second mare of the night before slowly drawing back from her, letting his slick member hang free as he focused on the lavender mare in front of him.

Twilight’s hooves moved to his head, inadvertently stroking his horn as he continued to pleasure her, her body shaking from the new sensations she was feeling. The stallion crossed his eyes and breathed heavily, doing his best to hold back, before pulling some of his tongue back and using it to stimulate the mare’s clit. Time to get her to that peak he promised.

It didn't take long, Twilight’s inexperience meant little stamina and with a loud cry, her body convulsed with her first ever climax, the mare panting hard as her sex winked and trembled. The stallion slowly pulled back and licked his lips, smiling down at her.

“See? Didn’t that feel good, natural?” he asked. “This sort of pleasure is. And I promise, we won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

Twilight took a moment to come down from her high. “Could…” she huffed. “Could I see it? When you finish?”

“What are you suggesting?” the stallion asked.

“I… wanna see you finish,” she pointed at his dick. “Stuff is supposed to come out right?”

“So how are you suggesting I be brought to climax?” the stallion asked, before using his wing to indicate the mares besides her. “I do have options...perhaps you’d like to pick?”

“Um… could, you maybe do it?” she asked timidly.

“Ooh,” Bon Bon mused. “That'd be interesting. I wanna see him rub out over us. How does that sound?”

“Hooves are not ideal for that,” the stallion pointed out.

“T-Then, what do you suggest?” Twi asked him.

“Bon Bon, you haven’t gotten any attention tonight,” the stallion murred. “How about you help fulfill the dear unicorn’s request?”

“I can do that,” the mare hummed as she crawled closer. “How should I pleasure you my love?”

“How about your mouth, and I tell you when I’m close, so that Twilight can see it shoot all over you?” the stallion asked her, making sure Twilight could hear it.

Bonnie then got an idea as she lay next to Twi on her back, beckoning him to stand over her. The stallion did so, letting his long, musky length hang down into Bonnie’s face as he nuzzled her folds, thinking about repaying her for this favor already.

She ran her tongue over his length, humming as she peppered it with licks, kisses and nuzzles. Meanwhile Aspect licked at her folds, tasting how sweet she was and making sure she knew how much he appreciated it.

Bon Bon moaned as she started to slowly take him into her mouth, her tongue swirling around him, teasing the head as she moaned lewdly. The stallion had to wonder how Twilight was taking the much closer show as he kept lavishing his attention on his mare.

Bon Bon pulled back, licking the head like an Ice cream cone before whispering something to Twilight. A few more whispers went back and forth, as Bon Bon leaned up and nuzzled his hanging orbs, letting his slick member drape across her face. The stallion’s response was to simply start pushing his tongue into his mare, letting her feel his long, slimy oral appendage as he tasted her fluids directly.

She let out a soft moan as she continued to nuzzle his hefty balls… before a hesitant tongue poked at his hanging member, Twilight squeaking softly. Aspect raised an eyebrow, but didn’t stop paying attention to Bon Bon, wondering how far Twilight would take this.

Twilight gave his member a few more licks, he’d done the same to her after all, it was only fair. Bon Bon took one of his orbs into her mouth, suckling on it as Twilight’s tongue brushed against his medial ring.

Aspect took to quite heavily screwing Bon Bon with his tongue in an effort to not concentrate on what Twilight was doing, thrusting in and out with his oral appendage as he tried to think unsexy thoughts.

Then Twilight gave another blind lick, her tongue running along the slit of his member as Bon Bon started nibbling on his bumpy ring. Aspect huffed as he did his best to make Bon Bon cum. Once that was done, he could focus on Twilight again...but damn if it wasn’t hard to focus now. He needed now, more than ever, to hold out.

“You know, there’s a perfectly good headboard to hang onto there while you hose ’em,” Rainbow pointed out as both mares nibbled on his flared head, their tongues occasionally meeting, followed by a cute, blushy squeak from Twilight.

Aspect huffed as his wings twitched. He didn’t want to give in. He wanted to make Bonnie at least cum first. But it was getting hard to hold out...he pulled a bit of his tongue back and flicked the candy mare’s clit. He needed to taste her first. Bon Bon was certainly moaning now, even as the pressure in his balls started to become unbearable.

Then with a twitch as she suckled on his head, the lead mare gave a loud moan as her body trembled with a climax at long last, her essence running down her legs and onto the bed. With a happy sigh, Aspect let go and began absolutely painting the mares beneath him with his sticky, hot release. Rope after rope flew from his tip, the buildup having made his climax all the more potent.

Twilight gasped as she watched his head flare and then a torrent of white liquid flew from it, first catching Bon bon in the face, her still-open mouth catching some as his member twitched, splashing both mares now as Twilight felt it coat the fur on her neck, chest and belly, even running over her teats and lower still. Another burst caught the side of her face, some landing on her mouth as she gasped again, the seed slipping inside as the salty flavour hit her tongue.

Eventually Aspect turned and looked at what he’d done...and couldn’t find much of problem with it. “Has our performance been up to your standards, Twilight?” he asked.

“I… I just…” the mare lay there, her legs splayed as he saw his cum run over her lower lips, her chest heaving with each breath as she looked down at herself. “I wasn’t expecting…”

“You asked,” the stallion pointed out as he gently ran a hoof through some of her non-painted fur. “Anything you ask for, I will give you.”

“In abundance apparently,” the mare deadpanned as she looked at her cum-soaked body.

“He’s quite prolific with that,” Bon Bon chuckled, wiping some from her eyes. “Perhaps we should take a quick shower hm?”

“Midnight, why don’t you show Twilight what your tongue can do to a mare in the shower?” Aspect suggested.

“Wait, wha?” Twilight gasped as she was suddenly carried off by Midnight, not caring about the seed now soaking her.

“That was mean, sacrificing her to Middy like that,” Rainbow chuckled as she leaned down and licked some cum from Bon Bon. “Mm, maybe I should clean you up like this huh?”

“And maybe I should stuff my blue speedster while you do~” Aspect cooed as he ran a hoof down her fine flank.

“You aren’t drained form that?” Rainbow blinked. “I’d thought you went bone dry from bathing Twi in all that.”

“Probably, but doesn’t mean I can’t give you a good rutting in the meantime,” Aspect replied. “It seems I haven’t quite done enough of that yet.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Rainbow shook her rump. “An open invitation?”

Aspect climbed up on top of the mare and gently kissed the back of her neck before whispering into her ear. “You know, I can control quite a few things about my body. How much cum I produce...whether it’s fertile or not...lots of things. So even though I just came, I could stuff you full right now…”

Rainbow turned and smirked. “Prove it,” she said before resuming her tongue bath of Bon Bon.

Aspect thrust forward, sinking his whole member into the blue pegasus as an ominous gurgle noise filled the air. Aspect’s nuts were swelling back up even as he rutted the speedster.

“Mmm,” Rainbow mused, then got an idea. “You know, there’s a form I haven’t done anything naughty with before. In fact, none of us have~”

“Mmm?” the stallion asked as he kept rutting the mare. Even Bon Bon looked curious.

“The form you should take,” Rainbow huffed. “Who you really are. If that form actually can do it.”

“Oh, it can, but wouldn’t you prefer something familiar?” Aspect asked. “I promise, I’m larger like this. Not by much, but…”

Rainbow looked back at him. “And we love you. So I want to make love with who you are,” the mare said with a soft tone. “You looked so cute with Twilight, being all gentle and stuff. And, it made me realise that I want to do the same…”

The stallion sighed, pulled back, and with a muted flash, the alicorn transformed into Christopher the human, sitting back on the bed with his arms crossed as he raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash, daring her to make the first move.

“Huh… so that what it looks like,” she said as she looked him up and down. “Also, don’t look so pouty. I think you’re cute… in a weird kinda way.”

“Because that’s what every guy wants to hear in this situation,” the human rolled his eyes. “‘It’s not tiny, it’s cute.’”

“I meant you in general ya doofus,” Rainbow poked his chest with a hoof. “Hmm, now how to do this…” She looked at him sitting that way and an idea formed. She turned around so her back was to him, flicking her tail to the side to show off her dripping pussy… before sitting down in his lap, his member sinking into her heated snatch as her mouth opened and she moaned.

“O...kay,” Christopher moaned as he panted from the suddenness of it all. “Never...done this before.” His hands went to her flanks and stroked her cutie marks as she sat on his dick. Her wings spread slightly as she raised her hips and started a steady rhythm of bouncing in his lap, his cock spearing her nicely as her warm puss hugged him, her juices leaking down and soaking his balls.

The human reached one hand down and began rubbing at the mare’s folds, to not miss her clit at all, stimulating her while she rode him.

“Aaahh~ Don’t… don’t do that!” she gasped, her scratchy voice crying out in pleasure. “I’ll… I’ll cum if you keep that aaaap~”

“That’s the idea,” the human pointed out as his other hand went to one of her wings and began gently playing with her feathers. His digits felt amazing, even better than his griffon talons. Rainbow swore she just found her new favourite form as her body trembled, trying to keep a rhythm even as he pleasured her. The poor mare couldn’t last long under the assault though, her pussy clenching his member, trying desperately to milk it for his cum as she moaned out, slumping forward a little.

Then the human picked her up and, without pulling her off, turned her around so they were belly-to-belly and laid her over his chest. She only had a moment to question it...before he began thrusting into her again. She sunk into his embrace, moaning and cooing at his gentle fucking of her, the mare blushing and panting as Bon Bon propped herself up to watch.

“Naughty little Rainbow,” the human cooed to her as he kept fucking her. “You didn’t clean Bon Bon up all the way. How should I punish you for that?”

“Nnnn! I… I don’t know,” she gasped, her hooves on his shoulders as she pressed her face into his broad chest.

“Should I make you swell up like a blueberry?” he teased as his hand rubbed her belly. “Keep you grounded for eleven months at a time?”

“Nuuu,” Rainbow mewled weakly. “Please don’t…”

“I don’t know, you’ve been a naughty little mare,” the human teased as one of his hands began rubbing lower, teasing her clit. She let out a louder moan, her strength escaping her as the repeated sex took it’s toll. She was tired, but that was sooo good~

“Aww, you’re just a little broodmare at heart, aren’t you?” Aspect cooed to her. Rainbow gasped as he tweaked her clit again, her hips smacking against his with each thrust. He happened to look over her head to see a rather stunned Twilight and Midnight in the doorway, the bat seemingly shocked.

Oh wait… nopony told her…

Christopher whispered a single word quietly. “Aspect.” He hoped she got it as he kept playing with Dash. “Little mare, little mare...what do you want?” he teased her, stopping his thrusting for a moment to let her collect her thoughts.

Dash panted as the other pair inched into the room, trying not to disturb them.

“Y-you… inside me,” she said wearily. “Fill me up if you want to.”

“Oh, but I do,” the human teased her. “I want to keep you grounded, in my bed, being bred day after day. I want you, Dashie. Now and forever.”

Twilight gasped at the words of their usual game. She didn’t know it was such.

“Mkay,” Dash murmured back as she nuzzled him. “Love ya, ya big doofus.”

“And here...it...cums,” the human promised her, before his length twitched inside the mare and started to fill her up. Rainbow moaned at the seed flooding her, as no knot or medial ring stopped the overflow as it started to pool under them.

Eventually the human stopped releasing into her and pulled the mare off, laying her down next to Bon Bon before flashing into his Alicorn form and turning to both of the returned mares. “Yes, Human is my default form,” he said to Midnight. “And no, she’s not actually going to get pregnant,” he said to Twilight. “It’s a game we play. I would never actually get them pregnant on purpose unless they asked for it before I screwed them to the point where they’d agree to whatever I said.”

“Oooh,” Midnight and Twilight echoed as Bon Bon coughed into her hoof. Aspect turned to look at her with a raised brow. The mare responded by pointing at her belly and smirking.

“Like I said, on purpose,” the stallion reiterated before turning back to Twilight. “I trust your time in the shower was enlightening?”

“She would not let me do as such,” Midnight pouted as Twilight sighed.

“I barely know you Miss Midnight. That… wouldn’t be proper.”

“You barely know me and you trusted me with more,” the stallion pointed out, before using a hoof to urge Bon Bon to take herself and Rainbow into the shower next.

“Well, I have known you longer,” Twilight replied. “Besides, I… don’t know if I like mares in that way…”

“I am not offended,” Midnight nodded and looked at Aspect. “Though I am sad we missed most of that show.”

“Well, is there anything else you want to do, Twilight?” Aspect asked. “I could use my tongue on you again if you wanted another release before sleeping.”

“N-No, that’s alright,” Twilight blushed and waved a hoof. “You’ve been… very informative.” Seems the shower had sobered her up a little and she was getting back to her old self.

Aspect sighed, sat in front of her, and pulled her into a deep, tongue-filled kiss. The mare squeaked and blushed profusely until he broke it.

“W-What… what was that for?” she panted.

“To remind you that here, we don’t judge,” Aspect pointed out. “Bon Bon likes being tied up in my Dragon form. Dash likes being dominated in my Griffon form. I’ve yet to find one Midnight likes beyond Thestral. We all have things we like, and outside of this bedroom, none of our activities will be shared with any other. You’re safe to say whatever you want here.”

“I-I’m still… not ready for that,” Twilight replied softly. “And… asking you to please me would be selfish…”

“I’ll please you as many times as you like until you’re satisfied, Twilight,” Aspect whispered back. “No matter what you want, I can give it to you.”

“W-Well… I only know… the mouth thing,” she blushed harder, her face as red as Pyro’s plumage.

“Then lie back,” Aspect instructed her. Twilight did as he asked as Midnight hummed.

“Mmm, gonna show her something new?” she mused. Aspect smirked before he flashed into his thestral form and ran the tip of his very long tongue across the mare’s folds. Twilight looked down and gasped.

“What… what are you doing?” she asked, her breath hitching in anticipation.

“Showing you what Midnight wanted to do,” Aspect replied, before he sent all of his tongue into the mare, squirming around like a little tentacle as it touched her everywhere. He soon hit a curious barrier inside her, before remembering that Twilight was still a virgin.

It didn’t stop the mare moaning as she gripped the wet sheets under her, tilting her head back as Midnight nibbled at her neck, teasing her with tongue and fangs. Aspect used his own fangs to gently nibble on the mare’s clit as he kept up his tonguework, not letting her rest for a moment as he stimulated her over and over again. Twilight moaned louder as she squirmed under the pair of bats, her sex winking and leaking her tasty fluids onto his tongue, as Midnight moved down to pay her teats some attention. Turns out that those were quite sensitive.

Aspect kept up his tonguework, prodding every wall and the barrier gently as he got her used to the feeling of his talented organ inside her. It was very firm, but there was a tiny hole in the middle he could use…

He gently sent a bit of his tongue through the barrier, touching her deeper without tearing it. Twilight let out a loud shriek as her already tight pussy clamped around him, almost drowning his tongue in her essence as her walls squeezed him rhythmically.

And still, he didn’t stop teasing her, now doing his best to gently ease the barrier more open as his tongue pulsed inside her, back and forth, sawing through her…

Almost like an actual cock would…

He felt something gentle and warm surround his cock, as Twilight’s magic pulsed around him. In his Alicorn state, he could feel the sheer power such a little unicorn possessed. No wonder Celestia took her as a student.

The stallion ever so slightly, ever so lovingly, began wearing down her barrier without tearing it. He didn’t want her in pain when the time came, if ever. So he went about making sure there would be as little of it as possible. His tongue began filling her up more and more as he worked that muscle back gently. Every time he sent his organ into her, he made sure to push back just enough to cause her hymen to go back without tearing it. He was nothing if not a considerate lover when need be.

He felt the aura encompass his nethers, pulsing, stroking and caressing firmer and faster as Twilight moaned and panted over the sensations he lavished on her. Out of the corner of his eye, Rainbow and Bon Bon appeared again, the latter quirking an eyebrow.

Aspect winked at Bon Bon and pulled nearly all of his tongue out, showing it off to the pair of them, before plunging it back into the lavender mare and tickling her cervix at the back. Twilight moaned louder over feeling so full, her magic heating up a little as it stroked his pole faster, like a hand running up and down his throbbing shaft.

Then the stallion nibbled on her clit again, tweaking the little nub as he ran his tongue back and forth through her like he hoped she would let him do to her with his cock one day. With a loud cry, she came for the third time tonight.

“A-Aaaahhhnn~” her magic gripping his dick tightly and almost vibrated as her walls milked his tongue, filling his mouth with her delectable juices. The stallion slowly pulled back his tongue, letting it drip with the mare’s juices as he waved it in the air in front of her, before slurping it all back in and smacking his lips.

“Not as good as Bon Bon or Middy, but pretty good,” the stallion complimented her. Twilight panted hard as her magic released him, the mare falling back, her energy utterly spent.

“Mmm, we’ve worn out our little unicorn,” Aspect teased as he flashed back into his Alicorn self and ran a hoof down Twilight’s flanks.

“And what about you?” Rainbow mused, running some soft feathers along his rigid member. “I thought she’d get a second glazing for a moment there. You looked like you enjoyed… whatever it was she was doing.” She sat behind him, her feathers curling around his member as she started to jack him off with her wings.

“I’m good,” the stallion waved a wing. “I pleased all the mares in my room, so I call that a win for tonight. Tomorrow we’ll see if they all come back or not.”

“Do you want her to?” Bon Bon asked as she lapped at his tip. Midnight also joined the tongue work as Rainbow kept up her wingjob, soft feathers sliding up and down his slick member.

“I mean...haaaah...I wouldn’t say no,” the stallion huffed as the attentions started to get to him. “But it’s really...fuuuuck...up to her.”

Bon Bon and Midnight now took turns bobbing over his dick, while Rainbow just didn’t let up, her wingtips coated in his pre and the other’s drool as they sucked his dick.

“Feel good does it?” Rainbow murred. “Tell me big guy, where do you wanna cum~?”

“I...I…” the stallion couldn’t form a coherent thought at this point. All he knew was that he wanted to cum, and cum badly.

“Maybe you wanna fill one of us?” the little rainbow devil whispered. “Or maybe you wanna coat that cute little unicorn again hm? Mark her as yours~ Or even stuff her sleepy little pussy.” She licked his ear and gave a seductive purr. “What. Will. It. Be~?”

“I...I wanna cum…” the stallion whined out.

“Then tell us where~” she murred, her wings gripping his base hard to prevent a release until she said so. “Use your words love~”

“In...Inside…” he managed to pant out.

“Inside who?” Rainbow asked, nibbling his ear. The stallion moaned as he throbbed, desperate to get off.

“That’s not an answer~” Rainbow mused as a feather tip traced along one of this throbbing veins. “Which mare do you wanna stuff nice and full?”

Once more, the stallion couldn’t answer as he arched his back, wanting so badly to cum, to finish at long last…

“As hot as it would be, he can’t do it to Twilight, not without consent,” Bon Bon pointed out.

“I know that,” Rainbow replied. She aimed his cock at the unicorn. “I can still glaze her though. Do you wanna do that Aspect, cum aaalll over a sleeping Twi? Or maybe fill a naughty bat~”

The stallion let out a moan as he felt himself be aimed at the sleeping mare. He wanted to offer input, but words were so hard…

“Come on Aspect, give me a name at least,” Rainbow said as he loomed over the sleeping Twilight, a presenting Midnight next to her. “You might just pop if you don’t hurry love~” A feather brushed his flared head, while the other wing kept a firm grip on the base, holding back what might be his biggest orgasm to date…

Too bad her hoof slipped on the wet bedsheets and her grip loosened…

Aspect jerked forward and buried himself in Midnight as his cock let loose with an absolute flood of seed into the batmare, his balls practically pumping it out into her. Already her belly had a little swell to it.

”Aaahhh, ffuuuu,” the mare groaned as being so utterly stuffed.

And was when Rainbow grabbed his hips and pulled him back. “Why not both?” she mused with a wicked smirk as he aimed him at the unicorn. The stallion couldn’t stop cumming halfway through, so some of his release flew out and painted the unicorn as well. The mare not even waking as his seed splashed her as his legs gave out, his cock nestled between her teats as his cum splashed out onto her chest and belly.

“Fu...fuck…” the stallion panted as he rolled onto his back, his length twitching as he lay next to Twilight.

“Now that,” Rainbow murred. “Was totally hot.”

“Fucking...exhausted,” the stallion panted as he lay there. Rainbow flopped down next to him as Bon Bon went to fetch a towel to clean Twilight and Midnight.

“You liked that huh?” she purred and licked her lips. “Fuck, I could watch that aaaall day.”

“Get over here and cuddle,” the stallion all but commanded her with open hooves. Rainbow chuckled as she snuggled up next to him.

“As you wish,” she mused. “Though I should take charge more often~”

“Sleep now,” he mumbled as he turned Rainbow into a cuddly stuffed animal. Or at least started treating her like one as he bedded down to rest with her still caught in his grip. Bon Bon returned and rolled her eyes, knowing she’d have to clean up. Ah well, such was life.

Author's Note

I gave this chapter a once-over before posting it, let me know if there are any coding errors. I might've just skimmed it.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does go a long way to paying his internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent on buying off the gods of RNG.

Chapter 40 - The great chase

Twilight groaned as she slumped over the breakfast table, her head throbbing like it was just stampeded over as she nursed a mug of coffee.

“Ohgods… just kill me now,” she hissed in pain.

“Before you’ve had Bonnie’s cooking?” Aspect asked as he swapped her coffee for water. “Never. Also, never have coffee after a night of drinking. Caffeine’s a diuretic, it’ll just dry you out more and make your headache worse. What you need is to hydrate.”

“....what I need is to explode your head if you don't shush,” Twilight threatened, even as she sipped her water.

“Just trying to be helpful,” the stallion replied as he put the coffee down just slightly to the right of where it had been. “You can have it later, I just think you should have some fluids first.”

“Good morning!” Artemis announced as he bounded into the room, Twilight clutching her head and moaning in pain.

“Huh? What's Miss Twilight doing here?” he asked, his volume not decreasing.

“Suffering from a headache,” Aspect supplied.

“If one more pony…” Twilight whispered.

Realm slowly walked in, yawning before going to take his seat...only to realize Twilight was in it. “Um...Miss Twilight?” he asked. “Are you...okay?” And he’d also noticed the pain she appeared to be in, so points for consideration there.

“Just kill me now…” she moaned. “End me and be done with it…”

“...Dad, don’t you have a hangover spell?” the colt asked.

“You know, I completely forgot about that,” the stallion sighed, before his horn glowed and shot a small beam at Twilight. The mare blinked as she felt her headache dissipating and the searing sunlight dulling down to bearable levels. With a weary sigh, she lay her head on the table.

“Thank you…”

“It only worked because you had some water in you already,” the stallion pointed out as he sat at his place, Realm quickly sitting next to him.

Twilight looked up, but found she wasn’t able to make eye contact with either of them. She remembered everything from last night, so needless to say, her mind was a whirlwind of jumbled thoughts.

“So, what have we learned about drinking?” the stallion asked Twilight.

“Never… ever again,” she said slowly. “I… about last night I…” Her voice hitched. She couldn’t find the words. Should she apologise? Should she be angry or upset?

“It was...complicated,” the stallion offered. “I’ll let you think about it and get back to me about it.”

“Yeah…” Twilight said as she stood up. “I should get home… I need to go and pick Spike up from Canterlot.”

“Just remember, my door is always open,” the stallion offered. “Even if you just want to yell at me.”

“I won’t yell at you,” she said, her voice still quiet and even. “Even intoxicated, what I did and… what I let you do was my decision. Have a good day, Balanced Aspect. Realm.” She gave a slight nod and headed for the door.

“Did you sleep with her too?” Realm deadpanned.

“Not...quite?” Aspect offered. “I did things to her, but I didn’t actually sleep with her.”

“...As long as she’s happy,” the colt whispered.

…

Outside, Twilight wiped her eyes and shook her head to clear it. Right! Off to Canterlot. She could think about all this later. It wasn’t long before she heard a pair of wingbeats behind her, and then little steps just beside her shortly after that. She didn’t even have to turn to know who it was.

“Yes Realm?” she asked in an even tone.

“You invited me along for this trip, remember?” the colt asked in just as even a tone as he walked next to her. “It would be poor manners to let such a lady go unaccompanied to such a dreadfully boring place.”

“So melodramatic,” she chuckled. Truth be told, she had totally forgotten. “Well, nothing to do about it I suppose. I guess my little knight will have to accompany me.”

“Mmm,” the pinto alicorn nodded as he walked next to her. “...I’m sorry,” he eventually said.

Twilight paused and turned to look at him. “For what?”

“I put your well-being ahead of your happiness when you weren’t thinking straight for you,” Realm replied. “I thought about it and told you my views on it, rather than taking into account what you wanted. If you wanted to wait for me...I shouldn’t stop that.”

“I… honestly don’t know what I should do,” Twilight replied. “Realm. I’m really confused by all of this. I don’t know what it is that I feel for you. It’s… it’s not love. But at the same time, I think it is more than simple friendship.” She sighed as she started to walk again. “Last night, I believe your father gave me a choice to join him and his growing collection of mares. But between the fact that I hardly know him, and that he’s also dating one of my best friends. I think it would just be… too weird.”

“Okay, well, let’s look at the facts,” Realm replied. “You can’t date me as I am to explore those feelings, because I’m far too young. However, I wouldn’t say no to you continuing to pose for me, because, let’s face it, you’re a wonderful mare who should be made to feel beautiful.”

“Ever the casanova aren’t you?” Twilight smiled as they reached the train station. She quickly purchased two tickets and hurried aboard, waiting until they were seated before continuing. “I think remaining friends for now is the best option,” she agreed and leaned forwards. “But if you like, I’ll continue to be the muse for the Aspect of Art.” And then she gave his forehead a gentle kiss.

“And as for not knowing father,” Realm continued. “He’s incredibly kind, generous, and loyal to ponies as a whole. He took me in when a pride of Manticores savaged my village and left me alone because I was too small. He spent years teaching me Pictomancy and the Gale King, and he did his best to raise me as his little squire in the castle. Just from me, that should tell you how he acts around ponies as a whole. He’s taken up teaching at the school, meaning he’s in his element again. Honestly, dad’s...pretty much what I want to be when I grow up. Somepony other ponies can look up to.”

“I think you’re well on your way already,” Twilight smiled as she looked out of the window. “Well, we’ll see in any case. It’s not too important right now. The fate of Equestria hardly hinges on me getting a special somepony does it?”

“According to the story Celly and Lulu told me, it sort of did hinge on you making friends,” Realm countered. “Heck, I can tell you right now either way, Dad would have come back shortly after Luna did. But the fact that you succeeded meant you got Dad, not...the Sword, here to put down his own daughter.”

“That… would have been terrible,” Twilight replied and shuddered. “In any case. I just don’t think I’m ready for a romantic relationship yet. Let alone one with four other ponies.”

“How would you know unless you tried?” Realm countered again. “Let dad take you on a date.”

“Why are you so insistent I date him?” Twilight mused, looking at the colt.

Realm sighed as he looked away for a moment, before whispering something, something that was too quiet for her to hear.

“What was that?” Twilight leaned closer.

“I…” the colt took a breath. “I want you to be happy. And...dad is good at making ponies happy.”

“I know you do,” Twilight smiled and moved to sit next to him. “And you’re very sweet for wanting that. But it’s okay, I’m happy just the way I am. I have amazing friends, a wonderful family and a gallant little knight looking out for me.”

“Even if I can’t be with you, you deserve somepony to make you feel special, to make you feel loved,” Realm said. “I...I don’t know how to do that, yet. But dad clearly does.”

“As would a great deal of ponies I’m sure,” Twilight replied as she watched the scenery race by. “He has three already though, Rainbow alone would be hard enough to keep up with, plus I’m still in the middle of my studies for Princess Celestia.” She leaned back in the chair. “This is something I can’t simply decide on on a whim. But, we’ll see what happens in the future hm?” Then she snorted and chuckled. “Or maybe I should just use an age spell on you huh?” She joked around, trying to lighten the mood.

“Dad doesn’t like them for some reason,” the colt muttered. “Look, all I’m saying is...he wouldn’t make you unhappy, and he can work around your schedule. Never saw that Midnight mare until the other night, and it’s probably got something to do with her being a guard for Lulu. And yet, he didn’t press her into coming any sooner than she could. He’d...be good for you.”

“Maybe,” Twilight said. “Or we’d infuriate each other. I know he’s not fond of my more… enthusiastic side. Just let me think on it for now okay? A lot happened last night and… I’m still processing it all.”

“That’s what relationships are about, give and take,” Realm sighed. “I’m sure you’d work something out. And he actually doesn’t mind enthusiastic ponies. Otherwise he’d need headache medication every time that Lyra mare came by.”

“True enough I suppose,” Twilight replied. She mulled over last night. There was little doubt that it had felt nice but… It still left her feeling kind of awkward. She’d never done anything like that, much less with ponies she barely knew, sans Rainbow. If the Princess found out, she’d be so disappointed…

“Just...give them a chance,” Realm said to her. “It might be...unusual, but you wouldn’t walk away feeling lonely.”

“As I said, we’ll see,” Twilight replied. “Now, is there anywhere in Canterlot you’d like to go? There’s a wonderful art gallery.”

“I’ll follow your lead, m’lady,” Realm bowed his head.

“Well okay then,” Twilight nodded.

Meanwhile, everypony else in the Aspect household had woken up, Bon Bon and Rainbow pouncing on the stallion as he walked into the room to check on them.

“Hello there,” Bon Bon purred, nibbling on his ear. “And a good morning to you love~”

“Morning,” the stallion nuzzled them. “Twilight is thinking things over, I think she’s a bit stunned by all the ideas running around in her head right now. Might take her a while to come to a conclusion. Oh, and she’s fetching Spike from Canterlot.”

“Well, she’s gonna come back to a wet Ponyville,” Rainbow stretched. “I gotta set up a rainshower for this afternoon. Speaking of…” She looked Aspect up and down. “You ever gonna come back to your weather job?”

“Once I settle back in to the town as a whole, I’ll come back up into the skies with you,” Aspect promised as he kissed her on the cheek. “I actually think that might be soon. Just need to make one last sweep of the house today, to make sure nothing’s out of place.”

“Well if you say so, but I gotta jet.” She gave him and Bon Bon a kiss, but didn’t see Midnight anywhere. Eh, her loss. She gave a flap of her wings and exited the nearest windows. Doors were for slower ponies.

“That mare I swear…” Bon Bon sighed. “But she is right. Work waits for nopony so I have to take off.” She gave Aspect a kiss and smiled. “Try not to invite disaster for one day hm? Or seduce any more mares. You’ll run out of room, even in your house for them all.”

“I will do as such,” Aspect promised before returning the kiss. “And hopefully, no more kids will crawl out of the ether to take up residence either.”

A shiver went down his spine and he just realised. He’d tempted Fate.

Fate was always listening.

...It couldn’t be that bad, right?

...Right?

He’d gotten a letter from the Wonderbolts, stating they’d like to resume their training as soon as possible. And he already knew that Cheerilee was expecting him back at school. He had some little unicorns to… teach…

Ah crap, Tia was teaching them. He’d have to send her a...letter.

He smirked as he recalled he had a dragon form, complete with magical dragonfire. He penned a quick message to ‘Tia, telling her that the lessons for Ponyville’s students resumed tomorrow, before quickly flashing into his dragon self and sending the message off to her. The message dissipated… and then a few moments later, he felt a churning in his gut.

With a loud belch, he exhaled some flame as a scroll bearing her seal appeared. He turned back into his pegasus self before unrolling the scroll.

‘Dearest father.

Thank you for letting me know, however, I am quite busy taking care of my duties here. But I may have a suitable solution. I have been instructing a mare here in Canterlot and she’s taken to Sorcery quite readily. Even after a month, she had made amazing progress, though her lineage may be helping here.

I can send her over today should you need me to. In fact, I’ll do just that. Take care.

Love you,

Tia~’

“Well that takes care of that then,” the stallion quipped as he rolled the scroll back up and tucked it away. “So...guess it’s back to the skies.” He flapped his wings a few times and soared into the air.

Canterlot proved to be slightly less dull than Realm thought it would be. Despite it being the capital of noble elitism, Twilight had shown him a few places that made him feel at home, and she even bought him a few new paintbrushes.

Now they wandered a large art gallery, the colt getting a look at what passed as art these days. To be fair, it was...different than what he was expecting.

A thousand years would do that.

That didn’t mean he enjoyed some of the pieces in the slightest. Some of them he just didn’t get. Like a white canvas with a single black dot in the center?

The landscapes were amazing though. And then when they got to the section with portraits, he found something he wasn’t expecting.

One of Clover the Clever. He knew this painting quite well.

Given that he was the one that painted it.

“I...hadn’t expected this,” the colt whispered as he sat in front of her portrait. “It took ages for her to agree to a Pictomancy portrait of herself.”

“So, did you really paint this?” Twilight asked, looking it over. She still couldn’t believe how much she and Clover looked alike.

“I painted her a lot of times,” Realm replied. “I’m surprised there aren’t more of her here.”

“Well they were from a long time ago,” Twilight nodded as she looked around. “Still, I’m sure if you did some new paintings, the gallery would love to display them. You just might need your dad to help you convince them that you are who you are.”

“That’s...an option, I suppose,” the colt nodded numbly. “It’d be nice to make sure they were all remembered.”

“Or who knows, I bet if we can get this ‘linked portrait’ idea working, Your pictomancy ones could even come here.”

“That’d be nice,” Realm smiled. “Living art on display where it would do the most good.”

Twilight nodded as she glanced at a clock. “Oh shoot, I didn’t realise the time. We should go and get Spike, before we miss the train back home.”

“Yeah, that would be bad,” the colt agreed as he stood back up. Twilight lit up her horn, then paused.

“Hmm, remind me that I should teach you teleport sometime,” she hummed. “That should be something you’ll be capable of.”

“Iiiiiiiiii think I’ll hold off on that for the time being,” Realm replied.

“Well, if you insist,” Twilight replied as she prepared her teleport. “Still, your magic is quite good. In anycase…” With a pop and a bright flash, the art gallery was replaced with a hallway in the castle. “It’s quite the time saver.”

“I can imagine,” Realm replied as he shook himself off from the suddenness. Several nearby guards looked a bit shocked from the arrival of the unicorn and alicorn.

“Now let’s find Spike,” Twilight started to turn, before both heard a sound.

“Littlest brother!” A loud voice exclaimed before Realm was subjected to Luna hugs.

“Go on...without me…” Realm gasped. “Save...yourself…”

“My dear knight…” Twilight wiped a tear from her eye and turned to run. “Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Luna could not have deadpanned any harder if she tried. And then Realm faked a death rattle and went limp in her hooves.

“We hate you both,” Luna pouted and unceremoniously dropped him onto the floor, only to have him caught in Twilight’s magic aura as the mare fled. Luna blinked and then flared her wings.

Nopony stole her brother.

“Twilight, run faster,” Realm urged the mare as he looked back. “Luna’s gaining.”

Twilight put him on her back as she galloped faster. Fun fact, running for your life from monsters was a great cardio workout. Soon, she managed to lose the alicorn in the winding halls of the palace as she ducked into what appeared to be an empty bedroom.

“Did… we… lose her?” Twilight panted as she fell to the floor, Realm still on her back.

“For the moment,” Realm replied as he looked around. “Though I don’t know where we are, or where Spike is.”

“Peachy,” the out-of-shape unicorn wheezed. “Guuuh….”

“Question,” Realm posed. “Why didn’t we teleport?”

Twilight’s panting paused as she just lay there, the alicorn on her back remaining silent as she processed that.

“Because… shut up,” she mumbled, now blushing cutely.

“Do you at least know where Spike is?” Realm asked. “We could teleport there.”

“Probably the throne room,” Twilight pondered as she slowly got to her hooves. “Okay, I think I got this. Gimme a second to charge the sp—”

“Ohhh Twii~liiight~” they heard Luna’s voice getting closer.

“Shh!” Realm hushed her.

“What now?” Twilight whispered. They could hear Luna’s hoofsteps getting closer, several doors opening and closing.

“Can you make us invisible?” Realm whispered back.

“I don’t know that spell…” She looked around and then dove under the bed, pulling Realm in close as the door opened and Luna stepped inside, looking around.

Realm held his breath, hoping the lunar mare couldn’t hear them…

“Hrrm… perhaps they ran elsewhere…” the mare said to herself as she looked around.

Twilight almost let out a sigh of relief.

“Or maybe they’re hiding~” Luna chuckled as she looked right at them.

“Now now now!” Realm hissed. With a panicked yelp, Twilight’s horn flashed and they teleported…

With a thud, Realm landed on something soft and warm, large white feathers tickling his snout.

“Oh my,” Celestia hummed as she looked at the colt on her back and the mare in her lap as she sat upon her throne. “I wasn’t expect you two to ‘drop in’ so suddenly.”

Twilight just managed a strangled squeak as she blushed.

“Hiding from Luna,” Realm explained. “Where’s Spike?”

Celestia just gestured with a wing at the dragon sitting nearby. “So, why might you be hiding from your sister Realm?”

“Weapons grade hugs,” the colt explained. “Also, she’s chasing us for some reason.”

“Ahh,” Tia chuckled and then hummed. “You know, I haven’t done that in a while.” She leaned down and pulled Twilight into a hug. “She’s just so huggable I cannot help myself.”

“P-Princess!?” Twilight flushed crimson. Dear Creator, what if somepony walked in?

“Actually, we have a minute,” Realm mused as he looked over to Twilight. “Why don’t you and sis talk about what happened last night?”

“R-Realm!?” Twilight almost shrieked as Celestia blinked and looked back at the colt.

“What are you talking about?” she asked him in her ‘big sis’ voice. “What happened?”

“Dad happened,” Realm supplied. “Also, she was drinking. But I don’t think he pressured her into anything.”

Celestia was a paragon of impassiveness. She had a poker face that was thousands of years in the practice.

And Realm saw her eye twitch ever so slightly as her mane and tail took a more fiery hue.

“I see…” Celestia said in an icy tone.

“Maybe you should hear it from her before you judge him?” Realm offered.

“I was… a little upset about a few things,” Twilight replied from her hug prison. “Please don’t be angry your highness. I was of sound mind at the time. I could have left at any point.”

“That… is refreshing to hear,” Celestia said as her mood seemed to calm. Wow, Realm had never seen Celestia’s temper diffused so fast. She was hard to anger, and impossible to calm once so. “I might still have words with him later however.”

“Yeah, stealing the mare I had a crush on and gave up so she could be happy the same night I told her to find somepony to make her happy now is sort of in poor taste as well,” Realm sighed.

“I think dear father needs to learn moderation,” Celestia said, before a wicked smile crossed her muzzle. “Dearest brother, precious student. What do you say to forming a coalition of sorts. A joint effort to unleash the prank of all pranks?”

“Oh?” Realm asked with a cocked eyebrow.

Celestia just gave a low chuckle. Oh dear, Aspect’s face was going to be priceless.

When the stallion finally returned home after a day out on the town, he found not only Celestia in his living room, but Twilight and Realm together on the couch, being… oddly snuggly with each other.

“Hello daughter,” Aspect greeted her, going over to give her a hug.

“Hello father,” she replied, using a wing to hug him back.

“Hi dad!” Realm smiled.

“Hello father-in-law.” Twilight greeted him rather formally.

“Wait...what?” Aspect blinked a few times as he stared at the pair.

“You didn’t know?” Celestia blinked. “When young Twilight came to me today, I heard what happened last night.” She leaned closer. “And I mean everythingfather.” Then she pulled back and smiled. “So I wanted to help out my dear brother too. And so I had a look and found the most interesting law. Turns out that the law applies to all sapient creatures within Equestrian borders… except alicorns. I mean, at the time there was only one. And I am quite well past the legal age of consent.”

“...Nooooooo,” Aspect said, looking at the colt.

“His proposal was the sweetest thing,” Twilight sighed. “I do appreciate what you did Aspect. You were very kind and caring last night. But…”

“I’m totally marrying her,” Realm nodded, his smile widening even more.

“Tia, you know this isn’t healthy,” Aspect turned to his daughter.

“Well I cannot stop them,” she replied with a shrug. “It’s legal after all.”

“That doesn’t make it good for either of them,” he pointed out evenly. “He’s not grown up enough yet to understand a real relationship, and the stigma from marrying a colt isn’t something she needs.”

“But jumping into your personal harem, that already includes an Element of Harmony is?” Realm shot back.

“I merely made the offer,” Aspect countered. “It’s entirely up to her as to whether or not she took me up on it. I pushed her into nothing.”

“Well, we do have one more piece of news for you?” Celestia said.

“I’m sure it can’t be any worse than this one,” the stallion groused. The two mares and the colt leant forwards.

“Gotcha.”

The stallion was nonplussed for a moment, before simply replying with one word. “Wat.”

“Honestly Aspect, do you think I would risk Realm like that?” Twilight replied. “Regardless of whether or not the law actually does say that—”

“Twilight….” Celestia facehooved.

Aspect breathed heavily for a moment or two. “All of this was...a prank?” he asked rather flatly as he looked at the ones responsible for it.

“Yup,” Celestia giggled and leaned in close to whisper. “Try not to seduce my precious student again hmm father? She is like a daughter to me.”

“She could have stopped me at any point in time with a simple word,” Aspect whispered back. “I am not so cruel as to not take no for what it means.”

“Be that as it may…” Celestia said. Anything else she was going to say was cut off by a knock at the door. Aspect raised an eyebrow as he went over to the door, wondering who it could be. He opened it to her greeted by an attractive, middle-aged unicorn mare.

And Aspect swore he was looking at Twilight’s older sister or something. She looked almost identical, save for the grey coat and light hued mane and tail.

“Ah, you must be Balanced Aspect,” she smiled. “A pleasure to meet you. I am Twilight Velvet. Your new Sorcery teacher for the foals here.”

“Oh, well, thank you for coming on such short notice,” Aspect bowed his head to her. “Classes for the young ones start up again tomorrow. And currently, we’re only teaching three foals at a time, each. I’ll have the previous instructor give you a list of who she was teaching and what she managed to get them to learn as soon as possible.”

“That would be most helpful,” she replied with a small nod. “Might I come inside? I’d like to at least discuss a few things before starting classes.”

“By all means,” the stallion held the door open and invited her in.

“Thankyou,” the mare smiled and stepped inside. She was… well wow. If that was what Twilight would look like in a few years then dayum. Once inside, she looked around and nodded. “Quite the impressive home you have here,’ she commented.

“It was a gift,” the stallion replied. “I must say, you’re a bit more...how should I say...down to earth than I thought somepony from Canterlot might be.”

“Well, there’s no point in standing on airs, that’s for pegasi,” the mare chuckled at her own joke. “Still, how can one help others when they can’t see past their own upturned snout?”

“Fair enough, fair enough,” the stallion chuckled. “At least you’re nothing like one of the ponies here. She’s only an Earth Pony, but she thinks she’s one of the Canterlot Elite.”

“No harm in aspiring for the stars I suppose,” Velvet replied, before her ear flicked. “Oh? You have guests. Perhaps I shouldn’t have so rudely interrupted.”

“It’s fine, they deserve a little bit of waiting for that prank they pulled,” Aspect shook his head. “In any case, can I get you something? Tea, coffee?”

“Well, might I indulge in a bit of tea?” she asked. “Coffee is for waking up, and the morning has far passed.”

“Certainly,” Aspect replied, leading her to the dining room. Velvet’s ear flicked again and she paused.

“Is… that Princess Celestia I hear? Oh dear, I didn’t interrupt family time did I?”

“Like I said, they deserve it,” Aspect grumbled. “They pulled a most wicked prank on me, so leaving them alone while I tend to a respectful guest is what they’ve earned.”

“Oh dear, well that is just plain mean,” Velvet chuckled. “Come now, I will help sort this out.” She turned and started heading towards the voices.

“No, you honestly don’t have to—” Aspect began.

Twilight Velvet stepped into the room and looked around. “Well now, so what do we have here?” she asked just as Aspect caught up. Twilight Sparkle looked like a deer caught in headlights and all Realm saw was yet another Clover clone.

“Twilight Velvet, Twilight Sparkle, Realm, and Princess Celestia,” he introduced them. “They all concocted a vicious prank where they pretended Realm had married Sparkle.”

Velvet tuttiutted and shook her head. “Twilight dear, did you really do such a thing?”

“I… Mom?” Twilight pouted. “W-What are you even doing here?”

“And you,” Twilight looked at Celestia. “I am most disappointed. A mare your age should know better. To insinuate such things. Really now.”

“But Vel—”

“No buts Missy,” Velvet scolded her with the ‘Mom Voice’. “”Now apologise to your sweet father this instant.”

“I…” Celestia, Aspect of the Sun, Princess of Equestria… folded like a house of cards under that gaze. “Yes Ma’am…” She looked at Aspect like a filly that just lost her puppy. “I’m sorry for pranking you father,” she said slowly and sadly.

“You’re forgiven,” Aspect replied. “In all honesty, now that I look back, it was a pretty good prank. Though maybe it went on just a touch too long?”

“The timing was off…” Celestia nodded. “I blame it on the fact that it was Twilight’s first ever prank.”

“Now it’s my fault?” Twilight exclaimed. “Oh come on!”

“So, has my daughter here been troubling you?” Velvet chuckled. She certainly hadn’t expected to see her here of all places.

“She’s no trouble at all,” Aspect replied. “She knows she’s welcome here anytime.”

“Hmm, you know, she could use a good, sweet stallion like you,” Velvet mused, making Twilight groan and put her head in her hooves.

“I rather think that’s up to her,” Aspect chuckled as he left the room to go make the tea he’d promised Velvet. “Back in a bit,” he called back.

“Moooooom…” Twilight growled as the mare chuckled and waved her off, before leaning down to look Realm in the eyes.

“And who’s this little sweetheart? Realm was it?”

“Yup!” Realm preened as he spread his wings. “Alicorn of Art. Or will be when I grow into it. At most, I’m a glorified Muse now.”

“I see,” Velvet hummed. “Hmm… I don’t suppose you're the one responsible for this Pictomancy paintings at the Gala a while ago?”

“Guilty,” Realm chuckled.

“Then I applaud your ability to raise such a ruckus amongst those Noble-would be’s,” Velvet chuckled and ruffled his mane. She stood up and then walked over to Twilight, hugging the mare. “And what about you my dear? Are you getting along okay? I worry about you.”

“I’m okay,” Twilight gave a muffled reply as she hugged back. “I… miss you and Dad… and Shiny too.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re doing alright,” She stood up and looked at Celestia. “Even when somepony sends you to another town to live without telling her family first.”

Celestia just wilted further under that ferocious gaze. Realm was beginning to discover that his eldest sister was rather weak to somepony with Sparkle in their name.

“In all honesty, ma’am, your daughter is one of the kindest mares I’ve come to know,” Realm spoke up. “If it weren’t for the age difference, I’d probably try dating her. As it is, I’ve told her to find somepony that makes her feel like the special mare I know she is.”

“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest?” Velvet chuckled and smiled at him. “I’ve always told her she needs a nice stallion in her life. Well, perhaps I can wait for grandfoals for a few more years.”

Twilight facehooved. “Oh for the love of—”

“Tea’s ready!” Aspect said as he levitated a tea tray in front of him, along with enough cups for everypony.

“Thank Celestia,” Twilight sighed before realizing the mare was sitting right there and blushed.

“Well if the tea is good, I don’t mind taking the credit,” she chuckled as she floated a cup over. “So, I take it that Mrs. Velvet has introduced herself as your new assistant in Sorcery training?”

And cue a rather impressive spit take from the younger Sparkle.

“She has indeed,” Aspect nodded, having deflected the tea with a split-second shield. “Though she will need the records the previous tutor kept.”

“I'm aware,” Celestia nodded.

“I...what...how...when!?” Oh dear, poor Twilight was broken again.

“When I was indisposed,” Aspect supplied. “Though I’ve yet to see how much of a mastery she has over it.”

“One two three four, pour some tea, just a little more,” Velvet hummed as the teapot stuttered and started bobbing to her tune. “Now add some milk and a sugar lump, now each pony, careful not to bump.” Each teacup danced over to the ponies in the room, the spell ending after. And not once had her horn lit up.

“I will admit, I’m impressed,” Aspect nodded at her. “I’m strongly tied to the Harmonic field of Equestria, and even I would have had some difficulty coming up with such a fast demonstration.”

“You flatter me,” Velvet smiled and waved a hoof. “I'm still learning the more advanced spells though.”

“Oh sure, I ask and it's all ‘No Twilight. You'll destroy the world’. But my Mom is allowed to learn…” Twilight grumbled under her breath as she folded her forehooves.

“I’m just wary about teaching you for a very specific reason,” Aspect said, turning his head to her. “There are things you can do with Sorcery. Limits that you can push past. For an ordinary unicorn, they’d exhaust their magic before it became a real worry that they’d succeed. But you wield Magic Itself. I would rather not risk you learning too fast and deciding that you needed to see what’s just beyond the horizon without me there to warn you about the dangers.”

“Twilight is as Twilight does,” Velvet giggled. “But if you don't teach her, she'll eventually learn to teach herself.”

“Right… I'm going home for now,” Twilight sighed as she stood up. “Are you going to be staying with me Mom?”

“Hmm, is that a problem?” Velvet asked.

“No, I'll go home, tidy up and prepare the spare bed.” The mare gave a polite nod to the others. “Princess. Realm. Aspect. Take care.”

“Twilight,” Aspect called after her. “I never said no, per se. I just want your word that if I teach you, you won’t do any independent studying unless I give you homework.”

“...We'll see,” she said before teleporting away. Velvet rubbed her chin. Seems something was on her mind.

“Now all that’s left is finding a spot in my schedule for those lessons,” the stallion sighed. “Teaching the Wonderbolts, teaching at the school, being a good dad to the foals, weather job, being the head of the education board...oh, and let’s not mention my private life. Assuming I still have one.” He sipped his tea and shrugged with his wings. “Eh, I’ll find the time.”

“As long as you don't start manipulating time, I'm sure it'll be fine.” Celestia said. “Now I must return, before Luna finds out I came here without her.” She gave her father and brother a quick hug and kiss, before deciding to show off to her dad and winked away, rather than teleporting.

“And that, mares and stallions, is why you don’t try to one-up Celestia,” Aspect chuckled as he set his teacup down. “Now I feel like I must warn you miss Velvet. Coming to the town invokes a ritual that you should be informed of right about...now.”

Then Velvet reached under the couch and pulled out a rather surprised Pinkie Pie.

“Oohh!” Pinkie gasped. “She is good!”

“What?” Aspect blinked. “Even I can’t predict Pinkie Pie, and I’ve had practice. At most I can hold a mental state of expecting and not expecting her at the same time, which I think confuses her.”

“I'm working on a counter attack!” Pinkie declared. “But he's right. How'd you…?”

“I birthed Twilight Sparkle,” Velvet replied with a small, knowing nod.

“...Fair point,” Aspect begrudgingly admitted. “But yes. Say hello to Ponyville’s welcome wagon.”

“Hello Pinkie dear,” Velvet rubbed her head.

“Heya Momma Sparkle!” Pinkie beamed. “I'm still gonna throw you a party.”

“And I look forward to it,” Velvet chuckled as Realm and Aspect got a hug from Pinkie before she calmly walked from the room.

“...And that’s new too,” Aspect mused. “Okay...today is very weird.”

“Is that not normal for Ponyville?” Velvet mused. “In anycase, I'll get out of your mane and take a walk around town I think.”

“Might want to be fast, I helped set up a storm,” Aspect warned her. “It’s supposed to go off soon.”

“A little rain won't bother me,” Velvet smiled as she stood up. “Nice to meet you Mister Gale. I look forward to our future endeavors.”

Aspect calmly waited for her to leave before letting out a sigh. “Well, that went over well, I don’t think,” he muttered. Another one who knew his secret. Though with his little display, he had to wonder how much of a secret it actually was.

Hmm. No teaching today, which meant...either spend some time with the kids, or go visit his marefriends.

Come to think of it, he’d never visited Dash’s place. Maybe he should change that…

“Heya Aspect,” Artemis walked inside, wiping his paws on the matt. Not that it mattered, he was covered with dirt, leaves and… tree sap?

“Dare I ask what in the world happened to you?” Aspect questioned anyways.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Miners,” the dog deadpanned as he brushed some dirt from his fur.

“...That doesn’t explain the sap and leaves,” the stallion pointed out.

“Yeah… I wish I could explain it too,” the dog said with a haunted look in his eyes as he wandered off to the bathroom.

“Realm, go help him,” Aspect said to his oldest son.

“On it,” the colt replied as he scampered off to help Artemis get clean.

Meanwhile, Aspect made sure his dishes appeared in the kitchen before stretching his wings. Time to go surprise a certain speedster.

After getting some directions, Aspect eventually found her house and… well, it certainly was as impressive as she made it out to be. A massive cloud structure, it was three stories tall. A massive rainbow shot from the top and cascaded down, filling several smaller pools that then waterfalled off towards the ground, the rainbow liquid dissipated around a dozen feet before touching the earth. A stylized version of her Cutie Mark hung above the doorway as several columns supported each floor. Each window was large and unobstructed, so she could likely exit her home quickly, no matter where inside she was.

After finding the front door, Aspect flashed into his Gryphon form and smirked, before knocking on the cloudy structure. He then resolved not to question how that worked.

“Come in,” he heard the raspy voice of his rainbow mare from inside. Aspect pushed his way in and stretched his wings, before deciding to look around for the mare in question. The room just beyond the door was quite spacious. The ceiling was attached to the third floor, so there was enough room for even him to fly in here. He saw an archway that led to the kitchen and another that led to an indoor gym.

On the second floor, he found her trophy room and… oh wow, seems all her bragging had some merit. That was a rather sizeable amount of trophies, certificates, ribbons and other accolades. There was an arched window that led out to a balcony and a set of stairs that led up. Despite being a pegasus, she’d catered the insides of her house to be accessed by hooves, flying just made the process faster.

The third floor held the only rooms that actually had doors, the bathroom and another that he assumed was her bedroom. Assuming that, by process of elimination, Dash hadn’t been in any of the rooms he’d been in yet, he knocked on her bedroom door.

“Yo, s’that you Flutters?” she called out from within. “You know you don’t have to knock right?”

Aspect grinned wickedly and pushed the door open, before squeezing his form through. “I’m touched that you trust me that much,” he cooed as he shut the door behind him.

“Bwha?” Rainbow was looking under her bed, so only her flank stuck out. Her room was fairly simple, a nice cloud bed, a side table and he noticed a Wonderbolts poster on the wall, specifically, the one he’d gotten her for Hearth’s Warming. “Aspect? Is that you? What are you doing here?”

The griffon wasted no time, walking up behind the mare and running his claws down her flank gently. “Oh...just checking out your house,” he murred. “Leave it to me to find the crown jewel of it last.”

Her tail swatted his claw as she pulled herself out from under it and turned to look him in the… chest? Her eyes scanned up and she blinked, before raising an eyebrow. “Really?”

The griffon leaned down and kissed her on the lips, which was interesting with a beak. She returned the kiss and once he broke it, smiled.

“So, you actually decided to come over for once eh?” She spread a wing to gesture around. “Whatcha think of it?”

“It’s a pretty impressive house you’ve got here,” Aspect agreed as he nuzzled the mare. “Suits you.”

“Should do, I built it myself,” she replied and prodded his chest. “So, any reason for the getup? Pegasus not good enough hm?”

“I just wanted to see if this house could handle me,” Aspect replied as he brushed a talon through her mane. “Plus, I think I recall something about a certain speedster that liked this form, I dunno…”

“It’s some pretty tasty eye candy,” she blatantly said with a proud nod. “Just remember to keep yourself toned down. Don’t need you turning my place into a storm cloud.”

“Mmm…” Aspect’s eyes flicked over to her bed before focusing on her again. “What about turning you into a breathless puddle of mare?” he questioned.

“Is that what you come over for?” she mused as she pushed him onto the bed and… ooohhh, he just sunk into the impossibly soft cloud as it conformed to his body.

“Well you could have given me a tour,” Aspect chided her. “But you were up here waving your flank in the air.”

“I’m trying to find something,” she frowned. “Eh, still want a tour? Or’d you look around already?”

“The only tour I want,” the griffon said, before using a claw to pull her on top of him. “Is ‘how much can Dashie’s bed stand up to?’”

“You’re impossible,” she rolled her eyes. “Is this payback for last night? Making you hold back like that?”

Aspect’s eyes twinkled. “You know, it wasn’t...but I think that would be a wonderful idea~”

“Ah horseapples,” Rainbow cussed under her breath. She looked down at the griffon under her and hummed. “Hmm, question time.” Her hoof trailed down his chest. “Did you enjoy sampling a little purple nerd last night?”

“I will not deny that it was nice to give her a new definition of ‘closeness,’” the griffon replied as one of his claws got a firm grip on her flank and gave it a squeeze.

“And rutting us in front of her?” she mused as her hoof found a growing bulge and started to stroke it. “I bet that turned you on huh?”

“You should know that from that little foursome we had the other night,” Aspect chided her as he began playing with her tail.

“Yeah, but that wasn’t little innocent Twilight then,” she hummed as her hoof reached the tip. “Now, final question. And if you tell the truth, you get a reward.”

“Go on,” the griffon replied as he began stroking her flank.

“When I held you back… wanted you to make a choice,” she breathed into his ear. Her hoof rubbing his slick member up and down. “How much did you wanna stuff Twi full of that thick cream?”

“A lot, but I’m not one to force what I want on others,” the griffon replied. “Not only would it have been in bad taste, I know that doing so before she’s ready would likely result in pushing her away. It’s also why I keep my little infertility charm active no matter what form I take...unless I hear my mares asking beforehand for me to turn it off, of course.”

“Mmhm,” she hummed as she stroked a little faster. “Then, hypothetical time. Picture if you will, a breathless Twilight. Lying on her back with her hooves spreading that cute little puss of hers.” She leaned in close, nibbling his neck. “Begging to be filled with whatever form you desire. What do you do~?”

“Alicorn,” Aspect replied. “And I make love to her gently and slowly until she’s begging for my load. I think I could make her cum...three times before that, though. Reduce her to little more than a mare begging for her stallion to finish.”

“Mmm~” Rainbow moaned and… wait, was she actually getting off to this? “Then what?” she purred. “Once she’s breathless and begging?”

“I ask her what she really wants,” Aspect replied as he stroked a claw along Dash’s cheek. “I make her beg again, one more time. I make her say what she needs...before I give it to her. Before I treat her like my mare.”

“Oohh~” Rainbow’s other hoof found her soaked folds as she started to rub herself on top of him. “Hmmnn~ D-Do Rarity next. What would ya do to her?”

“You, are being a naughty little mare,” Aspect chided her. “Hmm...Rarity. I’d have to start slow, you know? A nice dinner. A good evening out. I’d have to charm her. I’d probably pick Unicorn for that.”

“She’s a fussy one,” Rainbow hummed, slowing down a little.

“Of course, I make sure to put a nice fortifying spell on myself and order a nice wine, so that I don’t end up tipsy,” the griffon continued. “I flirt with her all night, and lead her back to her place.”

“Always the gentlecolt,” Rainbow chuckled, nuzzling his shoulder as her tail brushed against his member.

“Then I test the waters with a good-night kiss,” the griffon said as he trailed a claw through the mare’s mane.

“And if she did this?” the mare murred and trapped his beak in a deep, passionate kiss. He should question how she knew how to kiss a griffon like that.

“Mmm, then I’d ask if she wanted to take things a step further,” the griffon chuckled after the kiss broke.

“Oh come ooon, get to the good stuff,” Rainbow groaned, her heated marehood rubbing against his belly.

“I’d let her lead me to her room,” Aspect smirked as he rubbed Dashie’s mane again. “I’d have her lay on her back...and show her how a stallion can please a mare.”

“I-I bet she likes it rough,” Dash panted, a hoof moving towards her pussy again.

“Really?” Aspect mused as he looked up. “No, she strikes me as the one that likes it nice and slow, gentle-like. She expects her eventual stallion to be a gentlestallion, after all. So I’d have to be sure of everything first. I’d have to warm her up, and I wouldn’t dare ask her to lube me up. She’d probably see it as ‘uncouth.’”

“She-She would,” Rainbow sighed as she started to rub herself again.

“But rest assured, I’d work her over time and time again,” Aspect continued. “I’d screw her for hours on her bed, just bringing her to one peak after the next in a slow, gentle rhythm. Until she forgot anything but what I was doing.”

“Mmmmnnn~” Rainbow moaned out as she started grinding her rump against his raised dick. “O-Okay, that’dd be kinda hot to watch. Nnn~ Now. What about… hmmn, you pick.”

“Hmm…” Aspect mused as he ran a claw through Dash’s feathers. “How about...Applejack?”

“Ooh, farmmare eh?” she mused, sighing at his touch. “Okay stud. How would you fuck her then?”

“Well, it would have to be after a day of me being an Earth Pony and helping her on the farm,” Aspect replied. “Or maybe just half of one. She needs help getting something out of the barn...and I sneak up behind her.”

“Ooh?” Rainbow’s eyes widened a little. “Risky~”

“Yup,” Aspect nodded once. “But I grab ahold of her hind legs and give her a lick. Just one, to test the waters, to show her why I’m there. Odds are, she’d try to buck, but that’s why I’ve grabbed on.”

“So provided she doesn’t kick you into the sun,” Rainbow mused, his cock wedged between her flanks as she started to rub up and down. “Then what?”

“Then I make her go weak in the knees,” Aspect chuckled. “I eat her out not just once. But as many times as it takes for her to collapse to the floor.”

“Mm, bet she tastes like apples,” Rainbow mused as she squeezed her flanks together. “Then what? Maybe get some of that rope and show her some new tricks with it maybe?”

“Like I would need it at that point,” Aspect chided her. “That’s the whole point of eating her out that much. Then I can actually mount her and begin breeding her properly, without her trying to kick my head off.”

“Mm, and what if she wants to take charge?” Rainbow gasped, her netherlips rubbing his growing knot.

“Then I warn her if she does, the Apple family tree will be getting another branch,” Aspect chuckled.

“Naughty stallion…” she moaned then smirked. “Okay hotstuff. Let’s say that handsome big brother of hers walks in.”

“I grow pegasus wings and take Applejack up to the clouds,” the stallion replied. “Only as long as it takes to make a cloud solid to everyone, then I lose them and keep screwing her.”

“Want her all to yourself eh?” Rainbow started grinding a bit faster. “Mmmm, okay then… what about…” She paused and smirked. “Fluttershy.”

“Tricky, definitely tricky,” Aspect mused. “I’d have to have a good reason to go to her place. Probably something to do with getting a new toy for my pet manticore. And I don’t know if tricking her would work all that well. I’d probably have to be blunt about it. Heck, I’m not sure if I could stand tricking Fluttershy into it. She’s so...delicate.”

“And she has a pet bear,” Rainbow mused. “Ooh, what about that? Taking a form of an exotic critter that wants to show his… appreciation.”

“Seapony would be my best bet,” Aspect mused. “I’d have to do it while she was out, and take up her bathtub for it.”

“She’d come home to a real surprise huh?” Rainbow mused, her rubbing resuming.

“I’d invite her into her own bath, to show her all the pleasures of the ocean…” Aspect grinned.

“Can Seaponies even… do that?” Rainbow paused. The hell would it even look like?

“They’re part pony where it matters,” Aspect assured her.

“Okay, so say she get’s in, then what?”

“Well, I put her on the edge of the bathtub and make sure her hind legs are in the water,” Aspect began illuminating. “And then I dive beneath it and show her the benefits of having gills. It means I never have to come up while I eat her out.”

“You like doing that huh?” she mused as she raised her hips and slowly lowered herself over him.

“It gets a mare nice and ready,” the griffon replied. “And then when she is, when she’s been all slicked up for me, I ease her down a little more into the bath, and begin loving her gently. Eventually, though, I’d just lie down in the tub and let her ride me.”

“Cause if she asked, you couldn’t say no?” Rainbow mused as she started to thrust her hips slowly and carefully. “Okay, last one then. Pinkie time.”

“I’m not sure there is a way to seduce Pinkie Pie,” Aspect offered.

Well that was killing her current buzz train. “Aww… well I suppose.” She leaned down and smirked. “Okay lovercolt, you pick the mare this time. Make it a good one.”

“But I’ve already got one,” Aspect replied as he ran a talon along Dash’s cheek. “Mmm. Though I would like to ask you that simple little question. You want me to keep my charm on or off?”

“On please,” she replied as she raised and lowered her hips. “Mm, too bad though. I was really getting off on that.”

“Oh, but how about I tell you what’s going to happen once you do become your dream, a Wonderbolt?” Aspect asked her as he ran a claw through her other wing this time.

“Oh?” the pegasus mare mused as she spread her wings a little as she continued to ride him.

“We’re going to come back here and celebrate,” Aspect replied. “A round of sex in every single room. I’m going to screw you until you can’t think anymore. And no matter what you say...that charm is coming off. I’m going to put a nice, fat Hippogriff in you after you get what you want.”

“Is that so?” the mare panted, her pace increasing a little.

“I’ll even get a nice little collar to put on you,” Aspect teased her. “And treat you like little more than a pet until we know it took. Day in, day out. Just screwing you fatter and fatter.”

“Mmm, kinky,” she purred as her walls squeezed him. “Might make Middy and Bonnie a bit jealous though.”

“I’ll treat them to a nice dinner out after I make sure we make up for lost time,” Aspect promised her. “After you have your first one, though, you’ll have to make convincing arguments for me to turn my charm back on for you.”

“You want a kid that bad huh?” Rainbow mused.

“I want to treat you as mine that bad,” the griffon corrected her. “My little breeding mare~”

“Keep that charm on and you can do it now,” she purred in his ear.

“Kind of contradictory,” the griffon pointed out.

“So what will you do to me now then?” Rainbow asked as she started to get up. “Or should I just head off?”

Aspect growled, and there was a flurry of movement.

When the world stopped spinning, Dash was on her back as the griffon stood over her, his length pushing up against her lips. “Going before your master filled you up? For shame, breeding slut,” he tutted. “For shame.”

“Ooh, is that so?” Dash challenged him. “What are you gonna do about it?”

“I’m not only going to breed you,” Aspect promised her as his pointed dick began slipping into her. “But Bon Bon, Midnight...and all your little friends too. I’ll even parade you through town after I’m done with each and every one of you.”

“Ooh, gonna take over Ponyville huh?” she purred as she wiggled her hips. Damn she was hot inside. “I bet Cheerilee could use some better teaching~”

“I’ll give her more foals to teach in the coming years,” Aspect promised Dash as he sank as much as he could into her.

“Mmmm~” Rainbow moaned as he filled her. “W-What if a hero rose up? Twilight would prolly do that.”

“I’d seduce her with my sexy thestral tongue within a minute,” Aspect countered as he pulled back and began hammering away at the mare under him.

“O-Oh yeah?” she puffed and panted. The griffon closed his beak for a moment...and there was a muted flash from within it.

When he leaned down to kiss the mare again…

Sweet Celestia that was a lot of tongue!

Rainbow moaned around it as he fucked her hole with his dick and her mouth with his tongue, the small mare writhing in pleasure under him. Eventually the griffon pulled back from the kiss, but kept up his steady, pounding pace on the mare.

“Sweet little breeding toy,” he cooed to her. “Your master is going to give you a hippogriff. Won’t that be nice, to see your belly swell?”

“Mmm, I like being filled up,” she purred, her head falling back onto her pillow as he fucked her.

“Oh good, because you’re about to be filled,” Aspect promised her as he began pushing past her cervix in his fucking of her, to make her take his entire dick. She let out a loud moan as he felt himself push past, his knot squeezing into that tight pony pussy.

“Were you envious that your friends would get bred before you, toy?” Aspect whispered to her.

“...No,” Rainbow pouted a little, still gasping at his immense size in her.

“I could probably fly around with you attached to my crotch like this,” Aspect mused. “Parade us around the sky…”

“You wouldn’t dare…” Rainbow groaned, her hooves against his chest.

“My little toy is being dishonest,” Aspect countered. “She should be punished~”

“Mm? Punished how?” she moaned out.

“Like I said, being taken out in public like this,” Aspect replied, stroking her chromatic mane. “Mmm, wonder if I could get to the pet shop to put a collar on you.”

“You’re an ass,” she blushed a deep crimson.

“Then tell me the truth,” Aspect urged her. “You were jealous I would breed your friends before you, weren’t you?”

“Well… they aren’t your marefriends,” she huffed. “So maybe I was. Sue me.”

“Mmm...maybe I should turn my charm off,” Aspect mused as he stroked her wings. “Ground you with a full belly first.”

“Pregnant mares can still fly,” she taunted him.

“But they’re much easier for Griffons to catch and breed over and over again,” he reminded her as he sat on her bed, letting her ride his length like she’d done with his human form. Only...not so much thanks to the knot.

“So… gonna breed me then?” she mused and kissed his beak. “I’m waiting my sexy stud~”

“You do realize, one of these days, I actually will,” the griffon reminded her as his claw trailed down to play with her clit.

“N-No you won’t, not until I say so,” she huffed as she leaned against him. “Because I know how kind you are.”

“And I know how kinky you are,” Aspect riposted. “One day, you’ll say ‘let’s roll the dice.’ And one day, it’ll come up as ‘Hippogriff.’”

“Izzat so?” she moaned, her walls clamping down around him as she came. It took a moment to pass before she could continue. “Maybe… I wanna fuck that sexy human form again hm?”

“Oh, so if I was human, you’d let me try?” the griffon countered.

“Maybe sometime,” she mused. “Plenty of hippogriffs, but I bet there’s no Humanponies. My kid would be awesome and unique.”

“So that’s what it is,” the griffon taunted her. “You want to breed with the only human around. You want to take your chances with that form, huh? If I transformed right now, would you tell me to take my charm off?”

“Like I said, not ready yet,” she replied and kissed his cheek. “But ask me again some other time. I’m prone to changing my mind.”

“True, plus, that would be a bad idea in a cloud house,” Aspect mused, before kissing the mare on the lips again. Oh, right, that tongue~

The mare moaned around it again, her walls still giving weak squeezes around him from her last climax.

“Go on Master…” she whispered as she broke the kiss. “Fill your slutty mare with your seed~”

Aspect smirked down at her and thrust upwards a few times, before she felt his length start to twitch inside her. It wasn’t long before she felt a hot, liquid weight start to jet into and settle in her womb.

“Mmmm, fuck that feels good,” she moaned as it triggered another climax in her. “Ooh, you have no idea~”

“One of these days, my little Dash is going to be my little breeding toy,” he promised her. “Especially when you learn that human babies are only in development for nine months, and you probably wouldn’t stop exercising for those nine months at all. You’d probably be even fitter after foaling.”

“Oooh?” Rainbow hummed as she wiggled her hips, he could almost hear the seed sloshing around inside her. “I wonder what they’d look like though.”

“Only one way to find out~” he teased her.

“You’re impossible,” she chuckled and booped his beak.

“Mmm, I try,” Aspect chuckled back as he wrapped his wings around her. She leaned into his hug and sighed.

“One day okay? I have dreams I wanna reach. But one day, having a family wouldn’t be so bad… as long as my kid has wings.”

“Hippogriff would be your best bet for that,” the griffon pointed out. “There’s no guarantee that a pegasus pair will always have pegasi children. And that’s not to mention the idea of throwing human genes into the mix.”

“True enough, but still. It’ll be my kid. No way she wouldn’t be totally awesome.” She let out a breath and closed her eyes. “So… sorry if I’m annoying you that you have to wait… I know that family means a ton to you and—”

“Hey, I understand,” Aspect replied, kissing her on the nose. “It’s not like I don’t have a lot of magically made kids and grandkids anyways. I already have the weirdest family tree. Hell, in several nations they call me the ‘all-father.’ Mainly because I made the Phoenix and Griffon races.”

“You’re giving out after-sex history lessons now?” she laughed. “Or are you practicing for Twilight?”

“Little of column A, little of column B,” Aspect replied. “Point is, my family is plenty big. You shouldn’t have to feel that the price of admission is adding to it.”

“Yeah okay,” she said and smiled. “Guess you’re pretty lucky to have somepony as awesome, amazing and sexy as me anyway eh?”

“You got that right,” Aspect replied as he nuzzled the mare. “...Still going to rut you senseless when you get made a Wonderbolt though.”

“You know… nothing’s stopping Bonbutt getting knocked up,” she mused. “How come you haven’t yet?”

“Aheh, well...funny story,” Aspect chuckled. “Turns out, the charm is sort of...deadened by dragon scales. And we learned the hard way.”

Rainbow’s eyebrow slowly rose.

“She’s already pregnant with a Kirin,” Aspect supplied. “It was a surprise, but nopony is going to call the child a mistake, understand? It’s just...a learning experience.”

“Well duh, like I’d do something like that,” Rainbow said as he deflated enough for her to slip off, his cum pouring from her abused cunt as she lifted her hips up. “Jeez, such a messy stallion. What am I supposed to do with you.”

“Get screwed six ways to sunday, and then once more for good measure?” Aspect mused aloud.

“Well… only if you have a form that’ll fit in my shower,” she mused as she started walking, leaking his essence as her tail was raised to show it dripping out as she sauntered out of the room.

“Oh, I’m sure we can come up with something,” the griffon licked his beak as he prepared to follow that fine flank.

Author's Note

Coverarts coming soon! I'm pretty happy with it!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on monster catching.

Chapter 41 - Piece of the past

Aspect was enjoying a rather new aspect of his routines. He’d been invited out to enjoy a ‘Pet Play date’ with Rainbow’s friends. He honestly hadn’t known they all owned pets. Twilight’s owl, Rarity’s cat and for some reason, Winona really liked him. There was also Pinkie’s pet… alligator?

Then again, like he was one to complain. He had a pet manticore for crying out loud. One he’d had to tell not to attack the other pets.

At least until she’d tried with Opal, Rarity’s persian cat.

That was a meeean cat.

The only one that didn’t have a pet was Dash, the mare had been trying to nap in a nearby tree. Emphasis on try.

“Ergh, seriously?” she groused. “Can’t you guys keep it down or something?”

“Pets don’t come with volume knobs, Dash,” Aspect replied as he looked over at the playing pets. “At least here, Darice can wear herself out in a manner that leaves Realm’s paintbrushes alone.”

“An’ we always meet up in this here park for our Pony pet Playdates,” Applejack pointed out.

“Wait, you do?” Rainbow blinked.

“Sure, same time every week,” AJ nodded again.

“I thought she knew,” Fluttershy said, then looked panicked. “You didn’t know? She didn’t know?”

Twilight chose to interject. “Well we were initially planned on inviting Rainbow but…”

“We were totally gonna invite you, Rainbow,” Pinkie piped up. “Then Twilight remembered that you don't even have a pet, and Rarity remembered that you really like to take naps in the afternoon, so Applejack figured you wouldn't be missing out on anything anyway, and Fluttershy and I nodded our heads in agreement like this.” She nodded her head up and down and made Fluttershy do the same.

“...Really?” Aspect deadpanned.

“Oh please don’t be mad at us,” Fluttershy cowered.

Rainbow shrugged, playing it cool. “Oh, I'm not mad. You all are right. Not much point of a Pony Pet Playdate for me if I'm a pony without a pet, right?”

“There’s...a really simple fix,” the stallion sighed.

“Well, if she don’t have a pet…” Applejack said as the others turned to start playing with their own.

“Hey, now wait a minute! Just because I don't have a pet now doesn't mean I never want a pet!” Rainbow got up out of her tree.

“And there’s the solution,” Aspect nodded once, before looking over to Fluttershy, before his eyes widened.

Never had he seen this demure, quiet mare so… excited. She was practically vibrating with joy as she grabbed Rainbow’s hoof.

“Ohh! Y-You, Oh, really? You really want a pet? Really? 'Cause I've got so many wonderful choices at my house! Oh, and I know you'll just love them! And they'll love you! Oh, and you'll be best friends forever and ever! Oh!” Her increasingly squeaky voice trailed off as she dragged the helpless Rainbow away.

“And there she goes,” Aspect chuckled. “Hmm. Rarity, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to at least make it up to Opal for what Darice did.”

“Oh? Whatever do you mean darling?” Rarity asked as she brushed her darling kitty. Opal wearing her ‘perpetually pissed off’ look.

“Believe it or not, I actually was a cat person in another life,” Aspect replied. “My family owned three. I learned how to deal with a cat. With your permission?”

“Hmm, well if you think you can,” Rarity as the others looked on. Only Fluttershy was able to touch Opal. “I give you fair warning darling.”

“Very well,” Aspect said as he approached the cat and simply sat in front of her, letting her get used to his presence first. And to begin with, he…

He snubbed her?

The cat blinked. Was this stallion a moron? How dare he ignore her presence! She walked up to him and meowled loudly. The stallion looked at her, before looking away again, instead focusing on the other pets playing together.

Then she climbed up onto his lap and put her paws on him, meowing again. He would pay her attention dammit!

The stallion looked down at her for a longer time...before looking up and ignoring her once more. Nearly…

Fine, it that’s the way he’d be. She sat down and stayed in his lap, purring louder to get his attentions again.

And then the hoof came out of nowhere and began rubbing behind her ears. Haha! She knew he couldn’t resist her as she purred victoriously, lapping up scritchies as a reward for her greatness.

“I… don’t actually believe it,” Rarity gasped.

“In order to get along with a cat, you have to think like a cat,” Aspect replied, still scratching the cat. “Now miss Opal, I am sorry about what Darice did. She doesn’t know better yet, though maybe you can teach her?”

Oh, she would teach that kitten some lessons on how to be a refined lady. Perhaps even something of a respectable pet, unlike that slobbery Winona or that snarky Angel brat.

“Though perhaps, just perhaps, your retribution was a bit over the top, considering she’s barely a year old?” Aspect pointed out to the cat. “And a Manticore besides.”

Silly stallion, there was no mercy for mistakes. And now the manticore knew better. She’d spent some time training her pony pet to cater to her whims after all.

“Mmm...Tell you what,” Aspect mused as he scratched the cat behind the other ear now. “You at least get her to stop eating my son’s paintbrushes, I’ll ask Rarity what sort of treats you like and get you some as a present.”

Hmm, a suitable offering for such a simple task. She meowed and hopped off of him, walking after Darice to lecture her on proper etiquette.

“I have no words…” Rarity said.

“Like I said, you have to think like a cat,” Aspect replied. “They’re haughty, aloof, and think they’re on top of the food chain—”

“Just like Rarity,” Pinkie giggled.

“—Ignoring them to draw them in, not playing by their game until they’re desperate for attention, and giving them an offering they like to perform a simple task, that’s how you deal with a cat,” Aspect finished. “We had a saying once. ‘You don’t have a pet cat. A cat has decided your home is interesting and moved in. There is no real way to tame a cat. A cat tames you.’”

“Ooh! What about alligators?” Pinkie asked, thrusting Gummy in his face. The alligator opened his toothless maw and gummed the stallion's nose.

“Mostly, we tried to avoid them,” Aspect replied as he stared cross-eyed at the alligator on his nose. “Ours weren’t toothless.”

“Neither are ours,” Twilight sighed. “I think Gummy is just special.”

“So… what kinda critter do y’all think RD will pick?” Applejack asked.

“Knowing her, probably something ‘awesome,’” Aspect replied as he watched the pets at play.

“Whut? So a pet Timberwolf or mebbe a dragon, jes ta show ya up?” AJ laughed.

“Kinda doubt the Timberwolf one,” the stallion mused. “She lives in a cloud house, after all.”

“Well, it'll be good to have all our fiends here,” Twilight smiled. “Oh. Does Bon Bon or Midnight have a pet?”

Honestly, he hadn't seen the latter for a few days now.

“Wouldn’t know about Midnight, she tends to be busy in Canterlot with guard work,” Aspect replied. “As for Bon Bon, does Lyra count?”

…

Elsewhere, Lyra paused in her playing as she frowned. It felt as though somepony just slighted her honor.

…

“Heehee, that was mean,” Twilight giggled as her pet owl landed on her back. “Well, shall we keep playing then?”

“Tag you're it!” Pinkie booped Aspect’s snout and bolted.

“Hmm,” the stallion mused. “Trying to tag Pinkie back is an exercise in futility, so…”

He reached over and booped Twilight on the nose before taking to the skies.

“Huh… what?” Twilight blinked and then stared up at Aspect. Oooh! That stallion! Fine, if that was how he wanted to play. “Game on!”

Bon Bon was used to Ponyville and it's antics. She expected a lot really.

So when Aspect and Twilight walked into her store, sweaty, disheveled and out of breath. Well… that confused her.

“What happened?” she asked, wondering if they'd done… “I mean, weren’t you at some pet thing?”

“Pinkie started a game of tag,” the stallion supplied.

“Aspect cheated… So I cheated back,” Twilight smirked. “If he was allowed to fly. I was allowed to teleport.”

“Eventually we included Applejack, because there was no way we could tag Pinkie, and Rarity wasn’t going to partake,” the stallion continued.

“Applejack is fast…” Twilight groaned as she collapsed onto the floor. “Urgh, I'm beat.”

“You need to get out more,” Bon Bon giggled as she helped the mare up. “You should join me for my morning exercises sometime.”

Twilight did not look amused at the idea of strenuous physical activity.

“It really is one of the better ways to keep up with all the running for your life you seem to do in Ponyville,” the stallion pointed out as he cracked his neck.

“I don’t run for my life that often,” Twilight defended herself.

“Then I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so’ the next time it happens,” the stallion smirked at her, ducking the swipe she took at his head.

“How often should one be running for their life?” Bon Bon asked. “Though somehow I think none of us are qualified to answer for normal ponies.”

“I’ll let you know the next time something happens,” Aspect cheekily answered.

“Boo!” Lyra popped up in front of him and… why was she soaking wet?

“Lyra, why are you wet?” Aspect dared to ask.

“Mmm, maybe cause I saw your fine flank~” she murred, giving him bedroom eyes.

Aspect facehooved as he groaned. “Shoulda seen it coming,” he muttered.

“Walked into that one,” Bon Bon agreed.

“I was actually swimming with my Seapony buddies,” Lyra explained. “But you still get me wet where it counts big boy~”

“Lyra,” Aspect said warningly.

“Oh lighten up,” Lyra said, before Bon Bon dragged her off as she sighed and shook her head.

“Well that was… interesting,” Twilight spoke. “I'm surprised you don't have her in your… whatever it is you have.”

“Not for a lack of trying on her part, but it’s probably just teasing on her end, and I’m not certain I can look at her like that,” the stallion replied.

“She's always been an odd one,” Twilight nodded. “I knew her back in school, but I don't think she really remembers.”

“There's iced tea in the fridge if you want some,” Bon Bon called out.

“Let’s have a chat, hmm?” Aspect asked as he sat in the living room. Twilight blinked, but sat down in a recliner.

“Okay?” she nodded. “About what? If it's about that prank, Mom already scolded me to Tartarus and back…”

“No, it’s a bigger question than that,” Aspect replied as he thought of how best to phrase it. “Twilight, do you actually see a possible relationship between us?”

She knew he'd bring this up eventually. She closed her eyes for a moment. “I… don't know Aspect. You're a nice stallion, don't get me wrong. You're smart, and likely the only pony around that could challenge me intellectually and magically… but…”

“Go on,” the stallion urged her.

“Being with you would also mean being with three other mares. One I don't know. One I barely know and the other is my best friend. Also, you're the father of Princess Celestia, my mentor and a second mother to me.” She looked at him and let out a breath. “I… I don't think I'm ready for a relationship so… complex.”

“That’s perfectly fair,” Aspect agreed. “And at the same time, I don’t feel like letting you go back to not having anypony to make you feel loved.”

“But that's where you're wrong,” Twilight smiled. “I feel very loved. I have my family. The Princesses and the most amazing friends. Then there's you, Realm… and all of yours. I may not have someone I can be physically intimate with. But I have no doubt that a lot of ponies love me and I love them back just as much.”

“Mmm...well, as long as you’re sure,” the stallion mused as he used his horn to remotely get them both a glass of iced tea. “And as long as you remember my door is never closed to you, no matter what you need.”

“Thank you, both for understanding and for the offer,” Twilight nodded and kissed his cheek. “And take good care of the mares you do have alright?”

“That’s the plan,” Aspect replied, nuzzling her back.

Bon Bon walked back in during this and saw the nuzzling, and she couldn’t help but tease. “Jeez, not even five minutes huh? You sure that play date only involved pets? Or maybe some petting of ponies too~”

“Eeep!” Twilight blushed and pulled away.

“There you go, making it complicated again,” Aspect replied, rolling his eyes.

“I’m just teasing,” Bon Bon giggled and bumped Twilight’s flank with her own.

“It’s, okay,” Twilight giggled as well. “I mean, I’m sure Aspect would be a lot worse if I let him.”

“You have nooo idea,” Bon Bon smiled.

“But you’ve already said you’re not interested at this time, so,” he smiled at the unicorn and gave Bon Bon a kiss. “I’ll simply reiterate that if you need or want anything, my door is open.”

“Hmm, someone’s being a gentlecolt all of a sudden,’ Bon Bon smiled and kissed him back. “So, how was your play date anyhow. Did Darice get enough exercise? She didn’t sting anyone did she?”

“Nobody got stung, though I think I made friends with Opal,” the stallion replied. “It helps to have owned three cats.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon smiled at his looking so proud over it. “Well I’m glad you had fun with your friends today. But where’s Rainbow? I thought she had the day off today?”

“She...wanted in on Pet Pony Playdates, so she’s with Fluttershy to get a pet,” Aspect explained.

“Are… you sure that’s a good idea?” Bon Bon asked hesitantly. “We’re talking about a mare that will forget to eat because she’s too excited about a new trick.”

“I’m sure Fluttershy will take that into account,” Aspect replied seriously. “Though I don’t know what sort of pet they’ll end up getting her.”

“Knowing Rainbow, something that’s winged and fast,” Twilight said. “Else it couldn’t live in her house.”

“I guess we’ll see,” Aspect mused, before nuzzling Bon Bon. “Okay then. Take care you two. I’ll escort Darice home.”

“Will do,” Bon Bon smiled and put something in her mouth, before giving him a chocolatey kiss. The stallion murred into the kiss, before pulling back and licking his lips.

“Mmm, tasty~” he cooed, before leaving and making sure to flick his tail. Something that did not go unappreciated by either mare.

Balanced Aspect had seen a lot of things in his days.

But a competition to see which was the best pet to suit Rainbow Dash? That… that was new.

“Is this...entirely necessary?” the stallion asked Pinkie Pie.

“Well, then Dashie would get the super ultimate bestest possible pet ever,” Pinkie nodded. “And it was Fluttershy’s idea as well.”

“...Darice basically chose me,” the stallion sighed. “I didn’t need a competition for that.” Just to swallow some ages-old fear of the species.

“And you’re telling Rainbow Dash to not do a competition on something?” The pink mare quipped back with a surprising amount of sarcasm.

“It’s basically making animals jump through hoops to prove themselves worthy of being your pet,” Aspect replied. “I wouldn’t do that to my own children, for example. Animals in Equestria are capable of understanding basic speech. If not for the fact that they’re willing participants in this, it might be very degrading.”

He was surprised she was picking a flamingo as a possible pet. Rainbow Awesome Dash… and her pretty pet flamingo…

That created an...interesting mental image. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. His amusing image was broken by Rainbow sounding a loud whistle.

“So! You all think you've got what it takes to be my pet, do ya?” She walked up and down the line like a drill sergeant. “Well, we'll just see about that! If any of you don't think you can handle it, bow out now before you humiliate yourself in front of your peers. This competition isn't for the weak. You'd better be prepared to step up your game! You call that flapping?! That's better. There's only room on Team Dash for one of you, and my future pet needs to be able to take it to the extreme! Any questions?”

“...Twilight, I would like to respond to your earlier comment,” Aspect said to the lavender mare. “No, I don’t think she’s ready.”

“Yeah I got one,” Applejack commented. “Does she even understand what a pet really needs?”

“Like care and attention, love and affection and…” An animal panted in her face, “Urgh… breath mints.”

Aspect saw Fluttershy nudging a little tortoise forwards. “Now just pay attention, try your best and—”

“Seriously, Fluttershy! The turtle? What did you bring that thing here for?” Rainbow groused.

Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Technically he's a tortoise, and he's always dreamed of being somepony's pet. He just wants a chance to compete, he won't get in the way. You won't even know he's here.”

“Welp,” Aspect sighed. “This...is going to go well, I don’t think.”

“No,” came Rainbow’s adamant reply.

“Oh, just let him try,” Fluttershy pleaded.

“Urgh, there is no possible way he can keep up, I mean, just look at him!” Rainbow poked him, knocking the reptile onto it’s back as it waved its legs in the air.

“It won’t hurt to let him try,” Fluttershy’s reply came, her eyes getting bigger.

“But—” Rainbow’s defense was pitiful. And Aspect saw the face she was up against as Fluttershy turned on the cute.

“Just let him try?” she said.

“Gaaaaaaack,” The stallion cried out, before falling on his side, one foreleg stuck up in the air before slowly sinking down to join the rest of him. That was it, he’d died by cute.

“Grrgh, ugh, fine!” Rainbow conceded. “But don't say I didn't warn you! This isn't a game, you know!” She ignored Aspect’s melodrama and turned back to the animals. “Alright, now these games will determine which one of you has the most important qualities I'm looking for in a pet. Speed. Agility. Guts. Style. Coolness. Awesomeness. And radicalness!”

Twilight tilted her head slowly. “Aren't those all the same thing?”

“You would think that,” Rainbow pet her on the head. “And that Twilight, is why you wouldn’t qualify to be my pet.”

Aspect snerked once from the ground. Oh boy. He’d be reminding her of that later.

“What?” Twilight asked as Rainbow moved away to begin the first test. “Got something to add funny guy?”

“Nothing for polite company,” the stallion said as he picked himself up, indicating Rarity with a jerk of his head.

Twilight just snorted and rolled her eyes as Rainbow put the pets through their paces. It was honestly more like a talent show than anything else. A race between them, shows of agility and even a sound off. Aspect had to admit that the screech of an eagle was always awesome. It was partly why he made the Griffons, after all.

“I still think the whole idea is degrading to them,” the stallion sighed.

Each pet had excelled in a different way. Even the tortoise had managed to win one by getting a toy away from Opal.

And then came the final test, a race against the mare herself through a place called Ghastly Gorge. It was an impressive piece of landscape and not one Aspect was familiar with.

“This is...new,” the stallion said as he looked down it one way, then the other. “And it looks pretty dangerous as well.”

“Actually, Ghastly Gorge isn't scary. It's fun.” Rainbow replied with a shrug. “Heh. I've flown through it a million times myself, so obviously I'll be at the front of the pack. But whichever of you make it across the finish line with me will have proven you can keep up with me, and will have earned the honor and glory of getting to be my pet! Ready? Setgo!” And with a burst of speed, she rocketed off into the canyon, leaving everypony else in the dust.

“...There is a fatal flaw in this plan,” Aspect noted aloud as every pet also began their trips down the gorge. “She can do a Sonic Rainboom when she pushes herself, not to mention the things a student of the Gale King can pull off.”

“Well yeah, ‘course Rainbow’s gonna win,” Applejack said as they started heading for the finish line. “So ah reckon it’ll jus’ be the first pet to cross after. Mah money’s on the eagle.”

“Not a bad line of thought,” Aspect admitted as he mused over it himself. “It’s really the only one there built for speed or endurance.”

“I think the owl is a good choice,” Twilight nodded. “They’re quick and highly agile.”

“I guess we’ll see,” the stallion shrugged as he sat near the ending line. They waited a good long while, but no-one had shown up yet.

“I hope the Quarray Eels didn’t give them any trouble,” Fluttershy commented.

“Quarray Eels?” Aspect asked. “...How big are these eels?”

“Oh? You don’t know them?” Fluttershy said. “They live in the stone walls, and can usually grow to about a hundred feet or so. Basically a legless, wingless adult dragon in terms of size. And their teeth can chew through solid granite. They’re really quite fascinating.”

“...And do they normally attack ponies that fly through their gorges?” Aspect asked with a faint twitch to one eye.

“Well, Rainbow’s never been harmed by them,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“...That’s not what I asked,” the stallion pointed out.

“Well they are highly territorial,” Fluttershy said and pat his withers. “But I wouldn’t worry. Rainbow wouldn’t needlessly risk her life like that.”

“I’m sorry, have you met Rainbow?” Aspect had to ask. “She tried putting generated lightning into a Sonic Rainboom without anyone around to try and catch her if it didn’t work out.”

“...Um, maybe you have a point?” she squeaked, backing away from the scary stallion.

“Hey, I can see them!” Twilight said as the falcon then raced past the finish line, followed by more and more of them.

All except the tortoise… and Rainbow.

“Okay, time to go in,” the stallion flared his wings.

“Hold up,” Applejack grabbed his tail in her mouth and pointed.

Further down the trail… a tortoise waddled oh so slowly towards them. With a banged up looking Rainbow on his back.

“That’s...better than I was expecting,” the stallion sighed. “...Huh. It’ll take them an hour to get here at that rate.”

“Maybe we’d better go and meet them halfway,” Fluttershy chuckled as they moved the finish line.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re not hurt!” Twilight said as she nuzzled the mare gently.

“Yeah… just my pride,” Rainbow blushed lightly, rubbing her bruised wing.

“What do you want to bet Nurse Redheart’s been keeping your bed reserved?” Aspect teased.

“Aww, don’t tell her, she’ll lecture me for hours,” Rainbow groaned.

“Well, your new pet’s waiting for you,” Fluttershy said as the falcon landed on Rainbow’s back. Admittedly, she did look pretty cool with the bird perched there.

“You got what you wanted, right?” Aspect asked her.

“Huh? Oh… right… yeah…” she said, not looking so sure.

“It can fly and it isn’t a squirrel,” Fluttershy pointed out. “It’s just what you wanted. We could always sing about it again?”

“A falcon sure looks good on ya, Rainbow,” Applejack added. Rarity pulled out a camera from somewhere and took a picture of Dash with a falcon on her back...which spooked the tortoise back into his shell.

“There there, it’s okay…” Rainbow coaxed him out of his shell. “Actually… remember what I said before? The pet that crosses the line with me would be the one I chose.”

Pinkie gasped. “She did say that!” the pink mare pointed out as she bounced around the group. “That’s what she said, that’s exactly what she said!”

“So when the rest of you all abandoned me when the avalanche struck…” Rainbow pointed out as the bird on her back looked embarrassed. “The tortoise was the one that stopped to rescue me.”

“But, what about the—” Twilight began to ask, only for the falcon to get off of Dash’s back and stand in front of the tortoise. It used one wing to shake one of the reptile’s legs, before walking away in shame. The tortoise looked up to Dash and...very slowly, began to smile.

“Would you look at that,” Applejack chuckled. “He even smiles slow.” The other ponies all shared a good laugh at that.

“Spike, take a letter!” Twilight smiled as the dragon pulled out a quill and some parchment. Only for Rainbow to speak up.

“I used to think that the most important traits to look for in a pet, or any best friend, were physical competitive ability. But now I can see how short sighted and shallow that was. Today I learned what the most important quality is. A certain kind of spirit. A stick-to-it-iv-ness. A never give up, can do attitude that’s the mark of a real winner. And this tortoise has it!”

“Tenacity,” Twilight added.

“Gesundheit,” Rainbow said idly. “You just can’t stop the little guy! He’s like a...like a tank!”

Aspect noted that for later. He’d ask about how she knew that word eventually.

“But Rainbow,” Fluttershy pointed out. “You didn’t want a pet because it would keep you grounded and hold you back remember?”

“Actually…” Twilight smiled that ‘Imma try Science!’ smile. “I have an idea~”

Aspect was sitting at the breakfast table, about to dig into a delicious plate of scrambled eggs that Bon Bon had made for him.

“Heads up!” Rainbow shouted from somewhere before something hard collided with the back of his head, sending him facefirst into his breakfast. And for a good few moments, the stallion just...lay there like that.

When he lifted his head, he saw that Rainbow’s pet tortoise, named Tank, was airborne. A little propeller strapped to his shell powered by some kind of crystal.

“...I’m going to blame the fact that no tortoise has flown before for that one,” Aspect said to the airborne reptile. “Just...try not to make a habit of it.”

It just looked at him as Rainbow flew into the room.

“Dashie,” Bon Bon said with a sigh. “What have I told you about flying inside the house?”

“...I forget,” she shrugged. “Anyways. I’m off for the day. Later guys!” And with that she flew out the door, only for them to hear a thud, and some muffled squeaks of protest from the pegasus mare. Aspect raised an eyebrow and got up to check.

Rainbow was on the ground and out for the count, her fur and mane mussed up as Midnight licked her lips and turned to face Aspect.

“Oh, hello,” she said and gave him a fanged smile.

“Hello yourself, here for the day?” he asked her. He looked her over and noted a few things. First she had some scratches under her coat that he knew had been much worse before they were magically healed. Using a sword meant he’d suffered similar injuries.

She also had a small notch in her left ear, and a very slight limp in her left hind leg as she walked.

“For a few,” she replied. “I have er… what is word? …oh yes! ‘Paid holiday’. So I thought to come here.”

“Well you won’t find me complaining,” the stallion replied as he walked over to Midnight and kissed her on the cheek. “And later, you’ll tell me what you fought to get those injuries,” he whispered.

“A beast of Chaos make,” she replied without a hint of worry. “Do not fret stallion, I am well and whole… mostly.” She looked up at her ear. “Or, is my body ugly to you now?”

“You will never not be beautiful,” Aspect replied honestly. “Though, if you wanted, I could put you back to what you were beforehoof. Just offering it to you in case that limp was bothering you.”

“I will heal in time,” she replied. “It comes with my duty, a single Kelpie will not get the best of me.”

“Bleh, one of Discord’s fouler crimes,” the stallion stuck his tongue out. “They used to be Seaponies.”

“This one was most bothersome,” she sighed. “It had an odd slime-like armour that made it hard to cut. Freezing it worked though.” She shook a hoof, as if remembering a bad memory. “I believe my Princess called it… Smooze?”

“...Remind me to take a trip to Mount Gloom sometime,” the stallion shuddered. “That stuff is supposed to be imprisoned there.”

“How was it imprisoned?” Midnight asked as she was led inside.

“The Flutterponies, a race that doesn’t exist anymore, used their magic to send it all back to where it came from and worked a binding spell so that as long as the mountain stood, it would serve as that gunk’s prison. I may or may not have worked a few dozen runic enchantments on the mountain to make sure that stuff stayed sealed until the end of days...or until we had Flutterponies again. I could take that form if I had to...but one Flutter does not an Utter Flutter make.”

“...What?” Midnight tilted her head as Bon Bon placed breakfast in front of her, earning her a deep kiss as thanks that left the earth mare a little breathless. Okay, watching that was kind of hot.

“There would need to be at least one-hundred Flutterponies to unleash their ultimate power, the ability to send back evil with their magical wind,” Aspect explained, barely fighting down his wingboner. “And depending on the size of the outbreak of Smooze, you might even need more than that. A proper kaleidoscope of Flutters is at least five-hundred strong.”

“Interesting,” Midnight commented as she tucked into her food, her ears giving a happy little wiggle.

“Yeah, well, I just have the form of a Flutter, it’s not like I can actually do anything on my lonesome,” the stallion sighed. “And it’s really...they were good friends, you know? And I left them Dream Valley to take care of. I left them to the great freeze. They probably died cursing my name.”

Midnight moved around the table and laid a wing over him, nuzzling his side.

“Aspect?” Bon Bon asked. “Do you have some time this morning?”

“Hmm…” the stallion mused as he thought about it. “I can put off the weather work until afternoon.”

“Well, we should leave now then,” she replied. “We have a long walk ahead of us.”

“Oh...kay?” Aspect finished off his breakfast, gave Midnight a nuzzle, and walked over to Bon Bon. “Lead the way, then.”

“Midnight, can you revive the dead pegasus you left on our doorstep?” Bon Bon asked as she picked up a bag and placed it over her withers.

“If I must,” the mare chuckled. “Hurry back. I have a craving for a certain stallion~” She gave Aspect a smouldering look as she licked her fangs.

“Why do I get the feeling this is not going to end well?” the stallion shuddered as he followed Bon Bon. “That or wonderfully well. Could go either way.”

“With her, that is a real fear,” Bon Bon agreed as she led him away.

It had been a few hours now, as Bon Bon led Aspect deeper and deeper into the mountains. They were effectively in the middle of nowhere now, as nature surrounded them for miles on all sides.

“Okay, I’m willing to admit I’m lost,” Aspect spoke up.

“Well that’s not hard, not with your sense of direction,” Bon Bon teased him as she looked at her compass, then pulled out a map to double check. “You could get lost in your own house if I recall.”

“That was before I got familiar with it,” the stallion replied. “I’ve been everywhere. Except the attic. In any case, more often than not, what I was really heading for were landmarks and hard to miss. In the rare instance I did have to storm a castle, they were generous enough to lay out the throne room near the entryway, as though they wanted to sweep down the steps and intimidate their guests.”

“Well… this place is hard to find for a reason,” Bon Bon said as she led him through a narrow pass, until they reached a dead end, a curved cliff face as the mare smiled and wiped her brow. “Aha! We’re finally here!”

“And for our troubles, we find... a wall,” the stallion deadpanned.

“Ironic, coming from you of all ponies,” Bon Bon chuckled as she took out was looked like a head mounted magnifying glass. “Not everything is as it seems. Stop looking with your eyes Aspect.”

“Okay, what am I supposed to do with this?” the stallion asked as he gingerly took it from her and held it up to his own head, unsure of how to put it on.

She rolled her eyes and slipped it over his head, the lens falling over his right eye. He saw that it was a lacroma. A special lens that could let you see magical pulses and the like.

And there was a ton of magic focused almost right in front of him. A gateway with a powerful seal that seemed to only keep things out.

“...Okay...so there’s something beyond the cliff face,” he mused.

“Can you shrink us down?” Bon Bon asked and gestured with her hooves. “About the size of a hummingbird should be fine.”

“I...maybe?” Aspect blinked. “I’ll try it on myself to see if it works, then I’ll use it on you.” He briefly grew a horn before seemingly vanishing right into the grass where he used to be standing.

“Aspect?” Bon Bon said outloud. “Are you there?”

There was a sound, before a very tiny alicorn stallion flew out of the grass and perched on her muzzle. She went cross-eyed looking at him. Oh by the gods, he was absolutely adorable~

“Like this?” she heard a high, squeaky voice.

“So… cute…” Bon Bon squeaked out, wanting to cuddle it. He could fit in with the rest of her PonyCraft figures so well.

“I don’t see why I need to be this small,” the stallion continued.

“You’ll see soon,” she whispered as not to deafen him. “Now, shrink me too. Trust me, you’ll like this.”

The stallion rolled his eyes, before tapping a hoof onto Bon Bon’s muzzle.

The perspective change actually staggered her a little bit as she was suddenly not any larger than the grass she was standing on a moment ago. Aspect swooped out of the sky and landed in front of her, folding his wings up and shaking his head. “So, why are we tiny again?”

Bon Bon tapped a hoof as she made a flower rise up with her Geomancy, raising the two up a few feet. “Okay,” she said in the most adorable voice. “Now, can you call out to them from beyond here?”

“Call out to who?” the stallion asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Your friends the Flutters of course.”

Aspect sighed. “I...don’t know why you brought me out here for this. But...fine. If it amuses you.” He cleared his throat before calling out. “Wherefore art thou, Flutterponies? What light through yonder window breaks?”

The was nothing for a moment, before a faint light shimmered from the cliff face, the very air rippling.

“It is the east,” a voice answered from beyond the veil. “The light of the Sunstone!”

To say Aspect was stunned was an understatement. He was on his flank, one hoof pointing at the light and gawping at the correct answer.

Bon Bon smiled at the stallion’s reaction as she drew the flower closer to the light. They were drawn inside, and a whole other world awaited him.

And a swarm of teeny tiny butterfly winged ponies.

“Balanced Aspect,” Bon Bon said as sh swept a hoof out. “I’d like you to meet the Breezies. Also formerly known as the Flutterponies.”

Aspect actually choked up at this, before he flashed himself.

And now he too had butterfly wings like them, hovering into the air as he looked around himself. “I...I thought you were all gone after the great freeze,” he murmured.

One Breezie approached him. “You should come with us,” he said. “She is waiting.”

“Of course,” Aspect nodded once. “I...this is…” he turned to Bon Bon. “Thank you.”

“Go on,” she said. “I’m a pony, so I’m not allowed past this point. Go and see what they have to show you.”

Aspect smiled, flew down, pecked her on the cheek to show his thanks, before darting back up and bowing to the one that spoke. “By your lead,” he intoned.

The Breezie led him through their little village. It was hidden in a powerful Pocket Dimension. Even Aspect wouldn’t be able to create something of this magnitude. This took behind the impossible. Much like him, but this reality marble seemed… pure. Untainted by chaos. Gravity was a little lighter, if only to make it easier to move around.

He was led to a large hut, no bigger than a doll’s house to his true size. Inside, he was met with a most familiar face, not having aged a day since the last time he saw her.

The Flutterpony Queen, Rosedust.

“R...Rosedust,” he bowed to her. “I never expected to see you again.”

“Nor I you, my dear Gale,” she smiled as she floated down to him. “It has been an age and a half since I laid eyes upon you. You got old I see~”

“Yes, well, that’s what happens when you try to set up an entirely new country...and then wander for a millennium,” the stallion sighed, before perking up. “Oh, I...have something you gave me. I think it’s time I give it back to you.”

“Oh?” the Breezie hummed. “And what might that be?”

Aspect shrugged his saddlebags off, before rooting around in the left one with half his body. After about thirty seconds, he pulled out something very familiar to Rosedust.

It was, after all, only her charge back in Flutter Valley. The Sunstone.

“I thought I would never lay eyes upon it again,” she breathed as she ran a tiny hoof across it’s surface. “I am gladdened to see it still whole and safe. I knew entrusting it to you was the right thing.”

“You have no idea how sad I was when I went back to Dream Valley, Paradise Estates...Flutter Valley, and saw...nothing after the great freeze,” Aspect said as he gently put it on the ground. “Not a single flower. The only things left standing the buildings that we’d all fled. I wept for you all.”

Rose sighed as she sat down next to him, her long, gossamer wings trailing behind her like a colorful cloak. “We tried oh so hard, to see the Valley safe,” she said. “But they were too numerous, too powerful. We… lost a great many that time. If it weren’t for the actions of one, we’d have been lost completely.”

“Then I am glad you all are here,” Aspect replied. “I had...words with Gelgeth and his sons. They won’t be trying to freeze the world again anytime soon. It’s...all still there.”

The Breezie in the room had tensed up at the mention of that name. Seems some old wounds were still not forgotten.

“Yes well… they say forgiveness is divine,” Rosedust said calmly. “But what I would not give to see them on the receiving end of an Utter Flutter or three.”

“Bearing in mind they, too, have a charge in this world,” the stallion pointed out. “It is their job to guard the frozen north, and the gates of Nifelheim, where all the souls of past Aspects are imprisoned. Were you to thin their numbers...the dead might walk again. Moreso now that Grogar has joined them.”

“It was just an idle fancy,” Rosedust said and put his hoof on the Sunstone. “Now, I leave this with you. We have made do here and you may still need it’s guiding warmth someday. This stone’s home is the Valley, not here.”

“I will return it to where it should be, on one condition, your majesty,” Aspect replied.

Rosedust just nodded at him.

“One day, you and yours will return to your home as well,” Aspect said. “One day, the world will see the many colors of ponies again. Earth, Pegasi, Unicorns, Thestrals, Seapony...and Flutterpony.”

“I have always dreamed of that day, and still do,” Rosedust nodded as a commotion outside made itself known. “Oh dear,” she giggled. “Seems our friend, the one that saved us, has learned you’re here.”

“Uhoh…” Aspect gulped as he tucked the Sunstone back in his saddlebags, before slipping them on again. “Should I be worried?”

“Maybe,” Roseduct giggled and floated back to her throne. “She can be quite ornery at times.”

Then the doors burst open as a butterfly winged unicorn strone it. Unlike the spindly Breezies, she looked more like Aspect, a shrunken pony with wings. And he knew her at first sight.

The Wish Giver.

Twilight Twinkle.

“T-Twilight?” the stallion breathed. “H...How?!”

She strode over to him and looked him up and down. “Huh… since when did you prefer a pony form?” she quipped. She looked older, perhaps a little more than Twilight Velvet in years.

“Since all the other humans left,” the stallion riposted. “The Diplomat went across the rainbow. What remained of the human kingdoms left in a ship across the ocean. Even the Moochick’s home vanished one day, and he was technically a gnome! When it became just ponies...I became a pony too.”

“Hmm, when in Rome,” she commented. “Well, it’s good to see you nonetheless. And here I thought you forgot about lil old me.”

“How could I forget about the pony that was so generous as to give up her wish, so that others could still wish upon the stars?” Aspect chuckled. “Seems you’ve gotten strong in your age, little Twinkle.”

“Bah,” she blushed at the nickname. “Well, somepony had to help the Flutters. Cost was high… but I did it.”

“And well on you for doing it,” the stallion praised her. “Now...what did it cost you?”

“Everything,” she said and looked around. “This… reality was created by their joint wish and my magic. It’s impervious from the outside, completely disconnected. Even Discord himself can’t get in unless we allowed it.” She turned to him. “As a cost to keep this place. I have to remain here. I can never leave. As long as I exist, so will this place. And my magic is gone forever… But,” she looked away. “I saved them Christopher. No matter the cost, that alone was worth it.”

“...This will not stand,” the winged stallion huffed as he spread his butterfly wings, runes cascading in the air. “I will not let you exist as a shade of yourself. I will give you the happy ending you deserve for your age-long vigil, without sacrificing anything. I do not wield Majesty’s majesty for nothing!”

“Aspect…” Twilight backed up. “What the hell are you doing? If something happens to me, this haven will vanish!”

The Sunstone was yanked out of the stallion’s saddlebags as a runic script started glowing in the air. “From one to another, another to one. Let this mare’s vigil be done. She has saved the Flutters, kept them from the world’s eye. Now it is time she spread her wings and fly!”

There was a wave of golden light as the half-runic, half-Sorcery washed through the pocket dimension…

And when the magic passed, Twilight Twinkle could feel two very distinct things.

One, her magic. It was back.

And two...the reality bubble she’d created was...still in place?

She blinked slowly as the Flutters gazed fearfully at their little paradise. It was… still here?

“W-What…” Twilight’s horn flickered softly. “What on earth did you do?”

“S-Sorry, m’lady Rosedust,” Aspect wobbled on his hooves. “But...I canna bring the Sunstone back. It’s...your anchor now. But...if you bring it back yourself...the bubble will move to Flutter Valley. Wherever the Sunstone is when the sun sets is where your bubble is.” Seemed that working took a lot out of him.

“Honestly… you damned, fool-headed, idiotic, amazing stallion,” Twinkle sighed as she leaned against him to hold him up. “One of you let that other mare in. She won’t harm this place. And you, get some water for him. This moron just burned himself out with that.” She sighed and looked at him. “Honestly… always have to be the hero don’t you?”

“Couldn’t just do nothing,” the stallion muttered as he focused an eye on her. “Y’er my friend, Twinkle. You did a good thing. I...I had ta save ya too. It’s about time Karma paid its debt to you.”

“You’re still the fool… and I guess I’ll have to thank you,” she rolled her eyes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

“Jus’...just give me a few hours, I’ll be right as rain,” he chuckled. “You’ll be free to do what you will then, I’ll get out of your mane.”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll just comeback with you?” she mused.

“Seriously?” Bon Bon squeaked as she walked in. Getting mad in that voice just made her cuter. “Ten minutes and you seduce one of them. Why am I not surprised?”

“Hm, seems you haven’t changed then,” Twilight chuckled and nudged him. “He had half the mares in Dream valley pining after him. Not that the dense fool knew it.”

“Jus’ doin’ mah job,” the stallion muttered as he pushed himself up on his hooves. “Oh! Bonnie! This is Twilight Twinkle, the Wish Granter, allllllll the way from Dream Valley! She’s the reason this whole thing stayed put! But now I went and made it the Sunstone’s job to hold them all together. Best idea, really. Keeps them safe, recharges on sunlight...so now she’s got her magic back and is free!”

“Still needs somepony to watch out for them,” Twilight replied. “‘Sides, I don’t know that world out there. Nor nopony in it.”

“Aww, Twinkle, you remember little Celly and Lulu?” he chuckled. “They’s proper Alicorns now. They move da sun and moon and run a whole country!”

“You put those cheeky brats in charge of a country?” Twinkle laughed heartily. “How is the world not fire and brimstone? Or at least overrun with cake and candy.”

“Theys not that bad,” the stallion slurred. “Oh! The whole reason we came all da way out here. Dere was a monster with that damn...gunk as armor. Bonnie, what was da name…”

Bonnie gently eased the stallion down as a cute Breezie mare brought him some water. “Sit, rest. Let the mare’s talk okay?”

“But is important…” the stallion whined before drinking a bit of the water.

“A friend of ours, fought a Kelpie. It’s a type of undead equine with water magic,” she explained. “Apparently it wore Smooze as armor.”

“Well… props to your friend for defeating it,” Twinkle nodded. “Still, after the Flutters became Breezies. The seal might have weakened. Or…”

“I put a do...a do...twelve extra seals on the volcano after I killed the witches,” Aspect offered. “They won’t be makin’ any more of that. Took their spellbook too, and burned their portraits.”

“Thorough,” Twinkle sighed. “But even so… This ‘Kelpie’ was it? Sounds like one of Grogar’s creations. And mixing monsters? Only one foul being could do that.”

“Discord,” Bon Bon hissed. “He escaped not too long ago. He was sealed soon after… but even a moment is enough for him.”

“He could have released some,” Twinkle agreed. “Not enough to overrun, but still cause a little havoc.”

“Y’know what I don’t like about this?” Aspect pointed out. “He hadta know that if I heard about Smooze getting out, and you knew where the Flutters were...that we’d come here. We’re...we’re playing into his claw.”

“Perhaps,” Twinkle nodded. “Or is as you said. Karma was due to swing around to our side for a while.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind seeing more Flutters...but maybe that’s what Discord wants too,” Aspect mused. “Then we hafta ask why he would want them back. Or you back.”

“Provided he knew as much as you say,” Twinkle said. “How would he know that this mare knew of us? Or that I am even here? Relax Gale. Your burnout is messing your head up.”

“No, no it isn’t,” the stallion shook his head. “Cause...cause he knew to sic the Bugbear on Bonnie.”

“Bug… bear?” Twinkle blinked at the mare.

“Don’t ask,” she shuddered. “Let’s say a few scrapes was the best outcome, death a close second. It would only get worse after that.”

“So yeah...he knew Bonnie was some sort of secret agent for Celly that dealt in weird monster knowledge. So he finds one of Grogar’s Kelpies and takes a little Smooze from the volcano to give it armor...cause he knows that with the both of us finding out about it at the same time, we come here. Was...was he hoping I would just let the Flutters loose, undo all your hard work? Or did he want you in particular to come out?” He drank more of the water before continuing. “Problem with thinkin’ like Discord. In his head, two plus two equals banana.”

“Mhm,” Twinkle replied. “Now calm yourself. He’s sealed away. We’re reunited. I think we can afford to relax a little don’t you?”

“Oh, he has ways of relaxing,” Bon Bon hummed, nuzzling him.

“H’oh?” Twinkle’s eyes sparkled. “Well lookit who finally went native after all this time eh?”

“Stuff it,” the stallion muttered as he sighed. “Okay...so. Rosedust, do you think you can manage trying to move the Sunstone on your own now?”

“I can certainly try,” Rosedust nodded. “And I think you should spend the night here with us. It has been such a long time. Let us feast to celebrate.”

“Would love to...but can’t,” the stallion sighed. “I’ve got a pretty thestral waiting at home for me, she’ll only wait for so long.” He turned to Twilight Twinkle and cocked an eyebrow. “You know, my adopted son sealed himself in a Pictomancy Portrait to make it to when Pictomancy was practiced again. He’s got a thousand years to catch up on, you’re not the only one who missed out that I could potentially help.”

“Hmm, well we shall see,” Twinkle chuckled. “If you can stand having an old busybody like me around.”

“She really does look like Twilight huh?” Bon Bon whispered to Aspect. The stallion snorted once and dug around in his left saddlebag, before pulling out a trail-mix bar he’d made for himself and biting into it.

“It might not be the most tasty thing,” he said between bites, “But it’s got energy, which is what my body needs right now. I eat about...five of these on the road back, my magic and physical energy will be filled up again.” He turned to Rosedust and bowed. “I would not be adverse to seeing you all again sometime,” he promised the queen of the Flutters. “Perhaps one day the world will have six tribes once more?”

“Perhaps,” she nodded. “You shall see us again soon. Our migration is coming up, so be sure to watch out for us alright?”

“Okay then,” Aspect finished off his bar and turned to Bon Bon. “I think I improved on the gift you gave me,” he teased her.

“Hmm?” Bon Bon tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“You just wanted to show me the Flutters,” he elaborated. “I gave their warden freedom and gave them a new mission to carry out on their migrations, what with binding the Sunstone to the place and making it so wherever it is, is their sanctuary. They get it back to their old home, the whole valley will disappear into a bubble like this one.”

“Huh… I think I get it?” Bon Bon shrugged. “Well in any case, if we want to get home before nightfall, we should likely leave soon.”

“Yeah, it’s probably best,” the stallion nodded once as he clambered to his feet, before looking around at the assembled Flutterponies. “Take care, all of you. Each one of you is precious.”

“As are you,” Rosedust nodded and smiled. “Take care dear friend. May the sun guide your path, and the breeze lift your wings.”

“May the world be brightened for your presence, much like you lift my heart,” he replied, bowing low to the ground.

“Enough,” a breeze lifted him. “Friends do not bow to friends,” Rose chided him. “Now, you come back again soon alright? You will be welcome here always.”

“If you say so,” the stallion replied. “Take care.” He turned to Bon Bon and Twinkle as his wings flapped. “Shall we?”

“Oh? Am I to come with you?” Twinkle asked innocently.

“If you want,” the stallion offered. “Plenty of room still at my place.”

“Ah buck it, I could do with a vacation,’ the mare mused. “And I wouldn’t mind seeing what you pass off as life for a while.”

“Aspect,” Bon Bon shook her head. “Can’t we go anywhere without you taking home strays?”

Aspect got a wicked idea as he whispered something into Twinkle’s ear, before sitting in front of Bon Bon with the unicorn mare just behind him. “Bonnie, she followed me home, can I keep her?”

“What about your pet bat?” Bonnie teased him right back. “Good try, but I live with Lyra remember? You’re gonna have to try harder than that.”

“Darn it, well I’m out of ideas Twinkle,” the stallion turned to her.

“Hmm, maybe you just need an older mare’s… experience~,” she said in a husky tone that could put Midnight to shame as she trailed a hoof down his chest.

“...Bonnie, please say we can keep her,” Aspect pled with his mare.

“Hahah, you’re as much fun to mess with as always,” Twinkle mused as Bon Bon just facehooved. Seems weirdness was a requirement to be friends with Aspect. “Like you could even keep up little colt. Now come on, we have a world to explore.”

“Just follow us back to the house for now,” Aspect said as he began flying a little ways, only to pick up Bon Bon and begin heading back to where they’d entered the pocket dimension.

Once outside, they retook their real sizes, only Twinkle looked a bit unsteady.

“Goodness,” she said dizzily. “How can you stand feeling so… heavy?”

“Maybe take it easy until you’re used to your normal weight again?” the stallion offered as he knelt down, giving her access to his back if she wanted to hitch a ride back to town.

Bon Bon took over though, she was an earth pony and he still needed to recover his energy.

“So, what’s the world been up to for a thousand years?” Twinkle asked. “Any notable changes I should be aware of?”

“Well, the country we’re taking you back to is Equestria, run by Celly and Lulu,” Aspect hummed. “The whole ‘tribal fervor’ has mostly died down, though you will still find pockets of it here and there. The Windigoes at least don’t show up anymore thanks to the unity of the pony tribes. Oh, and I might have spawned a half-dozen magical children and a few species entirely.”

“My oh my, you certainly don’t do things half measure do you?” Twinkle said and then paused. “Would one of those be Griffons by chance?”

“How did you know?” Bon Bon gasped.

“He always did have a love for them from those books that Megan would bring,” Twinkle explained.

“Them and phoenixes,” the stallion agreed. “Which is the other species I created. I’ve still got a bit of Arabus in me, waiting to find a worthy Griffon to make the new Air Aspect, but everything else has been rehoused.”

“So, still hanging on to old Arabus eh?” Twinkle chuckled. “Bet he’s a lot of fun these days.”

“Not so much,” the stallion groused. “In any case...much of everything else you can read about. It’d probably be a good idea if I read up on some of it, as a matter of fact.”

“Hmm, been a loooong time since I had a good old study session,” Twinkle said. “And you mentioned little Realm as well? I can’t wait to see him.”

“He’s barely changed...well, except for the horn sticking out of his head,” the stallion chuckled.

“H’oh? He’s a unicorn now?” she blinked. “How’d that happen?”

“Alicorn, he still has his wings,” Aspect explained. “He created a portal between the painted world and the real world, one that anypony could use, and nearly died doing it. Effort is rewarded these days. Had your little spell happened a few years later, you might be sporting the upgrade yourself.”

“Hah, like I’d know what to do with feather dusters strapped to my back,” she chuckled. “A Flutter spell is fine enough for me dear boy.”

“Eh, suit yourself,” the stallion shrugged.

“So, has your place calmed down over the centuries?” Twilight asked him. “Or is it as crazy as ever?”

And at that, Bon Bon started to laugh… hard.

“Eh…” the stallion thought about it. “Well, Celly and Lulu are moved out, mostly. But I have some new boarders that...well, they’ve certainly upped the ante, I’ll tell you that much.”

“Do I even want to know?” Twinkle asked, looking with concern at the giggling earth pony mare.

“Let’s just say we’re the stuff of myth, and the ones that study it are...eccentric,” Aspect offered.

“...what?” Twinkle blinked.

“Oh, she’s going to love Twilight,” Bon Bon chuckled, only confusing the older mare even further.

“Just keep in mind one simple fact before we get there,” the stallion offered. “Everypony who lives in Ponyville is crazy.”

“Oh… wonderful,” Twinkle deadpanned as the trio resumed their trek home.

Author's Note

Gen 1, meet the modern day...

Like the story? Consider dropping me and Aus a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to paying his internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent catching them all, again.

Chapter 42 - What lies above

“...You certainly don’t do things half-measure do you?” Twinkle said as she looked at the enormous household/mansion. “Honestly Christopher. Can you simply not do small?”

“I didn’t pick this house out for myself,” the pegasus replied. “Celly foisted it on me and now I’m attached to the place.”

“And of course, you couldn’t just… oh I don’t know? Sell it and get another?” Twinkle’s deadpan gave Aspect a run for his money.

“After all the effort put into making this place a home instead of a dilapidated house?” the stallion countered. “Plus, I can actually hang all of Realm’s Pictomancy pictures up in here.”

“Ah, he did make quite the number didn’t he?” Twinkle nodded as Bon Bon opened the door and promptly ducked as a pegasus mare flew over her head and tackled Aspect to the ground instead.

“Oh, hello there,” he greeted her. “I’m back from my little adventure.”

“So I noticed,” Rainbow hummed and nuzzled him. “Also, nice reflexes Bonnie.”

Bon Bon nodded her head in thanks as Rainbow spied Twinkle on her back. “Hey, who’s the old mare?” she asked.

“Hey, who’s the little whelp that’s about to get her flank kicked?” Twinkle fired back.

“Rainbow Dash, meet Twilight Twinkle,” the stallion introduced from his position on the ground. “She’s one of my old friends. Twinkle, this is Dash. The fastest pegasus alive.”

“Huh… I bet Hurricane or Firefly would giver her a run for her money,” Twinkle teased.

“What!?” Rainbow puffed herself up. “Please, Hurricane’s cool and all, but I could fly circles around her!”

“She also has enough ego that she could inflate a hot air balloon, so please stop poking it,” Aspect spoke as he crawled to his hooves.

“Haha, so almost exactly like your Hurricane then,” Twinkle chuckled. “That reminds me, she ever get that wish of hers? You know, getting you in the sack to get a worthy heir?”

Bon Bon and Rainbow both turned to look at him.

“No,” the stallion replied bluntly. “She did not. One second she was nice to me, the next she was dropping a lightning bolt on me. She could not have been sending more mixed signals if she were trying about it.”

“Oh dear, somepony never read up on Pegasus courtship rituals,” Twinkle chuckled. “Well, let’s stop standing around out here and get inside already.” She got off of Bon Bon and took a few shaky steps inside, only to bump into another pony that had heard their arrival. A little pinto colt.

Realm just sat on his flank and gawped at Twinkle, pointing a hoof at her as his brain tried to form words.

“Christopher?” Twinkle called out. “Your boy has a horn… and I think he forgot how to talk? Is he brain damaged now?”

“Give him credit, Twinkle,” the stallion replied as he followed her in, only stopping to put the stunned colt on his back. “He thought he was the only one to make it through the ages to be with me again.”

“Ah, I suppose you have a point,” Twinkle nodded and looked at Realm. “Well that’s not fair. I got older and he’s now an immortal twelve-year-old? Where’s the justice?”

“He’ll grow up eventually,” the stallion rolled his eyes. “He’s just not going to need your techniques to remain after a hundred years or so.”

“Ah, fair point,” she nodded and looked at him. “Well, come on kiddo. Yes it’s really me. I was with the Flutter ponies, or what’s left of them anyway.”

“The Flutters are still around?!” Realm squeaked.

“In one form or another,” she nodded. “Being looked away in a reality bubble for a thousand years can change one so. But yes, they live on. Though the only original one left is Rosedust.”

“And look, we’re home in time for dinner, so Twinkle can tell you all about it over some nice cooking,” Aspect said to the colt on his back. “Bonnie?”

“I walk all that way, and now I’m expected to cook for everypony too?” Bon Bon said, looking rather offended. “Honestly Aspect…”

The stallion walked over and gave her a passionate kiss, making sure to hold nothing back.

“I was just joking,” she mused once the kiss broke. “But don’t think you can just snuggle your way out of every time you get into trouble.”

“He still gets into trouble often?” Twinkle asked.

“He’s Christopher… what do you think?” Bon Bon giggled as she went to fetch her apron.

Twinkle giggled as she spied a painting and some ponies that had her back to her. One in particular was familiar. With a smirk, she crept closer and once she was up to it and…

“Look at the pretty little warmare,” she said outloud.

“Pretty?!” Hurricane shouted back. “I’m rugged! And don’t you...for...Twinkle?!”

“Hey there gorgeous,” Twinkle waved. “Guess who isn’t dead.”

“How?! You were one of the few that stayed behind when the Windigoes came! How did you survive?!”

“That is a tale even you might find ‘badflank’,” Twinkle made airquotes with her hooves. “You have Chris here to thank for my newfound freedom.”

“Bonnie led me to her and I pulled of a magical combination of runes and sorcery to cut her ties while still leaving that place intact,” Aspect replied. “It might be a little marble of a place, but it has its purposes, and I’d really rather leave in intact.”

“Honestly, next you’re going to tell me you can pull another miracle out of your flank and bring back someone else from that era,” the mare groused as she folded her hooves.

“Don’t tempt him,” Twinkle chuckled. “Unless that little whelp Starry made that time travel spell like he dreamed of.”

“Eh, but only for a bit,” the mare waved a wing. “It’s nothing like a bridge, more like a brief visit back. And apparently you can only use it so much.”

“Knowing Chris as I do…” Twinkle winked at him. “He’d find a way to cheat.”

“After Grogar?” Chris replied, before shaking his head. “No. Let the dead rest. I’m all for finding out my friends aren’t dead, but I’m not going to try and cheat death to get them back. I’ve seen where that path leads, and I’m not fond of following in the goat’s hoofsteps.”

“Good answer,” Twinkle nodded as delicious smells started to waft from the kitchen. “So, did all of the Painted ponies survive? Or just snippy old feather dusters?”

“Celly saved them all, I brought them back, and Realm’s been painting up a storm ever since he came out of his little time capsule,” the stallion replied. “No new painted ponies, but he has embraced his new calling. For a while I thought he was going to try and be a knight, but he seems to mold more readily to the new era than I do.”

“The advantage of youth,” Twinkle chuckled. “It’s not so easy for us old fogies.” They headed for the kitchen when Bon Bon called them as Twinkle raised a new question. “So, Bon Bon is your marefriend yes?”

Aspect paused for a moment before going for broke. “One of.”

Twilight Twinkle paused and was speechless for a few moments, before she uttered a word. “Elaborate.”

“...Bon Bon and Dash pulled me into a herd arrangement, and later I added another pony to it,” the stallion simplified.

Twilight Twinkle just blinked slowly and stared at him. It was a good two minutes before she spoke again.

“And here I thought only stars could grant miracles…”

“Oh, if you want a miracle, you have to try Bon Bon’s cooking, especially her desserts,” the stallion chuckled as they neared the door to the dining room. “Kids! Dinner!” he called throughout the house.

Realm was already present, but Artemis quickly walked into the room. And a few minutes later, Nightmare ambled in, looking rather tired.

“Another alicorn?” Twinkle commented.

“Another Sparkle clone?” Nightmare riposted. “I know you want her purple plot and all Aspect, but isn’t going after lookalikes a bit much?”

“Nightmare, meet Twilight Twinkle, formerly of Dream Valley,” Aspect said as he introduced the two. “Twinkle, meet the nightmare that possessed my daughter. She’s being given a second chance, so no wishing her back onto the moon for a thousand years.”

Twinkle powered down her horn and sighed. “Well… fine. I guess I owe you a favour anyway.”

“I’m starting to think the moon is safer…” Nightmare gulped, slowly retreating from the room.

“Oh get over here, you know you don’t want to miss out on Bon Bon’s cooking,” the stallion chided her.

“I’ll eat in my room,” she said, not wanting to go near the collective power that now sat in the dining hall. Each and every member here was stronger than the black filly by multiple degrees.

Aspect sighed and walked over to the filly, before trapping her in a hug and whispering a short and simple sentence into her ear. “You’re safe here, you will always be safe in my house.”

“No offense… but sometimes it’s hard to feel that way,” she said. While she could take her adult form in this place, the filly one was… starting to feel more comfortable.

“I said I would give you that chance,” Aspect replied, kissing her just under her horn. “I said I would let you prove yourself. I will not renege on that, nor allow any of my guests to. But they have to be made aware of the circumstances around you. I will not lie to my guests. Honesty is a virtue, young Moon.”

“Yeah, says the stallion that always disguises himself,” she quipped back with a cheeky smile. “Even in his own home.”

“I’d bang my head on the doorframes,” the stallion replied just as easily. “Places aren’t built with humans in mind anymore.”

“What a weak excuse,” she mused as she moved back into the dining room, but gave Twinkle a wide berth. She was just… wary of anyone from the bad old days.

“So, everypony,” Aspect said as he sat at the head of the table. “This is Twilight Twinkle, from Dream Valley, for those of you who don’t know. Also known as the ‘bad old days’ when I had a job to do. Twinkle here was a rare sort of pony, very powerful, and could grant wishes around her if she so chose. She even gave up her own wish one starry night so that others could wish on the stars and get what they wished for. I think I still have a Wishing Star, matter of fact…”

“I am intimately aware of the power of stars,” Nightmare said. “To think that I’d idly wished upon them once… and that led to my escape.”

“Yes, well, the stars only grant wishes one night a year, and I sort of forgot the date it happens,” Aspect replied. “Twinkle, do you remember when they…?”

“Christopher, it has been a thousand years,” Twinkle sighed. “Do you honestly think that I’d remember something like the Seventh Day of the Seventh Lunar Month?”

“I was hoping you would, because my memory is terrible for things like dates and directions,” the stallion replied. “‘S why I brought a ball of string and a stick of chalk to any castle we visited.”

“Unbelievable,” Twinkle shook her head. “It’s sad to see such a great man go senile at such a young age.”

And that would be Nightmare, Rainbow and Artemis doubling over with laughter.

“I’ll have you know I’m one of the oldest living things on the planet,” the stallion huffed. “I’m permitted the luxury of forgetting some things.” Then he felt a pair of eyes watching him from… somewhere. He looked around, until his gaze wandered up to see Midnight looking down at him from the rafters. “Of course, one of the things I didn’t forget about was you. Get on down here, Midnight,” he called to her, pulling the seat next to him out with his magic.

She gracefully fell down from her perch and landed in the chair, sitting upright and folding her hindlegs.

“So, this is new pony then?” she asked in her richly accented tone, looking Twinkle over.

“My word,” the unicorn gasped. “What manner of pony is she?”

“Thestral, one of the tribes,” Aspect replied. “Little tip, don’t try calling her a batpony. Even I can’t do that without consequences.”

She leaned over and nipped his ear to prove said point as Bon Bon started bringing out the first lot of potato and leek stew.

“Oh, just what we need after a day like today,” the stallion sighed. “Something hearty and filling.”

She nodded as she placed the soup down for most of the ponies, except Aspect and Artemis. She left the room and returned a second later with a special treat for the pair of them. Theirs had some odd, white coloured chunks in them.

“Bonnie, did you?” Aspect asked, not daring to touch it until he knew.

Artemis spared no such questions as he took a bite...and almost dropped his spoon.

“Is… is this…” he said with bright sparkling eyes. “Roast chicken!?”

Bon Bon just smiled and hummed as she took a sip of her own soup.

“You didn’t have to do this for us, Bonnie,” the stallion replied as he idly stirred his soup. In order to eat this, he’d have to be human. Ponies didn’t digest meat well, unless it was pegasi and fish.

“Well, I know that you haven’t had any in a long time,” Bon Bon replied as she set her spoon down. “Besides, it wasn’t that big a deal and I’ve done far worse than roast a bit of meat.”

Aspect sighed, before his form flashed. In a moment, the pegasus was replaced with Christopher the human, who ladled up a bit of soup with a chunk of chicken in it and blew on it once, before popping it in his mouth and chewing.

“Mmm,” he mused after finishing his mouthful. “Delicious as always, Bonnie.”

“I hoped it was,” she giggled. “Besides, have to get used to prepping meals like that right?” she rubbed her tummy for emphasis.

“H’oh?” Twinkle raised an eyebrow. “Now isn’t that an interesting development.”

“I’ll...explain it later,” Aspect chuckled, eliciting another giggle from the mare.

“So… we have another member?” Midnight asked plainly, pointing at Twinkle.

“I saved her, I didn’t do that to her,” the human replied. “She’s just as out of touch with the modern world as Luna was. Moreso, really.”

“Actually,” Twinkle corrected him. “The Breezies do an annual migration and bring back plenty of stories.”

“...Okay then, but stories are a poor excuse for living your life,” the human countered. “You should get reaquainted with how things work in Equestria before you say you’re not out of touch.”

“Oh okay then,” she rolled her eyes. “In any case, I assume it is alright for me to stay here until I get on my hooves?”

“I still have plenty of space,” the human replied. “As long as the room’s not taken, feel free to use it.”

“Many thanks,” Twinkle smiled. “I need to start practicing as well. A thousand years is a long time to not use my magic.”

“Mm, well, I gave you back your magic, as well as...updated it a bit,” the stallion replied. “You should be capable of more than just wish-granting and winking now. You should have telekinesis and making your horn glow as well. Basically everything a modern unicorn can do.”

“Winking…” Bon Bon murmured. “You’ve mentioned that before. What is it exactly?”

“Line of sight teleportation,” the human explained. “All unicorns could do it in Dream Valley, it was a basic skill. Just willing yourself to be there instead of here.”

To prove his point, Twinkle just… popped out of her seat and into the one next to Midnight, startling the poor thestral as she grabbed Christopher’s arm out of reflex.

“Like that,” the human chuckled as he continued to eat his soup with his free hand.

“Huh… interesting,” Bon Bon rubbed her chin. “So is that a unicorn-exclusive ability?”

“It was one of the things that only unicorns seemed to be able to pull off, and that was back in Dream Valley when they remembered how to use it,” the human explained. “Most unicorns don’t know they can wink these days.”

“Such a shame, though it does make one lazy,” Twinkle giggled as she blinked back to her own seat.

“Mmm, though it did help with things like rough terrain and trap-filled temples,” the human countered.

“You raided trap-filled temples often?” Rainbow asked, now finished guzzling down her soup.

“There were a few,” Aspect chuckled. “They’d all be derelict by now. And of course, empty of treasure.”

‘Not according to one of my acquaintances,’ Bon Bon mused to herself as she sipped some tea. She hold her tongue for now, let Aspect find her on his own.

Meanwhile, Hurricane had gone off to find the other painted ponies… though none believed the old mare when she said that Twinkle was back.

“So… where’s my granddaughter?” Twinkle asked. “I haven’t seen Clover in a Dragon’s age.”

“Clover was…” Aspect sighed. “You do realize the only Clover we’d have would be the painted one, right? There’s...no fountain anymore.”

“She’d left to find another,” Twinkle sighed. “I...I’d hoped that she was…” She looked down ather food for a moment, before shaking her head. “A-Anyway… the painted one is good enough.”

“Grandma?” they heard from a nearby portrait. “Is...it really you?”

Twinkle turned and smiled widely. “Well, if it isn’t my little anklebiter. How are you kiddo…? Well, aside from being a magically constructed copy of the original?”

“I’m fine, I had a long nap thanks to some stupid human walking away from his daughter for a thousand years,” Clover replied. “But how in Tartarus are you here? We looked for you…”

“Protecting the Flutter Ponies within a magically sealed reality bubble constructed by my magic and the joint wishes of the Flutters,” Twinkle explained like it was the most obvious thing. “Never expected it to bind me to it and grant me agelessness… but hey. Magic right?”

“Okay, next question,” Clover immediately continued with. “How are you here?”

“Oh, that would be Christopher here replacing my pact with a Runic Ritual and the Sunstone,” she explained. “I honestly wasn’t expecting it myself, and Chris on a magical burnout is quite humorous.”

“The darn thing was the only other thing related to the Flutters that work,” the human explained. “It was the only thing that could take your place, out of everything I could do. It still needed something to bind to.”

“What about your Flashstone?” Twinkle questioned. “It was capable of just about anything.”

“The girls made me stop using it, and as it turns out, magical artifacts make great food for a magical tree,” the human replied. “We got it back in some form, don’t you worry. The Flashstone, the Rainbow of Light...they’re still around, just in new shells.”

“Hmm, is that so?” Twinkle rubbed her chin. “Well, glad to hear it then.” She lifted her bowl and finished her soup, sighing contently. “You’re lucky that Bon Bon is taken Chris.”

“Why does everypony say that…” Bon Bon sighed.

“Because you keep ruining food that isn’t yours,” the human teased.

“I’m not that good,” she folded her forelegs.

“Seconds!” Artemis held up his bowl.

“I have no doubt if I hadn’t managed to win you, my daughters would have tried to get you in their kitchen,” Chris chuckled.

Twinkle was busy talking technical magicks with Clover now, so she was out of the picture… so to speak. Bon Bon left to refill Artemis’s bowl and take the others to the sink.

“Seriously, asking if Twinkle was a herd member,” Christopher chuckled, even as he flashed back into being a pegasus. “That’s a good one Midnight.”

“She has nice flanks,” Midnight pointed at the mare that had her back turned to them. “And given she has had foals, likely experienced.”

“That doesn’t mean she’s joining,” the stallion deadpanned.

“No, I am merely pointing out the benefits,” Midnight replied. “I’m sure she would agree to your foal~”

“You don’t know that,” the stallion hissed. “Really, she’s just an old friend who I rescued and-”

“And one you are still staring at,” Midnight chuckled as she nibbled his neck. “I only tease. It is quite fun apparently.”

Aspect sighed as he shook his head. “You’re incorrigible, Midnight,” he sighed. “Look, if you’re so eager to add her, why don’t you go ask her if she wants to join?”

“As I said, I was teasing,” she giggled and nibbled him again. “Mmm, I know what dessert I desire now~” One of her hooves trailing down his chest as she gazed at him with that seductive look of hers.
“Aheh...not with the foals in the room…” he chuckled.

They could see what her hoof was about to do though, then Bon Bon put a bowl down in front of her.

“Mango ice-cream?” she asked as Midnight promptly forgot about Aspect as she started destroying her dessert.

“That, was close,” the stallion sighed as he sat back.

Bon Bon put a bowl down in front of Twinkle, who started at it curiously. “Now… what is this?” she asked, poking a spoon at it.

“Try some,” the stallion said, picking up his spoon and scooping the ice cream into it to demonstrate. Twinkle blinked and dipped her spoon into the mango treat, before taking a bite… and pausing.

“Yup, Miss Bon Bon’s treats are the best,” Realm chuckled as he began eating his own.

“My oh my…” Twinkle hummed as she swallowed. “Now that was something tasty~ Who’d have thought such creamy goodness was so delicious!”

Rainbow snorted.

“Oh believe me, there’s more where that came from,” the colt all but purred.

“Oh I hope so, I could eat this all day,” she smiled as she resumed her eating of the ice-cream.

Realm just chuckled to himself as he found a new mare to play with…

“So,” Aspect coughed to get some attention back. “You’re naturally welcome to stay as long as you like, Twinkle. I wouldn’t dare kick out a friend as old as you are.”

“You are too kind Christopher,” Twinkle nodded. “But honestly, I am absolutely exhausted. Might one of you gentlestallions show me to a room?”

“Yeah, I can do that,” the stallion replied as he pushed his half-eaten dessert to one side. He wasn’t that hungry, and he knew that—

Yep. Midnight was already on it.

“You snooze you lose,” Rainbow chuckled as she guarded her dessert close.

“In any case, I’ll lead the mare to a free room,” the stallion said as he began walking through the halls. Twinkle looked around as they walked, taking in each sight.

“So… life is certainly different for you now,” she commented.

“I know, it’s almost like my daughters conspired to make me set down roots or something,” the stallion chuckled.

“And now you have a new little family blossoming,” Twinkle said and smiled. “It does my heart good to see you so happy again Christopher.”

“Yes, well, I wasn’t exactly consulted on most of it,” the stallion snorted good-naturedly. “But I won’t deny I like it.”

“Still…” She sighed and shook her head. “No, nevermind.” She walked up to the door he’d led her too and opened it. “Have a good night Chris.”

“You too Twinkle,” the stallion replied as he walked away, humming a little tune as he went back to his family.

Of course, what the mare didn’t know was that her room was right next to his…

“You missed out on some stuff today,” Rainbow hummed as she lazed over the side of her bed, her ears touching the floor. “But, you’re no mare, so I doubt the Sisterhooves Social would be all that important to ya.”

“Nope, definitely not,” the stallion agreed as he lay in the middle of the bed. “Heh. Now I’m imagining Tia and Lulu entering.”

“Nah, somehow I don’t think some super alicorns would make the competition all that fair,” Rainbow snickered. “I was supposed to enter with the squirt, but I got caught up in weather duty. Took her out for cupcakes as an apology though.”

“Whereas I have been bored here,’ Midnight sighed and poked at her injuries. “I hate sitting still. Mă face să mă simt inutil și slab.”

“Well when you’re injured, you’re supposed to recover and not do anything strenuous,” the stallion replied, rubbing behind her ears.

“I am aware of this, still bored,” the bat sighed as Bon Bon exited the bathroom, steam rising from her still damp coat.

“Bonnie, the bat is bored,” Aspect called to her as he drew the batmare closer with a wing. “What do with her?”

“Hmm, well she is injured, so no going all ‘Alpha bat’ on her mkay?” Bon Bon said as she stood near the heater to dry her coat before getting in bed. “Else, if she’s going to complain, give her something to do.”

“Hmm, what should I do with the bat…” the stallion mused aloud, as though he couldn’t think of anything.

“Oh, I think I have an idea,” Rainbow mused. “Middy hasn’t had a shower today. Why don’t you give her one~”

“Eh?” the thestral squeaked.

“Mmm, that’s an idea,” Aspect mused. “Just take her into the shower?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes as she got up and sat behind him, moving her wings to stroke his sheath. “I was thinking this kind of shower,” she giggled into his ear.

“Oh, now, see, why didn’t you say so,” the stallion murred as he quickly stood at attention.

“I thought it was obvious but… eh,” Rainbow mused as she started to stroke his member with her wings as Midnight lay on her back in front of him.

“Somepony is eager,” he teased the mare in front of him, using a rear hoof to reach between her hind legs and stroke her lips. The thestral gasped as he started to touch her, while Rainbow curled her feathers around him and started stroking him softly with one wing, while a feather teased and tickled the flat head of his cock.

“Haaah,” the stallion gasped as he felt himself start to rapidly approach a peak. “You’re good at this,” he panted out.

“Ooh, you like my wings?” Rainbow cooed as she nibbled his ear, Midnight’s cunt feeling hot to his touch as Bon Bon stood a ways away, just watching. “I bet you just want to give her a bath huh?” The pegasus slid her feathers up and down. “Maybe I should hold you back again~?”

“Noooooo,” the stallion whined as he felt himself start to twitch. “Please don’t…”

“Oh?” Rainbow mused as he felt a wing tighten around him. “What is it that you say to us all the time?” she nuzzled his ear. “I’ll make you beg for it~”

“I could...hah...turn around and pin you to the bed,” the stallion pointed out. “Screw you instead of bathing Middy here…”

“Mmm, but I know you like this~” Rainbow mused as she leaned down around him and gave the side of his cock a little lick. The stallion bucked as he did his best to let go with his release, only to be stopped by Dash’s wing holding him back.

“Fuuuuuuck,” he moaned. “Please don’t...do this to me…”

“Mmm?” she licked her hot, wet tongue along his length, flicking the head as her wing stroked him. “Say, ‘Please Mistress Rainbow~’.”

“P-Please Rainbow...let me cum,” he begged.

“So cute,” she murred and took the head into her mouth, moaning and bobbing her head for a moment or three… before pulling back and letting go of him entirely. It wasn’t long before the stallion was cumming and bathing Midnight in all the seed he’d been denied from letting go, the hot, thick ropes flying onto her form as she lay in front of him.

As she was now sitting next to her, Rainbow caught some on her face as his twitching member doused the mares in his seed. Soon the thestral mare was coated white as some dripped from Rainbow and onto the bed.

“Hah...hah,” Aspect panted as he sat back, his rod twitching a little as he came down from his high.

“Mm, not a bad show at all,” Bon Bon purred as she crawled up onto the bed, drawing closer and licking along his shaft, starting to clean him up.

“Yeah...I think Dashie is discovering her dominant streak,” Aspect managed to put together. “It might be time to put her in her place with my griffon form again…”

“Aww, but you’re cute like that,” Bon Bon mused as she went down over him and started to deepthroat his member, showing she was still the best at that.

“Fuuuuuck,” the stallion moaned as he lay back again, letting her take him. “Y-Yeah, but I also like being the one in control,” he managed to get out.

“But sometimes, we do too,” Rainbow mused. “And you can’t cheat with your stamina anymore. So we need to train you~” She started to nibble at those wing joints on his back again as he got to look at the mess he made of Midnight, the thestral now rubbing her clit as she licked some of his cum off of her face.

“This isn’t going to end well for me, is it?” the stallion observed even as he felt himself start to be overcome with pleasure again.

“Well that’s up to you,” Rainbow mused. “Maybe you have something new to spring on us~”

Bon Bon pulled back and frowned. “Rainbow… please do not give him ideas.”

Aspect grinned.

“Now you’ve done it,” Midnight panted as she continued to pleasure herself.

There was a flash of light as Aspect was replaced with a big, gruff Diamond Dog, who casually reached down and picked up Rainbow Dash, pulling her hind legs close to his mouth…

Before his long, sloppy dog-tongue began eating her out like no tomorrow.

“Nnnrrgghh~” Rainbow moaned as the thick, smooth tongue lapped at her messily. It was kinda gross… and kinda hot at the same time.

Bon bon just stared at the massive dog. He must have been about six hooves tall at least… and his bulk was something else. His arms were as thick as her waist and he could easily pick somepony up with one massive paw.

“Mmm...pretty little ponies,” the dog growled out as he used his other paw to pick up Bon Bon and hold her up in front of him. “You do good job, warming up Alpha. Now Alpha breed you, then winged pony.”

“Umm… eep?” Bon Bon squeaked, crossing her hind legs out of reflex.

“Bad pony,” the dog huffed at her, before rearranging how he was holding them. Now Bon Bon’s slit rested on Dash’s face. The pegasus started eating the mare out as Bon Bon moaned, putting a hoof on her head as she closed her eyes, losing herself to the pleasure.

And once she uncrossed her legs?

The dog moved her back to hovering in front of his massive, knotted dogcock as its tip prodded her lips. The mare squeaked again, feeling the pointed tip jab at her thigh.

“Now little pony will be bred by Alpha,” the dog huffed as he lowered her down, letting her start to be spread wider and wider by his length. Bon Bon groaned as he fed his fat, dogcock into her. She let out a moan as her body trembled in his grasp, her mouth opening as she started to pant.

“And other little mare will be warmed up by Alpha,” the dog growled as he raised Dash’s hind legs back up to his maw, before licking her lips with his tongue again. Rainbow yelped as he dangled her over him, her moist slit dripping into his open maw as he felt himself bottom out inside Bon Bon, his tip pressed against her cervix as her hips met his own.

“Little pony, time for breeding,” the dog chuckled between licks as he began lifting Bon Bon up and down on his length, treating her like a living fleshlight as he used her to stimulate himself.

The mare started to moan as he filled her over and over again, panting hard as she tried to struggle against his grip. Rainbow meanwhile, shuddered as he lapped at her folds as she started to leak more, her raspy moans filling the room as she came.

“Oh good, winged pony is ready,” the dog noted as he lowered her so that she was level with Bon Bon...well, most of the time, anyways. Meanwhile, he began using Bon Bon just a little harder, trying to press his forming knot into her and his tip past her cervix.

“Aaahh, noo~” Bon Bon moaned. It’s… it’s not gonna fit… ahh~”

“Little pony WILL take it all,” the dog growled as he held her down one time and pushed upward with his hips. With a loud yelp from the mare, his knot slipped inside her, forming a nice bulge in her as she panted hard, sweat pouring from her brow.

“And now,” the dog noted as he held Dash up so her face was level with the tied Bon Bon’s. “Little ponies kiss while they get filled.”

Dash murred as she kissed the panting candy mare, Bon Bon doing so weakly back as she felt that huge knot in her twitch…

Before she began to feel a warmth blossom deep within her as the dog filled her up with his seed, her belly already starting to swell. Bon Bon groaned as she felt him fire spurt after spurt into her deeply, filling her utterly as she went limp, Rainbow stroking her mane.

Soon the length stopped twitching inside her as the dog began to pull back on it, trying to get untied right away…

“Nnaaahhh!” Bon Bon yelped. “N-Not so f-fast!”

“Little pony has had her turn,” the dog replied as he yanked her off with a loud pop, cum gushing out of Bon Bon’s abused sex as the mare yelped again from the rough treatment.

“Careful there,” Rainbow teased. “She is pregnant after all.”

“Little winged pony is next,” the dog reminded her as he put Bon Bon next to Midnight, before holding Dash up to his messy length. “Little pony will clean.”

“Make me mutt~” she taunted him. Of course, with her mouth open, that was easy. He just jammed her muzzle down onto his length and held her there. Rainbow gagged around the massive cock, tasting both him and Bon Bon as he held her over his dick.

Then he began using her like he had Bon Bon, just pulling her back and shoving her back down onto his length to make her clean it. Rainbow groaning around his member as he fucked her mouth, drool running down and touching his balls as she got him nice and clean, his dick now a glistening red again.

“Mmm, much better,” the dog praised her as he pulled her back and held her over his cock. “Little winged pony will be bred now.”

“Urgh, stupid mutt,” she poked her tongue out at him.

“This stupid mutt caught you and is going to breed you,” the dog reminded her as he lowered her onto his length. She was oh so much tighter than Bon Bon, and much smaller. He could fit about three quarters in her as the mare groaned and bit her lip.

“Silly little pony,” the dog chuckled as he began treating her in much the same manner as he had the last mare to take his length. “You will be bred properly.”

Rainbow just moaned as the massive dog filled her over and over. Midnight let out a small yelp as she came from her own ministrations, while Bon Bon just lay on her side, her sex still leaking cum.

Then the dog began actually slamming her down onto his length, trying to fit as much as he could into her. He still couldn’t get it all in, he was simply too big for the smaller mare as she moaned and panted from being used like that.

Then she felt her cervix begin to give under his relentless assault…

Eventually, his tip slipped inside, but even then, the base of his knot hit her lips, unable to push in any further as Rainbow’s mind went blank from the rough fucking. And still, he was undeterred as he kept pulling her down onto him, trying his damndest to fit everything into her. The knot pushed against her lips as more of his length spilled into her womb…

“Ahhhhhfffuuuuck!” she yelled as he managed to squeeze a little of his knot past her lips. “Gaahh! Y-You're gonna tear me you jeeerk!”

“Little pony will stretch,” the dog assured her as he kept pulling her down onto his knot. “Little ponies always stretch.”

With a pop, he fit inside her, her walls stretched out as he felt almost his entire head inside her deeply as Rainbow let out a silent scream of pain and pleasure.

“Little pony is tool for Alpha’s pleasure,” the dog growled as he stroked her mane, not even bothering to use a hand to hold her up. His massive rod kept her anchored to him. “Little pony will bear strong pups.”

“Nnrrghaaahh!” Rainbow moaned, unable to move as she was impaled on his rigid cock, her walls squeezing him tight as she came around him, her vision exploding with white spots.

Then she felt that length twitch just a little inside her...as a warmth blossomed deep within her, her form swelling with his release. She just let out a low moan as he stuffed her full of his release.

“D-Damn…” Bon Bon groaned. “You don’t hold back huh…”

“Little pony is mine to play with,” the dog replied as he kept cumming inside her for a little while longer. “Little pony is mine to breed.”

“So I’ve noticed…” Bon Bon mused. Then a thought occured. “Um, you… did keep your charm on right?”

“Of course,” the dog said in Aspect’s voice. “I’m not stupid.”

Bon Bon breathed a small sigh of relief as Rainbow just twitched a little, letting out an exhausted groan.

Suddenly Aspect flashed into something that still had a big, knotted cock that was buried deep inside Dash. His Gryphon form, just so he could lie next to the other mares and drape a wing over them. Of course, this had the side-effect of pinning Dash under him as his balls kept emptying into her…

And the mare just kept moaning and murmuring his name.

“Enjoying yourself?” Bon Bon mused.

“She is a pretty fun toy, though I think I might have broken her this time,” the griffon replied as he settled himself on Dash.

“Good job,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes as his Gryphon form took up most of the bed. “You could pick a smaller form you know.”

“Eh, I like waking up next to all my mares,” the male cheekily replied. “Plus...not quite done with Dash. Give it a moment.”

Dash wearily opened one eye and looked up at him. “Huh… whazzat?”

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” the griffon teased as he finally stopped cumming. “Now if only you weren’t so tight, I could pull out and take up a smaller form.”

“S-Shuddup…” she murmured. “Can’t help it yer a jerk…”

“Hmm…” the griffon mused before flipping over and pulling his wings in close, letting Dash rest on top of his chest and taking up much less space on the bed. “Better?” he asked the other mares.

“A touch,” Bon Bon sighed as she climbed up on him, as did Midnight. “I swear, you’re gonna break your own charm one of these days.”

“Nah, I make sure to check it when these things start,” the griffon replied as he used his wings to enclose them all in a hug. “I thought it was working with us, Bonnie. Guess I forgot to take in dragonscales into the equation. But no, it’s active. I’ll only turn it off when they ask at the start.”

“It’s alright,” Bon Bon nuzzled him. “Like I said, I’m glad to be having our foal.”

“And one of these days, you won’t be the only one,” he teased her.

“Mmm, well Midnight maybe, but good luck convincing your stuffed little toy there,” Bon bon poked Rainbow's belly with a hoof.

“Oh, I’ll just get creative,” the griffon chuckled as he used his claws to hold them all close.

Then he heard a knock on the wall.

“If you don’t mind,” Twinkle called. “It is rather late and I am quite tired. Might you cease expanding your family for the evening. Or at least let me move to another room?”

“...Aw ponyfeathers, I’m sorry Twinkle,” the griffon called back.

“Heheh, you got in trooouble,” Rainbow giggled.

Aspect just sighed as he lay there, now quite thoroughly experiencing some major buzzkill. “I...forgot that room was right next to mine, Twinkle. I’m sorry.”

Then he heard her speak up.

“The thestral got off awfully light.”

“Well I’m sort of tied to Dash at the moment, and she’s sort of injured,” the griffon pointed out.

“...You have magic featherhead.”

“Stop giving him ideas!” Bon Bon blushed brightly.

One of the griffon’s claws glowed as he traced the bulge in Dash’s belly, before there was a lewd popping noise as she was pulled off of him.

“Aw horseapples,” Bon Bon swore as Rainbow groaned, her fluids spilling everywhere. Dash and Midnight were forced to swap places before the griffon flashed into a thestral form Midnight was intimately familiar with.

“Um...Ia-ma usor?" Midnight blinked slowly.

“That’s why you’re on top,” the stallion illuminated. “I won’t make you do a darn thing. But seeing as how you’re injured, you can set the pace. Or just do nothing if you prefer.”

Midnight climbed up onto him, and slowly lowered herself onto the stallion, smiling wickedly as her walls hugged him oh so nicely.

“Hmm, I might see the point in giving up control every now and then,” the stallion mused as he lay there under his mare.

It was rather nice, having Midnight atop of him as Rainbow and Bonnie snuggled up on his sides. The thestral cooed as she started a steady rhythm of raising and lowering her hips. He could feel himself deep inside her, then she started to squeeze him. Her muscles contracting in a pulse, like she was cumming as she milked his sturdy cock.

“Mmm, such a nice little mare,” he cooed to her as he began rocking his hips back and forth in time with her thrusts.

“Oh look, he does have a setting other than ‘breed’,” Bonnie quipped as Rainbow slowly came to.

“Well when the mare is injured like Middy, I know better than to make her go any harder or faster than she can do comfortably,” the stallion quipped back.

“Didn’t stop you rutting me into the bed as a Gryphon,” Rainbow prodded him as she ran a hoof along Midnight’s flank. “She's really hot huh?”

“She is quite the catch,” the stallion agreed as he ran a hoof down Middy’s side.

The thestral moaned at the touches, her thrusts becoming a bit quicker as she leaned down and gave Aspect a deep kiss. The stallion returned it, letting his tongue coil around hers as his hoof strayed to her flank and rubbed her cutie mark. Such a pretty mark, a shining crescent moon with a string of musical notes.

Her walls hugged him tight again as the mare moaned into his mouth, her silky tail brushing against his balls. The stallion’s thrusts became a little harder, but not too much, as he was still quite aware of Midnight’s injury and wanted to avoid hurting her.

“Sorry… if it is not… pleasurable,” Midnight said, pausing for a moment…

“It’s fine, love,” Aspect assured her. “I’m mostly here for you.”

“Aspect does actually care,” Bon Bon mused as she rubbed the thestral’s side. “And believe me, he's liking this. He really likes being with you.”

Then Rainbow whispered into the bats ear and she blinked. “He… likes that?”

“Like you wouldn't believe,” the pegasus smirked as Midnight started to pull up. Aspect raised an eyebrow at this behavior, wondering what they had planned.

He popped out of the mare as she looked down at his member, slick with her juices and pre… before she lowered herself again. And he felt something tight engulf his dick as Midnight gasped and bit her hoof, as more and more of him was pressed into her ass.

“Oh buuuuuck,” Aspect moaned, his head lolling back as he just enjoyed what Midnight was doing to him. “That’s...tight.”

Midnight squeaked as she pushed down until he bottomed out in her, the mare panting as his dick was hugged oh so tightly in her rear, her marehood twitching and leaking juices onto his stomach.

Then Aspect reached a hoof out and started rubbing her marehood, playing with her clit and making sure she didn’t go without her own pleasure as she did this for him. She let out a sensual moan as she started to move, lifting her hips up and down.

“Mmm,” Rainbow murred. “How's she feel Aspect? Is her ass tighter than mine?”

“Oh yes,” the stallion purred as he kept rubbing the mare. “Probably because she’s also never done this before. She’s fresh to it.”

“Oohh,” Rainbow mused as she watched. “You know… you haven’t fucked Bonnie in the ass either.”

“Stop. Giving him. Ideas!” Bon Bon hissed.

“I’ll keep it in mind for later,” the stallion cooed as he kept stimulating the thestral. Midnight moaned a bit louder, putting her hoof to her mouth to muffle the sounds, though it was likely a little late for that.

“Say what you want, my sweet little mare,” the stallion urged her. “Say what you need.”

“Y-You…” she gasped. “Wherever… you want~♡” She moaned a little louder, his ministrations getting the desired reaction of making her stimulated sex spasm and cum over him.

“So if I were to tell you to put it back in your marehood after I turn my charm off…” the stallion mused as he kept rubbing the mare, not pausing for a moment.

“Are you being mean again?” Bon Bon mused.

“That’s entirely up to her to decide,” the stallion teased. Midnight couldn’t respond, she was still moaning from her climax, and Rainbow shifting to tease her wing joints wasn't helping.

“Aww, we should let the poor mare decide where she wants it at least,” Aspect spoke up in a teasing voice.

“I-I do not care,” she moaned. “Where...ever you want...aaahhh~♡”

“Better be careful with that tone,” Aspect warned her. “Otherwise you might end up as round as Bonnie~”

Midnight’s response was to just moan a bit louder, her sex winking as she panted and groaned, her ass clenching around his dick.

“Dash, why don’t you help our little batmare with aiming my dick where it should be?” the stallion murred as he started stroking Middy’s mane.

“Depends where you want it,” Dash murred. “Wanna stuff her ass? Fill her pussy? Or maybe put it in that pretty lil mouth of hers?”

“Let’s see how she takes a breeding~” the stallion purred as he rubbed Midnight’s belly, imagining it swelling.

Rainbow lifted the mare up. “Like I expected anything different,” she giggled as she lowered the mares twitching sex over him.

“Mmm, let’s see her belly swell,” the stallion cooed as he pulled the mare close and whispered something to her. “Last chance, otherwise I am breeding you, little bat…”

“I… noo,” she moaned. “You can't…”

“No, I can. The question is...do you want it?”

Midnight seemed to consider it for a moment, before shaking her head. Aspect smirked before he began thrusting his hips into her at a faster pace.

“One day...you will,” he promised her as she felt his length start to twitch inside her. The mare moaned again, she wanted a foal… but… if they found out…

“One day, I’ll make your belly swell and keep you here, look after you, love you like you deserve...and drive you mad with pleasure every day~” the stallion promised her as he began to deliver his hefty payload.

The mares juices and his own weren’t the only liquids to drip onto him as she leaned forwards to hug him.

“Mmm,” the stallion moaned as he lightly nibbled Midnight’s neck with his fangs, his silent way of saying ‘Mine.’

She really hoped he would be forever…

It was ungodly early in the morning. Maybe… three?

Aspect checked his clock. Yep. Three. In the bucking. Morning.

And what woke him was a sound coming from above him. His mares were asleep, so… maybe it was a dre--

*thump!*

Okay, that got his attention. He carefully shifted Midnight off of himself and into his spot, watching Dash and Bonnie cuddle her. Then he went out to check.

Okay, if that came from above him...the attic? He’d have to open up that jammed door.

He flashed into his alicorn form and looked up at the hatch, before pulling it open. He'd expected a cloud of dust, not even his cleaning tools had been up here yet.

Yet nothing. Though he noted that the door wasn’t jammed.

It was magically sealed.

“Okay, whoever’s up there, I’m coming up!” Aspect shouted up to the darkness, making his horn glow as he climbed up the attached ladder.

He reached the top as his magic dimly lit the room.

Okay, this was weird. The attic was spotless. Boxes had been stacked neatly. And in size order and given their labels, also in order of contents and alphabetically. Was Twilight camping up here?

Aspect pulled the attic door up after him, making sure that whatever was up here wouldn’t easily escape without making some sort of noise, before slowly advancing down the attic, looking for signs of movement.

So far there was nothing. Various trinkets, also cleaned to perfection. And near the window at the far end, a massive mirror next to it.

If Aspect knew anything about Starswirl and unicorns in general, though, it was always check for magic. He did a simple spell to determine if anything in the attic was magical.

There was a magical presence, but something was… interfering with him. Like a buzz in his head. Of course, Aspect wasn’t one to take no for an answer. Instead he scanned for life-forms.

Again, something was in that attic… but what? He looked around as his flank bumped a box, knocking it over.

And something squeaked.

“I know you’re in here,” the stallion called out. “I’m not angry. I just want to know why you’re trying to hide.”

Utter silence met his words. He checked around and when his head turned back…

The box was back in its place.

The stallion smirked. His magic reached out, seized a half-dozen close boxes…

And let them all hit the ground around him with heavy thumps.

He heard a squeak again, before an emerald aura seized the boxes and put them all back. Aspect looked around for a corresponding glow from a horn…

But nothing. Just boxes, the window and… wait, where'd that mirror go?

And what was the statue of a unicorn doing there?

Okay, this bore investigating. He closed distance with the statue, inspecting it closely…

It was just a stone statue. Unmoving even as he tapped it with a hoof. Had… he simply not noticed it before? It was early…

He looked to one side, pulled a box off, and let it hit the ground again. He had to keep trying…

Nothing at first…

He looked back at the statue, then at the box. Then at the statue again. “That’s an impressive disguise,” he finally said. “I promise you, I’m not mad. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk with you.”

Then green fire engulfed the statute and the most adorable little bug pony appeared, grabbing the box and putting it back.

“D-Do not disrupt my system,” she scolded him. “Everything in I-its place…” Then she paused as her blue eyes widened. “O-Oh Holes…”

Then she bolted for the window…

And smacked right into it…

Aspect chuckled as he pulled the little bug close to him. “Hello there, granddaughter,” he said, holding her close and just petting her head. “How is my daughter doing?”

“I...I...I…” she stuttered. “I-I’m not h-here…” She flashed and now he was holding… a rock?

“Dear, I formed the first Changeling,” the stallion said as he put the rock on the ground. “You’re not getting past me. I’m your grandfather, and I’ve sorely missed seeing your kind. Come on, I don’t bite.”

She flashed back as she trembled. “Y-You're n-not supposed ta f-find me…”

“Like I said, I was there when your kind started existing,” Aspect sat on his haunches and beckoned the little bug closer. “Come here and give your old grandpa a hug, that’ll make everything seem better.”

She looked around, her magic fixing the boxes he’d moved until that uniform perfection was present again. “E-Everything in its p-p-place…” She took a breath. “I… I failed…”

Aspect sighed, walked closer, and pulled the bugpony into a hug. “Dear, you had no chance to begin with. I was going to come up here eventually. I was going to find you eventually. I’m the one that finds out why things are a mystery and brings them to light. Honestly, the only reason you stayed hidden as long as you did was because you didn’t make a noise and sealed the hatch. My laziness was what kept you hidden. Now tell me, doesn’t this feel nice?”

And the changeling did notice one factor. She was being given love...freely, by this hug.

“A-Ahh.. n-no… full a-a-already.” She did have the most adorable potbelly.

Aspect merely chuckled and nuzzled the little one. “So tell me, what’s your name? Why were you up here?”

“I..I d-d-don’t have one,” she murmured. “I was… s-s-s’posd to get o-one after…”

“After what?” Aspect verbally prodded her, without letting her go from the hug of doom.

“A-After I s-s-spy on you…”

“Was it Chryssy that sent you here?” Aspect asked as he nuzzled her.

“T-That’s Q-Queen Chrysalis!” she poked his nose. “S-Supposed to show r-respect.”

“Dear, she’s my daughter, I have the right to call her Chryssy,” Aspect replied, beeping her muzzle back. “So, how are you supposed to tell her I caught you then?”

“Y-You didn't catch me… I-I took you p-p… captive!”

“Ooooor, I could just bloat you with love for my granddaughter and keep you immobile,” Aspect teased her.

“N-N-Nuuu…” she flailed her holey legs. “H-Halp…”

“Answer my questions, little cuddlebug,” Aspect teased her. “How were you going to tell Chryssy what was going on here, hmm?”

“I...dunno…” she said. “I-I was jus’ supposed ta g-g-go home…”

“Hmm, well...counteroffer,” Aspect replied. “How would you like to stay? I’ll even name you if you like.”

“I… I can't. I-I’ll get in t-t-t… the Queen will yell at me again…”

“How?” Aspect asked. “You’ll be here.”

The bug just tapped her head.

“Oh, she can hear your thoughts?” Aspect asked. “Can I ask you to get in touch with her then?”

“I-I d-dunno how…” she said despondently. “I not very g-g-good…”

“How about this,” Aspect asked, stroking her back fin soothingly. “Just think the same thought over and over again. ‘Queen Chrysalis, your father wants to talk to you.’”

She tried… for a few good minutes. She was even mumbling it cutely, stutter and all.

“Anything?” the stallion asked as he kept up his soothing stroking.

Then she yelped loudly and held her head. “N-no…”

“Well, you tried,” the stallion soothed. “Until she does get in contact with you, would you like to stay?”

“I can't hear them…” the nymph said quietly. “T-They cut… They… l-l-left me….” Of course they would have. She failed her mission. She got caught, and by the most powerful being on the planet. She… was as good as dead to them now.

Aspect drew her close and touched her with his magic...or tried to. Her shell made it really hard for his magic to get a grip on her...and he sighed as he let go. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’d fix it for you, but I can’t. I can do a lot of things, but you were made to be the perfect counter to a magic-user’s direct attacks. Or direct anything. But let me make you a promise, granddaughter.”

He kissed her under her horn. “As long as you are willing to walk in the light with me, I will never let harm come to you. For you are family, and I do not turn family away from my door. You will never go hungry, never go unloved, and I will shield your life with my own.”

“I-I-I… guess,” she whimpered.

“Now all you need is a name,” Aspect mused, before putting a hoof on her head. “I hereby dub thee Pupa.”

“...W-Why am I n-named after poop?” she asked.

“Hmm...Pupal?” he tried. “I mean, I named the first Changeling Chrysalis.”

“Huh…” she tilted her head. Clearly she had no idea what the word meant.

“It’s another word for what a caterpillar does as it’s turning into a butterfly,” the stallion illuminated.

“B-Butterfly’s are p-p-pretty…” she murmured, still looking quite sad.

“And I find all of my children beautiful,” the stallion replied, pulling her close and letting her revel in his warmth. “Okay, so technically you’re a grandchild, but the point stands. You’re my kin, and I’m not going to abandon you. I don’t abandon family.”

“T-T-Thank you…” she said quietly. “I-I’m sorry I s-spied on you…”

“And I’m sorry Chryssy cut you from whatever she was using to stay in contact with you, I thought I raised her better,” the stallion replied as he kept on soothing the little bugpony. “So, how do you want to do this? Should I just introduce you at breakfast in a few hours?”

“I… should go,” she said quietly. “P-P-Ponies… dun like us… W-w-w-we’re scary…”

“Pupal,” Aspect said warningly. “I’m not going to abandon you. You’re under my roof. I’m going to take care of you. You can surrender now and it’ll be easy, or you can resist, in which case I’ll keep you bloated full of love and immobile until your resistance is negligible and you surrender to my spoiling ways.”

“O-O-Okay… grandpa,” she said cutely and nodded her head, her bright blue eyes glimmering in the darkness.

“That’s my girl,” Aspect praised her. “Come on down and find an empty room. You’re staying with us now.”

“I-I um… I l-like it here…” she said as she looked around her attic.

“...Fine, but I expect you down at the breakfast table in the morning,” the stallion told her sternly. “You’re not hiding from everypony else, it’s not healthy. And if you ever leave the house for good, I’ll turn this whole system of yours on its head.”

“...what?” she blinked slowly. “You’re silly grandpa~” Aaand she cutely booped his nose again.

“Remember, breakfast,” the stallion replied. “Otherwise I’m coming up here and dragging you down there.”

“Yessir,” she replied, saluting somewhat awkwardly.

“Good, now I’m going to go get some sleep,” the stallion said as he pet her on the head again. “You probably should too.”

“I have a bed,” she said and pointed… oh, how did he not notice the green cocoon and slime coating the rafters.

“...You’re going to make sure this is all contained and not eating away at any load-bearing beams in the morning,” the stallion said to her.

“Huh?” she replied as he poked at the slime and… yup, his hoof was stuck fast.

“...Pupal, get your grandfather free of your slime,” the stallion sighed.

“Silly grandpa, o-o-only Changelings c-c-can touch it,” she said with a giggle as her fangs sliced through the slime, freeing his hoof.

“Mmm,” the stallion muttered as he looked down at her. “It’s been a long morning already,” he sighed, petting her on the head. “This stuff doesn’t eat away at anything, right? It just...sticks there? I’d hate to have the roof come down on us.”

“Just sticky,” she nodded and yawned. Without another word, she climbed up into her little pod thing.

Aspect shook his head as he went back to the hatch. That...was going to be awkward come morning.

Author's Note

I read through this chapter last week and corrected any errors I could find. If anything else snuck in, I'm blaming Aussie trickery.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to paying his internet bill.

Half of all funds will not be spent bridging the divide between two worlds.

Chapter 43 - Do you hear the bells?

Aspect was rather excited to wake up this morning. After his discovery last night, he’d barely slept since. He’d ducked into the bathroom for a moment to freshen up, only to find that Midnight had vanished in the meantime. Perhaps she’d gone to use another?

Then he heard it, a crash from the kitchen.

And he could practically feel the killing intent that someone was projecting. It even made him shudder for a second. He wasted no time in rushing there, to figure out what was going on and make sure no blood was shed under his roof.

What he found was Pupal backed into a corner, trying to make herself as small as possible as Midnight stood a few feet away, her ears flat against her head as her lips were drawn back in a fierce snarl, baring her sharp fangs as her wingblades glimmered in the morning light.

In the next moment, Midnight had been bat across the muzzle with a rolled-up newspaper, Aspect standing between her and the changeling with the most disapproving look on his face.

She tore the paper from his grip and tossed it. “Get back!” she snarled. “Voi avea grijă de acest monstru!!”

“The only monster here is one who would spill the blood of my granddaughter,” he retorted. “I made the first changeling. They’re all related to me. Think well before you draw your blade again.”

The thestral looked at the Changeling, now scampering between the Pegasi’s legs, shaking like a leaf.

“They cannot be trusted,” Midnight growled. “They bring ruin and death!”

Aspect adjusted his stance slightly and—

Okay, Midnight knew right now he was a pegasus. So why did it suddenly feel like a full-grown elder drake was staring her down, daring her to take one step closer?

“You would harbour that thing?” she said, not moving but meeting his glare with her own. She did not fear him yet. “They killed many of us!”

“I made three races on all of Equus,” the stallion replied. “The Phoenixes. The Griffons. The Changelings. I make no excuses for what any of them have done. But to harm one in my presence is to harm me. They are all family and kin to me. And I will not put anything before family.”

Midnight stared at the Changeling, then to Aspect… before she turned and flew from the room and out into the open sky.

“There there,” Aspect cooed to the little bug, drawing her out and hugging her close. “You’re safe now. See? I told you I wouldn’t let you come to harm.”

“S-S-She w-w-was so a-angry…” the bug whimpered. “B-But… that w-wasn’t the s-s-scary p-p-part…”

“Oh?” the stallion replied as he stroked her fin comfortingly.

“I-I-I couldn’t feel her…” she murmured. “S-She could h-hide her emotions…”

“Mmm, I’ll ask her what that’s about later,” the stallion replied as he cuddled the little bug close. “See, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Then he heard a gasp as he saw Bon Bon edging back towards the door, “A-Aspect… W-Why is a Changeling in the house!?”

“You know, I never asked her that,” the stallion mused. “And in any case, I made the first Changeling. So really, the question you should be asking is ‘Aspect, can I help you cuddle your granddaughter?’”

“G-Granddaughter!?” Bon Bon replied with a shocked tone. “Aspect. Changeling steal love and replace others. They’re highly dangerous!”

“This little cutie?” Aspect tickled Pupal’s belly with a hoof, the little bug mare giggling cutely.

“Of course you would tame a Changeling,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. Well, not like she had to worry about somepony getting the jump on Aspect as she moved to the kitchen. “Hey, who broke this plate?”

“Midnight tried to hurt her,” Aspect replied in a much less empathic tone.

“Midnight did?” Bon Bon sounded more shocked at that than she did about the Changeling. “So, where is she?”

“I defended little Pupal here. The plate was broken when I got here, so I’m assuming she was going to attack a defenseless, isolated little bugpony.”

“I meant where is she now?” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“She left through the window,” the stallion pointed with a wing. “I told her I wasn’t going to put family ahead of anything, and she took it badly.”

“Okay, so why was she attacking the Changeling?” Bon Bon sighed, starting to sweep up the broken shards.

“She called her a monster, something I would like it if you all didn’t do,” Aspect replied with just a bit of steel in his voice. “They’re still family.”

“I’ve come to expect your family is as weird as they come,” Bon Bon sighed. “But don’t say you weren’t warned when one of us gets replaced…”

There was a rainbow blur in the kitchen and Aspect felt something touch his cheek, a bout of some incomprehensible words before Rainbow rocketed out the nearest window.

“...Was I meant to understand that?” the stallion asked nobody in particular.

“She said she’s off to work and she’ll see you whenever,” Bon Bon translated. She was used to Lyra’s rapid talk… and Pinkie. “So… we have a new houseguest I take it?”

“Yup,” Aspect replied as he set the changeling in the chair nearest him. “Little Pupal here already has a space up in the attic, which I wasn’t using anyways. Plus she’s done a remarkable job keeping everything up there organized.”

“She’s been in the attic the whole time?” Bon Bon blinked. Of course she has. “Well, I think you should also find Midnight. It sounds as though she’s upset about something.”

The stallion sighed as he pet the little changeling on the head. “Promise to let nothing happen to her?” he asked Bon Bon.

“I’ll admit I’m a bit unnerved,” Bon Bon nodded. “But, I’ll manage. I think I can distract her with pancakes.”

“W-What are pancakes?” Pupal asked him.

“Something you will have to taste,” the stallion teased her as he took to wing and left via the same window Middy had.

Okay, Aspect had to admit. Midnight was not an easy mare to find. She was a goddamn ghost when she wanted to be. Was she even still in Ponyville? Maybe she went back to Canterlot?

The stallion closed his eyes, and focused on...what was it Luna said they could do, so long ago? They were adept in...storm manipulation, that was it. Welp.

He pulled on the essence of Arabus in him, and sent out a magical sonar wave, looking for anypony attuned to storms.

He felt a plethora of pegasi around, and one particularly strong reaction coming from what took him a moment to realize was Rainbow Dash.

“She’s in the forest~” Pinkie hummed as she bounced past him, leaving a basket of something at his side as she pronked away.

Aspect was past questioning it. He picked up the basket, took to the air, and began his magical scrying once he was in the forest’s borders. When in doubt, trust the pink oracle.

He felt something there, coming from somepony that could manipulate the aerial arts. So… why not? He made sure he was on a direct course even as he flew above the treeline, not wanting to tangle with the creatures of the Everfree just yet.

Landing near the fringes of Whitetail Woods, he eventually found his thestral mare as she stood in the center of a clearing, her eyes closed. And he meant ‘stood’. She was up on one hind leg, the other folded over it as her forelegs were crossed over her chest as she breathed in and out. Was she meditating? He decided to just sit and wait, setting the basket next to him as he mentally prepared himself to tell a story to her.

“I know you are there,” she said slowly and carefully. Her tone even, stoic. “Stop sneaking around. You are terrible at it.”

“I’m not sneaking,” the stallion said as he sat there. “I’m just waiting. I have a bit of a story to tell you, so that you can understand why I defended her so viciously.”

She lowered herself back down onto all fours… and a nearby tree fell into several dozen neatly sliced pieces.

“Speak your piece,” she said, turning to look at him.

“What do you know about Phoenixes?” the stallion asked her.

She paused, trying to find the words. Equestrian was a bitch of a language. “Fire birds. Immortal. What of them?”

“Every time they are reborn in flame, they have a choice. They can choose to be born again,” Aspect said, pausing for effect. “They can also choose to set a fire that will never die so that they might.”

“What is your point?” Midnight replied.

“I am the father of their entire race, so I have a Phoenix form,” Aspect illuminated. “And it never occurred to me to use that option...until I lost my daughters. Until I nearly pulled my sword out on Luna to preserve the world.”

Midnight frowned. “I still do not understand. What does this have to do with that creature in your home?”

“The thing I did after I lost Luna? I fought Grogar, yes. Then I thought my job done. So I went to the forest where the Phoenixes were born...assumed my form. Pumped all of my power into it. Every last scrap of age and wisdom into it. And as I felt the form unravel, the fires consume me, I willed myself to die. Because I thought I had no more reason to exist here, with no family to go back to.”

“You still had the Sun Princess no?” Midnight commented. “And it failed, given you are here.”

“Yes, I am bound to the sword,” Aspect nodded once. “And the sword is bound to me. So it worked...after a fashion. The tree I perched in? It’s still burning to this day. But I came to right next to the sword. And it took me...ages to decipher why I was still alive. Why I wasn’t permitted to die. Because, remember...we didn’t know if Luna could come back. And I couldn’t look at Celly without seeing her on that night, pulling out the elements on her own sister. I truly, truly felt alone.” He held a hoof up to his heart. “Family...it’s the one thing that keeps me grounded. Keeps me here. Keeps me...from trying to die again.”

Midnight looked at him for a long time. “So, you do not wish for me to attack the bug?”

“Because after I got over being depressed? I made Chrysalis. I made the first one. Every little bug thereafter is my grandchild. They’re family, which is more precious to me than a hoard is to a dragon,” the stallion explained.

“So, it is fine that they kill mine?” Midnight said just as plainly as she had been speaking the whole time.

“I tried to get her to get in contact with Chrysalis, so that I could bring her in, talk to her, figure out why she and hers aren’t walking in the light...they cut her out of whatever it was they used to talk to each other,” Aspect illuminated. “She’s alone. She’s scared. And all she’s been doing for the past goodness-knows-how-long is sitting in our attic, organizing the belongings of whoever owned that house last.”

Midnight took a step forward. “They killed my sister Christopher.” She took another step forward. “Doar atacat-o și a lăsat-o să moară pe stradă.” Her eyes narrowed. “I am honorbound to return that.”

“Sins a race commit against you should not be returned to the wrong targets,” Aspect warned her. “If we all thought like that, I could treat every pony poorly for their little civil war against Celestia. Or for what Celestia did, destroying knowledge wholesale to ‘tame’ the pony races. But I keep my anger in check. I reserve it for the right targets. I promise you this, for what they have done to you, when Chrysalis answers for what she has done to earn her race the reputation of monsters? I will allow you time with her to get the answers you seek.”

“By right… I should kill one of theirs,” she said and aimed the tip of her sword at his chest. “Family for family. Eye for an eye.”

“An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind,” the stallion warned her. “I am not saying forgive. I am not saying forget. I am saying find a way to strike back at her that does not perpetuate the endless cycle of violence. After all...how would she hear about what you’d done? The changeling has no link to her anymore. They cut it, remember?”

“The bug is not her only family,” she commented, the tip of her blade poking his chest.

“I can only die to my sword, and even that is iffy,” the stallion replied. “After all, it brought me back from death once. Someone else would have to be bound to it for a wielder of it to be permitted to die.”

She stared into his eyes for the longest time. Even in the calm rage, her eyes were stunningly beautiful. And slowly, her blade withdrew.

“Your mate draws her sword on you, and you lecture her?” she commented as she sheathed the weapons. “You are crazy.”

“Hey, it worked,” Aspect smirked at her. “Besides, getting wounded still hurts like a motherbucker. Alicorn regeneration or not. Now I want a promise from you before you go back into that house.”

“Do not hurt the murderous bug?” she guessed.

“Okay, A), she hasn’t hurt anyone, replaced anyone. And B), I want you to promise me one simple thing. That the next time you threaten a changeling, you threaten Chrysalis. You get the information out of her about who killed your sister, so that you can hunt them down yourself. And you look into her eyes as you do so, when she realizes what you’re about to do. You just might find her staring at something she considers a monster. Because really...it’s all a matter of perspective.”

Midnight let out a small breath. “I shall consider it. But I raised my blade to you. To my mate… by thestral rights, I should take my life…” her blade started to unsheath.

“And leave the world poorer for it?” the stallion commented. “Tradition is a guide for the wise, but a rule for fools. Sometimes you have to know when to follow it, and know when to cast it aside so you can walk a wiser path. If you can decipher the meaning behind every tradition, there’s nothing stopping you from setting a few of your own in place.”

“You should hate me,” she said. “I threatened you… your family.”

“Eh, flashes in the pan, nothing more than a little spark,” Aspect waved it off. “It was more anger than anything else. You didn’t know what you were doing, why it matters so much to me. I reserve my hate.”

“That kindness might be your end,” she sighed and sheathed her blades. “It was still misconduct, so I must tell this to the Sun Princess… I will likely be disciplined.”

“We’ll tell it to her,” Aspect countered. “I’ll write a letter. You can add whatever you like to it, and then I’ll send it to her.”

“I will likely have to leave the house for a while,” she said slowly as she started walking out of the forest. It was nice and peaceful out here. Not a soul in sight for miles.

“As long as you promise to come back,” the stallion replied, drawing close and draping a wing over her back.

“I… have nowhere else to go,” she replied softly. He came to realise that beyond her name and profession, he didn’t know a damned thing about her.

“Midnight, you can always stay with me, you know that, right?” the stallion asked her. “You’re always welcome in my home. Just as long as you don’t try to kill anyone I love.”

“We… will see,” she replied. “Now… I will apologise to that bu--- filly of yours.”

“Her name is Pupal, and she loves belly rubs,” the stallion offered.

“Well… if I am to quell my hatred of them, I might as well start small,” Midnight replied. “For what it is worth. I… am sorry for what I did. I expect no forgiveness.”

“See? The first step is admitting you were wrong,” the stallion replied cheekily. “She’s really just a scared little filly when you get to know her. I’ve promised her she’ll be safe in my home.”

“I said I will protect you,” Midnight sighed. “I will just… get used to her.”

“That’s the idea,” the stallion praised her as they began walking back to his house. “By now, she should be having Bon Bon’s pancakes.”

Then Midnight’s traitorous stomach gave a loud grumble.

“...Like you probably want to be doing,” the stallion pointed out. “I’ll give you permission to dart off, if your first stop is the bedroom, where you’ll take those blades off.”

“I… require time,” she said. “So I shall walk.” Then her stomach rumbled again, much to her annoyance.

“Mmm, you say that,” the stallion teased her as they kept on walking. “I wonder if she’ll leave any pancakes behind…”

There was a cloud of dust… and the mare was just gone. Holy hell she was fast. She might even make Dash sweat a bit in a race.

“Breakfast...the meal everypony can bond over,” the stallion chuckled as he took to the air to follow after.

When he got back, he didn’t see Midnight in the room, but Bon Bon had mentioned that Pupal had freaked out, so the thestral had taken her meal and retreated to the bedroom.

Welp, desperate times. The stallion went to the bedroom to find Midnight, to make sure she was all right...after kissing Pupal on the forehead to reassure her, of course. The Changeling giggled as he did, batting at his face with a hoof to shoo him away from further tickles. He acceded to her wishes...this time.

“Midnight?” the stallion called as he opened the bedroom door. “You in here?”

His sudden entrance apparently startled the mare, as he walked in, she spilt some maple syrup on herself. “Ei bine, asta e doar o mare” she muttered.

The stallion chuckled as he pulled her foreleg out, before slowly starting to lick her clean. The mare blinked as she looked at the stallion licking the syrup from her coat.

“So,” Aspect said between licks. “Pupal said something about you being able to hide your emotions. I think that’s why she’s scared of you.”

“It is part of my training,” she commented as she blushed a little. “I can control my body right down to the pace of my heartbeat.” She put his hoof on her chest and for a second or three. Her heart stopped, before beating again.

“Well isn’t that interesting,” the stallion mused as he kept licking her clean—

Oh that bastard was cheating with a thestral tongue!

“In any case, if you could try to feel something when you’re around the little one, it’d probably help her not be scared around you,” Aspect pointed out.

“I apologise,” she said, ‘accidentally’ spilling more syrup on her leg. “It was a reflex. I will… try to curb that.”

What training did she have to do to make that kind of control a reflex?

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed as he kept licking her clean. Bonnie made great syrup. “Remember, we’re all trying to get along here. I’d rather not wake up to there being a conflict again. Because if I have to choose…”

“Yes… I understand,” she said quietly, looking away from him.

“It’s your job to make sure I don’t have to, understand?” Aspect paused in his licking to sit closer to the mare and peck her on the nose. He smelled like syrup as the mare nodded slowly. She felt awful right now. Perhaps… she should return home to Canterlot for the time being…

Then Aspect wrapped her up in a hug.

“I want everypony here,” he whispered. “I want a large family to come back to. I don’t want to lose any of you.”

“I… should not have joined… I should have left you in that room that night…” Midnight murmured.

“Perhaps it was a little hasty,” the stallion mused. “But I don’t regret it. I want you, Midnight. Will you have me?”

“I…” the mare paused. Did she? Could she get involved with all this? If something happened, could she afford to take a side? “I… do not know…”

The stallion gently kissed her on the lips, chastely, just to remind her that he cared for her.

“I am… I am not like Bon Bon,” she said. “I am not sweet, or kind. I am a guard. Somepony, trained to take out those that normal ones cannot.” She sighed. “Harmony… is something I cannot create. Only break.”

“Dear, I know about bumping the monsters in the night,” the stallion chuckled. “And you should try talking with Bon Bon about your jobs one day. I think the only peaceful one in the group is Dash, and even she kicked a dragon in the snout.”

“You do not understand,” she sighed. “I… I sing and break things.” And to prove her point, music started to filter in from everywhere. It took Aspect a good moment of two to realise.

She could control a Heart Song… Ponies could do odd things. Physics and the body’s natural limits often made as much sense as Discord during a song.

“Believe me, I know,” Aspect replied as he reached out a hoof, twisted something intangible, and…

The song cut off.

“I’m connected to Harmony just like you,” he said. “Some of my greatest fights had music playing in the background, empowering me to fight on when the odds seemed hopeless. I’m connected to the field that enables Heartsong in much the same means. I can trigger it at will…” His hoof booped her muzzle. “Or stop you from breaking things with it.”

He could negate her ability? Oh… that could be bad. She was supposed to…

She shook her head to clear it and nodded. “I… do not wish to go but—”

“Midnight, let me send the letter first,” the stallion said. “Let’s see what my daughter says before you go anywhere, hmm?”

Midnight paused and nodded. “A-Alright.” She didn't trust that Changeling, not just yet. But she did trust Christopher, so she would heed his words for now. Still… Celestia was not going to be amused that she drew her blades against him.

Aspect hummed as he went over to his saddlebags and began writing out a missive to his daughter.

Dear Celly,

It’s your father, and we have a tiny situation here. One of Chrysalis’ daughters showed up, so naturally I took the poor thing in, especially when trying to get in touch with Chryssy ended up with them cutting her out of their group. She’s all alone and helpless, so I’m keeping her.

The situation arose when Middy didn’t take too kindly to there being a Changeling in the house. To the point where she tried to kill the poor dear. Apparently Chryssy’s been a bad girl these past few years, if she’s been killing thestrals or other ponies. The bat was all set to go ‘eye for an eye’ on me, until I talked her down out of it.

Of course, Middy feels that she’s messed up, when really, it’s nothing to me. She’s hardly the first to draw blades on me, and she won’t be the last. Unlike the others, she realizes she’s goofed, so I’m of a mind to be lenient. But she wouldn’t let the day pass without sending you some sort of notification, so, this letter.

Be kind, Celly. Anything you say, she’ll do. And I still care for the bat.

Love,
Balanced Aspect

Looking over the letter once, twice, and nodding to himself, the stallion briefly took on his dragon form and sent the letter off via dragonfire. The two ponies watched the wisp of magically imbued ash fly through the air, disappearing in the distance as it wound its way to Canterlot and Celly’s side.

And it took a moment, before a reply flashed in front of him, the sight of Celestia’s seal making Midnight tense up a bit. Aspect nodded and turned back into his pegasus self, before breaking the scroll open and reading it.

‘Dearest Father.

That bit of news was not one I was expecting. And yes… it is unfortunate. But reports of Changelings killing a target is not unheard of. I too have tried many times to contact Chrysalis to no avail.

As to the matter of Midnight attacking that Changeling, then you.

I was more surprised to hear you're still in one piece--

Midnight offered him a shrug and a slight blush.

--Regardless, she is a guard and drawing a weapon against a citizen of Equestria unprovoked is a serious offense. At the very least, she would face disciplinary action. At worst… expulsion from the guard and extradition back to Roamania.’

And now Midnight was starting to breathe a little heavier. Aspect walked over and hugged her a little, before continuing to read.

‘However…’ He could almost hear the exasperated sigh in her words. ‘She is somepony you care about and I know you. If she was sent back, you'd go after her and I'd be left to clean up the bloody ashes you'd leave in your wake.’

“See, even my daughter knows me,” the stallion teased the mare. “I’m not just going to let you go, Middy.”

‘So her punishment is as such. I am assigning her as your guard. She can responsible for your messes. That should be a suitable punishment for anypony really~’

“Told you you’d be mine eventually,” Aspect chuckled as he nibbled lightly on Midnight’s ear.

“Why do I feel that this will be a punishment?” the bat quipped.

‘Good luck keeping her reigned in. And try not to knock her up.

Your loving (and extremely tired) daughter.

Sol Celestia.’

“You know, she only said ‘try not to’,” the stallion pointed out. “She didn’t explicitly say not to.”

“No.” Midnight beeped his nose.

“What, afraid you wouldn’t be able to keep up with me if I knocked you up?” the stallion quipped. “Or is the mighty thestral scared this old warhorse might outperform her if she grew fat?”

“I could defeat you easily,” she scoffed. “Stallion is no problem for me.”

A part of him wanted to call her out, challenge her…

The more sane part of him demanded he sit in front of her and simply ask her a question. “So what is?”

She tilted her head cutely, blinking those emerald eyes. “Elaborate.”

“What is holding you back from ever saying yes to me?” the stallion elaborated.

Midnight nodded. “Ah. Well… I, would not make a good mother.”

“...Is that it?” the stallion asked. “Written Script had those same fears. She turned out to be the best mother to the Princesses...with a little help. A lot of being a parent is common sense, with a healthy dose of protectiveness and fear for their safety mixed in. And you are an excellent guard.”

“Also, we are not wed,” she replied. “Thestrali law dictates we cannot conceive outside of that pact.”

“I notice two glaring issues with that argument,” the stallion pointed out. “The first is that, quite simply, we are not in Roamania. As evidenced by the fact that Bon Bon is pregnant outside of marriage.”

Then she used one of his tricks. Precise wording.

“I said Thestrali law. Not Roamanian,” she poked his chest.

“Ah, so for you it’s as ingrained as flight is,” the stallion noted aloud.

Midnight nodded. “And while I may have as many mates as I like. Those that wish to marry me. They must pass the Trial.”

“And what Trial is that?” Aspect had to ask.

“Singular combat. You. Bon Bon and Rainbow Dash must defeat me. Or I you should I request the marriage.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he thought about it. “Am I right in thinking that if I were to defeat you, I’d be the leader of the herd, whereas if you defeated me, it’d be your role?”

“You would be lead stallion regardless,” she nodded. “But if I defeated Bon Bon. I take Lead Mare.”

“Is there any restrictions on what sort of combat it can be?” Aspect asked.

“Natural abilities, non-lethal combat,” she nodded. “Also… should you do this. Anyone wishing to join after must do the same.”

“Hmm…” the stallion’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Very well then. Midnight Song, I challenge you to a test of endurance as your trial. I will use all of my forms against you, and your job is to last through them all.”

Midnight blushed and shook her head. “It must be combat. As fun as your idea would be.”

“It is, sexual combat,” the stallion replied with a chuckle. “You have to last through all of my forms without cumming once. Five minutes each form. And I have to do the same. Whoever cums first loses, and I have a lot of compatible forms for ponies. You never said it couldn’t involve sex.”

“You are impossible,” Midnight sighed. “So, you would make my parents watch us have sex?”

Aspect paused.

“You...never said anything about the parents,” he pointed out.

“Oh, I'm sure they won't mind,” Midnight purred, enjoying Aspect sweat. “But they must be witness to the fight, as you are joining the clan.” She leaned closer. “I think mother would like to see the virility of her new son~♡”

“You know what, using the Gale King against you would probably be a safer bet,” the stallion mused. “At least then if I lost, it’d be because you were more skilled at combat than I was.”

“This will be fun,” Midnight purred. “That aside…” She straddled him. “I still accept your other challenge.”

“Oh? What was that about witnesses?” the stallion asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Right here, right now,” she murred and nibbled his neck. “This is just for fun.”

Then the moment was shattered by the door bursting open and Pupal running in, trying to hide under Aspects wings.

“H-H-Help m-me,” she stuttered. “I-I-I can't eat anymore!”

“Now where did my little cuddle bug go,” Twinkle hummed as she poked her head in.

“She ran down the hall,” Aspect provided.

Twinkle nodded and trotted down the hall, calling out Pupal’s name.

“Thanks,” the nymph smiled. “S-She’s been huggin me a-all day.”

“See?” Aspect chuckled. “Not everypony is afraid of you.”

Pupal nodded and turned to come muzzle to muzzle with Midnight Song. Aspect swore her chitin turned several shades lighter.

“Okay, whatever you do,” Aspect intoned for both of them. “No. Sudden. Movements. Got it?”

Midnight looked at the bug and then raised a hoof. Pupal flinched and squeezed her eyes shut…

Until she realized that Midnight was petting her head?

“Christopher is correct,” she said quietly. “You are not to blame. I… am sorry Little One.”

“Progress,” the stallion nodded and kissed the both of them on the head.

“I can see you,” Pupal blinked, sensing the mare emotions. They were muted, but they were there. She also sensed one and looked at Aspect. “Were you about to have sex? I sense a lot of Lust here.”

“Helping you takes precedence over fun,” the stallion commented. “I’ll have a word with Twinkle about your diet.”

“I also eat food,” she nodded. “Hey Grandpa? What's sex like?”

Midnight now wore a sharkish grin.

“Midnight, no,” Aspect warned her.

“I said nothing,” Midnight mused. “Should I call the pink princess?”

“That’s worse than whatever else you had planned and you know it,” the stallion deadpanned.

Pupal just tilted her head.

“Well the moment is gone,” Midnight shrugged. “Come. Let us find the others and discuss things.”

“Eh, fair enough,” the stallion said as he kissed Midnight on the lips, before picking Pupal up and settling her on her back. “I expect to hear a date from you as to when we’re doing that official challenge of yours,” the stallion said to Midnight, beeping her snout.

“As soon as you propose,” she beeped him back and then left him alone in the room with Pupal.

“Is the scary bat pony gonna b-b-be my g-grandma?” Pupal asked.

“Maybe, possibly even today, if I can manage it,” the stallion replied. “But she’s my guard now. Which means she’ll not do anything I don’t tell her to. Plus, she got a lesson in not blaming another for somepony else’s mistakes.”

“Oooh,” Pupla nodded and then blinked, her ears perking up as her tongue flicked out, tasting the air. “Huh… there it is again.”

“In any case, if you’re staying with me, then you’re going to have to go through all the steps as well,” Aspect said as he began walking through the house. “How old are you?”

“Huh?” she blinked and tilted her head back and forth. “I-In p-pony years?”

“That is the most commonly used system, yes,” the stallion nodded

“T-Then I am th-th-thiiir…” She stomped a hoof. “One and t-three.”

“Thirteen,” Aspect supplied. “So here, you still have to go to school. And you’ll also need a medical checkup.”

“I a-am healthy,” she nodded. “C-Changeling do n-not get s-s-sick.”

“Then it won’t hurt to make sure,” Aspect countered. “Besides, if you’re healthy now, then it’d be good to get a baseline for any future treatments.”

“L-Like i s-said, we can’t… m’not good at e-e-explaining it,” she said. She hopped off of his back. “I-I need to find that n-now.” She started walking off, heading in the direction of Realm’s room.

“Where are you going, little bug?” the stallion asked as he followed after her.

“S-Something is m-making my head itchy…” she mumbled as she sniffed the air, her tongue flicking out again as she picked up the pace, now running straight for Realm’s bedroom.

“Just keep in mind, I have a lot of weird guests,” the stallion pointed out as he easily kept pace with her. Her horn lit up a sparkling emerald green as she opened the door to Realm’s room and looked around.

“Mmm...g’way, it’s too early,” a sleepy Realm called from his bed. He then felt a weight over him, and the feeling of somepony staring at him.

When his eyes opened, he saw blue, pupiless eyes, chitin as black as night and two white fangs looking down at him from above.

“The Tartarus?” the young colt muttered as he batted her away. “G’way Nightmare, I’m tryin’ ta sleep.”

“Are you t-the one m-makin’ my head s-s-scritchy,” the Changeling blinked.

“Realm, meet Pupal,” the pegasus introduced. “She’s a Changeling. Pupal, Realm is currently a Muse, on his way to becoming the Alicorn of Art.”

“R-Realm…” she blinked as she flittered back, sitting on the end of his bed as she stared at him.

“Wha’s going on?” the young pinto alicorn asked as he sat up.

“Oh, just introducing you to your niece,” the pegasus said with a shit-eating grin.

“N-Niece…?” Pupal tilted her head. “Unca Realm?”

“...Wha’?” the alicorn blinked as he looked at the little bug. “Who…”

“Oh, you’ll meet her one day,” the stallion brushed aside. “But she was drawn to you like a moth to a flame for some reason.”

And for the first time, he got a deadpan stare from the little Changeling. “D-Did you j-just make a b-b-bug pun?”

“Go on, deny that you ran straight here,” the stallion chuckled.

She suddenly transformed into an exact replica of him. “That’s rather mean,” he heard in his own voice. “I don’t make bird puns around you pegasi.”

“It’s all in good fun, because if we can’t laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at?” the stallion pointed out. “We all know we don’t mean anything mean by it.”

Then she shifted into a copy of Realm. “So, why does my uncle make my head all itchy? It’s kind of uncomfortable.”

“He’s using a suppression spell,” Aspect explained. “If he were to let loose his true nature, it’d end with everyone being inspired constantly, until their bodies failed.”

“Ahh,” RealmPupal nodded and shifted back to her natural state. “T-That’s w-w-why. Okay…”

“Yeah, I learned my lesson once my magic came in,” the alicorn replied before yawning. “No more unbound me. I guess I could look into a spell that makes less...noise?”

“Mhm…” she nodded and smiled. “T-Thank you U-Unca Realm.”

“You do realize, neither of you are my biological kids,” the stallion said as he turned to leave them alone.

“D-Does that mean I-I can harvest l-l-love from h-him?” she asked aloud.

“Um...what?” the colt asked. “What are you talking about?”

“W-We Changeling’s eat l-love,” she nodded. “I-I-Is one r-reason I hided h-here.”

“Oh...yeah, dad is pretty loving,” the colt nodded.

“Mhm, mostly lust though,” she giggled. “I-I get some from a-almost e-everyone here.”

“Everyone?” Realm asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Mhm,” she nodded again. “It’s n-not much, cause I-I can’t g-get it directly… b-but it was e-enough.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” the colt replied, rubbing the back of his head. “Dad’s...a young pervert trapped in an old body.”

“I n-noticed,” she smiled and then looked at him. “S-So are y-you~”

“I’m only technically old,” the colt replied, waving a wing. “I’m still the right age biologically to be what I am.”

“T-This house is weird,” she giggled as she looked around. “What p-pretty paintings.”

“They’re...not just paintings,” the colt replied.

“Huh?” the little nymph blinked as she looked around and stood up, her black carapace shining in the morning light. “W-What then?”

“They’re Pictomancy portraits,” the colt replied. “They’re paint and magic come to life.”

“W-Wow…” she looked at them. “You’re n-never lonely huh…” She cast her gaze down. “M-Must be nice…”

“Not as nice as you think,” Realm replied. “They’re...trapped in the world of paint. They’re bound to their portraits. I may have made a portal to where they can walk into the real world, but...they can’t get wet. They can’t get damaged, otherwise, they’ll die. They’re...much more fragile than you or me. Everything I do...I do to give them a modicum of the freedom I have.”

“S-Sounds tough,” Pupal nodded. “I… I could n-never do a-anything r-right. I was… I was supposed to d-do a mission. I-I failed.” She morphed into a familiar purple unicorn. “I was supposed to spy on this mare here for the Queen. But I got the wrong house and got distracted here. Now they cut me off from the Hive. I can’t hear them anymore. My… my own family threw me away. Because I’m useless.” Oh… oh not the sad face, not while looking like her.

“So pick your new family,” Realm replied easily. “I lost my family. Manticores took my whole village and left me alone. But Aspect...father, he saved me. It doesn’t have to be an ending. You just have to pick yourself up, see that you’ve been offered a raw deal, and choose to make a better one out of it. I would never have learned Pictomancy or the Gale King if Aspect hadn’t taken me in as his adopted son. I’d never have lasted a thousand years in a Pictomancy portrait and survived to become the Alicorn of Art if it weren’t for his boundless compassion.”

“I guess…” TwiPupal sighed. “But… ponies are scared of us. You should hear some of the stories. Not even monsters sound as bad.”

“I’m not scared of you,” the colt pointed out. “You’re actually rather adorable in your normal form.”

She blushed as she reverted back, hiding under the covers of the bed. “N-No I’m n-n-not…” she mumbled.

Realm just dove under the covers and trapped the little bug in a hug, and she could feel the genuine care he had for her as he held her close. After a second, he felt her hole-pocked hooves hug him back. And in the darkness of under the blanket, he could make out faint wisps of green light exit his form and enter hers.

“There you go, come on,” the colt said as he pulled her back, up to the head of the bed, and cuddled her close once they exited the sheets. “We should still have a few minutes before anypony comes to wake me up.”

“T-To do what?” she asked him, snuggling closer.

“To just do whatever we want,” the colt replied as he lay there with her.

“Do you l-like the p-purple p-pony?” she asked him. “I-I sensed something w-when I t-transformed.”

“It’s...complicated,” the colt sighed. “I care about her well-being. I’m her friend...but I can’t be anything more. I’m not old enough for her, so I told her to find someone she can be with now rather than wait for me for six years. I would rather she be happy than pass up on somepony that can fill that hole.”

Then with a flash of green flames, he found himself in the warm hooves of Twilight, one keeping him close while the other pet his head softly. And he had to try very hard to remember that this wasn’t the real Twilight.

“Pupal...it wouldn’t feel right,” he eventually said. “Just...be you.” Of course, by then, five minutes had gone by. She felt so soft and warm, her heartbeat in his ear as she hugged him.

“But you like this,” she argued in Twilight’s voice.

“That doesn’t make it right,” the colt argued. “It’s something I can’t have for real. It wouldn’t be healthy for me to enjoy this. I can’t have Twilight.”

“I’m a Changeling. It’s what we do,” she said, her eyes flashing blue. “I can be her for you.”

“...You have no idea how tempting that is,” the colt muttered. “But...no. I shouldn’t. I have to be stronger than that. I’m her knight, her protector. I can’t just...give in to temptation.”

“But you love her,” TwiPupal said, her lips very close to his own now. He could feel her breath on his muzzle. “Why should you go without…”

“Because a colt isn’t allowed to be with a mare,” the colt replied. “I’m not mature enough to have a mare as a marefriend just yet. It’s the law.”

“Rules are made to be broken,” the mare breathed, inching closer. His love was just so… intoxicating~

Realm took a deep breath and shook his head. “No. I’m not doing this. I’m not going to give in.”

“Is that what you really think?” she said, her lips on his neck.

“It isn’t about what I want, it’s about what’s right,” Realm firmly replied.

Then she kissed him.

Realm enjoyed it for all of one second before he pushed back, breaking the kiss and shaking his head. “No, no, no! Stop tempting me!”

She blinked, shaking her head as she cancelled the transformation. “I… w-what…. W-what happened…?” She remembered snuggling and then… that buzzing in her head.

“You...turned into Twilight to try and seduce me,” the colt replied, not sure what was going on.

“T-That i-itchiness…” she murmured. “I’m… I’m so sorry I…” She’d let her instincts rule her.

“Just promise me you won’t try again in her form,” Realm said as he pulled her close again. “I want to get to know you.”

“M-me?” she asked him, fighting down those urges again.

“Yeah, I mean, you’re pretty adorable as you are,” the colt replied. “So, where’d you come from?”

She blinked. Nopony wanted to know about her before. “W-Well… I was h-hatched in the Hive.” she said after a few moments. “O-One of T-Three Thousand.”

“Sheesh, so I’m an uncle to two thousand, nine hundred, and ninety-nine more?” Realm joked. “Talk about a big family tree.”

“Mm,” she shook her head. “T-there’s lots more. L-Like a m-million times more.”

“Oh boy, you go to sleep for a thousand years and all your relatives crawl out of the woodwork,” the colt teased.

“...The Hive isn’t made of wood,” she replied back with a small nod. “S-Stone and Changeling sap.”

“...You really need to learn about jokes,” Realm sighed.

“It was a joke?” she blinked again. “O-Oh. S-Sorry.”

“It’s fine, we’ll work on it later,” the colt replied with a wave of a wing. “So what else is there to know about you?”

“I’m n-not v-very good at my j-job,’ she giggled weakly. “A-And Missus Bat Pony is s-super s-s-scary.”

“Middy’s fun when you get to know her,” Realm replied. “And if you had been good at your job, would we have ever met?”

“N-No…” she said. “Y-You’d be trapped in a p-pod while I s-stole your l-love.”

“Yeah, see, that’s a thing ponies probably wouldn’t like if you mentioned,” the colt deadpanned. “Why would you need to steal anything dad would give you for free anyways?”

“C-Cause… I didn’t know him…” she replied. “All ponies… t-they hate u-us.”

“Dad doesn’t, I don’t,” Realm pointed out. “And I’m sure if you spent time around ponies, letting them get to know you, they’d be fine with you too.”

“I’Il doubt that…” she murmured. “This place… it’s different. Y-You haven’t s-seen what p-ponies do to us outside.”

“You’re trapped in a circle here,” the colt pointed out. “You think they’ll do something terrible if they see you, so you don’t even try. Yet you can’t survive if you don’t form a bond with somepony. Which you’re afraid of. If you don’t take a step outside your circular reasoning there, you’ll likely starve, even with dad’s help.”

“T-That’s why we disguise o-ourselves,” she nodded.

“The ponies here are kind and welcoming,” the colt replied. “If you give them a chance, you won’t regret it, I promise.”

“I-I’ll hold you to that,” she said. His hoof ran over her chitin, surprised at how warm it felt. It wasn’t completely solid, like it had just a little give to it.

“See? Isn’t it better to just be yourself?” he asked.

“I-I guess,” she said, her cheeks getting a cute green tint to them. Aww, was she blushing now?

“And better yet, no awkwardness,” the colt sighed as he cuddled her.

‘For now maybe,’ she breathed sharply. “I um… s-sorry for… k-kissing you.”

“You pulled out of it, it’s fine,” the colt replied with a wave of his wing. “I was more upset by the form than the action.”

“H-Huh?” she blinked. This was… new to her. Did he not like the purple one like that after all.

“Yeah...it hurts, but I can’t have Twilight. So it’s better to not be tempted,” the colt sighed.

“O-Okay then,” she nodded. “I can use a different form.”

“Your normal form is fine,” the colt replied, hugging her closer with his hoof.

So she took that as a cue to kiss him again, more wisps of light absorbing into her form.

“...You do that a lot, don’t you?” the colt observed as he held her there.

“Your love is tasty,” she replied after breaking the chaste kiss. “Kinda like chocolate~”

“Careful, you can get addicted to chocolate,” the colt teased.

So she leaned in again… just as Aspect came in to fetch the pair for take two of breakfast.

“Welp, just come down in time to eat,” the stallion said as he turned around and left them to it.

Realm blushed as he looked away. “Ahehe...we should...probably get going…”

“Oh, but I have my b-breakfast here,” she said, holding him closer.

“I need to go eat,” the colt pointed out.

“Aww… o-okay,” she said as she went to release her hug.

“I never said you couldn’t come with,” the colt pointed out as he finally got out of bed. Then he felt a weight on his back as she rode him like a horse from his dad’s stories.

“Giddyup Realmy,” she smiled.

“And suddenly you’re clingy,” the colt chuckled as he walked through the halls towards the dining room. All his joints felt stiff and he eyes heavy as he walked though. Maybe he needed some coffee…

The table was lively enough, and Midnight and Pupal only stared at each other for five minutes before they resumed their tasks.

“So… seems you made a friend,” Bon Bon giggled to Realm as she noted the Changeling almost literally attached to his hip.

“Yes, well, she’s cute compared to the things that roamed the Everfree a thousand years ago,” the colt replied as he had a cup of coffee.

“So I see,” Bon Bon chuckled. Aspect had given everypony else the rundown of her by now. And Bon Bon figured the small Changeling was alright. It would take a special kind of stupid to try something in this house.

“So… you seemed to have fun last night,” Twinkle brought up. “I’ll be moving rooms if that’s okay. Fun as that was, I actually need sleep.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Aspect replied sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. “You know me and directions. I thought I was putting you on the far side of the house.”

“Of course you were,” Twinkle shook her head and sighed. “How on earth do you last for that long?”

“Can we not talk about this?” Bon Bon blushed profusely.

“Training,” Aspect replied solemnly. “From the three mares that put up with me.”

“Sounds like a rough life,” Twinkle snarked. “Poor stallion.”

“He cheats,” Midnight nodded. “Else I alone would be too much for him.”

“Of course I cheat, why wouldn’t I cheat?” Aspect retorted. “Else I wouldn’t be able to handle one, let alone three as talented as you.”

Well two, Rainbow wasn’t here. Midnight just winked at him while Bon Bon turned her attentions back to the stovetop.

“Unbelieveable,” Twinkle shook her head. “Heartthrob would have a heart attack if she saw you now. You and Written never getting together drove her nuts.”

“Yes, well, some things just weren’t meant to be,” the stallion pointed out.

“She was taken far before her time,” Twinkle sighed softly. “And myself… I wish I could have had a larger family. To even know I had some heirs aside from Clover. Knowing her, she never had any foals of her own…”

“You should see one particular mare in town then,” Aspect chuckled. “She’s a dead ringer for Clover, except for the cutie mark. I think it’s safe to say her blood lives on in the Sparkle clan.”

Twinkle blinked slowly… before walking to a painting. “Clover! Get your purple butt over here!”

There was a moment or two of silence, before Clover showed up in the painting. “Yes Grandma?” she asked.

“You didn’t tell me about any foals young filly!” she scolded her. “Am I a great to however many times a Grandmother or not?”

“Ah, I mean…” the painting blushed, somehow. “There was a particularly charming stallion after Aspect folded the Big Brother ponies back into ponykind as a whole. He...may have spent a few nights in my room while we were getting them all situated…”

“I thought I raised you better,” Twinkle shook her head. “Ah well, so where is the great relation of mine anyway?”

“Well,” Aspect interjected. “Twilight Sparkle lives in Ponyville these days, and her mother is also here to help me teach Sorcery to the foals. They live in a library in a tree.”

“A library…” Twinkle looked at Clover with a sly smirk. “Yup, they’re your descendants alright.”

“I can’t help that Starswirl practically lived in one,” the painted mare sighed. “Or that he still does.”

“It’s both functional and educational,” the grumpy pone called out from somewhere within the library. “And you never complained you little upstart.”

“No, I did, you just didn’t listen with your muzzle stuffed in a new book,” the mare called out.

“Not my problem.”

“Hmm, so no sexy student/teacher action?” Twinkle teased her poor granddaughter. The mare sputtered and waved her forehooves in the air.

“Grandma, don’t be so silly!” she protested. “He’s as old as you are! That would just be weird!”

“Aww, but Heartthrob’s books make it sound so sexy,” Twinkle giggled. “Come on dear, don’t lie now~”

“I’m not lying, I never felt attracted to Starswirl! Daft old codger wouldn’t know what a female wanted if he walked into a plot!”

“What was that?” Starswirl yelled out.

“True, he was even more oblivious than Christopher,” Twinkle giggled. “Well, I guess I shall have to go and meet this little descendent for myself then.”

“She’s more obsessed with teacher than with her ancestors, though,” the painted mare replied, sighing softly. “Hardly an hour goes by without her muzzle in some sort of book.”

“H’oh, so the apple never fell far from the tree?” Twinkle nodded. “And who was it that practically begged that old fuddy duddy to teach her the arcane ways eh?”

Clover had the good grace to blush and look away at that.

“I’m going to question how a painting blushes later,” Twinkle replied and looked at Realm. ‘Knowing him, he just remembered how adorable it was when you did~”

“What, you thought I wasn’t going to give them as much realism as possible?” the colt asked.

“Mhm, I’m sure that’s what it was,” Twinkle chuckled as she turned back to the table. Aspect noted she’d changed her manestyle. Her tail done up in a tight bun and her mane was curled up and not too dissimilar to how Bon Bon wore hers.

“Well, just be careful if you’re going out there,” the stallion warned her. “Your talent’s pretty rare these days, and ponies have definitely changed in the past millennium or so. My advice is to watch and observe before acting. Plus, your magic is probably still recovering.”

“Yes, no wish-granting for the time being,” Twinkle rolled her eyes and snorted. “Honestly Christopher. You needn’t bother with the obvious. I’m not a filly.”

“Sometimes it feels like that’s all I’m surrounded by,” the stallion snorted as he rolled his neck, popping it and sighing in satisfaction. “There we go. Okay, so...what to do today. Oh, duh. Midnight, want me to get that official challenge out of the way?”

“You are saying you wish to propose here and now?” Midnight asked, causing a rather impressive spittake by Bon Bon. The earth pony spluttered and coughed, thumping her chest with a hoof.

“W-What was that?” she gasped, getting her breath back. “P-Proposal? Proposal for what!?”

“Apparently Midnight’s rite of marriage is gated by a rite of combat,” the stallion explained. “So I figured I’d get that out of the way today. It’d be a good lesson to the Wonderbolts, as I’m going to be using the Gale King against her. If I bring my full might to bear, it shouldn’t take me long.”

Bon Bon raised a hoof… then lowered it as she looked between the two ponies. “M-Marriage…”

“Yes,” Midnight nodded. “He has proposed as such to me.”

“J-Just you huh…” Bon Bon said slowly as Twinkle facehooved.

“Christopher you idiot,” she muttered.

“I’m not saying I’m going to marry Midnight right off the bat,” the stallion sighed. “But this is something I apparently have to do if I ever want to marry her. And it’s something everypony is going to have to do if they want in afterwards. I figured I would at least start it, okay? It’s not like I’ll have to wrestle Bonnie if I propose to her afterwards, or beat Dash in a race to earn the privilege.”

He could almost feel the facehoof of just about every mare in the house sans Bon Bon.

“Christopher, follow me,” Twinkle said as she got up and left the room. That earned a quizzical look from the stallion, but he got up and did as such. He hadn’t said anything...wrong, right?

In the living room. He found her waiting, as well as a few of the painted ponies. Written, Clover, Pansy and Hurricane in particular.

“Okay, now I’ll make this quick,” Twinkle said. “What do you suppose you just did wrong dear Christopher?”

“...I honestly don’t know,” the stallion replied. “It’s a fight to prove who’s going to be wearing the metaphorical pants in the relationship should we choose to get married. I’m not just going to run off and marry Midnight first. I’m going to get my fight out of the way, suggest to Bonnie and Dash that they get their fights out of the way, and look into the latest pony customs so that I can actually plan a wedding properly. Because I need to marry Bon Bon at least, so that her mother won’t kill me for her having a Kirin out of wedlock. And I’m not letting go of the others either.”

“Logical,” Twinkle nodded. “But that’s where you failed. Look Chris. Love isn’t logical, nor is the heart. You just proposed to one mare of your herd. To the others, you look like your favouring that Thestral over them…”

“...Ah, yeah...okay, so, I tell Bon Bon I’m not going to marry Midnight right away, more like...clear the hurdle in the way of that? And then tell her it’s all part of my dastardly plan to be able to marry them all at once?”

Twinkle turned and thunked her head against the wall. “Dear Creator… just… Written help please? I just… I can’t.”

Written chuckled. “Now you see what I had to deal with,” she mused. “Look Aspect, you’re still making the promise of marriage to just one mare. Propose to all of them if you want to fix this.”

“...You know, you could have just said that to me, Twinkle,” the stallion groused. “I mean...I could do that. I could look through my jewelry box for some appropriate pieces for the others, or maybe even make something for them. I think Realm has another Spectra Heart, it’d work well for Dash. Then I’d just need something that matches Bon Bon’s colors…”

“Twinkle, I’m counting on you,” Written said with a smile.

“Good luck… you’re gonna need it,” Hurricane mused.

“I hate all of you so much,” Twinkle groaned. “Okay Christopher. We’re going shopping. Get your bags and meet me outside. I’m going to convince your mares to not skin you alive in the meantime. You’re immortal, so that is a very real threat for you.”

“Hey, we haven’t even looked in my jewelry box yet!” the stallion replied. “I’m sure I’ve got all sorts of old pieces in there that could be useful! Plus the ONLY thing that would really work for Dash is something made of Spectra. Her mane literally is rainbow colored. Tell me that’s not a match.”

“Then get that and we’ll use it,” Twinkle said. “But we’re getting something new for them, not your dusty old relics. They’re already marrying one after all.”

Aspect snorted, before walking off towards the stairs to the basement, where he kept all the Spectra crystals. It was only a few minutes later that he was instead going upstairs, to where his saddlebags were, slipping a few crystals into one side before slipping them on. After which, he walked to the front door and sighed.

Apparently he’d been roped into another adventure today.

Author's Note

Open mouth, insert hoof, Aspect.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It goes a long way to paying for things he needs.

Half of all funds will not be spent on indie games.

Chapter 44 - Proposals are a real battle

“Now,” Twinkle said as she walked alongside Aspect. “You have the Spectra heart?” She’d smoothed things over with Bon Bon, telling her that Christopher was just being his usual boneheaded self and that everything would work out by tonight.

“Yup, gave Realm a few quality Spectra crystals in return, seeing as how he’s the only one that can carve them,” the stallion replied. “By the way, when I’m like this, the ponies know me as Balanced Aspect. Just so you know.”

“So, I’m expected to call you that?” Twinkle raised an eyebrow.

“It would be helpful,” the stallion replied. “I mean, my cover’s all but blown in this town, but until the day comes when I feel I can walk around as a human and not draw attention to myself…”

“Never seemed to bother you in the past,” Twinkle pointed out. “You never gave a flying hoot what anyone thought of you. You only took a pony form to make little Tia and Lulu more comfortable around you.”

“Well when the other humans left,” Aspect countered. “It’s just...I’m a myth now. A legend. This time, this place...it’s Ponydom’s turn at the stage. I don’t need to be a relic of an age long past when I can blend in. I’d rather be an audience member than stealing the show like I used to.”

“My oh my, someone’s reined in their ego over the centuries,” Twinkle chuckled as she looked around. “Who’d have thought it? I remember that you used to love to show off. Especially to little Megan and your girls.”

“Then Nightmare happened...and Grogar. I’m not invincible, I can be hurt. Emotionally if nothing else,” the stallion sighed. “It’s shown me that I need to tone back my involvement before I get swept up into the next Discord event and nearly lose my top again.”

“You’ll be fine, you always have been,” the mare nodded as she paused and blinked. “Um, is that normal?”

He followed her hoof in the direction she was pointing. Spoiled Rich was yelling at somepony, whom he quickly recognised as Twilight Velvet.

And the unicorn mare could not have given any less of a fuck if she tried. Every tirade or rant that Spoiled threw at her was simply met with a nonchalant ‘Mhm’ or ‘Yes dear’.

And it was infuriating the earth mare even more.

Aspect chuckled as he used a wing to indicate the ponies in question. When it was pointing at Spoiled, he elaborated. “Big fish, small pond.” He pointed at himself. “Shark.” Then at Velvet. “Whale that could not be bothered if she tried.”

“Ahh,” Twinkle nodded as she got closer. “Given her looks, that mare there is one of my descendants?”

“Well it’s either her or her husband,” the stallion pointed out as he followed after Twinkle.

As they got closer, Velvet looked up from her shopping list and waved at him. “Oh, Aspect dear. Good morning!” She looked at Twinkle and smiled. “And who might you be?”

“Don’t you ignore me—” Spoiled started.

“Twilight Twinkle,” the mare smiled back. “An old friend of Balanced Aspect here. And one of yours if my hunch is correct.”

“Now see here—”

“Oh?” Velvet perked up a little. “That sounds intriguing. Hm, why don’t the two of you come by Twilight’s home for lunch? We can talk about it there.”

“I will NOT be ignored you little—”

“Duchess,” Velvet turned to Spoiled.

“I...wha?”

“If titles and such are so important to you, you may refer to me by my own. Duchess Twilight Velvet of House Sparkle. And I understand that raising children must be difficult dear, I mean, between my daughter being the sole apprentice of Princess Celestia and twice times savior of the world, and my son being not only Captain of the Royal Guard, but engaged to her Highness, Princess Cadenza. I know that families can be quite trying.”

Spoiled just stood there, her mouth opening and closing a few times.

Velvet stepped closer and a serene smile crossed her face. She looked so pleasant and nice.

So what was that frightening shiver running up Aspect’s spine?

“Now, I have shopping to do. If you wish to chat in a civil manner, come by for lunch and tea. Otherwise…” That smile twitched.

“There are many ponies in this world dear. Allow this old mare to give you some advice…” She leaned in to whisper. “There is always a bigger fish.”

Spoiled sat down very suddenly as Velvet smiled and pet her on the head before looking back at Aspect and Twinkle. “Now then dears, shall we be on our way?”

“Of course,” the stallion said. “And if she ever becomes too bothersome, do let me know. I’m the head of the local education board. Her membership could find itself in a perilous situation if she keeps haranguing the staff.”

“Oh not to worry,” Velvet chuckled as they walked off. “There’s many in Canterlot far worse. Her attempts at harassment were actually kind of adorable.”

“I like her,” Twinkle whispered to Aspect.

“I’m a fan as well,” the stallion chuckled back as they walked on to Twilight’s place. Wait till Twinkle got a load of this.

Golden Oaks Library… or Twilight’s treebrary. Either way, Twinkle quirked an eyebrow at the structure as they approached.

“And here I thought such methods of architecture were lost,” the mare mused. And that eyebrow rose a little more as they entered. “Spatial distortion magicks? Or maybe the same spells your bag uses dear Christopher.”

“You know, I never asked,” the stallion mused. “I doubt it’s the latter, though. I mean, those spells were woven into the bags by Heartthrob.”

“It wouldn’t be too dissimilar,” Twinkle replied. “If you intended the tree to be lived in, you’d add the spell as it was growing, making it a part of the tree itself.”

“I’m back,” Velvet called out as Spike waddled into the living room and Aspect heard Twinkle’s breath hitch in her throat. “Oh, hello Spike. Is Twilight around?”

“S-Spike…” Twinkle breathed slowly. Aspect put a hoof on her withers and gently shook his head when she turned to look at him.

“O-Of course, how could it be,” she said and let out a shaky breath. “Okay… yes. I’m alright.”

“Yeah, she’s upstairs,” Spike said and opened his mouth. “TWI! MOM’S BACK!”

“Spike! What have I said about yelling in the house,” Velvet chided him, the dragon wincing and rubbing his head.

“Sorry Mom.”

“Better,” Velvet chuckled and Aspect made a rather odd conclusion. This mare’s family was almost as weird as his own.

Well...unless you took all the Griffons or Phoenixes into the equation…

“So,” Aspect said. “Anything going on in the town today, Spike?”

“Not today,” the drake shrugged and then lowered his voice. “But, do you have tomorrow free?”

“I...might?” the stallion replied. “Depends on what’s going on.”

“It’s Twi’s birthday,” he commented. “We’re all gonna get together. But uh… no surprise party. Not after the Pinkie Incident.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect chuckled. “Guess I’ll have to dig up an old book.”

“My little filly turning twenty one,” Velvet sighed. “And yet, I still don’t have any grandfoals to show for it…”

“MOM!” Twilight yelled from the top of the stairs. “Seriously…” She saw Aspect and blushed a little.

Twinkle on the other hoof, her eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Mmhm, remember to breathe now,” Aspect reminded the mare.

“She’s… but… that… Clover?” Twinkle managed to get out, her brain still rebooting.

“Nope, but I can see how you might come to that conclusion,” the stallion chuckled as he cleared his throat. “Twilight Sparkle, might I introduce you to Twilight Twinkle, a very old friend of mine.”

“Twilight Twinkle?” Miss Sparkle’s eyes slowly widened as she remembered Realm telling her about the mare way back when. “Wait, you mean the Wish Granter? The one Realm said was like me in some ways.”

“Turns out, all this time, she was just sitting in a little marble of reality,” Aspect replied. “I might have rescued her from her duty yesterday.”

“I can’t believe it,” Twilight trotted up to them as she looked Twinkle over. “Another pony from back then. Ooohmygosh! I have so many… whhhyyy is she hugging me?” Twilight asked as she found that Twinkle had suddenly attached herself to her.

“You remember how you closely resemble Clover the Clever?” the stallion mused aloud.

“Yeees?” Twilight said, awkwardly returning the hug.

“She was Twinkle’s granddaughter,” Aspect finished.

“Ah…” Twilight Sparkle looked at the mare wrapped around the barrel. “Well… this isn’t awkward I don’t think.”

“Just let her have this,” the stallion replied as he picked a spot and sat in it to watch the mare get a little closure.

“Um, sure?” Twilight blinked as she pet Twinkle’s mane while the mare hugged a thousand years of loss out of her system. “So um, what brings you two around anyway?”

“Well, Twinkle was helping me not be a bonehead for once in my life,” Aspect started.

At that, the mare pulled herself away from Twilight and wiped her eyes. “I-Indeed,” she said, trying to regain some composure. “This idiot proposed to one mare, and one mare alone… in front of one of his others.”

Velvet and Sparkle’s hooves met their faces.

“I keep saying all it was was getting the ritualistic combat out of the way so I could properly propose to them all at the same time, but nopony listens,” Aspect noted aloud.

“Because the combat is the proposal,” Twinkle sighed. “Look, we’ve come out to get some rings, then you can go about punching your little bat mkay?”

“Waitwhat?” Sparkle blinked and stared at the stallion.

“I have to fight Midnight to marry her,” the stallion explained.

“That’s… odd,” Twilight Sparkle blinked.

“”It’s actually a deep part of Thestrali culture that is very important to them,” Velvet explained. “Everything they do is for honor and strength in the family. If they have multiple children, the strongest must marry first, and so on.”

“And now I’m learning all sorts of things today,” the stallion mused.

“I researched them a while back, after Princess Luna returned,” Twilight Velvet nodded. “Primarily there are three distinct cultures. The first and oldest is the Romanian. Their country lies far to the south. It’s a rather hard place to live and wyverns don’t make it easier. It’s also a very ‘stallion’ oriented society. Mares don’t have much in the way of power there. They cook, clean, and provide a family. Stallions hunt, protect and the like. Kind of opposite to Equestria.”

“Eeesh, and Middy comes from there?” Aspect shuddered. “I hope some trading of values can happen soon…”

“Next you have the ones in the Northern Highlands,” Velvet explain. “They border the area between Equestria and the Frozen North. And they can be quite the rowdy bunch. Their entire city is carved inside the mountain. They also have a rather distinct accent. And of course, they love a good fight. But like all thestrals, family is extremely important. But once they see you as such, you’ll never have a better sort by your side.”

“Huh...that...also sounds like Midnight,” the stallion mused.

“And the third?” Sparkle asked.

“Ah, those would be the ones that live in Hollow Shades,” Velvet hummed. “I’ve been there once, with an old friend during my wandering days. It’s an amazing city, built in a massive cavern created by a Starfall. As such, the forest that surrounds it is quite thick, but the city itself has some of the most amazing architecture you’ll ever see. Their society is much like the rest of Equestria. Though they do not see Celestia as their ruler, and she gives them the right to do as they like. As long as they obey the general rules of Equestria.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “I’ll have to pay a visit to there one day. Must have missed it in my wanderings.”

“The dense forest makes approaching by land or air rather precarious,” Velvet replied. “There is a train that goes there. Just don’t expect too many pony visitors.”

“Wow, I never knew all that,” Twilight Sparkle said as she finished transcribing all that, before her stomach gave a loud rumble.

“Whoops,” Velvet giggled. “I guess I prattled on far too long. I’ll get lunch started.”

“Sounds good to me,” the stallion chuckled as he patted the seat next to him. “Come on Twinkle, let’s see what the Sparkle clan can cook up.”

“So,” Twilight said to Twinkle as Velvet and Spike left to start cooking. “Can you really grant wishes?”

“In a sense,” the mare nodded. “Nothing like… infinite riches or the sort… erm. Hm, how would you explain it Christopher?”

“It’s more like…” the stallion put a hoof under his chin. “If the probability exists that the pony can get their wish granted, then when she ‘grants’ the wish, that probability is pulled to the fore out of all the threads of fate and chance.”

“Incredible,” Twilight breathed as she scribbled that down. “To think magic like that exists.”

“Does she write everything?” Twinkle whispered.

“Anything she thinks is important,” Aspect replied.

“So much like Clover it’s scary,” Twinkle giggled.

“Oh…” Sparkle blushed and put her notepad away. “So um… how are you finding modern day Equestria?”

“It’s different, yet many reminders of the past still seem to crop up,” Twinkle giggled and nudged Aspect. “Still, if this one can survive it without going crazy. I’m sure it won’t be a problem for me.”

“Well, Discord is safely sealed away for a thousand years again, and Tirek has yet to get out of his cage, so…” Aspect hummed. “Barring the Nightmare taking over the local schoolyard, there’s not a whole lot of calamities going on.”

Nightmare Moon, in all her filly glory stood at the head of the class as Miss Cheerilee introduced her. Or tried to. She had no idea how to introduce a filly like this.

“Oh great,” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Another Fakicorn. As if the midget colt wasn’t enough. And this one’s a Blank Flank too.”

Nightmare’s eyes flashed dangerously as she turned her attentions towards the filly. Realm and Artemis had maybe a few seconds to stop her from reducing the filly to a pile of smouldering ash…

“So… you gonna save her?” Artemis whispered.

“...Why should I?” Realm replied. “Though...hey Nighty! No murder.”

“Tch! I see the modern era is utterly boring,” the Nightmare hissed as she powered down her spell. “Fine, no localised heat death for the little brat.”

“What did you call me!?”

Her words went ignored, overturned by Nightmare getting pounced by three fillies, chanting about a ‘New Crusader’s Member.’

A black hoof poked out from the cuddlepile, trying to tap out.

“I swear Aspect is doing this to me on purpose…” Cheerilee groaned.

“Aaaaactually, according to him, you can blame Discord for this one,” Realm spoke up.

Right, next field trip to the gardens, bring a sledgehammer.

“...I’m sure it’s fine,” Twilight Sparkle chuckled as some delicious smells started to come from the kitchen. “Still, you’re getting married Aspect? That’s a surprise.” She suddenly caught herself and shook her head. “Er, what I mean is, I wasn’t expecting it so soon… um…”

“A mantra I...used to live by,” the stallion said. “‘Life is short. Why spend it away from the ones that bring you joy?’”

“Mhm, life is real short for you huh?” Twilight mused.

“It’s not my life I’m concerned about,” the stallion muttered.

“Then what are you… oh,” Twilight looked a little crestfallen as she realised something. “Oh I’m.. sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay,” Aspect waved it off with a wing. “I just...I want to do right by them, you know?”

“And we know you will,” Twinkle said and rubbed his leg. “It’s why… I’m sorry if I’m meddling. But I just want you to do this right. Without any regrets okay?”

“Heh,” Aspect used a wing to pull Twinkle into a hug. “What did I ever do to deserve friends like you?”

“You still have secrets, I won’t stop bugging you til I know everything~” Twilight Sparkle smiled.

“And somepony has to make sure you don’t make a complete ass of yourself,” Twinkle chuckled. “I’m surprised you got this far on your own already.”

“Just a stubborn old warhorse that refused to die, ‘s all I am,” Aspect muttered.

“And from I’ve seen,” Velvet said as she entered the room. “A kind and loving father to countless children. A wonderful stallion all in all.” She set a large mug down in front of him, filled to the brim with a delicious potato and leek soup. A side plate with some buttered bread rolls joined it.

“Ah, that looks delicious, miss,” Aspect nodded once as he picked the mug up and sipped at it. “Thank you for this.”

“Indeed, just the thing for a blustery day like today,” Twinkle nodded as she sipped at her own. “And after this, we go and find a jeweller.”

“Oh, I know of one,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “Take a right once you leave here and head down about three blocks. You want one called Gem Desires.”

“Oh good,” Aspect replied as he looked at Twinkle. “I’m thinking a necklace for Dash. The gem we have is too large for a ring.”

“Aw, that’s adorable,” Twilight giggled. “Plus it’d need to be something she could remove for weather work. You can’t wear metal when working with lightning after all.”

“Mmm,” Aspect nodded once. “And whatever we get for Bonnie will have to be something that can’t come apart easily, she’s a confectionist. Jewels in the batter would be an unwelcome treat for her customers.”

“Not me,” Spike beamed as he crunched down on an emerald.

“Not all her customers are dragons, little Spike,” Aspect chuckled.

During lunch, Twinkle exchanged a few stories, and Aspect got to hear some tales of foal Twilight from Velvet, much to her embarrassment.

And soon, Aspect and Twinkle had to take their leave, a mission to complete in the name of love.

“They were nice,” Twinkle hummed as they walked. “I’m glad my descendants have done well for themselves.”

“Mmm, they’re pretty impressive, all things considered,” the stallion nodded as he trotted along.

“I’d like a favour from you though,” Twinkle spoke up. “Relations aside, I sensed a simply ridiculous amount of untapped potential in young Twilight Sparkle. Promise me that should her path stray, you’ll help her.”

“I’ll...try, that’s all I can promise,” the stallion sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll succeed or not. Luna proved me wrong with her Nightmare episode, that I could catch everything. But if she falls, I can try to be there to catch her.”

“I hope so,” Twinkle nodded. “Because what I sensed wasn’t too dissimilar to your girls.”

“It would be nice, wouldn’t it?” the stallion mused as he kept on walking. “But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Indeed,” Twinkle nodded as they got closer to the place twilight had directed them too. It wasn’t hard to spot, given how obvious all the other stores in Ponyville were. This one had a simple, but well-made wooden sign with the words ‘Gem Desires’ written in fancy Prench cursive. A purple trio of whiteish-blue gems after it.

“Guess this is the place,” Twinkle stated.

“Let’s see if they’ll serve me,” Aspect mused as he pushed the door open. “Hello?”

Inside, he was greeted with several rows of display cases. The ones in the middle held jewelery of all kinds. Necklaces, hoof and horn rings, earrings, etc. Around the walls sat cases that held things like raw gems, old pieces for display and the like, it was like a store and museum rolled into one.

Behind the counter, a young mare sat, she looked a little younger than Twilight, perhaps very late teens. A pair of glasses sat over her eyes, the lenses made from a cut ruby. It instantly reminded Aspect of the Twinkle eyed ponies…

“Hello?” the stallion tried again.

The mare looked up, lifting her glasses/goggles with her magic as she stared flatly as Aspect. “Yeah, what do you want?” she asked with a tone that sounded less than impressed.

“I’m here to get some pieces,” the stallion replied. “Though one of them will have to be made, I did come with the gem in question.”

“Great, as if I don’t have enough to do,” she muttered. “Fine, pick a design. Pay and get out.” Her attentions had already been turned back to the gem on her counter as she lowered her goggles and kept working.

Aspect blinked.

Twice.

Before turning around and pushing the door open. “You know what Twinkle, if she doesn’t believe in Customer Service, I don’t believe I need to spend my money here. I’m sure we can find a jeweler up in Canterlot that would be far friendlier.”

“Sure, go for your life,” the curt unicorn called out. “You’ll also pay ten times as much for a crappy ass job. Not to mention costs for a train there and back, or pay their exorbitant fees in shipping. My work is solid. You pay for that, why should I need to fake a smile?”

“You’re right,” Aspect noted aloud. “Now, Baltimare, they had a good jewelry shop. Fit for the princesses.”

“Sure, if you want to wait six months for anything,’ she waved a hoof. “They source all their materials from other places. I know because they buy from me. I can have any work done in next to no time.”

“Yeah, but your marketing of your skills at face value sucks harder than a thestral when they get a mango,” Aspect countered. “Your first impression leaves as much to be desired as the time when Celly raised the sun in the west.”

The mare sighed and set her goggles down. “Not even gonna ask,” she murmured. “Fine. What can I do for you?’ she said, her tone having at least a little less bite to it. She gestured at her display cases, filled with admittedly rather well-made jewellery. “I can make just about anything. All I need is a size and a rough idea of the design.”

“I’m thinking three necklaces, with very strong claps,” Aspect replied. “All for an engagement.”

“Proposing to three mares?” she raised an eyebrow. “Wow, the honeymoon’s gonna keep you busy.” She opened a drawer and put the gem she was working on in it.

“Mmm,” the stallion hummed as he reached into his bag and pulled out the Spectra heart, the bands of color going across it diagonally...and occasionally shifting as it was watched. “That’s for one of them,” he explained.

Then he stumbled as a band of magic grabbed his hoof and pulled him right up to the mare as she stared at the gem. “Alright… I’m going to ask. Where in the nine circles of Tartarus did you get a Spectra Crystal?”

“Oh, it’s easy,” the stallion replied with a cheeky grin. “All you have to do is go into the Everfree when a wild rainbow forms over it and pick the right end to harvest some Spectra Crystals. Of course, you also have to use your hooves to pick them.”

“I tried that a bunch of times,” she murmured. “Never found any… so I figured that old legend was bogus.” She picked the gem up and turned it over. “Whoever carved this was an amature at best. What I wouldn’t give for some raw materials…” As he looked at her, he spied a small scar behind her right ear.

“Tell you what,” Aspect said as he put the heart on the counter. “You promise to never tell that to my son, and I can share some with you. It helps to have more than one pony going for the rainbow at a time. Failing that…” he flapped his wings. “These help.”

“I’d imagine,” she murmured as she looked at the gem. She hopped down from her stool and walked around the counter so he could get a good look at her. She was a rather slender unicorn, her coat a pale lavender, with a rich purple mane and tail of two shades. Her Cutie Mark was a trio of diamond-hued gems, matching the sign outside. “Name’s Amethyst Star, though most call me Sparkler,” she said and held out a hoof. “And you must be the resident shapeshifter I’ve heard about.”

“Eh, I might have a few forms tucked away for every occasion,” the stallion replied playfully, bumping her hoof with one of his. “So. Would you prefer to touch up that heart, or to try and make another one?”

“This one is salvageable,” she replied. “It’s for a necklace, so it’ll need to be a bit smaller. And you wanted two more right? All with the same gem setting?”

“Well, one’s for the local confectioner that, surprisingly, isn’t Pinkie Pie. Hence the strong clasps, it wouldn’t be good for her or her customers if it fell in something she was making.”

“Then the smart idea would be to take it off while you cook,” Sparkler rolled her eyes. “So three different gems then? What about metal for the necklace? I have gold, silver and bronze. Some mythril. A little starmetal, though that’ll cost you a bundle and a half. Or I can go for a plated metal if you want them on the cheap.”

“Not cheap, but the only mare in my life that got anything from Starmetal was my daughter, and that’s going to be a very late birthday present for her,” the stallion countered. “Or more like a series of them. So, hmm...Twinkle, help refresh my memory, I seem to have forgotten about mythril. Do you think it’d work for my needs?”

“Mythril is a magically conductive material,” Twinkle replied. “A lot of unicorns made weapons out of it since it was easy to lift with magic. I honestly didn’t know ponies still worked with it.”

“Mhm,” Sparkler nodded. “Sky Chariots are often inlaid with the stuff to make them easier to pull. It’s brittle on it’s own, moreso than gold. It’s why it’s often mixed with other metals. I tend to use the stuff for highlights or a nice glowing effect when you channel magic through it.” She opened a case and lifted a hoof ring. Pulses of light ran across it like glowing veins when her magic touched it. “Combine it with Starmetal and an Ebon Dusk stone you also get a magic null ring,” the unicorn added.

“Interesting,” the stallion mused. “Well, I won’t be needing that. But a nice gold necklace with a highlight of mythril around the gem could be pretty.”

“Hmm, not bad,” Sparkler nodded. “Okay then, what are their coat and mane colours. You don’t want it to clash too badly.”

“Well one of them is Rainbow Dash, hence the Spectra heart,” the stallion pointed out, before Sparkler erupted into a coughing fit.

“R-Rainbow Dash?” she spluttered. “Wait… you said engagement… You’re marrying ‘the’ Rainbow Dash?!”

“She doesn’t know about it yet, but that is the plan,” Aspect nodded.

“Damn… dunno how you did that, you must have balls the size of watermelons,” she murmured as she looked at the Spectra gem. “Okay, gold would suit her colors fairly well. What about the other two?” She was trying so hard to not lose it right now.

“The second one is also a Ponyville native, Bon Bon,” the stallion continued.

“Bon Bon? The candy mare?” Sparkler blinked and closed her eyes. “Oooh yeah, I heard she’d gotten herself a stallion. Didn’t think it was you… and part of a herd no less.”

“And the last is somepony you won’t have heard of, a thestral by the name of Midnight Song,” Aspect finished. “Brown coat, blonde mane and tail.”

“Can you be a little more specific?” she asked. “Lot’s a shades out there.”

“Aaaah, I’m...not the artist,” Aspect chuckled, before looking to Twinkle.

“Her coat’s similar to milk chocolate,” the mare replied. “As for her mane and tail, a light, silvery blonde.”

“Platinum blonde is the term,” Sparkler nodded. “Okay, gold wouldn’t suit her coat all that well. Silver or platinum would be nicer. But gold will work for the other two.”

“Platinum it is, then,” Aspect nodded his head.

“Right, now do you want a particular shaped gem? Something related to the Marks?” Sparkler asked.

“Midnight’s is a crescent moon with some eighth notes in front of it,” Aspect mused. “And Bon Bon is, well, bon bons. I’m already going off-script with Dash getting a Spectra Heart.”

“Well I could make them all hearts, and try to match a gem to their Mark, or maybe use their birthstone?” the mare hummed. “Do you know their birthdays?”

“Ah, no, it...hasn’t come up yet,” the stallion replied sheepishly. “All hearts would probably be the safest choice.”

Then his vision was filled with pink.

“Hiya!” Pinkie declared happily.

“Gah!” Aspect jumped back.

“Somepony mentioned birthdays?” she asked as Twinkle stared at her.

“Surprise’s relation?” she asked the startled stallion.

“It feels like it, some days,” the stallion muttered as he made sure his heart was still beating.

“Sooo, whatcha wanna know?” Pinkie asked as Sparkler shook her head.

“One, use the door like a normal pony,” the unicorn groused. “Two, I need the birthdays for Rainbow Dash, Bon Bon and some mare named Midnight Song.”

“Weeeeell, I dunno about Middy,” Pinkie giggled. “But Dashie is on July 21st. And Bonnie on August 20.”

“I could pop back and ask?” Aspect offered with a raised wing.

“Sure!” Pinkie nodded. “I need to know to plan her next birthday bash!”

One second Aspect was there.

The next, the door slammed open in a rush of wind as he disappeared.

“Wowzers!” Pinkie said as her mane popped back into place and her eyes landed on Twinkle. “New PONY!”

“Oh gods…” Twinkle flinched, as Aspect had left her with a crazy pony.

Midnight had been practicing her drills, as her mate had stated his intention to marry her. She knew he was strong, and that the Gale King was his preferred style.

So she had kidnapped Realm from his school to use him in practice.

“Hm, you may come at me whenever,” she said, raising her training blades. “I will… try to avoid injuring you.”

“You realize I’m going to be in trouble with Miss Cheerilee for this, yes?” the colt replied with an irritated snort as his wings started to spark and glow with lightning.

“Would you rather that pointless class about history you yourself lived? Or shoot lightning at me?” she smirked. “Well… if you think you can~”

Realm snorted again as the lightning danced across his feathers, before each wing shot a bolt at her. She ducked the first and weaved the second, before drawing closer to him. The colt snorted and blasted her with a sudden gale, flipping her away from him as he took to the skies.

Midnight flipped back, tucking in her wings to avoid the gale blasting them back and breaking them. Her eyes looked up as she saw how far he ascended. Not a bad skill to learn. She pumped her own wings and took off after him, then opened her mouth and let out an ear shattering screech.

The colt winced as his ears folded back, but still held a look of concentration on his face as he waved his wings again, this time in a complex pattern, before bringing them down once again.

And this time, Midnight felt the winds change around them both. They started swirling around the colt, the clouds above turning as what he had summoned began to work. Midnight adjusted her wings, trying to stay airborne as she looked up. Whatever he was doing was interesting, but likely painful if she couldn’t avoid it.

“Seventh form!” the colt called out as the winds started to build. “Eye of the Storm!”

“This… looks bad,” Midnight said as she started to head for the ground. She needed to be out of the air…

The colt swooped down to stand on the ground...and the storm followed him down, swirling around him and making a barrier of wind between him and her that only grew worse as time went on.

Midnight stared at the raging storm from a few dozen feet away. Was this a defensive technique? She had to admit, she couldn’t see how to get past it… yet. She watched the winds carefully, trying to see a weak spot…

The only thing she could note was that the storm hadn’t quite fully formed yet. There was one tiny weak corridor that led to the calm center. But that gap was starting to narrow…

Midnight leapt into the air, rising several meters before angling and tucking in her wings, diving sharply and very fast, like a bat-shaped arrow as she aimed for the narrow gap, attempting to punch right through it and into the calm center. The winds and clouds fought her all the way…

But in the end, she won out and was rewarded with not only the center, but the colt crying out in shock and causing the whole storm to disappear. She skidded to a stop, before her wings and forelegs wrapped around him and held him close as air rushed in to fill the sudden void, her body buffeted from all angles as she shielded the colt until things calmed.

“Are, you alright?” she asked him carefully, slowly unfurling her battered body.

“Jus’ fine…” the colt replied woozily as he shook off his sudden exhaustion. “I...don’t quite have the mana reserves to hold a Seventh Form technique for very long yet. Won’t for a few more years. So...it’ll take a bit for me to get used to losing one like that.”

Midnight looked at the rather… well destroyed would be a good word to describe the yard. At least the Tree of Plenty was placed further away. “Hmm, well should you wish to practice, I will assist,” she said and ruffled his mane. “You are strong, for a mere child.”

“I am more than just an artist,” the colt said as he puffed out his chest. “I was dad’s squire back at the Everfree castle. Once I got old enough to hold some of Hurricane’s techniques, I was gonna be made a knight.”

“Most impressive,” Midnight smiled as she checked him for injuries. Her own were inconsequential. “Still, that was enlightening. I would like to know these techniques. And how to counter them. Your father will not win so easily.”

“They’re mostly based in pegasus magic,” the colt replied. “You’d have to wield at least the very basic stuff to be able to counter or read it.”

“I saw through your gale did I not?” she smiled and winked.

“And you dodged lightning,” the colt mused. “Hmm. Maybe you’d be able to actually match me.”

“You’d have lost that one,” she mused and rubbed his head. “Maybe with practice, you could match me?”Then she paused as she felt a presence coming and flared her wings to shield Realm.

A sudden gust of wind was all the warning she got as Aspect reappeared and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello love, I just have a quick question for you,” the stallion said. “When’s your birthday?”

She took a breath and lowered her guard, caught off by the unexpected question. “Um...what?”

“Your birthday,” the stallion repeated. “I need to know for a thing I’m doing.”

The mare blinked and rubbed her head. “M-am născut în iarna. Um, what is the month in Equuish…?” She scratched her head. “The ninth day of the first month.”

“Thank you,” the stallion kissed her on the lips this time, before vanishing in another gust of wind.

“What… was that about?” Midnight said, looking rather confused.

“You’re asking me to explain him?” Realm chuckled. “He’s one of a kind.”

“That he is,” Midnight smirked, before wincing. The wind had left some shallow cuts in her skin. “Well, back to training then?”

“If you think you can handle all the things I can throw at you, by all means,” the colt smirked at her.

“Bring it on,” she smirked, her wings flaring.

Meanwhile, Twinkle had managed to distract Pinkie Pie with some stories, the pink mare sitting quietly as she talked.

There was another gust of wind, as Aspect rematerialized in the shop. “January 9th,” he said.

“I… where did you…?” Sparkler rubbed her eyes. “Right, that makes her birthstone a Garnet. A Peridot for Bon Bon and a Ruby for Rainbow.”

“But as we’ve already established,” Aspect pointed out. “The only gem that really would represent Dashie is the Spectra heart.”

“I am aware,” Sparkler nodded. “Just commenting out loud.” No need to tell him of what Twinkle had just planned. Mare schemes were the best schemes. “Now, what timeframe are you looking at? I have to make the hearts, and the necklaces from scratch. This could take at least two to three weeks.”

“Let me put it like this,” Aspect said simply. “The sooner I have those necklaces in hoof, the sooner I can propose to the mares that have made me feel happy to be alive for the first time in so long.”

Sparkler sighed. “Fine, I’ll work as quick as I can. But you better believe that I’m not sacrificing my level of quality for you. Just… I owe you a favor is all.”

“Speaking of,” the stallion reached into his bag and pulled out half a dozen Spectra crystals. “I can always hit up the forest the next time it rains there to restock.” He put them on the counter next to the heart.

“Are… are you sure?” the mare asked, blushing slightly. She was kind of adorable… for a grumpy lil unicorn.

“You want to work with them, then by all means,” the stallion replied. “Just let me know if you need more and I’ll hit up the forest again.”

“This is fine,” she mumbled. She already had a spot picked out to display a raw crystal and some ideas for jewelry. “I’ll do what I can for your necklaces okay? And…” She looked around, Twinkle still distracting Pinkie. “Thanks okay,” she blushed cutely. “For taking care of my little sis.”

Aspect couldn’t help himself. He walked forward and hugged the mare. She blushed harder and pushed him back with a hoof as she stammered. “H-hey! W-What are you doing!?”

“Sometimes a hug helps,” the stallion said with a smile. “Thanks, by the way. I trust you’ll make them look divine.”

“Y-yeah well…” She blushed again and looked away. “Whatever. I’ll do my best.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect said as he walked over to Twinkle. “Okay, we’re all set here,” the stallion said to the mare. “Thanks for helping out, Pinkie.”

“No problemo Aspectio!” she saluted and cartwheeled out of the door. The non-automatic door somehow opening as she did, closing behind her.

“Definitely from the Surprise line,” the stallion muttered. “Well, let’s just...I don’t know, get you acquainted with the town?”

“I suppose we can do that,” the mare nodded and smiled as she followed after him, offering Sparkler a wave as they left her shop.

“...And that’s pretty much Ponyville in a nutshell,” the stallion said after her guided tour.

“Hmm, quite the… diverse place,” she mused as they arrived back at his house. “Nothing like Dream Valley at all.”

“That’s kind of the idea,” the stallion replied as he opened the door for her. “The tribes living in harmony promotes greater growth than them living apart.”

“I suppose it does,” she replied. “Kudos for actually getting it to work. Gods above the Pegasi were stubborn. Though they did have Hurricane as a leader, so that explains much.”

“Well, it was hardly my work for the past thousand years,” the stallion chuckled as he walked in after her. “But yes, after a little cold spell, it’s remarkable what the tribes will do to survive.”

“I’d imagine,” she replied, sounding a little bitter as she remembered those horrid beasts. Their blood-freezing howls and that awful cold… so very cold…

“Hey,” the stallion pulled her close with a wing, having caught that thousand-yard stare. “It’s okay. I made sure of it before I left. It won’t happen again.”

“Y-yeah…” the mare shook and trembled, before the ground shook with a small tremor and an explosion. And it was coming from the backyard.

“...I’ll go answer that,” the stallion sighed as he walked through the house.

The backyard was a total mess. Grass and trees were ripped up, chunks of earth missing as two ponies faced off, both Midnight and Realm looking like they’d lost a fight with a tornado that was on fire.

“Realm,” Aspect said warningly. “Did you try using the Seventh Form again?”

“Yeeeeeep,” the colt replied woozily as both ponies collapsed. Aspect sighed as he levitated the both of them with gusts of wind, something he held as he carried them into the house on their air cushions.

“Twinkle, go find Artemis, he’s the Diamond Dog,” the stallion called as he began walking through his home. “Tell him the back yard needs work thanks to Realm going all out.”

“Um, sure,” the mare nodded as she headed into the house, before Aspect realised that at this time, he’d only just be getting out of school…

“Wait, nevermind,” Aspect added on. “Go wait by the front door for him, he should be coming back soon.”

“Ah, alright,” the mare blinked and did as he asked as Midnight came to, rubbing her head as she groaned slightly.

“Don’t move,” Aspect said to Midnight. “Then I have to refocus on holding you.”

“What… where am I?” she blinked, laying still like he asked.

“Inside, I’m bringing you to the room so you can rest up,” the stallion said as he walked through the halls.

“Oh,” she murmured. “I guess. I must have trained too hard.”

“You must have, if you made Realm break out the Seventh Form,” Aspect replied as he reached Realm’s room. With an application of wind, the door was opened and the colt placed on his bed, before it shut and the two of them were on their way again.

“I needed the practice,” she murmured. “Don’t… want to make it easy for you…”

“And I appreciate that,” the stallion replied as he continued their walk. “It means you’re taking me seriously. So many foes did not take me seriously.”

“I will give it my all, to the best that I can,” Midnight said, knowing full well there was one technique she wasn’t allowed to use.

“That’s all I ask,” the stallion replied as they reached the room. Another burst of wind saw the door opened before Midnight was floated in on her cushion of air, landing on the bed before Aspect walked over to kiss her forehead.

The mare sighed contently, snuggling into the cushion as she sprawled out, not really caring about her modesty here. Aspect chuckled and rubbed her chest with a hoof, before kissing her again.

“You take care, little mare,” the stallion cooed to her. “I’ll tell Bonnie you need something to help you recover from your training.”

“Hmm, cuddle with me,” she murred, not letting go off his hoof.

“...I can spare some time,” the stallion replied as he crawled up onto the bed, nuzzling his thestral mare. She returned his affections readily as the mare sighed contently, her wing draping over him.

“Mine,” she murred, nibbling his neck.

“We’ll see about that, won’t we?” the stallion cheekily replied as he nuzzled her.

“Indeed,” she nodded. “After all, should I defeat you, you’ll be deemed unworthy to marry me.”

“Oh really?” the stallion quirked an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t it be a feat in and of itself if you do beat me? After all, I’m older than Celestia.”

“I guess we will see,” she murred. “I am not without my own abilities stallion. Underestimate me and you will eat dirt.” She leaned up and nipped his ear.

“Mm. Training with Realm’s Seventh Form is only going to get you so far,” the stallion replied as he ran a hoof down her side. “I still possess Air. I’m a step above him.”

“It was just training, I would feel bad beating a child up,” Midnight replied. “So, shall I send my parents a visitation request?”

“Mm, it’d probably be a good idea,” the stallion agreed. “How long will it take to get there?”

“Depends on the mail,” Midnight replied. “Or I shall go and see them personally. Oh…” She pulled out a bound scroll. “Please send this one to the Sun Princess.”

Aspect pulled back, shifted into his dragon form, and exhaled on the scroll, sending it off without a question.

“Hmm,” she ran a hoof along his scales. “I see why she likes this form. It is appealing.”

“Still getting used to it,” the dragon Aspect replied. “Plus, I’m still only putting about...eh, a hundred years worth into the transformation.”

Midnight simply tilted her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“This is an adolescent drake,” the dragon replied, using a hand to gesture to himself. “I have a good few thousand years I could put into it. But that would likely end up with me being bigger than the house.”

“Ahh, that would be… problem,” Midnight nodded and chuckled. “Except for Bon Bon. Her concern would be how to fit~”

“Heh,” Aspect chuckled as he curled himself around Midnight. “Well, still up for cuddling?”

“Mhm,” Midnight nodded. “Might you please fetch me a drink first?”

“I can do that,” the dragon replied as he stretched, before going off through the halls to fetch his batmare a drink.

*WHUMP!*

The second he set foot out of his door, the drake found himself on the receiving end of a patented Luna Tackle Hug. This one from a high velocity teleport.

“FATHER!” she exclaimed excitedly. “Thou art getting MARRIED!?”

“...I am going to put that bat over my knee when this is done,” the dragon groused.

“Sister is equally as excited,” Luna stated from her new dragon seat. “But she has to deal with some things. We however, needed to see if this news was true.” She stared down at him, Luna’s ’Cute’ in full effect.

“In order to marry my herd and preserve my own skin before Toola catches wind of what’s happened, I am getting married,” the dragon replied. “I mean, I do love them, but I wouldn’t put it past that mare to find a way to kill me if I don’t marry Bon Bon soon. And I’m not leaving any of them out of it. And I have to actually fight Midnight in order to win the right to marry her.”

“Ahh, We had forgotten about that little ritual,” Luna hummed thoughtfully. “Well, tis not like you would lose to a mortal mare. So, what is the problem?”

“Bon Bon is pregnant,” Aspect replied. “With a Kirin.”

Luna stared hard at him… then at his form. She blushed and quickly removed herself from him. “Father! What in the Moon’s name was’t thou thinking?”

“I was thinking that my little infertility charm would be enough to prevent that,” the dragon replied as he got up, before continuing on his trek to the kitchen. “Apparently I forgot to take into account the anti-magical nature of dragon scales.”

“Ahh, that would do it,” Luna nodded as she followed him like a puppy. “So, We shall get a new brother or sister? We call… er what is it? Dibs? Yes! Dibs. We call dibs on teaching them how to prank!”

“Because what we needed was another child as bad as you or Tia,” Aspect snarked back as he finally arrived in the kitchen. “Was it the cold or the damage you two did that caused us to abandon our first home?”

Then he heard a whine and against better judgement, turned to it’s source.

Luna was pouting.

“We… we were a bad filly?’ she whimpered, her eyes glistening and her lip jutting out.

Aspect literally couldn’t help himself. He walked over and cooed, picking Luna up and cradling her close. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said against his own will.

Luna smirked internally. She was still the master of the Cute, even after a thousand years. She nuzzled against him as they both heard somepony chuckling, a bemused Bon Bon standing behind them.

“A dragon and an alicorn cuddling in a kitchen… I swear all I need is the punchline now,” she mused.

“Eh, for that you would need Tia and a cake,” Aspect waved her off.

“Harsh,” Bon Bon snorted as she suddenly yelped, Luna pouncing her and putting an ear to her belly. “P-Princess Luna! What the hay?”

“Oh yeah, Lulu knows,” Aspect replied as he went over to the fridge and hummed. What would Midnight like to drink…

Oh look, Bonnie had bought juice boxes…

Mango juice boxes.

The dragon snared a few with one hand before turning around again. Bon Bon was still inadvertently distracting Luna as the mare tried to hear a child in her belly. Bon Bon’s protests doing little to dissuade her.

With a smirk on his lips, the dragon slipped away, off to give Middy her juice...and maybe a talking-to about distracting his own children for her.

In a distant, mountainous city, a small batpony mare opened a letter she’d just received. Oh! It was from her lil daughter.

Her amber-hued eyes scanned the page and suddenly narrowed. She put the letter down and turned towards the back of the house.

“Eclipse! Get yer flank in here!”

The thestral stallion poked his head out of the archway. A grey coat with a dark blue mane and tail. His eyes a rich emerald. “Yes dear.”

“Some cum guzzlin’ lil shitstain thinks he’s marryin’ OUR lil Midnight!” the small mare yelled, stomping a hoof. “Pack yer bag! We’re goin tae Ponyville!”

“Oh dear,” the stallion sighed. Whatever stallion her ire was now directed at, he had his deepest sympathies.

“So yeah…” Rainbow shrugged as she lay on the end of the bed, her tail swishing back and forth as her front half dangled over the side. “I was kiiinda bragging a bunch. I mean, I was saving ponies and all. But I guess it went to my head a little. Least the others were cool enough to point it out anyway. Beat their original idea of dressing up as a superhero and showing me up to prove a point.”

“That would have been a pretty low move,” Bon Bon nodded. “Talking things out before the problem escalates is a much better solution.”

“Yeah, that’s what the purple egghead put in her letter,” Rainbow nodded. “Speaking of,” she turned to Aspect. “What happened with that? I thought you wanted her in this little fam of ours as well?”

“She decided she wasn’t ready for as complex a relationship as she might have been entering into,” the dragon replied. “What with her being Celestia’s student and you being her friend.”

“Yeah, I mean. Twi’s pretty adorable,” Rainbow nodded. “But, it’d be kiiinda weird as well ya know. I mean, I think three mares is pushing it as is.”

“Aww, does the little pegasus not like her selections?” Bon Bon hummed, tickling her leg and making Rainbow kick slightly.

“Ahah, quit it!” she giggled. “And yeah, I’m cool with all of you. It’d just be weird with any of my friends ya know. Like… what if one of us wanted that Twinkle mare?”

“Yeah, that’d be a little weird,” Aspect replied as he curled up on the bed. “Considering she’s just about as old as I am, and also one of my really old friends.”

“Ya see,” Rainbow nodded. “Honestly, Twi still can’t look at me without blushing.” She rolled over and sat up on the bed. “So, what’s this I hear about an engagement hm?”

“Luna told her,” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“Ah, well, I was hoping to spring it on you when I had the necklaces,” Aspect chuckled. “But yes, in order to marry this herd, I would first have to fight Midnight for the right to marry her. So I’m getting the necklaces made and will spring them on you when they’re ready, before showing off what a proper Aspect of Air can do in a fight with Middy.”

“Sounds weird… but Midnight’s pretty badass, so that’ll be cool.” Rainbow nodded and shared a hoofbump with the batpony, who was already half asleep. “Eh, mushy stuff ain’t my style. But… getting married. I… I never really thought about it before.”

The dragon raised his head, before turning to Rainbow and kissing her on the lips. And slipping her some tongue. A lot of tongue.

“And now she finds out why I like that form,” Bon Bon mused. Aspect had been in said dragonform all day actually. Well, not that she was complaining. Meanwhile, the pegasus mare let out a muffled squeak of surprise at the long tongue invading her mouth.

Eventually the dragon let her come up for air and smirked at the pegasus mare. “Don’t ever doubt that I love you,” he said.

“Never… did…” Rainbow panted, licking her lips and smirking at him. “Geez, gimme a little warning before you tonguefuck my throat huh?”

“Just trying to distract you from thinking about it,” the dragon replied as he resumed his curled-up pose.

“Uhuh, you and your ‘distractions’ huh?” Rainbow snorted as she flopped down rather unceremoniously on top of her new dragon pillow.

“He is good at those,” Bon Bon nodded, taking his side.

“Quite,” Midnight yawned, completing the attempt to bury the dragon under a mare pile.

“Oh, I see how it is,” the dragon chuckled from under the mares. “Going to bury the dragon under his hoard, are we?”

“Yup, you make a nice pillow,” Rainbow nodded. “I mean, you’re no cloud. But I guess you’ll do.”

“I second that,” Midnight agreed.

“Never slept on a cloud, so I’ll take your word for it,” Bon Bon nodded.

“Oh, what a cruel, cruel fate has happened upon me,” the dragon moaned dramatically. “I am literally buried in mares. However did this come to pass?”

“Bonnie, the pillow talks too much,” Rainbow chuckled.

“Well, his tongue is usually otherwise occupied,” the mare mused back.

“Drama queen,” Midnight murmured.

Aspect chuckled before just closing his eyes, reveling in the feeling of being surrounded by those he loved.

Author's Note

I went over the chapter with a comb and only spotted one error, and made sure the link worked to. Go me!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on replacing broken appliances.

Chapter 45 - A little taste of the music

Morning came, Rainbow Dash having left early for work while Bon Bon awoke to start preparing breakfast for everyone. It was a Saturday, so the kids were free from school. Aspect swore there was something to do today…

Luna had discovered Twinkle yesterday, and the two had spent a good long while catching up and lamenting about not having a grasp on modern Equestria. Pupal seemed to be doing alright as well, though she clung to Realm like she was his shadow.

“So, I hear you have a birthday to attend today?” Bon Bon said as she cooked up some apple toast and coffee for everyone. “Have you got a good gift?”

Oh, that was it. Twilight’s birthday was today.

“I’ll just dig out one of Megan’s old books to give to her, probably Aladdin,” the stallion replied with a wave of a hoof.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that one,” Bon Bon blinked.

“Just Aladdin? Or 1001 Nights?” Twinkle asked him.

“Hmm, you make a good counterargument,” the stallion mused. “Fine, as long as we don’t lose Aladdin along the way. I figured it’d be a pertinent thing to give her, what with you coming back and all.”

“Oh, so I’m a genie in a bottle now hm?” Twinkle mused. “Nice to see you think so highly of me.”

“I dunno, I mean, I did grant your wish for freedom,” Aspect chuckled.

“Oh shut up!” she tossed a balled up napkin at him. “Nopony likes a smartflank.”

“So, any idea when you’re supposed to be going?” Bon Bon asked. “Or where.”

“You know, that is an excellent question,” Aspect mused aloud. “I honestly don’t know. I figure I can ask Twilight where her party is after breakfast.”

“If she knows,” Bon Bon replied as she set his breakfast down in front of him. “Here you are love.”

“Thank you,” Aspect replied. “And of course she knows. After Pinkie’s episode, the girls decided on no more surprise parties.”

“Ah, they’re becoming self-aware I see,” Bon Bon giggled as she set breakfast down for the others. Realm stumbled into the room, Pupal not far behind him.

Nightmare groaned as she mimicked Realm’s sleepy stumbles. The mare looking around the room.

“Gods, how can you all even fathom being up so ungodly early…”

“Well it helps when you go to bed at a reasonable time,” the stallion pointed out.

“I’m nocturnal!” the mare deadpanned as the manticore cub rubbed up against her leg as she sat down. “But nooo, freaking Celestia has to find that one crack in my curtains and shine her bloody sun right in my eye.”

Aspect held his tongue. Better her than him. After having a bit of food to remove the temptation to say that out loud, he spoke again. “So, besides attending Twilight’s birthday party, what all does everypony have planned?”

“Sleeping,” Nightmare grumbled.

“Catching up with the times,” Twinkle nodded.

“I dunno,” Artemis shrugged.

“Painting,” Realm added.

“Woow, what a shocker,” Nightmare mused and teased him, leaning to ruffle his mane, only she pulled back when Pupal hissed and snapped at her.

“Pupal, down!” Aspect ordered her. “No attacking family.”

“He is mine,” she chittered, hugging Realm closely.

“You have to share him with his family,” Aspect chided her.

Pupal suddenly squeaked and let go of Realm, shaking her head. “S-Sorry…” she stuttered. “S-S-Silly I-Instincts.”

“As long as you admit when you’re acting up, then that’s fine,” the stallion replied. “It’ll probably take a while for you to break those bad habits.”

Her wings flickered and she sighed. “I-I-I just h-hope that t-the Q-Queen is okay,” she murmured.

“Chryssy’s fine,” the stallion waved off. “I’m more worried about why she didn’t answer. Why she doesn’t answer. But I suppose that can wait until later.”

“She’s busy,” the Changeling said. “Lotsa p-plans…”

“Mm, I’m sure,” Aspect replied, before standing up and cracking his neck. “Right, off to Twilight’s to learn where her party is.”

He turned and opened the door, Pinkie Pie’s big blue eyes staring back at him.

“Hi Aspect!” she waved.

“You know, I should have expected this,” the stallion sighed. “Okay Pinkie, where’s the party?”

“Yuppers,” Pinkie nodded as she bounced on the spot. “Weeeeeeeeeeeell. There’s a biiiit of a problem.”

“Oh?” the stallion tilted his head.

“Well, Rarity can’t make it cause she went to Canterlot to do Rarity things. Then TwiTwi had the bestest idea. Let’s take the party to Canterlot! Then Raribears can play too!” The pink mare clapped her hooves and beamed.

“Oh, okay then,” Aspect nodded once. “Let me go get my bags and you all can meet me there.”

“Okie Dokie Loki!” the mare saluted and pronked away, humming the… wait, was that the theme song from Aladdin?

Nope, not questioning it. Questioning it was where the road to madness started.

Pinkie was the first to bounce off of the train, followed by Rainbow, Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy.

“Wowzers!” Pinkie exclaimed. “How’d you get here so fast Aspy! You must be even quicker than Dashie!”

Rainbow let out a loud snort and rolled her eyes.

“One of the perks of being Air,” Aspect replied as he held out a book to Twilight. “Your gift.” On it was written the words 1001 Arabian Nights.

“Another old book!?” Twilight gasped, taking it with her magic. “‘Arabian Night’s’ You mean, like Saddle Arabia?”

“Similar, but not quite the same,” Aspect replied. “After all, this is another one of Megan’s books that she brought with her.”

“Oohh!” Twilight beamed happily and reached his side, kissing his cheek as she stared at the book with no small amount of joy.

“So where’s the party going to be?” the stallion asked, not letting the effects of that kiss show.

“The castle,” Twilight beamed. “I wrote to the princess ahead of time, and she’s letting us use one of the side rooms near the garden. Remember where that painting was hung during the Gala? That room.”

“Ah,” the stallion hummed. “Well, you’ll have to lead me there. I haven’t visited in some time, so I’ll likely have forgotten the pathways.”

“I know the way,” Twilight nodded as she led the group through the streets of Canterlot. It seemed to be as busy as always, but Aspect did note that there seemed to be a higher presence of Royal Guard around…

He tried to pay it no mind as he followed Twilight’s lead.

The mare seemed to be in quite a good mood, her tail swishing back and forth as she hummed a small tune to herself. The book she’d gotten nestled safely in her saddlebags as the castle grew closer, the group nearing the main entrance.

The stallion let out a happy little sigh as they arrived. It always did feel like coming home when he arrived at a castle. Well...except for Grogar’s.

At the entrance, two large guards crossed their spears and glared at the ponies. “Halt! Who goes there!” they declared in a loud voice, startling Fluttershy and Pinkie, the former ducking behind Aspect.

“Gentlestallions, one would think you of all ponies would recognize the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony,” Aspect observed in a biting tone.

Another Guard approached and glared at them, the Guards saluting and standing at attention as Midnight removed her helmet.

“They are new,” she said. “Sun Princess has been drawing more guard in from across Equestria.”

“Well that bodes well, I don’t think,” Aspect muttered. “Let me guess,” he drew up to the guards that had been haranguing them. “Missed the day one briefing? And all the reports about the mares that saved Luna?”

They started to sweat now. Ah crap, they done bucked up.

“Do not torment the newbies,” Midnight bopped him on the head. “These ponies may pass. Nor shall their access be restricted.”

“Ma’am!” they saluted, thankful for the out she gave them.

“You’re right,” Aspect said, giving them relief for all of a second. “That’s your job.”

“I will break them after the looming threat has passed,’ she said. “Now go, enjoy your little party my stallion.”

Her stallion?

Aw man, she was gonna make them run drill till their legs fell off.

“You’re going to tell me about this looming threat later,” Aspect warned her, before giving her a kiss as he darted inside after the Bearers.

“If I knew, I would tell you,” she sighed and shook her head as she walked off.

They went up one of the nearby towers, apparently that’s where Rarity was staying. And the unicorn seemed rather surprised to see them all there. She was wearing a massive, wide-brimmed hat and a fanciful dress. She looked ready to go to the Gala itself actually.

“Wow, fancy!” Pinkie giggled. “And yeah, you couldn’t come to the party, so we brought the party to you!”

So, why was Rarity looking rather nervous all of a sudden.

“Is there...something wrong, Rarity?” Aspect asked.

“Oh, wha… ahaha, of course not Darling,” Rarity chuckled as Twilight spied a rather simple-looking dress on a clotheshorse. “Oh, no! Wait Twilight dear. That’s not fin—”

“I love it,” the unicorn beamed brightly. “Simple, yet practical. You really do know me too well Rarity.”

“O-Oh, of course darling,” Rarity said, almost sweating.

“She does know what Rarity was trying to say, right?” Aspect whispered to Dash.

“Prolly not,” Rainbow shrugged as Twilight tried the dress on. It actually looked rather cute on her as she smiled and spun in place.

“Yes… simple is best for you,” Rarity nodded. And she’d been stressing so much over making it truly fabulous.

“So you didn’t think we’d leave you out of the birthday celebration, right?” Aspect asked. “I’m sure you would think the same thing if one of us couldn’t make it. Just move the party to wherever they are so they can come.”

“Of course dear,” Rarity nodded and looked around. “Well, shall we go then. We do not want to be late.”

Aspect wondered...late for what? He decided to simply observe for now.

They got to the hall and he looked around. It certainly wasn’t decorated for a party…

Then Pinkie pulled out a massive blue cannon and pulled the fuse.

With a resounding BOOM! The hall was filled with balloons, streamers, decorations and… where did the cake and food come from?

He had to exert a surprising amount of ‘don’t question it’ to get past that one.

“Party Cannon, never leave home without one,’ she smiled as she… she crammed the thing into her mane. This was Discord levels of reality breaking now.

“Looks cool Pinks,” Dash mused, none of the ponies even seeming fazed by her antics.

“...Oh, duh. Earth Pony Strange Magic,” the stallion replied, thunking his head with a hoof.

Pinkie was suddenly draped over his shoulders. “Don’t tell Twi,” she whispered. “Her reactions are adorable.” She giggled and ruffled his mane. “Aaaall she has to do, is ask what my talent is.”

“...I’ll save asking for when I’m more composed,” the stallion replied as he looked around the room. “You know, I honestly have no idea how Strange Magic works? It’s the one thing I can’t do.”

“Aww, that’s okay,” Pinkie rubbed his ears in a rather soothing manner. “I don’t get it either.”

She then zipped over to a gramophone and started playing some upbeat polka music.

“Oh geeze, dancing,” Aspect chuckled nervously.

“You gotta dance!” Pinkie cheered as she pulled him onto the dance floor, only to be bumped aside by Rainbow.

“Sorry Pinks, but he’s mine,” she grinned sharkishly.

“Only half the time,” the stallion chuckled as he began leading the mare in a dance. “The other half, you’re mine.”

“Mmm, so which half is this?” she murred, taking the stallion for a spin.

“I think this is the part where we enjoy being together,” Aspect replied as he retook the lead role and dipped the mare dramatically.

“I guess I can live with tha—” She was cut off as Pinkie dove back on.

“Sharing is caraaaring~” she sung, taking Aspect on a rather upbeat, fast paced dance.

“Yikes!” Aspect replied, barely keeping up with Pinkie’s energy. “What is with you today?”

“I love parties!” she giggled and nuzzled his neck before spinning him, the stallion landing in the hooves of Applejack.

“Howdy,” the mare chuckled. “You still alive?”

“Somehow,” the stallion admitted as he got his hooves under him again. “Sheesh. I’m being passed around a lot today.”

“Well, you are the only stallion here,” she mused. “An’ ah guess we all have one reason ‘er another ta thank ya.” She led him at a more respectable pace. Looking up, he noted she was wearing the hat he gave her.

“I was just being a good friend to the ones that saved my daughter, nothing less could be expected of me,” the stallion replied.

“T’aint nuthin,” she nodded as she bumped his hoof. She led him into a curtsy, and when he looked up, Fluttershy was his new partner, well, her and her blush.

“We don’t have to dance if you don’t want to,” the stallion said to her.

“Oh.. no, um…” She held out a hoof, her blush ever present. “It might be… nice.”

Aspect let out a small chuckle before leading the mare into a calm dance, nothing more than steps traded and positions changed.

Then a blue feather trailed down Fluttershy’s back, making her eep and stumble forward into Aspect’s embrace.

“Careful there, I’ve got you,” the stallion said as he held her close. “You okay?”

“I… um… yeep!” Fluttershy blushed, pushing back and making him stumble.

“And I’ve got you,” Twilight chuckled, catching him in her magic as Fluttershy started to scold Rainbow. That… that was one hell of a passive browbeating she was getting.

“Mmm, and what do you plan to do with this stallion?” Aspect teased the birthday mare.

Twilight just rolled her eyes. “Well I suppose I should dance with him, seeing as how everypony else has.”

“Just a dance? I can do that,” the stallion replied as he began leading the lavender mare in a courtly dance.

Oh… Oh dear.

Twilight’s dancing.

He was pretty sure a cat getting electrocuted was more eloquent than that mare as her tongue stuck out, her limbs flying everywhere.

“Okay, hold on,” Aspect replied, pulling her to a stop. “Let’s try a courtly dance. You know, steps mirrored, hooves held up as the partners dance around one another?”

“Um… kind of?” she blinked, pausing in her… whatever that was.

“Right, I know what your next gift is going to be,” Aspect muttered. “Look, just do what I do.” He held a hoof out towards her, waiting for her to meet it.

Twilight blinked, but reached out and took his hoof.

“Aaaand one-two-three, one-two-three,” Aspect said, moving a hoof with each number so that he was starting to circle clockwise around their joined hooves.

She looked down, following his steps carefully as she mimicked him somewhat awkwardly.

“One two three, one two three, release,” Aspect said, letting go of her hoof, “Bow,” he bowed to the mare, “And twirl.” And then he turned completely around, completing one cycle of the dance.

She panted slightly as he finished the round. “Huh… I-I actually did it?”

“Most formal dances are a simple cycle,” Aspect explained. “Learn how to move in time with the beat, and you’ve got it licked.”

“Oh… I see,” Twilight nodded and gave his cheek a light peck. “Thank you Aspect.”

“I had to dance for days worth of time back at the Everfree Castle,” the stallion chuckled. “The least I can do is pass on a little bit of knowledge to you.”

“Well, thank you for teaching me, oh mighty dance master,” she mused. She really was quite adorable when she giggled.

“Well this is a fine party,” Aspect sighed as he made his way over to the refreshments.

“I try my bestest,” Pinkie nodded. “I wonder where Rarity keeps going though?”

“Hmm…why don’t you look into it, Pinkie?” Aspect mused.

Then the unicorn showed up, panting slightly and… and why was she holding a croquet mallet?

“Something is afoot, Watson,” the stallion mused.

“Indeed,” Pinkie agreed, donning a Sherlock Holmes hat.

After being pointed out by Applejack, Rarity eventually spilled the beans that she was ducking between this, and a noble garden party outside. Twilight smiled and nuzzled her friend, telling her she should go join the other one. It would be good for her business after all.

“Hmm, Rarity seems to have used her time in Canterlot well,” Aspect hummed. “She’s become quite popular with the elite. Though...I hesitate to call that good, seeing as how they reacted to me…”

“Yeah well, I don’t think she really cares,” Rainbow shrugged. “I mean, she’s always loved that high-society, frou-frou crud.”

“Hey! I have an ideeeaaa~” Pinkie sang. “We brought the party to rarity once already. Let’s just combine the parties! More is ALWAYS better!”

Aspect considered the idea.

Combining a noble garden party with a birthday party for Twilight could only end hilariously.

Plus it might teach the nobles to lighten up.

The very same nobles that had, with only one exception, reacted to his reveal with mostly disdain that there was someone else standing between them and the throne.

Like they deserved it or something.

He very carefully kept the smile off his face as he replied, “Go for it Pinkie.”

“Whoohoo! Plan is Aspect Approved!” she cheered as she grabbed her cannon and gramophone, leading the charge outside.

“Ohh, this can’t end well…” Rainbow shuddered. She remembered the Gala.

“I’ll be standing by to observe and make sure things don’t get too out of hoof,” the stallion replied. “And if need be, I’ll even take on Alicorn form to get a certain point across.”

“If you say so,” Rainbow replied as she followed him.

…

Oh, he was right. He was so right. This was hilarious.

Twilight’s spazzy dancing. Applejack teaching nobles how to actually garden at a garden party. Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie….

This was just what he needed, really. Ohhh, this was going in the memory vault, for sure. Then he spied a bunch of well dressed nobles talking to Twilight, asking about her simplistic dress.

And sweet, naive, innocent Twilight replied with the fact that Rarity made it for her.

“You mean her?” one snooty noble spoke up. Aspect recognised that nasal tone from the revealing. “She made that thing?”

Aspect walked over and just stared at the stallion, with a stare he would remember.

The stallion eep’d and cowered, but it was Rarity that spoke up.

“Yes. Yes, I do know them. They may not be as sophisticated as some of you Canterlot ponies, but they are my best friends. And they are without a doubt the most important ponies I know.” Rarity smiled at her friends.

“Mmm, somepony learned something, I’d wager,” Aspect mused aloud.

Twilight noted that that would make a good letter to the princess.

“Here here,” a dapper stallion nodded. Heey, Aspect knew this guy. Fancy Pants. That delightful noble that helped him with his museum trip. “And I happen to find these ponies… delightfully rustic. Why, I may just order a dress like that myself.”

“Y-yeah, I’ll take two,” another suddenly joined in, and soon a whole herd of ponies was swarming Rarity for orders. Fancy turned and flashed a wink at Aspect.

“Hey, you know that fancy guy?” Rainbow whispered to him.

“He’s the one noble that actually lives up to the title,” Aspect whispered back.

“Ahh, well if he’s cool in your books, he must be okay,” Rainbow nodded. Oh dear, she really shouldn’t use Aspect to be a judge of character.

“That is a terrible standard to judge by and you know it,” the stallion warned her.

“Eh, you haven’t messed up… yet,” she smirked. “Though you are dating me, so yeah… that sounds pretty sketchy.”

“Well I’ve survived thus far,” the stallion pointed out.

“True enough,” she chuckled. After that, the parties actually did combine, Pinkie even getting some of the nobles in on a conga line. So that was the trick, just unleash Chaos in fluffy pink forms on them.

“Well, today was successful for all the right reasons,” Aspect chuckled as he observed the noble ponies forced into having fun.

Given that night had fallen by the time the party ended, they group opted to stay in Canterlot overnight at Celestia’s request. Aspect sent a message home to say he’d be out as the girls were setting up a slumber party.

He’d even gotten comfy in his own room in the castle, about ready to bed down for sleep himself…

“Oh, sleeping already?” a voice purred as Midnight stood in the doorway. “Are you that old already?”

“Oh, hello my bat,” Aspect perked up. “I was just getting ready. What with Dash at her party with her friends, I thought it best to just take care of myself and not be in anypony’s way.”

“Hrm, well… do you wish to walk with me?” she asked. “I must work the night, so I could use the company.”

“I suppose,” the stallion said as he hopped out of his bed and stretched a little. “Okay, ready. Lead on, O’ glorious vision of the night.”

“Such a drama queen,” she rolled her eyes as she led him out into the gardens. They looked quite lovely at night, bathed in the gentle moonlight as the pair of ponies walked. And again, Aspect couldn’t help but note he’d see a guard or two walking around fairly often.

“Something is going on,” the stallion noted again.

Midnight sighed. “Yes. But you need not worry my stallion. It is what the Guard are for no?”

“I worry, because you’re in the Guard,” Aspect replied. “If something were to happen and I didn’t do everything in my power to help…”

Midnight looked around, before leading him off and they soon found themselves in the hedge maze.

“A threat has been made against Canterlot,” she said once they were alone. “We not sure whom and how they intend to do so. But with the Nightmare and Discord fresh in mind. Sun Princess is taking no chances.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “Well at least Celly is being reasonable about how she reacts to it.”

“Mhm, though… I must wonder who is foolish enough to warn ahead of time,” Midnight sighed. “Either they are stupid. Confident… or both.”

“A lot of the bad old threats didn’t give us the courtesy of a warning before they happened,” the stallion muttered. “At least this one has said ‘I’ll be attacking you soon,’ even if we don’t know who or when.”

“And that is the problem,” Midnight sighed. She looked, a little stressed. Seems she wasn’t fond of an enemy should couldn’t see.

“Eh, I can poke around, see if anything triggers my senses,” the stallion offered.

“The Sun Princess didn’t want you to know,” Midnight shook her head. “I am telling you because you would find out regardless. She simply wants you to relax and not worry about a threat such as this.”

Aspect stared at her for a good, long while. Eventually he spoke again. “She..does remember that’s sort of my job, right?”

“And it has been for a long time,” Midnight nodded as she looked up at the night sky. “I do not pretend to know what she is thinking. Perhaps she wishes to not burden you so much, now that you’ve settled down.”

“Mmm,” Aspect hummed. “Well, we’ll see what happens. If I feel my interference is needed, Celly will just have to accept it. I won’t step in unless I have to, though. I like being retired so far.”

“Mhm, I’m sure you do,” Midnight chuckled, nuzzling as best she could while wearing armor.

“Heh,” Aspect nuzzled back. “So, any other reason for distracting this old warhorse tonight?”

“Well, it is quiet,” Midnight murred as she walked ahead, her armored flank swaying nicely. “You do not wish to spend time with me~?”

“I never said that,” the stallion replied as he watched her sway in front of him. “I’m just wondering at any...ulterior motives my little bat might have.”

“Hmm, do I?” she hummed, her body swaying to an unheard tune. “What motives should I have dear stallion?” It hadn’t been that long, but her Equestrian had gotten very good.

“One would almost think you were trying things out here while on duty,” the stallion returned as his eyes watched her dance. “Surely a good guard like you wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Mmm, I would not,” she hummed as her dance picked up a little. She really was poetry in motion, flowing like the wind and water. He almost heard the tune she moved to now, something gentle and graceful.

“And yet, even under all that metal, you are quite alluring,” Aspect pointed out.

“Am I now?” she smiled as she twirled a bit faster, her hooves clocked in tune across the stone path as they entered a courtyard somewhere in the maze. A gentle pond with some willow trees and a small gazebo. “Such kind words for somepony like me.”

“But no less true than the day we met,” Aspect replied. “You are skilled in many things. I have every confidence that if I hadn’t snared you, you would have no trouble finding a stallion that could keep up with you.”

“Now that… I do doubt,” she said as she continued her dance. The moonlight making her practically glow. “Tell me my stallion. When we met. I teased you, stole your food. I I teased you more when we met again. So tell me, what made you fall for me so?”

“Probably your persistence at never letting the challenge before you daunt you,” the stallion replied. “You tackle all things head-on. No matter what it is. You remind me of some of my old friends, who were so sure that they could do anything for the ponies.”

“Is that all?” she asked him. “I simply remind you of the past?”

“Hardly,” Aspect chuckled as he sat back. “Your confidence is inspiring, something I wish all ponies had. Your skills in combat are not to be underestimated, due to taking out that Kelpie. You’re a strong, beautiful mare, who can do anything she puts her mind to. Who wouldn’t fall for you?”

“You would be surprised,” she chuckled and slowed in her dancing. “I… enjoy my time with you. I am allowed to be true to myself. I… even mastered a new language, just so I can express these feelings without miscommunication.” The background music faded as she came to a stop. “I truly hope we can be together for a long while my stallion. You, and the others. I cherish all of you.”

“And I love each and every one of you,” Aspect replied, nuzzling her as he stepped close. “My time on this world is brighter for your presence. For the first time in ages, I can really feel my heart beating when I’m around you. I wouldn’t trade a moment with you for anything.”

“Nor I you,” she said as she removed her helmet. “Would you like to spend some time with me, here under the stars?”

“My dearest bat, I would love nothing more,” Aspect replied as he kissed her on the cheek. It was far from the last kiss they shared that night…

The next morning, Celestia quirked an eyebrow as she entered the dining hall. Aspect was there eating breakfast and…

“Okaaay, and why are you so happy this morning?” she asked as she took a seat. “You’re never this chipper so early.”

“Yesterday was perfect, through and through,” the stallion replied. “The actual wedding will have its work cut out to top that.”

“Ahh, and here I was, wondering why my precious thestral guard vanished during some hours,” Celestia replied with a light chuckle as a maid poured her some tea and set her breakfast down. “I apologise I could not make Twilight’s birthday yesterday. Many things kept me so busy. I swear, sometimes I wonder if I rule a country… or a daycare center.”

“What’s the phrase I’m looking for…” Aspect muttered. “Oh. What you’ve got is a parliamentary system, with nobles that inherited their titles making proposals, and you having to be the final judge, jury, and executioner. What you want is…” He tapped his hoof a few times. “You need to delegate it. That’s the word! Supreme Court. A set of judges, an odd amount, that are appointed for life to rule on things and determine if they’d be good for the common pony or not. The odd amount is so they can’t deadlock and tie.”

“An interesting proposal,” Celestia said as she sipped daintily from her teacup. “And who might these ‘judges’ be formed from? Nobles? Commoners? And what species? An odd amount might lead to tribal favouritism. Then we have other species to worry about. What is good for ponykind might not work for dragon, griffon or dog.”

“You recruit from all walks of life, that’s the point,” Aspect replied. “So that you can have as many viewpoints on an issue as possible. Though generally, you’d want someone well-versed in some sort of law and how it applies. My home country had nine. If you were just going to focus on Equestria’s three tribes, you could also get away with nine. But if you want one that takes in all views...you’d have to try significantly harder. I think the closest thing we could possibly have would be the full Aspect Council, which has never been called. Mainly because two of the members are...immobile. Gelgeth would have to send a representative to Yggdrasil, and we would all have to be there.”

“On that topic,” Celestia said, placing that idea to the side for now. “I have had a thought regarding Aspects. Realm was the one that brought it up actually.” She set her cup down. “Now, we know that Realm has ascended. Something Yggdrasil triggered after Realm did what he did. And you have deemed him an Aspect as well. What if new Aspects arise? I… have an eye open for a few potential candidates.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “Well, considering that Yggdrasil is planted over the ruins of the old fountain, it’s not entirely impossible that he’s tapped into whatever fed it and has learned how to trigger an ascension. And I wouldn’t be opposed to there being more Aspects in the world, good, wholesome ones that I would only have to welcome to the family of immortals. I still want to find an honorable Griffon to give Air to one day. But after that? I could see myself hanging up my sword.”

“And what then?” Celestia asked. “The Sword grants you your shapeshifting yes? Along with most of your magic. Without it, you’re just an immortal human.”

“I’ve learned how to tap into it remotely,” the stallion replied. “And really, the only reason I’m immortal is because I’m bound to the sword. Until a day comes when it finds a new wielder, I will remain. My shapeshifting and magic, I’m slowly leeching those abilities out of the sword the more I use them. I was a magical void when I arrived, Celly. Most of my magical presence is taken up by Arabus’ remnants, but the more I use my talents, the more I take them as my own. Soon I won’t need that sword except to do my role.”

“So… are you saying that should the sword pick a new owner, you’ll become mortal?” the alicorn asked worryingly. She… didn’t know this.

“It’s likely,” the stallion replied with a wave of his hoof. “I’ll likely just become unaging if I lose the sword. Able to be killed, but not lost to time. After all, I did drink a sip from the fountain when it worked.”

“Well… I hope you do not plan to leave me for a long time to come,” Celestia shook her head and ruffled her feathers. “Oh, I’d also like to congratulate you on your upcoming proposal. And also add. ‘It’s about bucking time’.”

“Well, it’s a little early to say ‘congrats,’” Aspect pointed out. “I still have to fight Midnight. And propose to the others, properly. And set up a wedding…”

“And we’ll gladly help with that,” Celestia chuckled. “Speaking of, your granddaughter is getting married too. Just a few weeks actually.” She looked around and lowered her voice. “Just don’t spill the beans yet. They want to surprise Twilight and her friends with it.”

“Gotcha, though, they have all agreed on ‘no surprise parties’ with each other after an incident,” the stallion replied. “Just a tip.”

“Noted,” Celestia chuckled. “Oh, I’ll be attending your little proposal bout as well. As both parties will require some family present as a witness.”

“Ho boy, so my family will be present to see the full might of Air, will they?” Aspect teased. “It’s only grown stronger the longer I held onto it.”

“Careful not to upset Arabus with it,” Celestia warned him.

“That old windbag has no real hold on me these days,” Aspect boasted. “He’s mostly quieted down now. Just waiting for him to accept his fate entirely before I go looking for a good Griffon.”

“And yet, what happened in Cloudsdale again?” she teased. “Anyway, I need to start my day. Have a safe trip back to Ponyville okay?”

“I will, be safe yourself,” Aspect said to her as he finished off his own breakfast. It would literally take him a second to get back to Ponyville, but he wanted to at least greet the girls.

Twilight was the first to awaken, though she looked suitably worse for wear. Dark rings under her eyes and her ears flat against her skull as she winced each time she made contact with direct sunlight from the windows.

Aspect recognised the Hangover Shuffle when he saw it. The stallion walked over to her and put a hoof to her head, to ease the pain via his little spell. The unicorn gave a gratified sigh and slumped a little.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “That helps a lot.”

Seemed most of the others were in a similar state, save for Pinkie and… oddly enough, Fluttershy. As they all walked in, Aspect sighed and gestured for them to come closer, removing their morning-after pains with his magic touch one by one.

“Remember, this is only going to last for so long,” the stallion warned them. “Get some fluid in your system to help with the headaches before they come back.”

“Noted,” Rainbow groaned and Aspect noticed something else that was odd.

Each mare, sans the purple unicorn and blue pegasus… all wore a light blush each time they looked at him.

He resolved to not question it. For his own sanity.

“In any case, I’ve eaten,” the stallion said as he cracked his neck. “And I’ve helped you all recover from what was clearly a night of drinking. So I’ll go check in at Ponyville, see what’s happened in my absence and make sure the Nightmare hasn’t set fire to anything. See you all later.”

With a burst of wind, he disappeared, and a window slammed open as he left.

“I swear darling,” Rarity muttered as she looked at Rainbow Dash. “I am never going to be able to look him in the eye now.”

“Agreed,” Twilight muttered, and she was well aware of what he was like… not that the others needed to know what she’d done.

“Hey!” Rainbow folded her forelegs. “Pinkie dared me to share kinky stories. I shared. So blame her.”

“You didn’t hafta use so much… detail,” Applejack fanned her face with a hoof. “Ah swear, ah’m gettin’ the vapors jus’ thinkin’ about it.”

“Eh, you’re more vanilla than ice-cream,” Rainbow shrugged. “Seriously, Twilight is better than you, at least she—”

Her mouth was magically sealed as Twilight chuckled nervously. “S-So, whooo wants breakfast?”

Aspect appeared in front of his home to assess the damages. Nothing appeared to have gone wrong...it still looked to be standing. And Artemis had even managed to repair his back yard, so bonus.

He wasn’t betting on that holding up the moment he stepped inside, though. With a hefty amount of trepidation, the stallion opened the door.

“Hello colt,” came a dangerously icy tone as Toola Roola met his gaze, her eyes locked into the stare of an apex predator. “You and I. We’re going to have words.”

“You say that,” the stallion pointed out. “But that would imply I would be allowed to make a case. Or at the very least say something. I get the feeling taking a trip to the dragon lands would be safer than dealing with you at this point. I might even do that.”

“Just tell me the truth,” she said, taking a step forward. “Did you or did you not, get my little filly pregnant? Yes or no?”

“Yes, but not on purpose,” Aspect replied. “I failed to take into account a few things when using my infertility charm. So it...didn’t quite work one night. But I do plan on marrying her since I have gotten her preg--URK!”

He was cut off as a powerful earth Pony hug trapped him as Toola beamed brightly. “FINALLY! I get some grandfoals to spoil. Goddess above, what took you so bloody long in the first place colt?”

“Air,” Aspect wheezed out, trying to tap out.

“I mean, wasn’t expecting a dragon kid. I won’t complain, least it’s something,” she rambled on, not letting go. “And I get a Son-in-law out of the deal too. As well as some new daughters. My day just keeps getting better.”

“If you don’t...let me breathe...no promises,” Aspect gasped. Yes, he was technically immortal. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt to be suffocated!

Then her grip tightened. “However…” that icy tone came back. “You better keep treating my little girl with love and respect colt. Or I will bury you alive in the Null Zone. Got that?” She paused and then let him go, patting his back as he coughed and wheezed. “Welcome to the family kiddo.”

Aspect breathed heavily for a few moments, before picking himself up and shaking off the whole ‘nearly dying’ thing. “So I guess this is the part where I tell you why I can shapeshift,” the stallion pointed out. “But something tells me...it doesn’t matter right now.”

“No, Bonnie trusts you, so that’s enough for me,” Toola said and rubbed his head. “Besides, she already told me. Now, where’s that little colt of yours? I have a gift for him.”

“Should be inside,” the stallion replied. “I don’t know where. Today’s...Sunday, so he won’t have school. Which means he’ll be painting in the drawing room, like as not, in a few hours.”

“Excellent,” Toola smiled as she trotted off further into the house.

“So,” Bon Bon smiled. “Sorry about her. She showed up last night and has been waiting to ambush you all morning.”

“Nah, it’s fine,” Aspect waved it off. “Still doesn’t hold a candle to Luna’s hugs. And to be honest, that could have gone much worse.”

“She was plenty mad to start with, I talked her down though,” Bon Bon walked up and nuzzled him. “So how was the party? I’m sure you had fun with a bunch of cute mares.”

“It turned into a slumber party which I wasn’t invited to,” the stallion replied. “So I spent some time with our bat.”

“Oh?” Bon Bon quirked an eyebrow. “And how did that go? A repeat of your last Canterlot visit perhaps?”

“It was an enjoyable evening spent under the stars, and that’s all I’ll tell you,” Aspect replied with a small smile.

Bon Bon pouted and frowned. “Aw, you’re so mean.”

“Oh hey!” Lyra appeared from his pantry, her muzzle covered in crumbs. “Aspect’s back!”

“...Bon Bon, why is there a Lyra raiding our pantry?” Aspect asked.

“She stayed over to play last night,” Bon Bon said with a shrug. “She and Realm have been… experimenting.”

“And that’s when I make sure all the combustible material is safe,” Aspect mused.

Lyra bounced around him. “Can I show him Bonnie. Can I can I can I?!?!”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “Sorry Aspect, I’m sacrificing you to Mintycorn here.”

“That is a terrible idea,” the stallion pointed out.

“Yeeeessss!” Lyra giggled and he found himself encased in a golden aura as she hauled him away, Bon Bon waving a fond farewell as she did.

“You’d better not be dragging me to a bedroom,” Aspect warned her.

“Maaaaybe,” she giggled as she turned a corner and entered his room.

“I’m warning you,” the stallion threatened.

She plonked him down on the floor, a covered painting hanging on the wall. It was small, maybe the size of a bathroom mirror. Lyra hummed as she pulled the cloth off, revealing a… basic landscape painting? No wait, he could see movement in it, so it was Pictomancy?

“Okay,” the stallion replied. “A basic Pictomancy painting. I don’t know what’s so excitable about it.”

Then Lyra raised a hoof and tapped the gold frame.

And the most relaxing harp music started to play from within the painting. The scenery itself seemed to gain more life too, shifting and moving with the song.

“Combining music and art?” Aspect whistled. “Impressive.”

“Mhm!” Lyra nodded rapidly and showed him her clarsach. It held a glowing rainbow jewel at the base of it, right in the center of the ‘U’ shape. “Realmy modded it for me. Dip it in a little Spectra paint and I can literally paint with music. Isn’t that amazing!?”

“Pictomancy is not only surviving, but thriving in the new age,” the stallion chuckled as he looked over what they had done.

“Yup… ohh, I love it when I do it too,” she beamed brightly, her joy was rather infectious. “My Cutie Mark gets all tingly and glowy too. Wanna see?”

“That...sounds important,” the stallion replied seriously. “Show me.”

She nodded and looked around, the only painting was Hurricane’s portrait. Eh, it’d do. She grabbed it off of the wall and took a vial from her pouch she was wearing, dipping some rainbow liquid onto the gem of her instrument, the paint being sucked in.

She plucked her strings as she started to play, Aspect found it odd, hearing an electric guitar solo from a lyre.

And then she practically shoved her plump tush in his face, the stallion pushing it back a little and… nope, not gonna think on how nice it feels. And, just as Lyra said. As he pulled his hoof back, her Cutie Mark was indeed glowing lightly as she played.

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “That’s...interesting, but not concerning yet. I can tell you why it happens, though.”

The playing stopped and… well for a while, Hurricane would have a sweet guitar solo announcing her arrival in her portrait. Lyra turned to look at him as the glow faded. “Okay, speak away oh wise Sage of Butts.”

“Your Cutie Mark is an embodiment of your special talent, the thing you can do best out of all the ponies in Equestria, what makes you special, what brings you joy,” Aspect said as he rubbed hers with a hoof. “When you truly live it. When you truly devote yourself to seeking what it means to be you...you embody it, and it embodies you. A magical cascade happens...but yours isn’t nearly as big as to be worried about. You’re seeking it, living it, but nothing more than that glow will happen.”

“S-So uh…” the mare blushed under his touch, her ears standing up straight. “What could happen then?”

“Well in the past, Yggdrasil usually seized such moments to elevate a pony,” Aspect mused. “He did it with Realm, with Tia and Lulu, with Cadenza...there might be a reason he’s not doing it for you.”

Lyra fought the urge to make a dirty joke. “Maybe… I’m not good enough or something?” she let out a small sigh, her cheeks feeling rather warm.

“Hang on, I’ll ask,” Aspect replied, closing his eyes. Yggdrasil...what is going on with this mare?

There was a moment of silence, save for Lyra’s slightly heavy breathing, before…

What do you mean father?

She is embodying her talent, she is living for the song...so much so that a cascade is happening, but only a slight one. You worked with less for Realm.

Perhaps… perhaps not. Yes, she embodies her talent quite well. So do many others.

They do not make their marks glow when they play.

Don’t they?

He could almost hear the smirk in his voice.

You’re not answering me. What is going on with Lyra that she glows when she plays, but you don’t do anything?

Fate’s strings aren’t plucked so easily, Yggdrasil replied. Perhaps the talent is there. Perhaps she could ascend. There are many cards in the deck father. Not all of them have been played yet.

Oh wonderful, he was speaking in metaphor.

Okay...how about, why does the cascade happen in the first place? What potential does she have that has yet to be awakened?

What would you do if I told you?

Unless she didn’t need to know, likely tell her. After all, she’s currently thinking that maybe she’s not good enough for you.

Because she is incomplete… in a sense. Tell me this father. What kind of music plays using only a single note?

...So, tell me if I am in error. But if there is to be an Aspect of Song, of Music. They must awaken together?

That is your conclusion, he chuckled. Life is a Waltz dear father. Just relax and enjoy the song.

Aspect sighed and opened his eyes, before looking at Lyra. “Well, I have good news,” he offered.

“O-Ohkay…” she said and her eyes flicked to the hoof on her Mark. “Um…”

“Turns out, there’s a very good reason you’re not triggering anything more than a slight cascade,” the stallion continued. “You’re one pony in a greater, three-pony band. But you shouldn’t stress out about it. You’ll probably find the others in time. And when you do, you’ll make beautiful music together.”

“Sounds neat,” the mare replied and looked at her flank. “So uh… getting comfy there Aspy?”

Aspect blinked before looking down at his hoof, before drawing it back like her flank was molten metal. “Oh geeze, I’m sorry, I just...I don’t know what came over me.”

“Heh, finally succumbing to my sexy charms huh?” Lyra giggled and blushed. “Once you go minty, you never go back.” She winked at him. “I don’t mind if you wanna touch more~”

“Yeah, no, I’m pretty sure Bon Bon would kill me,” Aspect replied. “Or at the very least, try to.”

“Aww, well Bonnie got preeety hoovsies when we snuggled last night,” Lyra chuckled as she headed for the door. She seriously needed a cold shower now. “Must have been dreaming of a certain somepony~”

Aspect sighed as he averted a potential problem, before he decided to surprise Bon Bon. He flashed into his dragon form and slunk through the halls, looking for the candy mare.

Bon Bon was in the kitchen, humming a small tune as she stacked some dishes and wiped her brow. Reaching behind her, she went to remove the frilly orange apron she was wearing…

Only to find herself suddenly cradled by two familiar dragon hands. “Hello again, pretty mare,” a voice whispered in her ear.

“Eeek!” Bon Bon yelped before realising who had her. “Aspect? Honestly! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Nope,” the dragon chuckled as he started coiling around her. “Just trying to tell you how much I missed you.”

“Oh did you now?” she giggled and pet his scales. “And here I thought Midnight would have been enough of a distraction. Considering Dash was there too, I got left all alone last night.”

“Something I would be glad to rectify for my Bonnie lass,” the dragon purred to her.

“Well unless you can go back in time and duplicate yourself,” she chuckled and booped his nose. “I was fine, this house is hardly empty.”

“Mmm, still doesn’t mean I can’t make up for lost time,” Aspect mused as he kissed Bon Bon. The mare hummed into the kiss, returning it with just as much affection.

“Oh?” she said once it broke. “Is that so? And you think your scaly butt can do that huh?”

“I can certainly try,” the dragon pointed out as he used a claw to trace her Cutie Mark.

“Oh, so you have a form for all of us hm?” she giggled. “Dragon, griffon and Thestral hm?”

“It seems that way, doesn’t it?” the dragon hummed as he just reveled in the feeling of being close to Bon Bon.

“Indeed,” she chuckled, nuzzling his face. “Still, I love you no matter what form you take. Though if you take a Bugbear form I will end you.”

“Bleh, I would need a sample of that thing’s magic first, and I’m not inclined to get close,” Aspect stuck his tongue out. “What with it being a minion of Discord that tried to kill you and all.”

“Well, it’s buggy butt is back in Tartarus,” Bon Bon sighed. “As long as nothing big happens, it’ll stay there too.”

“Mm,” the dragon hummed as he just lay around and on her. “So, what does my sweet mare want from me?”

“Hmm, well now I’m not entirely sure,” she murred as she trailed kisses along his neck. “Maybe you can help me decide.”

“Mmm, I know what I want to do with the sweet mare,” Aspect murred as he flicked his tongue a few times, like a snake, as he eyed her flank.

“Oh? And what’s that?” Bon Bon narrowed her eyes into a smouldering gaze that made his scales shiver with delight. Oooh, somepony had been learning from Midnight.

“Mmm, hold you down and drink deeply of your sweet nectar, of course,” the drake replied.

“Mmm, you do like doing that don’t you?’ she licked her lips. “I mean, I’m not going to stop you. But isn’t the pregnant mare supposed to have the cravings~?”

“Oh? Does she have one?” Aspect raised a non-existent brow.

“Maybe,” she giggled as she fluttered her eyes at him. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

“Oh no, by all means,” the dragon trailed a claw down her flank. “Tell me.”

“Well, maybe you do a good job,” she stroked his cheek with a hoof. “And I’ll reward the greedy dragon with a present.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that,” the dragon murred as he shifted around her, so that his head was behind her, letting that warm exhale wash her rear. The mare blushed and squeaked as she wiggled his grasp.

“Mmm, such a naughty drake,” she purred. “Eating ponies like this.”

“Mmmmrrr, but you should know by now that mares are my favorite,” the dragon purred as he wedged his head under her tail, letting that warmth wash directly onto her lips.

“Such a beast,” she gasped, flushing red from the stimulation.

“Mmm, but your beast,” the dragon pointed out as that tongue came out again and began running up and down her folds. Bon Bon let out a small moan, the dragon already getting some of her delicious and intoxicatingly sweet flavour. Seems somepony really had missed him. The drake rubbed that tongue against her a few more times, before he began feeding it into her.

Bon Bon’s moans grew louder, biting down on her hoof to suppress them as she felt that long appendage writhe around inside her core, her lips hugging it tightly as he fed on her sweet nectar.

Then that tongue started to corkscrew inside her…

Bon Bon gave a muffled shriek into her hooves as she bit down on her cheek, a fierce blush erupting across her adorable face as she screwed her eyes shut, trying hard not to cum just from that ministration alone.

Then the dragon began pulling the tongue back and forth, all not stopping that delightful motion of it swirling around inside of her. He was determined to drink deep of the mare.

And drink he did. Despite Bon Bon’s best efforts, she came hard and fast, filling his greedy maw with that delectable taste… The mare gripping his coils with her hooves as she trembled and gasped in his grip. The drake drank it all down, cleaning her out before pulling his tongue out and licking his lips.

“Mmm, as sweet as always,” he purred to her.

Bon Bon panted and huffed as she came down from the high of her climax. Lyra insisted on spending the night in her room, so she couldn’t even do anything herself…

“Well, I seem to have stunned my sweet mare,” the dragon murred as he shifted his weight around again, now letting his head rub her side.

“O-Oh shush…” Bon Bon sighed contently. “Oh Celestia… that felt amazing Aspect. I really needed that.”

“I could tell,” the drake chuckled as he lay there, content.

“So that’s how you made the baby huh?” Lyra commented as she walked past, getting some juice from the fridge. “You look cool as a dragon Aspy.”

“Thank you, Lyra,” the dragon noted.

“Anytime,” the mare waved as she exited the room, closing the door behind her.

“Kill me now…” a severely blushing Bon Bon moaned.

“Nope, you’re too cute like that,” the dragon chuckled as he uncoiled, only to pick Bon Bon up and start carrying her through the house cradled close to his chest.

“My… best friend just saw a dragon eat me out,” Bon Bon groaned. “I’m pretty sure death is less of a problem now.”

“Think of it like this, she acted normal about it,” Aspect pointed out.

“Which scares me even more,” Bon Bon muttered. “She’s gonna hold this over my head forever.”

“It’s fine, it’s only Lyra,” the dragon soothed over. “She won’t ask for anything too weird.”

Bon Bon raised a questionable eyebrow. “Did you seriously just say that out loud?”

“Yes, and I stand by it,” the dragon replied. “Her oddities aside, she is your friend, and she treasures that friendship. Anything too weird would cut the friendship, and she knows it.”

“You do realise if you slept with her, I likely wouldn’t be that mad about it right…”

“Now the question is, does she know that?” Aspect mused as he finally arrived at his bedroom, before opening the door. “Here we are.”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as the dragon carried her into the room. “Taking your prize back to your cave hm? Add me to the horde?”

“Oh, but I already have,” the dragon purred to her, lightly nipping one of her ears. Her other ear flicked as she poked his chest with a hoof.

“Is that right?” she hummed.

“Such a pretty little mare, all mine,” the drake purred to her as he set her on the bed and formed a loose coil of himself circling her.

“Hmm, you still have to share me with the others,” she replied. “My naughty dragon lord.”

“Don’t you mean, I have to keep my horde entertained?” the drake countered. “Because I can do that.”

“Can you now?” Bon Bon chuckled. “And I wonder how big you want your horde to be you greedy drake. I can name at least three mares that either you want, or they want you~”

“Oh?” the dragon asked as he looked up at her. “Do continue.”

“Continue? What do you mean?” she asked back.

“What mares can you think of that you might think want into this dragon’s horde?” the drake asked.

“Oh…” Bon Bon blushed. “Well, um…” Now she was all embarrassed as she zipped her lip.

“Oh no, now I’m curious,” the dragon hummed as he used a claw to trace down Bon Bon’s side. “Go on. What mares do you know of that are attracted to me?”

“W-Well…” Bon Bon blushed. “It’s no secret you want Twilight,” she said quietly. “And… I know Rarity thinks you’re rather charming and whatnot. And I think Lyra could easily be coaxed…” She put her hooves to her face. “You’re an ass.”

“Hmm, should I maybe see about getting a few more necklaces made?” Aspect teased the mare. “In all seriousness, though. Probably not. Rarity likely would fall through for the same reasons Twilight did, and I wouldn’t put you and Lyra in the same position.”

“And what position is that?” Bon Bon mused. “Impaled on your meaty cock?”

“Having to see your friend as a sister wife,” Aspect elaborated. “Or a fellow marefriend, for now. Some ponies just aren’t ready for that complex a relationship.”

“Oh? So, you wouldn’t even kidnap her for a little fun hm?” Bon Bon chuckled. “Look at that, somepony’s maturing. Miracles do exist.”

“Mmm, it does happen sometimes,” the drake admitted. “Still, I’ll pretend to be surprised if they make passes at me.”

“Oh give me a break,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “You love the attention.”

Aspect chuckled. “Guilty. I still want to induct Twilight into the sort of fun we have.”

“Okay, why?” Bon Bon asked, her hoof finding something hot and hard to play with. “What about the little bookworm gets you all hot and bothered?”

“She’s incredibly intelligent, insatiably curious, and loyal to her friends,” the dragon replied. “And let us ignore the fact that she’s attractive for the time being. She’s a highly decorated mare who was also Celly’s personal student. I’m surprised she doesn’t have a line of suitors seeking her attention already.”

“Well, being Tia’s student could be intimidating to a lot of ponies. Or a method of getting close to the princess,” Bon Bon pointed out as she started to stroke him.

“True, but like I said, highly intelligent,” the drake pointed out as she began paying some attention to him. “I’m sure she could weed out the glory-seekers from those that were genuinely interested. What she could really do with is having her friend Rarity go over her looks to try and make her more attractive on a day to day basis. Then she’d be knocking stallions out left, right, and center.”

“True enough, provided you can get her out of a book long enough,” Bon Bon chuckled as she rubbed the base, coating him in his own pre. “Hmm, if you had to pick a form to tease her with. What would it be then?”

“Oh that’s easy, Alicorn with a thestral tongue,” the dragon replied. “She knows what that tongue can do, after all.”

“Oooh, naughty,” she hummed. “Why alicorn though? Want to do some sexy student/teacher stuff with her maybe?” She started to pick up her pace, the soft underside of her hooves rubbing up and down opposite to one another.

Aspect panted a little bit before replying. “Haaaah...well, I think it’s the form she would find most appealing out of all of them. I mean, I may have teased her in others, but I think she’d actually be receptive to an alicorn stallion teasing her.”

“Hmm, so what would you do?” Bon Bon smirked, her hooves moving a little faster as she leaned down and gave the head a slight lick, savouring the spicy taste.

“Well first, I’d use my tongue on her again,” the drake panted. “Then if she gave me permission, I’d mount her and show her how a stallion pleases a mare. I’d make her first time truly enjoyable. I’d make sure she enjoyed herself well and truly before finishing.”

“Hmm, izzat so,” Bon Bon hummed as a hoof pushed him back onto the bed, the mare on top of him nuzzling his cock, practically worshipping the thing as she licked at it while she stroked him. “And say you get her used to us. You decided to get a little more kinky. Then what?”

“Well if she truly decided to stick around with me, perhaps I would invest in a little magic-null ring to slip on her horn come bedtime, so she could be a pretty little toy to play with,” the dragon murred.

“Or that’d freak her out,” the mare pointed out as she nuzzled his weighty sack as one hoof stroked him, the other moving to rub and grind against his tip.

“True, perhaps it’d just be best to keep it plain with her,” the dragon mused as he lay there and took it. “Just to get her used to the idea of being intimate with another pony.”

“Hmm, well just magic is a big deal for her,” Bon Bon pointed out as she gave him another lick, suckling on the tip. She pulled back with a pop and resumed her rubbing. “Can you think on anything else? What about… hmm. A cute little collar maybe. A nicely trained student in the art of lovemaking~”

“Oooh, that could be nice to look into,” the dragon murred as his tail thrashed around a little. “It would give me a new project, too.”

“Oh, what kind of project?” Bon Bon moaned for him, nibbling and nuzzling his massive cock again as she breathed against it.

“‘How quickly can a pure little bookworm be trained to be a sexy pet in the bedroom,’” Aspect illuminated. “I’m sure Celestia would just about flip at the idea, though.”

“Yes, maybe she might,” Bon Bon chuckled as she picked up her pace. “Or maybe you could get Cadance’s help to corrupt her further~”

“Ooooooooh, there’s an idea,” Aspect chuckled. “Something to look into, for sure.”

“Poor Twilight,” Bon Bon giggled as she closed her mouth around his cock, bobbing her head up and down as her hooves worked his base and balls, slick from his precum as she moaned around him, her eyes not leaving his as she gave him a sensual wink.

“Just think about what we would be unleashing upon the world,” the drake panted. “We’d be training her in how to properly bed a stallion, or be bedded by a stallion. Turning her from the meek, submissive mare she is now, into the perfect little pet to toy with. Oh, what would happen to the stallions of the world if we unleashed her? Or the mares...”

Bon Bon moaned around him as she went deeper and deeper, until her throat hugged his cock, she moaned around him again, louder and more needily before pulling back up to the very tip, teasing it with her tongue before pulling out, working his dick with her hooves in a rapid motion.

“Mmm...and why don’t you tell me how you would lead Rarity back to this dragon’s den?” the drake asked as he leaned forward enough to run a talon down her cheek. “Or what we would do with her when we got her.”

“Hmm, Rarity is a classy lady,” she murred. “But in the bedroom? Ooh, imagine that pristine white coat covered with a sexy corset? All your mares tied up and bent over as our Mistress punishes us for being such baaad fillies,” her tongue running up his dick at that last part.

“Oh, but not you,” the drake purred as he rubbed her stomach. “You’ve already been a very good broodmare~”

“Have I now?” she said, nuzzling him. “What if Twilight joined in? Then Rarity could turn two of her own friends into such adorable little pets. Slaves meant for breeding and pleasing~”

“Mmm, two little mares tied up in my bedroom, waiting for me to get home so I can stuff them full~” the drake murred as he lay back on the bed. “Or keep them full…”

“Such a needy drake,” she chuckled. “Such an insatiable desire to breed. Is that what you want? To have every mare in Ponyville fat with your foal?”

“Eh, that’d be a bit too much for me to keep up with,” the dragon waved a claw. “I’d have to look after all the little rugrats...because I wouldn’t be letting the mares do anything but bear more for me.”

“Such a naughty, naughty serpent,” she murred, rubbing him more and more. “Go on then, let’s see that lovely finish of yours~”

“And where does my little broodmare want it?” the drake cooed.

“Mmmh, I wanna see you cum right here,” she purred. “A sexy dragon fountain of virlity~”

“Mmm...tease me a little more then, I’m close,” Aspect murred to her.

“Such a needy little drake,” the mare chuckled as she nuzzled him some more, her tongue poking out and licking the base as her hooves moved around, changing from fast to slow.

It wasn’t long before that length started to twitch and jerk around, before rope after rope of his hot release sailed into the air and painted the bed they were on.

“Mmm, such a messy drake too,” Bon Bon chuckled, some landing on her muzzle and coating his waist and groin with seed, sliding down his scales as she poked her tongue out, licking some from her lips. “Whatever will I do with you?”

Then the door opened as Rainbow Dash strode in.

“Hey guys. Thought I’d let you know I’m back and…” She trailed off as she saw the aftermath of the show. “Huh…”

“Oh look, Bonnie,” Aspect cooed as he slowly slithered up onto his stomach. “Somepony new to play with~”

“Ohmy,” the mare hummed. “And I wonder how you’re going to do so? Something predictable… or something different?”

“Well for her, different would be staying a dragon,” the drake pointed out as he began circling Dash, sneaking in quick gropes or kisses as he passed an applicable part of her.

“You have any forms we haven’t seen yet?” Bon Bon asked. “I’m feeling something… exotic.”

“Um… eep?” Rainbow squeaked, her wings flaring.

“Hmmm…” Aspect gathered himself up, before his form flashed.

What took his place was an incredibly exotic form. In fact, the town only had one of them on the borders.

A Zebra stallion stood in front of Dash, standing just a bit larger than Bon Bon as he walked up and kissed the polychromatic mare.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” Bon Bon breathed as she took in his taut muscles and those flanks~ “You better do her fast, cause Mommapone wants a turn with that!”

Aspect slowly pulled back from the kiss, before running a hoof down one of the mare’s wings. “This one does everything fast, the true trick is to make it last,” he pointed out.

Rainbow shuddered at the rich tone in his voice, her sex winking in appreciation as well.

“Mmm, I seemed to have got him all worked up,” Bon Bon mused and smiled. “My bad.”

“Your bad?” Rainbow quirked an eyebrow.

“Of course, the true question, yes or no, is whether or not the rainbow wants a go,” Aspect continued...though that hoof didn’t stop rubbing her wing. And with all the practice he’d gotten, he knew quite a few of her sensitive spots.

She eeped again and looked back. “Well… I really need to get some weather work done this afternoon…”

“Well if this mare desires me not, then it is Bonnie’s turn to have her world rocked,” the zebra proclaimed as he turned around and flicked that tail to the side.

Sweet Celestia, was he even bigger as a Zebra?!

“Aspect?” Bon Bon smirked and aimed at Dash with a hoof. “She wants to work? Then you gotta fill her tanks. Help her make it rain big boy~”

“Ah horseapples,” Rainbow muttered as she turned to run.

A futile effort, as Aspect was on top of her in no time, pinning her to the ground with his weight as that massive rod rubbed against her flanks. Yup...definitely bigger.

“You know, I wonder if a small mare like her could even take you?” Bon Bon challenged. “Stick that big dick in her and fill her with baby goo.”

“Not. Helping!” Rainbow yelled.

“If you truly desire to pass, then you had better act fast,” Aspect warned her even as he began humping her to move his length in the right direction. “For once the breeding has truly started, until it ends, we shan’t be parted.”

“Just… make it quick,” Rainbow blushed, her tail moving to one side as she tried to hold up his heavy frame.

“Mm, my sweet rainbow mare,” Aspect murred as the head of his shaft finally caught on the edge of her lips. “I’ll make you feel like you’re walking on air.”

Then Bon Bon put her hooves on that tight flank of his, groping him shamelessly… then shoved his hips forward. The tip and a little bit more than half of his length thudded into Dash, filling her nicely and completely.

“H’ooooohhh fffuuuuuck!” Rainbow gasped, biting her lower lip to stifle the screams of pleasure. “Celestia that’s big…” her tight hole squeezed him so hard, his massive girth doing it’s best to stretch her out.

“My sweet little mare is oh so tight,” Aspect murred to her. “One of these days, I’ll rock your night.”

That was when he started thrusting into and out of her, pulling back before hammering as much into her as he could. She was so tight that her hooves were sliding on the floor, the stallion pushing and pulling her with each thrust as she moaned loudly.

Bon Bon sat behind them, her hooves working their tender touches on his hefty sack and base, the cock he couldn’t fit inside the tiny pegasus mare.

And then the zebra started to screw her harder, that tip bumping against a barrier each time he finished a thrust. It was clear he was going to at least try.

“Careful you don’t break her,” Bon Bon cooed as she lapped at his balls. “She has to work after this and still needs to be conscious to do so.”

“First you tell me to do it fast, then you say she needs to last. I am trying to do her hard and right, but you keep calling me out for every slight,” Aspect grumbled, but toned down his thrusting nonetheless.

“Well…” Bon Bon scratched her head. “Tell you what stud. Try to least leave her with the ability to walk. Then you can do whateeever you want to me~ Maybe I’ll even call Lyly up for a safari ride~?”

“W-Whatwha?” Rainbow panted hard as she was rutted into the floor by the powerful stallion.

“A hefty bargain you put forth,” the stallion mused as he kept rutting Dash. “We shall see what it is worth.”

“Oh, you doubt my word? It’s worth more that that rainbow bird,” she commented as she nuzzled him and then smiled.

Aaaand that was her tongue against his dock and what lay just under it. The stallion’s thrusting became slightly erratic at that, doing his best to not jostle the mare from her attentions as he also tried not to slow down with Dash.

Bon Bon gripped his flanks, her hooves circling around his marks as Rainbow moaned whorishly under him, her stomach bulging from that massive stallion meat that invaded her. Her wings giving some weak flaps as her tongue lolled out.

“To breed this mare it would seem time, a mare that is indeed mighty fine,” Aspect cooed as he started bucking erratically for an entirely different reason.

“Oh? Is that so?” Bon Bon mused as she licked his balls from behind. “You feel the need to stuff her with seed?”

“I feel the need to fill her up, to turn her folds into a running-over cup,” the zebra agreed as he hammered away at Dash.

“Hmm, well… what are you waiting for~?” Bon Bon murred as she ran a hoof along his backside. Then with a slight smirk, showed Aspect something new that Cadance showed her.

She raised a hoof and pressed the tip in, just under his tail and above his weighty sack. The Zebra stallion let out a hiss as he bucked extra hard, before she saw his extra length begin to twitch. It wasn’t long before Dash felt a warmth start to flood her depths…

“H’oooohhhhh ffffuuuuck!” she hissed as she felt him flare inside her, flooding her with his seed. “So… haaah~ S-So much…”

“The Rainbow mare has been bred, true,” Aspect panted, before turning an eye to Bon Bon. “Now it is time for you.”

“Uhoh,” Bon Bon giggled as she pranced out of his reach. “Catch me if you can big boy~”

Aspect snorted, before pulling free of Dash and giving her a nuzzle and a kiss, one the mare reciprocated as she let out a sigh. Well, time to go and empty the tank before she could leave for work, unless Ponyville wanted a different kind of rain.

Though, Aspect was treated to sight of his seed pouring from her winking snatch in a steady stream...which only made him chase after Bon Bon all the more.

“Oh, so close,” Bon Bon teased as she dodged him. Then she held up a hoof just as he got close again. “Waitwaitwait! I have an idea!”

The zebra quirked an eyebrow at this.

She dashed over to the wardrobe, flinging it open and rummaging around inside. About a minute later, she emerged wearing an odd outfit. A khaki jacket and a pith helmet?

“Adventurer Daring Do, maybe I think she needs to get some information from the local tribal ponies,” Bon Bon winked.

“What… is that from?” Dash mimicked Aspect’s quirked gaze.

“A book.”

“So… egghead stuff,” Rainbow snorted. “Have fun nerds. I’m outta here!” And with a burst of wind, she rocketed from the nearest window.

“Round two promises to be fun, as I am nowhere near done,” Aspect smirked as he got into a ready-to-pounce pose.

“Such a naughty tribespony,” Bon Bon smirked as she paced around. “And what might I have to do to find the information on the treasure?”

“Just hold still and let me breed, then the information you seek shall be freed,” the zebra promised right before he pounced the mare. She squeaked as he pounced her onto the bed, bouncing once as she was pinned under him.

“Such a bad stallion,” she murred. “Do you breed every little filly you come across?”

“Just the ones that smell ready and ripe, they’re the ones I hold close all night,” Aspect retorted as he lined himself up.

“Ohmy,” she gasped, his head prodding at her heated lips. “And… what are you going to do to me you savage beast~”

“Breed this silly adventurer mare, so that about the treasure you no longer care,” the stallion retorted as he began pushing his length into her slooooowly.

“A-Aaaahhh~” Bon Bon moaned as he started to feed his cock into her. “It-It’s so big~!”

“And you shall take it, every inch. I shan’t permit you from this task to flinch,” the zebra retorted as he pushed harder into her. Bon Bon moaned out as he pushed more and more into her, until their hips connected firmly together, the head of his cock pressed snugly against her womb's entrance.

“O-Ooohh~” Bon Bon moaned out. “So big… haaaah~ I… wow…” She moved a hoof down to stimulate her clit as he stuffed her full of black zebra cock.

“Yes, take my rod, you greedy mare,” Aspect huffed down to her. “I shall fit it all down there.”

That was about when he started thrusting into and out of her, hammering against her cervix with every thrust. Bon Bon put her hooves around him, moaning louder as he filled her greedy snatch, her stomach bulging slightly from the massive tool he crammed into her over and over. The zebra didn’t stop for a moment, trying again and again to fit it all into her, over and over. Hard, fast thrusts into and out of her, making sure she felt every inch.

His medial ring brushing against her swollen clit as her burning nethers sucked his cock right back in, each time he pulled out, the mare writing and moaning under him. Her helmet had fallen off and her mane’s natural curls were now loose and messy as he rutted her into the mattress.

“To breed you now would feel so fine,” the zebra huffed as he didn’t stop for a second. “Where do you want it, oh mare of mine?”

“W-Wherever you want, you brute,” she gasped, her moans coming out in short, rapid breaths. “I-I don’t care…”

“Then you shall swell with my zebra child, for very soon, inside you, it shall be sired,” Aspect replied to her as he redoubled his thrusting. Bon Bon moaned out as she put her hooves around his neck.

“Yeeess,” she moaned out. “Breed me my sexy savage, fill me with your little foals~” She moaned louder as her walls gripped him tighter, her moans becoming shrieks as she came around him, her pussy milking him for his virile seed. And with all that stimulation, it wasn’t long before she got what she wanted. That rod twitched inside her a few times, jerking erratically…

Before she began to be flooded just like Dash had been.

“Aahhh, so much~” she moaned out as he filled her womb to the point of overflow, his flared head, big as it was, unable to contain the volume as some spurted out of her sex, landing on the bed as she panted hard.

“Mmm, my mare, so thoroughly bred,” the zebra cooed to her as he ran a hoof down her cheek. “Not long now until we are wed.”

“Mm, that… hah will be.. Mmmn~ nice,” Bon Bon moaned, her belly sloshing with thick cum. She looked down and her eyes widened slightly. “Ahh… gosh… you’re still hard?”

“Perhaps my mare has forgotten how, three mares have been training me every night now?” Aspect teased her.

“True, true,” Bon Bon giggled as she looked at the throbbing black tool still inside her. “Haah, We trained you a bit too well.”

“It is alright, you are spent, I’ll just spend time telling this to get bent,” Aspect replied as he slowly pulled out of her, eliciting some more moans from the exhausted and stuffed mare. He bent down to kiss her, to let her know she was loved, before turning towards the bathroom.

“Y-You sure?” she asked him. “I mean… if you still aren’t satisfied…”

“It is alright, without our fourth wheel, I shall simply have to deal,” the zebra insisted as he walked towards the bathroom, that tail swaying and hiding nothing as he walked off.

“Bucking… tease…” Bon Bon groaned, trying to roll over, but she was exhausted, and taking that massive cock left her feeling a little sore down there.

And as he reached the bathroom door, somepony knocked on the bedroom door…

The zebra paused, before detouring and going towards the bedroom door and cracking it open.

“Huh?” Lyra stared at the unfamiliar face. “What the…?” before it clicked with her and she blinked. “Aspect?”

“Indeed, it is me, can I help thee?”

“...is the rhyming necessary?” she tacked on at the end. “I was just looking for Bonnie. But uh…” she blushed cutely. “I take it I’m interrupting huh.”

“Perhaps a fair bit, if you looked, you might have a fit,” Aspect replied, before smirking at her.

“Oh geeze,” Lyra snorted and shook her head. “You two are such pervs.”

“And what of the one that does upon us espy?” Aspect countered. “Is there something that perhaps to us you should cry?”

Lyra tilted her head cutely for a moment, clearly processing his words. “Huh, oh I was just gonna hang out with Bonbutt. Buuut if she’s busy, guess I’ll head off…”

“Less being busy, more being stuffed. After all, just after our fun, did you stick in your muff.”

“Um… WHAT!?” Lyra blinked and blushed hard. “I… I did no such thing!”

Aspect merely smirked at her and walked away, towards the bathroom…

Leaving Lyra with a clear view of Bonnie and what he’d done to her.

“What… the buck…” Lyra panted and blushed as she shook her head. “Aspect!? Seriously!” Then she also called out what ‘muff’ was slang for, in referring to a particular pony part he’d just been intimately familiar with.

Of course, if Lyra had been actually looking at him...well once again, that tail was hiding nothing.

“Seriously!” Lyra shouted and stomped a hoof. “Mixed signals much Aspect!?”

“The one you should be asking that, is the mare that lies upon that mat,” the stallion replied, before pulling the bathroom door shut.

“Whaaaaaaaaat…?” Lyra said in a low, dragged out tone as she looked at her thoroughly fucked friend. “Jeeze this family is friggen weird.” She rolled her eyes as she helped Bon Bon up and towards the bathroom. “Come on, we’ll get you cleaned up as well. Can’t hang out with a Bon Bon-shaped water balloon.”

She nudged the door open and stepped inside, carrying the barely conscious earth pony in her magic. “‘Scuse me, special delivery,” she sang out. “Who ordered the creme-filled Bon Bons?”

Of course, that was when she caught sight of Aspect in the shower in his Zebra form. And if he looked hot before he got wet…

“I uh… I think I need some ‘Lyra-time’ now,” the mare started to sweat as she fanned herself with a hoof. “Y-Yo Aspect… wanna clean up after yourself here.”

The zebra hummed, turned to her, and pulled Bon Bon into the shower. And then Lyra saw him attack the candy mare’s mouth with his. There was no other word for that much tongue being visible as it went into her mouth.

“Thaaaa…. That’s a lotta tongue…” Lyra panted, blushing to the tips of her ears now. “W-What the buck Aspect. The hay even are you?”

The zebra didn’t even break the kiss to answer, he merely looked up and waggled his eyebrows suggestively at the unicorn mare.

“I...you...GAH!” Lyra shouted and flailed her hooves in the most adorable tantrum. “I dunno what game you’re trying to play here Mister! Buut I-YEEK!” her hooves slipped on the wet floor, sending her sprawling and leaving nothing to hide from him.

Aspect eventually broke the kiss and walked over to the mare on the floor. “Mmm, a fresh mare has entered my den,” he purred. “What should I do with this little hen?”

“Owwies,” She winced and rubbed her head, before realising her position. She yelped and sat up straight, hiding herself with her tail. “W-W-What did you see?” she squeaked out.

“Is this not what you have been teasing me about?” the stallion fired back. “So why now, when it is offered, do you suddenly show doubt?”

“C-Cause it was just teasing,” Lyra squeaked again. “I… never expected you to bite back!”

“Mmm, but Bon Bon has said she would not mind,” Aspect pointed out as he drew closer still. “So the question remains, where do you stand, friend of mine?”

“That rhyme was weak and… Bonnie said what!?” Lyra’s voice went up an octave.

“Mhm,” Bon Bon sighed, still sitting under the hot water. “I mean… if you just want some fun. I… guess it’s okay for now.”

“...Wat?” Lyra blinked, her brain clearly not processing this effectively.

“If you want a roll in the hay, then Bonnie has said that’s okay,” the stallion summed up for the minty mare, his face now right in front of hers.

“I uh… I dunno…” Lyra said softly. This had come out of leftfield all of a sudden.

“Fine, no pressure then,” the stallion pulled back as he began washing Bon Bon. “The offer shall be waiting for you to say when.”

“H-Huh?” Lyra blinked and shook her head to clear her thoughts. “I… I dunno what to do!?” She said suddenly. “I mean, like… wouldn’t it be weird?”

“You really shouldn’t throw such a fit,” Aspect replied, softly cleaning Bon Bon. “It’d only be as weird as you make it.”

Lyra stomped her hoof again. “Bonnie! Your stallion is an infuriating, teasing jackass!”

“Yes… yes he is,” Bon Bon chuckled as she beckoned the mare over. Lyra frowned and stepped closer, before Bon Bon pulled her into a wet hug. ‘I know our lives have been weird lately,” she whispered. “But Lyly? I promise. We’re always gonna be the bestest of friends. So really, I don’t mind okay.”

“Mmm, fine,” Lyra said and blushed as she nuzzled the mare. Aspect just kept on cleaning Bon Bon, making sure she could leave and go home whenever she wanted to without being embarrassed.

“What?” Bon Bon looked back at Aspect. “You think I’m leaving or something? Ooh no, I wanna watch this~”

“W-What!?” Lyra squeaked and Bon booped her nose.

“Fair’s fair, you saw me,” she giggled as the minty unicorn blushed and groaned, nodding once.

“We don’t even know if that’s something she wants to do, at this point, the desire is coming from you,” the zebra pointed out.

“We can… do stuff,” Lyra blushed harder still, her coat a bright red. Aspect looked at her and snorted.

“Come back to me when you don’t turn red at the prospect of being taken to bed,” he retorted.

“W-What? Anypony would blush at something like this!” Lyra retorted. Bon Bon leaned up and whispered into her ear and the mare blinked thrice before nodding.

Her horn lit up with a pretty golden glow…

And a human hand formed from magic appeared, gripping the stallion’s shaft and stroking it, her magic had the most delightful tingle, the same feeling he got when touching her Cutie marks.

“Hrrrm, this nervous little mare has a trick up her sleeve,” Aspect murred as he turned back to her. “Perhaps bedding her will not be such a breeze.”

“This is still a lil weird,” Lyra said as she focused her magicks, a second hand joining in as it played and rubbed the head of his cock. “Never used a real one before.”

“Your first time, I shall not take, just for my lust to slake,” Aspect replied suddenly.

“Ah, I lost my virginity to a toy when I was fourteen,” Lyra giggled. “Don’t worry bout that. This is just the first time a dong’s been attached to a living pony is all.”

“Never ask her about Mister Cotton,” Bon Bon deadpanned.

Noted, Aspect thought to himself as he sat back and let Lyra touch him. He’d let her progress at her pace, not his.

Lyra sat there, stroking and caressing him with her magic as Bon Bon watched, fascinated by the spell as the unicorn licked her lips…

Then leaned forwards and licked the head of his shaft, her tongue sliding around his flare and licking a drop of pre from his cumslit.

Aspect let out a little moan as he did his best to not buck his hips into her maw. It was hard, but he reminded himself that he didn’t want to scare Lyra off. Her ‘magic hands’ sliding down his shaft, one pumping the massive black cock while the other gripped his weighty balls, fondling and caressing them as she opened her mouth and started to suckle on the head. Bon Bon’s murr reminding Aspect he was getting a blowjob from her friend while she watched.

“This is something I did not think would come to pass,” Aspect panted out. “But I will also not turn down such a fine piece of ass.”

“Oh, you like her butt?” Bon Bon asked, making Lyra squeak around his cock, her mouth pushing just a little deeper as he felt his head press against her throat before she pulled back a little, her tongue teasing and toying with him. Aspect let out another one of those moans before he just sat back again and let her do whatever she wanted with him. It was her turn to explore him, not time for him to screw her.

God damn it was hard not to just start rutting her mouth.

Her magical hands continued to explore him, grabbing his flank, pulling his tail, all while her mouth bobbed up and down on his dick, taking the small amount she could, his member simply too big for her to handle like that.

“Now I see the advantages clearly, to making a unicorn my mate so dearly,” Aspect managed to put together.

“Oh, and why’s that?” Bon Bon mused, sliding up behind him and kissing his ear.

“So long as her concentration does not waver, then her attention to multiple spots her magic can favor,” the zebra pointed out.

“Ahh, so you like that huh?” she murred into his ear and licked it. “Does it feel goood my old warhorse? Having such a cute little unicorn please you so?”

“This sweet little mare seems to know exactly what spots to make me throb and grow,” Aspect groaned out as he wondered what Lyra would pull out next.

That would be when she pulled back off of his cock, her golden aura surrounding the whole thing, balls included.

Then it started to vibrate.

Yep...that was Aspect rolling his head back and going basically limp. Lyra had nearly completely won this round. She slid the aura up and down, a magical, vibrating cocksleeve for the stallion as she leaned up close to him and moaned in his ear.

“Cum for me~” she purred.

It wasn’t long before she saw that length start to twitch in her grasp, jerking around erratically as Aspect panted and huffed mightily.

“Mmm, gonna give it to me?” Lyra said with a throaty purr, her hoof running along the length as her magic didn’t let up. With a few more grunts, Aspect began shooting rope after rope of his seed into the air, only to be caught with Lyra’s magic as a golden bubble around the head of his cock expanded, her vibrations not letting up for a moment until he’d filled it, his cock giving the last few spurts.

“Hmm…” Lyra mused as she held the bubble of cum in the air. “What should I do with this I wonder~”

Aspect couldn’t really offer any input, as he was exhausted at last.

“Aww, no idea at all?” Lyra teased him, the bubble orbiting her as she cancelled her spells she had on him. The zebra panted heavily, but didn’t say anything.

The Bon Bon smirked and flicked her tail, the whipcrack was enough to surprise Lyra and she squeaked, dropping the sphere…

Right over her head.

Aspect looked up to see his cum coating her mane, running down her horn and face, one eye closed as she glared at Bon Bon with the other.

“Glazed mare is such a treat, something that can’t easily be beat,” the stallion observed.

“Seriously…” Lyra deadpanned, wiping some from her face with a hoof. “Not cool Bonnie.”

“Mmm, I like it,” Bon Bon smiled and licked some from her cheek. A lick here and another there…

And soon, the two mares were kissing, swapping his cum and their tongues as they moaned loudly.

“To join in would be best, but I am tired and must rest,” Aspect sighed, still not moving from his spot in the shower.

“Mhm, nice job in hurrying along there,” Bon Bon teased and winked at him sensually as she kept cleaning Lyra with her tongue.

The stallion watched the show for a little longer, before slowly moving towards the cleaning supplies and starting to wash himself up.

After their shower, the trio headed back into the bedroom, where Lyra rubbed the back of her head. “So uh… what now?” she asked. “I’ve, never really done this before.”

“What happens now is up to you,” the zebra pointed out. “You’re the one in control, that is true.”

“Arrgghh, knock off the rhyming, doing it now is really poor timing… AAGRH! And now I’m doing it!’ Lyra pouted.

Aspect chuckled and flashed into his pegasus stallion form, spreading his wings before cracking his neck. “But seriously, anything that happens is up to you,” Aspect explained. “I’m not going to force you into anything. But you better watch your flirting, because you never know when I’ll just take you back to bed as well.”

“Mhm,” Lyra swatted his flank with a hoof. “We’ll see. Well I guess that’s fine. I don’t really want a relationship right now. Still shocked Bonnie ate cum off my face.”

“Ohgods… I totally got lost in the moment and did that,” Bon Bon blushed, putting her head in her hooves.

“Hey, you did eat some of it right out of her mouth too,” Aspect fired back.

And that was a broken Bon Bon pawing idly at the floor as Lyra laughed and headed out of the bedroom, flicking her tail and giving Aspect a little show as she shook her rump and trotted away.

“Welp, Lyra happened,” Aspect observed as he moved Bon Bon to the bed and joined her on it.

“Mhm,” Bon Bon blushed and nodded. “Any more mares while you’re at it?”

“Not unless Rarity and Twilight suddenly show up in my bedroom within the next five minutes,” Aspect replied as he nuzzled the mare.

“...Seriously?” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“No, not seriously, what do you take me for?” Aspect snorted. “I’m all funned out for one day.”

“Hehe, teasing you is quite fun,” Bon Bon giggled and booped his nose. “Well, at least today is nice and quiet.”

“For once,” the stallion agreed as he closed his eyes and just lay there. Now this… this was the life.

Author's Note

Trying something different today, uploaded my chapter early. All I have to do is hit a button.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help and is appreciated.

Half of all funds will not be spent soft-resetting for shinies.

Chapter 46 - Learning from Greed

Well, Aspect wasn’t quite sure how he got here, but here he was none the less. Standing in Twilight’s library, celebrating the birthday of Spike the Dragon. He’d gotten quite a few presents so far, a blanket from Applejack, some training weights from Rainbow Dash…

“Here you go, Spike,” Aspect replied, pulling out a much more worn book from his satchel. “Something I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a book kept by another dragon I knew from the days of Dream Valley, he gave it to me after the Great Freeze started to happen.”

“Another book?” Spike blinked, seemingly disinterested as Twilight stared at him enviously. “Well, thanks Aspect. I really appreciate it. All of you really. I’ve never gotten presents before.”

“Wait, y’all never got present fer yer birthday?” Applejack asked.

“Oh I would. One. From Twilight. A book. Every year,” Spike deadpanned as Twilight smiled sheepishly and hid a wrapped book behind her.

“I think you’ll like this one,” Aspect replied, tapping the book. “It’s from a dragon who lived among ponies long ago. It’s his own journal about the mares around him, and the things he learned about them. Just open it up and tell me if the name doesn’t strike you.”

Spike blinked and sighed, before taking the book and opening it.

“Diary of… Spike the Dragon?” he blinked. “Is this a weird joke Aspect. Cause it’s not funny.”

“Nope, I knew another Spike who looked quite a lot like you, from the days of Dream Valley,” Aspect replied. “He had been a minion of Scorpan, but when Tirek was defeated and Scorpan returned to normal, Spike remained among the ponies. He was Twilight Twinkle’s personal friend, and scribe of Queen Majesty.”

“Oh…” Spike said as he looked at the book and smiled. “Well, thanks Aspect. This is pretty cool.”

“Yup, thought so,” Aspect patted Spike on the head. “Who knows? Maybe the old Spike wrote a few things down about ponies you don’t know yet. I mean, you’ve been with Twilight most of your life, and only been with the general population about...a year?”

“Well, I’m kind of awesome like that,” Spike brushed his claws against his chest.

The party went on, and Aspect noticed something… interesting. Rarity was wearing a large ruby around her neck. But not any old kind. It was a Fire Ruby, known to be ridiculously difficult to grow, especially to sizes like that and dragons loved them. A gem that size would do wonders in helping a dragon the size of Spike grow.

Hmm.

Maybe he would have to look into having Artemis make a few, just to help Spike catch up with his aging. He didn’t seem to get enough of those in his diet. Though, it did beg the question why Rarity had one.

“Man, I wish this party could go on forever,” Spike sighed.

“Haven’t you learned not to say things like that around Pinkie Pie?” Aspect questioned.

“Silly Spikey, this party can’t go on forever,” Pinkie giggled. “Buuuut, the Cakes totally have something special for your birthday~”

Spike’s eyes widened and Twilight gave a nod, the dragon thanking everyone again and dashing out of the door.

“Well, now I just have one question,” Aspect noted, before turning to Twilight. “How long has Spike gone without eating a Fire Ruby?”

“Huh?” Twilight blinked. “He’s never had one, in fact, the one Rarity’s wearing is one he gave to her yesterday.”

Aspect sighed. “Okay...so maybe you don’t know this then. But a dragon has to eat a Fire Ruby to physically mature. One the size of their fist every year helps them keep up with where they should be, physically, to where they are chronologically. Gems help, but they aren’t a substitute for a genuine Fire Ruby. There’s a reason the dragons made their home where they did.”

“I… I had no idea,” Twilight said as she took a step back. “I… It was up to me to raise Spike. How, could I fail like this.”

“I should return this,” Rarity said, looking down at her gem.

“Do you both forget something?” Aspect raised an eyebrow. “We have an Aspect of Earth again. We could make Fire Rubies. And Twilight, I don’t blame you. How often do ponies and dragons interact?”

“Almost never,” Twilight admitted.

“So you’d know nothing of how they mature, or the fact that the Dragonlands sits over the largest Fire Ruby deposit on Equus,” Aspect summed up. “You couldn’t be expected to know those facts and draw a conclusion when you saw Spike wasn’t growing.”

“Well, he has gotten bigger since he hatched,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia said that when he was born, we had to grind up his egg shell so he could eat that. But she never mentioned Fire Rubies.”

“I expect she forgot that...or perhaps, just never investigated it like I did,” Aspect replied. “Seeing as how I went everywhere in the early days and learned everything I could about the inhabitants. She did forget about how Pictomancy worked, after all, so both are equally probable. Still...we can still help Spike. A Fire Ruby a year on his birthday. I’ll take him over to Artemis, it’ll be a good test for the pup.”

“Thank you,” Twilight smiled. “And thanks for coming over today. I appreciate it.”

“I wouldn’t miss a birthday of a friend,” Aspect replied easily.

“So,” Rarity pointed out. “I’m planning to make a line of cloaks that this lovely gem inspired,” Rarity spoke up. “And I plan to make one for each of you as well.”

“Oh, you...don’t have to,” Aspect replied easily. He still had that nice blue cloak she made for him.

“Nonsense darling, it’s not a bother at all,” Rarity waved a hoof. “And honestly, if I can get you to like something. Then I know it’s a hit.”

“Or just something that nopony else in their right mind would wear,” Rainbow snorted.

“Let’s just admit that I’m stubborn and run with it,” Aspect replied as he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof.

“Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night,” Rainbow smirked. “Well, that and a marepile.”

And Twilight with all of her friends were blushing now.

“Whelp, there goes the party atmosphere,” Aspect noted dryly.

“Oh lighten up,” Rainbow snorted. “It’s just sex. Jeeze, lighten up guys.”

“You’re not helping,” Twilight facehooved. “In any case, I should probably clean up. What will the rest of you do today?”

“I’m going to get Artemis to make Spike a Fire Ruby, see if I can’t get him to eat it,” Aspect replied. “It’d do him good.”

“I’d like to be there for that,” Twilight insisted. “Spike is under my care after all.”

“Sure, just bring him around the mansion,” Aspect replied with a wave of a wing.

“Will do,” Twilight nodded as the party broke up not long after. Wasn’t much sense without the birthday boy around. Aspect went back home, humming to himself as he traveled. He wasn’t sure why, but birthdays always left him with a peculiar tune stuck in his head.

The day was fairly slow, and Twilight hadn’t shown up with Spike either. Artemis had been practicing to grow Fire Rubies, but they seemed to defy him somewhat. He could only grow them to about the size of a golf ball.

Then as he settled down into his chair, the entire house trembled with a faint ‘boooom’. A distant shake coming from… Ponyville?

“Artemis, I’m going to go check on that,” the pegasus said as he headed for the door. “Oh, duh. You can’t call on any inner fire, that’s why you’re having trouble. Um...try reaching for the molten core of the earth instead. But only a little bit! You only need a little fire to grow a Fire Ruby.”

“What happens if I draw too much?” Artemis asked him. “Also, that earthshake wasn’t normal. It wasn’t caused by the earth, but something hitting it.”

“Well aware of the second bit, and as for the first...well, Ponyville would get a new volcano where our house used to be. Don’t call up any more than you can hold and put back.” The pegasus stepped outside his front door…

He didn’t have to go any further to find the reason for the tremors. That… that was a very big dragon. A fully mature adult terrestrial dragon, right in the center of town. How… how did it appear like that?

“...Whelp,” Aspect sighed. “Let’s see. About seven centuries along, give or take a decade. I have more than enough time to pump into my transformation. Let’s see if I can’t distract him.”

The pegasus flew away from his house a short ways before he hovered in the middle of the air.

There was a sudden flash of light that blinded all who looked at it for the briefest of moments.

When their vision cleared, they saw a large, silver, winged dragon standing on the ground in front of the terrestrial one, his tail whipping around as he considered the foolish drake in front of him.

The dragon turned and Aspect blinked. There was no sentience in his eyes, a beast of pure instinct as he lashed out with a powerful claw. It missed the more experienced dragon and shredded a nearby house.

Aspect only knew of one way this could happen to a drake. If they gave into their hoarding instincts and hoarded too much, too quickly. Their greed consumed their intellect...making them less than sane. This one was a threat to everypony and everything around here.

The elder drake roared and projected his killing intent so clearly, it would feel as though a much older, bigger dragon was threatening to squash this one underfoot.

Aaaand that was the rage beast uppercutting his jaw, making him stumble backwards. Aspect took a few steps back, before approaching quite clearly from the right, sending a blow that even this beast could see and dodge at it.

Of course, what he didn’t see was the second blow coming from the left.

The dragon fell back, crushing another building under his massive size. With a growl, he rolled to get back to his feet, just as a trio of familiar Wonderbolt buzzed past, one shearing off his spines that protruded from his back.

It took a single move for the dragon to grab an empty water tower, slamming it into the mountainside and trapping the Wonderbolts inside it.

Aspect growled even louder then, before he took to the skies, staying out of the drake’s reach. He then began harrying the dragon with his own blows...and he was much bigger than a water tower.

The purple drake was pushed back, even as his lungs started to inflate with superheated air…

Something that Aspect met with his own inhale. On his next pass, he hovered just out of reach and breathed a torrent of silver fire at the terra dragon. A stream that was matched by a massive gout of emerald flame.

Wait… purple and green scales.

Emerald flames…

Oh… no…

“Aspect!” Twilight shouted from below. “Please! Don’t hurt him! Don’t hurt Spike!”

The drake grumbled, but began harrying with a purpose now. He began pushing the greedy Spike out of town, so their fight wouldn’t hurt any more ponies.

Spike roared in his face and suddenly sidestepped, swinging his tail into the back of Aspect’s head. The dragon kissed the ground, hard. And he felt something under him get crushed. A building. It wasn’t til he got up that…

Aw man, Bon Bon was going to kill him.

The silver dragon turned, red in his eyes, as he put a lot of power behind a single punch, trying to all but force Spike out now. His fist paused, as he saw a flash of white in the dragon’s talons.

Spike had a pony in his claws.

Rarity.

The drake roared instead, flaring his wings to make himself look more intimidating. Nothing said more clearly ‘MINE’ than a dragon’s roar at another dragon. And Spike met his roar, an impressive feat for a smaller dragon, he must have been quite possessive of Ponyville.

He headed for the mountain, to try and get to higher ground. But as he looked at the mare in his claws, he… paused?

Aspect growled, before shifting back into his pegasus guise and flopping down near Bon Bon’s shop. “There,” he panted to the unicorn mare that ran up to him. “I did what I could to get him to go away. Now it’s up to you to save him.”

“W-What can I do?” Twilight said, clearly panicked. “I… I don’t know!”

“It’s a Greed Growth,” Aspect explained. “So he needs to remember when he was generous to reverse it. But he’s little more than a beast now…”

Then with a pop… the great dragon disappeared, replaced by normal-sized Spike and Rarity…

Before gravity reminded them it was a thing and they started a forty foot drop to the earth.

“Oh son of a…” Aspect groaned as he gauged the distance. “I’ll never get there in ti—”

A rainbow blur shot past him, nearly blowing him off of his hooves as rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who happened to be nearby, caught the pair and gently lowered them back to the ground, Twilight running in their direction.

“Yeah, you do that,” Aspect replied as he walked up to the ruins of Bon Bon’s shop. Well, everything was still here, so…

He flared his wings as runes unfurled in the air. With a stomp of a hoof, they vanished…

And the shop started rebuilding itself.

And no sooner had it done so, Bon Bon’s cellar door opened and the mare emerged looking around her, before spying an exhausted Aspect. “Honey?” she asked. “I heard a noise. Is everything okay?”

She… She’d been inside!?

...He was definitely glad she’d been in the cellar. He didn’t want to imagine the spell working on a pony that had been…

He didn’t even want to imagine that.

Bon Bon looked around at the ruined town. “Of course,” she muttered. “It’s Tuesday. What happened this time?”

“Spike went into a Greed Growth,” Aspect replied as he looked at the ruined town. “I have more work to do,” he muttered as he flared his wings again.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Bon Bon put a hoof on his shoulders. “You look tired.”

“Just gonna...rewind time for all the houses that got crushed,” Aspect explained. “Won’t take a second.”

“Rewind…” she looked at the displaced earth around her home. Her eyes widened. “Aspect… did… did I…”

“Your house, yes, but if you were in the cellar, you were fine,” Aspect replied. “Though we are going to be having a talk with Spike and hoarding.”

Bon Bon stepped in front of him, her hooves open for a hug. The stallion clearly needed one. Aspect paused for a moment, before hugging his mare.

“I nearly lost you,” he muttered to her. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“Never,” Bon Bon whispered and kissed his cheek. “Not until I’m a very old mare, old enough to make Granny Smith look like a filly. You got that mister.”

“I’ll count the days,” the stallion promised, before he looked at the village. “Still...I should help them.”

“As long as you come right back after. I’ll prepare a nice mug of coffee and some delicious treats to energize you okay?” she booped his nose. “Now, go be a hero my silly old warhorse.”

“Of course, my sweet mare,” Aspect replied, kissing her gently before he began his walk through the town.

Anytime he encountered a house that had been destroyed? He rewound time to the point where it was whole again. Luckily there weren’t too many. Sugarcube Corner had been exploded from the inside out, so that was a thing.

It took about two hours, but he was finally done. Some streets were still broken, but the ponies could fix those. Aspect sighed and let his wings fold up, before all the exhaustion hit him at once.

Damn, but rewinding time on that sort of scale was tiring. He would need that coffee and sugar just to stay awake now.

He made his way back to Bon Bon’s shop, barely making it inside the door. Bon Bon caught him and helped him out back and into the house part where Lyra mostly lived.

“So, what have we learned about abusing space/time?” the mare chuckled.

“Don’t do it after a dragon-sized fight,” Aspect muttered as he lay on what had to be the most comfortable sofa in the world.

“Mhm,” Bon Bon chuckled as she pet his mane. “Now, I can give you some coffee, or would you like to nap here for a while?”

“Might do both,” Aspect replied as he got comfortable.

Bon Bon went into the kitchen, bringing back a tray with a mug of coffee and some cookies. After setting them down on the table next to the couch, she sat down and pulled his head into her lap, running her hooves gently through his mane.

“Can’t lose you again,” Aspect muttered. “Came way too close today.”

“Well, I’m still here,” Bon Bon smiled. “Luck, fate… doesn’t matter. It wasn’t my time apparently.”

“I’ll take it,” Aspect sighed as he relaxed into the petting. “Just...scared me, you know?”

“Well, not all of us are immortal,” Bon Bon chuckled as she kissed his ear. “But I promise. I’m not going anywhere. Me, Midnight, Rainbow and you. We’ll all get married. Have tons of foals. You’ll never be alone again okay?”

“Sounds wonderful,” the stallion sighed as he felt his lack of energy start to creep up on him. She turned his head so his ear was against her chest, the gentle sound of her heartbeat rocking him to sleep…

Out of the many, many places that Balanced Aspect had woken up, in the warm, comforting lap of his marefriend was definitely one of the better places.

“Morning, my sleeping prince,” Bon Bon smiled and kissed his forehead.

“G’morning,” the stallion yawned. “How’d Spike’s birthday end up?”

“Well, you’ve only been out for about two hours,” Bon Bon giggled and booped his nose. “So you can always ask them later. Now, would you like some coffee?”

“That’s...probably a good idea,” Aspect nodded before reaching up to kiss Bon Bon’s cheek. “Mmm...Yeah, I can still feel a drain on my self from all that runic magic I was tossing around.”

“Well, if you didn’t insist on showing off,” Bon Bon mused as she gently moved out of his hug and headed to the adjoining kitchen. “That said, I’ve had a few ponies come by to offer their thanks to you.”

“Just cleaning up after a tyke who didn’t know not to hoard things,” Aspect replied. “Greed is a very real threat to a dragon. If they hoard more than they can be responsible for, it sort of...takes over. That’s where all the rampaging dragon stories come from. If a drake grows up in a responsible fashion, they don’t hoard more than they can reasonably look after, and they grow the way they should due to a yearly supplement of Fire Rubies.”

“Perhaps you should sit Miss Sparkle and Spike down, and have a good, long talk with them then,” Bon Bon suggested as she walked back into the room with a tray on her back, a large mug of coffee and some chocolate cookies there. Dark chocolate ones with Luna’s mark and white choc ones with Tia’s. “Here. Eat these too, your body needs the sugar.”

“Mmm, fine, forcing me to eat sweets,” the stallion joked as he picked up a cookie and munched on it. “Okay, so...after this snack break, go find Twilight and Spike, bring them back to Artemis, and see if he’s succeeded in making a Fire Ruby for the drake.”

“Mhm,” Bon Bon chuckled as she sat next to him. “Did you want me to come with? I could close early today.”

“Nah, something tells me the ponies need their comfort food after what just happened,” Aspect replied. “You might make a bundle today.”

“Hmm, you do raise a good point,’ Bon Bon rubbed her chin. “I could make a special day sale… a small percentage off and…” She smiled as she trotted off to start planning.

“Mmm, and meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy these treats,” Aspect hummed as he had a cookie, a sip of coffee, and repeated. He could feel his energy returning with every bite.

Soon, it was time to head out. He bid farewell to his marefriend and stepped out into the streets of Ponyville. They worked fast in cleaning up the town. Aside from a missing water tower and some upturned earth, it was hard to believe what had just happened.

Aspect headed towards the treebary, thinking that if the drake and mare he was looking for would be anywhere, it would be there. Perhaps he should offer his knowledge about dragons so that...this didn’t happen again.

Though when he did get there, tacked to the door was a note saying that they’d be waiting at his house. Seems Twilight had the same thought.

Well, nothing for it. The stallion turned his mind towards his home and rode the wind there, appearing at his front door in a sudden gust.

“And...here I am,” the stallion sighed. All in all...he was a little disappointed in himself for not acting to prevent this from happening in the first place. Though, at least he could make sure it didn’t happen again. He pushed the door open and...great.

Now he had to find everybody again.

He stepped inside to see his beloved Midnight standing in the living room, the mare turning to look at Aspect and her eyes widening.

“Middy, where’s Sparkle and Spike?” Aspect asked. “Gotta stop him from doing this again. Also, I need the pup so that I can get him on a proper diet.”

“Um, Aspect?” Midnight started before a much louder voice got his attention.

“OI!” a female voice shouted and he looked down to see a … a rather small thestral looking up at him, her eyes blazing with righteous fury. She came roughly up to his chest, her mane was the same colour as Midnight’s, only her coat was a much darker brown. Her eyes were the colour of amber as her tail gave an irritable flick. “So Midnight?” she said with a curt tone. “This the fuckin’ twat ya mentioned?” Aspect also noted she has a Scottish accent.

“If you’ll pardon me, miss, I have more important matters than a self-inflated sense of ego that follows you around like a hot air balloon,” Aspect sniped back. “Like making sure a young dragon doesn’t slip into a Greed Growth again and actually gets on a diet of Fire Rubies like he should be.”

“Aspect,” Midnight started. “This is—”

“H’oh? Ya think ya got a set on ya huh?” the small mare laughed. “Ah dinnae know what all that dragon crap is about, but ah didn’t come all this way tae be ignored ya puffed up cloud fucker!”

“Oh believe me, I’ve taken notice of you,” Aspect replied in a dry tone. “You’re about number two on my shit list. Right under the Nobles of Canterlot. Keep it up, you might make number one.”

“Oh, so now he get’s some bite eh?” the mare smirked. “Middy, ah’m startin’ tae like him. Still dunno whut about him make ye all moist though.”

Midnight facehooved and groaned. “Aspect. Christopher. This… this is—”

“The name’s Aila Song,” the tiny mare smirked. “And ah hear yer the one railin’ mah daughter here.”

“Oh, so not only are you a future mother in law, you’re one that thinks I’m not worthy of your daughter,” Aspect snorted. “Miss, believe me. I fostered two young fillies, and while I also want to see them with a stallion, I also know that they’d have to pull off literal miracles for me to think they’d be worthy of my girls.”

“So, ye understand that much eh?” she looked him over and nodded. “Well, you ain’t bad on the eyes at least. A little plain…” She smacked his flank with a wing. “Nice tight ass though. Middy does love her asses.”

Midnight just blushed and shook her head.

“Look, like I said, you’re not quite as important as making sure a friend of mine stays safe from himself in the future,” Aspect replied. “So whatever this is? It can wait, and it will wait.”

“Mom, please?” Midnight said. “He’s just as stubborn as you.”

Aila snorted and folded her wings. “Right, well go on then ya feckin milk drinker. Ah ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

“No, I rather think you aren’t,” Aspect replied. “Whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen.” He took a breath before shouting. “ARTEMIS!”

The pup appeared a few moments later, his ears flat. “Yeah? There’s no need to shout you know?”

“Sorry, just didn’t know where you were,” the stallion replied sheepishly. “And you’re the only one that can find Twilight and Spike quickly. Or might have had any success in growing Fire Rubies.”

“In order,” the pup sighed. “One. You have magical sensing when it comes to Aspects remember? Two, they’re in your room, cause Spike’s bummed out and I thought it was the safest place. And three, I did.” He pulled out a Fire Ruby the size of a large orange.

“Thank you,” Aspect plucked the ruby from the dog’s paw and put it in his bags, before shrugging those on and heading up towards his room. “Go see Bon Bon for your reward. Tell her you were a supremely helpful Aspect of Earth today.”

Artemis ran off, free treats had been promised and he wasn’t wasting time.

“Welp, time to cheer up a dragon,” Aspect hummed as he walked up to his room. It wasn’t long before he was pushing the door open and taking in the sights beyond.

Twilight was straightening his bedsheets, and blushed slightly when he walked in. “Oh um…” She looked at the clean sheets. “Your sheets were… less than presentable. I um, changed them.”

Spike was just sitting in the end of the bed, the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders.

“Mmm, probably so,” Aspect agreed as he shrugged his saddlebags off, before flashing into his young dragon form that Bonnie liked so much. “Mkay Spike, let’s have a little talk. And before you ask, I’m not sending you away, Twilight. As his primary caretaker, it’d behoove you to know this information too.”

“I… messed up today,” Spike mumbled. “Ponies… I coulda hurt a lot of them…”

“Yeah, and I messed up by becoming a dragon to fight you,” Aspect replied. “There are things about dragons that nopony knows. I know them, because the old Dragon King was my friend, and we talked. A lot. I told him about humans, he told me about dragons. Helped out that Spike from Dream Valley a lot, when he needed answers as to what a dragon actually was.”

“Still doesn’t forgive what I did,” Spike said glumly. “I ruined homes. I hurt those Wonderbolts… Everypony is going to hate me, be afraid of me now…” he sniffed, as Twilight put a hoof around him, nuzzling the top of his head.

“Hey, what do you think they’re going to think of me?” Aspect replied. “I willingly became a bigger dragon to fight you, and helped ruin my own fair share of homes. The only reason they’re not after either of us is because I went around and fixed it all...which is also why this talk took so long to happen. Sorry about that.”

“You… had to clean up after me too?” Oh geeze, that didn’t help Spike’s mood at all. “I should just go live in the Everfree, with all the other monsters…”

“That’s the one thing Smaug said dragon’s weren’t,” Aspect replied, walking forward and stroking the young dragon’s spines. “The way he described it was...a delicate balance at all times.”

“It wasn’t your fault Spike,” Twilight added with a soft smile. “We didn’t know that could happen. And nopony is blaming you. If they do, I’ll… I dunno, turn them into a newt or something.”

Spike let out a small, forced chuckle. “Thanks guys…” he murmured.

“Now, would you like to know a few things about dragons, to help you prevent this from happening again?” Aspect asked.

“I think that would be good,” Twilight replied, Spike giving a small nod.

“Mkay, first of all,” Aspect reached into his saddlebags and pulled out the Fire Ruby Artemis had given him. “Eat this.”

“Huh?” Spike stared at the gem. “W-Wait, is that a Fire Ruby?”

“Yup, go on, eat it,” Aspect replied. “It was made just for you. Trust me, you need to eat it.”

“What will it do?” Twilight said with a concerned tone.

“Give him the necessary boost to his internal fire magic and all the nutrients he needs to catch up to where he should be as a dragon,” Aspect replied. “Gems can help you along, Spike, but every year you should have a Fire Ruby about as big as your fist.”

“Oh, well… not gonna complain,” he mused as he took a bit, eating the gem like an apple until all that was left was the ruby dust he was licking from his claws.

“Okay, so,” Aspect sat back and tapped away with a claw. “What else...oh yeah. Okay, so, listen close Spike. All dragons hoard things. It’s a fact of their biology, got it?”

“But, if I do that, I’ll grow giant and scary again!” Spike shook his head. “No way, I’m never going to hoard again!”

“Sorry, it’s something you can’t escape from,” Aspect replied, tapping Spike’s head. “It’s hardwired into your brain for you to want to hoard things. But the dragons raised in the dragon lands know that if they’re going to hoard material things, they can’t have a hoard that exceeds ten times their body weight. Otherwise, well...a Greed Growth happens.”

“That’s why I won’t horde a thing!’ Spike nodded, looking fiercely determined. “Not again. Never.”

“You can’t eschew all physical things, Spike,” Aspect softly replied. “You just need to do something that the dragons have learned. For a physical horde that you count as yours, you need to balance it with something immaterial, something that you see as more precious than money or jewels. Then your greed is balanced by the lighter side of your heart...and you won’t devolve into a greedy monster again.”

“Immaterial?” Spike looked down, his expression quite pensive for a moment. “You mean, like Twilight? Or my friends?”

“Or knowledge, or anything that doesn’t have any weight, but matters more to you than anything that caught be bought or negotiated for,” Aspect replied. “Like the loyalty of a nation. That’s what Smaug uses to keep his greed at bay. The knowledge that every dragon would come if he called.”

Spike fell silent for a moment and sighed. “Could I just horde pegasus feathers or something?”

“And do what, make the world’s comfiest pillow?” Aspect chuckled. “Sorry little guy. But your draconic brain seems to get a kick out of hoarding things. You just need to trick it into seeing something other than gold and jewels as precious. Train yourself every day to look at something else as more valuable than money. You were pretty defensive when I tried claiming Ponyville as mine, for example…”

“Well… it is my home,” Spike defended himself, folding his arms and pouting slightly.

“There’s your answer, then,” Aspect replied, rubbing the little drake behind the ears. “Look at the residents of Ponyville. They’re scared, confused. They just saw two giant dragons duke it out. Go around, apologize to them, explain the situation...tell them it won’t happen again. Earn their friendship back. Maybe enlist the services of Rarity to help spread the good word?” The drake turned to Twilight with the last part. “Though...maybe skip over a certain stuck-up mare who thinks she’s a noble. Until she gets her nose out of the sky, she won’t listen to anypony.”

“Noted,” Twilight said, her expression souring. Yup, she knew exactly which mare he was referring to. “And, thanks for this Aspect. I appreciate it.”

“Not a problem, and hey, little guy,” Aspect ruffled his spines. “Keep yourself in check, and maybe you will get that big. In seven hundred years or so. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if, with the size of the ruby you ate, you start to grow a little bit in the coming months.”

“Right…” Spike said as he pushed the ‘centuries’ comment aside. It was something he tried not to think about. He simply opted to lean into Twilight’s hug.

“Now...if you ever need more information about dragons, I can always send a letter off to Smaug,” Aspect added. “He’d know more than I do. And we’re still occasional pen-pals. Though he has to have one of his grandchildren hold the pen and letter.”

“Maybe,” Spike said and shook his head. “I should get started on apologies. That’s gonna take a while.”

“We’ll get Pinkie to help,” Twilight promised. “Nopony can stay mad at Pinkie.”

“With Pinkie helping you defuse the situation, and Rarity helping you phrase your apologies, you’ll get the whole town on your side before the end of the day,” Aspect predicted.

“Here’s hoping,” Spike said as he hopped off the bed. Twilight nodded as he exited the room, the mare staying behind for just a moment.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “It seems you’ve been doing nothing but helping us lately.”

“It’s my job,” Aspect replied as he smiled after the mare. “If I hadn’t done anything, then this could happen again. At least this way...we all learn something from it.”

“I also mean when you stepped up earlier,” she said. “Spike… if he’d hurt somepony then. I doubt he’d ever live down the guilt…”

“Trust me, I know how that feels,” Aspect sighed. “At least I eventually got him away from town.”

Twilight nodded and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “If there’s anything I can do to repay you, just say the word okay?”

“Just...chase after the little guy, okay?” Aspect replied. “He needs somepony like you, who’s organized enough to make a checklist for the entire town, right now. He shouldn’t miss anypony except one particular mare and her spoiled child.”

“Right,” Twilight nodded and gave him a quick hug before running after the dragon before he got too far away.

Aspect sighed and flashed into his pegasus guise, before sighing. “Well...that eventually went well. Hope the little guy doesn’t beat himself up too much about it.” He stepped outside the door, and came face to.. Well he had to look down to meet the gaze of the little thestral.

“Let’s walk,” she said simply and turned, heading down the hall.

The stallion rolled his eyes before following after the mare. “So, now what?” Aspect asked as he walked through his own house.

“Now we talk,” she said. “Ya did alright. With tha’ lil scalie tyke back there.”

“He’s too young to have the weight of everything he did in a greed-fueled rampage weigh on his shoulders,” the stallion replied. “It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know how his own species worked.”

“So ah heard,” Aila nodded as her wings flicked. “So, you like me daughter hm? Enough tae want to marry ‘er?”

“Let me put it in perspective for you,” Aspect replied. “I have to marry at least one mare out of the herd I’ve found myself with, lest I be a dishonorable lout that lets her bear child out of wedlock. And I’m not going to do it to one member and not the others. I love them all the same. I will be hanged before I am accused of playing favorites amongst them.”

“Ye dinnae say?” the little mare mused. “And what are ye intentions fer me Midnight after that eh? Pretty mare like her, she’d make a fine mother no?”

“That’s her decision to make, not mine,” Aspect replied. “I’ll respect her wishes either way. I’ve done a fine job of respecting them up until now. The thing that led to one of the mares getting pregnant was a mistake, but we won’t love the child any less for that. And let it be known right now, I won’t be repeating that error.”

The mare let out a sharp laugh and turned around. “So, ye go from a snarky arse to a fuckin’ coltscout? Make up yer mind son.” She turned a put a hoof on his chest before pulling him down. Ooh, so that’s where Middy got her strength. “Now look here,” she said in a low tone. “I dinnae care who the fuck you are. You could be Princess buckin’ Luna fer all ah care. But ya make my filly sad. You hurt her… and there ain’t nuthin in this damned world that’ll save ya ya hear?”

“How about her father?” Aspect replied cheekily as he grew a horn in front of the mare’s eyes.

She looked up and stared, before smirking. “What, did ah make ya horny?”

“Nah, just responding jab for jab,” Aspect replied. “I’m not Luna, I’m what I like to think of as the uncrowned father of both the Celestial Sisters. Mainly because Equestria isn’t my domain. It’s the whole bucking world that I have to take into account whenever I do my job. But my duties have grown less and less over the years, to the point where I’m nearly ready to hang up my sword for good. So I’m settling down, setting roots in this little town. Your daughter is one of the mares that makes me feel glad to be alive, makes me feel my heart beating around her. So now you listen.”

Aspect narrowed his eyes, and for all the world it was like a dragon was standing in his place. “I don’t care that you’re her mother. You could be one of the immortal fiends I had to cut down, for all I care about your opinion. But if you come between me and Midnight, I will show you stubbornness that can grind down a mountain by hoof, determination that can change the very weather of the world on my own, and a will that even the oldest of magics answer to. You will not best me.”

“Boy… you have no idea who yer fuckin’ with,” the mare said, not backing down in the slightest. Before letting him go and dropping back down onto all fours. “Ya got guts. And ya seem to care about mah precious Song a bit.” She took a breath and chuckled. “Ya may be an uppity little shitestain. But ah approve of ya.” She held out a hoof and her entire personality shifted to one of amusement. “Well, provided ya can best Middy. Ah’ll welcome ya into the fam ya git.”

Aspect met her hoof with one of his, before shaking it with a small smile. “So all I have to do to get in is threaten the matriarch? Good thing nobody tried that with Celly and Lulu and me. I’d have thought they were being serious and cut them down.”

Aila laughed outloud and punched his shoulder. That… actually hurt a little. “HAH! Boy, yer about as threatenin’ as a foal whinin’ fer his Momma’s tit. Now let’s go find Middy. Ah’m gonna tell ‘er I don’t approve fer shits and gigs.”

“You might want to think twice about that,” Aspect replied. “I’ve got a monument out back featuring every great evil I had to meet in combat. I’m the one that killed them all. And yet, I can already tell that fighting with Midnight is going to be...interesting.”

“Oh, Middy’s good alright,” Aila smirked. “An’ you should swing by Roamania sometime. Some uppity noble thought he’d kidnap my lil girl to force her into marriage. Lil fucker still pisses himself when mah name is mentioned.”

“Can’t be everywhere, I’m afraid,” Aspect replied. “My duty is the world. The world of ponies falls to those that are ponies and in charge. So...I guess now that Luna’s back, she’d be the one to go to? She was the patron of the thestrals back in the Everfree castle.”

“Ah know mah history,” she chided him. “And most thestral’s still worship her Royal Moonbutt. ‘Specially the Hollow Shade’s ones.” She flicked her wings again and huffed. “Look son, Midnight can be trouble sometimes. She’s headstrong, as wild as a tornado and as lovely as a field o’ flowers. Jus’ take care of her alright. Tha’s all ah ask.”

“Like I would do any less for any pony that asked,” Aspect replied. “The old ponies of Dream Valley had a name for me. The Sword against the darkness. I am the protector of Ponykind when all else fails. Your daughter is as safe as she could possibly be...assuming she doesn’t take weekends off to go hunt Kelpies again.”

“She mentioned that,” Aila Song mused as they entered the living room. “Poor basterd, havin’ Middy after it.” She looked at the thestral mare in question, waiting patiently there for them to return. “Well, ah made my decision.”

Midnight’s ears pricked up.

“The sonofabitch has an ego the size of a dragon’s cock,” Aila mused. “But he’s a’ight ah guess. So ah approve of ‘im.”

Midnight just stared wide-eyed at Aspect. How did he…

Oh right, he was likely just as insane as her mother.

“In any case,” Aspect suddenly lost the horn in a small flash of magic. “I’m still a little worn out from fighting Spike’s Greed-Growth form and repairing the town from said fight. Don’t think I have it in me to give you a good, proper fight today Middy.”

“If you insist,” Midnight nodded. “I too am tired from the flight from Canterlot.”

“Well at least we both agree to not fighting right this very second,” Aspect smirked at her. “But at least this gives our jeweler one more day to work. Who knows, she might actually come through with the necklaces tomorrow.”

Midnight nodded and looked at her mother, speaking in a tongue Aspect didn’t recognise.

“Estás seguro?”

“Si, é un estraño. Pero podo dicir que é bo de corazón”

Midnight sighed and smiled. “Well, guess that is that then.”

“Don’t think I didn’t catch that you were trying to keep something from me,” Aspect replied. “You think I can’t learn a new language at my age?”

“Hah, curious eh?” Aila smirked and winked at him. “Hmm, maybe I’ll dissaprove and take ya fer meself…”

“Mom!” Midnight screeched. “Bitch, he’s mine. Back your slag ass away from my stallion!”

“Hahah!” Aila laughed and hugged the taller mare, Midnight sighing and hugging her back. “There’s the Mountain bat in ya. Ah thought she upped and became a snooty Canterlot mare.”

“...You know, I thought I would never find a family as weird as mine,” Aspect mused aloud.

“Haha, we’re right fuckin’ weird and we love it,” Aila chuckled. “Now, how about we sit and get tae know one another eh?” She winked at the stallion. “Ah kin show ye why ah’m ‘fun-sized’.”

“Mooom…” Midnight growled and bared her fangs.

“Let me see,” Aspect mused as he seemed to tap his hoof in thought. “Hmm…” He suddenly had a wicked idea. “Miss, what do you think of the Nightmare?”

“The what?” Aila paused and blinked. “Ah, that lil thing Luna went through? Eh, well before my time lad. So ah dinnae care all that much.”

“What if I told you the Nightmare had been...separated from Luna and was living a new life...under my roof?”

“What ye do is your business,” the mare shrugged. “Ah’d say Middy found herself an interesting fam.”

“Darnit, I thought that at least would get you,” Aspect snorted. “I just don’t understand Thestrals.”

“Haha, the day ye do, lemme know,” Aila smirked as she winked at him.

“Eh, I’ll settle for understanding one thestral,” Aspect replied as he walked over to Midnight and draped a wing over her back.

“An’ ye chose the most difficult one,” Aila snickered.

“If I can understand her, the rest of you should be a piece of cake,” the stallion fired back with a smirk. Aila laughed again, the small mare wiping a mirthful tear from her eye.

“Aye… that you might,” she snickered. “Now. Ah’m fuckin’ starvin. Got any mangoes?”

“I do keep a small stock around for Middy in the pantry,” Aspect replied. “Have to order them from Canterlot, though.”

“Well, how about ah cook ya a lil sumthin fer lunch?” the mare smiled as she headed towards the kitchen. “Gotta impress the new son in law am I right?”

“Too late, Bon Bon has ruined all other food for me,” Aspect replied. “Her and Applejack’s pies are a deadly combination.”

“Ah, one of the other mares eh?” Aila nodded sagely. “Good, cause Middy can’t cook worth a damn. You’d be dead if she was yer only hope.”

“Oh fuck off,” Midnight pouted and folded her forelegs.

“At least I know how it is,” Aspect pulled Midnight into a hug. “I used to set pots of water on fire just by looking at them funny.”

Midnight just pouted and grumbled more.

“Buck up, dear,” Aspect replied, kissing her cheek. “I’m sure that I can have you making toast in no time!”

Midnight just snorted, blowing some mane from her face with a huff.

“This is amazing!” Rainbow laughed as she was introduced to Aila later that evening. “I already like her. Finally, I’m not the smallest grown mare in the house anymore!”

“Yes, well, we’re just lucky she likes us back,” Aspect noted aloud as he sat on the couch.

“Aye, yer all alright,” Aila nodded, nomming on one of Bon Bon’s desserts. She really did look like a filly compared to them. She was kind of adorable when her foul mouth wasn’t ruining the image. It did make him wonder what kind of stallion Midnight’s father was though.

“Well it’s still a pleasure to meet you,” Bon Bon smiled. “Though, I bet you have some fascinating tales of Midnight as a filly.”

“No…” Midnight’s eyes widened.

“Oh, do let’s,” Aspect purred.

“Well,” Aila hummed and rubbed her hooves. “There was this one time when she was being picked on by this little arse of a colt. A right royal little fucker. And Middy being Middy, what do ye think she did?”

“I’m gonna go with...beat him up,” Aspect replied.

‘Yup,” Rainbow agreed.

“Most likely,” Bon Bon nodded.

“Hah… close,” Aila chuckled. “She waited til he was done, and turned his back…”

“Mom… no,” Midnight warned her.

“Then she bit him right on the arse!” Aila howled with laughter. “Lost her first foal fang that way. He’s still got the puncture marks on his butt to this day.”

“Oh boy,” Aspect chuckled. “You don’t do things by half, do you, Middy?”

“Oh shut up,” Midnight huffed.

“And then,” Aila mused as she winked at the mare. “There was the first time she dragged a poor colt back to her bedroom.”

“Hoo boy…” the stallion chuckled.

“Poor sod didn’t walk straight fer a week,” Aila snorted as Midnight blushed. “She took her cherry and then some.”

“Welp, now we know where Middy gets her bedroom behavior from,” Aspect chuckled.

“Aye, her sister taught her everythin’,” Aila nodded. “Why do ya think the poor sod was broken? Try keeping up with two bats in heat…”

“MOM!” Midnight blushed harder.

“Oh, so your sister and you share everything then?” Aspect asked the larger thestral mare.

“We… did,” Midnight said and cast her gaze down. And he was reminded of that conversation in the woods…

“Oh shit, Middy, I’m sorry, I forgot about…”

“Aye…” Aila sighed. “It’s in the past. Now, dinnae worry about it.”

“Well that brought the mood down,” the stallion replied with a set of pursed lips, like he’d just bit into a lemon. “Sheesh…”

“Not to worry,” Aila shrugged. “It was a while ago now. We grieved, we moved on. Now…” She smirked. “How about I tell you the time Middy got drunk for the first time?”

“NO!” Midnight blushed.

“Fair’s fair, the first time I really got drunk I met your daughter,” Aspect waved a wing.

“Ahh, so she has mentioned the dragon twins?” Aila asked, making Rainbow spit her drink.

“This I have to hear,” Aspect got comfortable.

“Well, Midnight here came home from the academy,” the small mare mused. “She’d gone to a local tavern to celebrate with Aria, her sister. They pair then decided to have a drink, only Middy here hadn’t touched a drop in her life…”

“Mom… please no,” Midnight blushed.

“Ooooooh boy,” Aspect smirked at this.

“I heard ‘em stumble home that night, paid no attention,” Aila mused. “Til I went to check on ‘em in the morning. Found Aria passed out on the floor and this one—” she nudged Midnight “—Wedged between two dragons teens.”

“With all the sleeping she’s done with other males, I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten pregnant before now,” Aspect mused.

“Oh aye.” Aila shrugged. “Got her mother’s luck there. Damned if I haven’t tried to have another since Midnight. Eclipse and I, we have somethin’ of an ‘open’ relationship ya see.”

“A what?” Bon Bon asked.

“They fuck other ponies,” Rainbow pointed out.

And that had Bon Bon blushing hard.

“Well that explains...quite a lot,” Aspect mused as he shook his head.

“But no luck ah’m afraid,” the mare sighed. “My er… stature has the nifty if not annoyin’ side effect of being hard to impregnate.”

“I could whip up a piece of jewelry to help you with that issue,” Aspect mused. “A few enchantments and you’ll be just like any other mare.”

“Oh?” she smirked and winked at him. “You offerin’ to help give mah Middy a siblin’?”

Midnight growled, Bon Bon blushed and Rainbow poked Aspect.

“Can we?” she whispered.

Aspect sighed and rolled his eyes. “Look, let me pull out some pieces from my collection, you can pick one you like, and I’ll enchant it to help you. What happens after that is not my problem.”

“Hahah, Middy was right, you are fun tae tease,” she smirked and shrugged. “Nae, it’s alright colt. And dinnae worry, ah won’t gobble ya up.”

“Honestly,” Midnight shook her head.

“Heh, your Mom’s a riot,” Rainbow cackled loudly.

“I really wouldn’t mind helping,” Aspect replied as he flared a wing, summoning his saddlebags to him on a gust of air. He stuck a hoof in the right side and began looking through it...before sticking his whole muzzle in.

“One of these days,” Bon Bon sighed. “He’s gonna fall in and we’ll have to go on some crazy adventure to get him back.”

Eventually the stallion pulled out a medium-sized wooden box and set it on the ground. He played with all the ingenious little drawers, to fully open up about half a dozen shelves on which additional jewelry rested, before flipping the top open. More necklaces and earrings waited there, as well as a mirror so that anypony using the box could see what they looked like before heading out. “Pick any piece you like,” the stallion offered.

“You’re offering her jewelry before us?” Bon Bon teased.

“These are just old pieces, mostly sentimental stuff,” Aspect replied, poking one with a hoof. “The magic in them has faded by now. But I can slap a new one on with no effort. They’re nothing like the custom necklaces I’m having made for three certain mares.”

“So, none of them work?” Rainbow said as she slipped a hoof ring on. Surely a mare with so much pegasus magic and a Bearer of harmony wouldn’t revive something as ancient as this.

“The magic in them faded ages ago, like I said,” Aspect replied, shaking his head. “They’re little more than...museum pieces now.”

“Aw that sucks… I wanted super powers,” Rainbow sighed, tossing the ring back to him.

“Do not give Rainbow Dash super powers,” Bon Bon deadpanned. “That will only end in disaster.”

“Hehe, don’t worry colt. Ah’m fine the way I am,” Aila nodded and smiled. “Now you kids should get to bed. You have something important to do tomorrow doncha?”

Aspect held the hoofring for a moment, and there was a subtle flash of light around it, before he tossed it to the small thestral mare and began closing up his box. “Keep it as a gift,” he said, before sticking the whole thing back in his saddlebag.

“Buttering me up with gifts eh?” the mare mused. “Alright, off with yeh. Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Aspect chuckled as he picked up his bags and began nuzzling his mares, before walking off to his room.

Once he and the others left, Aila looked at the ring curiously… before slipping it over her hoof…

She didn’t...feel anything out of place. But then again, if it was meant to do anything like help her, then she wouldn’t know until she got back home with a stallion.

“Huh… kinda anticlimactic,” the small mare shrugged and sighed. Well, she hoped that Aspect was prepared for tomorrow…

Author's Note

Meet the mother! She's fun. I think. Aus usually laughs manically when he writes her.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent finishing off collections of shiny things.

Chapter 47 - When Aspects clash

The next morning, Bon Bon had prepared an ample breakfast for everyone, with Aila’s help. Turns out she didn’t share her daughter’s cooking skills and was actually quite competent. And it seemed to be a normal breakfast, until Princess Celestia and Luna teleported into the room.

“Fuckin’ thunderin’ orgasms!” Aila yelped in surprise, being the closest to them before putting a hoof over her chest. “Are ye trying to give an old mare a heart attack!?”

“Ah, my apologies Miss Song,” Celestia bowed her head. “Hello everyone… ohh, pancakes~”

“Hello Celly, Lulu,” Aspect greeted them both as he sat down at his spot. “So I take it you’re both here to observe today?”

“Yes, as you have no parents, we’re here as your seconds,” Celestia nodded as she sat at the table, Bon Bon serving her some breakfast. “I trust you’ve been preparing for this?”

“I have a strategy all planned out,” Aspect promised. “It’ll be a blast.”

“You… have a strategy?” Luna asked as she fluffed her wings. And Aspect noted they weren’t wearing their regalia. “Well, tis a first time for everything.”

“Honestly, I don’t always do things by the seat of my pants,” Aspect huffed as he buttered his pancakes.

“Nay, sometimes you don’t wear pants,” Luna chuckled.

“Real funny,” the stallion deadpanned.

“It was pretty funny,” Rainbow snickered, sharing a hoof bump with Luna.

Midnight had been awfully quiet, methodically eating her meal as she appeared to be lost in thought.

“Midnight?” Aspect spoke up, trying to draw her into the conversation.

Her eyes flicked up, before Celestia put a hoof on Aspect’s shoulder, her horn aglow slightly.

“It’s alright Father,” she whispered into his mind. “She is simply focused. Put yourself in her hooves. She is a mortal going up against someone with thousands of years of combat. Can formshift into full grown dragons and can manipulate the weather with a thought. To her, it might as well be a foal against an Ursa.”

Aspect went ‘ah’. She didn’t know that he would only be drawing on some of his power. He’d wait until they were about to join combat before he informed her of the restrictions he would put on himself.

“Still, Midnight is not without her own skills Father. I have trained her myself. So do not get complacent, or you might find yourself losing.” He spied a small smirk on her muzzle. What… was she planning?

This promised to be interesting...or dangerous. Or both.

An hour and a half later, they were all standing in a large open field about a mile or two out of town. Celestia and Luna had also erected a ‘Notice me Not’ barrier, so no nosy ponies would come by and be hurt by accident. They’d used it before during his fight with a corrupted Aspect.

“Right,” Aspect said as he rolled his neck. “As you’re not one of the great evils I’ve had to fight, I’ll be abiding by a few simple rules. Namely, I won’t formshift during this fight. I’ll keep it to skills I have, magic that’s innate to me-”

He was cut off as Midnight raised a hoof. The mare was decked out in her Solar armour he’d first met her in. The gold gleaming under the sunlight. She also had a set of wingblades, though they were dulled training ones. Could still break bones though...

“Do not insult me Christopher,” she said. “I will not be coddled like some foal. Show me how much you wish for our bond. Show me the determination that I fell in love with.”

“Heh...alright then,” Aspect chuckled. “Fine. But I’ll only formshift if I have to, if you push me to it. And besides, with one move, I can all but seal victory. Granted, it’ll take about five minutes to work, but once it does, this fight will be mine.”

“Are both parties ready?” Luna called out.

Midnight nodded and lowered her stance, crouching low and spreading her wings. Aspect raised his wings, a noticeable blur gathering under them before he nodded as well.

“Then, this first to lose consciousness or concede defeat loses,” Luna called out. “Fatal blows are strictly forbidden… not that matters against father, so feel free to try Midnight.”

“Luna…” Celestia shook her head.

“Regardless. Begin!” her horn shone, creating a loud crack and…

Holy crap Midnight was fast, in the blink of an eye, she’d closed the gap between them by more than half.

Aspect let loose his wind...and it went nowhere near her, instead firing off into the sky as he formed something on the edges of his wings to combat her wingblades.

By the time Midnight closed the gap, there was a shimmer on his wings to match her blades, only all of Midnight’s senses told her that whatever was there was sharp, even if it only looked like a blur of air that distorted what she could see of his wings.

She flipped over him at the last second, avoiding his wings and landing on a single forehoof behind him, pirouetting and kicking a stone at his back…

Aspect ducked, turned, and fired off the distortions at her, the rifts in the air closing fast with her location. Those things could become ranged attacks?

Midnight rolled to the side, one of the ‘airblades’ nicking the armour on her flank… Her eyes widened when she saw the deep gouge in her armour, cutting almost all the way through. Even the metals magical enchantments hadn’t done a thing to protect it.

“Because it was not magic…” she murmured and looked at Aspect. Even now the stallion was charging lightning on his wings. But while Realm could only do a bolt at a time…

Each wing was home to five points of light.

Midnight turned and rocketed towards the forest, zipping into the dense line of trees as cover.

“The longer you wait, the easier it’ll be for me to win!” Aspect called after her. “Either you win in the next four minutes, or I do once it’s over!”

“She is not attacking?” Luna asked Celestia.

“It’s her way,” Tia nodded. “She analyses her opponents, devising counterattacks mid battle.”

She burst from the tops of the trees about a hundred feet away, quickly gaining altitude. Aspect turned to her, his wings still ready with the lightning… She peaked a few hundred feet up, her wings wide as she levelled out and stared down at him, like a bird of prey eyeing a rabbit.

Then she dove at him with frightening speeds.

The closer she drew, the longer he waited...until when she was close enough that he could see the whites of her eyes. Then the stallion fired off as many lightning bolts as he could.

She kicked out and his vision was filled with… gold?

She’d thrown a piece of her armour at him, the highly conductive metal drawing the lighting towards it…

Aspect kicked himself into the air at way too late a stage, knowing that his blows would miss and needing a new technique. But first, he’d need to dodge her…

Thankfully, her technique to avoid the lightning threw her off balance as she landed on the ground and rolled a few times, now missing her breastplate as it lay scorched and blackened from the lightning blasts. Well, better it than her. She looked up, scanning the skies for the pegasus stallion.

He was standing on a cloud, his wings flared and moving around...and then she noticed that for every wing movement, a cloud would shift into place above him. Hmm, what was he up to?

Well, they’d be useless if she could get above them. With a powerful thrust, she started soaring straight up, to get above his little cloud ceiling.

Then Aspect held up a hoof, firing a bolt of lightning straight up...and turning the cloudbank he’d gathered into a storm cloud. Midnight let out a skree as she angled down, narrowly avoiding a flight right into a thundercloud. Damn, he was faster than she thought. Fine. She took a deep breath and dove at Aspect again.

Aspect saw her coming, and only moved a wing.

Up above, lightning gathered, and struck right in front of her. She yelped in surprise, the heat singing her fur as the flash blinded her, Midnight striking the ground with a crack. Yup… that was a cracked rib or two.

“And to think, I haven’t even tapped the power I called on yet,” Aspect muttered from his little cloud.

Midnight got to her hooves, wincing as she touched her chest. Dammit, he was far more powerful than she anticipated… or was she holding back? Why? The mare frowned and shook her head, clearing her vision.

“She’s hesitating,” Aila frowned. “Why.”

“I’m not sure,” Celestia said. “Ah… her letter. When she threatened him with her swords. Perhaps she feels bad about that still?”

“Or she wants him to win,” Luna chuckled.

“Come on, Midnight!” Aspect taunted her. “You were talking all that good shit a minute ago, about how you didn’t want me to hold back. What happened to that? What happened to the mare that can hunt the monsters? What happened to this being a fight?”

Midnight took a deep breath and raised hoof. She made a gesture likely recognised on a universal level.

‘Come at me.’

Aspect smirked and jumped off his cloud, diving down and landing in front of Midnight with his wings raised, a faint distortion visible under each one. Up above, the storm was untethered from his direct control…

Midnight just stood there, staring right into his eyes. She still wasn’t moving though.

“Fight me,” Aspect dared her.

She took a lowered stance again, before her wings kicked up a cloud of dirt in his face. Aspect fired off a blast of contained wind to clear the dirt out of his face, but that wasted one of his blasts.

And that was the side Midnight approached from, flipping in the air as she directed a kick to his side. Aspect rolled out of the way, before letting fly with his other contained gust of wind, trying to knock her off balance as well.

She smirked.

Midnight flared her wings, catching the gust and using it to ascend quickly, up above the clouds he’d set.

But only for a moment.

Then a bolt of lightning rained down.

Oooh right, Thestrals and storms…

Heh, well...he set himself up for this one. But it wasn’t like any of that would actually hurt him right now. He was tapping into the Air aspect pretty heavily. Yet the bolts missed, striking the ground with blinding flashes and thunderous booms.

He never heard the bat until her hind hoof dropped onto his head.

“Okay, ow,” Aspect replied as he rubbed his head. If he’d been mortal, that would have done more than stung. “Good shot.”

Midnight flapped back, landing a few feet away. What? That kick dropped from fifty feet up! He should have been unconscious… not slightly off put.

“Still, you’re going to have to hit harder than that to phase me,” Aspect shook his head a few times, before flaring a wing and sticking a tongue out. “One minute left, by the way.”

Midnight screeched and shot forwards, spinning and putting all her strength into a double hoofed buck, she could put him off balance, then she could use a barrage of attacks. They may not hurt much, but they could add up…

Aspect actually fell back, impressed by the ferocity of her attacking and needing to put some space between them before she did some actual damage. Midnight followed, she wouldn’t let him put any distance between them. All his attacks so far had been ranged, and it seems he didn’t bring his sword. That might have been his only close quarters method. As long as she didn’t let him use those air blades…

Aspect growled as he formed one of those blades on one of his wings, using its sharp edge to ward Midnight off. And she met it with her own blade, the wing sinking into the metal, but not cutting all the way through as she grabbed his leg and with a yell, lifted and dropped him.

“Okay, impressive,” Aspect replied as he rolled away and sprang back to his hooves. “But you’re not winning this fight.”

Midnight panted as she pulled the now-useless blade off and tossed it aside. “I am not finished yet,” she muttered. She prepared herself, she knew she was out of time and no idea what he was about to pull out of his bag of tricks.

“Mmm, you might be able to feel my backup coming on the wind,” Aspect chuckled as he waited. “Not long now…”

“Backup? You require assistance to defeat a single mare?” Midnight taunted as she stretched her remaining blade.

But Celestia realised what he was doing. Her eyes widened. Wasn’t that a bit much oh Father?

“Midnight Song!” she called out. “You have permission to use that!”

“And here...we...go,” Aspect said…

Before a massive gust of wind arrived, knocking aside his constructed cloud roof with ease before it slammed into him. The stallion faintly glowed as he lifted in the air a short ways.

When he lowered back down, it looked like he was made of stormclouds, pooled lightning forming his eyes.

But… why could he hear music?

Midnight stood facing him, the music growing louder before he remembered her little demonstration the other night.

“I cast off these petty illusions,” Aspect growled as he flapped his wings and took to the air. “Behold, the true vision of the Lord of Air!” The stormcloud from earlier was quick to reform over the fighting field.

Then he heard words, lyrics he didn’t understand… at first.

He was more preoccupied with how Midnight had appeared above him.

And why he was lying in a crater with a splitting headache.

It dawned on him. This mare… she’d weaponized a Heart Song. All the impossible feats a pony could pull off during a song. Feats that defy natural laws… and she could control that!

“Fine then,” Aspect growled as his form blurred. Soon, there wasn’t just one stormpony on the ground.

Now, there were about fifty copies of himself running around, to distract the mare as he got in position. Her song continued as she twirled in the air and dancing lanced down to the ground, multiple bolts striking the earth as she appeared inside one of the bolts, lashing out with her bare hooves, destroying copy after copy…

Aspect watched her path, before darting up behind her after she destroyed one copy and trying to strike her in the back of the head. She ducked as one eye looked deep into his.

“I found you~” she smiled as she kicked him. It wasn’t the love tap he got before, this was more like a bloody sledgehammer as the stallion skidded along the ground. She’d gotten a lot stronger and a hell of a lot faster now.

And for some reason, her tune wasn’t breaking. His own mental beat was being… ignored for a better word. It was like the Music obeyed her and only her. She stomped the ground, the earth cracking under the blow…

Before she coughed, flecks of red spattering the grass.

“No!” Aspect darted forward, catching onto Midnight and holding her. “Midnight, you can’t channel it on your own! You have to let go!”

Midnight frowned, throwing him away. “This battle… is not over!” Her wings flared, preparing another blow.

Aspect landed easily, but he...wasn’t drawing a blow against her? “Midnight, I’m not going to put your health above my pride,” he replied. “You can’t channel all of Music on your own, you’re no Aspect!”

She knew she was taking far too much, more than she normally did… but it was the only way to match him. To give him a proper challenge. To prove she was worthy!

But her own body betrayed her, the song coming to an end as she wobbled, barely being able to stand.

“I…” she frowned and pitched sideways. “Concede…”

Aspect walked up to her and held her close. “Dear, I would have conceded if you kept fighting,” the stallion replied. “I’m not going to make you draw on that to match me. It’s far too much for a mortal frame. You’ll need days to recover from what you just attempted.”

She coughed a few times… but raised a hoof and booped his nose. “S-Says you.” she smiled.

“Let me just…” With a deep breath, Aspect resumed being a normal pony, sending away the power he’d borrowed back to where he’d got it from in another gust of air. “You really wanted to impress me, huh?”

“Perhaps,” Midnight said weakly as the other approached. “I know, what’s it like to have strength. And not use it every now and then. The rush of a good battle, not knowing if you’d win.” She sighed as she relaxed in his hold. “I was right… I stood no chance at all.”

“Not as you are,” Aspect replied. “Music is...divided. You are but one of three, and I know where another lives. Together, perhaps, the three of you could wield the might of Music. As it stands, trying to tap it on your own is likely to result in harm to yourself. You would need a special catalyst to take the strain for you.”

“We called it Lyrica,” Celestia said as she neared. “So, it was as I suspected all along. She’s channeling the power of an Aspect?”

“Music is fragmented, not whole,” Aspect replied. “Lyra wields the power of music to create. Midnight wields the might of music to destroy. And there is a third, unifying mare out there that can also wield music like they do. Or, as Yggdrasil said… ‘life is a waltz.’”

“Hmph, how very vague of him,” Luna snorted.

“Regardless,” Aila said. “Midnight Song. Ye have conceded defeat to this stallion.” She turned and looked at Aspect. “Balanced ‘Christopher’ Aspect. You have proven your heart honorable and your strength true. The Song Clan will forever grow stronger with our families tied.” She held out a hoof. “Welcome tae the fam colt.”

“You’re sure you’re ready to be a grandmother to those fillies?” Aspect asked as he used a wing to indicate Celestia and Luna. “It was Tartarus on earth, raising them.”

Luna and Celestia let out an annoyed snort.

“Aye, horns, wings or no, Ah’ll put their flanks over mah knee if they act up,” Aila nodded, smacking one hoof with the other.

“Oh goddess above, there’s two of them,” Luna gasped.

“She’s crazy enough for my blood,” Aspect cackled madly as he shook Aila’s hoof.

“We’re bucking doomed,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. Well, she looked at the destroyed landscape. “This was fun.”

“Mmm, let’s head back,” Aspect mused as he moved to put Midnight on his back, picking up the discarded items with gusts of air and holding them in front of his face. He wouldn’t leave her without her armor or wingblades.

“So, I guess I am your bride to be now,” she whispered into his ear, kissing it and letting that statement sink in.

“Indeed you are,” Aspect nodded once. “But we’re also going to do it the Equestrian way. I may have earned your hoof by Thestrali law, but I want to do this right by all my mares.”

“Fair enough,” she sighed contently. Speaking of, she hoped they weren’t too mad about how roughed up either of them were.

“Honestly!” Bon Bon scolded them as she bandaged Midnight’s wounds. “You warriors and your bloody need to show off. No thought processes go into it beyond ‘I punch you now’ huh?” She looked the bat over. She had some sprained limbs and a cracked rib or three, but Celestia healed those. Aspect hadn’t noticed the shiner he wore over his left eye til Bon Bon poked it, causing the stallion to hiss.

“Wha...oh. Yeah, Middy tagged me a few good times,” Aspect shrugged. “She did very well for who she was up against.”

“Not good enough,” the thestral sighed. “I need more training.”

“Why can't I have normal special someponies,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “Please tell me I don’t have to fight either of you.”

“No… but sparring could be fun,” Midnight hummed and hissed when Bon Bon poked her ribs.

“No fighting for a week!” she ordered both of them.

“Yes Bon Bon,” Midnight said.

“Wasn’t planning on it, Bonnie,” Aspect replied honestly.

“Good,” Bon Bon nodded once.

“We see who wears thy pants in this relationship,” Luna snickered.

“I can and will go dragon to put you over my knee, Luna, see if I won’t,” Aspect warned her.

The royal alicorn simply poked out her tongue at him and blew a raspberry. “Lady Bon Bon will protect me~”

“Considering the crazy she’s about to marry into, I’d be surprised if she didn’t join me,” Aspect fired back.

“No spanking your kids because they're right,” Bon Bon teased him as she pet Luna’s head. “Don’t worry Lulu, Momma Bonnie will save you from the old grump.”

“I’m surrounded by traitors,” Aspect grumbled and sat back, folding his forelegs.

“We shall form a resistance!” Celestia declared as she sided with her father. “Plus I'll get Twilight~”

“Gaah!” Luna raised a hoof. “Well I… um, crud.”

“Wow… you folded faster than Midnight at a mango buffet,” Bon Bon snorted.

“As I recall, young filly, the only side you’re really on is your own,” Aspect looked at the mare next to him. “What with raising the sun just so it strikes my eye every morning. And pranking your old man by sending him to the ‘most peaceful town in Equestria.’”

“I never said it was always peaceful,” Celestia smirked. “And you made friends and loved ones regardless. Would you have done the same in Canterlot?”

“Oh heavens no,” Aspect snorted. “I’d probably have had a coup going against the noble caste on the inside of a week, just to get the majority of the parasites out to get you both some peace of mind.”

“Or overthrown me,” Celestia teased with a wink. “I wouldn’t have minded either…” Then her eyes widened. “You know… as my father, you do have some rights to take the throne if I abdicate it. Lulu! We could go on a vacation!”

“And leave me behind to deal with the nobles?” Aspect asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’m not doing that until Chryssy comes back to the fold to help me deal with their legalese.”

“Father…” Celestia sighed. “Nopony has heard from Chrysalis in… I don’t know how long. And most Changelings aren't… well.” She didn't know how to put it.

“Yes, I’m aware that Chryssy’s been...a bit of a bad seed,” Aspect sighed. “Guess that witch’s curse really affected her. Somnulba didn’t drink too much of the water herself, and needed to drain others to regain her youth and vigor. Guess Chryssy came out the same way…”

Celestia looked to the others. “May we have some privacy please?”

Luna nodded and ushed the others out, leaving the father and daughter alone. Once they left, Celestia sighed, dropping her royal facade.

“I take it you learned of the threat to Canterlot?” She asked.

“Kind of hard not to when the door guard doesn’t recognize the Element Bearers, or me,” Aspect noted aloud.

Celestia sighed again. “I'm sorry. I had to fast track a lot of cadets to build numbers. But…” She sat down. “I have reason to believe Chrysalis is behind this.”

Aspect sighed, and looked towards the general direction of the Badlands. “I’m not mad,” he stated firmly, more to remind himself than anything else. “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed in her.”

“I have no idea what she's thinking,” Celestia said. “But promise me something? If it is her, if she does something. Promise you will stay out of it?”

“If she does something that threatens the stability of the world, it becomes my job to stop her,” Aspect replied firmly. “I failed once. I won’t fail again.”

“So what?” Celestia stated. “You'd put her down? You'd raise your blade to another child?”

“If I have to, yes,” Aspect replied. “If she threatens another Aspect of the world, if she threatens the stability of the world, then that is my duty. To defend and straighten out the forces of the world if need be. I am not the Diplomat. I am the sword.”

“If only Megan were here…” Celestia sighed. “Look father. We have the Elements of Harmony once more. Your blade is not the only answer anymore.”

“...Fine, but if that doesn’t work, I am getting involved,” Aspect warned her.

“You're so damned stubborn,” Celestia frowned. “You know. I had to deal with threats alone for a thousand years? I think I did fairly well quelling the Griffon uprising.”

“Another thing I’m going to have to ask about later,” Aspect muttered. “They’re meant to be the children of the wind for the world where you aren’t. Someone to shepherd storms and guide the wind.”

“Well, I guess they took the lessons of the ‘Great Lord Bloodwing’ a little seriously,” Celestia deadpanned. “Those stories turned them into a race of warriors. I had to use one of your own lessons to teach them one.”

“Well, at least I got one race right,” the stallion grumbled. “The Phoenixes haven’t gone about setting entire forests on fire, at least.”

Celestia remained oddly quiet.

“...Celly,” Aspect put a hoof to his face. “Tell me the Phoenixes haven’t gone about abusing their fires.”

A smile tugged at Celestia’s lips. “No, but I couldn’t help myself.”

The stallion let out a sigh. “Don’t do that. I was worried I had screwed up everything I’d done in my role.”

“You haven’t screwed anything up,” Celestia said, putting a wing around him. “You just forgot to account for one thing.” She booped his nose with hers. “Free will is a bitch.”

“So it is,” the stallion grumbled. “Well, at least you and your sister turned out well, even if you are little hellions.”

“And I'm glad you are well, even if you are an old grump,” Celestia giggled. “Now… wanna see if me and Lulu can break your mares by calling then Mommy?”

“You already did that to Bon Bon, and Midnight had to know this was coming,” Aspect pointed out. “Dash probably wouldn’t do anything except let it go to her head.”

“I miss teasing Twilight and Clover, they always bite so well,” Celestia pouted.

“Most do, until they get to know you. Or Realm for that matter,” Aspect pointed out. “Well, I have a jeweler to go see. I’m going to spend a little time with the mares, then I’m going into town.”

“Seems you’re rather busy as of late,” Celestia chuckled and nuzzled him. “Just take care father. Try not to worry about things alright?”

“I’m a dad, it’s my job to worry,” Aspect pointed out. “Some days it’s all I do.”

“Well, I’m a big girl and I can look after my kingdom,” Celestia chuckled as she ushered him out of the door. “Now go on and have fun. I need to get back and make sure Blueblood hasn’t burned my castle down.”

“That is a real possibility with him,” Aspect noted aloud, before shutting the door behind him. He had a jeweler to see.

Sparkler’s jewellery store was as quiet as always. Though this time, the snarky little teenager wasn’t at the front of the store. Though he could hear noises coming from the back of the room. On his way past, he did noticed a few things. One was a display of raw Spectra crystals in her display cases for gems. The other was a few pieces. A necklace with an oval-shaped Spectra gem. A horn ring and a hoofband, all sharing a similar design. And the same ludicrous price-tag...

Well, it was nice to know she liked the raw materials she’d provided.

The stallion sat in front of the counter and waited for the mare to make a showing. He’d just quietly insist on being served so he could at least have an update. He was nothing if not persistent.

He still heard noises, the whine of a high-pitched drill, kind of like a dentists, and saw a small silver bell on the counter. A sign saying ‘Ring for service’ next to it.

So he rang it. A chime sounded as the enchanted bell seemed to sound from everywhere. The drill-sound stopped. The curtain over the door frame parted as Sparkler stepped out, lifting a pair of large goggles from over her eyes.

“Hm? Oh, it’s just you,” she commented. “What’s up?”

“Just checking up on my order, seeing as how I’ve reached the stage where I am now allowed to propose to my mares at any given moment,” Aspect replied. “I don’t need it now, but in lieu of that, I would at least like a date when I can have them.”

“A simple, ‘can I have an update’ would have sufficed,” the mare said with a roll of her eyes. “And I’m done with one. The second just needs the stone set in it and the third is one I’m just starting.”

“Okay then, so I should come back in a few days,” Aspect summed up. “Unless you needed my input for anything, but I was always of the opinion that those that practice a craft are always the ones with the best-formed opinions.”

“I’m making the chains so if you need some links added or removed, it’ll be easier for me,” she commented. “Also… I’m liking how these are turning out. I think they’ll be some of my best work yet.”

“It’s nice to hear that,” Aspect smiled at her. “I’ll be back in a few days to check up on how they’re going.”

“Yup,” she nodded. “Hopefully some dragons duking it out in the middle of town won’t disturb my work again.”

“To be fair, I didn’t know it was Spike,” Aspect replied. “If I had, I might’ve tried luring him away instead of fighting him.”

“That was Spike huh?” Sparkler actually looked concerned. “Is he okay now?”

“Yeah, just...he didn’t know that dragons hoard...or can go into a Greed Growth...or how to fight it,” Aspect replied. “Then again, I guess part of the blame falls on me for assuming Twilight would know those things as his caretaker.”

“S’not like ponies and dragons mingle together often,” Sparkler shrugged. “Anyway Captain Exposition. Give this to Spike,” she tossed him a large emerald. “And come back in a week or two, I should be done then.”

“Got it,” Aspect saluted with a wing. “You take care now.”

“Until next Tuesday, when the next disaster hits,” she replied with an eyeroll. “Take care yourself.” And with that, she lowered her goggles… which made her eyes look ENORMOUS as she vanished back behind the curtain.

Aspect left the shop, humming a little tune to himself. Next stop, the treebary.

When he got there, he knocked on the door to have Spike open it, staring up at the stallion. “Oh, hey Aspect. What’s up?” he asked.

“Gift for you from Sparkler,” the stallion replied, drawing out the huge emerald and hoofing it to the dragon. “I took the chance to explain to her why there were a few dragons in town the other day, and she was concerned about you.”

“Huh…” Spike stared at the emerald, though he was unsure if he should take it. What if he started hoarding again…?

“Hey, I know that look,” Aspect chuckled as he rubbed the little guy’s spines. “Look, you value your friendships, right? Twilight, her friend’s, the town’s?”

“Of course I do!” Spike stomped a foot. “I… don’t wanna hurt them again.”

“Hold onto that thought in your mind, then,” Aspect returned, “And you’ll see this gem as nothing more than a tasty snack. Because you have something that’s more important than material wealth. Friendship is the only treasure that grows as its shared. Well...that and knowledge, but the two usually go hoof in hoof. It’s through our friends that we come to understand ourselves, after all.”

“Huh…” Spike mulled over his words. “Oh, ya wanna come in. It’s kinda quiet anyway. Twilight’s upstairs with her ‘research’ as she put it,” he made little airquotes with his claws. “So I’m a bit bored.”

“Yeah, I got nothing else going on,” Aspect replied.

“So, what’s new?” the dragon asked as he set the emerald down on the table and headed for the kitchen.

“Not a whole lot,” Aspect replied. “Had a fight with Middy though. It was fun.”

“Huh?” Spike paused in the middle of making tea. “You… eh, nevermind. Your whole family is nuts.”

“Guilty~” Aspect sang. “But seriously, it’s a part of her culture. If I couldn’t best her in a fight, then I wasn’t worthy of her hoof in marriage. I wanted to get the fight out of the way so I could propose to all of them the Equestrian way and get married.”

“Sounds complicated,” Spike said as he walked back in with a pot and three cups. “Tea or coffee?”

“Eh, coffee’s for the morning,” Aspect replied with a wave of a wing. “I’ll take tea now.”

Spike nodded as he poured a cup and placed it next to him, along with a bowl of sugarcubes. “Twi?” he called out, but got zero response. “Honestly… the heck is she even studying up there?”

“I’ll go check up on her in a bit,” Aspect replied as he sipped his tea. “Mm...one sugarcube, please.”

Spike plonked one in as he sat back in his chair. “Well, I don’t mind. I’m enjoying my time off,” he giggled. “Buut, she does have a bad habit for getting lost in studies and not coming out for days on end…” he rubbed his chin. “I should sic Pinkie on her.”

“Nah, better idea,” Aspect replied. “Get Pinkie to sic Dash on her. She’s way more physically inclined, she’ll probably drag Twilight out into the fresh air to get her blood actually pumping.”

“Aren’t you the goto to get Rainbow Dash now?” Spike mused with a cheeky smirk.

“Only the Pink can find Dash reliably,” Aspect retorted. “What with her having wings and a job and such. The two are pretty close as is, so you use one to find the other. It’s not like I’m keeping Dash at my place, she’s her own mare.”

“Fair enough,” Spike shrugged. “So, what’ll happen when you get married? I mean, they all have their own places.”

“Bon Bon has her store, Dash has her cloud castle, and Midnight lives up in Canterlot more often than not, though she was assigned as my guard for a spell…” the stallion mused. “Eh. I guess my house will be the common ground, where if they have the time they’ll meet with me.”

“Something to think about,” Spike shrugged as he poured some tea for Twilight. “But getting married is dangerous. Think of what’ll happen when Pinkie finds out.”

“Hey, she’s the only one I’d trust to get the word out around Ponyville, and host a good reception,” Aspect retorted. “Without overdoing it, I might add. She’s good at her self-imposed job of Ponyville’s Party Pony.”

“Premiere Party Pony,” the pink mare corrected him… before slowly closing the front door again.

“...How long was she there?” Aspect quietly asked.

“I try not to think about it,” Spike said with a faraway look in his eye. “A-Anyways. I think Ponyville’s forgiven me mostly. Some ponies still cross the street when I walk down there though.”

“Forgiveness is something you will have to earn, yes,” Aspect replied as he sipped his tea. “They’ve seen the side of you not even you knew about. Now it’s up to you to remind them of the kind, gentle drake I know you can be.”

“Yeah I know,” Spike sighed as he stood up. “Scuse me, I just need to get the laundry inside. Weather said it would rain this afternoon.”

“Yeah, fair enough, I’ll go check on Twilight,” Aspect replied as he got up from his chair and began walking upstairs.

He reached her room, and surprise, her door was closed. Though he did hear odd sounds inside. Twilight was grunting over something.

“Nrh… almost…”

So the stallion knocked. He didn’t get a response though…

So this time, he gently tried pushing the door open. It opened ajar and it was enough to give him a view…

Of Twilight laying on her bed, a book in her magical grasp floating in front of her. It was what she was doing that made his eyes widen. The book wasn’t what her magic was solely focused on. One of her hooves ground against her slick sex, while a magic aura coated it, buzzing faintly as she panted, biting down on her remaining foreleg as her back arched.

Aspect shut the door behind him, even as he flashed into his Alicorn form with a small internal chuckle. “Oh hello there, little mare,” he mused as he walked closer to her. “I take it you require...a little...assistance?”

Twilight looked up and her face flushed red as she squeaked loudly and dove under the covers, her book falling to the floor. “W-W-What are you doing in here?” she stammered out.

“Well when you didn’t come down for tea...or answer my knocks, and I heard only grunting, I wondered what you were up to,” Aspect mused as he picked up the book and idly read through some of it. “Imagine my surprise when it turns out you’re only seeking a little stimulation~”

The book’s titles was Sogni Infetti, and… o-oh….

That… was a very different way of looking at the sisterly bonds of Celestia and Luna.

“Mmm...somepony likes alicorns, doesn’t she?” Aspect mused as he snapped the book shut and peeled back the covers with his magic. “Fortunately for you, I’m a cheater. I kept something from the Thestral form you liked so much.”

And then he demonstrated what that was by sticking his tongue out...and out and out and out, waving it at her like another appendage.

Twilight blushed harder and dug deeper into her bed. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she yelped.

“Oh Twilight,” Aspect said after sucking his tongue back in. “You had to have been pretty close to the edge before I interrupted, right?” He walked a little closer and whispered the next part. “Let me help you.”

“I… we had an agreement,” Twilight said from under her blanket.

“All you have to do is tell me you don’t need a little help, want me for a service I can give you,” Aspect replied. “And I’ll walk out that door.”

And then the blanket flew off, and he got a whiff of her most delectable scent. “S-Service!? I’ll not treat you like some… some street corner pony!” Twilight said sharply. “What kind of mare do you take me for Mister Aspect?”

“One who needs something, and I’m a male friend who can give it to you,” Aspect pointed out. “Even if you aren’t interested in being more, that doesn’t mean I can’t still help you. Call it...a friendship. With benefits to both parties, when they agree to it.”

“B-benefits?” Twilight stammered, her tail covering her modesty.

“I’d say getting yourself serviced by a thestral tongue is certainly a benefit to you,” the stallion pointed out.

Twilight blushed harder, looking away from him. “I… I really shouldn’t…”

“Okay, let’s look at it like this,” Aspect replied, holding up a hoof. “What is wrong with my proposed arrangement?”

“Y-You’re engaged for one,” Twilight pointed out. “I’ll not have you cheat on them with me!”

“Easy, I’ll tell them every time we get up to anything, thus cancelling out the notion that I’m cheating on them with you,” Aspect fired back. “If they know and approve, is it really cheating? Think of me as a practice stallion before you find somepony you truly have an interest in. Then, when the subject of intimacy is brought up, you won’t be caught flat-hooved. You’ll have had practice with me.”

“But…” she still wasn’t sold. “That’s not fair to you…” She looked down. “You’ll want sex. You’re a stallion after all…”

“And you’re not comfortable with it, and also, that notion that all stallions want sex? A little sexist. I’m more than comfortable with helping you out with what you’re comfortable with. If all you want is a long, thick tongue to service your needy folds…” Aspect stuck his tongue out again before sucking it back in. “Then that’s what you’ll get. I think it was Dash that said… ‘I never leave my friends hanging.’ And you clearly are.”

Damn it all, why did he have to be so nice about it? Twilight wanted to just shove his muzzle between her legs and end this insufferable burning there. But… that was just improper and…

The stallion walked right up next to her and licked the side of her neck, trailing that tongue up to her ear before whispering in it. “All you have to do is say a word,” he breathed. “Yes...or no. Do I stay?”

Twilight shuddered at the lick and… nodded slowly.

“Then show me what you need, little mare,” he growled softly to her. “Show me...and be rewarded.”

With a heavy blush, she parted her legs slightly and slowly moved her tail… showing off her pert little teats and her winking sex, strands of her arousal sticking to her tail as she pulled it back.

“Poor little mare, you’re all wet already,” the stallion cooed as he softly rubbed her folds with a hoof. His horn sparked, before a golden barrier filled the room and vanished. “That was a muffling spell,” he informed Twilight, still rubbing her lips with his hoof. “So feel free to say whatever you want, however loud you want. Spike won’t hear you.”

“I-I…nrng!” Twilight let out a stifled moan as he touched her. Goddess above, a stallion was touching her… and she was letting him.

“So what am I supposed to do with this, hmm?” Aspect asked. “Maybe the cute little mare has some ideas?” He leaned in close and whispered to her again. “Go on. Moan out what you need. Beg me for it...and you may find your prayers answered.”

She squeaked and blushed harder, pushing his head away with a hoof. “T-That’s embarrassing,” she said with a flustered tone.

“If you don’t vocalize what you need, how am I supposed to serve that need?” Aspect asked, his hoof not stopping in his rubbing of her. “I could get something wrong. All you have to do to get relief from that burning need...is tell me what it is.”

“J-Just… help me finish,” she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

“Mmm, by your command,” Aspect chuckled, taking that hoof away…

Before his head trailed south, kissing her chest all the way. He stopped briefly at her teats, teasing each nipple a little, before his lips met her netherlips. The mare gasped, her hoof moving to his head, brushing against his horn as he tasted her liquids, a rather rich, slightly bitter taste. Like black coffee in the morning. Utterly intoxicating.

Then Twilight felt that long tongue licking her lips, before it prodded its way inside her slowly. The mare gasped again, biting down on a hoof as the other started to absently rub his horn as he fed his tongue into her.

The stallion was careful about that little barrier inside her still, making sure not to breach it just yet as he went into her depths. Once he reached the end of her tunnel, he pulled back and pushed forward again, tongue-fucking the mare.

“Aaah!” Twilight let out a loud moan that time, it was both sexy and adorable to hear as her juices coated his tongue, her twitching sex telling him she was already close. All Aspect had to do was increase the tempo, and soon…

“A-AAAhhhhhhh~!” Twilight moaned out louder still, her back arching as her pussy clamped down over his tongue, milking it for seed it couldn’t give as a flood of her essence filled his waiting maw. The stallion just kept drinking it down, riding out her orgasm, before slowly pulling his tongue out.

“Delicious as always,” he purred to her, before slowly heading for the door.

“W-Wait,” she panted. “What… what about you?” she asked him, trying hard not to look at his throbbing cock, slapping the underside of his belly, demanding satisfaction.

“It’s fine, it’ll go down eventually,” Aspect replied. “Remember, I’m not going to push you into anything.”

“But…” Twilight held up a hoof. “F-Friends don’t leave friends hanging? R-Right?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to do anything to you you’re not comfortable with, and if that extends only to me servicing you, then I’ll just have to live with that.”

And the completely straight face he said that with…

“I… could use my magic,” She said with a blush. “Please, I’m not going to treat you like… like some talking sex toy. One I can call on only when it’s convenient for me.”

“And if I’m fine with that?” Aspect asked with a quirked brow.

“Well… it’s still not fair,” Twilight said with a small nod.

“It’s not about fair, it’s about what you’re comfortable with,” Aspect countered. “I’m not going to push you out of your comfort zones to see to my needs, that the exact opposite of this exercise.”

“W-Well… what do you want?” she asked, throwing his words back at him, the slightly husky, breathless tone making his cock surge and twitch.

“Oh, I don’t think you want to know what I want,” Aspect replied.

“W-Which is?” Twilight asked him, the stallion getting a warm, tingly feeling as her magic started to stroke him.

“I want to come back every day and teach you more and more about sensuality, about sex,” Aspect replied. “Until the day comes when I walk in here, and you’re already ready for me to mount you.”

Twilight squeaked, as her magic gripped his cock a bit harder, pulsing up and down his length.

“I want to teach and train you well,” Aspect continued as he walked closer. “So that any stallion you set your eyes on will be lucky to survive the night. Assuming you ever move on from me, of course.”

Twilight shuddered, her mouth open in a slight pant as she closed her eyes, trying to focus on the task at hand, her magical strokes getting faster.

“I want to turn you into my own personal little succubus,” Aspect hissed in her ear. “One that serves her teacher to the best of her abilities.”

“S-Serves how?’ she gasped out in a heated breath.

“However I wish,” Aspect replied, running a hoof across her belly fur. “If I were to tell you to suck, you’d start making sure I blew my load in your throat. If I said get on the bed, you’d get on your back and splay your legs for me to take you. And if I said moan my name…”

“A-Aspect…” Twilight breathed out, the stallion practically standing over her, his cock still caught in her magical vices, her hoof rubbing her sex as she moaned again.

“Mmm...cute little mare wants to take her first dick?” Aspect asked her.

“W-What?” Twilight panted out, trying to focus her gaze.

“I asked if you want this,” Aspect flexed his groin muscles, causing his length to bob, “To be the first length to enter you. Right here, right now. I promise to be gentle with you if you do. But if you truly want the pleasures of sex unlocked for you...I can provide, you sexy little librarian.”

Twilight paused, her face aflame with a blush as he rmagic continued to tease him. “I… I don’t know…”

“Heck, a small numbing spell before entry, and you won’t even feel the twinge of pain that comes with losing your hymen,” Aspect continued, rubbing a hoof over her belly. “Think about it. Casual sex. All the fun benefits, and none of the drawbacks. I have perfect control of my body, which means you won’t get pregnant from this.”

“I… it’s not the pain,” she said slowly, her magic dying down a little. “I-I’m just… not ready…”

“And you plan to get more ready with a lack of experience?” the stallion questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Well excuse me if this is something new to me,” the mare deadpanned, her magic dying out now.

“True. But in this case, practical experience trumps book learning. Because there’s no ‘one path’ for sexual gratification,” Aspect illuminated. “It’s something about yourself you have to learn over time, with your partner helping you. After all, there’s only so much you can learn about yourself without a mirror to reflect it back at you. There are plenty of things that are written down we could try, but in every case, sex is more of an art than a science. There’s no one truth that everypony agrees on. You have to find what you like, and proceed from there. Fortunately for you...I’m a shapeshifter. You can have any partner you desire to test things out with.”

“I…” Twilight didn’t know what to think. She’d always assumed this activity came with love and marriage. Well, at first. Certain books showed her that wasn’t the case. And Aspect wasn’t helping her already confused state. She didn’t even know who to go to for an answer. Princess Celestia apparently had little to no experience. And Luna well… Twilight would feel awkward talking about this to anypony really.

“You’re conflicted,” Aspect saw it in her eyes, taking a step back and sitting on his rear...which didn’t really help, it just moved the source of her distraction. “Talk to me. Maybe having another point of view can help.”

“This is just so… weird,” she said, not really knowing how to put it. “I don’t know what to do… then you say all that stuff about teaching and… and succubus? Like… gah!” She retreated back under her blanket again.

“Okay, maybe a different question,” Aspect muttered to himself, peeling back enough blanket to where he could look Twilight in the eyes. “What’s your preconceived notion about sex?”

“T-That it should be a an activity shared by a couple in love,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

“Ah, well, that’s where your definition falls short,” Aspect chuckled. “See, ponies who aren’t in love, but dating, can end the night in sex, as a way to determine if they’re even compatible. Or perhaps two ponies are just friends, but both have needs and desires, and can’t find anypony else to indulge them with, so they have sex every now and then when they’re both available. Or...perhaps one pony is lonely, and goes to a bar, and meets a pretty mare...and when they go back to her place, it ends in sex. It doesn’t have to be something that’s reserved for those in love. Because at the end of the day, sex is a pleasurable activity that your body wants, needs, craves once it knows what it feels like.”

“But… you already have three mares,” Twilight pointed out. “Aren’t they enough for you?”

“Yes, but this isn’t about me,” Aspect replied. “Or, it wasn’t until you made it about me. It could still be about you. About teaching you the ins and outs of sex. About helping you discover what you want and need from a stallion. Or perhaps you’d rather a mare? We could help you find that out too. Really, I’m here to help you, but if you put me in control again, well...it won’t end well for your innocence.”

“Oh really now?” she snorted, raising an eyebrow.

“All it takes is you pulling that blanket down and saying ‘do whatever you want with me,’...and I’ll introduce you to how good sex can feel,” Aspect promised her. “Maybe it won’t be tomorrow. Maybe it’ll be a week, or a month. Or even longer. But sooner or later, you’d ask me to come around again to satisfy you, and maybe help you learn a bit more about what turns you on. And as a good stallion friend of yours...I wouldn’t leave you hanging.”

“I don’t know…” she murmured again. Then Aspect was there, putting a hoof on one of hers.

“Twilight, I promise you, if you find a stallion you actually like? I’ll back off. I won’t bother you about it. Heck, you’d be in control as to when I show up here, if at all. But wouldn’t you like a little practical experience, so that when the moment comes, you know what you’re doing?”

“I… guess,” the mare said, blushing again. “Maybe… start small?”

“You’ve already taken my tongue,” Aspect pointed out. “What would be the next step to that?”

“W-Well…” she stammered and looked at his still-bobbing member. “What… can I do for that?”

“Well, you have options,” Aspect illuminated. “As a unicorn, you can use your magic, but you were already doing that and seemed pretty comfortable with it. So that leaves you with either using your mouth on it...or spreading your legs and letting me ease into you.”

“M-My mouth… Like, what Miss Midnight did?” Twilight asked him, her hooves twitching. Oh, so she remembered that night eh?

“She is very talented with her mouth,” Aspect mused. “Alternatively, you could let me do all the work and make you feel very good again.”

“How so?” she inquired, a hoof moving up as she tentatively poked his member. It was… very warm and heavy-looking.

“All you would have to do,” Aspect murred to her, “Is pull this blanket aside, lie back, spread your legs...and let me have free reign. At first I would go slow, pushing up until I met your hymen. Then a small numbing spell as I tore it asunder, so you wouldn’t feel any pain as I filled you. Then I would slowly, gently, begin the act of lovemaking with you, so that you could gauge for yourself just how good sex really feels.”

“I, don’t think I’m ready for that just yet,” Twilight said in a quiet voice. “B-But I’ll help you finish…”

“I can all but feel the tension you’ve got right here,” Aspect said, putting a hoof on the blanket just above her belly. “You’re curious, aren’t you? You want to know if it’s everything I’ve said it is...but you can’t bring yourself to enjoy it. You still want to research it yourself. My advice?”

He leaned in and breathed the next two words to her. “Let go.”

The mare shuddered, his cock being hugged to her soft, furred chest as she let out a small moan.

“Take that analytical side of you, the one that has to know everything before committing...and turn it off for a second. Turn it to documenting things as they happen...and just enjoy the moment. A moment that you might not get again if you let that side rule you forever,” Aspect urged her. “Because if you spend your time researching instead of trying...you’ll be unfulfilled. You’ll have so fewer experiences. Sometimes, you just have to try something to determine if it’s right for you. Seize life as it comes to you. Carpe Diem.”

She looked down at the cock in her hold… and placed a gentle kiss on the tip. “I guess…” she murmured. “I… think I should at least talk with your mares first.”

“I’ll talk to them for you, after the fact,” Aspect urged her. “I’ll defuse the situation for you. The question now is...yes? Or no? Will you try, or should I walk?”

Twilight pondered on this. Was this really the way she wanted to give something as precious and… singular as her virginity? He made some good points but…

“I just don’t know,” she sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry…”

“Fine, but keep in mind...the next time around?” Aspect softly kissed her nose. “You will have to convince me that you want me for my services again, and lay out what they are. Because I’m not going to get all worked up for nothing time after time.”

Before she could question that, the stallion vanished, and a rush of air slammed her door open, then the front door of the library, before both slowly closed again.

Twilight looked at the swinging door, her eyes cast down as she looked at her hooves. She’d made him mad that time by the looks of it. Great job Twilight, another stallion you royally fucked up with. She closed the door softly with her magic as she lay down, burying herself under her blankets again…

Aspect sighed as he appeared back on his bed. Really, leaving his window open was a great convenience for wind-based transit. Plus, the more he used his windy powers, the more Arabus lost ground, the more he shut up in his soul. That fight had been good, using all the wind-based power he’d made in the past thousand years to win. Even Arabus had actually been impressed.

Of course, none of that helped him with his raging boner, but eh. He wasn’t going to push Twilight so hard she’d break. He’d prefer it if she bent slowly into the shape he wanted. He was still going to talk to his mares about what he’d nearly done, and might do in the future, though. Of course, it all depended on Twilight responding to his advances if those plans actually progressed.

But for the moment, he’d have to go to the bathroom and relieve himself.

And that didn’t help when he saw Rainbow Dash. She just gotten back from weather work and was wearing a skin-tight uniform that hugged her sleek body nicely. A pair of goggles around her neck as she stretched up to reach a cupboard in the kitchen, the flightsuit hugging between her legs, showing off her cameltoe~

Aspect smirked as he walked up behind the mare...reaching up a hoof and spanking that flank soundly. Rainbow let out a loud yelp and turned around, ready to feed the pony their own teeth when…

“Oh geeze, it’s just you,” Rainbow sighed. “Where have you been? It’s gonna rain like, any second.”

“Oh, just teasing a certain adorkable mare,” Aspect replied, demonstrating that tongue for her. “She’s still not keen on the idea of sex, but she did let me service her again. She has this notion that only ponies who are in love should have sex. It’s adorable.”

“Oh geeze,” Rainbow repeated and sighed. “What did you do to her you old perv? Please tell me you weren’t… you?”

“I ate her out, I talked dirty to her, I educated her on how sex in the real world actually worked, and offered her a casual fling,” Aspect replied. “She didn’t bite, so I told her to call on me again when she had a better idea of what she actually wanted from me.”

“A casual fling huh?” Rainbow snorted. “Yeah, Twi’s as pure as the fresh snowfalls. No way would she agree to that off the bat ya dingdong.”

“There’s an idea,” Aspect mused, looking skywards. “Hmm. Maybe I should turn Midnight loose on her until she’s little more than a puddle of mare, so that she understands how good sex can feel?”

“That’s just asking for trouble,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Speaking of, having fun there? I can feel your eyes boring holes in my ass.”

“Your aim is off, I’m looking at something a little further south,” Aspect replied. “It’s remarkable just how well this flightsuit of yours hugs your features, Dashie. Almost wish it had a little hole in the back so that I could screw you through it.”

“Is that so?” she mused as she turned around, he noticed a small zipper that went down between her legs, starting from her belly. “Yeah, real pity huh~?”

“Mmm...bedroom, little filly,” Aspect told her. “I need to work off a little stress.”

“Aww,” she cooed as she trotted ahead, shaking her flank. “Little bookworm wouldn’t get you off huh? That’s not very fair~”

“She probably would have, but I’m not going to push her into doing something she’s not ready for,” Aspect replied. “Buuut...Midnight!” Aspect called out.

The thestral literally dropped out of nowhere, landing on the stallion’s back.

“You called?” she said, nibbling his ear.

“You remember Twilight?” Aspect asked. “She lives in a library in a tree in the middle of town. We may have parted on less than amicable terms. I would like you to go there and make her feel so good, she forgets her own name, as an apology from me.”

Midnight blinked, then saluted and flew off.

“That… that was just cruel,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes. “Don’t you already have Lyra as some casual fuckbuddy now? Geeze, you wanna do every mare in Ponyville or sumthin?”

“No, but I’m not just going to let Twilight think I don’t like her,” Aspect replied. “Plus, I’ll always back away from Twilight if she finds a stallion she actually likes. I just think she could do with a little...practical experience before the day comes, so she isn’t a big blushy, stammering mess her first night in bed with a stallion that’s not me.”

“Oh, so you want to reserve the ‘blushy, stammering mess’ for yourself huh?” Rainbow giggled as she opened the door to their room.

“I want to teach, train Twilight in the art of seduction,” Aspect replied before he flashed into his Gryphon form. “And she’d be lucky to have me as a teacher, as I can literally be anything she wants~”

“Careful with that ego,” Rainbow smirked. “Equus isn’t big enough for the three of us.”

“Like you’re one to talk, Rainbow,” Aspect pointed out as he reached one hand under her and began unzipping her flight suit. “You’re probably the only supersonic pegasus around, Ponyville’s lead weather mare, and future Wonderbolt member.”

Then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “But we both know that underneath it all, you just turn into a little slut for this big gryphon’s dick~”

“G-Geeze, don’t say it like that!” Rainbow blushed, swatting him with her tail. Aspect chuckled as he unzipped more and more of her flightsuit...pausing as he neared his target.

“Does the little mare want her big, studly griffon to breed her?” he asked her. “Hold her down and rut her through her pretty little suit until she can’t walk?”

“Mmm, such a beast,” she murred, shaking her flank. “Don’t you get tired of rutting little pegasi?”

“I won’t get tired until this cute little mare starts growing round with our hippogriff foals,” Aspect promised her, swatting her rear end. “That’s a promise. I’ll just rut you until that day comes.”

She yelped at the spanking, her face turning pink. “Yeah? Better get on that then you stud.” She gave her rump a shake.

“Oh really?” the griffon murred to her as he began slowly exposing her folds. “And if I said I was going to start working on that right now?”

Rainbow moaned as she leaned into his touch. “Mmm, gonna stuff me full are you?” she said in a husky whisper. “Fill me with that big, hard cock of yours?”

“Hold you down, breed you proper, make you mine before we’re wed,” Aspect promised her. “Make you nice and fat with my hybrids...time and time again.”

“Such a beast,” she murred, wiggling in his grasp. “Not even letting me out of uniform first eh? You like this on me maybe?”

“I’m curious, it’s clearly skintight,” the griffon rubbed a few fingers down her folds. “How much can I make it bulge? Because it’s not coming off of you until you bear my children...or it breaks.”

“Nnnn, kinky,” she moaned at his touches. “It’s flexible a little I guess…”

“Last chance, little speedster~” Aspect sang as he began pushing those fingers into her. “Are you ready to be a broodmare, or will you put that fate on hold for now?”

“You already know my terms,” Rainbow said with a cocky wink. “But I like to live dangerously~”

“Mmm...so I should turn my infertility charms off, is what I’m hearing,” Aspect warned her as he began pushing those fingers into and out of her.

“Well, up to you now isn’t it?” she mused. “There’s no guarantee it’ll actually stick.”

“And you know I’ll love you no matter what happens,” Aspect continued. “So I guess really the only question is, if you’re still on your potion or not, miss daring.”

“Been busy, haven’t taken it for a few days,” Rainbow said with a cheeky wink. “Still wanna risk it big guy?”

“Hmm...let’s up the ante~” Aspect chuckled as he held up his other hand. There was a muted flash before he resumed holding her still. “That...just inverted the infertility charm. Instead of infertile...I’m now hyper fertile. Still risking it, little mare?”

Her eyes widened. “Hey um… l-let’s not get carried away huh?”

“Oh, but little Dashie suddenly isn’t so sure?” Aspect cooed to her as he used his free hand to rub at her wings. “What’s wrong, the prospect of growing fat with her lover’s foal too much? With as active a lifestyle as you lead, you’ll burn that baby fat off in no time, I promise. That is...if I let you.”

“I-If you let me?” she gasped at his touch, her wings flaring outwards.

“I could just keep you here, too fat to fly because I keep breeding you, year after year,” Aspect cooed to her. “I could just make you my little broodmare to pump out hippogriffs that would serve as your replacement. With your speed and my power...the children will be terrors.”

“I’d have to move to train them.” She pointed out, her wings twitching. “And would you really keep somepony like me grounded?”

“Oh, little Dashie...I still wield Air. I could train them in techniques you’ve never heard of,” the griffon cooed. “And yes...I’d keep my Rainbow safe from prying eyes, on her bed, begging for her master’s thick, hard cock to fill her day after day.”

Then she smirked at him. “Sounds boring~”

Aspect then plunged two of his fingers as deep into her as they could go, stretching the little mare as they rubbed her inner walls.

“Mmm, not bad,” she sighed, wiggling her hips. “You can do better though~”

“Hmm...how about a compromise?” Aspect hummed. “One year you bear me a foal, and the next, you’re free from said duty. Enabling you to fly around and try to burn off all the baby fat, even try out for the Wonderbolts if you’d like.”

“We’ll see,” she giggled and bat her eyes. “Now, show me what you were gonna do to the purple nerd if she let you.”

“Oh, it’s quite simple little mare,” Aspect cooed as he pulled his fingers out of her, using the dripping juices to lube his cock up. “I’d lie her down on her bed, line up my length…”

“And?” she moaned out, shaking her dripping rump at him.

Then she felt that familiar barbed length sink into her, the barbs rubbing her clit as he bottomed out inside her.

“Then I’d breed her, like I’m breeding you. Only...she gets the infertility charm,” Aspect hissed to her. Rainbow let out a long, lewd moan as he sunk into her depths, her soft walls hugging him tightly.

Then the griffon began to properly screw her, pulling back and forth. Every time he did, those barbs rubbed her clit and stimulated it. Every time he thudded home, that tip tried to pry her cervix open.

Rainbow moaned louder and louder, her flightsuit rubbing against her skin, her wings giving idle, uncontrolled flaps as her tongue lolled out. “Mmm, fuck that’s gooood~” she moaned. “Come on big boy, I won’t break. Fuck me harder~”

“Oh I will,” Aspect warned her. “I’ll fuck you until you’re begging me to be knocked up. I wasn’t kidding about the fertility runes, so it’ll happen, little Dash.”

“H-hey now… I’m all for sexy talk,” she stammered, her wings beating again.

“I’m going to fuck you so hard, all you’ll be able to say is ‘Yes,’ ‘Harder,’ and ‘More,’” the griff said as he upped the tempo, now slamming that rod home every time he fucked her, using his hands to splay her rear legs apart. “And I’m going to stuff you so full, you’ll look like you’re carrying twins.”

“Mm, Ah! Aaaahh!” Rainbow panted and moaned. “Oh, fffuck yeess~” she groaned out. “Such a big bad gryphon you are!” Her walls hugged his cock tightly, making every attempt to pull out of that tight marehood a chore.

“And something tells me,” Aspect growled as he hunched over the mare. “That a little rainbow slut wants her big, griffon master to breed her, to show her she’s worthy of his seed, of the honor of bearing his children.”

“Y-You’re an ass,” she said back at him, flashing him her trademark smirk as she winked. “Never gonna break me big boy. I’m just aah too cool.”

“Oh really?” Aspect mused, before doing the worst possible thing.

He stopped.

“...What are you doing?” she asked him with a flat tone.

“Breaking you,” Aspect replied, still not moving.

“Seriously?” the mare sighed. “Dude, you’re more pent up than me…” then she smirked.

She ruffled her mane, somehow making it look like Twilight’s manestyle. “Ah~ Please Mister Aspect, keep teaching me more pervy things~”

“Mmm...nope,” Aspect chuckled. “I’m not moving until I hear you begging for it.”

“You know you want to~” Rainbow said, shaking that tight little rump. “I knoooww how much you love fucking me~ Maybe if you’re good, I’ll let you fuck my ass like you used to.”

“Eh, I can deal,” Aspect replied, idly examining a hand. “These are much more useful for stimulating myself. If you’re not going to be a good, obedient little mare, I can always just go into the bathroom and pleasure myself there.”

“Mhm, cause a scaly old claw feels better than me,” she smirked.

Aspect shrugged, and then began drawing back out of her. “Let’s find out,” he said.

“Suit yourself,” she replied, calling his bluff. “I’ll be here, alone… defenseless, my aching marehood waiting for a big, meaty cock to fill it while you do~” she cooed in a seductive tone.

“Hey, I can get off,” Aspect replied as his tip pulled free of her. “You’re officially not my problem.” And with that, he began walking towards the bathroom.

“Oh my gods you’re an asshole,” she yelled at him, flying right as him and tackling him to the floor. “Now, you’re mine my little breeding stud~”

“What, you didn’t think I would?” Aspect asked from his position under her. “I’m serious about everything, I never back down from a promise or a threat.”

“Oh, I am pranking you all the way to the apocalypse after this,” Rainbow promised. “And believe me, I don’t back down either. Now hurry up and rut your marefriend you silly birdbrain.”

“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘Hold still and let me rut you,’” Aspect corrected her. “You’re on top after all.”

“Oh right,” she mused. “So I am… how about that.” She sunk herself onto his shaft, rocking her hips back and forth as she worked her way down the rigid member. “Hmm, such a good pet,” she giggled, petting his head. “Does this feel good?” Her muscles gave his cock a tight squeeze.

“Don’t get cocky, I might just flip you back over,” the griffon warned her.

“Oh, but all the cock is back there,” she smirked widely, lifting and letting her hips fall.

“Mmm, and still dangerously potent, little Dash,” the griffon reminded her. “And perhaps I won’t tell you when I’m close…”

“I’m fast,” she winked as she kept up her steady pace of thrusting over his cock. “What’s life without a little risk hm?”

“And as you pointed out, I’m pent up,” Aspect mused. “Who knows? I could be close to cumming in you already. Still feeling up to that challenge?”

“Hmh, bring it on,” she smirked, as she leaned down and kissed his beak. “Love you Aspect~”

“Love you too Dash, I hope you’re ready to be as round as Bon Bon will be~” he sang back to her.

“If you think you caaan~” she sung as she bounced in his lap, her mouth open in a pant as she let out some adorable moans for him.

“Really, all I have to do is get my knot inside you, and then it’s a sure thing,” the griff pointed out as one claw snaked up to hold onto Dash’s hips.

“So you do,” she smirked, pinning his claws down with her hooves as she kept that knot of his enticingly out of reach, touching her lips before she pulled back up. Of course, the griffon was not just going to let this stand.

So he began meeting every lowering of her lips with the bucking of his hips, grinding that knot against them.

“Mmm, I bet you want it soo bad~” she moaned out for him. “To just ram that in me and breed me? You silly, foal-obsessed perv~”

“You’re the one that turned it into a game,” the griff panted under her. “I just gave you some very real stakes.”

“Mmh, that I did,” she murred as she wiggled herself against his knot before pulling up. “I wonder who’s gonna win?”

“All I have to do is tie you,” Aspect whispered, bucking into her again, griiiiinding that knot against her once more.

“Mhm, but you have to last long enough to do that~” she murred, her wings moving to tease his knot as she pulled up, her hooves keeping his talons pinned to his chest.

“You think I can’t?” Aspect replied, raising an eyebrow. “Might I remind you of the three mares that have taken it upon themselves to train me in such practices?”

“Yees, but I also know how much my sexy bod drives you nuts,” she teased running a wing down her sleek, suit-clad form. Her brow had some sweat from exertion due to the exercise after work. Her flanks rising up and down over his barbed cock as her other wing brushed his knot again.

Aspect growled and thrust up harder, trying his best to sink his knot into the little mare.

“Ooh, so close,” she murred as she teased him some more, sinking more of him into her depths as she leaned forwards and kissed his beak. “I might let you… if you beg~”

“I’m not going to beg,” the griff promised her as he bucked upwards as hard as he could. “But you...will.”

That knot was so close now, parting her lips ever so slightly before she pulled up rocking back and forth to stimulate his member. “Oh, don’t like the horseshoe being on the other hoof?” she teased. “Where’s the fairness oh mighty Bloodwing?”

Aspect growled, bucking his hips sharply, kicking off the ground a little, just once. Just to send Dash sprawling across his chest...and distract her as he curled in, pushing his knot as hard as he could possibly go.

“H-Hey! That’s cheating!” she said, trying to pull the knot out as it was halfway in. Aspect curled a little harder...just a little more…

Damn it all that Dash was so small. As long as she tucked herself in too, he couldn’t fully knot her. The pegagryph ball now lay on the carpet, with Rainbow snickering.

“Aspect, the hell are we doing?” she snorted.

“Apparently we failed at playing a sexy game somewhere along the line,” Aspect mused as he didn’t uncurl, still trying to figure out a way to get her more fully onto his knot.

“You’re a dork,” she said as she relaxed, letting his knot slip all the way inside her. “There, better?”

“...You do realize I wasn’t kidding about any of that, right Dash?” Aspect asked as he slowly uncurled.

“Mhm, I’m aware,” she smiled and poked his beak. “But you would have kept pouting. Besides, no guarantee it’ll stick, right. So go ahead…” she leaned in close. “Fill me up stud~”

The griff worked his claws free, before pulling the mare down into a kiss, even as his cock sawed back and forth inside of her. “Mmm…” he hummed once the kiss broke. “You know, I’m feeling generous. Right now...before I cum, you can choose my form I use to breed you, little Dash.”

“What form do you want?” she said and smiled. “Cause I’d like a pegasus kid I guess…”

“One Pegasus, coming up,” Aspect replied, before flashing back into his usual pegasus guise. He pulled out of Dash, before crawling out from under her and mounting her from behind like a pony should, thrusting erratically a few times. He was close, so close…

“Mmm, go ahead,” Rainbow murred. “Twi left you all pent up right? Go ahead, let it aaalll out.”

The stallion let out a little growl as he hammered home a few more times, before Dash felt that length twitch inside her. The tip pressed right up against her innermost barrier before it began flooding her depths with his seed. Rainbow let out a deep moan as he filled her, her tail swishing as her wings extended.

“Mmm, there’s a good stallion~” she moaned out.

“There’s a good mare,” Aspect panted back to her, still twitching slightly.

“Mmm, I wonder if Middy’s having as much fun?” the mare purred.

“Or Twilight,” Aspect mused.

Meanwhile, in Twilight’s library…

“Honestly? He leaves it wording it as such?” Midnight facehooved. Her stallion was such an idiot sometimes. “I shall scold him until his ears fall of!”

“No… it was maybe a little my fault for not giving him an answer…” Twilight started but Midnight raised a hoof.

“No, it is his fault for pushing too hard,” she sighed. “He likes you, that much is true. But I think you need somepony less… eh, complicated.”

“His family is quite strange indeed,” Midnight giggled as she sipped her tea. “Trust me Lady Twilight. He is not mad at you. But, he requires a direct hoof. You should think about what you want. And tell him as such.”

“I just… don't think I'm ready,” Twilight said softly.

“Honestly, he knew as such and should not have entered your room to begin with.” Midnight set her teacup down. “Regardless, a lesson was learned. Should you write it to your Sun Princess?”

“That'd make for a fun time for all,” Twilight said with a deadpan tone. “Thanks Miss Midnight. I… never expected this side of you.”

“A mare that enjoys tea and biscuits?” the thestral chuckled. “It is fine. But, he did send me here with another mission.”

“Oh dear,” Twilight said. “What?”

“To please you like none other,” the thestral smirked and licked her fangs. “You are a very pretty mare Lady Twilight. That is undeniable.”

“You too?” Twilight sighed. “Honestly…”

“Worry not, I tease,” the thestral giggled and kissed her nose. “I shall head back home now. Will you be okay?”

“Mhm, I feel loads better,” Twilight nodded. “Just… gonna need some time for things to calm down I guess… I'll come by in a few days. Promise.”

“Try not to delay,” Midnight nodded as she headed for the door. “Leaving a problem invites it to worsen.” With a wave, she left the unicorn be. Matters of the heart were a pain in the flank.

“Right, I have cleaned that mess… time to scold an idiot.”

Author's Note

Turns out I like the idea of uploading the chapter early. Saves me stress on Wednesdays.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my [ur=https://www.patreon.com/Thadius]Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on a new anime addiction.

Chapter 48 - Time and Nightmares

“Stars above Aspect!” Midnight said with a biting tone. She paced up and down the room while Rainbow took a shower. “Have a good think about those last words of yours. ‘You will have to convince me that you want me for my services again. Because I’m not going to get all worked up for nothing time after time’?”

The thestral took a breath and sighed. “You pushed too hard. And I know you did not mean it as such. But it made Miss Twilight feel cheap and that she was using you. I convinced her that you are not angry with her. But, I believe tensions might be… strained somewhat.” She folded her twitching wings and sighed again. “Perhaps… we should assess our relationship and what we all want from it before something as… final as marriage happens.”

“I…” Aspect sighed. “...I really didn’t mean to push her away…”

“I imagine you did not,” Midnight agreed. “You are… unaccustomed to a relationship no? I believe we must talk about this with the others. And if you are serious about Miss Twilight, we should include her.”

“It’s more...I want her to know what it means to have a stallion,” Aspect replied, waving his hoof around as he sought the words. “I’d rather I be a practice relationship for her so that when she finds one that she wants, she knows what to do, rather than be completely awkward at it.”

“Why?” Midnight asked. “Why her specifically? Nopony goes into a relationship prepared. What is so special about her that requires your hoof?”

“She’s...meant for great things, I can all but feel it around her,” the stallion replied. “Like Tia and Lulu before they awakened thanks to the Elements of Harmony. She’s meant to be a mover, a shaker. Like a seed waiting to sprout. I’d appreciate it if at least somepony of that caliber, besides Cadance, knew what they were doing in finding a significant other.”

“Then should that not be her prerogative?” Midnight pointed out. “Mistakes are how we learn after all. If we never do anything wrong, how will we know when we do?”

“That’s why I’m offering to be her practice stallion,” Aspect smoothly continued. “Besides. My eldest daughter is still a virgin, and Luna didn’t get any action until she got back from the moon. I always wanted more of a family than the one I made out of magic, and if I have to rely on Twilight to give me something I might be able to call a grandfoal, I’ll bloody take it.”

“Oh my stallion, you are hopeless,” Midnight giggled and pet his withers. “But keep on this path and she'll give you a child, not a grandchild~”

“Well I mean, I wouldn’t say no, but I just want her to know the ins and outs of a relationship...without subjecting her to the torture that is Cadance’s lecture,” the stallion replied. “If she actually chooses me, that’s her choice. But I do want her to at least understand what it’s like to be cared for, loved...even if it is just a mockery of what I hope she finds one day. Maybe she’ll finally pull her muzzle out of a book every now and then and look at what life has to offer.”

“This coming from a stallion that spent a thousand years in a self inflicted exile and had never had a relationship until six months ago,” Midnight pointed out. “And if I'm hearing you correctly. You don't want her to turn out like the Sun Princess she idolizes.”

“Alone despite everyone wishing her well? No, no I do not,” Aspect nodded once. “Celly needs to find a stallion, or heck, just a pony that can see her for her and not her crown.”

“And Twilight requires love… I think I see a solution,” Midnight grinned wider.

Aspect merely raised an eyebrow.

Midnight raised a hoof. “Sun Princess.” She raised another. “Miss Twilight.” Then she put her hooves together.

“Hmm...that could work,” Aspect mused. “We’d have to desensitize Twilight to seeing Celestia as the ruler of a nation, her teacher...get her to see the pony behind the crown. That...could take a while. And then we’d have to get Celestia to see Twilight as something other than the student she probably thinks of as a daughter...it’d be a lot of work.”

Midnight smiled and shrugged. “Hmm. You are right. No way in Tartarus could you pull that off. Este absolut imposibil.”

“By the time I did, unless Twilight bloomed, she’d probably be an old mare,” Aspect sighed. “And I’m really not in the mood to wait.”

“So what will you do I wonder?” Midnight replied.

“Well Celly is still busy on reforming the government to not need her or the nobles, something we could really use Chryssy for-” he held up a hoof to forestall Midnight’s outburst. “-I know, she’s the queen of the Changeling race, and you don’t have any love for them, but if there’s one thing she’s good at, it’s the politics game. If she were friendly, Celestia would only have one day of work a week, because everything else would be automated thanks to Chryssy cutting out the useless, unnecessary things.”

Midnight said nothing, choosing to sip her drink.

Whatever she might have said was cut off from the door bursting open and Twilight Sparkle rushing inside in a panic, an exhausted Twilight Velvet close behind.

“Aspect! We have a huge problem!” she yelled.

“I doubt it’s huge, probably moderately sized, otherwise I would have felt it,” the stallion replied. “What is the nature of the emergency?”

“This morning,” Twilight panted. “I got a visit from… well, myself!”

Aspect paused. That...was different.

“Okay, you have my attention,” the stallion admitted.

“I used a time travel spell designed by Starswirl apparently,” Twilight said as she paced in a tight circle. “A huge disaster is going to happen soon. And apparently I came back to warn myself. You should have seen me Aspect. I looked like I traversed a war zone!”

“She's telling the truth,” Velvet gasped as Midnight fetched them some water.

“Time travel is a tricky subject,” Aspect replied. “The old Starswirl never could be sure about the nature of time. If it was like a river, and fighting the current was inevitable, or if it were like a pond, and every splash created a ripple. It could very well be that by coming back to warn yourself of the danger, we can avert the danger. On the other hoof, it might be that warning yourself of the danger causes the danger. We can’t know for certain.”

“Well, we should prepare none the less!” Twilight said and pulled out a list. “I have a plan to Disasterproof Ponyville. And you're gonna help. Your Rune magic is integral.”

“You do realize that overtaxing that magic starts pulling on my very life force, yes?” the stallion asked. “I can only do so much before I fall unconscious. Rewinding time to save those houses the other day is about the limit of what I can do before I have to take a break. Too much more and I might not wake up for a few days while I recover.”

“What if this disaster is bigger than a few lost homes!?”

“Then I’ll get serious,” Aspect replied. “It’s not like I can’t. But you have to remember, Twilight. I’m not your only friend you can turn to.”

Twilight sighed but nodded. “Right. This involves Ponyville? I'll get Ponyville involved!” And with that declaration, she charged out of his home.

“I am much too old for this,” Velvet groaned.

“So’m I, but a warning from a future self is not to be ignored,” Aspect nodded. “I’ll be on the lookout for anything suspicious.”

Twilight Velvet nodded… only as Sparkle reappeared.

“I almost forgot something,” she murmured as she lit up her horn and a second later, Starswirl was getting dragged out from wherever he was. “You can help,” she grinned as she hauled him away.

“...Please remember to have your daughter return him sooner or later,” Aspect eventually said. “If only so we can be sure he’s okay.”

“Yes…” Velvet sighed as she followed Twilight out the door.

“Well…” Midnight smiled once they left. “That was fun.”

“It was certainly interesting,” Aspect nodded his assent.

“So…” Midnight leaned over the table. “What's this I hear about you and Rainbow?”

“It was a game, I didn’t actually turn up my fertility, I just wanted to have a little fun with her,” Aspect replied. “I know better than to do that after the fun has started. That’s not informed consent.”

“But you still turned it off yes?” Midnight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“That spell I used wasn’t even turning it on, it was a lightshow,” Aspect replied. “It was never on to begin with.”

“So she asked me how does a mare know if she is pregnant for nothing?” Midnight giggled. Ohh, she could have fun with this.

“Pretty much, yeah, I know better than to turn it on unless you were to specifically say you wanted a foal before we started,” Aspect replied.

“I'm shocked, the stallion is learning,” Midnight mock gasped.

“It’s a point of honor, thank you,” Aspect huffed. Midnight giggled harder and leaned across the table, kissing his nose.

“You know…” she hummed. “There are many rooms not broken in in this mansion. Should you and I spend the day fixing that~?”

“Other people come around here, you know,” the stallion huffed. “We can’t just screw anywhere.”

“Your point?” Midnight challenged. “Unless of course, my stallion cannot keep up.”

“I can keep up, I’m just pointing out we shouldn’t,” Aspect countered. “As well, there are way more rooms than I think you would have stamina for.”

“Oh, I can last,” the bat mare smirked as she stood up and sashayed from the room. “Guess I’ll break them in with Bon Bon instead~”

“Good luck with that, she’s at work,” Aspect called after her.

Midnight paused and he heard her curse. “Fiu de curvă!”

Aspect hummed as he finished off his tea, before going upstairs to his own bedroom. The bat would know where to find him if she were serious about some fun.

After an… exhausting bout of fun, Aspect headed into town to do some grocery shopping. He was out of a lot of things apparently. Looking around. He saw boarded windows. Trees had been trimmed to prevent falling branches. Paths swept and cleaned of any and all debris.

Was that bubblewrap on the sharp edges of… well… everything?

...Twilight had been serious about getting the town disaster-proofed. Still, he had shopping to do. He turned a corner to head to the markets and…

And that was Cerberus.

In the middle of town.

And not guarding the Gates to Tartarus.

This was not a good thing. Someone would need to lead the dog back to the gates, and someone would need to check beyond them.

The only problem was, the only one he could reasonably call on to get past the myriad traps beyond the gates, meant to keep the prisoner inside...was almost always on the job. After all...you can’t kill Death.

He saw Twilight panicking too, maybe this was the disaster her future self predicted?

In any case, before he took even a few steps, Fluttershy already had Cerberus subdued, now giving the great mutt belly wubs.

Well...that...was a thing. The great dog was supposed to be the fiercest guard dog that ever lived. Lord knows what would have happened if somebody smacked him with a newspaper.

Twilight was leading him away, presumably towards Tartarus, a squeaky ball in her magical grasp as Cerberus started to follow, wagging his stubby tail.

Welp...Aspect was definitely going to look at the protections around Tartarus after this latest disaster had passed. Because clearly, they needed updating.

“Was that, Cerberus?” a voice asked, before Bon Bon approached him, a pair of blue-rimmed glasses on her face.

“That was, yes,” Aspect nodded once. “I need to have a chat with one of my sons sooner or later...assuming he ever gets time off from his job to answer me. Tartarus needs to be checked again.”

“Great… if Celestia finds out then there’s a chance I’ll be sent too,” Bon Bon sighed, adjusting her glasses. “So, what’s got you up and about?”

“We need things back at the mansion, I’ve apparently run low on a lot of foodstuffs and need to restock,” Aspect replied. “Specifically, mangoes. Feeding a bat is hard work.”

“Ahh, I thought as much,” Bon Bon giggled as she walked with him. “Well, it’s a safe bet the market’s closed thanks to that. So Barnyard bargains is your best bet.”

“Mmm, well, we’ll see what’s available,” Aspect mused as he kissed Bon Bon on the cheek.

“Remember that her mother is still there, so you might wanna get extra,” the mare said helpfully as she nuzzled him.

“True...might need a few carts worth,” Aspect mused. “Good thing I have my saddlebags.”

“Best of luck,” she said and smirked. “Zap Spoiled Bitch for me if you see her~” She gave him a kiss and… ooh, she had a chocolate in her mouth. Tasty sweet kisses~

The stallion was still in a good mood from that as he arrived at the shop, humming a little tune to himself as he picked out a cart and began heading to the foodstuffs section. They really did have an amazing selection here. Though he got a few odd looks when he loaded up an entire cart with mangoes. He’d pretty much cleaned Rich out of his entire stock.

He heard a voice that soured his mood somewhat, over in the distance, Spoiled Rich was talking with that daughter of hers. And from the sounds of it, with teachings like that, no wonder the kid was a total brat. So he elected to do what Velvet had done, and simply ignored them as he made his way to the register.

The colt behind the counter spied the cart of mangoes and sighed… this was gonna be a loooong shift.

On his way home… he’d now seen everything.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders. Each one wearing a crash helmet, floaties and a suit of duct tape bound bubble wrap.

Seems Twilight had at least curbed the greatest disasters the town had. Really, though, it was only a matter of time before somebody did that.

Aspect shook his head and sighed at the getup they’d been forced to wear. Hopefully sooner or later this scare would be over.

“This is SO not cool,” Scoots pouted.

“Maybe we’ll get a Cutie Mark in it?” Sweetie asked hopefully.

“In whut, lookin’ like a couple’a dorks?” Applebloom deadpanned.

“Don’t worry little ones, the scare will be over soon, then Twilight will realize that she can’t really contain you three,” the stallion called after them.

Sweetie blinked and tried to facehoof. “Oh… duh!”

“Whut?” Applebloom asked, as Sweetie started to bob her head.

“~Bindings of plastic, tape and glue. Give us our freedom, I beg of you~” She sang as their Safety Suits literally came apart at the seams, falling to the floor.

“Inventive use of your talents,” Aspect noted aloud. “Better not let her catch you~”

“Time to bail!” Scoots cheered as she grabbed her scooter and wagon, the other two jumping in. Then with a gust of wind, they rocketed off down the road.

“Yup, those three are just a pony-sized bundle of chaos waiting to happen,” Aspect chuckled as he made his way back home.

He got home to see his kitchen rather lively. Twinkle was cooking up some lunch, with Artemis, Pupal and Realm— the former attached to the latter as usual— waiting at the table.

“Oh, afternoon Christopher,” Twinkle waved at him. “I was wondering where’d you’d gone.”

“Just restocking for who knows how long,” the stallion said as he walked into the kitchen, dropping his saddlebags to the floor before pulling out some food from both sides.

“Ahh, well pass me some carrots if you bought any,” Twinkle said as she stirred the stew she was making. “Realm dear, can you check the bread in the oven?”

“On it!” Realm said as he all but bolted from his seat to check the oven. Aspect, meanwhile, just reached in a little deeper before pulling out a bundle of carrots and hoofing them to Twinkle.

“My thanks dear,” Twinkle smiled as her magic diced them up and put them in the pot. “Sorry for my absence around here. I’ve been studying up on history and learning a few new spells. I swear, how ever did I get by without telekinesis?”

“Most unicorns made do with their hooves,” Aspect replied, wiggling his at her. “But yeah, magic’s changed over the years. Nowadays, winking’s all but forgotten, while light and moving things with your mind aren’t rare at all anymore.”

“How odd,” Twinkle chuckled. “Well I can’t teleport yet, but winking seems far less strenuous anyway.” She looked at Realm and smiled. “I’ll have to teach you how to do it young lad. Now you have a horn on your noggin.”

“Meh, unicorn magic’s overrated,” Realm shrugged it off. “I mean, I’ll learn from miss Twilight about it, but I made do with my pegasus magic. It’s more intuitive to me. I didn’t become a near master at the Gale King for nothing you know.”

“Oh yes, because you thought it was ‘cool’,” Twinkle giggled, making air quotes with her hooves. “Ah, you idolized Christopher back then. Still have that adorable crush on Clover?”

“No…” Realm sighed. “And it wasn’t fair to miss Twilight for me to take it out on her, treat her like Clover. They’re...two different mares. And miss Twilight deserves someone her own age.”

“Ah, such a mature lad,” she smiled and pet his head before leaning down. “What about that cute little bugpony there?” she whispered. “She seems taken by you~”

“We had a...tiff already,” Realm replied. “We’re...working past it.”

“H’oh?” Twilight Twinkle smiled and ruffled his mane. “Well, best of luck then lad.” She checked her soup and smiled. “Ahh good It’s done. Realm, cut up that bread and place it on the table. Lunch is ready.”

“Yes’m!” Realm replied as he used the little unicorn magic he knew to do the task. He pulled the bread out of the oven, pulled it apart into its separate parts, and dumped it in a basket, before carrying the basket to the table.

“Christopher, there’s some dipping oils in that cupboard,” Twinkle pointed with a serving spoon. “Ahh, a good old family lunch. Been a loong time since I had one.” She eyed a painting. “Clover! Come join us. You too Hurricane! And the rest of you lot.”

“Of course,” Pansy nodded as they moved to gather the other founders. Aspect hummed happily as they all made their way back to the main room, dipping oil in hoof as he joined all the family that was here for a good lunch.

For the following few days, Aspect was starting to get concerned. Twilight was getting more and more paranoid about her future self’s warning. And when he decided to go and pay the mare a visit…

He reached Golden Oaks only to pause. His gut churned as a feeling made itself known. Similar to the one he felt at Pinkie’s birthday…

Still, he had to know. Was the mare okay?

So he tentatively reached a hoof up to knock on the door.

After three quick raps he started talking to himself. “Ohwellguessshe’snothomeI’llbegoingno—”

The door opened and a magenta aura dragged him inside.

Oh his god. That… was a lot of charts, blackboards and piles of parchment. Twilight sat at a monstrous telescope as her magic danced around a dozen quills at once.

“Heeheehee,” she giggled. “If I can’t figure out what will happen,” her grin widened. “I’ll just observe everything~”

“...Yup, leaving now,” Aspect replied as he turned back to the door. His gut had been right. He didn’t want any part of this until she got over her little future self’s visit.

“Leave… THAT’S IT!” Twilight teleported in front of him. “My future self left before she could tell me!” Why was she wearing an eyepatch? And covered in scratches… and her mane was pushed back and burnt. “So the solution is easy! I’ll go to Canterlot, break into the Starswirl Wing of the Archives and find that Time Travel spell. Then I can go back in time and give past me all the data I have so far, it’ll save loads of time!”

“That’s...sure thing,” Aspect replied with a wide smile as he eased the door open. The tiniest crack was all he needed…

“And you can come with me!” she smiled as she snared him in a magic bubble. “In case of guards, I need a meat shield… I mean, an assistant.” she hummed happily as she teleported to the train station.

“Twilight, the moment you drop this bubble, I am leaving,” Aspect replied sternly. “I am not going to be paraded around like a trophy. I have mares to go back to.”

“It’ll only take a few hours,” she snorted as she looked at the setting sun. The day was almost done. She didn’t have time. Her horn blazed as she started channeling enough power it made his fur stand on end. How did a single unicorn have such a monstrous amount to draw from?

He would not be drawn into this.

With a burst of white light from his form, her bubble shattered like shards of glass. Before she could reform it, he was already gone, a breeze the only remnant of his presence there.

“Wheeeee! Why are we running?” Pinkie said, keeping pace with the gusty stallion next to her.

“Twilight’s gone loco!” Aspect replied, only now turning corporeal to answer her.

“Ooh, fun!” Pinkie said as she bounced towards the unicorn. “Wheeeeeeee!”

“Well, I’m not getting involved with that,” Aspect muttered as he showed up on his own doorstep. After making sure he’d done it right, the stallion walked inside and firmly shut the door after himself… and threw up a magical barrier just in case. Hopefully he’d eluded Twilight.

Why was he glowing?

Wait, was that a magical tag?

“Clever gi—”

His world shifted as he found himself in Canterlot gardens, along with Pinkie and Twilight, the pair wearing black catsuits.

“Oooh, Aspy joined us after all,” Pinkie cheered, hugging his barrel.

“Not cool,” the stallion muttered. “I am going home now,” he proclaimed, raising a hoof. “I am not going to get involved with this.”

“But it’ll be fuunuafunfuuun~” Pinkie sang. “You know, unless you wanna leave us alone in a room full of dangerous and unstable magic scrolls. Your choice I guess.”

“...Why do you have to make reasoned arguments?” Aspect sighed. “Fine. I’ll supervise for once. But the moment it gets too crazy for me, I’m leaving.”

“Shhh! Guards!” Twilight hissed and jumped up onto a platform, posing like a statue, Pinkie giggled and did the same. Aspect merely froze in place, seeing as how he’d appeared on a platform.

And… how did an they not get noticed? Seriously?

“Let’s go,” Twilight said, sneaking off towards a tower a few dozen feet away.

“Stealth-based games are fun,” Pinkie beamed as she bounced after her. “Oh, we shoulda brought a box.”

“Eh, it’d be easier for me to go unseen, what with this ability and all,” Aspect replied, before disappearing into thin air. He then reappeared next to Twilight and sighed. “I dislike being dragged away from my home so suddenly like this, you know this, right?”

“You’re a hero and this is for the good of Equestria,” Twilight countered. “You weren’t too busy to seduce me the other day.”

“Ohh, gossip,” Pinkie gasped. “How scandalous~”

“It’s only seduction if it worked,” Aspect countered.

“Well you wouldn’t know if it did or didn’t, with the way you stormed out,” she said as her horn glowed and the guards at the door fell asleep on the job.

“Ooh, Twilight used Sleep Spell, it was Super Effective,” Pinkie giggled as she poked the guard, who was asleep standing up.

“Forgive me if I wanted you to be sure before you did anything,” Aspect replied. “I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing something you might regret.”

“Well maybe if a handsome stallion wasn’t insisting on making me squirm!” she snorted. “I’m sorry if the only other ponies to hit on me were a mare and a foal. My deepest apologies if I don’t know how to react!”

“And how do you feel about this Aspect?” Pinkie asked, her mane in a bun as she held a pand and pencil.

“This is why I offered to teach you,” Aspect replied. “Be a sort of practice stallion for you so that you can pick out a stallion later and avoid any awkward trips along the way. Granted, I think we could both use some teaching. But you shouldn’t have to learn the hard way how to date. Books can’t tell you how to live your life, after all. They’re only waymarkers from somepony who came before you. It’s up to you to actually live.”

“So why me?” Twilight replied with a scoff. “Just because I helped Luna? Is that why you’re dating Rainbow Dash?”

“Dash chose to date me, not the other way around,” Aspect pointed out. “She likes the fact that I take time out of my day to help those that can’t stand on their own four legs...or in Scootaloo’s case, two wings. I might have to look into why her wings are so small later. She likes my sense of loyalty. As for you...well, I’d be lying if I said you weren’t attractive, Twilight. And, I know somepony that once tried to apply the things others told her towards getting a stallion of her own. It took a lot of work, and she’s still awkward about it, but maybe one day she’ll actually manage getting a date. I don’t want to see you trip and fumble. Everypony deserves to be happy, to be loved. That’s all I’m offering. Training wheels until you learn how to do it yourself.”

“Aspect…” Twilight stopped, her voice lowering. She decided to use Midnight’s advice. Brutal bluntness. “Are you in love with me?”

“Honestly?” Aspect mulled it over. “Probably not, no. But I still want to see you happy. To know that when you’re smiling, it’s because you’re confident in yourself. And if I can help that, then that’s what I want to do.”

She nodded once. “Alright… and thank you for telling the truth. I’ll… consider your proposal.”

“That’s all I ask,” the stallion nodded his head once. “So, why are we here again?”

“Huh… oh right, Time Travel spell, save the world,” Twilight said, though she did look slightly less crazy than before.

“Aww, are you friends again?” Pinkie asked him, reclining on the stallion’s back.

“Hopefully,” Aspect replied. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

“I think you’ll be alright,” Pinkie said and rolled over so she was hugging his neck. “Sooo. Does that teaching offer extend to all her friends~?” she said in a surprisingly seductive tone.

“All the ones that need it, and from that tone of voice, I can safely say you don’t,” Aspect firmly replied.

“Aww, I’m just teasing anyway,” she giggled and booped his nose. “And I’ll have you know that nopony has plundered my pie yet!” She declared as she chased after Twilight. Well… that was more than he needed to know. Like, ever.

Okay then, time to figure out just how a time travel spell could save the world.

He caught up to the pair and rounded a corner, just as two grey unicorns in armor bumped into them. Twilight froze, her eyes widening. She was so busted…

“Oh, hey Twilight!” the stallion greeted her happily. “Here for some late night study sessions? Haven’t done that in a while.”

“O-Oh… um, yes?” she replied hesitantly.

“Cool, I’ll unlock the door for you,” he beamed as he did just that, letting her access the sealed wing. “Night Twi. Don’t stay up all night.”

“S-Sure…?” the mare blinked as she gave an awkward wave to the retreating stallion.

“So, we could have asked for access, and they would have given it?” Aspect asked.

“Looks like it,” Pinkie giggled as she cartwheeled through the door. “But this was more fuuun~”

“...And it helped us work through some issues too,” the stallion sighed.

“Funny how things work like that,” Pinkie called.

“Okay,” Twilight ignored the banter. “We need a time travel spell. It should be in here somewhere.”

“Just be careful with it, Twilight,” Aspect warned her. “You wouldn’t want to disprove Starswirl and actually change history.”

“As long as it’s a small change, I should be fine,” Twilight said as she looked around. The moon was already beginning its decline as she panicked. “We’re running out of time. The world’s gonna end with the next sunrise!”

Aspect merely raised an eyebrow. Surely Yggdrasil would have warned him if it was going to happen so soon.

Pinkie was just aimlessly pulling scrolls off of the shelf, while Twilight tried a more methodical approach to it. But try as they might, they couldn’t find the spell. During one of Pinkie’s… exuberant searches, a scroll landed at Aspect’s hooves, one bound in a gold clasp with Starswirl’s insignia on it.

“Twilight, I think this might be the one you’re looking for,” the stallion called out to her.

“Yes!” Twilight said as she grabbed the scroll. She opened it and looked inside. “Ohh wow, it looks hard. I can only go back for a few minutes and it only works once per pony.”

“So you’d better make it count,” Aspect noted aloud as he read it. Wait, was that…

Oh that bastard had promised to never use runes in his magic!

“Okay, let’s give it a whirl…” Twilight said then looked out the window. It was getting awfully bright out… side.

“We’re too late…” she whispered, Pinkie grabbing her as the two hugged, waiting for the ‘disaster’ to come.

Aspect merely counted down until they realized nothing was happening.

“Good morning Twilight,” a voice said as Celestia walked in, a cup of coffee in her aura. “A fine morning we’re having isn’t it? Love your new style by the way. Very… modern.”

“...Wha?” Twilight opened one eye and looked around.

“Yup, this was not the end of the world,” Aspect informed her.

“No fire and brimstone? No rampaging demon armies or great pony wars?” Twilight looked out the window at the… perfectly peaceful day.

“Father… have you been telling her stories from the bad old days?” Celestia softly chided him.

“She might have asked a few questions, I might have answered,” Aspect replied as he looked out the window.

“Oh dear,” Celestia said as Twilight looked at the scroll and an idea formed.

“I know… I’ll go back and warn myself not to worry about it,” she beamed as Aspect took her appearance into account as she powered up the spell and vanished in a crack of light.

“Three, two, one…” the stallion counted out.

Twilight reappeared, a confused look on her face as she headed to the wall… and started banging her head against it.

“It. Was. A. Self. Fulfilling. Paradox.” she groaned, each word punctuated by a solid thunk.

“And that is why I don’t mess with time,” Aspect noted aloud. “Well, except for rewinding it to fix things if I can get to the site in time.”

“Ahh, so she’s learned a Time Travel lesson,” Celestia chuckled. “Remember when Luna and Clover teamed up to try and steal cookies? Then they’d keep leaping back in time to get more.” The alicorn chuckled and wiped her eye. “Mother wondered how two fillies got so fat from just one cookie.”

“Time is always picky about how you meddle in it,” Aspect told the mare. “At least you learned your lesson.”

“I’m never touching it again,” Twilight groaned and rubbed her head.

“Well, I think I know what lesson you learned today,” Celestia giggled.

“Mhm,” Twilight nodded. “From now on, I'm gonna solve problems as they come, and stop worrying about every little thing!” She looked at Aspect. “And, make sure to have all the facts and a clear idea, before jumping to conclusions.”

“A good lesson indeed,” Celestia chuckled and looked at her father. “One you could both use I’m sure.”

“So sometimes I swing first and ask questions later,” the stallion huffed.

“Yes, only after you swing, there’s nopony around to respond to those questions,” Celestia nuzzled him. “Now, would you like to join me for breakfast. Luna has been… absent lately, ever since discovering a new place that opens all night.”

“Oh boy,” Aspect chuckled. “Fine, we can make time for breakfast. Though I should send my home a quick missive about being ponynapped into this adventure.”

“I’ll send one,” Celestia chuckled. “Though I don’t think they’d be worrying too much…”

“Okay, that’s about everything,” Bon Bon said as she slung her Lightning Bowgun over her back. Her belt loaded with other gadgets and whatnot. “I’m going to find him. His trail shouldn’t be too cold. I promise I’ll bring Aspect back okay!” She cocked the gun back with a satisfying click. “Whoever took him and Twilight is gonna pay with their blood.”

There was a puff of smoke, that congealed into a scroll, before it landed right in front of Bon Bon. That...was dragonfire magic.

Bon Bon picked up the scroll and opened it, setting her gun down.

Dear Bon Bon,

Hey, it’s Aspect here. Just letting you know, Twilight basically ponynapped me for her latest crazy adventure. I tried escaping when I saw the crazed look in her eyes, but she tagged me with a tracer spell.

However, all’s well that ends well. I think we became better friends because of it, and Twilight definitely learned to not muddy around with time. She basically just gave herself her own prophecy about last week.

Just letting you know I’m fine, and we’ll all be back after breakfast. Since I know you all are probably worrying about where I am. And I will sleep all day afterwards.

Love,
Aspect.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” Bon Bon yelled and groaned. “For… crying out bucking loud.” She tossed the note aside and packed away the gear she’d spent a half hour getting out. “False alarm guys! He’s just suffering a Ponyville Tuesdayitis!”

“Ooohhh,” came the understanding voices of Lyra and Twilight’s friends.

“Well, seems like you’ve all had quite the experiences over the last few days,” Celestia said and looked at her father. “While I am… less than amused at you soliciting Twilight. She is a grown mare, and her decisions are hers to make. I will say this…” She looked at him with a glare that chilled him. Hell, that look could have frozen Gelgeth! He had no idea Celestia could get this angry. “You hurt her in any way. And Luna’s banishment will look like a foals timeout compared to what I’ll do to you.”

“I would never hurt her,” Aspect replied, putting a hoof over his heart. “I’m doing this to help her. Think of me as the training wheels for her first real relationship. Once we’re satisfied she can find one on her own, I stop and she rides out to steal the hearts of the masses.”

“You bloody would too,” she groaned and facehooved. “Well I trust Twilight to be mature about this.” Then she smirked, one that her father didn’t trust in the slightest. “If he gets to be too much, go and find the portrait of my mother and tell her…” She leaned over and whispered into the unicorn’s ear.

Twilight’s eyes widened… then she smiled.

Then she snorted.

Now she was rolling around on the floor laughing.

“I don’t want to know,” Aspect deadpanned before shaking his head.

“In anycase,” Celestia giggled as she sipped her coffee. “You really should visit again sometime. I have Friday’s free now!”

“Oh, nice!” Aspect smiled at her. “Well done, you.”

“I’m rather proud of it,” Celestia smiled. “And Luna cut her Night Courts down to three nights a week. So she’s free every other evening.”

“How’d she do that?” Twilight asked, finally recovering enough to speak.

“In her words exactly…” Celestia gave a deadpan sigh. “Buck them all. I’ll do what I want. Long Live the Night.”

“Not the most inspiring speech of taking back your free time, but it’ll do,” the stallion chuckled.

“Luna in a nutshell, brutally effective,” Celestia sighed. “Well in any case. Do you all require a chariot home?”

“That might be nice, I think I burned out teleporting here, and the time spell,” Twilight groaned.

“You teleported here? From Ponyville?” Celestia’s raised an eyebrow. That… and she brought two more with her. That was rather impressive. Between this and the Ursa incident, Twilight’s power was just getting better and better.

“And I can only ride the wind because of reasons,” Aspect waved a wing. “I could be home in a flash now.”

“Yes yes, you will miss that when Arabus is finally gone won't you?” Celestia said with a slight roll of her eyes.

“Not really, it’s a trick I made up,” Aspect chuckled. “I’ve been replacing all his tricks with mine over the years, redefining what it means to wield Air. Hell, he’s mostly quiet these days.”

“Aside from that slip up in Cloudsdale,” Twilight reminded him as the door opened and two ponies entered.

One was Celestia’s assistant, Raven Inkwell. A rather pretty unicorn mare with a chocolate mane and a white coat. The other was a mare Aspect hadn’t met yet.

She was tall, with long, slender legs. a smooth, sleek dark gray, almost black coat. Her mane was a soft teal and her eyes a rich green. Her long horn had a very slight curve to it, as well as some very nice curves in all the right places.

“Ah,” Celestia gestured with a wing. “Aspect. Twilight. Allow me to introduce my legal specialist, Miss Emeraldas.”

“Charmed,” Aspect nodded his head at her.

Her eyes looked him over, the mare exuding that old unicorn superiority. “So, this is the famous Balanced Aspect.” Her voice was like dripping honey, it made his fur stand on end for some reason.

“Famous is overdoing it,” the stallion chuckled. “I’m retired. Mostly, anyways.”

“Hmm yes, no more monsters to slay hm?” she said as she looked at Twilight and licked her lips. “Well, I should be off. I have many more important things to take care of.”

Aspect waited for her to leave before speaking up. “I’m not sure if I should be offended that there are things more important than me and Twilight or not,” he observed aloud.

“She's a busy mare, who is helping me with many a thing,” Celestia chuckled. “Why's that father? Getting an ego now?”

“I blame Rainbow’s influence,” Twilight giggled.

“It’s likely,” Aspect agreed. “Well in any case. Why don’t we all have breakfast together before we have to go back?”

Celestia nodded as she rang a small bell, a series of cute maids soon bringing out a variety of breakfast foods, including two mugs of rich coffee for Twilight and Aspect.

“Oohhh, I need this in my life,” Twilight moaned as she nuzzled the mug.

“Celly, just what did you teach her?” Aspect raised an eyebrow as he pulled his own mug close and sipped from it.

This was perfection in a mug, pure and simple. A flawless mug of coffee with the perfect blend of bitterness and sweetness and at juuust the right temperature.

“Nevermind, clearly she has the right of it,” the stallion replied as he kept drinking his liquid, perfect caffeine.

“Mm, somepony’s gone to Donut Joe’s,” Twilight said as she drank. “Only he makes coffee like this.”

“And he won't part with the method either,” Luna said as she entered the room, flopping down next to Aspect and placing her head in his lap. “Lulu demands cuddles,” she pouted.

“An easy request to fulfill,” Aspect replied as his free hoof rubbed Luna behind the ears.

“You spoil her too much,” Celestia chuckled as Luna purred at the scritchies.

“I spoiled both of you, too late now,” Aspect returned. “Couldn’t change either of you if I wanted to.”

And then he heard Twilight giggle. The stallion turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

“Sorry,” the young mare chuckled. “It's just...cute. To see the Princesses acting like this.” She seemed to catch herself and put a hoof to her mouth to silence herself.

“Yeah, some ponies fail to realize that my daughters are ponies first, princesses second,” Aspect replied, kissing the crown of Luna’s head. “At least, that’s how I treat them.”

Luna looked up at him, her teal eyes wide and and glimmering, her bottom lip jutting out in thought as she added a slight tilt of her head to complete the effect. “I'm cute?” she asked in a light tone.

Aspect carefully put his coffee down...before making a ‘hnnng’ noise and falling back, clutching his chest.

“Dramatic much?” Twilight deadpanned as Luna got up, giggling to herself.

Aspect then heard Celestia whisper… And as he got up to see what she was planning…

All three mares wore the same look as Luna before.

The stallion locked up, barely breathing or even blinking as he stood there.

And then a light breeze entered the room and tipped him over onto his side.

“Huzzah! We hath defeated him,” Luna cheered and smiled.

“Seriously?” Twilight hardly sounded convinced as Celestia just tittered softly. Aspect just lay there, for all the world unresponsive due to the sheer amount of cute that had overloaded him.

“Well, guess we get to keep him a little longer,” Celestia giggled.

“PONYPILE!” Luna shouted as she landed on the stallion, dragging Tia, Twi, and even Raven along with her magic, cackling loudly.

“Tell my mares I love them,” Aspect croaked out, before going limp and making a ‘bleh’ noise.

“Oh dear,” Celestia giggled as she and Luna nuzzled him, Raven and Twilight blushing as they got off of them.

“You two really test his immortality huh?” Twilight said, trying not to think about what she was just apart of. She'd had enough freak outs for one week. She looked over at the fallen stallion and before she could stop herself. “You think he'd be used to being under a pile of mares…”

Celestia and Luna just stopped and slowly turned to look at her, Twilight squeaking and wilting under their gaze, before the lunar diarch burst out laughing.

“Great, she’s learning how to gang up on me,” Aspect moaned as he lay there.

“Twilight is a fast study,” Celestia giggled as she put a wing around the purple mare. “Don't be afraid to tease him. He secretly likes it.”

“Ah… but… I could never…” Twilight flustered.

“Somepony has to keep me humble, otherwise I’ll go mad with power,” Aspect replied, sitting up and stretching his wings.

“Or start seducing all the mares,” Twilight rolled her eyes. Oooh, the snark was strong with this one.

“You’re sure she’s not adopted?” Aspect asked Celly. “She snarks like family.”

“Nope, she's all natural,” Celestia mused as she nuzzled the mare, eliciting a blush from the unicorn.

“Better snap her up quick, then, before I try my hoof at her again,” Aspect teased Celestia.

“Hmm?” Celestia tilted her head, not getting his meaning.

“Eh, you’ll find out sooner or later,” the stallion waved it off. “So, back to eating breakfast,” he said, picking up his coffee and sipping it again.

Luna just rubbed her hooves. She knew what he meant and wanted in on this.

Twilight looked as lost as Celestia.

Regardless, the ponies resumed their breakfast and Celestia soon saw Twilight, Pinkie (Whom had been raiding Canterlot bakeries all morning) and Aspect off.

“You joining us?” Twilight asked him. “Or are you cheating your way home?”

“I’ll get back faster than anypony,” Aspect chuckled, waving a wing at her. “Take care. I have mares to go calm down.”

And with a rush of wind, the stallion disappeared into thin air.

“Guess it's just us,” Pinkie said and looked at the guards. “And our strapping escorts of course~”

Twilight just sighed and shook her head as they took off. This was gonna be a looong ride.

Aspect reappeared in front of his house and sighed, before walking in. “I’m baaaack~” he called out.

“Catch me if you can half pint!” Nightmare Filly cackled as she ran past him, Realm’s paintbrushes in her magical grip.

“Death is too good for you!” Realm shouted back as he chased her, a bit of lightning on his wings as he streaked after her.

“...So, Tuesday then?” the stallion asked.

“She's been distracting him,” Bon Bon said as she walked up to him, kissing his cheek. “He's been locked up in his room for a few days, so he could use the exercise.”

“Ah, so she’ll be of a help to us as long as we can channel her,” Aspect nodded once. “Got it.”

“I heard that!” Nightmare said as she ran under him, the electric colt following her…

Realm snarled as he tried pouncing the filly to get his brushes back, not willing to zap someone other than his target.

She turned into a starry mist, the colt phasing through her as she chuckled. “So close, yet so--”

*Splatsplatsplatsplat*

Nightmare found herself stuck to the floor with green goo, Pupal standing a few feet away, her fangs dripping with the same substance.

“Oh come on! That's cheating!” the tiny alicorn raged.

“So!” Bon Bon said to Aspect, ignoring all that. “How's your day? Enjoy Canterlot did we?”

“It was...entertaining,” the stallion replied. “Though I think I’m going to have to nap off the stress of being ponynapped and helping Twilight break into the Starswirl wing.”

“Oh yes, being ponynapped by Twilight must have been a horrendous experience,” Bon Bon giggled and rolled her eyes. “You could have escaped if you actually tried.”

“I did, she tagged me with a tracer spell,” Aspect replied. “The moment I turned corporeal, she dragged me with her to Canterlot.”

“That's… actually quite genius,” Bon Bon blinked. “Huh.”

“HMMFMMRFLE!!!!” Came a muffled scream of pure rage and filled with murderous intent as Pupal finished binding Nightmare in a translucent pod.

“Yeah, if there’s one thing Twilight can do, it’s work around a problem,” Aspect nodded. “Still, we eventually found out that her warning from the future was a self-fulfilling prophecy. She tried to tell herself not to worry about it, and she couldn’t manage to get the warning out before she was dragged back to the present.”

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon chuckled and shook her head. “That must have been quite embarrassing for the poor dear.”

“She got over it,” Aspect replied. “...After beating her head against a wall about how she couldn’t see it coming.”

“Time Travel is bothersome to say the least,” Bon Bon agreed and looked at Pupal. “Release Nightmare dear. We do not put friends in pods.”

Pupal seemed to be considering her words before replying. “I know, I didn't.”

“...I walked into that one, didn't I?” Bonnie sighed.

“Yup,” the stallion agreed. “What you should have said was, we don’t put family in pods.”

“Ergh…” Bon Bon sighed again and shook her head. “Pupal. Please?”

The Changeling nodded and using her fangs, tore a hole in the pod as Nightmare spilled out, coughing up some green liquid.

“And maybe that will teach you a little respect for Realm and his minion,” Aspect chided the filly.

“They *cough* shouldn’t mess with the *hack* Aspect of Dreams and Nightmares,” she warned them.

“You messed with the Aspect of Art, and one of the Aspect of Battle’s daughters, how did you think that was going to go?” the stallion replied.

“Way to help me out by the way,” she snarked at him. Then she looked down at her body, coated in green goop and grinned…

Before latching onto his chest with a hug.

“Well you’re clearly the sort that won’t listen to me when I tell you something anyway,” Aspect replied, not phased. “So if you want to be so independent and not listen to somepony that is older than you and perhaps just a wee bit more world-wise than you, fine. You can have your freedom. I won’t judge or stop you.”

“Woow, no wonder Celestia has a stick in her plot,” the tiny alicorn mused as she let go… or tried. “Uhoh.”

“Calm down,” the stallion said. “Pupal, would you care to remove us from each other?”

“No don't,” Bon Bon raised a hoof as the biggest shit-eating grin crossed her muzzle. “They could use the--”

“Don't you dare!” Nightmare warned.

“Bonding experience,” Bonnie finished.

“...Pupal, you have my permission to stick Bonnie in a pod for that one,” Aspect deadpanned.

Bon Bon just giggled as she scooped the Changeling up and trotted away.

“She's seriously gonna leave us here!?” Nightmare yelled.

“Some soap and water should see to getting rid of this,” Aspect mused as he began walking towards his bathroom. “Guess it’s bathtime for you and me.”

“Wonderful,” Nightmare deadpanned.

The rest of the day was pretty quiet. Aspect found out Bon Bon was ready to wage a one-mare war against Canterlot in his absense though.

“Oh shush,” the mare blushed as she smothered the blabbermouth Rainbow with a pillow as they all lay in bed.

“It was amusing,” Midnight smiled.

“Good thing I remembered I have a dragon form up there,” Aspect replied as he lay in bed with his eyes closed. “Otherwise Tia might have done something in response to you coming for me.”

“Huh… how would a dragon have solved it?” Rainbow asked, shoving the pillow off of her.

“Probably by flicking Twilight out of its cave and not being able to be teleported out thanks to its anti-magic scales,” Aspect replied.

Rainbow just blinked.

“Nevermind,” Bon Bon pet her head. “Anyway, let's sleep okay? It's been a looong day for some of us.”

“Agreed,” the stallion said as he pulled the nearest mare close and snuggled her, that being his pretty Bonnie lass.

…

Screaming, that was the first sound he heard. Followed by the roaring winds. He reached the top of the hill, as a scene of destruction played out.

Ponyville being torn apart. Fierce winds shredded houses and shops, picking up ponies high into the air, only to fling them away to certain death.

Pegasi tried… but they couldn’t combat the multiple tornadoes and hurricane force winds. Their wings broke under the strain, their shattered bodies hitting the ground with a wet thud.

This...this...how? How? He controlled Air, this...should not be happening!

Above it all, a lone figure cackled. A mad stallion beat his wings as another street was obliterated.

Balanced Aspect. His power over Arabus at full effect.

No...no...no no no! The old bastard was quiet now! He would never do this!

He saw something streaking towards the figure, a dark blur as he made out Midnight Song, her blades gleaming.

Then a scream… the stallion laughed as Midnight fell… her severed wings falling away in the winds.

This couldn’t be happening! He wouldn’t ever do that! He had to stop it!

His hooves refused to move, like he was glued to the ground as the sky exploded, a rainbow spreading out as Rainbow Dash tore towards ArabusAspect at ridiculous speeds…

Maybe that was why she never saw the blade of wind pierce her chest… the mare dead before she even realised…

No! He refused to believe this! He had to make this stop! The stallion struggled to do something, anything to get close to this vision and put an end to it.

He seemed to be in town now… his doppelganger moving through the streets like a stormy wraith.

Until a bolt of plasma hit him, and both stallions saw Bon Bon at the end of the street, that weird weapon of hers in her grip.

Arabus smirked as stalked towards her…

No!

Aspect did his best to move, to throw himself in the way, to do something, anything, to put a stop to this terrible vision...to prevent what he knew was about to happen…

The stallion turned towards him, looking right at him as he smiled.

“Isn't this fun?” he chuckled in his own voice, even as a wave of a wing started to draw the air from the mares lungs, as she literally started to suffocate.

No...no no no...not this. Not...not all of them. No…

“It's too bad she can't...I bet her screams are delicious,” he laughed… before a beam of light cut him off.

“Honestly,” a voice said. A tall mare stepped out next to him. Her coat as black as pitch, her starry mane waving in the wind. “Quite the imagination you have here.”

“N...Nightmare?” Aspect whispered. “Then...this?”

“Obviously,” she snorted as Arabus charged at her, only to be frozen in the air. “You have no power here,” she snarled as a burst of power exploded from her horn, the stallion and the horrific scene he created vanished, replaced with a white void.

“I...it’s something Arabus sometimes does,” the stallion whispered to himself. “He tried over the years to make me see scenes that weren’t there. Images of me destroying the world. Those...those were easy to fight. But this...this is low, even for him.”

“You avoided getting close to anypony for so long,” Nightmare said calmly. “And you haven't slept in a while. Avoid doing so again.” She looked at him. “Now come here.”

Aspect nodded numbly as he walked closer to the mare, just glad she’d stopped what was about to happen.

Then she leaned down, her horn to his forehead as he found himself in his human form, her wings wrapped around him in a surprisingly gentle hug. The human didn’t question it for a second, wasting no time in returning it and thanking her for what she’d done.

“Tell anyone and I'll spike your coffee with hot sauce,” she mumbled and blushed, then winced in pain. “Dammit…” Her horn shone. “Stand still… I'm going to craft a dream for you.”

“You don’t have to—” the human replied, or tried to. Her horn thrummed with power as the white void was replaced with a familiar valley. Friends of a time long past waited.

And three mares also joined them.

“I...thank you,” Aspect replied, hugging Nightmare again. “You’re...not as bad as I thought.”

Nightmare just snorted as she winced again, before fading away…leaving him to enjoy the dream.

Nightmare Moon awoke, coughing as she grabbed her aching head. Just entering his nightmare had taken a good deal of power, along with suppressing Arabus. Then the Dreamcraft… something she hadn't done before.

She panted heavily. Being the good guy was fucking exhausting.

Author's Note

Yeah I definitely prefer uploading them early. I'll try to make sure to do that now.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent slaying a spire.

Chapter 49 - Family day and intimate proposals

Bon Bon looked around the breakfast table and frowned. “Where is that filly?” she murmured and looked at Aspect. “Have you seen Nightie this morning? Could you go see if she's still asleep?”

“Yeah, I’ll go check on her,” the stallion replied, getting up and walking off through the halls. Her room wasn’t too far from here, if he was remembering correctly.

He reached the door and knocked, but got no response. So he opened the door to see if she was still asleep.

Okay… he wasn't expecting that. She was laying in bed, panting heavily as sweat beaded on her brow, her eyes closed as her horn gave a few sputtering sparks.

“...And you’re doing what, precisely?” Aspect asked with a raised brow. He put a hoof to her forehead and found it to be quite hot to the touch as the filly gave a wracking cough.

“Aaaah...those innoculations catching up with you,” he deduced. “Well, this is an expected side effect. You’ll be sick for a few days, and then you won’t catch ill for a while.”

“M…” she said hoarsely. “Ma… dr…”

“Ma dr?” the stallion cocked his head. That wasn’t a sickness he knew of.

“M-Magi… drain…” she panted hard. He blinked and scanned for her magical reserves.

There was barely a flickering ember of magic left in her. What the hell had she tried to cast that drained her so utterly?

Then he recalled last night…

“Oh for the love of…” Aspect muttered as he flashed into his alicorn form, spreading his wings as he focused on bolstering her own magic the only way he could.

By giving some of his own.

A beam of white light connected their horns as the hoarded strength the stallion had been building up poured into Nightmare, doing its best to restore her.

He had to be careful not to overload her, but after a moment, she appeared to be looking far better off.

“W-What…” she blinked slowly and looked up at him. “Why…?”

Aspect tapered off and shifted back to his pegasus form. “Two reasons,” he stated. “One, to repay your kindness from last night. And two...that’s the job of a father. To sacrifice himself for his children. At the end of the day, you’re worth more than this dusty old warhorse.”

“No…” she murmured. “No I'm not… I'm just, a nightmare right?”

“You’re a flesh and blood pony,” Aspect replied, walking up and pinching her to prove his point. “You may not have been born the traditional way, but you’re a part of the family now, Aspect of Dreams. That makes it my job to look after you until you settle into your role. You came of Luna, so you’re my daughter too. Nightmare you may have been, and that might be what makes up your soul, but you can choose your fate. You chose to embrace your nature last night, and do good with your talent. You could have left me to that nightmare until I woke up wanting to die thanks to what Arabus showed me...but you didn’t. That makes you worth saving. Me? I’m too stained in blood to be worth more than the dirt you walk on.”

“A fate we share,” she said as she wiped her forehead. “Look… I'm not good at this sappy stuff okay…” She closed her eyes and turned away.

Aspect cut her off with a raised hoof. “I saved the castle staff from your shadows and demons when you first emerged. And you didn’t seriously harm anyone when you returned. You’re more pure than me, or at the very least, less stained than I am. You haven’t killed anyone.”

“I see…” she muttered and sighed. “Guess that's just one more thing I owe you for then.”

“You can make it up to me later,” Aspect chuckled. “Now come on, Bonnie made breakfast.”

“In a bit, I just want to rest for a moment,” the filly said with a small shake of her head. “Thanks for the magic.”

“Try not to make a habit of directly challenging Arabus,” Aspect warned her. “Even I don’t do that. The best thing to do is just find his cage and stuff him back in it.”

“I did something similar,” she said and smiled darkly. “He likes Nightmares? Then I hope he enjoys the one I trapped him in~”

“Hoh boy,” the stallion shook his head. “Look, over the years, thanks to all the souls and magic I absorbed, I became the world’s best mobile cage for the bad old Aspects. When they calmed down and were less volatile...and once I made him, Mortal Coil took their souls, one by one, to the gates of Nifelheim. This? This is just going to rile Arabus up.”

“I'm sure it'll be fine, else I'll do it again,” the filly said. “Ergh… now I'm awake. Well, might as well see what the chef whipped up.” She stood up and then flittered onto his back. “Onwards my steed.”

“Yes my lady,” Aspect bowed his head. “At once my lady.”

“Ahh, it's good to have minions,” Nightmare murred as he found a full grown mare draped over him. “Almost forgot I could do this~”

“You’re just lucky I have practice moving your sisters like this,” Aspect chuckled as he all but dragged the mare along through the halls.

“Mmhm, so do I have to call you Daddy~” she purred to him.

“Eh, not sure yet,” Aspect replied. “I mean, you’ve clearly learned since your last attempt to take over the world. But I’d like to think I’m still in the trial period for this relationship. You’ve done good, don’t get me wrong. I just want to watch for worrying signs. Like sneaking away to plot and maniacal laughing.” It was clear from his tone that he was joking with the mare.

“But maniacal laughter is the best part,” Nightmare pouted as she lay her chin on his head. “Hmm, wonder if there's anyone I could induct as a minion? Amy ideas?”

“If you recruit the Cutie Mark Crusaders, I think even Discord would flee from the combined chaos you would unleash on the world,” Aspect deadpanned at her.

“Oohh~” the mare hummed thoughtfully as they entered the kitchen.

“Aspect… why is Nightmare on your back?” Rainbow asked.

“Hmm, well he's used to mounting mares, turnabout is fair play~” Nightmare giggled.

“Plus she’s recovering from using up all her magic, doing something she definitely wasn’t ready for yet,” Aspect replied. “Like you infusing lightning into your Rainboom. She needed time to grow into her role, let her body actually accrue the power due to the Aspect of Dreams. Before, you know, going hoof to hoof with the demon in my head.”

“I'm sorry what!?” Bon Bon exclaimed. “She did what now?”

“Saved his life while you all slept soundly,” Nightmare said with a smug grin.

“Arabus tried to give me a night terror last night,” Aspect replied. “He’s tried it before, but usually I’m able to ignore him. This time, I wasn’t, and Nighty here dispelled it before he could make it any worse.”

Then Nightmare yelped as Bon Bon hugged her tightly, the dark alicorn looking to Aspect for help.

“Of course, dispelling his night terror, which I’m pretty sure was an attempt to make me not want to wake up ever again, locking him back in his cell, giving him his own night terror, and giving me a nice dream...thaaaat took a toll on Nighty here,” Aspect mused aloud. “So I gave her a bit of magic to get her back up to snuff.”

“Aaahh, cool,” Rainbow tilted her glass of milk to the mare.

“You have my thanks as well,” Midnight smiled and nodded.

“Errgh, there's more sap here than a forest,” Nightmare groaned as she pried Bonnie off of her.

“I’m pretty sure Pupal would be fed for a day on the good emotions in this room thanks to what you did, little mare,” Aspect said to her. “So bask in it for her sake. You earned it.”

“Yeah yeah,” she said and stood over him. “And who are you calling little? I'm the tallest one here until I turn back.”

“And in the amount of days you’ve actually lived, you’re younger than a newborn,” Aspect sniped back. “You might have parts of Luna’s maturity to draw on, but you yourself have only been active for a handful of days. Dash is the youngest of us here, and yet compared to you, she’s an old crone.”

“Say what now?” Rainbow levelled a glare at him.

“Yeah yeah, point made,” Nightmare rolled her eyes as the clock chimed.

“School time,” Bon Bon smiled as she handed Artemis, Pupal and Realm their lunches. “Are you going Nightie?”

Nightmare let out a low groan. “Urgh. Must I do something so banal?”

Aspect got a dangerous gleam to his eye. “You know, there’s a surefire way to prove to us that you’re mature enough to not need school,” he almost sang.

“...I am afraid to ask,” the mare shuddered.

“Research paper, ten thousand words,” Aspect said to her. “On why any Aspect attempting to take over the world like you did is a bad idea.”

“...” Nightmare just stared at him before taking her filly form. “I'm late for school,” she muttered and headed out the door.

“How long before you think she takes me up on that offer?” the stallion asked his mares.

“Until she figures out a way to get Twilight to write it for her,” Rainbow snickered.

“Which I’ll ask her about after Nightmare hands it in,” Aspect countered. “Also, sorry for using you in my example, just trying to prove a point to her. She’s got...leeched life experiences from Luna, but all the dark ones. She hasn’t actually gone out and made good memories, good anchors yet. Until she does, until she has something, someone she finds precious...I can’t trust her.”

“She saved your life man,” Rainbow pointed out. “I think she's pretty cool.”

“Well, I'll choose to trust her,” Bon Bon agreed.

Aspect sighed. Yes, she had done that, hadn’t she? But still...the way she thought so little of herself afterwards. She not only needed to find something worthwhile to anchor her, to give her good memories, she need to have confidence in herself, that she mattered.

He was just an old warhorse, at the end of the day.

“And so that's your assignment for today,” Cheerilee smiled at her class. “You need to bring in a family member for Family Appreciation Day. Somepony to tell a story perhaps? Talk about what they do.”

“Cause Aspect’s stories are totally safe for foals,” Nightmare whispered to Realm.

“He’s retired, mostly,” the pinto alicorn whispered back. “These days, he just teaches.”

“Seems someponies already have an idea,” Cheerilee chuckled as Diamond huffed.

“Well as the wealthiest pony in Ponyville, my Daddy is best,” the filly smiled smugly. “Not to mention our family founded Ponyville.”

“Now jus’ a cotton-pickin minute,” Apple Bloom huffed. “It was the Apples that founded Ponyville first!”

“Uhoh,” Realm whispered. This could get ugly.

“Just like a Blank Flank to get her facts wrong,” Diamond smirked, only irritating Apple Bloom further.

“Now now,” Cheerilee raised a hoof. “Just remember, tomorrow is the due date. So be sure to ask tonight alright?”

“Yes miss Cheerilee,” Realm and most of the class chorused.

Outside, the two earth pony fillies continued to butt heads.

“So,” Artemis said, ignoring it. “What do we do? There's four of us. Do we bring somepony different for us all?”

“Well, Pupal can’t exactly bring Chrysalis,” Realm pointed out. “And you can’t exactly bring any of the Diamond Dogs here. And I doubt Luna will answer Nightmare. As for me, I’m adopted. It looks like we’re all going to be stuck asking the same pony for help.”

“Great. We're all either adopted or just don't have parents,” Nightmare sighed. “That's just sad…”

“You said it,” Diamond and Silver smirked as they walked past and giggled. “Poor little freaks like you don't have anypony~”

Nightmare Moon growled as her horn lit up. “I'll tear her eyes out through her rear…” She said in a frosty tone.

Realm on the other hoof…

“When was the last time your parents said they loved you?” he sniped at the fillies. “When was the last time they took a genuine interest in the things you do? Aspect adopted me when I was barely old enough to walk. He showed me more love and compassion than I can remember from my original parents. He trained me. He showed me arts that most ponies couldn’t master. I did everything in my power to make him proud of me. And he kept on saying the same thing. ‘Everything you do makes me proud, that you’ve found meaning in living after what happened to you.’ He’s more a father than either of your parents.”

“Blah blah blah,” Diamond rolled her eyes. “My Daddy loves me more than anypony. So you can take your words and go crying home to your ‘Not Daddy’~”

Then the temperature dropped by several degrees. Everypony turned and looked at a very pissed Nightmare.

“Realm is most correct,” she snarled, the ground icing up as she walked. Realm knew this power. The undying hatred that the Windegoes fed upon.

“Nighty, calm, we don’t need to attract one of Gelgeths,” Realm hissed. “And besides,” the colt said to Diamond. “I wouldn’t go crying to him. A knight doesn’t cry, which is what I will be when I’m old enough to be knighted. But keep this up, and Nighty might give you something to cry to your dad about.”

“There won't be enough left of them,” she snarled, dark magic thrumming through her horn.

“Let's go Diamond…” Silver whimpered.

“Tch! Whatever,” the filly said as she turned and walked away.

Artemis took a breath and unclenched his paw, while Pupal just looked… pensive.

Nightmare was practically vibrating with anger.

“Calm,” Realm put a hoof on her withers. “We don’t need a Windiego here. With your anger feeding it, the whole town would freeze over.”

Nightmare let out a growl… but dissipated the spell she was building. “Fine,” she finally said after a moment's pause. “They are but mere insects, not worth my time.”

“That’s the way to look at it,” Realm sighed. “Besides, when we all bring in Aspect, we can show her how wrong she is. He’s been there since the beginning of ponykind. That beats Ponyville by a mile.”

Nightmare looked at her hooves. “I… have another idea for myself,” she said and smiled. “See you later half pints. I have a pony to go and see.” With a wave of her little wing, she headed off.

“...Who wants to be the first to tell Aspect he needs to come into school tomorrow?” Realm asked.

“Let's tell him together,” Artemis said.

“I feel sorry for her,” Pupal suddenly said.

“She’s as much a member of the family as we are,” Realm pointed out. “Aspect wouldn’t take her in otherwise. He’d probably just stick her with that filly-curse full time and pass her off to Cadenza if he didn’t like her.”

“Not her,” Pupal shook her head. “The other pony. The loud pink one.”

“Oh?” Realm asked.

“When you said your words,” she said with a nod. “It made her sad.”

“She didn’t act like it,” the colt muttered. “And if she showed an ounce of compassion, maybe I wouldn’t feel the need to try and hurt her back.”

“She's… it's hard to explain,” Pupal frowned. “She's like the Star Filly, it's not her doing.”

“Hmm,” Realm hummed. “Well, in any case. Want to go back and tell dad what we need him for?”

“I guess,” Artemis said. “Oorrr…” His smile widened. “We can go to Bon Bon’s and get candy~”

“Ooooh, there’s an idea,” Realm mused. “Technically, dad’s gonna be marrying those mares. So that makes them our moms too!”

“We could ask them,” Pupal pointed out. “Three of us. Three of them.”

“Dibs on miss Midnight!” Realm suddenly called out.

“Dang,” Pupal and Artemis muttered.

“Right, I'll--”

“Dibs on Bon Bon,” Pupal said.

“Dang it!” Artemis frowned. “Fine, I'll ask Miss Rainbow I guess. But first, candy time!”

“Yes!” Realm agreed. “Candy is important, and Pupal can ask Bon Bon while we’re there!”

Bon Bon hummed as she wiped down her countertop. It was a rather slow day today, and likely wouldn't pick til after school which was… Her ear flicked as she glanced at the clock… and school finished an hour ago.

“Slow day indeed,” she yawned.

The door’s bell chimed as two sets of hooves and a set of paws met her ears.

She looked up and smiled. “Well if it isn't my favorite foals in Ponyville,” she smiled and then narrowed her eyes. “What did Aspect do this time?”

“It’s not like that,” Realm dismissed. “We’re here for candy!”

“Is that so?” she giggled. “Well alright then. What can I get you?”

“I want…” Realm looked the treats over, before picking out one he could afford. A little chocolate truffle. “That one!”

Pupal pointed at a chocolate bar and beamed, while Artemis scratched his chin thoughtfully.

Bon Bon bagged up a few truffles for Realm and passed them over, and the colt smiled as he pulled out his coin purse to pay for them.

Soon the others had candy in the hooves/paws as well.

“Remember not to spoil your dinner,” Bon Bon reminded them. “I'm making broiled fish and pasta tonight.”

“Ooooh,” Realm went, carefully tucking his treats away in his saddlebag...before nudging Pupal with a wing.

“U-Um… Miss Bon Bon?” Pupal asked with fidgeting hooves.

“Yes?” the mare repiled.

“Will...um,” Pupal blinked, the little Changeling, disguised as a unicorn asked. “We have… a family thing at school tomorrow. Could, you maybe come?”

Bon Bon blinked slowly. “Well,” she finally said. “Might I ask why? Wouldn't Aspect be a better choice?”

“We can’t all ask Aspect to come to school for us,” Realm pointed out. “So...we decided to go with the mares that are gonna be our moms instead.”

Bon Bon froze, dropping the bag of candies she held as those words sank in. “W-What…?” she asked softly as her eyes widened.

“Yeah, I’m gonna ask Miss Midnight to come to school for me,” Realm nodded.

“N-No I meant…”

“I believe she means the mother comment,” Pupal pointed out plainly.

“Well you’re marrying dad, right?” Realm asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, yes but I--”

“Then like it or not, you’re at least marrying into having me as a son,” Realm finished. “He adopted me legally. He might’ve made a few kids with magic, but I’m really the only one the courts will recognize as being ‘his’.”

Bon Bon moved around the counter and sat on the floor, opening her hooves up for a hug. Realm was quick to jump on the offer, having not really had a mother figure for his life and needing a few dozen hugs of that sort of caliber.

“I know… I'm not really your mom,” Bon Bon whispered. “But, I'll try my hardest to be a good mom for you and the others okay?” She smiled and stroked his mane.

“Thank you,” Realm said softly, before slowly letting go and clearing his throat. “So, will you come in for Pupal?”

“I'd be most honored to do so,” she smiled and pet the Changeling on the head, getting a giggle from her.

“Say thank you, Pupal,” Realm instructed her.

“Thanks Mommy!” The Changeling chirped and Bon Bon froze again. Whoops, the lil bug broke her. She just sat there with wide eyes, Realm trapped in her frozen limbs.

“...I said thank her, not break her,” Realm muttered as he worked his way free of his prison. Or tried, Earth Ponies were flipping strong.

“N-Need a paw?” Artemis snickered.

“...Yes please,” the colt muttered.

Artemis looked around and then smiled. “Missus Lyra is stealing all the expensive candy.”

“LYRA!” Bon Bon perked up and dropped Realm before looking around. “...That should not be such an easy trigger for me.”

“Thanks for letting go,” Realm replied, rubbing his wings to make sure they were still in shape.

“So, I guess you’re asking Midnight and Rainbow Dash as well?” Bon Bon asked. “I think Midnight is at home, but I have no idea where Dash is.”

“He can ask dad, he’ll be able to find her,” Realm suggested. “He still is Air.”

“Oh right,” Bon Bon replied as Artemis finally chose some hard rock candy and the mare bagged it up for him. “Okay kids, run along. I’ll see you tonight okay?”

“Thanks miss Bon Bon!” Realm called as he led the trio away. Once they left, Bon Bon let out a happy squee as she bounced around the store.

“I’m so calling dibs on Miss Midnight for the next thing,” Artemis grumbled as they walked inside. “Man, she’s so awesome.”

“She’s also the one that first started treating me like her son, so nyeh,” Realm replied, sticking his tongue out at the dog.

“Wait, didn’t Miss Bon Bon do that?” Artemis said. “When you first ascended?”

“Nah, Midnight actually called me ‘son’ first,” Realm waved it off. “Bon Bon nursed me back to health, but Miss Midnight actually called me her son.”

“Huh,” Artemis shrugged. “Well from what I saw, Miss Bon Bon gets embarrassed easily.” The dog sniffed the air. “Miss Midnight’s scent is coming from outside.”

“Right, I’ll go find her,” Realm replied, taking wing. “You go ask dad about where Dash is for your project!”

“Sure,” Artemis shrugged and wandered off in search of the stallion. “Good luck bro.”

“Same to you!” Realm called back as he began looking around the property for that familiar coat color. Sooner or later he’d find her…

He eventually found her out the back, standing in the center of what used to be some boulders, now nothing but a pile of shattered rubble as the mare exhaled, her hooves covered in scratches, cuts and bruises.

“Sheesh...does the concept of taking it easy after a fight just go in one ear and out the other?” Realm asked as he touched down nearby. Her ear flicked as she turned her head towards him, she’d heard that from that distance?

“Hello young Realm,” she said, exhaling slowly and relaxing her form. “May I assist you in some manner?”

“Yeah, you can start by at least adhering to standard protocol after fighting dad,” Realm replied, pointing a wing at her. “No strenuous activity for a week afterwards. Longer if you got him to pull out any of his Air nature. The guards that actually challenged him back at the Everfree castle needed that long to recoup their strength.”

“Such frivoloties lead to laziness and loss of skill,” Midnight said with a nod. “He has shown me that I am… weaker than I thought I was. There is still much to improve. Physically and mentally.”

“And pushing yourself to do the impossible so soon after fighting him is only going to lead to your body breaking down instead of being built up,” Realm replied. “I saw a case of that, a guard that thought he had to beat dad to be the best. The healers...couldn’t put him back together again.”

“I am stronger than that,” she smiled. “He’ll not find a more stubborn foe than myself. Regardless.” She stepped closer to him. “Can I help you with something? Or did Aspect send you to fetch me?”

“Actually, yeah, you can help me with something else,” Realm replied. “There’s a project in school, and we need to bring in one of our parents to talk about what they do. But we can’t all ask Aspect to come in, that’d be silly. Soooo...can you come with me to school tomorrow?”

“Hmm, but I am not your parent… well not yet in any case.”

“Yeah, but you’re basically dad’s fiancee,” Realm pointed out. “Soon to be married into his family. Which means that you’ll actually legally have me as a son. Soooo...it might be a little early, but...can you come in for me, mom?”

Midnight paused. This was the first time he’d seen such a reaction from her. Her ears stood up straight and her eyes wide.

“You ah…” she said. “Poti repeta?”

“Mom, can you come in for my project tomorrow?” Realm asked in a practiced ‘cute voice’. It worked wonders getting things from Aspect.

And now he had the thestral mare nuzzling and hugging him. “Yes,” she smiled happily and she kissed his forehead. “I would be happy to… my beloved son.”

“Thanks!” Realm chirped, returning the hug. “All you’ll need to do is tell the class what you do when they call on me, okay?”

“Hmm, shall I need to bring anything?” she asked and gestured to her armor.

“Probably not...but if you feel the need to, your helmet might be good enough, any piece of guard armor is hard to fake,” Realm replied. “It’s really more for show and tell than a demonstration.”

“But, is the point not to tell the foals about my job?” the mare tilted her head somewhat cutely. “So I should show up in my full uniform no?”

“If you want to,” Realm replied. “I can’t imagine wearing it everywhere is comfortable. ‘S why I was going for a Knighthood.”

“A knight often wears full plate armour into battle,” Midnight said. “Hmm, I think I have an idea for later. But regardless. I will be at your school tomorrow.”

“Thank you!” Realm replied as he nuzzled her chest, before trying to break free of the hug. That didn’t seem to be happening though, as Midnight picked him up and started to fly.

“Um...eep?” Realm offered as he was carried.

It was a nice afternoon. The perfect day to enjoy the sun as Aspect sighed happily. Then he saw a shadow and… ah horseapples.

Midnight tackled him happily, sitting atop of him as she held Realm up. “My Stallion! A most wondrous thing has happened!” Her smile was huge, showing off those impossibly white teeth and those four cute fangs.

“Do you have to tell me while you’re sitting on me?” Aspect grumbled from under her flank.

“Yes,” she said and grinned wider. “My adorable son called me mother! I am so very happy right now!”

“I regret nothing,” Realm said in her grasp.

“Of course you don’t,” Aspect sighed. “Look, it was bound to happen if you agreed to marry into this crazy family. Just wait until my other kids gang up on you to take your measure. I don’t think most of them know I’m seeing more than one mare yet.”

“I am a mother!” she beamed and snuggled Realm like a plush toy. “I shall make a true stallion of him. He will grow up strong and kind and—”

“...You do realize I’ve already got training in the Gale King up to near where Hurricane had her mastery, right?” Realm replied.

“Yes, but you can only hold a Seventh Form technique for about a minute until your magic runs out,” Aspect countered. “So you’re almost as strong as one of the founders. Good luck teaching him manners, though.”

“I shall do as such,” she said with a fanged grin. “These sharp fangs do wonders for correcting manners. Both of you will find as such out~”

“...And now I’m scared,” Realm eeped out as he tried to squirm away.

Midnight chuckled as she nommed him with her fangs. “Small colts are always so tasty,” she giggled and nommed on his little belly.

“Nooooo,” Realm tried to scream, but it came out as a giggle instead because of how her fangs tickled him. She cackled as she blew a loud raspberry on him and then eyed the stallion under her mischevously… then her gaze turned to his hooves.

“Nope!” Aspect replied, tucking his legs under his body.

It did not save him. She released Realm and grabbed one of his hooves, her wing barbs teasing the soft underside as she pinned him under her.

“You do *snerk* realize I could just demateralize to get out of this, yes?” Aspect pointed out.

“You could,” she mused as she lifted her tail… and the soft tip started to tickle him. “But I will hear your laugh and will hunt you until I do~”

“You can try,” the stallion replied, barely stifling another giggle before it escaped him.

“Do you want to live looking over your shoulder?’ she mused as she leaned down. “Or will you give in here and now…”

Then her lithe tongue started to tease his hoof. The stallion was fairly shaking with the compressed force of the giggles wracking his frame.

“Tickle tickle~” she giggled as she swished her tail, tickling his belly as a hoof went to his ribs, a triple assault.

“BWA HA-” the stallion laughed, before clamping his hoof over his mouth.

“I heard thaaaaat~” she smirked and wiggled her ears… before redoubling her efforts. Aspect shook his head a few times as he forcefully kept the laughs contained, not wanting to give in again.

“Baaah, you are little fun… unleeesss~” she looked at Realm. “Oh my dear son. Come and help Mommy.”

“Tickle fight!” Realm agreed as he went for Aspect’s rear hooves and used his wings.

It was too much for the stallion. With a mighty bellow, the laughs tore free of his frame, filling the air around them.

“Victory!” Midnight giggled as she thrust a hoof in the air. Realm was quick to meet it with one of his own as they celebrated their triumph over the grump that was his father. Mare and colt shared a hoof bump and grinned.

Then a giggle caught the attentions of Aspect and he looked back to see Bon Bon standing a distance away, doing a very poor job of suppressing her giggles at the sight.

“What?” Aspect asked after he calmed down a bit.

“Nothing, just enjoying my family being adorable,” Bon Bon mused. “Your laugh is really something.”

“Eh, I don’t get nearly as many chances to use it,” Aspect replied, still laying there.

“Hmm, you shouldn’t be so reluctant to laugh then,” Bon Bon replied as she helped him up after Midnight vacated her seat. “So, did you find Dashie Realm?”

“I was after Midnight, it was Artemis who needs Dash,” Realm replied.

“Oh right,” Bon Bon replied and kissed Aspect’s cheek. “So, aside from losing a tickle fight to a bat and a kid, how was your day love?”

“Eh, pretty standard day,” the stallion returned as he shook the dirt off from the little fight. “Did a little cloud work in lieu of any teaching, felt like a productive member of society.”

“So you were bored because you weren’t teaching or being dragged off on Twilight’s near weekly adventures,” Bon Bon translated. “Well no matter. Seems I’ll be at the school tomorrow. Your kids want us mares to give a presentation.”

“Ah,” Aspect nodded. “So that’s why I need to find Dash for Artemis, because the mare is flighty.”

“Yup,” Bon Bon said and sighed. “Good luck pinning her down…” Then she caught herself and looked at Aspect. “I do not mean that literally.”

“Too late, taking it as a challenge,” Aspect grinned as he flared his wings.

“Christopher Gale…” Bon Bon warned, bringing out the dreaded full name. Mostly. She really needed to see if it was.

“Yeeeees?” Aspect smiled as his wings twitched.

“No.”

“Yes,” Aspect replied, reaching out with the wind to search for the chromatic pegasus. He found her a few miles west, she was stationary, likely napping on a cloud.

“Aspect no!”

“Too late,” Aspect smirked as he disappeared.

“Sonofa—” Midnight blocked Realm’s ears as Bon Bon cursed.

Rainbow Dash was having a great dream. Millions of her screaming fans, some weeping at her mere presence as she soared high above the ground, Captain of the Wonderbolts. Princess of Everything Awesome and Saviour of the Universe. It was good to be the Dash.

She rolled over… only to find her cloud was… warm and furry?

She opened her rose-hued eyes, blinking the sleep out of them as a familiar stallion slept by her side. “Huh?” she blinked slowly. “Whazzat? Aspect?”

“Heya,” Aspect softly kissed her cheek. “Have a nice nap?”

“Mmm, wasn’t bad,” she yawned. “Then again, It was about me, of course it was awesome.” She stretched her wings and looked at the sun to determine the time. “So, what’s up? I’m sure you didn’t come all this way just to nap with me.”

“Two things,” Aspect replied. “One, the kids are having an event at school, and rather than ask me to come in for all of them, they’ve decided to ask the mares that would be their mothers. Realm has Midnight, Pupal has Bon Bon. So that leaves Artemis with you. Wanna come in for the nascent Aspect of Earth?”

“Hmm, do I want to go to a school and talk about how awesome and cool I am?” Rainbow repeated and smirked. “Sounds like a fun way to spend the day… buuuuut.”

“But?” The stallion asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I have work tomorrow,” she said and looked at the cloudy, overcast sky. “Tomorrow calls for a clear day, it’s gonna take ages to clear this up.”

“You do realise, I am Air, right?” Aspect raised a brow. “I could clear this whole sky up without any effort whatsoever.”

“Yeah, and probably cause a tornado or something,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “And say you do that. How many ponies are you suddenly denying a day’s pay because they no longer have to work?”

“True enough,” Aspect sighed. “My fine control has picked up, but I shouldn’t just use my power willy-nilly.”

“Yup,” she nodded and poked his chest. “Look, I’ll work as fast as I can and try to be there. But no promises okay?”

“You know, you could tell me to do it while being a normal pony, and I would,” the stallion pointed out. “I’d come out and help until I dropped if I had to.”

“Nah, you’ll need to be backup if I can’t make it,” Rainbow said with a nod. “Don’t worry. I mean, look at who you’re talking to here. I’ll have the skies clear in no time.”

“...Okay, if you say so,” Aspect sighed. “Just...call me if you need help, okay?”

“Will do,” Rainbow saluted. Then she smiled and licked her lips. “I have another idea though~”

“Oh?” Aspect asked, raising that eyebrow again.

She pounced on him, pinning him to the fluffy cloud under her. “I haven’t broken this cloud in yet~”

The next day, Bon Bon and Midnight arrived at the school, along with quite a few other ponies that seemed to be waiting. She saw Filthy Rich, but thankfully not his wife. A few other ponies that she seemed to recognise as well. Midnight didn’t know any of them.

As she waited at the back of the room, Aspect joined them to watch, just in time to hear Granny Smith tell the most interesting tale of how Ponyville was first founded. The foals learning that while the apples created the town through their farming and something called ‘Zap Apples’. It was Filthy Rich’s ancestor that brought the traders and more commercial sides, truly making Ponyville a town for everyone.

“Both sides of the same coin,” Aspect mused, looking out the window to check up on Dash’s progress. They sky was getting clearer, but she still hadn’t fronted up. Artemis looked like he was getting worried too.

Bon Bon stepped up next, explaining her role as the candy maker of the town and how she got the job. Apparently she apprenticed under an old stallion here, and his shop was passed down about four years ago after he passed away. It was a rather bittersweet tale actually. Aspect smiled along as he watched the class progress. Hopefully the foals were learning a lot today.

Midnight was up next, several foals shying away from the fearsome-looking mare as she explained a few duties of being a royal guard, though Cheerilee had to intervene a few times to avoid the more graphic details.

Nightmare had gotten somepony unexpected. Twilight Sparkle.

The mare also looked a bit confused as to why, but still offered a story on what it was like being the student of Princess Celestia. Naturally, that earned a few questions from curious foals.

Then the room shuddered as a rainbow exploded across the sky, clearing the clouds as it streaked towards the school…

Aspect smirked. His rainbow mare had done it.

She landed outside the school, digging a small trench as she got up and trotted inside, saluting with a wing to Artemis.

Once it was her turn… well Aspect had to admit that she could spin one hell of a tale. She explained the story behind her Cutie Mark, and her job as a weather mare. He also finally got to hear a first hand recount of what happened to Nightmare Moon.

The stallion just smiled. This...this was a class day done right.

Eventually, everypony had had their turn, and it was a tie between Granny, Midnight and Rainbow for Best Story. The class eventually broke up for the afternoon, but on his way out, Aspect noticed that Scootaloo looked a bit down… and he recalled that she hadn’t had anypony there…

The stallion let out a sigh and followed after her, sitting out of the way so she could come and talk to him while he performed a few minor Gale King tricks to practice his meditation. Hopefully, she’d choose to talk with her teacher about this…

“Hey…” she said quietly once they were alone. “Sup teach?”

“Just a little pattern recognition,” Aspect replied, running an arc of lightning across one wing and having it ‘jump’ to the other. “Everypony there had somepony...but you. Are your parents just too busy to come in?”

“...I guess,” she sighed. “Mom works in Canterlot… so she isn’t home very often. And Dad… he travels all over Equestria. I know that… well they do what they love. And I live a good life. Just…”

Aspect smirked as he reached into his saddlebags and started penning a quick letter. “What’s your mom’s name, squirt?” he asked once he reached a particular point in the letter.

“Huh?” She blinked and looked up at him. “Why?”

“Do you forget who my daughter is?” Aspect replied with a cheeky wink. “I can have your mom here in a flash. Possibly literally if I use runes to get there and bring her back.”

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked and look at him. “How did you know my Mom was a Guard?”

“The only ponies that work in Canterlot and don’t live there are guards,” Aspect explained. “Everypony else has a house/shop combo, or a really snobby estate if they’re a nob. The guards are stationed in the barracks, and when they have off time, they return to their families. By the simple fact of you being here, I know she’s a guard.”

“Are you a detective now?” the little filly asked as a voice called out and she looked up to see a white pegasus mare in full uniform flying towards her.

“Huh...well, guess I don’t need this then,” Aspect chuckled as his hoof turned into flames and incinerated the paper instantly. “Go on and say hello to your mom, kiddo. She’ll have a story to tell when recess is over.”

The mare stopped in front of them, removing her helmet as the illusion wore off, a deep orange bleeding into her white coat and… and she looked just like a grown up Scootaloo. She was rather tall, and had a clear, sharp gaze that softened as she nuzzled the little filly.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said to her. “The train broke down and I had to fly here as fast as I could… I know it’s no excuse but…”

“It’s okay,” Scootaloo said and beamed. “Oh this is cool. You can finally meet my awesome teach!”

“I hardly qualify for awesome teach,” Aspect replied, though he was smiling. “Just think of me as a martial arts instructor instead.”

“Nope, Aspect is totally awesome!” Scootaloo said excitedly. “He taught me to fly and even turned into a freaking dragon!”

“Ahh, so this is the famous ‘Aspect’ I’ve heard so much about,” the mare smiled and turned, offering a salute with her wing. “Sunrise Dawn. It’s good to meet the stallion that make my little girl smile like that.”

“To be fair, the dragon thing was a one-off, at least, as large as that was,” Aspect rubbed the back of his head. “And really, teaching Scootaloo to fly isn’t a big deal. I’m glad to see Aeromancy being used to help this one get to where she really belongs. Maybe if she behaves I’ll teach her the Gale King too.”

“REALLY!?” Scootaloo said in a volume usually reserved for Crusading. “AWESOME!!!”

“Oh dear,” Sunrise giggled as she pet the filly’s head. “Hmm, why don’t you go find those friends of yours. Momma wants to speak with Aspect for a moment.”

“Oh, I have to get Bloom and Sweetie,” Scootaloo agreed as she tore off to find them.

“So I’m sure you have questions,” Aspect said as he mentally prepared his defenses. “Go on, fire away.”

“Not so much questions,” she said. “But thanks… for taking care of her. I know I’m not around as much as I should be… I want to, really I do. But a guard’s life is all I know. I want to make sure she grows up comfortable and happy you know.”

Aspect hummed, before looking over to where the fillies were. “You know...Ponyville sees its fair share of disasters these days. And we are situated on the edge of the Everfree, which has only grown more wild since ponies stopped living there. Maybe it’s time we had a guard station around, to protect the average citizen from Timberwolves and rogue manticores?”

“Perhaps, but that’s for the Princess and the mayor to decide,” Sunrise sighed. “As a single parent… it’s hard you know. I’ve never had a foal before or after her… sometimes I’m just at a loss as to how to handle it.”

“Oh believe me, I do know,” Aspect chuckled. “Fear. You’re constantly afraid that you’re going to screw up somehow, that they won’t get everything they deserve, that they’ll turn out to hate you for not doing more than you possibly can. And at the same time, you love them. That little ball of fur and hooves, that little bit of you running around in the world. You can’t bear to think about them not loving you back…”

“Amen to that,” she groaned. “Everyday I’m terrified that she’s getting into trouble, or somepony’s picking on her, while I stand in front of a door for hours on end. But then I get these letters saying she’s having a blast. She’s got awesome friends and a teacher that’s ‘A bit of a grump but totally okay for a grownup’.”

Aspect nodded, before pulling out another scroll from his pack and penning a quick letter. Making sure that he’d gotten her name right and double-checking the request...he briefly opened his mouth and breathed blue fire, turning the letter to ash and sending it whisking away to Canterlot.

“Well that wasn’t something you see everyday,” she said with a light chuckle. “That said, Scootaloo never told me her teacher was so handsome as well.”

“Sorry, taken by quite a few mares,” Aspect replied. “I mean, you could try, but you would have to compete with quite a few slightly possessive mares. I don’t think they’re interested in adding what would be, to them, a total stranger.”

“Just an observation, not a request,” she said and waved a wing. “I am quite happy being single thankyou very much. My life is dramatic enough without some stallion adding to the mix.”

“Oh, so now I’m a source of drama, am I?” Aspect teased. “Wonder what you’ll think of me when I tell you that was a request for Celly to put in a guard post at the town’s borders, with permission from the mayor of course...and for you to be the one in charge. Lieutenant.”

“I… what?” the mare looked rather shocked. “Wait. I know you now. You… you’re—”

“Just an old warhorse with some pull with the princesses,” Aspect replied instantly. “But anything that puts a smile on that filly’s face...is worth it. Anything that makes good little ponies smile...like bringing their families back to spend time with them.” He was silent for a little while longer. “When are you planning on telling her?” he eventually asked, nodding at the distant filly.

“Telling her what?” the mare said with a narrowed gaze.

“She said her dad is travelling. You said you’re single. Only one of those is true. I think I know which one,” the stallion replied evenly. “I won’t tell her...but you should. Sooner or later. I know, I know, let her be innocent a little while longer, let her have her fun with her friends. But which do you think will burn more? The truth...or the fact that you kept it from her as long as you did?”

“I told her once…” she said softly. “That her dad was out there somewhere. I don’t care where he is really. Not after what he did.”

“So like I said...you should tell her. Just because she doesn’t have a father figure, doesn’t mean you love her any less. She should know the truth one day. Before you bring home a mare and she asks what’s going on.”

“Pfft, not likely,” Sunrise chuckled. “Sorry mate, but my door doesn’t swing that way.” She flicked his nose with a wing and smiled. “Still, thanks for caring huh?”

“Some days all I do is care about others,” the stallion replied. “As long as they listen, that is.”

“I’ll tell her when she’s ready,” Sunrise said. “Just… let her be a kid a little longer hm?”

“Fair enough,” the stallion replied. “As long as you agree to be there for her when you can. She’s tough, but she looked like she needed somepony today.”

“I know, it’s my fault,” Sunrise sighed. “I’ll make it up to her.” She turned and smiled. “Thanks for listening aye?”

“Hey, it’s another service I offer for no charge,” Aspect replied playfully.

“That’s good, I forgot my bitpurse,” she smiled back as Scootaloo tackled her with a hug, dragging her away to meet the other avatars of chaos.

Aspect was mistaken before. Now?

Now today had unfolded perfectly.

He was walking home, a group of mares around him and a trio of youngsters on his back. “So, you seem rather chipper,” Bon Bon giggled, bumping his flank with hers.

“The day unfolded just right,” the stallion sighed. “Plus, I might be getting Scootaloo’s mom a promotion and a station here, assuming the mayor agrees to the need of a guard post in Ponyville.”

“Hm? Sounds like a new plan you’re hatching,” she mused as they approached the large home.

“Today was pretty good,” Artemis agreed. “And Midnight’s story was pretty cool.”

“Psh! What?” Rainbow scoffed. “Mine was totally the coolest. Midnight and Bonnie’s were weaksauce.”

“Bonnie had a nice undercurrent of...hrrm. That feeling of homeliness, of being close to the heart,” Aspect summed up. “Though it ultimately lost to how the Rich and Apple clans founded Ponyville, for that regard. Yours was a tale of daring heroism that most young ponies could relate to. And Midnight may have won if the audience was slightly older and able to hear all the juicy details without the teacher intervening.”

“She was a spoilsport,” Midnight huffed and pouted. “I have seen some glorious battles.” Realm patted her side understandingly. Midnight would have fit in just fine back in the bad old days.

“Yeaah, but mine were the awesomest,” Rainbow nodded and shared a hoofbump with Artemis.

“You were all good in different ways, is what I’m trying to get at here,” Aspect rolled his eyes. “No one pony can be everything. For example, for all her power, Celly can’t do a lick of ice magic, nor Lulu fire. It’s just too opposite their spheres of influence.”

“Pretty sure we can do anything,” Rainbow said as she looked at the other mares. “Well, Middy can’t cook. And I… nah, I’m awesome at everything.”

“Except reining in that ego,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes. Speaking of… she had an idea. “Anyway, today was nice. No weekly disaster… just a nice, calm day.”

Until they got home to find Luna and Midnight’s mother embroiled in a rather heated discussion over some battle tactics. That was also some very colourful language being used…

“Luna,” Aspect said warningly. “I raised you better than that. Do I have to go get the bar of soap?”

“Eeep!” Luna tried and failed to hide behind the tiny thestral.

“Ahaha, dinnae tease the lass so much,” she chuckled. “Ah haven’t had a good back an’ forth like this in a while.”

“I don’t even know what half those words mean,” Artemis said.

“And so long as you all remain good little children, I won’t hear you repeating them,” Aspect replied. “Otherwise I’ll go find a bar of soap and you’ll learn what the punishment for a dirty mouth is.” He also gave Luna a bit of a stink-eye for even teaching those words to the kids.

The mare just offered an adorable, sheepish grin.

“Ahaha, Imma going to love this fam,” the thestral smiled. “Now, who’s hungry? Ah made some traditional thestral dishes fer dinner tonight.”

“Oh boy,” Aspect chuckled. Somehow, the stallion was already cautious of this.

Turns out, it was quite a normal meal. The fish was amazing, as was the abundance of fruit dishes. The banter around the table was hearty, especially with Luna present. And then the small thestral mare pulled out something from the fridge and placed it in front of Midnight and Aspect.

“Mah specialty dessert,” she said and pulled the lid off, revealing little lumps of chocolate. Midnight’s eyes widened and she let out a happy skree, before all but devouring her own desert.

Aspect shrugged as he picked one up. What was the worst that could happen?

So he popped it in his mouth. It had some kind of filling, crunchy… and rather tart, almost acidic to the taste, offset by the sweet chocolate.

Huh...not bad actually. So he had a few more.

“Well ah’ll be,” the smol mare mused and slapped his back. “Ain’t ever seen a normal stallion take to my chocolate-coated cave beetles like that before.”

Aspect slowly stopped what he was doing…

Before flashing into his Thestral form and having a few more. What? They were tasty.

Bon Bon and Rainbow… along with almost everyone else turned a little green at that. Midnight just giggled as she watched him eat. He truly was a stallion of many surprises.

And next to Realm, Pupal was busy tearing into them as well, munching noisily, bits of beetle flying onto her plate. Aspect was sure there would need to be some sort of conversation about that later.

He eventually finished his bowl of beetles and sat back, not sure what he should be feeling.

“Mm, I was not expecting you to take to it so readily,” Midnight smiled. “That taste is not for everypony after all.”

“It’s...an acquired taste, that’s for sure,” Aspect agreed. “Not sure it’d be my first choice…”

“Hmm, you still did it,” Midnight kissed his cheek. “You are now all but family.”

“That… was really gross,” Rainbow said with a shudder. “Dude… you ate bugs.”

“Yeah, I can tell I’m going to have to wash my mouth out before I get any kisses from anypony but Midnight,” Aspect rolled his eyes.

Bon Bon and Rainbow nodded quite readily at that one.

“Their loss,” Midnight shrugged as she leaned over and trapped the stallion in deep kiss, one that was flavoured with the dark chocolate. Something that Aspect readily returned, deepening the kiss just a touch, before pulling back.

“Yup, he’s alll yours,” Rainbow waved a wing before a knock at the door sounded. The stallion smacked his lips, before flashing into his pegasus form and trotting through the halls, humming a happy tune as he reached his front door.

He opened it to reveal Sparkler, standing there with a box in her magical grasp.

“Sorry it’s late,” she said with an apologetic smile. “But, I thought you might like these as soon as possible.” She held up the box and opened it, revealing a trio of the most necklaces he’d seen. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and Rainbow’s one stood out nicely, with a flawlessly carved heart made of a Spectra gem, the gem polish to a gleaming finish. The silver of Midnight’s one shone like a star and Bon Bon’s was as gorgeous as the mare destined to wear it.

“They’re wonderful, thank you,” Aspect replied, taking the box and putting it on his back, bowing to her in reverence of her skills.

“H-Hey, no need for that,” she waved a hoof. “Services rendered for services paid right?”

“You still did a fantastic job,” the stallion pointed out. “I’ll be sure to tell them it was you if they ask.”

“Appreciate it,” she said and then leaned closer. “You better promise to take care of the mares that will wear these hm.”

“That’s sort of why I asked for them,” Aspect chuckled, before giving Sparkler a quick hug. “Thank you again.”

“H-Hey!” she pushed him away with her magic. “Easy lovercolt. Save it for the finances alright?” She looked really cute blushing like that in the moonlight.

“Just giving you some appreciation,” Aspect replied, before smiling at her. “You truly are skilled, you know?”

“W-Well of course,” she huffed and blushed again, turning around. “Idiot…” she mumbled under her breath. “See ya round okay.”

“Take care,” Aspect called back as he walked back into his house. He would have to hide the necklaces in his saddlebags.

… Alternatively, he could spring them on his mares now, as they were all gathered in one place.

It took him all of ten seconds to decide what to do.

Bon Bon giggled as Rainbow told her something funny, while Aspect’s kids were led off into the living room to play for a bit before bed. All that remained in the kitchen were his three loves, Twilight and Luna.

So Aspect snuck up behind his mares, before getting on bended knee and opening the box Sparkler had given him. Twilight, given she was standing opposite him, gasped and put her hooves to her mouth. The mares blinked and turned around, their eyes widening as they took the scene in.

“My loves, you make my days brighter, you fill them with color, you enrich my life with your sweet songs,” Aspect started. “So it would please this old warhorse greatly...if you would accept my proposal, and be my wives.”

Bon Bon was crying at this point, while Midnight smiled warmly and nodded.

Rainbow though…

She looked at them, letting the words sink in. And took a step back…

The stallion actually felt a pang in his heart as she did that.

“I…” She looked at him and the necklaces, before flying out of the nearest window.

Bon Bon’s eyes widened as Midnight looked at Aspect. “Go after her fool Do not let her get away!”

“Hurry!” Twilight agreed.

Aspect nabbed Rainbow’s necklace and dashed off after her. She wouldn’t just run away from this!

She was fast alright, he’d have to break out quite a bit… quite a lot of Air power to catch her… only he didn’t have to. She was standing on some clouds a few hundred feet from the house, staring up at the night sky.

Aspect landed behind her, holding the necklace in one hoof as he just waited. He was quite sure she’d heard him. If she felt like talking to him, he’d be right there.

“Y…” her voice cracked and she shook her head. “You… actually asked me. I… I thought, that I’d be ready but…”

“I understand if you’re not,” the stallion replied.

“It’s just…” she paced in a small circle. “AARGH! I’m not good with all this feelings and crap!” She panted and stomped the cloud a little. “I love you Aspect. Really I do. When you asked that just now. I… I thought my heart was going to just… just explode with how happy I am.”

“Then why did you run away?” Aspect softly asked.

“I dunno…” she said quietly. “I… I guess I panicked. I mean… getting married? Having a family? That’s a huuge commitment for somepony my age Aspect.”

“Well I’m not saying you’d have to have a family right away,” Aspect pointed out. “But I am asking you to be in my life.”

“I know,” she said as she looked up him with an upturned gaze. “But… geeze Aspect. I don’t even know what to say. I mean, I’m just nineteen! What… how am I supposed to…”

The stallion’s jaw worked for a little bit, before he did the only thing he could.

He walked forward and kissed her. She melted into his warm embrace, sighing softly as he held her there for a moment. Once he broke the kiss, she chuckled and lightly punched his shoulder.

“That’s cheating and you know it,” she said.

“Sheesh, go about making me feel old why don’t you?” Aspect chuckled. “Then again, I was younger than you when I became what I am. So...semantics.”

“Your fault you never asked,” she giggled, poking his chest. “So uh… I guess I owe you an answer huh?”

“That you do,” Aspect nodded, still holding the necklace out for her. She looked at it, it really was beautiful, something wasted on a tomcolt like her.

“I’m scared you know,” she said. “I’ll… probably screw something up. Make you mad or…”

“That’s me every day,” Aspect replied teasingly. “I think if anything goes wrong, it’s my fault anyways.”

“Cause it usually is,” Rainbow snorted, unable to resist taking that jab.

“Fair enough,” Aspect shrugged. “It’s all up to you.”

Rainbow looked at the necklace and smiled. “Well… I guess somepony has to challenge you. And besides… nopony else will give that pervy griffon a workout.” She took the necklace and with a bit of fidgeting, placed it around her neck and looked up. “So uh… how do I look? Prolly really stupid an—”

Aspect put a hoof under her chin, raising her just a little bit to give her another kiss. Once it broke, he smiled at her. “You look wonderful, Dash. It really suits you.”

Rainbow squirmed under the praise and blushed hard. “Eerrghh, you’re just saying that.”

“I promise that when we get back to the others, you’ll hear them gushing about it too,” Aspect replied, kissing the tip of her nose. Rainbow giggled and blushed again.

“Yeah okay,” she said. “I guess we should go back. I probably worried them huh…”

“Just a bit,” the stallion teased. “In any case, don’t you want to see the others in their necklaces too?”

“Yeah, I bet Bon Bon’s all blushy and giggly,” Rainbow said, being exactly that way herself right now. “And Midnight will be playing it all cool and stuff.”

“Mmm,” Aspect pecked her cheek, before giving her a hug. “Thanks for saying yes.”

“Yeah well… Thanks for taking a chance with me,” she smiled back. She wiped her eyes with her wings and nodded. “Right, totally cool now. Let’s head back!” She spread her wings and then flashed that trademark grin. “Race ya!”

And with that, she rocketed off. Aspect chuckled as he spread his own wings, before bearing them down in a powerful thrust, heading towards home himself.

Twilight tackle hugged Rainbow almost the second she arrived, followed by Midnight and Bon Bon as they giggled about the proposal. It was a rather heartwarming scene actually.

“So you actually did it,” Written said to Aspect from a nearby portrait. “Who'd have thought it possible.”

“It only took me a few thousand years to settle down,” Aspect joked back.

“And it only took three mares,” Written riposted without missing a beat. “So that's where I went wrong. Should’ve teamed up with Heartthrob and Hurricane~”

“Like that old warmare would have ever settled down with me,” Aspect waved it off.

“True enough, she was awfully stubborn,” Written giggled. “And Christopher? I'm sure the real Written would have been proud of you too.”

“I’m sure she would have,” the stallion sighed. “She always wanted me to have more tying me to this world. More reasons to fight and stay here.”

“Well you have quite a lot now,” the painted alicorn chuckled. “In anycase… good luck.”

Then three mares dogpiled him under hugs and kisses. The stallion let out a cry as he collapsed under the affection, dramatically raising a hoof up from under the pile before it slowly sank back in.

“And lo, the great hero falls,” Twilight said with a snarky, solemn tone. “Here lies Balanced Aspect, slain by snuggles.”

Aspect even let out a fake death rattle as he was cuddled to death.

“Aww,” Bon Bon pouted. “Now who do we marry?”

They all looked at Twilight. Who in response?

Teleported right the hell out of there for the evening.

“Cheater,” Rainbow snickered. “Oh, I think I broke Aspect earlier?”

Midnight raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Apparently he didn't know how old I was,” she snickered and looked down. “How old did you think I was anyway?”

“Well you were clearly mature enough to know what you were getting into,” Aspect replied, opening his eyes. “Beyond that, I don’t ask. It’s rude to ask a female her age.”

“Ten bits says he doesn't know yours either,” Rainbow snickered at the other mares.

“I doubt even Aspect is that foolish,” Midnight nodded and looked at him. “Isn't that right?”

“A gentlestallion does not pry into the matters of a mare’s age,” Aspect said solemnly. “It is up to her to disclose it if she feels like it.”

Midnight just stared flatly… before depositing a silver bit into Rainbow’s hoof. “Well, for your information, I am twenty six.”

“And I’m twenty two,” Bon Bon replied and looked at Rainbow.

“Nineteen,” she smiled as the mares just stared.

“Wow… we really robbed the cradle here huh?” Bon Bon said, earning a huff from the little pegasus mare.

“You know, if you wanted to do a comparison, you could always ask me my age,” Aspect pointed out.

“Several thousand, you old relic,” Rainbow snorted. “Like you’d find anyone your age that isn’t related.”

“True enough,” Aspect mused. “I could always try a dragon, but I doubt any would be interested in me except as something to be added to their horde once they realize how important I am.”

“Mine!” Bon Bon and Midnight growled.

“And that is the reason I’m not doing that,” the stallion chuckled. “So...hmm. How to go about doing this, I wonder?”

“What do you mean?” Bon Bon asked. “Do what?”

“The actual wedding, of course,” Aspect replied. “We’ll need somepony to preside over it, a location, a guest list…”

“Yeah, there’s a lot to work out,” Bon Bon said with a nod. “Hmm, well I’m sure you have some family that could help. Maybe a certain pink alicorn?”

“I can always ask her help, true...oooh, there’s an idea,” Aspect mused. “Getting wed by the Aspect of Love. That is, if she agrees to it. Plus she could give me a list of things that need to get done, and I’m sure Twilight would help me get it organized. Then it would just be a matter of ticking it all off one by one.”

“Hey, leave some for us to do yeah?” Rainbow snorted and looked at her necklace. “So… you think these suit us Aspy?”

“They are more lovely than they were before, because the mares that are the light of my life are wearing them,” the stallion replied with a nod of his head.

“Awww~” the trio cooed and looked at each other.

“Shall we show him our… appreciation?” Bon Bon purred.

“Mmm yes,” Midnight smiled and licked her fangs.

“Somepony ain’t sleepin’ tonight,” Rainbow smirked as the trio surrounded him.

“I regret nothing,” Aspect replied seriously. Regret wasn’t on the table.

The ability to walk the next morning though… that option was shot right to hell.

Author's Note

Am totally preparing this early, because that means more time spent doing other things on Wednesday.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent ranching slimes.

Chapter 50 - Honesty is the best policy

Aspect had to admit. Of all the things he could be doing today, visiting a pair of twins in the hospital wasn’t one of them. Turns out that Mrs. Cake had been pregnant. A fact he hadn’t known.

And that she gave birth to twins.

And that two Earth Ponies had a unicorn and a pegasus foal.

Well...miracles could happen. Or genetics could be something that ponies hadn’t fully mapped yet.

And then he heard Mister Cake’s… explanation as to how this event might have occurred.

Okay, that...that was flimsy even by his standards.

And yet, even Twilight seemed to be buying it. Mind you, they were also busy fawning over the babies and… how the hell did Pinkie get in there?

And… where did the cake come from?

Somepony needed to have a chat with her about what was appropriate behavior around babies. Seems that Redheart was that pony as she all but strong armed the pink mare out of the maternity ward. And was that that line of thought that triggered a new one.

He’d be here soon enough, in Mister Cake’s shoes as it were when Bon Bon had her own.

The thought both terrified and excited him.

“Yo, everything okay?” Rainbow whispered, nudging him with a wing.

“Fine, just...it’s heavy to think that I’ll be here soon enough,” the stallion replied. “It’s...pretty scary. I’ve never had a biological kid, you know?”

“Oooh right, forgot that was a thing,” Rainbow nodded and put a wing over him. “Eh, you raised our immortal rulers and Goddess knows how many else. It’ll be a cake walk.”

“Cake?” Pinkie popped up between them.

“No cake here,” Aspect chuckled. “Just...don’t worry, Pinkie.”

“Aww…” Pinkie sunk back down and somehow vanished from sight.

Once the visit was over, everypony went about their separate ways. Rainbow had work so that left Aspect with the day free to do as he wished. The stallion hummed as he considered what he could do.

Hmm...he should probably send a letter up to Cadence. She likely wouldn’t forgive him if she wasn’t informed of this development in his love life.

The stallion whistled a happy little tune as he arrived home, intending to head up to his room and send a letter to the pink Alicorn to ask for her advice for a wedding, maybe even for her to preside over it.

As he walked in, the first thing he saw was a little pegasus filly, Pupal’s standard disguise these days. She was laying on the floor, rubbing a rather distended belly with a low groan.

“Overfeeding again?” Aspect chuckled as he helped her to her hooves.

“Tooo much… it… it was too much… just a sip and… blerg.” She went limp, having passed out into a food coma. The stallion let out a chuckle as he slung the little bug onto his back, intending to take her to her, and by that he meant Realm’s, room.

He dropped her off and headed towards his room, and once he entered…

*POW!*

Something tackled him, and a hug that put Luna to shame was ensnaring him. A pair of pink-coated forelegs crushing him as Cadance squealed happily as she nuzzled him.

“Air…” he gasped, before succumbing to the hug.

“I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed. “You actually proposed to them, and all of them no less!” his plea went ignored as Cadance beamed brightly. Well, this explained Pupal’s problem. “There is so much to organise! Ah! This wedding will be simply magical! I’m so excited!!”

The stallion gasped before starting to go limp in her embrace.

She looked down and rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so melodramatic,” she said and let him go. “Honestly, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner. I just happened to hear Aunt Celestia and Luna talking about it.”

“Well they only accepted my proposal yesterday,” Aspect replied as he made sure his lungs were still working. “I was going to ask you to help me organize everything in a letter today. Heck, if you were willing, I can think of no more fitting pony to preside over things than the Aspect of Love herself.”

“W-Wait…” Cadance paused and looked at him. “You… want me to do that for you?”

“I’m asking the only mare that I would think would be qualified to see an old fossil like me married off, yes,” the stallion joked with her.

“Hm, usually royal weddings are presided by Aunt Celestia,” Cadance said with a nod. “That’s who’s doing mine and Shiny’s in two month’s time.”

“She’ll be too busy giving me away with Lulu to preside over it,” Aspect pointed out. “They’re not my parents, but they’re the closest kin I have here.”

“Ah of course,” Cadance said with a shake of her head. “Well, if you think I’m up to the task, I’d be more than happy. Do you have a date for the wedding?”

“I have absolutely nothing for the wedding save three lovely brides,” Aspect replied. “I’ve never been married before, I have no idea how this works.”

“You at least need a date,” Cadance sighed. “Well, I’m sure we can work something out when you do. Now, you’ll need essentials. A guest list. Caterer. Venue and the wedding party. A Best Mare or Stallion and bridesmaids for the brides.”

“Hmmm,” Aspect hummed. “Well, Middy doesn’t have one, I don’t think. Bon Bon will probably bring Lyra, and Dash will bring her friends. I’ll trust Applejack to cater, and Pinkie to plan the reception. Celly and Lulu can fight over which of them will give me away and which will be my best mare. And as the guest list is likely to be large, I think the only venue that could fit would be somewhere on Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Well you’ll Miss Applejack’s permission for that most likely,” Cadance said. “And it’s funny, Lyra will be one of my bridesmaids as well.”

“Small world,” the stallion chuckled. “Well, I’ll make up a list of things that need doing and get to work on them.”

“Yes, just send me a letter in case you need a hoof,” Cadance said and looked at him. “So… how have you been feeling lately. I heard about your… recent troubles regarding sleep.”

“...Arabus had better have learned his lesson from that one,” the stallion huffed as he looked away. “I’ll be glad when he finally accepts defeat and his death. It means that won’t happen again. Damn demon never did give up.”

“That’s something I don’t understand,” Cadance said as she put a wing over him. “Why don’t you simply put him with the other fallen Aspects? The ones guarded by Gelgeth.”

“He’s strong-willed,” Aspect explained. “He was...well, I don’t know what he was before. When I got to him, he was a demon made of clouds that ate shadows thanks to his zebra assistant and some strange device he had. All the others accepted that they weren’t coming back, that they had well and truly died and I would never let them be free. But Arabus...he kept fighting. He was of the opinion that as long as I wielded what used to be his power, he could force his way into the forefront of my mind and take over. I’ve put that notion to rest several times, but he still has a foothold in my soul. Until he accepts that he’s never going to be in control, until he accepts that the worst he can do is inconvenience me...then he’ll always be able to dodge the Reaper’s scythe.”

“That sounds terrible,” Cadance sighed and shook her head. “I wonder, if this was how Aunt Lulu felt when she was controlled by the Nightmare way back when.”

“...not going to ask her, it’s still a sore subject for the both of us,” Aspect replied after a lengthy pause.

“Well, it’s all in the past now,” Cadance said quickly and changed the subject. “Oh, as far as the ceremony goes. Did you want a traditional herd marriage?”

“There’s still a ceremony for that?” Aspect asked with a raised brow.

“Mhm, hasn’t been used in a while, herds aren’t that common anymore.” She perked her ears up and smiled. “You know, I could always arrange a meeting with some other herds. Their experiences might be good for you.”

“Hmm...maybe,” Aspect replied. “In any case, I have quite the list of things to do in the near future.”

“Just a bit,” Cadance giggled. “In any case. There’s no rush to get married. Do so at your own pace… or, well your mare’s pace. They aren’t immortal.”

“Yeah, I’ll see about getting things set up to do it all soon,” Aspect nodded as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. “Thanks for coming by, by the way.”

“How could I not?” Cadance said and smiled. “By the way. You and yours are invited to my wedding naturally. It’s going to be in Canterlot, but we’re still working out the finer details.”

“Mmm, I’ll see about making some time in my schedule for it,” the stallion nodded. “May have to shuffle a few things around, but I promise to at least try to be there.”

“Worry not, I’ll come and drag you there if need be,” Cadance hummed. That… didn’t sound like a joke. “Now, anything else grandfather?”

“Not at the moment, no,” the stallion shook his head. “But thanks all the same for your help.”

“Not a problem,” she said as she headed back down to the foyer of the home. That mare he’d met in Canterlot, Emeraldas was there waiting.

“I trust you are done with your business here Princess?” she said in a cool tone, sparing a glance at Aspect.

“For the time being anyways,” Aspect replied, giving Cadance a wing-hug. “She’ll be coming back in the future to officiate my wedding, once I get a date pinned down anyways.”

Emeraldas nodded and looked at the pink alicorn. “We should return to Canterlot now.”

“I know,” Cadance sighed and shrugged. “Always the busy schedule of a Princess. Well, take care Grandfather.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “And take care of those mares mkay?”

“Will do,” Aspect saluted with a wing. He saw the mares off, the odd unicorn mare still looking at him, even as the chariot they boarded flew away.

Well, he had planning to do.

Over the coming days, it was rather quiet. Save for the rather large sendoff that the town gave Applejack. The mare travelling away to compete in a rodeo in order to earn money to help fix town hall. Apparently wear and tear wasn’t covered under the ‘Sparkle Fund’ purview, and the Town’s coffers simply didn’t have the capacity to do it.

But what was even stranger was when the mare was slated for return… only instead of Applejack, the welcome party they’d set up was greeted with a messenger pony.

One with a message from Applejack. Saying she was never returning to Ponyville.

“Sergeant Pie,” Aspect said solemnly. “Your mission is to get the mare I’m going to ask to cater for my wedding back in town, via any means necessary. You’re her friend, use your best judgement.”

“Sir yes Sir!” Pinkie saluted.

And that was how Aspect, along with Pinkie and her friends… and Midnight oddly enough, were dragged along for the ride to ‘rescue’ Applejack from… wherever the hell she was.

“I find it most odd we could not escape this rescue mission,” Midnight said and stared at Pinkie, who was playing a card game with Fluttershy further down the carriage. “Her power is most formidable.”

“Nearest I can reckon, it’s Earth Pony Strange Magic, applied inwards,” Aspect replied. “Mostly that just works on things, mechanical devices, that shouldn’t. She herself is a pony that works in ways that shouldn’t, but does, because of her magic. Imagine if she were a unicorn.”

Midnight shuddered and shook her head. “I would prefer not to,” she said and sighed.

“Silly filly,” Pinkie popped up between them. “The readers don’t wanna see Aspect being boring, they wanna see wacky adventures and steamy love scenes!”

“The… what?” Midnight slowly tilted her head like an adorable windup toy as Pinkie returned to her card game.

“You’ve activated my trap card!” the pink mare declared.

“Pinkie… we’re playing Go Fish,” Fluttershy sighed.

“And now I’m legitimately scared of her,” Aspect shuddered.

The rolling green fields of Equestria gave way to dusty deserts landscapes. It was terribly cliche with the cacti, tumbleweed and the like. Also an area that Aspect hadn’t explored in a very long time. Ponies hadn’t even resided here when he did.

After a few hours, the train slowed and pulled up to a simple station, no bigger that Ponyville’s own. They stepped off, Midnight reeling as the desert heat hit her, the mare leaning against Aspect.

“I have changed my mind, I wish to go home,” she muttered, fanning herself with a wing. Aspect noted her coat was much shorter than a standard pony, she was likely feeling the sun’s rays a lot more. Plus the bright light couldn’t be good for her eyes.

“Don’t worry, it won’t take long,” Aspect urged her. “Just a quick visit to figure out where Applejack is and we can leave.”

They turned around and… Applejack was at the opposite end of the station. She took one look at the group and…

Ran in the complete opposite direction.

“...Okay, you all go after her,” Aspect told the other elements. “I have a bat to tend to.”

The group took off as Midnight looked at him. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Yes, it is rather hot. But I am otherwise fine.”

“And you’re nearly blind,” Aspect pointed out her squint. “Just give me a minute and I can get you some sunglasses.” The thestral rolled her eyes, but acquiesced to his wishes.

A few minutes later, he finally found a place that stocked some and…

Okay, it should be criminal as to how cute Midnight was in a pair of shades. She also wore a wide-brimmed hat and a poncho.

“Feeling more equipped for the desert?” Aspect asked.

“I feel ridiculous,” Midnight said as her wings shifted under the cloak. “And you are having far too much fun with this.”

“Can’t blame me for how cute you look like that,” the stallion quipped. “Now...where did the others run off to…?”

Rainbow eventually flew back to find them, pausing to laugh at Midnight and get a veiled glare in response. On the way to where AJ was, Rainbow explained the situation, that she was working on a cherry farm of all places, and that it had taken siccing a fully unchained Pinkie Pie on her to get her to crack.

“She’s gonna spill the beans at lunch tomorrow,” the pegasus said. “Then maybe we can get outta here and back to Ponyville.”

“Oh good,” Aspect sighed. “I’m all for keeping secrets, but this is starting to get just a bit silly.”

“A bit?” Midnight said with a weary sigh. That said, when they arrived at the cherry farm, Midnight did give the owner a once over. A rather attractive older mare to say the least.

“Mmm, let’s invite her over for some fun~” Midnight whispered to Aspect. “I’ll happily buck her cherries~”

“You know, I’m trying to stay faithful to the mares that have said they’ll marry me,” Aspect mused.

“Aren’t you sweet,” Midnight smiled and kissed his cheek. “We are not married yet though~”

“It’s only a matter of time at this point, and getting everything organized,” Aspect pointed out. “Really, if we wanted to elope, we could just ask Cadence over one night and have her proclaim us married.”

“Hmm, we could indeed,” Midnight replied. “But I know Bon Bon has her heart set on a fancy wedding.” She nuzzled his cheek and smiled. “Well, you still have Rainbow and myself here.”

“And I’ll still be faithful to you all in spirit anyways, even if Bon isn’t here to enjoy it with us,” the stallion nodded.

“Hmm, I do worry for her,” Midnight said softly. “She has been ill as of late. You sleep like death, but she gets up quite early to purge her stomach.”

“Morning sickness,” Aspect sighed. “It’ll fade as her body gets used to her new state. To be replaced by cravings and mood swings.”

“Hmm, sounds rough,” Rainbow groaned. “And you wanna inflict that on all of us? Eesh, no thanks.”

“You say that now,” Aspect replied. “Wait until you meet the tyke she’ll bring into the world.”

“Yeah, that should be interesting,” Rainbow rolled her eyes as they were all invited to dinner. Which, surprise surprise, consisted of a lot of cherry dishes. That said, the cooking and skill of the chef rivalled even Applejack or Bon Bon.

“A superb dinner, madam,” Aspect noted, bowing slightly to her. “Were that we only had cherry trees like this back home, I might ask you to part with a few recipies.”

“Well that’s mighty kind of you,” Cherry Jubilee smiled and bowed her head. “And I don’t mind parting with a few, as long as ah get a few in return.”

“Sadly I am not the chef of my family, but we could start a correspondence between you and the one that is,” Aspect mused. “Both lives would be enriched, I feel.”

“Hmm, ah’d very much like that,” Cherry smiled as Midnight looked up from her cherry pie, red liquid dripping from her lips. She smiled at Aspect and licked her reddened fangs.

“Well aren’t you being adorable all of a sudden.” Aspect chuckled before he kissed the thestral’s cheek.

“I am always adorable am I not?” Midnight tilted her head cutely.

“Sometimes,” Aspect replied. “Other times, you’re seducing me.”

“And it always works,” she winked at him.

“Hehe, ya seem to have quite the marefriend there,” Cherry smiled at him. “So, what brings a fine fella like you out to these parts?”

“My friends,” Aspect replied, using a wing to indicate the other mares at the table. “I’m proud to count all these mares among those ranks, and when one runs off to the middle of nowhere and says she’s not coming back...it tends to raise questions. For example, I don’t think Apple Bloom is ready to handle the orchard yet. Unless you count running into the trees and getting sap all over herself and her two friends as ‘handling the orchard.’”

“Ah see,” Cherry replied, her smile faltering. “Look, Applejack came to me lookin’ fer a place to escape to. In fact, a few ponies have done so. Ah don’t ask questions, their business is their own.”

“Oh no, I don’t blame you,” Aspect replied. “I don’t expect you to have pressured her or forced her into anything. Ponies on a whole are too kind to do that. There is the occasional bad seed, but you seem like a nice sort. So the reason Applejack decided to run away from her family, her friends, her responsibilities...lies with Applejack. And we’ll talk about that tomorrow, before we drag her back to Ponyville if we have to.”

“Hmm, is that so?” Cherry replied as she looked at him. “Ah wonder about that. Ah have an inkling as to why she’s here. But I’ll make no assumptions. Try not to be hard on her though hm? A pony only bends so far… before they break.” And with that, she stood up and bid the group goodnight before leaving the room.

“Well she seemed nice, and quite wise as well,” Aspect mused. “The sort of wisdom you get after hard life experiences or watching others go through them. I get the feeling there’s stories there we have yet to hear.”

“I like her,” Fluttershy smiled. “And she seems to have taken such good care of Applejack too.”

“Mhm, and her grub is good,” Rainbow let out a loud belch. “I mean, not as good as Bon Bon but…”

“Speaking of Bon Bon,” Rarity hummed. “I’ve noticed that you and Miss Midnight there have the most stunning necklaces. Why… they almost look like…”

Aspect didn’t say anything in specific, but he did allow a small smile to grow on his face.

“Hmm, should we tell them?” Rainbow asked with a smug grin.

The stallion merely waved a wing at them both, silently telling them to go ahead and tell them if they wanted.

Rarity’s eyes widened as Rainbow turned. “Weeeeeell,” she dragged out.

“Yes?” Rarity gasped.

“Aspect has decided…”

“Yeeees?” Rarity leaned closer, as did some of the others. Twilight just rolled her eyes.

“That we should all…”

“Yeeeeees?” Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy all echoed.

“Go to bed now,” Rainbow smirked.

“OH COME ON!” the mares shouted as they fell against the table.

“You’ll fit right in with the rest of the family,” Aspect chuckled as he kissed Rainbow’s cheek.

“We are engaged to be married,” Midnight giggled at the group of exasperated ponies. “Aspect, along with myself, Rainbow and Bon Bon.”

There was a loud squeal, as Fluttershy tackled Rainbow to the floor, nuzzling her intensely. “Eeeeeee! I’m so happy for you!” she said at almost Luna levels of volume.

“And suddenly FlutterShy becomes FlutterBold,” Aspect mused aloud.

“Oooooh!” Rarity squealed. “This is simply fabulous! I finally get to use it!”

“Huh?” Rainbow’s head poked up through Flutter’s mane. “Use what?”

“My scrapbook ideas,” Rarity nodded. “I designed wedding dresses for all of us over a few evenings.”

“Wait, all of us?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Well… in the event I’d be allowed to make them,” Rarity blushed.

“Well, duh!” Rainbow snorted. “Who else would I go to? Course I’d come to you for a wedding dress. Ya know, as long as it’s cool enough for me. None of the frou-frou junk!”

“Next thing you know, Pinkie will have a plan for all our parties,” Aspect rolled his eyes.

“Course I do!” Pinkie literally vibrated in place. “Eeee! This is gonna be the BEST. WEDDING. EVER!!!”

“And I’ll gladly help with organization,” Twilight raised a hoof. “Well, if you’ll have me anyway.”

“Naturally,” Aspect nodded at her. “There’s so much to do. Catering, decorations, planning the reception and the venue, the guest list...though for the more exotic guests, I’ll have to do the inviting myself.” Aspect turned to Applejack. “You’re actually who I would ask for two of those things. Do you think we could use Sweet Apple Acres for the venue? And if you felt up to it, I’m sure the guests would love your cooking. Though if it’s too much, I’m sure Pinkie will take time out of the reception planning to help bake.”

Applejack flinched slightly. She’d been silent up until now, opting to sit back and avoid notice.

“T’aint mah decision, you’d hafta ask Granny,” she murmured, lowering her hat. “M’tired, night all.” And like that, she quickly left the room.

Aspect sighed, before looking at Pinkie Pie. “She might be the master of the lasso, but I’m counting on you to wrangle her tomorrow and herd her back home, y’hear?”

“Sir yes Sir!” Pinkie saluted, wearing a set of camo overalls and a military helmet… wat?

“And with that, I’m heading to bed before something else threatens my sanity this eon,” Aspect muttered as he stretched his wings, before heading in the same direction as the others had, looking for his own room.

“You’re friends with me, that’s null and void~” Pinkie sang out as he left.

“She’s got a point,” Rainbow said as she leapt up onto his back, the light mare reclining on him. “Oh, I should prolly tell Mom and Dad about this. I wonder how they’ll react?”

“If it’s anything like Midnight’s mother, we’ll probably get along,” Aspect mused aloud.

“I am surprised mother took to you so quickly,” Midnight admitted. “She broke the legs of my last coltfriend.”

“Eh, I’d have walked it off,” Aspect shrugged.

“You’d walk off… a broken leg?” Rainbow said aloud.

“I didn’t say it would be easy,” the stallion replied.

“So,” Midnight said, sliding up next to him. “Do we go to bed? Or go to sleep?”

“Considering we’re guests, and that the rest of Dash’s friends are one room over,” Aspect pointed out, “Sleep seems like the prudent option.”

“Hmm, like you don’t like the idea of them listening~” Rainbow nibbled his ear. “At least you wouldn’t mind a certain purple egghead listening… watching… joining~”

“I’ve decided to take a gentler approach with miss Twilight,” Aspect replied. “I’m not going to force her into anything.” He opened the door to their room and looked around. “In fact, I’m not really of a mind to do a whole lot tonight.”

“Hmm?” Midnight rubbed her chin and smiled. “Missing Bon Bon are we?”

“More like, you’d have to convince me into doing anything,” Aspect replied.

“He’s totally missing his little candybutt,” Rainbow teased him. “I wonder what she’s up to.”

“Right, now you two sleep tight okay?” she said to Realm and Pupal, the alicorn colt now having a bunkbed in his room. “And I don’t wanna hear somepony up all night painting again. Lest his brushes get confiscated hm~?”

“...Fiiiine,” Realm sighed. “You and dad both. I swear, sometimes I get an idea and just need to paint it!”

“You also need sleep,” she replied with a shake of her head. “Good night Realm, Pupal.”

“Night Mommy!” Pupal waved her hooves, the older mare practically melting at the sight.

“G’night mother,” Realm said as he turned over to look at her, before shutting his eyes.

Bon Bon squeaked… blushing and then smiling brightly.

“Good night, my sweet son,’ she said softly and closed the door.

Out in the hall, she let out a little giggle as she checked on Artemis and Nightmare. Midnight’s mother was still around, the thestral mare holed up in Aspect’s study, reading something. Goodness this house was getting full.

Still… She stared at the empty master bedroom. It looked… much larger now. She sighed, a more weary one this time as she stepped inside. She’d gotten so used to having the others around…

“It’s rather lonely around here without them,” she said as she climbed up onto the bed. Shivering slightly at the cold sheets. She didn’t notice the rustling in the sheets at first.

Not until Artemis’ head poked up, followed by Nightmare on the opposite side.

“We thought you might need someone to cuddle,” Artemis offered.

“It was his idea,” Nightmare huffed. “Don’t go thinking it was mine okay!”

“Hmhm, thank you,” Bon Bon giggled as she snuggled the pair of them. Family was a wonderful thing.

The next morning…

Aspect and the girls stared at an empty room. Applejack was gone. Her things were gone. Oh dear…

The stallion could see the reaction bubbling in Pinkie. He quickly opted to be elsewhere. As in, turn intangible and flee on the wind elsewhere. He wasn’t fast enough.

“Applejack… broke…a Pinkie Promise… NOPONY BREAKS A PINKIE PROMISE!!” the mare roared, her eyes ablaze with a fury he’d never seen from a pony, her voice having a deep reverberation to it as she tore from the homestead. Applejack’s actions had unleashed a demon…

Aspect was now very, very glad that he had never broken one such promise. He still ran on the wind. He could find a cloud and hide on it until this version of Pinkie had been subsumed back into the whole.

Midnight was next to him, the mare having apparently followed him as she too, looked quite afeared of the Pink Demon.

Pinkie led the charge, the group quickly finding Applejack as the Pink One’s rage seemed to grow worse.

“APPLEJACK!!” she roared. “YOU BROKE A PINKIE PROMISE!”

From their cloud, the winged duo could see that Applejack used a great deal of willpower to not wet herself at the sight of the enraged pony.

“And here we see the effects of an Earth Pony using their Strange Magic on themselves, taken to the other end of her cheerful and bubbly demeanor,” Aspect pointed out almost conversationally. “This is why most of them are tinkers and mechanics.”

“I do not ever wish to anger her,” Midnight wisely noted as Applejack boarded a stagecoach and took off, Pinkie roping Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to be hitched up to another cart as she took off after them, out into the vast desert.

“I wonder which mare’s stubbornness will win?” the stallion mused.

“Shall we watch?” Midnight said, beating her wings as she pushed their little cloud forwards.

It was rather interesting. Fist a little bribing with the driver’s of Applejack’s cart, up until Pinkie leapt from one to the other at high speeds, now berating the earth pony atop the racing vehicle.

“You know, this whole place is like a western from my old world,” Aspect mused. “I wonder if I can get in a bar fight? I’ve never done that before.”

“Why would you want to do that?” Midnight asked him as Pinkie bailed from the stagecoach, wiping out Rarity as Rainbow kept running, leaving the both of them behind.

“In a life like mine, you tend to want to accumulate new experiences,” Aspect pointed out. “Doubly so since I’m retired.”

“Perhaps we can go back and you can get into a stallion’y punch up then?” Midnight chuckled.

“...Ehh, maybe later,” Aspect waved it off. “I’ll keep this location in mind. I’d rather not distract the girls when they’re busy like this.” He glanced down, noticing that only Twilight was left in the carriage, being pulled by the pegasi. And they were getting very close to a set of train tracks.

“...Okay, now Midnight, you don’t see any trains coming, do you?” the stallion asked.

“Yes,” Midnight said as she pointed at the oncoming locomotive. Applejack’s carriage barely beat the powerful engine across the tracks… but Twilight’s was still getting closer to it.

“...She’ll tell them to fly or teleport it across,” Aspect said, though his voice was a little strained. But true to his word, the pegasi flapped their wings and carried the cart over the train to the other side, as the stallion-pulled stagecoach abandoned Applejack.

“And now it’s down to her running on her own while her friends chase after her,” Aspect mused. “She’ll not get very far, I don’t think.”

Right again. It appears that Rainbow had had enough and just tackled the mare at high speed, the two tumbling across the ground as Applejack’s bags opened, a dozen or so medals spilling everywhere.

“Still not getting near that until Pinkie’s calmed down,” the stallion shuddered.

“Where is Miss Pie?” Midnight asked, noting that Rarity and the Pink One weren’t around.

“I don’t know, I don’t want to know,” Aspect pointed out. “She’s unpredictable.”

Midnight convinced him eventually to go over to them, saying that she shouldn’t sacrifice one of his marefriends like that. And as it turns out, Applejack’s reason for not returning was that she hadn’t won any first place ribbons, thus, no prize money for the town like she’d promised.

“That’s it? Really?” Aspect deadpanned at her.

“Ah couldn’t return a failure!” Applejack said with a downtrodden expression. “Everypony was countin’ on me… and, and ah failed them. It’s why ah came here, to earn some money to send back to Ponyville.”

“You do realize, the town has that massive fund my daughter tried to force on me,” Aspect pointed out. “They didn’t need you to win. They may have appreciated it, but nopony was counting on it. The only person let down by your failure to win was you, and you let it get way out of hoof.”

Applejack just stared flatly at him, before applying her hoof to her face. Seems that Applejack, no matter the age, would always be a bit of a Silly Pony.

“Okay, I’ve said my bit,” Aspect said, stepping back. “The rest of you may continue.”

“You could have come in fiftieth place, for all we cared,” Rainbow Dash snorted.

“But… whut about Town Hall? The roof?” Applejack asked.

“Like Aspect said, we can always find a way to fix the hole in the roof,” Fluttershy said and nuzzled her. “But without you, how would we fix the hole in our hearts?”

Aspect heard a sound and glanced up to see Rainbow hovering a few feet up, wiping some tears from her eyes. It was always nice to see Dash’s softer side.

“Gaaah!” She wiped her eyes and folded her forelegs. “Now you’ve got me acting all sappy!” she pouted cutely.

“Nothing wrong with a bit of sap, as long as you aren’t a CMC,” Aspect quipped.

Rainbow didn’t seem to get his joke though, Midnight however, applied her hoof to her face.

“That joke was bad and you should feel bad,” she muttered.

“I’m telling it to them when we get back, they’ll appreciate it,” Aspect chuckled.

Midnight just shook her head as Applejack looked around.

“Ah’m sorry fer causin’ so much trouble,” she sighed. “Ah reckon it’s time we returned to Ponyville though.”

“Let’s say goodbye to miss Jubilee before we go...and make sure we get her address so that Bon Bon can share recipes back and forth,” Aspect replied. “Then, sure thing.”

It was a calming train ride back, Midnight was fast asleep in his lap as Rainbow talked with her friends.

“You know,” Twilight spoke up, looking up from her book. “I have the weirdest feeling we've forgotten something important.”

“Hmm?” Aspect looked up. “Have we?”

“I think so?” the unicorn hummed. “Mm, can't be that important if I forgot.”

Midnight twitched and Aspect heard a stifled giggle.

“I’m sure we’ll remember before too long,” Aspect replied, going back to enjoying the ride already.

Twilight just shrugged and returned to her book.

Ponyville was a welcome sight before long, Applejack getting pounced on by her family the second she stepped off of the train.

Speaking of family, Aspect was starting to miss his.

“Well, I’m off to say hello to somepony,” Aspect said, kissing Dash and Midnight on the cheek. “Then I’m heading to the house to make sure it’s still standing.”

“I shall meet you there,” Midnight said as Rainbow waved him off with a wing.

The thestral smiled as he walked past her.

“Still haven't remembered that we left Miss Pie and Miss Rarity in the desert?” she snickered.

“...Oh bugger,” Aspect muttered. “...That’s going to cost me.”

“Most likely,” Midnight giggled. “Now go and meet your mystery pony.”

The stallion sighed, before taking wing and flying through town. Next stop, Bon Bon’s.

Though when he got to the shop, he found not his marefriend, but the young filly Twist at the counter, serving a few foals.

“Oh, hey Mither Athpect!” she waved at him, pushing her glasses up with a hoof.

“Hello Twist, is Bon Bon in?” the stallion asked.

The filly shook her head. “No, the thould be at your houth!” she beamed and held out a bag. “I made thome new pepperminths. They thould have a bit of punth!”

“Oh, well thank you,” Aspect said, taking the bag and pulling out his own bit purse. “How much does the enterprising candy-maker think her craft is worth?”

“Ith a prethent,” she smiled. “You made my Auntie Bon Bon happy. Tho conthider it a gift.”

“Oh, well if you insist,” Aspect replied, putting his bit purse away. “Thank you for the information, miss Twist. I’m off to meet her now.”

“Bye bye Uncle Athpect!” Twist waved adorably.

Aspect made it out of the shop with no change in his expression. It was only when the door closed that he permitted himself to go ‘hnng’ and clutch at his chest from the sheer cute.

This town would be the death of him for sure.

Well seeing as how Bon Bon was conveniently at his next port of call, the stallion headed home. Only once he arrived, Midnight was waiting outside for him. He went to call out, only to have the mare put a hoof to her lips, before beckoning him to follow. Curious, Aspect raised a brow before following the thestral’s lead.

She led him up to the master bedroom and crept silently. Aspect noted he couldn’t hear her hoofsteps at all. The mare was like a ghost.

Then she opened the door a crack and beckoned him to look.

Inside, Bon Bon was asleep on the bed, buried under his current younger charges as they all took an afternoon nap.

“I wish I had a camera,” Aspect whispered.

“I found them like this,” Midnight whispered. “Is it not precious?”

“They’re adorable,” the stallion agreed in the same tone of voice.

“Should we jump on them?” Midnight asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Middy, no,” Aspect said. “It wouldn’t be right…” He let that hang there for a bit. “Without Dash here to help.”

“Tch!” Midnight clicked her tongue. “If it were just Bon Bon, I would have a very different method of waking her.”

“Oh believe me, I would help,” Aspect chuckled.

“Oh would you now?” a voice said and they turned back to see Bon Bon staring them right in the face.

“Weeeeee’re back?” Aspect offered with a sheepish grin.

“So I heard, you two aren’t as sneaky as you think,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she looked at her children on the bed. “Nap time’s over. Why don’t you all go play outside while Mommy catches up with your dad and batmom.”

Realm carried Pupal out on his back, while Artemis just yawned and stretched, before slowly plodded off. Nightmare spared Aspect and Midnight a glance as she walked past, before following the others outside to cause trouble somewhere else.

“So, how was your trip?” Bon Bon asked, rubbing one of her eyes.

“Applejack is a silly pony, it should be a law of the universe,” Aspect replied. “She honestly thought she had to work at a cherry farm to earn money for the town so it could repair the Town Hall’s roof. Just because she didn’t win first prize, and thus, some prize money.”

“...Seriously?” Bon Bon deadpanned and shook her head. “For crying out loud. Well, least you seemed to have fun. I did too actually. Kept your house running while you played with your friends.”

“Mmm, I also learned what happens if somepony breaks a Pinkie Promise,” Aspect nodded, before shuddering.

“It was terrifying,” Midnight agreed, huddling close to Aspect.

Bon Bon just gave them a flat, disbelieving stare. “...Seriously?”

“You don’t want to learn,” the stallion urged her.

“If you say so,” Bon Bon yawned again, still a bit drowsy from her nap as she just leaned against Aspect. “Mm, comfy. I missed this.”

“Sorry I had to go play escort to a bunch of silly ponies for a day,” the stallion replied as he lay a wing over the candy mare.

“It’s fine, I’m sure lives were saved and whatnot,” she waved a lazy hoof, before climbing up onto his back with a bit of effort, laying her chin on top of his head. “Mmm, a walking talking bed,” she murred.

“Midnight?” Aspect turned to her.

“Yes?” the thestral asked, her ear flicking in his direction.

“You have my permission to wake up Bon Bon,” the stallion said with a smirk.

Midnight smirked widely as she moved behind Bon Bon. All was silent until the mare’s eyes shot open and she yelped, leaping off of Aspect as she held a hoof over her tail to cover herself, Midnight’s long tongue slurping back into her mouth.

“Why you little…” Bon Bon blushed as she glared at them.

“Aww, but Bonnie, didn’t you miss us?” Aspect cooed. “I know the others sure did. We didn’t do anything while we were away, even though Middy tried to coax me into sleeping with another mare.”

Midnight’s eyes widened. “Traitor!”

“Oh did she now,” Bon Bon purred. “And did you?”

“Of course not, though I did get her address. She’s a darn fine cook. I promised her you’d write. Who knows, you might learn a few new recipes from her to dazzle us with.”

“Hhm, did you now?” Bon Bon mused and looked at Midnight. “Seems I still win, seeing as I got him with Lyra~”

“Dammit,” the thestral cursed.

“Wait, hold the phone,” Aspect held up a hoof. “You all are betting on...what, how many other mares you can convince me to sleep with?”

“No, betting would imply that money is being used,” Bon Bon winked at him as she sauntered off, her flank wiggling with each step.

“What is a phone? And why should I hold it?” Midnight asked.

“Figure of speech, look, I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that bet,” Aspect continued.

“We were only joking around,” Midnight said with a light giggle. “You have more than proven your love for us. And I think we’re all getting used to having a spicy love life with you involved.”

“My transformations do keep things fresh I assume,” Aspect playfully ribbed back.

“True enough,” Midnight chuckled and winked at him. “I heard how much you liked Lyra’s magic though~”

“What can I say, sometimes magic provides an edge. Why do you think I use my transformations so often?” The stallion asked back.

“Hmm, I would still like to love the real you sometime,” Midnight purred. “Only Rainbow has had that particular honor. Not very fair to the rest of us pet.”

“Eh, she asked for it,” Aspect shrugged. “In any case...I’m gonna see if there’s anything that needs doing around the town.”

“But you just got back,” Midnight pouted as she flopped over him. Seems Aspect was everypony’s favourite couch.

“And work never takes a day off,” the stallion pointed out.

“Fine fine,” Midnight waved him off. “Go and play in town. And while you do…” She leaned in close and used that sensual voice he loved so much, the one that made his hair stand on end. “You can picture aaaall the things I’m going to do to Bon Bon while we are alone~”

“Meanwhile, I’ll be making sure that Pinkie and Rarity arrive in town safely,” Aspect replied, though she did notice he was a little shaken by the statement. “It’s only sort of important that they all are together, after all.”

“Well, have fun then,” Midnight winked as she sashayed off. “I wonder where we keep the whipped cream~?”

The stallion visibly shuddered, before he forced himself to walk out the door and take to the air again. The mental images his mind conjured made that task very difficult for multiple reasons.

An hour later, Pinkie and Rarity arrived on a later train, though the latter looked less than impressed while Pinkie pronked around, her usual giddy self.

“I’m sorry,” Aspect said as he landed in front of Rarity. “We got the issue with Applejack sorted out, and then everypony else was in such a hurry to leave that we forgot about you. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Hmph!” Rarity snorted and looked him over. “At least you came to apologise. Honestly, leaving a lady such as I in a dirty, dusty desert of all places. I thought you were a gentlecolt Mister Aspect.”

“I take it my apology should come in the form of paying for a visit to the spa for you,” the stallion replied wryly.

“Hmm, an excellent start,” Rarity huffed. “And of course, you shall be joining me. I am very much upset with my so-called friends right now.”

“Ah...I don’t know if that’s wise,” Aspect’s eyes darted left and right. “The last time I was there, the spa attendants were very forward, and I am soon to be wed.”

“Aloe and Lotus will behave if you tell them,” Rarity rolled her eyes. “And don’t think I didn’t hear about that display in the steam room darling. I can hardly blame them.”

“Aheh,” Aspect coughed into his hoof. “Well then, shall we go?”

“Hmhmhm, I see what Rainbow means about teasing you,” Rarity tittered as she walked off. She really was in quite a state, with sticks and leaves poking from her mane and tail. Her pristine coat covered in dirt and dust. “Come now Sir Aspect, the spa calls to me.”

“Have fuuun~” Pinkie said as she shook herself off, somehow becoming perfectly clean as she bounced away.

Oh boy. What had Aspect gotten himself in for?

The spa was relaxing either way. A massage was always appreciated…

Until the twin mares decided to get a little… adventurous with their hoof placement. He was fairly certain his flanks weren’t a part of the normal service. Rarity was off in another room, getting her mane washed and styled, so it was just the three of them.

“Ladies,” Aspect said in that tone of voice that indicated that he knew exactly what they were doing.

“Yeees?” Aloe hummed as they worked. Clearly, they knew what they were doing also.

“Let’s just say, I’ve already been blueballed today,” Aspect said. “I’m not of a mind to have it happen again.”

“Oh my,” Aloe hummed as she kneaded his back.

“We would never do zat,” her sister replied.

“We always finish vhat ve start,” they purred together.

This does not help, Aspect thought. He opened his mouth to complain again…

“Do you vant us to finish?” one sister purred into his ear, giving it a light nibble.

...And quickly shut it again.

“Is zat a no?” Aloe asked as she felt his tight flank.

“Or a yes?” Lotus completed as she nuzzled his neck.

Aspect didn’t say anything, he couldn’t trust himself to say words at this point. His head and heart said he shouldn’t.

Something else, though, was rising to the occasion.

“Vell something agrees,” Lotus chuckled as she noticed. “But joo have not said anything dear stallion. So ve vill not until joo do.”

“Mhm,” Aloe murred. “Ve know joo have mares already after all.”

And for some reason, the filter between Aspect’s brain and mouth took that exact moment off.

“Well...they have openly admitted to trying to get me to sleep with other mares,” he muttered.

“Iz zat so?” Lotus murred as her hoof found his flank again.

“So, vhat kind of services can ve offer joo?” Aloe hummed and nipped his ear.

“I...wasn’t expecting this, not really,” the stallion replied. “So...I don’t...know?”

“Ve could sho joo,” Aloe hummed as she nibbled his neck. “But if joo say no. Ve vill stop.”

“I’ll...keep that in mind,” the stallion replied, still not moving to stop them.

“Hmm, is zat so?” Aloe hummed as Lotus moved under the table. He heard something click, before his member dropped through a hole in the table, now dangling downwards.

“Ohmy,” Lotus murred. “Vhat have ve here?” She reached out with a hoof and touched it.

“Part of me should be surprised that you two have a table with this feature in it,” Aspect muttered.

“Is it uncomfortable?” Aloe asked as Lotus started to use both hooves to stroke him. What? He hadn’t said stop after all.

“I didn’t say that,” Aspect replied, just laying there and taking it. He felt the mare under the table lean closer...and place a long, lavish lick along his member.

“Ooooh,” the stallion cooed as he just relaxed, even as he grew harder. Lotus cooed with delight as she licked him more, her talented tongue running up and down his shaft.

“Ah, so you like our services?” Aloe hummed, nibbling his ear again as she continued to massage him.

“They are...quite good,” the stallion admitted. “I wasn’t expecting it to be this way, but I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“Mm, vhat vere joo expecting?” Aloe hummed as Lotu repositioned herself, now taking his cock into her mouth and letting it slide down her throat, her muzzle pressed against her bench he lay on.

“Possibly just a massage, not one as...in depth as this,” the stallion replied. “Though I do have to wonder if perhaps returning the favor or upping the ante is on the menu.”

“Oh?” Aloe asked as her sister started to bob her head, fucking him with her throat as she moaned around his thick cock. “Up the ante joo say?”

“Mmm, you see, that’s good and all, don’t get me wrong, but for me it’s just a prelude,” Aspect illuminated. “I’m more of a mind to take care of another mare while getting that done to me, before starting in on the main course.”

“Ooh, you zeem rather… certain,” Aloe mused as she nuzzled him.

“It pays to be in this sort of situation,” Aspect replied.

“So chat vould joo do?” Aloe fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“Well, I would have you bring your folds within licking distance before I showed you a trick of mine,” Aspect smirked at her.

“Hmm, should I do zat for you?” Aloe hummed. “Vhat do joo think?”

“Oh, I think you’ll like what happens when you do,” the stallion murred. “And if your sister will stop for a moment, I’ll even roll over so we can all be on the table.”

‘Hmm, joo have an idea?” Aloe hummed as Lotus did as he requested. A small pity, she’d felt amazing. Aspect promptly rolled over onto his back, letting his length stick up into the air.

“And now, one of you can see to this,” he said, pointing a hoof at his crotch, before moving it to point at his face. “And the other one can sit up here and get a nice surprise.”

Aloe and Lotus looked at one another. Then Aloe took to his member, turns out she was even better than her sister. Her mouth and tongue skills could rival Midnight. Meanwhile, Lotus climbed up onto the table, her dripping marehood within reach.

Aspect hummed...before revealing a secret. He locked lips with the mare’s folds and let his newly-borrowed thestral tongue in, absolutely going to town on the poor unsuspecting mare. Lotus shrieked loudly, nearly collapsing as he delved into her sweet snatch, and she tasted a little like her namesake actually. The mare falling forwards and laying across his chest, her hindlegs shaking from the sudden intrusion.

Then Aspect took it up another notch, performing tricks with the long, malleable tongue inside of Lotus. Something she moaned over as Aloe started to deepthroat him, moaning around his thick cock as the mare on him added her own moans to that sweet sexy music.

The stallion let out his own happy little hum as he kept up his work. Corkscrew...undulate...hmm. There was an idea.

Lotus felt the tongue inside her performing a strange pattern...it was only when she thought about it that she realized...he was spelling something out.

C...U...M...F...O...R...M...E…

The mare squealed as her walls tightened around him, her earth pony stamina meaning zip as she came hard around him, coating that wiggling tongue with her cum. Aspect greedily drank it all down, not letting a single drop go to waste as he hummed happily at the taste.

Aloe double her efforts, her magic hooves working his weighty balls and shaft and she sucked and licked him, moaning softly as her sister twitched and moaned atop of him.

“One down,” Aspect said as he gently pulled his muzzle free of Lotus. “One to go. Aloe, bring your flank over here~”

“Hmmpf?” she gave a questioned moan around his cock, the stallion getting a full view of the bulge it left in her throat.

“Come along, little mare,” Aspect cooed to her. “I’m going to pay you back for this~”

She pulled off and tilted her head. “Joo… do not vish to finish?” she asked. “Vas I… no good for joo?”

“Like I said, that’s the opening act,” Aspect replied. “I’m much more into giving before receiving first.”

“Hmm, vell if joo insist,” the mare said as she crawled up his body. His member trapped between them, nestled bewteen her soft teats.

“I said to give me your folds, Aloe,” Aspect chided her. “I want to treat you like I treated your sister.”

“Hmm, and if I do not?” she teased him, wiggling her flanks.

“Then I’ll just have to go get them,” Aspect replied. “You going to make me do that?”

“Vhat kind of service would it be, if I made joo do all ze work,” Aloe giggled as she turned around. Only that put her back in reach of his member as she started to lick him again.

Of course, Aspect didn’t slouch either. Once her folds were in reach...he began reaching into his bag of tricks and using them on the other mare. Something that made her moan loudly around his cock, pushing her further down his shaft as he tended to her folds. She was sweeter than her sister, but no less delicious.

Then Aspect began using his new trick on her. He spelled out her name, then gave her the same simple directive he’d given Lotus. Aloe groaned, trying to hold out as she sucked on the stallion, her tongue swirling around him as she bobbed her head.

Then her sister joined, taking his hefty balls into her mouth and suckling on them.

So Aspect began just running through the letters of the alphabet, wondering when she’d finally give in. And her stamina held out impressively, but she eventually gave in and came as he neared the end, whimpering a moan as his mouth was filled a second time with a release, her taste mixing with her sisters.

Aspect drank it all down like before, before slowly pulling his muzzle free of Aloe’s lips as well. “Are we ready for the main course now, mares?” he asked.

“M-Main course…?” Aloe panted as Lotus pulled her sister into a sloppy make out session.

“Mmm, just pick which of you is first,” Aspect murred as he stroked his shaft a little. “I’ll gladly give you a ride.”

So Lotus had an idea. She pulled her sister onto the floor and lay her atop of herself, their hips together as she continued to make out with her twin, both marehoods on display for him as their lewd kissing filled the room with breathless moans and panting.

“Now that’s a sight I can get behind,” Aspect mused as he walked up behind the mares. He didn’t take long to mount them...though he also didn’t take any care to aim either. As long as he penetrated one of them, he would count that a win.

He felt a slippery wetness, but not the snug feeling of a mare’s insides. He glanced down as the pair moaned, his cock nestled between them, trapped between their dripping sexes and soft mounds, his medial ring making the mares squeak louder as it brushed their clits.

“Whoops,” Aspect said, though he wasn’t displeased by this result either. “Well, looks like I’ll just have to try again.” He pulled back and moved his hips up a little before thrusting again. This time he plunged into Aloe, her tight marehood squeezing his cock snugly and warmly, her velvety insides felt oh so good around him as he hilted himself in the mare, balls slapping against their sexes. He gave her a good few thrusts…

Before pulling out and aiming upwards, at Lotus’ folds this time. She let out a moan, which followed her sister’s whines as he left her, the mare on the bottom panting as the massive cock filled her up.

“I must say, this is a very useful arrangement,” Aspect mused as he gave Lotus a good few thrusts, before switching back to Aloe. “Now I can screw both of you.”

“Z-Zat is the idea,” Lotus panted, her sister crying out blissfully as she was filled again. “Though, you must decide on vich one to fill no?”

“Who said I couldn’t give both of you an equal serving?” Aspect replied. “After all, you’ve gone through all the trouble to make it so easy for me to do that…” As he finished talking, he switched back to Lotus.

“Mmm, I like this one,” Aloe purred as she wiggled her flank, daring him to touch it. “We should keep him.”

“His mares scare me, so no,” Lotus said.

“Of course, there is the one question you haven’t answered yet,” Aspect continued, changing mid-observation back to Aloe. “How potent should your fillings be?”

“What?” the mares replied in perfect unison. That didn’t make any sense at all.

“See, I can alter how potent my seed is, it’s one of the perks of being a shapeshifter with such fine control over my body,” Aspect explained. “Right now, I’m not potent at all. But if you two truly wanted me to...well, I could give you a nice, powerful filling.” Once more, the stallion changed who he was filling, going back to Lotus.

“You vant to impregnate us?” Aloe asked him with a cheeky smile. “Vhat a naughty stallion joo are.”

“It’s really up to you,” Aspect replied. “Let it not be said I denied a mare what she needed or wanted.”

“We are okay,” Aloe hummed. “Getting pregnant might put a dampener on our business. Plus, joo are not our husband or even our coltfriend.”

“Doesn’t mean you two couldn’t have a few sets of tiny hooves to help out around here~” Aspect teased as he went to fill Aloe now.

“We have enough help,” Lotus panted. “So no, we do not desire any foals. Besides, we are not even in heat, impregnating us is almost nil.”

“If you say so,” the stallion sang as he gave Aloe a good few thrusts. “So I guess the only question left is, which of you will get me to cum first, hmm?”

Aloe tightened hard around him. Oooh, she had very good muscle control down there.

“Zat vill be me of course,” she purred and licked along the side of her sister’s neck. With a little bit of difficulty, the stallion pulled out of her and plunged into Lotus instead, intending to give her her turn with his length.

Turns out the sisters shared more than just looks. Their skills were apparently equal as well, the mare groaning as she showed off a similar trick to Aloe.

“I dunno,” Aspect panted as he did his best to give Lotus a good turn, made all the harder by her sudden tightness. “Lotus is pretty good at this as well.”

“Joo are so mean,” Aloe pouted as she wiggled her rump, her sister in the meantime, just sighed contently.

“Just stating facts,” Aspect replied, having given Lotus her turn and going back to Aloe. “Though I will say that you both are getting me very close~”

“Mmm, do joo like us zat much?” the sisters purred in unison again. “Which one do joo like better?”

“Oh, asking me to pick favorites now, are we?” Aspect replied, using a hoof to grope Aloe’s flank. She let out a pleasured moan at that, as she started to show off her muscle skills again, making her marehood squeeze and pulse around him, like she’d just cum.

“Hmm, I don’t know,” the stallion mused. “You’re both very good at this, and both very practical about it too. And I won’t deny you’re easy on the eyes either…”

“Hmm, are joo trying to flatter us?” Aloe asked.

“Try harder~” Lotus nodded. “Though… I am surprised.”

“I’m not one to not appreciate a mare’s skills or natural beauty,” Aspect replied, now pulling out of Aloe and giving Lotus a turn, complete with flank-groping.

“Not zat,” Aloe said as Lotus groaned in appreciation. “Us, together… it sometimes make others… uncomfortable. Ve are sisters…”

“It’s not like anything can come of the two of you being together,” Aspect noted. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s fine. Any stallion would be lucky to snare the both of you.”

“...I think I am in love with him,” Aloe said to her sister.

“The good ones are always taken,” her sister nodded and sighed.

“It’s not like you two couldn’t come see me anyways,” the stallion pointed out. “My little herd seems to have a bit of a running bet as to how many mares I’ll end up sleeping with. I think it’s time I got involved, don’t you?”

“...joo have a strange herd,” Aloe pointed out as her sister moaned, feeling her peak growing closer. Aspect switched sisters then, now giving Aloe a good pounding instead.

“I have a strange life,” he replied, giving Aloe’s cutie marks a little feel-up. Their flanks were the perfect blend of soft and toned, the mare now moaning like a bitch in heat as she nuzzled her sister, the pair sharing another incestous kiss as they moaned into each other’s mouths.

“Are you sure you’re not in heat?” Aspect teased the pair of them as he kept thrusting away.

“Y-yes…” Aloe panted. “Just… enjoying ourselves. Is… is it not to your liking?”

“Just wondering,” the stallion said as he gripped the mare’s flanks a little tighter. “Mmm...nearly there, lovely mares.”

“W-Which one will be lucky?” Lotus panted.

“I do not know,” Aloe replied, both mares moaning louder as their climaxes drew near, the fire in the bellies burning hard as they rubbed their slick bodies together.

Just as Aspect pulled out of Aloe and plunged back into Lotus, his length started to twitch. It wasn’t long before the first mare felt herself being filled with his hot, sticky load. Lotus gave a sharp cry, her walls clamping down hard on him as she came with him, her sex milking his cock for all the seed he could give, its warmth filling her womb.

The stallion held himself there for a few moments...before he pulled his still-spurting length out of Lotus and back into Aloe, giving her a hefty dose as well. Aloe groaned as he started to fill her womb too, though it had lost a little force. It still triggered her own climax as she pressed her mouth against Lotus’s own, moaning lewdly into the wet, sloppy kiss.

Aspect huffed, panted, and pulled free, letting his length hang down as he looked at the mess he’d caused. It was a lovely sight to behold indeed. Two beautiful mare, both oozing with his essence.

“S-So… did you… like… our deluxe treatments?” they panted.

“Ladies, it was one of the more relaxing afternoons I’ve had,” the stallion praised them. They sighed contently as they slowly got to their hooves, though they did look a little shaky for a moment or three.

“Not that this wasn’t fun and all,” the stallion mused, “But we should probably get cleaned up before my companion starts to wonder what we’ve been up to.”

“Mmm, we should see to her as well,” Aloe hummed and Lotus nodded as they cleaned up using some towels. “Sank you for your business Mister Aspect~”

“No ladies, thank you,” the stallion replied as he used a towel himself.

“Oh, vhat did we do?” Lotus purred, smiling with faux innocence.

The stallion merely smiled at them, before drawing close and giving them both a peck on the cheek. They flushed pink at that and nickered softly.

“Keep zat up and ve really vill keep you,” Aloe smiled seductively, nuzzling his neck.

“I’ve no qualms about keeping a few mares close besides my herd to be,” Aspect replied. “As long as they don’t forget me either.”

“Well, let us see what zey say no?” Aloe pulled her pouting sister away. “Our work is far from done. Mizz Rarity is next~”

“Oooh, dibs on zat this time,” Lotus giggled and pranced from the room.

“Oh boy,” the stallion murmured as he wondered just what lay in wait for the mare.

Bon Bon stared at Aspect once he returned home, and told his trio about today’s events.

“Seriously?” Bon Bon asked.

“Nice!” Rainbow mused, sharing a hoof bump with him. “Both at the same time? You don’t do things half-assed huh?”

“I just figured I should get in on this little wager you all seem to be sharing,” the stallion replied. “I believe that puts me up two to Bon Bon’s one?”

“That’s doesn’t count!” Bon Bon said with a wave of her hoof. “They count as one pony dammit!”

“Perhaps I should visit the spa sometime?” Midnight mused and licked her fangs, a glint in her eyes.

“I dunno, while they talked about ‘keeping me’, they also said they were afraid of you all,” the stallion mused.

“Let’s see, Ponyville Weather Manager and fasted mare alive,” Rainbow said. “Scary earth pony with geomancy and Midnight-freaking-Song. Yeah… I’d be terrified of pissing us off too.”

“As long as it doesn’t become a regular habit… and you tell us next time,” Bon Bon shrugged. “You’re serious about this engagement yes? You truly love US and wish to marry us?”

“Of course I am,” Aspect nodded firmly. “I might dabble here or there, but with you three, my heart sings in my chest.”

“Aww,” the trio cooed and shared a nuzzle.

“Then that’s all that matters,” Bon Bon smiled and kissed his cheek. “Just let us know if you plan to add to our herd hm? There are rules for that.”

“I’m sure there are,” Aspect replied with a smile. “Also...Rainbow, I think Rarity might have had the same thing done to her.”

“Wha… no way!” Rainbow scoffed. “Prissy Miss Perfect Rarity? Yeah right.”

“They were talking about giving her the deluxe treatment as well,” the stallion responded with.

“Well, that could mean anything,” Rainbow shrugged. “Meh, who cares. Was she pissed we left her behind in Dodge Junction?”

“You what?” Bon Bon deadpanned. Aspect knew that tone. That was her ‘Oh great, Aspect did something stupid’ tone.

“We honestly completely forgot that we’d left her behind,” the stallion honestly said. “I think we were all happy to forget about Pinkie, though. Considering somepony broke a Pinkie Promise.”

Bon Bon froze, her eyes wide. “S-Somepony did WHAT!?”

“Midnight can attest to it, it was a terrifying sight,” the stallion said.

“Indeed, I am most glad to not be in her path,” Midnight nodded and shuddered.

“Eeesh, who was the moron that did that?” Bon Bon winced.

“Applejack,” Aspect deadpanned.

“Celestia… bucking… dammit Applejack,” Bon Bon facehooved. “I’m surprised she’s still in one piece honestly. Ever wonder why nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise…” She leaned closer and her tone lowered. “We’ve never found the ones that have.”

Aspect gulped.

“Nopony knows what happened to them,” Bon Bon said, the room feeling like it was becoming darker. “Not a scream… nor a whisper. They just… vanished.”

“...I miiiiight have to have a word with Pinkie about that,” the stallion muttered.

Bon Bon looked at the worried look on his face… before she and Rainbow started to laugh hard.

“O-Ohmigosh…” Rainbow wheezed as she fell sideways, clutching her ribs. “Y-You should… s-see your face… Bwaahahahahaha!”

Aspect’s face turned into a deadpan, before he turned to Midnight. “I call dibs on Rainbow,” he said to the thestral.

Said thestral just tilted her head in confusion.

Aspect walked over to the blue mare, flashed into his alicorn form, and picked her up with his magic. “Time to teach her a lesson,” the stallion sang as he started to walk off.

“H-Hey!” Rainbow squirmed in his aura. “Lemme down you butt!”

Midnight was trying to drag Bon Bon. It… was not working out for her. The earth pony was much heavier than the light thestral.

“You could just teach her here,” the stallion offered as he headed for a bedroom. He exited the kitchen, only to run into a blue filly that promptly attached herself to his barrel.

“Hi Daddy!” Luna cheered happily. “I’m here to play!”

Now Aspect had a dilemma. Teach Dash the error of her ways...or play with Luna.

Then he had a wicked idea.

“You know, I’m sure miss Dash would love to play with you,” Aspect said as he floated the mare down. “Perhaps one of your tea parties?”

Luna gasped and cheered. “I have the perfect dress for her too!”

“WHAT!?” Rainbow shouted, blushing with indignation as she was marehandled by the new magical aura. “ASPECT! I’ll get you for this!”

“Remember to have fun with her!” Aspect called after Luna.

“I will!” Luna beamed as she trotted away with her new friend.

“That was needlessly cruel,” Bon Bon said from behind him. “Though, I can’t say I’m much better.”

Lyra had turned up and Bon Bon just happened to mention that Midnight was musically talented.

“So that just leaves me to punish you for your little prank, then?” Aspect replied with a quirked brow.

“Hmm, then who would cook dinner?” she mused, lucky to have that particular immunity.

“Oh, that’s okay,” Aspect smiled at her. “My memory is long. I’ll get you back for it eventually.”

“Mhm, or I could just say you either keep that promise, or forgo dessert,” she teased him with a salacious wink. “And I’d planned on your favourite, Apple Family style Apple Pie.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed. “Tempting. But like I said...actually, new plan. I won’t do anything.”

Bon Bon narrowed her gaze. “No choosing a proxy either.”

The stallion merely hummed.

“Christopher! I’m warning you,” Bon Bon raised a hoof and pointed at him. “I’ll tell Written.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Aspect said, going through the motions. “I will not play a prank on you, or instruct anypony else to do so for my sake.”

“Foooorrreeevvveeerrrrrrr…..” Pinkie’s haunting voice wafted down the hall from… seemingly nowhere.

“Anyone else you mean?” Bon Bon raised an eyebrow.

“Fine fine, I won’t tell anyone else either,” Aspect replied.

“I still feel like you’ve snuck a loophole in there somewhere,” Bon Bon frowned and chuckled. “I’ll pull one over on you one day. Just wait and see my silly stallion.”

“Oh, flirting in the halls now?” Written mused from a painting. “Also, welcome back dear. How was your trip?”

“It was...enlightening,” the stallion settled on. “I’m just glad I don’t have to go back for a while.”

“Hey, Dodge Junction isn’t that bad,” Bon Bon huffed and sat down, folding her forelegs. “I was born there you know.”

“Oh, make no mistake, I probably will go back at some point,” Aspect replied. “I’ve just grown used to Ponyville.”

“As have I,” Bon Bon replied. “Plus Mom lives in Baltimare now. So I have no real reason to go back.”

“I just wanted to consider going back to possibly partake in a bar fight,” Aspect said straight-faced.

“...I’m sorry what?” Bon Bon paused and blinked.

“I’ve never been in a bar fight, and that place looks like the perfect place to get in a good rumble,” the stallion continued.

“Aaah,” Bon Bon nodded. “Yeah, I miss those. Mom was so proud when I bucked my first stallion out of a window.”

“Exactly!” Aspect crowed. “It’d be perfect! Oh, plus, I have the address of one miss Jubilee, she makes a mean cherry pie.”

“Miss Jubilee?” Bon Bon tilted her head. The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “Well, as long as I add new weapons to feed my greedy stallion with.”

“He does love his food,” Written nodded and then beckoned Bon Bon over. She whispered something and the mare nodded, smiling and giggling.

“And now I feel like I should be afraid,” Aspect shook his head.

“Look forward to tomorrow,” Bon Bon mused. “Speaking of, I need to go shopping. Think you can keep the house from burning down?”

“Assuming Pyroclastia hasn’t made a visit, yes,” Aspect nodded once.

“We have a Nightmare here,” Bon Bon retorted as she walked off, that shapely rump swaying pleasantly.

“Eh, she hasn’t recovered enough to be that dangerous yet,” the stallion waved it off.

That also reminded him, he wondered what Luna was up to at the moment. Eh, Rainbow might actually kill him if he tried to peek inside.

What to do then…

Well he couldn’t go out, he was the only responsible adult free to make sure everything was in order. So he walked over to the front room, sat in one of the comfortable chairs, and pulled up a book to read while he listened for the sounds of mayhem. If he heard any, well...he would have to go answer it.

Author's Note

Such silly pones. It's almost like they enjoy getting in trouble.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on cute pixel art games.

Chapter 51 - Daily Skirmishes

Christopher Gale, aka, Balanced Aspect, aka, a good deal of other titles. He had lived a long time. Sometimes his days were filled with unimaginable joy and happiness.

Others filled with darkness and despair.

Some with everything in between.

But what he faced this morning? It was easily the most arduous test he'd been fronted with so far. Of all the monsters he'd slain.

Of all the hardships he'd faced.

None was more nerve wracking than this.

His daughter had made him breakfast.

Luna stood there, her starry mane billowing on a nonexistent breeze, her eyes shining with pride and an eager smile on her face.

Her pancakes, at least that's what she identified this… crime against food as, sat in front of him.

“Luna, answer me seriously now,” Aspect said. “You...inherited my cooking skills, didn’t you?”

“You… do not want it?” Luna asked, her gaze cast down as her cyan eyes lowered, her ears wilting as her jubilant mood lessened. “No, you wouldn't. Tia always was the better cook…”

“Luna, my cooking is barely enough to keep me alive,” Aspect replied. “Honestly, I’m pretty sure at the start I would have poisoned myself if it weren’t for the whole immortal thing. There’s no pride in not admitting your faults. What’s best is to suck it up, and try to overcome them. There’s nothing saying you can’t learn how to cook. Your mark just says what your special talent is. You’re only limited by it if you define yourself by it.”

“Aye,” Luna sighed as she tossed the breakfast into the bin with a sigh. “Fair Bon Bon is not here though. What shall we do for food?”

“As an apology to you, how about I take the family out to Sugarcube corner?” Aspect replied. “I could do with a little something sweet, and it should perk you right up.”

“Very well Father,” Luna nodded as her horn shone and the rest of his children in the house were teleported into the kitchen.

“Gaah, what gives?” Artemis groaned and rubbed his head.

“G’morning!” Aspect said cheerfully. “With Bon Bon at home tending to her shop and her Lyra, I figured we could all go out to Sugarcube Corner for breakfast!”

“....couldn't have woken us normally?” The dog quipped.

“We are not normal,” Luna replied.

“....point,” Artemis conceded, extracting himself out from under the alicorn colt atop of him.

“Get used to it, when Celly and Lulu are around, normal goes out the window,” Realm replied before yawning widely. “So...what, did Dad try cooking and end up with construction grade materials?”

“I tried cooking,” Luna deadpanned at him, the older alicorn tapping her hoof on the floor.

“Isn’t that the reason we hired chefs back at the Everfree?” the younger alicorn quipped.

“Does father strike you as the kind that wants servants here?” Luna replied back. “Besides, name one pony that even remotely holds a candle to Fair Bon Bon’s cooking?”

“Well if we’re going to Sugarcube Corner, then I think my answer is already plain,” the colt replied as he shook his wings. “C’mon, let’s go get spoiled.”

Luna shrugged and looked at Aspect. “Disguise or no father?”

“Eh, I’ll leave it up to you,” the stallion replied as he cracked his neck. “I’ll stay as a pegasus, myself.”

“Yeah, cause it isn’t like half the town knows you’re a human,” Realm rolled his eyes. Seems he’d inherited his father’s snarkiness for early wakeup calls.

“The runt had a point,” Luna said. “You used to remain in human form quite often. Now, I can count the times I have seen you as such since my return on my hooves.”

“Well maybe I don’t want to bring my humanity back into the spotlight,” the stallion griped. “This is your country now, your time. I’m just a relic, moreso if I take my natural form.”

“And we are not?” Luna said as they got ready to leave. They could walk and talk. “We have been gone a thousand years. This isn’t our country… Tis Tia’s legacy…”

“You and your sister were meant to rule this land together,” Aspect replied. “You never needed my meddling hooves once you took down Discord. It’s why I stopped taking human form. So many legends and myths associated with it...I wanted those to disappear. I wanted them to not be associated with me, but some ponies are dedicated to history. It might be another thousand years before I’m able to be ‘me’ again without some pony gasping in shock.”

“Then they’ll gasp cause you look weird,” Artemis said with a shrug. “I still get that around here sometimes.”

“Yeah, cause you all have it so bad,” Nightmare piped up, reminding the group she was here.

“Weird ponies and non-ponies, unite,” Aspect chuckled out. “Let’s dare to be different.”

“Can we take over Equestria?” Nightmare asked hopefully.

“Once you grow into your role, I’m sure others will actually welcome you,” the stallion replied. “You are technically an Aspect, born of Luna’s flesh. I’m not sure what the precedents are for that…”

“So… does that make me like, her sister, or her daughter?” Nightmare asked, the question making Luna pause.

“I have a child out of wedlock…? I am ruined for marriage!” the older alicorn wailed. Aspect merely facehooved before continuing on the way.

Then Luna tacked on.

“Does that mean Discord is the Father? Or Twilight and her friends?”

“Oh for the love of-” Aspect muttered. “Just...stop thinking like that. Please.” He turned to see Luna with a smile on her muzzle… and the realization that he’d just been played.

“...You sneaky minx,” the stallion praised her.

“I learned from the best,” Luna smiled smugly. “Now, let us go and claim deliciousness from the Sugarcube Corner,” she declared as she trotted away.

“Wait up Mommy~” Nightmare called out, cackling when the comment made Luna stumble.

“Oh boy, but isn’t this going to be a morning and a half,” the stallion muttered as he followed after his daughter.

“Aren’t they always?” Artemis quipped as he followed next to Realm and Pupal.

They reached the bakery… only to find the place oddly empty. Mister Cake was manning the counter, but aside from that, the place was deserted.

“Huh? I… have customers?” he blinked. “S-Sorry, wasn’t expecting anypony today.”

“Oh?” Aspect asked with a quirked eyebrow. “It’s just, Bon Bon was home this morning, so we took the chance to get breakfast out. Considering there’s not a pony home who can cook without committing a crime against taste.”

“Sorry, I expected you to be lined up at Sweet Apple Acres like everypony else,” Carrot said as he wiped down a perfectly clean counter. “With it being Cider Season and all.”

“Huh…” the stallion mused. “We’ll pop by later. For now, we need sustenance, my good stallion.”

“Too bad, there won’t be any later. The Apples only make so much of the stuff.” he said and straightened up. “Well now, what can I get you all then?”

“Some doughnuts would seem the fitting breakfast treat for this crew,” Aspect mused.

“I got just the thing then,” he nodded and looked in his display case. “Huh… don’t have quite enough. Would you mind waiting while I whip some up? Should only take ten minutes.”

“I think we can wait that long,” Aspect offered as he looked around. “That table looks good,” he pointed at one. “Let’s give him some space to work on it.”

“Speak for yourself, I’m hungrrryyyy,” Nightmare moaned as the group sat down.

“I have my meal already,” Pupal said, leaning against Realm.

“Well you heard the stallion, it’ll be ten minutes,” Aspect told Nightmare. “Just keep it internal until you get something inside you.”

“...Do you really want me to respond to that,” the filly Nightmare said with a waggle of her eyebrows.

“I could respond to that if you’d like,” Realm chimed in.

“No,” Aspect shut them down with a hoof to the table. “Darnit, what did I ever do to deserve you two?”

“I have a list,” Realm chirped. “One as long as your—”

Luna’s magic clamped his muzzle shut as she rubbed her temple. “I had forgotten about his… way with words,” she sighed.

“I could start a list,” Nightmare added. “As Aspect knows well, you can’t have too many—”

That was when Aspect grew a horn to clamp her mouth shut. “Holding it until breakfast?” he asked Luna.

“It would seem so,” Luna sighed as the two foals shared a mischievous glint in their eyes, a silent partnership formed.

“This will not end well,” Artemis groaned.

A moment later, Carrot cake brought out a round of coffee, tea and flavoured milk for them to drink.

“On the house,” he said with a smile.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Aspect said, even as he let Nightmare’s muzzle go. The filly rubbed it, but just settled for a silent smirk as Luna released Realm.

“It’s fine,” the stallion hummed. “Honestly, you’ll likely be my only customers all day.”

“Well anything to support a local business,” Aspect tipped his head to the stallion.

“You have my thanks,” he said as he trotted off.

Then there was a telltale feeling of magic in the air, and a weight landed on Aspect’s head. He rolled his eyes up to look at what it could possibly be…

A baby foal was perched there, she had a golden coat, an orange mane and tail and two very large blue eyes.

“Well hello there,” he said up to the filly. “What are you doing all the way up there?”

“Blab!” she gurgled as she sucked on a hoof. She then lifted herself up with self-levitation and floated over to Luna, landing on her head and holding her horn.

“I think she likes you,” Aspect teased.

“Apparently,” Luna said as the foal gummed her horn. There was a buzz in the air, before a tan and brown pegasus colt entered the scene, their exhausted-looking mother hurrying down the stairs after them.

“Ah, that would explain it,” Aspect replied, softly catching the colt in a bubble of magic and holding him still. “Now the both of you behave for your mother, understand?”

They looked at him and poked their tongues out as the earth pony mare took them.

“Goodness, I am sorry if they bothered you,” Missus Cake said with a weary sigh. “I’ve been up half the night with these little ones.”

“I am well aware of how troublesome foals can be,” Aspect chuckled as he stuck his tongue back out at the foals, making a silly face for them to laugh at. It got a response from them as they giggled.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Luna asked as she wiped the drool from her horn with a napkin.

“O-Oh my goodness, Princess Luna… I am so so so sorry,” Cuppy Cake went to bow, only to be stopped with a raised hoof.

“Nay, t’was no slight at all. We happen to quite like foals,” Luna said and smiled at the pair of youngsters.

“Despite how much of a hassle you and your sister were,” Aspect continued.

Luna poked out her tongue, the foals mimicking her.

Cuppy breathed a sigh of relief as she set the foals on her back. “Well, I suppose I shall introduce you,” she said and motioned to the filly. “This is Pumpkin Cake, and her brother Pound Cake.”

“Charmed,” Aspect nodded at the foals.

“Baaalb!” they responded, nodding their heads back, looks of total seriousness on their faces.

And then Carrot reappeared, carrying a large tray with about three dozen, still steaming powdered jam donuts.

“Here we go, fresh from the oven,” he beamed as he set the tray down.

“Thank you very much,” Aspect smiled at the stallion as he looked at the children that were with him. “Now, you all distribute them fairly, or I’ll do it.”

Luna paused, setting back what looked like three quarters of the pile.

“I got jam, cream cheese and custard donuts in there,” he said with a smile. “I need to help Cuppy with the kids, but just shout if you need anything okay?”

“Thank you for the quick and gracious helpings,” Aspect smiled and inclined his head to Carrot Cake. “We’ll be sure to enjoy them.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said as the parents left the room and headed upstairs.

Nightmare Moon just stared at the pile of sweet, literally drooling as she inhaled the amazing aroma.

“Remember, equal portions for everyone,” Aspect warned them. “We’ve got more than enough for us all to walk away with a full belly here. Let’s not abuse that, eh?”

Luna nodded as she started to divvy them up. With six ponies, that allowed them two of each flavour. The stallion nodded once and began eating his own share, biting into a jam-filled doughnut. Flavour exploded in his mouth. That stallion knew what he was doing, this was by far the best doughnuts he’d eaten. He hummed in appreciation as he chewed, almost thinking he was doing the world a disservice by eating them.

“Shhooo guuuud,” Nightmare moaned as she tore into her food like a ravenous wolf, and Aspect noted that Luna was little better. The only pony there was was eating them with some sense of decorum was Realm.

“Honestly, you’re all like animals sometimes,” the colt rolled his eyes as he ate his doughnuts sedately.

“Realm?” Night spoke up. “You’re a pegasus, do you like seafood?”

“I have had the occasional fish dish, yes,” Realm replied. “And I was a pegasus, remember.”

Then Luna and Nightmare opened their mouths wide, showing the chewed up remains of their breakfast.

“Manners,” the colt scolded them both.

They just chuckled and swallowed their mouthfuls.

“So… I see the former Nightmare is getting along well,” Yggdrasil whispered into Aspect’s mind.

“It’s amazing what being surrounded by other immortals does for an immortal’s state of mental well-being,” Aspect whispered back.

“Hhm I’d been worried about that,” Yggdrasil said with an intoned sigh. “And yet, you plan to wed three mortal mares. Are… you prepared for that?”

“I’ve already laid the Dream Valley mares to rest, those that I called friends. I also don’t expect to see any of my friends from the Everfree castle ever again. I...know I’m going to outlive them. Just please...let me have some time with them.”

“The time is yours to spend,” Yggdrasil said. “Still, the future is something I can only guess at at best. I will warn you, Destiny has ensnared several close to you. Not I, nor even you, with all your power can change that which is already written.”

“Destiny will have to come through me if it intends to separate me and those I’ll wed.”

“We shall see,” Yggdrasil said. “I have had… insights. But I cannot share them as you are well aware. If you knew and altered that, Destiny would be thrown off course, and true darkness and despair will have an opening.”

“Yours is one of the harder jobs, I am aware,” Aspect thought back. “You have to watch the weave and guide it, without telling anyone.”

“The desire to help is… Well I feel useless at times,” he went quiet for a moment. “There are plans, possibilities in effect. If it works, your future may be all the brighter for it.”

“I’ll take that and run with it,” the stallion replied. “You take care now. I have a small horde of troublemakers to watch out for.”

“Best of luck there,” came the reply as the connection severed.

Just in time to see Pupal hug Realm from behind, purring loudly as she rested her head atop of his, drinking down his love.

“Pupal, don’t forget your doughnuts,” Aspect reminded her. “Love is all well and good, but you need physical food to grow.”

“I knooowww,” she said, Realm feeling the vibrations of her purr through his back.

“Well then, at least eat one now,” Aspect said to her. “It’d make me feel better.”

She sighed and reluctantly released Realm, who felt a little tired now as the Changeling picked up a doughnut and started to eat.

“Plus, constantly draining the same pony time and again can’t be good for him,” Aspect pointed out.

She paused and… looked quite guilty. “Oh… I forgot about that,” she murmured and looked at Realm. “M’sorry…” she said in a quiet voice.

“It’s…” Realm put a hoof to his mouth to stifle a yawn. “It’s fine,” he said. “It’s not that big a deal…”

Then she shoved a doughnut into his mouth. “You need to eat sugar,” she said. “I’m sorry. They teached us not to overdrain. So you need to eat and not fall asleep!”

“It’s...not too bad, right?” Realm asked before nibbling on another doughnut.

“No… but it could kill you if I hadn’t remembered,” she said helpfully. “I’m sorry I was slowly killing you Realmy.”

“Well...at least you caught on, right?” Realm replied. “You’ll just need to find another source or two.”

“Mmm, nobuggy else likes me,” she said and sighed. “Like in class. If I didn’t have a disguise, they’d all run screaming like they all do.”

“Our future moms-” Realm caught himself. “Okay, miss Bon Bon and miss Dash don’t really mind you. And I know dad doesn’t.”

“That’s…” She looked away. “I don’t know…”

“Pupal, come here,” Aspect said, patting the seat next to him. She blinked and then climbed cutely down off of her chair, before moving up onto the one next to Aspect.

Then the stallion wrapped her with a wing and…

Oh. That…

That was a lot of love being forced into her.

She squeaked and tried to pull away. “A-Ah! T-too much!”

“You only have to ask,” Aspect said as he gently let her go. “My love for my family is boundless.”

The poor filly looked like she was about to be sick, her cheeks puffed up and…

She let out a window rattling belch.

“And thus we see the dangers in overfeeding a changeling,” Aspect intoned seriously.

“Coooool,” Artemis, Nightmare and Realm all said and clapped their hooves.

“Oh please,” Luna rolled her eyes and floated a soda over from a nearby fridge. Aspect forgot one moment too late what was coming.

“BBBBBBBUUUUUURRRRRRPPPP!!”

A Royal Canterlot Voice-powered belch was… impressive. The house literally rattled with that one, Realm and Artemis were literally knocked from their seats.

“Not bad,” the stallion praised her.

“Bah, I tried,” Luna sighed as Nightmare clapped her hooves.

“What in Celestia’s name was that!?” came Cuppy Cake’s yell from upstairs.

“Her sister showing off,” Aspect called back upstairs.

“...Nice one!” Carrot Cake called.

“Many thanks!” Luna shouted back.

“...Weirdest breakfast ever,” Artemis groaned.

“Not even in my top ten,” Aspect brushed it off with a wing.

“Oh?” Nightmare mused. “Praytell, what is the weirdest breakfast you’ve had then?”

“The one when the girls were in the middle of their pranking war back in Dream Valley,” Aspect replied. “It was absolutely normal, which was the weird part.”

“What?” Nightmare blinked and scoffed, clicking her tongue. “That’s lame.”

“It was the set up to the rest of the day being absolutely relentless, though,” Aspect pointed out. “I was thoroughly expecting something like dinner the last night, which was full of hot sauce, lemon juice, whoopie cushions, and drinks mysteriously erupting into fountains.”

“Until Mother put an end to it,” Luna sighed. “In my defense, it’s not my fault Celestia used a platter to deflect my spell. I’d spent days learning that ‘mane to spaghetti’ transmutation.”

“Pffft, what?” Nightmare cackled.

“It had to end sometime,” Aspect pointed out.

“Yes, and then you had to go and ask mother if you should replace her shampoo with tomato sauce…”

Nightmare lost it, doubling over with laughter.

“Ponies tend to forget they’re sisters at times,” Aspect chuckled. “They do things like this to each other. I’m surprised the pair of you haven’t restarted your little pranking war.”

“Who says I haven’t?” Luna smirked. “And that she just hasn’t realized yet.”

“What did you do?” Nightmare wheezed out.

“You’ll see the next time she takes a bath,” Luna mused. “Sister always did look better in pink~”

“Oh boy,” the stallion muttered, shaking his head. “Right, if all you troublemakers are done with your breakfasts, go on home. I’ll pay for it.”

“Nay, we shall cover it, t’was our slight that made this necessary,” Luna said with a shake of her head. “Besides, we should see what this ‘cider season’ is all about.”

“You’re not responsible for the circumstances leading up to this, Lulu,” Aspect soothed. “Go on, take the others to see this cider season thing if you want. I’ll pay and meet you all back at the house.”

“You art so stubborn,” she sighed as she summoned a bag of bits. Waaaay more than what the meal was worth as she planted it on the counter.

“Lulu…” Aspect said warningly.

“What?” Luna replied. “I paid for the meal. So there.”

“Lulu, don’t make me invoke my privilege as a father to put you over my knee,” Aspect said. “I’m the responsible father figure here, I won’t have my daughter paying for the breakfast I took her out to.”

“Besides, that’s far too much money,” Artemis said, pointing at the sack.

“It is?” Luna tilted her head. “Tis it not the way anymore? Somepony receive equal compensation for services rendered. That meal was both extremely enjoyable for quality and company. I am simply paying what is rightfully due.”

“Lulu, just...take the money back and let me pay for breakfast, please,” the stallion said, punctuating it with a long-suffering sigh.

“Fiiine,” Luna sighed and teleported the money away. She would come back later and tip them. “I shall see you at home then.”

“Mmhmm, take care of the others while I pay,” Aspect said as he saw his children off.

“Fine,” Luna rolled her eyes as she left him to his business. Time to see what the cider nonsense was about.

Luna snorted as she made her way down the dusty path towards Sweet Apple Acres. If she knew the place, she could have just teleported. And Night didn’t have the magic to teleport herself, let alone the whole group.

As they got closer, a curious sound caught the alicorn’s ears. It was not the sound of joyus ponies enjoying fresh cider on this warm day. No, far from it actually.

As Luna and the others stepped up to the crown, the tall alicorn looked over the herd to see an odd contraption, twin unicorn stallions and a rather dejected-looking Apple Family.

“What happened here?” she asked nopony in particular.

“These guys,’ Lyra said, having been standing just in front of Luna. “They used that weird machine to win a bet, and now they’ve taken the farm away from the Apples.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. Oh did they now…

A smirk crossed her muzzle as her eyes flashed dangerously. So, they liked to bet did they?

So did Luna~

The first thing Aspect heard was the door slamming open, followed by the loud laughs of Luna and Rainbow.

“Ohman, did you see their faces!?” Rainbow wheezed with giggles. “If the verbal beatdown wasn’t bad enough, the physical ones sure was.”

“Dare I ask what happened?” The stallion asked with a raised brow.

“O-Oh hey… A-Aspect,’ Rainbow panted, getting her breath back. “Y-You missed out. It was the best thing ever!”

“Indeed, a great battle was fought, thou even missed the spoils of war,” Luna shook her head. “Thankfully, We saved some for you.”

“I’m gonna need details,” the stallion replied, pointing to the seats nearby. Rainbow and Luna took a seat, the former taking the chance to catch her breath while Luna summoned a wooden mug filled with a fizzy amber liquid.

“Here father, some of Lady Applejack’s finest cider.”

Aspect raised a brow before taking the mug and sipping from it. It was rather delicious. The perfect blend of sweet and sour. The fizziness tingling his tongue pleasantly and it went down oh so smooth.

“Good no?” Rainbow hummed. “I finally got a mug… or twenty. Don’t judge me!”

“It’s...probably one of the better drinks I’ve had, I’ll agree,” Aspect nodded as he nursed the mug, only occasionally sipping from it.

Then Luna and Rainbow recalled the series of events that transpired. How a pair of unicorns called Flim and Flam, earning a snort from the stallion, tried to swindle Applejack’s farm. Not only had Luna put an abrupt stop to that particular outcome, the brothers foolishly made a wager against her.

“Ponies are so soft these days,” Luna smiled like a shark. “They don’t get as confident when their life is on the line.”

“Lulu,” Aspect sighed.

“What?” Luna said. “You’d have agreed if you’d met them.”

“Yeah, they were total jerks,” Rainbow nodded. “They kicked AJ and her family off of their farm, up until the Princess stepped up to help.”

“Nonsense, and call me Luna, we are but family now,” she said and nuzzled Rainbow.

“...Fair enough, I clearly don’t have the full story here,” Aspect agreed.

“Well, after defeated them in the cider-making game,” Luna said. ‘They had the gall to say that a Princess helping was cheating, even though they agreed to it in the first place. So, we made a small wager.” She pulled out a golden bit. “Heads, I give them my throne in Canterlot. Tails, I get their heads.”

Then she turned the coin in her magic, showing Celestia’s sunmark on either side.

“Oh dear,” Aspect shook his head. “Well, I’m glad they eventually had the good sense to know when they were outmatched.”

“Mhm, it was around the time I started sharpening my scythe,” Luna smiled as lightning flashed from outside.

“Ooh, ominous,” Rainbow noted. “Also on that note, I need to take care of some weather business.” She hugged Luna and gave Aspect a kiss. “Later.”

And with that, she rocketed from the room.

“Always in a rush, that one.” Luna noted.

“She is known for her speed around here,” the stallion pointed out.

“So I noticed,” Luna mused as she reclined on the sofa. “So how fare you father. Sister sends her regrets in being unable to visit. The nobility is being as asinine as always.”

“I suspected as much,” the stallion sighed. “Well, things have been relatively calm around here as of late.”

“Father, did you just taunt Murphy again?” Luna asked, remembering what he used to say about that name. “You know he has it in for you or some such.”

“Well I mean there was that thing with Applejack breaking a Pinkie Promise, which, trust me, you don’t want to know about,” the stallion replied. “But other than that adventure...calm.”

“Hmm, and you’re complaining?” Luna asked him. “I mean, quiet is fine and all. But a good adventure is good for the soul.”

“I’ve had my fill of adventures, thank you,” Aspect sighed. “I just hope that say...the next eighty years or so are calm.”

“Oh, only that long. A meager drop in the bucket for ponies… and humans such as ourselves,” Luna said. “Also… may I hide… I mean, stay here for a few days?”

“Luna, you know you’ll have to face your sister sooner or later,” Aspect pointed out.

“Nope, not worried about her,” she said with a shake of her head. “Her new medic on the other hoof. She bucking terrifies me.”

“...Dare I ask?” Aspect posed.

“Her name is Lady Holy Eldena Prime,” Luna shuddered. “And her methods are… unorthodox.”

“Such as?”

“Well, Celestia sprained her hoof not long ago, Holy suggested breaking her leg to kickstart her regeneration to heal it.”

Aspect raised an eyebrow at that.

“Oh, did I mention she’s a field medic for the Guard?” Luna said. “She once stepped onto the battlefield, and figuring it was easier than healing ponies getting constantly hurt, she single-hoofedly annihilated the entire opposing force with a Light spell.”

“Well that speaks of a tactical mind at least…” Aspect pointed out.

“A dozen of our own were caught in the crossfire, her response was. ‘I healed them later didn’t I?’,” Luna said and shook her head. “So no, I do not think I shall be letting this maniac examine me.”

“...I might want to have words with her about this,” Aspect muttered.

“Good luck, she wants give you a medical too, saying that all that shapeshifitng can’t be healthy.” Luna summoned her own mug and sipped it.

“It is perfectly healthy!” Aspect snapped. “I don’t see her having the magical essences of most of the species on Equus stored in her body!”

“To be fair, she thinks exploding things fixes most problems,” Luna sighed. “Well whatever. Unless you don’t want your sweet, lovable daughter here?”

“No no, by all means, you’re free to stay for the time being,” Aspect waved a wing. “I’ll not turn you away.”

“Excellent!” Luna cheered and smiled. This was going to be a great couple of days.

The next day was… uneventful. Boring even. Aspect had spent a good portion lazing about the house. Midnight’s mother had returned home, as had Bon Bon’s. The kids were at school, Twilight hadn't bugged him for stories…

Even Lyra was absent.

“Is it always so… dull?” Luna asked as she lay on her back on a rug, painting a night sky illusion on his ceiling and drawing lewd star patterns.

“Normally something happens around here every so often,” the stallion agreed as he flipped through a book. “I guess you filled that quota with what you did to those con artist brothers.”

“Aww,” Luna pouted. Even older Twilight wasn't around. The ancient mare off exploring Ponyville and the surrounding area, Midnight tasked with keeping her safe. “Tis there nothing we can't do Father? We art most bored.”

“Between not teaching today and the weather being pretty light to the point where they don’t need my help, I’m pretty bored as well,” the stallion pointed out. “Some days are just slow days. Days which, need I remind you, I cherished back when we lived near Dream Vall--”

*POP!*

And with a magical flash of light, Aspect now had a dizzy Twilight Sparkle in his lap, her eyes swirling.

“Nevermind, something’s up,” Aspect said as he put his book to the side. “So, how can I help you?”

Twilight shook her head to clear it and blushed when she saw her new seat. She quickly leapt to her hooves and stammered. “S-Sorry, I kinda rushed my spell.”

“Who am I to turn down a pretty mare?” Aspect asked her. “But I assume there’s a reason you’re here now.”

“O-Oh, Yes,” Twilight fought her adorable blush down. “It's Rainbow Dash. She's in the hospital.”

“Oh geeze,” the stallion rolled his eyes. “What did she do this time?”

“She had a pretty nasty crash while practicing,” Twilight explained. “The ground won. So now she's in with a broken wing, some scratches and bruises and a busted ego.”

“Welp, sounds like the perfect chance to go cheer her up then,” Aspect nodded once. “As long as she wasn’t trying to put lightning into a rainboom again, I’ll not chastise her for it.”

“No, just some stunt flying,” Twilight said as Luna tried to get to her hooves. “Oh? Hello Luna.”

“Good morning Friend Twilight,” the alicorn nodded.

“Well, shall we?” Twilight said as she helped the alicorn up.

“Yup, I’ll be with you in a moment,” Aspect nodded as he cracked his neck. “Just gonna go grab my bags and I’ll be on my way.”

He also noted that Luna was watching a particular part of Twilight as she left....

He sighed. His girls. One was still pure, the other, all too willing to chase after anything that caught her eye.

...Like he could talk.

It was a matter of a minute before the stallion walked back into the main entryway and held open the door for his daughter. “Let’s go see Dash,” he stated.

“Well, beats doing nothing,” she said as she walked out of the door.

To say Rainbow Dash was less than amused was like saying water was wet. Shebhad her forelegs folded and the mother of all pouts on her face as her left wing was bandaged up, her other injuries coated in gauze and wrappings.

“This suuuuucks!” she moaned. “Urgh! Do I really have to be here for three bucking days?”

“If you want to fly again, yes, yes you do,” Aspect deadpanned at her. “Ponies can walk off a lot of things, but not broken wings, Dash.”

His mare just snorted and looked away. If stubbornness had an Aspect. Dash would be a shoe-in for it.

“Look, just relax,” the stallion soothed. “It’ll all be over before you know it. And I can always come and visit you.”

“And do what?” Rainbow sighed. “Doc says I can't do any of that stuff til my wing is healed fully.”

“Part of being a couple isn’t just that, Dash,” Aspect sighed. “It’s also about connecting with each other. Sharing stories and the like. For example, you know a lot about me. You could tell me more about your life.” He nudged her with a wing. “I’m sure you have some stories I haven’t heard yet.”

“I guess…” Rainbow murmured.

“There’s always books!” Twilight suggested excitedly, only for Rainbow to scoff and roll her eyes.

“Please, books are for eggheads like you Twi. Not cool ponies like me.”

“...You’ve never read a book?” Aspect raised an eyebrow.

“Text books and crap in school, sure,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “Sometimes. Books are boring. Why read about life when you can be out there living it?”

“You can’t do everything, Dash,” the stallion pointed out. “Tartarus, even I’ve not done everything. I’m old and there’s still parts of the world I’ve never been to.”

Rainbow held up her good wing, extending her primaries like fingers. “I've defeated two ancient evils. Pulled off a pegasus move nopony has done in centuries. Got engaged in a herd marriage to an immortal alien and I'm not even twenty yet. I dare you to find a book more exciting than that.”

“Twilight, the ball is in your court,” Aspect bowed his head to her.

“Um…” Twilight scratched her head as she was thrown under the proverbial carriage. “Hmm…”

“See?” Rainbow said, not waiting for a reply. “Books are for foals and eggheads.”

“Where’s a good adventure book when you need one,” the stallion shook his head. “All mine are old human copies I’m saving for Twilight.”

Aaaaand now the unicorn as looking up at him, The Cute set to maximum output as her tail wagged adorably.

“You’ll get them on your birthday and Hearth’s Warming,” the stallion chuckled as he turned back to Dash. “Seriously, there has got to be a pony adventure novel that’d tickle your fancy…”

“Meh…” Rainbow shrugged as she bounced a ball against the far wall.

“Any ideas, Twilight?” Aspect asked the unicorn.

“Hmmm….” Twilight turned as a book cart wheeled by and she gasped, floating a book over. One titled Daring Do.

“Here!” Twilight beamed. “This is a favourite of mine actually. The pony it's about is brave, fearless and tenacious. She kinda reminds me of you.”

“Daring Do?” Rainbow looked at the cover like something you'd step in. “Really….”

“It’s better than staring at a wall all day,” Aspect pointed out. “I can’t stay forever, I have to wrangle the kids soon, and somepony is going to have to help out the weather team while you’re temporarily indisposed.”

“Psh. Sure,” Rainbow waved a hoof. “Fine. Guess I'll see you round then.”

“I’ll stop in from time to time when I can,” Aspect promised Dash, giving her a peck on the cheek.

“Urrgh, not in front of Twilight,” she blushed, wiping her cheek with a hoof.

“Yeah, cause I haven't seen worse,” the unicorn rolled her eyes.

“In any case, take care, get well soon Dashie,” Aspect teased, before turning and walking off to gather his kids from school.

“So Dash hurt herself… again?” Artemis deadpanned. “Seriously? Maybe Miss Rarity should make her a bubble wrap suit or something.”

“At the speeds she was going, it wouldn’t help,” the stallion sighed. “It’s like she lives for the thrill...and the hospital bed.”

“I'd like to know how she isn't dead,” Nightmare commented. “Usually when a pony flies into the ground like that. One would require a sponge to pick up what's left. And all she gets is a broken wing?”

“One of the basic skills of Aeromancy is more instinctive than you’d think,” Aspect noted. “In times of panic, a pony who is skilled in Aeromancy will instinctively pull the air around them into a cushion, to soften any blow or impact.”

“She can do that?” Nightmare said, actually sounding impressed. “So… how much of a monster will she be when actually trained?”

“I honestly don’t know,” the stallion returned. “She can already break the sound barrier, and the visible light spectrum so…”

“Eesh,” Nightmare shuddered. “The only thing worse would be Sparkle learning Runic.”

“Yeah, no, we keep a very tight lid on that ability for a reason,” Aspect countered. “Runes powered the fountain, after all. It was only when the sword was drawn that it started to stop.”

“And Runes can't restart the fountain?” Artemis asked.

“Depends, do you feel like uprooting the World-tree to try?” the stallion riposted.

“Where’s my shovel?” Nightmare said without missing a beat.

“Rude!” Yggdrasil said to Aspect.

‘Nightmare is as Nightmare does,’ the stallion thought back. “Look, no. There’s a reason I planted him there. Mostly to hide the location of the fountain in the first place. Also, I still couldn’t read Runic when I did. Honestly, it’s better this way.”

“Huh…” Nightmare mused on that. Well wasn't that interesting. Then her ear flicked. “I have a new question.”

“Mmm?” the stallion mused as he kept on leading the kids back to the mansion, one of his ears turning to face her.

“What's higher? Your defense. Or Midnight’s attack?”

“Hilarious,” the stallion deadpanned.

“Well… I'm about to find out…”

*POW!*

And that was a bat tacklehugging at high speed. Aspect let out an ‘ack’ as he fell to the ground, tumbling a dozen feet before coming to a stop, Midnight standing over him.

“Oh look. I found a husband,” she mused and kissed his lips.

“So you did,” the stallion replied after the kiss broke. “Was the tackle necessary?”

“Yes… yes it was,” Midnight nodded.

“I bet her she couldn't get the drop on you,” Twilight Twinkle chuckled as she walked up to them. “Seems you're getting old Christopher.”

“Well excuse me for not expecting a sudden attack from nowhere,” the stallion replied. “It’s not like the era isn’t more peaceful or anything.”

“Perhaps I am simply too good for such a weary male,” Midnight said smugly.

“Oh dear,” Twinkle chuckled. “Hmm, maybe even I could defeat him.”

“Somepony’s forgetting who they’re talking about,” Aspect pointed out. “It was just a boring day, that’s all.”

“Mhm,” Twinkle pet his head. “Poor boy. Were you lonely?”

“Luna was around for most of it, and then Dash went and broke her wing, so it wasn’t that bad,” the stallion replied. “It was nice to have a day to unwind, actually.”

“Rainbow did what?” Midnight gasped. As a fellow flier, she knew that pain all too well. “Is she alright?”

“Bored out of her skull, but she’ll heal,” Aspect nodded. “Three days in the hospital.”

“I shall give her love to recover!” Midnight nodded and flew off to lavish the pegasus mare.

“Is Rainbow a Changeling too?” Pupal tilted her head.

“Nope, aaaaand something tells me Midnight’s about to be booted out of the hospital,” Aspect chuckled. “So, homework first, then dinner.”

“A-Are you cooking?” Realm asked with no small amount of trepidation.

“Eh, if Bon Bon doesn’t show, we can go out to eat,” the stallion replied. “I’m all too aware that my cooking isn’t fit for anyone but myself.”

“It's been how long and you still don't know how?” Twinkle sighed. “I swear… you and Majesty were the worst for avoiding that.”

“I at least tried to learn,” Aspect returned fire. “Granted, all that managed to do was avoid having milk curdle in my presence, but I made the effort.”

“And now we know why he couldn’t get a marefriend,” Nightmare chuckled. “Take note little Realm. Mares like a stallion that can cook.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” the pinto alicorn colt replied.

“Well… she’s not wrong,” Artemis said and licked his chops. “Aww… I made myself hungry.”

“To dinner then!” Aspect called out as he raised a hoof dramatically. “Right after you all get some effort put in on your homework.”

“Awwwww,” the foals sighed dejectedly, they’d hoped he’d have forgotten all about that.

“Chop chop, the sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be finished,” the stallion urged them, pushing them towards the house with his wings.

Midnight Song had returned not too long after Aspect had returned home. Curiously though, was that she’d zipped inside, given him a quick kiss and darted off, returning a moment later in full combat armor.

“Well, I must be off,” she said as she packed a sandwich. “Try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone aye?”

“Dare I ask what you’ll be up to?” Aspect mused. “It doesn’t bode well...for whatever you have to meet, that is.”

“I have orders to mobilise,” she said as she finished packing her saddlebags. “Griffon mercs are causing trouble on the eastern border. Nothing too serious, but the Princess wants me there as a deterrent.” She paused and poked his chest. “And she said you are NOT to tag along. You’d only make the situation worse. Her words, not mine.”

“Oh for the love of...You know, I could be there as fast as the wind, take my Griffon form, and summon a weapon that would get them all to stand down,” the stallion griped. “Literally, I am the best tool to get them to back off. Why does she not see that.”

“Because you’re also fight-happy and would likely goad them into combat,” Midnight said and kissed the tip of his nose. “Fret not my stallion. A few mangy birds cannot defeat me.”

Aspect merely grumbled a little more. He’d been a little too lenient on the children of the wind as of late, it would seem. He’d have to see about...redirecting some of their natural wind in their homeland. Maybe that would make them think twice before they attacked the ponies.

Midnight’s ear flicked and she hummed. “My ride is here. Anyway, take care and don’t do anypony I wouldn’t do~” She smiled and kissed him deeper before zipping out of the door and to the chariot that had landed outside.

Once she left, Luna stepped up to Aspect’s side as he watched Midnight become a speck on the horizon. “You’re going to follow her, aren’t you?” she said.

“...I could,” Aspect noted. “But if I did that, then who would take care of the kids? I appear to be the only responsible adult here. Now, if she’d left at night when they were asleep? Oh, yes, most certainly.”

“The eastern border is a half-day’s flight via chariot,” Luna pointed out. “I doubt Midnight Song will return for several days at the very least.”

“Luna, I could be there in an hour,” the stallion deadpanned. “I ride something much faster than a chariot. But I’m not going to do that to the kids.”

“I could watch them?” Luna offered, adding the power of Cute into the mix for added measure. Her teal, doe-like eyes blinking once as she looked down at the pegasus.

“Luna, if I did that, you all would eat all the food,” Aspect deadpanned. “I don’t need to come home to doughballs instead of kids. And besides...Tia doesn’t want me to be the old warhorse anymore. So far, I can obey that.” That didn’t stop a smirk from growing on his lips though.

“I know that look,” Luna chuckled as she turned around. “And sister is going to learn to be more specific when ordering you not to do something isn’t she?”

“Let’s just say...I’m going to let Midnight borrow Gungnir when she arrives at the border,” Aspect replied cryptically. “That oughta get the featherbrains to back off.”

Luna paused and slowly turned towards him. “You… you would let Midnight borrow Gungnir?” she asked in a low tone. “You still have Gungnir?”

“It’s a part of the world, a part of the air, a part of me,” Aspect replied, putting a hoof on his chest. “I can no more lose it than my sword...until another Air Aspect is chosen.”

“Perhaps,” Luna said. “Well, I’m sure no harm can come of Midnight Song wielding a weapon literally made of lightning.”

“She’s only going to be allowed to use it once,” Aspect replied. “Just to get this whole thing to calm down.”

“Midnight likes her toys, good luck getting it back,” Luna mused. “In any case. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Oh wait… You always worry.”

“It’s my job to worry,” the stallion replied. “So, let’s go over our options for taking the kids out to eat.”

Turns out, there are not a lot of options available. Sugarcube closed late afternoon, so that only left the fancy (and expensive) Prench restaurant. Berry Punch’s bar, or Burger Princess.

Aspect wasn’t going to even try to bring Artemis into the Prench restaurant, and he also didn’t want the minors to be exposed to drink just yet. So that left the Burger Princess.

Still, letting the kids have all that junk food didn’t sit well with him either.

Luckily, somepony arrived in the nick of time. A few solid knocks on his door had him open it to reveal Applejack, pulling a wooden cart.

“Well, howdy Aspect,” she said, tipping her hat, the one he’d given her. “Nice evenin’.”

“Ah, evening to you as well,” Aspect greeted her. He looked to the skies for a moment and…

“Pardon me, there’s something I have to do very quickly,” he said, stepping outside and holding a hoof to his chest. Before Applejack could question it, he pulled the hoof back, a tiny spark glowing atop it.

That spark grew into a lance of lightning, trapped on his hoof and squirming...before slowly morphing into a bronze spear that crackled with energy. “Now you behave for Midnight,” he told the spear, before chucking it to the east, where the Equestrian border met the Griffon one. The spear flew, and flew...and twinkled as it disappeared into the distance.

“And with that taken care of, how can I help you?” Aspect turned back to Applejack.

Applejack just stared at where the spear had flown and then shook her head rapidly. “Uhh… wut?”

“Midnight is dealing with some Griffon mercenaries tonight,” Aspect elaborated. “So I gave her something that...should help them see the light. Or the lightning. Whichever comes first.”

“Riiiight,” Applejack decided it was best to ignore that. “Well uh, ah dunno if y’all know, but Princess Luna really helped us out of a pickle earlier. So ah thought it best to repay that debt.”

“She...did make mention of it,” the stallion noted. “She never said what though. And I’ve learned not to ask.”

“Well, thanks to her, our farm was saved from two real low-life con-artists,” Applejack said and pulled the cloth from her wagon, filled with every delectable, Apple-made apple treat known to ponykind. “So, Granny and ah whipped up a few vittles fer you n’yers.”

“...This is a few,” Aspect pointed out. “...Dare I ask what you would consider an actual meal to be then?”

“Nopony like a smartflank,” Applejack chuckled. “Now, care t’use yer fancy magic an’ help me get all this inside?”

“Well, I gave up Earth, so I don’t have Earth Pony strength,” the stallion mused. “And the wings I do have won’t be of much use. But what I can do…” he walked around to the front and hitched himself up. “Is drag this to the side door.”

“Well, ah figure y’all woulda sprouted that fancy horn a’yers,” she replied. “But that works too.” She pulled the cart to the side entrance and manoeuvred it into the kitchen.

As she did, Twilight Twinkle walked into the room, curious as to what the noise was about.

…

There was a flurry of movement and…

“Uh, Aspect?” AJ said, a bead of sweat rolling down her head. “Why the heck is a strange mare huggin’ me an’ cryin’?”

“Because, save for your Cutie Mark, you exactly resemble the Applejack of Dream Valley,” Aspect pointed out.

“Huh…” Applejack said as she awkwardly patted Twinkle on the back, before the older mare pulled away and wiped her eyes.

“S-Sorry,” she said as she took a step back. “You just… Tartarus, there’s so many reminders… and that hat. It has to be hers…”

“It is,” Aspect said out loud. “I saved it and gave it to her. Believe me, I know. I had to take a few days to wrap my head around how things worked around here.”

“It’s so damned uncanny,” Twinkle said. “I’m sorry dear it’s just…”

“So, yer one of Aspect’s older friends ah take it?” Applejack asked, looking at the stallion as he gave a small nod. “Well, odd first impressions aside, it’s nice ta meetcha!” She held out a hoof as Twinkle took it, the pair shaking gently. “Mah name’s Applejack. Nice to meet you Miss…?”

“Twilight Twinkle,” the mare smiled back. “Honestly, is this what they mean by, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’?”

“You tell me,” the stallion chuckled. “In any case, we have foodstuffs!”

“Oh?” Twinkle spied the various foods and took a deep breath. “Oh my, seems looks aren’t the only things that were passed down. That said, I do miss Megan’s cooking. She had the most interesting ideas when it came to food.”

“Yes, of the two of us, she was better at helping teach ponies new things,” Aspect sighed. “I’m just glad somepony learned to cook back in Dream Valley.”

“As much as I loved Written…” Twinkle said, just as the mare in question passed by a portrait. “Her cooking looked, smelled and tasted like one of Grogar’s creations.”

“And I suppose you learned how to cook with utilities that were literally magicked into existence better than I did?” Written casually sniped.

“I’ve learned quite a bit actually,” Twinkle fired back. “I still recall the time you served up a plate of grass clippings.”

“The oven was out,” the painted alicorn cooly replied.

“Mhm…” Twinkle rolled her eyes.

“Are… they always like this?” Applejack whispered to Aspect.

“Sometimes they’re worse,” he whispered back.

“—Says the mare that couldn’t even get married,” Twinkle fired back, still arguing with her.

“Says the mare that can’t even grant her own wishes,” Written calmly retorted.

“Now now, no need to get snippy,” Applejack stepped between them. “Let’s all calm down and have a good meal instead hm?”

“...Fine,” Twilight huffed and started floating dishes from the wagon and onto the table.

“Huh...that normally doesn’t work,” Aspect mused.

“Christopher, go and get the children,” Twinkle ordered with a snappy tone.

“On it,” he replied instantly and walked off, not wanting to be anywhere near this.

“Good colt,” Twinkle and Written echoed before giggling.

“Ah’m so glad ah don’t live here,” Applejack muttered.

On a large, open plain. Midnight Song stared up at the darkening sky. So far the griffons had been quiet, so that left her with a whole lot of nothing to do. The Medical Mage here was… unique to say the least. She dressed like a court wizard and her bedside manner was something to be desired.

“I wonder if Aspect and the others are doing alright?” she wondered to herself.

“I wonder how many of these griffons I could catch with a single spell,” the mage wondered out loud. “Awful lot of targets out there…”

Midnight turned to the mage in question. “We will not antagonise them, nor are you even a front line combatant!” the thestral snapped. “You’re the medic. You job is to heal, not attack the opposing forces!”

“I can keep you in optimal condition by taking them all out at once,” Holy replied. “Heck, I could probably do it from here…”

“Do. Not. Attack them!” Midnight said with an exasperated sigh. “Goddess, you’re as bad, if not worse than my husband to be…”

The clouds above them rumbled ominously. Had it been cloudy before? Lightning flashed up there.

“Look, all I’m saying is the best defense is a good offense,” the medic replied. “And I have the best offense.”

Midnight managed a derisive snort.

There was a louder rumble, and then from the heavens, right between their camps, a bolt of lightning struck the ground.

And the crater it left had something sticking out of it. Something shiny, that sparked with power.

Something that called out to Midnight.

“What… is that?” Midnight murmured as she stepped closer to it.

The spear hummed as she drew closer...and when she was in touching range, lightning danced along it. She let out a gasp as her hoof made contact with the metal, the thestral mare admiring the spear as she ran a hoof up and down the shaft. As she pulled it free of the earth, it let out a little hum, almost a tune as the lightning didn’t hurt her at all. And the name for it came into her mind unbidden.

Gungnir.

“Oohhhhohohoh!” Midnight hummed as she twirled the spear, lightning crackling around her as she pulled a few moves. “Ooh, now this? This, I like!”

“She wields the holy spear!” One griffon cried out from the griffon lines. “It has returned to the world only to be wielded by one of the ponies!”

Midnight turned to see that some griffons had emerged from their tents to see what the noise was about, and were looking quite shocked about the spear.

“Oh, so you know what this is huh?” She said as she stepped closer, staying on her side of the agreed, non-aggression zone.

“It is the weapon of the Allfather, the one true emperor of griffonkind, the one all other griffon kings and queens have ruled in his stead for,” another griffon answered. “Why...why has it come back to this world, and in your hooves?”

Midnight paused as she processed that information… and on a whim.

She looked at the merc and tilted her head. “Would that griffon happen to be Bloodfeather?”

“She dares speak the holy one’s name!” One hissed, drawing very close to the line.

“I know him yes,” Midnight said and pulled her necklace from out under her armor. “And why wouldn’t I speak the name of my husband?”

That got all the griffons to pause.

“You lie,” one stated simply. “He would not wed a pony.”

The spear crackled as a bolt of lightning struck the earth. “I am a thestral you birdbrained halfcat,” Midnight growled, showing off her gleaming fangs. “I wield Gungnir, not in the name of the Allfather, but in the name of Equestria! We have an accord with your kind. A nonaggression treaty that you are breaking.” She just went with it and hoped to Tartarus they were buying this. “I will offer you this one chance. Retreat back to your fatherland, or I will tell Bloodfeather about this slight. And he will bring ALL of his fury upon your kind. He granted you His gifts… and he can Take them away!”

The griffons, thusly cowed, all fled from the sight of the madpony that broke everything they ever thought to be true about Bloodfeather. Come dawn, not a one of them would be remaining. Nor would they willingly march against the ponies again.

Midnight looked at the fleeing griffons… then at the spear.

“This… feels like cheating,” she pouted, wanting to have a good fight.

The lightning on the spear danced a little, and Midnight swore she could hear the sound of laughter in her mind.

“Oh, so I have a smartass spear huh?” Midnight mused as she looked at it. Well, if Aspect had truly sent her such a wonderful gift… it’d be a real shame not to try and master it before she returned. “Let’s put you through your paces anyway~”

Author's Note

Meet the holy lady! She'll show up in a few more places.

Also, meet the spear. Middy's gonna have fun with it for a bit, kay?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent warping time.

Chapter 52 - Taking care of business

It was a pleasant morning for Balanced Aspect. A bit of a lonely one though, as none of his mares stopped by last night. Bon Bon had sent word that she needed to take care of Lyra after she twisted her hoof. And Rainbow and Midnight were otherwise predisposed.

The house was oddly quiet for a weekend though. The kids were likely still asleep and he couldn’t hear Luna’s usual racket either. So the stallion opened his door to pick up his morning paper. It hadn’t taken him long to change that aspect of the house. Rather than have a mailbox all the way at the end of his walk he’d quite calmly, one day, just picked it up and stuck it next to his front door. Seeing as how that was where the paper was delivered, it made mornings about five minutes shorter.

There was a curious sound, and he felt his fur stand on end as the sharp smell of burning ozone filled his nostrils…

He took a sudden step back as a bolt of lighting dropped down in front of him, exploding the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

When it cleared?

Midnight Song stood in a crouched position, holding Gungnir close as her form crackled with lightning.

“Oh good, you brought it back,” Aspect sighed, his heart stopping its beating of a hundred time a second thanks to the shock once he saw a familiar face. “And how did it go at the border?”

Midnight stood up, carrying the spear under her wing as she strode forward and pulled Aspect into a very deep kiss, her tongue beating his down for dominance as she moaned softly into the embrace. She broke it a moment later and stroked the spear lovingly. “Your future wife loves her new gift oh so very much~” she practically purred.

“It was more of a loaner than a gift,” Aspect pointed out. “Gungnir is the proper weapon of the Air aspect. Once we get a new one, it’ll go to them. It obeys me for now because I still am Air. And I told it to behave for you. I just knew that the featherbrains would actually listen if you held it.”

“Oh, they saw it and promptly laid an egg in fear,” she chuckled. “They brought up somepony named ‘The Allfather’ and I hazarded a guess and said I was married to him…” She let out a loud, barking laugh. “You should have seen their faces. They could not run away fast enough when I threatened genocide on them~”

“Dear lord, I’ve married someone half as crazy as me,” Aspect chuckled, before holding out a hoof. “Well if you’d be so kind, I’ll put it away again.”

The spear crackled angrily as he tried to take it and Midnight chuckled.

“Seems it likes me for the time being,” she mused as she gave it a twirl, the spear sparking as she did.

“Oh for the love of…” Aspect eyed the spear. “I told you to behave for Midnight, not become bonded to her. You know you’re meant to go to the next Air Aspect.”

“Oh, you don’t trust me to take care of him until one is found?” Midnight pouted, and she unleashed her Cute for the first time.

A batpony, plus the lip-biting, wide-eyed expression of Cute…

“Fine!” Aspect threw up his hooves in exasperation. “But if he gets out of hoof, I’m taking him back!”

“Such a drama queen,” Midnight kissed his cheek. “Aww, I forgot that Rainbow was away. Were you lonely last night?”

“I managed, I had the kids to keep me company,” the stallion replied, shrugging his wings. “It’s hardly the first time.”

“Hmmmm,” Midnight moved up under his wing. “So, you didn’t miss me at all? Nopony to cuddle with? Nopony to snuggle with and wake up with?” She inched closer, nibbling his neck.

“Okay, I didn’t say I didn’t miss you,” Aspect clarified. “Just that I managed. I won’t say no if you decide to stick around tonight, for instance.”

“Well of course I will,” Midnight smiled. “Actually, that brings up a topic I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oh?” the stallion asked as he nuzzled the mare a little.

“Would you be adverse to the idea of…” she rubbed one leg with the other. “Of me perhaps…Mergând cu tine?”

“Dear, I wouldn’t mind at all,” Aspect kissed her cheek. “I would love to have you here more often.”

“I am most glad,” Midnight purred not unlike a cat as she nuzzled him. Okay, her little bat noises were seriously adorable.

“I just managed to put a serviceable breakfast together for the kids,” Aspect said. “It’s sitting on the dining room table. Out of all of the meals, I do breakfasts the best. It’s really hard to mess one up. Once they’ve eaten and gone on their way, I’ll make some for us so we can have some time toget—”

“Bye dad!” came a flurry of greetings as Realm, Artemis, Pupal and Nightmare ran past him and/or under him as they bolted for the front gate. The bowls on the table were still spinning as they tore off towards town, having planned to spend the day with some of their classmates.

“Aaand there they go,” Midnight giggled.

“Whelp, time for some food for us,” Aspect chuckled as he held the front door open. “M’lady.” He bowed for her, wings spread in an old pegasus show of reverence.

“Such a gentlepony,” she said as she entered the abode. First she’d have some breakfast… then she’d snack on a stallion for brunch~

A little after lunch, Aspect decided to pay Rainbow a visit while Midnight napped after her long trip. Though it was… rather odd when he arrived. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was in a hurry to get rid of him. Any questions he had got single word replies before the mare claimed she was tired and wanted to sleep.

He didn’t question it, though. Rest was one of the body’s ways of fixing itself. So he kissed her cheek, told her he hoped she got well soon, and walked off again with a happy little hum.

Once he was gone, Rainbow waited for a few minutes before she smiled and grabbed the book she’d stuffed under her pillow with glee. “Now! Where was I…”

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful really. The kids had been out most of the day. And would be for the night as they’d planned a sleepover at the Crusader’s clubhouse on Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack promised she’d keep an eye on them the whole time, so that alleviated some of Aspect’s worries.

And in the late afternoon, he got a knock at his door. He opened it up to see a bandaged Rainbow Dash standing at his door awkwardly.

“Hey…” she murmured. “Do you ah… mind if I crash here. My house is kind of… out of reach for the night.”

“It’s fine, I honestly expected it at this point,” Aspect replied, opening the door wider. “Come on in and make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” she murmured as she stepped inside. “So uh, how is everyone?”

“Midnight has a new toy, Bons is taking care of Lyra, and the kids are at the Acres with the Crusaders for a sleepover,” Aspect summed up.

“...Well, it was nice knowing the Apple fam,” she shrugged. “So… miss me any?”

“Well, it was pretty boring around here when Middy and Bons left last night to take care of things,” the stallion replied. “Guess it just goes to show that life will always find a way to intrude.”

“Aww,” Rainbow nuzzled him as she walked in. “Well, you still had all your painted pals right? And that Twinkle mare.”

“There’s a difference between having someone to talk to,” the stallion pointed out, before drawing close and bumping flanks with her. “And having a mare to cuddle with.”

“Mmm, so you just like me for my body huh?” Rainbow teased and nuzzled him.

“It’s one of your defining features,” Aspect teased back as he nuzzled her as well.

“I knew it,” she giggled and poked his nose with her good wing. “You really are a shameless pervert huh?”

“I blame you mares for bringing that side of me out,” Aspect retorted, before he wrapped a wing around her. Rainbow was about to reply when they heard two ponies land nearby. She turned and her eyes widened to sizable levels.

“Oh sweet Tartarus no.”

“MY LITTLE DASHIE!” a mare cried as Aspect’s fiance was pulled away from him, a light blue pegasus mare with a striped orange mane was pulling her into a hug. “Oh my little star. I’ve been so worried about you!”

“Gak! A-Aspect… halp…” Rainbow waved her only free limb.

Aspect merely turned to the stallion. “Parents?” he asked him.

The stallion was a large, well built pegasus was a buzzcut mane. And he also shared his daughter’s striking rainbow colouration.

“Sure am!” he nodded. “The name’s Bow Hothoof! And this is my wife Windy Whistles.”

“Hi!’ the mare chirped in a friendly tone, waving a hoof as she continued to smother her daughter with love and affection.

“Mmm. Well, you’re welcome to join me in my home,” Aspect waved a wing at the house behind him. “I’m sure Dash would like to rest her injuries off.”

“Aww, my poor little Dashie,” Windy snuggled her flailing daughter. “I can’t believe you got hurt. Don’t worry. A pony as awesome as our Dashie will be right as rain in no time.”

“Darn right,” Bow nodded. “Tough as nails that one. Even a dragon would go down easier than her.”

“Mmm, she did kick a dragon in the snout a while back,” Aspect mused as he held the door open for the family.

“That’s my Dashie, showing a big beast what’s what!” Windy smiled as the trio was led inside.

“So friend,” Bow clapped a powerful hoof over Aspect’s shoulder. “Who might you be?”

Aaaand that was Rainbow tensing up.

“Balanced Aspect,” the stallion replied. “I’m sure Dash has told you about me.”

Windy and Bow looked at each other with a confused expression.

“Sorry pal, can’t say that she has,” Bow nodded as Rainbow tried to make herself look as small as possible while she crept towards the door.

“Rainbow!” Aspect called out. “Come over here and introduce me to your parents!”

The pegasus mare flinched as she looked at them with a sheepish expression. “Um… Mom, dad? That’s Aspect. Aspect, meet mom and dad. Okaythishasbeenfungottagoba—”

“Daaaaaash,” Aspect said warningly. “You can do better than that.”

“Dashie?” Windy tilted her head. “Who is this stallion?”

Rainbow groaned and sighed. “Urrrgggh. Fiiiine,” she said and walked closer. “Mom and Dad? This is Balanced Aspect. He’s uh… sortakinda my coltfriend?”

The silence was palpable.

“You’re missing a term there, Dash,” Aspect pointed out.

Rainbow blushed and buried her face in her hooves. “Okay one, I am going to skin you alive later Aspect. And two…” Rainbow reached for her bag and slid her necklace on. “We’re… kind of engaged.”

Windy’s and Bow’s eyes widened more.

“Do you think we should hit them with the rest of it?” Aspect mused, putting a wing to his chin.

“T-There’s… more?” Windy said in a voice that would be generous to be called a whisper.

“Eh, I don’t know if they can handle it, Dashie,” Aspect hummed with a little smirk.

“Eyeyey, don’t be putting words in our mouths now,” Bow said. “But… my little Dashie getting married?”

“To... two other ponies as well,” she said in a low mumble.

And that was the sound of her parent’s jaws hitting the floor.

“...Think there’s anything left we could tell them that would shock them?” Aspect asked after a moment.

“Anymore and we’ll be planning a funeral,” Rainbow snarked. She looked at her parents and winced. “I’m.. sorry I didn’t tell you guys sooner. I… well I’m still getting used to it myse-ACK!”

She let out a strangled cry as she was smothered by her parents, squished between them.

“I think they forgive you,” Aspect spoke up from outside the hug.

“I… see… a light…” Rainbow wheezed as her parents snuggled her. “Bleh.” And that was all she wrote for the pegasus mare, death by snuggles.

“Hoh boy,” Aspect rolled his eyes. “She’s going to be insufferable if you keep it up.”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Windy said as she nuzzled the limp pegasus. “Something as important as this?”

“Yeah kiddo,” Bow said and pulled back, looking at the stallion. “So, you’re the one set on marrying our little Dash?”

“To be fair, I was just happy with the mare I had, before Dash colluded with her and sprung the current arrangement on me,” Aspect replied. “Though I will take credit for the third one. That one was all me.”

“Three mares?” Windy giggled. “Our little Firecracker here isn’t enough for you? You must be one heck of a stallion.”

“Don’t. You. Dare!” Rainbow pointed her good wing at him.

“Let’s just say, that’s not all I can be,” Aspect replied smugly. He winked at Dash, ready at any moment to demonstrate what he meant.

“Aspect. I’m warning you,” the mare warned. “Your snuggle privileges are on the line here.”

“Alas, alack, it seems I will not be able to demonstrate my talents, for the mare forbids it,” the stallion swooned.

“Dashie?” Windy looked at her. “What’s going on here?”

“Aaaarrgghhh!” Rainbow dragged her hoof down her face. “Look just… Argh fine. Just show them already you smug featherhead.”

“Speaking of smug featherheads,” Aspect mused, before flashing into his griffon form. “Boo.”

“Eeeek!” Windy tumbled back as Bow flared his wings in surprise.

“Of course he goes with the griffon form,” she groaned as she walked up to him and cuffed him across the head with her wing. “Giving my parents a heart attack is not a good first impression idiot.”

“Well there’s hardly any other visually distinctive species, compared to ponies, that wouldn’t do that,” the griffon pointed out as he rubbed his head. “Although…”

Another flash saw him in a Zebra form, smirking at the pegasi.

“What the what?” Windy blinked. “Aww, the griffon form was more handsome.”

“M-Mom!” Rainbow blushed and facehooved. Ahh, so that’s where Dashie got it from.

“I am the original form-changer,” Aspect explained. “Do relax, there is no danger. For me, it is not a spell. Merely a skill that I use well.”

“Mom and Dad?” Rainbow said. “Did you read about the Princesses dad in the papers?”

“Sure did,” Bow nodded. “I mean, it’s nowhere near as exciting as any news of our Dashie. But we saw.”

Rainbow merely gestured to Aspect.

“Ooohhh,” her parents nodded in understanding.

“Well, if my Dashie’s gonna get married. A stallion like that would be a good fit,” Windy nodded. “He’s handsome too, so that’s a bonus.”

Aspect flashed back into his griffon form and used a hand to pick up one of the mare’s forelegs, kissing her hoof. “Your words do me credit, ma’am,” he practically purred to her.

“O-Ohmy,” she blushed and fanned herself with a wing, before Rainbow’s hoof found his ribs.

“Stop flirting with my Mom,” she growled.

“Can’t blame him,” Bow nodded in a knowing manner. “Windy’s the prettiest mare out there. Even Celestia herself can’t compare.”

“Spoken exactly like a married stallion,” Aspect nodded once. Before turning to Dash and beating her to the punch. “And don’t even think of asking me which of the three of you is the prettier mare. That’s a trap and I know it.”

“Duh, Midnight is easily the hottest,” Dash waved a wing. “Bons is cute. Kinda has a… Filly next door kinda vibe. And I already know I’m the most awesome.”

“U-Um, Sir Aspect,” Windy blushed as she looked at the hoof he was still holding.

“Oh, my apologies madam,” the griffon dropped her hoof and bowed to her. “So, would you like to have a tour of the premises?”

"Hmm, that would be wonderful," Windy nodded and smiled at Rainbow. “We’re going to have a long chat later young filly.”

“Urk…” Rainbow winced and inched away. “Y-Ya know, I… forgot something at the hospital.” And like that, she bolted from the house as fast as she could on four legs.

“Eh, she’ll be back, she’s staying here while she heals after all,” Aspect replied. “So, what would you like to see first? Dining room, living room, ballroom?”

“Hmm, let’s see the whole place,” Bow said. “We’ll return the favour when you come visit us.”

“Fair enough,” the griffon replied, flashing into his pegasus guise as he began leading them through his home. He wondered, though…

When would they catch on that the art was watching them?

Aspect had been expecting to cuddle with at least two of his mares that night.

He had NOT been expecting Rainbow Dash to sneak out in the middle of the night. Wearing a black catsuit as she inched out of the window and dropping down to the ground, sneaking off towards town…

Then again, she was one of Ponyville’s resident prankers. Maybe she was just going out to play a prank on some unsuspecting pony. Or one of the nurses at the hospital for the food they provided. He didn’t put it past her.

...He would ask her to wear that catsuit again, though. It hugged her flanks just right.

After getting his fill of her backside, the stallion turned away from the window and sighed as he snuggled next to Midnight.

Sleep eventually came again, his eyes closing after a half hour of bat snuggling. He was just so comforta—

*knock knock knock*

Aaaannd that was the front door. At 3am…

The stallion grumbled as he got up and walked down through the house, eventually reaching the front door and opening it, giving his best death-stare to whoever was on the other side.

It had no effect on the Enemy Twilight Sparkle, the mare countering with her own as she floated up a Rainbow Dash in her magic aura.

“I believe this is yours?” she said in a tone so dry, it made the Badlands look like an ocean.

“Dash, why are you out and about at three in the bloody morning, and why is Twilight bringing you back?” the stallion countered, now looking up to the pegasus.

“I have a right to remain silent,” she quipped.

“Rainbow Genius Dash here,” Twilight deadpanned. “Was up trying to steal a book from the hospital. A book series I told her I owned. Now, I would normally be ecstatic that she found a love of literature. But now? I’m exercising all of my patience to not look up a Moon banishment spell.”

She dropped Rainbow onto Aspect’s back and turned around. “Have a good night,” she said and walked off without another word.

“Razzenfrazzen snarky ponies,” Aspect muttered as he closed the door and slid Dash off his back. “You good to find your way to bed?” he asked.

“I guess…” Rainbow pawed at the ground with a hoof. “Guess I’m banished to the couch huh?”

“At least for tonight,” Aspect agreed. “I cannot put up with you for right now. Maybe tomorrow you can influence me to not make it a week with that suit of yours at bedtime. But now I need sleep.”

With that, the stallion turned and began making his way, quite wearily, through his house. He walked through the halls and eventually pushed a door open, before climbing into the bed there and cuddling up against the pony he found.

Again. Sunlight streamed in through a crack in the curtain, striking the sleeping stallion right in the eyes. Aspect groaned and put a wing in front of his face, before nuzzling the pony he felt at his side. She was so soft and warm as he nuzzled closer, kissing her cheek and forehead, her horn brushing up against his jaw…

Waitwut?

Aspect blinked a few times as his eyes came into focus, before looking at the mare he was snuggled up to. Sure enough, it wasn’t Midnight. Nor was it Rainbow Dash. Or Bon Bon.

But Twilight Twinkle.

“Um...this is awkward,” the stallion murmured.

“I was unaware we had this kind of relationship,” she said back in a deadpan, her eyes locked onto his. “Permission would have been appropriate.”

“There was...an incident in the middle of the night,” Aspect spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “And I’m...not the best at directions when I’m half-asleep. I must have went left instead of right at one point and wound up here.”

“Is that so?” Twilight said with a small amount of amusement. “And yet here you are, cuddling me.”

“I’ll just...go,” Aspect replied, moving to get up. “Sorry for intruding.”

And that was when he saw his little morning problem…

“Hmm, what lucky mares you have,” Twinkle giggled, blushing lightly.

“I prefer to think of myself as the lucky stallion,” Aspect retorted as he walked out of her room, his tail flicking irritably.

“Hey Christopher,” Twinkle called out. “Hold up a moment. Can we talk?”

Aspect stopped, before turning back and looking at her.

“Come here,” she said and patted the bed. “I want to ask you something.”

The stallion sighed, walking back to the bed, before hopping up on it, looking at her with a bit of both curiosity and irritation at the same time.

“Yes yes, I know you’re tired,” she chuckled. “It won’t take long. I just want to ask how you’re doing? I mean, your life seems so… drastically different to what it used to be.” She sat next to him and rubbed his shoulder. “Engaged to three mares, no longer needed to use that sword of yours. Are… you doing okay?”

“...You know, if you asked me that question back in the valley, I would say I was enjoying the lull between storms,” the stallion mused. “But here? I’m actually relishing the peace. All that’s really left is to let Arabus accept his defeat at long last before I pass the essence of air to another, choosing a new Air Aspect. I’m...actually enjoying the world’s relative calm.”

Twinkle studied his face for a good moment or two, before sitting back and smiling a little. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.” She reached out and ruffled his mane. “You’ve matured a lot over the years you know. I still remember a little brat that get into prank wars with his even brattier kids back in the Valley.”

“‘S not my fault Dannie and Molly were less mature than me and held a grudge,” the stallion muttered. “It’s only cause of Megan those battles ever ended. Heaven help us if Surprise got involved.”

“I miss her,” Twinkle sighed and shook her head. “That was centuries ago though. This world has so many reminders, but none quite like those kids.”

“Mmm,” Aspect sighed, lost in memories for a moment. “Well...another day, eh?”

“Yes… another day,” Twinkle smiled. “Also, make up with your rainbow-hued mare. Unless you want to make crawling into my bed a habit.” She turned and flashed him an alluring gaze.

“She bucking left the house in the middle of the night to raid a hospital, when her friend owns the book series in her library,” Aspect deadpanned. “And then woke me up again when said friend caught her in the act and brought her back home. At this point, I’m considering leaving her on the couch for a week straight.”

“Oh yes, because you never did anything foolish no?” Twinkle mused and a smirk crossed her muzzle. “Should I tell her about the time you nearly drowned when you went sleepwalking while visiting Neptune? Or perhaps when you decided to get a special flower to help cure Luna’s fever. You travelled across three mountains… before realizing you grew them in the gardens outside.”

“Okay, so maybe I’m not perfect either,” Aspect muttered. “Maybe sometimes I do silly things too.” He spoke up for the next part. “But she needs to learn it’s not okay to steal from the hospital. Remember, if she’d succeeded, it would still be burglary.”

“Yes I know, but if she’s that prone to drama and overreacting… well then she’s a perfect fit for you isn’t she? Good thing you have that Bon Bon mare to keep you grounded. Ahh, if only Written were still with us, I’m sure she’d scold you well and true.”

“Don’t...tempt her,” Aspect warned, looking to the artwork on the walls. He sighed in relief at there not being a certain painted alicorn among them before turning back to Twinkle. “Fine. I’ll come up with a way for her to make it up to me,” he begrudgingly answered.

“Good,” Twilight nodded and kissed his cheek. “Now, off you go colt. I’m sure there’s a coffee pot calling out to you somewhere.”

“Razzenfrazzen snarky ponies,” Aspect muttered as he walked off in search of the kitchen so that he could wake up and serve breakfast to everypony.

A little while later, the first to heed the siren song of breakfast was Rainbow, being the closest as she slunk into the room, head down and ears flat as she sat at the table.

“Do you understand why what you did was wrong?” Aspect asked from his spot at the head of the table in his alicorn form.

“Yeah… it was stupid,” she murmured. “I wasn’t thinking. And…” She sighed and looked away. “I just wanted to get to the end of the book. M’sorry…”

Aspect held his stern gaze for a moment...before smiling at her and levitating a hoof-made breakfast, complete with a cup of coffee, over to her place at the table. “Apology accepted. You can finish making it up to me later. You are no longer banished to the couch.”

“Really… cause that thing’s kinda comfy,” she said, her ears standing back up. “Though, I’d worry about leaving you all alone in Midnight’s hooves. She’d prolly eat you.”

“Eh, not literally,” the stallion replied as he used his magic to set the rest of the table up, before returning to his pegasus self.

“Oh I don’t know,” Midnight purred as she appeared on his back. Stars dammit! He needed to put a bell on her. “Ponies are pretty tasty after all~”

“Midnight, A), Don’t do that before I’ve had my coffee,” Aspect put a hoof to his chest to make sure his heart was still beating. “And B), I highly doubt you’d eat any of us. You love us too much for that.”

“Hmm, true enough,” she sand and nibbled his ear. “And A) I will not, because you are adorable when startled. And B)...” She paused and shrugged. “I already answered that one. Oh well.”

“MORNINGS AND SALUTATIONS!” Luna announced loudly when she strode in.

“Morning Lulu,” Aspect greeted her, waving a wing at his filly. “Come sit down. Your old warhorse father can at least make breakfast right. Not a whole lot even I can do to mess it up.”

“So, one can teach an old dog a new trick every century or so eh?” Twinkle snarked as she ambled into the room. “Who knew.”

“Watch it, this old dog still has plenty of bite to go with his bark,” Aspect warned her, before smiling at her to show that there were no hard feelings. “So, that just leaves...Dash’s parents. Think they know the way here?”

“I’ll go and get ‘em,” Rainbow said as she got up from the table. “What about the rugrats?”

“They’re at a sleepover at the Acres, they probably won’t be back until afternoon,” the stallion replied.

“Ahh, cool,” Rainbow waved a wing as she exited the room. As everyone else sat down at the table, there was a knock at the door, before Twilight Sparkle poked her head inside.

“Hello?” she called out.

“Just in time for breakfast, I made plenty!” Aspect called out, not using too much volume to get his message across.

“Thank you for the offer, I already ate though,” the unicorn said as she stepped inside. “I came for a few reasons… first are these.” She set a pile of books down next to the door. “All the Daring Do books I possess. For Rainbow, so she doesn’t raid the hospital again.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’ll appreciate that,” Aspect replied. “At least have a cup of coffee, it’s the least I can do as a host.”

“Now that’s something I’ll agree to,” she hummed as she sat down and lifted the mug with her magic. “And the second reason—aahh, that’s nice—was to invite anypony who wanted to come see the annual Dragon Migration.”

“Now there’s an offer I won’t turn down,” Aspect smiled. “That sounds like a good show...as long as you have a fireproof shield up.”

“I’ve taken the necessary precautions,” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle, mentally adding a shield to the list of things. “Anypony else?”

“I shall pass,” Twinkle said. “As fascinating as that would be, there’s more of the town I have yet to explore. I doubt dragons have changed much over the centuries.”

“And I wish to simply relax here,” Luna nodded.

“I think we better keep a certain club of children uninformed about there being dragons passing over as well,” Aspect pointed out.

“Yes, we’re not bringing any foals along for safety reasons…” Twilight’s ear flicked. “Speaking of foals…”

“I’m back!” Rainbow announced as she zipped into the room. “Hah! I win!”

“Aww,” Windy was close behind. “I almost won that time. This house is enormous.”

“I know,” Aspect groaned.

“Help?” a voice called out, Bow’s booming tone echoing from somewhere inside. “I think I’m lost.”

“Dang it dad…” Rainbow facehooved.

“So… normal morning in the Aspect household then?” Twilight giggled.

“Seems like,” the stallion agreed as he shook his head. “You know, some days I wonder if I ever left the bloody valley.”

“Like you’d have it any other way,” Twinkle said with an amused grin. Oh god, the Twilight’s were starting to combine their snark.

“Eh, at least the dragons passing over should inject a little of that Dream Valley-esque daily panic,” the stallion teased.

“That or a classic Twilight Freak Out,” Rainbow snorted and then blinked as the unicorn scowled at her. “Wait, Dragons? What dragons?”

“Dragon migration,” Aspect filled her in. “Happening today. Wanna come with?”

“Ooohh!” Rainbow’s cerise eyes widened and she beamed. “Sounds awesome!” Then she spied the book pile and that infectious grin grew. “Daring Do!” she squealed as she hugged the book pile, her tail wagging happily.

It took a giggle from Windy for Rainbow to realise and stood ramrod straight, blushing and coughing into her hoof. “You all saw nothing! Got that!”

“Lips are sealed,” Aspect replied, resolved to not tell her about the door in the basement’s properties even more now.

“Indeed,” Twilight stifled a giggle with her hoof.

After breakfast, Windy and Bow decided to accompany Twinkle on a walk around town, while Aspect followed Twilight. After joining up with a few of her other friends, (Aspect raising an eyebrow over Rarity’s attire) They found themselves in a large trench dug out in a field, surrounded by camouflage and a fireproof barrier.

“Tea?” Spike asked, holding out a teacup to the stallion as they waited for the dragon flock to arrive.

“Not yet, but thank you for the offer,” the stallion replied with a nod of his head. “Looking forward to seeing this?” he asked the young drake.

“I guess?” the stubby little dragon replied. “I’ve never met another dragon. So… I don’t really know what to expect.”

Anything else he might of said was cut off with a loud roar, before the sky was filled with hundreds of dragons of all shapes and colours. One bumped into another, causing it to lash out with a plume of red-hot flames. Ones that the shield thankfully warded off.

“Wow…” Twilight gasped, her horn aglow as she furiously took notes.

“Yup, it’s a sight most don’t get to see,” Aspect nodded. “You’d have to go to the dragon lands to actually observe dragons in their normal habitat.”

“Dragon Lands?” Spike asked with a sudden curiosity. “What’re those?”

Aspect hummed as he thought about it. “It’s been a while, but unless my sense of direction is failing me, they were roughly north-east of Equestria, in a region famed for its volcanoes. While I held Earth, I did my best to keep that molten blood flowing up there. There, the dragons roost, mostly. Though when any dragon comes of age and masters their magical firebreath, they can go anywhere and not be out of touch with those they know.”

“So… I’m not the only one who can send messages?” Spike asked, looking a little dejected for some reason.

“Eh, sometimes the magic I spread through the dragons skips a generation,” Aspect shrugged. “Or two...or three. Actually it’s pretty rare that a Messenger dragon is ever born. Something about how their scales and general magical nature makes it really hard for anything else to take root. Think of it as the most recessive gene that was ever tacked onto a species and you’re approaching how rare it is a dragon has magical firebreath in addition to their normal breath.”

“So what?” Rainbow caught the tailend of that conversation. “You saying Spike’s pretty rare then? Cause he has that kind of fire?”

“When I did it all those years ago, all those dragons gained the magical firebreath,” Aspect pointed out. “But maybe one dragon family out of a hundred was actually compatible with what I attempted, and passed it on. And you also have to consider that dragons don’t have kids all that often. Maybe a one in a million chance in the current age there would be a messenger dragon like him.”

“Ooh, neat!” Rainbow chuckled and rubbed Spike’s headfin. “Hear that shortstack? You’re special.”

“Yeah… I guess,” he said as he looked up at the flight of dragons soaring overhead.

“Hey, everyone is special,” Aspect said, using a wing to pull Spike close. “You might not be the only messenger dragon in the world, but you’re the only one that I know of that lives with ponies. When you grow up and get better control over your firebreath, you could put the pony post office out of business in an afternoon.”

“I wouldn’t do that to Miss Ditzy,” Spike grumped as he edged out of the wing hug. “And it’s not that okay. It’s just…” he sighed and moved to pack up his teaset, his frilly pink apron totally offsetting the funk he had going. “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”

“Spiiiike,” Aspect said warningly. “Don’t try to hide it from me, I’ve been down that road. You can tell me now or later.”

“Later then,” the drake said as he put everything into the picnic basket he’d made.

“Fine, but for now,” the stallion sat back and watched the display of migrating drakes.

Once the dragons had left, Twilight wished to hurry home with Spike to compile all the data she’d taken, whereas the rest of them wanted to head home. Rainbow was still with Aspect, as she wouldn’t be able to fly until tomorrow at the earliest.

“Hmm, wanna go find Bon Bon?” his pegasus mare asked. “I haven’t seen her for like… a whole week now.” The fact she also wanted candy had nothing to do with her motives.

“We can do that,” the stallion agreed. “Plus it’d give us a chance to see what’s keeping her so busy.” He began leading the way to the candy mare’s place.

When they got there, for one, they were rather surprised to see the adjoining shop closed. And given the layer of dust Aspect could see through the window, it had been so for several days now.

“Okay...what?” he asked, before knocking on the door.

It took a moment, before a rather dishevelled Lyra opened the door and her eyes widened. “A-Aspect?” she exclaimed, before clapping a hoof to her mouth. “You have to leave, Now!” she said in a loud whisper. “Before she finds out you’re here.”

“Not until I find out what’s going on,” the stallion replied. “It’s been days since she left.”

Then he heard a sound from deeper in the abode, the unmistakable sound of a pony purging their stomach.

“Nonono, you gotta go, trust me,” Lyra waved her hooves, trying to bar him entrance to the house.

“Lyra…” Aspect warned her. “You can either tell me, or I can go past you to find out. This isn’t like Bonnie to stay closed for so long, to stay away for so long.”

“I… well uh…” Lyra sweated nervously and Aspect used that to push past her and into the house.

“W-Who’s there?” he heard a groan from upstairs. “Lyra?”

“Bonnie?” Aspect called out.

There was a pause, before the following word turned his blood to ice.

“Aspect…” he heard Bon Bon growl and hoofsteps drawing closer. At the top of the stairs, she appeared. Her normally curly mane was a mess of tangles and her brow slick with sweat. And worst of all?

The pure rage her eyes showed.

“When I get my hooves on you…” she growled. “I’m going to wear your sphincter as a bracelet!”

“Bonnie, I missed you!” Aspect called out. “I was worried! We all were! Why didn’t you send a letter...or Lyra to tell us what was happening? I’d have come here to take care of you!”

“Oh, I’ll take care of you instead,” she said as she stomped closer. “Into an early grave for doing this to me!”

He saw that her belly had a slight pudge to it now, looking a little rounder as he heard another… ohholybuckinghorseapples!

A high-pitched whine of that crossbow, plasma cannon thing of hers powering up.

So Aspect did the one thing he could to defuse the situation.

He used his unnatural speed to close the gap and plant a loving kiss on Bon Bon’s lips, letting her feel his sincerity.

*thunk*

She dropped the weapon and once he broke the kiss?

She latched onto him, sobbing her eyes out?

Wut.

Amidst the heaving sobs, she mumbled out some kind of rapidfire apology to him, her tears and snot staining his chest.

“She’s been like this for days,” Lyra sighed as she flicked the lights on. “I mean, between the mood swings, the constant vomiting and the weird cravings…”

“Weird?” Rainbow asked.

“Rock candy dipped in peanut butter, cheese and hotsauce,” Lyar added.

“Eeewwwww…” Rainbow shuddered.

“Well she is carrying a kirin,” Aspect pointed out, stroking Bon Bon’s back. “That’s sort of expected.”

“I’m soohohohhoooorrryyyy,” Bon Bon still cried. “I’m fat an’ ugly an’ you don’t looooove me anymooooorreeee….”

Aspect sighed, before sitting Bon Bon on her rump. “Okay Bonnie, I want you to focus here,” he said, getting her attention. “You’re not fat, you’re pregnant. There’s a difference. As it’s something I did to you, I’m willing to accept responsibility for that. But I’m not just going to stop loving you because you’re carrying our child. Quite the opposite. And you’re not ugly at all. You’re growing more beautiful by the day as the young you’re carrying within you also grows. There couldn’t be a time when you’re more beautiful to me than right now...except for when you actually deliver it into the world.”

“D’aaaaawwwww!” Rainbow and Lyra cooed together.

Bon Bon sniffed, wiping her nose with a hoof. “I…” she sniffled again. “Guess I’m a silly pony huh.”

“That depends,” Aspect mused, before looking over at her shop. “How long have you been closed?”

“The shop? Um…” Lyra counted in her head. “Like… a week?”

“A-A week!?!” Bon Bon yelled, making Aspect wince from the sudden volume. “Lyra!”

“Hey! I tried to tell you,” the unicorn defended herself. “You were too busy flooding Ponyville’s sewerage system with your morning grossness.”

And that was Bon Bon sniffling again…

“Lyra,” Aspect chided her, before holding Bon Bon close. “How about we all help you open back up?” he offered.

“Sounds good,” Lyra nodded. “I’m sure between the three of us, we won’t burn the place down.”

“And I am suddenly instilled with so much confidence,” Bon Bon said dryly.

“Let’s see if we can’t get you in working order before the next school day,” Aspect mused as he flashed into his alicorn form.

“What are you doing?’ Bon Bon’s eyes went wide, backing up a little.

“Oh...I just figured if I used a little magic, it would go faster,” Aspect sighed, looking a little forlorn. “If you don’t want me to…”

“What do you mean magic?” Bon Bon asked. “What exactly are you planning to do Christopher?”

“Just a few cleaning cantrips, to help us with the dusting and the like,” the stallion replied. “It’s not like I’d be able to think of all the spots where the dust is myself.”

“Ooh,” Bon Bon nodded. “Well, that’s fine.”

“Ooh, fancy magicks tiem?” Lyra perked up. “You gonna make the brooms dance again?”

“Oh hey, I forgot you could do that,” Rainbow nodded.

“Just gonna make the dustpans do that this time,” Aspect replied as his magic sought out the cleaning supplies. A beat started to dance on the air, as Aspect began his rhyme.

Mold and mildew, dust and grime,
Let’s get them cleaned up in time.
The mare I love has been worried sick,
So let’s get this place to tick
Once again, and show her just how
Much her stallion loves her now.

From a closet, Bon Bon’s cleaning supplies danced out without any magic surrounding them...before they began their appointed task. Making Bon’s shop sparkle again.

“Aww, that rhyme was adorable,” Bon Bon cooed and kissed his cheek and… yup, her breath was kiiinda rank.

“You, ah...might want to freshen up before you open up,” Aspect pointed out diplomatically.

“O-Oh…” her cheeks turned pink and a dotted outline was all that remained as the mare vanished upstairs and he soon heard the shower running.

“And while she’s taking care of that, my magic will ensure that these implements will get her shop sparkling again,” Aspect noted with a nod of his head. “Honestly Lyra, you should have told me.”

“Well, I was worried she’d kill you, or you’d get mad over her being kinda all over the place,” she said with a sigh. “I’m worried about her. So, looking after her was kinda my priority.”

“Was a letter too much to ask?” the stallion mock-griped as he held a hoof to his heart. “It’s like you don’t trust me.”

“No, it’s not that it’s just…” Lyra paused and sighed. “Yeah, I got nothing.”

“Let’s just chalk this whole thing up to everyone involved being silly and move on,” Aspect suggested as he supervised the instruments of cleaning.

"Agreed," Lyra hummed as she started to check the shelves for anything that expired and tossed it, before pausing. “Uhoh…”

The stallion turned to her at that one. “What?”

“We don’t have much fresh stock. Bon Bon kiiiinda hasn’t made anything for a week straight.” Lyra explained as she looked at the shelves. “I mean, most of this fresh stock is unusable now. All that’s really left is the packaged stuff.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “She’ll not take that well, will she?”

“No, she’ll either just give up, or work herself into a frenzy to cook everything…” Lyra sighed and sat on her rump. “What can we do? I dunno about you, but I can’t make what she does.”

“This requires the big guns,” Aspect mused, before turning to Dash. “Is Pinkie free? We could pay her to help out Bon until she was restocked.”

“Um… maybe?” Lyra shrugged. “I haven’t left here in a week, so you’d know more than me.”

“I’ll go and check,” Rainbow said. “Even on hoof, I’m still the fastest.” With that, she opened the door and galloped off.

“Always playing the hero,” Lyra chuckled. “So uh… how’s things?” she asked him somewhat awkwardly.

“Oh you know, Dash’s parents are visiting, Midnight got a new toy,” Aspect replied casually. “The kids and the CMC’s are having a sleepover at the Acres.”

“Geeze, are you trying to destroy the town,” Lyra shook her head. “I guess… have we even talked lately. You know…” She blushed and looked away. “Since the whole… shower thing.”

“Nope, and we should fix that soon,” Aspect replied.

“Well… we have time now,” she said. “Though…” She looked down at the floor. “I, have no idea what to talk about.”

“To be honest, neither do I, but it’s not like we can’t find something to talk about,” the stallion returned, keeping only one eye on the implements.

“I guess,” she replied as she shuffled awkwardly. “So um… how’s the engagement going?”

“Well the framework is laid out,” Aspect replied. “It’s just a matter of getting all those things together at the same time.”

“I guess,” she said. “You gonna wait until after Bon Bon’s had her little… whatever it is?”

“Ehhh...I’ll leave it up to her,” Aspect replied. “If she wants to wait, we’ll wait. But if she wants to get married quickly, we’ll put the wheels in motion.”

“I guess,” Lyra sighed. “Even so, it’s pretty fast. I mean, you guys haven’t even been dating a year. And yet, you’re having a foal and planning marriage?”

“Well I did the act of knocking her up, I should take responsibility,” the stallion pointed out.

“As well you should mister,” Lyra said and paused. “You’re… a good guy you know. Not like her asshole ex…” She paused and looked away. “Er, forget I said that.”

Aspect raised an eyebrow at that.

“Aaand you’re not gonna let it go are you?” Lyra sighed. “Look, I dunno if Bon Bon told you anything. But you’re not the first stallion she’s dated.”

Aspect merely shook his head to indicate that he hadn’t heard this before.

“He seemed alright,” Lyra said. “A pretty unicorn stallion from up in Canterlot. Came down here for… some reason or another and found Bon Bon’s shop. The two just kind of… hit it off so to speak. A lot like she and you did.” She sat down on one of the clean chairs and sat upright, not unlike a human would. “I approved, cause he was hot. And the two dated for a while. Eventually, he paid for a lavish trip to get her up to Canterlot…”

“I think I can see where this is going,” Aspect sighed. “And why she doesn’t like the place anymore.”

“Turns out the guy was some big company CEO,” she said dryly. “He’d invited her up there to… ergh, consummate the relationship. He wasn’t looking for love. Just a Celestia-damned trophy mare to show off to his snooty highclass friends.” She frowned and grit her teeth. “Naturally, Bon Bon refused and he decided that not only did they need to break it off, he embarrassed her at a rather public event to boot.” She rest her hooves on the chair. “Bonnie loves making her candy. So at some charity event, he had her make a bunch… only to give it away because and I quote ‘Nopony in their right mind would actually pay for it’.”

Aspect let out a little growl at that. “What is his name?” he asked lowly.

Lyra paused and looked at him. “Oooh no. If you do something, then Bonnie will get mad at both of us.”

“You’re not helping by keeping it secret,” Aspect warned. “I could go look it up. I very well might.”

“Of course you would… I should have kept my mouth shut,” Lyra sighed. “His name is Jet Set. His family owns the largest airship production factory in Equestria.”

“Airships, huh?” the stallion mused, the gears already turning. “Okay...I think I have the beginnings of a plan.” His grin grew malicious. Oh, he had the perfect plan for this pony. He knew exactly what he would do.

“Look, it’s all in the past,” Lyra sighed and waved a hoof. “No sense in dragging it up. You got the girl and all is well right?”

“Oh no, it wouldn’t be right to not make her dreams come true,” Aspect replied. “Even the ones of revenge that she’s too good to enact.”

“I sometimes wonder if you’re a hero or a supervillain,” Lyra chuckled. “Well… I can’t say I wouldn’t like to see it. As payment for the info.” She leaned closer. “I want in on this. I may not look it, but my family is Canterlot nobility.”

“I’ll let you in when I have a concrete plan,” Aspect mused. “Though...if you could find a way to arrange a nice lunch between me and him, and slip the restaurant staff some of Bon Bon’s chocolates to serve as a finisher, that’ll be part one done. Part two will be a little more...fun. After all, I am Air still...and if I say his airships don’t go up and stay there, they won’t.”

“O-Oh dear,” Lyra giggled. “Still, don’t financially ruin the guy… as much as he bucking deserves it… A little humiliation will suffice.” She leaned back in her chair and hummed, crossing her hind legs. “I’ve missed hanging out with you Aspy.”

“Mmm, you’re fun,” Aspect nodded as he began going over his plan in his head. A little runic to imprint every airship produced by his factory...no, better just make that every airship he produced. Give them all a little rune to mark them...then what? Simply make it so they couldn’t ascend? Or perhaps...yes, just that. Making them lightning bolt attractors would mean deaths. So much more simple if they never got off the ground at all.

Oooh! Or perhaps make them all humiliating when they did fly!

“Hmm well, you certainly though I was fun in that shower~” Lyra cooed, throwing that screaming wrench under the wheels of his train of thought.

“Aaaaaand that’s that train of thought thoroughly derailed, thanks Lyra,” Aspect replied dryly.

“Anytime,” she giggled and blew him a kiss. “What are friends for right? Gotta keep you tethered to us mortals every now and then.”

“Well hopefully I’ll remember that plan later,” Aspect sighed as he looked around, wondering which mare or mares would arrive first.

Lyra just giggled as she hopped off her seat, swinging her minty butt at him as the door opened, Rainbow and Pinkie walking in as the pink mare looked around.

“I sense a disturbance in the candy force,” she said with a rather serious tone.

“Bonnie’s been experiencing the joy of pregnancy and hasn’t been open for a week straight,” the stallion replied, pointing out the empty jars and displays. “Everything’s gone bad. We need somepony to help her so that she doesn’t overwork herself trying to replace it all, or give up hope halfway through.” Right about then, the implements went back to the closet, which closed with a click. Everything was clean. Empty, but clean.

Pinkie looked around and a rare moment of seriousness crossed her muzzle. “Okay Aspect,” she said. “Can I be serious with you for a bit?”

“...I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” the stallion replied, taking an unsteady step back.

Pinkie rolled her eyes. “Look. My specialty is baking. Cupcakes, pastries, that kinda thing. I can make chocolate. But it’ll be nowhere near as good as Bon Bon’s. I don’t know if I could insult her business by making subpar treats.”

“I’m not asking you to restock Bon’s shop,” Aspect replied. “I’m asking you to be the high-energy, direction-taking assistant she needs until she is restocked and ready to open again. The pony that’ll inspire her to keep trying no matter how hopeless it seems. The ray of sunshine she needs right now.”

Pinkie looked at him… and he swore her coat turned several shades brighter as she gasped and stretched her legs out, pulling him into a bonecrushing hug. “Ohmigosh! That’s a the most superfuneriffic idea EVER!!” She then dropped the dazed stallion and bounced away into the kitchen, pulling a chefs hat and apron out of… somewhere and donned them.

“...I think Bon’s livelyhood is saved,” the stallion gasped out. His ribs on the other hoof…

“Her sanity… not so much,” Lyra giggled as she helped him up and cast a small healing spell. Wait, Lyra knew healing magicks?

“Okay, that’s...a little better,” the stallion grunted as the wave of magic washed over him. “So...what next Dash?”

“Well… I dunno,” Rainbow shrugged. “I don’t work here.”

“Well we need a friendly face to tend to the counter, somepony who’s good with foals…” Lyra trailed off as she and Rainbow slooowly turned to Aspect with bright smiles.

“Ohhhh no,” Aspect backed up. “I see where this is going.”

“Well don’t look at me,” Lyra said. “I just sit in the corner and play music. And let’s be honest. Do you think Rainbow Dash has the patience and attention span for behind-the-counter work?”

“Hey!” Rainbow huffed.

“The one thing she’s got going for her right now is that she has a longer attention span than those she’d be serving,” the stallion admitted.

“I hate you both, go suck an egg,” Rainbow pouted and folded her forelegs, the Pout increasing in intensity.

“Oh woe is me, the Fair Lady Rainbow Dashie has been slighted by our jests,” Lyra swooned and put a hoof to her forehead. “Oh Lord Aspect, whatever shall we do to recompense?”

“I dunno about you, but I’m prepared to stand behind a counter for Bon Bon’s shop while she and Pinkie create a storm of delicious treats,” Aspect replied, sighing as he walked over to the register. “As for Dash, I dunno. Maybe she could check out Middy’s new toy that I totally just loaned her but is totally not listening to me anymore.”

“...You have absolutely no sense for drama,” Lyra sighed and picked up her clarsach before heading to the stall stage at the rear of the store. She plucked a few idle strings, checking the tuning of the instrument before starting to play an alluring, peaceful song.

“No, I do, it’s just, there’s a time and place for it,” Aspect replied. “Right now isn’t one of them.”

Lyra just shrugged as she kept playing.

“Fine, I’ll go and check on the half-pints then,” Rainbow said and turned. “You sure you’re gonna be okay here Aspect? In the same building with Pinkie and Lyra?”

“I’ll survive,” Aspect waved her off with a wing. “Seriously, go check up on Middy. She has a spear made of lightning now.”

Rainbow paused… before bolting from the door and galloping full tilt towards his home.

“And that’s all the kids distracted,” Aspect chuckled.

“You’re marrying that kid,” Lyra oh-so helpfully pointed out. “And do weird butt stuff with~”

“She’s more like a cat than a pony,” Aspect mused. “Plonk something sufficiently shiny in front of her, she’ll try to play with it.”

“Hah, maybe you should roll around in glitter then,” Lyra chuckled and inside the kitchen, a pink mare’s ear twitched. She had a great idea for a prank.

“I’d rather prefer to keep myself glitter free, thanks,” Aspect dryly replied. “In any case, any minute now Bons should be…”

“Here~” Bon Bon strode into the room, positively glowing as she carried a tray of sweets on her back. “I made a few of my staples to start with.” A dozen lollipops that matched her mane colours, some candy canes that matched Lyra and…

Oooooh, she made some of her namesakes. The first treat of hers he ever tried and had his brain promptly melted.

“That looks like a good start,” Aspect nodded. “Fortunately I was able to enlist the services of one Pinkus Pieus to serve as your assistant while you make more.”

“Yes, she’s been a wonderful help,” Bon Bon nodded. “I did have to make her do a Pinkie Promise to not copy any recipes… or eat the ingredients… or the finished products… you know what, I think I’ll have her make a few more to be on the safe side.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect chuckled. “Still, I just know you Bonnie. You’ll persevere.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about acting crazy before… can’t promise it won’t happen again… and I am sorry I pointed a weapon at you… I’ll try really hard not to do that again…”

“I’m sorry I ignored you for so long,” Aspect replied, pulling her into a chaste kiss. Once it broke, he nuzzled the mare. “Forgive me?”

“Only if you forgive me,” she nuzzled him back.

Lyra made some not so subtle gagging noises.

“Yes yes, you weren’t complaining earlier,” the stallion looked up and mock glared at her...undercut slightly by his waggling eyebrows.

“You know it honey~” Lyra waggled hers back.

“Get a room,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

“Can we?” Lyra beamed.

“No.”

“Spoilsport!”

Bon Bon shook her head. “Our relationship is so weird.”

“Easy fix. Wanna marry me too Aspect?” Lyra asked.

“Do you honestly think you could stand the crazy that is my family?” the stallion fired back.

“I’m me, do you think I’m crazy enough?”

“Do not answer that,” Bon Bon sighed. “Honestly you two. We’ll open soon, try and keep things professional.”

“Darn, no mid-work trysts for us,” Aspect sighed, almost sounding like he was actually looking forward to that.

“...You need to stop sounding so convincing,” Bon Bon shook her head as she headed back towards the kitchen, her creamy-coated rump swaying back and forth almost hypnotically, her sugary scent wafting in his direction.

“So,” Aspect said as he stood behind the register. “Let’s get these kids served.”

“It’s your funeral~” Lyra sang as she started a more upbeat tune, her horn glowing to add an electrostatic tone to the chords, her hooves tapping against the floor to add more beat. As she did, Pinkie suddenly evacuated the business, shouting something about a new pony.

“I’ve faced down some of the worst horrors in Pre-Equestrian history,” Aspect scoffed as he stood ready. “What will a horde of munchkins do that they couldn’t?”

Oh he really should learn not to taunt Fate like that…

The tide was relentless, foal after foal descended upon the store like a loud, giggly horde of the undead. It was unending, and they weren't his kids, so disciplining them was out of the question. He just had to smile and bear it.

And Bon Bon did this every day?

He suddenly had a lot more respect for the mare.

Eventually, the nightmare came to an end, the last child leaving and the shelves almost as empty as when they first began. Lyra set her instrument aside, having provided quite the soundtrack for the chaos and he swore she played Rise of the Valkyries when the kids first showed up.

“Never again…” Aspect groaned out as the last of the kids left. “Grogar was less soul draining than that.”

“Oh, now he gets dramatic,” Lyra chuckled as she trotted over to him. “I’m sure you’ll live, It’s not like you can actually die.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Aspect grunted. “If Bon ever threatens to make me do that again, I might try.”

“Uhuh,” Lyra rolled her eyes as her horn lit up, two glowing golden hands kneading his shoulders and neck. The stallion let out a pleasured groan as he closed his eyes.

“So, Bonnie’s job not as much of a cakewalk as you expected?” Lyra mused as she worked down his spine.

“Remind me to never get a job in retail again,” Aspect moaned out.

“Ahh, the woes of actually working for a living huh?” Lyra mused as she continued to massage him with her magic.

“I have a job. I have multiple jobs,” Aspect pointed out. “I do many things for a living. Mostly to fill my time, but I do them.”

“Mhm, and yet here you are, complaining about this one after only two hours,” she giggled, and those magical hands gave his rump a good squeeze.

“It felt like two years,” Aspect moaned, laying his head on the counter.

“Dramallama,” she rolled her eyes as Bon Bon walked back into the room. “So, what’s-ow!”

“Stop feeling him up with your pervy magic,” Bon Bon said as she tucked the rolling pin away. She kissed Aspect’s cheek and smiled. “You okay there hun?”

“Kill me,” he croaked out.

“Oh buck up,” Bon Bon giggled. “Hmm, however shall I make it up to my weary stallion.”

“Just leave me to die of having no soul anymore,” the stallion intoned, flopping lifelessly on the counter.

“Well, if that’s how you feel,” Bon Bon shrugged. “Well, I guess Lyra and I will head out then and leave you to wallow in your drama.”

“I need a nice, relaxing...something,” Aspect muttered. “...Actually, now that I think about it, I should check on Dash. Make sure she didn’t bite off more than she could chew...again.”

“Hmm, you suure,” Bon Bon mused. “I’m feeling a little peckish at the moment. I think my cravings are coming back~”

Aspect blearily opened an eye and looked at Bon Bon.

“If you’re going to head out,” she hummed as she eased him against the counter and kissed his neck. “Let me give you a little energy first.”

Aaaand that was her kisses roaming lower.

“What was it you said about keeping it professional?” Aspect asked. “Or leaving Pinkie unsupervised?”

“Pinkie left a while ago,” Bon Bon said as she knelt down. “Now hush and let Bonnie take good care of you okay~?”

“But what if someone—” Aspect managed to ask.

Lyra hummed as she locked the door and drew the curtains.

Well…

This was...unexpected. Not unpleasant, but unexpected.

Author's Note

Golly, it's gonna take a lot to pull all these threads together in a few chapters, huh?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent shooting and looting.

Chapter 53 - Of Dragon Journeys, Hooves and Hearts

Aspect let out a happy little hum as he all but skipped down the street. Needless to say, after a little...attention, he was back up to his usual snuff. Now, wasn’t there something he was supposed to be doing?...

As he neared his house, the telltale crackle of thunder quickly jolted his memory. Oh right. Dash knew about Gungnir.

With a burst of speed, the stallion raced to where he heard the crack of thunder, hoping he wouldn’t find a roasted pegasus.

Well… that… that was a thing that was happening.

“Holy horseapples this is awesome!” Rainbow cackled as she twirled the spear and thrust it forward, a lance of lightning blowing apart a small shrub. Midnight stood to the side and watched with an amused smile. “Oohman, I have got to get me one of these!”

“Are you kidding me?” Aspect asked out loud, stalking forward and looking not at the mares but at the spear. “You like Dash more than you like me, the one that freaking made you?”

The spear crackled in a low rumble, almost like it was laughing. It then fell to the ground as Rainbow looked at him with downturned ears, looking a little ashamed.

“M’sorry…” she mumbled. “I… I didn’t mean…”

“No no, it’s fine,” Aspect waved her off with a wing. “The spear has a mind of its own. It apparently likes Midnight and you, so clearly I’d be in the wrong if I tried to separate you.” He glared down at the bronze thing. “Doesn’t mean I can’t wonder just what the hay it’s thinking. It knows it’s meant to go to the next Air Aspect.”

The spear crackled again as it lay there.

Midnight rolled her eyes as she nuzzled Rainbow. “Don’t worry, he’s not angry at you, but he will apologise for that outburst yes?” Her emerald eyes settling on the stallion.

“Yes, I’m sorry I yelled Dash,” Aspect nodded. “I’d show you how much I don’t mind you practicing with Gungnir by picking it up and hoofing it to you, but like I said, he doesn’t like me very much now that he’s been let off the chain for the first time in ages.”

“And there’s your answer,” Midnight said as she picked the spear up. “It’s a lovely weapon and such lovely weapons need to be used, even if it’s only in practice. How would you think being locked up for countless centuries before being tossed at somepony you’ve never met?”

“I was keeping him hidden so that nopony would try stealing him,” Aspect replied. “I guess eventually I just forgot he was there...until that trouble with the griffons started up. Plus I did use his influence to do something over the years. After all, it is the spear of the Air Aspect for a reason. Even when I hold it, my powers are boosted. I made a very important thing that I hope to pass on to the next Air Aspect...when I finally pick one.”

“Sooo…” Rainbow looked at the spear. “If I held it and tried that Sonic Thunderboom again…”

“No,” Aspect pointed a hoof at her. “No trying that until you actually are used to the darn thing.”

“Oh fine,” Rainbow huffed before blinking. “H-Hey… is that Twilight?”

She was pointing behind him and as he turned his head, he saw a dejected-looking Twilight trudging up the path to his house.

“Um...what happened?” Aspect asked the mare.

She let out a small sigh, he’d… never seen her so depressed before.

“Spike’s gone,” she mumbled.

“What?” Aspect asked, stunned.

“He…” her body trembled, barely holding back her tears. “He wanted to know more about-about dragons. We ponies… we barely know a thing. So…” She sniffed as she dropped down to her belly. “He followed that Dragon migration from this morning.”

“Oh for the love of-” Aspect muttered. “He didn’t think to ask the ancient being that actually spent time amongst the dragons long enough to earn friends with many families?”

“To be fair, you aren’t forthcoming with your past to me in particular,” Twilight snarked out before sighing. “I’ll… see you around. I think I’m going to go and wallow for a while… or something…”

Aspect waited for her to leave before turning to the mares. “Please extend my condolences to anyone who comes looking for me,” he said, before flashing into his adolescent dragon form. “I have a young drake to watch over.”

“Huh?” Rainbow tilted her head. “You ah… sure about that? Not gonna take somepony with you?” She not-so-subtly gestured in the direction Twilight had left in.

“She wouldn’t last in the dragon migration, they tend to pick volcanoes to roost in because it reminds them of home,” the dragon pointed out. “Though, do tell her that Spike is being cared for.”

“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Rainbow sighed. “But fine. I’ll do that I guess.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect briefly gave both of his mares a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll have him back in one piece soon, I promise.”

And with that, he slithered off through the air to find the younger dragon.

When he eventually caught up with the migration, he saw he was right, they’d nested in a volcanic region far to the south, on the fringes of the Equestria border. Moreso, he was impressed that Spike had walked the entire distance on foot.

As he peered over the lip of the volcano, he saw a lot of the older dragons lazing around the lip, while younger ones played in the center.

And played, he meant that they’d stacked a massive pile of gems up and her playing a rather… hands on version of King of the Mountain.

Still, he was here for a purpose. He set his eyes to scanning for the young drake from Ponyville, hoping to see him amongst the crowd.

And there he was, making his way up the pile of gems, to overthrow the lanky red dragon atop the horde. Aspect chuckled as he moved up to stand off to one side, waiting for the game to finish before he regrouped with Spike.

And… wait, Spike actually won?

Oh dear…

Now it was time for a belching contest. A fat green dragon exhaled a rather impressive plume of fire.

And when it came Spike’s turn.

That… was a letter from Celestia.

Hokay, time to step in.

“Hey there Spike, I see you made it to the migration,” Aspect clapped him on the back while snagging the letter with his other hand before the other dragons could get their claws on it.

“H-Huh?” he looked up at the dragon with confusion.

“Hey Spike!” the red drake stepped forward. “Who’s this chump?”

“Yolos-Drun is my name,” Aspect replied, technically not lying. It’s what Smaug called him. “My family is fond of the old language.”

“The what?” the red drake tilted his head. “Whatever, I’m Garble, and right now. This is my territory. Got that skinny?”

Aspect smiled, showing off all his teeth. “And this young one is under my protection. One of my parents is from the East, and I inherited his shapechanging. You don’t know how old or powerful I might be, Garble. For all you know, I’m as old as Smaug.”

“...Who the fuck is Smaug?” Garble shrugged. “Dude, did you fly too high or eat weird mushrooms or what?” He laughed loudly and looked around. “Whatever, these kids games are getting boring. Who’s up for some real fun?”

“Spike here can partake, but I hope you don’t mind if I tag along as a chaperone,” Aspect replied, quite surprised that this young drake didn’t know his own history yet. “Just to make sure he doesn’t get in over his head, mind. I promised his parents he’d get back safe. He wanted to come to his first ever migration, but his mother didn’t think he was ready yet. So when he slipped out on his own, I naturally offered her my services to tag along after. She’s more precious to him than gems.”

“Aww,” Garble pat Spike on the head, not even hiding how condescending he was being. “Does widdle baby Spikey-Wikey need his babysitter to watch him so he doesn’t get a widdle booboo?”

“N-No I don’t!” Spike growled and glared at Aspect. “I’m fine. Just… leave me alone!” he huffed as he followed Garble.

Aspect rolled his eyes and took to the air. He didn’t care what Spike had said. Getting involved with dragons an age group higher than his own was asking for trouble. Not every drake could punch above his weight.

He’d followed the group to a forest, now… what on earth could they be doing here. As he got closer, he heard exactly what.

“So it’s simple,” Garble chuckled. “You’re gonna distract the phoenixes… and we’re gonna steal their eggs. Easy as.”

Okay, that...did not sit right with him. He used his dark coloration to blend into the dark forest and slink behind Garble. He now had a target.

Spike tossed a rock and two… rather annoyed phoenixes appeared from the nest, giving chase but quickly lost the young drake. Once all was said and done, he’d climbed up to the nest, only to discover a single, solitary egg.

“Cool,” Garble smiled a fang-filled grin. “And… now we smash it!”

“Smash it! Smash it!” the other two dragons chanted, stomping their claws.

“S-Smash it…?” Spike stammered, looking at the egg in his claws.

Aspect’s breath hitched, and his slitted eyes narrowed as he stared at the adolescent dragons. He had no doubts about Spike’s character, but if one of them got their mitts on the egg…

“No!” Spike yelled suddenly.

“What?” the dragon hissed.

“I won’t smash it!” he stomped a foot. “It’s just a defenseless egg. And… and another thing. I don’t care that I was surrounded by ponies growing up! If being a dragon means turning out like you! Then I’d rather be a pony!”

Aspect smiled, proud of the young dragon.

Now to put the fear of Pyroclastia into the older ones. He clapped his hands together and called on all his power and age, and pushed it into the form he’d gained upon making the Phoenix race.

In a virtual inferno of flames, a phoenix taller than the nearby trees burst into being, before leaning down and staring at the puny little dragons with nothing but malice in its eyes.

“W-W-What is that thing!?” Garble took a step back, before his two ‘friends’ already started winging it as fast as they could towards the volcano and safety.

“Oh crap… we made ‘em mad now,” Spike stammered.

Aspect let out a birdcall directly into their faces, with enough force behind it that they lost ground just standing there.

“I uh… I uh…” Garble stammered and… he was fairly certain he’d wet himself. With a rather impressively girly scream, he took wing and flew away as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, Spike hadn’t noticed. He was too busy curling into a ball and murmuring ‘I’m sorry’ over and over again.

Aspect waited until he was certain the older dragons had long left the scene behind...before he exploded in flame again, only this time...only ash remained.

And yet, Spike was still curled by, muttering apologies over and over again.

A moment passed, and then a familiar voice spoke up as Aspect’s dragon form emerged from the ashes. “Reincarnating never gets easier,” he spoke up, cracking his back a few times.

“ImsorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorry….”

“Oh boy,” Aspect muttered before walking over to Spike and tapping him on the back. “Hey. Big bad bird is gone now,” he told the younger dragon.

“I’msorryI’msorr--whu?” he looked up and around “A-Aspect… what are you doing here?”

“Spike, let me tell you a little something,” Aspect said, pulling the young drake to his feet. “I made the Phoenixes thousands of years ago. I consider all of them my kids. And when I did, I got a Phoenix form. So imagine my rage at those three goons telling you to smash a Phoenix egg…And my pride that you chose the higher road.”

“I… I couldn’t just smash an innocent egg,” Spike said as he sat down and held it. “I used to be just like it y’know. A egg. Nopony knows where I came from. Not even the Princess.” He sighed and wiped his eyes. “And then Twilight hatched me. We-We’ve been together ever since.”

“Up until tonight, you mean,” Aspect teased. “Well, you gonna return the egg to the parents?”

“They flew off,” Spike said as he looked at the distance. “What should I do?”

“Well, the way I see it, you have two options,” Aspect mused, holding up a claw. “Option A, you leave the egg here and hope they return before Garble or others like him get the bright idea to come back.”

“No way!” Spike said with a shake of his head. “I’m not letting that jerk near it!”

“Well then, Option B is you take it back with you and raise it yourself,” Aspect replied casually.

“Wait… really?” Spike blinked as he looked at the egg.

“Well I don’t see any other responsible dragons around here,” Aspect pointed out.

“I… I could do that,” Spike nodded as he cradled the egg. “But… what am I gonna do. Twilight probably hates me for leaving her like that.”

“She’s worried, she’s concerned, but I’m sure she understands why you left,” Aspect replied, running a hand down Spike’s back to soothe him. “Heck, if you had thought to ask the incredibly old being about his dragon friends, I would have told you anything you wanted to know. But every kid has to get their fill of adventure sooner or later. You’re lucky, though.”

“Oh… right,” Spike murmured. “To be honest, I dunno if I wanna learn about them anymore.”

“Look, the dragons you were with?” Aspect paused for a moment. “Think pony teenagers. Only more prone to getting their way because, really, what can stop a dragon. If you wanted to learn from dragons? I could get you into the dragon lands to talk to an elder or three. We’ll make a trip out of it. But first, you need to get back to Twilight. She’s sulking without you.”

Spike would have responded… if it wasn’t for a familiar girlish scream in the distance.

“Hoh boy. You stay right here,” Aspect said to Spike. “I have a brat to go save.”

“U-Uhuh,’ Spike nodded as Aspect flew off.

What he found when he arrived… okay… um… this was apparently also a thing.

“Where. Is. SPIKE!?” Twilight yelled, flinging Garble around with her magic. The dragon yelped as he was slammed into a tree. “I swear by my horn. If you’ve hurt him in any way I will—”

“Pardon me, perhaps I can be of assistance,” Aspect walked in. “If you would put the idiot down, I would lead you to Spike. Yolos-Drun is my name, small angry pony.”

Twilight flung Garble over her shoulder as he yelped and crashed. “Where is he?” she said before taking a much more pleading tone. “Please tell me.”

“Just this way,” Aspect replied, leading the mare back through the trees. “Oh, and ‘Gar-bel’? You’d best fly on home. Clearly you’re not cut out for all the dangers of a migration,” he called over his shoulder as they left the teenaged drake behind.

“N-Noted…” he groaned as a tree fell on him.

When they reached the clearing, Twilight saw Spike and dashed past Aspect, scooping the dragon into a hug and crying as she nuzzled and embraced him.

“Gah! T-Twi.. What?” Spike said, clearly confused about her appearance.

“Yup, she followed you here, little guy,” Aspect replied. “Threw Garble around like a rag doll. Guess she really did miss you.”

“I’m so sorry,” Twilight said as she hugged him. “I should have tried harder. I should have researched more…”

“H-hey… it’s cool,” Spike said and rubbed her back. “And Aspect was here to watch out for me. Aaand, I kinda owe him an apology for yelling at him too. Sorry Aspect.”

“Hey, it’s cool,” Aspect replied, before pulling out the letter that ‘Tia had sent him. “By the way, you never read this.”

“Wait… you’re Aspect?” Twilight blinked at the older dragon.

“Yolos-Drun is the name Smaug gave me after I did my little stunt, but yes, I’m still the same Aspect you know underneath,” the dragon replied. “Much like how Bloodfeather is my Griffon name. I figured it’d be best if I traveled under an assumed name while tailing Spike here.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said and reached up, placing a chaste kiss on his muzzle. “Thank you for looking out for him.”

“Mm, but now Spike has a little charge of his own,” Aspect replied, pointing to the egg in Spike’s clutches. Twilight looked at it and gasped.

“A phoenix egg?” she blinked.

“It’s… my fault the little guy lost his parents,” Spike said. “So, I’m gonna take care of him until we can find them again.”

Twilight smiled and nodded. “Yes… that’s a very responsible thing to do. I’m proud of you Spike.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded, waving the letter under Twi and Spike’s nose again.

“Oh right,” Twilight took the letter and opened it. Her eyes scanned the page and she frowned. “It’s… wat?”

Aspect raised a nonexistent eyebrow as he waited for an explanation.

“It… it says that my brother, Shining Armor. Is getting married,” Twilight said with a deepening frown.

“Ah,” Aspect nodded once. “You know, they looked close when I last saw them together. Glad it’s progressed nicely.”

“But… who the buck is ‘Mi Amore Cadenza’!?” Twilight waved her hooves. “I’ve never met this mare, and she’s marrying my brother!?”

“Huh...you know, she wasn’t one for her full name when we met,” Aspect mused. “Maybe she’s just being formal for the invitations?”

“I’m gonna kill him!” Twilight roared. “He’s… he’s marrying some… some hussie that I’ve never met. Forget him, I’ll kill her too!”

“Twilight!” Aspect all but roared at her. “Calm yourself and think! You have met this mare before. You just don’t know her by her full name. Consider her name. Consider who your brother is close with.”

“Soon? He’ll be pretty close to my hoof,” she grumbled. “Fine oh wise dragon sage. Who the buck is ‘Mi Amore Cadenza’?”

“That’s the full name of the one you know as Princess Cadance,” the dragon illuminated.

“C-Cadance… Shining Armor. My big brother. Is marrying Princess Cadance?”

“And so the great light dawns,” Aspect intoned seriously.

“OhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigoshOhmigosh!” Twilight bounced on all four hooves. “Shiny’s marrying Cadance? AKA, the greatest foalsitter EVER!?” She let out a loud, excited squeal.

“Let’s get you home before you attract all the dragons in the vicinity,” Aspect said out loud.

“Eeeeeeee!” Twilight giggled as Spike chuckled and shook his head.

“Come on, we have a long walk back,” Aspect sighed.

“Ohh, right,” Twilight said and her horn started to crackle with power. Aspect’s eyes widened, before he quickly turned back into his pegasus guise, to make it easier on the mare. With a massive magical pop, the trio was teleported close to Ponyville, landing somewhere inside the Castle of Two Sisters.

“Uuuhhh…” Twilight wobbled on her hooves. “Did… did we make it?”

“Close,” Aspect replied. “I could probably lead us back to Ponyville from here.”

Twilight looked around and blinked. “Huh… It’s sure been awhile since I was here last. Not since Nightmare… Moon…” She winced and trailed off. “Oh, sorry. That’s probably a sore subject.”

“Not as much as you think, now that the whole issue is resolved,” Aspect replied, looking around. “If I still had the Flashstone,” he muttered...before shaking his head. “No, best not to think about it like that. Come on, let’s get home already.”

“Yes, that might be for the best,” Twilight nodded. “You or me? Who’s doing the teleport?”

“You just did a massive one,” Aspect pointed out as he flashed into his alicorn form. “Best if I handle the next one. Brace yourself...this will feel a little odd.” Runes started to shimmer in the air around them as he drew out the parameters for the spell.

“Runic spells?! I need to take notes,” Twilight exclaimed.

“No!” Aspect pointed a hoof at her. “There is a reason runes have been left to die. If you’re not a natural-born Runemaster, or an immortal like myself, they literally drain your life to cast. They are that powerful that a sacrifice is required. Even I can’t use them that much. That little stunt with Discord cost me weeks to recover. I will not have you sacrifice your life to learn this art.”

“O-Oh…” Twilight’s enthusiasm died off rather quickly. “Sorry…”

The stallion sighed as the spell shimmered in the air around them. “No, I’m sorry for yelling at you,” he apologized. “But I need to impress the seriousness of this on you. It literally drains years from the end of your natural lifespan to cast spells like this. And Equestria needs you, Twilight. So please, don’t ask to learn Runes. I’m the only one that knows them, for good reason.”

“Alright,” she said with a nod. “But I still would like to learn the theory. If only to learn how to counter them should the need arise.”

“The only counter is other runes,” Aspect sighed. “Runes are the language of Deep Magic. It’s like a command the universe itself has to obey. The only thing that can undo runes are runes. I suppose...maybe if you had to, you could try using your elements on something that’d been done with Runes, they’re meant to restore order and balance. But it’s a long shot. If something’s been done with runes, the world considers it normal.”

That was about when the spell flashed around them, displacing them to the edge of Ponyville...an equal distance between Aspects’ home and the Library.

“Huh… that was less jarring than usual teleportation,” Twilight said and tapped her chin. “Okay, I’ll stay away from Runes. Under one condition.”

The stallion raised an eyebrow at that, flashing into his pegasus guise.

“Teach me how to Wink,” she said with a small smile. “You said it was something any unicorn could do right?”

“I did say that,” Aspect mused. “Okay, it’s actually really simple. So simple most have forgotten they ever knew. Just focus on a spot you can see, build up the magic in your horn...and wish to be there.”

“She’s tried, she just ends up teleporting,” Spike chuckled.

“It’s just a small charge,” the stallion explained. “Barely enough to make your horn glow. The important part is the wish.”

“The wish huh?” Twilight pondered on it. “Hmm, maybe I should speak with Miss Twinkle about it then. Wishes are her expertise no?”

“True enough,” Aspect agreed. “But later. It’s late enough as is, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have them all worried about me.”

“Yeah, I guess I'll head home,” Twilight said with a small nod. As the pair were about to part, a rather attractive mare walked past, her coat a deep brown with a lighter tan mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a baby bottle with a pink heart…

And Aspect couldn't help but notice Twilight’s eyes… wander.

Well. That was...something to save for later. He made a mental note of it and continued on his way home. Hopefully nobody was worrying about him.

...Hopefully they hadn’t been abusing the spear made of lightning in his absence…

When he got home, the first thing he smelled was smoke… then he saw the plume rising from his backyard. Aspect took to the air and flew over his house, looking for the cause of the smoke. If need be, he could grab a cloud or two to put the fire out…

Only to see his kids, plus his three mares sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows. Artemis and Nightmare looked up, sensing the fellow aspect and waving.

Aspect let loose a sigh as he landed nearby, folding his wings up and trotting closer. “Well, at least the house isn’t burning down,” he quipped as he sat next to Bon Bon and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Hello love,” Bon Bon smiled back and pulled him down next to her. “How was your romp in the Dragon lands?”

“Well, Spike has a new charge, and the young dragons have no respect for their elders,” Aspect griped. “Plus they apparently hate Phoenixes to the point where they try to smash their eggs.”

“Hm? I didn't know that,” Bon Bon said as she leaned against him. “You sound annoyed. Everything alright?”

“I look at the Phoenixes like they’re my own kids, Bonnie,” Aspect replied. “They were the first species I made, with the excess essence of Fire from Lavan.” He stared at the fire for a moment before continuing. “I gathered as many normal songbirds to me as possible and asked them all if they would like to be something...more. Something magical and powerful. Those that remained, I enhanced with what Lavan gave me. But becoming an immortal firebird wasn’t without its drawbacks.”

“What do you mean?” Rainbow asked, not really following the conversation.

“A Phoenix, if it’s lucky, will lay an egg every century or so,” Aspect answered. “Which makes what those youths were planning to do all the more abhorrent. Every Phoenix egg is precious when you consider their long cycles.”

“Aahh,” Bon Bon nodded as Rainbow shrugged and turned back to her marshmallows. “So, I'm guessing you intend to do something about this?”

“I’ll bring it up to Smaug when I next see him,” Aspect nodded. “But I think I took care of it in the short term. Turning into a phoenix bigger than a tree and screaming at the troublemakers in question should quash it for a few hundred years.”

“Subtle,” Bon Bon snorted and poked his shoulder. “So… what's the plan for the next couple of days? That unicorn mare teaching sorcery is coming back tomorrow I think.”

“Probably that, and teaching the Wonderbolts more about Aeromancy,” Aspect nodded. “I don’t mind teaching days. Means I get to relax a little.” The stallion snorted a few times. “The only reason I’m not charging off to see Smaug as it is is because even with my speed, that’s a trip. I’d spend half the day travelling.”

“Pfft, slow poke,” Rainbow chuckled, her cheeks puffed out with sweets.

“Don’t give the kids ideas,” Aspect chided her.

“Not getting any?” Nightmare shuddered. “The dragons don't like me very much. You know, with the whole ‘Eternal Night’ thing.”

“I meant about her plan to horde all the sweets, but okay, that works too,” Aspect agreed with the Nightmare. “Kids, don’t go to the dragon lands. Especially don’t go without me. It’s incredibly inhospitable to anyone not a dragon. They only know that Celly and Lulu are my kids because I told them about them. They’ve never visited to my knowledge.”

“To my knowledge, no,” Bon Bon replied. “However… There is a small community of dragons living in Manehattan. They even have their own little section of city they live in.”

“Huh,” the stallion flicked an ear as he considered that. “Learn something new every day.” He sighed and shook his head after a moment though. “No, while I can make a stop there, I really need to bring it up with Smaug himself. He’ll be able to work on it once I explain why it’s important to me.”

“Who is Smaug?” Bon Bon asked him, leaning against him. “All I know about is Dragon Lord Torch.”

“And how do you even know that?” Nightmare raised her eyebrow.

“Reasons,” Bon Bon chuckled.

“Torch was his name, but when I wove him a tale of a mighty dragon that laid low an entire kingdom and claimed an entire mountain of treasure, and said his size reminded me of that dragon, he sorta agreed that I could call him Smaug,” Aspect replied. “...I may have never finished how that story ended though…”

“How'd it end?” Rainbow sat up. Oh, now she was interested huh?

“A small group of humans living on top of a lake had the one weapon that could kill him, an arrow made by dwarven smiths,” the stallion elaborated, really getting into the story-telling. “A relic from before the dragon laid low the dwarf kingdom. When he first attacked the kingdom of men, two such black arrows struck him, one of them even struck his chest, dislodging some scales from there. A wound which never healed. Hundreds of years later, a small party of surviving dwarves, accompanied by a hobbit of all things, awoke the dragon from his slumber. The hobbit however, had a ring of power that made him invisible to the dragon’s sight. He stole the greatest treasure from the horde. And in his rage, the dragon decided that if he couldn’t kill the burglar...he’d lay waste to the town on the lake. There was fire, and screaming, and blood...but one lone human climbed to the top of the tower, where the ancient ballista and arrow remained. He aimed, and in the glint of the firelight reflecting off the dragon’s scales...he saw the hole where there was a weakness, fired...and lay the dragon low. Thus ended the reign of Smaug the Terrible, the last great calamity of Middle Earth.”

“Duuuuuude,” Rainbow and Artemis breathed out an awed whisper. They had no idea what dwarves and hobbits were, but it sounded cool.

“I'd feel sorry for him and say it was bad to kill such a creature… but I'd be a hypocrite,” Bon Bon nodded.

“I'd have fought him with blade and won,” Midnight nodded, resting Gungnir against her shoulder.

“I think I still have the Tolkien books in my bag,” Aspect mused as he thought about it. “I should gift them to Twilight next, see if she can’t get them re-printed for the modern age.”

“Hoof em over,” Rainbow said and held out her hooves. “I doubt they're as awesome as Daring Do, but I'll read em.”

Oh dear… his little Dashie was a bona fide bookworm.

“Okay, even the first book in the series, which is known simply as ‘The Hobbit,’ is hundreds of pages long,” Aspect replied. “Also, still set for a human’s point of view. The other three books in the series, which take place after the Hobbit’s events, are even longer, and tell the tale of a terrible dark lord coming back to power in Middle Earth and how they have to fight against him. Maybe once Twilight tells me where to find a good place to get them re-published for Equestrian views, I’ll put you in touch with the copies as they come out.”

“I don’t think your dissuading her,” Bon Bon giggled as Rainbow activated her trap card.

“I'll wear the catsuit.”

Aspect hummed a few times. “That’ll get you onto a list where you get the first copies that come out, but I’m not giving you access to the originals until I’ve started the process to introduce Equestria to Tolkien.”

“...I'll also put my mane up into a ponytail.”

“Rainbow, these books are about as old as I am,” the stallion replied. “The only reason they’re not dust by now is thanks to my preservation charm woven into my saddlebags. You would have to take it very slowly to read them, and if you actually did read the first book, that would delay others getting to see it as well.”

“Gaaaah!” Rainbow threw her hooves up. “Kids take note. Your dad is a jerk.”

“Well duh,” Nightmare replied all too seriously.

“If being considerate of others is jerklike behavior, then chalk me up for being the biggest jerk,” the stallion replied seriously. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

“The needs of Dash outweigh them all!” the mare declared as Nightmare and Realm snickered. She turned to them and narrowed her eyes. “What's so funny?”

“Nuuuuuthin’,” Realm replied ‘innocently’. “Hear that dad? Your mare is needier than an entire country.”

“Darn right,” Rainbow nodded, blissfully unaware. Midnight looked at her, then at Realm with a raised eyebrow. Realm just smiled at the batmare, not letting his facade drop.

“My needs are mighty and as my stallion, it's your job to provide,” Rainbow punctuated. Bon Bon facehooved. Hard. The colt snickered at that one.

“Rainbow… just stop,” the candy mare groaned. “And you too Realm. Else you'll lose dessert for a week.”

“How is it my fault she’s saying all these things?” the colt questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“I know you young colt… or should I tell Twilight?” Bon Bon said with a victorious smirk.

“Naaaah,” Nightmare suddenly chimed up. “You should see his Cheerilee dreams.”

The colt blushed and ‘accidentally’ flared his wings...upsetting the Nightmare just enough to send her onto her back.

So her magic lit up and ‘accidentally’ stroked the ends of his hooves… causing his wings to flare even more as he instinctively bucked...before joining her on his back in the dirt.

“Aspect… These are your kids without a doubt,” Bon Bon groaned and shook her head.

“DOGPILE!” Artemis cheered and dove on them, Pupal giggling and following suit.

“At least they’re easy to entertain,” the stallion pointed out.

Then all four of them looked at him and their smiles widened to what could be considered evil levels.

“Ohhhh no,” Aspect warned them.

The four youngsters smiled… then charged at him with intent to tackle and tickle.

And then Bon Bon and Midnight grabbed his forelegs, holding him down.

There was no mercy, and Aspect knew that begging for any wouldn’t end well. So he did what he could to keep his mouth shut and deny them that which they sought.

The four foals tackled him…

And the three mages all used magic to tickle everywhere.

...He lasted all of fifteen seconds before bursting into laughter.

“Yeees! Writhe fool. Dance to our tune!” Nightmare cackled loudly. “The great Aspect has fallen to foals. First this home. Then EQUESTRIAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!”

“Geeze, melodramatic much?” Realm sniped.

“Ohh, does the little prince not agree with his Queen?” Nightmare said as she posed dramatically on Aspect’s head. “Think about it. I'll make you the Royal Artist. You can paint aaaall day. And get free ice cream.”

“That’ll last right up until dad puts you over his knee,” the colt pointed out.

“I'm too cute to punish,” Nightmare said with a nod. “Besides, he is now my mighty steed. I shall ride him into battle!”

“Oh will you now?” Aspect managed to ask.

“Indeed,” Nightmare nodded.

“Hmmm, wouldn't mind seeing him in reins and a bridle,” Bon Bon said, winking at the stallion.

Aspect fought down the blush and reached up with his wings, striking at a spot he knew Nightmare was vulnerable.

She squeaked and fell off… but somepony took her place.

“VICTORY!” Luna declared, crash tackling the stallion.

“Ack,” Aspect gasped, falling back and laying limp. Luna was perched on his belly and hummed.

“Mine father hast grown weak,” she said smugly. “This victory was all too easy. As my reward, I shall take thy mares for mineself.”

“You what?” Aspect asked, raising his head and giving Luna a dangerous glare.

“You have naught else We could not already obtain through The Cute,” she nodded solemnly. “We could use a few new maids after all.”

Aspect let out a dangerous growl. One that sounded wrong to hear coming from a pony, stallion or not.

“Ahh, have We awakened thine fighting spirit?” Luna mused from her stallion-y perch. “Or hast thou gone soft in retirement?”

Aspect’s form exploded into a rush of wind, before he reformed over Luna, in his Alicorn form, easily pinning the mare to the ground thanks to the element of surprise.

Well he was…

Until she teleported out of the hold.

“Predictable,” she mock-yawned. “Tell me, what are the dress sizes for your mares? I wish to let the Head Maid know when she tailors their uniforms.”

“What… are we watching here?” Rainbow asked as the rest of the ponies present sat back.

“I have no idea,” Bon Bon sighed and shook her head. “I believe we can file this under ‘Aspect’s family is weird’.”

The stallion let out another growl, his form flashing…

Before Human Aspect, a.k.a. Christopher stood in front of Luna, brandishing the ten terrible tickling torture tools as he advanced.

“Oooohh…” Luna’s eyes widened and her ears fell back. “As thy modern generations says. I have dun goofed…”

Christopher let out a yell as he pounced, wrapping Luna up in a hug…

Before he began tickling the life out of her.

And the alicorn howled with laughter, hands truly were the greatest creation for tickling across the multiverse. Her legs kicked arrabally in the air as she giggled and snorted.

And then Midnight sloooowly snuck up behind him… pressed the barest tip of Gungnir against his butt and…

Bbzzzt!

“YIPE!” Christopher yelled as he jumped, still cradling Luna in his arms before turning to look at what had caused that. Seeing that it was Midnight...his eyes narrowed dangerously.

And the cheeky bat turned, spanked her flank and flew off cackling loudly.

“Pardon me Lulu, I have a bat to punish,” Chris said as he put the alicorn on the ground, before taking off after Midnight. Luna continued to giggle for a bit before taking a few breaths to refill her lungs and wipe her eyes. It felt good to have her father back again.

The next morning was… interesting.

Balanced Aspect, still in human form after the… events of catching Midnight last night headed down to his kitchen.

Only to find a particular pink alicorn sitting at his breakfast table.

“Oh, good morning Grandfather,” she waved a hoof.

“Hello Cadance,” the human greeted, waving, before blinking and flashing into his pegasus form. “Almost forgot,” he muttered. “In any case. What brings you by?”

“Hmm, you could have remained that way, I don’t mind,” Cadance said with a small smile. “I’ve actually come with a message from Aunt Celestia.”

“Okay, so what’s that?” the stallion asked as he sat at the counter and began making breakfast.

“She says you aren’t too up to date with Equestrian holidays and customs,” the young alicorn said. “And that I should come to explain today’s particular one. One you cannot afford to miss for three very good reasons.”

“Okay, what am I missing?” the stallion asked.

“Well, we call it Hearts and Hooves Day,” Cadance said with a small squeal. “One of my most favourite of holidays. But, Aunt Celestia said you would know it better as Valentine's Day.”

Aspect paused.

Aspect slowly turned to Cadance.

He paused again, before saying the one thing that crossed his mind. “I’m so bucked, aren’t I?” he asked aloud.

“Hmm, normally yes,” she said with a dire nod. “Fortunately, you have the Princess of Love on your side. I took a bet that you might not know about this, so I made a few… shall we say, contingency plans.”

“...Something tells me that has not changed the quality of how bucked I am,” the stallion observed.

“Oh relax,” she giggled. “Don’t worry. Everything has been done under your name. Your mares won’t know you completely forgot about this.”

“Right up until I forget what comes next,” the stallion dryly pointed out.

“I have your itinerary right here,” she said, producing a list. “You have an eclectic group of mares. So it took some effort to arrange all this. It was by no means an easy feat, not with making my own plans on top of it all.”

“Ah...I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you,” the stallion replied, bowing his head. “It has been a while…”

“It’s fine, just promise me one thing in return.”

“Anything,” Aspect immediately replied.

“Promise me you will love those mares. That no matter what, you will remain true to them okay?”

The stallion firmly nodded as he put a hoof to his chest. “I swear on all I hold dear in this world, those mares will not be starved for my love for them.”

“Good,” Cadance smiled as she gave him the list. She turned to leave, only to pause at the door. “And Aspect?”

“Yes?” the stallion asked as he began looking it over.

“Remember, no matter what may happen. Your family has never stopped loving you okay?”

And with that… oddly cryptic message, the alicorn teleported away.

“Huh...weird,” the stallion mused as he looked at some of the things he’d be doing today. That was...a hefty amount. It started with a carriage ride to Coneigh Island, where they’d visit a few places that would hold interest to at least one of his mares. A museum, a Wonderbolts performance and a concert of some kind.

Also, there was the finale. A dinner at a restaurant built atop a tall tower. The top rotated, offering diners a full 360 degree view of the city and surrounding ocean. The picture accompanying the list showed it was pretty high class as well.

“Helluva day,” the stallion muttered as he rolled the list back up. “Wish I had thought to plan it…”

Well… there was always next year. And if he had to be honest, he doubted he could beat the Aspect of Love at this game.

Shining Armor was in for one hell of a married life with her.

“Well, let’s get this day started,” the stallion mused as he tucked the list away under a wing. He mentally put a pin in trying to find a publisher that would work with him for the Tolkien books for now. He had other things to do today.

Cadance had even arranged a chariot to take them all there, the train would have wasted half the day on travel alone. And while they themselves could have flown… well, all but one…

“I forgot how much I hate carriages,” Bon Bon said as she gripped the side of the wagon tightly, her eyes closed.

“Just relax, you have three very strong flyers here in case the enchantment on the carriage should somehow fail,” Aspect soothed her.

“I’m an Earth Pony… we are not meant for this,” she muttered as Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Well, if this thing wasn’t so slow, we’d be there already,” she groaned.

“The only way we could be going faster in this thing would be if it were pulled by your identical twins, Dashie,” Aspect gently chided her.

“Maybe I should pull it… I wonder if I could pull a Sonic Rainboom while towing a chariot?” she mused aloud and smirked.

“Dashie, no,” the stallion warned her. “We’re not doing that to Bon Bon.”

“Nor me,” Midnight nodded. “It took quite a while to tame my mane for today.”

“Bah, you guys are no fun at all,” Rainbow said. Despite that, she was looking quite lovely. Especially with that cute ponytail she was sporting in her mane.

“Today isn’t about going as fast as you can, Dashie,” the stallion said, using a hoof to stroke Bon Bon’s back in a comforting manner. “But I promise you’ll enjoy it all the same.”

“Yeah yeah,” she sighed. “You know I don’t do this… frou-frou mushy stuff.”

“Says the pegasus that panicked when she couldn’t find a hair ribbon,” Bon Bon saw her chance for revenge. “You know, so you… and I quote. ‘Could look like a mature mare for As—’.”

“GAH!” Rainbow stuffed a hoof in her mouth.

The stallion merely whistled, acting like he hadn’t heard that.

“I swear I will throw you out this carriage,” Rainbow warned him with a glare… which was completely offset by her adorable blush.

The stallion smirked before drawing the mare in for a quick peck on the cheek, eliciting a squeak and a deeper blush.

The trip was highly enjoyable actually.

“Boooooooooooooooored,” Rainbow groaned as she followed Aspect, while Bon Bon looked around the ancient history section of the museum. Given it closed first, they headed here first. The place was bigger than Aspect would have thought, though it wasn’t much compared to the Canterlot museum.

“You’ll have your turn,” the stallion replied to her. “You know, there’s a bit about pegasi around here somewhere.”

In fact, he found a whole wing dedicated to Hurricane herself. Though it was more or less copied from the Cloudsdale museum…

Ahh, the sign said it was on loan. Seems it was making the rounds around Equestria.

“See, not everything is boring,” the stallion pointed out. The group entered the wing, showing off things like her history, armaments and great battles she’d fought in. As the neared the end, a worker was giving some ponies a guided tour.

“—And despite her hardened appearance and fierce demeanour… it’s been discovered that Commander Hurricane had a softer side,” the guide said. “After discovering her lost memoirs. It was discovered that she had a lover, one simply known as ‘Sword Gale’. And that he challenged her both physically… and emotionally.”

All three of Aspect’s mares slowly turned their heads towards him. His eyes were just as wide as theirs before he shook his head a few times.

“You slept with Hurricane!” Rainbow said in a hushed whisper.

“I did no such thing!” the stallion whispered back.

“Is that real?” one mare spoke up from the group.

“Yes, extensive testing was done on these memoirs and it has been confirmed that Hurricane herself wrote them.”

All three of his mares raised their eyebrows.

“I swear to you, you’re all my first relationship,” the stallion hissed. Then his eyes sloooowly widened. Something clicked in his mind, something Hurricane had said a long time ago.

‘You know Chris, you’re pretty smug. But I give you my honor as leader of the Pegasi. I will prank you. Prank you ‘so’ bucking hard. You will NEVER see it coming either!’

“She’s pulling a prank on me from beyond the grave,” he muttered, low enough for them to hear it.

“...Respect,” Rainbow nodded, humbly admitting the superior pranking powers of Hurricane.

“Honestly,” Bon Bon facehooved.

“Well we might as well hear how she embarrassed me,” the stallion muttered.

“—It states that their lovemaking was more passionate and more ferocious than a storm cell, and that Hurricane always… ehe, came out on top.”

Aaaand that was his three mares giggling to themselves.

“I swear, her portrait is getting turned around when I get home,” the stallion muttered to himself.

After a few other humorous anecdotes, the travel group moved on and once they left…

Aspect’s trio of mares burst out into loud laughter over what just happened.

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up,” Aspect muttered. “I swear, she’s getting a talking-to when I get home.”

“Oh man, I take it back,” Rainbow wiped her eyes. “This was the best trip ever. Ten out of ten.”

“She got you good… and the best part is you can’t retaliate,” Bon Bon mused. “Stricken from beyond the grave. My poor stallion.”

“I can still argue with her portrait,” Aspect muttered. “Seriously...what was she thinking?”

“That would be flipping hilarious,” Rainbow snickered. “I gotta remember that one. That was great.”

“It was amusing,” Midnight nodded. “Expect Aspect doesn’t have a submissive bone in his body~”

“Maybe if you all asked nicely,” the stallion muttered. “Though that’s still going to haunt me for a while.”

“Aww, I dunno,” Rainbow said as they made their way towards the exit. “I mean… Hurricane is kinda hot.”

“Great, just what I needed,” the stallion muttered as he followed after.

“Hey, maybe I should get Rarity to make her outfit and we’ll… roleplay a little,” Rainbow winked and shook her rump at him.

“Oh dear,” Aspect chuckled to himself. That… didn’t sound bad persay.

Ooh, there was a nice idea for revenge. Maybe forget to take down her portrait when they did.

Next was the Wonderbolts show… and as predicted…

Rainbow was bouncing on the spot, her face wearing a massive grin as she zipped from tent to tent, unable to decide what merchandise to buy.

“If you take too long to pick something, you’ll miss the show,” the stallion warned her.

Rainbow bit her hooves as she floated in the air, before zipping off and returning a few moments later, now adorned with a Wonderbolts scarf, pin and flag.

“Right… I think I’m set,” she nodded as cheers erupted from the stadium. “Aaah! We’re gonna miss it!” she yelled and started shoving them all at the entrance. Aspect chuckled as he helped clear a path for them to enter the stadium, eventually managing to work their way to where the seats were.

They’d gotten pretty great seats too, their own private box to sit in as the Wonderbolts soared into the stadium, the crowd and Rainbow exploding into cheers as she bounced in her seat.

“And now we know how to keep the Dash happy,” Aspect said out loud, mostly to the other mares. Mares that nodded in agreement, the comment going wholly ignored by Dash as she watched the show with rapt attention.

“Someday… I’m gonna be up there with them,” she murmured, what she thought was only to herself.

Aspect wrapped a wing around her and pulled her close. “I know you can do it,” the stallion said to her. She flinched from the sudden contact, but didn’t say anything beyond a single nod. It was her dream after all, and she’d be damned if it wasn’t going to be realised.

As the Wonderbolts performed, Spitfire, Soarin and Surprise raced by their window, all three winking and waving as they flew past.

“Wonder how they’re planning on using their lessons,” the stallion mused as he watched the show as well, eager to see how his students performed.

The trio spun, as they did, he could see the Aero magic leaving their hooves, dragging behind them and creating a tornado in the middle of the arena. Then with a single powerful thrust, they shot upwards at blinding speeds. Their moves perfectly synchronised as they somersaulted in midair…

Before diving down, their wings shearing through the swirling wind like a sword through butter. The tornado compressed and blew outwards like a sonic boom.

“Quality work there,” the stallion praised them. “I see they’ve really taken well to the old art.”

“I thought I was keeping up…” Rainbow said with wide eyes. “Damn… no wonder they’re so damned good…” She felt a little… jealous really. Or disappointed in herself that she couldn’t pull off something like that.

Yet.

“You’ll manage that level soon, I have faith in you,” Aspect reassured her. “After all, you can do lightning.”

“Yeah… and hospitalize myself in the process,” she sighed. “Still… this was a cool show Aspect. Thanks a bunch for bringing me here.”

“Hey, anything for my mares,” the stallion replied. “Speaking of, it’s Middy’s turn after this.”

“Hmm?” the thestral’s fluffy ears perked up. “Oh, and what might you have in store for me? I wonder… you haven’t known me as long as the others.”

“Oh, I picked out something I was sure you’d enjoy,” the stallion replied as they watched the rest of the airshow. “Let’s just finish up here and then we can go on to the next thing, okay?”

“As you wish,” she hummed as the show continued.

“So… what is this place?” Rainbow asked as they approached the concert hall. “I figured we’d go visit a cave or something?”

“Ooh, I will bite you for that later,” Midnight flashed her fangs. “Aspect dearest. I call dibs on the bird pony tonight.”

“Hilarious,” the stallion chuckled as he held the door open for them all. “And I think this is something most of you will enjoy.”

Midnight’s… as well as the other mare’s eyes widened when they saw the poster of the mare performing tonight.

“Okay dearling,” Midnight turned towards him. “How… how on Equus did you get tickets to a Countess Coloratura concert!? These performances are sold out months in advance!”

“I have connections,” the stallion replied. “Let’s just enjoy the show, eh?”

“Connections?” Midnight blinked as she followed him in.

Well.. this was not what Aspect was expecting. Apparently he did not get modern music. Because as the first song started to play, he was already lost and confused over it. This was not like the random musical numbers ponies often performed. Still, he had to trust in the plan that this was something Midnight would enjoy.

...It probably didn’t hurt that this mare had half a dozen stallions around on stage dancing with her as well…

Yet, Midnight seemed to be focused on the singer, her hoof tapping as she bobbed her head to the beat. Rainbow was the one unabashedly watching the stallions in the tight black clothing, her wings flared slightly.

Aspect just shook his head. He wasn’t doing this for himself, he was doing it for them.

Bon Bon seemed content to just lean against him, her head on his shoulder as the mare started up her second song of the evening…

The moon was out by the time it ended, a full day of walking around had left all of them feeling a little drained. They still had the dinner reservation to go to as well. The thought of a meal making Aspect’s stomach gurgle.

“Heh, it was meant to be,” Bon Bon giggled and nudged him. “I’m a monster slayer, and slaying your monster gut seems to be a never-ending battle.”

“Mmm, come on, we have a reservation,” the stallion said, following the directions to the restaurant they literally couldn’t miss.

That said, he got lost in his own house. Thankfully, Bon Bon stole a peek at the map and saved them from wandering endless back alleys to find the place.

The tower was… impressively high from the outside. Long cables helped tether it as they stepped inside, an elevator ready to take them up to the top floors. Aspect nodded and pushed the button, causing the doors to close as they were whisked away.

And that was Midnight sticking her tongue in his mouth, pinning him to the wall as she kissed him deeply, moaning softly as her hooves roamed over his body. The stallion didn’t fight it, but he did wonder how long she would keep this up, even as he returned her affections.

As she broke the kiss, Rainbow moved in next, kissing him with just as much passion, but with a lot less skill. She certainly made up for it in vigor though, something the stallion returned as well. Okay, so it was apparently just ‘kiss Aspect’ day.

And when she was done, naturally Bon Bon had her turn, and her kisses were just as sweet and loving as always, much more gentle than the others. The stallion let out a little moan into the affection they were showing him as it all started to feel like a little much.

And then out of the corner of his eye, he spied Rainbow and Midnight sharing a kiss…

It was really hot, watching the two mares locking lips, their tongues intertwining with each other.

Okay...he could live with that. Still, how long was the elevator ride?

He got his answer with a loud ding, the mares straightening themselves up to look perfect as the doors slid open. The restaurant was… well wasn’t this fancy. Lots of soft, comfortable chairs surrounded the tables. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling as the greeter smiled at the group of ponies entering a place they now felt… rather underdressed for,

“Ah, good evening,” he smiled warmly. “Welcome to Stratus. Do you have a reservation?”

“We do,” Aspect nodded. “It should be under Balanced Aspect.”

The stallion looked at the list and his eyes widened ever so slightly. “Ahh, so I see you are our special guests tonight. Please, follow me.” He stepped down from the podium and beckoned to the group. Aspect nodded and motioned for his mares to follow first.

The stallion led them up a small, winding staircase into a higher level. This new room was just as ornate, if not moreso than the first. The only difference was it was a tad smaller, but looked larger due to the fact it only held a single table. A small band played some peaceful, almost romantic music in the background as the waiter led them to the table, three of the plates there held a single red rose on each one.

“My… somepony really went all out,” Bon Bon mused as she nuzzled Aspect. “And you did it without us even knowing. Sneaky stallion~”

“I have my ways,” the stallion replied as he began going around the table, pulling out chairs for the mares to sit at.

“Hmm, is that so?” Midnight mused as she sat down, kissing his cheek as she did.

“For your complimentary wine, would you prefer red, or white?” the stallion that led them here asked.

“That would entirely depend on what the ladies will be eating, won’t it?” Aspect fired back. “Not one single wine would be good for all occasions, after all.”

“Ah, you do raise an excellent point,” the stallion nodded. “My deepest apologies for being presumptuous Sir.”

“Not at all, you are merely doing your job,” Aspect smoothed over. “But perhaps give them some time to peruse the menu and then we will be able to pick a wine for dinner.”

The stallion nodded and produced four menus from under his wing, laying one in front of each of them. “Please take your time, all our produce is sourced locally, so the quality and freshness is assured.”

“My thanks,” Aspect nodded as he took his own seat and began looking over the menu himself. There was quite the selection, salads, pasta’s and things with fancy Prench names. He also noted they catered for Griffons, so there were meat dishes on the menu too. Ooohh, bacon. Chicken and fresh fish~

“You know,” Rainbow whispered. “You can always… slip into something more comfortable if you wanna try some of these,” she said, earning a nod from the other mares.

“There are other ways to get more protein in my diet without raising eyebrows during your day, m’ladies,” Aspect replied, having waited for the stallion that seated them to wander off before doing so. “Though I will try the fish. Hurricane always did say a good fish dish before a fight was a treat, so clearly this form should be able to handle it. Although if I wanted to be tricky, I could take on a griffon shape to try the meat...but again, I’m not one to cause a stir. At least, not in public. I’d rather you all enjoy the day rather than have the maitre d wonder why the stallion he seated is something other than a pegasus.”

“Aww, but that’d be hilarious,” Rainbow chuckled as the stallion left them to peruse the menus for a while.

“Chris, can I ask you something?” Bon Bon asked.

“Fire away,” the stallion replied.

“Why do you never take your human form?” she asked him. “I asked the Princesses about it, and they don’t know either. Apparently it used to be the other way around, that you only transformed if needed.”

Aspect sighed as he considered the question. “Because...humans are a myth these days. I saw the last ones off from Dream Valley shortly before the Windigoes came. They got in their ship and left, sailing off to the east for something more. Megan herself, along with her brother and sister, stopped coming over the rainbow. And then, when ponies took the center stage...when it became the kingdom of Equestria, where my daughters ruled and I wasn’t really required...I sort of...just stayed a pegasus longer and longer, hiding in plain sight. I’m the Sword, the last defense...but I don’t care about that anymore. If I retook my human form, it’d just be...one big light back to what used to be, rather than the truth of what is.”

“I guess, I can understand that,” Bon Bon said. “But, even at home, away from prying eyes. It’s okay if you want to be yourself. In fact, I insist upon it. It’s not like any of us will love you any less. And nor will the past bother us, I mean, we already know all about it anyway.”

“True, but...it’s easier to hold back Arabus if I’m in a form that’s connected to the air itself,” the stallion replied, flapping his wings for emphasis. “The walls of his cage are more easily molded when he can’t exert his own influence past mine.”

“Ahh, I forgot about him,” Bon Bon sighed. Part of her wondered if he was just using it as an excuse but… “Well alright. As long as you’re happy m’kay?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I can get away with some me-time, but I definitely want to at least sleep as a Pegasus or a Griffon,” the stallion agreed. “Unconscious control is the most important part of keeping a lid on the old thunderhead.”

“We really should look into a way of dealing with that pest once and for all,” Midnight said with a nod. “None the less, let us decide on some food before we wind here til the morn.”

“Hmmm, ya know, Imma go with Aspy on this one,” RD replied with a hum. “I think I’ll take the fish too. The one with the fried greens and a side of fries.”

“Mmhmm,” Aspect nodded as he folded up his menu. “Sounds like it’ll go down a treat to me.”

“Hmm, I believe I will also choose that,” Midnight agreed with a small nod.

“Oh sure, leave me to be the odd pony out,” Bon Bon mock grumbled. “Damned carnivores. Fine, I’ll taaaaake… the alfredo and salad.”

“And now we wait for him to come back and take our orders,” Aspect mused as he looked around. “Hmm, I don’t know what I like more about this place. The view, or the mares making it even more lovely.”

The view out the windows was quite lovely, but the sight of three mares that loved him was difficult to compare to.

“Flattery will get you everywhere~” Midnight purred as he felt a hoof rub his leg under the table.

“It’s hardly flattery if it’s true,” the stallion pointed out.

“Well, he has a point, we’re pretty damned awesome and sexy,” Rainbow giggled and ran a hoof through her mane. The maitre'd returned not a moment later.

“So, have our guests picked something to eat?” he asked.

“The three of us with wings will be having the fish with fried greens and fries,” Aspect replied. “Whereas the lovely candy mare wishes for the alfredo and salad.”

“All excellent choices,” the stallion nodded. “And might I recommend a white wine to go with those. We have a lovely apple-spiced wine from Las Pegasus. Made there locally I hear.”

“That sounds delectable,” Aspect agreed as he hoofed back his own menu.

The stallion gave a small nod as he retreated to send their order to the kitchen. A few minutes later, a new waiter showed up with some breadsticks and dipping oils for them to snack on in the meantime.

“Courtesy of the house,” he smiled and left them be.

“Aspect, how much was all this?” Bon Bon asked, slightly concerned. “This place is… rather high end. Plus the Wonderbolts and that concert. Today must have cost a small fortune.”

“And as long as you all are happy, I will call it money well spent,” the stallion replied, picking up a breadstick and dipping it into the oil a little, before pulling it back and munching on it, his mares following suit as Bon Bon dropped the issue.

“So uh… I never asked,” Rainbow spoke up as they ate. “My folks… they weren’t too weird for you were they?”

“They’re...enthusiastic about you, which I won’t fault,” the stallion replied. “Though I do wonder if they were like that before you became the best flyer out of Cloudsdale.”

“According to them, I’ve always been the best flyer in Cloudsdale,” Rainbow groaned. “You know, I used to be a weak flyer. Cause I’m… well kinda small. I’d come dead last in races. And yet, they’d be cheering like loons. It was pretty embarrassing.”

“Nothing embarrassing about believing in your kids,” Aspect replied. “It helps them live up to all the praise.”

“Well I kinda had to,” Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes. “I would get praise for the stupidest things, Best Flier, Best Student…” she blushed and facehooved. “Best at being potty trained…”

“...Okay there’s a point where it went too far, and clearly they surpassed it a while ago,” the stallion muttered to himself, mostly.

“So on that note, none of you are visiting my family home. Ever!” Rainbow nodded and folded her forelegs.

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied. “I don’t think any of you could visit mine anymore anyways.”

Aaaaand that got an awkward silence, none of the mares sure on how to respond to that.

“I mean,” Aspect mused. “Dream Valley was frozen. And the Everfree castle is in ruins. Literally the only home I have nowadays is the mansion.”

“Aaaand that’s a total buzzkill,” Rainbow groaned as a waiter returned with their wine.

“Speaking of,” the stallion perked up. “Thank you good sir.”

“You’re welcome,” he nodded as he bowed and left them be again. Rainbow soon filled her glass and drained it.

“Happier topic please!”

“Hmm, well,” Bon Bon scratched her chin. “Oh Midnight, how’d it go with the griffons?”

“Quite well,” she smirked as she sipped from her glass. “Terrifying them was rather delightful.”

“It helped that I lent her Gungnir...which decided she would be a better wielder than I would,” Aspect muttered. Midnight just patted his head.

“Gungnir thinks you like your sword better and felt neglected,” she said with a nod.

“I made the freaking Jetstream with him!” Aspect snapped, before sighing and shaking his head. “No, no...don’t try to argue with the spear…”

“Jetstream?” the three mares echoed.

“It’s an endless river of wind that exists just below the edge of space around Equestria,” Aspect replied. “Anybody who wasn’t an exceptionally skilled flier or the Aspect of Air would be thrown halfway around the world for trying to ride it. And even the next one will have to try and claim it for his or her own once I pick them. I made it to increase the influence of the Air Aspect as compared to all the others, so that they’d be on equal footing, and so that I’d have something to pass on.”

“Huh…” Rainbow said with a tilt of her head. “I’ve never heard of that before.”

“Nor have I,” Bon Bon said. “Then again, nopony has ever flown that high before.”

“You’d also have to know where to look to find it,” Aspect replied. “I had it going around the middle of the planet, last I checked. It’s also how I got the power to beat you in our little duel,” he said to Midnight. “I sent out a call for power, and it gave me a bit of its own.”

“So that is what that was,” Midnight huffed and looked at him. “I would almost have to call you out for cheating. Relying on an outside force for help.”

“Hey, I made it myself,” Aspect retorted. “It might not be a part of me, but it’s still something I made with all the extra influence I gathered as the Air Aspect and travelling across the world. I forged it into an endless raging river of wind and set it around the middle of the world, so by all rights if it’s going to answer anyone, it’ll answer to me.”

“All right, all right,” Midnight waved a hoof. “Honestly, it was foolish of me to think I could even best you in the first place. I doubt anything on the planet even could.”

“Hmm, give me enough time to prepare, I think I could come up with something,” Bon Bon mused.

“Distracting me with sexy does not count as a defeat,” Aspect deadpanned.

“No, Midnight would be far better at that, or Dashie in a cute uniform,” Bon Bon said.

“Okay I’ll bite,” Rainbow chuckled. “How would the great candy maker defeat Aspect?”

Bon Bon looked at him and tilted her head. “Hmm, well let’s see… I suppose first would be luring him to a disadvantageous location. Like the Null Zone left behind by Discord. He’d lose a good deal of his magic there. Along with his shapeshifting. That would mean no dragon or phoenix from. His human form is… likely not as strong as a pony.”

“True enough, it’s the one place I couldn’t clean up, thanks to how he broke it,” Aspect nodded.

“The biggest hurdle to overcome would be his Runes,” Bon Bon said. “The only countermeasure would be… well to counter with Runes myself. For that, I would have a suitable plan.”

“Do tell,” Aspect was mildly interested now.

“Princess Celestia,” Bon Bon said with a nod. “I would… likely kidnap Princess Luna or some such, force her cooperation. If not directly, then have her make several Rune-enchanted items.”

“A bold play,” the stallion mused. “Assuming you could actually execute it of course.”

“I wouldn’t confront you directly, that would be suicide,” Bon Bon said. “No, I’d likely release some things from Tartarus, have them distract you, then take a shot from range.”

“Daaaaamn,” Rainbow whispered. “We’re gonna marry a supervillian.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “Pretty decent play, all things considered. You just better never actually execute it. Otherwise I’ll have to ask how often you intend to put my life in danger.”

“No, cause knowing you, you’re already coming up with a countermeasure,” Bon Bon smiled. “And honestly Aspect, you eat my cooking on a regular basis. I could just poison you.”

“...Anypony else suddenly lose their appetite?” Rainbow gulped.

“Poison wouldn’t do anything to me except give me indigestion for a few days,” the stallion waved it off. “You’d have to try harder than that.”

“I know a recipe with Poison Joke,” she warned him with a cheeky smile. “I never said I wanted you dead after all~”

“You wouldn’t,” Aspect narrowed his eyes.

“You’d never see it coming,” she smiled sweetly.

“Dash, you are my new food-tester,” Aspect said to her.

“Hay no! I like the ability to fly straight,” she shook her head. And Aspect realised that he had no idea what would happen to Midnight or Bon Bon under it’s influence.

“I dislike the idea that at any time I could be served some of that treacherous poison,” Aspect muttered to himself.

“Relax, I would never sully my food like that,” Bon Bon giggled as a trio of waiters finally brought out their main dishes. Aspect’s was placed in front of him, then aromatic scent of grilled fish wafting up to his nose.

“Mmm...that smells divine, thank you,” the stallion said to the waiters.

“If you say so,” Bon Bon wrinkled up her nose as Midnight and Rainbow licked their lips. That said, Bonnie’s pasta looked pretty damned tasty too.

“Different strokes for different folks,” Aspect chuckled as he picked up a fork and knife to cut off bits of fish.

“Mhm,” Rainbow was already stuffing her face. “Mmmmmm~ Shoo guuud!”

The earth mare just rolled her eyes. “Never change Dashie,” she giggled as she started to eat her own dinner.

After being wined and dined, the happy little herd was whisked back to Ponyville. It was well into the night by then, and when they finally arrived home?

‘Christopher and mares.

I have taken the young ones to Canterlot for a night of learning.

From, Twilight Twinkle’

“Huh, that’s convenient,” Aspect mused as he listened and, sure enough, didn’t hear any sounds associated with foals.

His mares looked at one another and nodded.

“So, now after a nice dinner,” Bon Bon asked, trailing her tail under his chin. “Would you like dessert~”

Aspect gulped. Why did he get the feeling he was on the menu?

“Be a good colt and go wait in the bedroom,” Midnight said to him, giving him a gaze that could have melted all of Niflheim. “We’ll be along shortly~”

“Yes’m,” the stallion squeaked out as he scurried along to the bedroom.

So there he was, sitting alone on his bed as he waited for… whatever it was they were doing. Then he heard Midnight’s voice through the door.

“Dear, change into something comfortable, thanks to Bon Bon, we wish to… show the real you how much we love you.”

“Um...okay?” Aspect gulped, flashing into his human form and taking the robe off, setting it to the side. He carefully removed his other clothes as well...as he only had the one set of pants, boxers, and T-shirt sized to him.

The door opened, and the three ponies stepped inside, the low light showing just what they’d been… preparing. All three wore some, rather intricate lingerie. Lacy stockings, the ones on their back legs attached to a garter belt and matching panties. Each set perfectly tailored to the pony wearing them. They also wore a lace choker, and their manes done up rather nicely. The panties they wore were a perfect fit, decorated with ornate lace and hugged their rears oh so nicely~

“So, do you like the menu?” Midnight purred, licking her gleaming fangs.

“I still feel like I’m the one that’s going to end up being eaten alive here,” the human pointed out.

“Aww, no need to be afraid,” Midnight said. “I don’t bite… not hard anyway~”

“I feel ridiculous,” Rainbow blushed.

“You all look incredibly sexy,” Christopher said to them.

“Well I’m glad,” Bon Bon said with a giggle. “Having Rarity custom make these was worth it then?”

“Most likely,” he agreed. “Though...I do wonder what’s next, now that you’ve shown them off.”

“Hmm, ladies?” Bon Bon nodded and the others returned the gesture as they climbed up onto the bed.

“Now…” Midnight murred.

“Now we play,” Rainbow agreed.

“Oh boy,” the human gulped.

“Yes indeed,” Midnight murred as Bon Bon started to kiss his chest, while Rainbow went for his lips.

And Midnight?

She deepthroated him in a single gulp. The human moaned into the kiss, holding Dash close as he did his best to hold still so they could ‘play’ with him.

And despite the lewdness of it all, there was so much love in their actions. Even Midnight took breaks from what she was doing, the trio taking turns as the others nuzzled and kissed him, rubbing their fuzzy cheeks against his and even just holding him.

Christopher let out another moan as he enjoyed the attentions from all the mares. He didn’t want it to end...but he also knew they were only getting started.

Then he felt his hand pressed against something soft and plush, looking down to see that Bon Bon held it against her belly.

“Looking forward to this?” she asked him with a soft smile.

“About as much as you are,” he admitted.

“I’ll admit… I’m a bit scared,” she said, holding his hand there. “What… what if, I’m not a good enough Mom…”

“I thought that every day when I helped Written with Celly and Lulu, that I wouldn’t be a good enough dad for them,” the human admitted as well. “But...seeing their first few days, seeing them discover everything...hearing them call me dad...it was worth it.”

“Yeah, plus you have all of us,” Rainbow nodded from the head pets she was getting. “Seriously, we’re gonna be an awesome family.”

“Indeed we will be,” Midnight said and then looked deep into Aspect’s eyes. “In fact, I have a little favour to ask of you my sweet love~”

“Oh?” Christopher asked as he raised an eyebrow. “What would that be?”

She leaned in closer, her lips next to his ears.

“I. Want. One. Now.”

The human gulped. Um...did she really just ask for…

“We’ll get back to your human form,” she said. “But right now, I need a certain thestral stallion to put a foal in me. Think you can do that my love~?”

“I, uh...I certainly could,” Aspect replied. “I just...never expected you to actually ask for one.”

“Oh?” Midnight said and looked at him. “Does that mean you don’t want to then?”

“I just...never expect you to actually play by the rules, I always expected it to be in the realm of dirty-talk forever,” the human pointed out, before casting a wary eye over to Dash.

“I-I’m just… I don’t want one yet is all,” Rainbow blushed and looked away.

“Where as I have been thinking,” Midnight said. “And the sooner I have one, the sooner I shall be able to return as a Guard. So… the question now is if you want one as well my dear Aspect~”

“I mean...if you’re sure,” Christopher said, running a hand through her mane.

“I would not have asked if I was not,” Midnight said with a little smile, a fang poking out cutely.

“Very well then. Dash, Bon?” Christopher looked at them both and used his hands to gently nudge them away. “Let me give Middy a little...personal touch?”

“After we’d set this all up too,” Bon Bon pouted and smiled. “Very well, but you’d better make it a good show as an apology.”

“Damn right,” Rainbow said. “I wanna get off on this.”

“Oh woe is us, to have our lovemaking reduced to a spectacle for others to enjoy,” the human mock-intoned as he pulled Midnight close.

“Well, I cannot say that I blame them,” she purred and kissed his cheek. “Du-te și fă dragoste cu mine~”

Christopher nodded and flashed once, before his impressive thestral form was the one hugging Midnight close, giving her a loving nuzzle as he sat on the bed.

“Mmm, so rugged and handsome,” Midnight smiled as she stroked his cheek with a hoof. “Our foals will be powerful and beautiful~”

“Mmm, that they will,” the stallion agreed as he nibbled on Midnight’s ear tufts. She let out a small squeak and Rainbow tilted her head… before doing the same to Aspect.

Oh… oh wow those things were sensitive. He let out his own squeak as he instinctively tried to move them out of the way of the attacking mouth. Rainbow let go and let out a giggling snort.

“Hehe, I found a new toy,” she mused.

“Because that won’t become slightly irritating if you abuse it,” Aspect muttered. “In any case…” He stared Midnight in the eyes, before kissing her lips. One the thestral eagerly returned, the much more experienced mare turning it so she led the kiss, her hips grinding against him, her silken panties rubbing up against his shaft as she moaned sweetly.

“Mmmm,” the stallion murred into the kiss as he began pushing back, just enough to regain what ground he lost. Once the kiss broke, he nuzzled the mare. “You know, it feels like you’re not quite ready for that foal you asked for,” he pointed out. “You have something in the way of that.”

“Hmm, then maybe you’d best remove it,” she purred as she lay back, spreading her legs slightly and letting him have a good, long look at her. A wet spot darkening on her panties showed just how wet she was getting too~

“Mmm, somepony is a naughty mare, thinking about what she wants…” Aspect murred as he ran a hoof over that spot, not daring to remove it yet. He wanted to draw it out until he heard her say she needed it.

“Mmm,” she let out a small moan, her tail flicking up and brushing up against his throbbing member. “So are you,” she teased right back. She would do so until he’d finally pin her down and just ravish her, mad with lust~

“Oh no, see, I could easily go to either of the other two here, I don’t have to be here…” Aspect mused, tracing circles around those concealed lips.

“Hmm, but you won’t pass up this opportunity,” Midnight smiled back. “After all, I might change my mind. And I know you. I know how badly you want to do this,” She leaned up and stared deep into his eyes. “Ever since our first night together, you have wanted this have you not?”

“It has been on my mind, I will admit,” Aspect mused as he drew his hoof over that wet spot and ground it into there, stimulating the mare a little more directly. She let out a hissing moan as she put her hoof over his.

“The thought of you filling me with your seed, your progeny, it makes you surge does it not?” the mare said in that sultry tone. “Your cock screaming to plunge my depths, to take me as your mare~”

“Mm, I so rarely ‘uncork’ for that reason,” Aspect mused as he brought up his other forehoof to rub along her inner thigh. “But you’ve just given me permission to...Now I want to hear how much you want it.”

“Oh I want it alright,” Midnight replied, spreading her legs a little wider, her tail flicking off to the side to give him unhindered access. “I need your cock in me~ Give me your seed my handsome stud~”

“Mmm, I think the bat’s earned a reward for that,” Aspect cooed as he used his hooves to gently start peeling off her panties. As he pulled the silk away, a trail of her moisture clung to it, the sticky fabric peeling away from her marehood, exposing her sex to the night air.

It wasn’t long before Aspect had dove in, letting her feel all the practice he’d gotten with his thestral tongue personally.

“Ahhh~” the mare’s hooves went to his head, holding him there as she moaned softly a his attentions. Rainbow had put a hoof down her own underwear, rubbing her moistening slit as Bon Bon just opted to watch… for now.

Aspect let out a happy little hum as he started pulling out all the tricks he’d learned with his tongue on the mare. Turn one way...then the other. Then actively seek out all those little nooks and crannies in her folds and start filling them. He got little moans, squeaks and trilling ‘skree’s’ as he did, finding the places she liked the most and focusing on them.

A gasp and a deep moan that was not his bat got his attentions though. He turned his head slightly as saw that Bon Bon had pushed Rainbow down onto the bed, the candy mare now mimicking her stallion and eating out her pussy, eliciting all sorts of fun noises from the pegasus. He smirked a little and resumed his work on Midnight, hoping to elicit the ultimate reaction from her to reward her for being such a good bat and asking for this.

He didn’t have to wait long, when he found a spot that made her visibly flinch when he struck it…

Well damn, he focused on that and soon she was cramming his muzzle against her sex as she came, screeching loudly as her walls pulsed around him, filling with mouth with her delicious release. Aspect merely let out a happy hum as he drank it all down, waiting for her to stop before pulling back and smacking his lips.

“Good little bats get rewarded~” he cooed to her.

“I-Is that so?” she gasped, a hoof to her chest as she panted, still riding the high from her climax. Bon Bon gave a particularly lewd moan, her tail fanning her own scent towards him as she continued to eat out Rainbow, despite the fact she’d come as well. The candy mare offered no respite.

“And now, I think it’s time to make more little bats,” Aspect said as he slowly advanced up the thestral’s form, before something large and flat poked at Midnight’s lips.

“Mmm, you think you can give me more than one huh?” Midnight said and wiggled her rump, her winking sex suckling lightly on his tip. Sweet merciful stars that was fucking hot.

“Oh dear bat, you’re underestimating me,” Aspect cooed, and there was a muted flash. “There we go, officially uncorked for the first time in a while.”

“Oooh, so now what, my stud?” she purred in a faux-innocent tone. “Are you going to breed this sexy little bat~?”

“I’m going to make you swollen so much, it’ll be your default state,” Aspect promised her as he began pushing forward...slowly.

“Mmm, you’d like that wouldn’t you?” Midnight cooed as she stroked his cheek, gasping as her soaked lips slowly parted, allowing him entrance. Her walls starting to squeeze down on him.

“You’re the one that said you wanted one,” Aspect pointed out, his cock nearing the halfway mark. “I’m just going to ensure that one becomes multiple.”

“I’m not sure it works like that,” Midnight giggled. “But you can try.”

“Mmm, I’m sure I will,” Aspect mused as he slowly sunk the rest of his length into the mare. “It feels good being potent again…”

“Mm, does it now?” she giggled and kissed his nose. “And what about spending your first time with me hm? Does that feel good too?”

“Of course it does, little bat,” Aspect cooed to her as he held himself there for a while longer. “Mmm...better try and remember how it felt to not be swollen full of foals...I’ll soon turn that into your default state~”

“So you keep saying,” she said and nipped at him with her fangs. “I say, put your money where your mouth is handsome.”

“Oh?” Aspect raised an eyebrow as he slowly started drawing his hips back…

Before slamming them back forward, burying his length back into her with a vengeance. She let out a shrill cry of pleasure as the stallion stuffed her full, her walls hugging him tightly as she pulled him close, panting and moaning into his sensitive ear.

“Mmm...I don’t hear any back talk now~” the stallion cooed to her as he set up a slow and steady rhythm of screwing her hard.

“Don’t be mean Christopher,” Bonnie mused, now trapping Rainbow in a hug from behind as she ground a hoof against her sex, eliciting moans and whimpers from the little pegasus. “After all, she’s the one that has to deal with the after effects for months afterwards~”

“True, but she did ask for it,” the thestral stallion pointed out. “So why shouldn’t I make sure she remembers the deed for as long as possible?” All throughout his talking, he didn’t stop his screwing of the poor mare.

“Because you remember my mood swings?” Bon Bon said with a small shudder. “Just imagine hers…”

“True, all the more reason to put the bat in a good mood then,” Aspect replied, still going for the long and slow thrusts to really hammer it home.

“For now,” Bon Bon mused as she finally released Dash. She sized the other pair up…

Then Aspect felt a heated tongue against his balls, the candy mare taking each one into her mouth and suckling on them sweetly.

“Fuuuuuuck,” the stallion moaned as he didn’t stop for a moment, even with the new sensations. He wanted to draw it out for as long as possible.

“Mmm, something nnnrgh, the matter?” Midnight gasped, her hooves stroking him near his wings.

“Nope,” Aspect grunted as he kept up his delicious chore. “Just...still going to screw you into the mattress.”

“Mm, glad to hear it,” she moaned, her walls squeezing him again as she licked his neck. “Mmmm, fuck my tight little pussy,” she said with a throaty growl. “Go ahead and ravish me my stud, my sexy beast of a stallion~”

“Mmm, you’re going to bear so many foals for me,” Aspect said back to her, still pumping in and out of her at a steady pace. “You’re mine now.”

“Yes I am,” she moaned back as she held him tightly. “And as your mare, what are you going to give me~?”

“Foals for days,” Aspect promised her.

Midnight could help but let out a small snort and a giggle at the… rather serious way he said it. Even Bon Bon giggled, which felt both weird and… oddly enjoyable given where her mouth still was.

“It’ll be so enjoyable, watching you swell again and again with my progeny,” the stallion cooed to her as he kept up his steady fucking.

“Mm, is that so?” she said and nipped at his neck. “If I give you permission again that is.”

“Mmm...who says some days I might just forget because of how sexy the bat is?” the stallion cooed to her as he finally took it up one notch, screwing her just a little harder now.

“You won’t, or I’ll… correct you,” she smiled and flashed her fangs at him. “Bonnie~ He’s talking too much, fix it.”

Then he saw a plump, candy-stamped butt inches from his muzzle, waving invitingly at him. The stallion snaked out his long tongue and fed it under the mare’s panties, invading her folds and tongue-fucking her while he screwed Midnight. Bon Bon helped by stepping out of the garment, backing up so her folds were pressed against him, moaning when Midnight reached up and started playing with her teats.

Meanwhile, the thestrals’ own sex squeezed down again, contracting her muscles to milk the stallion’s hard cock as he thrust into her. All throughout this, the stallion didn’t stop at all, either in pistoning his tongue into and out of Bonnie, or in giving Midnight a very through rutting.

It didn’t take long for the thestral to cum again, crying out loudly as she arched her back, a fresh coat of her juices warming up his cock as Bon Bon pulled back, stroking her mane with a hoof and kissing her neck.

Aspect pulled his tongue back and licked his lips a few times, before looking down at the mare under him. “I can keep going, you know,” he said to her. “Really draw it out. Just say one little phrase to me, little bat. Tell me how much you need it...and you’ll get it.”

Midnight cooed and nuzzled him. “Mmm, fill me up my sweet. Give me a foal to love. I want it. I want you~”

Aspect smiled, before he began the real furious rutting, now pistoning into and out of Midnight at great speed, the wet slaps of their mating filling the air. Midnight moaning louder now, that hard cock rutting her sensitive marehood without mercy.

“Remember to save some fun for us,” Bon Bon whispered into his ear. “I wasn’t done with Christopher yet~”

Aspect chuckled as he kept up the speed for a while yet, feeling something start to brew as he kept up his actions. With any luck, he might get a third out of Midnight before he even finished. That said, she was being a bit resilient this time. Her jaw clamping over his shoulder as she screeched in pleasure, her soaking walls trying to grip him to no avail as he slid in and out of her drenched marehood.

“Come on little bat...let’s bring you to a height you’ve never reached,” Aspect whispered to her.

She let out a loud, almost ear-shattering screech as she bit his shoulder, her fangs drawing blood as she held him tightly, her hug strong enough to keep even him pinned there. Without being able to move easily, he could easily feel a reaction start to brew…

It wasn’t long before the stallion began filling her with his potent release. She could feel it, his seed rushing to flood her marehood, filling her womb with what she desired. She released her shoulder, hissing out a pleasured “Yeeeesssss~” into his ear as her sex milked his cock for all it was worth.

Aspect let out a small shudder of his own as he just kept cumming for a good while. Eventually his release slackened off and he sloooooowly pulled out of the mare.

As he pulled out with a lewd ‘pop’, cum poured from her gaping sex. Midnight panted as she lay there, her chest heaving with each breath.

While Bon Bon crawled over to the stallion and used her tongue to start cleaning him off. Aspect let off a huff as he sat back. Clearly, he wasn’t done yet tonight. He could only imagine what was in store for him next.

Given the look in Bon Bon’s eyes… yeah, sleep wasn't going to be a thing as the candy mare’s tail swished…

Then she pounced.

Author's Note

Whelp. More family added in the future.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on birthday gifts.

Chapter 54 - Aerial relations

As Aspect sat in his living room, reflecting upon yesterdays actions. If it took, his family would grow even larger.

A part of him also feared the power of The Cute welded by a baby batpony. Combine the cuteness that all foals had, with big fuzzy ears and little flappy batwings?

Eeeeeyup, that was his heart skipping a beat or three. Eesh, this was gonna be fun.

He blinked as a scroll flashed and landed in his lap. The seal showed it was Celestia… well, Lulu was still here so it couldn’t be anypony else.

Unfurling it, well now, wasn't this interesting.

‘Dear Sir Balanced Aspect.

It has come to my attention that despite your… extensive travels, you've not met all the residents this world has to offer.

Two such species have reached out to me for trade talks and the like, so I thought you'd like to meet them.

So please come to Canterlot at your earliest convenience.

With respect.

Princess Sol Celestia.’

The stallion read it over a few more times before nodding to himself and writing a short message out for the others to find. ‘Gone to Canterlot to meet with Celly, will be back when I can, love you all,’ it read. He put it in his chair and cracked his neck, before walking towards the front door.

Canterlot had the same hustle and bustle as it always did. It made Aspect ever more thankful for the quiet life of Ponyville.

Well… mostly quiet.

Well...at least things weren’t exploding every day. Just once a week.

He hummed a little tune to himself as he walked through the streets with his saddlebags on, taking in the sights as he walked towards the castle. It was rather impressive that the entire city was pasted to the side of a mountain.

Seems Celly liked those old fantasy novels that Megan brought over.

A loud noise got his attention and he looked up to see an airship fly overhead. It was decked out like a flying galleon. The sides had a row of at least a dozen cannons, while two harpoon cannons were perched on the bow.

Something about the ship made him tingle though. But what….

His eyes widened when he realised. It had no propellers. Two large vents sat at the rear of the ship and he realised what he was sensing.

That was Aeromancy powering that vessel.

Okay, this? This had his attention. This was a highly advanced ship compared to the other airships he had seen, and now he wanted to find out how it was working like that. His eyes tracked the ship’s movement through the sky, trying to figure out where it was going…

Well that was interesting, it seemed to be headed for a massive raised platform on the side of the castle. With a low hum, the ship came to a stop as some pegasi Solar Guard started to tie the moorings down and extend a platform. Though it was hard to make out from such a distance.

Hmm, with any luck he’d be able to ask about it when he got there. Aspect drew up to the gates to the castle and nodded at the guards there, hoping they at least knew him. They returned the nod, allowing him entrance.

There was quite the hustle and bustle around the castle. Maid and servants were busy cleaning every nook and cranny, whilst the guards were out in force. As Aspect entered the main hall, a white coated unicorn mare greeted him. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her name.

Pushing up her glasses with her magic, she looked him over and nodded. “Balanced Aspect? That is you correct?”

“The one and only,” Aspect nodded as he looked around. “Care to enlighten me as to what’s going on?”

“My apologies, you change form more often than a Changeling with hay fever,” she murmured. “And the occasion is some important guests have arrived. I’d assumed Celestia told you at least that much.”

“She told me that much, but nothing in regards to specifics,” the stallion pointed out. “Is there anything you can tell me about who it is?”

“Of course,” she sighed. “I swear, she thinks she’s all mysterious and enigmatic… she more comes off as senile,” her long-suffering assistant gave another sigh. “We have some dignitaries from a foreign nation, ones that have —until now— been in a state of isolation. Rarely have they ventured outside their own borders.”

“Oooh, sounds interesting,” Aspect cooed, his tail wagging back and forth. “Can’t wait to meet ‘em myself.”

“Well, I know the Princess invited you for a reason,” Raven said as she looked at her notes. “Even I am not privy to the exact reasoning though.” She stepped up to a set of oaken doors and grabbed them with her magic, opening them.

Stepping inside, she beckoned the stallion to follow. When he did, he found his daughter waiting inside, alongside two species he’d never even met.

One resembled a griffon, only she was entirely avian, with a parrot-shaped beak and stood on her hindlegs, long taloned arms with her wings folded neatly against her back. Her plumage was a royal blue, with hints of red around her eyes, crest and primaries. Her chest was white, and she wore a long, tri-tailed coat, a scabbard holding a straight-bladed cutlass against her left hip and a flintlock pistol on her right.

The other?

He was literally a bipedal cat. He wore what one would consider typical noble garb. A coat of blues and golds, a ruffled collar and a wide-brimmed hat with a tall phoenix feather in it. His fur was black as night, with bright green eyes and a rather impressive greying mustache.

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he entered the room, looking at both of the new species intently for a moment. “Yup, you were right Celly,” he said to his daughter. “I have never met either of them before.”

The alicorn’s smile could not have been anymore smug, before replacing it with her usual look of serenity. “Ah, Queen Hilda? Sir M'aiq? This is Balanced Aspect. My foster father and the last remaining human on Equus.”

“Mhmm, in disguise though,” Aspect winked at them. “It’s not exactly something I tend to like bringing attention to. Plus, humans were never meant to ride the wind in their natural state.”

“Hmmm,” the avian approached him, she was… adorably short up close. Maybe a little over two thirds his height as a human. “So, this is he? I expected… taller.”

“Well I mean, if you wanted a different form, all you had to do was ask,” Aspect mused, before flashing into his human form, putting his hands on his hips and cracking his neck. “Mmm...feels good to stretch it out again,” he murmured.

“So, he truly is a human,” the cat mused, putting a hand to his chin and stroking his mustache. “How very interesting.”

“And handsome too,” the avian murred as she looked up at him. “Tell me, would you like to come back with me~?”

“Sorry, taken already,” Christopher replied with a chuckle. “But the both of you are very interesting to me. I was unaware Equus was home to beings like you, and I’ve wandered a lot.”

“We… like to keep to ourselves,” the cat said with a chuckle. “Oh, you may refer to our species as Cat Folk.”

“And we are Harpies,” Hilda smiled, not put off at all over the rejection. “It is a pleasure to meet one related to our ancestors.”

Chris paused. He blinked a few times, before looking at the both of them with wider eyes. “Wh- What?” he asked. “I...what?”

Celestia let out a small giggle as her horn glowed for a moment. “Come and sit, it would seem we have a most interesting tale for you.” She gestured to the table in the center of the room. A maid entered and placed several trays of tea and sweets down for them all before taking her leave.

“So it would seem,” the human agreed as he sat at one of the places. “This...promises to be an interesting tale.”

“Hmm, may we start Sir M’aiq?” Hilda asked, the gentlemen cat nodding his head. She smiled and turned to him. “Now, I am sure you are aware that other humans used to exist in the realm, many, many centuries ago yes?”

“I...saw the last of them off when they decided to leave Dream Valley, shortly before the Windigoes came,” the human agreed. “I never expected to see them again, and still haven’t.”

“Hmm, well they did leave,” Hilda smiled and paused to sip her tea. “But not all of them. Some fled the Ancient Freeze. They boarded not a Vessel, but fled to distant mountains. It was there our ancestors met, and our race’s history began.”

“Huh…” the human mulled it over. “So...who did they meet?”

“In this particular range, they found nothing at first. Though the networks of caverns offered protection from the outside, the environment was harsh. Food and water were difficult to obtain and caves and cliffs were not made for farming. What started as several hundred, began to dwindle fast.”

Christopher looked down, clenching his hands as he thought of all those lives, lost. It was almost as though he’d abandoned them to die...as bad as if he’d done the deed himself.

“However,” A talon booped his nose and got his attentions. “Around two hundred years later— the exact time is unknown— Another race sought refuge in the mountain. A race I’m sure you are quite familiar with.” She extended a wing and smiled.

Chris raised an eyebrow at that.

“She means Griffons, father dear,” Celestia smiled and Hilda pouted.

“He was supposed to guess,” she said and sighed. “But yes, no matter. The dwindling humans were greeted by a small aerie of Griffons. The two were apparently… less than amicable at first. But time together saw their friendship blossom… and then grew a little moreso~”

“Wait, wait...you’re telling me that both your races came from human-griffon interactions?” the human interrupted.

“Correct,” M’aiq nodded and clapped his hands. “Our historical records are again unclear… seems the subject of procreation was a subject the ancient historians were less than willing to touch upon. Our own research showed that the human genome was viable with griffons, but for some reason, only chose the avian or the feline DNA, never both. So our species were often the result. After many generations, we were soon able to copulate with our own kind and help our species grow. That said…”

“Our numbers are not great,” Hilda concluded. “Even after centuries, there are less than a thousand of our own.”

“You know, if my kids weren’t being so ornery that I literally had to pull out what they considered a holy weapon to get them to sit down and shut up, I would suggest you petition the griffons for a bit of help regarding that,” Chris replied. “As is, you might have to press a few into service…”

“Alas…” Hilda sighed. “We have tried that. However, while sometimes we get a cat or Harpy, breeding with a griffon, it more often than not results in a griffon chick. Plus…”

“The griffons are a race of selfishness and greed,” M’aiq said with a disdained tone. “While some are the exception, most only have eyes for things that glitter. This is not a trait we wish to spread to our own kind. It would bring about our races destruction.”

“It is why we have come here today,” Hilda nodded. “With the assistance of Ponies, a race our ancestors believed were just and true to one’s heart. We can provide better living to our kind. Food, water and other luxuries.”

“Fair enough,” Chris agreed as he considered the problem from another angle. “And once you had those things, maybe I could help as well. I’m not really just a human. I’ve picked up a few skills.”

“So we have heard,” Hilda giggled and bat her eyes at him, ruffling her plumage. “Worry not, our race is simply… young. In time, we will have numbers to rival the others, like ponies, minotaurs and the like. Time is not something we can hurry along after all. But now with Equestria at our backs…”

“We can afford more food, which means we can encourage larger families,” M’aiq nodded.

“Perhaps you would like a bit of help, when the time came to help encourage said families,” the human mused. “I could perhaps...enchant a few baubles to help with that. Something to aid your females.”

M’aiq chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. “Worry not my friend, our females have no trouble in that particular regard~”

“Hmm, such a shame you are taken,” Hilda sighed as Celestia offered a slight glare at her. “What? He is a handsome specimen. My children would be something else~”

“Honestly,” the alicorn sighed.

“Well,” Christopher said as he offered his hand to M’aiq first, the cat taking it and offering a hearty shake. “It was lovely meeting you both. I had no idea such races existed, hidden across the world.”

“I would like to think the world can always surprise you,” Hilda chuckled. “That said, there is a third species, but they could not afford to join us today. Perhaps when you visit us.”

After having shaken M’aiq’s hand, he then turned to Hilda and raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” he mused, stroking his chin. “Dare I ask?”

She smiled and shook her head. “That. Is. A. Secret~”

“Ah, clever, keep me wanting more,” Christopher chuckled, offering her his hand to shake next. The small female took it and smiled brighter.

“Well, I think this is a good time for a break,” Celestia chuckled. “And knowing father as I do, he is positively itching to have a closer look at your ship.”

“What gave it away?” the human asked as he flashed back into his stallion form. “Do let’s go look. If something is going to ride the wind like I do, I like to be informed.”

“Oh, so you know of Aeromancy then?” the small Harpy asked with a raise eyebrow. “And here I thought the art was dead within Equestria.”

“True, but I am in the process of bringing it back,” Aspect replied, flaring his wings. “Until another bearer of the power can be found, I still am Air.”

“And likes to show it off,” Celestia mused. “I am usure Hilda, his head might not even fit on your ship.”

“Oh har de har har,” the stallion laughed, folding his wings back in. “I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Well, let us go then,” the harpy said excitedly and practically bounced towards the door and out into the hall.

“Meanwhile,” M’aiq purred. “I saw a cute maid that I must… introduce myself too. Until later my friends.” And like that, he too slipped out into the palace.

“Oh dear,” Celestia sighed. “I’d better go rein him in. Play nice father!”

“That I can do,” Aspect agreed as he followed after Hilda.

After catching up with her, she led him to where the ship was docked. It was rather impressive up close, with a few more harpies running about, seeing to general maintenance.

And Aspect noted that Hilda’s height was… below average. Most of the others had heights rivalling his own in human form.

“Hmm,” the stallion mused as he looked around. “Interesting...well, how about how this ship works, eh? I’m all curious about it.”

“In good time,” Hilda said as she led him towards a door and opened it. “Come this way, my esteemed guest.”

The stallion let out a little hum as he followed her, not sure where she was leading him.

Inside was much darker, but was lit by flickering candlelight. Small portholes along one wall showed the outside, while doors dotted the other side.

“These are the crews and guests quarters,” Hilda explained. “Mine is this door right here.”

“Mm,” the stallion looked around, still following the avian female.

“And you’re just interested in the ship’s engine huh?” she chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Alright, follow me then.” She continued to walk ahead, and maybe she was teasing him with a subtle sway in her hips.

“I’ll admit, I’m curious, but only about so much,” Aspect replied. “The thing on my mind right now is how this ship works.”

“Oh, is that all?” she said with a small pout. “Boys and their toys. Honestly.” She reached a metal door, turning the wheel, opening it. “Just inside here.”

“Ooooh,” Aspect cooed as they neared the engines. He stepped inside and looked around. He’d expected a typical engine, but what he saw was anything but. A large glass sphere dominated the room, inside was a swirling mist that the second Aspect looked at it, it rumbled and swirled. All the other doodads aside, Aspect recognised that in an instant.

Someone had taken a piece of his Jetstream and turned it into an engine. Contained it and drew power from it.

“Intriguing,” Aspect mused as he neared the sphere. “You broke off a piece of the stream and use it for your power.”

“Not us,” Hilda said. “This engine… or more like this crystal sphere, is over a thousand years old. This engine was designed by a human, we simply dug up his notes when we excavated more tunnels into the mountain.”

“Huh,” the stallion mused as he looked the sphere over. “You know, I would complain about what was done...but honestly, I also built the stream to be self-renewing over time. So long as you don’t take more than it can replenish, I don’t mind.”

“We’ve never had to,” she said. “You just said it yourself. The Stream is self-replenishing. The same goes for this engine. Rest it enough and it fully recharges.”

“Huh, so you’ve got your own mini-system down here,” the stallion thought out loud. “I like.”

“Well, it seems to work,” Hilda nodded. “Honestly, we’re still figuring this thing out.”

“Aye,” an older, male griffon slapped a talon on the stallions withers. “She’s a beaut alright. Purrs like a kitten and runs smoother than afterhours drinks. Too bad the hens aren’t this perfect aye!”

“I swear I will shoot you,” Hilda huffed and folded her arms.

“Well if it works, it works, I can see no fault in the system from here,” Aspect nodded as he finished examining the sphere. “I can think of a few ponies that might want to examine it for research purposes, but that can come later.”

“Perhaps, but we like our secrets,” the griffon said. “We’ll see. Mebbe once we figure her all out.”

“Indeed,” Hilda nodded.

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded as he made very sure to not touch the sphere. “So, where to next good lady?”

“Wherever you like,” she said. “What else would you like to see? The kitchen? Maybe the cannons? A guided tour of my personal quarters~”

“I leave it up to you, you are my guide,” he said, bowing and spreading his wings as he did.

“Aye, tha’s a mistake,” the griffon chuckled. “She’d haul you to her bed and that’d be that.”

“Oh shut up,” Hilda blushed. Even if it was true…

Aspect merely folded his wings up and waited for the Harpy to lead him to where she would, curiously not saying anything about the matter.

That soon mattered not, whatever the harpy had planned, it paled to the immense magical power that just ripped through his form. Someone, somewhere close had just used a powerful spell.

“Lady Hilda!” a small harpy flew down the hall. “We got trouble!”

The female turned and clicked her beak. “What kind?”

“The Equestrian’s just put up a… well, some kinda bubble round the whole flapping city!”

“That’s going to make going home more difficult,” Aspect muttered. “Guess I should go investigate it. I can’t imagine this is standard operating procedure when you have guests.”

“I’d certainly hope not,” Hilda clucked and sighed. “Just when things were about to get good too…”

Outside, Aspect saw that the news had been on the nose. There was a massive pink barrier around the entire city. And a quick scan showed it wasn’t belonging to one of the three alicorn mares. Somepony had a rather powerful unicorn around, that’s for sure.

“Okay, so who’s the wise guy that raised a barrier around a city I was in?” the stallion mused as he flapped a little closer...before prodding it with a hoof. The magic surface rippled…

Then flung him back a good fifteen feet. Okay, so it had some kind of kinetic-repulsion ability. The spellwork was solid too, all in all, not a bad effort. If Aspect himself had to tear it down, he’d really have to cut loose on it.

“Father!” a familiar voice called out as Celestia landed nearby. “Are you okay?”

“Just fine,” the stallion said, picking himself up out of his impromptu landing thanks to that barrier. “Just wondering who the wise guy is who put that barrier up.”

“Captain Shining Armor,” Celestia informed him as she looked him over for injuries. “And it was done so under my orders.”

“Ah…” the stallion nodded a few times. “You ah...might want to explain that to your esteemed guests before you seemingly trap them in a giant pink bubble,” he explained.

“I was getting to that,” Celestia huffed. “Forgive me if I chose the immediate safety of my city over the convenience of a few.” She looked up and frowned. “A threat has been made against Canterlot.”

“Whelp,” the stallion cracked his neck. “They chose a bad time to make that threat then.”

“Which worries me all the more,” Celestia said. “Nightmare Moon aside, Equestria hasn’t seen a sizeable threat in several centuries… but this, somepony bold enough to announce their attack? They’re either ridiculously confident, or immensely stupid.”

“Ah, just like the bad old days,” Aspect mused. “It’s like I never left. Well, I’ll hang around then, help out if I’m needed.” He paused for a moment to consider, before adding another question. “Oh, have they said when or what they’ll be attacking? It’d make defending the city a little easier.”

“I’d imagine soon,” Celestia said. “Shining and Cadance’s wedding is in a few days, so they’ve picked the perfect bucking time to do it. The city will be full of ponies from all over Equestria. Not to mention our newest guests. This is bound to make a fantastic impression on them.”

Oh dear, when Celestia got snarky, you knew she was stressed.

“Hmm, the wedding where the Aspect of Love herself is being wed?” the stallion mused. “That would be a perfect time to make a villainous entrance. And I can’t imagine I missed one from the bad old days...save that bucking statue you keep around in your garden and won’t let me take a sledgehammer to. So it’ll be someone new.”

“Discord is harmless… for now,” Celestia said with a sigh. “Plus, I now keep that statue in a sealed chamber. As for who this mystery villain is… I have no idea.” She sighed and looked up at the sky. “I may have to call for Twilight and the others… just in case.”

“If only because Twilight would kill you if you made her miss her own brother’s wedding,” Aspect teased.

“I very much doubt that,” Celestia said with a derisive snort. “And I trust you’ll be sticking around as well?”

“I just said I would, and I wouldn’t doubt the bookworm,” Aspect warned her. “She freaked out, in a good way, when she learned her brother and the best foalsitter she’d ever had were getting married.” He thought about it for a bit and nodded. “You know, not a bad plan. An alicorn to keep her growing magic under control...as well as get the good captain wed into the royal family. I bet she wasn’t there just to watch Twilight, after all.”

“I… have no idea to what you are baselessly insinuating,” Celestia replied with a small huff. “Cadance merely wished for something to do and was good with foals. And as my student, I couldn’t very well trust a regular pony to the task. Having Cadance meant it kept away glory hounds and the media.”

“Mmhmm, and when you saw her cutie mark matched the Element of Magic, I’m sure you didn’t immediately put into motion any number of plans to closely watch her,” the stallion countered. “I bet the fact that she had a cute brother helped motivate Cadance as well. After all, if she could wield the element of magic, imagine what her brother could do with the proper motivation. I’d say the things Cadance can do count as proper motivation, don’t you?”

Celestia blushed and pushed him away with a wing. “You… you have become a perverted old stallion you know that? As for Twilight…” She sighed as they started heading for the castle. “I’ll admit, when I saw that star on her flank, I was surprised. Coincidences or not, I took a very risky gamble on her. I learned of young Rainbow Dash and her Sonic Rainboom a few days later, and kept a close eye on her too. When she moved to Ponyville, through a ‘recommendation’ from the local weather team, I noted several other ponies of interest. I knew of Luna’s return, I had done since the day I sent her away. Sending Twilight to Ponyville, making sure she found the clues to the Elements. I made a play with no idea of the outcome. I think that I was extremely lucky things played out the way they did.”

“Mm,” Aspect mused as they walked through the halls. “You know, random chance is less random than it should be. We have the Tree to thank for that. Things will work out for the best. He can’t interfere in any thinking being’s free will, but he can still manipulate the inanimate world to bring about the best result possible. Once you chose to make the play...the ball was in his court.”

“I don’t know if I should be thankful… or a little unsettled at the power he seemingly wields,” Celestia said with a small shudder. “Nevertheless, your arrival back here was even more of a surprise… Honestly…” She looked down, her royal facade dropping. “I thought… that you’d forgotten about us.”

“It...what I nearly did that night, a thousand years ago, it broke me,” the stallion whispered. “I nearly raised my sword against my own daughter. I couldn’t...I couldn’t just stand by and pretend it hadn’t happened. I was dangerous, I knew it then. I didn’t trust myself anymore.” He sighed and looked up. “So...I decided to leave until I knew myself better. I fell a little on the way...but eventually I found myself again. And fighting Discord reignited my spark, my desire to protect the world again. I don’t know what would happen if I had to fight my own children…” Here he looked over at Celestia again. “But I’m not about to let this world you’ve built, just be threatened either.”

“I banished her for a thousand years… how do you think I felt?” Celestia said under her breath. “In the end, I had to make the decision you couldn’t… and I have lived with that ever since. Alone.” She sighed and flared her wings, a powerful gale sweeping outwards. “You know what? I’m getting rather tired of dwelling on the past. On what happened and what could have been.” She turned and looked at him, her eyes showing something of a renewed determination. “Let’s make a vow. That family sticks together. No matter what. Never again, will we abandon one another.”

“I can agree with that,” Aspect chuckled. “Hmm...You know, I’ve just remembered. I gave the starmetal I collected to a smith to make something for Lulu for her birthday. I wonder how he’s getting on with it.”

“Old unicorn, long silver beard and mane?” Celestia questioned.

“That’s the one,” Aspect nodded as he looked around the halls.

“Curious, he came to me around three weeks ago, asking of all things, Lulu’s measurements,” she said. “When I inquired as to why, he simply said that you would have an inkling. Given he knew your name, I didn’t question it further and gave him the information.”

“Huh,” the stallion mused. “Well if there’s no immediate danger, I’m going to go tell the Harpies about it and tell them not to worry. I’ll send a letter about it to my herd later, explaining why I’m stuck here...though if I know Middy, she’s likely here already.”

A blur tackled him, and he felt a weight upon his back as three mares pinned him down under hugs.

“Seems you were right,” Celestia chuckled as Bon Bon, Midnight and Rainbow all cuddlepiled him.

“Oh, hey girls,” Aspect said, his voice a little muffled. “Guess you don’t need me to tell you about the shield keeping me stuck here, huh?”

Once they’d gotten off of him, Bonnie was the first to speak up. “Well, once we saw the shield, we figured it’d either be likely your fault… or that you’d at least be involved. So Midnight ‘appropriated’ a chariot from somewhere in Ponyville and we made a beeline for here.”

“They know you too well,” Celestia said, not hiding her giggles.

“Well it’s not my fault,” the stallion began. “And the only reason I’m involved is because Cadance’s wedding is in a few days, and a threat has been made against Canterlot. So some new bad guy is gonna make a showing then, most likely, and if things go south, well...I can still fight. Doesn’t hurt that the shield is literally keeping me here, I can’t get through it.”

“You know I could let you out at anytime yes?” Celestia said between giggles. “It’s your fault you tried to bodycheck it first.”

“Actually, I just poked it with a hoof,” Aspect countered. “It throwing me back was a result of that.”

“Probably because of all the power you have,” Celestia said. “The stronger you are, the more the shield actively repels you.”

“Hmm, an interesting design,” Bon Bon mused. “Lucky for us, the guards at the city entrance let us through.”

“Ah, so I could leave,” the stallion mused aloud, before shaking his head. “Then it’d be a hassle to get back in in time. Knowing coincidence like I do, I’d probably be delayed and show up just a moment too late before the villain completes whatever dire plan he or she has for Cadance’s wedding. Better to not risk it.”

“Hmm, Lyra’s rather excited for the wedding,” Bon Bon giggled. “Seems Cadance invited her as a bridesmaid. The two have apparently known each other since Lyra was a foal.”

“Oh, that’ll be good for her,” Aspect smiled as he got more fully onto his hooves. “...Wait. You didn’t leave the kids...unsupervised, did you?” he asked in growing horror.

“Oh gods no,” Bon Bon waved a hoof. “Luna and Twilight Twinkle are there, as well as Starswirl. The kids are in perfectly good hooves.”

Aspect deadpanned at her, before looking at Celestia. “Three ponies out of touch with the modern era, one of whom isn’t even flesh and blood,” he outlined.

“Oh dear,” the alicorn giggled. “Well, at least they’ll keep Luna distracted. Can you imagine if she found out about this threat?”

“And Nightmare, and Realm,” Aspect added. “Heck, I’m glad they’re keeping Artemis distracted. Nascent though he might be, he’s still Earth. If he were here and found out about the threat, I’d worry for the stability of Canterlot if he got caught up in whatever fight’s coming up.”

“Indeed,” Celestia felt a tad relieved now. She hadn’t even thought of that.

“So… what are you up to?” Rainbow asked as she continued to recline on Aspect’s back. “I mean, I did come all the way here and all.”

“Oh, you know, meeting some new species, finding out they can tap the Jetstream to power their Airships, normal things,” the stallion brushed it off with a wing.

“Ooh, that sounds cool,” Rainbow said as she rolled over, her belly on his back as she hugged his neck gently.

“It does indeed sound interesting,” Midnight agreed.

“Hmm, why don’t you spend some time with them,” Celestia said with a small nod. “I’m going to look into a few things on my own.”

“Fair enough, I think I know the way to the ship from here,” Aspect said as he began walking through the halls. “It was just this way to the dock.”

Once he eventually found it… and his awful sense of direction had been circumvented by Midnight knowing her way around. He found the ship and it’s crew irritated, but no longer panicking about the current circumstances.

“Ahoy there,” Hilda glided over to them. “Glad I found you. Seems we’ll be shipping off tomorrow. Don’t wanna get caught up in… whatever this nonsense is.”

“Fair enough, and you couldn’t have known,” Aspect replied as he began to explain. “Princess Cadance’s wedding is coming up soon, but there’s been a threat made against Canterlot. So Celestia decided to take every security precaution possible to prevent it from happening. She can let you out of the shield easily when you do decide to leave, but I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to go soon to avoid what’s likely going to happen in a few days. However, I do hope you don’t mind if a few mares I happened to meet in the castle desire a quick tour of your ship and to meet you. You are, after all, the new thing in Equestria.”

“Oh?” Hilda mused and clicked her beak. “So, trying to impress some mares now?’ she said as she looked him over. “And even after I said I was free~”

“Excuse me?” Bon Bon said and levelled a glare as Aspect. “You didn’t…”

“Nothing happened,” Aspect said out loud to them both. “So, about that tour you were going to give me,” he said towards Hilda.

“Hmm, you are a stubborn one,” she mused.

“Aspect. Explanation. Now please,” Bonnie said to him.

“She showed me the engines of her ship so that I could see just how it worked without a mechanical engine, and then I said she could show me around to wherever she wanted, as it was her ship after all,” the stallion replied. “Then the shield came up and, well, you’re caught up after that.”

“I think she needs a bit more information,” Hilda chuckled. “I’m a Harpy, something of a small species that lives in a distant mountain range. And this stud of a human is being rather resistant to help me… assist the species along~”

“I swear… every bloody female you meet,” Bon Bon facehooved.

“Well, she’s cute at least,” Midnight said with a small smile.

“We’re his fiance's by the way,” Rainbow said at the harpy’s eyes widened in shock and perhaps a little fear.

“And they’re currently in a bit of a competition to get me to sleep with more females than them,” Aspect tacked on. “Though I seem to be winning, if I was wooing you without even knowing I was.”

“You know that was only a joke right?” Bon Bon deadpanned. “We’re not in ‘competition’ over it. We just…” She trailed off, but Midnight picked up the slack.

“You have had nopony in over two thousand years. We did not wish to be selfish with our love,” she said. “While… we might expect a certain level of faithfulness upon our marriage. For now, we simply wish for you to be happy.”

“So basically, once a ring is on me, I’m limited to you three,” Aspect mused. “Good to know.”

“Honestly, we’d have expected it upon your proposal,” Bon Bon said. “But, your situation is… unique. We’re not likely to sleep with any other stallions however. But…”

“You do love us… right?” Rainbow asked.

“Of course I love you three,” Aspect said, turning to Bon Bon and kissing her first. He held it for a few seconds, before breaking it and turning to Midnight, kissing her next.

“Seems you have quite the family here,” Hilda said with a smile. “I apologise for trying to come between that.”

Aspect broke the kiss between him and Midnight and looked over at Hilda, before asking a question of his mares. “Show of hooves, who would mind me helping her keep her species’ numbers up?”

“Hmm, well… is it going to be a problem?” Bon Bon asked. “Are you expecting him to marry you or something along those lines. Sex is one thing, but a child? That’s a large responsibility.”

“I…” Hilda paused on that. “Having a husband would be nice. But your family is quite large as is.”

“Plus you have responsibilities to your people, to help them find a nice place to settle and all that,” Aspect pointed out. “I’m fairly well rooted in Equestria at the time, specifically Ponyville. While I could ride the wind to visit you, I wouldn’t be able to do it often enough to make a difference.”

“Then how about we leave this for now?” Midnight said. “It would seem it has become rather complicated.”

“We could still totally just do it,” Rainbow shrugged.

“True, but then that would put the burden on miss Hilda here to make the future decisions, also known as being unfair,” Aspect pointed out. “She should know beforehoof what she’s getting into before she decides she wants a kid from me. I mean, if things had turned out differently, that’s likely what I might have done anyways, but at least this is being a little more honest with her.”

“Well, being an unwed mother might cause… complications,” Hilda said, now that she thought about it. “Hmm, well. Let us leave this topic for another time. I promised a tour of the ship yes?”

“That you did,” Aspect agreed, looking over his shoulder at his Dash-shaped passenger. “You gonna look around yourself? You’d probably actually get to look at the engine that way, I’ve already seen it.”

“Cool,” Rainbow said and flew off to check it out, meanwhile, Hilda took the rest of them below deck to have a poke around the ships sizable storage and show them some homemade Harpy crafts.

Inside a sealed room, free from prying eyes and blocking magical senses, two mares discussed the upcoming events.

“So, is everything ready?”

“Nearly. My forces stand at the ready. But…”

“But?”

“He’s a perceptive old fart. I’m worried he’ll spring my surprise early. And I don’t know if this plan will succeed fully.”

“Well, what’s the problem?”

“Most of it? He’s powerful, and we’re risking the whole city with this gambit.”

“It needs to be done. She told me about his nightmares. He’s too close, we need to deal with it sooner rather than later.”

“I suppose you raise a point. But I’m sacrificing a lot for this I hope you realise.”

“Don’t worry. There are plans in place for everything.”

“Very well… Let’s begin.”

The next morning, Rainbow had flown back to Ponyville to meet up with her friends, while Midnight had been drafted back into Celestia’s guard, given the current circumstances. That left Aspect alone with Bon Bon. The mare was starting to get some pudge around her middle, the young one inside steadily growing larger.

“You know,” Bon Bon said as Aspect rested his head on her belly as the pair lay in bed. “Maybe we should start coming up with names.”

“So soon?” the stallion asked, just laying there and basking in the feeling of being close to her. “Besides, what could you even call a Kirin anyways that would do them justice?”

“Well I don’t know,” Bon Bon giggled as she stroked his mane. “You’re the knowledgeable one here. I was hoping you’d have an idea.”

“Well, let’s not name them in the old tongue of the dragons, for a start,” Aspect thought out loud. “Young drakes these days have no respect for the old tongue. Plus, it’d be hard for ponies to understand as well. We need something that’d speak to both cultures…”

“Huh… guess this’ll be harder than I thought,” Bon Bon mused as someone knocked at the door. “Hmm, be a dear and get that.”

“As it always is,” Aspect replied, getting up and opening the door.

It revealed Cadance of all ponies. The mare had a… harder look in her eyes than usual. Was she not sleeping well?

“So, here you are,” she said as she looked him up and down. “How are you?”

“Eh, mostly bored, but that’s par for the course,” the stallion replied with a shrug. “Everything coming along well for your wedding then?”

“Well enough I suppose,” She lowered he voice and muttered. “Not that current circumstances helping.”

“Oh?” Aspect quirked a brow. “What’s come up?”

“Oh gee, I don't know, maybe the whole ‘threat to the city thing?’” she snarked and rolled her eyes. “It's kind of a mood killer.”

“Ah, fair enough,” the stallion nodded. “Still, at least you know your caterers and the like aren’t going anywhere.”

“Small miracles,” she sighed and flicked her wings. “Well, might I ask a small favour of you?”

“Ask away,” Aspect replied.

“Would you mind leaving your sword at home for the wedding? It might make other ponies… unsettled, if my guests started carrying weapons.”

“It’s long left there,” Aspect shook his head. “I didn’t bring it on my visit to meet the Harpies.”

“Good,” Cadance smiled. “I shall leave you be for now. Just wanted to see you again. It's been long while after all.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion smiled at her. “Take care, don’t want you to overstress for your big day.”

“Not to worry,” Cadance smiled, her eyes twinkling. “So far, everything is going according to plan.” With a light chuckle, she strode down the hall, those slender hips swaying with each step.

Several guards gazes were seen tracking it.

“Well, that’s a thing,” Aspect mused as he turned back to Bon Bon and walked over to the bed. “Hup,” he said, getting back on and laying atop her stomach.

“Hm, so I’m your personal pony pillow now?” Bon Bon mused, rubbing his belly with a hoof.

“I’m sure you’ll return the favor to me soon enough,” Aspect replied as he lay there. “So, Dash is with her friends. Midnight is too busy working. That just leaves us and...hey. You closed shop to visit, didn’t you? Isn’t that gonna hurt in the long run?”

“No, it’ll be fine,” Bon Bon said. “Honestly, business has been pretty good lately, so I can afford to take a holiday. Worse comes to worst, I’ll call up mom and she can help out.” She sighed and leaned back. “I can’t believe I’m actually in this city again…”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Aspect replied. “I have...plans in motion.”

Bon Bon’s grip around him tightened. “My stallion wouldn’t be thinking of doing something foolish now, would he?”

“Oh, not foolish at all,” Aspect replied. “Merely...enacting something I think you’d approve of.”

“So… amazingly foolish then,” she sighed and shook her head. “As long as nopony gets hurt.” Her grip lessened and she started rubbing him again, her hoof drifting… lower.

“Oh, nobody will be physically hurt, that I promise you,” Aspect replied. “But financially, a stallion in this town is about to learn the price of revenge.”

Bon Bon just groaned and shook her head again. “Stallions, can’t take them anywhere.” She leaned down and trapped his muzzle in a sweet kiss. Once it broke, she pulled back, but only a little. “You know… we have this whooole room to ourselves right now~”

“True, we do,” Aspect replied as he laid there on top of her.

“Sooo,” she trailed a small circle around his Cutie Mark with a hoof. “What do you think we should do about it~”

“What does my dear sweet mare think we should do about it?” Aspect asked.

“Hmm, I’m thinking you… me… and us making the maids reconsider their jobs by the time we’re done~”

“Oh dear,” Aspect chuckled as he rolled so he and Bon Bon were looking in each other’s eyes. “And what form does my dear mare want me to take? I recently picked up a few new ones~”

“Mm, like what?” she asked, stroking his mane and kissing his neck.

“Well, I shook hands with the Catpeople and the Harpies...giving me enough time to get a magic sample from both of them,” Aspect illuminated.

“Oh dear,” Bon Bon giggled as she touched under his wings. “Hmm, let’s see a Harpy form then.”

Aspect smiled before drawing back, his form shifting into that of a Harpy male. It wasn’t...too different from his human form, when Bon Bon considered it. It just had wings and feathers attached, really. Oh, and a beak. Couldn’t forget that.

Or the big, scaled bird legs.

Even so, he was still quite handsome.

“Oh my, first a dragon, now a harpy has captured me,” Bonnie sighed woefully. “Whatever shall I do?”

“Mm, what a delightful little mare that has wandered into my nest,” Aspect cooed to her as he kneeled closer, running a hand through her mane.

“Ohmy,” Bon Bon blushed. “And good sir, do you have some kind of wicked intentions towards this helpless mare?”

“Oh, only the most wicked intentions will suffice for you,” the harpy agreed.

“Ohmy,” Bon Bon blushed hard. “What kind of intentions good sir~?”

“I do believe showing you all the ways fingers are superior to hooves will be a good opener,” Aspect mused, running said fingers across her back now. “I’ll come up with something more once I’ve reduced you to a fine puddle of mare.”

“Mmmm, that sounds positively wicked… and very, very pleasureable,” she murred as she ground her hips against him.

Then the door slammed open as Hilda strode in.

“Look alive! I’ve come to see… you…” she trailed off as she saw the sight unfolding on the bed, a bright red blush gracing her cheeks.

“...Either leave or close the door and join in, I’m not stopping,” Aspect said, running his fingers through Bon Bon’s tail now.

Hilda let out a squeak and he heard the door close… and the Harpy still there, her reaction more instinctive than anything as she watched the amorous couple.

“Well?” Aspect said, raising an eyebrow at her. “You staying over there or what? Plenty of room on this bed.”

“W-What?” Hilda squeaked as Bon Bon looked up at him.

“What might you be playing at you rascal?” she said, stroking his chest.

“Oh, nothing much,” Aspect mused as he began running his fingers along Bon Bon’s flank. “You know that as my nature as a shapeshifter, I can choose to be potent or not. A round of fun with the young lady won’t hurt anyone~”

“Hmm, well I can’t say no, not when she’s so cute,” Bon Bon murred as she looked at the female Harpy. “Come on over, he doesn’t bite… too hard~”

“Meep,” Hilda blushed, but her traitorous body inched closer and closer until she was up on the bed, an arm’s length away from them. Aspect smirked, before hooking an arm around the lady and drawing her close. What? He was curious about something.

Namely, how to kiss with beaks.

“Mmmppf?” the bird gasped, it was actually surprisingly easy to do so. Bon Bon tilted her head, watching the display and the female harpy turn the most wonderfuls shades of crimson.

Aspect let the kiss break, though he kept Hilda close to his chest. “Huh,” the male harpy of the two mused. “For all your bluster about trying to get me into your bed, you’re blushing an awful lot when I’ve roped you into mine.”

“S-Shut up,” she said with a haughty tone. “I-I’m just surprised is all. All I did was come to s-say good bye.”

“Hmm…” Aspect mused before pulling her close and whispering. “Want a souvenir?”

“W-What kind of souvenir?” Hilda dared ask.

“Oh, you know...the kind you would normally get if you played around with one of your own kind~”

“Meeeep,” Hilda squeaked again, her eyes widening. Aspect sighed as he pulled back. Well, if she wasn’t answering yes or no, he’d not give her one.

“I…” she looked away. “I guess so…”

“I don’t take maybes, you have to be sure, as it is a pretty big decision,” the male Harpy answered.

“And you expect me to answer so quickly?” Hilda huffed as she played with the collar of her jacket. “I do not know…”

“Tell you what,” Aspect said, holding up a hand. There was a muted flash. “There, I’m uncorked. You can watch me play with my mare, and then decide for yourself.” With that...well.

His hands had graduated from roaming to outright playing with Bon’s lips. The mare moaned out, her sex already soaking and it was hot, so very warm as it tried to suck his fingers in further, her winking pussy suckling his digits. Aspect smirked as he began plying his fingers into and out of her hot tunnel, letting her feel all the squirming digits against her walls. She let out a deeper moan, gripping his arm as she panted harder.

Hilda had removed her clothing, her own fingers now teasing her pussy as she watched the lewd display. Aspect smirked, before using his hands to flip Bon Bon onto her back.

He then pulled his fingers out and put his mouth to work instead, bending down to give his candy mare some oral work with his new beak mouth. She tasted as sweet as always, the mare gushing at his attentions as she cried out, her climax soaking his beak with her juices, her sex winking the twitching, desperate to have something more inside of her.

“Hmm,” Aspect mused as he pulled back. “I don’t know. Is one good enough, or should I keep going until you can’t talk properly?”

“I.. haaah… nnnrgh,” Bon Bon groaned, still riding her lust-fueled high.

“D-Damn,” Hilda gasped, her own fingers roughly plunging in and out of her dripping sex.

“Oooooor,” the harpy said, turning to look at Hilda, “Should I play with the new girl instead~”

“Mmmnnn, f-fuck ‘er good baby,” Bonnie moaned.

“W-What?” Hilda squeaked.

“I can do that,” Aspect said, before gently grabbing onto Hilda and easing her down on her back. Once he had her there, he eased her fingers out of her sopping pussy...before replacing them with his tongue. She let out a loud squawk, her hands going to his head as he dipped into her. Her taste was quite sharp and tart, but not unpleasant. She gasped each time his tongue touched something sensitive, blushing and looking away from the lewd act.

The male harpy hummed a little, sending his tongue as deep into her as he could, swirling it around and looking for sensitive spots he could tease her with. Her resistance didn’t last long under his efforts. Either she was really pent up or… well either way, she let out a loud shriek as she came, her flavour coating his beak, mixing with Bon Bon’s taste as she trembled in his grasp.

“Mmm...two prime and ready females for me to breed,” Aspect mused as he pulled back from Hilda, his now jutting erection quite visible now that he was upright once more. “Who to do first, though…”

Bon Bon moaned, her tail flicking left and right while Hilda was still laying under him, panting after her climax, her sex twitching invitingly.

“Eeny meeny miney...you,” the harpy said, falling back onto Hilda. “Hope you’re ready, cutie~”

Hilda just moaned as she felt the male’s weight over her. Due to her small size, he utterly dwarfed her in height. She let out a small chirp, one hand kneading her modest-sized breasts as she nodded.

“Oh good,” Aspect said, reaching down with one hand to aim himself. Hilda felt something hard prod at her lips. “Ready or not, here I come~”

With that, he thrust forward, filling her in a single motion. She let out a loud moan as the cock filled her instantly, her belly bulging slightly from the size difference as her walls were spread wide to accommodate him.

“Mmm...I think she’s even tighter than Dashie,” Aspect cooed as he held himself there for a moment to let her get used to the invasion.

“O-Oh?” Bon Bon said as she sat up. “Well she’s smaller than her, compared to you anyway.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied, using a hand to stroke Hilda’s face. “I’m gonna start moving now,” he warned her, before making good on his promise and slowly pulling back. With each inch, the female gasped as that massive member left her, her walls squeezing down hard on him. Soon it was just the tip left in her…

And then the male was slowly pushing back into her, forcing inch after inch of his length into her once again. She groaned as that full feeling returned, her body wiggling as inch after inch filled her.

“Oh mmmmy,” Bon bon purred as she moved behind Aspect, and he felt a warm tongue lap against his balls. The harpy murred as he began setting a slow and steady pace for screwing the smaller female.

“Ahh, Aaaahhhh!” Hilda moaned as the male rut her, her hands gripping his shoulders as her legs were splayed wide, her hips meeting hers as he utterly filled her, his head pressing and grinding up against her deepest barrier. Aspect let out another murr as he kept up his actions, letting her really feel how deep he was getting with every thrust.

“Mm...she’s really cute too,” he said back to Bon Bon.

“Mm?” Bon Bon murred as she slipped between them, giving his cock a lick each time he pulled out.

“Mmm, she’d be cute to bring home with us,” the harpy murred as he kept up his slow and steady pace, knowing it’d be driving Hilda wild as to why he wasn’t going faster.

“Mm, izzat so?” Bon Bon said as he pulled out, the mare taking a moment to open her mouth and deep throat him, letting him fuck her muzzle for a moment as Hilda caught her breath, her tongue lapping at his cock each time it pushed past her lips.

“Cute little songbird to bring back with us, admit it, you’d like to see everything she can do too,” Aspect replied, running a hand through Bon Bon’s mane.

“Mhhppfl,” she gave a muffled answer as she deepthroated his whole cock, her throat constricting around it. Aspect gave a low moan at that, before slowly pulling back and letting his mare actually talk for once.

“MMm, maybe,” she murred as she licked the tip of his cock, before using her hooves to line him up with Hilda. “We’ll see about it later. Have to include Dashie and Middy in that decision remember~”

“Fair enough, but I can still show her a good time that’ll leave her coming back for more,” Aspect cooed, thrusting into the smaller bird and grinding his cock around.

“I suppose you can,” she mused as she rubbed the bird abdomen, feeling Aspect’s cock inside her. “Go ahead and rut the cute little birdie then~”

“Oh, I was planning on it,” Aspect replied, taking his thrusting speed up the smallest amount, just to tease Hilda.

“Nnnrrhhaaa!” Hilda moaned out, holding Bon Bon close as she was still laying between the two, her head leaning against her flank as a fresh coat of juices coated Aspect’s cock.

“Oh dear, I think she came again already,” the male harpy mused as he rubbed Hilda’s abdomen next. “And we’re only just getting started~”

“Mmm, are you now?” Bon Bon teased him, leaning up to lick his cheek. “Go ahead and really give it to her~”

“W-What?” Hilda gasped.

“As you command,” Aspect replied…

And there was the speed and power Bonnie was familiar with. He was really laying into the little bird now. Every time he thrust into her, there was a wet smack as their hips met, and the sensation of his tip prodding into her deepest barrier.

“Mmm, there’s a good stallion,” Bon Bon purred as she got off of Hilda and helped adjust Aspect’s position, the male now on his butt with the female harpy riding him, his hands around her slender waist as he lifted her up and down, thrusting to get as much into her as he could.

“Oh, she’s even cuter like this,” Aspect cooed as he kept up the fast and furious pace of his own accord. Hilda bit her hand, her breasts bouncing as the wet slaps of their sexes filled the room, Bon Bon moaning as she rubbed her marehood with a hoof, watching the sexy show.

Aspect leaned forward and whispered the next question to Hilda. “So...do you want one or not?”

“Y-Yeeessss~” she moaned out, leaning against him as her walls contracted again, having lost count of how many times she’d cum.

“Then take it all,” Aspect whispered to her, still furiously screwing her as his head kept grinding against that barrier. It was almost like he was trying to get through it. She let out a low moan as she held him tighter, bracing herself for what was about to come… literally.

Aspect let out a little growl as he felt that tip grind against her barrier…

Before there was a little popping sensation, and he felt it poke through. That was enough for him to unleash his entire load directly where it could do the most damage. Hilda’s eyes flew open as she felt that, her belly swelling from the torrent of seed he started to pour into her.

“O-Oh storms...sssooo full…” she groaned out, her hands going to her belly.

“Lucky,” Bonnie pouted as she watched.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll see to you too Bon,” Aspect cooed as he held the harpy in place for a bit.

“Mmm, seems like you’re enjoying some stuffed bird there,” the mare mused. “You know… I’m feeling a little thirsty~” She opened her mouth and presented her muzzle to him.

“Mmm...you know, normally I would, but I feel like she should really enjoy what it feels like to be screwed by me,” Aspect said, holding still for a moment longer before he felt his orgasm taper off. “There we go,” he cooed, pulling back just enough to where he felt her cervix snap closed again, so that none of it would escape; even then, he’d pumped more than her tiny womb could hold, a steady trickle of cum leaking from her winking sex and pooling on the sheets as the harpy fell back, panting hard.

“Mmm, she is just so stuffed, isn’t she?” the male harpy cooed as he rubbed Hilda’s abdomen.

“Just a bit,” Bon Bon replied with a small shake of her head. “Have fun did we?”

“That I did, but I do believe I promised you a turn as well,” Aspect replied, going over to Bon Bon and running a hand through her mane again.

“Oh, did you now?” Bon Bon teased with a small smile. “Haven’t had enough yet?”

“It’s not about whether or not I’ve had enough, but if you have,” Aspect cooed as he stroked along his mare’s back.

“Well, that was certainly a good show you put on,” Bon Bon smiled as she arched her back a little, not unlike a cat. “Certainly enough to get any straight mare in the mood no?”

“Mmm, I should hope so,” the male harpy cooed as he began playing with her tail. “Ready for your turn, then?”

“Well, I certainly won’t say n—”

With a golden glow, the door swung open as Celestia walked in. “Father? Have you seen Lady Hil...da…” the alicorn trailed off as she looked at the bed and facehooved.

“She might need a little help getting back to her ship,” Aspect supplied, still not stopping his attentions being paid to Bon Bon. The mare now feeling very awkward with Celestia there watching.

“Honestly, you’ve become so… promiscuous,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. She saw the state the female harpy was in and groaned. “At least tell me you had your charm on?”

“Mmm...by request of the lady, no,” Aspect replied.

“Of bucking course,” Celestia swore. “I don’t know if I should be embarrassed, ashamed, annoyed or all of the above.”

“I know what you will be if you stick around much longer,” Aspect answered as his hand trailed along Bon Bon’s flank. “A witness~”

There was a golden flash of light and Aspect found himself in the air… before gravity reasserted its dominance and he landed in the very cold fountain in the rear gardens.

“Bloody...for all the…” the harpy swore as he flashed into his pegasus guise and dragged himself out of the fountain. He shook himself dry and… pomf!... promptly poofed up into a ball of feathers and fluff.

“...Great, just what I needed,” Aspect muttered, beginning his trek back towards his room.

His appearance didn’t go unnoticed either. While the guards remained stone-faced and professional…

It didn’t stop some passing maids letting out a little giggle as he passed. It took him a good half hour of traversing the halls before he got fed up with the laughing and decided to find his way back the easy way.

He melted into the air and flowed through the halls as gentle as a breeze, until he eventually reformed in his own room...still a ball of puffed-up fur and feathers.

Hilda was gone, and Bon Bon was now up and apparently had washed up. She saw Aspect and stared for a good, long minute…

Before putting a hoof to her mouth, very poorly trying to hide a case of the giggles.

“Go on, laugh,” Aspect sighed. “It’s not going to go down until I get a good, proper brushing thanks to all the static electricity I’m charged with.”

“O-Oh, it’s not… that f-funneeehehehehehe!” Bon Bon fell sideways, giggling madly.

“There it is,” the stallion groaned as he laid down on the bed, reducing his profile but not his fluffyness.

“I heehee, I'm sorry but…” Bon Bon gasped between giggles. “You-You literally are a puffed up noble now hahahaha!”

“Hilarious,” Aspect deadpanned, not that Bon Bon could see it for the fluff.

“Awww, you're even cute when you pout,” Bon Bon snorted as she sat next to him. “You teased Celestia, what did you think would happen?”

“That she’d take Hilda and let us be,” Aspect huffed.

“Uhuh,” Bon Bon chuckled as she pulled out a brush and started to wrangle his coat. “She's your daughter. I honestly expected it. That or joining in~”

“No,” Aspect replied, drawing a hoof out of the fluff to point at her. “I draw the line at her.”

“Well obviously,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “That is weird and a little gross to do so with family.” She brushed his mane down and hummed. “Excited for the wedding? I'm surprised you haven't given her husband a proper dressing down as the ‘cranky grandpa’ yet.”

“Eh, I did that when we met back at my place,” Aspect shrugged. “He’s an alright colt.”

“Oh, the great Christopher Gale approves?” Bon Bon lifted a wing and brushed under it. “...Why don't you just transform?”

“Because the problem will stick around,” Aspect sighed. “Until I’m brushed down, my fur is going to misbehave. I have way too much Air, including electricity, stored inside me for it to just obey.”

“Oh, you poor filly,” Bon Bon smirked. “Perhaps you should visit the Canterlot spa… as long as you don't sleep with them too.”

“You do know I don’t try to have these situations happen to me, right?” Aspect turned to look at her. “They just...do.”

“You know… I have half a mind to blame Yggdrasil for this,” Bon Bon said as she glanced at a clock. “Mkay, let's get you brushed. Dashie and her friends will be here soon. We'll go meet them at the castle entrance.”

“Mm, sounds good to me,” Aspect said as he laid back down and closed his eyes.

What? Being brushed was relaxing.

Author's Note

Let's just dangle this thread here for much later on...

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Chapter 55 - This day was just perfect...kinda

The sharp whistle of the train sounded as it pulled into Canterlot Station. Balanced Aspect and Bon Bon were waiting for Rainbow and her other friends as the train came to a stop. The door opened and Pinkie cartwheeled out, ending with a hug on Aspect as she scrunched up her nose and sneezed confetti.

“You’re never going to make sense, are you?” Aspect asked the mare that was currently hugging him.

“What fun is there in making sense?” Pinkie replied and booped his nose. “Beeesides, admit it. You’d be more weirded out by me being normal.”

“At this point?” Aspect asked. “Yes. I would think something was wrong.”

“See?” And with a light giggle, she bounced away. Everypony else was present, and Twilight was looking more than a little excited over the prospect of what was happening tomorrow. The only one that seemed concerned by the dozens of guards around, not to mention the massive shield was Applejack and Fluttershy. Rarity was too busy with her nose in a sketchbook she was floating, Pinkie was being Pinkie and Rainbow was talking about her Sonic Rainboom she was getting to perform.

“I admit, the shield does seem a bit excessive,” Aspect mused. “But, considering how often things like this did happen, Celly’s had the idea of ‘no such thing as overprepared’ all but drilled into her. I could regale you with stories about what happened when we were resting on our laurels, but I’d rather avoid frightening you.”

Then he saw Twilight. Torn evenly between hearing stories of the past, and racing off to find Cadance and Shining… the poor mare looked ready to explode as her head flicked back and forth.

“Come on, let’s go to the castle,” Aspect chuckled as he began leading the mares away. “We have a royal wedding to prepare for.”

“But… stories… castle… wedding… history…” Twilight twitched as a lock of her mane sprung up.

“Whoever said you can’t have a story on the way?” Aspect asked over his shoulder. “Just clear it with your friends first.”

“You infuriate me so bucking much!” Twilight yelled as she trotted after him.

“That he does,” Rainbow giggled as she settled into a lazy flap next to him. “But he’s also cute, so he gets a pass, especially when your reactions are so hilarious.”

Before Twilight could mount what could have been a sizeable tonguelashing, a white unicorn stallion, decked out in royal purple and gold armor trotted towards them. The second Twilight saw him, she ran over to him and the pair nuzzled.

“Ahh, I take it that that is the ‘Big Brother Best Friend Forever’ we got a song about earlier?” Rainbow Dash asked Aspect. “If so… rawr~”

“Down girl, you’re taken and so is he,” Aspect warned her.

“Hey, if you’re allowed to enjoy other mares, then I can take in that fine piece of stallion meat,” she replied with a cheeky expression. “I mean, he’s no Soarin’ but… oh, dat ass!”

“He is getting married soon,” Aspect pointed out. “That’s kind of why you’re here.”

“Mhm, again, so are you,” Rainbow taunted.

“Is Cadence going to have to worry about you trying to seduce her fiance?” the stallion asked.

“Naah,” Rainbow waved a wing. “I’m just window shopping. But seriously, what is it with our friends having hot older brothers. Twilight, AJ… Actually, it’s just them.”

“Whut ya say about mah brother?” Applejack spoke up.

“Nothing,” Rainbow waved a wing as Aspect saw Shining fire a blast up and ripple across the shield. Ahh, so that was the culprit for the bubble dome. He’d have to remember that. Shielding magic like that, that was that powerful, was rare.

“Well, shall we go inside?” Aspect asked. “We have a bride to be to meet.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Rainbow nodded as Shining led Twilight off, the group following them. It didn’t take long to find the pink alicorn, and Aspect was then witness to the most adorable greeting he’d ever seen.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!” Twilight sang, going through a series of motions. "Clap your hooves and do a little shake~”

Cadance merely raised an eyebrow at that and brushed the mare off. “Uhuh…” She draped a wing over Shining and hummed. “Ready to be married stud.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Shining nodded, Twilight looking… rather dejected at being ignored. Aspect raised an eyebrow at that. That...didn’t seem like the Cadance he knew, to just brush off others.

“I’ll be glad when it’s over really,” Cadance sighed. “I’m absolutely exhausted. Trying to arrange all of this has been a real hassle.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Applejack nodded. “Don’t you worry none princess. With our help, you’ll have more free time on your hooves.”

“I’m counting on it,” Cadance smiled.

Hmm...well, that...could explain it. Still...it didn’t feel right. “Let’s make some lists and get some tasks passed out,” Aspect suggested. “That’ll make the work go faster.”

“I… can handle lists,” Twilight said, recovering from her funk. “That’s something of a specialty.”

Cadance nodded, before taking her leave and leaving them in the hooves of Shining Armor again. Once she left, the stallion sighed.

“Sorry if she sounded… curt,” he said. “This whole threat thing has her really stressed out.”

“Eh, sounds like a Wednesday to me,” Aspect waved it off. “Then again, she’s not me with my combat experience.”

“Exactly,” Shining said. “She’s a sweet mare, she doesn’t deserve this on her special day.”

“Well gang, let’s get to work!” Rainbow said.

“Rainbow, y’all ain’t even doing anything til after the wedding,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah could use a hoof in the kitchen…”

“Bai!” the mare said and rocketed off, leaving a rainbow contrail in her wake.

“It’s fine,” Aspect chuckled. “I’ll suggest she help you with decorating later, Rarity.”

“Many thanks,” Rarity chuckled. “Provided you catch her. And send her Pinkie’s way. I’m working on the dresses and Rainbow’s input would be…” She paused, trying to think of a polite word to use. “Detrimental.”

“The trick to catching the Dash is to both be the bait and the trap,” Aspect replied enigmatically as he nodded to Shining, before trotting into the castle. Everyone present looked… rather confused though.

As Aspect strode through the castle halls, he passed by two guards standing next to a door, and as he did…

Smack!

That was something hitting his flank as he passed.

Aspect paused, before slowly turning and looking at the guards. His gaze was one that held fury behind it, because only a few mares were allowed to do that. “Did either of you just touch me?” he asked in a dangerously calm voice.

The guard on the left groaned and facehooved, while the second snickered. She looked up and he saw green eyes and brown fur, as well as a cheeky fanged smile.

“Midnight,” Aspect sighed, relaxing his stance. “Honestly. You could announce yourself.”

“My method was more fun,” she smirked and leaned forwards, kissing his lips. “My sweet silly stallion.”

“You’re with her?” the other said, a pegasus mare. “My condolences.”

“She’s not that bad,” Aspect said, giving the mare a moment to be confused before he clarified. “She’s worse.”

“Don’t I know it,” the pegasus sighed and removed her helmet. She had a sunny yellow coat and a deep black mane. Her eyes a pale bluish-white. “Name’s Secure Lines. I’m this idiot’s partner whenever she’s in Canterlot.” She set her spear under one wing and held out a hoof.

“I’m sorry for all the material I’ve been providing her,” Aspect replied, shaking the mare’s hoof.

“Ah, so that was you huh?” Secure chuckled as she broke the hoof shake. “Congratulations, you’ve doomed all of Equestria.”

“Is that so?” Midnight purred and put a wing over her, pulling her close. “I should start with you then~?”

“Eep!” Secure shoved her back and blushed. “I-Idiot!”

“Middy, down,” Aspect said. “You know better than that.”

“She is fun to tease,” Midnight smirked and winked. “So, why are you wandering around aimlessly?”

“I’m not wandering aimlessly, I’m heading to my room,” Aspect countered. “Then Dash will most likely seek me out, and I’ll be able to rope her into helping with the wedding efforts.”

“Ahh,” Midnight nodded wisely. “Try and avoid the Princess, she’s been… a bit snappish today.”

“I’ve noticed,” Aspect sighed. “I guess this must really be weighing on her.”

“Likely,” Midnight shrugged. “Well, it’ll be over and done with tomorrow. Then the Princesses can start actively seeking this threat.”

Speaking of, Aspect realized that Luna hadn’t come on the train with Twilight and the others. She must still be at his home…

Eh, he’d send her a reminder to come and see the wedding tomorrow. With a nod to both of the guardsmares, he trotted off towards his bedroom.

So, that was a bust. He had no idea where Rainbow had gotten to, and after lazing around in his room alone for a while, he decided to head back out. Bon Bon wasn’t around, so maybe Dash was off with her?

When he did find the pegasus, she was with the rest of her friends at a nearby cafe, and caught the tail end of a conversation with Twilight looking rather distraught about something.

“Hello girls,” Aspect said, sitting nearby. “How goes it?”

“Jus’ Twilight spoutin’ how Cadance is a fake,” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Jus’ because she’s acting a might antsy. This one’s now convinced she’s some kinda imposter.”

“Because she is!” Twilight slapped a hoof on the table. “I mean, she threw your food in the garbage, she said such spiteful things about the stunning dress Rarity made her and was mean to Pinkie about her party planning choices!”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “If it helps any, I’ll go talk with Cadance about it. I know she’s not in a good mood, but this seems a bit over the top, taking it out on others.”

“See, FINALLY, somepony agrees with me,” Twilight nodded. “Hmph.”

“Ah still reckon y’all are overreacting,” Applejack said. “Plus the rehersal’s tomorrow, so don’t go rilin’ her up befer the big day Aspect.” She turned and poked his chest. “How would ya like it if somepony stirred up yer mares on their wedding night?”

“Fair enough, but there’s a difference between jitters and lashing out,” the stallion riposted. “All I’ll ask is that she not be so antagonistic to the ponies that are trying to help her.”

“Well all she did was offer a bit of critique," Rarity shrugged. “The dress is hers to wear on her special day, why shouldn’t she decide on how it looks?”

“And she’s prolly tryin’ ta diet or sumthin,” Applejack said. “A dun mind none…”

“And I guess my party ideas were a biiit childish,” Pinkie said, though she didn’t sound overly convinced…

“I’ll get to the bottom of this…” Twilight muttered as she got up and stormed away.

“Thank you for your comments, girls,” Aspect nodded to them all as he got up to leave. “I’ll make sure things run smoothly tomorrow.”

They simply shared looks between one another, wondering what the heck just happened there.

After a few directions, Aspect found Cadance’s room, and knocked on the door a few times. As the door opened slightly, he saw her talking with Shining Armor. He suddenly winced, and Cadance cooed, zapping him with a green lance of magic that made his eyes swirl for a moment, before he recovered.

“That looked, interesting,” Aspect mused as he stood there.

“What happened?” Twilight said from beside him. SweetmotherbuckingAspects! Where the hell did she come from!?

“I honestly don’t know,” Aspect replied. “Didn’t look like any headache spell I’ve seen.”

“Mind control!?” Twilight gasped, but that also got the attention of the two ponies in the room.

“Who’s there?” Cadance demanded as she walked towards the door, her horn lighting up.

“Cadance, don’t you recognize your grandfather when you see him?” Aspect asked, pushing the door open.

Cadance sighed and powered down her horn. “Don’t startle me like that Aspect,” she sighed. “In case you haven’t noticed. Canterlot is under tight security. Why are you sneaking around in the halls with…” She paused and tilted her head.

“Twiley?” Shining said. “What are you doing out?”

“Well I…” she said, her brain stalling.

“Ohh,” Cadance hummed. “Naughty grandfather, running around with such a young mare~”

“What!?” Shining’s eyes widened, as did Twilight’s.

“No, he’s not… we’re not…” she said, flustered. “I mean.. There was that one time when I got drunk and…”

“WHAT!?” Shining roared, before glaring at Aspect as his horn glowed brightly.

“Stand down boy,” Aspect warned. “Your sister is a grown mare that can make her own decisions.”

“Shiny, it’s okay, really!” Twilight said, putting her hooves on his chest. “It was a weird time, but nothing much happened, I promise. I more or less just… erm… watched him and his mares is all.”

“Oohh, naughty~” Cadance said and licked her lips. “Hey Shiny, can she watch us too?”

“W-What!?” Shining’s rage lost all momentum as he stood there, gaping like a fish as he blushed hard, Twilight doing the same.

“Whoops, looks like I broke them,” Cadance giggled.

Aspect sighed and shook his head. “Cadance, we need to talk about your behavior,” he said. “I understand we’re under a threat, that you might be under stress. But that’s no reason to go and lash out at the others that are only trying to help you. If you need to vent, I promise to listen, okay?”

“I…” She sighed and looked away. “Sorry… it’s been a trying few days is all.”

“And I get that, I do,” Aspect soothed. “But maybe being snide isn’t the way to release the pressure? Just...try to be the granddaughter I met back at my home?”

“Yeah, I’ll try…” she said and looked at him. “It’s… good to see you again though. It’s been a while.” Her expression now had a much, softer look to it.

“You should visit me more often then,” Aspect joked. “In any case. Do take care, granddaughter. Tomorrow’s your big day, then you have to wed me and my herd.”

“Y-Your herd?” Cadance blinked and coughed into her hoof. “Ahhaha… y-yes. O-of course. I’d be most happy to do such a thing… To you… and your herd…”

“G’night then,” Aspect replied, giving her a quick nuzzle before walking out and taking Twilight with him. Shining may have growled a little as he did, but was dragged back inside by Cadance.

“I.. what… what happened?” Twilight blinked, snapping back to reality as she looked up at the taller stallion.

“There was a situation, it was defused,” Aspect replied. “In any case, Cadance will be a little nicer tomorrow.”

“Oh…” Twilight sighed and looked away, out the window at the night sky. “So, I was wrong huh?” Well, wasn’t that a good thing?

So, why did she feel so lousy about it? Why was her gut still churning?

“She might just be confused,” Aspect mused aloud, thinking out loud as he continued. “She didn’t know about my herd...and she insinuated things between yourself and your brother…”

“W-Why would I watch… gah, I’m not some… voyuer!” she blushed hard and looked away. “I’m going to bed and pretending this night never happened.”

“If you say so,” Aspect replied as he gave Twilight a goodbye nuzzle. “Take care.” And with that, the stallion was off looking for his room.

Twilight tossed and turned in her bed. She just… couldn’t sleep. Groaning, she sat up and squeaked when she came face to face with Cadance.

“C-Cadance? What are you doing in my room!?”

“You…” the mare said, her eyes flashing green. “You are far too perceptive for your own good. Seems the Princess was right about you.”

“W-What?”

“So, I’m going to have you step away for a while,” she murred. “This is too important for you to screw up.” Her horn flashed and a ring of emerald flame surrounded the unicorn. “Sleep well little unicorn~”

Twilight didn’t even get to scream for help before she vanished, the flames dissipating as Cadance chuckled, a small squeak in her tone. “Perfect… tommorow will be simply… perfect~”

“I told you didn’t I?” Cadance said as she paced in a tight circle. “Honestly mare, it’s like you’re trying to screw this up on purpose.”

“Well excuse me if I’m multitasking a hundred things at once,” her doppel said in a snappish tone. “You never said he had a bucking herd. This is a man that hasn’t laid with a mare in two and half thousand years! Now he has a bucking harem!?”

“I know, isn’t it amazing!” Cadance squealed and clapped her hooves. “Oooooh! And he wants me to marry them!? Ahhh. I’M SO EXCITED!”

“I’m so confused,” Twilight mumbled as she reclined in the hottub, reading a book on Trigonometry.

“Well you shouldn’t have been so damned suspicious,” Doppel Cadence said. “You can stay here with Cadance until this blows over. Do you have any idea how hard it was to set a spa up underground?”

“You couldn’t have sent us to… I dunno, Las Pegasus?” Twilight snarked.

“This cavern has unique properties. None of the other Aspects can sense what’s under here,” Doppel said with a sigh. “The last thing I need is Sunbutt or Yggdrasil springing the trap early. I can hide my one, and mimic Lovebutt’s signature. But with you running around crying wolf…”

“Technically, she’s not wrong,” Cadance giggled.

Doppel rolled her eyes and looked at her. “I’m sending your bridemares down here too. I’m going to replace them with Sparkle’s friends. Keep them close so I can keep my eye on them.”

“Not a bad plan,” Cadance nodded and hugged her Doppel. “How’s Shiny?”

“He’s actually a surprisingly good actor,” Doppel said with a nod. “I almost thought he’d lose it last night, but he played along marvelously.”

“All those years of O&O,” Cadance and Twilight said in unison.

“That’s creepy,” Doppel shook her head. “Fine… see you mares later… hopefully.”

“So, our end of the plan still on?”

“Yup, be sure to act accordingly.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Cadance saluted and Doppel teleported away. Twilight sighed and shrugged, before returning to her book.

“So, is this really necessary?” Twilight asked. “Can’t you just… ask him to release the power?”

“No,” Cadance shook her head. “Aspect is a good stallion… man… eh, whatever. Point is, he’ll subconsciously hold back if he isn’t provoked, like he was against Discord. And the longer he holds onto Arabus, the stronger Arabus will get when he is released. Honestly, we should have done this months ago. But Chrysalis is ever the pragmatist.”

“Well, if you say so… this feels out of my league,” Twilight sighed. This Aspect stuff was something she’d never gotten the chance to understand, again, Christopher being tight lipped about information with her.

Chrysalis sighed as she appeared back in the castle, applying her magic disguise as she produced the power of the Aspect of Love. It was a good thing she was getting so much from Shining to maintain it.

And now was the perfect time. After Discord, Christopher’s guard was always up… always suspecting. But now? He’d all but forgotten. He’d slipped back into a life of peace and she knew attacking now would have the greatest impact. Thankfully she’d been able to distract him earlier, but she’d have to keep Twilight away from him. She herself would also need to avoid him unless necessary, he was annoyingly perceptive in his own right.

Pupal made the perfect spy, the little ling was gifted in that art. So innocent and she made it look natural. Well, she was a daughter hatched by Chrysalis herself, so that was to be expected of a proto-queen Changeling~

“I love it when a plan comes together,” she chuckled as she walked down the dark halls.

Aspect groaned as he got up the next morning. It was time for the rehearsal today. Absently, he sought out a blanket to cover his eyes, it was too early to be up. And the sunlight that streamed in seemed to hit him in the eyes jusssst so.

“Wake uuup,” a voice cooed in his ear. “Or I’ll do things to you~”

Aspect snorted, flicked his ear, and rolled over in bed, burrowing deeper under the sheets.

“Ookay, Midnight?”

He heard a gargling sound… he had no clue that Midnight was gargling a glass of ice water…

Not until a long, ice-cold tongue wormed into his ear.

“GAH!” Aspect yelled as he jumped five feet straight up, his wings flinging the covers off as he hovered there and twitched a few times. “Cold cold COLD!”

“Hahahahahaha!” Rainbow cackled, falling onto her back as Midnight and Bon Bon giggled as well, his reaction was deliciously over the top.

The stallion fell on the bed and huffed a few times, getting his breath back under control before glaring at the mares. “That,” he managed to say. “Was uncalled for.”

“You should learn to wake up when we tell you then,” Midnight said with a teasing smile. “We did warn you oh husband to be.”

“Coffee would have been a better motivator,” the stallion grumbled.

“Buut way less fun,” Rainbow snickered.

“Coffee is still a must,” Bon Bon nodded. “Come on, we’ll go and get some breakfast before heading to rehersal yes?”

“Yes please,” Aspect nodded, even though afterwards he yawned. “Bleh...morning comes too early,” he griped.

“Blame your daughter,” Bon Bon mused as she helped him up. “Come along my sleepy stallion. If I have to get up at three am to throw up because of your child, you can get up at a regular hour.”

“Bite me,” Aspect muttered as he began shuffling off towards the door.

So Midnight did.

On the butt.

With her fangs.

The stallion let out a yelp as he turned and glared at the mare. She simply smiled and gave him a fanged grin.

“You asked,” she said and skipped out of the door. For a bat, she was surprisingly peppy in the morning.

“Bloody…” Aspect muttered as he shook his head again. Today was going to be perfectly annoying, judging by his wake up call.

So the first thing that Aspect noticed at the rehearsal was one… Twilight wasn’t present. And two, her five friends were now bridesmares? What? Wasn’t Lyra and some of her friends supposed to be the wedding party? And Twilight was supossed to be Shining’s Best Mare.

This was...not right. He’d be asking Cadance about this later. Like, once they’d finished this rehearsal later.

The rehearsal did go quite smoothly otherwise, though he did notice Celestia looking a little off put by something, likely her missing student. She turned to Cadance and asked something, the mare replying and Celestia sighing in response.

Aspect still had plenty of questions, though.

As the group started to file out, Cadance brushed past him to head for the exit…

“Cadance, a word?” Aspect asked as he tried to keep up.

She stifled a sigh and turned her head. “Can it be quick, I have a lot to do and little time to do so.”

“Do you know where Lyra or her friends are?” the stallion posed. “I ask because she’s a friend of Bon Bon, one of the mares in my herd. I just want to be sure she’s okay, Cadance. I don’t think she’d turn down something like this.”

“Ah,” Cadance said and sighed. “Seems they went ahead and had a small party last night, and got a case of food poisoning. It’s a sad tale, but Miss Lyra was the one that suggested I choose Twilight’s friends, and since I was so horrible to them yesterday, I thought it’d be a good way to make it up to them.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied. And without missing a beat, he asked the next question. “So where’d the Best Mare go to?”

“Ahh,” Cadance chuckled. “She was a naughty pony and stayed up reading most of the night. The migraine she has now should teach her to get a proper night’s sleep, especially before such an important event.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed, scrutinizing the stories for a moment, before nodding. “Very well then. Sorry for disturbing you.”

“It’s fine, I should have told you… but I have a million things going on right now,” she smiled and leaned down, nuzzling him gently. “Worry not Christopher. Everything will be as it should soon enough. Wait just a little bit longer.”

“I do hope so,” the stallion sighed. “So, what’s next for the agenda?”

“Nothing for you, get some rest,” Cadance chuckled. “The ceremony is in a few hours. And it's going to be quite the event.” With a light giggle, she trotted off, leaving the stallion to his own devices for now.

Aspect nodded as he walked off to his own room again. Hopefully everything would proceed apace. He’d hate for Cadance’s wedding to be interrupted by whatever was going on.

“Okay, and you’re all set,” Bon Bon giggled as she straightened his tie. “Mm, don’t you look all handsome in a suit~”

“I still have no idea how Rarity measured me for this,” Aspect muttered. It wasn’t uncomfortable in the least, which should have disturbed him.

“She has a gift,” the mare giggled as she gave him another once over. “I feel bad for Lyra though. She must be so disappointed that she got sick. It was nice of her to recommend the others though. I’ll have to give her a treat later.”

“Ah, more famous Bon-Bon cooking, I see,” Aspect mused as he looked at himself in the mirror. “Do you bribe all your friends with food, or are we special?”

“Only the ponies I like,” she giggled again. Midnight was there, though she had her armor instead of a dress. Seems she was running security for the event. And Rainbow was likely with the other bridesmares.

“Well, let’s go attend one of the bigger weddings in history,” Aspect chuckled, before turning and catching Bon Bon in a nuzzle. “And then we can have ours,” he whispered. The earth mare flushed a cute pink hue and she smiled, nodding slightly. She couldn’t wait for it.

There were quite a few ponies here. Celestia at the pedastal, being the one that would marry the pair. And Shining Armor was looking rather dapper and… slightly nervous. The seating held near a hundred ponies, nobles, the press and other guests.

Then the music started to play as Cadance emerged from the huge double doors, walking down the aisle with confidence.

“Ah, now isn’t this a sight,” Aspect sighed as he watched the event play out. Truly, something for the history books, how the Aspect of Love looked on her wedding day. She truly was beautiful, and her dress was stunning, as were all the girls. The fact that Rarity whipped them up overnight was a feat in and of itself.

Cadance reached the platform and looked out over the crowd… her eyes lingering on Aspect for a moment as she smiled. The stallion mouthed a simple sentence. Knock ‘em out.

She smiled and replied…

As you wish~

Then a voice called out in his head. “FATHER!”

Gah! Aspect winced a little from the volume of the shout. What is it, Yggdrasil? I’m at Cadance’s wedding, for crying out loud!

“That is NOT the Aspect of Love. It’s—”

The doors burst open as Twilight and...Cadance!? They ran in, looking a little dishevelled.

“Wha…” Aspect looked back and forth between the two, before drawing blades of air on the edge of his wings. “Explain yourself!” he commanded the one standing at the podium.

“That’s not ME!” the newer Cadance said as the first chuckled in a very familiar tone, a blaze of emerald fire surrounded her as her skin burst away. The crowd gasped, some screaming and running as a new creature took her place.

“Hello!” Chrysalis purred. “It’s been a while… well, not so much for me. I’ve been seeing you all all day~”

Aspect was breathing heavily, the blades on his wings fluctuating as lightning danced between his feathers. “D-Daughter?” he dared to ask. The Changeling turned her head and looked right at him.

“Ahh, so you actually remember me Father,” she hummed as she took a step down from the pedestal. “Unlike the rest of Equestria anyway.”

“You weren’t...singled out. I left...everything familiar after Luna turned to the dark,” Aspect replied. “I needed...time. I had almost done something terrible.”

“You did do something terrible,” Chrysalis said, her features hardening. “You abandoned your duties. Your family. It was left to me to protect Equestria from the darkness. But guess what?” She was close now, looming over him. “They feared us. Despised us. Called us Monsters. Called us Cursed. Vile…” She slammed her hooves on the ground, spiderweb-like cracks forming under the blow. “And what happened? Equestria grew weak. They abused their power and it was taken from them. They are little more than sheep now. So… I shall be their shepherd. I will treat them like the herd animals they have become. They desire rule. SO I SHALL RULE THEM!”

A sound got his attention and he looked outside.

Above the shield.

Changelings. Thousands… no, tens of thousands of them. Slamming against the barrier.

“It’s not too late,” Aspect said, turning back to Chrysalis. “Call this off, we can work out your integration. You can join the world, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

“It’s already too late Father,” she practically spat that last word. “I am the Aspect of Battle. There is no way for the ponies to win this. I will take their capital city. Their Princesses will fall, your precious daughters. The ones you actually love!”

“I don’t play favorites!” Aspect replied. “I care for all of my children! Even the griffons, and they’ve been worse than you! Chryssy, don’t do this!”

He was not easily provoked was he… Fine, Plan B it was.

“Oh, you think those winged lice are worse?” she chuckled and turned, looking Midnight Song dead in the eye. “I wonder… whatever became of that darling sister of yours~”

Midnight wasn’t angry.

Angry was for ponies faaar calmer than her. She was literally vibrating with rage as she stepped forward… And Christopher could already hear her music.

He knew killing intent when he saw it… And Midnight was ready to slaughter.

“Midnight, no,” Aspect said, stepping in front of her, blocking her with his body as he stared Chrysalis in the eyes. “You can’t hurt her. But I, can.” He breathed deep breath in and…

Were the windows...groaning? It almost looked like they were bulging in.

“You’re that determined?” he asked in a soft voice. “To push me over the edge and fight you?”

“You’re old and weak,” she said. “I have trained these last thousand years… You can’t even hope to—”

Midnight had vanished, before reappearing and kicking the Queen through a wall and out into the city,

“I will murder you!” she screamed… seems Aspect’s words hadn’t done much.

“Heh,” Aspect chuckled as he flew out the new hole and into the city, staring at the revealed queen. “Consider yourself lucky, Chryssy,” Aspect taunted her as he pulled up a cloud nearby. “If Midnight does damage to you, you’ll heal from it. Eventually. Unless she remembers she has Gungnir.”

Whoops.

“WHY DOES SHE HAVE THAT BLOODY SPEAR!?” The Queen screeched as Midnight drew it out. She was channelling every inch of her Aspect of Music as she blasted down like a lightning bolt, tearing up the cobblestone as Chrysalis was forced to defend. Stepping back, she frowned as Midnight thrust forward again… before pausing to cough, her body already at it’s limits as Chrysalis snared her in her magic.

“Okay! Time out. Time the fuck out!” she yelled. “Why does a mortal Thestral have the power of a fucking Aspect!?”

“Music has been divided,” Aspect replied, reaching out a hoof and calling Gungnir to him. He’d give it back to the girls to play with later. The spear, albeit reluctantly, returned to its master. Besides…

It could tell it was about to be put to use again. It crackled with lightning, charging the cloud beneath Aspect into a thunderhead. She tossed Midnight’s weary body aside and chuckled.

“You’re not just fighting me remember?” she mused as the shield around the city shattered like glass.

And utter chaos rained down. Countless Changlings bombarded the city like mini meteors. It took but seconds for the cityscape to be utterly ruined as ponies ran screaming through the streets. Mere moments for the world to turn upside down.

“Give up while you can,” Chrysalis said. “I know you no longer have Crunch’s power. And you refuse to use Arabus. Your Runes don’t work on me, because you taught me how to counter them… face it father. I. Win.”

“What was that about refusing to use Arabus?” Aspect asked dangerously as the air gained a thicker feel to it. “You see...you did the one thing I wanted you to do, Chryssy. You opened the city up to outside influences. To all that air. If I’m going to fight you, it’ll be Aspect against Aspect. Air against Battle. So let’s do this. Because I’m not afraid to fight my family anymore. If they’ve fallen like you have? I’ll run them through!”

There wasn’t an explosion. Explosions were for villains. Instead, all the air imploded on Aspect, and there was a bright flash that was visible across the city. When it cleared…

Aspect the storm-pony was wielding a lance of lightning. His entire being was made up of a thunderhead cloud, and pooled lightning took the place of his eyes. Air, in its truest form, had been unleashed upon the city.

The stallion let out a wordless sound and raised his spear to the heavens...and instantly. The air above began to swirl and darken. A massive storm had been forced into being over the city as the winds began to howl and pick up speed. Lightning rumbled in the storm, and Aspect began ascending up towards the storm cell he’d called into being.

And from nowhere yet everywhere...music began to play…

The music started, the stallion flared his wings, and when the beat got more intense, he dramatically dropped them.

Lightning, hundreds of bolts, darted down, branched out, and targeted only the changelings. Not a one missed their intended target. That was a significant portion of her assault force taken out with a single action.

What was disconcerting, was how quickly they were getting up again.

“You think I didn’t plan for that?” Chrysalis chuckled. “I know you wield Arabus, as well as Celestia’s Pegasus guard.” Chrysalis smiled as her body started to spark. “So I instilled a little pegasus magic into my Vanguard.”

An inferno of emerald flames burst forth and Chrysalis took a new form. “Do you like it Father?” she asked, clenching her fist. “I made it just for you.”

“You lost the right to call me father when you brought war to another Aspect,” The stallion rumbled as he held up his lance. “Gungnir, infuse!”

With a reverse bolt of lightning tracing its path, the lance went up into the stormcloud, which doubled in the intensity, the speed at which the lightning roiled around in it. The next time, when the lightning began striking…

That...that was actual injuries being inflicted on her children. Dangerous ones.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the stallion asked. “As long as Gungnir remains within the storm, all its lightning will be as though the spear itself was striking every changeling.”

Oh shit. She’d pushed him to kill.

“I'd predicted this…” Chrysalis paused, looking at her children. She summoned a black bow… one he recognized. It was after all, his.

“Shouldn't have left your bag at home… unattended,” she smiled. “Thank Pupal for this one.”

Tenebrae, the bow of Destruction. He'd made in case weapons like Gungnir fell into the wrong hands…

And one arrow later, the spear was shattered, lighting dispersing into the clouds as Chrysalis cackled.

Aspect growled. It wasn’t destroyed, just dispelled. He exerted his effort and flexed, and even non-pegasi could tell the winds were bending.

Scant moments later, appearing out of thin air, Gungnir, in it’s powered down state, was atop the cloud next to Aspect. It wouldn’t be taking on its lance of lightning form without some serious recharging. At best, it was going to be a lightning rod. Which would serve well in recharging it, but...the middle of a battle was not the place to do it.

“You seriously think you can stop me, Chrysalis?” Aspect rumbled. “You’re in my domain now. You’re ALWAYS in my domain! You’ve flown right into the hurricane, only there’s no eye for you to take refuge in!” Aspect raised his hooves up to the sky, his storm cell rumbling as he took direct control. The lightning roiled and churned again, lancing out not quite as strong as before, but still strong enough to sting and hurt even her infused ‘lings.

Then he grunted as her fist met his gut, sending him flying as she reappeared beside him and a drop kick saw him in the center of an impact crater. “This form is made to specifically combat you!” she smiled. “Now get up and FIGHT old man!”

“You think you’ve pushed me?” Aspect asked as he got back up, the storm clouds making up his form rumbling as lightning pulsed through him. “You think you deserve me fighting you? Fine. Let’s see how you stand up to the Gale King.”

Aspect drew his wings back, before flaring them and drawing them in front of his face. The reason why became self-evident soon enough.

Massive blades of air were moving through the space between them, growing larger and larger as they rushed at their target.

She crossed her arms, making a shield around herself as the blades smashed against it, more and more as it cracked. Then with a burst of power, she sent out a wave that dispersed the waves.

“Impressive,” Aspect replied, flaring his wings as glowing points of light were visible in them. Two...six...ten…

Then the points surged at her, and ten bolts of lightning were crossing the space between them.

Chrysalis teleported.

Right behind Aspect as her hands lashed out, and with a sickening crack, snapped his wings at the joints, the appendages now hanging useless at his side.

Aspect let out a wordless grunt of pain. Okay, that was impressive. Damaging him through his transformation and all.

Fortunately...backup was here.

A stream of wind whipped through the air and poured into Aspect, causing him to glow as the damage was undone, his form becoming more loosely defined as he became more one with air itself. Oh yes...layering on Jetstream power while already transformed? Not well advised.

But the upside was…

Crack!

Aspect snapped Chrysalis’ head back with a hoof to her chin, before melting away and reappearing a fair distance from her.

It made him faster, stronger, and far harder to hit.

The Queen spat out some blood and smirked. “Your batpony hits harder,” she taunted him and made a ‘come at me’ motion with her hand. “Is that all you got?”

If Aspect did reply, it was lost in the whirling, howling winds that his voice had become. His form blurred...becoming less distinct…

And when the cloudy shape that his body had become reformed into something…

That...was about a dozen cloud-ponies staring at her with fury in their eyes.

“Hooboy,” Chrysalis whispered. This was gonna suck. “What? Can't handle me on your own then?” she yelled. She glared, before taking a relaxed stance. A Still Way stance…

The cloud ponies howled as they all made to attack in a different way. Some charged forward right off the bat. Others hung back and began charging up lightning to throw, or releasing blades of air at her. One even went above and called down a piece of storm cloud to stand on, charging it up as he hovered over the battlefield.

“Hey Father?” Chrysalis said with a small smirk as blades of magic started to swirl around her, not unlike his own previous attack. “Mirror Move!”

She swept her hands out, palms open a she started flinging blades, first attacking the charging ones, then aiming at the one above. Every time she struck a cloud clone, they puffed into insubstantiality, before reforming a short ways away. Meanwhile, the one above ducked, dodged, weaved, and ultimately ended up above her as he stomped on the cloud.

Releasing a hell of a lightning bolt.

Chrysalis stood her ground and stared up at it.

“Remember when I said I was training?”

She extended one hand up, raising her index and middle finger as she acted like a living lightning rod, before dragging her foot in a semicircle and extended her other hand in the same manner, releasing the bolt and redirecting it towards Aspect.

The cloudpony up on the cloud was forced to go incorporeal to dodge the bolt...and that caused all the copies to do the same, before they reasserted themselves. Only now, they were attacking without holding anything back.

Chrysalis raised her leg and stomped the ground. “Fight me seriously!” she yelled as she built up a ridiculous amount of magical power. She held until they were mere feet away.

Then she detonated. A dome-shaped burst of pure, destructive mana exploded from around her.

The clones were dispelled, and a wisp of cloud hovered around, waiting for the blast to clear, before growing and building back into a stallion form. Aspect stared at her for a moment, before reaching a hoof up into the clouds and calling on the lightning.

A massive bolt struck him...and kept striking him...and took the form of what Gungnir would look like if it were empowered. Readying his temporary lightning lance, the stallion flourished it as he stood ready to fight her.

She stepped back and lowered her stance, extending both arms as she reached in and drew as much power as she had.

What was she doing…. Wait, he knew that stance… oh.

“Kaaaaaaaa…..”

“Maaaaaeeeee”

“Haaaaaaaaaaah!!”

Oh no, no she wouldn’t. Aspect let out a growl as he advanced, ready to strike her through and pin her to the ground with his new weapon.

“Maaaeeeee!” eldritch energy formed in her palms as she took as much Love energy as she had left, before thrusting her palms out.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!”

And a massive beam of green energy erupted from her hands. Aspect let out a grunt as it came rushing at him. He wouldn’t be able to reach her, it would likely rip his transformations away.

So he did the only thing he could, and threw the spear of lightning over the beam.

With a massive explosion, the two combatants were thrown back, Chrysalis abandoned her transformation as she hit the ground and tumbled until she struck a building, a cloud of dust obscuring her as she groaned, her energy nearly spent.

Aspect had been pinned to another building, which promptly blew up thanks to the attack. Once the dust cleared from that, it was revealed that he was reverted back to his base state...but when he got up, his eyes were still filled with anger and hate.

“THAT’S IT!” he bellowed as he began levitating, the winds themselves carrying him. “I tried being nice. I tried not going all out on you. NOW YOU GET THE FULL ARABUS EXPERIENCE!”

With that, he vanished from sight, melting away into the air itself.

“About fucking time…” Chrysalis coughed as Cadance teleported next to her.

“You okay Buggbutt?” she said, leaning down to nuzzle her.

“Ergh, that last attack took more out of me that I’d hoped,” she groaned as she picked herself up. “I’m running on fumes now.”

“Good thing I’m here,” the alicorn giggled as she pressed her lips to the Changeling, feeding her pure, undistilled Love energy. Chrysalis’s eyes widened…

And up above them both, the storm cloud began to shift and change. In a matter of minutes, the cloud had taken on a new form.

A form akin to a giant version of Aspect as it impacted the ground, standing taller than any building as lightning rumbled across it’s body.

Chrysalis broke the kiss, having drawn enough to continue the fight. “Right, we’re in Phase Two now. Is Lovercolt ready?”

“As he’ll ever be,” Cadance nodded as a barrier erupted from the castle, pushing the mass of cloud back as it grew larger, encompassing the city as Shining Armor poured all of his power into it. Twilight and Celestia were backing him up, funnelling their magic into him.

“Get him up, so we don’t destroy Canterlot,” Chrysalis said as she stared up as the giant cloudpony slammed against the barrier. “I need to draw Arabus into his true form, before Thanatos can get his chance to end this once and for all.”

Meanwhile, the cloud giant let out a wordless roar as he flailed against the shield...before he opened his mouth. Lightning built up in there, before erupting as a stream of plasma that caused the dome to wail in protest. It started to buckle, before Shining focused on that section and strengthened it.

“Anytime Chrys,” he grunted, the force of the magic pushing him back as sweat rolled down his forehead.

Chrysalis flew up and above the barrier. “HEY THUNDERFLANKS!” she yelled out in a magically enhanced voice. “You want me? Come and get me!”

The stallion roared as he tried snapping at her with his hooves, trying to knock her out of the sky. Only his size made him far slower, it was like trying to swat a fly as Chrysalis laughed.

“Bigger isn’t always better love~” she taunted and unloaded a barrage of magical blasts, Concussive ones designed to detonate upon impact with powerful shockwave to try and break his body apart. The clouds rippled and roiled, before a stream of wind from above snaked down and infused itself within the body, making it a little larger and holding it together a little more.

There was a whisper on the wind, a voice that could barely be heard. But it sounded like something that...was challenging her.

“Please, you’re all flash and no substance!” she laughed. “Always have been Chris. You lack skill, choosing power over actual strategy. You can’t beat me you overblown rainshower!”

The stallion let out another roar as he stood on the shield and flared his wings.

Oh…

That was…

A lot of potential lightning building up.

The sky darkened as Chrysalis stood her ground. “Well, are you waiting for a written invitation?” she asked.

The lightning lanced at her, and...not a single bolt hit her?

...Oh. It had actually been formed into a cage to hold her.

“...Well shit,” the bug queen said as she looked around. “Not bad… But I can teleport dumbass.” Her horn powered up, ready to make the jump.

The moment she pulled the magic to her horn, though, the cage bulged and a bit of the lightning was attracted to her horn. She yelped as the spark hit her and she rubbed her horn. “Ohh, clever,” she mused, remembering this trick. “But you forgot about one thing love.”

The stallion didn’t say anything, but that whisper was back, challenging her.

“We don’t fight alone,” she mused as she looked up. The sun wasn’t hiding because of dark clouds…

It was blocked by a swarm of Changelings, near a million strong. The all powered up their horns and started firing, countless blasts hammered down, like an emerald rain of death and destruction.

The giant cloud pony was broken apart, and at its core was-

Aspect, in a similar cage of lightning?

The clouds slowly reformed into a shape Chrysalis only knew because her father had described it so often. A demon made of clouds. Though it was a pale mockery of what it once had been, the demon still laughed as he reformed.

“So you’ve found my ruse,” the creature rumbled as he effortlessly picked up Aspect’s cage and tossed it lightly. “But it’s far too late. After more than a thousand years, I’m FREE! All I have to do is keep this stallion locked in his cage until I extract the last few bits of myself, drink deep of that Jetstream he provided, and I will own this pitiful world!”

“Hmm, will you now?” Chrysalis relaxed in her cage and giggled. “Oh do go on, I love it when you villains monologue.”

“Don’t forget, little sister,” the cloud being stated as he began becoming more and more defined. “You fit that role too. You attacked your fellow Aspects. You caused him to call on my power. You abused his trust, destroyed that which your sister held dear. You’re no saint in the world’s eyes.” His eyes glimmered with mischief. “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say the bad old days never left, thanks to you!”

“Is that what you think of me?” she mused and licked her fangs. “I’m flattered that I’ve done such a good job. I mean, he called upon you… just as I planned after all~”

“Oh really?” Arabus asked as he flexed, starting to seem more real by the moment. “You planned for the original Aspect of Air to break free of his prison? Because I’ve learned so much while I was inside him. I’ll lay waste to any settlement of ponies with all the things he’s built up.”

“You could…” Chrysalis said as she sat up. Her swarm had dispersed for now. “I mean… provided on one, teensy little thing of course.”

“And what, praytell, could stop me now?” Arabus asked as his form started to billow a little more. “You’re just an insect in a cage.”

“True I am indeed,” she smiled. “But remember what I said poppet… We don’t fight alone~”

A gap opened in the shield. Far below, on the castle rooftop, an Earth Pony mare looked down the scope of her weapon.

“Give my husband back,” she growled as her hoof squeezed the lever. The Bowcannon’s barrel opened like the maw of a dragon, crackling with lightning as the metal projectile fired… Slamming into the demon at Mach 7, and the spell inside the shell activated, detonating upon impact.

Arabus was forced into an incorporeal state, while the cage around Aspect bounced and rolled off the shield, coming to rest somewhere in Canterlot. It took Arabus a full minute to reform himself, before growling down at the shield itself.

“Pesky, puny little thing,” he snarled as he raised his arms. “I’ll smash it and the one that dares strike at me!”

The demon poured lightning like it was a liquid out of his palms, trying his hardest to break through. The shield groaned as it started to crack, before he felt a new presence.

“Hello Arabus~” a voice sounded. The Alicorn of the Sun’s mane blazed like wildfire, her coat a pure white as her eyes burned with magical might.

“And so the little foal comes to fight the battle her father has already lost,” Arabus taunted her. “Face it! I am freed! Once I gorge on the Jetstream, you will not be able to stop me, filly! I am older and more powerful than you will ever be!”

“You threaten my ponies. I have guided them for as long as you have been sealed.” She lanced out with a sword made of pure sunfire. Her voice lowered as she glared at him. “You will die here and now. Niflheim awaits your blackened soul.”

“I think not,” Arabus said, pulling the tail end of his form free form Aspect’s fallen body. “The last of my self is freed from that prison. Air walks again! And I think I know the first thing I am going to take...where is that delightful spear?”

“May I say one last thing?” Chrysalis asked sweetly, freed from her cage while he was talking with Celestia. The demon turned to her and his eyes widened at her being free as well.

“Mirror Move.”

Celestia’s sunfire lanced out, bursting out all around him as Chrysalis weaved her spell into it…

And the demon was now in a cage of his own design, the Changeling warping Tia’s magic to create a prison of her own.

“This will not hold me!” the demon raged as he pushed against the sunfire bars. “The air itself answers to me! I hold all of your precious father’s power now! Air is mine to command, as it always should have been! You cannot defeat me!”

“I know we can’t,” Chrysalis said as she drew closer. “You see poppet. This has always been about you. All of this…” She swept her hooves out. “Was to goad Christopher into finally releasing you. Luring the stallion into a peaceful calm. Setting up this wedding, this farce of an invasion… All of it carefully and meticulously planned. And even in the end, you’re just another stepping stone to the true goal. But… none of that will matter to you. Because I have someone who is just dying to meet you~”

“I will be free of this cage!” Arabus said as he forced his form up against the limits of it. “I will rain destruction from on high! I will—”

“You will be silent,” a new voice proclaimed as a chill swept over the battlefield. Arabus slowly turned around, and if he had skin, he would have paled under it.

The grim pony, Mortal Coil, was there...with his scythe drawn, and an empty hourglass in his other hoof.

“Oooh, introductions!” Chrysalis clapped her hooves. “Arabus, this is Mortal Coil, aka Thanatos, aka the Grim Pony… aka, your imminent death. Morty? Meet Arabus. He’s been tormenting daddy for far too long now don’t you think?”

“Indeed,” Mortal Coil replied, holding up the hourglass. “He should have been dead the moment his original body died. He was a human before he drank of the fountain, you know. Without it, he’s just a soul on the wind...a soul that is now...unprotected by father’s body.”

“You see Arabus,” Chrysalis smirked, dangerously so. “I always have a plan. Now… Do give my regards to Gelgeth and his children when you meet them. Tatah~”

“No, no, no!” Arabus tried his best to flee, to break the bars. “Not again! I was so close! I nearly had—”

SWISH.

The scythe cut through the sunfire bars, and cut right into the ball of cloud they were containing. Arabus let out a wail as his soul was absorbed by the scythe, the ball dissipating with nothing to hold it anymore.

Far below, the lightning cage surrounding Aspect vanished, as for the first time in thousands of years...he fell into a peaceful sleep.

The pieces of the Jetstream that Arabus had absorbed into himself were released into the sky, weaving their way back into the whole in no time. Meanwhile, all the power the demon had pulled from the stallion sought out a plain, bronze spear...and infused themselves into it, before the thing jumped up and flew off towards its master.

Gungnir landed next to Aspect and fell on top of him, letting the power it had borrowed seep back into him...without the taint of the demon anywhere in it, this time.

“Sweet christ that sucked,” Chrysalis groaned as she started to fall, only for Celestia to catch her. “Oh...thanks sis.”

“Ohh, I am plenty pissed at you for keeping me out of the loop,” Celestia warned her. “But, while Twilight and Cadance gave me the cliff notes, I expect a full briefing.”

“Mhm, when my everything stops hurting,” the Changeling groaned. “Come on… let’s go save dear old dad.”

“Honestly…” the solar mare sighed. Today just had to be one of those days didn’t it?

Author's Note

I took extra care when writing and reviewing this chapter. Any mistakes can be blamed on strange aussie magic.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on birthday presents.

Chapter 56 - Fallout

When Aspect awoke… he felt…

...More whole and hale than he had been in years.

And immediately he knew why. That dark whisper that was Arabus was gone from his mind.

Naturally, this concerned him. He’d functioned as Arabus’ mobile prison cell for ages, trying to get the ancient spirit to give in and accept his defeat.

The idea that he could be loose now…

A gentle beeping grabbed his attention and his eyes opened. The first thing he noticed was some medical equipment attached to him, and to the pony in the bed next to him. His eyes widened when he saw it was Midnight, wrapped in a few bandages as she slept peacefully, her heart monitor beeping away.

Oh...okay, so...that part happ-

The rest of his memories came flooding back, and his blood pressure spiked. He was going to wipe Chrysalis off the face of the bloody planet when he next saw her. Immediately his heart monitor began going into overtime, beeping up a storm.

The door burst open and a cute nurse pony came running in, followed by Celestia.

“Father!” the alicorn exclaimed as her aura washed over him, a gentle warmth filling him. “Please calm down.”

“Celly,” Aspect sighed, his monitor relaxing just a touch. “Where’s the traitorous bug-daughter? I’m going to run her through with Gungnir and my sword, in that order.”

Celestia sighed and looked at the nurse, the unicorn nodding and leaving the room. Once she had, the alicorn activated a nullsound barrier and sat down. “Okay, so there are… a few things I need to tell you about. But you have to promise me one thing.”

“I am willing to listen to the whole story before making any rash decision,” Aspect replied. “I make no promises beyond that.”

“Good,” Celestia smiled. “Now, first things first. I’m sure by now, you’ve noticed something very different about yourself.”

“Arabus is gone,” Aspect nodded. “Where is the storm demon? If I act quickly, I can reseal him away and the damage can be un—”

“It’s alright,” Celestia said soothingly, easing him back down onto the bed. “Arabus is gone for good. Mortal has seen to that personally.”

Aspect gawped. “He...he took Arabus to Nifelheim?” Aspect breathed. “But...I thought I had to wear him down before that could happen.”

Celestia nodded. “That… was what Chrysalis did. All of this? The deception, the invasion? The battle itself. It was all to goad you into releasing Arabus in his entirety, all to defeat him… and reap his black soul once and for all.”

Aspect mulled it over for a moment or three. “I’m still going to spank her,” he stated simply. “I understand why she did it, don’t get me wrong. But taking such a risk? That’s stupid dangerous. How did she know he wasn’t going to get free and be worse than he was before? How could she possibly know what amount of force to bring to bear? It’s a lot of assumptions, and I don’t like how she just blindly assumed she could do something because she should.”

“Oh, I agree,” a voice said and a pony emerged from the corner of the room. H-How long had she been… wait, he knew this mare? He’d met her before. Wasn’t she Celestia’s legal advisor?

“Plus there was the damage to the city, the strain that must have been put on Shining and Cadance, even Twilight and her friends through all of this,” Aspect continued. “It can’t have been pleasant for anyone involved.”

"Actually,” Celestia said with a light chuckle…

“Oooh, allow me~” the unicorn mare said as she burned with emerald flame, revealing her true form as Chrysalis. “Hello daddy~ Miss me?”

“Chrys-!” Aspect snarled. “Missy, when I can walk, I will paddle your chitin until it breaks!”

“Oooh, sounds like a fun time~” she giggled and waved her flank. “In all seriousness, helping you was just a means to an end. My larger plan has yet to be put into effect. And before you start, I might have taken a few risks, but I largely planned and expected most of what happened. Aside from… oh, did I forget to mention your lightning killed three of my children.” She leaned in close and her eyes flashed. “Mind you, they were shielding ponies at the time.”

“...To be fair, you and yours were playing the villain role masterfully, I fully thought you’d all fallen into being monsters,” Aspect replied. “I have a strict protocol with monsters ingrained into me from Dream Valley. But nothing can restore that which I have done...so I am truly sorry, daughter mine. I never intended to ever be a kinslayer.” He actually looked...depressed at that thought.

Considering, he never looked even remotely sad before...this was cause for concern.

“Tis… well it’s not fine, but I honestly expected more. They have been laid to rest, and in the end, not a single pony has come to harm. So as protectors, they passed performing their roles spectacularly.” She coughed into her hoof and regained composure. “I am sorry, that I provoked you as I did. But you never would have released Arabus willingly.”

“...No, no I would not have,” Aspect sighed. Still not looking even remotely cheery. “And in the end he would have consumed me, and brought a doom you all would have had to fight. I would have become that which you would have needed my blade to stop.”

“Well, we saw it through, and a few unexpected things did occur,” the Changeling said as she leaned down on the bed, placing her head in his lap. “I… have missed you Father. All this time, I tried to do what you entrusted to me. Even… even when ponykind shunned us, because of what we are, what we need to survive…”

“The fault lies with me,” Aspect shook his head. “The witch was cursed, for she did not drink enough to truly secure her immortality. So it was passed to you, which was my fault alone. I could have spent more time hammering out her essence, making you better than you are...forgive me, daughter. I have failed you at every turn.”

“What, oh dear god no, I’m bucking perfect,” she chuckled. “Ponies are the issue. My kind is adorable. Have you even seen them? Their cute lil blue eyes. Those nibbly fangs and widdle hoofsies!” She grinned and gushed over her little spawnlings.

“Mmm,” Aspect chuckled. Then he decided to tell her something she would love to hear. “So, I’ve been inspired lately to give over my copies of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings to some pony publishers to be re-imagined as a pony story…”

“TOLKIEN!?” Chrysalis’s head snapped up and she beamed brightly. “Ohhhhh! I get to give my little ones those stories. I…” She paused as Celestia cleared her throat, but the alicorn was wearning a small smile. “Er… right,” Chrysalis blushed. “In any case, we have a few things to go over, li-ERK!” She let out a strangled grunt as something slammed into her, and Aspect saw that Midnight had awoken… and was now trying to strangle the Queen with her bare hooves.

Aspect sighed and looked over at the door, seeing Gungnir waiting there like a loyal dog for its master. It might not have as much power as before, he remembered that...but it would still obey Air. Which he was now the sole master of, no Arabus in his head anymore. With a jerk of his head, the spear feigned stabbing at Midnight to make her let go, distract her from the queen, before standing between them.

“I *cough* that was… *hack!* O-Okay… That was… mostly uncalled for,” the queen groaned, rubbing her neck.

“Te voi ucide pe tine și pe toată specia ta!” Midnight spat, trying to get past the spear. “You killed my sister! I will have your HEAD!”

“Midnight, she got Arabus out of my head,” Aspect said. “She killed a demon that was already dead. I’m willing to give her a chance.”

“I’m not!” Midnight snarled as she grabbed the spear. “I’ll wear her head like a hat!”

“I promise I can make things right, I just need a little time,” Chrysalis yelped as Celestia stepped forward.

“Midnight, stand down. That’s an order.”

“But—”

“That. Is. An. Order,” Celestia said, her gaze taking a more stern tone. Midnight trembled, part of her wanting to ignore the order but…

“Your sister isn’t dead!” Chrysalis yelped again, hiding behind Celestia.

Aspect sighed. Apparently the big bad bug was just an act. A very good act for a very long time, but…

Chrysalis could feel it now. That familiar, old feeling of fatherly love drifting her way...being directed her way. She sighed softly as Midnight stared at her with wide eyes.

“I’m not lying,” the Queen said. “Look, just, give me until tomorrow, I promise.”

“You…” Midnight took a step back and dropped the spear, and before anypony could stop her, she flew out of the door and down the hall.

“Aaaand that’s a bat that we’re not getting back easily,” Aspect sighed. “She’s...probably actually gone for that one.”

“I shall go and find her,” Celestia said. “Chryssie. Explain the rest to him okay?”

“Yeah…” the changeling replied as the alicorn took her leave.

“So what else did I miss from your grand plan?” Aspect asked as he leaned back in his hospital bed. Honestly this all was probably pretty unnecessary.

“Well, the true reason I’ve done all this is one I’ll reveal later,” she smirked. “Oh and by the by, we have a new Aspect as well.”

“Wait what?” the stallion blinked. “How...why...who?”

“Well, remember that comment you made about Shining being unable to shield the city against Arabus?”

“...Vaguely?” the stallion replied. Honestly most of those memories were...dark and dim and hard to read.

“You literally said it not ten minutes ago,” she facehooved. “Well guess what? He actually did and well…” The Changeling sat down and smirked. “We have the world’s first male alicorn now.”

Wait what.

Aspect tilted his head, his eyes widening a little in shock.

Okay...impressive. But...how? Where was he? That can’t have been pleasant. All those thoughts and more competed to be said first, a myriad of emotions playing across his face.

“First, calm down,” Chrysalis said. “Second, he did a fine job and I guess he was rewarded for that. Upside is that Lovebutt has a hubby that won’t die in a century now.” She chuckled and then looked at him. “And you… Three mares? Seriously?”

“They picked me, not the other way around,” Aspect replied seriously. “I don’t regret it for a moment.”

“I don’t know whether to be confused, impressed or slightly aroused…” Chrysalis said with a sly smirk.

“Ehhh…” Aspect waved a hoof. “So...Pupal. She was never disconnected, was she?”

“Not once,” Chrysalis mused. “How do you think I could plan around you so easily… also if you yell at her for lying, I will tell her and all your daughters to use the Cute on you at the same time.”

“Ack, my one weakness,” Aspect swooned as he fell back against the bed. “You do realize I’m not happy about how you did it, yes? You got results...just, try not to take on something like this again? At least not without telling me?”

“If you knew, then you’d have held back,” she said. “Or tried to talk me out of it. The less ponies that knew the better. Sparkle almost ruined everything, so I… might have kidnapped her for a night.”

“Oooh, what a naughty daughter I have,” Aspect cooed. “Did you get your sons to service her every whim? Or did you and Cadance team up on her to finish what I started?”

“...I’msorrywhat?” Chrysalis blinked.

“Aaaand I just managed to pull one over on you as revenge for what you did as Cadance,” Aspect chuckled, letting her work it out from that clue alone.

“...I will get you for that,” Chrysalis said as she picked herself up. “In any case, we can talk more at length later. I need to put Phase Three into action.”

“This is why I suggested Celly get you on her side,” Aspect sighed. “You’re good at this sort of stuff.”

“Who says I’m not already?’ Chrysalis said with a teasing smirk. “What do you think Phase Three is~?” And on that note, she resumed her disguise and left the room, singing something about the day being perfect.

Aspect sighed as he laid back, noting that the null-sphere had vanished with both Celestia and Chryssy leaving. “Being bored in a hospital sucks,” he muttered out loud.

The door opened and a new pony walked in with a smirk.

Rainbow Dash.

Dressed as a nurse.

“Hell-o, Nurse,” Aspect perked up immediately as she winked at him and smiled. Minor edit to his previous comment. Hospitals were awesome!

“I…” Twilight stared at her brother, now sporting a pair of wings as he looked himself over, still unable to believe it. “HOW!?”

“I have no idea,” Shining shrugged. “I just woke up like this after I passed out from the battle. I think I remember a voice in my head but…” he sighed and shook his head. “Sorry Twiley, I don’t remember.”

“You… turned into an ALICORN!” Twilight exclaimed, raising her voice. “And you don’t know HOW….” she paused and narrowed her eyes. “Aspect! I will bet my horn that this is his doing, or someone related to him!”

“Maybe,” Shining said with a weary sigh. “I’m just worried on how Cadance is gonna react. She hasn’t seen me yet.”

“Ohhh, I have now~” a voice purred as the mare in question draped herself over his shoulders. “Mmmm, Cady like~”

“Ahehe…” Shining blushed as Twilight facehooved and turned around.

“Right, I’m going to see if Aspect is okay,” she said. “You two um…” She heard sounds that sounded like kissing and she sighed, taking her leave. Today was going to be one of those days wasn’t it?

Twilight sighed as she nudged open the door to Aspect’s room. “Honestly, you’d think somepony would know how they bloody ascended to…” Twilight trailed off as she saw the position that Rainbow and Aspect were in. “Yup… definitely one of those days,” the unicorn mare sighed. She should not be this used to this…

“Aheh...Dash? Twilight’s here, and I doubt it’s to give me a checkup,” Aspect tried dissuading the prismatic pegasus.

Said pegasus was giving him a thorough oral exam at the moment, she opened one eye and looked at Twilight, waving a wing before carrying on with her task.

“Sorry Twi, I tried,” Aspect offered, before grunting.

“I’m honestly learning to tune it out,” she shook her head. “Also, speaking of, I discovered something interesting I thought you might like to know.”

“Do go on,” the stallion said, trying to hold a serious conversation.

“Well… I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over this,” she said, blushing slightly. “And, I was actually wondering, seeing as you are a stallion I mostly trust. If I could borrow you for an… experiment of sorts.”

Rainbow coughed, almost gagging at that comment.

“Such as?” Aspect asked, taking full advantage of that momentary reprieve.

“Would you… be so inclined, as to accompany me on a date?” she asked him. “I’ve been doing research, going over feelings that I have an… I think that… well…” She trailed off, as Rainbow lifted her head.

“Well what Egghead?” she prodded.

“I think, that I might… kinda be attracted to mares,” she said with a heavy blush. “So… I want to go on a date with a stallion, to really rule it out or not.”

“Ah, I was about to say, mare isn’t one of my forms,” Aspect chuckled. “Yes, I can do that for you Twilight. Just...not right now? We have a lot going on as of late.”

“I know, it’s just I… well nevermind,” she shook her head.

“Huh, so if you like mares…” Rainbow tilted her head. “You got one you like?”

“I…” Twilight blushed very hard at that one. “Shutup already.”

“Can do,” Rainbow beamed and resumed her task of slow torture.

“Hnnnrgh,” Aspect grunted as she restarted what she’d left half-finished. “Well...consider a pin put in it for later,” the stallion offered. “When we get back to Ponyville, remind me of it after we’ve had time to unwind, and I’ll pencil you in.”

“Great, I just turned a romantic event into an appointment,” she giggled, tactfully ignoring Rainbow. “Now for the real reason. Are you responsible for my brother growing some new appendages.”

Rainbow snorted again.

“I...don’t know,” Aspect replied honestly. “I mean, there was something that happened, I can recall that much. Something about a shield that just wouldn’t go down...but...I didn’t do it.”

“Well yes, he shielded the city for the whole of the attack, even when Arabus became that giant storm pony. He pushed him out of the city and kept him out.” Twilight rubbed her horn with a hoof. “I mean, the Princess and I helped by giving him magic but…”

So wait…

Shining protected the entire city, standing up to the full might of Arabus and even pushed back!?

Just how fricken powerful were these Sparkles?

“That’d...probably do it. Effort is rewarded,” Aspect explained. “By standing up to an Aspect, he gained the right to join their table. He’ll probably be sore in his new wings for days on end. I wouldn’t be surprised if he needed a flying instructor to actually use them. Ascension is rarely painless.”

“So…” Rainbow pulled up. “If I kick your butt? I’ll get immortality?”

“Only if I went full on villain,” Aspect replied, beeping her nose.

“Aww,” she sighed and grinned, before her nose met his hips. Nrrgggh fuck, somepony had been getting lessons from Midnight.

“Hnnnnrgh,” Aspect grunted, trying to hold out. “Is there...hah...Anything else you need, Twilight?” he tried asking.

“W-Well, I was going to ask about your relation to a shapeshifting bugpony…” she said, blushing lightly.

“If I were to...Nnngh...tell that story now, I don’t think I’d...hah...finish,” the stallion panted.

Oh, he couldn’t finish huh? Rainbow smirked as she started to pick up pace and then use that tongue trick that Midnight showed her.

Aspect grunted as he tensed up, doing his best to hold back. “Hah...yup, definitely wouldn’t be able to tell you the story,” he said to Twilight. “It’d...probably be best if you left while you still could.”

“Oh yes, because I haven’t seen this before,” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Geeze, just… get it over with so we can have an intelligent conversation.”

“I dunno, Dash is...insatiable,” the stallion pointed out. “She’ll probably just...get more lewd…”

“Hmmmmm~” the pegasus purred as she sped up and added some rather lewd noises to the mix.

“This is honestly more than anypony should know about their friends,” the unicorn sighed.

“Fuuuuuu-” Aspect trailed off, before his hips jerked a few times, finally giving Dash what she’d been searching for. She let out a small coo as he heard her gulp it down.

“Honestly,” Twilight sighed. “And how can you even do that? Wouldn’t it… I dunno, taste gross?”

“Well, a mare tastes very fine to me,” the stallion replied, panting as his orgasm tapered off. “I don’t know how it goes the other way.”

Rainbow finished and pulled back, licking her lips. “Actually, he kinda tastes like… hmm, I’m gonna say some kind of sweet. I blame Bon Bon though. Her candies are wicked addictive.” She turned to Twi and waggled her eyebrows. “Hey, we can test your like for mares, and answer that question all in one if you want Bookworm~”

“Pass,” Twilight retorted, shooting her down instantly. Ohh, that was brutal.

“Twilight’s learned how to deal with our antics, love,” Aspect chuckled as he ran a hoof through that rainbow mane. “Guess we’ll just have to pick up our game.”

“Oh, you have something in mind?” Rainbow giggled.

“Nah, nothin’ at the moment,” the stallion replied. “You’ve drained me for the time being.”

“Hmm, glad to hear it,” she giggled and kissed him before he could protest about it. Aspect spluttered and pushed her back, sticking his tongue out.

“I haven’t forgotten what you just had in there, you know,” he rejoined.

His silly pegasus just giggled.

“So he can dish it out, but can’t take it?” Twilight said with a smirk.

“I have no desire to taste myself, thank you,” Aspect replied curtly.

The mares just giggled again, before Twilight’s ear flicked. “Hmm, you… hear that?”

That was the sound of a lot of ponies, and most sounding quite unhappy too.

“Uhoh,” the stallion winced. That wasn’t going to be pretty.

“We should go check that out,” Twilight said and looked at Aspect. “Need some help?”

“Eh...I should stay here and not give the nursemares heart attacks,” Aspect waved a wing at them. “Plus, exerting myself like that gave me a Tartarus of a headache.”

Twilight sighed and cast a spell on the wall, and it took a moment, but he could see that the spell projected what Twilight was seeing. “There, I’ll go check it out, you can watch from here.”

“Mkay, try not to do anything I would do,” Aspect called.

“Don’t worry, I don’t desire to have sex with anypony here,” she quipped as she left the room. Did… did Twilight Sparkle just burn him?

“Dash, we’ve created a snark monster,” he sighed.

“Nope, this one’s all your fault,” she giggled as she nestled against him. “Now, let’s cuddle and watch Sparklevision.”

“Sounds good,” Aspect said as he leaned back and watched what was transpiring outside the hospital walls.

Twilight found the room with all the commotion. It was the one Celestia reserved for speaking with the press in large groups. It took a moment, but she saw that most of the ponies gathered were Canterlot nobility.

And addressing them was the Solar Alicorn herself, along with that legal aide of hers. Wait… wasn’t she actually…

“This is outrageous!” one stallion yelled. “And why should we—”

“Because it’s in the law,” Chrysalis stated as she stepped forward, still in her unicorn disguise. “Under the Rebuild Obligation clause. In the event that Canterlot is devastated by an attack, be it natural disaster, or other. It is the Noble’s duty to care for the citizens. It is why you have those titles. Because your ancestors were of worthy valor. In days of old, they would be the ones to keep the common folk safe from harm. As Knights of the realm, etc…”

“Preposterous, we have heard of no such clause,” another mare spat.

“Are you calling Princess Celestia a liar?” Chrysalis hummed. “The law is right here in the Archives for anyone to see. Of course, anypony who fails to assist will lose their titles and Crown-given land.”

That… caused a particular uproar.

“If you aren’t Noble in action, then the title is useless to you,” Chrysalis sneered. “What use is a Noble who is greedy, self-centered and heartless? You’d be little more than the monsters that ruined this fair city.”

“Oooh, clever,” Aspect mused. “I approve of phase three.”

“Furthermore…” Chrysalis hummed. “This attack might not have happened were it not for the incompetence of the Council…”

That… got some pause from everypony.

“You see,” she said. “It has come to my attention that they knew more than a week beforehoof of this attack. They waited more than a week to tell the Princess and the Guard. Had they acted sooner, this might not have even happened.”

And now everypony was murmuring amongst themselves.

“She’s scary good,” Aspect said to Dash. The pegasus nodded in agreement.

“So as such,” Chrysalis said with a smile. “The current Council will be disbanded.”

Now everypony was shouting, though they calmed when Celestia stomped her hoof and frowned. Hooboy, Celestia looked angry. Now they’d dun fucked up.

“For too long, Canterlot has primarily been a Unicorn-run city,” she said calmly. “So this new Council shall be created with that in mind. A fair council comprising of several species. Earth, Pegasus, Unicorn, Thestral, even Diamond Dog and dragon. This will be a Council to represent not just Canterlot, but all of Equestria.”

“Nice to see her taking my idea and running with it,” Aspect nodded as he snuggled next to Dash.

“Ponies are supposed to work together,” Celestia said with a weary sigh. “And yet, I still see my dear little ponies bicker and fight. To look down on those less fortunate…” She sighed again. Oh dear, this many times meant she was really stressed. “I also wish to apologise. Many many years ago, ponies used to have much more power. Special magic that no other species possessed. It took a special kind of stupid to even think of challenging us. But… then we started attacking ourselves. We turned our might upon our own kin. Even…” She paused, Aspect hearing her voice hitch in her throat. “Even foals were not spared in their indiscriminate attacks. So… so I solved that problem. I used a magic that should never have been used. If… if my father truly knew what I did, I doubt I could ever forgive me… but, trust is built upon trust. If we are to move forward. Then history must be rediscovered. What… what my unforgivable sin was.”

Okay, this had his attention. Aspect sat up as he watched the wall intently.

“Long ago… my father created a spell. He called it… the Null-field. A special Runic spell that removes all magic from within it’s radius…”

Oh no. No no no. He always built a null-field to fall apart if the right runes were pulled away from each other.

“Princess?” one pony asked.

“The civil war that followed the wake of Nightmare Moon was terrible,” Celestia said. “Pegasi and their floating cloud fortresses, Earth ponies rearranging the very landsapes… and Unicorns and their nigh unstoppable magical might. I… I was distraught over losing my entire family in a single night. I was still young ruler… I…” She sighed as her mane lost it’s luster, falling limp. “So, I created a Null-field. One that… that covered ALL of Equestria. And… and I left it there. For generations. Not a single pony… sans a selected few, were capable of any magic. Not the Lost Artes. Even simple spells, even a pegasi’s flight… Even…” She shuddered. “Even Cutie Marks…”

Oh no...to go so far...Aspect was wringing his hooves.

“Princess…” One pony said softly. “Why… why tell us this now?”

“Because,” she said quietly. “You will have this new Council. They will be fair. And then…” She looked down. “I will step down as ruler of this nation. I will still handle the task of the Sun, as I always have, as is my sacred duty… but, I am not fit to rule this nation. I am… a monster, more than any that has ever walked these lands. I am not fit to be your Princess.”

And now the room was in an uproar as the vision Aspect etched shimmered. It took a moment for him to realise that Twilight was crying before the spell cut out entirely. He did manage to catch Chrysalis’s outraged expression though.

“Something tells me Celly did not confer with Chryssy about that plan before she made it,” Aspect grumbled as he made to get up.

“The… the Princess won’t be our Princess anymore?” Rainbow gasped. “But… but she’s the Princess! Nopony else can be the Princess!”

“I am going to have words with her about this,” Aspect nodded as he began unplugging himself from the monitors. Several flatlined before Rainbow switched them off.

“Um… need a hoof?” she asked him.

“The more hooves taking things off me, the better,” the stallion agreed. She nodded as she slipped under his wing, holding him up as the pair hurried as fast as they could from the room. This needed to be solved sooner rather than later.

It wasn’t long before they were slipping into the palace itself, making their way past guards and sneaking towards Celly’s room. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any trouble in just getting inside. Two guards stood outside, and he recognised one as the pegasus mare he met recently.

“Okay,” he said to Dash, “Just act casual.” He nudged her towards the pegasus and began preparing a speech.

“Causal… sure…” Rainbow nodded as they approached the armed guards. As they neared the door the guards glanced at them and tightened their grip on their spears.

Aspect did his best to pull himself up and look impressive. He was still weak from his prolonged hospital stay, but he would be damned if he would let Celly lock herself up in her room all day. “Stand aside,” he ordered. “I have business with my daughter.”

“Nopony is to see the Princess right now,” the stallion said in a firm tone.

“Colt, if I weren’t recovering from being hospitalized, I would shock you for that one,” Aspect countered. “I still might. For the last time, stand aside before I make you.”

“Sir. It is a crime to threaten a Royal Guard,” he said, Secure barely containing her giggles. “I'm going to ask you to wait here while I place you under arrest for further questioning.”

Rainbow was doing far more poorly in containing her giggling.

“Tell me something colt, you ever fly before?” Aspect asked, as Dash felt the air pressure around her stallion increase.

Secure chuckled and extended a hoof, poking him right in his sore rib. Aspect flinched, but quickly readjusted his footing to avoid collapsing.

“No threatening my subordinates,” she said. “And don't worry Shield, he's got clearance. Remember that briefing? He's him.”

“Oooohhh,” the stallion nodded. “My apologies sir. After what happened, we can't be too careful.”

“I get it, I do, but honestly, you’re just holding me up,” Aspect muttered as he reshelved his power. “Just...open the door so I can collapse in Celly’s forelegs rather than out here.”

Secure opened one door to allow the pair entry. “Good luck,” she whispered to him as she closed the door behind him.

Inside was… less bright than he'd thought. The curtains were drawn as Celestia sat in the center of the room, looking through some kind of book. Her mane and tail were disenchanted, and right now… she was honestly showing her age.

“Celly,” Aspect called out from the door, managing to get a few steps in the room before collapsing on the rug. At least it was comfy. A golden glow surrounded his body as he was gently floated closer.

“What are you doing out of bed?” she asked before sighing. “Right, you're a stubborn jackass.”

“Couldn’t just...leave you to brood,” Aspect said.

“Why not?” she murmured. “You and Lulu get to. S’my turn.” She continued to flip through the book and Aspect looked over at it. It was a photo album, a lot of the pictures being that of Celestia, and a fiery maned unicorn mare with a yellow coat and a sun Cutie Mark.

“...I’m not gonna convince you that what you just did was wrong, am I?” Aspect asked as he lay next to her.

“Which part?” she scoffed. “The speech? Maybe the part where I essentially collared and leashed an entire species over the acts of a few?” She let out a dry laugh. “All Hail the Tyrant Celestia.”

“I’m worse than you, you know,” Aspect replied. “I made the Phoenixes, but it wasn’t until Yggdrasil that they gained a leader. I gave a gift to the dragons...one that’s all but been bred out of them, because they weren’t meant to have it. I bucking made the Griffons on a whim...and they’ve brought nothing but war to ponies. For someone that was supposed to be central to the world’s scene, I’ve been terrible about keeping up with my creations.” He sighed. “Buck’s sake, I made Neptune to watch over the Seaponies rather than take a dip every now and then.”

“Only because you're a lousy swimmer,” Celestia snorted and then sighed. “See her?” she held up a photo of the unicorn. “She was my last student before Twilight.”

“Huh,” Aspect looked her over. “And why haven’t I heard about her?”

“She was brilliant,” Celestia continued. “She soaked up all I could teach and more. She… could have been an amazing pony, capable of amazing things…”

“Sounds like an ideal student, then,” Aspect nodded.

“Ambitious too,” Celestia said. “I… I had everything planned. I was going to help her Ascend. Become an alicorn… But…”

“But?” Aspect verbally prodded.

“She wanted more. She studied the Lost Arts… Runes… Dark magicks.”

“We’ll skip over how you know runes, or had a book on runes just lying about for now,” Aspect said briskly. “She was meddling in dark magic? That’s Grogar territory.”

“I asked Yggdrasil to help her ascend, I'd hoped if she became an alicorn, she'd forget about it… But he wouldn't. Her heart was… tainted,” She shuddered. “I tried to talk with her. B-But we got into an argument. She… She found one of Starswirl’s damnable mirrors…”

“Must have been a thing he made after I left,” Aspect muttered to himself.

“Oh right, he never told you,” She sighed as her shoulders sagged. “He found a way to breach the dimensional barriers. Luna and I often explored them as fillies with him. He… might have kept that a secret from you and Mom.”

“Yes, I can imagine why he would,” Aspect nodded seriously. “Gallivanting around in other dimensions at your age? What were you thinking filly?” For a moment, Celestia could hear the tone of her father in his voice, and not that of someone trying to comfort her.

“Sorry Daddy…” she sniffed, her voice cracking.

“So...she’s in another dimension,” Aspect sighed. “How long has she been there?”

“I guess… it's been around fifteen years now,” she sighed. “Time moves differently in some places. For all I know, she's either been away a few days… or she's long since passed.”

Rainbow had seen some things in the recent past. Insane alicorns of darkness, evil chaos gods and immortal demi-god stallions…

Seeing the infallible Princess Celestia break down and sob like a little filly was a new one. And not one she liked…

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Aspect soothed as he ran a hoof through Celestia’s mane. “Look...I think I know a guy who can help you get over your little spell that you did. But you’re gonna have to trust me, okay?”

“You heard what I did!” Celestia yelled at him. “Why… why aren't you angry? You… you should be furious… You, should find… a new Sun Aspect… a-a new daugh--”

That was Aspect lightly smacking her cheek with a hoof. He didn’t have the energy to do more.

“I’m not about to do that to you,” he said. “You’re not irredeemable, Celly. Yes, you’ve taken yourself off of your pedestal that others see you on, you’ve revealed some of the ugly truth that rulers sometimes have to engage in. But...you’re not irredeemable. You’re not a monster. You’re my daughter. I’m not going to stop loving the filly that called me her dad, even when I didn’t look anything like a pony.” He tapped her chest. “In this chest beats a heart full of love and care. I know it, and everyone else sees it too. You’re the same pony I trusted with running Equestria. You’ve just had some milage put on your mind and soul.”

“Your trust was misplaced,” she muttered. “I can't do anyt--”

And that was Rainbow smacking Celestia’s cheek not so lightly.

Rainbow Dash… just bitch-slapped the hell out of Celestia. The alicorn mare held a hoof to her reddened cheek, eyes wide.

“Shut. Up!” Rainbow yelled. “So you screwed up! Big fucking deal! Everypony screws up. The fact that Equestria is so great is because of you. That despite your screw ups, you still made this an amazing place to live.” She sighed and lowered her hoof. “I get it you know. I get being scared. Every time I perform, I get scared. The fact I'm getting married? That terrifies me. But, sometimes you just gotta bite the bit, suck it up and put your best hoof forward. Because the most cowardly thing to do is not look forward. Walk the path you choose without regret.” Her momentum died down and she looked at Celestia, still staring wide eyed at her.

“The worst thing you could do right now is be another me,” Aspect agreed. “One who ran from all the problems, rather than confront them. One who ignored what his family needed of him, rather than stay and help. If you step down now, the ponies will never recover. The world will never be the same. But if you stay, you can make a difference, make sure that what you had to do...never happens again.”

Celestia chuckled weakly. “Guess I can't do anything with you and Rainbow Mom here huh?”

Dash squeaked a little at that one.

“But my mind is set. Equestria will be better off with someone competent at the helm. And after that… I doubt my little ponies would want me back anyway.”

“Two points of order,” Aspect said. “First, can you think of anyone who has experience running a country like Equestria for thousands of years?”

“Chrysalis seems to be adept at it,” Celestia replied. “And Luna isn’t entirely incapable.”

“The ponies would run from Chryssy in her true form in an instant thanks to her act, and Luna probably still isn’t caught up on modern law,” Aspect retorted. “Second...help your old man over to the balcony.”

“Okay… why?” Celestia said as she stood up, helping his up with her magic until he was standing and leaning against her.

“Just a hunch,” the stallion replied. “Indulge me.”

“All I do is indulge you,” she rolled her eyes as she led him to the balcony, opening the curtain and wincing at the sudden sunlight filling the room.

“Close your eyes,” Aspect said, doing so himself. “Lose yourself to the feeling of being out here…”

And he could hear it, faintly below them. Not the outcry of the nobles, no…

But the common pony. The ponies from the artisan district and those that made a living in Canterlot. They’d joined forces…

And were trying to get their message to the Princess. That they loved her anyways.

“W-Why?” Celestia said, fresh tears staining her cheeks. “I… but I…”

“Because they love you,” Aspect said, nuzzling her. “Because you’ve done what you could to lead them safely. Because you loved them too. They want you Celestia. Not some council they’ll have to pick. But you. ‘Tis far harder to usurp a leader that is loved than one that is feared.’”

“It still doesn’t change the fact that I failed them,” she said. “That… I don’t feel strong enough to lead them. What Chrysalis did, what she’s still doing. I could never have done that on my own like she has.”

“She’s a powerful ally, you should get her to run a spy ring, to keep her from planning a coup against her old man again,” Aspect mused. “But...you can’t abdicate. They won’t let you. And if you’re not strong enough on your own? You do still have your sister to rely on. You’ve both fallen, in your own ways. But that’s not the important part, you know.”

“Oh?’ she said, looking down at the stallion. “What is the important part then?”

“The rise is all the sweeter after the fall,” he said in an airy voice. “True, tis better to have never fallen, but when you touch grace a second time, you treasure it all the more.”

“So basically what you’re saying is to learn from the past then,” she said and looked out over the city. “It would appear that I have made yet another mistake.”

“Eh, when you get to be as old as we are, you remember the mistakes more,” Aspect chuckled. “Though, I look at you and Lulu as a blessing that will never be forgotten. Not even your little prank wars back in the hidden valley.”

“Hmm, I haven’t pranked you in a while have I?” she chuckled and nuzzled him, before pulling Rainbow over and hugging her as well. “Honestly, you just couldn’t leave me be could you?”

“You gave me a flippin’ mansion to stay in so you could always find me,” Aspect deadpanned. “Turnabout is fair play. You kept me from leaving Equestria, so I’m gonna keep you where you’re loved.”

“Well damn… guess I walked into that one,” she giggled and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Her mane and tail billowed in a non-existent wind, filling with life and motion again as she looked up at the sky. “Well, guess I’d better start making things right.” She looked down at her father as a pulse of healing magic washed over him. It eased the pain and helped kickstart his regeneration.

“Aaaah, that feels much better,” Aspect groaned as he closed his eyes. “And hey, there’s always a way for you to make up for it. Come by more often to the classes I’m teaching to offer pointers. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something about Geomancy in the past thousand years, and I was never very good at Mountain Root.”

“Hmm, isn’t Twilight Velvet a suitable teacher?” she asked as she opened the rest of her curtains and started heading for the door. “I made sure to teach her what I could.”

“She’s good for Sorcery, and if any unicorn starts showing aptitude for the Still Way method of learning, I can handle that too,” Aspect replied. “And Aeromancy and the Gale King are still well within my purview. But I might’ve gotten rusty at my Geomancy, and I’ve never fought someone with Mountain Root. I’m so rarely an Earth Pony, and I passed off Earth not long ago.”

“Hmm, I barely remember Mountain Root myself,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. “Anyway, we’ll come back to that later. I need to fix this, and you need to find your thestral mare.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she stayed away until noon tomorrow to give Chryssy all the time she asked for before trying to kill her again,” the stallion sighed.

“Oh father…” Celestia sighed and shook her head. “Perhaps you should go and find her, before she does something foolish in her emotional state?”

“I can try, but I don’t know her all that well,” Aspect grumbled. “I mean, I don’t know where she would go. One such option would be her sister’s grave, but I don’t know where that is. I don’t pry.”

“Not here in Canterlot,” she said and nudged him with a wing. “Try the training field. She likes to work off her stress with exercise or training.”

“Alright, I’ll head there,” Aspect said, flaring his wings. “Dash, can I count on you to be a firm hoof in case Celly starts being silly again?”

“Mhm,” Rainbow said and smacked her hoof with the other. The alicorn blinked and raised an eyebrow at her father as he took off. Oh yes, he was getting pranked and pranked hard at some point in the future.

Author's Note

And now the consequences come home to roost.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on loot.

Chapter 57 - Old friends are like family

Taking his daughter’s advice, Aspect went in search of the training field. He… got horribly lost, but after asking a few guards, he was directed out the west side of the castle and into a large, open field. It was an oval shape, outlined with a running track and various exercise and fitness equipment filling the center.

It was abandoned for the most part… sans a batpony mare utterly destroying the training dummies there. She moved from one to the other, their sad training fate ended by strike of hoof, of swing of wingblade. Her fighting style was usually so elegant, flowing seamlessly from one move to the next, like a beautiful dance.

This was raw, unfocused destruction.

The stallion opted simply to watch rather than get involved. He didn’t doubt that those large ears of hers had picked up on his approach, and now he simply would wait to see when she would talk to him. If she would talk to him. He’d never seen her this mad before.

Once there were no more training dummies to destroy, she simply opted to sit in the middle of the field… just… staring at the ground. Once more, Aspect decided to play the waiting game. If she wanted to talk to him, he’d be there. If not...well, he’d also be there.

Her ear flicked in his direction. Yup, she’d noticed him now. He allowed himself to take a few steps closer before she opened her mouth to speak.

“Did you know?” she asked, her voice was a touch coarse, having lost a little of it’s silk-like tones.

“About your sister?” Aspect asked. “No. I hoped that Chryssy was just...playing a game for a good reason. Making herself out to be the villain for a purpose. But I didn’t know for sure.”

“And how do I know you aren't lying?” she said in a low tone. “How do I know you aren't playing some… living chess game like the rest of these damned immortals?” She turned to face him. “What did I ever do you you and yours? To make me think my own sister was dead!”

“I’ve been gone from Equestria, from the civilized world, for a thousand years,” Aspect pointed out. “I wouldn’t have had the time to do something like this. Nor would I have. My approach to problems is much more… ‘apply sword to face.’”

“Then what am I supposed to do with all this bucking anger!?” She screamed at him.

Aspect calmly walked forward, and gripped Midnight in a hug, letting her feel his love for her. “I’m not saying forget it,” he whispered. “I’m not saying forgive her, just yet. But you should bottle it up for now. If she’s true to her word, you’ll actually be meeting with your sister tomorrow. Then, the best way to work out your anger...would be to spar against her, when the fate of the world isn’t in the balance. When you can afford to try and bring it all to bear against Chrysalis.” He paused for a moment, before dropping the other horseshoe. “Oh, and I’ll be taking Gungnir somewhere where it can recharge. Chryssy dissipated most of the energy it had been building up with that cheap bow shot. And I don’t want you trying out your musical talents to bring serious harm to her, because then you’ll encounter some backlash.”

“If she's lying…” Midnight said, leaving the threat open. Aspect was quite aware of what she was capable of.

“If she’s lying, I’ll punish her myself,” Aspect promised. “Trust me, I can hurt her far more effectively than you can.”

Midnight’s hug was getting very tight now…

“I made a promise to myself, Midnight, after Discord,” the stallion said. “If the fate of the world was at stake...if something were wrong. No matter what, even if it were family...I would act. I would fulfill my role.”

Midnight sighed, still holding him. “You shouldn't fight family,” she murmured softly.

“When family is as large and powerful as this?” Aspect replied. “Buck, I’m just upset I wasn’t here for the Griffon wars. I’d have reprimanded them personally. I consider them and the Phoenixes my kids as well. There’s hardly a bit of the world I haven’t shaped in some way.”

“You sure you're not some kind of god?” Midnight chuckled. “Because I am totally for being a mare that fucks gods.”

“Eh, I’ve done some soul-searching in the past millennium,” Aspect replied, waving a wing. “I could have been, if I drank a little deeper from the fountain. At best, I’m...half finished. A half-fired pot. But what I can do is contain and trap essences to redistribute them, reshape them. And now with Arabus removed, I can easily hold another soul, another bit of power. He’s not taking up my focus. But rest assured, I’m no god. I’ll have to give it up eventually. I even have a plan for how I’ll give up Air at last.”

“Way to dash my dreams honey,” Midnight giggled.

“Sorry, no godlings being born from me,” Aspect replied. “Though speaking of that, I’m quite surprised Shining ascended. I guess Yggdrasil was desperate to hold off Arabus...or just didn’t want to disappoint his ‘daughter’.”

“Hmm… I wonder if I could could become an alicorn?” Midnight mused and licked her lips as she pounced him. “The alicorn of procreation~♡”

“One minute you’re angry, the next you’re trying to mount me,” Aspect noted.

“I like to keep you on your hooves….” She looked at the stallion she was straddling. “Relatively speaking.”

“I’ve never been more happy to play mental hopscotch,” Aspect replied. “Though sometimes the jumps between one mental point and another take a moment for me to make.”

“I'm trying to keep myself distracted okay?” Midnight said as she shook slightly. “Else… I can go back to being angry again.”

“My angry defender,” Aspect chuckled as he reached up and drew her in for a kiss. Once it broke...which took a while, he asked a question. “But running from the problem won’t solve it. Would you like to have my help in confronting the issue?”

“I… guess so,” she said and looked away. “Can I be alone for a while?”

Aspect raised an eyebrow, before looking slowly from her to all the destroyed dummies. “I don’t think this place could take much more of you wanting to be alone,” he pointed out.

“Is that an offer to be my new sparring dummy?” she quipped back. “No… I just need to think is all.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied. “Try not to destroy more than Chryssy did today, okay? We’re already going to be looking at a hefty repair bill.”

“Mhm,” Midnight murmured as she stared up at the sky.

“In the meantime,” Aspect slowly got out from under her, giving her a small nuzzle. “I’m going to try a thing.”

Midnight paused and slowly turned to him, raising an eyebrow with a questioning expression.

“I promise, nothing silly or endangering,” Aspect replied, holding up a hoof. “Just a small idea to get Gungnir charged up again.”

“Just don't hurt yourself,” she said and pat his back with a wing. “I need my foal’s father alive.” She paused and blinked. “Oh, I didn’t tell you I was pregnant did I?”

“No, no you did not,” Aspect replied, before kissing her gently. “We’ll celebrate with the others,” he promised. “For now, Gungnir and I need to fly.”

“Mhm,” Midnight said again and grabbed him, pulling him in close and kissing him deeply. It caught Aspect off guard for a moment, before he returned it as best as he was able, moaning into the embrace as he held his mare.

She soon broke the kiss and looked at him. “I will give your daughter the benefit of a doubt. If only for your sake okay?”

“Thank you,” Aspect replied as he nuzzled the mare again. “I promise, she’s not all bad. She just portrays herself that way to get things done. When it came to cunning minds, apparently Chryssy got the best one.”

“We shall see,” Midnight chuckled. “I will seal her in a room with mine and Bon Bon’s mothers.”

“...Alas poor Chryssy, I knew her well,” Aspect intoned dramatically.

Midnight just shrugged and chuckled…. before her eyes widened and she suddenly yelled out “He did it!” And then bailed.

Aspect slowly turned to see another… rather pissed off looking guard, eye twitching at the sight of the ruined training grounds.

Aspect could have stuck around to explain that it wasn’t his fault. He could have talked his way out of this one.

He elected to simply dissolve into air and ride the wind, stopping only to pick up his spear from the medical wing before blasting out of Canterlot on the breeze, leaving the mare to yell rather loudly…

When Aspect finally returned to his room, it was just about sunset on the battle-worn city, and his fur and feathers were sticking out at odd angles. But in his hoof, he held a spear that was thrumming with power once again.

“I need to have adventures more often,” the stallion said as he pushed the door open, putting Gungnir to one side.

And was promptly tacklehugged by Pinkie Pie. The pink ballistic missile grabbing him and hauling him inside as she rattled off something at high speed. Aspect blinked a few times, not comprehending what she was trying to say for the speed at which she was saying it. “I’m sorry?” he offered.

“So you should be!” Pinkie scolded him. “You almost missed the party! I was about to get mad.”

Why did that fill him with existential dread?

“I had an important thing to take care of,” Aspect replied. “That, and Middy pinned the training ground destruction on me.”

“Ahhh,” Pinkie nodded as Aspect looked around. It appeared to be a party… of… he looked up and spied a banner hanging from the ceiling.

‘Happy you found your family and Hooray that you purged an evil spirit’ party.

“...Okay, this is a first,” he stated out loud.

He spied Twilight and her friends, as well as Celestia and Cadance. Shining Armor was absent, likely still recovering. His mares, sans Rainbow were also missing.

And Chrysalis. Sitting at a table and wearing a pink party hat.

‘Help. Me!’ she mouthed at him.

“Pinkie, have you been forcing my daughter to have fun?” Aspect asked mock-seriously.

“Yeeeeessss?” Pinkie said as her own smile widened.

“You’ve clearly not been trying hard enough,” Aspect continued. “Where’s the clown nose?”

“Don’t you dare!” Chrysalis hissed at them both as Pinkie giggled and pronked away. The Changeling took off the hat and sighed. “Do you have ANY idea the mess I have to clean up now?”

“It’s all your fault for making it,” Aspect pointed out as he sat nearby...not noticing the sniggers directed his way due to his fur or feathers being ruffled. What? Flying headfirst into a thunderhead to recharge a magical spear meant he got zapped too.

“Oh, so it’s my fault Princess Blabbermouth upped and shot herself in the hoof with that little speech?” Chrysalis sighed and shook her head. “Honestly, I have a few stories crafting already, one being that it was a Changeling attempting to discredit the Princesses after the ‘failed invasion’.” She made cute little airquotes with her hooves.

“What, Celly didn’t make up for it?” Aspect asked. “I know I left her inspired to try again. It’s not the falling that matters. What matters is how you pick yourself up.”

“Leaving it to her would only invite more disaster," Chrysalis sighed and shook her head. “Well, the public seems to think she’s either kidding, stressed or they just don’t care. The Nobles on the other hoof…”

“For the love of…” Aspect grunted. “Honestly, I’m seriously tempted to pile insult on top of injury here, Chryssy. I want to just...brand them all with lightning, so we know which ones are the scumbags.”

“Don’t tempt me,” she scowled. “Still, my original plan is unaffected nonetheless, and that should hopefully weed out at least the worst of them.” She pressed her forehooves together and sighed. “I have a few ponies that, if I can get them on board, will prove immensely useful to me.”

“Ah,” Aspect nodded once. “You know I have no head for politics. Some of them tried to get me to accept a crown and title when Celly revealed my alicorn form as her father. Even I could tell that was a bad move, though. At least, if I wanted to live my life and avoid upsetting the delicate scales of power.”

“You in charge!?” Chrysalis let out a barking laugh. “Equus would be a barren wasteland in a week with you at the helm… provided you didn’t get lost on your way to the throne room… again~”

“I wouldn’t be that bad,” Aspect demurred. “I’d probably start by kicking the nobles out, though…”

“And that would incite a coup or a civil war,” Chrysalis said and poked his nose. “No, you will stay in your mansion and live in the background like a good stallion. Leave politics to the grownups.”

“Oh bite me,” Aspect replied, blowing a raspberry at her. “I wish you could have met the Diplomat, she had a way with words that got even mutual foes to fight on the same side as each other.”

And it was then that Celestia remembered…

Aspect’s bags still had a Wishing Star.

And they were glowing…

The star shone… before fading away in a small shower of sparkles.

Luna sighed as she reclined in her father’s favourite chair. The kids had been put to bed, and now the alicorn was bored. She stoked the fireplace before she suddenly blinked and raced to the window. Staring up at her night sky, she saw one star suddenly flash and streak across the sky before fading.

“Father… used his Wishing Star?” she pondered to herself. “...On what I wonder?”

“Hmpf, well, if you say so,” Chrysalis said as she stood up. “Well, this party has been… something. But I have a lot of work to do, so I have to go.”

That was before something started to happen in the center of the room. A magical vortex of unimaginable power began pulling ambient power to itself.

A wish had been made. It would be granted.

“What’s going on?” Chrysalis yelled as the vortex grew larger… before a stream of magic flew out of it, streaking through a wall and into a deeper part of the castle. The vortex, after having had it’s fill of the magic it could find, zoomed through the castle in search of one particular thing.

Not the mirror that Celestia had stored away in a vault. But one built like it...like the one in her bedchambers. Once there, the magic bound itself to the mirror, transforming it...not that anybody would know right away. The wish had been granted.

A portal between the worlds...had been opened.

“Father!” Celestia trotted over, her eyes wide. “What on Equus was that just now?”

Chrysalis nodded and looked at the pegasus. “Indeed, what the hell did you do?”

“It wasn’t me!” Aspect said, holding his hooves up defensively. “All I said was I wish-” He groaned as he realized what he’d unintentionally done. “Oh bucking Tartarus...I forgot about the Wishing Star…”

“You… carried that around!?” Celestia exclaimed.

“A what?” Chrysalis blinked.

“Something Luna and I gave him for Hearth’s Warming,” Celestia explained. “It’s a very, very rare artifact that can bring just about any wish into reality.”

“Whhhyyyyy would you give HIM something like that!?” Chrysalis yelled.

“Probably because they were hoping I would use my wish to ‘finish off’ my magical core, join the other Aspects like I should have been if I drank just a little more water from the Fountain of Eternity,” Aspect explained. “I’m not that selfish, though.”

“Well, so what did you wish for?” Celestia asked him.

“For...Chryssy to meet the Diplomat,” Aspect said. “But...the Rainbow she came over has been gone for a literal Age. So...I don’t know if she’s even still alive. Or how she’d get here.”

“Actually…” Celestia spoke in in a small voice. “R-Remember when I talked about Starswirl… and the journeys we took in our youth?”

“You didn’t,” Aspect deadpanned, looking at her with half-lid eyes of irritation.

“I… might not have destroyed the mirrors we used?” Celestia’s ears fell back as she gave him a sheepish smile. “I… sorta keep one in my room for nostalgia’s sake.” She waved a hoof and shook her head. “But it’s inert. The magic in it is long gone and cannot be restored…” Unlike the one she kept locked away in the Vaults…

“This is a Wishing Star’s level of power we’re talking about, Celly,” Aspect pointed out. “I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a damn door by now.”

There was a knocking at the door. “Hello?” a voice that had been touched by time, but still retained all of the qualities it once had, called from beyond the door. “I was looking at myself in my mirror and I sort of...found myself here. If this is an Alice in Wonderland dream, can I please find the Mad Hatter already?”

And before anypony else could respond…

Pinkie flung the door open and grabbed the being on the other side, dragging her past the threshold. “Wheeee! New guests for the party!”

What was revealed was a person out of myth. She stood about five and a half feet tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a set of jeans and a casual shirt, along with a set of comfortable shoes. Her eyes betrayed a bit of panic as she looked around from pony to pony, before finally settling on Celestia.

“Oh for the love of…” she muttered. “Is that you, little Cel? Am I really back in magical Ponyland again?”

“M-Megan…” the alicorn whispered as Pinkie dangled off of the woman’s arm. Her blue eyes flicked from her, to Celestia, then to Aspect.

“Ooooh, are you one of Aspy’s super funneriffic friends too?” she beamed brightly.

“I’ve never seen most of you before,” Megan replied. “The only one that’s familiar to me is Cel here. Mostly because Christopher would run to me for advice on raising a tiny pony whenever I was around. Used to live on a ranch, you know—” And any further words were cut off as Celestia virtually tackle-hugged the poor girl. Full grown alicorn meeting a small human…

“I’ve missed you so much!” the alicorn said in a mix of happy and crying as she held the woman to her chest tightly.

“OOOF!” Megan managed to say, trying to return the hug and free her ribs at the same time. “Ease up, girl,” she chided the alicorn in her famous ‘stern’ voice. “It’s only been, what, twenty years since I left? How’d you grow up to be a full-sized queen horse, eh?”

“Princess?” Twilight spoke up. “Who is this human?”

Celestia released her and looked down. “Twenty…” She paused and exhaled. “Only twenty years…”

“Yea—oh f-fudge,” the human nearly swore. “My girls will be coming home soon. Stacy and Becky...one’s old enough to consider college credits, the other’s still in middle school...and they’re both curious. If I don’t steer them away from the magical mirror…”

“I…” Celestia’s head swam as Twilight rattled off questions in the background. “There’s so much I—”

“Look,” Megan said, putting a hand to Celestia’s face. “I do like seeing you all. I do. Honestly! It’s basically confirmation my youth wasn’t just a fanciful imagining. But if I don’t keep my kids from playing with the mirror...I don’t want to have them wander in and be lost, Cel.”

“R-Right… of course,” the alicorn mumbled as she released the human from her embrace. “Where did you come in from?”

“I...don’t know,” Megan said as she stood up. “I do know the mirror was just as tall as I was, though. I keep it in the living room, I was just examining myself to make sure I hadn’t missed anything when it rippled and...pulled me in. Then I started wandering the halls...”

“Must be the mirror in my chambers,” Celestia said and opened the doors… just as two smaller human girls ran down the hall, the younger one giggling as the pair was promptly chased by two of her Royal Guard.

“Aaaaand that would be Stacy and Becky running through the halls,” Megan sighed. “...There’s probably no hope of them coming back on their own now.”

“And that would be my royal guard chasing them…” Celestia sighed and whistled. A moment later, a brown blur shot past and…

Was that a pony with bat wings dragging her girls back by the scruffs of their coats?

“I...see I’ve missed a fair bit,” Megan blinked a bit at the odd sight, before crouching and looking her girls in the eyes. “And what have I told you two about playing with unusual phenomena?” she scolded them.

“To always make sure you pack accordingly should the phenomena lead to a world of tiny talking equines?” Stacy, the older of the two said and pointed at her large backpack. “Food, water, clothes and…” She pulled off a large, metallic object and pointed it at the scary batpony holding her. “My BB Gun.”

“You know that won’t do anything but sting, though I suppose you could try putting an eye out and hope for the best,” Megan replied. “You also know you won’t be able to wield an actual gun for about two more years thanks to the law. So again, why did you poke around with the odd thing out?”

“Cause we wanted adventures like you Mommy!” Becky giggled as she looked at the ponies… then vanished from Midnight’s hold, already latched onto Celestia’s foreleg. “OHMYGOD! It’s a real unicorn! AAAAHHHH!”

“I’m sorry,” Megan said to Celestia. “They were practically raised on the stories of my youth. I might’ve...downplayed the danger a bit from when I was here.”

“You didn’t mention castles on mountains in your stories,” Stacy quirked an eyebrow. “Really, senile at your age Mom?”

“To be fair, this castle wasn’t here when your mother was…” Celestia said as she lifted a leg and nuzzled the smaller child. “That was a long, long time ago.”

“W-Wait,” Megan’s facade began to crack at that. “So...how long ago? I mean...Heartthrob, Posy...all the ponies in Dream Valley...they can’t all be…”

“I’m sorry,” Celestia said in a quiet voice. “It’s… it’s been nearly two thousand years.”

The woman didn’t so much collapse as fold in on herself as the weight of how long she’d been gone hit her. She wasn’t crying. She was beyond tears. This...this wasn’t just sorrow. It was a feeling of emptiness. They’d been ripped away with no chance for her to say good bye. Sometime in the last twenty years...she’d utterly lost her friends beyond any hope of seeing them again.

“I am… sorry to tell you that,” Celestia said, kneeling down next to her and putting a wing around her. “I miss them as well, and the Valley. But, some are still here. I am for one, as is Lulu. And it turns out that Twinkle was hiding away in another realm and has returned recently.”

That opened the floodgates, and Megan leaned on Celestia as she began staining that white fur with her tears.

“Is Mommy gonna be okay?” Becky asked the pegasus stallion she found herself standing next to.

“She’ll be fine,” Aspect spoke up, and that shut Megan up, raising her bloodshot eyes to glare at the stallion. “Oh dear,” he chuckled. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.”

“You,” Megan growled. “Of course you would survive as well.”

“Honestly Megan, it’s sort of my thing as of late,” Aspect said, his form glowing as he retook his human form for the first time in a while.

“Christopher Gale,” she muttered as she stood up and walked over to him. “As I recall, you overruled me on several decisions about who could be saved.”

“And I stand by that, the fate of this world was in the balance each time,” the male human nodded.

The two stared at each other for a moment longer...before Megan nodded. “Good on you,” she said. “I was younger and foolish then. You were right.”

And that...completely floored Christopher, his jaw hanging open slightly.

“Huh…” Celestia said as she looked between the pair. They never really stood eye to eye on a lot of things back then.

“WILL SOMEPONY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON!?!?!” Twilight yelled, clearly at the end of her rope now, as locks of her mane sprung up and her eye had a dangerous twitch to it.

“Oh, I suppose I can,” Megan said as she walked over and knelt before Twilight. “My name is Megan Williams,” she introduced herself. “When the ponies lived in Dream Valley, my younger brother and sister and myself would come over the rainbow to lend them aid in dark times, or just to help them get a society going.”

“You… You’re the Diplomat that Aspect has mentioned before!” Twilight zipped up to her, now looking normal.. Well, normal for Twilight. “H’oooooohmigosh! I have SO many questions!”

“And my girls and I have to go home and have dinner,” Megan countered. “Plus they have school tomorrow.”

Twilight dropped her notebook, her ears falling back as her eyes widened, growing moist as the little unicorn looked to be on the verge of tears. The Cute combined with heart-shattering sadness…

“Nice try,” Megan chuckled. “I’ve helped raise baby ponies before, and I have two kids of my own.” She put a hand under Twilight’s chin, to raise it up a little.

Meanwhile, half the room away, Christopher had fallen over, clutching his chest with a hand.

“Still...assuming we leave after dinner, I suppose we could stay for a bit,” Megan mused.

Twilight instantly cheered and smiled brightly. “Yes! Aspect… I mean, Christopher is a huge butt and won’t tell me anything. So I can’t wait to hear from somepony more agreeable.”

“It’s probably bad memories,” Megan pointed out. “Keeping in mind, he was, what...sixteen, when he picked up that sword? And it was only a year later that he had to actually use it. We have a saying back home. ‘Every time you take a life, you lose a bit of your soul.’ It means you become less human the more you kill.” She got back up and looked over at the downed male, before chuckling. “Though, I guess he only did it out of necessity, rather than because he wanted to.” She pursed her lips at the thought. “Unlike what my younger self thought,” she muttered, seemingly to herself...forgetting that ponies had much larger ears.

“Yes well, Aspect’s reliance on sword over words still doesn’t sit well with a lot of us,” Twilight nodded and spared him a glance.

“Says you!” Rainbow flew up to defend her stallion. “I happen to think Chris is really cool. Well, he wouldn’t be marrying me if he wasn’t.”

“...How long did it take you all to wear him down?” Megan asked. “I mean, I saw that he can apparently shapeshift now, which reminds me a lot of Katrina…”

“Got no idea who that is,” Rainbow said. “But… I guess, I sorta like him no matter what he looks like ya know…” She drifted off, mumbling and blushing.

“Indeed,” Midnight purred, having snuck up behind the woman. “We would not be marrying him based on simply one of his forms. But my oh my, the things he can do with that thestral tongue of his~”

“And that’s more than my daughters need to hear,” Megan bluntly cut that line of thinking off. “Sheesh...leave a guy alone for twenty years, he goes native on you.”

“Well I mean,” Christopher forced himself up, before snaring Dash and putting her in his lap, running his fingers through her mane. “Admit it, if you’d been stuck here long enough with a stallion, you might’ve considered it,” he posed to the woman.

“...No comment,” the female human replied.

“Or a mare~” Midnight mused and blew lightly in her ear. “Some of us aren’t picky~”

“Double, extra-special no comment,” Megan said firmly. “So...what’s there to eat around here?” she asked. “Knowing the black holes my kids have for stomachs, I’m pretty sure they’re just as curious what’s for dinner.”

“Weeeeeeell,” Pinkie rolled up… literally. She just curled into a perfect sphere and rolled over before unfurling that didn’t at ALL sound like certain formshifting robots. “We still have a party inside with tons of yummy foods!”

“Remember to leave some for the others,” Megan said to Becky and Stacy, the girls already tearing inside as they shouted something akin to understanding.

Once everypony entered the room, it just left Megan, along with Christopher, Dash, Midnight and Celestia in the hall.

“I can’t believe you have children now,” Celestia whispered and giggled. “What poor sap did you rope in for that?”

“One that didn’t mind my...antics,” Megan replied. “He’s overseas right now, but he’ll be coming back home in a few month’s time. He always sees my preparedness training for the kids as something akin to too much worry, but I’ll be sure to rub this in his face when he gets back.”

“What is this?” Midnight asked as she looked at the discarded BB gun. She turned it around in her hooves… before it went off with a pop… and shot Christopher in the butt.

“Yipe!” the human jolted a bit, before looking over at Midnight. “A projectile weapon,” he explained. “It uses pressurized air to shoot a pellet at fast speeds over a short distance. The weakest of the sort.”

“And she’s actually being trained in firearm handling,” Megan supplied. “I’ll not have them wandering out into the wilderness without their own protection in their pockets. Unlike a certain foolish human female who shall remain nameless.”

“Is she talking about herself?” Dash piped up, still enjoying the petting.

“No comment,” Christopher and Megan said at the same time, causing them to look up and raise their eyebrows at each other. Megan giggled a little afterwards.

“So,” she said, looking around. “What’ve I missed?”

“Oh… you know, little things,” Celestia said. “Like the Valley being eternally frozen over. And ponies making a new nation… being enslaved by a Chaos demon… Several new alicorns, Father finally being rid of Arabus… Civil war, among other things.”

“...I see,” Megan mused. “And where’s Lu? You and her were inseparable, last I knew.”

“Watching over Aspect’s growing number of children,” Celestia replied. “And keeping her out of the fight we literally just went through yesterday. The city’s a wreck, so I’d avoid going outside for the time being.”

“What? This immature idiot, having kids?” Megan walked over and gave Christopher a noogie. “Don’t tell me he’s training up a small platoon of sword-wielding foals to take over for him.”

“...You are not teaching our child to wield a sword,” a new voice said as Bon Bon walked up behind them. “I was wondering what the racket was all about.” She looked the woman over and then to Christopher. “Old girlfriend?”

“Bon Bon, meet Megan Williams,” Christopher said, ducking his head out of Megan’s grasp. “Also known as the Diplomat, the counterpart to my being the Sword.”

“Ah, so she’d be the smarter, more agreeable one then?” Bon Bon said with a small smirk. Oooh, the snark was strong with her today.

“It’s not a burn when it’s true~” Megan sang as she knelt in front of the new pony. “So, you’re the one in charge of keeping this idiot in line?” she jerked a thumb over her shoulder at Christopher.

“Somepony has to,” she sighed and held out a hoof. “My name is Bon Bon, first of his trio of fiancees. It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss Megan.”

“Please, no miss, just call me Megan,” the human replied, gently taking Bon Bon’s hoof and shaking it, before looking back at Christopher. “Three mares? Last I knew, you wouldn’t even look at one like that.”

“It’s...a long story,” Christopher replied, still petting Dash.

“Let’s see how long it takes us to get through over dinner,” Megan countered.

“Well, I apparently seduced him with cooking,” Bon Bon giggled as they entered the dining hall. Megan’s daughters were currently giggling as Twilight floated them about a foot off of the ground with her magic.

“Oh geeze,” Christopher muttered as he watched the spectacle. “Methinks the mare doth profess too much enjoyment over learning of the past,” he muttered.

“These girls are wonderful,” Twilight giggled as she danced them around in the air. “Stacy has been telling me all about the schools she’s attended. Did you know she’s majoring in Anthropology?”

“Mom! I think I wanna live here… for like, ever!” Stacy said from within the magical aura that held her aloft.

“Of course I know that, I’m her mother,” Megan sighed as she approached. “Girls, what’s the rule about magic?” she quizzed them.

“What? Miss Twilight seems legit,” Stacy said with a giggle as the unicorn set them down.

“Yeah, legit,” Becky mimicked.

“And this is why I don’t set them loose until they can recite the rules to me,” Megan muttered, before looking at Celestia. “How do you manage it?” she asked. “I can’t just keep them locked up all day, I’m their mother, not their warden.”

“Honestly, you don’t want to know,” Celestis said and looked down, her previous speech still fresh in her mind. “Just… learn from the mistakes you make, and have faith that your children will grow up willful, strong and kind.”

“See, that’s the sort of thing Mike keeps telling me whenever I start getting upset,” Megan chuckled as she gently guided the children to the ground. “So how many have you had then, Cel? You seem to be pretty apt at being motherly now.”

Celestia squeaked and blushed. “I ah… have not had the uh…”

“She’s a virgin,” Rainbow said from beside Megan, but quietly enough that her daughters didn’t hear.

“Rainbow!” Celestia hissed through a clenched jaw, her cheeks a bright pink.

“Ah,” Megan nodded sagely. “Well, can’t win them all, I suppose.”

“Despite her awkward attempts at trying,” Christopher pitched in.

“I swear I will just drop the sun right here and now,” Celestia groaned and headed for the nearest cake to drown her sorrows and embarrassment in.

Christopher chuckled as he picked out a spot near Dash to sit in, using one hand to feed himself some of the treats left on the table. The other was busy distracting Dash with more pettings.

“Yo dude… any particular reason you’re petting me?” Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow. “I mean… not that I mind or anything but…”

“What?” Christopher asked. “I can’t pay attention to one of the ones that brings so much color to my life?”

“...was that a joke about my mane?”

“Clearly our time apart has brain-damaged you, you never talked like that before,” Megan quipped. “No, wait, you were pretty dumb to begin with,” she observed after a moment.

“Attacked on all sides,” Christopher swooned into his chair.

“Only if it’s not true,” Bon Bon said with a wink. “I’m pregnant because you forgot about dragon scales.”

“...And that’s a story I want to hear, just not now,” Megan replied, using her eyes to indicate her two kids.

“Ah, I see,” Bon Bon nodded. She reached into her bag and pulled out a few of her namesakes, the little candies wrapped in plastic foil. “Here, I made them myself. It’s what I won Chris over with.”

“Oh boy, pony cooking, especially Earth pony cooking,” Megan chuckled. “I dunno if I’d survive this. It’s been so long since my mind was blown, after all…”

“Well, I’m not forcing you or anything,” Bon Bon shrugged. “Perhaps we should have something more substantial for dinner that isn’t cake…”

“Blashphemy!” Pinkie and Celestia cried out.

“Sit!” Bon Bon barked at them and the two mares parked their rears with loud thumps. “Rarity, Applejack, may I get some help in the kitchen?”

“Of course darling,” Rarity smiled as she got up.

“Sure thang,” AJ echoed as she followed the alabaster mare.

Megan blinked as the ponies left, before turning to Christopher.

“No,” he immediately replied. “I thought the same thing, but Rarity only looks like Majesty. Applejack isn’t the same, but she is of the line. Heck, I even gave her your hat.”

“...It looks good on her,” Megan supplied. “It was...like they’d never left.”

“I know,” the male human sighed. “I...might take you to Dream Valley one day, or what’s left of it.”

“Can’t you simply ask Gelgeth to unfreeze it?” Bon Bon asked. “I mean, he’s an Aspect too isn’t he?”

“He’s Ice, he can’t simply unfreeze something,” Aspect replied. “It’s not in his power list. Thawing isn’t his domain. Though, once I explained the importance of the valley to the ponies, he did call back his kids and his power from the valley. So, assuming it’s been getting enough sun, it should have thawed out.”

“Well, I hope it has,” Celestia said with a weary sigh. “Still… I can’t believe how much older you’ve gotten Megan. Though, I suppose it beats the alternative idea I had in my head.”

“You’re surprised at how old I am?” Megan asked, running a hand through Celestia’s ethereal mane. “I missed so much of you growing up, it’s ridiculous.”

“Yes well, my new manestyle didn’t come without… a good deal of sacrifice,” she sighed. “Sorry, I’d rather not talk about it right now.”

“Fair enough,” Megan replied. “At least we got to meet again.”

“Yes, all because of my father’s foolish choice in words,” she chuckled. “If that’s what it took to bring you back, I’d have done so long ago.”

“Hey, it was a slip of the tongue!” Christopher replied.

“Oh, because you’ve never had that happen before,” Megan fired back.

“Wow, she’s got you all figured out huh?” Rainbow quipped with a smirk.

“I should send a message to Luna,” Celestia said as she summoned a scroll. “She’ll be rather furious if she doesn’t get to meet you before you leave.”

“Wasn’t she the clingy one out of you two?” Megan mused.

“You say that in past tense?” Celestia mused as the scroll flashed away.

Midnight, whom had been close by, took a few healthy steps back from the human woman, as did Celestia.

“Incoming in five, four, three…” Christopher counted down.

“Wha—”

“MEGAN!” a voice boomed as Luna teleported in, tackling the girl at high velocity with a patented Luna Grade hug. “VERILY!? THOU HAST RETURNED AT LONG LAST!”

If Megan said anything, she couldn’t hear it herself because of her ringing ears. Nor was she able to struggle thanks to the strength of the hug.

“Luna dear,” Celestia raised a hoof. “Megan isn’t as durable as father is.”

“Ah…” Luna’s eyes widened as she released the woman. Thankfully, Twilight had used a silencing bubble to shield herself and the two children.

“I can hear colors,” Megan slurred. “Blue is loud…”

“Oh dear,” Celestia giggled as Luna helped her up, nuzzling her not unlike a cat would as she hummed happily.

“Oh hey Lu, when’d you get here?” Megan asked as she started stroking the lunar pony’s mane.

“Mmmm, just now,” she hummed happily as she leaned into the petting. “Art thou truly Megan? We thought thee long gone, lost to time like all the others.”

“I still remember hand-feeding you porridge to teach Chris how to do it,” Megan muttered.

“We have grown much since then,” Luna pouted and folded her forelegs. “We only require feeding when we are feeling tired or lazy.”

“And I’m assuming you go over to Chris and spit up on him when you feel like being difficult,” Megan countered. “You were so well behaved for me and your mother, but you always gave him such a hard time.”

“I was but a newborn, we do not remember such things.” Luna huffed again.

“I do,” Megan smirked. “It was hilarious seeing him coated in porridge.”

“Oh do not worry, he will be getting that times two in a few months,” Midnight chuckled and rubbed her belly.

“Seriously?” Megan asked, turning to Christopher.

“Hey, she at least asked for it,” the human defended himself.

“Just...I cannot believe you right now,” Megan muttered.

“None of us do,” Twilight said with a chuckle. “Oh the stories I could tell you when the young ones aren’t around.”

She wouldn’t dare… Would she?

“So, what’ve you been up to on your side of the connection, Megan?” Chris asked. He was terrible at derailing lines of thought.

“Oh, not much, just writing stories,” Megan demurred.

“Mommy has the bestest stories!” Becky smiled widely at her mother’s growing horror. “In fact… this is just like them!”

"Yeah, she made a bunch of stories titled ‘My Little Pony’,” Stacy said with a shiteating grin. “I wonder where she got the idea from?”

Slowly, all heads turned to the adult female human in the room, who was chuckling nervously.

“Aheh...it was...just a little fantasy thing,” she answered. “Something to help me cope when the Rainbow Connection left. Nobody else would believe me about where I went, after all…”

“Some of our neighbours still say things,” Stacy said with a shake of her head. “School was not fun when you’re the kid of the ‘crazy unicorn lady’.”

“I, we know aaaaall about crazy unicorn ladies,” Rainbow chuckled and looked at Twilight, the unicorn frowning and glaring back.

“Look, it had happened once, okay?” Megan sighed. “I...didn’t want my kids walking back into Ponyland if it ever happened again without being prepared. I know I worried my parents when I disappeared for days at a time. Now that I’m older and wiser, I know better, I can prepare them in case whatever magic picked me latched onto the next in line. Some of the things that threatened the ponies...I’m surprised I’m still alive, honestly.” She ruefully looked over at Christopher. “I suppose I have you to thank for that.”

“Just doing my job,” Chris replied honestly.

“Please don’t enable him,” Twilight sighed. “I swear, the Magic of Friendship screams and jumps out the window when Aspect walks into a room.”

“His best friends are a pile of talking paintings,” Rainbow nodded.

“I’m getting better about not reacting violently,” Christopher replied. Chrysalis frowned and pointed at her bandages. “...Not today, obviously. But that’s because I was literally thrown into a combat situation designed to draw out the demon I’d been hosting for a thousand plus years to the surface.”

“You’re welcome by the way,” Chrysalis said as she strode over to Megan. “So… you are the Diplomat he wished, literally, for me to meet hm?”

“Scary monster pony!” Becky shouted and hid behind Twilight.

“Why thank you,” Chrysalis smiled and bowed.

“Hmm,” Megan looked the bug mare over with a critical eye. “...Yeah, that looks like armor plating,” she mused. “I’d probably have to bring out my sawed-off with buckshot if you got uppity with me.”

“Chitin actually, and believe me, if you fought me it would not end well for you,” Chrysalis chuckled and with a flash of green fire, Megan found herself staring at a clone. “Not when I can be anyone I choose,” she said in her own voice. Then she became Becky. “Anyone~”

Megan reached out, grabbed the imposter by the back of her head with one hand, and then-

Click!

“This right here is a magnum,” she explained quite simply. “It is, simply put, one of the more powerful handguns in the world. I pull this trigger, your brain would be decorating the far wall.” She jammed it up under Chryssy’s new chin. “Don’t you ever take the form of me or my family, got it? Otherwise it will not end well for you.”

Chris very carefully avoided moving. Or startling the woman. He didn’t want to be down a daughter, after all. And he knew how powerful guns were.

Chrysalis simply… laughed?

She flashed back into her true form and pulled Megan close with a leg. “Oooh, I like this one Daddy! She has guts. Threatening a powerful, immortal shapeshifter like that. Can I keep her?” She looked down and licked her fangs. “Our children will be deliciously cunning~”

“Already married,” Megan grunted as she holstered the gun behind her again after reapplying the safety.

“He can watch~” Chrysalis purred right back at her. “Or join, I’m up for sharing.”

Megan rolled her eyes and shoved Chrysalis back a step. “No,” she said firmly. “And I’m serious about that threat. I find more of my daughters turning up, I will quiz them about things you couldn’t know just to weed you out before shooting you.”

“Oh do try and relax,” Chrysalis waved her off. “I’m only kidding. All this sappiness in the room was making me ill. Now,” she pat the human on the shoulder and hummed. “Have you some free time in the near future? Say, the next couple of days?”

“I don’t do much these days,” Megan said warily. “Why?”

“Oh, nothing much. I simply wish to weed out the less desirables amongst the noble caste,” she murred. “Celestia is far too lenient with their ridiculous behaviour and Luna would likely just vapourise them. So, I could use a partner that’s more aligned with my methods of persuasion.”

“Oh...you mean like King Bullion,” Megan muttered. “He was alright...his son, however...right snob. I don’t know what became of them.”

“Their line ended up producing Princess Platinum...who nearly ended up freezing the ponies due to tribal fervor,” Christopher added in.

“Still, I was able to sidestep him,” Megan noted. “I got a lot of practice at speaking in a courtly tone thanks to him.”

“Ohohoho, you and I are going to get along just fine,” Chrysalis purred, apparently utterly unaffected by the death threat. She’d probably transform, just to see if she was good on her word. Though that might make her father angry. “In any case…”

“Food’s ready y’all,” Applejack hollered as she walked into the room, pushing a cart that once the scents hit Megan’s nose, her mouth started to water.

Apple family cooking and Bon Bon cooking in the same room. Christopher was certain that nopony was ready for this.

“Girls,” Christopher called to Megan’s kids. “Remember this day. It was the day when your taste buds got a taste for what a truly talented pony can do in the kitchen.”

“...We dun hafta eat oats and grass do we?” Becky asked aloud as every pony in her room turned to look at her.

“Oh you silly girl,” Christopher chuckled. “Applejack? Mind spoiling the tots?”

“With pleasure,” Applejack said, trying to ignore the look she was getting from Megan as she pulled the covers off of the trays, showing off a pile of delectable apple dishes. “This here is fer dessert. Fresh apple pie with whipped cream and sugar-cinnamon.

“Oooohhhhh~” the two children said as Bon Bon and Rarity walked in, setting down their own dishes.

“And the main course,” Bon Bon said. “For the humans… and thestral of our party, Chicken alfredo and grilled vegetables. For everypony else, we have the same, minus the… meaty supplements.”

“You spoil me, Bon,” Christopher said, holding a hand to his heart. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Likely suffer from subpar foods… or outright starve to death,” she giggled as she leaned across and kissed him lightly on the lips, earning a gagging noise from Becky and a cute coo from Stacy.

“I’d make it a few days at least,” Chris countered.

“Mhm…” She looked at Megan and chuckled. “I have to precook dinners when I'm not around. He simply refuses to eat anything else these days.”

“Lies and slander,” Chris huffed, crossing his arms and looking away with a small pout.

“Oh dear,” Megan chuckled, before looking over to her girls. “Now remember girls, we can’t come over here all the time, so enjoy it, but don’t—”

Her girls were simply sitting there, mouths ajar and eyes wide, holding forks that had food on them. They'd glimpsed the face of the kitchen God. And she was a little cream candy mare.

“Well, you’ve broken them,” Megan sighed. “Guess you get to keep them now.”

“Eh… I'm getting used to collecting children under Christopher’s name,” Bon Bon chuckled as the children snapped out of their euphoric state and started on the meal like ravenous wolves.

“I am not that bad,” Christopher replied, eating his meal at a more sedate pace.

“Celestia. Luna. Artemis. Pupal. Chrysalis. Nightmare. Realm and the Kirin I'm pregnant with, plus the thestral foal of Midnight’s,” Bon Bon pointed out helpfully.

“You left out Neptune and Pyroclastia,” Celestia pointed out as well. “As well as Gelgeth and Yggdrasil.”

“My apologies,” Bon Bon bowed her head and smirked at Chris. “Oh, and that random Harpy mare you knocked up the other day.”

Celestia coughed and spluttered, before looking at Chris with a raised eyebrow that screamed ‘Really!?’

“Are we sure I’m in the right world?” Megan asked. “The Chris I knew was more focused on raising Cel and Lu right and fighting off the horrors than adopting kids into his life.”

“Oh… it appears that I corrupted him quite thoroughly,” Bon Bin giggled.

Megan finally bit into her own dinner and her eyes widened at the taste. “No wonder,” she said after swallowing her mouthful. “I can’t imagine he could say no to you for anything.”

“He's pretty whipped,” Rainbow mused and nuzzled him. “But he's alright.”

“So what about you hmm?” Midnight hummed having appeared out of nowhere next to Megan.

“Mmm,” the female human mused around her next bite of dinner. Once that had been processed, she answered the question. “I spent the first few years after the connection died trying to rationalize everything that had happened over in Ponyland. Eventually I started writing stories about my experiences, to start working through them...and some big-shot in a toy company got wind of what I was writing, so he brought me on to write more. I haven’t written a lot in the last few years, been mostly focused on raising my family right. Mike was the first one who didn’t call me crazy for writing the things I did with such attention to detail...nor does he think I’m mad for knowing my time here was real. Still...I think I can go back with some...new inspiration.”

“Well I've made up my mind!” Stacy nodded, her plate licked clean. “I'm gonna write a paper on ponies!”

“Stacy, how do you think that’s going to go over back home?” Megan chided her. “They probably wouldn’t believe you.”

“Didn't stop you now did it?” the young girl snarked back.

“Because I marketed it as a fiction, and they paid well for a story they could sell toys to,” Megan countered. “If you try to sell it as fact for your school...that would lead to questions.”

“Ooooor, I could research the history and lore of this place and write things targeting an older audience,” Stacy hummed. “I know you watered down the badguys in your stories.”

Christopher perked up at that, and Megan pointed her fork at him. “No,” she said sternly. “Absolutely not. If I find you told her about the villains you had to slay, I will shoot you until you stop regenerating. If I find you told her about Grogar, I’ll find a way to haunt your dreams so you never rest peacefully again.”

“Who's Grogar?” Stacy piped up, having heard every word of that. Her eyes shining with excitement.

“I already said no,” Megan put her foot down. “I am not letting you give yourself nightmares over the sorts of things Christopher had to face.”

“Seriously mom?” Stacy quirked an eyebrow. “I'm studying for college. I'm not some little kid anymore!”

“You will always be my little girl, and our world doesn’t have someone who looks after dreams,” Megan replied. “Last I knew, Chris had killed the Sandman, but hadn’t passed the essence of Dreams on to someone else…”

Luna decided to clear her throat loudly at that moment. Megan turned to look at her with a raised brow.

“Oh?” she asked. “I thought you could only be one at a time.”

“Dreams didn’t fight being put into her, something about their realms being compatible,” Chris explained. “Took her about a week to get used to the abilities, though.”

“Yes well, that's all in the past now,” Luna sighed and shook her head as Becky played with her starry tail. “The Aspect of Dreams has a new host now.”

“Eeesh,” Megan winced. “Still, our home has nobody to watch their dreams, so no,” she turned back to Stacy. “You are not asking Christopher about the sorts of things he had to fight.”

“Oh come on!” Stacy pouted and stomped her foot. “You saw this stuff when you were Becky’s age!”

“And it’s only because Chris was there to keep me safe whenever we encountered a fiend that I survived to have you two,” Megan replied. “Granted, I didn’t like him at the time, but my role was to try and talk them around, to use my words and bravery to fix the situation. He was much more…”

“‘Apply sword to face?’” Chris finished for her.

“Yes, that,” Megan nodded in thanks. “Looking back, I was foolish when I was younger. And I am not going to expose my children to that sort of horror if I can stop it.”

“You just threatened the bug pony with a magnum!” Stacy almost yelled.

“And she's lucky she's Daddy's friend,” Chrysalis said. “Also for the record, I'm a Changeling. And a Queen at that.”

“Yes well when you start trying to mimic my girls, I tend to respond violently,” Megan replied. “Especially when you consider that this is Ponyland, where horrors crept out of the treeline every other week.” She sighed as she got up from her spot and walked over to where Stacy and Becky were sitting at the table, holding them close in a hug. “I just want you two to be safe,” she murmured. “Back home, I could keep you...mostly safe from all the known threats. But here...there are literal monsters just waiting to be discovered by some fool adventurer. I don’t want that to be you.”

“Actually,” Celestia raised a hoof. “One, this world is called Equus now. And this nation is Equestria. And two, it's relatively safe… sans the Everfree Forest and Dragon Lands.”

“Not helping,” Megan muttered. “I…” she sighed as she stood up and looked at Celestia. “Can you actually promise me that they’d be just as safe as any of your ponies?” she questioned with steel in her voice.

“How about I assign a guard to them?” Celestia said. “Midnight Song here is one of my finest. She can go hoof to hoof with Christopher at his peak for a few moments. And I'll assign my personal maid to look after their health and wellbeing. They'll not want for anything while here.”

Megan considered it for a moment before sighing and sagging slightly. “It’s not enough,” she muttered. “I don’t think anything would be. But I guess it’s as good as we can ask for.”

“Just take it easy mom,” Stacy pat her back. “Seriously. It's like you're expecting the apocalypse to drop from the sky. What's the worst that could happen?”

“Well fortunately, we just had a small apocalypse happen here,” Chris dryly noted. “Otherwise I’d be afraid to find out.”

Chrysalis stared at him flatly. “Oh sure, stage a city wide invasion to help a father out and you get nothing but flak for it.” She looked at the girls and sighed. “Take note, impressing parents is impossible.”

“Noted,” Stacy chuckled.

“I’m not saying I don’t appreciate it, Chryssy, but you did sort of...destroy most of the city in a hail of green fire,” Chris pointed out.

“Yup, that qualifies,” Megan agreed.

“And how many ponies were even remotely injured?” Chrysalis said. “You don't count and Midnight started that fight.”

“And you’re only alive because Aspect says I should believe your word,” the thestral hissed aggressively.

“Ladies,” Chris held up a hand to them both, keeping them separate with his own body. “Okay, I think that’s enough after-dinner talk for right now,” he suggested.

“For the record, the answer is none,” Chrys said as Applejack divided up the pies she made.

“Okay everypony, eat up,” she said, blinking at the looks Megan was giving her but said nothing.

“Oh boy,” Chris chuckled as he pulled his thestral mare back over to her own seat. “If you all thought the food was good, then the dessert is going to blow you away.”

“Applejack did make the best pies in Dream Valley,” Megan mused.

“The recipe has only gotten better with age,” Chris promised.

“I think y’all are blowin’ this a lil outta proportion ain’t ya?” Applejack rolled her eyes as she finished passing the desserts around.

“No, no I’m not,” Chris replied simply. “Megan you might want to think twice before you pick up that for—”

Rainbow covered his mouth with a hoof. “Shhh! You’ll ruin it.” She said with barely contained glee.

Chris muttered something that was muffled by the hoof over his mouth. Megan raised an eyebrow at the almost finished warning, before picking up a fork and putting a little of the pie on it. “Girls, remember, only eat it if I determine it’s safe,” she said, before popping the first bit of pie in her mouth.

“Now look here,” Applejack frowned. “If y’all are insinuatin’ that mah food ain’t safe ta eat, Y’all can jus’—”

Megan let out a whimper as she tasted the pie, her eyes watering from joy.

“Are… are you crying?” Stacy blinked slowly and looked warily at the pie. For Megan, not only was the pie delicious, the sheer nostalgia it brought back, along with the near perfect doppelganger that served it…

“It’s...it’s too good,” Megan whimpered. “It’s...it’s better than the one I taught the Applejack of Dream Valley how to make. How is it better?”

“Two thousand years of Apples being the best at what they do will do that,” Celestia chuckled. “You think that’s good? Wait until you try their Zap Apples.”

“Speakin of, that season’s gettin’ close,” Applejack nodded and looked at Chris. “Y’all are in fer quite a treat with that one~”

“That’s new to me,” Chris noted, having finally pried Rainbow’s hoof off his mouth. “In any case, girls, if you’re ready to have every other sweet spoiled for you…”

Stacy rolled her eyes. “Pfft, it can’t be that—”

“I can see flavours~” Becky moaned as she immediately dove facefirst into the pie.

“...did you put LSD or something in it?” Stacy quirked an eyebrow.

“Earth Pony cooking needs no drugs,” Chris said solemnly. “It is just that good.”

“...huh,” Stacy took a bite and hummed. “Ay, it’s not bad. Pretty good actually.”

Chris raised an eyebrow at that. ‘Pretty good’? Just what had this kid eaten?

“Just not overly fond of sweets is all,” Stacy said with a shrug. “Like cake, I usually only eat it on my birthday.”

Celestia dropped her fork, eyes wide.

“Oh boy,” Chris chuckled. “Ponies here love sweet things,” he explained. “It’s an edible artform to them.”

“I thought ponies eated grass and oats,” Becky piped up. “And unicorns eat stars and poop rainbows.”

Every horned pony in the room paused and stared at the child… then at the mother.

“Well it’s not like I could provide any real examples of unicorns to debunk her earlier thoughts,” Megan pointed out. “Though, Becky, do take note that they all have a slice of pie.”

“Huh…” Becky shrugged and resumed destroying her own dessert.

“That said,” Celestia cleared her throat. “If you do intend to stay here, I’d recommend going to Ponyville. Canterlot is going to be under repair for some time.”

“Ponyville. Canterlot…?” Stacy groaned and put a hand to her head. “The puns… they hurt.”

“How do you think I felt when I came back and learned that they’d all been named like that?” Chris grumbled. “Seriously Tia? Do you just have a fondness for puns that you never told anyone about?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Celestia whistled innocently as Luna sighed and applied her hoof to her face.

“Of course not,” Chris grumbled. “Well,” he turned to Megan. “The town’s going to be under reconstruction for some time,” he explained. “The castle got off...okay, I suppose. And there’s always the archives. But if you’d actually like a better place to explore in the meantime, we could always move the mirror to Ponyville once you’re all home.”

“Let’s do it!” Stacy begged, clapping her hands together. “Pleeeeaaaassssseeeeee!”

Becky soon joined in on the endless pleading, now in stereo surround sound. And for some reason, Pinkie Pie.

“Oh for the love of- Fine!” Megan grumbled. “You can move the mirror tonight, when we’re all in bed. Because some girls have school tomorrow.”

“Awwwwwwwww…” they pouted together, and Pinkie again.

“Don’t you pull that out on me,” Megan pointed a finger at them. “I am not going to just let you explore a whole new world without supervision and abandon your schooling! You all want to have a healthy life back home, right?”

“I want a unicorn!” Becky said firmly, hugging Twilight close. The mare simply looked to anypony for assistance.

“Bad, very bad Becky,” Megan scolded her. “Unicorns are people too. You don’t own people.”

“Can I be her friend? An’ take her to school an brush her pretty mane an—”

“Becky!” Megan cut her off. “She has a life here. You can visit, but you can’t take her from it. Understand?”

“It’s alright,” Twilight smiled and nuzzled her. “Honestly, I’d love to see the human world. It must be absolutely amazing!”

“It’s not as nice as this world,” Megan warned her. “We’ve...had our scrapes with a few things in the past, so new things like unicorns would typically be ‘contained on sight.’”

“Aww,” Twilight pouted and sighed. “That's disappointing.”

“They could try, nopony can catch me!” Rainbow said smugly.

“Helicopters,” Megan and Chris answered in unison. “And jets,” the female of the pair added. “Frankly, they would be able to track anything new once it started making waves. My home would suddenly see a lot of men in black suits trying to contain us.”

“Yes, I'm afraid you must not go there Twilight,” Celestia said. “Their world also has no magic from what I remember. So you would be defenseless.”

Twi shuddered at that one.

“Anyhow,” Celestia smiled. “We have reunited with old friends once again. This is reason to celebrate…”

Pinkie started to vibrate.

“On the weekend,” Tia finished and Pinkie deflated. “I trust that's acceptable Meg?”

“Ehh...I don’t have any other pressing concerns at the moment,” Megan replied. “And hey, you never know. You never tested to see if Earth could have magic. After all, Firefly created the Rainbow Connection on Earth somehow.” She pursed her lips suddenly and looked at Christopher. “Oh, by the way. I found your family.”

“Oh?” the human’s eyes widened. “Oh. Yeah...I suppose they...would be worried about me, wouldn’t they?”

“It’s been twenty-some years, Chris,” she chided him. “I don’t know what happened to your brother, but at least I found—”

“Brother?” Chris asked with a furrowed brow. “I don’t have a brother.”

“Really?” Megan asked with a raised eyebrow of her own. “His name was Daniel, you were camping together for the weekend, you both just vanished…”

Luna and Celestia in particular stared at the human male. That said, he was getting looks from his mares too.

“I honestly don’t remember any brother in my life,” Chris said, holding up his hands defensively. “It’s just been me as far as I can tell.”

“Look. It has been an eventful week,” Celestia said. “Let's all call it for the night and discuss it once things calm down.”

“Sounds fair to me,” Chris nodded. “Brother…” he muttered to himself before shaking his head. “Nope...not ringing a bell.”

“Apologies,” Celestia said to Megan. “Father's been through quite a bit recently. Perhaps another time.”

“It’s fine,” Megan replied. “Girls, find your things,” she told Becky and Stacy. “We’re going home for the night. Maybe tomorrow after school you can explore, it’ll be the weekend then.”

“YAAAAAAY!” Came a chorus of cheers as they grabbed their bags.

“Thank you for the dinner, Cel, it’s been lovely,” Megan replied, doing her best to bow without seeming too deferential. “But we do have lives on the other side of the mirror to attend to. We can’t stick around.”

“I'll see about lining up the time difference,” Celestia said. “Else a few hours for you would be months for us.”

“Well if we go back and a few hours have passed, I’d call it lined up already,” Megan pointed out. “But if only a few minutes have, then clearly I’ll have to hop back in and tell you.”

“Hmm, well we shall see,” Celestia chuckled as she hugged the woman. “I'm still overjoyed to see you again old friend.”

“At least you’re still around to tease,” Megan replied. “I still have your foal pictures back home, you know~”

“You wouldn't dare!” Celestia gasped in mock shock.

“Maybe in a few days, once the mirror is moved and you wouldn’t be able to stop me,” Megan replied with a grin that would have suited a Cheshire Cat.

“Oh Lulu~” Tia sang. “Meg says she wants a biiiig goodbye hug!”

“Ack, no, my ribs can’t take a second time!” Megan warded the lunar alicorn off with an arm.

Luna just laughed as she scooped the human up into a normal strength embrace.

And it clicked to Megan… on just how much she'd missed this.

She sighed as she returned the hug, relaxing for a moment. Part of her felt vindicated that she actually might have proof that she wasn’t crazy, all those years ago.

The rest of her...felt like she was home at long last.

Author's Note

And here's the character I wanted to introduce!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not go to better writers.

Chapter 58 - A perfect wedding day, at last

The next morning, Christopher woke up to a thestral mare pacing up and down the length of the room. Rainbow was still snoring in his arms whereas Bon Bon was awake, sitting up in bed as she just watched Midnight.

“Did I miss something?” he asked, trying not to disturb the sleeping pegasus. Dash was adorable when she was asleep.

“Somepony’s just impatient,” Bon Bon said. “Well, not that I blame her. Though, if your daughter fails to pull through, the upcoming wedding might have a funeral attached.”

“Ah,” Chris nodded. “And here I thought she was going to be upset about being regulated to a babysitter for two rambunctious human youths.”

“Them I can handle,” Midnight snapped at him, her tail flicking like an angry snake. She paused and put a hoof to her head, taking a few deep breaths. “Sorry… just, I am anxious.”

“I can imagine,” the human nodded. “So. I guess the question boils down to, do you trust her?”

“No,” Midnight said. “I am sorry my love, but I do not trust Changelings. I do not know if I ever will. It is only because you have asked me to take her word that I have.”

Chris sighed and looked away. “So I guess that means you don’t trust me then, either. I mean, I only formed the first of their kind myself out of nothing more than the spare magic and what I could find in the Badlands.”

“Do not turn my words back at me,” Midnight said. “Look, I am stressed and…” She just sighed and closed her mouth, not willing to talk any further.

“They were meant to be my replacement,” Chris continued. “Something to blend in with Ponykind and defend them against the dark when I could not. I...I am one man. They are legion. If they worked out...I could hang up my sword for good.”

“To be fair, when was the last time you actually used that blade?” Bon Bon asked. “I mean, discounting Discord and Nightmare Moon, there hasn’t been a significant threat to Equus in centuries.”

“A fair point, but I never discount evil springing up when we least expect it,” the human replied. “Tartarus still has its prisoner, after all. And he was put there by none other than Megan, all those years ago. Until such a time as he is truly defeated...there will be a need for my blade.”

“What prisoner?” Midnight spoke up. “Tartarus is home to many a foul creature is it not?”

“There is one...that is the reason Tartarus is chained shut,” the human replied. “The reason Megan was called over on the Rainbow of Light. The first foe we ever faced. Tirek...Aspect of Darkness. A demonic centaur that was obsessed with bringing an eternal night to the world, who wielded a mighty artifact of evil, the Rainbow of Darkness. The only reason we succeeded is because he unleashed it on the nascent Rainbow of Light...and the darkness was subsumed by the light, making the rainbow all the stronger, able to banish him beyond Tartarus’ walls and chain him there for his deeds. But there was one thing the Rainbow could not do.” He shook his head. “It is the same limitation the Elements of Harmony have, as they were formed from it. It could not kill. Banish, redeem, seal, yes. But kill? Never. That is not good, that is not harmonious.” He drew his hand across his neck. “But sometimes, there is evil that cannot be redeemed, cannot be banished or sealed...which the world needs to be dealt with. Which is where I come into play.”

“So… why not just go there and strike him down while he is weak?” Midnight asked with a flick of her wings. “Would it not be a simple task for someone of your strength?”

“The doors...are chained shut,” Chris explained. “It would take another immortal to force them open with me. And none of them agree that killing Tirek is right. Thus, he has been left to stew in Tartarus for his deeds.”

“Why do all the badguys want Eternal Night?” Rainbow murmured, having woke up during his talk. “I mean, isn’t there something more original?”

“Tirek was the original, he wanted eternal night before it was hip,” Chris joked.

“So Nightmare Moon’s just copying? Lame,” Rainbow snorted as she nuzzled into his side, cooing as she got scritchies behind the ears. “Your pegasus form is hot, but hands are the best,” she hummed.

“Yeah, I can do things with fingers that hooves just can’t,” the human agreed. “So...Midnight wants to murder Chryssy unless she produces the thestral sister that’s missing, Bon Bon is probably a little anxious over Lyra’s previous predicament during the last wedding, and Dash...is too awesome for drama, I’m guessing.”

“I’ve already seen to Lyra and she’s fine,” Bon Bon said as she adjusted her position slightly. “As were the others. Seems the Changeling’s took excellent care of them… I more pity them for having to deal with Lyra.”

“And your words sum me up just fine,” Rainbow nodded. “I’m always awesome.”

“And excuse me for missing a sister I presumed dead,” Midnight said, much less amused than the other two.

“And I’ve just been informed I have a brother that is missing myself,” Chris riposted. “I don’t know what to feel after two thousand years of not remembering him at all.”

“Oh yeah, that’s apparently a thing,” Rainbow said in a low tone.

“Would he have partaken from the Fountain?” Bon Bon asked. “Because… if not…”

“I don’t know, I have absolutely no memory of ever having a brother in either world,” Christopher replied. “I know that he followed me here only because he went missing according to Megan.”

“Well, perhaps we should ask her the next time we meet,” Bon Bon said as their door burst open and a unicorn maid strode in, looking at the foursome.

“What are you all doing!?” she stated. “The wedding starts in less than three hours! Up! Now!”

Chris carefully pushed Dash away and flashed—

And suddenly the maid was looking at an Alicorn staring her down. “I hereby decree that we shall be left alone until we are needed,” he proclaimed airly.

The maid blinked, before narrowing her eyes. “Princess Celestia said you might try this,” she said with a sigh. “And gave me permission to counter with… and I quote, ‘If Father does not heed your words, Then we shall see to it that he is honored for saving the city from a demon, and a massive parade, honor party and reward shall be given’.”

“She wouldn’t,” Aspect replied. “She knows how much I hate the spotlight. Besides, I was the reason the demon got out.”

“That was blamed on the Changeling’s actually,” Bon Bon lifted her hoof. “Basically, Chrysalis took the fall for the entire thing. And since everypony was hiding in a bunker or the like, nopony saw what really happened.”

“I could still speak out against it,” the currently-an-alicorn Aspect replied. “Really cut into the whole mood.”

“She said you wouldn’t want to draw attention to yourself like that,” the maid replied. “Now look, you are all awake. Breakfast is being served in the dining hall, and the wedding will take place just before noon.”

“...You know what, fine,” Aspect said, flashing into his pegasus guise. “I’ll grab a quick bite to eat, then I’ll go see to a thing. In the meantime…” He grinned maliciously before nuzzling Dash. “You can try getting her up before she wants to be.”

The maid looked at her and cracked her neck. “Challenge Accepted.”

“Wut…” Rainbow blinked as the door was closed behind Aspect. All he could hear was her muffled squawks of protest.

At the dining table, Celestia was present, along with Cadance, Twilight, Shining, Twilight Velvet and a blue coated unicorn stallion he didn’t recognise. Upon his entry, Tia raised her head and gave a small wave to him. Outwardly she looked as radiant as always, but a few subtle tells she had told him she was exhausted.

“Mmm,” Aspect walked along the table, reaching Tia and nuzzling her...to hide the direct energy transfer that was better than any coffee cup.

What? He still had some excess from absorbing lightning for Gungnir last night. And Air bent a lot easier to his will now that Arabus was gone.

“Thanks,” she hummed before the unicorn stallion spoke up.

“Look son, we just think you should rest for a bit. You in particular have been through a lot…”

“No, we should have the wedding today,” Shining said and looked at his wings. “Plus… hide these things for a while. Until we can come up with a good story as to why I have them. But the wedding is a must, if only to boost morale and…”

“And he’s impatient to be wedding his adorable bride,” Velvet chuckled. “Oh, and good morning Aspect. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Aspect said, walking around to where Shining was, studying him for a bit…

Before poking him under the wing. That was a pressure point for pegasi, that would reflexively cause them to shoot their wings out. He wanted to test something.

Shining yelled… loudly.

And in a pinkish glow, Aspect was flung clear across the room, Celestia barely catching him before he hit a far wall as Shining hissed in pain, his wings twitching every now and then…

“As I thought,” Aspect mused, motioning for Celly to put him down. “Ascending doesn’t come without its price.” He looked over at Cadance. “You’re going to need to nip down to the infirmary, ask for a special kind of ointment. Wing-growth and muscle-relaxant. You’re going to apply it to his wings every morning and night for...about two weeks, until they stop hurting. Then he’s to join his Pegasi for morning exercises, so that his wings work right when he uses them.”

“Didn’t even want the damned things,” Shining grumbled under his breath. Aspect perked his ears up at that and walked forward, staring at Shining with such intensity to make him feel uncomfortable.

“W-What?” the uni-alicorn blinked slowly and looked at Cadance for help.

“Cadance was ascended by Yggdrasil, and never asked for her horn,” Aspect said. “You were also picked by the World Tree. You may not have asked for your wings, but he did it more than to give his ‘daughter’ to the immortal family somepony to eternally love. You earned those wings. Don’t dishonor them like that.”

“Oh leave him be grandfather,” Cadance poked him with a hoof. “I freaked for a solid week when I got my horn. Even more so the first time I used magic.”

“Yeah alright, fair enough,” the stallion groused. Giving Shining the stink-eye one last time, he walked around to a sufficiently large, open place, and sat down in it.

“Oh,” Velvet spoke up and looked in his direction. “I don’t suppose I’ve introduced my husband have I?” She pulled the blue unicorn closer. “This is Night Light, father of Shining and Twilight and head of the Canterlot Observatory.”

“Cheers,” Aspect nodded at him. “I’d introduce myself, but my titles tend to drag on.” He gave Cel the stink-eye next. “Especially when somepony threatens to add to them to get me out of bed in the morning.”

“Huh… usually Vel just threatens not to make my morning coffee,” Night chuckled and moved over to where Aspect was, shaking his hoof. “But, my little Twiley already gave me the rundown on who you are. I’m just glad to not be the oldest stallion in the room anymore eh~”

“Yeah, if I want to feel like a young guy, I’m basically limited to hanging out with dragons now,” the pegasus groused. “And they’re pretty far away.”

“Don’t mind the old grump,” Celestia giggled. “He himself likely hasn’t had his coffee yet, so he gets a bit touchy.”

“Oh!” Cadane slid up next to him. “I don’t know if I myself gave you a proper answer, but… I would be most honored to officiate your wedding Grandfather.”

“Oh good!” Aspect beamed. “I honestly don’t know when it’ll happen, but knowing that you’ll be there for it makes it all the better.” He hummed as he thought of something. “Now all I have to do is nip over to the griffon lands before your wedding to take care of something and somehow get back before noon.”

“Father,” Celestia said sternly. “I’m sure that can wait for now. The griffon’s aren’t going anywhere. And you could afford to relax a little.”

“Look, Air is just going to get stronger the longer I hold onto it,” Aspect replied. “I think I know what I want to do to pass it on now. I’ll pull an Arthur with it and Gungnir.”

“I’m sorry what?” Twilight piped up, though Celestia just rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Always trying to show off aren’t you?” the alicorn mused.

“Well it’s that or hold onto it for another forty years or until a worthy griff steps forward,” Aspect countered. “This takes me out of the equation. Gungnir will pick one that will uphold the honor of the immortals and then they’ll meet us eventually.”

“But isn’t Gungnir fond of Midnight and Rainbow?” Celestia pointed out. “What’s to stop either of them getting it?”

“Simple, I’ll ask it to pick a griffon,” Aspect replied. “Plus I’ll fly to the center of the largest city of theirs I can find and stick it in a stone. Maybe through an anvil too, for posterity.”

Celestia sighed and shook her head. “You can do it tomorrow. Rest for today, that’s a Royal Order, Sir Christopher Gale.”

“Oh fine,” Aspect groused. “I just wanted to pass on an Aspect now that it’s been cleansed, but nooooooo…”

“You should try having a little patience,” Celestia said as she sipped her tea. “Honestly, one would think that two thousand years is enough time to mature, but you are very much a young colt in many ways oh father.”

“Is it so wrong that I never needed to really grow up?” the stallion asked. “I mean, I have changed a little. I’ve grown somewhat. But I remained true to my nature. True to my purpose. Not just guarding ponies, but helping them grow. Helping better the world for their presence.”

“Fine fine,” Celestia waved a hoof. “Well, at least she’ll help you out in a few ways. Now moving on…”

“The ceremony will start in two hours,” Cadance said. “Miss Rarity has generously said she’ll handle my dress and makeup. And a friend of hers is going to help Shiny.” She looked over a list. “My wedding party will be a bit large, because I want both my bridesmaids selections. As such…”

“Well I have Spike,” Shining said, “along with a few of my Guard friends.”

“And guests?” Twilight asked.

“Just a few, as well as some media,” Cadance replied. “However, the reception will be open to all. So we’ve a big party planned in the Royal Gardens tonight.”

“Mm,” Aspect nodded. “I don’t think Megan’s girls will be here. They have school, that’s an all-day thing. They’ll likely only show up after dinner. But she might be here for a few hours.”

“It’ll be good to see her again,” Celestia said as a racket got Aspect’s attention… Ohno… those voices sounded familiar.

“I’m telling you,” Nightmare hummed. “Nopony will know. I’ll head to the throneroom, proclaim myself Queen and bam, I’ll rule Equestria.”

“It’s not gonna work,” Artemis replied, their voices carrying down the hall. “Dad’ll spank your black butt red.”

“I could just paint it that way, save him the effort,” Realm spoke up. “It’d be faster than trying to paint ‘the conquering Nightmare’ on her throne. Mainly because you’d be tossed out of there in ten seconds flat.”

“Oh come on, I said I’d make you my Royal Artist. You’d even get to repaint this tacky castle,” Nightmare huffed as the door opened and the trio stepped inside, the small alicorn spying Aspect. “Oh bucking horseapples…”

Aspect sighed, got up from his seat, and began making his way over to where the three were, his eyes focused on Nightmare the whole time.

“Um...I was kidding?” the little filly winced and smiled awkwardly.

The stallion didn’t slow or stop his gait until he was standing in front of the filly, glaring disapprovingly at her. He let the weight of his stare bore into her, carrying all his stern fatherly disapproval.

Nightmare looked left and right, her ‘brothers’ abandoning her to fend for herself. She looked up at him with wide eyes and bacturned ears, Cute set to maximum.

“I’m not mad,” Aspect stated simply. “Just disappointed.”

Plan B it was then.

“Flashbang!” she cackled and detonated a bright light from the tip of her horn at point blank range, running off and cackling louder as she made her escape.

“She’s just like Luna,” Celestia giggled, having shielded the others.

“Too much like Luna, really,” the stallion groused as he closed his eyes to get rid of the spots in them. “Still, at least she got scolded.”

“Mhm, fantastic job you did there, now we have her running loose in the castle,” Celestia chuckled.

“Sorry for coming unannounced,” Artemis said. “But Miss Twinkle said it’d be best if we stuck close to you this time.”

“It’s a pretty big event coming up, you should be here to see it anyways,” Aspect sighed. “And at least you can have breakfast with your new brother in the immortals family.”

“Huh?” they both turned and saw Shining there, the stallion rubbing a tender part of his wings.

“Oh sweet, I’m not the only colt with a horn and wings anymore!” Realm crowed as he flew over, hovering around Shining.

“Uh… hi?” Shining blinked at the little alicorn colt flying around him. “And, who are you kid?”

“That’s Realm, my adopted son,” Aspect spoke up. “Also known as the Aspect of Art. His Aspect magic has already begun manifesting, to the point where if he wasn’t suppressing it, he’d be inspiring everyone, like a Muse.”

Realm blushed and looked away. “I didn’t mean it,” he muttered. “It was an accident.”

“Yes, but it’s a good reminder to Shining that he’s going to get more powerful,” Aspect rejoined. “Your magic, physical strength, and when you can use them, your wings, are going to be at their peak performance within a year. You’re going to have to basically go through training exercises for your magic all over again so that you don’t use too much when picking something up and accidentally crush it. Basically...you’re going to not enjoy your time, colt.”

“You’re making me like these wings less and less,” Shining deadpanned.

“He does that,” Celestia said with a light giggle. “But worry not, Cadance will be with you to help. As will Luna and I.”

“It seems my family just got more interesting,” Velvet chuckled and looked at Twilight. “Maybe you’ll sprout wings if you marry an alicorn too dear. Celestia, you’re still single yes?”

“MOM!” Twilight burned a deep crimson as Aspect was treated to the rare sight of his daughter’s cheeks turning slightly pink and looking away for a moment.

“Oh dear,” Aspect chuckled as he shook his head. “Well in any case…” He slipped back into his seat and sipped his coffee, sighing as he had his morning caffeine. “This day is going to be interesting,” he noted aloud. “Let’s hope the second attempt goes off without a hitch.”

“Well, there’s no invasions scheduled for today,” a unicorn mare said as she entered the room. “And nopony likes a smartass Christopher.” Chrysalis said as she looked at his coffee. “Are you still dependant on that swill?”

“I know right?” Celestis said, gladly changing the topic. “Tea is much better.”

“If you want me functional for the wedding, you won’t bemoan my choice of morning beverage,” the stallion grumbled. “The only time I got up earlier than this was when I was adventuring, and I don’t think we want a return to those times today.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Chrysalis scolded him. “It’s your cute granddaughter’s wedding. At least try to show a little enthusiasm hm?”

The stallion harrumphed as he had another pull of coffee.

“I’d apologize for him,” Realm said as he landed in one of the nearby seats. “But I think the only thing he’ll actually brighten up for this early is his mares.”

“I figured as much,” Chrysalis sighed and rolled her eyes. “Celestia… if you would?”

Celestia chuckled as her horn glowed… and a rather surprised Bon Bon was teleported into his lap, looking up in bewilderment. “Huh… what?”

“Bonnie!” The difference was like night and day. The stallion leaned over and began kissing her, now quite thoroughly awake.

“Huh… that actually works?” Shining mused. “Well, I know it does,” he leaned over and nuzzled Cadance as Velvet chuckled and kissed Night Light on the cheek.

Eventually Aspect’s kiss broke, and he hugged Bon Bon with both his hooves and wings, nuzzling her softly.

“I appear to have missed something,” Bon Bon said as she looked around. “Um… could somepony please explain?”

“No reason,” Chrysalis said and smiled. “Just tell Aspect to enjoy the wedding. He’s being a grump.”

Bon Bon raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you being a grump Mister? Do I have take away your snuggle privileges?”

“‘M just not awake yet,” Aspect muttered. “They wanted me awake before coffee, Bonnie. ‘S unponylike.”

“Awww,” Bon Bon pet his head gently and cooed. “My poor baby, were they picking on you?”

“Mmhmm,” the stallion muttered as he kept nuzzling Bon Bon.

“You spoil that idiot too much,” Chrysalis sighed. “You need to crack the whip every now and then, else he’ll just get lazy and dependant.”

“Aww, he’s adorable,” Bon Bon giggled and booped his nose. “Alright. Hurry and wake up then… if you can’t,” she leaned in close. “I’ll help you wake up~”

Aspect let out a little grumble before he picked up the coffee mug and downed the rest of it in a mighty gulp. He let out a sigh and shuddered a bit, before smiling and nuzzling Bonnie again. “There, awake now,” he chirped. “Let’s go cuddle.”

And with that, she was carted out of the room before she could even mount a response.

“And that,” Celestia said to Realm. “Is not how you get a mare. Don’t use your father as an example for growing up.”

“He seems to have gotten three just by being himself,” Realm pointed out.

Celestia opened her mouth to argue… but she couldn’t. “Well buck…”

The colt looked smug as he sat down to eat breakfast. What? If his dad was gonna leave it behind, it fell to him to dispose of this fine castle cooking.

So after some serious snuggling and other preparations by everypony else, the wedding was set up and it was time for the ceremony to commence. The castle had been cleaned up nicely and as Cadance had said, the ceremony itself seemed to be a bit more downplayed. Rarity had done a wonderful job with the outfits, thought like Celestia and half the other ponies, she was exhausted on the inside.

Aspect couldn’t help but notice that Dash was way too excited about something.

He had been about to question it...when the ceremony gained an unexpected guest. In the form of Megan Williams being escorted by two of Celestia’s guard to the room.

“Alright, I don’t need pushing,” she sniped at the guards. “Just because I have two measly legs to your four.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow before cursing under her breath. “Ah, I forgot to mention you to them.” She looked at the guards. “Miss, er… Mrs. Megan here is an honoured guest and old, personal friend of mine. She is to afforded all the luxuries we have to offer and given anything she may ask of you or the staff. Is that clear?”

The two guards looked sheepishly at each other before snapping off a salute and briskly marching away. They had friends to go inform of the strange biped’s status.

“Well, at least that’s over with,” Megan dusted off her jeans, before looking the ceremony over. “Oh boy, does this call me back,” she chuckled. “Not long ago...though I guess it was ages by your reckoning, I was where you are, Cel. So many asked me to bless their unions. Like I was some sort of great figure or something.”

“Yes well, you’d certainly earned the title, ‘Oh Bearer of the Light’,” she smiled and put a wing around her. “Mayhaps you should come when Father marries his trio of brides hm?”

“Hah!” Megan laughed. “If you’d asked me twenty years ago, I’d have spat in your face at the thought!” She turned pensive though, and looked at the stallion. “Now...well, I guess there’s no better way to show that I do forgive you for all the fights we had, eh?”

“I never blamed you for your optimism,” Aspect replied honestly. “I just knew that the world itself wanted those imbalances corrected, and I was its tool to do so.”

“And all I saw was a bloodthirsty teenager playing make-believe,” Megan sighed. “You saved my life on...multiple occasions. I don’t think I could ever pay you back.”

Aspect smiled softly and walked forward, putting a hoof on her leg. “Friends don’t pay friends back,” he said softly.

The human mulled it over, before nodding herself. “I’d like that,” she replied.

“You know,” Bon Bon spoke up. “Something confuses me. You say you two never got along, and yet, all I’ve heard from Chris is endless praise whenever he mentions you,” the mare mused. “That ‘the Diplomat’ was someone that he wished he could be. That her ways would be the preferred ones over his if he could.”

Aspect blushed and looked away, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. While Megan snorted a little in amusement, looking down and ruffling the mane on his head.

“Guess that shows he’s still human under there,” the woman teased. “Many people think the taking of a life is an aberration, a crime against the natural order. I just thought that he was a terrible influence on the foals he was raising, considering how many threats he sought out to slay. It’s only when I had kids of my own that I realized...he was right, all along. Because to make the world a better place for your progeny...sometimes, you have to remove the worst people.”

Bon Bon blinked. “Don’t tell you’ve done so in your world…”

“No, but I have been active in the community, to make sure my children are as safe as can be,” the female human replied. “It’s not all roses and tea parties on the other side, you know. I won’t have them exposed to anything I can vote to have removed for the greater good. They’ll experience danger when they’re old enough to face it on their terms.”

“Well, I’m sure you don’t have centaur demons and undead goats on your end,” Celestia chuckled and hugged her with a wing. “In any case, places everypony. We have a ceremony to start.”

“Ah,” Megan blinked as everypony got in their spots. “Um...where do you want me?” she asked, for once at a loss for what to do.

“Have a seat in the front row,” Celestia said as she led the woman over to a seat next to Midnight Song, before the alicorn walked up to the podium, where Shining stood, looking rather nervous.

Aspect chuckled and shook his head. The poor colt was going to be just like him. He was never going to grow out of certain aspects of his personality. He could already tell. As he sat there, a page approached and asked if he could step out into the hallway for a moment. Apparently Cadance was asking for him.

The stallion left his post and quickly ducked out into the hall, wondering what could be up.

Outside, the mare paced up and down the corridor. She looked stunningly beautiful in her dress and her eyes widened when she noticed the stallion, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Okay, what is it?” he asked. “You can’t be nervous about marrying Shining. He’s already nervous for you both.”

“No… No it’s not that…” she mumbled as she pawed at the ground. “I um… I have… a selfish request actually.”

“Okay?” Aspect blinked.

“You see,” Cadance said and looked at him. “I… don’t have any parents. No real family to speak of… And, I know you’re not really my grandfather but…” She looked away. “But um… if you wouldn’t mind… do you think that maybe, you could… escort me down the aisle?” She looked at him, ears down and eyes wide with a hopeful glimmer.

“Awww,” Aspect cooed. “Fine, but I’m doing this like this.” He flashed into an adult alicorn form, one just as regal as Celestia...minus the flowing mane and tail. His magical core was still unfinished after all. “‘S not like Yggdrasil could do it, anyways.”

“You’ll have to take me to meet him,” Cadance smiled and hugged him. “Thank you, this… means a lot to me.”

“One day,” Aspect agreed. “So...ready for this?”

“As I’ll ever be,’ Cadance said, taking a breath and sweeping a hoof out from her chest. “Okay. Let’s go!”

The ceremony had been beautiful, and coming to a close, Celestia leaned down and whispered something to rainbow. The pegasus beamed and shedded her dress in an instant, rocketing off into the sky above Canterlot.

“Um...what?” Aspect asked, having retaken his normal pegasus guise for the coming party.

Then there was a resounding ‘BOOM’ as Rainbow broke the light spectrum and created a Sonic Rainboom above the palace, the mare soon landing back on the balcony, a glowing rainbow of light still trailing her.

“Holy cow,” Megan whistled. “That...well, if whatever turned my mirror into a gateway didn’t do it, that probably would have created another Rainbow Connection like Firefly did all those years ago.”

“Huh?” Rainbow asked as she tilted her head. “Whatcha mean?”

In the background, Twilight had pulled out a quill and scroll from… somewhere.

“Well, twenty years ago, or two thousand by your scale, Firefly flew over the rainbow, and landed in my well,” Megan elaborated. “She brought me back to help against Tirek...which is when I met this idiot with his sword.”

“To be fair, the Moochick never helped me,” Aspect huffed. “He only liked you because you weren’t armed and dangerous. I’m sure if I’d had the Rainbow of Light, I might’ve used it on everything I had to kill.”

“You keep mentioning this ‘Rainbow’,” his like-named pegasus mare asked. “What the heck is it? Is it like the Elements of Harmony?”

“Actually,” Aspect mused. “I’m pretty sure the Rainbow exists now in the Elements of Harmony.”

“Christopher,” Megan paled. “What did you do.”

“Aheh,” the stallion chuckled. “I uh...fed the Rainbow and the Flashstone to a magical tree...which produced six magical fruits that the ponies call the Elements of Harmony?” he said.

“...Does it still work like the Rainbow?” she asked.

“Oh yes, villain defeating, all-powerful. I think it’s actually stronger now. Granted, these days it’s wielded by six mares at the same time, but it’s relatively easy to get them to agree to save the world.”

“We’ve done it twice already,” Rainbow nodded proudly. “Even put a stop to that jerk Discord.”

Aspect let out a little shudder at that. “In any case, rest easy Megan. The world still has the Rainbow in one form or another. The Moochick’s gift did not go to waste.”

“...Fine, but I want to see them,” the human said. “I want to know what it is that holds the power again, in case something happens.”

“Later,” Celestia promised. “Now, this ceremony is complete. We have a little time before the reception. So…”

“We should get pictures!” Megan said. “I wish I’d brought my camera…”

“Ah, of course,” Celestia chuckled and nodded her head. A guard left the room and she smiled. “The photographer will be here soon.”

“I’m sorry, I just didn’t think my phone would get reception in another world,” the woman replied.

“...How does that have anything to do with a camera?” Aspect questioned.

Megan looked like she’d just seen a puppy kicked and patted his head. “You poor thing, living without technology over these past years,” she cooed. “Don’t worry. You’ll learn.”

Nopony else could really add anything, they had no clue what the heck she was talking about.

Said photographer soon arrived and it was followed by an hour of picture taking, the old stallion was very fussy in the way they had to be done. But the end result was dozens of expertly taken photos.

Megan very carefully did not mention that in her world, technology had advanced so far that she would have been done in minutes. In any case, Aspect looked to Celestia to determine if it was time for the reception yet.

“Nearly,” she chuckled. “Has anyone seen Chrysalis? I don’t think she was actually at the ceremony.”

Now that she’d mentioned it, the Changeling was absent, nor could Aspect sense her nearby.

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “I’ll wager she’s busy getting Middy’s sister here...but it does bear looking into.” He nodded to everyone as he started to leave, ready to look for his wayward daughter.

And Midnight was by his side, her wings twitching idly. It was easy to tell the pony was anxious… or borderline murderous, one of the two.

“You need to relax,” he told her. “Otherwise this won’t go well no matter the outcome.”

“I am… cautiously optimistic,” Midnight said. “I… I just…” She stopped whatever it was she was about to say as she looked ahead, her eyes widening. Chrysalis, in her unicorn form, was walking towards them. Next to her was, well what looked like Midnight Song, only with a shorter mane and tail, a faint scar running down her left cheek and her eyes were gold instead of green.

“I take it this is the sister Midnight is so anxious to meet again after so long?” Aspect quizzed Chryssy.

“That would be—”

*crack*

And thaaaaat would be Midnight delivering a punishing slap across the new thestral’s face, the mare reeling and falling to the floor.

“Oww!” she yelped, rubbing her reddening cheek. “Midnight. What the fu—”

And now she was hugging her?

“I take it this is normal,” Aspect commented dryly.

“Ești idioată,” [you idiot] Midnight murmured as she held her sister close. “Noi ... am crezut că erai mort.” [We...thought you were dead]

“Didn’t have to hit me,” the other murmured, not having Midnight’s accent. “Way to greet your sister by the way.”

“Making sure your weren’t a Changeling,” Midnight murmured as she kept holding the mare close to her. “I-It is really you is it not?”

“Yes,” she mused. “It’s really me batbrain.” She leaned up and nuzzled Midnight. “I guess… we have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes we do,” Midnight replied.

“And all’s well that ends well,” Aspect summed up. “See? Chryssy didn’t kill your sister.”

“She nearly did,” the new mare commented. “Look, tl:dr, I was on a mission that involved working with some Changelings. We were about to bring down a huge crime ring, only things went to shit. My cover was blown harder than a colt hiring his first hooker, so…”

“I set up one of my best Changeling’s to assist in helping Mrs. Xiphos here disappear.” Chrysalis concluded. “And she had to remain so until this was sorted… But of course, Miss Midnight had to threaten me like that and… I panicked.”

“Aaah, is that going to be an issue for you?” Aspect asked his daughter.

“Not as long as Midnight keeps quiet, we’re just about done anyway,” the Changeling shrugged. “No matter, family comes first. You know that.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion replied. He looked to the new mare and smiled. “Hello, it’s nice to meet the sister of one of my fiancees.”

“I’m sorry what?” Xi blinked and looked at Midnight. “You? You’re getting married. Who the absolute fuck is crazy enough to stick their dick in you?”

“I’m glad you think so highly of me,” the stallion deadpanned.

“Rude,” Midnight nodded as she stood up, helping her sister to her hooves.

“You know she’s married right?” Chrysalis said as Xiphos’s jaw dropped.

“Is she now?” Midnight narrowed her eyes as Xi backed up a step.

“To one of my Changelings~”

“CHRYSSIE!!” Xi yelled.

“Welp, it was nice knowing you while you were alive,” Aspect saluted the mare.

“Mother is going to kill you,” Midnight sighed and shook her head. “It would appear we have a good deal to talk about.” She turned to Aspect and nodded. “Apologies. It would appear I will not be at the reception. I wish to… spend time alone with my sister.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Aspect bowed his head to his mare. “I’ll tell the others you’re occupied with family matters.”

Midnight nodded and drew close, kissing the stallion. She had a smile on her face, a pure, genuine smile as she trotted off with the other thestral in tow.

“Thank you,” Aspect said to Chryssy when the others had left.

“Well… I was planning on bringing her back to her family eventually,” Chrysalis said with a sigh. “Honestly, these last few days have been exhausting.”

“You didn’t have to, but you showed that you’re more than your exterior to more than just me.” Aspect walked closer and wrapped a wing around Chryssy’s unicorn form. “Thanks for that.”

“Yeah yeah,” Chryslais said, enjoying the moment more than she let on. “I’m hungry, let’s go to that party so I can steal some love~”

“Or you could just bask in my fatherly love for you,” Aspect pointed out.

“Hmmm, but Cady’s love is just soo gooooood~” Chrysalis purred and licked her lips. “Yours is like… mm, I guess a nice home cooked meal. Cadance is like, the most decadent chocolate you could imagine.” Her belly was rumbling just thinking about it.

“You are just utterly insatiable,” the stallion chuckled. “Well, let’s go see the reception then. I’m sure it’ll have started by now. Or will soon.”

“Indeed,” Chrysalis hummed.

The party was in full swing by the time they got there. Again, Aspect’s legendary sense of direction saw them delayed by a few minutes. As the reached the open garden, a white unicorn DJ had set up a large booth to play music from, just as Twilight took a microphone and started to sing a song. It was no Heart Song, and her natural singing voice was actually quite lovely.

“Mmm, this is a lovely party,” Aspect hummed as he took in the sensations of it all. From the pleasant chatter to the guests themselves, he simply got a feel for the room. He was no changeling with their empathic senses, but he’d gotten used to feeling out a room from his adventuring years.

“So, do you have plans for after?” Chrys asked him as she moved up next to him. “When you return home I mean?”

“Yeah, a brief stopover in the griffon lands, then...I guess I need to plan my own wedding,” Aspect replied. “After today, there’s not a whole lot left to threaten the world anymore. Might actually be able to hang up my sword.”

“You?” Megan asked as she walked over. “Going nonviolent for once? What alternate universe did I walk into?”

“You know, I recall stories about the Diplomat being much less… brutal in her opinions,” Celestia chuckled as she joined their little group. “Whatever happened to that sweet little girl that used to play with Luna and I?”

“She grew up and had kids of her own,” Megan countered. “Little girls that wanted nothing more than to have adventures like their mother.”

“Yeah, that’ll change your priorities,” Aspect chuckled as he glanced over the crowd, looking for Bon Bon.

“Well, I wouldn’t know about that would I?” Celestia huffed.

“Oh right, poor Tia here is the lonely virgin amongst us,” Chrysalis chuckled lewdly.

“True, but she has had others that she looked after over the years,” Aspect pointed out. “She knows a little about it.”

Celestia just looked away and sighed. “I need to check on Luna,” she said and trotted off rather suddenly, leaving Chrysalis and Megan very confused over the sudden departure.

“Guess we needled her too hard,” Aspect sighed. “Ah well. One day she’ll have a kid of her own, rather than a student.”

“What’s stopping her?” Megan asked.

“Her attempts at getting one of her guard in her bed border on the criminally incompetent...and that’s just her pick-up lines,” the stallion explained.

“So?” Chrysalis shrugged. “She’s Princess flipping Celestia, all she’d have to do is flag her tail and half the stallions in Equestria would tap that. Hell, she’s my sister and I’d tap that.”

“She probably wants an actual relationship, Chryssy,” Aspect warned her. “And nobody can see Celestia for the Princess.”

“Aaaah,” Megan noted aloud. “Well, it seems like they all need to stop putting her on a pedestal for once in their lives.”

“Pfft, good luck there,” Chrysalis scoffed. “She publicly admitted to pacifying an entire species and they still love her. At this point, she could likely take over the world and the ponies would help her do it.”

“Hmm,” Megan thought for a moment, before snapping her fingers. “Got it. The easiest way to dispel an image like that is to be caught being wrong about something until they finally get that you’re not perfect. It’s how parenting works. Your kids think the world of you until you prove you’re human, just like everyone else. Then they realize that you’re not infallible...just their mother.”

“Hmm,” Chrysalis rubbed her chin. “Curious. How would you go about doing that then?”

“In parenting it happens by accident,” Megan explained. “I never learned things like trigonometry. I learned a little physics and geometry, and enough math to be able to do the books around the ranch. But when Stacy started learning those things in her high school...then she realized her mother wasn’t all-knowing. It shook her a little bit...but she rebounded. And when Becky started learning how to care for the horses, I started teaching her what my dad taught me...and she corrected me with things she’d researched, hesitantly. As though she were afraid of speaking up against me. But my girls are smart and bounced back from having their worldviews rocked. They know I might not know everything...but I know a lot, and that they’d be fools to not listen to me when I chip in with some wise words.”

“When the child learns to grow,” Chrysalis looked at Celestia’s retreating form. “Perhaps… that would be best. For Celestia to step back and allow the ponies a little more independence.”

“I’ve tried for a while now to help her take herself out of the equation,” Aspect sighed. “The ponies love her too much to let her leave.”

“And they’re far too stupid to take care of themselves,” Chrysalis sighed. “It’s like a nation of toddlers. Honestly, she’s less their Princess and more their foalsitter.”

“They’re not all that bad,” the stallion demurred.

Chrysalis turned and uttered two words. “Spoiled Rich.”

“Okay apart from that one, they’re not all that bad,” Aspect muttered.

“Blueblood,” Bon Bon said, having appeared next to him from out of the crowd.

“Don’t remind me of the spoiled twat,” Aspect growled under his breath.

“Hmhmhm, I am going to have words with both of them,” Chrysalis chuckled. “In any case. Let us forget the woes of reality and enjoy this party for what it is. A celebration of love and life.”

“Hmm, that was actually pretty nice,” Bon Bon smiled and pat her shoulder. “Momma Bon Bon is proud of her lil buggy daughter.”

“...wat?” Chrysalis deadpanned.

“Get used to it,” Aspect smiled. “If they marry me, they marry into a big family...and they’re already getting into the role.”

“Sakes, Chris, how many kids did you have?” Megan asked.

“I...lost count,” the stallion admitted. “Two whole species will do that.”

“Not counting the Griffons and Phoenixes,” Bon Bon giggled. “He has six, plus the two that Midnight and I are brewing. Though those will be the first of his actual progeny.” She bumped his flank and rolled her eyes. “Would’ve preferred a pony foal. But oh well.”

“His form changing is getting too crazy to follow,” Megan muttered.

“Comes with having an unfinished magical core,” the stallion replied. “I can shape it to form my body into anything else that I’ve ‘sampled’ over the years.”

“And I’m suddenly glad I don’t have one of those,” Megan deadpanned.

“Hey, nothing wrong with being a mare~” Bon Bon winked and kissed Aspect. “He’s certainly never complained when we request his human form for a little fun~”

“Being a pony would attract far too much attention back home, thank you,” Megan shook her head. “I’d like to live as quiet a life as I can even with a dimension-crossing mirror in my living room.”

“Normal is overrated,” Chrysalis mused and nudged the woman. “And don’t tell me you haven’t been counting down the days until you came back here.”

“Honestly? Not really,” Megan replied. “After twenty years, I didn’t think there’d be a ‘next time’. So I lived my life as well as I could. That lasted a little while...then I found Mike, fell in love, and started my own family, and forgot all about Ponyland.” She muttered something else under her breath that none of them caught.

“What was that dear?” Chrysalis leaned closer, “Not all of us have thestral hearing now.”

Megan shook her head. “It’s...not for those of this world. Suffice to say, crazy things happened on the other side, and Mike wondered why I was well-adjusted to the world suddenly becoming much smaller than we thought. I revealed that, well...it had happened to me before, and he...took it rather well, all things considered.”

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, but decided to not push it further. The emotions she tasted weren’t all that palatable. “Well, if you have a problem, I’m sure father could help. Technically it is his world too no?”

“It’s not just our world anymore is the point,” Megan said, causing Aspect to raise a brow.

“What happened?” the stallion asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she replied.

Chrysalis just snorted. “I’m going to check on the happy couple… and give Shining some advice on how to survive his wedding night.” She chuckled and bowed her head, before taking her leave.

“Spill,” Aspect pointed a wing at Megan.

“Not here,” the woman replied, shaking her head. “It’d be a lot easier if I just showed you. We can work on that when you’ve got that mirror moved.”

“...You’re telling me eventually, and just making it worse for yourself when I pry the secret out of you,” the stallion pointed out.

“It’s not really a secret,” Megan replied. “Just...something you won’t believe until you see it.”

“Chris,” Bon Bon lightly slapped his butt. “Be nice to old friends.”

“I am being nice!” Aspect countered.

“Yeah, he’s actually being surprisingly agreeable,” the human female noted. “It’s wasn’t every day back then that he actually was civil to me. Then again, I did my fair share of antagonizing him too…”

“...I swear, if you two start,” Bon Bon warned. “I’ll sic Lyra on you.”

“Hmm...bonding or pulling Lyra into our shenanigans,” Aspect mused.

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about,” Megan pointed out.

“Trust me, it’s not something you want,” Bon Bon chuckled and nudged Aspect. “Isn’t that right dear? Especially if I tell her she can be herself.”

“Lyra’s not that bad,” Aspect demurred.

“Oh?” Megan asked.

“Sometimes, she’s worse,” the stallion finished.

Aspect was suddenly pulled away, now face to face with Cadance as she giggled and smiled. “Come and share a dance with me,” she hummed as she pulled him out onto the dancefloor.

“You’ll have to lead, I’ve been informed that formal dances are not ‘in vogue’ right now,” Aspect replied. “I can pick up on your steps well enough.”

“Oh shush and just dance,” Cadance chided him with another giggle as she fell into step. After a moment, she smiled and nodded. “You really aren’t that bad you know. You just need practice.”

“Who do you think taught Tia and Lulu to dance?” Aspect retorted as they kept up the steps. “I know most of the formal dances from back in the Everfree castle. I just didn’t get to use them in the past thousand years.”

“Well, I think you should dance with your mares more often,” she giggled and booped his nose with hers. “Thank you for today by the way. It really meant a lot to me.”

“Glad to be of service,” Aspect chuckled. “At least this time, it went off as planned.”

“Well technically the other day did too,” Cadance smiled. “Just not your plans.”

“So many plans flying around,” the stallion grumbled. “I couldn’t toss a rock for hitting three of them.”

“More than likely,” she smiled as the song came to an end. She smiled and turned him around, putting him muzzle to muzzle with Bon Bon. “Now take care grandfather. I have a husband to wrangle.”

“Oh, hello love,” Aspect bowed to her. “Care to dance?”

“I would be honoured,” Bon Bon smiled and placed one leg in front of the other, returning the bow as a slower song started up. Aspect raised himself and began leading his mare in a slow dance, befitting the song, as they simply enjoyed each other’s company.

All in all, it was a magical evening. He shared dances with his daughters and Rainbow too. The prismatic mare tried to get him and Megan to dance, but that wasn’t happening.

Eventually, the evening came to an end when Cadance and Shining rode off in a carriage, some ponies leaving to continue the party elsewhere, others returning home to their beds. And Aspect chuckling when he overheard Spike planning to throw a bachelor's party for Shining…

“So, I shall see that the mirror is moved to Aspect’s manor in Ponyville tomorrow, via pegasus carriage,” Celestia said to Megan as they saw the woman off for the evening. “So try and wait twenty four hours before returning. The last thing you need is you or the kids appearing in thin air a few thousand feet up.”

“It’s Saturday tomorrow, they’ll not be happy they missed out on any time to explore,” Megan mused. “Eh, they’ll get over it. I’ll tell them they can’t fly, and until they can, they can’t go through until this end’s been moved.”

“It could be sooner,” Bon Bon said. “We’ll send a note through the mirror once it’s safe.”

“Thank you, that’ll set my mind at ease,” Megan sighed. “Well...guess this is it until the mirror’s moved, then.” She walked forward and gave Celestia a hug, whispering something in her ear.

“I know it hurts,” the human said. “But at some point, all kids have to grow up.”

Celestia very carefully didn’t say anything as the woman released her and passed through the mirror, the surface rippling before returning to it’s normal state. The alicorn looked at Aspect and Chrysalis, before turning and taking her leave.

“Whoops, looks like she’s onto us,” Chrysalis chuckled.

“Onto you maybe, I had nothing to do with your plans,” the stallion replied. “I wash my hooves of them.”

“Psh, wuss,” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Well no matter, I have to go and oversee my new Hive. I figured it’d be best if I stuck close, so I’m constructing a new one close by. My children should be nearly done with the excavations.”

“Oh?” Aspect raised an eyebrow. “And where exactly are you planning on staying?”

“Somewhere safe, not to worry,” Chrysalis mused as she teleported from the room.

“Ah well,” the stallion shrugged. “In any case...I think it’s time we all returned ourselves.” He looked around not only for his mares, but his kids as well.

“Soooo fuuuuuuull,” Artemis groaned, apparently having raided the snack table the entire time. As for Realm…

Well, he’d been surrounded by mares gushing over how cute he was all night. It wasn’t exactly what he’d been looking for...but praise was praise.

As for Nightie… hmm, she was missing.

Aspect sighed. He would have to search for her, wouldn’t he? In a castle he didn’t know. That promised to be...excruciatingly difficult.

Nightmare Moon sat upon Celestia’s throne, the thing dwarfing her current filly form. Sure, she’d agreed that she’d only take her proper form inside Aspect’s home, but honestly, she was getting used to being a filly.

“It’s… more boring than I expected,” she murmured as she stared at the empty throne room. She’d… well she didn’t know. Maybe some kind of revelation when she sat here. So much had happened and yet…

“I don’t even know who I am,” she sighed as she sat back and stared at the ceiling. “A nameless parasite in the body of a pony? Playing pretend at a true life…” She held up a hoof, staring at the black fur. “I have the Aspect of Dreams… yet I can barely use it.” She sighed and looked out at the room again. “I have no goal… no, vision of what I want to do.” She reverted, her body growing larger until a full grown alicorn sat there, her starry mane blowing as she stared with her cat-like eyes. She spread her wings as the lights in the room grew dimmer. “I could bring Eternal Night… but what then. It wouldn’t accomplish anything in the long run. Nor can I defeat Christopher in a fight. And with Chrysalis’s return, my rule wouldn’t even last the weekend, and that’s if they gave me a headstart.” The lights grew brighter as she exhaled. “There’s no point. Not in that, nor anything else…”

“You know, I had a feeling I’d find you here,” Aspect said as he walked in the room, his eyes only slightly widening at her larger form. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“That I am defeated before even beginning?” she said, but didn’t look at him, her eyes locked on the moon visible outside the window. “The only reason I am even here, is because the Elements can’t kill. And you haven’t killed me because you’re too damned soft.”

Aspect sighed, walking closer to her. “I can’t give you a reason to exist,” he started. “I can’t give you a purpose. That’s up to you to find. And I won’t kill you, because the Elements saw something in you worth saving. If I went against that, the world would not agree, and my blade might very well shatter. From the moment you decided to stand with me...from the second you helped me against Discord...you were worth the trouble to save. I don’t know what you’ll do with your new lease on life. It might take the ponies a thousand years or more to forget the things you did. But I won’t dictate how you’ll live them. Freedom is yours by right. You could choose to simply turn and walk away. And I wouldn’t stop you.”

“There’s nowhere to even go,” she said with an airy wave of her hoof. “What about you hmm? A thousand years of aimless wandering. Surely you must have come to some kind of realization. Why you didn’t come back sooner.”

“I couldn’t stay,” Aspect replied. “I’d nearly torn my family apart permanently. I’d nearly used my blade on my own daughter. I couldn’t remain...where I’d nearly failed. So I left, to seek some deeper meaning to the world...all I found was Grogar. All I learned was despair. After I’d slain and rehoused him, I wandered to the forest where I first made the Phoenixes...and did what they can do. I purposely sought to end my life over the pain I was feeling over living by becoming a phoenix and combusting. I tried not to reincarnate.”

“Forgot you’re immortal?” Nightmare mused and shook her head. “Perhaps that thought crossed my mind. Maybe ask Twilight Sparkle and the others to use the Elements on me.” She sighed and looked at him for the first time. “Guess we’re utterly hopeless aren’t we?”

“Mm,” Aspect mused. “But in that moment between waking and sleeping, living and dying...I saw something. A vision of Equus. Wobbling like a top, with calamity striking every point on the globe. But then, across the world, points of light shone...guiding the planet back to its proper course. It took me ages to decipher. But I think...the world needs Aspects, to guide it. They all form the parts of the greater mechanism, to keep the world on balance, safe. Even one as half-formed as myself. It wasn’t done with me...so it refused to let me go.”

“The world is more selfish than you are,” Nightmare said as she got and and descended from the throne. “This place isn’t for me. Not anymore anyway. The desire to rule? I wash my hooves of it.” She flared her wings, creating a gust of wind before folding them. “As for those that harass me over my actions. I chose them, t’was the path I walked. I do not regret them.” She walked over until she was standing before him.

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded at her. “Would you like a hint as to how to use your powers properly?”

“Oh, and you would know?” she raised an eyebrow.

Aspect coughed, making it sound suspiciously like ‘Boogeyman’ a few times.

“...I am sure that imitating that thing would be rather detrimental to my already unfavourable public image,” she deadpanned.

“True, but I did kill him and get information about what he did,” Aspect replied. “I can therefor assume that I know how the negative part of the powers work...and infer how the positive should function. When he used them, he sowed fear and mistrust between the ponies before any of the other wicked beasts would attack a settlement. He hopped freely from mind to mind night after night, not bothered by anything until the sun came up and they stopped sleeping.”

“The problem is that I cannot remain in the Dreamscape for long,” she sighed. “Not without… losing myself to it. I came from there remember.”

“Then what you need is an anchor, a focus, something to draw you back when you need a rest,” Aspect nodded once. “The Boogeyman had something like that, an enchanted necklace that I didn’t know the purpose of at the time. It was only when I got a unicorn to look at it that I realized that even he couldn’t stand the Dreamscape forever.”

Nightmare paused and looked back at him. “I don’t suppose you still have that necklace do you?”

“Somewhere in my saddlebags, as a memento,” Aspect nodded. “And if you’re still after a purpose...I can tell you what I think the Aspect of Dreams should aspire to be.”

“I swear if you say something sappy, I’ll slap you,” she warned.

Aspect chuckled, and looked over in the direction where the party had been. “When Realm comes into his full power...he’ll be able to walk down a street and, if he so chooses, inspire everyone. He’ll be able to cover a city in his power over the course of the day, making them truly creative. Inspiration is part and parcel of what he is.” He then looked over to Nightmare. “You’re so much better than him. When you get into the swing of your power, you’ll be able to inspire everyone in Equestria in a single night. To valor, to courage, to bravery, to feats they’d not be able to dream of were it not for you. It’s your duty not just to guard, but to inspire ponykind to dream of what could be. For that is where the future begins. We dream of the impossible...and make it possible.”

“Hmhm, seems you have quite a bit of faith in me,” Nightmare chuckled. She dimmed the lights and started for the door. “Well, I guess we’ll see. The future is hardly set in stone after all. Whatever will be, will be… Also, that was incredibly sappy. I’ll be sure to prank you quite viciously at some point in the future~”

“The amount of sap doesn’t make it not true,” Aspect said as he followed after her. “And yes, I do have faith in you. I have faith in all my children...whether or not I was there for their raising or not.”

Her form shimmered as she retook her filly form. “Well, I’m still being raised no?” she asked and gave him a brief smile before leaving the room. She had a lot to contemplate.

Aspect smiled. Well...at least that was her found and hopefully inspired. Now it was simply a matter of herding his mares and kids onto a chariot home, so they could spend the night in their own beds.

Author's Note

So I've made my decision. I'll post everything Aus and I have on this story before cancelling it so we can work on it all over again.

Still, if you like what we did, feel free to drop us a dollar on my Patreon. It really will help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on birthday presents.

Chapter 59 - The more things change, the more they stay the same

It was a calm day in Griffonstone. Mainly because the air hung low, like an oppressive blanket of gloom. It had been this way since the fall of the empire, and wasn’t likely to change anytime soon. Except for that storm on the horizon, that was somehow drawing closer quite quickly despite there being no wind whatsoever.

Some griffons noticed, most didn’t care. Just another day in this living Tartarus.

Then the storm drew closer, the thunderheads blotting out the sunlight as the clouds hovered over the town, no rain falling despite the dark black clouds rumbling with contained lightning.

The griffons outside looked up, taking cover in their ramshackle houses, hoping the storm would blow over soon. They had a weather team. Well, when they were paid anyway. The only one curious was a young hen with a green scarf, staring up at the darkening sky.

Then a bolt of lightning struck the earth near what used to be a smithy, revealing a form out of myth. A huge griffon with blood red feathers, casting his gaze into the aging building. Most ducked inside at his appearance. Only two seemed interested, the young hen and another, staring around from behind a nearby building.

The large griff nodded and opened a door, disappearing inside. When he emerged again, he had an anvil from the smithy in his grasp, dragging it to the center of town, where a large rock sat. He heaved the mass of iron up onto the stone and held out a claw, letting out a cry.

Another bolt of lightning fell into his grasp, and it shimmered in his hold before taking the form of a bronze spear that those who knew the legends would recognize. Gungnir, being held by their creator, Bloodfeather.

“Griffons,” he rumbled. “Once you were a proud race. A mighty race. The air itself bent to your whims. You were my children. I molded you from the strongest of two worlds. And now, you have fallen. Where is your pride? Where is your honor? Where is your strength now?”

None answered, all of them far too fearful to emerge from their decrepit homes. He turned and spied two hens peeking from around the corner, ducking back when they saw him notice them.

“Very well then,” the griffon continued. “I leave you my weapon, my mantle. A chance. It will only move for one who is worthy. May the one that draws my spear forth be blessed with all the power of the Air Itself, and lead you all into another age, one filled with strength and wonder!”

With a cry to the heavens, the griff speared the anvil, embedding his bronze weapon into the stone beneath as the storm above rumbled. He panted a moment, before spreading his wings and leaving, flying directly up into the storm...and taking it with him, leaving the air above clear once more.

“The crap was that?” Gilda asked once the clouds had dissipated.

“No idea,” Gabby squeaked as she stared at the sparking anvil with wide eyes. “What does he mean, ‘Power of Air’?”

Gilda frowned. None of this made sense, only that… that giant griffon had flown towards Pony lands. Perhaps it was time to visit Dash again… bury the hatchet and find out what the fuck was going on.

“Easy does it…” Bon Bon said as Twilight and Rarity slowly lowered the large mirror down. The earth pony had spent all morning cleaning out a room for the mirror. She placed it on the first floor, and also decorated the room tastefully with a few of Realm’s paintings of various parts of Ponyville and the old Ponyland. Something new and something old to greet their new guests.

“Phew,” Twilight wiped her brow. “That thing’s heavier than it looks. Doesn’t help it was fighting our magic.”

“Fighting?” Bon Bon raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm, how to put it,” Rarity said. “Like two of the same magnet. It made the mirror much harder and heavier to move.” To be honest, Rarity was actually a fairly powerful unicorn. Between her gem sensing and extremely skilled telekinesis. She didn’t like showing it off much though.

“Huh,” Bon Bon rubbed her chin. “I wonder why?”

“Likely to do with the massive amount of magic this thing is putting off,” Twilight said and looked at it. “I wonder… you think ponies can go through it?”

Then they heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Seeing as how Aspect had taken off with Gungnir after breakfast, that was likely him coming back.

Twilight hadn’t heard as she moved closer to the portal, running a hoof across the surface as it rippled. “It’d only take a moment…”

“Bonnie?” Aspect called out. “Bon...I need a little help here. I think I was leaning way too much on Air…”

“What’s wrong?” Bon Bon called back as she kept one eye on the purple unicorn. “We’re in here.”

“I...I’m completely drained, Bon. I have an echo, I can mimic it with the Gale King, but...when it went, it took everything.” Aspect’s voice was closer, and it sounded...strained.

“Oh dear…” Bon Bon turned and opened the door to let him in, as the stallion leaning against it fell towards her. “Eep!”

“Eeep?” Twilight yelped and there was a muted flash… and the unicorn was gone, the mirror rippling.

“Oh… dear,” Bon Bon repeated from under Aspect.

Megan had been expecting to be peppered with requests from her kids to go visit Ponyl—Equestria, ever since the day started. She was used to it. She’d given them the reasoning behind why they couldn’t just explore beyond the mirror. Namely, that its other end was being moved...through the air.

What completely undercut her argument was a pony appearing in her living room.

“Ooohhhh,” Twilight groaned and rubbed her head. That had been a trip and a half. Up had become down and she was pretty sure she could taste colors right now. “That… that was not fun.” She blinked slowly to clear her vision before looking around. “Where… am I?”

“Welcome to the family ranch,” Megan said, kneeling next to Twilight. “I thought you weren’t going to come to Earth on account of it not being, what’s the word...an enjoyable experience?”

“I was inspecting the mirror and got startled so um… I…” Twilight blushed cutely and mumbled. “I kinda… fell in?”

“I give it ten seconds before Becky hears me talking to someone and puts two and two together,” Megan pursed her lips. “Then they’ll be asking to visit.”

“I’m sorry?” Twilight blinked as she got to her hooves. Then her eyes widened. “Wait, this… is Earth?”

“Well I sure hope so, I live here,” Megan joked.

Twilight gasped and ran to a window to look out of it. She needed to see if this was real or not. Outside, rolling countryside greeted her field of view, with a town not far off in the distance. It all looked so...industrialized. So different from Equestria, from Equus.

“Oh wow…” the mare gasped as she took it all in. “It’s… not quite what I imagined.”

“Yeah, Earth is different from Pony- Equestria,” Megan replied. “And it’s only gotten more changed in the past few years.”

“Really?” Twilight looked outside… and with a flash of light, she teleported out onto the lawn. There was a small pause, before she pitched sideways and collapsed.

“Oh geeze,” Megan muttered, racing out of the house and walking briskly over to Twilight’s form, checking to make sure she was still breathing and all of that. She appeared to be, but she’d fainted rather suddenly. The moment Megan touched her though, she gasped and sat bolt upright.

“Huh? What… Where…?”

“You tried magic on Earth,” Megan replied. “And then fainted. Might I suggest not doing that again? I don’t know what the density of magic is here, but I’m guessing it’s low. It might’ve been higher years ago, that’s how the bridge was stable here, but…”

Twilight’s horn shone with a pale light. “The magic here is weak… I could do basic spells. But things like teleportation…” She rubbed her head and winced. “Sorry if I worried you like that.” Then a sound caught her ears and she blinked. That was an equine noise! Were there other ponies here?

“Let’s get you inside before someone spots you,” Megan urged.

“What was that noise?” Twilight asked as she ignored the advice and started to head towards it source. “You said there weren’t any ponies here.”

“There aren’t,” Megan said, keeping an eye on the horizon for any neighbors that might spot her. “Look, it’s really not a good idea to—”

Twilight rounded a corner and halted in front of a fence, behind said fence was a giant of a stallion. Twilight having to step back and look upwards. He was even taller than Celestia herself. “My… goodness…” she gasped. “Is… What is that!?”

“The family’s horses,” Megan explained. “Here, humans are the only sapient mammal so far. So we take care of the less fortunate. My family raises horses for a living.”

“It’s… so big,” Twilight gasped as she looked it over. “It’s similar to a pony, and yet… different.” She stepped a bit closer to it, looking over its form. Goodness, look at those muscles. Twilight couldn’t help but blush a little.

“Yeah, Richard here is a big softy,” Megan said, reaching up to stroke the white horse’s mane. He nickered softly, before putting his head over the fence and looking down at Twilight. “Seems he’s taken an interest in you though,” the human chuckled.

“Oh, um… hello?” Twilight said, looking back up at the massive stallion. She wasn’t quite sure how to interact with him.

The stallion huffed, sending a wash of warm air over her and slightly mussing up her mane, before leaning into the petting Megan was giving him. After a few more moments of that, he pulled his head back and began walking over to where a few more horses stood.

“Always did get the feeling they were smarter than they let on,” Megan chuckled.

“What a fascinating species,” Twilight said, smoothing her mane back down with a hoof. “Earth really is quite different from Equestria huh?”

“In more ways than you might imagine,” Megan replied. “Come on, if I know my girls, Becky will be waiting with her kit, pouting that she didn’t get to see to you when you came through. And Stacy will probably want to ask all sorts of questions.”

“They are rather excitable children,” Twilight giggled as she followed her. “It’s too bad. I wish I could see a more densely populated area.”

“Yes, well, I’d rather avoid letting others know there’s a whole other world on the other side of my living room mirror just yet,” Megan countered. “Let’s focus on getting you back before my girls nip off to Equestria without me.”

“Right, of course,” Twilight giggled. “Sorry for just showing up out of the blue. I’ll admit I toyed with the idea, but I didn’t mean to actually come through.”

“Eh, it’s not the worst adventure I’ve had,” Megan replied, opening the door and ushering Twilight back inside.

“I’d love to hear about them,” Twilight said. “Aspect is very… cagey when talking to me. I think my… enthusiasm made a terrible first impression on him. But, I’m getting better.”

“It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows back in the days of Ponyland,” Megan replied, seeing that for once, the girls hadn’t taken notice. “Okay, so we have a shot at getting you back home before they find out you’re here…”

“Sorry if I’ve… inconvenienced you,” Twilight sighed, her ears folding back as she glanced at the floor. “I seem to be good at doing that…”

“Hey,” Megan said, crouching down and hugging Twilight around the middle from the side. “I will never say no to seeing a pony friend again, okay? But the reason I don’t want you all here is because I’m concerned about how the world would react to you. So if I tell you that it’s not a good idea, it’s because I’m concerned for your safety, okay? I just want to keep our worlds as disparate as possible. Fun to visit, but not to stay.”

“I understand that,” Twilight sighed. She relaxed in the hold. “Sorry… Aspect, er, Christopher and I… we had some… issues regarding our level of friendship. And… I guess I’m still conflicted about it. He’s a nice stallion but… I don’t know. I seem to make him mad. I’m, not the most decisive pony. And he genuinely seemed to like me… given some of the things we did.” Twilight didn’t know why she was suddenly opening up to a total stranger. Something about Megan just seemed… trustworthy. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted and it… annoyed him I think.”

“Oh no, trust me, he’s not the sort to really get mad,” Megan chuckled. “You’d have to be an active threat to Equus as a whole before he got mad at you. Anything that doesn’t get him mad just...rolls off, like water on a rock. He doesn’t let things bother him. At least, he didn’t twenty years ago. As long as you’re still a nice mare, and you seem like a nice mare, then he’ll probably give you another shot.”

“Well… that’s the thing,” Twilight sighed. “I mean, he’s already dating three mares, one of them my best friend. I… can’t really see her in particular in that way. It wouldn’t be fair to their dynamic if I only liked some of them.” She groaned and put a hoof to her head. “Plus… I, um… I think I…”

Megan didn’t say anything, just crouched there and ran her free hand through Twilight’s mane.

“I… think I, might like… mares…” Twilight mumbled. She’d started writing down some of her more… amorous dreams. Most of which might have involved a mare over a stallion.

“Nothing to be ashamed of,” Megan replied, still calmly stroking her mane. “You like who you like.”

“I just, I know he likes me… I guess, I feel like I’ve led him on and I feel bad,” Twilight groaned and put a hoof to her head. “Relationships suck.”

“You’re talking to the lady that wrote about magical ponies for a living because of her adventures and then tried to date,” Megan reminded her.

“What’s wrong with ponies and adventure?” Twilight said with a raised eyebrow.

“Not a lot of people take you seriously around here when you say they were real,” the lady replied. “At least, they didn’t use to.”

“Well we’re real,” Twilight said. “So ‘pbbtth’ to them,” she huffed, blowing a cute raspberry. Whatever Megan wanted to reply withm was cut off as two girl tackle-hugged Twilight, the unicorn going down with a loud “Oof!” as she was buried under Stacy and Becky’s hugs.

“I was wondering where you two goobers were,” Megan chuckled.

“Heeeeelp,” Twilight groaned, a purple hoof raised, before sinking into the pile of child.

“Nope, you came through, you get to distract them for a bit,” the human chuckled as she pulled up a seat to watch the spectacle.

*SLAM!*

That was her house shaking as something hit the wall… hard.

“.........owwwww.” Rainbow groaned as she slid comically to the floor, having blasted through the mirror at high speed. A Dashie-shaped dent in the wall.

Squishy pone. Meet solid oak.

“That’s what you get for not checking the other side of the portal before you go through it at high speeds,” Megan chided her. “And you’re lucky the kids are distracted with Twilight.”

That said, Becky had broken away and scooped the pegasus into a hug… or tried to, the pony was the same size as her.

“So, this means the portal’s safe to go through?” Stacy said with a way too wide a smile.

“At the moment, yes,” Megan agreed. “I don’t know where they’ve set it up, but if a wingless pony like Twilight can walk through, then clearly it’s on the ground somewhere. But remember the rules! No staying overnight, not even on weekends!”

“Oh come on!” Stacy pouted. “Seriously? The big Princess pony said she’d assign us a guard just in case. And you got to stay for how long again?”

“That’s because my parents didn’t know about the portal, and were worried sick each time I left,” Megan countered. “Fine, you can stay overnight, but! I want you to be with someone I’ve met first and can trust.”

“Like that Chris guy?” her eldest riposted.

“As much as a younger version of myself is cringing at the thought...yes, he’d count,” Megan admitted. “He’s one of the movers and shakers of that world, and his heart’s in the right place...even if he does sometimes take a shortcut, permanent solution to solving a problem.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head to clear it, before speaking up. “Aspect’s cool. And yeah, we put the mirror in a room in his manor, just outside of Ponyville.”

“We’ll show you all around,” Twilight added. “There is one particular place that is absolutely off limits.”

“Now when a magical talking pony says not to go somewhere,” Megan led, letting her children fill in the end of the statement.

“You listen,” they droned as if they’d heard it a thousand times.

“Good girls,” Megan nodded. “Right, I turn custody of the goobers over to you for now. I have a ranch to look after yet, and then I might pop over for a while. Place doesn’t run itself, you know.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Twilight said and turned to see the girls already racing through the portal, claiming they were gonna be first. She sighed and shook her head, following after them and dragging Rainbow along with her.

“Oh dear,” Megan shook her head, looking at a picture on a mantle. “The ponies have reached out to me again, Mike,” she murmured, staring at the mirror. “What would you say, I wonder.”

The two girls raced into the room, barely stopping to look around as Twilight followed not a second later, yelling at them to slow down as the group completely ignored Aspect and Bon Bon sitting there as they rocketed off into the halls.

Aspect blinked a few times before shaking his head. “And to think, we’ll have our own soon,” he murmured.

“And worse, ours will breathe fire,” Bon Bon pointed out as Rainbow emerged from the portal.

“Sup?” she waved with a wing. “Miss me?”

“I was counting down the hours,” Bonnie chuckled as she gave the pegasus a kiss, making her blush lightly. “You with them?”

“Nah, they’re Twi’s problem,” the pegasus mused. “So, we got plans for today? And, why do you look so wiped Aspy?”

“I gave up Air, told Gungnir to pick a worthy griff to lead them back into the limelight and stuck him through an anvil,” Aspect explained. “I’m no longer overpowered. I’m just a collection of magical traces in a half-formed magical core.”

Rainbow was looking in the direction of Griffonstone, her wings twitching…

“I really hope you specified griffon in that rite,” Bon whispered to him.

“Yes, I specified Griffon when I told him to pick a worthy heir to Air,” Aspect rolled his eyes. “They were my children of the wind. Ponies already have a lot of Aspects. I want the griffs to have a chance in the world again with a powerful leader figure.”

“Dang,” Rainbow muttered. “Well whatever, I’m awesome enough as is. If I became an Aspect, I’d put even you to shame oh husband of mine.”

“Probably,” Aspect agreed as he sat there. “Getting used to not having that much power is...quite draining. Air was just one of those Aspects that got stronger over time.”

“Awww, you’re reduced to being one of us mortals now huh?” Rainbow teased.

“Well he still has those Runes of his,” Bon Bon pointed out. “So he still outstrips many ponies by a good margin… buuut,” she smirked and stroked his head. “I don’t think you’ll be beating Dashie in a race ever again.”

“Yeah...I can’t ride the wind,” Aspect sighed. “No more transforming into and becoming gusts of wind for me. I could still ride the Jetstream, though,” he mused, looking towards the ceiling. “It still recognizes me as it’s maker.”

“No more transforming… so, no more Griffon form?” Rainbow blinked. Bon Bon sighed and gestured to the currently-a-pegasus fiance of theirs.

“Nevermind,” Rainbow shrugged. “So, you doing okay? It’s been a rough couple of days.”

“Eh...I’ll manage,” Aspect shrugged. “It turned out well in the end.”

The door opened and…

“Chrysalis!?” Bon Bon and Rainbow yelped as the Changeling Queen poked her untransformed head in.

“Hello,” she said with a small hum. “Just thought I’d say, don’t be too worried if you feel a tremor or three. I need a larger sublevel… also, gonna borrow the pup for a bit to speed things along.”

Aspect blinked a few times, before turning to Bon Bon. “You didn’t slip anything in the morning coffee, did you?” he asked.

“Nooo?” Bon Bon blinked.

“I told you already,” Chrysalis sighed as she stepped inside. “I had to relocate the hive to a safer location. And what’s safer than right under your home…” She paused and nodded. “Ah, I forgot to mention that part didn’t I?”

“Probably on purpose,” Aspect pointed out.

“Yes well, I had a lot on my mind and it was a small detail, like you’d have said no,” the bugpony said with a chuckle as a nymph hugged the back of her leg. “Oh, would you mind taking Pupal off of my hooves while I work?”

“But I want to help Mommy,” she pouted.

“I dunno, she looks pretty attached there,” Aspect mused. “We might have to get the crowbar.”

“Hilarious,” Chrysalis deadpanned. “Oh, let me formally introduce you. You must be aware her name is Pupal. But I’ll have you know she is also my only daughter.”

“Then I dare you to explain the rest of the changelings,” Aspect fired back.

“From eggs, or birthed by other Changelings,” Chrysalis explained. “Pupal is special however. She was birthed from my own womb, like a mare would a foal…”

“Aaaah,” Aspect nodded. “Well, that makes her all the more special then. C’mere and give your grandfather a hug, Pupal.”

He had a squeaky bug facehug him then as Chrysalis chuckled. “Well have fun, I need to keep working, else those drones will slack off if I don’t crack the whip.”

“Kinky,” Dash chuckled.

“Oh dear, I haven’t even started to get kinky yet~” Chrysalis purred as she sashayed out of the room.

“Well… this house just got more interesting,” Bon Bon pointed out as she pulled Pupal from Aspect’s face and set her in his lap.

“Like the big world-spanning mirror portal wasn’t enough, evidently,” the stallion pointed out.

“Eh, least it can’t get more hectic,” Rainbow shrugged.

“Don’t tempt the world,” Aspect sighed, idly petting Pupal, the changebug purring contently. His pegasus mare shrugged as she headed for the door.

“Eh, well enjoy snuggle time, I have to go and… urgh, do paperwork,” she groaned as she lifted herself off of the ground and flew lazily down the hall.

“How well do you think the rest of the village will take there being two young humans walking around?” Aspect asked Bon Bon.

“Well, either they won’t care… or it’ll be total chaos,” Bon Bon shrugged. “They’ll get over it soon enough. Weirder things have happened… and we have a Pinkie.”

“That should and should not be a selling point at the same time,” Aspect muttered. “Let’s hope Twilight catches up to them before they wander into the forest.”

Twilight panted as she lost track of the two kids… ergh, she really needed to get into shape. But that would cut into valuable studying time. She looked around the town, trying to figure out where they might have wandered off to.

Hopefully they weren’t getting into trouble…

“So… y’all are called ‘humans’?” the little earth pony filly said as she walked alongside the two human girls she’d run into.

“Mhm,” Becky nodded. “Our Mommy has been here before, but now we get to and it’s super awesome!”

“Well, not to brag, but yeah…” Scootaloo said with a smile.

“Oh, we should be friends!” Sweetie Belle beamed. “We’ve never been friends with a human before.”

“Yeah!” Becky nodded. “Wanna be friends with the cute ponies sis?”

“Well that’s a given,” Stacy nodded. “I wouldn’t mind finding a library though. We should at least learn something about… er, what was this place called again.”

“Ponyville,” Apple Bloom said and then gasped. “Oh! We could totally show you around.”

“Better idea,” Scootaloo said. “Let’s make them honorary Crusaders! Diamond and Silver will be sooo jealous.”

“Well, their opinions aside, I like that idea!” Sweetie Belle nodded, her voice squeaking on the higher notes. “What do you think? Wanna be Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

“Crusaders? Do… you even know…” Stacy caught herself and shook her head. That’t be ridiculous. “Well, sure.”

“YAY!” the three fillies cheered. Now they had super cool friends to go on quests with and earn their Cutie Marks!

Aspect was starting to relax. Between Changeling snuggles and Bon Bon snacks, life was almost damn near perfect.

So naturally, Fate had to intervene.

With a burst of light, Twilight teleported into the room, looking quite panicked. “Aspect!” she said, darting closer, her muzzle almost against his. “I lost the girls!”

The stallion blinked a few times at the invasion of his personal space, before groaning and shaking his head. “Just great,” he muttered. “If Midnight were around, she’d be able to find them quickly…” He was running simulations through his head as to how to find the girls of Megan before she arrived.

“I don’t think they’d have wandered into the forest, and some ponies have said they’d seen them around, but I always seem to be one step behind,” the mare groaned. “I don’t have the stamina to run across town all day, and I can’t find Rainbow. She’s not in any of her usual napping places.”

The stallion paused...before grinning. “So we use the other high-energy pony around town to find two high-energy kids,” he elaborated, before clearing his throat. “Gee, I sure hope we can find the girls in time to throw them a party,” he said to the empty air.

He could almost picture the tumbleweed and windy whistle… But no Pinkie Pie.

“Huh… I half expected that to actually work,” Twilight said as she stared at the otherwise empty room.

“Okay...key phrase number two,” Aspect muttered. He cleared his throat again and tried the other phrase he’d noticed getting Pinkie’s attention. “I sure hope we find the kids before their mother shows up. Otherwise I’d lose her trust, and losing someone’s trust is the fastest way to lose a friend.”

Still nothing…

Okay, this was getting weird…

“Okay, either Pinkie is having an off day, or she’s busy,” Aspect muttered. “Hmm. I don’t suppose you could whip up a human-detecting spell?”

“Oh yes, because I can naturally invent a brand new spell in a matter of seconds,” Twilight unleashed the full force of the snarkverse. “And even if I could, don’t you think I’d have done that by now?”

Aspect rolled his eyes. “Okay, let’s try to think like them. Stacy was interested in the stories of this place, so...she’d probably try to read up on it.”

“The library!” Twilight gasped and nodded. “Thanks Chris.” And with that, she teleported away.

“And I have no idea what Becky’s like at all,” the stallion muttered, blinking the flash away before returning to his snacks. Hopefully Twilight would come back with good news.

After calming the flustered unicorn down, Stacy sighed as she looked at the pile of books. She’d encountered a small problem when she’d found the library.

She couldn’t read any of them. The books were in what was likely Equestrian script. Which… was not English. Well crap.

“Mmmm~” Twilight hummed as the girl idly ran a brush over her coat. She’d brought her grooming kit, purely out of reflex when her brain figured she’d be spending time with tiny horses. Good thing she had, Twilight had looked ready to have a heart attack. “And… ahh~ You’re sure Becky is safe?”

“Yeah, she’s with those Cutie Mark Crusader fillies and the fluffy pink one.”

“Pinkie Pie?”

“That’s her.”

“That explains something,” Twilight said, her eyes closed as Stacy switched to a long-tooth comb to run through her tail. Pony hair was much softer, more like human hair than the coarse mane and tails of real horses. This was rather soothing for both of them actually. Her horses couldn’t talk back after all. “We’ll have to find her before your mother gets here, else she might mount my head on her wall.”

“Nah, she’d just lecture you,” Stacy shuddered. “Trust me… I think I’d rather be beheaded. Still, at least she isn’t due for another few hours…” Then their world was filled with pink as a manic pink pony stood over them.

“Y-Yes?” Stacy blinked, almost having a heart attack over the pink ninja.

“Let’s go,” Pinkie chuckled. “It is time!”

After Megan had seen to the horses, it was nearly lunchtime. Figuring that a light lunch would be better than relying on the ponies to provide everything, she made herself a small sandwich and went over her mental checklist.

Someone she trusted looking after the girls? Yes, Cel had said they’d have a guard.

Portal in a safe place? Yup, right in Chris’s house.

Sidearm, in case things went wrong? Tucked in the back. She trusted some people. She just didn’t believe in taking foolish chances, and a whole other world was just full of things that could happen. Especially if that forest was half as dangerous as it was made out to be.

Whelp, everything had been done. No use putting it off any further.

The woman squared her shoulders and walked through the portal, as though daring it to do its worst.

“HIYA!” came the exuberant reply the second she’d stepped through the other side, Pinkie dangling from her shoulders. “You’re fifteen minutes late by the way.”

“Forgive me for making sure everything was wrapped up back home,” Megan replied, her old Surprise-reflex kicking in after twenty years of misuse. “Ranch doesn’t run itself.”

“Awww, you’re as hard to startle as Aspy,” Pinkie sighed. “Anyway, we gotta go, we’re running late!” She jumped down and looked at a pocket watch… which she pulled from her mane. The thing was a round as her head! “For a very important date!” And with that, the watch was tucked away and she pronked from the room.

Megan stared, slack-jawed, for a moment, before shaking her head and following after the mare. This...was not going to be easy to adjust to. She was somehow worse than Surprise had ever been.

And as soon as she exited the room, a voice she hadn’t heard in twenty years spoke up from behind her.

“Well I’ll be… if it isn’t the little troublemaker,” Twilight Twinkle hummed. “S’been awhile ya little brat.”

Megan turned and saw a face she’d thought lost to time. She sank to her knees in disbelief...and also to gather the mare into a hug.

“I thought I’d lost you,” the woman muttered through her relieved tears into Twinkle’s mane.

“And you I,” Twinkle smiled, not fighting back her own tears. “I nearly punched Christopher in the face when he told me, for that I assumed that he was teasing.” She put her hooves around her and sniffled. “You’ve gotten so tall.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t you that shrunk?” Megan playfully teased.

“No, I’m much taller than I used to be,” she chuckled as she eased out of the tight hug. “Careful, I’m an old mare now you know.”

“I heard, over two thousand years,” Megan praised her. “Are you sure you didn’t hang around just to nag Chris one more time?”

“Well, that might have been a part of it,” she chuckled. “No… I had to save the Flutterponies. It took, all my wish-granting power. I’m… unsure if I can even do that again. But, I did it. I saved them Megan… just like you would have done…”

“But...granting wishes to make others happy was your life,” Megan pointed out. “I mean, thank you for saving them...but what will you do now?”

“Hmm, not sure,” she replied. “I mean, maybe I just need time for my power to return. But, in this day and age, Unicorns can do far more than just Wink. Take that young Twilight Sparkle mare, apparently magic itself is literally her special talent.”

“Wow, that’s...a bit of magic, alright,” Megan agreed as she stood back up. “I dread to imagine her with your sort of talent.”

“Which is why I will tell her about it, but not teach… not until she might be ready.” Twinkle said with a wink. “Oh, and be a dear and turn around. The others want to say hello.”

Megan raised an eyebrow before slowly turning around…

“Well, look who it is,” Hurricane chuckled, her… the portrait of Hurricane. Behind her was a plethora of ponies, all very familiar to the woman. Firefly… Heartthrob… Masquerade… Fizzy… Galaxy…

All her friends from the Paradise Estates, and more. Preserved in color and magic...and brought back to her.

The first thing she thought to say to them all?

“I’m...I’m sorry,” she sobbed at the familiar sight. “I...I didn’t know that when the Rainbow left me in my own world, that...that it would take so long on this side for us to see each other again.”

"Oh darling, think nothing of it,” Heartthrob said with a smile. “While it was a bit sad we didn’t get to see you again, we do not regret the times we did. Well, our real selves didn’t. Heart spoke very highly of you. Though I think she was upset she could never find your Prince in shining armor~”

Megan actually chuckled at that, putting a hand up to the portrait and smiling at them all. “I’m...I’m glad to see you all, even if it is like this.” She looked from pony to pony, mentally reciting the names. Mimic, Ribbon, Sparkler, Bubbles, Posey, Cupcake, Sundance…

She frowned after a moment though. “Wait...where’s Applejack? And Majesty?”

"Somewhere around here,” Galaxy sighed. “Majesty’s been arguing with Platinum on who gets the throne room in the castle. And the biggest bedroom. And Applejack… well, I have no idea. Haven’t seen her in a while.”

“Am I going to have to come in there to find her?” Megan raised an eyebrow. “I think I remember the knack of it.”

“You can if you want,” Hurricane said, surprising her. “There’s a massive portrait in the family room. You can enter through there if you want.”

“Oh good, wasn’t looking forward to putting my foot through the painting,” Megan chuckled. “Do I also need to talk some sense into Majesty and Platinum?”

“Probably,” Hurricane shrugged and Megna noticed how much the pegasus mare filly from before looked like her. “But you shouldn’t keep that Pink one waiting. She’s even weirder than Surprise.”

“Fine, go and tell them if they haven’t worked it out by the time I pass through again, I’ll jump in and make them work it out,” Megan warned them. She then smiled softly at the painting. “I’ll...tomorrow we’ll talk,” she promised, before turning and following after the pink mare.

“Holding you to it,” Hurricane called back.

“Say hi to all the handsome stallions out there,” Heartthrob added.

“Already married,” Megan called over her shoulder.

The last thing she heard was Heart’s loud squeals.

Once outside, she could get a good look at the massive manor, surrounded by lush lawns and a thick forest beyond that. A pathway leading towards town past the main gate. Now...she knew the forest was dangerous, so...logically, the only path left to go down was the one to town. So she nodded to herself and began walking.

As she got closer, she could hear… music? Some upbeat polka tunes and the sounds of a lot of voices. What was going on? She was curious, but kept up her steady pace.

The thing about Ponyland - You tended to build up your leg muscles, because you had to walk everywhere. That hadn’t left her just because she’d been running a ranch for the past twenty years. And keeping up with both ponies and horses had left her with a lot of stamina.

As she got closer, Pinkie popped up again, this time from a barrel… why was there a barrel?

“Heeey, you finally made it,” she beamed. “Okay, you ready for the fun to begin!?”

“What’s going on?” Megan asked. She didn’t like walking into unfamiliar situations.

“Something to say welcome,” Pinkie beamed as she leapt out of the barrel. “And to introduce you to everypony.” She dropped to all fours and nodded. “I know… that we’re not your old friends. And I’d never ever try to replace them but…” She looked up, her smile less manic and hyper and more… sincere. “I hope you can make some new friends here.”

“I…” Megan sighed, kneeling down and drawing Pinkie closer, running a hand through her mane in a manner that would comfort her. “I’m always going to miss them, miss not saying goodbye to them,” she admitted. “There’s always going to be some part of me that will say ‘you should have gotten back on the rainbow to at least do that.’ But...I think I can stand to make some new pony friends. You’re only connected to my living room, after all.”

“Ohhh, we should party there sometime!” Pinkie beamed as she tugged on her arm. “Well, let’s go meet everypony!”

“Wait, everypony?” Megan asked as she stood back up.

“Well yeah,” Pinkie giggled. “I did invite aaaaaaaallllll of Ponyville after all.” She gigglesnorted and bounced around the corner.

“Uhoh,” Megan gulped as she walked around the corner as well.

That… was a lot of ponies. At least a hundred or so from a quick headcount. She scanned the crowd and saw a long table, one of many that her daughters were sitting at. Stacy with Twilight and Becky with three smaller fillies and… a little… purple dragon?

There was no way that could be the Spike she knew. He’d be two thousand years old now. And where was that guard to keep an eye on her kids?

“I’m watching, have been since they entered this world,” Midnight said from right bloody beside her.

“Yipe!” Megan jumped, before turning and shooting a small glare at the mare. “Warn me next time!”

“Hmhmhm, where’s the fun in that?” she chuckled. “Do not worry, they escaped Twilight upon entry, but I have been watching them. Neither left the town’s borders and they appear to have made some friends as well.”

“Good,” Megan sighed. “At least they’ve played things safe.” She looked back at the party. “Some turnout, huh?”

“As I understand, this is typical for a Ponyville party,” Midnight explained as she looked around. “A touch too loud for my tastes. But when is Roam…” She shrugged and smiled a fanged grin. “Welcome back I suppose.”

“It’s hardly the same place anymore, but it is still magical pony-land,” Megan pointed out as she looked at the crowd. Where to even start…?

Maybe with that dragon? She.. she just had to make sure…

Carefully the human picked her way through the crowd, heading directly to the small dragon she’d briefly caught sight of. He was sitting near Becky and three other fillies, all giggling as Becky told them about her school. The dragon was the first to notice Megan approach and raised a claw, waving at her.

“Hello,” he smiled. “I take it that you’re Mrs. Megan?”

“I am,” Megan nodded to him. “I don’t suppose you could return the courtesy and tell me your name?”

“Huh? Oh,” he held out a claw and she took it into her hand. He was very warm to the touch. “My name’s Spike. I’m Twilight’s number one assistant.”

God, even the way he said it…

Megan had to hold back a tear in her eyes. “Good on you,” she praised him. “Unicorns are tricky to handle, much less keep up with. I learned that one myself the hard way.”

“Yeah, Twi can be a bit… difficult to handle sometimes,” he smiled. “But hey, I couldn’t ask for a better friend and sister.” he looked at her and tilted his head. “Hey um… you okay there?” Years of dealing with Twi made him rather observant after all.

“Just...something in my eye,” Megan demurred. “You take care, Spike.” She needed to find a place where she could let it all out, but before she could…

“I remind you of your Spike, don’t I?” he said. “Don’t worry, Aspect kinda freaked as well.” He pat her hand with his claw. “I’m glad your Spike had such a good friend.”

“You just,” Megan sniffed. “The Spike I knew was...he was a very dear friend. And you act like him in so many ways.”

“Um, I’m sorry?” Spike blinked, not quite sure how to react. “You must miss him huh?”

“More than you can imagine, kid,” Megan replied. “I stepped over the rainbow for twenty years, just writing about magic pony land to cope with all the things that had happened...and then I find out that two thousand years passed for everyone over here.” She sighed. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin looking for him.”

“Well…” Spike rubbed his chin. “Dragons are really long lived. Maybe, he’s still out there somewhere?”

“...Maybe,” Megan replied. “I...should probably get back to the party.”

“Oh… okay,” Spike nodded as he let go of her hand. “Take care Mrs. Megan.”

“You too, Spike,” Megan nodded and braced herself as she turned back to the party at large. There were countless ponies here, she didn’t know where to... wait, Majesty?

A white unicorn with a coiffed purple mane was chatting with Twilight and the Applejack lookalike. No, it couldn’t be her, just… another reminder.

How many of those would she run into? At this rate she wouldn’t make it to the snack table before breaking down.

“Hey,” a hoof touched her leg and she looked down to see Bon Bon there, a concerned look on her face. “Is everything alright dear?”

“Just,” Megan put on a brave face. “So many echoes. It’s hard not to see the ghosts of the past in the present.”

“Ahh, Christopher had the same problem I heard,” she said. “Maybe you could speak to him about it? As much as I like, I’m afraid I simply can’t relate. Long lasting friends… hasn’t exactly been a specialty of mine.”

“I’ll...try that later,” Megan replied. “I’d hate it if my mood brought the party down, though.”

“With Pinkie around, good luck keeping that mood in the dumps,” she giggled. “That mare is Laughter itself, she’ll go to any lengths to see a smile on that face.”

“I dunno, I’m feeling like I need a good cry right about now,” Megan teased.

“I have the perfect mare for you to meet…” Bon Bon said, come with me.

She’d led her away from the party, as her shop was quite close. And a moment later, a yellow pegasus with a pink mane turned up.

“Bon Bon?” Fluttershy spoke up as she entered the store. “Is everything okay? You said there was a problem?”

“Mhm,” Bon Bon said and motioned to Megan. “Megan? This is Fluttershy, Element of Kindness and the nicest mare you’ll ever meet. Flutters? Megan here is feeling… a bit overwhelmed. Would you mind spending some quiet time in case she needs a shoulder?”

“Oh,” the pegasus nodded and stepped closer. Her scent was that of flowers and fresh grass. “Of course. I know that feeling all too well.”

Megan fell to her knees, the familiar scent and mannerisms of Posey finally being the straw that broke the camel’s back. She started to let loose with the floodgates as she finally mourned the ones she’d lost.

Fluttershy was caught a little off guard by the sudden breakdown, but soon held her in a hug, her wings around her as a hoof rubbed her back soothingly. “There there,” she said in a soft tone. “No matter what, I’m certain your friends still love you, and they’d be happy to know you still love them.”

“I just...I stepped away, started a life, coped with everything,” Megan sobbed. “And when the stars align again...everything I knew, everyone I knew...gone. Dust in the wind.”

“Nothing’s ever really gone,” Fluttershy said. “You’re here now, in a world your friends helped shape.” She kept her warm wings wrapped around her like a blanket. “I care for animals, critters of all kinds. And… well, sometimes not all the injured ones pull through. I care for them all the same. I mourn their loss, but I also know there were always more that needed to be helped. It’s scary, but putting one hoof in front of the other can be. Nopony’s saying you can’t look back, and remember those that were left behind. But you can look forward too, to those that are still waiting to meet you. Those that might need help.”

“I…” Megan shuddered, her crying slowing down. “I just wish...I could have said goodbye,” she settled on.

“You still can,” Fluttershy smiled. “I’m sure, that they’re still watching over you. That Lady Epona is taking good care of the herd they’ve left to join.” She nuzzled the woman and hummed. “Why don’t we do something then. Maybe a small ceremony where you can bid farewell properly.”

“...I’d like that,” Megan smiled softly. “But not now. There’s still a party to attend out there. I don’t think Pinkie would let me stay absent for very long.”

“Pinkie is a good girl, she’ll let you take all the time you need,” Fluttershy said as she looked around. Bon Bon had been kind enough to leave some glasses of cold milk and some snacks on the counter nearby. “Would you like something to eat?”

“I...don’t think I could hold much down right now,” Megan replied, hiccuping slightly afterwards.

“Hmm, well, how about a nice cup of tea?” Fluttershy offered. “It always helps me calm down.”

“That...sounds pretty good actually,” the human replied, finding a chair and sitting in it...albeit a little awkwardly. Oh, now she remembered why she’d insisted on her own room back in the days of Dream Valley. A comfortable place to sit.

“Well I don’t know where Bon Bon keeps her tea,” Fluttershy giggled. “My house isn’t far from here. And it’s quiet too.”

“Oh…” Megan blinked. “Okay, that works too. I just hope miss Pie understands.”

“Pinkie will be okay,” Fluttershy said as she opened the door. “She’ll understand. Just, expect another party once you feel better.”

“...She’s relentless, isn’t she?” Megan asked as she stood up and walked over to the door.

“She just likes everypony to be happy,” Fluttershy smiled as they left Bon Bon’s home/store. “We’ll see about getting her to make a quieter one next time.”

“I’d probably appreciate that a little more,” Megan agreed as they began the walk to Fluttershy’s home. It was a little farther than ‘close’. Then again, Fluttershy had wings so it was likely a quicker trip by air.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, they neared Fluttershy’s cottage, bordered by lush fields and a deep, dark-looking forest.

“Ah, I was warned about that,” Megan pointed a finger at the forest.

“The Everfree Forest,” Fluttershy said. “It’s a scary place. Though not all of it. One of our friends actually lives in there, and we visit her regularly.” Fluttershy trotted up to her door. “But the forest is also home to Timber Wolves, Manticores and Hydras.”

“And all of those sound like things I don’t need to be meeting,” Megan nodded firmly. “Nor my children.” She then looked at Fluttershy again. “And you live right on the border. I don’t know if that makes you a silly pony or a brave one.”

“It’s also close to the Whitetail Woods, where a lot of my critter friends live,” Flutters giggled as she opened the door and stepped inside. “Mind your head, the door is a little low.”

“Yeah, ponies don’t exactly tend to build things in mind for humans, I noticed that,” Megan chuckled as she stepped inside. As she did, she saw a house made mostly of wood, with birdboxes, nests and mouseholes in the walls… She’d also noted the chicken coops outside…

“Oh my, but you really like your animals, huh?” Megan asked as she looked around. It reminded her a little of that house that was a cat playground...just for, every creature. Then she felt her feet lift off of the floor as something big pulled her into a hug. Her head turned to see that a massive brown bear had pulled her into a tight, fuzzy embrace.

The first thing she felt was nothing short of panic. Bears were not a thing she was accustomed to being friendly.

“Oh, that’s Harry,” Fluttershy smiled. “Don’t worry, he just like hugs.”

Harry growled in agreement as he gave a long lick up the side of her face.

The panic was slowly being replaced by acceptance of the situation. Harry was just lucky he’d stopped her from reaching her sidearm. As she looked up, she saw a plethora of creatures inside the quaint cottage. All types of birds, squirrels, mice and… oookay, she was leaving that spider web alone.

“I’ll be just a moment,” Fluttershy smiled. “Make yourself at home while I get the tea ready.”

Megan slowly took a breath, before exhaling. Right...magical pony land. Question it later. Live with it now. She looked up at Harry and nodded, letting him know she was...fine with it now. The bear… smiled somehow and pat her head, letting her down onto the floor. All the other critters were just watching her for now as she heard Fluttershy rummaging around in the kitchen, humming a melodious tune.

Megan let out another breath as she found a chair to sit in. This...this day was full of ups and downs, wasn’t it? Well, at least animals were easier to deal with than familiar ponies reminding her…

Thankfully, before she could sink back into the depths of misery, Pos-Fluttershy brought out a tray laden with an ornate pot and some teacups.

“Here we are,” she smiled as she set the tray down. “This is a herbal tea I get from Zecora, oh, she’s the zebra friend that lives in the Everfree.”

“Mmm. I don’t think you want to know about the zebra I knew about,” Megan mused as she picked up a cup to sip at.

“You knew one as well?” Fluttershy asked. The tea had some bite to it, but it was deliciously fragrant and it did help soothe her building anxiety.

“Yes, but he wasn’t nice,” Megan warned.

“Oh dear,” Fluttershy gasped as she sipped her own tea. “Why was that?”

“He was the cohort of Arabus the Storm Demon,” Megan explained. “Arabus gained strength when he ate another creature’s shadow, so Zeb constructed a device that stole them for him to feed on.”

“Ohh, that doesn’t sound very nice,” Fluttershy huffed cutely. “What a mean stallion. I hope he got a very stern lecture about that.”

“Well once Arabus was dealt with, all the shadows he’d eaten returned to their owners, but he was still tried as an accessory to the theft. Last I knew, he was sentenced to a lifetime of community service, to make him pay for what he’d done, since...well, they’d done it to a whole town.” Megan recounted that particular adventure’s end without going through the middle bit...namely, Christopher being Arabus’ impromptu executioner. Fluttershy seemed a delicate sort.

“Well, as long as he was repenting,” Fluttershy said. “Honestly… I am… not comfortable with the way Aspect deals with… problematic others. I think everypony deserves a second chance. Take Princess Luna. She transformed into Nightmare Moon and was banished to the moon for a thousand years…”

“He actually explained it to me,” Megan said, putting her teacup down. “There are three factors to his sword being able to kill an Aspect of the world. They first have to be upsetting the natural order. Arabus was meant to monitor and control the air. Instead he fed on his power and others, to make himself stronger.”

“Well,” Fluttershy said. “He was…” She shook her head. “He is no longer a threat.” This looked like it was a bit difficult to talk about. “S-Sorry, you should ask Aspect. I…” She looked down and trembled.

“Sorry, I’m just...explaining it like he explained it to me,” Megan said, reaching a hand over to clasp Fluttershy’s hoof. “I don’t mean to upset you. Maybe...make him seem a little more approachable? He’s not a savage. He’s just doing what he’s meant to. He wouldn’t kill anyone that didn’t merit it.”

“N-No, it’s not that,” she said, looking at the hoof that was being held. “Something happened in Canterlot, just before you first arrived actually. It was very scary though.”

“Oh dear.” Megan sighed. “I’ll ask him about it later. But if you wouldn’t mind, I can finish that explanation about how he deals with things.”

Fluttershy just nodded and took a shaky sip of her tea.

“The second factor,” Megan continued, “Is they have to be unrepentant. By all accounts, that’s the critical one. The sword won’t work if there’s a chance they can come back.”

“I… I think everyone deserves a second chance,” Fluttershy repeated in a quiet tone. “Nopony… deserves to die for a few wrongs…”

“And when I was younger, I agreed with you,” Megan replied. “I always thought that if they could be talked around, they should be. I saved King Charlatan from meeting the same fate, even though he tried to bring eternal winter to the world with his icy gaze. I talked Christopher out of killing him...simply because he had a son. The king surrendered after that, and we found that he didn’t have to kill someone if they gave up. But...none of the rest did. They liked their power too much, and thought too little of Chris’ ability to deal with them.” Megan sighed as she stared at her tea again. “And the third factor...is the world itself has to agree that killing them is the best course of action. Otherwise he might as well just be wielding a lump of iron in the shape of a sword, rather than a sword that can kill anything. Then the sapphire will change to a ruby, and blood will be owed.”

“Well…” Fluttershy murmured. “We have the Elements of Harmony now. We saved Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon, and even helped the Nightmare gain a life of her own. That meanie Discord was sealed back in stone. He doesn’t have to kill anypony anymore.” She took another sip of her tea, her nerves still frayed, the herbal tea doing little to calm them.

“I know,” Megan nodded. “He never wanted his power to kill others. But...he’s the only one the sword will work for.” She sighed as she looked up. “It’s like...he was given the world’s largest needle, and told that if he encountered a large, rabid dog that could eat him in one bite, he shouldn’t run, but turn and fight it to put it down, for its own sake if nothing else. He doesn’t want the job, Fluttershy. But he’s the only one that can do it.”

Fluttershy just… stared with wide unblinking eyes.

Oh… right, perhaps a rabid dog metaphor wasn’t the best on to use with her.

“Aheheh...sorry,” Megan chuckled awkwardly. “I’m just...using his words.”

“I-I’m sorry…” the mare whimpered. “I just…” She honestly had no idea how to deal with this topic of conversation anymore. Well, at least Megan seemed to be feeling better. Mission Accomplished?

“I’m sorry for making you feel bad, miss Fluttershy,” Megan sighed. “Just...okay, back when I first came here? I agreed with you. I wanted to use the Rainbow to reform the villains. I thought nothing couldn’t be overcome with some kindness and understanding. It took me twenty years and having kids of my own...before I stopped looking back with a filter and seeing how much danger the world, and even I was in every time I wanted to confront a villain. If these Elements are as powerful as the Rainbow was, I say, go for it. Try to reform the villains, or at the very least stop them peacefully. But...take my advice? Have Chris on standby in case they don’t work.” She smiled and gently brushed Fluttershy’s mane. “From what I hear, you and your friends are very special ponies. I don’t want to see you all in danger because you didn’t think something through and take all the precautions you could.”

Fluttershy stopped trembling and sipped her tea again. “I…” she sighed and shook her head. “I’m… a bit of a scardey pony. But, my friends and I, we’ve faced some scary things. Though I think we’ll get some peace now that Discord is back in stone.” She set her cup down and looked at the woman. “I understand you, and I know that, that Aspect probably didn’t want to do those things. It’s just a bit scary to think about it is all.”

“Don’t take my word for it,” Megan sighed. “His brother sometimes told me of the nightmares he’d have. I only met him a few times, and every time he asked me for some sort of sleep aid. He knew I went back and forth, you see. I couldn’t come up with anything the first time...but when I next came back, I had some sleeping pills for him. I think they helped.”

“He… never said he had a brother before,” Fluttershy said. “But then, I don’t he’s ever talked much about himself. Unless he has to to Rainbow or the others.”

“Yeah...he seems to have forgotten about him,” Megan replied. “Well...if you get the chance, bring it up with someone who can check his mind for magic or anything that might inhibit his memory, would you? They’re family.”

“I’ll ask Twilight,” Fluttershy promised. “She’s the most magical pony I know. If she can’t figure it out, I don’t know if anypony can.”

“Thanks,” Megan replied, smiling genuinely at last. “I’d ask myself, but they’re probably all enjoying the party right now. And I don’t know when I’ll see her next.”

“Given her curiosity, she might follow you home.” Fluttershy giggled. “So, are you feeling better now?”

“Much,” Megan sighed. “It’s...still a little jarring to be back in this world, but...I’m pretty sure I’m over the time difference. Or, well, will be with a few things.” She smiled as she sat back in her chair. “Thanks for relaxing me, miss Fluttershy.”

“That is perfectly alright Mrs Megan,” Fluttershy smiled back at her. “Feel free to stop by anytime you want to relax. My door is always open to you.”

“I might stop by a few more times then, this tea is delicious,” Megan countered before chuckling. “But, if I know my girls, they’ll be in the center of that chaos and I’ll need to make sure they actually go to bed before the end of the day.”

“I’ll show you the way back then,” Fluttershy said as she stood up. “It shouldn’t be f—” A loud growl cut her off as her ear flick. “Ohmy, sounds like Manny got into another scrap.”

“Manny?” Megan asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Mhm, he’s such a sweetheart,” Fluttershy smiled as she stepped outside after getting some bandages. Curious, Megan followed her and…

Saw a full grown Manticore in Fluttershy’s yard, the pony walking right up to it. Once again, she had to clamp down on her panic reflexes. Fluttershy knew what she was doing. Right?

Right?

As the pegasus drew close, Megan saw the beast open it’s massive maw, showing off it’s gleaming fangs…

Okay, that had her hand going behind her for her sidearm. One scream and she’d be shooting.

“Ohmy, do you have something stuck in your teeth?” Fluttershy asked as she stuck her head in it’s mouth and looked around. “A splinter? How did you—?”

A howl… a series of howls that sounded much to close as the pegasus pulled back. “Oh dear…”

From the treeline of the forest, three wolves appeared. Well they looked like wolves at first. The first thing Megan picked up on was a pungent odor. The next… was that their bodies were made of wood, their eyes glowing with eldritch emerald light.

“Fluttershy, permission to shoot them?” Megan asked as she drew her pistol and cocked it.

“Timberwolves almost never leave the forest,” she whispered as Manny’s hackles rose. “We have to keep them away from the other animals!” She looked at Megan. “I don’t know what you mean, but yes.”

Megan took aim...and the dirt at the lead Timberwolf’s paws fountained as a loud bang echoed around the house.

“The next shots won’t miss,” she warned the wolves, now pointing the smoking barrel directly at the first wolf’s head. “Do you think you can leap faster than I can get a shot off?”

Manny roared as a wolf leapt at him, his barbed tail shattering the beast as it lashed out, the other two running at Megan. The first one’s head exploded in another loud roar of thunder, before Megan grabbed the last one around the throat and stuck her gun in its muzzle.

“Any last regrets?” she asked, before pulling the trigger.

She looked around at the carnage, before the twigs and sticks started to tremble and glow. Floating into the air as the wolves started to reform…

Megan scoffed and shot the wolves as they formed their heads again, one bullet each. She then shifted the gun so she could empty the casings out of it, fished out another six bullets from her pocket, and reloaded her magnum while waiting for something else to happen.

The sticks started to reform with a powerful swirl, only this time it seemed to be much, much bigger.

Fluttershy gasped as the wood merged, forming a Timberking wolf. The massive monster roaring, sap and spittle raining down as it gnashed its massive jaws.

Megan rolled her eyes and holstered her gun, before breaking into a sprint.

What...was she doing?

The answer came when she reached the Timberking’s legs. She jumped up, and began climbing up the massive wolf with speed.

“Like climbing a tree!” she shouted back.

“M-Megan! That’s dangerous!” Fluttershy yelled as a pair of jaws missed the human by inches, the massive wooden mutt trying to snap at her. Megan kicked him in the nose as he did, buying herself a few precious seconds to climb up onto his back and grip the scruff of his neck.

The wolf heard that clicking noise and felt something pressed to the top of his skull. Something decidedly made of metal that was slightly warm.

“M-Megan?” Fluttershy dared to speak up.

“Alright mister wolf,” Megan said, yanking on the scruff to make sure he was listening. “Now. I used to be pretty good at the whole diplomacy game. So I’m going to offer you a choice. Are you going to go back into the forest and leave the pony alone? Or do I have to blow what passes for brains out of your skull, again?”

The wolf whimpered… then collapsed into a pile of sticks. Megan would have been buried alive under it, had Manny not swooped in and caught her, the human now astride the Manticore’s back as he landed next to Fluttershy.

“And that was how I heroically dealt with a huge wooden wolf,” Megan muttered as she climbed down off the manticore. And then said Manticore licked her face… well, given his size, more like half her body.

“Oh thank goodness,” Fluttershy sighed. “Megan! That was very dangerous! Honestly.”

“Humans are related genetically to some species of monkey or ape or whatever, so climbing up it came naturally to me. Plus, if it did actually try eating me, I’d just shoot up into the head,” she replied. “I felt that giving it the choice of fates was the better option there.”

“I think that was more of an ultimatum,” Fluttershy said as she pet Manny. “That was odd though. The Timberwolves almost never leave the forest. They can’t regenerate outside it’s borders for very long…”

“Eesh,” Megan muttered. “Suddenly having second thoughts about telling my kids they could visit.”

“The town is safe… but that was odd,” Fluttershy said. “We should find Aspect. Maybe he might know something since he used to live there.” She paused. “Actually, I’ll go and find Zecora. Think you can find town by yourself?”

“Yes, but thank you for the concern,” Megan kneeled down and gave Fluttershy a hug from the side. “It’s been nice being with you, miss Fluttershy. Well, except for the end bit, but it worked out.”

“Yes, quite a bit too exciting there,” she chuckled. “Take care Mrs Megan, I’ll see you later.”

“Mmhmm,” the woman ended the hug and got up, before looking at Manny. “Nice save, big guy,” she praised him.

The manticore growled and… well that was a terrifying smile.

“Be careful on your way back,” Fluttershy said, choosing to ignore the gun the woman had and how dangerous it likely was.

“Yeah, I’ll keep an eye out for any more large wooden wolves coming out of the forest,” Megan replied as she carefully walked off, holstering her gun as she headed towards the town.

Ponyland really hadn’t changed much huh?

Author's Note

And the set up...

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really goes a long way.

Half of all funds will not be spent keeping a house afloat.

Chapter 60 - An Empire of problems

“It would appear that the Everfree is wilder than ever,” Zecora said as she sat in Christopher’s living room. “The flora and fauna acting like this, seen I have never.”

After fetching Zecora, Fluttershy had brought her straight to Chris’s house to explain what had happened.

“Huh,” Aspect mused as he sat there. “They actually came out of the forest?”

“Yes, but Mrs. Megan managed to… um, persuade it to leave in a sense,” Fluttershy said. “They were chasing Manny out of the forest, which is unusual in and of itself. Normally the Wolves wouldn’t dream of hunting someone like him.”

“Hmm,” the stallion mused, thinking it over. “Well we don’t have an Aspect of Nature. And the forest is wild and chaotic, and I’m not asking him to tamper it down. I guess the closest thing we could do is-” he sucked in a breath and put his hoof to his head. “I’m a moron,” he muttered. “Of course this would happen. The one thing I used Earth for back at the castle was to try and pacify the forest to make it more inhabitable for ponies.”

“What has stirred not the absence of Earth,” Zecora said with a small nod. “But an overabundance of magic within the monsters turf.”

“Over… abundance?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, since yesterday the forest has felt out of place,” Zecora nodded as she sipped her tea. “Something, somewhere has upset the balance.”

“...Whelp,” Aspect grumbled. “Gonna talk to Chryssy about that.”

“Huh?” Fluttershy and Zecora tilted their heads.

“Yeah, she started building a hive under my hou—” Aspect began to speak, before his eyes unfocused as a wave of magic washed through his mind.

“Aspect?” Fluttershy leaned closer. “Is everything alright?” She reached out to touch his shoulder…

The stallion was totally lost in the mists of memory as he suddenly recalled everything that had happened a thousand years ago. The reason why the north was lost. A pair of green eyes, burning in the darkness.

“SOMBRA!” he all but growled as he came out of his sudden unsealed memory. “Ladies, I’m sorry. I think I know what’s going on. If anyone asks where I am, tell them I went north.”

“What do you mea—” There came a series of cries throughout the household. Specifically, all the present Aspects that felt the massive pulse of magic coming from up north. The first was Midnight, as she’d been walking past the room. As only 1/3rd Aspect, it wasn’t as bad for her but…

“W-What was that?” she murmured as she stumbled into the room. “My head…”

“Either hope returning, or eternal terror,” Aspect explained as he walked over to her and kissed her. “I’m going to mimic Arabus and ride the Jetstream so I can get north in a hurry. I need to be there before he gets there. Tell Celly to send Shiny and Cadenza as soon as she can. The north is back, and I can’t defend it alone.”

“...What?” Midnight blinked, before Twilight Sparkle teleported into the room. She held a letter out in front of him.

“Explain this please?” she said as he unfurled the scroll.

‘Canterlot. Now. Bring the girls.

Love Celestia.’

“You’ll hear it from her mouth, but suffice to say, a great trial is upon us,” the stallion replied, unfurling his wings. “One of my greatest creations has returned. Along with a tyrant that sought to rule it and instill terror into Equestria. I go now to defend it from him. Follow when you can.”

“...Huh?” Twilight blinked as the stallion abruptly left the room. “Aspect? ASPECT!”

He’d gone.

“Well… buck,” Twilight muttered.

It had taken him half a day of traveling as fast as the wind could take him, as the wind thanks to the power he’d skimmed from the Jetstream. Once it wore off, the Empire was in sight.

He’d have to make a visit to Gelgeth while he was up there, he’d never hear the end of it if he didn’t. The stallion kept himself warm with some applied internal Fire, courtesy of Lavan. Also kept his wings from icing up.

He landed just inside the Empire and folded his wings up...waiting. He knew that any moment now, the blasted shade would show himself.

The city though… it was just as he remembered it, well, sort of. Memories of back then were a little hazy, Sombra’s curse still lingering a little. But this place was quite large. From the gleaming crystal buildings, to the massive castle in the center of the city, the streets laid out in a giant snowflake pattern.

And the Crystal Ponies! Oh, the lifeless, dull coated… wait a minute, that’s not right.

It seemed the curse was affecting more than him. It might not break until the right triggers had been pressed. Still, he turned back to the tundra outside and waited to see signs of Sombra. He knew the shade they’d reduced him to would eventually seek this city out again.

Though right now, all there was was the endless, snowy flurry. A storm that would soon engulf the city too.

A few hours later, Sombra had yet to make an appearance, but a small train did. Containing the married alicorn couple as Shining immediately erected a shield the second they entered the city limits.

“Grandfather,” Cadance rushed over to hug him. “What’s happening here? Auntie Celestia gave us the cliff notes but…”

“Long story short, the Empire was a jewel of the north, things were going great, then Sombra arrived, used dark magic to oust the current ruling family, enslaved everyone, and fought us for control,” Aspect replied. “He was only a unicorn, but he pulled the whole thing with him into the abyss when we banished him for a thousand years. Even my memories of this place were gone, and I don’t think I’m the only one suffering from that curse.” He used a wing to indicate the ponies wandering the streets. “Plus he hid the Heart before we beat him, and I have no idea where it is anymore. If it were in place, he’d never get in. But my memories come and go. The only thing that remains clear is that Sombra must not get in.”

“Well, I shielded an entire army and a storm demon,’ Shining chuckled. “I don’t think this Sombra character is getting in anytime soon…”

A deep, freezing chill went down their spines as they turned to see a massive dark cloud forming outside the barrier.

“Crrrryyssssstaaalllssssss~” the terror-inducing voice hissed as he slipped through the shield like it wasn’t even there.

“And that would be my cue,” Aspect said as he nudged Shining and Cadence. “It’d be better if you worked together, he uses Dark Magic. It can’t abide things like Love. Channel Cadence’s power into yours. And while you work on that, I’ll draw the shade’s attention outside. If I don’t miss my guess, my daughter is sending your sister up here. I’ll occupy his attention so they can get in.”

Cadance nodded as she projected her own shield to replace Shining’s, the stallion frowning at his now-useless talent as Aspect stepped outside the barrrier.

“Crryysstaallsss. Miiiiinneeeee!” the shapeless cloud hissed as it surrounded Aspect.

“You know your power won’t work on me,” he said calmly. “And guess what? I remember how to beat you, Sombra. You think I’m afraid of you?”

“Miiiine!”the cloud hissed louder as dark, black crystals started to form around Aspects wings and legs.

“So be it then,” Aspect sighed, flashing into his alicorn form and breaking the crystals momentarily. He cast his horn up, through the endless storm, and up...and up. And up, until it seized on something. He hoped Luna would forgive him for this.

“I’ve known since we had to fight you the first time how to truly beat you, Sombra!” Aspect shouted into the shadow. “I knew, and hoped the Elements would win anyways! But now? You leave me no choice! Whereas you are the Shadow…”

Something was falling to earth. Something large, and shining. And very, very powerful.

Luna would notice...a star had been pulled out of alignment. And had gone missing entirely.

Aspect raised himself up and held his horn high. “I AM THE LIGHT!”

The star impacted him, and began to be absorbed into his form at a ridiculous speed.

“YOU. ARE. NOTHING!” the dark unicorn growled as hardened shadows slammed into him over and over.

But it was too late. The star flashed at it was absorbed fully into him, and the alicorn transformed…

From a being of flesh and blood, to a living sun, radiating light that burned the shade. He hissed as he recoiled from the living beacon, the shadows falling back and away from the glowing stallion.

“Where you are the shadow, I am the light. Wherever there is sun, moon, or starlight, I am there. Wherever the light of hope burns in a mortal heart, I am there. You will not have my greatest creation again!” The words echoed as the alicorn flared his wings, causing dozens of points of light to be created between the empire and the shade.

The shadow shrank back… and to Aspect’s surprise, retreated deep into the tundra and beyond his sight and senses. The stallion blinked a few times, before closing his wings and falling to the earth again. The glow faded, from all but his eyes. It would take time for him to assimilate the star...but he couldn’t put it back now.

Of course, it was about now that he realised that he took one of Luna’s stars without permission. Circumstances aside, she was going to be pissed. Still, that was a problem for Future Aspect to deal with.

For now, it was time to see to the city's defenses and await Celestia’s chosen to arrive.

This was going to be a loooong day.

It was early next morning when he felt something approach, a collection of magical signatures and two he recognised as Dashie and Twilight. Given that Cadance was having to match Shining Armor in terms of maintaining the shield, she was looking a little haggard. Not to mention Aspect hadn’t gotten to speak with any of the Empire’s residents. He’d literally had the door slammed in his face every time.

Of course, once the Bearers approached, they’d probably pick up on the fact that he was in his alicorn form. And that his eyes were glowing. From within.

Shining had gone out to greet them as well, but as they reached the pair of alicorns… that massive dark cloud started to form again. It had new targets. Weaker targets~

“Excuse me,” Aspect said to Shining, flashing into his Light form and darting out to shine protectively around the Bearers. “Get inside the barrier!” he shouted to the Bearers as he increased the amount of light he was outputting.

Shining joined him, firing bursts of concussive telekinesis at the cloud to try and disperse it. Meanwhile, the six mares, plus Spike headed for the safety of the barrier. The snowstorms were also getting worse, spurred on by the negativity that permeated the air itself.

“You too!” Aspect called to Shining after the girls were inside. “I can do this all day, but you need to help Cadance with the barrier! Get inside! He can’t touch me now!”

“Arrgh, dammit!” Shining yelled as he started to run, but not before some shadows broke away and chased after him and the girls. Aspect darted over as fast as light to shield the stallion, touching the Hope part of his new nature and burning an eerie light-blue as he did. This new form was incredible, even if it was eating through his magic reserves like a starving Celestia at a bakery.

Luckily, it didn’t take long for the others to get to safety.

“Hurry up!” Shining yelled, keeping a hole in the barrier open just wide enough for Aspect to get through. The stallion darted through, keeping his light going bright until the hole closed, before shifting back and letting the exhaustion hit him.

“Whew...until that star assimilates, that’s gonna be hard to keep up,” Aspect muttered, putting a hoof to his chest as he felt the magic drain from him.

“Okay, what is that!?” Twilight said, pointing at the cloud. “And… and what are you right now?” She now gestured to Aspect’s glowing form. “What the HECK is going on here!?”

“Look,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof. “There are problems in this city that need to be solved before we can go into detail. They are twofold. The less important one is the curse on the villagers. Or it would be. They can’t remember anything. And one of them might know the answer to the more important question. The artifact powering this whole city, or what should power it, is missing. You have to fix the villagers, restore their memories. Then you might find the Crystal Heart. If you do that, Cadance won’t have to maintain the shield, it’ll happen naturally.”

“So… that’s the test the Princess was talking about?” Twilight said as she looked towards the Empire.

Wait… what?

“Twilight, it’s not a test,” Aspect said sternly. “It’s vitally important. If that cloud gets in? He’ll instill an atmosphere of fear and terror across Equestria. You have to do this. Because I? I can’t remember. I was around when he pulled the whole thing into the abyss with him. Even my memories. I only have bits and pieces.”

“So whut yer sayin’ is, we can’t rely on y’all ta fix this?” Applejack said. “Well, guess we gotta do this Twi.”

“Let’s find Cadance,” the unicorn said. “She might have a clue to helping fix this.”

The group nodded and started to follow Shining back to the castle, when Aspect noticed.

Why… didn’t they have the Elements of Harmony on?

...Great, he’d have to freaking defend the Empire so that Cadance wasn’t stressed from maintaining the shield, wouldn’t he?

And yet, none of them seemed to notice the dark shard sinking into the grass not a few feet away…

After seeing Cadance, the group of friends headed for the Imperial Library, and Twilight did not squeal at the sight of hundreds of thousands of books nopony had read for a thousand years. No, she had to focus and find the one book they came here for.

The librarian was both abrasive and… useless. She simply didn’t remember where anything was in the library, nor did they use a modern shelving system. It took hours for them to scry the dozens of shelves until they found what they were looking for…

Outside the barrier, the cloud formed again, wisping back and forth in front of Aspect.

“I will have what is miiiine,” Sombra hissed at the stallion.

“No, you won’t,” Aspect retorted. “The longer we stand off like this, the more the star becomes a part of my magical core. By the time this is resolved, I will fully be the Aspect of Light. I will not see you take what I made again. By rights, I should rule here as king! But I don’t, because I possess something you lack, humility! I have never and will never seek a crown on my head, and that alone makes me the better stallion, better man than you, you shade!”

“It is… only a matter of tiiiiime,” the shadow chuckled unnervingly, unfazed by his speech as it slinked back into the snowstorm once again. The shield flickering for a moment… Cadance was running out of power and fast.

Aspect sighed. He was going to have to do something drastic, wasn’t he? If Cadance needed a rest...he could help. But he would need to form a link with Shining, loan him some of his newly-aquired Hope and Light power, to power his shields with. Enough for Cadance to get a rest.

The stallion flashed his way to the palace, before climbing up the stairs, looking for Shining and Cadance.

Once he found them, they were in some kind of drawing room as Twilight was going over a plan.

“So apparently, in order to fuel this ‘Crystal Heart’ with positive emotions, the Crystal Ponies would hold some kind of festival.” The unicorn held up the old history book. “I think, if we can put on this festival the book describes. We can bring the sparkle back to the Empire and the ponies here. Meanwhile, Spike and I are going to search the castle for the Heart. Sombra would have hidden it close I’d wager, given its importance.”

“Fair enough idea,” Aspect said, before marching up to Shining. “You. Form a link with me, now. We need to give Cadance time to rest, and I can give you the power to drive back the shade with your shields. We’ll take it in shifts. I’ll rest, she’ll help. She rests, I help. Got it?”

“Uh… okay?” the stallion blinked, the sudden abruptness catching him off guard. “It’s getting bad out there I take it?”

“I saw the shield flicker, he only needs a moment to get in,” Aspect replied. “Cadance, when was the last time you slept?”

“O-On the train ride here,” she said, heavy bags under her eyes as her horn glowed with a constant thrum. Unlike Shining, she couldn’t create a shield that only needed an upkeep every so often, she she’d been running her magic for the last forty eight hours straight.

“Right, Shining, we link, then you see Cadance to bed until she wakes up again,” Aspect told the stallion. “I don’t remember where those are, so you might have to carry her.”

“Right,” Shining said as he turned. “So, how do we Link then?”

“Cross our horns and run magic through them focused on the same spell,” Aspect said, lowering his horn. “I find a simple light spell will do. It’ll let you get a feel for my magic, and myself yours. Then you hold onto it, and anytime you need more of my Aspect, it’ll pull from my reserves.”

“Hold up Twi… I wanna watch this,” Rainbow said, her cheeks pink and wings erect at the thought. “Eep!”

And that was the unicorn shaking her head and dragging her from the room with her magic, Rainbow waving a goodbye as she was marehandled away. Aspect rolled his eyes and caused his horn to glow, looking at Shining expectantly.

“Right,” the stallion said as he lit up his own horn. Hopefully this would buy them a little more time…

Some hours later, Aspect noticed that not only had Twilight’s friends set up a rather impressive Crystal Fair, but it was starting to draw quite a crowd. In fact, none of them seemed to notice the dark storm clouds gathering outside the city.

Twilight was nowhere to be seen just yet… oh wait, there she was, headed into the throne room?

He had a brief flash of memory of battling the crazed stallion there, before he shook his head and glared out into the storm. “You might as well come out,” he taunted. “I’d like to hear your last words before we disperse you entirely!”

The storm shifted, but didn’t respond…

Then he felt a surge of dark magic coming from the palace throne room… where Twilight had just entered.

He had a moment of panic, before he calmed his heart. Sombra would be more overt than that.

“Come on out, if you’re still a stallion beneath all those smoke and mirrors!” Aspect taunted him. “I’m feeding the shield now, so you’ll not be getting in!”

Still nothing… odd, why wasn’t he taking the bait. Sombra, from what he recalled, revelled in fighting his foes head on…

“Come on you whispy has-been!” Aspect screamed. “Where’s that bravado of a thousand years ago? Where’s the stallion that said ‘You’ll never take me alive, you wenches!’ Where’s the stallion that bucking pulled the empire into the abyss with him?!”

“You know you look like a crazy stallion right?” Shining chuckled as he walked up to the other alicorn. “Shouting at a storm like that.”

“He’s out there,” Aspect grumbled. “I can all but feel the void he leaves in his wake the more attuned to Light I become. The damn smoke cloud is constantly shifting, looking for a weakness, a crack in our defenses.”

”I don’t have to,” a voice hissed. Before a series of onyx crystals jutted from the ground, having fed on the lands magic. One speared up in front of Shining, the stallion yelping as it caught his horn as the shield flickered… and then shattered.

Oh gods… He’d surrounded the entire city, his shadows now surging in like a flood.

“BECAUSE YOUR KING!” His voice bellowed as the stallion appeared atop a black pillar, his body forming, the slate grey coat, his crimson cape and silver armor. “HAS RETURNED!”

“Godsdamnit!” Aspect shouted as he flashed into his Light form halfway, a beam of pure Light magic burning away the crystals on Shining’s horn. “Protect the Fair, the citizens, the castle,” he ordered the stallion. “Leave me the rest of my magic to fight him with!”

“I-I’ll try,” he said as he started to run for the castle. Sombra turned and stared at Aspect.

“Ahhh, so you’ve finally come into your own hmm?” the dark stallion mused. “The Light to match the Shadows. Still, your power is weak… your light will be consumed by the darkness.” He floated down to the ground. “Now… knowing you, you wish to battle no? Some barbaric contest of strength?”

Well, he’d become rather articulated all of a sudden.

“Actually, no. All I have to do is keep you from progressing into the Empire, which, by the way, I planted here two thousand years ago. If anyone is going to rule here, it’s not you. I could claim more kingship that you over this place. All I have to do is keep you out until the Heart is found and, hey presto, we don’t have to worry about you ever again. If you want to fight me to get past, entirely your prerogative.” The stallion of light didn’t have facial features, but if he did, he’d be smiling smugly right about now.

“The Heart?” the stallion chuckled. “It takes somepony with my power to find it. And get past my traps. You’ll never succeed in locating it.” His horn glowed a sickly purple-black hue. “Fine, I shall entertain you for a while. I could do with stretching my legs after a thousand years.”

“Like I said, I don’t have to do a damn thing. I’ve already felt dark magic at work while the brightest mind of a thousand years walked into the throne room. Tell me I’m wrong when I say she’s on the right path.”

“Oh good,” the stallion mused. “The smart ones always bite better when they find the door,” he chuckled. “I have you to thank for that one. ‘Golden doors that lead to dreams’. Now imagine what could happen with blackened doors that lead to endless Nightmares!”

And with that, he fired a blast of black magic that seared the alicorn’s shoulder, his coat sizzling from the touch.

“You realize this is a losing battle for you,” Aspect pointed out as the wound healed rapidly. “I’m not just Light. I’m Hope. And what better hope to instill in these subjects than a dramatic fight with their once-tyrant? The longer we fight, the more they’ll believe in me. The more power I’ll gain. Especially if, oh, I don’t know, the other Aspects of the world believe in me too. If the major forces align against you, Sombra...then there’s no way the light of hope can fail.”

“Light is fleeting, the darkness all-consuming,” he chuckled as he turned and started for the city. “And your fragile hope? I’ll crush it under the weight of absolute despair!”

“Oh please, you’ve not seen all the tricks I can pull off yet! For example, let’s see how bright I can shine, shall we?”

With that, Aspect darted between the king and the city and focused his light, before becoming a beacon that was too painful for Sombra to even look at. It wasn’t just light he was radiating. It was Light magic, and beams of pure Harmony, on loan from Yggdrasil.

“I WILL CRUSH YOUR LIGHT!” he roared as Darkness flooded in, blanketing the city as the girls hard work to rekindle the Light within the Crystal ponies was undone, their coats losing luster as fear and panic took hold upon seeing Sombra’s return.

“You can never crush the Light,” Aspect replied, the light creating a sphere that the shadow lord couldn’t touch. “So long as one being believes in me. So long as one pony thinks that you can falter. So long as one of them hopes for a better future...I will stand in your way. My power will never wane or go out. I will never let you take the Empire again! Not as long as Hope burns in their hearts!”

“Haha, how utterly cliche that is,” the stallion snorted. “The world isn’t one of your human fairy tales Christopher. Good doesn’t always win. Like that Manticore that took your precious friend away. Oh, how I wish I’d seen it myself. Your face must have been tragically wondrous.”

“I made my peace with those I’ve lost over the years. That is the curse of being immortal. But, you have all the time in the world to work those things out,” the stallion of light sighed. “However, I have a light that will never go out that will fuel me. I have found love again. And the mare that believes in me? They are beyond your reach. And their love, their belief, their hope, will power me from now until they die. My powers will burn not just with hope, but with true, utter love. Something you cannot stand to even be near.”

“Oh? But I love a great many things,” he chuckled as he powered down his horn. “I love the screams they make when you whip them. Their defeated faces as you send them to mine more crystals to fuel your empire. I love the seeing an army march to my command, and most of all…”

Aspect heard a yell as he saw Rainbow and the others encased in a black crystal cage each. “I love taking that love away. So… tell me Christopher. Which of these mares do you care about the most? Give me the pleasure of taking it away from you.”

Aspect wasn’t mad. Mad was for lesser stallions.

Aspect’s form exploded, reforming as a giant of light larger than the palace itself as he went Supernova in an instant, his entire body glowing angrily as he stared down at the puny stallion that dared threaten the Bearers, his Dash.

“Ooohh, scary,” the stallion mused as the cages shrank a little around the mares. “Seems that star’s finally kicked in I see. Seems we might have ourselves something of a stalemate. Yes, you have your precious Light and Hope. And I have the darkness and despair that has permeated this land for a thousand years. You have nothing that could tip the scales in your—”

His speech cut off as a beam of light blasted him in the side, sending him sprawling as Celestia landed, decked in golden plate mail as her horn thrummed with Solar magic.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said sternly. The star-stallion nodded to her as he gently tapped each cage, dispelling their nature and sending them to dust with an overload of Light magic.

“Get inside the shield,” he said to the mares.

“Buck no!” Rainbow huffed as wind flickered around her wings. “Imma Rainboom his bucking face for that one!”

“GET. IN. THE. SHIELD.” Aspect boomed. “I can crush him.”

Rainbow frowned at him, stomping her hoof, but Applejack held her close and nodded at Aspect as she started to pull the arguing mare away.

“Hmhm, so she’s the one…” Sombra chuckled as he aimed his horn…

Aspect shrank himself back down, his entire form now boiling Light magic as he stared at Sombra, the places where his eyes were marked by somehow a brighter radiance. “You even so much as try that to any of these ponies here, Sombra, I will drag your flank into the Sun,” he warned.

Sombra chuckled as Celestia launched herself at him, only to phase through his form as she became trapped in a crystal cage herself.

“Sit.” Sombra ordered. “The grown ups are going to play for a while.” He turned as his body erupted into Darkness given form, his eyes marked with glowing crimson spheres. “Now… where were we? Ah yes…”

His horn blazed as countless spears of black crystal rained down at Aspect. The stallion merely turned himself into motes of light, far too many to count, and effortlessly dodged around every spear. Once the rain eventually stopped, he reformed and would have had an unamused look on his face.

“Y’done?” he asked impatiently.

“Ohh, not bad,” Sombra chuckled. “Your turn. Let us see what you have hm?”

“Oh puh-lease. You know my main power comes from Runes. My favorite trick there was to make lasers by compressing light and heat in a fine point before letting it erupt.”

Then motes of light began to form behind the stallion. First a dozen...then they became an impromptu starfield behind him.

“Ever imagine what would happen if I didn’t have to use the Runes to make them?”

“Ooohoho! This should be quite amusing!” Sombra chuckled. “Try not to bore me now.”

Aspect just raised his hooves, and it was then that Sombra noticed…

The motes of light hadn’t just been in front of him. They’d been extended in a sphere all around him.

“Oh dear me,” the dark stallion uttered as countless lasers rained down. His body torn apart by the beams of light as they shredded through his darkness, pocketing the ground with burn marks as he howled in pain.

After a few minutes… there was little left that could still be called a stallion. He was on the ground, entire limbs missing as he was little more than a twitching pile of darkness.

“You… you think… this is funny?” he said in a pained, harsh tone.

“To see you brought low, to see you actually in pain for once, to see you understand an iota of what you’ve been putting these ponies through? No. I think it’s just.” There was no mocking in Aspect’s voice, merely conviction. And he could feel the heartbeat of hope in the ponies he was protecting.

“You know… what I think is funny?” the stallion croaked out.

“Oh, do go on,” Aspect drawled.

Then a spear of black crystal pierced his chest, Sombra reforming almost instantly as he drew in the shadows around them. “That you thought that worked,” he mused. “Also, I have another trick you might be familiar with~”

And with that, he started drawing in the shadows of the ponies that still hadn’t made it to safety yet…

Aspect growled, his form going past white-hot to being blue again as the crystal spear was shattered instantly. He thrust his hooves out and speared the shadows to the ground, disrupting Sombra’s dark magic long enough for them to reattach to the ponies as they ran to safety.

“Bastard, Arabus was just exorcised from me, no way I’m letting you copy his moves!” Aspect shouted out as his form started to expand again. “You’re not going to win with me here, you wanna-be king!”

“His power over shadows was paltry at best,” Sombra mused as he took aim… his spear attack now aimed at a wide area. “I guess I could cull the herd a little.”

He fired… there… there was no way Aspect could stop all of them.

He tried, firing his laser attack, but some slipped through… only to bounce off a magenta barrier.

Twilight stood there, her horn blazing brightly as she panted, her shield broke, but stopped the attack.

Aspect nodded as he blazed brighter. He needed to be stronger. He needed to inspire hope.

His form shifted again, so that he had a corona of violet outlining his form, before he spread his wings.

Shining could take a break, he decided.

And with that, the entire empire was surrounded by a shield of pure Light.

“That will not stay my hoof for long,” Sombra said. “It's only a matter of time before I--”

A pink beam slammed him, knocking him on his ass as Twilight growled. “We found the Heart. Spike's bringing it to Cadance as we speak.”

“That's my girl,” Celestia smiled from within her cage. “I knew she could do it.”

“Even now, you face exile from my creation,” Aspect said as he stood on the air between Sombra and the Empire. “You will not succeed. Once the heart is in place, you will be destroyed by the light it produces.”

Sombra scowled. This… this little mare thought to undo him!? She was no Aspect. She was a simple unicorn!

Then Sombra Winked, appearing above Twilight as his hoof slammed her to the ground, his armored hoof on her horn as she screamed in pain.

“You wretch!” he snarled. “You meddle in affairs above your station.”

“Let her go!” Celestia screamed, slamming her prison walls.

“You sent her here,” Sombra chuckled, pressing down as Twilight’s horn started to crack. “You and she shall reap the rewards.”

Aspect let out a growl as his entire form shifted up the color spectrum. Now he was technically invisible, save for the corona of light around his form.

The laser he produced was definitely visible, and hit the dark stallion head-on. He stumbled back, but the damage was done.

“Twilight!” Celestia slammed the walls of her prison. “Let her GO Sombra!”

Twilight whimpered in pain as motes of magical light leaked from her damaged horn. She opened one eye, looking at Celestia and…

“I'm sorry…” she choked. “I…”

Celestia froze, her eyes wide with shock. Why…. why was she apologising?

The invisible stallion swooped down, picked Twilight up, and put her beyond the shield, and thus, Sombra’s reach. Her horn would heal in time.

“Perhaps she'll learn not to meddle in the affairs of her betters,” Sombra said as he picked himself up.

“I’ll tell her that when I meet someone who’s actually better than her,” Aspect fired back as he rejoined the battle.

“SOMBRAAAAAA!!” Celestia howled with a fury Aspect and the shadowy stallion had never heard from the Princess. The alicorn could not be seen from within the blinding light inside. It was as if the dark crystals were trying to contain the sun itself. The stallions could hear the roar of the flames…

And even more disconcertingly. The anguished roars of the mare somewhere within.

“W-What… is she doing?” Sombra found himself asking, oddly transfixed by the sight. The sheer hatred that rolled off of the sphere was palatable.

“I...don’t know,” Aspect replied.

Then all Tartarus broke loose.

Whatever Sombra might have said in retaliation, he was cut off as a massive gout of flame consumed him, so brilliantly hot that it reduced the ground under him to molten glass and stone.

And from the ashes of her prison…

Celestia stood.

And a deep sense of dread washed over Aspect. No… not again… not his little Tia. He’d seen this sight before, a thousand years ago… An event that tore his family apart.

Aspect let out a howl as he faded back into sight, expanding again and now definitely resembling a star. Specifically, an old, dying one. His body pulsed with light erratically as his entire form crisscrossed with cracks.

Going supernova literally would probably kill everything in the vicinity. Or at the very least, Sombra.

“Enough…” Celestia growled, the snow vapourising under her hooves as she walked, her mane shimmered like living flame, her body rippling from the heat she emanated as she walked towards him. “Sombra will learn… he shouldn't touch my things.” As the dark stallion got up, she slammed him with more fire. “Twilight is Mine! You do not BREAK my things!”

Was… was Celestia still in control!? At the very least, her rage was directed at single point. Aspect gained a little hope, but he didn’t drop out of his form he’d taken. He wanted Sombra to know one thing.

He was done screwing around. He reared up and reached to the stars above, hidden behind the storm clouds.

And from the heavens, a rain of light came down, slamming into him and empowering him even more. He fed the magic into the shield, making it thicker and more powerful.

“Stubborn… Asshole…” Celestia muttered as she turned her wrath on Sombra. A stallion who was now hopelessly outgunned. “Let's fuck his shit up.”

Aspect reached out a hoof and focused, and bands of light formed a semi-solid cage around the dark once-king.

“You cannot win!” the dark stallion howled. “You cannot hope to slay me!”

“No?” Celestia chuckled. “But we can have fun trying!” She reared up as she summoned the full might of her Aspect. A pillar of pure sunfire dropping down on the stallion, the gout of flame causing the ground to tremble and light flood the area.

The giant star stallion reached out a hoof…

...And chains of pure light wrapped around Celly’s back hooves, dragging her away from Sombra. “Enough,” he said. “He will lose soon enough. Once the Heart is in place, he will be banished from the Empire forever. You need not torment him more.”

“Oh but I do~” Celestia chuckled, her draconic eyes gleaming. “He broke MY Twilight. He made her cry! I will torment him until the end of days for his transgressions!” Her flames stopped, and amidst the pile of ash and seared earth, a dark crystal stood, the stallion encased inside.

“Enough!” Aspect growled, putting a hoof between her and Sombra. “I will punish him myself. You focus on restoring your visage to what it used to be. I have no doubt Twilight will appreciate it.”

“DO NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” Celestia screamed, a pulse of magic making him stumble back. “I am sick of your know-it-all attitude! If you had just finished him from the start, none of this would have happened!” She gave a fanged smile and chuckled. “You had your turn. Now I, Daybreaker, will finish what YOU couldn’t!”

The stallion sighed, before creating more chains of light to drag the mare back and hold her down. “Stay out of it,” he ordered her as he walked up to Sombra’s crystal and tapped it with a hoof, flooding it with Light magic.

Then solar magic slammed him and the crystal, shattering it as she sent the stallions flying, sprawling into the frigid snow. “Then I will end you both…” she growled. “You hurt Twilight too. She is MINE! And you will PAY!”

Aspect growled as he picked himself up, before flaring his wings. “Fine. You want to test me? I’m connected to the magical field of Equus itself you know. My power, matches one of you. A mortal, barely compares. But what do you think would happen if I asked every mortal for help at once?”

Faint whisps appeared around his form, each one a whisp of magic from one of the multitude of beings on the world. They dove into the solar stallion, causing him to start glowing in a rainbow of colors as more and more piled up.

“Even you cannot control so much magic for long…” Daybreaker said with a sneer. “And as usual, you fail to see the bigger picture father.”

The stallion was shrinking, still glowing, as the colors and magic piled up quickly and turned him into the kaleidoscope reject from the rainbow vat. The magic kept coming for a while yet...and when it stopped, he opened his pure white eyes.

“We are Harmony...for we are many,” his voice echoed.

A new voice screamed in his head amongst the many, the voice of Yggdrasil.

“Father NO! That power… it is NOT for you to wield. That is NOT your destiny!”

Aspect waved his horn, and a point of rainbow light appeared between himself and Sombra...and himself and Celestia. “Be bathed and cleansed in the light,” he uttered, before firing two lasers of rainbow light.

And at that moment, a great pulse of magic washed out from the Crystal Empire’s heart… It would seem that a certain dragon had returned the Crystal Heart to it’s proper place…

And everything was bathed in the light….

Aspect had a headache.

Eh, scratch that, he’d had headaches before. This felt like a thousand Luna’s hugging his brain while singing in his ear with the Royal Voice. There weren’t enough painkillers in every dimension for this…

Fortunately, someone had drawn his curtains. He didn’t think he could handle the sunlight right about now. All he wanted was to go back to sleep.

Wasn’t he doing something though?

Wait…

His memory came back in bits and pieces. The empire...Sombra...Celestia…

That...thing he’d done to get enough power to purify them. Yeah...that’d do it. He overreached, again.

‘I hope you’re in a great deal of pain,’ a dry voice echoed in his mind, sending sharp spikes of pain throughout his whole body. Oh… hello Yggdrasil.

Not...so loud. Head...hurts, Aspect thought back.

“GOOD!” Yggdrasil yelled in his mind, making him groan in agony. ‘You took what wasn’t yours. Harmony magic is ‘theirs’ and they are less than happy about you encroaching on it Father.’

I only borrowed it for a moment! I was going to give it back once the battle was over!

Yggdrasil sighed. Or at least made a sound like it. ‘The Elements are a part of me Father. They possess some level of sentience. It’s how they pick their wielders. You’re incredibly lucky I was able to reason with them, else they’d have taken much more than your magic for the time being.’

I’m finished, finally, I’ll get it back sooner or later, Aspect muttered. Besides, if I needed to get it back in a hurry, I could threaten to throw myself on my sword. Bet that’d make them realize that they’re overstepping their bounds.

‘You are the one that overstepped, never forget that the Sword can always go to another.’ Yggdrasil gave a long suffering groan. ‘That destiny is reserved for someone else father. Just… never do that again. While the Light can be used… sparingly, Harmony is not EVER to be harnessed by a singular entity. The last time that happened… your daughter was cast away and the other curs—’

I know, Ygg, I was there, Aspect replied curtly. Remind them you’re their father, and I’m your father. I only needed the magic for a moment, to make sure that not only that Sombra was dealt with, but that Cel would stop being Daybreaker. If it’s so important to the Elements that I not touch their precious power, ask them where the fuck they were when we needed their power this time!

‘Father…’ Yggdrasil paused. ‘Destiny has been altered. That which has occurred was not meant to be. As such… I cannot see the future for now. Not until I get my bearings. Celestia is fine. Between Harmony and the Heart, Daybreaker was subdued, but still lingers in her. Worse, she will recall all that has transpired…’

I’ll comfort her. Relay a message to your kids for me. Remind them that I spent days assimilating a freaking star, which I’m sure Luna will berate me for. Remind them I walked this earth for centuries, working my natural magic and shapeshifting to the point where I could do it on command. Remind them I worked hard for that power, stealing every scrap of it from entities bigger and scarier than they could ever be, and if I have to threaten them with a sledgehammer to get it back, I’ll find them and do so.

‘You are as hardheaded and asinine as always,’ Yggdrasil sighed. ‘We shall talk more when you are well. Come see me in person, and bring your mares. I am interesting it meeting them. Just remember. Even you have a destiny father. Though it is not set in stone, anyone can change them, but no-one is exempt from them.’

And with that, he felt the presence finally leave his mind. Well shit, Ygg was angry. He couldn't remember the last time he was angry.

Right now, he had a daughter to find. Aspect slowly crawled to the edge of his bed and gingerly touched down, before noticing that his natural form that wasn’t an alicorn had changed. He wasn’t a pegasus anymore. He was a unicorn. Probably so he could do Light-based things and get away with it easier.

...When he got his magic back from the Elements at any rate. It was only a little bit of power from everyone! He only borrowed it, he was going to return it. Once he had fired those beams. And made sure they took.

He closed his eyes and...well that still worked, he still could feel sources of power. Two were in the throne room. Likely Shiny and Cadance. And…

Oh. His power was still in his chest, just...heavily muted. He could see the thrumming of the star there. If he wanted to, he could just unlock it with runes. Eh...He’d give the Elements a day to do it themselves.

So that begged the question...where was ‘Tia?

As that thought entered his mind, the door opened and a pony entered, a gleaming Crystal mare. Well, so they had come into their own finally? He’d missed some things apparently.

“Well, you’re awake?” she blinked, her crystal blue coat sparkling brightly. Her aqua colored mane bouncing with each step. “That’s good to see. The Princess said you’d recover quickly but it’s no less surprising to see. Oh, where are my manners. I am Heart Pulse, it’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”

“Aspect, and I’d love to chat, but I have a daughter to see to,” the stallion said. “Take me to Celestia, she needs her father’s comforting hug right about now.”

“Ah yes, the Sun Queen, I was about to check on her next,” Heart nodded. “Please follow me. Oh, would you like some assistance in moving about Sir Aspect?”

“I’ll—” Aspect had been about to say ‘be fine,’ but one of his legs buckled under his own weight, and he realized how weak he felt. “—gladly take that offer until we get to Cel’s side,” he finished lamely.

The mare didn’t laugh, she simply smiled and nodded, moving under him and…

Gods she was strong, he now found himself on her back as she started a gentle walk, her hooves clicking on the crystal floor.

“Goodness me a lot has happened,” she said in a bubbly tone. “A thousand years has passed? Can you believe it. We have so much to catch up on. New species to meet. I do hope our new Princess is up to the task… well, she seems like a nice mare so I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Mmm,” Aspect commented. “I’m, uh, sorry we failed you the first time. And didn’t come looking. Even our memories of the place vanished. Every mention of it did.”

“Well, we don’t really remember the passage of time,” she smiled. How the hell was she so… chipper about it. “The fight between Sombra and the Princesses was like yesterday for us. So, it’s a little jarring to know what actually happened. But, not like we can do much about it now. Best just put our best hoof forward hm?”

“I hope you keep that upbeat attitude about it when you realize how much work it’ll be to get acquainted to what’s happened over the past thousand years,” Aspect sighed. “It certainly wasn’t easy for me or Luna…”

“Given what Sombra’s rule was like,” her bubbliness disappeared for a moment, a distant look in her eyes as her coat dimmed for the passing of the blink of an eye. “This is paradise and we shall leave it at that hm?”

“Fair enough,” Aspect chuckled. “Sorry for touching on a sore topic.”

“It’s fine, admitting defeat and losing to the sadness just means he wins and we’re broken, beyond help,” she said and perked back up. These ponies were mortal, under the heel of a stallion far beyond their power to combat… and yet, look at how strong of heart they were. “Plenty of time for that later no? We have a daddy/daughter reunion to get to. Oh, but please be gentle, she seems to be rather under the weather.”

“Then we better get there faster,” Aspect replied. “She’s probably upset at what she did.” Also, mental note, tell Cadance to go through getting therapy for all the ponies here. She’d be better suited to understand it than he would.

“Well, here we are,” she said, stopping at a door and gently setting him on his hooves. “I’ll not interrupt you. Just make sure she drinks her water and eats her food m’kay?”

“Has she not been doing that?” Aspect asked as he made sure his legs were steady.

“Not as often as she should be,” Heart said. “I fear… something has happened and it has made her afeared. Please help her if you can.”

“On it,” Aspect said, pushing the door open and carefully walking into the room. It was dark inside, much like his own room had been. His eyes instantly went to the bed, but found it bare, the sheets a mess. Panicking for a second, he soon heard a sound and glanced at the corner of the room.

A white alicorn, her mane limp as she hugged herself with her wings. The second he took a step closer, she flinched.

“Get out…” she said in a harsh whisper, as if her own voice scared her. “I have… no right to be comforted by you… or anypony.”

“Not happening,” Aspect said as he began making his way towards her. “This is just the sort of thing fathers do.”

“Did you not see what I did?” she said with a pained sob. “The monster I became… Just… get out. Leave me be!”

“I’m not leaving you alone!” Aspect replied, walking closer still. “I have darker secrets than that, and even if I didn’t I wouldn’t leave you alone in her—”

Just as he was about to enter arm’s reach of her, his legs buckled and he began falling to the floor. It wasn’t hard crystal that met him though, but a soft flurry of white feathers and warm fur, the stallion against the breast of the larger alicorn.

“Idiot… you’re a bucking idiot,” she murmured as her forelegs wrapped around him.

“Yeah, not arguing that point,” Aspect muttered as he nuzzled the mare, hugging her in return. “You know, for what you did, you did it for the right reasons. Granted, you went to extremes and even turned on me, but your heart was in the right place.”

“No it wasn’t…” she muttered. “My heart was… not in the right place. I… I thought of Twilight, not as my precious student… but, something I possessed. A thing that was mine and mine alone. What… what kind of pony does that?” She shuddered, as her grip tightened a little. “I know what happened between the pair of you. She confided in me. And yet… she blames herself for it you know? She still thinks you're mad at her, for being indecisive and stringing you along.” She paused. “Back in that moment… I was ready to strike you down for making her feel like that.”

“I probably deserve it,” Aspect shrugged. “But you became what you did not out of jealousy...but love for her. You feared for her so much, that you tapped your darker side, rather than see her hurt again. You’re still you under there.”

“I…” she shuddered. “How… how did Luna live with that? I…I was ready to destroy both Sombra and you…” She was idly stroking his back with a hoof. “I’ve never felt so much rage and hatred before. Especially towards you.”

“It’s the curse of being an Aspect, I suppose,” Aspect chuckled. “We all have a darker side we have to learn to live with. I suppose now that I’m finished, I’ll have to figure out what mine is.”

“How… am I supposed to face her,” Celestia shuddered. “I sent Twilight here, as, I knew she had the smarts and means to finish what we started but…” The alicorn drooped, her wings splayed against the floor as she sighed. “She got hurt because of me, because of my foolishness at once again, throwing her into a dangerous situation again.”

“There’s only one real mistake you made,” Aspect said, softly beeping her nose. “You didn’t send the Elements with them. Other than that, I approve of the direction you took. Shining and Cadance to protect the Empire. The six Bearers to reinvigorate the ponies and find the Heart. The only thing we couldn’t prepare for was Sombra being stronger than the shade we reduced him to, which is where the Elements would have come in handy.”

“I didn’t want to have to overuse them,” Celestia sighed. “Plus, with them being in Canterlot, I feel their close proximity to Discord will keep him in his statue this time.” She blinked and scrunched up her nose, a delayed reaction to the booping.

“Yes, well…” Aspect hugged her a little tighter. “You’re going to have to face up to the fact that it wasn’t just hatred that brought out Daybreaker. It was your care for Twilight. She’s the chink in your perfect armor. If anything happens to her, you lose it.”

“Yes, she is precious to me,” Celestia said. “I feel the same about all of my friends…”

“It wasn’t their name you screamed before you transformed,” Aspect pointed out. “She’s more than just precious to you, isn’t she?”

“She’s my only student, well, my only personal protege,” Celestia corrected herself. “And it’s my fault she was hurt in the first place.” She took a sharp breath, this room was rather stifling, her cheeks felt hot…

“Don’t make me get Cadance in here to make you face the truth,” Aspect warned. “She means more to you than that and you know it. Own up to it.”

“Alright, so maybe I care for her a little more than a teacher should,” Celestia huffed. “She’s been an important part of my life for a while now and…” She slowly trailed off as her eyes widened ever so slightly.

“And so the great light dawns,” Aspect intoned. “You’re finally realizing what she really means to you.”

“Nooo….” Celestia whispered. “Nonono, I… I can’t…” And now his daughter was hyperventilating in his hooves.

“Celly, calm down,” Aspect told her sternly. “It is not as bad as you are making it out to be.”

“How is this not ‘as bad’?” she said, much louder. This… looked oddly familiar.

Ohh, so this is where Twilight got it from.

“I… I can’t love her! Well, not like that anyway,” Celestia exclaimed. “That’s… it’s not proper for starters. I mean, I’ve known her since she was a foal. She treats me like a second mother for buck’s sake!”

“Celly!” Aspect spoke in a louder voice himself. “You. Are going. To calm. DOWN!” He was dangerously close to using the RCV on her.

“I…” She took a breath, a calmer, less panicked one. “R-Right. I…” She had no idea what to do. Was this a side effect of the Nightmare? She’d been so possessive… yes, that must be it.

“Now the first thing you’re going to do is, calmly, tell me why you think you can’t love Twilight,” Aspect ordered her.

“Well for one, I’m her age two hundred times over,” the mare said.

“Same for me and Bon Bon, or Dash, or Midnight,” Aspect replied, calmly shooting that argument down. “Next.”

“Buck…” she muttered under her breath. “Well, I’m her teacher, somepony that practically raised her. That’s… got to be immoral or something!”

“I taught the ponies what it meant to harness Aeromancy, Geomancy, and Sorcery back in the day, and they created martial arts around it. And I learned from them those things. And Hurricane had a crush on me as well. If she’d actually pursued it, maybe I’d be singing a different tune this day,” Aspect continued. “I probably wouldn’t have turned her down if not for all the lightning bolts she dumped on my head.”

Celestia was going to let somepony else explain why Hurricane did that.

“You know the pedestal she keeps me on,” Celestia said, sighing softly. This… actually stung her a little more than she let on. “I’m the perfect pony. An infallible princess that never does anything wrong. Even… even as Sombra hurt her… she… she apologized!” Her calm demeanor she’d found was obliterated under the oncoming sobs she was holding back.

“Oh that’s easy to fix,” Aspect smirked. “Once you two start dating, I’ll break out the family picture album. If that doesn’t bring you down to her level, I don’t know what will.”

Celestia just smacked him with a hoof. “I’m serious. I…” Her brow furrowed. “Oh that’s just great. You of all ponies is giving me love advice. That’s it, I’m doomed to be alone forever.”

“Celly, honestly,” Aspect put a hoof to her chest. “If you love Twilight, and I think we’ve proven that you do. Then you have to tell her. Preferably when Cadance and I are around to calm her down and make her realize it’s not a test or anything, but a genuine relationship offer that she has to treat seriously.”

“I…” she flicked her wings, picking them up off of the floor and tucking them in at her sides. “She probably doesn’t even like mares like that. I am not so fussed about gender or species for that matter. The heart is what counts but…”

“Then we ask. If she says no, then we respect her answer. If she says yes...well, you’ll enjoy each other,” Aspect replied nuzzling her slightly. “Come on. While she’s healing from a cracked horn is the right time, it means she won’t use magic to try and find an answer or teleport away. She’ll be slightly less manic at the thought. Plus, you can tell her how she did on her ‘test’.”

“I am not going to place more stress on her while she’s healing,” Celestia said. “No wonder she dropped those lightning bolts on you,” muttering under her breath.

“Celly, if you put it off now, you’ll put it off later, and tomorrow, and the day after,” Aspect replied sternly. “If it’s worth doing, you do it then. Didn’t I all but drill that into you?”

“Yes, but it’s Twilight, she’d panic regardless of her state and injure herself further…” Celestia felt rather tired all of a sudden. “Just… I need time to think alright. This isn’t something that should be rushed. It worked out for you, three times no less, but that doesn’t mean it suits everypony.”

Aspect rolled his eyes. “Celly, if you don’t confess yourself in a month, I will drag you to Twilight in chains of light to say it to her myself and let her decide what happens next.”

“You wouldn’t dare…” Celestia said with a warning scowl.

“I’d even throw in a muzzle,” the stallion added.

“To your own daughter? Kinky,” Celestia hummed, trying to throw him off.

“I’m sure Twilight will blush adorably when I put you in her lobby to play with,” Aspect turned on her.

“...What the hay happened to the stallion that would so much as blush and freeze at the mention of something like that?” Celestia pouted, a little sad she’d lost that round.

“Three mares happened,” Aspect deadpanned.

“Horseapples,” she muttered, blissfully unaware of what his… more adult relations were like most of the time. “Tch! Fine, I’ll tell her once she’s well. Happy?”

“Better,” Aspect nodded. “Now as long as you actually keep to that, and remember to tell when Cadance and I are there to make sure no freaking out happens, it’ll all go well.”

“Cadance must never know…” Celestia shuddered. “You have NO idea how vested she is in my love life.”

“And who do you plan to have on hoof to keep Twilight in check?” Aspect questioned.

“...Damn,” Celestia swore. “Look, I’ll… think of something okay. You worry about your own mares and less about mine.”

“I’ll worry about my daughter’s love life all I want to,” Aspect replied, beeping her again. “Now will you please cheer up? You’re worrying the staff.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, clearly not aware she was doing as such.

“Not eating or drinking or sleeping to recover from what you and I did during the fight,” Aspect elaborated. “You might be an alicorn, but regeneration only goes so far, Cel. Some regular activity might help you recover more than being stubborn.”

Oh… she’d done that huh?

“Fine, I’ll be a good filly,” she sighed as she started to make her way over to the bed.

“Which means I should expect a prank on the staff in what, half an hour?” Aspect fired back.

“No…”

Yes.

“Missed you, Cel,” Aspect said to her as he began walking to the door.

“Yeah… you too dad,” she murmured as he closed the door behind him. What a day this had been… and yet it was only just starting…

Author's Note

And it might be later than normal, but it's here!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on fighting boredom.

Chapter 61 - Healing and remembering

Aspect hadn’t made it far before he heard voices from a nearby room. It was easy to make out Rainbow’s scratchy tone, and it was a sure bet that he just found the room Twilight was in. Seems her friends were paying her a visit.

Time to see how much of his new nature he could tap while so bound by the Elements. He knocked on the door before pushing his head in. Inside was brighter than his or Tia’s rooms, given that the curtains were tied up and the warm sunlight streamed in.

In the crystal bed, Twilight sat, propped up by a few pillows, an odd, glittery bandage wrapped around her horn. All of her friends were present, Fluttershy by her bedside peeling an apple as Rarity tsk’d about the decor of the room.

A weight on his back told him a blue pegasus had settled there, a hooftip prodding his horn.

“Huh, what’s this?” she asked him. “Pegasus not good enough anymore?”

“Came about when my magical core settled in,” Aspect replied as he walked up to Twilight with a smile. “So, how bad is it?” he asked gently.

Her soft smile faded as she looked down. “My horn has multiple stress fractures and cracks. There’s no crystal unicorns, so… they have no idea how to treat something like this. T-Thankfully my horn’s core is undamaged else… I… I would…” She shuddered as Fluttershy put a hoof on her shoulder.

Rarity stepped up to speak for her. “She came dangerously close to losing her magic permanently Aspect. We still need to get her back to Canterlot as soon as possible, so the specialists there can look over her.”

“Hey, can’t you do something?” Rainbow asked. “I mean, you have all that fancy crap like Runes and stuff.”

“Eh, Runes are a bit too advanced right now,” Aspect replied, before explaining himself to their puzzled looks. “The last thing I did, tapping into the magic of all beings, aka Harmony? Yeah, I’m not meant to do that. So the Elements decided to put a damper on me for the time being. Buuuut, I think if it’s not for myself, but for the one that risked herself for other’s sake, and one of the Bearers besides, I might be able to muscle a little of my new nature out to heal her with.”

Twilight took a shuddering breath and shook her head. “No… it’s too risky after all that’s happened. I’m okay… it hurts but… I’ll live with it.”

Rarity looked at her, then… looked at her own tail for some reason before her eyes widened. “Darling, I have an iiideeaaa~” she sung. “Remember the first time we used the Elements? When we freed Luna?”

“Yes?” Twilight said, not sure where she was going with this. “How could I forget? It was the first time I realised I truly had friends as amazing as you.”

“Well,” Rarity smiled slyly. “My tail grew back remember? And how we all felt so… energized afterwards.”

“What are y’all gettin’ at?” Applejack asked. “Jus’ get to the point Rares.”

“Honestly, you all have no sense for drama,” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Well, what if we could do the same for Twilight? Maybe the Elements could heal her horn.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused, tapping into his link with Yggdrasil. Could it work? Could your children heal her? I would be willing to be the bridge to undo that which my folly allowed to happen.

It took a moment for him to respond.

‘I am unsure. The Elements cannot just be activated on a whim. They need a target after all.’

Tell them this. ‘To restore harmony to the one that suffered so, Light shall be the bridge so you may shine yours on her.’ I’m fully aware it might burn out the rest of my magic for the day...or longer. But hey, if it means Magic doesn’t have to worry about her horn snapping off at the slightest pressure...I’ll make that sacrifice.

‘Well isn’t that noble of you,’ Yggdrasil chuckled. ‘I’ll pass it along. But right now… Try to keep an open mind in the near future eh? Don’t go jumping the river before you can see the other side.’

My only stipulation is that if I do that for Twilight, I want my bloody magic unsealed, Aspect chuckled as he cut the connection. “Well, good news bad news time,” he said to the mares. “Good news, thanks to my new nature, I can, briefly, channel the magic of the Elements, of Harmony, through me. I’ve learned my lesson though. If they agree to do such a thing, I’ll pass it to all of you so you can heal Twilight without needing to go back to Canterlot.”

“Wait… you can do that?” Rainbow blinked as she leaned on his head and poked his horn again.

“That sounds rather risky,” Twilight said. “When Princess Celestia used the Elements against Luna, they became inert for a millennium.”

“Yes, well, like I said, I’d act as the bridge so you don’t have to go all the way home. It wouldn’t be me, it’d be all of you,” Aspect pointed out. “The bad news is twofold. First, they have to agree to this, and I sorta ticked them off with my earlier stunt. And it might sorta burn out even my magic for a bit if I do it.” He shrugged. “Eh. I’m less concerned about the second than I ought to be.” He crossed his eyes and took a breath. “But I should be able...to give you a little relief at least. Something to dull the pain.”

“I can’t let you do something like that,” Twilight said, wincing as she shook her head out of reflex. “I’m okay. And it’s my fault I got hurt. I… failed the Princesses test and… got in the way. Sombra… was right. I just, thought I could—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof. “The fact that you were willing to try to stand up to him is the most noble thing I can imagine. Do you know, the first time Celly, Lulu, and I heard about his dominance over the Empire, not a single guard accompanied us on our trip? They were so afraid of the most powerful unicorn controlling, well, an Empire built on magic, that they basically just sent us off with the Elements and a promise that the keep would still be there. You’re braver than all of them combined. We did all we could to defeat him then, and he still ended up a shade in this time, before retaking his corporeal form. It was not. Your. Fault. Repeat that.”

“But if I’d just stayed with the Heart instead of hoofing it over to Spike—”

“Then that attack of his would have gotten through and seriously hurt, possibly even killed somepony!” Aspect countered. “You saved lives. At the cost to yourself, perhaps. But you did the right thing. Never, doubt that.” With that, his horn started to glow, emitting a soft light. “Now...let’s see about dulling that pain and promoting some healing, shall we?”

His power was so… muted. It had been a long time since he felt this weak. As he did so, Yggdrasil spoke up once again.

‘The Elements have agreed. On the conditions that one, you realise the bounds you have overstepped. And two, the consequences for your actions.’

Living comes with consequences. Living as long as I have means that dropping a stone a thousand years ago creates a tidal wave in the now. I admit, perhaps I went a bit too far in touching all the mortal hearts to bring that power to bear on Daybreaker and Sombra. But what choice did I have? What choice...to save my daughter and defeat Sombra, or at the very least pin him until the Heart denied him entrance? Yes, I overstepped. But as a father, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

There was a moment’s pause, the girls looking at the series of facial expressions he was making.

‘Honestly, everyone is so dramatic today,’ Yggdrasil chuckled in his mind. ‘Prepare yourself, and the others. This will be no walk in the park and will likely sting quite a bit. Hold hooves to secure a connection.’

“Everyone hold someone else,” Aspect spoke up. “The Elements are about to loan us some power.”

Rainbow took one of his hooves, Rarity the other. Around the room the other followed, including Twilight as she started to look a little worried.

“Now, be aware...this hasn’t been done before,” Aspect warned. “So we’re setting all sorts of new trends today. But if it works, I’ll be happy.” He felt his connection to the Light part of his nature return…

Just in time for the Elements to use it for their plan.

“Oh sweet Celestia I’m going to die aren’t I?” Twilight moaned as the Cutie Marks of the five mares started to glow in tandem with Aspect. He could feel the power rising up, was this what the girls felt each time they used the Elements? Such power… And in the hooves of normal ponies. It was a wonder they didn’t go insane from wielding it.

A bright, blinding light filled the room…

When Aspect awoke, all he felt was pain. His whole body hurt, like a herd of ponies had stampeded over him… then backed up and done it a few more times for good measure. He put a hand to his forehead and…

Wait a minute…

...Well, he couldn’t say he wasn’t expecting that. At least he wasn’t having a hornache. That would just make this ten times worse.

What was worth it though, was seeing Fluttershy peek under Twi’s bandages and gasp, before taking them off. Her horn was in pristine condition, brand new in fact. “My goodness,” the pegasus mare smiled. “Oh that’s wonderful Twilight.”

Twilight looked up, before glancing a mirror that Rarity held up. She smiled and beckoned everyone to come closer. The human groaned as he pushed himself to his feet and looked up at Twilight’s horn, smiling at what they’d done.

“Now, I don’t want to hear from anyone that you think I don’t like you, d’you hear?” Christopher asked mock-sternly.

“I…” Twilight flinched. “W-Who told you…”

“Doesn’t matter,” Christopher waved a hand. “Point is, I never not liked you, Twilight. You may send some confusing signals about whether or not you’re interested in a pony, but I never stopped liking you. Buck’s sake, you saved my Lulu, you imprisoned my greatest foe again, and you even stood up to Sombra for the sake of those you barely knew! You’re an awesome pony, Twilight. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I feel sorry for the poor stallion or mare you eventually find to be worth your attentions.”

And now Twilight was blushing and mumbling under her breath. Oh dear gods it was bucking adorable! Even her friends were melting at the sight.

“Now all I need to do is recover from this magical burnout and I’ll be golden,” Aspect sighed.

“You still didn’t have to do that,” Twilight murmured as she climbed out of bed, against her friends wishes and moved over to the silly human. “Let me know if you need any magical help okay? I’m going to refrain from casting for twenty four hours just in case, but then I’ll happily lend a hoof until you’re well.”

“It’s fine, I’ll recover sooner or later,” Chris replied, running a hand through Twilight’s mane and scratching her behind the ears. “Just got one last thing to catch up on before I can head back myself.”

“Huh? What do you have to check up on?” Twilight blinked, slowly turning her head in a cute head tilt.

“Old daughter to check in on, now that I remember her,” Christopher said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “I can’t imagine that she’ll have any nice words for me.”

“…Huh?” came the collective retort of the six mares, before Rainbow found her voice again.

“Geeze Chris. Just how many kids am I even getting outta this relationship?”

“I’ll make a list,” he returned with a smirk. “Come on, you’ve all seen her, maybe she’ll talk to you when I catch up with her.”

“List!?” Twilight perked up as the purple pony nerd invaded his personal bubble. “I can help with that as thanks for healing me!”

“I keep one on me more often than not,” the human chuckled as he gently pushed her back. “Come on, let’s go talk with her, see how she’s doing.”

Despite her protests, Twilight was still escorted by Fluttershy and Rarity, insisting she lean against them should she start feeling strained from the walking. Pinkie just pronked along as she chatted with Applejack while Rainbow sat on Chris’s shoulders. The pegasus mare was scarily light.

“So, you just forgot your own kid?” she said with a teasing grin. “What a great dad you are.”

“Sombra bound the empire to his power, and pulled it with him when we banished him,” Chris said as he led the way through the castle, heading for the base. “From song, from book, from even memory. When he went...so did all our records of this place. But now that it’s back...so is she.”

“Huh…” Rainbow mused as she drummed a light beat on his head with her hooves. “So, what’s her name?”

“Oh, you all will recognize her when we arrive,” Chris said as they made their way outside of the palace...and he began walking right up to the Heart itself. It was nestled between two pointed spires, spinning endlessly. Dozens of Crystal Ponies were nearby, simply taking in the sight of the Heart in a sign of comfort and that Sombra’s reign was finally over. Chris walked as close as he dared before bowing his head.

“Hey,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I came back when I remembered. I...I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him the first time. Can you forgive your old man for taking a thousand years?”

He was met with silence, the Heart simply spinning in place.

“Guess it was a little much to think you wanted to talk to me right away,” Chris sighed. “I’m...I’m well and truly sorry, you know? If I had known...I wouldn’t have left him here. I wouldn’t have let any of the things that had happened happen if I could have stopped them. But I’m not attuned to Time, nor can I time-travel. I just...have to take things as they come.”

More silence. The mare’s present all looked at him with pity as the Heart simply spun.

“Sorry girls...guess she’s just not in a talkative mood,” Chris let out another defeated sigh as he turned to walk away. As he did, a small filly ran into his leg. She had a crystal blue coat with a slightly darker blue mane and tail, bound in silver ribbons. Her eyes were… odd, like a pale rainbow hue. She looked up at the human and gave a toothy smile.

“Oh, hello little one,” Chris smiled at her and stepped aside. “Come to see the heart, have you?”

“Ehh, more like taking some time away from it,” she said and looked him up and down. “You’re tall.”

“Mm, will be for a little while, until my magic comes back in,” the human nodded. “Then I’ll be able to blend in again.”

“Why?” the filly blinked. “What’s wrong with being yourself?”

Chris shrugged. “I’ve felt less like being a human when all the other humans left. Once it became clear that the ponies were taking center stage, I decided to blend in and not raise awkward questions.”

“Well, that sounds like their problem,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “I mean, you are who you are. What you look like doesn’t change that. But I think you should at least be able to be yourself.” She looked up. “You there, Miss Pegasus mare?”

“Me?” Dash blinked. “Sup kid?”

“You love him right? I know you do. I can tell. Does him being human bother you?”

“No,” Rainbow said, more confused about the kid’s bluntness than anything else.

“See? Then what’s the problem?” the filly sighed. “Honestly, you get worked up over every little thing. You need to learn to relax once in awhile Daddy-O.”

Chris blinked a few times, looking from the filly to the Heart to the filly again. It...she couldn’t be. There was no way. She’d only said she was looking into it when he last checked in, she couldn’t…

“Hold that thought, gotta discharge all this positive energy,” she said. The filly vanished into light, fusing with the Heart as it begun to spin and then with a pulse of energy, washed over the city.

And had the nifty effect of ‘Crystalizing’ any non-crystal ponies.

A moment later, the filly reappeared and shook herself off. “Phew, and that was just from walking around town a bit. These Crystal ponies sure are happy today.”

That was all she got out before she was wrapped in the father of all hugs, Chris hugging her close and smiling. Luna hugs were bad.

His were, at this moment, worse.

“I’m...gonna...shatter…” the filly croaked out as she tapped his arm. “Haaaaalp!”

The human didn’t let up for a second, picking her up and holding her close to his chest as he spun around to introduce her to the mares. “Girls? This is the Heart’s avatar. She’d been looking into making one before, well, you know. Hearty? These are the Bearers.”

“I kaff know… urgh! Who they are,” the filly croaked as she got her breath back. She took a deep breath and then waved with her usual enthusiasm. “Hiya! I’m the Crystal Heart… well, in this form you can call me… hmm…” She paused and tilted her head. “I need a name. Eh, later. Sup ladies?”

They were too busy looking at their crystal forms to notice at the moment.

“You just had to go and distract them,” Chris chuckled as he used one hand to scratch the filly behind the ears.

“Unintended side-effect,” she shrugged as she looked at them. “I happened to be thinking about blending in when I discharged… might keep it though. They look cute like that.”

“And you look cute like this,” Chris said as he turned the filly over and began tickling her stomach as he cradled her close. “Attack of the tickle monster!”

She just gave him a deadpan stare. “No nerve endings. I’m not a real pony pops. Nice try though.”

“Eh, it’s my natural reaction to having a filly in my arms,” the human replied. “Either making them happy or playfully teasing them.”

“You’re silly,” she giggled and booped his nose with a hoof. “So, you knocked Sombry around then huh?”

“Mmhmm,” the human agreed. “No idea what happened afterwards. I sorta passed out when you did your thing after being put in place.”

“Ohh,” Heart nodded and smiled. “Well, You, Sombry and Sunbutt got smooshed between harmony magic and my own. It was a right royal clusterbuck of magical shennanigans. It’s a wonder that you all survived it.”

“Oh well, as long as we-” Chris trailed off as he raised an eyebrow. “‘All survived it?’”

Heart rolled her eyes and poked him again. “What are you again? Hint, you gave it to the Phoenix race.”

“Yes, but there were...implications there,” Chris said. “I know Cel and myself survived, but ‘all’ implies...things.”

“Well, Somby’s immortal too ya doof,” she giggled. “Unless you used your overgrown letter opener, you were never gonna actually kill ‘im after all.”

Chris slowly looked up, wondering how long it would take his sword to arrive in the Empire. Maybe he’d have it shipped.

“Apapap,” she poked him again. “I know that look. Sides, only you can pick it up remember?” She hopped out of his grasp and smiled. “You should see him. It might even be educational.”

“I…” Chris took a few deep breaths. “He took you from us. We couldn’t even remember you. He took the very memory of this place from our heads. Why...why should I give him a chance?”

“Because, he’s not so dissimilar from you,” she said and smiled. “And besides, you have to ask yourself a very simple question that’s going to change your mind. Because if you don’t ever find out, it’s gonna eat at you forever.” She smiled and looked at him. “He did all that you said he did. But… you never did find out why.”

“...Fine,” the human grumbled. “Where is he, then? I’ll...try to be civil.”

“Ask the new Princess,” she said as she looked at her filly form. She could have chosen an adult pony, but she didn’t want to undermine the fledgling Princess. “She’ll have your answer.”

“Apparently I’m on a bit of a quest today, girls,” Chris said as he mentally prepared for it. “Hopefully one that doesn’t end in bloodshed.”

“Huh?” Rainbow poked her sparkly head up. “What’s that mean?” she asked him, trotting closer. Goodness she was breathtaking like that. The way her coat literally glimmered in the light. Her mane slicked back in a windswept style, tied down with a golden headband.

“Apparently this is the era where none of my foes die,” the human replied as he began walking back into the castle.

Not even a word about her cute looks. She poked her tongue out at his turned back and headed back to her friends. He sounded like he needed to be alone on this one. Well, she had a plan for later that would surely get his attentions.

Chris liked the Crystal Palace. The Heart had done a good job of keeping this castle simple. Even he could find his way around here. It took him less than five minutes to reach the throne room and knock on the door. It opened at his touch and taking that as an invitation, he nudged it open further to slip inside.

Shining and Cadance were busy talking with a few Crystal ponies, Chris getting the tailend of the conversation.

“As much as I loathe it, we’ll need a military force,” Cadenza said. “The Heart kept Sombra at bay, but we need to be vigilant for the while. Is anypony up for at least temporarily volunteering?”

“I’ll ask around,” an older stallion said. “I think we should be able to at least get enough for a standing force.”

“I’ll run them through some basic drills and outfit them,” Shining nodded, wearing his old guard helmet and leg armour. “At the very least, I should be able to get them a rushed course in two weeks.”

“We might need help…” Cadenza said and rubbed her head. “Who knew running a newly emerged Empire would be so hectic?” she chuckled weakly.

“The founders, Celestia, heck even picking up after Discord wasn’t easy,” Chris said as he walked into the room. “Guess you’re the new ruler, eh Cadenza?”

“You think?” she snarked back on reflex as the Crystal ponies took their leave. She slumped to the ground, not comfortable with sitting on that throne yet. It wasn’t her place. “Hopefully we can organise a government soon. Apparently they used to have a Princess, the only Crystal Unicorn, but she vanished before Sombra took his rule.”

“Speaking of which, the Heart told me he’s still around,” Chris spoke up. “Mind directing me to him?”

Their expressions darkened, before Shining sighed. “The ‘Heart’ told you? Why am I not bloody surprised.”

“She apparently mastered the art of growing an avatar for her own use while I wasn’t looking and only broke it out now,” the human replied. “Cutest little filly I ever saw. Well...maybe that’d be unfair to Cel and Lulu.”

“And life just throws more curveballs at us,” Cadance sighed and hung her head. “I’m exhausted. And the day’s only getting started…”

“Just tell me where Sombra is and I’ll get out of your mane,” Chris promised.

“I’ll take you there,” Shining said. “Need to check up on him anyway.” The stallion motioned with a tilt of his head for Chris to follow. “So, what’s with the look anyway?”

“How would you feel if someone took away one of your daughters for a thousand years and you couldn’t even remember that she was gone?” Chris riposted as he followed the stallion out of the room.

“I was mentioning your appearance, but I guess that works too,” Shining said and looked at his wings. “To be perfectly honest. I’m not even going to try to understand you immortals. I’ll just take things as they come thanks.”

“Best attitude to have about it,” Chris agreed. “And in response to that question, well...I just sorta...burned out my magic healing your sister. Or more accurately acting as a bridge for the magic that would. Won’t come back for a bit. Means no shapeshifting until it does.”

“You… healed Twiley?” the stallion stopped and turned around.

“She’s still staying away from using magic until she can get her horn looked at by professionals, but I’m pretty sure the light of Harmony did it’s job,” Chris replied.

The stallion took his hand and shook it. “Thank you,” he said in a low tone. “I… should have been there. I should have protected my little sister… ever since Celestia sent her to Ponyville, I…”

“Hey,” Chris said, using his other hand to stroke the stallion’s mane in a soothing manner. “I get it, I do. You want to protect the ones that you love, that you’re close to. But you can’t always do that. You’re going to need to help Cadance now, get this Empire back up to what it used to be. You’re the alicorn of, what, defense, protection? This is a place that needs it, trust me.”

“Yeah, I’m still figuring out the whole ‘I have wings thing’,” he said and his cheeks suddenly lit up. “Ahem! Well, let’s uh… go see the prisoner huh?” No way was he going to mention that he lets Cadance preen him, and that it was the most amazing thing ever.

“Mmhmm,” Chris said as he put his hands in his pockets and followed the stallion to wherever they were keeping Sombra.

Deeper down, they reached a section that was clearly not in the original plans. Seems Sombra had built quite the dungeon in his days as King.

How fitting that he himself was now locked in here.

Shining led him further in, ignoring the various torture devices as he headed to a cell at the back.

Inside was a lone stallion. Bound around the ankles and neck by heavy-looking iron collars and chains, he simply… sat there. He looked up at the two visitors, but said nothing.

Chris stood there, staring at the much-reduced stallion for a moment before nodding once. He didn’t even turn to look at Shining as he said the next part. “Leave us. We have...much to talk about.”

"Uh... sure,” the stallion nodded as he backed away. Yeah, he wasn’t gonna stick around for this. He bolted as soon as he was out of sight.

Chris waited a moment before opening with a simple question. “How much do you remember?” he asked.

The stallion looked at him, but so far gave him the silent treatment. He just opted to sit in the shadowed corner of the cell.

“Being silent only serves yourself,” the human pointed out. “We need to know what you recall before we can work out anything else.”

“What’s the point,” he rasped, his voice cracking a little. It had lost all the power and confidence it once had. Merely the voice of a broken, beaten pony. “You’ll just stick your sword in me in the end. Why dance when my epitaph is already written.”

“I didn’t bring my sword,” Chris pointed out. “It’s a country and half the globe away. And depending on what you remember, you might have options. You were heavily into dark magic, after all. So was Nightmare Moon, also known as Luna before she fell. But she’s been redeemed, and even the Nightmare is getting a chance at another life.”

“What… gone soft in your old age?” he coughed. “I mean really. You’re not a pony. So you’re likely lying through your teeth.” The chains clinked, echoing in the empty dungeons. “I remember everything. There. Happy?”

“What do those memories make you feel,” Chris immediately followed up with.

“Feel?” he muttered. “I don’t feel anything Christopher. We Umbral ponies don’t have those.”

“That!” Chris seized on. “What was that? I’ve not heard that term before.”

“What, feelings?” the stallion snarked. “Sorry, fresh out of dictionaries down here.”

“No no no, Umbral. What is an Umbral pony? What makes you different from other ponies? And why are you here, of all places?”

“Oh that,” he said and coughed. “Sorry, don’t feel like telling you. You know, after you and your crazy daughter beat me within an inch of my life.”

“And you’re going to claim you had absolutely no blame in that?” Chris raised an eyebrow. “You made me forget the entire Empire. The Heart is my daughter, I planted her here thousands of years ago simply telling her to grow up mighty and strong. I’d say for that alone you earned the asskicking you got.”

“You killed for less,” the stallion pointed out. He moved from the shadows and Chris saw that he’d changed. No long did he had the dark taint of black magic flowing from his eyes. His black coat now more of an ashen grey as his mane was a mix of darker greys and blues. His curved, crimson horn now a a spiral unicorn’s one, but still retained the curve and his tail was long, ending in a tuffed tip. He honestly looked more like a classical unicorn from the stories Chris had in his books.

“I killed when there was a clear and present danger to the balance of the world as a whole,” Chris countered. “When those who drank from the fountain let their power get to their heads and abused their station as Aspects. Instead of helping to keep this world spinning, they decided to gorge on the pain and suffering of others. That was when I killed. And granted, you might have earned that, but for once, I’m playing the diplomat here. Be glad the actual Diplomat wasn’t here to witness this. She’s more into shooting first, asking questions later. Motherhood will do that to a person.”

“Huh… so the little human brat grew up hm?” he mused on that thought for a moment. “So, you truly have no idea do you? How very interesting.”

“Oh no, I still have questions,” Chris replied. “But you’ve already proven you’re not going to answer them. Apparently the idea of hiding some secrets from us is something you like more than, I don’t know, possibly a lighter sentence. You’d be surprised what an immortal can live through, after all. I should know. I have firsthand experience thanks to Discord.”

“Ohh scary,” Sombra chuckled. “But you and I know that whatever you came up with would pale compared to what I or that mismatched monstrosity would do.” He sat back and seemed to get a little life in him. “Maybe get that cute new Princess down here. I like her. She reminds me of the good old days.”

“Hmm,” Chris mused, before smirking. “You know, the worst thing I can do? Absolutely nothing. See, every citizen seemed to think that you might be just around the corner, ready to send them back into the mines. But you never exported any of the crystals you were digging up. That tells me one thing. You were looking for something. So how about I just leave things lie...make sure that Cadance never goes digging anywhere you did...make sure it, whatever it is, never gets found? I’m good at that.”

“Oh do go ahead,” he chuckled. “You’ll be doing my job for me and maybe they’ll finally shut up…” he blinked and sighed. Well shit, seems he’d gotten him to talk after all.

“Umbral ponies, but I only see one, and you were digging...which implies that…” Chris’s eyes widened and he fell to his knees. “Oh sweet god...did...no. I...I can’t have…”

“Ohh, I wonder what’s going through your head right now?” the stallion mused.

Chris clutched at his heart as he thought that line through. It...no. It couldn’t be true. He can’t have…

“Sombra,” he said slowly. “I’m going to ask you a question. For more than your own sake, I hope you answer it honestly. How long have the Umbral ponies lived under this icy north I chose to house the Crystal Heart?”

Sombra looked at him and smiled. “How long have you been on this world Christopher?”

“Over two thousand years,” the human replied.

“Then let me put it like this… you’re but a mewling foal. For example, sans the time sealed away, I’m almost ten times that age.”

Christopher took a deep breath and shook his head. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t know,” he replied. “I put the Heart here so there would always be a good place close, relatively, to Gelgeth and his charge. Someone needed to watch over the souls of the slain Aspects. They’re much too strong to trust that some idiot necromancer wouldn’t try calling them up. I...have done your people a great wrong.”

Then… to his great surprise, Sombra let out a heaving laugh, a few coughs finding their way in there.

“A disservice? Is that what you think? Oh if only you knew…”

“What?” Chris blinked a few times. “I thought...that was why you took over. Render the Heart impotent, find the rest of your kind and break them free.”

“Oh, not break them free,” the stallion mused. “They would cover this world in a darkness the likes you have never seen. The Umbrum are formless. They inhabit the bodies of others and incite feelings of rage, anger and unparalleled fury.” He leaned closer to the bars and smiled. “None would survive. Your precious magic doesn’t work against them. The races of Equus would destroy themselves in an orgy of violence and blood.”

“Then why were you digging for them? Why did you want to find them so badly?” Chris asked.

“Because they would NOT stop!” he hissed. “I am Umbra! They gave me a physical form, the the Heart rejected me, threatened to destroy my body. So…” he smiled wider. “I shattered their precious Princess and sealed the Heart away. You ponies never expected me for who I really was after all.”

“Do you hear them even now?” Chris asked, starting to get an idea of what they would have to do.

“Thankfully no,” he said, calming down slightly from the fervor he’d worked up to. “Perhaps because of these magical bindings I’m in. Or perhaps they know of my defeat and are already plotting anew. Patience is something of a virtue of theirs. And immortality is not out of reach. All it would take is another Umbrum drawing from the fountain…”

“Wait, wait, wait...there’s a fountain on your side?” Christopher asked. “Oh boy. So not only is the legion of shadow going to keep trying to break free, but they’ll never actually die?”

“Gods you never shut up, do you?” he sighed. “Either bring me some water and food, or figure the rest out on your own.”

“Well excuse me if I start worrying about what you’ve told me is only the first escapee from your home!” Chris snapped. “Okay, so pretty much mining anywhere you were has to be suspended. Hell, mining in general should be stopped until we know where they are, then we just avoid ever digging around them. We need to figure out how to seal them away even stronger than before…”

“If only you knew somepony that knew them and their world,” he chuckled in that rasping tone.

“Oh no, I have a plan in mind for you,” Chris said with a grin. A very wide grin.

Sombra shuddered and stared at him. “I feel as though I should be concerned.”

“You’re learning!” the human didn’t drop his smile for a moment. “Just keep in mind, you earned this.”

“Oh wonderful,” the stallion sighed…

“...And so that’s why I want to take him back to Equestria,” Chris explained to Cadance and Shining Armor. “He could be of great use to you, but he needs to undergo some...public trial first. And what greater trial than the friendship cannon? My hope is it’ll take the body the Umbrum gave him and turn him into an actual pony, one they can’t keep in contact with. Then he’ll be able to help you figure out where the Umbrum are, where not to dig to release them, and how to properly seal them away. Plus if another breaks through, he’ll recognize them first and be suited to combat them.”

“You cannot be serious,” Shining said with an exasperated sigh. “First is that he somehow survives the Heart powering up. Now you want to try and make him a pet project like the Nightmare?”

“Assuming he survives everything, then yes, even he will be redeemable,” Chris replied. “He said Umbrum don’t feel. They’re the violent spirits that everyone thinks the Windigoes are. Speaking of, remind me to introduce you to your neighbors. But back on topic. If he gets a normal, pony body, he’ll be feeling things he’s unfamiliar with. That means he’ll need someone to help him understand everything he’s been missing out on. Cadance would be perfect for that.”

“Forgive me if I’m feeling a little biased against him right now,” the alicorn mare said. “Grandfather, you’re asking a lot right now. And if the Crystal Ponies found out he still lives, they’d be calling for his head on a platter.”

“You could try,” Christopher said. “They have a fountain on their side. He’s just as immortal as you or me. Meaning that if we don’t do this, we could have a very patient legion of shadows just waiting for a chink in our armor to appear.”

Shining and Cadance visibly paled at that one. The idea of an army of Sombra’s seemed to scare them quite thoroughly.

“Yeaaaah...so, all in favor for trying to turn Sombra to our side?” Chris asked.

Cadance and Shining simply shared a look at one another. Seems they weren’t overly convinced this was a good idea.

“Okay, I get it, I do,” Chris sighed. “But if we don’t, then you won’t be able to dig anywhere for fear of uncovering their home and letting them loose. And I’ve been told that if they do get loose...it’s an extinction level event waiting to happen.”

“And how do we know he’s telling the truth,” Shining stomped a hoof. “He’s harmless where he is right now. And you’d be taking him right back to Equestria, to Ponyville!” He narrowed his eyes and glared at the human. “I will not let him within a thousand miles of Twiley again!”

“Then you have very few options,” Chris calmly replied. “You can keep him here and hope he decides to work with you. Though, considering how we’re treating him, I’d doubt it. Or you can have the Elements of Harmony shipped up here on the next train so that we can hit him with them and see if it works. But if you absolutely refuse to do anything that might help us crack his shell, then I suppose when we’re all raving hate-beasts, we’ll know who to thank.”

“Now now you two,” Cadance held up her wings. “I think that’s enough male posturing for one afternoon. As for what should be done, I’m sure you must understand our position Grandfather. We’re dealing with an entire city that has been gone a thousand years. Many of the ponies here are scarred by what has happened. Some, may never recover. And the cause of that is in our basement. I understand the desire for a second chance… but can he truly change? Can you give me your word that this will not come back to bite us in the flank?”

“It’s not just about Sombra!” Chris threw up his arms. “It’s about his entire race sitting under the ice and waiting to burst free like an angry hornet’s nest! This is literally the only thing I can think to do to stop them! Take him, give him a proper body with proper emotions, and make him work off his debt to the world by working for you to keep us all safe!”

“And how?” Shining asked. “How are you planning to stop a whole species from doing these things?”

“I don’t know,” Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He’s the only one with enough knowledge about where they might be and how to stop them. But he’s not talking because, surprise surprise, he doesn’t feel like he needs to. We’re sitting on a ticking bomb here. And we don’t know how to turn it off. The only one with enough knowledge is one of our worst foes. We need to turn him from that body the Umbrum made for him into a proper pony, so he’ll feel things like sorrow, joy, actual emotions. Otherwise, we’ll make no headway.”

“And we know for sure the Elements would do that?” Cadance pointed out. “They’d banished a pony to the moon, sealed a creature in stone, twice. And separated two entities. They’re not exactly a… reliable source here.”

“They also healed Twilight, and created an entire body for the Nightmare to have as her own,” Chris countered. “I think turning Sombra into a pony isn’t outside of their capabilities.”

“I think it’s a doable,” a new voice said, as the three turned to see Celestia step into the room. Her mane and tail were still limp and unmagicked, but she was up and walking. She also appeared to have the same ‘crystallization’ effect that the others were under. “I’m actually rather vested to see if this can be done.”

“Daughter mine,” Chris walked over and knelt down to hug her. What? She still needed all the love and attention she could get right now.

“Hello,” she nodded and returned the hug with a foreleg. “Do not worry Cadance, Shining, I will personally see to it that Sombra causes no harm. But father, while abrupt, is correct. The Empire has just returned to us and we must see to it’s safety.” She paused and looked at the stallion. “And you have my word that Twilight will have nothing to do with this. I’ll keep her out of it.”

Shining snorted, but didn’t raise his voice against her.

“In any case,” Chris said, standing up and letting his hand rest behind Cel’s ears, occasionally giving her a scratch or two. “Cadance, while we do that, you have something far more important to do. The Heart amplifies the positive emotions of the denizens...but they’re still suffering from Sombra’s reign. If you don’t find a way to help them cope...not even the Heart will be able to keep this place safe.”

“I’m already working on that,” she said, only slightly offended that he assumed she’d been sitting on her hooves the whole time. “I have to wait for some ponies to arrive from Canterlot. Professional counselors and the like. Alicorn I may be, but I’m only one mare.”

“Good,” the human sighed, relaxing a little bit.

Before freezing up and widening his eyes.

Unbeknownst to anyone else there, the effects of channeling the power of the Elements of Harmony had finally worn away an ancient seal…

...That Christopher had placed on himself.

“...Dan...iel?” he asked, before shuddering and holding his hands to his head.

The three alicorns paused and looked at the oddly behaving human. Celestia reached up, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Is, everything alright father?”

“I...I…” the human shuddered again. “I...remember. I...put a seal on my memory, to forget...my brother. I put a seal...on everyone’s memory…”

“Brother? This again?” Celestia frowned. “First Megan and now you. This is hardly the time to try a joke fath—”

“His name,” Chris took a deep breath. “Was Daniel. Codry. Gale. But...we know him by another name in this day and age. He...didn’t like that he had to compete for your affection. Didn’t like that he was just the weird uncle...and he drank enough from the fountain to get his own set of powers.”

“Father,” Celestia’s gaze turned stern. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve never known any ‘uncle’ by that name, nor anyone else for that matter. Perhaps you’re stressed from what’s happened. Come, we’ll get you to bed and you can sleep for a while.” She held out a hoof to him…

Chris took it and drew her in, his robe flashing as he reached for the Runes, pushing his overtaxed magic to do one last thing. “Hold still,” he urged her. “This will only take a moment, as I know what to look for.”

“Father! You aren’t supposed to use magic, especially something as taxing as Runes,” the mare exclaimed, trying to push him away.

Chris just grunted, holding up his hand as he reached...pulled his understanding of the runes to the forefront...and found the seal in Celestia’s head that he’d put there.

With a twist of magic, the seal was broken, leaving the human to pant as he let the magic sputter and die afterwards. As he collapsed, Celestia gasped as her memory started to return, the alicorn froze, stunned into a stilled silence as pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

“Told you,” Chris managed to get out. “But...there’s a reason...we forgot.”

“Are you two okay?” Cadance hurried over to the pair. “What on Equus is going on with you two?”

Celestia shuddered as she closed her eyes. No, she couldn’t afford to get too emotional now, in case she came back out.

“A...very old seal on my memory just broke,” Chris replied. “One I put there myself, and on everyone that was around at the time, to make them forget one person’s identity. Nowadays, we just remember the beast. We’ve forgotten that he used to be human.” The human in the room growled a little. “With good reason,” he muttered.

“I… I…” Celestia took a step back, then bolted from the room as fast as her legs could carry her, her hooves clacking loudly on the crystal flooring.

Chris just sagged as he let the memories wash over him. Of how his brother had twisted his power and himself into something bestial, in a jealous rage…

Of how his daughters had to fight him…

Of how the pain had been too much to himself, to everyone...so he came up with a solution...and sealed the memories away.

Cadance and Shining shared a look. Today was going to be another one of those days wasn’t it?

“So… back again?” Sombra mused as he stared at the stallion on the other side of the bars. “Tell me King of Aspects. Have you come to slay me yet?”

“You’re not the worst, you know,” Chris said flatly as he sat against the wall. “We just couldn’t remember the worst one. All sorts of memory seals are coming undone today.”

“Is that so?” Sombra said, his chains clinking softly. “So why are you here then Christopher?”

“To ask a simple question,” the human replied. “If you could be free of the Umbrum. If you could walk among the ponies without them fearing or hating you. If you could choose to live a normal life...would you?”

“And what would the purpose of that be?” the stallion asked. “Why ask such a strange, hypothetical question.”

“It’s less hypothetical than you think,” the human countered. “There is a means available to us. I’m here to ask if you want it to be offered to you, or if you would rather live a cold, empty, unfulfilling life for the rest of your days.”

“So, live as I have been this whole time, or convert to your ways?” he said calmly. “That sounds more like an ultimatum Christopher.”

“You yourself said the Umbrum don’t have feelings,” the human pointed out. “How would they know to give you anything they lack? You’d constantly be trying to fill a glass with a hole in the bottom. There’s an entire world out beyond this empire. You could explore it and find meaning to your life, but not as you are.”

“Why do you care?” the stallion said. “You tried to kill me out in that snowfield, as did that nightmare spawn daughter of yours. What possible reason do you have to go to such lengths.”

“Because if I didn’t at least try to offer mercy, a better path of life...then I am not worthy of the sword I wield,” the human stated. “I offered it to everyone I ever fought. I gave them a choice. Surrender, or die for threatening the balance of the world. This is your choice. You can choose to live as you have, for about two days until I get back home and get my sword, and you’ll never know what you were missing. Or you can choose the path so very few have...and actually survive meeting me.”

“Is that so?” he said and sat down. “And getting information out of me isn’t your sole reason for doing this I take it?” He almost smiled when he saw his expression. “Yes, I am fully aware of your plans. This castle was mine once upon a time and I hear all within it’s walls.”

“Part of it is hoping that when you get a body, a proper body, of your own, you’ll choose to help rather than be a bystander, I’ll admit,” Chris begrudgingly said. “But another part is genuinely altruistic. If the Umbrum could feel the way we do, I’d like to imagine they’d choose not to be what you’ve said they are. You’re the test case. Plus, if you’re as immortal as myself...well, I could think of worse candidates for the Aspect of Shadows. Like the one that’s sitting in Tartarus right now.”

Sombra stared at him. “My body has already changed thanks to what you did. It is no doubt why your daughter is no longer that murderous version of herself.” He stared at the human for what seemed like an eternity. “Very well, let us see what you think you can do.”

“Oh no, not me,” the human shook his head. “I’ve already tapped out my magic for a bit, tapping into Harmony twice in two days. It’ll take time to come back. But we can take you to the Elements themselves and see if getting hit from the source will change you any more, give you the emotions you lack.”

“Or maybe they’ll just finish the job you started,” Sombra shrugged, still eerily unfazed by any of this. “Well, dead if I do, dead if I don’t. Seems I have nothing to lose from this venture.”

“Actually, Harmony has one crippling weakness when used against evil,” the human illuminated. “It can banish. Redeem. Change. Imprison. Petrify. So many other things to deal with evil. But it can never kill. That has been, and always will be, my job.”

“We shall see,” he replied. “After all, I attacked one of them remember? The purple one. Let us see if she is so willing as you are to help.”

“Yes. I do remember that. I also remember healing her injuries, which is why I can’t use any magic right now,” the human replied. “So really, do keep on poking those wounds. That is precisely how you don’t win support in starting a new life.”

“I am merely stating a fact, that this will likely not succeed,” Sombra replied with an indifferent tone. “Still, I suppose we shall try.”

“It won’t kill you,” the human rolled his eyes. “Though if it had a sense of humor, it’d render you speechless. Or an Earth Pony for maximum irony.”

“Could be worse, they could make me human,” the unicorn replied in his bland tone.

Wait, did… did he just make a joke?

“I wouldn’t know about that, all the humans that were here are gone. Or bred themselves out of existence. So I wouldn’t be able to tell you how humans have it in this world,” Chris narrowed his eyes. “And that is also something of a sore point with me.”

“You say I could do with feeling more, you could do with feeling less it seems,” the stallion pointed out. “I am beginning to wonder what isn’t a sore point with you.”

“I keep discovering new ones,” Chris admitted. “Especially when a seal I put on myself to forget the fact that I even had a brother, much less how he turned into the bestial Lord of Chaos itself, wears off thanks to channeling Harmony twice in two days to clean up after your act.”

The stallion sat there, before his eyes widened slightly. “Hmm, oh. That does not bode well for your world in the slightest.”

“Oh, he’s stoned. And I’ll be taking the seals I put on my family off when I meet them next,” the human idly waved the concern off. “But you can see how I might just be a bit touchy.”

“Not that,” Sombra said, almost sounding annoyed. “The Umbra tried to reach out to me just now. It… appears that they know I have failed, and have no chance to recover and try again. It seems they have given up on me.”

“Well isn’t that just what you always wanted?” the human snarked to the pony.

“Well yes, but, that also means they will attempt something else,” Sombra said. “And given what they witnessed during that fight. It may be something quite foolish.” He looked up and nodded. “I have changed my mind. I will show you the entrance of the Shadow Realm. The land of the Umbra.”

“I’m still going to do what I can to give you a proper body, but it’s not up to me,” the human replied. “So that you can realize just what them using you meant to this world, to the beings of it.”

“Do as you wish,” the stallion shrugged. Seems Chris wasn’t going to get much more out of him at the moment.

“And it wouldn’t hurt you to try looking at this like it’s a second chance, you know,” Chris eased himself upwards. “The elements have a will of their own. It’s influenced by its bearers...but it’s also influenced by you.”

The stallion simply remained silent. Dealing with him was almost the polar opposite of Nightmare. Where the little alicorn was loud and boisterous. He was quiet and almost brooding. It was like night and day between them.

“See you back in Canterlot,” the human replied, sighing as he left him be. Maybe once he’d started feeling he’d be more amicable.

Celestia lay on her bed, her mane flickering with sparks of fiery orange as she went over the memories that played on an endless loop in her head.

*~*

“Father!” a much younger Celestia stomped a hoof in defiance. “This is stupid! You can’t… sing a song and perform magic like that. You have to be cheating somehow and making fun of me!”

“Celly, I’m not cheating,” Chris replied as he watched his Sorcery for cleaning the castle work. “Now, what your uncle does, that’s cheating.”

“Aw, come on, you know you’re just jealous of what I can do,” a black-haired, brown-eyed human said, snapping his fingers and creating a donut out of thin air for himself to munch on. “I mean, you had a good run with the Flashstone for about, what...ten minutes? Then you gave in to the power of your fillies.”

“And you make even less sense Uncle Daniel,” Celestia frowned as she looked at the second human male. “Mother is still furious as to who turned all her roses into snapdragons the other day.”

“Guess she’s not happy that they actually snapped at her, huh?” Daniel chuckled, before snapping his fingers again. “Just a harmless prank. They’re back to roses now...though I don’t know if I got the color right.”

“See, Sorcery is an art you can learn,” Chris explained to Celestia. “You can do mighty things with it. I promise you, one day, you’ll be able to move mountains with a rhyme. Whereas what your uncle does, is pure cheating. Don’t be like him.”

“Aw come on, live a little!” Daniel snapped his fingers again, creating a party hat on Chris’s head. “Don’t be such a party pooper! Why not come to old uncle Daniel if she needs something done?”

“Because then she’ll never learn how to stand on her own four legs,” Chris snipped as he took the party hat off, which dissolved into confetti.

“She is standing right here you know?” Celestia said with an unamused tone. “Fine uncle. Why don’t you fix my spell books that stupid Loona ruined with her crayons then?”

“Hey, anything for my nieces,” Daniel replied, snapping his fingers. Ribbons of color streamed through the house and gathered around him. He idly reshaped them into the outline of a car, which drove out of the castle. “There you go, spellbooks fixed.”

“I was going to teach her a cleaning cantrip for that!” Chris fumed.

“Eh, my way was more fun,” Daniel waved it off.

“It was much faster,” Celestia pointed out. “Thank you uncle.”

“No problem, squirt. Now go show your old man how quick a learner you are. Then maybe he’ll let you study with me.”

“When the valley ices over,” Chris deadpanned.

“It’s much too warm for that to happen,” Celestia said with a small nod. In hindsight, that was a terrible way to taunt Murphy like that…

Memories swirled in the elder Celestia’s head...this time focusing on a time her uncle and father had argued…

“You weren’t there for her, for us!” Daniel yelled, standing in front of a small wooden cross inside the castle’s grounds.

“I got back as quick as I could, where were you?” Chris yelled back.

“I was investigating something the Seaponies brought to my attention! Look, this whole argument could be solved with a simple snap—”

“Don’t you dare!” Chris warned him. “If you dare to bring back Written from the dead, that makes you as bad as Grogar!”

“Don’t you think she’d want to be with her kids?” Daniel asked. “With you? With us?”

“It’s against the natural order and you know it! If you abuse your powers like that, I’ll have no choice, brother!”

The other human held his fingers together, breathing deeply...before slowly lowering his hand. “You’re right. Why are you always right?”

“Because I’m the damn sensible one,” Chris retorted. “Let the dead have their peace. We’ll just have to move on without her.”

“But I don’t want to,” Daniel muttered softly. Curse pony ears for being better for hearing…

“Y-You… can, bring Mommy back?” Luna, still a wee little one asked, the pair of alicorn foals inching closer to the arguing humans. Her ears were folded back and her eyes, puffy from crying, were wide and hopeful. “She doesn’t have to stay sleeping?”

“No, he can’t,” Chris stepped in. “Nobody can truly bring your mother back, Lulu. I’m sorry. He can do a lot...but he can’t go against nature. If he does, then I’ll have to go against him.”

“Yeah...I’m sorry kiddo,” Daniel said, eyes downcast. “Your mother doesn’t deserve to have that happen to her. We don’t even know if it’d really be her if I tried.”

“But… but you just said you could,” Luna said and stomped her little hoof. “I want my Mommy!”

“I could try, kid,” Daniel said, holding his hand up for emphasis. “But the problem is...anything I do, I can’t really undo. And what if it doesn’t work? What if we get a ravening, flesh-eating zombie with no bit of your mother in there? What if she doesn’t recognize you? That’s not your mother, then. Do you really want that?”

“You… you said…” Luna sniffled as Celestia reached out with a hoof, but Luna smacked it away. “I hate all of you!” the tiny alicorn yelled and ran towards the house.

“It’s not fair to them,” Daniel pointed out. “Can’t I at least make the attempt?”

“Do you think I like this any more than you do? You didn’t have to see the state that manticore had reduced her to! You didn’t have to spend ten minutes trying to identify her!”

“...I’m still going to look into trying it, making it a sure thing, you know,” Daniel countered.

“Is having me at your throat worth it?” Chris asked.

...And Daniel never answered that question. Celestia whimpered, why… why of all things did she have to remember that day with, with such clarity?

And the next memory that was playing in her loop…

Celestia stood there, her heart hammering in her chest, her saddlebags feeling like lead on her flanks. Luna stood next to her, an expression of grim determination on her face. Celestia looked up at the monster they were sent to face. A creature unlike any other.

He sat upon a tall backed throne, eating some kind of black seeds as he looked down at the two, barely out of fillyhood females.

“It’s over… Discord,” Celestia snapped with a clear voice. “Release our father at once!”

“Celly, Lulu, I knew you two would come to find me eventually!” The creature tossed his bag of seeds and slithered through the air to stand before them. “Look! Nothing will harm a pony again! Granted, they might have some amusing accidents...a little chaos happening here and there, but I took all of the dangerous creatures and put them behind an electric fence! I tamed the world for us all! You, Lulu, and me makes three! Let’s enjoy Chaosville together, let’s be a family again!”

“You destroyed our ‘family’ when you stole our father and became that monster!” Luna snapped at him, her eyes blazing with barely contained anger. “You… you’re not our family anymore. Just… another monster that needs to be put down!”

“Oh, my dear brother has been filling your head with so many tales, hasn’t he?” Discord hummed as he put a paw to his chin. “Now where is he, anyways? I am always losing my playthings…”

Then his tail snapped, and Christopher appeared, encased in a bubble of pure chaos magic.

“Father!” both mare’s cried out when they saw the state he was in. Celestia actually looked more pissed than Luna now.

The human coughed a few times, opening his eyes and looking down at the fillies. “R-run…” he croaked out.

“Oh yes, do be daddy’s little girls and run when he tells you to,” the chimera purred. “All of this happened just because I did something against the natural order. Something your father told me not to do. But I am ever so close to perfecting it, girls. Just give me another year, two tops. Then we’ll all be a family again. I promise you, I’ll give you back everything you lost. And all you have to do is turn and walk away. I’ll come find you when it’s time.”

“W-What do you mean…?” Celestia said and put a hoof to her mouth. “No… you, you couldn’t possibly mean—?”

“Oh, my first few tries I only raised a mindless husk, but I’m getting closer girls, I can feel it! Just a few more attempts at raising the dead and I’ll find the land of the spirits. I’ll call your mother back and heal her body. She’ll have proper immortality too, when I give her a sip from my canteen! It’ll be like that day never happened!”

“You…” Luna’s visage warped into one of fury. “Mother is dead you fucking fool! Nothing can change that! Not that painted copy, nor the false one you’d try to raise!” She stomped her hoof, cracking the ground.

“We’ll give you one chance,” Celestia said, mimicking her father’s words when he was up against a rogue Aspect. “Release father and work with us again. Be our uncle again. Or… or we’ll have to stop you.”

Discord actually laughed, which caused a thunderstorm in the background. “Stop me? But I’ve finally embraced my role!” he proclaimed as he swept a paw across the world. “You said it yourself! I am DISCORD! The lord of all chaos! What could possibly stop me?”

Luna and Celestia shared a look as their horns glowed and the saddlebags opened, revealing gix, different-coloured gems. One being a six-pointed purple star.

“You had your chance Discord,” Celestia said. “You made this bed, time for you to lie in it… forever.”

The gems started to glow brightly as the distorted space around them returned to normal as the light touched it. Even from a distance, Discord could feel the pure Harmony magic welling up. It was like staring the long lost Rainbow of Light in the face…

“...Well that’s a bother,” Discord mused as he tried snapping his claws...and again...and again, his panic growing each time. “Why can’t I touch you?!”

“Because these are the Elements of Harmony. Loyalty. Generosity. Kindness. Laughter. Honesty… and Magic!” Celestia shouted. “Things you don’t, or won’t understand. You’ve let your heart become tainted by evil. And so we will stop you here and now.Your reign of chaos and terror is over!”

The light grew brighter as the sister’s eyes lit up with a white light, the spiralling rainbow soaring up and descending towards Discord.

“This changes nothing!” he had time to yell. “I will win one day!”

“Not as long as we’re here,” Celestia uttered as the magic encased Discord in stone, a great pulse of harmony erupting out and purifying the area he’d corrupted.

And most importantly, shattering the shield around their father…

Christopher fell to the earth, his body wracked with pain. But not physical pain, no. The magic had healed that.

But the mental scars...would last a lifetime.

Christopher had been heading up to see what arrangements were being made to get back to Equestria when a few panicked nurses ran past him. Well, that didn’t bode well.

He followed them, that sense of dread increasing when he realised they were heading straight for Celestia’s room…

“Gangway,” he said, following after them. “Worried dad coming through.”

He got to the room to see a few more ponies outside. Wondering what was up, he reached for the door handle and…

Tttsssssssssss!

“MOTHERF—” he released the searingly hot handle and suckled the burn. That was gonna leave a painful mark until he could heal it. But the handle and part of the door was glowing red…

“Not good,” he muttered as he looked at the door. “Definitely not good. And me without my magic to calm her down.” The human picked a still-cool part of the door to lean against and tried calling through it. “Celly? Celly, please. You’re worrying ponies again.”

“Leave me be!” came a resounding voice, one laced with power. Oh dear no… was she slipping again? Was that thing going to come out? In the middle of the palace!?

“That’s not what a father does, and if I could open your door, I’d prove it,” Chris called back. “You need to calm down, Cel. You need to control your emotions.”

There was a moment’s pause, and Chris’s eyes widened as he yelled for everypony to get back as the door melted, the alicorn stepped through. Her mane and tail were a blazing inferno, and one of her eyes was a slitted orange… both had streaks of tears that hissed and evaporated when they touched her cheeks.

“Why should I?” she snarled, though her voice did lower a little. “Why should I have to control my emotions? Why should I always put on a brave face when I’m hurting just as much, if not more than anypony else!”

“Because ponies look up to you,” Chris said calmly. “Ponies adore you. Ponies love you. They still need you, Cel. You have to put the hurt away until you can properly express it, where they can’t see. Do you think I’m not hurting too? My memory unsealed first. But I know you need your father, not the broken man I would be if I let it affect me right now.”

“Oh, because you’re so damned perfect right?” she snapped. “Do you have ANY idea what Luna and I have been through!? Yes I’m sure he showed you terrible things. And Luna, she still may believe that Discord has the power to bring her back. You three… you were so sad when Mother died. But me? I wasn’t allowed to be sad. I had to care for Luna. I had to make sure you and Daniel did nothing stupid. Failed on both counts there.” She picked him up, her heated magic holding him against the wall. “I miss her more than anyone! And yet! I’m NEVER allowed to SHOW IT!” The scowl across her face distorted. “First mother… then I had to seal my uncle. Then banish my little sister, and to top it off, you ran away! So go on Father. Tell me. How many more family members am I allowed to lose by my own hoof before I can get upset about it!?”

Then Chris did something she wasn’t expecting. The runes on his robe glowed, and her magic faltered, letting him free. But what came next caught her off guard.

Even in her transformed state, when she was radiating heat and magic and almost certain death…

Even in his depowered state...when he likely could be seriously injured just from getting too close to her…

He walked forward and hugged her. “I know,” he whispered in her ear as he stroked her back. “He may have been your uncle, but he was my brother. She may have been your mother, but she was my first friend in this world. She may have been your sister, but she was my precious Lulu. They all hurt me in the most horrible of ways when they left. Don’t do what I did to cope with it, Cel. Don’t follow me down my road.”

“Why not?” she murmured. While her magic was hot, it wasn’t burning him. She… was holding back? “You got to run away. You got to mourn the losses and deal with it in your own way. Me? I went from losing my entire family, to castrating a nation because they went to war. For a thousand years, it’s been a never ending cycle of out of the pan, into the fire. And the whole time, I’ve needed to keep that brave face, that serene smile…” She shuddered from deep within her core. “I’m not… invincible. I’m not the Goddess they think I am. I… I can’t do this anymore…”

“Cel,” Chris pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “Following my path...I didn’t just mourn. After I killed Grogar, I thought that was it. I thought I wasn’t needed anymore. So I went to the birthplace of the phoenixes, assumed my phoenix form, pumped all the age and magic into it, and willed myself to die. I’m only here because the sword and I are still bound together. If it wasn’t for my family, if it wasn’t for you, I likely wouldn’t have come back. Ever. You’re the reason I’m still here, Cel.”

“Liar,” she murmured. “You only came back because you saw Luna’s seal was gone.” She’d lost a lot of her steam now, slumping wearily to the floor as she showed all one thousand plus years of her age.

“It was your magic I tracked once I saw the sun coming up again,” Chris replied, softly stroking her mane. “I knew that you’d succeeded where I would have failed. I thought it was time to find my family again...if they would still call me that.”

“I’m still thinking about that,” she half-chuckled. “Stupid, stubborn old warhorse.”

“Silly, distracted little daydreamer,” Chris teased back.

“Daydream… that’d be a nice name for a foal if I ever had one,” Celestia smiled as she closed her eyes. “Seems I’ve scared the Crystal Ponies again too. I should leave before I ruin the Empire…”

“The Empire is hardier than that,” Chris replied as he sat next to Cel, just idly petting her. “...How do you think Luna and Nighty will take the unsealing of their memories?”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Oh… oh dear.”

Bon Bon stared flatly at the blue alicorn, wielding a sledgehammer. “I don’t care what happened. I don’t think your father would appreciate you smashing chaos gods with hammers.”

“Let Us see him try and stop Us,” Luna growled as she swung the hammer, Nightie cheering her on from her spot on Luna’s back. “I shall destroy that fool once and for all! Family or no, he has crossed a line!”

Bon Bon stomped a hoof. “Luna… don’t you make me do this young miss.”

“Psh! A little mare thinks she can stand up to—”

“Luna Selene!” Bon Bon bellowed, making the paintings on the walls rattle and setting the ponies within to scamper away. “Go to your room!”

Luna blinked and stared hard at the mare. “What?”

“I said. Go. To. Your. Room!” the mare stomped closer and Luna found herself taking a step back. W-Why was she being intimidated by an Earth pony a hundredth her age and power?

“Make me,” the alicorn challenged and Nightmare facehooved.

…

Luna pouted from the room she used when staying with Aspect, rubbing the ear that Bon Bon had nearly tugged off when she hauled her up here. “Tis not fair… we did nothing wrong.”

“You picked a fight with Momma Bear,” Nightmare shrugged. “Sorry Loonie. You brought this on yourself.”

“You could have helped,” Luna scowled.

“I could have, but then by not helping, I only lost dessert for a day. You have to go without brownies for a month.”

Luna’s ears wilted and she made a sound not unlike a sad puppy. Her precious brownies…

“Perhaps, it will be fine,” Celestia blinked and shrugged.

“I bloody hope so,” Chris muttered. “I think all the seals were tied to ours. The only one that might be intact is the one on Discord.”

“I uh… I suppose I should tell you,” She said, putting her wings around him as her horn shone, starting to heal the burns he’d gotten. “I… might have gotten an idea to reform Discord.”

Chris blinked a few times before sighing and sagging. “Of course you would try. Cel, he was only ever nice to you and Luna because you were something he wanted. Everything in his life was motivated by trying to make mine less than his. He was never a decent brother. Even before he got magical powers to make his wishes come true, he was a downright horrible human being. He lied, cheated, bargained, negotiated, and outright swindled me for anything I had that he didn’t, then feigned ignorance when I called him on it. It’s not going to go well.”

“I have a solid plan of attack for this one. A pony that can get him on track and that he can’t corrupt…”

The human snorted derisively. “Cel, he can outright make his wishes reality. He can warp the very fabric of space and time. What can possibly stand up to that to make him want to behave?”

“Fluttershy.”

Chris raised a hand to counter that...but slowly lowered it. “Kill him with kindness?” he asked.

“It’s an apt saying,” Celestia mused. “Let’s face it, it’s not something he’s been shown in a long while. Plus, I read Twilight’s letter about her… what, scolding a full grown dragon into submission?”

“She was quite good at it,” the human sighed as he finally relaxed. “Fine. It’s a plan. It’s no less crazy than my plan to hit Sombra with the Elements at their source to try and give him a body with proper emotions. One he actually agreed to, by the way.”

“...Father, I have some bad news,” Celestia said, suddenly looking very solemn as she hung her head.

“What?” Chris asked as he looked at her.

“I fear that our family is incurably insane,” she snorted and bust out into a series of melodious giggles.

“Amen to that,” the human slouched in relief, glad it wasn’t something worse. “Amen to that, little sunshine.”

“I… still need to sort out these feelings,” she sighed. “I’m a danger to becoming a Nightmare like Luna did. And… I won’t put you or anypony in that position again.”

“Cel,” Chris shifted himself so he was laying on her back, hugging her neck softly. “Even if both you and Luna went Nightmare on me? I’d walk into the crossfire with a cake in one hand and some brownies in the other to try and talk you back out of it. I’m your dad. It’s just what I do.”

“And thus, the apocalypse was stopped by cake,” Celestia chuckled. “No… recent events have proven that I have slipped greatly as far as my power goes. I should have been the one to help you escape the Wind Fiend. I should have been more help against Sombra… So, I’m going to take a small vacation of sorts and train myself. Somewhere secluded where I can think.”

“You know, you don’t have to go all the way to Zebrica to practice your meditation techniques,” Chris said, stroking her mane. “We’ve got a zebra in Ponyville, she’s a shaman, she could help. Plus it would mean you got to see your old man at the end of the day.”

“I want to train my magic, which means I need to pick… I don’t know, an island that nopony will miss,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’m not running away and I won’t be going alone. I plan to take a pony or two with me.”

“Good, because then someone might remind you to come back eventually,” Chris poked her sides where she was ticklish. She let out a small giggle as she poked him back.

“And you were worried about Lulu?” she chuckled. “I’d be more worried that you left Miss Bon Bon alone with Midnight.”

“Ah, but you see, that was strategy,” Chris said sagely. “If Midnight gets some pregnancy cravings for sweets, she won’t have to go far to get them.”

“Poor Bon Bon,” Celestia shook her head, her train of thought going to the fact that Bon Bon was the sole pony Midnight would take out her… frustrations on.

Bon Bon gulped as she stared at the bat pony, clad in tight lacy lingerie as the Earth Pony struggled against the cuffs that kept her bound.

“Silly mare, even you can’t break those,” Midnight smiled as she lifted the riding crop with a wing. “Now, be a good filly and I will only punish you a little bit mkay~?”

Bon Bon blushed and squeaked through her ball gag…

“Well, I’m sure they’re fine,” Celestia shrugged. She slowly got to her hooves and sighed. “So… now what dear father?”

“Now, we spend a day recovering, me my magic, you a bit more control over yourself thanks to all those memories, and then we catch the first train out of here,” the human groaned as he pushed himself up. “The Empire is a highly magical place. Even with channelling harmony like I did, twice, I should absorb enough to be back to semi-normal overnight. Or at the very least, be able to take my new base form again. The fixed magical core should kick in then, and I’ll shoot back up to being Aspect of Light in a week or so.”

“So… what’s up with that?” Celestia asked as they left to find Cadance and tell her Tia destroyed a room. “Aspect of Light now? Is this another one you’ll pass off onto someone else?” She smiled. “Because you know… Lulu used to have two Aspects…”

“Nope, sorry, this one’s mine,” Chris chuckled. “Sun and Moon are all very well and good, but they both share in being part of Light. Wherever there is light, be it from the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or just the faintest light of hope in a mortal’s heart...I can be there, helping, guiding. When I’m back to full strength anyways. I asked Yggdrasil once Sombra started his takeover how to combat the shadows...and he told me how to do it. Just fix my magical core with a massive infusion of light incarnate, force it into one shape. I remembered it once the Empire came back, and took it on once he started to attack.”

“So, you’re even more ridiculously overpowered now than before?” Celestia bumped him with her flank. “Trying to impress the mares are we?”

“Eh, it’s going to come with a downside once we get back home,” the human mused. “Lulu’s going to kill me for eating one of her stars.”

“You ate one of her stars?!” Celestia exclaimed. “Father! She thinks of those stars as her foals. Death will be a reprieve by the time she’s done with you.”

“I can make another one for her!” Chris whined as he tapped his chest. “Just...not right away. My magic will have to settle in first before I can give away something like that.”

“Well, so long as you are aware of the consequences you’ll face,” Celestia said. “Just… well you don’t need teeth or the ability to reproduce anymore right?”

“The empire is nice, I’ll ask Bon and Midnight if they want to move up here,” Chris muttered.

“Wow, way to include me in that,” a raspy voice said as Rainbow flew down from the ceiling.

“You have a life and a dream to chase back in Equestria, I wouldn’t take you from that in my quest to avoid my own daughter,” Chris said to Dash.

“Izzat so hm?” Rainbow shrugged. “Anyway, I’m gonna hang with you tonight. The girls are doing some sleepover frou frou crap and I am so not in the mood.”

“Fair warning, I basically have no magic right now,” Chris pointed out. “Just your standard human here.”

“Eh, so?” she looked up at him, blushed and looked away. “Fell in love with you, not what you look like… idiot.”

Chris leaned down to whisper something in her ear. “That also means no...control over my body with any shapeshifting,” he elaborated.

“Again, so?” she said and rolled her eyes. “So, is that how high you think my opinion is of you huh? They you need to look like a pony or a griffon to score with me?”

“Birth control, Dash,” Chris said bluntly. “I don’t have mine without my magic.”

“...Aaah,” Rainbow nodded and looked him over. “Can, you know… even do that with a pony in that form?”

“I’m still equipped, Dash,” the human pointed out. “It’s not like turning into a human robs you of your gender.” He then smirked at her. “As you well know. Remember?”

“Well duh,” Rainbow rolled her eyes again. “I mean, can you knock a pony up as a humie?”

“Hmm, I don’t believe even I know the answer to that one,” Celestia said and rubbed her chin.

“And you said you don’t want a foal, so…” Chris shrugged.

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow mused and then got an idea. “Meet me in my room later mkay~?” She flew up and kissed his cheek before flying off, chuckling to herself.

“That bodes well, I don’t think,” Chris said as he looked at Celestia. “You going to be okay?” he asked his daughter. “I’m not asking if you’re okay. I don’t think anybody would be after having...that, dumped on them. Hell I’m barely holding it together myself. But what I want to know is...do you think you can see the shore for the ocean you’re in?”

“I don’t know…” Celestia sighed. “You’re lucky there. At least you’ll have Rainbow to cuddle with tonight and help distract you…” She looked up and exhaled. “I think I’ll find another room and go to sleep for a while.”

Chris reached over and booped Celestia’s nose. “Bad Cel. Go find the room with Twilight in it and cuddle her if you have to. You shouldn’t be alone after that.”

“C-Cuddle with… Twilight,” she blushed somewhat… okay, a lot cutely. “I… I couldn’t…”

“You need emotional stability right now, and she’s been a pillar of your life for the past, what, twenty years?” Chris asked, gently pushing her. “You know...they could do with a sixth now that Dash is gone. I’m sure you’d enjoy spending a night with the mares your student likes.”

“Well. I…” Okay, so she’d never been to a slumber party before. “I’m sure they don’t want an old mare like me around…”

“You know Rarity would just take it as a challenge,” Chris replied. “Come on. Let’s go find that party and get you added to it. I’m sure they know all sorts of ways for you to relax.”

“...I’m not getting out of this unless I teleport away am I?” Celestia said. “And with you magickless, you can’t stop, nor chase me.”

“No, but you won’t, because you know it’s the best thing for you,” Chris said with a sage nod. “You know I’m right, that being alone right now is the worst thing for you. And that you want to be by Twilight’s side during this...emotional upheaval.”

“...I hate the fact that you’re right,” Celestia sighed. “Fine, but if this goes south, I reserve the right to smack you.”

“I’m sure it’ll hurt a lot,” Chris said as he headed towards the room he’d last seen Twilight in.

“Not as bad as what Luna will do~” she sang as she skipped ahead, giggling to herself.

Well, at least Cel was happy again. Chris followed after her to make sure she got the right room. They found the group, sequestered in a large room in the castle, and they all looked quite shocked to see Celestia and Christopher there.

“Oh wowie!” Pinkie cartwheeled over to them. “Are you gonna join our sparkly sleepover too?”

“It’s not for me, I’m afraid, but Celly here could do with a nice, relaxing time,” Chris said, nudging her forward with a foot.

“Awww,” Pinkie said, vowing to get him into a slumber party one day. “But yay, Princess Party!” she flipped around Chris and grabbed the alicorn by the barrel, eliciting a squeak from the large mare. “Okay, we’re gonna have a ton of fun!”

“Remember, she needs to relax and unwind,” Chris said as he backed out of the room. “She’s had a rough day.”

“Okie Doke Loki!” Pinkie cheered. “This calls for a patented Princess Pony Hug Pile!”

“Um… a what?” Celestia said with wide eyes before Pinkie dive bombed on her, dragging the others with her until Tia was buried under mares. “F-Father… halp!”

“Nope, I’d say this is just what you need, right doctor Pinkie?” Chris asked from the doorway.

“Leave it to me Doctor Chris!” she saluted as she nuzzled the mare. “Go huggle Dashie for us.”

“Will do,” the human replied, leaving the mares to their revelry.

When he walked into his room, he got a flash of vertigo as something hit him, shoving him onto the bed. When his swimming vision cleared, he found a smirking pegasus straddling his chest.

“Hello lover~” she hummed as she looked him over.

“Hello Dash,” Chris said as he looked down at her. “What are you planning?”

“Things,” she mused as she moved down his body. She looked at his pants and frowned. “Hmm, lil help here? Hooves ain’t made for this.”

Chris raised an eyebrow, before slowly undoing his button and unzipping the pants. “That illuminated nothing yet quite a lot at the same time,” he stated.

“Well, I have a solution to your little problem,” she hummed as she nosed his pants down a bit and opened her maw, her heated tongue already going to work and licking him from base to tip.

“And what - haaaa - would that be?” Chris asked as he began to feel her talented tonguework. Somepony had been getting lessons from Midnight.

“You’ll see~” she mused as she traced her tongue down, licking his balls and then taking one into her mouth, suckling wetly on it as she moaned.

“I’d rather - nnng - know,” the human grunted, keeping his attention on the prismatic mare.

“And I’d rather show you,” she said after releasing his nut and moving to work on the other one, her wing extending as she started to stroke his hardening shaft with it.

“Fuuuuuck,” Chris moaned as he panted under her ministrations. “T-This seems awfully well planned for something you had very little time to think about,” he pointed out.

“I’m pretty quick at what I do,” she said. “Plus I came prepared.” She lifted her head and opened her mouth, lapping at his member from base to tip, pausing there and suckling on it.

“Prepared with - nnnrgh - what?” Chris asked, trying to hold a coherent train of thought.

She pulled back and licked her lips. “Well, let’s get you nice and hard and I’ll show you~” she purred as she turned and pressed her hips to his, rubbing her moist slit up and down his cock, her heated snatch gripping him as her wetness started making lewd sounds.

“I’m...pretty hard already,” Chris pointed out, wondering what she could possibly be considering.

“Oh?” she pulled back and looked at him. “Well, okay then.” She moved to the side of the bed and bent over, her flank wiggling as she rummaged around for something. But before he could just leap and start pounding his pegasus mate, she sat up, holding a little foil square in her mouth.

“What’s that?” Chris asked.

She tore the packet open with her teeth, putting what looked like a little piece of a round, pink something in her mouth. She looked at his cock and drew a deep breath through her nose before lowering her head, deepthroating him to the hilt in a single motion.

“Fuuuuuuck,” the human moaned at how sexy that was. She moaned around his cock before pulling back, showing that not only had she perfected that particular art of taking his whole cock, but his member also sported a condom, the mare having applied it with her mouth.

“Oh…” Chris blinked. “Okay...and this will work?”

“Well, now you can fuck me and not get me preggers,” she mused. “Unless you don’t want to?” She hid her face behind her wing, smiling sensually. Yup, somepony had spent too much time learning from Midnight. “I might just go back to the party and—”

“Oh come here you beautiful mare,” the human growled, pulling her close and kissing her. One the mare happily reciprocated as she wrapped her warm wings around him, deepening the kiss, her broad tongue wrestling with his as she hummed pleasantly. Once the kiss broke, she nuzzled his cheek and smiled.

“I was worried you know,” she said softly. “Twilight had gotten hurt. You and the Princess were unconscious. It was me that hauled your butt back to the castle.” She thumped her head against his chest. “I was… scared okay? That we might… I might lose one of you…”

“It’s just a part of my nature to go on the frontlines against any threat,” the human replied. “I’m not about to put my ability to help to the side. If I can do something...I will. I’m just too invested in seeing the ponies prosper.”

“Idiot,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “Why did I have to fall for an idiot like you huh…?”

“Because I’m loyal to those that’ll have me?” Chris asked as he stroked Dash’s mane.

“Because you care about everypony… even if you are a smug, stubborn ass about it most of the time,” she replied and prodded his chest with a hoof. “Now, make love to me?” Her expression settling into a smouldering, half-lidded gaze.

“If you still want a moron like me, then who am I to deny you,” the human said as he pulled her into another kiss. The rest of the castle might be sleeping, but they wouldn’t be anytime soon.

Author's Note

We are going to hit the end of the chapters Aus and I prepared one day, I promise that.

Good news is, though, we're already working on a few things to replace this story!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on gaming one's heart out.

Chapter 62 - Shadows and Sounds

When Christopher woke up the next morning, he was thankful to see that he’d been right. The natural magic of the Empire had recharged his stores enough to where he’d shapeshifted in the night, to his new ‘default’ state. That of a unicorn. He sighed thankfully as he sort of just lay there. It’d be a while before his magical stores recharged and he could figure out what he could do with all the ‘Light’ stuff he had acquired, but at least he’d blend in now.

There was a some stirring next to him, as Rainbow let out a small groan. She opened one eye, the rose-hued orb staring at him for a moment.

“Huh… somepony woke up ‘horny’,” she said with a small smirk, immensely proud of her pun.

“...You know, I’d expect that from Realm,” he muttered as he pecked Dash on the cheek. “Morning love.”

“Too early for that much sap,” she snorted and chuckled. “So, we going home today? I can only imagine the weather work that’s been piling up on my desk.” Just thinking about that stack of paperwork made her visibly shudder.

“Probably, yeah,” Aspect nodded as he stretched a little. “We might have to make a stopover in Canterlot to bust out the Elements on Sombra’s flank, see if we can’t reshape him to a normal pony.”

“You sure that’s gonna work?” Rainbow said. “And you know, not turn him into a garden ornament like Dipcord?”

“The Elements have a will of their own that mirrors their Bearers,” the unicorn replied. “So long as you want to turn him into a normal pony, so will they, and they’ll do everything in their power to do that.”

“You know, you know an awful lot for a guy that’s never actually used them,” Rainbow said as she sat up and stretched her wings until they gave a small crack, the pegasus letting out a pleased coo. “Right, so breakfast… and then home with a tyrant on a train I guess.”

“That’s the plan,” Aspect agreed as he finally stood up and stretched properly himself. “Let’s see about service in this place, huh?”

“Hmm, what kind of service~?” Dash purred rolling over until she pinned him on the bed, her tail flicking back and forth.

“Ack!” Aspect cried as she pinned him. “Goodness sakes mare, was last night not enough for you?”

“Hmhmhm, maybe I just like the panicked look on your face~” she giggled and beeped his nose with a hoof. “But I am starving! So let’s grab some grub before Pinkie Pie eats it all.”

“Whew,” Aspect sighed as he squirmed out from under her. “Fair point. Find the dining room and get food in us.”

“I’ll save that for the train ride home~” Rainbow said in an alluring tone, dragging her tail under his chin as she walked from the room, that cyan flank swaying back and forth with each step.

Aspect couldn’t help but watch as he let out a low murr in the back of his throat, before following after that flank. Hey, she had a better sense of direction than him, right?

They’d eventually found a dining room, a guard dressed in Equestrian armor showed them the way. According to him, Celestia ordered a detachment to arrive and act as a standing force until the Crystal Ponies could get settled and their own guard formed. The stallion had introduced himself as Flash Sentry, an up and coming lieutenant.

And he also had eyes that wandered to Rainbow’s wings every now and then. Thanks to some lessons he’d gotten from the mare some time back, Aspect knew that stallion was checking her out.

...Eh, let them look. Dash was sexy, and already his.

Once they reached the dining room… well, seems that Pinkie had been busy making breakfast and all sorts of unhealthy goodies lined the table. Flash led them inside, only to bump right into Twilight, the two ponies stumbling back.

“Ah, sorry,” they murmured in unison, before chuckling.

Aspect felt a chill run down his spine, before seeing Celestia on the far side of the room, a fork being warped in her magical grip…

“Thank you for your assistance, sir Sentry,” Aspect quickly intervened. “You’ve been most helpful in getting us here in time to share breakfast with our friends.”

“Um, right,” the stallion nodded and saluted. “Have a good day Sir Aspect.” And with that , he took his leave.

“Well, that was a touch rude,” Twilight said, oblivious to what had happened. “You two are late, did you sleep in?”

“Probably,” Aspect shrugged. “I don’t exactly have an alarm clock here.”

“True enough,” Twilight giggled. “I guess the old folk need their rest~”

“Oooohhhhhh!” Rainbow chuckled. “Somepony’s fired up today.”

“Hey, I’m not like you girls, I get worn out easily when I channel the power of your artifacts of friendship,” Aspect quipped. “It’s not meant for me. My adventuring days are long behind me. I don’t know why I keep getting dragged into this.”

“Karma?” Dash offered as they took a seat. “I dunno really. You think Ponyville is still standing? We did leave Midnight and Realm there unattended.”

“There are plenty of saner folk to keep them in check,” Aspect replied as he sat next to her. “Like Bon Bon, and Cheerilee.”

“Here’s hoping,” Dash shrugged as she piled pancakes onto her plate, along with plenty of strawberries and syrup. “So… how do we plan to get King Doom and Gloom back to Ponyville. Somehow, I don’t think any of us will want to share a train carriage with him.”

Twilight’s hoof went to her horn, as Celestia put a wing around her and frowned.

“With his magical suppressor, he should be effectively powerless,” Aspect pointed out. “So we could have him in one train car with a contingent of guards to watch over him and make sure he doesn’t try anything. Keeping him chained down, that sort of thing. Once we get to Canterlot, we can blast him and see if he’s any better normalized.”

“You sure that’ll work?” Rainbow said again, whispering to him. “I mean, I know what you said, but that’s why I’m asking. Not all of us might… agree.” She gestured towards Twilight in particular.

“As long as the will of the bearers is united, then anything is possible,” Aspect spoke up louder to emphasize his point. “Harmony is unstoppable when it comes to reforming villains. If you put your hearts behind it and see that Sombra was as much a victim as the Empire, then there should be no question if he deserves a second chance.”

“A victim?” Applejack said, speaking up above the rest of them. “How so Aspect?”

“He was nothing more than a tool of the Umbrum, the shadow spirits that rest beneath the ice up here,” Aspect illuminated. “They sent him out to determine what the Empire was precisely, cutting him out from his home. Granted, they’re pretty poor people overall. All they know is darkness and hate. I don’t know what exactly he was mining for up here, but I know that until we get him on our side, we don’t want to find the Umbrum.”

“Would he really make that much of a difference?” Rarity said, running a hoof through her mane. “I mean, between having Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence here, there’s also you and Prince Shining. Plus the six of us.”

“He’s the only one that knows where the Umbrum are,” Aspect pointed out. “Or their specific magics. He’s our only way to figure out if we can make something they can’t get through. We need his expertise to make sure that they’re never let loose on the world. Otherwise...they’ll infect everyone with their hate. The world would devolve into a bloodbath within days.”

“Goodness!”

“That don’t sound good,”

“O-Oh my…”

The doors to the dining hall slammed open as Flash ran back in. “Sir Aspect! Princess Celestia! Princess Cadence wants you in the throne room immediately! A situation has developed.”

“Whelp, duty calls,” Aspect sighed as he nuzzled Dash. “Save something for me to munch on later?” he asked his mare.

“I make no promises,” Rainbow declared as she started inhaling her breakfast with gusto.

“Let’s go…” Celestia said as she stepped up next to him. “Still, I wonder what could be wrong?”

Something… didn’t sit right with him either. Like an itch he couldn’t reach.

Aspect shook his head as they traveled through the halls. Sooner or later he’d find out what it was that went wrong. Probably sooner.

“This is bad, this is bad…” Cadence paced up and down the hall as the duo entered the throne room. “Oh, go and help a forgotten Empire she said. Should be easy she said…” Cadence stomped a hoof, cracking the crystal tile underneath.

“Cadence, breathe, tell us what’s going on,” Aspect urged the mare. “We can’t do anything if you won’t talk to us.”

“Take a look outside,” she said as he moved to a window. Close to the city, but still outside the Heart’s shield, was a dark storm cloud hanging ominously in the air.

“Yeah, that’s gonna have to be dealt with,” Aspect muttered as he looked at it. “We just got Sombra under control.”

“You can’t feel it can you?” Cadence sighed and facehooved. “Right, Aspect of Love… Look, that cloud? There is so much animosity and rage coming from it. Grandfather… it… it makes Sombra look like Pinkie Pie.”

“That must be one of the Umbrum,” Aspect muttered. “There must be a leak in their prison. That’s...that’s definitely not good. We could be seeing the start of the end of the world here.”

“W-What? So… what do we do!?” Cadence said, looking at her city. “These poor ponies… they only just got back from a tyrannical rule…”

“We need to figure out just what we’re dealing with,” Aspect muttered as he looked at the cloud. “There’s only one pony we can turn to for that.”

“You don’t mean…” Celestia said, her horn sparking dangerously.

“Sadly, yes,” Aspect nodded. “We’ll have to unchain Sombra long enough for him to tell us what’s going on.”

“I do not like that plan,” Cadence said, Celestia nodding in agreement. However…

“I do,” Shining said. “Look, we’ll all go. Between all four of us, he won’t be able to do a whole lot, and like it or not, he is the only one with the answers we need.”

Cadence looked at her husband and chuckled. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”

“Aside from my roguish good looks?”

“One of many~”

“Well Father?” Celestia looked at him.

“We’ll have to take a risk, but we’ll find out more about what’s going on,” Aspect nodded. “We’ll need to be careful. Otherwise things could twist on us quickly.”

“I do hope it’s nothing…” Cadence sighed.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Sombra said, after coming out the cloaking spell used to get him out of the city. “So, why am I being brought out here? Perhaps you’ll leave me to freeze in the tundra?”

“I only wish,” Aspect joked with him, before pointing at the rather large cloud. “Apparently that’s worse than you ever were.”

“Hmm…” he stared at the cloud. “Interesting, and we are alive how?”

“That’s one of the things I was hoping you could answer,” Aspect replied. “It’s starting to become more than a little worrying.”

“Christopher… if the Umbram are released, we would all be dead or killing,” he said as he looked at the cloud. “As it stands, I cannot tell as I am still bound.”

“I know that much,” Aspect sniped. “As it stands, though, we either do nothing and wind up victim to this, or we let you go and risk you maybe teaming up with this and bring ruin to us all. My hooves are tied here, Sombra, what do you want me to do?”

“I cannot best you,” he said. “After that fight, my magic would take weeks to recover. You and the Sun there could destroy me utterly in an instant.”

“Shining, the moment he does anything other than helping us, contain him,” Aspect said to the other stallion, before reaching out and slipping the null-ring off of Sombra’s horn. As he did, a set of magical cuffs appeared around his hooves. Sombra paid no heed as he stared at the cloud.

“Christopher. What is that sensation when something does not feel as it should?” he asked plainly.

“You mean that sense of unease we’ve been living with since we clapped eyes on this cloud?” the stallion snarkily asked.

“You mean disconcerting?” Cadence pointed out.

“Yes, my thanks,” Sombra said as he stared at the cloud. “That is Umbram energy leaking from their world to this. Yet… I cannot hear them. They are silent.”

“Something like this, you’d think they’d be involved,” Aspect mused as he looked at the cloud.

“You fail to understand,” Sombra said. “They have not been silent in a thousand years. Why now?”

“...My old world had a saying,” Aspect slowly said as he looked at the cloud. “Raise no more devils than you can lay down.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cadence asked him, tilting her head cutely.

“I think...the Umbrum made something they couldn’t control,” Aspect replied. “Something that backfired on its creators.”

“Awfully presumptuous,” Sombra said. “But you also may be right. I had failed twice now after all. So they may have made something… Hmm, would they have used that?” He started shuffling towards the storm. “This bodes ill.”

“Sombra, don’t get too close, we don’t know what it is,” Aspect called after the stallion. “I’d rather not lose you to something that’s stronger than you too just yet.”

“I have to see what has become of them,” Sombra said. “Call for your Sword. It may be the only thing that will work.” He paused and looked at the unicorn. “I said the Umbrams had a Fountain too. What did you get from yours?”

“This sword, and the Aspects as they used to be,” Aspect replied, mentally calling for his sword. It appeared next to him in a blaze of light as he seized it in his magic. “I reformed them into what they are, keeping a piece of their magic with me to remember them by.”

Sombra merely waited for him to get it. What might be waiting on the other side of that storm. Aspect’s eyes widened as he looked at the storm a moment later.

“...This does not bode well,” he muttered.

They marched through the storm, only to find an old mineshaft at its center.

“I had no idea that there was one here,” Cadence said as Sombra walked inside. Silent as he was, the others merely followed, cautious to everything, even the shadows themselves. As they reached the end of the shaft, an open room with a large, pulsing black crystal sat in the center.

“Odd, that was buried,” Sombra said as they drew nearer.

“Which mean someone unburied it. For a reason,” Aspect growled as his eyes darted around to the shadows in the room. They didn’t move, nor could he really ‘sense’ anything, so to speak. He felt the wind shifting, something was coming up behind them, and fast…

He didn’t even have time to warn the others before he put up a shield of light behind them, wincing at the strain of using his specialized powers so soon.

There was a loud smack, making the others wince as something struck the barrier painfully… Rainbow Dash groaning as she started to slide, almost comically slow, down the barrier and landing in a heap on the ground.

“Darnit all Dash!” Aspect swore as he lowered the barrier and dragged her next to him to make sure she hadn’t cracked her skull. “You should know better than to sneak up on the jumpy immortals!”

“Wasn’t… sneakin… ow…” Rainbow rubbed her head and shook it. “Not sure I deserved that.”

“If anypony cares,” Sombra said in his flat tone. “The gateway to Umbra is through that crystal, and is very much open by the way.”

“I’m guessing closing it is out of the question, as is disabling it,” Aspect quipped.

“The portal is open,” Sombra restated. “Why have none of the Umbram come through it yet. If my guess is correct, it has been open for several hours now.”

“That leaves us with two options on the list of why they haven’t yet,” Aspect said as he stared at the crystal. “Either they lost interest in our world...or there aren’t any left. Which begs one question in both scenarios. ‘Why’?”

Sombra stared at the crystal. “Let us go and find out then,” he said as he started to shuffle towards the crystal, only for Shining’s magic to hold him back.

“We don’t know what’s in there,” he said. “Let’s go back and I’ll organise a contingent of guards. We’ll see what weapons are laying around the castle and—”

“Cel, hold this,” Aspect said as he passed Dash off to his daughter. Before they could protest, Aspect had scooped up Sombra in his magic and touched the crystal with a hoof, the crystal lighting up as the pair vanished through it.

“Goddammit Father,” Celestia swore as she held Rainbow, the pegasus was totally not blushing at all.

When Aspect’s vision cleared. He saw a world that made his fur stand on end. There was no color, no life… no joy or harmony. It was a desolate place, a black sun hanging over head, yet he felt no heat nor cold from it. There was wind, it moved his mane and tail, yet he couldn’t feel it. And his limbs felt like lead weights, his horn aching, like it was trying to crawl it’s way off of his head.

“Eeesh, on second thought, maybe I should go back,” the unicorn muttered, his senses going haywire at how foreign this place was, how inhospitable it was to ponies. “It’s like if you took everything good about our world and replaced it with its opposite…”

“Your observation would not be far off the mark,” Sombra stated as he started walking, seemingly unaffected. His chains crumbled away to dust as he paused and shook himself. “What is odd, is that I do not sense a single Umbrum.” His horn lit up with that purple-black light and he looked at Aspect. “As you equines might say, ‘I have a bad feeling about this’ Well, if I had those.”

“Gut feelings don’t change just because you don’t have feelings,” Aspect quipped as he held his sword in his magic. “Instinct is a harsh mistress, because it has to be. Listening to it is the difference between life and death. Right now it’s telling me to take you back through the crystal and blow it the hell up, probably by purifying it with my Light magic. Reason is saying to accompany you inside this place to figure out just where the hell everyone went.” He sighed and shook his head. “Sometimes I hate listening to reason.”

“I am still wondering how I lost so badly to you,” Sombra said as they walked. The dust kicked up by their hooves took several moments to float back down, like gravity with both lessened and increased, given how heavy Aspect felt. “Also, you might assume your human form. The Harmony of your equine form is the source of your current discomfort.”

“Oh yeah, forgot that was a thing I helped introduce,” Aspect quipped as there was a flash of light from his body. In a moment, Christopher took his normal form, gripping his sword and sighing in relief. “Don’t get me wrong, this place still makes my skin crawl, but...yeah, that’s a lot easier. Though I’m sorta without a focus for my Light magic, so don’t expect backup in that form if you need it.”

“If something has beset a whole species, I do not think either of us will fare well,” Sombra quipped back, though the sarcasm was lost in his flat tone.

They reached the bottom of the staircase that led to the portal and found themselves in a city of sorts. Tall buildings, seemingly molded to the ground rose up, the eerie silence pervading the area, the only sound was their steps on stone. As they reached what appeared to be a central courtyard, Christopher stopped dead in his tracks.

There, right in the center. Was a very familiar fountain. Though this one was broken and dilapidated. Oddly though, was that the damage looked recent.

“You said you had a fountain,” Chris said softly. “How long has it not been working?”

“It was whole the last time I was here, but that was over a thousand years ago,” the stallion replied as they looked closer. As Chris expected, the fountain was dry… wait…

In a corner, filling a small crack was some crystal blue water, less than a sip really, but it was the only color he’d seen in this horrid place so far.

“Guess there’s still something here,” the human quipped. “...Eh, I already fixed myself, I don’t need more power than that.” Still, he kept an eye out. Someone had broken the fountain for a reason.

Then filling the silence like a rushing a tsunami, an inhuman scream pierced the void, and it sounded close.

“...Shield if you’ve got it,” the human told Sombra, even as his robes started to light up with golden light. The stallion nodded as they headed towards the source.

What Chris saw, he was NOT expecting.

A shadow creature, not unlike a Windego, was pressed up against a broken building. A smaller, roughly human-shaped shadow held it there, a pulsing black sword pierced through it’s chest. The human-shadow twisted the blade and the Umbrum let out a wailing shriek before it… was absorbed into the sword?

The weapon pulsed again as a black gem was spat out of the hilt, the shadow picking it up and… it ate it?

That… explained where the Umbrum went.

“We absolutely cannot let that one get back to our world,” Chris said to Sombra. “I am not equipped to deal with something like that on a day to day basis.”

The creature turned, the silence allowed Chris’s voice to travel quite a ways. It simply stood a few dozen feet away, crimson eyes staring into his own. Then it looked to Sombra and raised it’s sword.

“UmBRumM”

“My gut feeling is saying that it would like to leave this place now,” Sombra said, backing up slightly.

“Get through the crystal, give me five minutes to at least knock this thing’s teeth out, assuming it has any,” Chris said, stepping forward. “It’s you it wants. I’ll distract it, you work out how to disable or destroy the crystal linking the two worlds. I don’t think there’s anything left here for you anymore.”

Then it was in front of him, mere inches from his face as a flick of it’s hand sent Sombra spiralling into a nearby building with a loud crash. But it hadn’t even looked at him, it’s focus entirely on Christopher.

“Hu...MaN…?”

“Oh boy,” Chris muttered as he called up all the defensive runes he could think of. This was likely to be a fight and a half. “Look...I honestly don’t want to have to fight you...so do us both a favor and don’t make me.” Hey, his daughter was all about diplomacy these days. Maybe it would work.

The shadow looked at him, it’s form flickering as it raised it’s free hand to near his face. And all of a sudden, Chris felt his head spike with pain as memory after memory was dragged to the surface, the shadow reading them like an open book. Everything, from his first moments on Equus, the birth of his daughters. Written, even memories of his beloved mares.

Then the negative ones were dragged up, Written’s death. Discord… Nightmare Moon… every battle against every former Aspect...And when his brother had turned into the beast that ripped their family apart.

Chris growled as he held up a hand, runes spiraling around it. “Back...off,” he snarled, letting loose a strong enough shield to cut the link.

“Human… Har...mony…” the shadow’s form rippled, looking a little more human now. It’s appearance was fuzzy, like an out of focus picture. “Equestria…”

“My home,” Chris said, putting himself between the shadow and the crystal out of there, his sword humming with an edge of light. “A place I will never let you see.”

The shadow stepped forward, raising it’s own sword as it’s form rippled again.

“You already know I can kill you,” Chris told the shadow. “Do yourself a favor, don’t even try. If you make me use my power against you, you’re going to end up dead.”

The shadow stared at him… until a black beam exploded against it’s back, making it’s semi-tangible form ripple like a cloud, slowly reforming as Sombra had pulled himself out of the building, his horn flickering. Seems Chris wasn’t the only one running low on magical power.

“Sombra, get out of here, now,” Chris told the unicorn. “Don’t even wait to start working out how to destroy the crystal. Just hold off on doing it until I come out.”

“And if I do not wait?” the unicorn asked. Oh right, he was kind of evil huh…

“Then I’m sure Cel will love throwing you into the sun for essentially killing me,” Chris said. “She already has plenty of reason to hate you after all.”

“Ah… right,” Sombra noted as he headed towards the portal. The shadow didn’t seem interested in him anymore though, as it rushed Aspect, sword raised to bring it in a downwards swing at him. Chris raised his own to block, growling at the shadow.

“I’m stronger than you, even in this state where I’m recovering,” he educated the shadow. “I have something you don’t. A body! You can try killing me over and over. I just need to hit your ethereal form once and it’s over for you!”

The shadow stared at him, then it itself. Before an arm snaked out and grabbed his…

And Chris’s eyes widened as the arm started to become more solid. It was somehow syphoning his power, using it to gain a form…

“Back off!” Chris snarled, flaring a stronger shield using his runes and blasting the shadow away. “I’m not letting you through the crystal, form or no form! So just stay here already!”

Sombra had made it to the crystal and vanished through it as the shadow looked at him, it’s form hardening, becoming more human and…

Feminine?

“Fight me…” she said and raised her sword, letting loose a flurry of swings. Chris blocked each one reflexively.

What? Back when they had the Everfree Castle and he felt like he could still walk around like a human, he’d gotten some sword training in. Dumb luck would only carry him so far. Block, block, parry, and...thrust!

The shadow brought up her sword, the blades edges sliding against one another in a shower of sparks as she flicked it up, knocking his sword aside as she swung down with a diagonal slash, aiming for the space where his shoulders and neck met.

Only to be blocked by Chris bringing up his other arm, which was awash in runic power as he used it like an impromptu shield. “No,” he said simply. “You don’t get to try and pull that trick on me. I’m not so easily killed.”

“What… is that?” she suddenly grabbed his arm and looked at the Runes. “Inter...esting…”

“Are you fighting or are you studying?” Aspect quipped as he bashed her face in with the pommel of his sword. Her head snapped back as she stumbled for a second and shook her head.

Then she raised her sword and swung, sending a powerful gust of wind at him. It was wind he knew… he’d only recently been rid of the influence…

The fountain… the sword…

Oh gods, she also had Aspects.

“Okay, you officially just got a lot more dangerous in my book,” Chris said as he pulled out his own fragment of wind abilities and shielded himself from the gust. Once the wind died down, he asked her another question. “What else do you have?”

She dashed forward again, sliding past him as she grabbed his right arm, her grip tightening as his arm started to turn to stone…

“Ap, none of that,” Chris said, using his own powers to turn himself back to flesh and blood before smacking her across the face with his free hand. “Air and Earth. Okay, fine. You’ve got multiple traits of Aspects. I’ve got all of them.” To demonstrate, he clenched his fist, catching it on fire, before firing a plume of it at her.

A plume she caught and absorbed, staring at her arm, which was wreathed in flames before dissipating. It was a curious sort of look, like she hadn’t been expecting that. Was she learning her own powers as the fight dragged on?

“You’re a mirror to me, aren’t you?” Chris asked, starting to piece it together himself. “They made you to oppose me...they were going to send you after me because of the show I put on with Sombra.”

“They… created… used… I destroyed…” She looked at the empty city. “They wanted power… so I made them, my power…” She raised her sword and smiled. “You… I like you. No, I like fighting you…” She lowered her blade, now looking more human. A woman, light skin and dark, ebon black hair. Her eyes were a shining crimson as her form became solidified. Her figure was flawless, an hourglass frame with defined muscles underneath.

She also happened to be completely naked.

“Let’s compromise,” Chris said as he studiously averted his eyes. “I’ll come back and fight you every so often. Teach you what it means to have this power. But I don’t want you to ever enter my world. Not until you learn some control with that blade of yours. I’ll teach you things, help you be more complete, but you have to actually take the lessons to heart, understand? You have to want to be better.”

She looked at him, her eyes staring deep into his own as he felt her power flare…

Before a massive BOOM! resounded as a cyan blur struck her at speeds in excess of fast, the shadow woman sent hurtling deep into the ruined city.

“Come on!” Rainbow said, holding out a hoof. “The Princess is ready to send that crystal right to Tartarus. We have to go. Now!”

“Running!” Chris agreed as he joined her in darting for the crystal. “We just need to seal it off. She’s not that bad, we just don’t want someone who can turn ponies to crystals for her to eat let loose on our world! Not until she’s no longer an infant!”

“...she eats ponies, and you say she isn’t bad…” Rainbow shook her head as they bolted for the portal. “Seriously… you prolly just like her teats or something.” With a grunt, she pushed him through the portal and followed him through, before Celestia wrapped some Runes around it, sinking the thing back into the earth.

“Phew,” the alicorn sighed. “That had been a little too close. I think that shaved a century off of my life.”

“Maybe in a few years we can dig the crystal up and try talking to the last member of the Umbrum, see if she’s no longer a power-mad infant,” Chris said as he retook his unicorn form. “For now, that’s enough excitement for one day. Let’s get the other member of the Umbrum back to Canterlot so we can make his Harmonifying a public spectacle.”

“About that…” Celestia said. “I think we should keep this amongst ourselves. Canterlot is still…something of a delicate state over the whole Changeling debacle.”

Aspect sighed and rolled his eyes. “So send the Elements to Ponyville, the Bearers can do it in my backyard if you want to avoid anyone seeing,” he told Celestia. “I’m not acting as a conduit for that much Harmony again.”

“That was the plan,” Celestia nodded as she put a hoof to her head and winced. “Well now that this has been dealt with. Let's head back. I wish to return to Equestria soon.”

“Same,” Aspect muttered. “I’d rather get some sleep in my actual bed for once.”

…

Long after the group had left, certain that the problem had been dealt with for now.

Well, none could have imagined that this new problem? Was also a fast learner. Seems that much like the inspiration used to create her, she was a fan of cheating. And had the perfect Aspect for that…

The next morning, the train pulled into a stop in Ponyville, nopony aboard was rightfully awake. Uncaffinated and tired of this whole debacle. Even Pinkie had lost a lot of bounce in her step.

Twilight had gotten off with the Princesses in canterlot, Celestia insisting she get her horn looked at by specialists before returning home, and she’d be bringing the Elements with her as well.

Though, Aspect was surprised to find Lyra, Realm and Artemis waiting at the station for him.

“One moment,” he said to them, holding up a hoof, before turning to the other Bearers. “Take a day off, recharge your batteries,” he told the mares. “Goodness knows even I still need it. Sombra’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“Noted,” Applejack said as she started the long trek home to the farm, a small mountain of chores likely awaiting her. Pinkie and Fluttershy ambled off, and Rarity followed not long after.

“Eesh, no offense dad,” Realm said as he looked at the group. “But, you all look like crap.”

“We’ve been through a lot,” Aspect muttered, glad his magic had finally recovered a bit on the train ride home. “But bright side, Equestria now has a northern neighbor! And visiting Gelgeth won’t be a damn chore anymore.”

“Huh…” Realm rubbed his hooves. A whole new place to go and paint. Fun! He looked around and blinked. “Where’s the Clover lookalike?”

“She’s getting her horn checked up in Canterlot,” Aspect supplied. “She got a bit of an injury. It should be fixed, but Cel’s having it looked at by experts anyways.” He then turned to the guards keeping watch over Sombra. “Just keep him in that gear and escort him to the guard station,” he told them. “We’ll deal with him when we have the Elements here.”

“Do we even want to know?” Artemis said, looking at the unicorn being led away. “Well whatever, we actually came here to warn you.”

“Warn me?” Aspect blinked a few times, looking back at them. “About what?”

“That unless you feel like field testing that immortality, you reeeeeaaaaally shouldn’t go home right now,” Lyra said, Realm wincing.

“It took me all day to reattach Starswirls’ leg…” the alicorn colt muttered.

“That does not instill confidence in me,” Aspect said. “The one thing I missed most when I was away was spending time in my house, with the mares that called me theirs.”

“Well, right now?” Realm said. “Candy Mom is likely puking… again. And Bat Mom pretty much wants everything dead.”

“...The last time we ignored them, bad things happened,” Aspect sighed. “Right...I’m going in.”

“Also poor Aspy, we knew him well,” Lyra sighed. “I’m staying here, the last time I went in there, Bon Bon put a collar and leash on me and…” She trailed off when she remembered that there were children here.

“Oh no, you’re her friend, she’s most likely to respond positively to you,” Aspect replied, snaring her in a loop of Light magic. “Plus you’re one-third of Music, you’re our best bet for getting through to Middy as well.”

“Noooooooo!” Lyra moaned as she was dragged away. “Realmy! Help meeee!”

“So, wanna go and get a milkshake?” Realm said to Artemis.

“Sure,” the pup nodded as they walked off in the opposite direction.

“TRAITORS!!”

When Aspect reached his home, ahh, it had felt like forever since he’d been here. Rainbow had gone home to rest and see what weather work had piled up, and Lyra was just dragged behind him, the look of a defeated mare on her face.

“It cannot possibly be that bad,” Aspect said to her, pushing the front door open.

He could smell something good coming from the kitchen, so that was a good sign.

What wasn’t was the thestral mare in the hallway in front of him, her eyes wide and her irises small, her fangs bared in a feral snarl as she glared at him. Gods, the bloodlust she emanated made even his fur prickle.

“Middy, down,” Aspect told her firmly. “You don’t need to fight me. You’d just lose in a new way now.”

And that was Aspect staring at the sky, lying on his back in the front yard, a trench of dirt before him and a hoof print on his chest.

Damn… he hadn’t even seen that punch coming.

He picked himself out of the trench and shook the dirt off, before stalking closer to Midnight, his horn glowing with light. This time, he saw the windup.

The next punch never connected, as he used his magic to chain her to the ground with light incarnate. She looked at the chains, then at him…

And…

She started crying!?

She’d flipped from feral to sobbing in an instant.

He dismissed the chains and held her close, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. “There there...it’s just pregnancy kicking up your hormones,” he soothed. “You’re fine. I still love you.”

“I did some reading up,” Lyra said. “You know, since I’m here often enough that I’m surprised you don’t charge rent. Aaaanyway. Apparently batponies…”

*Hisss!*

“Thestrals, sorry,” Lyra winced as Midnight went back to the cuddling. “Their hormones really go outta whack. And mares also get super protective and jealous. Basically, don’t go inviting any strange mares around here… Midnight might execute them.”

“My dear, sweet, loving Midnight wouldn’t do that, would she?” Aspect cooed into her ears as he rubbed her back. And even she could feel the hint of steel in his voice. It was a question and a threat at the same time.

“She tore off Starswirls’ leg and knocked Chryssie unconscious,” Lyra stated as Midnight huffed and looked away.

“Midnight,” Aspect said warningly. “Do I have to send you away until you get your mood stabilized?”

And now she was crying again, as even Lyra facehooved.

“God you’re an idiot,” the unicorn said as the thestral broke free and ran off into the house. “Seriously Aspect? ‘Behave or I’ll get rid of you’? Absolutely brilliant. You know she can’t help it right?”

“Oh for the love of- Middy!” Aspect called after her, chasing her through the house. “Come back, you know I love you!”

“Not enough to keep me,” she called back through a door she’d somehow barricaded. “Go away!”

“Middy, you know I wouldn’t send you away!” Aspect called, tapping the door with a hoof. “I just want to help you. And I can’t do that unless you let me in.”

“Mi-ai făcut asta pentru tine, un fiu cu o maimuță!” she screeched through the door.

“I have no idea what she said, but that sounded insulting,” Lyra chuckled as she leaned against the wall, standing on her hind legs. “Need a hoof there?”

“No, I’ll just cheat,” Aspect muttered, his magic shining before he winked out of existence.

Only to reappear behind Midnight, spin her around, and trap her in a kiss.

“Huh, wonder why he didn’t do that sooner,” Lyra mused as she looked down the hall to see Bon Bon walking towards her. Waving to her best friend/friend with benefits, the earth mare nodded in response as she placed a tray down in front of the door.

There was a sniffing sound, before a yelp, a muffled thump and the door bolted open, Aspect was on his back and Midnight was wolfing down the mango treats that Bon Bon had spent all morning making for her.

“Hello love,” Bonnie waved. “Welcome back to the madhouse.”

“Okay, seriously,” Aspect said, pointing at Lyra, “The next time Midnight asks for another foal, your duty is to remind me about all those facts about thestrals.”

“Maybe, watching you get tossed around is pretty funny,” Lyra giggled as Bon Bon helped him up and into a deep kiss. One that involved a lot of her tongue and some not-so-innocent moans from her. Eventually it had to break so he could breathe, and he simply opted to nuzzle the Earth Pony mare.

“Missed you,” Aspect muttered softly. “Missed all of you.”

“And I you,” Bon Bon smiled, her breath smelled strongly of mint. “Sorry, but I have been very unwell ever since you left. Seems my morning sickness has kicked in… amongst other… odd symptoms.”

“That’s something that happens, I’ve noticed,” Aspect nodded as he used his magic and his knowledge of tense spots in ponies to massage some of Bon Bon’s sore spots with little motes of light.

“Mmmmm~” Bon Bon purred as she rolled her neck. “Ooh yes, that’s the spot. But yes, seems that I have been ahh craving gemstones, Mnn~ N-Not that I can eat them. Rock candy seemed to aahhhn~ w-work though.”

“Ah yes, forgot you were pregnant with a dragon,” Aspect mused. “We’ll think of something, though good work on the rock candy innovation.” He idly kept massaging the mare with his magic, going through his list of pony sore spots and hitting them with more magic as time went on.

“A-Aspect…” Bon Bon whimpered as she wiggled. “P-Please don’t…”

Then her whole body trembled as she collapsed, climaxing hard as she blushed and panted, her hind legs twitching as her flagged tail wafted her scent everywhere.

“Ohhboy, that happened again huh?” Lyra said with a chuckle.

“...It’s happened before?” Aspect asked as he killed his magic, offering a hoof to help Bonnie up.

“Lyra! Nooo~”

“Oh yeah,” the unicorn chuckled. “She’s super easy to get off for some reason.”

“Lyyrraaaa,” Bon Bon warned as she got up. “Good pets don’t rat out their masters.”

“Uhoh…” Lyra blinked as she went to run away…

Only for the door to shut in her face.

“Come again?” Aspect asked, looking between the two mares.

“Uhhh…” Lyra winced and looked at Bon Bon. “Please no…”

“Oh,” Bon saw her chance for revenge. “You don’t want him to know? About my pretty pet Lyra? She looks so cute in her collar and leash. And being a good girl when she’s servicing her master~”

“Epona dammit,” Lyra groaned and facehooved.

“...I am confused and aroused,” the stallion admitted.

“You’re a damned pervert,” Lyra sighed. “I swear, Bonnie’s a perv now because of you. You ruined her innocence!”

“It was ever so nice of her to keep me and Midnight company while you and Rainbow were gone,” Bon Bon chuckled.

“And Bon’s taken a turn for being a dom in the bedroom,” Aspect noted aloud, before walking over to Midnight and nuzzling her. “Whereas you need all the love you can get.”

“Mmph,” she mumbled, still burying her face in a bowl of ice-cream. “Sorry for kicking you,” said between bites. “I feel better now.”

“And I am making my exit so you lovebirds can do… whatever,” Lyra said as she started for the door again.

“Bonnie...would you hate me if I said I was curious?” Aspect asked, lifting his head and looking over at Lyra.

“Not particularly,” the mare said, leaning against his side. “As much as I would love to milk you dry, I am really not feeling well right now. And being sick halfway through would be a real mood killer.”

“That it would,” Aspect mused as he stalked a little closer to Lyra. The unicorn opened the door with her magic and turned her head.

“Well, I’ll see you lat—”

Thump

She felt magic grab her tail and pull her back so that she fell on her rump, before dragging her back towards Aspect.

“Ow! Hey!” Lyra said as she pulled her tail free and rubbed the base of it. “What’s the big idea you jerk!?”

And thaaat was him grabbing her flanks with his hooves and smiling at her with his eyes half-lid. “Ohhhh, nothing much...I just thought I should test out what Bonnie’s been doing so she can take some time off while she’s sick and Middy’s emotional,” he said ‘innocently’.

Lyra raised an eyebrow at him with a questioning look. “And, what makes you think I’ll allow that huh mister?” she said to him, beeping his nose with a hoof.

“Bonnnnnie~” Aspect called out. “She seems to be disobeying.”

Bon Bon shook her head. “Would you like to Lyly? I really wanna be with Aspect, but any motion like that is seriously gonna make me hurl. And… well Midnight might just bite his junk off or something.”

“I would not!” Midnight said, licking her ice-cream bowl. “...maybe.”

Lyra sighed and looked at him. “You know, for somepony that didn’t want me in that way, you sure don’t have a problem with it now huh?”

“Well, you started coming onto me,” he reminded her. “Guess you just didn’t expect me to bite back, huh?”

“Because you didn’t until that one time,” Lyra pouted and poked his nose again. ‘Seriously, and you got mad at Twibutt for being so flippant about what she wanted. Hello pot, this is kettle…”

“Lyly,” Bon Bon said. “Stop picking on him.”

“Well somepony has to call him out on his crap,” she said with a smirk. “I just want him to admit he likes me is all~”

“I didn’t get mad at her, I just wanted her to make up her mind before I did anything serious,” Aspect retorted. “And you seem to pretty much have a thing for me, so I don’t have any qualms about it myself. But it would make this go smoother if you admitted it to me, y’know.”

Of course, his hooves hadn’t left her flanks…

“Well, you’re kinda hot,” she said as she looked him over. “Like… waaaay older than me, which is okay, I don’t mind older guys. And Bonnie trusts you, so that’s good enough for me.” She wiggled said flank in his hooves. “I just want to hear you admit that you like doing things with me~”

“I always have said to give pretty ponies what they want,” Aspect replied as he squeezed her flank gently. “And I’d be remiss to not notice your beauty~”

Well that got her minty cheeks to blush a lovely crimson. “S-Shut up, and don’t think flattery will get you anywhere bub!” she snorted, clearly flustered.

“Oh, so I shouldn’t say things that are true then?” Aspect quipped as he slowly began drawing his hooves back. “Guess I was wasting my time…”

“H-Hey!” Lyra pouted and poked his chest. “Must you be so damned infuriating?”

“He likes to confuse,” Bon Bon nodded.

“It’s simple, minty mare,” Aspect drew close to her, his hot breath washing over her lips. “Yes...or no?”

And that was Lyra kissing him softly on the lips. “Does that answer your question?” she mused and her eyes drifted down. “Hmm, seems Little Aspect wants in~”

“Mkay, so I’ll just be taking Lyra back to the bedroom,” Aspect said as he pulled the minty mare closer. “I’ll be gentle, promise~”

“Yeah right,” Lyra rolled her eyes. “Just don’t knock me up too ya damned perv.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bon Bon said with a sultry smile. “We want to watch~”

“Mhm,” Midnight nodded, now snacking on an actual mango.

“Oh really?” Aspect asked with a raised brow, before turning back to Lyra. “Feel like putting on a show?” he asked the mare, even as he stroked her mane.

“Oh, does the pet think she has a choice?” Bon Bon purred as she clipped something around Lyra’s neck. A lovely black collar, studded with silver gems. And attached with a long, black leash.

“See, now this I don’t know what to think about,” Aspect said as he looked at the collar. It was a lovely thing, and contrasted nicely against her fur.

“Oh, it’s pretty simple,” Bon Bon said and placed the leash in his hooves. “Simply command your pet. She’s a very good girl, but feel free to punish her if she’s naughty~”

“Okay…” Aspect blinked a few times, before choosing the closest chair and sitting in it...which ended up displaying himself for the unicorn. “So, what...like ‘suck’?” he asked.

“Try adding a bit more… finesse to the order,” Bon Bon coached as she sat near him. “Go on, she’s waiting.”

“Okay…” Aspect looked over at Lyra. “Use your mouth to get me ready for you, pet,” he ordered her, still not quite feeling comfortable in saying it.

“Yes… Master,” she said, looking at him with a submissive gaze, inching closer as she took his member with her hooves, her mouth opening as he felt her hot breath wash over him, before the flat of her tongue trailed up the length, ending with it placed firmly against the flat head of his cock.

“Continue,” Aspect ordered her, even as his length throbbed a little under her treatment, getting a bit harder and firmer.

She nodded as she opened her mouth wider and lowered her head, taking the first few inches into her hot, wet maw. Her tongue pressed against the base as she slurped lewdly at him, slowly getting into a sedate rhythm of bobbing her head.

“Mmm...good pet,” Aspect purred to her as he rubbed her mane with a hoof. “Remember to lube me up well. You’re going to be riding me once you have.”

“Hmmm,” Bon Bon rubbed his side. “You sure you’re up for it love? You look a little tired.”

“That’s why she’ll be doing all the work,” Aspect pointed out. “Once she’s got me nice and wet, I’ll just sit back and let her ride me and milk me dry.”

“Naughty,” Bon Bon chuckled as she looked at him. “You better not knock her up too dear, or I’ll make you marry her as recompense.”

“I should have enough control over my magic that that doesn’t happen,” Aspect brushed it off. “Continue, pet,” he ordered Lyra. “I want to feel your tongue at work.”

She nodded and pushed down a little more, creating a bulge in her throat as she showed she was just as good as Bon Bon when it came to this. Her tongue twisting and winding around him, teasing every inch of him that was inside her, as her horn lit up, her golden aura encasing his weighty orbs and caressing them gently.

“Mmmph...you trained her well,” Aspect huffed as he leaned back and let the pleasure wash over him. “She’s very good at this.”

“Want to hear a secret?” Bon Bon whispered into his ear, nibbling on it lightly. “She’s the one that taught me~”

And then Lyra took his whole cock, her tight throat squeezing him as she sucked down hard, practically swallowing his member as she moaned around him.

“Ohbuck,” Aspect moaned, holding very very still. “That’s...haa….very good, you’ve...done your job now pet. You can...nnnngh, stop.”

“Are you sure?” Bon Bon murred as Lyra slowly pulled back. “She’s very good with that tongue isn’t she? Oh pet, show your Master a little worship~”

“Yes Mistress,” Lyra nodded as she moved her head lower, his wet cock resting over her head as she started to suckle on his balls, her lips and tongue slowly teasing them.

“Ohhhfuck,” Aspect let out another moan. “She’s too good at this,” he panted. “I...nope. I won’t be able to hold it at this rate!”

“That’s enough pet,” Bon Bon said and pulled on her leash, Lyra sitting back and licking her lips slowly, seductively, as her tail swished back and forth.

“Give me...a moment,” Aspect said as he eased himself back from the edge of his climax. He wanted to last for the next part after all. After a solid minute of him just panting to cool down, the stallion nodded and gently pulled on Lyra’s leash again. “Up, pet,” he ordered her. “Time for you to get your reward.”

“Yes Master,” she obeyed as she climbed up onto the chair slowly, easing down into his lap as the sizeable member rested between her flanks. Her soft tail wrapping around it, teasing it slowly.

“Well, aim me properly, pet,” Aspect ordered her. “Line me up with your needy little pussy, and you can ride me until you get your reward.”

Lyra nodded as she lifted her flank up, her magic sliding up and down his cock as she aimed him and lowered herself slowly, gasping as his broad head spread her, her tight fucktunnel widening to accodate him as she couldn’t help but let out a small moan.

“Theeeere you go,” Aspect cooed to her as he got used to her tightness. “You can move whenever you’re ready, pet.”

Before she could, Bon Bon raised a hoof, rubbing the bulge he left in the slender unicorn’s abdomen and cooing at the sight. Though Lyra had… shared Aspect twice already, this was the first time they’d done more than oral.

“Mmm...she does make for a delightful little bulge, doesn’t she?” Aspect asked as he looked the minty mare up and down. Her face was flushed red, the leash hanging limply in his hold as her chest heaved with each delicious pant and moan that escaped her lips. She looked down at him, her golden eyes looking into his own and… huh, he, never noticed how pretty her eyes were.

Then she shakily raised her hips, slowly drawing up before falling/slamming her hips back down to meet his, her incredibly tight pussy squeezing him.

Aspect let out a shaky moan as she did that, his hooves going to her flanks to caress her marks as he let her have control for the time being. Her flank was delightfully taut, having a little give to his touches and oh-so-warm. She let out a small moan at that, as her bouncing got a little faster and more enthusiastic.

Midnight had left the room, mumbling something about not wanting to kill Lyra as she did. Bon Bon stayed though, looking up at Aspect’s horn curiously… before leaning up and giving it a lick.

Aspect’s eyes momentarily crossed as he shuddered in pleasure. He’d never had his horn licked like that before. And seeing that he liked it, Bon Bon angled his head a little…

Before sucking on his horn like Lyra had his cock, as the unicorn continued to ride him.

“S-Should I use my magic Master?” she gasped between pants and moans.

Aspect couldn’t reply verbally, his vocal cords were all preoccupied with moaning. He merely nodded his head a few times, carefully, so as to not jab Bonnie with his horn.

Lyra lit up her horn as she bottomed out on him, her hips grinding against his as he felt a construct grip his cock, It took a second, but he felt a magical hand stroke up and down his member while he was buried inside the mare.

“Buuuuuuuuuck,” Aspect moaned out. “Pet wants a nice hot load inside her it seems,” he panted after managing to get the brainpower together for that statement.

“D-Don’t get me pregnant,” she moaned, stroking him faster. “Else… tell me and I’ll p-pull off aaaaah~” She moaned louder, her sentence ending in a climax as she twitched, her walls squeezing him along with that magical hand.

“It should be safe,” Aspect moaned. “Though...magic’s been on the fritz lately…” Still, that was his rod twitching inside her. She had maybe a moment to decide if she wanted to roll the dice on that.

Lyra started to pull up, but her legs were weak and shaking from her orgasm, she simply didn’t have the strength…

The cock was twitching harder inside her, she could feel the seed being pumped up into her…
Bon Bon pulled the mare off, falling back as Lyra landed atop of her, gasping and panting and they were spread out on the floor in front of Aspect.

And that was two mares being coated in his release as it sprayed over the both of them, glazing the mares with his musky essence. Aspect let out a groan as he started to go limp everywhere except his cock.

“Geeze,” Lyra gasped, looking down at her cum sodden form. “You don’t do anything half-assed huh?”

“That… was rather close,” Bon Bon sighed. “Honestly Aspect, I swear you won’t be happy until every mare in Equestria is impregnated by you.”

“Didn’t...mean to,” Aspect panted as he tried and failed to move a limb.

“Well, that was fun while it lasted,” Lyra chuckled. “Heehee, maybe I should join your little herd.” She joked, wiping some cum off of her chest with a hoof.

“If you want,” Bon Bon shrugged.

“It’d have been easier if you left her on, then,” Aspect pointed out.

“Huh?” Lyra blinked and blushed hard. “W-Wait up, I was only kidding…. Kinda.”

“Well, even if you want to stay friends with… some benefits, that’s fine too,” Bon Bon said and licked some seed from her cheek. “I’m sure Aspect likes having you around~”

“Yeah, keep the minty one, she’s fun,” Aspect nodded as he started to get some brain function back.

“Geeze…” Lyra blushed harder. “Stop teasing me.”

“Who’s teasing?” Aspect asked.

“Seriously?” Lyra said and looked away, blushing harder, even her ear tips were a cute shade of pink. “Well… I guess… But, won’t it be awkward when you’re all married and stuff. I’ll… just be in the way.”

“Hey, I’d never leave you hanging,” Aspect said as he looked Lyra in the eyes, or as close as he could manage it. “You just have to ask and you’ll be included as well.”

“W-Well…” Lyra murmured as she fell silent. “I’ll… think about it.” Awww, she looked so adorable like that, though being covered in his seed fueled a different sort of emotion.

“My family has never been weirder than right now, and I love it,” Aspect muttered.

Author's Note

I bring good news!

Thanks to all the positive comments, Aus is considering actually continuing this story with me!

The bad news is he's busy for the next few weeks and likely won't be able to.

The story will probably be put on hiatus once we reach the end of the prepared chapters until we feel like writing it once more.

Until then...

If you like what we do here, feel free to show your appreciation over at my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on resupplying a house.

Chapter 63 - A full set

Something was wrong.

It was that type of wrong, that you know, even before you opened your eyes that something had happened to utterly ruin your day. He didn’t know what yet, but he knew deep within his core that today was going to be… trying.

And then came a loud shriek from the kitchen. What ever had happened seemed to create a chain reaction of surprised shouts and screams across the house.

Oh, today was going to be one of those days.

Aspect rolled out of bed and tested his magic. And...nothing?

He opened his eyes and looked at his forehead. Oh. His horn was missing.

...Well buck. He tried shapeshifting into a unicorn, as he couldn’t feel any wings on his back...and nothing happened. He was stuck as an Earth Pony.

Not that bad, all things considered, as he had practice in Geomancy and manipulating the Earth. But...he couldn’t very well call on his Light nature like this. That...might actually be a problem.

Hopefully he’d figure out how to get around this before his head exploded.

He walked out of the room and began heading towards the screams. Something most sane ponies wouldn’t do.

The first shout came from the kitchen, but that’s not who found him first. A small colt bumped into him and he looked down. Well it was Realm but…

He had a horn.

But his wings were missing.

“...Well this is a fine pickle, isn’t it?” Aspect asked as he looked his adopted son over. “At least you have an easy outlet for your magic. You’ll likely make it through this species-swap thing in one piece.”

“I can’t paint properly without my wings!” he shouted. “I can’t use Gale King either! How am I supposed to flip up mares’ skirts if I can’t call a wind and…” he stopped and stepped back. “Ahehe… disregard that last part.”

“Noted,” Aspect replied. “Look, I get that your wings are a big part of you, but a bigger problem here is me not having a good outlet for working out my Light nature easily. Without a horn to cast magic with, it’s just going to keep building inside of me…” He intentionally let the sentence hang there.

“Bigger problem,” Realm pointed out as they walked. “If we have all ‘swapped’. Then, somepony in the house just became an alicorn! One of them could be Lyra, and the other a very emotionally unstable pregnant thestral mare.”

“Or it could be Dash, or Bon Bon,” Aspect pointed out. “Or Toola, or Twinkle. We have options as to who got that much power.”

“Is is alright to say if I’m scared?” Realm said and his eyes widened. “What if Pinkie or the Clover Clone is here!?”

“We also don’t know how far the radius of the swap is,” Aspect calmly pointed out. “It could include just this house, just a few rooms of this house, the town, or all of Equestria. Though for something that powerful, I’d expect Chaos to be involved.”

“Well, let’s go and see,” Realm said as they entered the kitchen and…

Oh, seems the alicorn went to Bon Bon…

And she was currently in the air, knocking her head against the ceiling. Her wings flapping erratically.

“How ow! Do you ah! Turn these damned things OFF!” she yelled.

“...While amusing, this isn’t what I’m looking for,” Aspect chuckled, before turning to Realm. “You help her before she starts firing lasers, I’m going to see who started this. They’ll likely be the only ones unchanged in the midst of this chaos.”

Realm was too busy rolling on the floor laughing. Laughter that soon ceased when a beam of blue energy seared a hole through several walls, Bon Bon’s new horn smoking.

“N-Noted,” Realm said as he went to wrangle the alicorn.

Aspect turned and…

“Whhheeeeeeeee!” Lyra buzzed by, her new bat wings flapping as she zipped through the house at ludicrous speeds.

“...Okay, also not Lyra’s fault,” Aspect muttered to himself as he went in the direction she came from. He also knew instinctively that if Lyra had the bat wings, then it couldn’t be Midnight’s fault...and that she would probably be the next one he ran into.

Well he was half right.

While it wasn’t Midnight’s fault, the mare was in the living room, consoling a sobbing Rainbow Dash. The ‘was a thestral, now a pegasus’ rubbing her back and looking up at Aspect. Even her fuzzy ears and cat-like eyes were now completely pony-like.

“I’m rapidly running out of ponies that could be responsible for this,” Aspect noted. “The only ones left that are here are Toola and Twinkle. Care to point me in their direction?”

“I do not know where they are,” Midnight said as Rainbow looked disdainfully at the horn on her head.

“I WANT MY WINGS BACK!” she yelled. “I DON’T WANNA BE AN EGGHEAD!”

“You don’t have to be an egghead to be a unicorn,” Aspect waved a hoof at her. “There was a whole branch of magic devoted to thinking things up, pouring will and energy behind them, and making them happen. The only problem is, Sorcery is tricky to dispel. The stronger you are, the harder it is for somepony else to undo it. So you basically have to mean it if you put energy behind it.” He tapped his chin. “There was even a martial art based around casting without even consciously thinking about it, seeing who was faster, stronger, better. There were tournaments and everything for it back in the old days. They used to either take hours as each competitor out-planned the other, or were over in a flash.”

Rainbow stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes. He could almost hear the gears in her head grind to a screeching halt, explode, then explode again.

“I’m gonna be a nerd!” she sobbed as Midnight shrugged and went back to hugging her. Well… he tried.

“So, I take it one of you is to blame for this?” Toola said sternly as she strode into the room. A long horn adorned her head and fluffy wings flicked at her sides. “It’s not a particularly funny prank young colt.”

“Not my fault, I don’t cast in my sleep,” Aspect replied, waving a hoof. “Plus I would never get rid of my ability to vent magic actively, so...by process of elimination…”

The trio of mares stared at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

“Is he like this often?” Toola deadpanned .

“Unnecessarily dramatic?” Midnight replied, still consoling Rainbow. “Yes, pretty much.”

“Take all the fun out of it why don’t you,” Aspect muttered. “Twinkle?” he asked with a raised voice. “Where are you?”

There was no response, not until one of the portraits spoke up. “I believe she is is her room,” Pansy said. “We don’t know for sure, she tossed out the portraits there into the hall.”

“Welp,” Aspect sighed. “Time to find her and at least put the portraits back up.” He began walking through the halls in search of the errant unicorn. It didn’t take long, simply find the room with a few portraits lying on the floor, his pet Manticore poking at them with a curious paw.

“Hey,” Aspect shooed her away from the portraits gently. “No, not for playing with.” He then picked the paintings up and stacked them on his back, before knocking on Twinkle’s door. “Twinkle? You in here?”

“N-no, no Twinkle here, go away please,” came the mare’s voice.

“Twinkle, I’m not angry, I promise,” Aspect said. “But I would like to at least put the portraits back up. You know how removing them from the wall disconnects them.”

“W-When I am finished,” the mare replied through the door. “I..I can fix this… Ohh….”

“Twinkle...I’m going to ask a question here,” Aspect said. “Do you even have a horn right now?”

There was a pause, before the door clicked. He nudged the door, albeit hesitantly as he entered…

Twilight Twinkle was sitting on the bed, huddled up and… yup, lacking a horn. Whatever spell that decided to play species roulette affected even the caster it seems.

“Well...you have options,” Aspect said as he began hanging up the portraits again. “We have two unicorns around here, and two Alicorns. It might be possible to instruct one of them in how to grant my fervent wish that we all return to normal before anything happens. Or, if you’d rather, we can send a message to Twilight and see if she can unravel the spell.”

“It’s my fault,” she murmured. “I somehow used my Wish Granting ability in conjunction with a polymorph spell and…” She sighed as she curled up into a ball. “Now I can’t fix it…”

“Well, like I said, you could try instructing one of the newly horned ones in how to fix it,” Aspect replied, coming over to her bed and placing a comforting hoof on her withers. “Or you could ask someone else to fix it. There’s no shame in this, it just means your Wish Granting is coming back strong. You’ll just need to learn to restrain it again after not having used it for thousands of years. Once we get this all worked out, I’m sure it’ll be a reason for celebration.”

“Being ageless is… most infuriating,” the mare sighed. “I don’t even know if I still have that power, or if somepony else in the house has it now.” She sat up and wiped her eyes. “So how bad is it? Which ones wound up with horns?”

“Well, Dash has a horn and is distraught about it, while Realm was demoted to Unicorn, and is also distraught about it,” Aspect informed her. “Meanwhile, Bon Bon and her mother got the full upgrade to Alicorn. So we should probably start with Realm and see if he has the wish-granting, because goodness knows Dash won’t want to think about using ‘eggheady magic’ to fix this mess.”

“Oh goodness,” Twinkle sighed as she slowly picked herself up. “I’ve made quite the mess haven’t I?”

“It’s not one that can’t be fixed,” Aspect soothed. “Tell you what. I’ll get Realm and Dash to sit still while you figure out if they can grant wishes to fix the problem. Meanwhile, I’ll send for Twilight, see if she’ll be able to help as well.”

“Alright,” the older mare sighed as she hook her head to clear it of depressing thoughts. “Let’s see if something can be done about this… and I swear, I’m quitting modern magic.”

“Or maybe you just need a modern teacher?” Aspect posed. “Twilight’s pretty well versed in all things magical.”

“She’s the one that gave me this book on it,” Twinkle said as they headed out into the hallway. “Alright, so where are your son and jailbait wife?”

“I don’t know where Realm is, but Rainbow was crying about losing her wings, she’ll be easy to find,” Aspect replied. “I’ll go round up Realm and meet you in the living —”

‘KA-Thooooooooom!’

The house trembled as it was rocked by the explosion, one coming from the living room…

“...Aaaaand that would be Dash, figuring out Sorcery and how to cast without thinking about it,” Aspect deadpanned. “I’ll go contain her, you find Realm.”

Twinkle nodded as she headed off to find the wayward unicorn. Aspect in the meantime, headed for the living room and turned the corner to… see…

Oh, he was missing a wall… good to know. Midnight was half embedded in another as Rainbow lay flat on her back, horn smoking and legs twitching. Arcane lightning crackled around the trench the blast had made… rainbow-hued lightning.

“For once, nobody was seriously hurt,” Aspect quipped as he moved to pull Midnight out of the wall first. “Just the house.”

“WHAT?” Midnight yelled at him. “I CAN’T HEAR OVER THE RINGING IN MY EARS!”

“Give it a minute,” Aspect said, knowing she couldn’t hear anyways, as he pulled her head free of the wall she was embedded in. After making sure she wasn’t injured or had anything running through her, he then turned to Dash and began rolling her over.

“That. Was. AWESOME!” Rainbow cheered and laughed. “I shout a freaking RAINBOOM outta my horn! Holy butts that was cool!”

Oh dear, this did not bode well for Ponyville’s Disaster Relief Fund…

“Dash, calm down,” Aspect told her, using a hoof to keep her in place. “I thought you wanted your wings back.”

“Well yeah,” she said as she sat up. “But this is also cool. Ohh, maybe Bon will swap with me and I can have both! I’d be the first alicorn to join the Wonderbolts!”

“Oh dear,” Aspect sighed. “Look. This was a wayward shape-changing spell getting tangled up with Twinkle’s Special Talent. It’s not likely to happen again, and really, we need to get this fixed.”

“So until then, I can keep this?” Rainbow looked up at her horn. “I have to go and show Applejack! She’ll totally flip!” And with a crack of Rainbow light, the mare teleported!?

Ohhh horseapples. She was an emotion caster. Forget study, she was literally ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ with her spells. Just like she was as a pegasus…

Also known as the perfect Still Way student. If he could get her to meditate and control her emotions, she would be a formidable unicorn for as long as this lasted. But...if she had the wish-granting ability…

Assuming that even transferred…

Then they would be hosed until she came back.

Time to call Twilight.

Okay, small problem. Twilight had gotten off at Canterlot when they’d returned from the Crystal Empire to have her horn checked. And she hadn’t returned yet.

Even Spike was in the dark, nopony had contacted him or anypony to say when the unicorn would be back.

So Aspect wrote out a short message to Celestia, detailing the situation as it had happened and why they might need Twilight’s help. Mainly because if they couldn’t get a horn back on his head, he might literally have said head explode if he couldn’t properly vent his Light aspect of his magic. He tied a dragonfire ribbon around the scroll and watched it immolate and get sent off into the air towards Canterlot, hoping that would be enough.

Before the letter bounced back, it opened at… Oh you cannot be serious!

‘You have reached the desk of HRH Princess Celestia. The Princess is currently unavailable, she will answer your {insert terms of request here} at her next earliest convenience.’

Did… did he just get her flipping voicemail?

Alright...time to pull out the big guns then.

That was what led to Aspect invading the Nightmare’s room with a slightly mad look in his eyes. He found the filly and… oh sweet merciful gods.

Of course the filly would be swapped.

The filly let out a sigh as a hyperactive Alicorn Pinkie Pie, bounced around the room, throwing some kind of party for her.

“...Well this makes things easier,” Aspect mused, reaching out and grabbing Pinkie by the withers, looking her in the eye. “Pinkie, I have an important mission for you,” he said seriously, still with that slightly mad look.

“Ohh, you look upset,” Pinkie said as a party hat appeared on his head and she seated him at the table with some cake. “Sit and eat. You two need to bond as daddy and daughter anyway. Oooh, we could add that to the list of what the party is for!”

“That would be the one-hundred and fifteenth addition she’s made,” Nightmare sighed.

“Pinkie, this is serious,” Aspect replied. “Dash just teleported over to Applejack’s place, I don’t know where Realm is, and the only one that might stand a chance at fixing this if they can’t, is stuck up in Canterlot. And Cel isn’t answering her letters. I need you to either round up everyone that had their species swapped and get them back here, or get Twilight down here pronto.”

“Aww, why so serious Aspy?” Pinkie sighed and rolled her eyes. “I mean, it’s not like this is the first disaster, and it’s nothing compared to what’s coming sooo…” She took a deep breath as Aspect felt a Harmony Song coming on.

“Pinkie,” Aspect cut her off suddenly. “Because if I don’t get a horn on my head to properly vent my Light Aspect, my head will probably explode.”

She giggled and zipped over to him, slapping a strapon horn on his head.

Why was it glowing?

Why could he cast with a fake horn!?

“I have so many questions,” Aspect muttered as he stared up at the thing. “Okay...this is a stopgap solution, but it won’t work for everyone. You can’t just strap wings to Realm, or both to Nighty here. Their magical cores are still thinking they’re alicorns, so if they can’t vent properly…”

“Kablewy!” Pinkie said, somehow making an explosion noise. “Okay, let’s go find TwiTwi then.” She grabbed him and Nightie, before pulling them through the door and…

Why were they standing in a hallway in Canterlot Castle? Why did Aspect get the feeling he’d forgotten something, and thinking about it felt like a very bad idea.

“...Pinkie, just...don’t do that again anytime soon,” he whispered in a small voice. “Let...let’s just get Twilight back home so that we can get to work on sorting out this issue.”
“Okie Doki Looooki~” she giggled as she bounced down the hall. Nightmare was awfully quiet as she clung to Aspect’s back, still shivering. She also murmured something about darkness beyond darkness and eyes…

Aspect soon lost sight of the manic alicorn. But asking a guard did help him discern Celestia’s location. Apparently she’d been out in the gardens all morning. He rounded a corner and came face-to-chest with Luna, the larger alicorn looking down at the stallion when he spilled to the floor.

“Hmm, what are you doing here?” she asked as she helped him up. “Tis not like you to show up unannounced.”

“Long story short, Twinkle mixed a Polymorph and a Wish together, everyone who was in the house is a different species...except Artemis, I don’t think he changed at all,” Aspect explained. “So...I’m here to get Twilight to help figure out how to undo it before the former alicorns explode from not being able to vent their energies properly.”

“Oh dear,” she said and shook her head. “You should have sent a letter, it would have been faster than coming in person.”

“I did, Tia has voicemail set up at the moment,” the stallion explained. “I was going to use Nighty’s dreamwalking to send a message to you, but found Pinkie with a horn and wings. So I took a shortcut that I am not thinking about to get here. Where’s the prodigal unicorn, we might need her at this point.”

Luna snorted clicked her tongue. “Of course, it never occurred to you to just send me a letter…” Her voice dropped as she mumbled. “Nopony ever asks for me…” She looked back up and tilted her head. “Well, you may have wasted the trip. Come along, the pair of fools are in the garden.”

Aspect followed along as he answered her little griping. “Luna, that’s not it and you know it. My dragonfire ribbons are only enchanted to take messages to Tia. I would have used Nighty’s dreamwalking to send a message to you if she still could. I don’t love you any less than I do her, I just have less options to get in contact with you.”

“Dreamwalking would only work if I was asleep,” Luna said as she opened the doors to the gardens. “No matter, I will enchant some ribbons for you myself.” They stepped outside as the alicorn sighed. “You may be wasting your time though. Twilight Sparkle is…”

“Oh she better be well after what I pulled through to heal her with,” Aspect muttered to himself.

“Physically yes,” Luna said as she paused. Aspect could see his other daughter in the distance, laying under a tree with a purple unicorn under her wing. “But she has yet to even light her horn since then. I fear… she is not too well mentally. Whatever happened in the Crystal Empire, it has scared her. Her dreams are… also puzzling. She keeps dreaming of two dragons, one made of shadow and light… as well as a third being, a demon of fire. I cannot help, since I no longer have the Aspect of Dreams.”

“...And while Celestia coddles her student, her friends, her supports, lose contact with her. So...it falls to me to get her back in a nurturing, healthy environment for her,” Aspect sighed. “Fine. So...straight out demanding she return is out. Maybe...presenting it like a puzzle would work.”

“I leave it to you,” Luna sighed. “I have royal duties to attend to. And… take care. Celestia is being, oddly possessive for some reason.”

Aspect nodded and began walking up to the alicorn and unicorn, thinking over his approach carefully. He thought he had it...he’d just have to try it out.

Celestia’s ear flicked as she turned her head. “Oh it you father,” she said in a cool tone. “Well, what do you want? I believe I made it clear that I do not wish to be disturbed.”

“Unfortunately, an incident, also known as ‘Tuesday’ has happened back in Ponyville,” the stallion replied, taking off his fake horn for emphasis. “Twinkle mixed a Polymorph spell into one of her Wishes. While we can try to work backwards from it, Dash is apparently an emotion caster, so getting her to sit still and not blast things will be hard. And if we take too long, the Aspects of us will begin to build up mana inside of us that we can’t properly vent…”

“And you’d likely explode,” Twilight murmured. “Sorry, but I can’t help you… I, don’t even know if I can use magic anymore.”

“I am comforting her right now,” Celestia said. “Go to the school, there are plenty of bright unicorns. Luna would also help I’m sure. And Chrysalis. She has nothing better to do I imagine.”

“Would any of them be able to try and unravel the mess that is a Wish upon seeing it for the first time?” Aspect countered. “It’s old magic. It’s the same magic by which Yggdrasil alters the weave of the fabric of Fate itself. And with Twinkle not having her horn to properly demonstrate it, I can only think of one bright, exceptional unicorn that would be able to unravel this Gordian knot before it consumed us all.”

“Too bad you never explained any magic from your past, it’d be too dangerous right?” Twilight said. Her voice sounded… off. A little flat.

“You heard her, leave us,” Celestia said with a low growl.

“I don’t think so,” Aspect shook his head. “Twilight, you’ve heard the tales. The previous Magic Aspect belonged to three witches who lived up on top of a volcano, using their abilities to bring pain and misery to the ponies, because they found beauty abhorrent. I can safely say that you are nothing like them. If you want, I could teach you Sorcery. I could even loan you out their old spellbook, so you can learn what they did, so you’d know what not to do. There was even a discipline all about casting without thinking, doing without calculating, simply knowing how to fluidly move your magic. It was called the Still Way, and you’d probably be good at it. Though at the moment...Dash is better.”

Twilight turned and… why… were her eyes glossy?

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?” Celestia hissed, one of her slitted eyes glaring at him. “Stop trying to take my Twilight away from me—”

Aspect reached out and booped Celestia’s nose. “Bad Cel,” he admonished her. “You were going to get a guard or two as well as a Zebra mystic to help you learn control over your more emotional half. Latching onto Twilight right now isn’t healthy for either of you. You’re becoming domineering, controlling, dependant on Twilight when you can’t even depend on your own emotions. And you know Twilight does her best work when she’s around her friends. Why are you keeping her from them?”

Celestia held Twilight closer, the unicorn shaking her head as she looked around. “Huh? I… where am I?”

“In the gardens…” Celestia murmured. “You… fell asleep.” She pulled back her wing, though she looked hesitant to do so. “Go with father… he, he needs your help.”

“Huh?” Twilight looked hopelessly confused.

“Just...come here Twilight,” Aspect said, holding out a hoof. “And Cel? We’ll be having a talk about this. About the only thing you can do to delay it is follow through on your original plan and get your other half under control. So if I were you...I’d do that.”

The alicorn said nothing, even when Twilight tried to speak to her.

“O-Okay,” Twilight said. “Take care Princess. I’ll come and visit again after this issue is sorted alright?”

“Mm,” the alicorn nodded, before teleporting away.

“Did… Did I do something wrong?” Twilight asked. “She’s been so happy since we got back to Canterlot. What happened?”

Aspect sighed, looking for the best words to explain it. “All Aspects have the risk of having a Nightmare, if they repress their more emotional halves. Most of us never do form one. But Cel and Lulu...they’ve had to be responsible. They weren’t allowed to give into their base desires, their needs, their wants. They weren’t allowed to be themselves. Cel’s Nightmare broke out back in the Empire...and it sees you as hers. Not her student. Just hers. I think...it entranced you so that you wouldn’t want to leave.”

Twilight shivered. She… she hadn’t wanted to. The more time she spent around her mentor, the more she felt like staying here in Canterlot. She hadn’t wanted nor worried about anything. Just the kind of relaxation she’d needed after that… event.

“But… why me?” she murmured. “I’m just her student. She… she has a school full of ponies like me.”

“Because she sees you as something more than that,” Aspect said softly. “She likes you. Like one pony likes another romantically. But she’s afraid to act on it normally, because she wouldn’t want to pressure you into doing something like that. Because if she asked, you likely would see it as ‘anything for Princess Celestia’ and not even question if you wanted it at all. Which she doesn’t want, she doesn’t want your worship. Just your love, the chance for your love, to see her as something other than ‘Princess Celestia’ and just ‘Celestia’. But her nightmare...doesn’t care about that…”

Twilight just… sort of stood there, her face red as she stood ramrod straight. Her blushed aaaaall the way up to the tips of her ears.

“W-What?” she somehow managed to squeak out.

“My daughter likes you,” Aspect told her. “She has for a while. She likes you romantically, but she’s not going to act on it until you can see her as just ‘Celestia’. Not ‘Princess Celestia, She Who Leads The Ponies And Moves The Sun, For Whom I Would Do Anything.’ Just… ‘Celestia, a lonely old mare who wants someone to love, cuddle, and cherish.’ Once she gets her nightmare under control...and you can stop idolizing her...maybe then you can act on it. But I won’t force you. She won’t force you. And you certainly shouldn’t force you either.”

Twilight sat down. Hard.

“Good job, you friggen broke her,” Nightmare snarked, apparently having recovered. “Wasn’t she your only hope or something?”

“Eh, I can always ask Pinkie to take us all back to Ponyville, we can work on rebooting her there,” Aspect quipped.

“NO!” Nightmare yelled. “Travelling via that… that abomination is no longer permitted under ANY circumstance. I would sooner see this world consumed in hellfire than EVER travel like that again!”

“Well she’s our only option to getting back quickly, unless you know how to reboot a unicorn,” Aspect quipped.

Nightmare smiled. Widely.

“I-I-I-I h-hate you s-s-so m-much…” Twilight’s teeth chattered, having been drenched in ice-water before the trio flew back via chariot. Nightmare merely cackled in response, relishing in her evil ways.

“Well if you hadn’t locked up, Nighty wouldn’t have had to resort to drastic measures,” Aspect pointed out, before clicking his tongue and turning back to Canterlot. “We left AliPinkie back in the castle.”

“T-That terrifies me,” Twilight shivered again, and not from the cold. “S-So, what am I supposed t-to do to help?”

“Well, Wishes are very old magic that few ponies can have,” Aspect explained. “Though the Polymorph spell is tied up in it. If you can trace that, you’ll be able to figure out how the Wish ties into it all and maybe devise a counterspell. Hopefully before the Aspects that got swapped explode.”

“Isn’t there a counterspell already?” Twilight asked. “I can’t exactly create a brand new spell. That’s impossible.”

“There might be a counterspell for the Polymorph spell, you’d have to ask Twinkle which one she was using. As for Wishes...that’s a different subject altogether.” Aspect sighed. “I might be able to get some help for that one.”

“Well I hope so, or changing back might be impossible.” Twilight said with a groan. “Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Tuesdays?”

“You and me both,” Nightmare sighed. “Oh, also I can’t Dreamwalk. Might wanna find out if that got Swapped.”

“Wonderful,” Twilight sighed.

The list of things surprising Aspect didn’t end there. When they landed out front of his home, he was surprised to see a griffon standing there. A female one with white and brown plumage, with purple shading around her eyes.

“Gilda?” Twilight whispered. “What’s she doing here?”

“Don’t know, don’t care at the moment,” Aspect whispered back, before walking forward and clearing his throat. “Pardon me, this is private property,” he started with.

“Yeah, don’t care,” the griffon hen said. “I know that dweeb that messed up our town is here. So I’ve come to mess up his face.”

“Well he’s not here at the moment,” Aspect carefully worded. Technically true, he couldn’t formshift. “But I can get him after we resolve a problem involving magic. So if you’d like to wait inside, I can arrange that.”

“Tch, whatever,” the griffon sighed and saw Twilight. “Oh… you’re of that loser Rainbow’s friends aren’t you? Not like I care or anything.”

“T-That’s right,” Twilight said, only using Aspect as a pony shield a little.

“Look, you either obey basic morality and decency, or you can get the fuck off of my lawn,” Aspect said quite bluntly. “I’m not going to apologize for you. And if you don’t start treating my friends right, I’ll bend your talons behind your back until you cry uncle.”

“One, I’d like to see you try pony,” Gilda said with a low growl. “And two, I really don’t care after the way they treated me last time I was here. I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t under duress.”

“What goes around comes around,” Aspect replied. “If you treat them nice, they’ll be nice in return. And if I hear one more word of disrespect out of you, I’ll show you why you don’t mess with old, retired veterans. Little tip, there’s a reason they’re old.”

Gilda looked him over and chuckled. “Finally, a pony with some balls,” she laughed and slapped his back. “We’ll get along just fine. Now, where’s that black griffon so I can rearrange his features a little.”

“Like I said, after,” Aspect said. “Twilight, find Twinkle, she should be trying to round up Dash and Realm. If you can help them figure out what’s going on, that’ll be just great.”

“I’ll… see what I can do,” Twilight nodded, putting distance between herself and Gilda as the hen clicked her beak.

“So… you know Dash then?” she asked, a small bite in her tone at the mention of the mare’s name. “I assume you mean Rainbow Dash.”

“There was a species-spell swap gone wrong,” Aspect replied carefully. “Currently, Dash is a hornhead...that can shoot Rainbooms from her horn and teleport on a whim. She’s an emotional caster. I wouldn’t advise messing with her just this moment.”

“Rainbow Dash… the literal ego with wings, is a freaking unicorn?” Gilda exclaimed… before falling sideways, laughing heavily. Yup… she was Dash’s friend alright.

“So listen,” Aspect said as he sat near the griffon. “I understand griffons are loyal to their friends...if they get any, what with how the empire turned out to be. So I understand, from secondhoof accounts, why you did what you did to keep Dash. But you have to understand...she’s allowed to have other friends. And while you’re in pony lands, you’re also expected to...I dunno. Follow pony customs? Like not stealing. Or screaming for no reason.”

“I dunno, it was kinda funny when the pegasus ran away crying,” Gilda snickered. “Eh, whatever. If they couldn’t handle that, no way would they handle Griffonstone right now. Whole place has gone to shit thanks to that black one and his stupid spear.”

“Fluttershy is one of Dash’s oldest friends from Cloudsdale,” Aspect said coldly. “I’m pretty sure you set her back about five years of acclimating to the town with your little display. Way to look out for your friend there.”

“Fluttershy… oh, that wimp from Flight School,” Gilda shrugged. “Well look, none of that is really important. Not when griffons are tearing up each other over that damned spear.”

“And we’ll get to that,” Aspect countered. “Look, Rainbow thinks of Ponyville as her home, and would never leave anypony here hanging. Everyone is a mild acquaintance at least. Knowing that...would you have done anything differently when you visited?”

“Yeah, avoided the party of that crazy pink pony,” Gilda muttered. “Look, I don’t care that she has other friends. She’s allowed, I’m not her mom. But… she didn’t have to forget her old ones in the process.”

The griffon frowned and turned. “I’ll be back later. And that black jerk had better be here when I do.”

“If it helps,” Aspect said before she took off, “I think Dash misses having a griffon friend that she could get along with. It’s just...she doesn’t want to have to be ashamed of you if you visit.”

Gilda paused… before continuing and flying away.

Well, that was certainly something.

Twilight’s Sparkle and Twinkle sighed as they poured over books and papers, trying to discern what went wrong, in order to try and fix it. For the last few hours, Twinkle had explained to her fellow unicorn, the in’s and out’s of her Wish Granting. As fascinating as Twilight had found it, she needed to focus on this spell first.

“Okay… so, can you remember at all what happened when you cast the spell. What exactly you were thinking about?”

“I’m trying… but I’m rather frazzled by everything,” Twinkle sighed as she rubbed her head.

“Doesn’t help that wishes are an insanely rare talent to begin with,” Aspect said as he walked in the room. “Back in the bad old days, you could find maybe one unicorn in a thousand with their talent. Majesty cheated, she used runes to grant wishes. Twinkle was the first proper wish-granter I came across. But there is another in this day and age.”

“There IS!?!” both Twilight’s echoed, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Get them here, we could use the help,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Problem with that,” Aspect raised a hoof. “He’s...rooted in place. A sentient tree that talks to who he will. I can ask for help in unraveling this, but he uses his wish-magic to make sure things keep going the way they’re supposed to. He might help...or decide that it would be best if we solved it ourselves and only gave us a clue to unraveling this mystery. I can ask, but he might decide to be...cryptic.”

“Because of course,” Sparkle sighed and put a hoof to her head. “Well… let’s see here…” She went over the notes again. “I could try recasting the spell. Keep casting it until the roulette favours us?”

“Bad idea, I’ll just ask,” Aspect muttered, closing his eyes. Well son...what advice do you have for your old man? And don’t think I don’t see your fingerprints all over this situation. Twinkle ‘suddenly’ getting her Wish magic back while mixing in a polymorph? Dash teleporting off, leaving us to rescue Twilight from Celestia’s Nightmare clutches? I’ll even bet she’s training now...all as planned, right?

“You know it’s no fun when you spell it out like that yes?” came the reply of his inanimate son. “Well, a few surprises await you.”

Such as?Aspect asked. Twilight’s never worked with Wish magic, she doesn’t know how to dispel it. I don’t want her to recast the spell until the roulette is in our favor. That could take ages with how many were affected.

“Hmm? You have her working on it?” Yggdrasil fell silent. “No no, that won’t do at all. Honestly, this is why I cannot stand trying to work around you sometimes. Fate bends around you like light around your head.”

Well then, how should we resolve the situation? The stallion asked. You know, before the angry griffon returns demanding to see Bloodfeather and I can’t produce him.

“Father, I am not a magic 8 ball. You can’t shake me and expect the answer to fall in your lap time and time again. You know that already. You would not believe the strings I had to pull to steer Magic away from you. Loyalty is already entwined, but Magic’s destiny is far beyond your own…”

Wait what?

We’ll be having words about that, later, Aspect promised. Okay, how about...who ended up with the Wish talent? Because if you say Realm, then we have a chance at getting this back to normal…

Yggdrasil sighed. “Father, the ‘species’ was swapped. Not talent. Even I cannot do such a thing. That would, as you would say, ‘tear fate a new one’.”

Huh...Good to know. And we’ll be having those words later. He opened his eyes and smiled at the mares. “Good news!” he said. “I know how to fix this!”

“I don’t like it when he smiles,” Twilight Sparkle shuddered.

“An ill omen indeed, disaster and ruin are sure to follow,” Twinkle agreed with a solemn nod.

Aspect reached up, pulled the fake horn off his head, and slapped it on Twinkle’s head. “There,” he stated. “It’s a fake, but it’ll work for this. As should be evidenced by our marks, our talents didn’t change. Our fates didn’t change. Our Aspects didn’t change. Just our species did. If you use that to work a new wish to undo your last one, it’ll all go back to normal. All we need is to get Dash and Pinkie to hold still on the mansion’s grounds, and everything will be fixed.”

“Yeah, that last part is gonna be hard,” Twilight sighed and looked at Aspect. “If I show you this, do you promise to only use this power for good, and not evil or personal gain?”

“When have I ever given you reason to doubt my integrity?” Aspect replied, holding a hoof to his chest in mock hurt.

Both Twilight’s gave him a deadpan stare, before Sparkle opened her mouth.

“Oh wow, I really wish I had a cupcake right about now…”

“I have strawberry, raspberry and TwiTwi’s personal favourite, juniper berry twist,” Pinkie said from right beside Aspect, holding a tray of cupcakes in her pink magical aura.

Aspect did not scream or panic. He might’ve jumped a little, but he overcame the urge. “Pinkie, do me a favor?” he asked, using all his self-control.

“Yeeeeessss?” Pinkie asked as Twilight ate her cupcakes. What, she actually was hungry. “What’s up?”

“Can you go get Dash and bring her here?” Aspect asked.

“Easy freezie,” she giggled as she reached into her mane and pulled the prismatic unicorn out of it.

“Huh…” Rainbow shuddered, a wide-eyed, soul crushing look in her eyes. “All these squares make a circle… all these squares make a circle…”

“Mkay, Twinkle?” Aspect turned to her with a smirk.

“Um… yes?” she replied, tearing her gaze away from the shell-shocked Rainbow.

“I wish we were back to normal,” he said calmly. But before Twinkle could respond, Twilight Sparkle spoke up.

“You know… I think I might actually be able to cobble together a spell to—”

Aspect trembled. Something, something somewhere changed. His voice hitched in his throat, before an out of control Lyra tumbled into the room, wiping out Twilight Sparkle in the process.

“Yeah… we should fix this,” Twinkle said as she focused. Her fake horn sparked… before a bright flash filled the room…

“Aww… I was actually getting used to my horn,” Rainbow said, flapping her wings a few times. “Too bad.”

“On the bright side, I have an all new discipline I could teach you,” Aspect told her as he tested his horn, proud that it was shining again. “Once you master throwing lightning that is. Once you get that down, there’s a lot of things that the Still Way can teach pegasi about emotional control. Makes coming up with new things easier.”

“Rainbow Dash and emotional control?” Bon Bon smirked, glad to be rid of her extra appendages. “That’ll be the day.”

“Heeey,” Rainbow pouted.

“Oh good… it worked,” Yggdrasil sighed. “I was almost too late on that one.”

We’re still having a talk later, mister,Aspect promised, before looking at his living room wall. Or what was left of it. He sighed, walked over to the hole, and his horn sparked again, spilling out a runic sentence. Time began to rewind, the other ponies seeing the rainbow blast through space, before the wall was unblasted, fixing itself seamlessly.

Aspect panted, before dismissing the spell. “And that is why we only get in one disaster a week,” he muttered. “Can’t do that twice.”

“Cheating Rune mages,” Twilight Twinkle grumbled, shooting a glance at Majesty’s portrait. “Well, that was resolved peacefully, aside from young Sparkle taking a Lyra to the head.”

“She’ll recover,” Aspect said. “Lyra, we’ll never know. What is normal with her anyways?”

“I’ll tell you when I find out,” Bon Bon giggled and kissed his cheek. “But unless you tell her no, she’s going to become a regular around here and you know it.”

“Well, guess we’ll just have to live with our lives being more chaotic than usual,” Aspect mused, before looking over at Dash. “C’mere, you,” he pulled her over with his magic and kissed her cheek. “An old friend wants to see you. And me, and now that we’re fixed...wanna go meet her?”

“Huh? What old friend?” Dash asked, clearly confused.

“You’ll know her when you see her,” Aspect explained. “It’s someone I’m sure you could see yourself being friends with today, if circumstances were different.”

“...You enjoy being a cryptic asshole don’t you?” Rainbow sighed as she followed him. “Well whatever, lead the way then.”

Aspect let out a little hum as he led Dash to the front door, holding it open for her before following after her. He sat on the lawn and just waited. He didn’t know when Gilda would be back...but if she were going to come back, now would be a good time.

“So uh… we’re just enjoying the lawn?” Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, it’s an okay lawn. Nice and soft for crashing into.”

“She’ll come back,” Aspect promised. “Though...I guess I could lay out a bit of bait.” His horn glowed...and the stallion flashed.

When the light died down, Bloodfeather was sitting there instead, serenely watching the skies.

Rainbow tried and failed not to stare at his flanks. What? They were nice flanks!

“You know,” she murred, taking a sultry tone. “Nopony is around…”

“Somebody will be,” the griffon pointed out. “I bet you ten bits the moment you start something, she’ll dive down.”

“I really hate this Murphy guy,” Rainbow pouted, sitting down and crossing her forelegs over her chest.

“Just pointing it out,” Aspect pointed out as he closed his eyes. “I mean, feel free to try, but…”

“Meh, moment’s gone,” Rainbow shrugged as she gave a few flaps of her wings. She looked at Aspect and stared, but he hadn’t opened his eyes. With a smirk… she slooowly started to inch closer.

The griffon merely held his wings out, feeling out the air as well as he could without looking at the skies. He still hadn’t opened his eyes.

Rainbow inched closer and stretched out her wing. Naughty pegasus mare. He felt her trace the tip of her primary down his flank and…

*ZZZZZAP!*

Lightning bolt to the butt.

That got Aspect to squawk and open his eyes, staring at Rainbow as his feathers all puffed up from the static charge.

She just smirked at him, her wing sparking slightly.

“What?”

“I see somepony learned the trick to holding lightning,” Aspect muttered as he began using his claws to smooth his feathers back down.

“Maaaaaybe,” she finally gave up and cackled. “You look like one of Rarity’s hats,” she howled with laughter, pointing at his puffed up body.

“Well, guess that means you’re ready for the big stuff then,” Aspect replied, working more of his feathers down.

“Maybe,” Rainbow said and looked at her wings. “I dunno. I think I wanna get better at this first. It’s not at a level I’m comfortable with.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied, finally getting one wing to look normal again. “It’s a delicate skill. You have to hold the edge of the lightning in your mind, otherwise it’ll slip against your control and zap you instead. And because you made it with your magic...your magic won’t really save you from it. That’s how a lot of Gale King users end up dropping out of the program. They can’t hold the edge right...and it backfires. Usually at a critical point.”

“Eesh,” Rainbow winced as she looked up. “Hey… isn’t that—”

With a shrill, eagle-like cry, Gilda dropped from the clouds like a bullet, punching Aspect square in the face with her whole weight behind the blow…

Aspect rolled with the punch, landing on his feet and spreading his wings threateningly, and it was now that Gilda realized...how much bigger he was than her. “You did not just do that,” he warned her. “You did not just sucker-punch Bloodfeather.”

“Aww, does the widdle birdy want his Mommy~” Gilda teased him in a mocking tone. “After the shit you caused!? You’re lucky I haven’t torn your damn throat out!”

Apparently intimidation through size meant little to her. Well, she certainly had balls. Or simply didn’t know him.

“Let me educate you,” Aspect said, a gust of wind coming from his body...and the winds around his house changing to come from behind him. “I forged the Jetstream, an endless river of air around the planet. I was the Aspect of Air for many years. The one who pulls the spear from the anvil will be the next one. And I created the griffons. The only reason I’m not your emperor was because I said n—”

*SMACK*

Oh she did NOT just do that again!

“Yap yap yap,” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Waaah, look at me, I make wind and play with sticks. Congrats, you’re every child ever.” She puffed out her own chest. “Thanks to you, every griffon is fighting over that damned stick of yours. They don’t care who gets hurt. It’s shiny and they want to sell it. They attack each other for even so much as looking at the damned thing!” She drew back her fist. “So I’m gonna keep punching you until you get rid of it for good.”

“I can’t,” Aspect explained. “It’s stuck there until a worthy griffon to my title pulls it from the rock. At which point, they’ll be the new Aspect of Air. And really, if you try to hit me one more time...I’ll show you what it means to be an Aspect.”

“Well, aren’t you just every other griffon ever,” she snorted. “No wonder we’re all intolerable assholes. Made in God’s image I suppose.”

Ohh, that… that cut deep.

*SMACK*

And that was Rainbow punching Gilda. “Hey, you can’t come here and talk smack about my friends again! What the buck Gilda!”

“No no, she has a point,” Aspect sighed, pulling himself together. “I was the one who left them to their own guidance. I told them great stories about wars and conquests, hoping they would become mighty warriors. Never did I imagine they would turn on the ponies. I merely thought they would strive to become the warriors of the planet, lending aid to their friends.” He gave Gilda a stinkeye. “Clearly, I thought too highly of them being able to make friends. Mayhap I should pull the spear out of the rock and start over…”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” she sneered back. “What, can’t own up to your failures oh mighty god? So sorry we couldn’t follow the oh so perfect example you left for us. Oh wait...you didn’t!”

Yeah, since seeing him that day, she’d done her research. She knew exactly who Bloodfeather was. He didn’t live up to the hype in her opinion.

Aspect let out another sigh. “Because you were the first species I truly made on this planet,” he said. “Nobody is perfect. Not even me. I wanted you all to grow on your own. I wanted you to be strong. So I gave you examples of strength. I wanted you to be mighty, so I forged you from the strongest aspects of land and air. I wanted you to be my children of the wind, ready to rain down lightning and storms where they were needed, so I blessed you with a bit of my essence. That is why you can work with clouds like the pegasi. But…” He smiled up at Gilda. “‘Free will is a bitch.’ If you all wanted to grow the way you have...I couldn’t have stopped you.”

“We were strong,” she said and looked at him. “You know what, have you read a history book lately?”

“No, but I’ve heard rumors of you attacking the ponies,” Aspect replied. “Not what I hoped for, to be honest. I’d rather hoped you would learn friendship from the ponies, and could teach them military tactics. A cultural exchange. Instead…” He shook his head. “I am not mad at you all. The disappointment you feel in me? I feel that every time I consider what happened when I left. I am disappointed in myself. So much so that I once tried to die when I considered my failures in this world. But the world is more selfish than me. It wouldn’t let me go.”

Dash paused. “Wait, Gilda… you mean—?”

“I can’t remember the exact year,” she said.”It was while you ponies were fighting each other. There was a wild tornado that cropped up. We griffons couldn’t handle it. So we asked for help from a local force of pegasi. Wanna know what they said? Go ahead ‘Oh mighty God.’ Take a wild fucking guess!”

“If I could turn back time,” Aspect sighed, his wings drooping on the ground. “Fine. Your point is made. You have defeated me. Was it worth it? Do you honestly expect me to be able to do anything to fix the relations between your people and myself? I made you. I did not guide you. I could have. I might have needed to at points. But I wanted you to grow on your own. To interfere...I would have been a smothering parent, not letting you grow on your own to achieve greatness.”

“One, they didn’t help. It wasn’t on their border so they didn’t care,” Gilda said. “We lost a lot of griffons… most elderly and chicks and couldn’t evac in time. Oh, but once it crossed into Equestria? They took it out in less than five minutes if the story was right.” She scowled. “Sometimes kids need a firm claw on their behind, or they grow up to be little shits,” she said. “Everything was cool, up until a cyclops took the Idol of Boreas from us. Dunno why, but our culture went right to Tartarus after that.” She sighed and looked at him. “You said ‘worthy griffon.’ Sorry pal… I really don’t think one exists.”

“Fine, you know what,” Aspect walked forward and grabbed onto Gilda’s claw. “Dash, I’ll be right back. Just have to mimic Arabus to ride the wind to Griffonstone to stop this madness.”

“Sure,” Rainbow said and looked at him. “You sure you don’t want me to come?”

“Dash, if you came, you’d probably try to pull the spear,” Aspect deadpanned. “And because it likes you so much, you’d ruin the whole plan of Air going to a griffon.”

“Fiiiiine,” Rainbow pouted as she folded her forelegs. He could always see right through her huh.

“Who the fuck said you could hold my hand?” Gilda growled.

“Just give it a moment,” Aspect said...before the two of them vanished into air, blowing away on the breeze towards Griffonstone.

When they landed, Gilda stepped away from him, staring at him with wide eyes. “W-What was…” she shook her head and scowled. “Forget it. Not important.” She looked around as Aspect followed her gaze.

Oh geeze, Gilda wasn’t kidding. His eyes went to the spear as two older griffons cornered a younger one.

“Lil worm thinks he can pull it huh?” One flexed his claws. “Guess we should teach you the pecking order huh?”

There was a sudden shadow that fell over the scene. The two older griffons felt a large, powerful claw grip their shoulders.

“What a wonderful idea!” Aspect said way too cheerfully. “Let me see if I remember it myself...oh yes, now I’ve got it!”

He brushed his wings along their sides...delivering a brutal amount of lightning directly to their systems. “It goes me, noble griffons, with worms like you at the bottom,” he finished.

They didn’t reply, too busy being unconscious and all that.

“Yup, and he wonders where we got our violence from,” Gilda snarked as she walked closer. “But you see what I mean? Almost no griffon is daring to get close now. Some have already been killed over it.”

Aspect sighed and walked up to the spear, sitting in front of it. “Let all who wish to try their hand at freeing my spear from the rock come forward,” he declared. “It is a test to see who among you is worthy. None should have to die for the chance, for that merely means it may have been the one who will lead you back to greatness possibly being slain. Come forward, griffons, if you think yourself worthy!”

Gilda rolled her eyes. Three… two… one…

“How much does it cost?” one older griffon asked.

“Greatness? Who cares, got any bits on you? Can I sell the spear if I pull it?”

“Get off mah lawn!”

“Behold, the great griffon species,” Gilda snarked as she sat down next to him. “Are you impressed yet Oh mighty God?”

“Honestly? No. No I am not,” Aspect sighed as he hung his head. “I had such high hopes for you all,” he whispered. “You were meant to be my greatest children. The ones who would become the strongest of them all. You would have put even the Changelings to shame when they get focused on a subject. It was because of your failures that they were made, a race to seamlessly blend in with and protect the ponies from darkness. And now...now everything that has been done by me seems to be crumbling into failure.” He sighed and a single tear fell from his eye. “...Would the world have been better off if I hadn’t tried?...”

Gilda sighed.

*SMACK*

“Cch! You’re a real fucking whiner aren’t you?” she said, rubbing her fist. His stupid head was too hard. “Oh wah, my little science project failed, now I’m gonna whine and angst about it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Sorry pal, you don’t get that luxury. And ‘would the world be better off’? Are you feathering serious!?” She snarled and put a claw to his throat. “So that’s it huh? Gonna just roll over and give up. You know, I should have gotten that pony to help. At least he seemed like an alright guy. You’re just a pussy in a griffon suit!”

“I have tried to die before,” the griffon reminded her. “The world will not let me pass. It is more selfish than I am. And if you think I don’t get to whine? Your whole race, I once thought of as my precious children. To see each and every one of you reduced to this...I have to ask myself, was it wrong of me to let you live on your own? To live as free griffons? Should I have taken a thousand years out of my time to mold you into what you should have been? To ruin your development for anything but what I intended?” He shook his head. “No...free will is a right of all sentient beings. I will not deny you that. But a parent is allowed to bemoan his children...especially when none are even willing to try to step into the parent’s shoes.”

“So then you try again,” she said. “So what? Your kid gets a little unruly, so you throw ‘em out. Hope the ‘big wide world’ let’s them build character!” She didn’t even notice the tears stinging her eyes. “So what if it fucking terrified you! You… you don’t GET to do that! You don’t get to pretend it’s all your fault and turn the other cheek!” She drew her fist back, ready to punch him… before lowering it. “Forget it, you’re not worth hitting…”

“I am sorry to have disappointed you so thoroughly, then,” Aspect chuckled. “You might be the only responsible griffon left here, you know? Someone who might be able to actually whip them into shape. If only you had the authority to do that.”

“Tch! Fuck that noise,” she muttered, wiping her face with her arm. “Who cares about these losers. All they care about is bits and self worth. They can all go rot for all I care…” She stared at the spear and frowned. “Mind you… you started this crap with that…” She reached out and grabbed it. “So here!” She pulled it out and thrust it at him. “Take the stupid thing back…”

…

Every griffon around just… stared at Gilda.

The skies above Griffonstone darkened out of nowhere, lightning rumbling in the black clouds as Aspect looked at the spear, before looking at her with a smile. “Well done, my daughter,” he whispered. “Now...brace yourself. Immortality is coming, and it will not be denied.”

“W-What?” the griffon went wide-eyed. “Nonono, I don’t want this!” She tried to throw the spear away…

It just flew back into her claws.

“Sorry...you match the criteria,” Aspect told her. “You are a worthy heir to Air. And now…” he pointed upwards at the rumbling storm. “You will inherit my mantle.”

“Oh feathers,” she murmured as she slowly looked up, clutching the weapon like a teddy bear. “I knew I should have stayed in bed today…”

The lightning seemed to gather at one point in the thunderhead, and Gilda could feel the building charge beneath her…

Before the lightning slammed into her. And in that moment, the moment where she didn’t die due to an act of God, she felt something truly powerful enter her being. The lightning filled her body, permeating every cell of it, filling her with magical powers beyond comprehension.

Once the lightning cleared, in a moment that felt like an instant and too long at the same time, Gilda knew a few things for certain.

One, she was the Air now. She could feel all the air around Griffonstone, with every twitch of her feathers.

Two, she knew the spear could command the air as well as her. And that it had another form for doing so, because in her claws in that moment, she felt like she was holding lightning.

And three...that life had just gotten a lot harder.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words formed. She… she’d never felt power like this before. She couldn’t even begin to describe how it felt. She opened her wing, dust whirling around it as she commanded the wind. Even now, she had no idea how she was doing this. It was like… she just knew.

“W-What… am I…?” she murmured, clenching a fist as lightning crackled around her arm.

“The Air,” Aspect replied, bowing to her. “There is something you need to do, to prove to your people that you are worthy of leading them. Focus. Use your powers. Find the idol your people lost...and retrieve it. Only then will they acknowledge you as being worthy.”

Gilda flared her wings and took to the air. She’d barely had to put any effort into it. Flying was now as easy as breathing for her. She didn’t have to use her powers. She’d read the history books, she had a rough idea of where the Idol might be.

“There is a canyon, not far from here,” she said as Aspect joined her in the air. “But it’s too dangerous. Flying there is impossible due to all the crosswinds…”

“In time your powers will evolve into being able to handle this on your own,” Aspect told her. “But for now...use the spear. Call it by its name, and it will assist you. Gungnir already likes you, it should be child’s play to part the winds.”

She held out her claw, opening her talon as the spear appeared in a flash of lightning, her talons curling around the metal shaft as the spear thrummed with power. “Okay… that’s pretty damned cool,” she murmured as she lifted the spear. “Now what?”

“Use it to part the winds, quell them,” Aspect instructed. “Picture them dying down in your mind, then use your power to make your will reality. Force it into being through the hand wielding the spear, and it’ll be much easier on you.”

Gilda nodded, pointing the spear at the crevasse, as she closed her eyes. Then, over the course of a few minutes, the winds died out completely, a deathly silence falling over the valley.

“Did… did it work?” the griffon hen asked, opening one eye.

“You tell me,” Aspect asked with a smile. “Why don’t you go down and claim your prize?”

Gilda just nodded again, slowly making her way down to the massive gap in the earth. She felt no resistance, no harsh winds trying to slam her against the rocks. At this altitude, the wind was ever present, it never died down. How… was this even possible. Aspect was slowly following her, a smile ever present on his face as she led the way. If she could command this amount of wind now…

Five years— no, two years. And she’d probably reach for the Jetstream.

He followed her deeper, though the griffon had a head start…

Then he heard her scream. That prompted him to quickly catch up with her, alright. He put on a burst of speed to try and figure out why she was yelling…

Ooohkay, that was a very large horned skull on one of the many outcroppings. Nestled amongst a pile of bones, it was the remains of a massive cyclops, likely a beast Aspect himself would have dealt with once upon a time. Looks like in this case, gravity did the work for him.

“It’s real?” Gilda gasped, pressed up against the opposite wall to put distance between herself and it. “It wasn’t just some old legend…”

“Lots of things were assumed to be legends,” Aspect told her. “Myself, for one. But usually, the stuff that would give you nightmares, you don’t hear about anymore. Again, because of me. I have stories I could tell you…”

“M-Maybe another time yeah?” she murmured as she took a deep breath. She turned and… wait, the skeleton was reaching for something? She turned, following the direction it was grasping for…

A golden object lay nestled between two stones. Made of a gold that still gleamed brightly, not a single scratch or blemish marred its surface, even after all this time. A large pearl-like sphere was set in the center, the rest of the idol almost shaped like a curling wing.

“The… the Idol of Boreas,” Gilda said breathlessly. “It’s real…”

“Take heed,” Aspect told her. “For now, it can be a unifying symbol for your people. You can rally them behind you to make your nation whole again...but you will have to replace it. You must find something greater than it, otherwise...this may happen again, should it ever be lost or stolen.”

“Yeah…” Gilda took the Idol in her claws, staring at it. “Okay… sure.” She just… hovered there. “I don’t even know what to do next,” she admitted after a few silent moments. “What do I do? Where do I go…?”

“Take the idol above ground, show them all proof that you are their rightful leader,” Aspect urged them. “I can make a speech for you if you’d like, but you might need...lessons. In how to rule, lead, inspire. The griffons will be yours, and you have plenty of examples of what not to do. It will be up to you, to forge them into something great again.”

“How!?” Gilda suddenly yelled, flaring her wings as the wind started to pick up. Even now, he was having trouble staying still in the air. “I don’t know how to lead! How to be some… some kind of ruler! I’m… I’m just a kid who sells tasteless cakes from her cart for fucks’ sake!”

“‘The best leaders are those that do not seek the position,’” Aspect quoted to her. “Like I said, I can put you in contact with someone who can give you lessons. She has plenty of experience. You can even write letters to her from anywhere in the world, and she’ll be able to help you.”

“This is too much… I can’t do this,” she murmured, still hovering in place, though the winds had died down. “It’s imposs—”

Slap.

Aspect had pulled his punch a little, but that was still his hand backhanding her face.

“Nothing is impossible,” Aspect told her firmly. “You have my spear. You have the Idol. You could go above on your own and proclaim yourself their new Goddess, and they would have no choice but to listen to you. You are the air now. Your influence will only grow the older you become. In a matter of months, all of the Griffon lands will have no choice but to accept you as their leader...if they want to fly ever again. You have that power now.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, putting a claw to her cheek. “Y-You just slapped me…” she said plainly. Then her eyes narrowed into a smirk. “Feather you’re such a bitch. At least hit someone like you mean it.” She looked at the Idol and shrugged. “And Goddess? Fuck that noise. I’m no goddess and I don’t have your ego to proclaim myself as one.” She flared her wings again and nodded. “Right…” And with that, she rocketed out of the canyon.

It also meant her influence left with her and he had seconds before that crosswind returned. Aspect took one moment to appreciate that she’d managed to pull herself together, before following in her wake. He hung back after getting free of the canyon, though. He wanted to see how she’d go about unifying a divided kingdom.

Well that was unexpected.

“Alright you losers!” Gilda yelled as she landed and put the Idol on the stone where the Spear had been lodged. “I found this ancient thing, so I guess by our own laws, that makes me your new leader or some shit.” She sighed and shrugged. “Personally I don’t really care. You guys don’t exactly deserve to be dragged out of the shit you dug yourselves into, nor have any of you done anything good for me. Nothing’s stopping me from flying off and making a fortune with my new kickass powers.”

She summoned the spear and tapped the ground, kicking up a burst of wind. “I don’t get ANY of this. But I’m sick of seeing our home looking, and smelling like dragon shit. So I’m gonna do something about it. I’m gonna make being a griffon something to be proud of dammit!”

She lifted the spear and looked at them. “And I don’t care if you assholes don’t follow me. I’ll make this place better by myself if I have to!”

There was some murmuring amongst the crowds that had gathered, and one griffon hen stepped forward.

“I know… I haven’t been the best friend,” she said. She was a cute young thing sporting a green scarf. “But, well, can I help out?”

Gilda’s expression softened. “Sure Greta. Any more of you?”

“Memememememeeeee!” a rather excitable young one yelled, flittering around. Gilda groaned and facepalmed.

“Anyone that isn’t Gabby.”

“Meeeeeaaaaan!”

“Urgh, fiiine,” Gilda sighed as Gabby smiled brightly.

Well...this was going well. As well as it could for griffons anyways.

Still, she had a great deal of power all of a sudden. Transitioning to this was not going to be easy. He landed behind her and folded his wings up, not saying anything to her just yet. He wanted her to know that he was there and ask first. Assuming she did.

By the end, she’d gotten a few more volunteers from the crowd, but well over half had just dispersed, Aspect catching mutters of ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ and other things along those lines, most far less polite.

“Well, I guess that went better than expected,” Gilda sighed as she looked at the massive black male. “So… now what?”

“Well, you have a power base,” he indicated the volunteers with a wing. “So...I’d suggest starting with the basic issues of the city and seeing if you can’t figure out how to fix them. Food, water, shelter. If you improve the city and win them over through good deeds, they’ll be more likely to follow you. And as for you new power…” He smiled at her. “It was mine for the longest time. If you need me to teach you how it works, you know where I live these days.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Gilda murmured as she looked at the group, now talking amongst themselves. “Well… Guess I should get started right? Sooner the better and all that crap.”

“Mhm,” Aspect nodded. “I’d suggest getting some crops growing and using your new powers to help provide adequate rain to start with. If you grow enough, you could sell them to the griffons here for a boost in revenue. And if the soil isn’t good...I can provide someone who can help with that.”

“Well, who knows,” Gilda sighed as she rubbed her head. “I’m so far out of my depth here…” There was so much to do, she didn’t know what to start on first. Rebuilding? Farming for food and fresh water? Building up a defensive force?

“Just keep in mind,” Aspect bowed to her. “I have faith in you, to do what I could not.”

“Well, you are the perfect example of what not to do,” she smirked back, chuckling lightly. “Fine, I’ll figure shit out. Careful if I come back though. I bet I can punch a WHOLE lot harder with a thunderbolt behind it.”

“That you can, and let me let you in on a little secret,” Aspect smiled at her, standing up straight and leaning in to whisper. “I can shapechange.”

And with that, he flapped a few times, getting high up in the air before just melting away into a gust of wind. One she felt heading back towards Equestria.

Gilda stared after him and then shrugged. “Eh… I’ll smack him later. Right now…” She looked back at the group waiting for her. “Yeeaahh, freaking out sounds like a solid plan to start with.”

Author's Note

And thus we are rewarded for thinking everything would be 'okay'.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be lost to the Steam Summer Sale.

Chapter 64 - So many Pinkies

“You. Made Gilda. GILDA! A-A FREAKING GODDESS!?!” Rainbow Dash screeched. It wasn’t the first time, nor likely to be the last even since he broke the news of the newest Aspect in town.

“Yay, I’m not the new kid anymore!” Artemis cheered, waving his tiny paws in the air. “Well, technically Realm was the newest, but you get my point.”

“Technically all I did was stick my spear through an anvil and told it to move only for a worthy griffon,” Aspect replied, using his magic to make sure his ears weren’t damaged. Again. “She wanted me to take the damn thing back and actually pulled it out. She wasn’t looking for the position for glory, wealth, power, anything like that. But if she plays her cards right, she’ll be the best Air aspect we could ask for. ‘The best leaders are those that do not seek the position.’”

“But it’s Gilda! For crying out loud… she’s probably dunking the head of every griffon in the region in a toilet somewhere,” Rainbow sighed and shook her head. “Fine, I’ll just file it under ‘Magical mumbo-jumbo about Aspect I don’t understand’.”

“She actually had a pretty nice following for a freshly-minted Aspect, and I gave her a few pointers on how to start on getting a larger one,” Aspect replied. “She was actually pretty responsible. She could have gone out and said something like ‘Bow peasants!’ or anything like that...but she frankly said that she didn’t care if they followed her or not. She’s matured a bit since you last met her.”

Rainbow just snorted and rolled her eyes. “Whatever, I woulda made an awesome Air Aspect.”

“Yeah, but I wanted it to not go to a pony for once,” Aspect booped her nose. “We already have plenty of metaphysical ones, I’d like the actual forces of the world to not be relying on ponies. Because, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed this lately, ponies can occasionally be crazy.”

“Fun?” Pinkie Pie popped up in front of him, tilting her adorable pink head slightly.

“Like her,” Aspect nodded, petting Pinkie’s head. “It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even question it anymore.”

“Oh, are we still on for going swimming later?” Rainbow asked her pink friend. “I seriously need to relax after hearing that.”

“Yupperooni!” Pinkie Pie nodded as she pet Aspect back. “Usual watering hole?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow nodded as the pink pony saluted and pronked from the room.

“Yeah, relaxing sounds good to me as well,” Aspect sighed. “Riding the wind so much when I’m not Air is draining. I’ll just go...rest in the living room or something.”
“You can always come swimming with me and Pinks,” Rainbow suggested. “Honestly, I’m prolly just gonna nap by the lakeside. It’s a nice day out for it. And I’m working the next week straight, so we won’t see each other much.”

“...Eh, sounds good to me,” Aspect replied. “Let’s go. I need a good bit of relaxing myself.” He cracked his neck. “Today has just been so stressful.”

It was a quaint little watering hole. Crystal clear water that was nice and cool to the touch, and true to Rainbow’s word, she just lounged on a lawn chair, dark sunglasses over her face as she snored.

Mind you, the sleeping pony was also giving Aspect an accidental show~

Aspect was doing his best to ignore that as he laid on a chair himself, just letting his stress melt away. The sun was out, though it wasn’t overbearingly hot.

What was odd is that Pinkie Pie was late, and when she did show up, she played in the water for a few minutes before saying she’d be right back.

And that was a half hour ago.

“Huh,” Aspect hummed, before closing his eyes and just sighing in relief. “You were right Dash, this is the best spot.”

“Mhm, one of my many favourite napping spots,” the mare murmured. “This, AJ’s trees and the clouds above Whitetail Woods.”

Pinkie eventually returned, though she looked a little out of breath. “Phew, that was a doozy,” she forcefully giggled. “Are you guys having fun?”

“Yeah,” Aspect nodded. “I needed to unwind after everything today.”

“Just… keep the noise down,” Rainbow said as Aspect saw Pinkie about to cannonball into the water. She grinded to a literal screeching halt in the air, before sloooowly sinking into the water.

“Not questioning it,” Aspect muttered as he closed his eyes and relaxed again. “Mmm...basking in the light is awesome now.”

The day continued, with Pinkie disappearing a few more times. Well whatever, it means he got to sleep the day away and honestly, he was enjoying it. He couldn’t remember the last time he was this lazy.

Then Pinkie returned, only now she was way more perky and bouncy as she jumped up to him, standing over the stallion.

“Fun?”

“Mmmph…” Aspect muttered as he rolled over. “Lemme rest.”

“Fun?” a hoof poked at his side.

“Pinkie,” Aspect moaned. “Lemme get some sleep…”

“Fun!” two sets of hooves grabbed him and the half asleep stallion rather unceremoniously tossed into the cool water of the lake. Aspect surfaced and spat water from his mouth, opening his eyes to see what was going on.

Pinkie.

Actually, make that Pinkies.

As in, multiple Pinkie Pie’s.

At least two dozen giggled and laughed, repeating the word ‘Fun’ over and over as they bounced, swam, giggled and pronked their way around, on and under the lake.

“...She’s finally done the impossible,” Aspect breathed. “...This is not going to go well, is it?”

“Wha… Pinkie?” Rainbow stared wide-eyed at the chaos. Then the Pink Horde smiled as they started to bounce towards town, still chanting “fun” over and over.

“Well, I’m taking shelter in my house until this blows over,” Aspect said casually. “You couldn’t pay me to get involved in this.”

“Oh no, if I have to suffer through this, so do you!” Rainbow said and grabbed his hoof. “What’s the saying? ‘For better and for worse’?”

“We aren’t married yet!” Aspect pointed out. “Dealing with that much Pinkie is out of my pay grade!”

“Yet, but too bad,” Rainbow huffed as she dragged him along. “Besides… it’s only a few more, how bad can it possibly be?”

“Haven’t you learned not to taunt the universe yet?!” Aspect all but screeched as she dragged him into town.

The universe heard and summoned it’s very best.

Pinkie hadn’t made a dozen clones.

Or two dozen…

No.

The pink pony had made close to a hundred as they bounced, ran and giggled their way across town. And absolutely nopony had any idea of what to do in this time of crisis. They could barely contain one Pinkie. Let alone a hundred of them.

“See?” Aspect moaned. “This is what happens when you taunt the universe. It’s too late now. We’re all doomed.”

“Bucking drama queen, you’re worse than Rarity,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Seriously, aside from being kind of annoying, they really aren’t doing much but bouncing around.”

“And if they all inherited Pinkie’s Earth Pony Strange Magic and talent for bursting out of random places, do you think anypony would ever sleep again?” Aspect questioned.

“PARTY!” Several dozen cheered and Rainbow grimaced. “Yeah… prolly not. Plus, they seem to have the intelligence of a rock. A really bouncy rock.”

“RUDE!” Several dozen more yelled at Rainbow and suddenly the mare was assaulted with a barrage of pies, burying her under whipped cream goodness.

“...You know, if we were in other circumstances, I might take that differently,” Aspect muttered as he helped Dash clean herself off normally.

“LEWD!” the Ponka Parade turned on him and… that was a LOT of Pinkie Pie’s making bedroom eyes at him…

“And they seem to be learning at an incredible clip here,” Aspect noted aloud. “I feel like we should be worried.”

“Gaaah, it’s in my mane, and my wings!” Rainbow shouted as Twilight teleported in and looked around. Her gaze instantly fell on Aspect.

“Okay… what the buck did you do this time?” she deadpanned at him.

“It wasn’t me!” Aspect defended himself. “We were relaxing at the lake when a herd of Pinkies stampeded by. Pinkie did something to duplicate herself.”

“...Something of yours that caused this?” Twilight asked. “Because last time I checked, Pinkie didn’t have a horn… anymore.”

“No, it wasn’t anything in my possession,” Aspect sighed. “I don’t have artifacts like that. Usually when they were, they made the clones were evil and had to be stopped from taking the original’s place, which led to me smashing the artifact.”

“The original…” Twilight looked at the horde. “We need to find the original Pinkie!”

“I’m Pinkie Pie!”

“No I’m Pinkie Pie!”

“I am!”

“Fun?”

Twilight stared at the hundred-strong ponk and groaned. “This… is going to be a challenge.”

“No kidding,” Aspect muttered. “They all seem to be obsessed with fun and the like. So...finding the odd one out? I can’t imagine the original Pinkie Pie is happy with this.”

“I dunno, this looks like Pinkie’s dream come to life,” Rainbow muttered, having used a raincloud to wash herself off.

“...Think this is Luna’s fault?” Twilight hazarded a guess.

“No,” Aspect sighed. “Look, let’s just...figure out what’s going on. There has to be a local, logical, magical reason behind why Pinkie was able to duplicate herself.”

“Let’s check the library,” Twilight said with a nod. “It’s been here since Ponyville was founded. Surely it has to have something.”

“Good idea, I’ll look to see if I can’t figure out which one’s the original myself,” Aspect nodded as he began walking through the town.

“He’s totally gonna bail and hide out at home,” Rainbow sighed as she followed Twilight back to the library.

Aspect had to admit, the town was...more intact than he thought it would be. So, he took his time looking for the original Pinkie Pie. Assuming she was even here.

It was a mess. Pinkie Pie’s were everywhere and causing no end of torments and chaos. Stores were turned inside out and everypony’s lives upside down by the manic mare.

“...Yup, too much,” Aspect nodded sagely as he continued his search for any Pinkie Pie that wasn’t engaging in the town-wrecking. There was one sniffing flowers. Another playing hopscotch with some foals. Another just laying at a table, her head tilted to the side… There were just so many Pinkie Pie…

Wait a moment, back up. Laying at a table? That wasn’t normal for Pinkie. Aspect reversed course and looked at the out of place one.

“Yeah what?” the mare muttered, her just… lying there unblinking as she sighed.

Pinkie Pie… sighed!?

Not a wistful sigh, but a ‘the whole world is heavy’ sigh.

“Well hello there Pinkie,” Aspect sat in front of her. “Guess you figured out that more of you didn’t mean that it was a good thing, huh?”

“Yes I’m Pinkie Pie,” she said in a flat, defeated tone. It was so… unPinkie. “And that’s Pinkie Pie… and that’s Pinkie Pie… and that’s Pinkie Pie…”

“But none of them are you,” Aspect pointed out. “You’re the original, the best one. They’re all hollow shells compared to you. You made them for a reason, right?” He’d ask how later.

“What would it matter… nopony would believe me,” she sighed. “Just a Pinkie Pie of many now…”

“I believe you,” Aspect said honestly. “I always believe in my friends.”

“Yippee for you,” she sighed. This wasn’t right, this was so unlike Pinkie Pie it was starting to scare him.

“Look, you can either tell me how you did it, and Twilight will work on it from there, or Twilight can figure it out herself,” Aspect told her. “But I’m not letting you continue on like this. I know you. You’re the perky, happy, party pony of Ponyville. There might be a lot of you out there, but they don’t have any heart or soul behind what they’re doing. They don’t really care about being you. Are you going to let those pale shells outshine you?”

“Who’s to say I’m even the real Pinkie,” she murmured, deflating more. “What if I just think I’m the real Pinkie…”

“Easy, do you still care about your friends?” Aspect asked. “Because I bet these copies don’t know them enough to know, say...Twilight’s favorite cake. Or Rainbow Dash’s birthday. Or things like that.”

“Chocolate vanilla swirl, February first and of course I do… but I can’t stop all these clones,” she sighed.

“Bet you twenty bits Twilight’s already learned something about how to get rid of them,” Aspect wagered.

“Probably… TwiTwi’s a smarty smart pony,” Pinkie said and sighed with a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not a very good friend anyway… I, I only get in the way.”

“You’re the reason Ponyville is as calm and welcoming to all of my crazy shenanigans,” Aspect pointed out. “Do you think they’d be half as welcoming if you hadn’t already acclimated them to the idea of things happening they couldn’t quite understand? I’d probably have been run out of town if I’d lived anywhere else. You’re the most joyful, life-of-the-party pony I’ve met, and it warms my heart when you’re as random as you are. It’s like...It’s like I never left the valley, like Surprise was still with me. Of course,” he reached over and rubbed her mane with a hoof. “You’re worse than her, but I’d never tell her that.”

“You already met Surprise silly,” she sighed and shrugged. “And I guess…” She snorted and managed a half smile. “Careful with those words, you have enough mares in your harem.”

“I’m not trying to get that,” Aspect rolled his eyes, before pulling Pinkie into a hug. “I’m just trying to bring a little joy back to the one who makes it her mission to see a smile on everypony’s face,” he whispered. “You being sad and depressed like this tears at me, and I want you to know...I’m here for you. Your friends are here for you too. If you need time for yourself, or time off from being so happy...then you can just take it, you know. You don’t have to be everywhere, doing everything.”

“How am I supposed to make everypony happy then?” she said. “I… even I can’t be everywhere. Then I remembered that legend about the Mirror Pool. I thought, ‘hey, I actually could be everywhere. I could make everypony happy’.” She looked up and snorted. “Yep, I really messed that one up huh?”

“Nopony can be everywhere, doing everything,” Aspect pointed out. “I learned that lesson the hard way recently. I couldn’t be helping the ponies and the griffons...and because I was an inattentive parent for so long, they sort of...went off my plan. But I’ve got somebirdy working on it now. I guess the best you can do is make a plan to be with some ponies, but…” he shrugged and beeped her nose. “Not even you can be everywhere, Pinks. Sometimes you’re just going to have to accept that. You’ll just have to plan to catch up with ponies you missed later.”

“But then… I’ll still let ponies down,” she said as Aspect’s ear flicked, he noticed that quite a few clones were now missing.

“That’s called life, Pinks,” Aspect said to her. “But the great thing is...so long as you don’t give up, you’ll have plenty of other chances. So what if you had missed out on hanging out with some of your friends today?” He shrugged. “They’re your friends. They wouldn’t let one little thing like that get between you and your friendship. They’ll understand if you’re busy and have to tell them ‘not today, I’m busy with so-and-so. Maybe next time I can hang out with you.’ It would have worked.”

“But what if they were busy tomorrow?” she said, sitting up. “And what if that series of unfortunate circumstances kept going and we’d always be busy together and I’d never got the chance to see them ever ever again!?”

“Pinks, you live in the same town,” Aspect deadpanned. “Let’s review. Applejack and Fluttershy, maybe...but you know they won’t be busy in Winter, because the farm won’t have that many things to do, and all of Applejack’s trees will go to sleep for the season. Rarity’s schedule is hectic, but she still makes time every week to go to the spa. I’m sure if you scheduled something, unless something truly dire came up that she needed to get done for a client, she’d love to hang out with you. Rainbow Dash might be the lead weathermare for Ponyville, but what’s one of her favorite phrases?”

“Don’t knock me up Aspect?” Pinkie hazarded a guess, a small smile on her face.

“...Okay, that, but the one thing she has as Loyalty and that she keeps telling me in all her stories?” He lifted her chin up and smiled at her. “That she never leaves her friends hanging. And you also know Twilight practically lives by her schedule. So...what were you worried about again?”

“Hey Aspect!” Applejack called out as she ran over to them and looked at Pinkie. “Oh good, y’all found another one. Help me round ‘em all up. Twi has a spell that’ll send ‘em back to where they came from.”

“Applejack, I found Pinkie, not a clone,” Aspect elaborated. “She was the only one to actually feel remorse over the situation she created. So...I mean I can give you something to help if you’d like, but this one’s the real deal.”

AJ paused and looked at her. “Uh… ya sure about that? Ah don’t reckon ah’ve ever seen Pinkie sit this still fer this long.”

“Because she felt like she was letting you all down in some way if she couldn’t spend time with all of you, and so she turned to the Mirror Pool. And when she saw what she unleashed...even Pinkie had to sit and weep at what she’d done,” Aspect illuminated. “But it’s okay, she’s better now. Though I don’t think she’ll really be happy until you round up the others and send them back to the pond.”

“Are y’all sure?” Applejack scratched her head. “Ah mean… Twi came up with this whole idea and…” She sighed and shrugged. “Well, help me round ‘em up. Some of these mares are slippery.”

“Think I can do that,” Aspect said as his horn sparked for a moment. “Hey Pinkie, why don’t you prove that you’re the real Pinkie to AJ here? Like...what’s her favorite type of cake? I don’t think you’d bother to tell your copies that.”

“Apple tea cake,” Pinkie said. “But AJ liking apples is like… Twilight liking books.”

“So ah like apples,” Applejack huffed and folded her legs. “Better than pears.”

“Let’s not fight,” Aspect said as he produced a long strand of light magic from his horn. He quickly knotted the end into a lasso and tossed the whole thing over to AJ. “You’ll have to tell me how it works, it’s my first creation with Light magic.”

Pinkie Pie snorted as she lay back on the table. “Now all she needs is some golden gauntlets…”

“Well… guess ah’ll give it a shot,” Applejack said. “And take Pinkie to see Twilight. We’re roundin’ em all up at city hall.”

Aspect used his magic to pick Pinkie up and put her on his back, looking back to make sure she was secure before setting off for city hall at a sedate pace. “Told you she’d find something,” he said to his passenger. “Feel like playing along with whatever Twi’s come up with, or would you rather sit it out?”

“I feel like sitting it out is just inviting disaster,” Pinkie said, her tail twitched as she used his horn like a steering wheel, turning him right as a flowerpot crashed onto the ground, knocked from a windowsill by another pronking Ponka. “Thanks for believing me.”

“To be fair, I was believing in you when you weren’t,” Aspect pointed out. “Your friends will see you through this, I promise you. You’ve been there for them. Now it’s their turn to be there for you.”

“What do you think TwiTwi has planned?” Pinkie asked.

“Knowing her?” Aspect snorted. “Some sort of test.”

“Math?” Pinkie giggled lightly, much more like her own. She paused and looked at him. “Is it just me? Or did you picture Twi in a sexy schoolteacher outfit too?”

“Nope,” Aspect shook his head. “She’s not into me like that.” To say nothing of the fact that Dash had a student outfit…

“Aww,” Pinkie pet his mane. “I’m sorry. I know you kinda liked her. Are you okay?”

“It’s fine,” Aspect smiled. “Apparently one of my daughters has an eye on her, so...I’m fine.”

“Oohhh!” Pinkie craned her neck down… why was her neck so stretchy? “Which one? You kiiiiiiinda have a lotta kids Aspy.”

“I’ll tell you later,” Aspect promised. “For now, we should get you to the hall so you can take the test.”

“Fiiine,” Pinkie pouted as she sat back and did up a seatbelt… he had a seatbelt? “Giddy up Aspect. We need to move the episode along!”

“...I will never understand you,” Aspect muttered as they finally turned onto the street with the town hall. “Oh hey, we’re there. Okay, so all we need to do is see how well Applejack does with her new lasso and—”

Okay… that was Applejack hauling a LOT of Pinkie Pie’s via her Light lasso. She saw Aspect and waved at him, smiling widely. Somepony liked her new toy a lot apparently.

“Welp, ready to join in?” Aspect asked his passenger.

“I think I’m having second thoughts about this,” Pinkie said nervously.

They headed inside regardless as all the gathered Pinkie’s sat, doing various random things. And on a stage?

Sat Twilight and a giant wall slathered with dripping blue paint.

“The test is easy,” the unicorn said with a smile. “All you have to do is watch paint dry.”

“Welp,” Aspect lifted Pinkie off of him and put her in place in one of the seats. “I know you won’t fail,” he said to her soothingly. “Prove me right, eh?”

“What happens if I fail?” Pinkie asked as another one thought it’d be a better idea to throw confetti around…

And a pink beam from Twilight vapourised her, sending a pink mist floating out of the window.

“I know you won’t,” Aspect told her. “You’d do anything for your friends. Even if it was incredibly boring.”

“I have a bad feeling about this…” she murmured.

Over the course of several hours. Their numbers had been whittled down one by one until only two remained, Twilight’s horn glowing red and smoking slightly from an earlier bout of rapid firing the spell.

The two Pinkie’s stared intensely at the wall. Neither of them seemed to be giving an inch…

“Oh look, balloons!” Aspect suddenly chirped, looking out a window.

“WHERE!?” one Pinkie ran over to the window… and was promptly zapped and sent returning to the Mirror Pool.

And the sole remaining Pinkie continued to stare at the wall.

“You’re the last one, Pinkie,” Aspect told her. “You can stop now.”

“Huh?” Pinkie looked up as she saw she was the last one there. “I...I am?”

“Told you,” Aspect said, smiling at her. “I knew you’d pull through.”

“Huh… I guess you did,” Pinkie said as she sat back and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry everypony. I guess… I guess I tried so hard to make everypony happy, that I didn’t make anypony happy.”

“S’okay,” Rainbow rubbed her head. “We’re not gonna stop being your friends or anything. Just, try and keep the Pinkie Pie levels to one okay?”

“Yeah,” Pinkie smiled. “It's great to have fun, but it's even greater to have great friends. And having lots of friends means that you sometimes have to make choices as to who you'll spend your time with. But that's okay, because good friends will always give you lots of opportunities to have fun. So even if you're missing out, it's never for long.”

“So what’re you going to do now, Pinks?” Aspect asked her.

“Hmmmmmmm!” She hummed and tilted her head. “Well, I think this calls for…”

“A party?” Rainbow said with an amused smile.

“A nap!” Pinkie said and fell onto her back, snoring loudly.

“I’ll carry her home,” Aspect replied after having a chuckle about it. “She’s been through enough today.”

“Hopefully we got them all,” Twilight said as she rubbed her aching horn. “This was certainly… an event.” She looked up at the tall unicorn stallion. “Speaking of events… how’s our… guest from the Empire?”

“We’re waiting for you all to get the Elements again so that we can use them on him, but otherwise, he’s probably doing alright in the local jail. Assuming nobody took the inhibitors off,” Aspect explained.

“I wasn’t aware Ponyville even had a jail,” Twilight said as she lifted Pinkie onto his back. “I’m tired… so I’m going home myself.”

“Good plan,” Aspect told her with a nod. “Until next time, mares,” he tipped an imaginary hat at them all before heading for Sugarcube Corner.

Later at his home, he noticed that the when the sun was descending, it was looking… shaky. Oh yeah, he still had yet to have that talk with ‘Tia.

...Eh, today had been long enough as is. He’d put it off for another time.

...And thinking of talks reminded him about the one he had to have with Yggdrasil.

…...Later. He was so tired. He headed inside and began heading for bed, willing to do anything to get some sleep at this point.

Then he saw he had not one, or two… but four mares lying on his bed waiting for him. Oh right, Lyra was a thing now. And Bon Bon… and Midnight… and Rainbow…

“Mares,” Aspect greeted them. “Hello again.”

“Hello Christopher,” Bon Bon smiled and pat a space on the bed. “Rainbow told us you had a trying day. Come over here.”

“Pinkie somehow multiplied herself,” Aspect agreed as he sat on the bed. “It wasn’t easy rounding her clones up. Though the lasso of light I gave Applejack seemed to help.”

“Yeah, she was talking about that all afternoon,” Rainbow chuckled as she helped him lay down, and Bon Bon’s hooves went to his back, slowly kneading it as she massaged him. Lyra’s magic started on his hooves while Midnight just nuzzled his neck.

“Yeah, I’m getting the hang of making things out of light magic now,” Aspect replied as he relaxed. “Just have to not tell Luna how I stabilized my core for a bit until I can replace the star I took.”

“A star?” Bon Bon paused slightly. “You know, you haven’t told us exactly what happened at the Crystal Empire. What on Equus happened that made you take a star?”

“Sombra happened,” Aspect sighed. “He was a wicked unicorn that took over the Empire and would have tried again, if I hadn’t stopped him. He was aligned to the darkness, to fear...so I aligned myself to hope, to Light.”

“Cause that explains so much,” Lyra chuckled. “Come on, you can tell a better story than that right?” And maybe she also pinched his flank with her magic.

Aspect hummed a little as he thought. “Sombra was a wicked stallion, who overthrew the rightful ruler of the empire. He bound it to himself, in form, in thought, in all things. When my daughters and I went to confront him, we overthrew him and sealed him away. But he enacted a terrible curse. If he was to go...so would the empire. He sealed it all away, took out every mention of the empire from everything. Even our memories were affected. So it was only when it came back, when he came back, that we remembered him and it. And it was then that I remembered a conversation I had with someone about how to stabilize my magical core. A massive infusion of magic, aligned to something positive that was Sombra’s counter, was possible. But I’d have to find something like that in the world. So when I stood against Sombra in the Empire, staring him down...I reached for the heavens, plucked a star out of the sky, and absorbed it into my magic, stabilizing it. My core had been half-finished. Because I only drank a sip from the fountain. But with the massive infusion of Light in the form of a star...I’m well and truly a proper Aspect of my own now. I’ve just been...abusing it for a few days straight.”

“Weren’t you always an Aspect?” Rainbow blinked and shrugged. Sometimes she really didn’t get this stuff. Bon Bon just chuckled and pet his head.

“Well I for one am glad you all made it back safe and sound,” she said. “Things have been… interesting here for the most part. Chrysalis hasn’t been seen, I think she’s still working on her hive. And aside from Midnight’s and my various pregnancy issues…”

“Have you told him?” the thestral asked.

“Oh right,” Bon Bon nodded. “We had our first checkup while you were gone. Redheart looked a bit shocked about mine, but they’re both coming along nicely otherwise.”

“Oh, good,” Aspect sighed in relief. “And in answer to your question Dash...okay, think of a glass. Now imagine that nobody bothered finishing the glass and it couldn’t hold much water. That was me, for the longest time. The smallest, the weakest. Though, because of that, I was ideally suited to hold onto the essences of the Aspects I had slain. I had no real magic of my own, so I could mimic others if I put effort into it. I still can mimic the old Aspects a bit...but I don’t think I’ll be killing anymore. If I do, I don’t know that I could hold onto it. My magical core is finished now, I’m whole. I am Light now. The longer I shine, the stronger I’ll be, but it’ll take time before I can truly be as strong as any other.”

“So… okay, theoretical time,” Lyra said as she sat up. “Say a bad Aspect shows up again. What’s gonna happen then? Are you still able to… rehouse their powers?”

“I...don’t know,” Aspect sighed. “I mean...maybe? I hope I don’t have to, though. There’s only two left that I might consider bad enough for the sword. But one of them...well, we’re thinking about having redeemed. Teaching him the errors of his ways. The other can stay locked in Tartarus for all I care.”

“Well, fair enough,” Lyra said as Bon Bon’s eye twitched a little. She knew exactly who the stallion was talking about. And as far as she was concerned, he could stay there as well. And Discord well…

“Well, three if you count Discord right?” Lyra said. “Isn’t he the Chaos Aspect?”

Dash fell a little silent at that one.

“He’s...a bit more than that, but I’ll tell you all that another time,” Aspect sighed. “Just...a note to you all. Never have memory seals performed on you. Or perform them on yourself. You won’t like it when they unravel.”

Bon Bon raised a curious eyebrow at him. Oh right… that thing with her old job.

“Nevermind,” the stallion said as he slumped a bit. “Just...the ramblings of an old warhorse.”

“It’s okay,” Bon Bon kissed him. “We still love you, even if you are a grumpy old hermit.”

“M’not grumpy,” Aspect muttered as he lay under their attentions. “Just...cautious.”

“Ehh, nah. You’re pretty grumpy,” Rainbow giggled and nipped his ear.

“Am not,” the stallion retorted as he flicked his ear.

The mares smiled… before they each took a hoof of his and started to tickle it.

“Ack, hey, quitit!” Aspect replied, snorting and trying to get his hooves back before they could make him giggle. It was fruitless, four mares were harder to fight off and they were relentless. Soon enough they had Aspect giggling, before he was outright laughing at their attempts to cheer him up.

“Oh wow, he actually can laugh,” Lyra giggled as she let his hoof go. “Who knew?”

“I diiiiid,” Rainbow snickered as the poor stallion was finally let go. “Thanks to Written and Hurricane for showing me his weak spots~”

Aspect slowly calmed down, before shooting half a glare at them. “Gonna...get you back for that,” he promised.

“Promises promises,” Bon Bon sang. “Middy and I have immunity from punishment~”

“I’m too fast to catch,” Rainbow mused.

“...Buck,” Lyra swore.

“Don’t worry, Rainbow isn’t too fast to catch,” Aspect promised. “So you can share it.”

“You don’t have Wind anymore,” Rainbow said with a smug smile. “If I actually tried, no way could you outrace me.”

Aspect demonstrated by throwing out a ribbon of light from his horn and using it to truss up Dash like a turkey. A second ribbon wrapped around her wings, binding them to her body and keeping her from running off.

“You were saying?” he mused. “Pretty sure you can’t outspeed light.”

“...Buck,” Rainbow said, struggling against the bonds. “Oh come on, being tied up is Bonnie’s thing!”

“What?” Lyra snorted as Bon Bon turned beet red and slapped the pegasus’ ass.

“I think I’ll keep you like that for a bit, let Midnight play with you,” Aspect mused as he leaned against Bon Bon and closed his eyes.

“What!?” Rainbow shrieked as Midnight smiled and licked her lips, quickly descending on the pegasus, her mouth going to work on several areas.

“That was a lil mean,” Lyra chuckled and poked Bon Bon. “And who knew that you were such a kinky lil minx.”

“Celestia damn it Lyra!”

“You could try to figure out Lyra’s kink,” Aspect offered. “I mean, if she’s going to be sharing the bed with us, it’s only fair.”

Bon Bon’s frown morphed into a smile as Lyra blinked and rubbed her head. “You know… I don’t think I really have one. Well, not one I’ve found anyway.”

“If you want help, I’m getting the hang of making things with Light now,” Aspect said. “I can make anything you might need to help Lyra...explore~”

“Hmm, well to be honest…” Bon Bon rubbed her head. “I don’t really know anything you could define as a kink. I mean, Midnight aside, none of us have a lot of experience here.”

“Actually,” Midnight lifted her head, letting Rainbow catch her breath. “I haven’t made love all that often. And when I did, it was just sex. The language barrier made relationships difficult…”

“So wait, we’re all pretty inexperienced, and talking about finding each other’s kinks?” Aspect blinked before chortling at the sheer lunacy of it all.

“It is kinda silly huh?” Lyra giggled along with him.

“We could ask Princess Cadence for help,” Bon Bon pointed out. “Didn’t she tell you a bunch of things Chris?”

“She’s a little busy with her own empire and all that,” Aspect pointed out. “Though...we could try experimenting to figure it out.”

“Oh? Well what do you suggest?” Lyra mused, interested to hear what he would come up with.

“Well, Dash has a thing for my griffon form,” Aspect pointed out. “Bon has a thing for being tied up, which I can do easily in my dragon form. Midnight might’ve asked specifically for my thestral form for her foals, but I get the feeling that she would’ve liked my human form too.”

“I would have not had an issue with that,” Midnight replied with a small nod, before resuming in making Dash moan lewdly.

“So, really, what form would you like me to take?” Aspect asked Lyra. “I’m pretty sure it’s in my repertoire.”

“I… haven’t really thought about it,” Lyra blushed. “I mean… I dunno. I only even fantasized about ponies…”

“Well, let’s run the gambit then,” Aspect asked, before turning into a muscular Earth Pony stallion.

“Hhm, handsome,” Lyra nodded. “I mean, I still know it’s you so. I’m most used to your pegasus form really.”

The stallion flashed, gaining wings and losing a bit of the muscle definition as he lay there for her judgement.

“Yeah, that’s the one. Still cute,” she nodded. “I mean, sure, I’d sex you up like that. Sill, most ponies would I think.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed, before flashing again.

Now a well-defined zebra stallion lay there, giving bedroom eyes to Lyra.

“Ohmy~ Well that’s… something,” Lyra said, more eying his well endowed package than anything else. “Is it true that zebra’s literally cum bucketloads?”

Bon Bon blushed and coughed into her hoof. “Y-Yeah…”

Lyra looked at her and smirked widely. “Ponies, zebras, dragons. Oooh, Bonnie is lewd~”

Aspect leaned over and nipped Lyra’s neck lightly, testing to see how she’d react to a Zebra. She shivered at the sudden touch as she looked at him. “Mmm, you’re cute, that’s for sure. I dunno, you just look like a stripey pony really.”

Aspect hummed again, before transforming into a thestral stallion, trailing a bat wing along Lyra’s spine.

“Sexy pegasus-like pone~” she murred as her magic teased his ear tufts. Aspect let out a murr of his own as she did, the ears being sensitive there.

“Hmm...maybe this?” Aspect asked, before transforming into Bloodfeather, his griffon form.

And that was Rainbow leaning over to suckle on his weighty orbs. Aspect let out a slight murr at that, before using a claw to play with Lyra’s horn while his closest wing was draped over her.

“I wonder,” Lyra smirked and Bon Bon sighed, she knew what was coming. “Do you taste like chicken?”

“You could try and find out,” Aspect teased her. “Mkay, I’ve got another form or two, and then the rest are way too exotic.” He flashed into a form Bon Bon was familiar with, his long, serpent-like dragon form.

“Meh,” Lyra shrugged. “Plus your lil ‘no preggo’ spell isn't effective with that one.”

“I figured out what I was doing wrong and fixed it,” Aspect replied. “But fine, I guess we can try out another.”

With that, he turned into a bipedal canine. A Diamond Dog. A big Diamond Dog, as he began playing with Lyra’s horn with his paw.

“Can’t say I expected that one,” Lyra said, looking at the massive mutt. “Huh… not quite sure what to make of this one.”

Bon Bon blushed again as Lyra’s mouth fell open. “Whoa… seriously?” she blinked. “Wow… never knew you had such a naughty streak Bonnie.”

“The rest aren’t something I’d use in this sort of setting,” Aspect said, not changing back just yet. “I mean, how would you screw a phoenix? Or a seapony in anything but a bathtub.”

“S-Seapony?” Lyra blinked suddenly, blushing somewhat. Oh? Ooooooh~

“I think we found what Lyra likes~” Aspect teased as he played with her horn a little more. “But like I said, it’s so not happening in the bed.”

“W-Well obviously,” Lyra blushed as he played with her horn. What, those pawpads were soft. “And I never said that buddy.”

“Mhm,” Aspect replied, before his form flashed again, revealing a seapony stallion on the bed, his tail end flapping a little as he leaned on Lyra for support. She blushed a bit harder now as she looked away.

“T-That doesn’t prove anything!” she denied, pouting a little.

“You know, I think if I—” Aspect concentrated a little, before his tail melted into a long, thin set of legs. Everything about him was willowy and graceful, and now he was like a leggy version of an earth pony. “Knew it, called it,” he crowed, leaning up against Lyra. “Neptune's been teaching his subjects some transformation magic for blending in on land.”

“And that is now a thing apparently,” Bon Bon mused as she looked at Lyra’s flushed cheeks. “Hehe, well I don’t know if they classify as a ‘kink’ persay, but I think you found something she likes~”

“Mmm,” Aspect leaned over and liiiicked up her horn. “So little unicorn likes the catch of the day, then?”

She moaned lightly at the lick while Bon Bon facehooved. “Ergh, and I thought Lyra’s puns were terrible…”

“Well, I think that’s just about everyone’s preferred form figured out,” Aspect mused as he began rubbing along Lyra’s spine with a hoof. “Midnight, how’s Dash doing?”

Midnight pulled back, slurping up her long tongue as she looked at the passed out pegasus mare. “Hmhmhm, she will not be participating in any further activities tonight.”

“Aww, you weren’t supposed to break her,” Aspect mock-complained. “Maybe she’s just faking it to get you to stop, though…” Still, he waved a hoof, and the bindings on Dash dissolved into motes of light, fading away. The pegasus fell limp, panting as she just lay there. Yup, she seemed pretty out of it.

“My apologies,” Midnight said, cleaning her face with a hoof, not unlike a cat.

“Maybe she’ll recover for a second round later,” the stallion said as he nuzzled Lyra. “So...who first, and who wants what?”

“Were you not exhausted not too long ago?” Midnight asked as she tucked her legs under her.

“Stallions always have energy for sex,” Lyra said with a sagely nod. “Sex, food and hooffights.”

“Plus I might be capable of cheating again,” Aspect replied. “I might be channeling the magic of my Light aspect into strength, stamina, all sorts of things like that.”

“So, like you were before you gave up Earth and Wind,” Bon Bon sighed. Well at least he’d have the energy to keep up with four mares. She stretched and looked at him. “Well, Rainbow got enough of your attention in the Empire, so I guess you’ll just have to make do with us hm?”

“That answers a bit, but not a lot,” Aspect replied, leaning over and kissing Bon Bon’s cheek before continuing. “Who wants to go first? And what form do they want me in?”

“Well,” Lyra mused and smiled. “Why don’t you surprise us huh? You have three mares and likely even more forms than the ones you showed us. So, have at it~”

“Hmmmmm,” Aspect mused, before leaning back up against Lyra and nuzzling her neck. “I’ve decided she can go first,” he announced, running a hoof through her mane. “She’s new here, she needs to get accustomed to this.” Flimsy reasoning, but it provided enough of a distraction for him to trail a hoof lower...and lower...and rub under her tail.

Lyra let out a squeak and blushed as he felt her moistened lips under her tail, heat radiating from her nethers as she mumbled out something, blushing harder as he stroked her. The stallion smirked as he kept rubbing her, getting a good feel for how ready she was to partake of their activities again. Judging by how wet his hoof was...very.

“I-Is he always this smug?” Lyra panted out, biting her lower lip.

“Yes,” Midnight and Bon Bon answered in unison. Well that was just rude that was.

Well, that could come later. Right now, he had a unicorn to break in~

Aspect nudged Lyra gently, insistently, until he had her turn over onto her back, at which point he nestled himself between her hind legs and got to work.

He might have cheated to give himself a thestral tongue while nobody was looking...and Lyra was about to find out the joys of one. He planted a long lick across her folds, slurping up all her leaking nectar and gulping it down.

“E-Eeep!” Lyra yelped as she felt that long tongue lap at her. T-That wasn’t normal right? How was it…? She glanced at Midnight, who waggled her long tongue at her. Oohh that sneaky little—

That was about as far as she got before she felt that long, slender tongue invade her and begin working at her walls, teasing and testing them for her weak spots. She whimpered and moaned at his ministrations, until one particular spot caused her to squeal, clenching around his tongue.

“O-Ohhno, don’t you dar—”

The tongue inside her writhed like a living thing, but most of his attention was focused on caressing and hitting that spot like his life depended on it. He looked up as he did that, to try and see if she liked it.

Lyra had slammed her head back into the pillow, moaning loudly as he downed her admittedly tasty juices. She was a lot like Bon Bon, her flavour being very sweet and honey like. Likely from all the sweets she got to taste test. She was more slender than her friend, likely due to being a unicorn, though her belly had a soft little squish to it. Her walls slowly clenched and released his tongue, trying to draw him deeper.

So the stallion let her guide his tongue to her innermost wall, tickling it softly with the tip of his tongue as he played with her. As he did, he felt a pair of hooves on his flank, moving his tail as his rump was lifted into the air. Then the feeling of two mares nuzzling and licking at his balls and sheath, while the unicorn he had a grip on moaned louder, wiggling her hips a little, bucking up into his muzzle.

Aspect let out his own little moan, vibrating his tongue inside the mare as he began playing with her again. He brushed part of it against that spot she liked, while the tip of it teased her cervix. Lyra let out a loud shriek as he felt her flavour fill his mouth, the mare climaxing already as one of his others started to take his forming erection between her lips, suckling on it as her flat tongue started to tease the tip, rubbing around his flare.

And oh...was it a long erection. It might not have girth, but he could fill himself spill, and spill, and spill from his sheath. Of course, he was also focused on drinking down Lyra’s essence as she climaxed, tasting that sweetness again as he just focused on pleasing her.

Bon Bon coughed as she pulled back from him, looking at the thing that just invaded her throat. “W-Wha the heck?” she gasped as Lyra groaned, biting down on her hoof so she wouldn’t scream from pleasure.

Aspect didn’t respond, he was too busy focusing on Lyra at the moment. She hadn’t said to stop, so…

Midnight coiled her tongue around his absurdly long cock, sliding it up and down the length as she jacked him off with it, Bon Bon now using her hooves on his sack as Lyra groaned, putting her hooves on his head. “N-No more… aaahh~ I-It’s too m-much~” she cried out, trying not to cum again as her sensitive sex was assaulted.

Aspect slowly pulled back, letting his long tounge slurp from her passage before he pulled it back into his maw. Once it was all back in, he turned it back to normal, licking his lips to collect any remaining essence from her that he could. “Mmm...so what next, my musical minty mare?” Aspect purred to her.

Midnight meanwhile got a surprise. The long cock she was pleasing flexed and twitched around as though it were alive. She squeaked loudly and pulled back, while Bon Bon whinnied in surprise.

“W-What the?” Bon Bon stated and looked at him. “Okay, what the heck IS that thing!?”

“It’s just a penis,” Aspect replied, even as it pulled a corkscrew shape.

“No… no that is not,” Bon Bon stared at the thing. “Like… what?”

“Oooh, I wish to try that out next,” Midnight clapped her hooves in delight.

“It’s Lyra’s turn still,” Aspect said as he returned it to normal and slowly got up, until his body was looming over hers, his long erection brushing up against her fur. She panted as she looked down at the odd penis, her eyes a little unfocused.

“Heehee, it’s pink~” she giggled and booped the tip with a hoof, the soft underside rubbing up against it.

“Mhm,” Aspect nodded as he nuzzled her. “And if you want it in you, you just have to give the word.”

Lyra nodded and smiled, kissing his cheek. “Well, I have to catch up with the others,” she giggled. “You finally succumbed to my charms after all~ Would be a waste to throw that all away now.”

Aspect smirked and leaned back and down, letting the tip of his length draaaag across her lips. He moved forward a little...and pushed his cock into her by making it squirm into her body. She let out something of a giggle and a moan as it filled her up, spreading her wider as her heated walls gripped down on him reflexively. The unicorn moaned as she leaned up and kissed him, her tongue probing at his lips.

Aspect returned the kiss, letting his tongue entwine with hers...before he began cockscrewing his cock. He’d long run into the limits of her tunnel, compared to his length. So in order to get it all in, it would have to twist and turn and stretch her.

It made for an interesting bulge in her abdomen, one that twisted and squirmed as she gasped into the kiss, groaning from her throat as he stretched her wider, cramming more of his cock into her. Mmm, ponies were so delightfully stretchy~ It wasn’t long before it was all in, and technically, he didn’t have to pull out to give her delights. All he’d have to do to stimulate her would be to twist...one way, then the other.

The cock turned inside her, stretching and stimulating her inner walls as he filled the mare utterly. Lyra broke the kiss as she fell back, panting hard and moaning louder.

“H’oohhhhfffffuck!” she swore as he felt her tighten up as much as she could, climaxing again as her moans grew louder. Aspect smiled down at her as his tip pressed up against her cervix, teasing her innermost gates with his length as he liiiicked along her horn, a fizzing pop filling his mouth as her horn sparked, the mare’s eyes rolling back as she groaned, her pussy milking that cock for all he had as she twitched under him.

“Hmm, too much more and I might break her, but I’m enjoying this a fair bit too,” Aspect mused as he licked her horn again. “Decisions, decisions…”

Lyra’s response was just a garbled moan as she blushed hard, another climax tearing at her form. Bon Bon raised an eyebrow at him ruining her friend.

“Having fun?” she quipped, smacking the stallion’s rump.

“Very much so,” Aspect mused as he nuzzled Lyra. “Hmm...what do you want, minty mare?” he posed to her as he held still for a moment. Mostly so she could get her head on straight. It took a minute, the mare well and truly off with the fairies.

“J-Just…” she managed to get out. “N-No foal… g-got it… aaah~”

“Aww, but you wanted to catch up,” Aspect teased her, running a hoof along her cheek.

“A-Ass,” she muttered back, her hips still moving of their own volition.

“Yup,” Aspect nodded. “Well, if you’re sure…”

“Y-Yes,” she gasped out as she howled out a loud moan. “Oh buck YES!”

“Hmm...think she’s earned it?” Aspect asked the other conscious mares.

Bon Bon just rolled her eyes and swatted his rump again. “Manners dear. Is that any way to treat a young mare?”

“What’s your plan~?” Midnight purred, eagerly awaiting her turn.

“I suppose you have a point,” Aspect admitted as he humped Lyra a little, letting his tip wedge against those innermost gates again before his entire length throbbed within the minty mare. She could feel it. It was coming…

*SLAM!*

His bedroom door flew open as a very irate Twilight Twinkle stood there, her face red as she tried and failed to keep her tail down.

“Gods dammit Christopher!” she yelled. “Silence spell. USE THE—”

Aspect jolted, the head of his cock suddenly poking through the barrier so that his seed would be unleashed in Lyra’s womb out of pure surprise. Lyra yelped as her belly started to swell from the torrent he started to unload as Twinkle stood there, wide-eyed, her face aflame with a blush.

“Thank you for that reminder,” Aspect noted, not moving from Lyra. “...Would you care to join in? You seem rather...flushed.”

“W-W-W-W…” Oh dear, seems he’d broken the older mare as she just stood there frozen. Meanwhile, Lyra now looked slightly pregnant thanks to his efforts.

“Midnight, either drag her into bed or put her back in hers,” Aspect told the batmare.

“Hmm, decisions, decisions,” the thestral mused, stealing his words as he continued to fill poor Lyra, the excess now spurting out of the sides of her pussy. Eventually the release tapered off, and Aspect slowly pulled free from Lyra’s abused sex. Very little escaped due to how deep he’d stuffed her full. He even went so far as to poke the mare’s belly to make it squish a little.

“Oh geeze, you really did that huh?” Bon Bon said, looking at Lyra. “I’ll get her a potion a bit later, else you’ll have even more kids running around after that performance.”

“Do you doubt my ability to keep my own seed infertile?” Aspect scoffed. “She’s fine.”

Bon Bon merely arched an eyebrow and pointed at her own belly.

“That’s because I was using runes,” Aspect defended himself. “I learned anatomy since then. It’s easier to keep yourself in line if you know what to disable so you don’t even have the chance to knock others up.”

“Huh...that’s, actually surprisingly smart for you,” Bon Bon teased, poking out her tongue a little at him. But then her eyes widened as a hoof went to her mouth, and she quickly bolted from the room, the door to the adjoining bathroom slamming shut, and the sounds of her retching could be heard.

“Ahh, the joys of motherhood,” Twinkle chuckled.

“Mmm,” Aspect nodded, flashing back into his unicorn form for the moment. “So...who’s next?”

“You’re not done? After that performance?” Twinkle blinked slowly. “Dear gods Christopher…”

“They have been training me,” Aspect replied with a wink.

“...I’m too old for this,” the unicorn muttered and closed his door, returning to her own room.

“Aww, you scared her off,” Midnight chuckled… before she groaned and quickly followed after Bon Bon’s previous escape.

“Wow… way to whittle down the numbers,” Rainbow said, having recovered from Midnight’s attack. Lyra was still round and likely unable to continue…

“Like I choose when they get sick,” Aspect chuckled as he made his way to Dash’s side and nuzzled against her.

“Now see, if you did that to me too, then you’d only have a Lyra balloon to play with,” the pegasus mare mused and nipped his ear. “Also, she gets my vote of approval. She can be kinda weird sometimes, but Lyra’s fun. Cute too.”

“Glad to see others like her too,” Aspect chuckled as he leaned on her, just basking in the afterglow for a moment or three. “Mmm...being together like this is nice.”

“That it is,” she nodded. “Heh, who’d have figured huh. Of all the ponies I thought I would get with, turns out to be a grumpy old hermit with weird powers, a mountain of snark and a penchant for collecting mares.”

“Like I’m holding you against your will,” Aspect sniped back. “Still...I never thought I’d get with a pony either.” He nuzzled Dash again. “Looks like fate has the weirdest way of getting me with some awesome ponies.”

“And I’m about as awesome as you can get,” Rainbow nodded. “Sorry Aspect. But you have the pinnacle of ponykind here. Everything else would be a downgrade.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Aspect mused as he ran a hoof along her stomach. “I can think of one way to try and improve on you. But you’ve already said no.”

“Yup, can’t be a Wonderbolt if I’ma pony beachball,” she said.

“Did you just call us fat!?” cam the unison reply from the bathroom, followed by more retching.

“Sorry, can’t hear you~” Rainbow called back with a snicker.

“You shouldn’t tease them,” Aspect warned Dash. “They’ll get you back.”

“What’s life without a little danger,” Rainbow shrugged as she leaned against him. She stretched her wings, draping one across his back. “Drag the Lyra ball over here and we’ll snuggle.”

Aspect lit up his horn, carrying Lyra over in an aura that was something between just pure light and white-goldish light, putting the mare on Dash’s other side, snug under her wing. He sighed as he closed his eyes and cuddled up against Dash, just enjoying the feeling of being this close…

Life was just good sometimes.

Author's Note

And here's this week's chapter! Aspect gets to flex his power.

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does go a long way.

Half of all funds will not be spent breaking games over my knee.

Chapter 65 - Training to overcome your fears

Aspect trotted along the road, humming a little tune to himself. If today worked out like he thought it would, they’d be reforming a major threat. All he’d have to do is confirm delivery of the elements to Twilight’s place and they could form up and give Sombra that which he’d been lacking for...ages.

Though when the stallion arrived at the door to the library and knocked on it, well…

Spike opened the door and sighed. “Oh… hey Aspect. What’s up?” The poor drake looked tired. “Eh, maybe you can help… hopefully without making it worse since this is your fault to begin with.”

“Ohboy, what happened this time?” Aspect asked as he stepped inside. He was feeling much better. Give it a month and he’d be able to replace the star he took without upsetting his magical core.

Inside was well… he wondered if Discord had escaped again. Books lay in haphazard piles around the room. Charts with diagrams, equations and pie charts depicting god knows what, and at the far end of the room was…

Was that a fort made of books?

“Twilight, you have ten seconds to come out before I make you come out,” Aspect threatened.

“No Twilight’s here, go away,” came a very Twilight-sounding voice. “I’m busy. Apologise to Realm that I can’t continue his magic studies.”

“And ten seconds are up,” Aspect said, reaching out with his magic and surrounding the mare within the fort. “You’re coming out one way or another. You can fight it or not, it won’t make a lick of difference to me.” With that being said, he began to gently tug her out of her bookfort, trying to talk to her face to face.

“GO AWAY!” she yelled as a book was hurled at his face…

Aspect caught it in his magic and looked at the title, humming before looking inside the fort. “Twilight, you can either talk to me, or I can talk at you. I’ve had thousands of years to practice my debating and listening skills, you can choose which ones I’ll be using on you.”

“She’s been like this since she got back, sans yesterday,” Spike said. “And… there’s been something weirder. I don’t think I’ve seen her use magic the whole time. Like, not even once.”

“Magic doesn’t solve everything Spike,” she said from her fort. “I am perfectly capable with or without it.”

Aspect sighed and sat down. “Twilight, do you know how abnormal you’re sounding? I’m trying to picture Rainbow Dash say she’s too cool for flying, and it grates on my nerves.”

“What, so I haven’t used my magic for a bit, big whoop!” She crawled out of her fort, straightening some of the books. “I don’t see you using your Sorcery, Runes or Aeromancy for every little thing.”

“Because using them to do things would be like...burning down all the houses on a street because one has a cockroach infestation,” Aspect replied. “I use the right amount of magic for the task at hand. But willingly avoiding your magic, a part of you, tells me that something is wrong.” He cocked his head at her. “Twilight...when did you start being afraid of magic? It certainly doesn’t sound like something the bearer of Magic would be.”

“A-Afraid?” she snorted and forced a loud laugh. “I am not afraid of magic. That’s stupid, a unicorn afraid of magic. I can do magic just fine thankyou very much!”

“Oh, so that means you can go back to teaching Realm how to avoid having little outbursts of magic as he grows into it,” Aspect quipped. “As a powerful unicorn, I’m sure you’d understand that all too well.”

“I don’t have the time, too much research,” she muttered as she gathered up some books with her hooves. “That painted Starswirl can use magic. He’s a better teacher than me anyway.”

“Avoiding the topic, changing the topic, and,” he used his magic to pull up one of her hooves and stare at it dramatically, “Denying the topic. You could do this much faster with your magic. Why are you punishing yourself by doing it the way an Earth Pony would?”

“Because I don’t have to prove anything to you, Balanced Aspect. Or is it Christopher? Bloodwing? I get confused.” She slung a bag over her back and headed for the door. “I’m going out Spike.”

Aspect waited for her to leave, before turning to Spike. “She needs help. Think you can get a message to her friends about the fact that she’s afraid of even her own magic and is denying the situation exists?”

“I’ve never seen Twilight like this,” Spike said. “Aspect, excuse my language, but what the horseapples happened in the Crystal Empire. And why was Twilight later than anypony else getting back. Why is she jumping at her own shadows worse than Fluttershy!?”

Aspect sighed. “Sombra...hurt her with magic, Spike. He hurt her badly. It was only because I pulled off a trick that she didn’t have to go without her horn for a while. And then my daughter decided to keep her close, to cherish her presence...it was only when I pointed out how obsessed she was becoming that she let Twilight go. I don’t think Twilight’s handling the combined news well. The tyrant is in the guardhouse with more suppressors on him than would be used on most criminals, and Celestia is...I don’t know where. She needs something normal right now.” He looked to the outside world and shook his head. “She needs the pillars in her life, because the biggest one is missing.”

“Is that Sombra fireproof?” he growled, emerald flames licking at his lips. It’d be more scary if it was coming from a bigger, scarier-looking dragon. But he just swallowed them and sighed. “I don’t know what to...do…” he looked up at a photo on the wall, of Twilight and her friends. “Maybe the others can help then?”

“It would be nice, because we need them all to try and hit Sombra with the Elements,” Aspect rejoined.

“Yeah well… guess we’ll see,” Spike sighed. “Mind if you do that? I’m gonna tidy this place up and make some of her favourite snacks.”

“Can do,” Aspect nodded as he walked out the door. He knew who to ask first. Rainbow was fast and Pinkie was...Pinkie. They’d spread the word amongst the others fast about Twilight needing help.

Well, he had no idea where Pinkie was. She was always popping up unexpectedly, figures she can’t be found when he actually wants to.

Rainbow was as inconspicuous as always however, her rainbow contrail streaking across the sky as she bust a series of clouds. Aspect fired up a small firework that sparked in the colors of the rainbow to get her attention.

*thoom*

A cloud of dust and the pegasus had landed in front of him. “You rang?” she asked, dusting herself off.

“Twilight’s had a bad couple of days,” Aspect explained. “To the point where she’s even afraid of her own magic, and is in denial about it. Think you could gather the rest of your merry little group and bring her back to normal?”

“Twi’s freaking again?” Rainbow sighed. Wait, what did she mean again? “Well, I can go have a chat with her. My work’s done for the day anyway.”

“I tried talking to her on my own,” Aspect warned. “She denied the issue, ran off, and is apparently so busy she can’t even teach Realm magic anymore. I think you’d need more than one.”

“Yeah well, let’s face it love, you suck at solving problems you can’t actually fight,” Rainbow giggled and booped his nose. “Relax, I’ve got this.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Aspect said before kissing the tip of her nose. “Take care anyways. Cornering her might entice her to fight back.”

“Hey, I said I got this… sides,” she smirked and flared her wings. “There’s more than one way to skin an egghead.” And on that ominous note, she rocketed into the sky. Ooh, her aeromancy takeoffs were getting better.

...Now he kind of wanted to watch…

...Eh, it would be intruding. He’d check on Bon and Lyra instead.

Wheeeere were Lyra and Bon Bon? The candy mare’s store was closed, and they hadn’t been at the house either.

Then his day got worse.

One of the Guards assigned to Sombra ran up to him, out of breath. “S-Sir Aspect,” he panted. “S-Sombra… it’s… he’s gone!”

“Bucking Tartarus, is it Tuesday?” the stallion muttered as he threw out his magic senses in a wide net, looking for the wayward Umbrum stallion. It didn’t take long. He could feel the Aspect of Shadows in…

Sugar… cube… Corner.

Buck.

“Soldier, I have good news and bad news,” Aspect said, reigning in his magic. “The good news is, I know where he is.”

“A-And the bad news sir?” the stallion, barely out of colthood gulped. He’d hard horror stories of this place. Some guards had even outright quit because of them.

“He’s in Sugarcube Corner,” the stallion replied seriously. “I’ll go and handle this one. You all can form up outside of the place...but do take care to not scare off the customers. The Cakes wouldn’t like that. Neither would Pinkie.”

“Yes sir!” the stallion saluted. “Problem is… the others are missing too.”

Because of course they were. This reeked of Pinkie. “Nevermind then, just come with,” he muttered. He only hoped that they weren’t walking into the mouth of madness.

Aspect… honestly had no idea what he was looking at.

Pinkie had thrown a party… for Sombra. Because of course she did. The stallion just sat there rather stoically with a party hat on his head as Pinkie bounced around the room. The missing guards were here, just chatting around the punch bowl.

“Pinkie, I just...what?” Aspect asked, looking around. “You know he can’t feel the same range of emotions as a pony, right?”

“Well duh,” Pinkie said as she cartwheeled past him. “Why do you think I’m throwing him a party silly. Nopony can be a grump at my parties. I’ll have him smiling in an hour tops!”

“Pinkie, he doesn’t know what happiness is,” Aspect clarified. “We can’t make him smile until he’s a pony like the rest of us, instead of one that was built by things that don’t feel like us.”

“Then I just hafta show him what happiness is,” Pinkie hummed, undeterred by her self-appointed task. “He can’t be gloomy after that. I mean, if I can make an old grumpity grump like you smile…”

Did… did Pinkie Pie just take a jab at him?

“He’s ten times older than I am,” Aspect pointed out.

“Then I just have to work harder… ohh, maybe if I got him a harem too…”

Aspect facehooved before changing tactics. “Twilight’s afraid of magic. Because of what he did to her. She’s gone crazier than normal and could use her friends right now.”

“Dashie’s got it,” she sang as she pulled Sombra out of his chair. “You know how to dance Sombry?”

“I believe I know the mechanics behind such actions, yes,” he nodded once.

“Wheee!” Pinkie giggled as an upbeat polka song started to play.

“...Arguing with you about this is going to be about as productive as slamming my head into a brick wall, isn’t it?” Aspect asked.

“Yup! Like you expected this to go any other way,” Pinkie mused as she spun Sombra around. “It’s okay Aspy. Just leave the Gloomy Gus to me. You’ll get a bigger role in the next reformation.”

“I just...what?” Aspect blinked, before shrugging and walking away. No point in fighting the pink one. Maybe he’d have better luck looking for Lyra and Bon Bon.

“So… you’re down in the dumps huh?” Rainbow said as she sat next to Twilight. She’d literally scooped the unicorn from the ground and they now sat on a hill overlooking the town. “Come on Twi, we’re pals. Best friends. You can tell me.”

Twilight frowned and looked down. “He’s right you know…” she murmured. “I am scared. Ever since my horn was broken. Ever since I found out my own teacher and princess was enthralling me! I’m scared to cast magic!”

“Yeah… those prolly sucked pretty bad,” Rainbow said. “But look Twi, you see these?” she spread her wings. “How many times do you think I’ve injured them to the point of useless?”

“At least… once I know of,” she answered.

“A bunch, I’ll tell you that,” Rainbow replied with a nod as she put a wing around her. “Look, not gonna lie. These last few months have been bananas! I mean, Aspect, then all the mojo that seems to surround him. Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra… It’s been rough.” She tightened the winghug. “But, each time, we’ve gotten back up. No matter how banged up we get, or how scary it is. We get back up.”

“I… suppose,” Twilight murmured.

Rainbow sighed and rubbed her head, before she got an idea. “Hey, how about you help with my training?”

“Huh?” the unicorn raised her head. “What training?”

“Aeromancy. I don’t really get the eggheady stuff surrounding it. But you’re super good with it.”

“But I don’t know anything about that.”

“I’m sure Aspect has a book on it somewhere,” she said. “You head home, and I’ll go grab it. See you in twenty?”

“Well I guess but…”

“No buts, we’re gonna get you back to normal,” Rainbow said and pat her back. “See you soon.” And like that, she took off with a gust of wind.

“...Guess I don’t have a choice,” the unicorn sighed and started heading for home.

Written Script saw the curtains fly off as Rainbow streaked in through the window. “Now…” the pegasus murmured. “If I was an aeromancy book… where would I hide…”

“There are no surviving tomes on Aeromancy, Sorcery, or Geomancy,” the painting spoke up. “Apparently ‘Tia was quite thorough in her purge. But...you don’t need a book on it.”

“Huh?” Rainbow turned to look at the mare. “I don’t?”

“Have you forgotten who all is painted here?” Written asked. “Back in their day, they were the leaders of the pony tribes for a reason. Each one was a master of their art.”

“Hurricane,” Rainbow concluded as she looked around. “Know where the old warmare is?”

“At this time of day...probably napping in her painting in the foyer,” Written concluded. “She claims the clouds are comfier there.”

“Perfect,” the pegasus mused as she left the room. “Thanks Written~ Gonna ‘borrow’ her for a bit.”

“...Oh dear,” the painted alicorn mused. This...wasn’t going to end well, was it?

…

In the foyer, Rainbow spotted the painting and nodded as she carefully extracted it from the wall. “Okie doke Hurricane. Time for a little excursion.”

The only thing coming from the frame was the continued sound of her snoring.

When Hurricane awoke… it was to an unfamiliar sight. A library was stretched out around her… kinda reminded her of Starswirl’s place. And she felt that her painting wasn’t connected to the others.

And the only two ponies she could see was her descendant and that Clover look-alike.

“Okay, so one of you is telling me why I’m not back at Aspect’s place,” the painted mare grumbled as she stood up on her cloud and stretched.

“Cause we need your help to—,” Twilight started, but Rainbow put up a hoof to stop her.

“Cause I want to learn Aeromancy from a real master,” she said to her. “Aspect is great and all, but I get the feeling he’s treating me with foal gloves. If I’m gonna be the best Wonderbolt ever. Then I need the best teacher ever.” She finished with a sharp salute.

“Hmm,” Hurricane mused. “Well, let’s see. You got enough fine control to summon lighting?”

She grit her teeth as a few errant sparks shot from her feathers, Twilight taking a step back with wide eyes.

“I didn’t know you could do that!”

“Kinda picked it up after seeing Aspect do it a few times,” Rainbow said. “S’about as good as I can get it though.”

“And that’d probably be because he hasn’t taught you the trick yet,” Hurricane spoke up. “It’s a balancing act. The lightning wants to be free. You have to use your magic to hold it inside your sphere of influence, to turn your body into a lightning trap for it. You can’t just generate it, you have to hold it, let it build...and then pick a target and extend your influence towards it. Give it somewhere to jump to.”

“See, this is the eggheady stuff I don’t get,” Rainbow said with a groan. “They’re so…. Vague!”

“Hmm, so… I have a question,” Twilight said. “Can anypony learn Aeromancy? Like with Geomancy and Sorcery. Or is it limited to Pegasi only?”

“I mean, back in the day, I only taught Pegasi, but once we all came together as a single tribe there was the occasional unicorn that had a knack for throwing around lightning,” Hurricane said. “They were kinda slow compared to a pegasus, but the hornheads tried. I suppose that’s what matters.”

“Hmm…” Twilight rubbed her chin. “I wonder…”

“Okay, so I wanna practice and blow Aspect’s socks off when we train next,” Rainbow said with a wide grin. “Wanna help us out war mare?”

“I can give you pointers,” the painted pegasus replied. “Can’t exactly demonstrate them as I am.”

“Well, I already got the basics,” Rainbow nodded. “And Twi’s like, the smartest pony ever. So feel free to get technical.”

“Oh, well then you’re gonna love the study Chris did into our powers once we all got together,” Hurricane chuckled. “Him and Starswirl really worked us over figuring out everything about how they worked.”

“Well, let’s get studying then,” Twilight smiled as she floated over a quill and some paper, something that Rainbow smiled at. She had a feeling this would work.

Aspect found his mares soon enough, and Midnight too. The trio seemed to be looking for him as well.

“There you are!” Bon Bon exclaimed as she walked up to him. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, you know, trying to cheer up Twilight, trying to track down Sombra, getting distracted six ways to Sunday in my search for you,” he replied, giving Bon Bon a kiss on the cheek.

“Well we have been looking for you everywhere,” Midnight said as she nipped his ear. “We have an important appointment to get to, and you are coming with us.”

“Oh?” Aspect turned to kiss Midnight on the cheek as well. “Dare I ask what this appointment entails?”

“Um, it’s the annual one your mares need to get their foals checked,” Lyra said like it was obvious. “You need to get one every few weeks to make sure the baby is growing the right way and stuff.”

She stopped as she saw Bon Bon staring at her. “What? I read books too yaknow.”

“Mm, sounds like I should be there alright,” Aspect nodded. “So, lead the way ladies.”

“Ah, good of you to join us as well,” Redheart said as she ran a stethoscope over the bellies of Bon Bon and Midnight. “So, you’re the father to both of them then?”

“When you’re thousands of years old, you look at an unstable magical core and say ‘hey, I bet I could have fun with that,’” Aspect explained, shrugging. “It became something of a pastime. ‘How many species can I shapeshift into by mimicking their magical signatures with my own?’”

“I was curious about that myself,” a voice said as she walked into the room. “I knew waiting here would net me the big fish sooner or later.”

Lady Holy Eldena Prime, Celestia’s personal medic and master of holy magicks.

Aaaaah crap.

“Wellyouladiesseemtohaveeverythingundercontrolhere,” Aspect said quickly, edging towards the door as his horn lit up. He’d wink past her and—

And that was a magical aura surrounding him, shunting out his own magicks as she floated him close to her. “Ap! I don’t think so colt. I have a few tests of my own I wish to run. Plus you’ve gone more than a thousand years without a proper physical. Time to correct that oversight.”

Aspect meeped, looking to his mares for salvation.

They all just whistled and looked in other directions. Even Midnight wasn’t brave enough to tangle with Eldena.

“Traitors!” Aspect cried back as he was dragged into another room.

“Now,” Eldena said as she dumped him on the examination bed. “Let’s start with a blood test and a full Arcane scan shall we…” She lifted a needle and syringe out of a drawer.

“Oh geeze,” Aspect muttered as he lay there, only flinching slightly at the sight of the needle.

“Oh don’t be such a filly… I swear you’re as bad as your daughters,” she sighed. “Move the bloody heavens, yet afraid of a tiny little prick. Honestly.” She jabbed his leg and drew some blood into it. “Now… let’s get that scan done.”

Her horn lit up as a wave of energy swept back and forth across him. “Hmm… interesting.”

“Dare I ask?” Aspect said. “Normally, ‘interesting’ isn’t something you look forward to hearing in your check-up.”

“Most have a single colour in their aura… yours is like a kaleidoscope,” she said as she wrote something down. “Now, how do you feel physically?”

“Just fine, like a pony should,” Aspect replied, not sure about the point of the question.

“Mhm… and you do well enough sexually I assume, given the circumstances next door?”

“...Why would you even ask that question,” Aspect blushed.

“Transformations can affect the body, at least to those that can’t do it naturally like Changelings. Some recorded cases include severe and permanent loss in stamina and infertility. Mental side effects can occur too, identity crisis being top of the list. Yet you seem to suffer no consequences at all.” She looked at him. “Tell me, why do you choose pony over your true form?”

“Preference is all,” Aspect replied. “Humans used to be important back in Dream Valley. Then they left, leaving the world to the ponies and the other races. My first daughters are ponies. I like to blend in wherever I go, which is why I have a form for almost every occasion.”

“Hmm, interesting. So these transformations are merely practical use only… and for impregnating mares hm~?”

“I’m not answering that question,” Aspect blushed again, looking away stoically.

“That answered it well enough,” she mused, very much enjoying her teasing. “Well, according to the last test, your Quilin… sorry, Kirin child and the thestral one are doing fine. Though do try and keep the earth pony away from certain things, like if she craves a lava bath.”

“...Noted,” Aspect said with a stiff nod. Hopefully that meant the teasing and torment would be over.

“You don’t like me very much, do you?” she said as she took a few measurements and then pressed a stethoscope to his chest.

“I don’t mind doctors,” Aspect replied. “I know you fulfil a vital role in society. It’s just...hard to like someone that looks at me like a specimen or test subject rather than a patient.” Memories of his last doctor visit sprang to mind. Restraints had come out, along with testing apparati.

“Please, I’m one of the few willing to deal with you alicorns,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “The last time Celestia saw a doctor, she teared up at the sight of a needle and the stallion felt so bad about it he quit his job. Luna on her return, threatened to ‘behead the barbaric druids’.”

“Eeesh,” Aspect shuddered. “Still, that’s not nearly as bad as what happened the last time we hired a doctor for me back at the Everfree castle. He got...excited by the idea of a patient that could assume any form.”

“I can scarcely imagine,” she sighed as she pulled back. “Well, I’m done for now. I could examine your other forms, but I see little point in it for now. Your health is fine. Though your magic seems a touch low. But I’ve been briefed on what occurred some days ago, so it’s to be expected.”

She floated a lollipop into his mouth and pet his head. “Good boy.”

The stallion tried giving her the stink-eye. Tried, and failed due to the sweet in his mouth.

“Your mares should nearly be done… oh, I do have one last question.” She paused and turned to him. “Have you been feeling any… negative feelings lately? Greed, anger. Depression?”

“Not that I can tell, no,” the stallion replied honestly. “Why?”

“Just a query… and a theory,” she said as she packed up her medical equipment. “Also, your eldest daughter has gone missing. She took several guards and teleported from Canterlot last night, we have yet been unable to track her.”

“I figured something like that might happen when the sunset last night was off,” Aspect replied. “If you want, I could try reaching out with my connection to Light, see if I can’t find the greatest sources of magic related to it.”

“You can try,” she said. “Her outbursts and behaviour have me concerned. If she is indeed in the grip of a Nightmare-like entity… then stopping her will be difficult.”

“She’ll listen to her father,” Aspect said sternly. “If I have to use Runes to restrain her, I will. But I’m not losing another daughter to their darker halves.”

“I have a theory…” Holy said. “That this may be an affliction that any Alicorn could suffer. If possible, I would like to examine Cadenza and Realm as well.”

“Well with Realm, it’d more likely take shape with him using his Gale King skill to...well, in time, he’d make Hurricane look tame,” the stallion replied. “I don’t know how Cadenza would react if something like this happened. And it’s pretty clear how I’d snap.”

“You are the most worrisome, as you would be all but impossible to stop. Thanks to your ties with the Element of Loyalty in particular. The Elements of Harmony would likely not work together to stop you…”

“Guess I’d have to make the matter clear with Dashie then,” Aspect said. “Namely, if I ever snap and start taking over the world, to stop me, no matter what. Because if I can’t lift the sword, I’m not me anymore.” He cracked his neck. “Right, see to the mares next door, make sure they’re all okay, then go hunting my daughter. Simple stuff.”

“This is serious Christopher,” Holy said with a stern look. “There’s also the report of the entity you encountered in the Shadow Realm. That too, worries some of us.”

“Why?” Aspect blinked. “The crystal is gone, she can’t get to us anymore.”

Holy sighed. “I pray that you are correct in that matter.”

Deep within the Frozen North…

A figure gazed out at the frozen wasteland, a gleaming crystal city in the distance.

He wasn’t there though. There would be no fight to be had. He needed to be found… but his power…

She would need an advantage, a way to even the scales. She turned to the south, reaching out and feeling the Light. Yes… he was there.

Time to go.

Aspect stopped by the bakery, to see if Sombra hadn’t murdered the Pink One yet.

….The fuck?

He sat at the table, the guards standing outside as Pinkie regalled him with a story.

“And… you say that despite just proving she could teleport, she tried to jump the gap physically?”

“Yeeaahhh. TwiTwi can be a silly pony sometimes.”

“Heh, so it would seem,” the dark stallion chuckled.

He…. chuckled?

That...that didn’t seem right. The Sombra he knew and fought against didn’t know how to laugh...or have a good time. He was a cold pony, as cold as the North.

“Oh! Heya Aspect!” Pinkie waved to him. “I was just telling Sombry some stories.”

“Riveting to be certain,” the stallion said. “But I believe he is here to return me to my confines.”

“Awww,” Pinkie deflated.

“That does not mean I will say no to visits… and more of these delicious treats,” he said with a slight smile.

“Actually, I was just here to make sure Pinkie hadn’t incited you into some sort of rage,” Aspect replied casually. “Seeing as everyone is fine and enjoying themselves, I’ll just end off with...Pinkie, you better return that stallion where you found him before dark, and in the same condition.”

“Haaaai!” she saluted and and beamed before hugging Sombra.

“Wonderful,” the stallion deadpanned.

“Now if you’ll pardon me, I have a mare to go find,” Aspect said, heading off in search of Dash next. He had an experiment to try. Hopefully it’d help him for his next trick.

After some asking about, he eventually found her at Twilight’s library, the pegasus in question simply… sitting there, wings folded and eyes closed. Twilight was conversing with Hurricane’s portrait and hadn’t noticed him enter.

So he opted to just sit and watch for a moment, to see what was going on that they needed Hurricane here.

“Hey Aspect,” Rainbow said without moving. “You need something?”

Twilight flinched as she noticed him, but didn’t say anything, opting to inch towards a quiet corner of the room.

“Don’t mind me, I’m just here to check up on the pair of you, and maybe try a little experiment of my own,” he said, sitting down and watching. “So, what were you up to?”

“Educating these two on how the finer points of Aeromancy work,” Hurricane spoke up from her portrait. “You’ve been good at teaching them the basics, but the lookalike is ready for the advanced stuff.”

“Really, still calling me that ya old windbag?” Rainbow teased. “Also, what did I say before Aspect?”

“Remind me, I’ve had an eventful day since I saw you last,” the stallion replied.

“What did I have again?” she said as she made a small cough. “Twi, could I get some water. I’ve been meditating like… forever.”

“Oh… sure,” she said as she floated a glass out from the kitchen. “Here you go Rainbow.”

“Thanks,” she smiled, giving Aspect the smuggest of smiles as she drank it.

“Alright, alright, so you maybe had a point then,” Aspect begrudgingly admitted. “Anyways. I have an errand to run, and I wanna try out my fancy new powers. But before I do, I think I should have something that I can easily lock on to for the return trip. So…”

He brought his front hooves together as he closed his eyes, his horn only glowing faintly as...either he was glowing, or the rest of the room was darker by comparison. It lasted a few seconds...before something crystallized between his hooves.

A spark of pure Light magic, crystallized in a starburst pattern.

He huffed and caught the crystal, before passing it to Rainbow Dash. “Hold on to this, please,” he said. “It’ll be my anchor for my return trip.”

“I’m not gonna ask, if I ask, I’ll want to know how you did that,” Twilight sighed and shook her head as she left the room.

“Congrats, you’re now in the same tier as Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow laughed as she took the gem.

“And for my next trick,” Aspect said, holding a hoof up dramatically. “I will make this stallion disappear!”

“Drama queen,” Rainbow mused and booped his nose with a feather. “And to think you're in love with him Hurricane.”

“He was the only stallion that could keep up with me and wouldn’t take no for an answer back in the day,” Hurricane groused.

Aspect flashed Dash a cheeky wink before his body dissolved into motes of light, fading quickly away.

“Wonder where he’s going?” Rainbow said aloud.

He appeared on a large open field… before a beam of light scorched the ground inches in front of him, singing the fur on his face.

“Is that any way to say hello to your father?” Aspect asked. The speed of light was fast. Incredibly fast. He’d circled the planet a dozen times before managing to land in front of her.

He took in the scene, three guards lay panting, their armor scorched and cracked as the alicorn stood some dozen or so feet away, her mane and tail flickering like wildfire.

“Shouldn’t just pop in then should you?” she snapped at him.

“Well when you take your retinue of guards and disappear off the face of the earth, ponies worry, Cel,” Aspect replied. “Now, you can either hurt the man that raised you, or let me approach. Either way, I’m coming closer.”

He put action to word and began trotting closer to Celestia, intent on showing her some affection…

“You think I wanted to leave?” she said with a small growl. “I became that thing against Sombra. And then I tried to enslave my own student. The mare I care about…” She sighed as her mane fell to a limp, pastel pink state. “My feelings of greed… selfishness. What I want, damned be the wants and needs of others.”

And then it made sense.

A thousand years of looking out for Equestria. Of doing the job he was supposed to be tasked with. For a thousand years, Celestia hadn’t been able to indulge in her own desires… and the well she buried those feelings in had finally overflowed.

“What you need is a specialist in meditation, to help you with these feelings,” Aspect said. “I can find someone for you in moments. Beating up your guard isn’t going to help you deal with the issue, Cel.”

“What I need,” she said sternly. “Is for you to back off!” She took a deep breath. “I will handle this, just as I always have.”

“Handling it like you always have is what created the issue, Cel,” Aspect calmly pointed out. “It’d be like trying to fight a fire by feeding it more wood.”

“Then what am I supposed to do!?” she yelled at him, her magic flaring. “Nightmare Moon, I couldn’t do a thing. I had to banish my own sister because I wasn’t strong enough. And the second time, I threw six young mortals at it. Discord, Sombra, you with Arabus. Each and every time, I have sat on the sidelines while others did what I should be doing!”

“You cannot be everywhere, doing everything,” Aspect calmly replied. “That power is reserved for one who invites runes into his being and becomes as a god. Which I will never do and fight against with every waking breath. What you need is a therapist to help you with these feelings and isn’t afraid of you.”

“Oh, so I’m just crazy, is that it?” she stomped a hoof. “Be a good filly and talk it out. Yes, what a wonderful fucking idea. Is that what you did when we lost Luna? No, you pissed off for a thousand years doing only the Creator knows what!”

“I tried to die!” Aspect shouted back, finally cracking himself. “I broke myself, but I didn’t turn angry. I went the other way. I tried to take the selfish road out. I...I don’t want to lose you like that.” His voice went to a whisper at the end. “I couldn’t bear losing my family.”

“I don’t intend to kill myself,” she snorted, her mood diffusing as she put a wing over him. “I’m training. I want to be stronger, so I can assist with threats. I’m tired of being the pretty princess, locked away in her castle.” She leaned down and nuzzled him. “I should have brought more guards, they’re a little worn out…”

“Celestia, if you had seen yourself before I arrived, you would have thought Daybreaker was minutes away from breaking out,” Aspect warned. “Please. If I go get someone for you to talk to about your darker half, will you promise to work out these issues with them so it doesn’t happen?”

“I’m close…” she murmured as she looked up. “I’m close to… I don’t know. Something. Something I haven’t felt before.” She let out a breath. “I scared her you know… what I did to Twilight. How can I ever expect her to forgive me? ‘Oh, sorry Twi, but I talked out my problems and I’m good. We should date’. Yeah… that’ll go down a treat.”

“Your doctor wants to do a study on alicorns, to see if every one of them has a Nightmare just waiting to break out,” Aspect replied. “I’m sure if she presents her study, it’ll go down a treat.”

“Oh yes. Hello ponies, all your leaders are prone to fits of insanity and world domination desires,” she groaned and thunked her head into her hoof.

“Still, you could explain your behavior like that,” Aspect noted. “Say it happened because of repressed negative emotions that you’ve worked out with a very good therapist and that it’s unlikely to occur again. What happens next is up to her.”

“What would happen is a revolt,” she sighed. “Even my ponies have limits on forgiveness.” She sighed and shook her head. “Luna made peace with Nightmare Moon somehow. Perhaps… I can do the same.”

“Do you really think you can just forgive your other half for what it wants?” Aspect asked. “Especially if you share those desires with it? You need to figure out what brought it out, what triggers it, if you intend to avoid it taking over again.”

“Oh I know what triggered it,” she said. “That feeling of helplessness. That Twilight got hurt because of my inability and uselessness. The desire to just…” she sighed and shook her head. “But none of that matters, because you don’t trust me. You expect me to just screw this up and make it worse.”

“All I’m saying is, a little extra help might go a long way to helping you work out your stress in a more...constructive way,” Aspect said. “If you say no, I’ll understand and listen to your wishes. I just worry about my children when they pull a me.”

“Don’t worry… I won’t go out and get a herd of stallions to marry,” she said with a sly smirk on her face.

“Oh har de har,” Aspect chuckled as he sighed, leaning into Celestia. “You’re sure?” he asked one last time. “Last chance, then I’m going back to Dash.”

“Oh, leave her tied up in a cute uniform somewhere?” she teased further. “Look, if this doesn’t work, then we’ll go with your idea alright?”

“Mkay...as long as you don’t forget about the sun again,” Aspect teased her.

“One. Time!” she yelled at him and swatted his flank with her wing. “Wow dad, buns of steel there. No wonder your mares like you.”

“And that’s a mental image I did not need,” Aspect shuddered. “My own daughter complimenting my physique.”

“What?” she mused and looked at her trio of guards. “Boys? What about me? Do I have nice flanks too?”

The three guards looked at each other, each one daring the other to go first.

“Oh come on!” Celestia sighed and shook her head. “I’m going to go down as the world’s oldest virgin…”

“Depends on if you hold out another twenty years or not,” Aspect mused.

“...fuck,” the mare sighed and groaned. “Go back to your harem already. I’m depressed and there’s no cake here.”

“Ah, the perils of running off to be on your lonesome,” Aspect mused, before booping Celestia’s nose. “I’ll bring something from Sugarcube corner in a week. Sound good?”

“You better bring the whole bakery,” she sighed as she flared her wings. “Alright boys, back to training!”

The guards groaned at the thought of another round so soon. At this rate, they might as well not wear their armor. There wouldn’t be anything left of it soon enough.

“Oh quit whining, we’ll get a bath at the hotspring after this and relax.”

Okay, that had them in considerably higher spirits.

“Take care,” Aspect said as his horn started to glow.

“Apologise to Luna for me,” celestia said before he vanished. Once he left, her magic flared to life. “Alright men… let’s play dodge. As in, dodge or you get vapourised.”

Good feelings gone. The guards whimpered as she started up her training again.

When Aspect returned using his crystal anchor, he found that Rainbow was now hovering off of the ground, her wings folded as she propelled wind from her hooves, as Twilight paced in a small circle around her, nodding a few times.

“Your output is steady, and it’s been…” she stared at a pocketwatch. “Twenty minutes. A new record Rainbow.”

“Phew!” the pegasus crashed to the ground with a ‘whump’ sound. “Guuuh, I’m exhausted!”

“As well you should be, exercising your mana channels like that,” Aspect spoke up, alerting the mares to his presence. “Normally you only use those channels passively, when you’re cloudwalking or working with them. Forcing them into active use is going to wear you out.”

“Ohh, heaaaay,” Rainbow raised a wing, her face still laying on the hardwood floor. “Soo, you find Princess Sunbutt?”

“She’s easy to find,” Aspect replied casually. “She’s...training. She wants to overcome her own personal downfalls before her own Nightmare takes control. I promised to leave her alone for now, but bring something from Sugarcube Corner in a week to check up on her. Just to be safe.”

“Did she say anything?” Twilight asked, though she sounded a little hesitant. Seems her faith in her idol had been shaken quite a bit. The infallible Princess Celestia wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes, terrible ones.

“Yes,” Aspect nodded. “But I want her to say it to you, so that it’ll have meaning. Just know that her mistakes around you have shaken her to the point where she recognizes there’s a problem, and she’s trying to fix it. Even she has something to learn still.”

“Oh…” Twilight wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“Hey Twi,” Rainbow practically vibrated. “Show him!”

“Huh? No, I should refine it a little more.”

“Aww come ooon, I want to see him actually react to something for once,” the pegasus whined and gave her the Cute. “Pleeeaaaassseeeee~”

Twilight groaned and sighed. “Fine,” she mumbled as she walked up to the stallion.

“I’m missing something,” Aspect noted aloud.

Twilight raised a hoof, like she was going to boop his nose.

*puff!*

Thaaaat….. That was a tiny puff of wind. From her hoof… a unicorn’s hoof.

Aspect blinked a few times, looking from the hoof to Twilight’s face as his jaw slowly dropped and his eyes widened. Just...what? A unicorn...doing Aeromancy?

It didn’t compute.

Eventually the mares noticed he seemed to have...frozen like that.

“Uh…. Aspect?” Rainbow waved a hoof in front of his face. She frowned, then beeped his nose with a firm press.

The stallion fell onto his side, still frozen.

“OhmyCelestia I killed him!” Twilight exclaimed, only to have Rainbow roll her eyes.

“Bloody drama queen,” she mused and put her primary to his side and giggled.

*ZAP!*

The stallion let out a yelp as he was jolted back out of his frozen state...his fur poofing up from the static electricity, and getting another giggle from Rainbow.

“Morning sunshine,” Hurricane called out. “Have a nice nap?”

“I...just...bwah?” Aspect asked, reduced to simple syllables to try and form a complex question. It didn’t make sense to him!

“It was actually pretty easy to figure out,” Twilight said, deciding to put him out of his misery. “I surround myself with a sphere of mana, and then convert that to Pegasus magic. Similar to how the cloudwalking spell works. I simply cast on on a separate reserve of magic. I won’t be able to fly, seeing as how I lack wings. But with enough practice and refinement, I should, in theory, be able to use lightning and affect wind currents.”

“...I was unaware Unicorns could learn Aeromancy,” Aspect carefully replied, before looking over to the painting of Hurricane.

“I knew they could use magic, but Purple Smart here is something else,” she mused. “I mean, dividing her own mana well and converting some to pegasus magic? HAH! Slap some wings on her and I’ll make a soldier out of her in no time.”

“...So even the paintings are conspiring against me,” Aspect noted ruefully. “What’s next? My own kids conspiring to surprise me?”

“Don’t they do that already?” Rainbow pointed out. “I mean, they did with the whole Arabus thing.”

“...Whelp, I’m boned then,” Aspect sighed. “Things can’t possibly get any more crazy than today. Pinkie actually got Sombra to dance, smile, and laugh.”

“...say what?” Rainbow blinked.

“Pinkie Pie… just don’t question it,” Twilight said. “Besides, I think we can leave it to her. I’m looking forward to when he breaks a Pinkie Promise.”

“Don’t even joke about that…” Rainbow shuddered, curling up into a fetal position.

“We don’t talk about that, Twilight,” Aspect shuddered as well.

“Honestly, Pinkie isn’t that scary,” she rolled her eyes.”Strange, but not scary.”

“Pansies,” Hurricane rolled her eyes. “Even Pansy has more guts than that… thought that said, that pink pony is even weirder than Surprise.”

“That she is,” Aspect shuddered again. “Surprise was at least explainable. Pinkie breaks every rule of physics I know.”

“And probably a few you don’t,” Twilight giggled. “And… thanks for today Rainbow, I feel much better.”

“S’what friends do,” Rainbow nodded. “So, what now Aspect?”

“I dunno, I got everything on my list done for the day,” the stallion replied, shrugging. “I’m just glad nothing happened.”

Rainbow and Twilight groaned and facehooved.

“The day isn’t over… why would you SAY that?” his pegasus marefriend sighed.

“...You know, looking back, I didn’t see anything wrong at the time,” Aspect muttered as he braced himself for the inevitable explosion.

“Hindsight is a bitch,” Rainbow nodded, as they heard a scream coming from outside. Hurrying out there, they found Spoiled Rich cowering as a tall mare stood over her, face twisted in anger as eldritch flames licked at her form.

“Aspect, is that who I think it is?” Twilight whispered.

“Spoiled just poked the wrong pony, yes,” Aspect muttered as he hurried out to stop his daughter from skinning the mare.

“So, you think to insult my child?” Chrysalis sneered, glaring down at the earth pony. “You think material wealth makes you better somehow? How about I peel the skin from your body like a banana hm? Let’s see your precious money save you from that!”

“Ap,” Aspect put a hoof to Chrysalis’ side, pulling her attention away. “No. Bad daughter. Don’t you even think about it.”

“Pah, let’s be honest, who would miss her?” Chrysalis said, before banishing her flames. “Tch, forget it, blood is hard to clean from my coat.”

“H-H-How typical, that this monster be related to you,” Spoiled stammered as she got to her hooves.

Chrysalis was raised on stories from Chris’s home though. He’d regale her with movies and television show’s he’d seen. With a small flash, she modified her voice box and vocal chords…

And with a deep breath, let loose a loud ROAR!

The stallion winced from the volume, his ears instinctively folding back as he tried to not be affected. He’d heard some mighty roars in his day, from all the villains and beasts he’d had to put down. This one...easily topped the list.

Knew he shouldn’t have told her about Jurassic Park…

As for Spoiled?

She just… stood there. Wide-eyed and her coiffed mane blown back. It was a solid sixty seconds after the disguised Changeling walked away that Aspect realised she’d fainted standing up.

...Well, that at least was one problem solved for the day. Hopefully longer. But then again, knowing Spoiled...she wasn’t about to take that.

He wrote a small note down on a piece of paper and stuck it to her nose with a piece of tape.

Dear Spoiled,

If you still want to mess with me after this. If you still somehow think you have a chance…

By all means.

But up until now, I’ve been playing nice. You want to see the damage I can do?

Come at me.

-Balanced Aspect

The stallion nodded, and walked away. With that promise extended...he was feeling good about the rest of the day.

Celestia sighed as she relaxed in the hot water, her bottom half submerged and looking not unlike a swan as she paddled in the deeper parts. “Mmm, now isn’t this relaxing?” she asked her trio of stallions. After she’d spent a half hour magically healing their wounds anyway.

“It’s more relaxing than being shot at,” the unicorn commented.

“Or being pummeled,” the earth pony stated.

“Or having your wings broken,” the pegasus winced. They were still tingly from the magic.

“Dodging should not be so difficult,” Celestia sighed. “Honestly, I am giving the Guard as a whole a complete review when we get home. Perhaps even train you all myself… or call my father to do so.”

The three stallions gulped at the idea. “Isn’t your father...crazy strong?” the unicorn dared to ask.

“Oh yes, he could destroy me in a fight, I doubt I’d last half a minute if he truly went all out.” She shrugged and sighed, ducking her head under the water for a moment, before lifting in back up, her wet mane now dripping as she sighed contently.

“...We prefer this training option, thank you,” the pegasus concluded, the other two nodding rapidly at his assessment. At least here they had a chance of surviving.

The alicorn sighed and gave them a soft look. “If you three are truly uncomfortable, I can send you back. Honestly, you’re more here to stop me going stir crazy from loneliness than anything else. I do apologise if I have been too rough on you.”

“No no, it’s fine,” the earth pony said. “The new captain was going to have us guarding the latrines, so it works out fine for us.”

Plus, the sight of the wet alicorn was just…

She turned her head and saw the stares she was getting. “Hmm, is something wrong?” she lifted one of her impressive wings and looked at it. “Did I miss a spot? My maids usually bathe me so…”

“That’s...not the issue, your highness,” the unicorn said, looking away with a soft blush as he was grateful for the water obscuring her view of anything below it.

“Hm, then what is it?” she asked curiously. “Oh, are you still injured? I could wash you.”

“That’s not it either, highness,” the pegasus answered next, having to fight to keep his wings down.

“Well what is the matter?” Celestia asked as she moved closer. “You are staring at me for a reason.”

“It would be...uncouth of us to say why, highness,” the earth pony finished, hoping she would drop it now.

“Uncouth?” the alicorn paused. “Colt, how old do you think I am? There is literally nothing you can say that I have not heard of before.”

That was about when the pegasus guard lost control of his wings with a mighty ‘Pomf’ sound.

“Oh dear,” Celestia said as she moved to him. “Are you alright? Do you have a pinched nerve there?” her horn glowed as her golden aura started to massage his wings and joints.

“I-It is not because they are injured, highness,” the stallion gulped, trying to think of how to explain it to her.

“Well then what is it?” she asked, starting to get annoyed with their dodging the questions. She knew they were, she invented that technique.

“A pegasi’s wings react like that because it is an instinct in their blood to try and put on a display...for ponies they find attractive,” the unicorn explained.

“Oh come the buck on, really?” the pegasus grumbled. “Like either of you can resist how she looks when she’s not killing us!”

“...No comment,” the earth pony replied carefully.

Celestia paused, releasing his wings from her magic as she blinked a few times. “I’m… sorry?” she finally said. “Please correct me if I am mistaken. But… you find me attractive?”

The stallions couldn’t bring themselves to look at her, each one staring off at something else...before they all nodded slightly, in turn.

The alicorn frowned. “Did my sister put you up to this? I know for a fact that my own guard do not harbor those kinds of feelings for me. I have tried time and time again…”

Wait, those rumors of her hitting on her guard were true?

“Ah...well, we’re...recent hires,” the pegasus tried to explain.

“Is that so?” she said as she looked at them. “Marital status?”

“Single,” the unicorn explained.

“Single, and my mother wants me to find a marefriend soon,” the earth pony said. “She thinks the uniform will help.”

“Recently single after finding my ex was cheating on me for five years,” the pegasus grumped.

“Interesting,” the mare mused as she looked them over. “So… did you all sit in sugar? Because you have some sweet flanks~”

Instead of laughter, or snorts of derision…

The three guards actually blushed as they looked down at the water.

“I…” Celestia was really confused now. “Ah, nevermind…” she mumbled as she turned around. “Forget I said anything.”

“We just, uh...never imagined your highness would ever find three plain ponies like us attractive,” the pegasus explained.

She paused again. “Why would I not?” shesaid and looked them over. “You all possess admirable traits for your species. A long horn, impressive wingspan and a solid build. And you haven’t run screaming from me, so that’s a plus.” She sighed and shook her head. “Not once… have I ever been successful in this area.”

Wait… what?

“How...many times have you tried, your highness?” the unicorn of the three dared to ask.

“I lost count somewhere after a few hundred,” she said. “I even once said nothing, simply turned and raised my tail. And that time the guard turned out to be not only gay, but married too!”

Well...this was quickly becoming even more awkward. “Um…” the earth pony started. “Are you sure you’ve been trying the right guards?”

“Yeah, there’s a whole orientation process at about the two-week mark that’s supposed to tell you how to behave on the job, once they’re done making sure you’re fit for it,” the unicorn said. “Ours was scheduled for tomorrow.”

“...” Celestia turned and looked at them. “You mean… they’re trained. NOT to approach me with amorous intentions?” Her right eye gave a small twitch.

“I dunno, probably?” the pegasus shrugged. “We haven’t had our class yet.”

Then the mare paused, her frown deepening. “Luna….” she growled in an unearthly tone.

Many miles away, an alicorn blinked and looked up from her paperwork. Odd, where did that shiver down her spine come from?

“I don’t believe this,” Celestia sighed as she dunked her head under the water again.

“Are you...okay, your highness?” the unicorn asked, walking close and daring to put a hoof on her withers.

And from her position under the water, she saw something… else. With a squeak, she shot up out of the water, her face tinged red with a blush.

“Your highness?” the unicorn asked, curious as to why she was blushing now.

“I-Is that… because of me?” she dared to ask, her eyes flicking down briefly.

...If Celestia was blushing, the unicorn was incandescently red now, unable to look anywhere at her as he meeped. She caught that he gave one quick, jerky nod, before he resumed being stock-still.

Well… that… was a thing. She looked at the others, wondering if they were in a similar position. She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded slightly. “S-Should I… help with that?” she said, slowly and carefully.

“I...I would not be so bold as to ask the princess to—” the unicorn started to say, before her horn lit up and all three felt a tingle of her magic in a… particular region of their anatomy.

“H-Highness!” the unicorn protested. “You don’t have to—”

Then the three stallions saw their princess, her mane flickering orange as she licked her fangs, her slitted eyes narrowed in a seductive stare. “Oh? But whyever not?” she purred to them. “You’re my guards aren’t you? That means you have to serve me~”

“Y-Your highness, you’ve...changed,” the earth pony pointed out, pointing a hoof at her mane.

“Ahaha,” Celestia waved a primary feather. “No backtalk little colt. The next words I hear better be one of worship, or else~”

The pegasus of the trio frowned, lowered his wings…

And scooped up two wingfuls of water to splash on Celestia to shock her back into being somewhat normal. The water exploded with a cloud of steam, before the alicorn emerged, still looking like that.

“You DARE assault ME!?” she screeched, the water starting to get a LOT warmer. “I will—” She suddenly… slapped herself? Hard enough that she reeled.

The three guards took a careful step back as they watched the self-interaction play out.

Celestia panted as she looked up, a red welt on her cheek as her amethyst eyes looked… scared?

“I…” she started, before shaking her head. “I’m sorry…” And then she teleported, water filling in the spot she just occupied.

“...Who wants to be the one to tell the Captain that we lost the princess after she kidnapped us?” the unicorn asked.

“Not it,” his fellows replied automatically.

“...Buck you two too.”

“That is of course, assuming we can get home,” the pegasus pointed out, reminding them that this island was in the middle of nowhere. The princess having teleported them all here.

“...Aw horseapples,” the earth pony muttered.

Author's Note

Things just keep circling around that plot point, don't they?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on buying caffeine injections.

Chapter 66 - Keeping up with the news

Aspect woke up that morning to find that his beloved Bon Bon was missing from the bed, as was Lyra. Midnight was there, and given the time, Rainbow was out doing her pre-morning exercises before work.

Mmm...what to do today? Well, first on his list of getting things back to normal was getting Sombra naturalized. And the sooner that happened, the better. There was a harvest festival going on though...so maybe afterwards, if he could get the girls together.

Oooh, he wondered. How much work had little Applebloom and Bon’s other students been putting into their Geomancy?

Plus it was a weekend, so Megan’s kids might visit as well. All in all the day was sounding pretty full for a lack of things he had to do.

So, first things first...he had no bloody idea. His stomach rumbled, which gave him a heading. Breakfast first, then see where the wind took him.

He headed downstairs to find Bon and Lyra in the kitchen, the former making… things. A lot of things, with Lyra being her assistant and taste tester. That said, the two paused in their work to give the stallion a kiss each when he entered.

“Morning to you as well,” he greeted before kissing them back. “So, harvest festival. How many inventive fillies and colts do you think we’ll have out of our students, Bonnie?”

“Quite a few from the sounds of it,” Bon Bon said as she returned to her cooking, some kind of fruit and vegetable salad. “Pretty much all of Cheerilee’s class. And I hear our kids are even doing one. Spearheaded by Moonie.”

“...Is it too late to run into the Everfree, screaming?” Aspect mused after hearing that. “I’d probably have higher odds of surviving.”

“Bite me!” Nightmare yelled from somewhere within the house.

“Be nice,” Bon Bon chided them both. “Now, I’m guessing you want some food and coffee my dear?”

“That would be appreciated,” Aspect nodded. “It’s only just become morning after all. It’d be best to go into a full day with a full tank of fuel.”

“I wouldn’t expect any disasters,” Bon Bon said as she placed a mug down on the table, along with some toast and eggs. “That said… this is Ponyville after all.”

“Expect nothing, prepare for everything,” Aspect nodded as he sat in front of the plate of food. “That way you’re not surprised, just reacting to the things that crop up. It’s how we survived the Everfree.”

“Pinkie Pie.” Bon Bon simply said. “Twilight Sparkle. Cutie Mark Crusaders…”

“True, but the forest can be...inventive in trying to run you off,” the stallion supplied. “There’s a reason you don’t know of the Crimson Choking Vine anymore.”

“...The what now?” Lyra and Bon Bon echoed at the same time.

“Exactly,” Aspect nodded. “The forest sent the stuff at us when we’d started to build the castle. It would wrap a pony up, then use its barbs to slowly cut a pony to pieces in the most agonizing way possible while not wrapping your mouth up. So your screams of torment would tell everyone exactly where you were...so they would come rescue you. So it could wrap them up too. The reason you don’t know about it is because I burned it all. All of it.”

“...I am suddenly so very glad you did,” Lyra squeaked.

“Yeah… that’s one thing I don’t want tying me up,” Bon Bon nodded, her face going pale.

“Yeah. Hunting down colonies of giant spiders, getting rid of dangerous pony-killing plants…” Aspect hummed between bites of his food. “The only thing I didn’t get rid of was the Flyders. They were tricky and got away.”

“I hate those things,” Bon Bon shuddered. “Had to hunt some swarms before. You do NOT want to see what I’ve found in the past.”

“Most of the major threats to ponykind I got rid of myself, so I would probably understand,” the stallion replied. “If it wasn’t a wayward Aspect, it was their castoffs, the things they left in their wake. Gawd, you don’t want to know about the Vorpal rabbits…”

“How is anything rabbit scary?” Lyra teased. “Now you’re messing with us.”

“Picture a cute, ordinary rabbit,” Aspect said. “Now give it the ability to cleave through anything. I don’t know how they do it. And you can’t tell if a rabbit is a vorpal one or not just from looks alone. You’d have to watch the rabbit and see if it, I don’t know...bites through a predator and takes its head clean off.” He shook his head. “There’s a reason you always respect bunny rabbits.”

“...Well, there goes my appetite,” Lyra groaned, Bon Bon wishing it would affect her. For some reason… it just made her hungry. Bloody pregnancy cravings. Aspect looked up to see the mare bite down on something as she worked… was… was that bacon?

“...One of these days that will seem normal, but today is not that day,” Aspect muttered as he turned back to his own breakfast. He knew better to try meat as a pony.

“Hey, it’s your fault,” Lyra waved a hoof at him. “You’re the one that put a dragon baby in her.”

“It’s actually quite tasty,” Bon Bon mused. “Also, I got a message this morning Aspect. One you’ll be interested to hear.”

“Oh?” the stallion perked his ears as he began to drink his coffee.

“My bosses at S.M.I.L.E have contacted me,” she said. “As of now, I have been reassigned.”

The stallion slowly put his mug down and turned his head to look at her. “Oh?”

“Mhm,” she nodded without looking at him. “I have been assigned to watch the subject known most commonly as ‘Balanced Aspect’ indefinitely.”

“...Ah,” the stallion sighed. “That sounds like it’ll be a taxing assignment.”

“Well, it’ll be a challenge,” Bon Bon said with a serious nod. “At least I have my assistant Lyra here.”

“Mhm,” Lyra mused. “Speaking off… I know what I want for breakfast~”

“Oh?” Aspect turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t want Bon Bon’s cooking?”

Lyra simply giggled as she ducked under the table. What was she… oh… OH!

“Well that’s one way to start your day,” the stallion grunting, bracing himself by putting his hooves on the table.

Bon Bon just rolled her eyes as she went back to work, ignoring the sounds coming from under the table. “So, what have you planned for today dear? I trust you’ll be coming to the festival?”

“I can try to attend at least,” Aspect agreed. “It promises to be iiiiIIIINteresting…”

“Something the matter?” Bon Bon asked with a curious smile. “You seem… fidgety.”

“Just...distracted,” Aspect huffed.

“Is that so?” Bon Bon mused as Aspect felt magic coming into play as well. Ooh, now she was cheating!

“It’s...not easy remaining foooooholygods she’s good,” the stallion panted as he looked at Bon Bon. “Did you teach her things?”

“Hmm, did I?” the mare giggled as she started to dice more vegetables. “Maybe~”

“Fuuuuuuck, I won’t complain about you all conspiring against me like this,” the stallion muttered as he finally just leaned back in his chair and let it happen.

The atop all that, she started to hum as well, a trifecta of pleasure from under the table.

“Just try not to drown her,” Bon Bon said as she moved to the fridge to get a few more ingredients.

“How...productive do you think I am?” Aspect panted, reaching a hoof under the table to find Lyra’s head and rub it in appreciation.

“Last night, Midnight and I returned to find you having turned our newest playmate into a ball,” she commented dryly as she tossed some stuff into a pot.

“Because I was in Seapony form,” the stallion commented. “I’m just a normal unicorn now.”

“Hmm, out of curiosity, what would be your most… prolific form?” Bon Bon asked, her tail slightly raised thanks to the smell coming from the table.

“I...haaaaah...wouldn’t know,” the stallion replied. “It’s not like I’ve tested them all.”

“Well, what would you think it would be?” Bon Bon asked.

“I don’t know,” Aspect reiterated. “It’s not like I went around asking them what their mating habits were like.”

Bon Bon snorted in amusement. “Urgh, tell Lyra to hurry up before I get down there and help her. That smell is driving me nuts!”

Aspect gasped. “I think she heard you,” he relayed, gripping the chair with his hooves to brace himself again. Lyra had increased both her pace and the intensity of her magic.

Then she cast a new spell. A spell by a pony named Silken Touch, known as ‘Bottled Volcano’.

It didn’t take a genius to know what that spell did.

Aspect let out a low groan as he fed Lyra her breakfast, what felt like far too much coming out of him as he just let it happen. After what felt like an hour… or a minute. He finally stopped as Lyra crawled out from under the table with a small smile…

Before trotting over to Bon Bon and kissing her while Aspect was looking… and showing that sharing is caring~

“...You’re going to constantly try and one-up yourself in this sort of relationship, aren’t you?” the stallion asked. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Lyra broke the kiss and swallowed, a lump sliding down her throat as she let out a sigh. “Well, I have a lot of ground to catch up on,” she mused.

“Just as long as you don’t immediately think you have to go as far as bearing me foals just to stay in this relationship,” Aspect pointed out.

“Naah, I think you have enough kids,” Lyra said with a shrug. “I’m still surprised you even said yes. I’d have been okay just… being friends.”

Aspect raised an eyebrow before looking at Bon Bon.

“I really doubt she would have been,” Bon Bon said. “Guess when you got stuck with me, getting stuck with Lyra was inevitable.”

“Ah well, I will bear my silly unicorn with pride,” Aspect said, holding a hoof to his chest. “Hopefully she too does not overwhelm me with foals.”

“I’d imagine they’d simply be Tiny Lyra’s,” Bon Bon giggled, getting a pout from the minty mare, before Lyra smirked.

“Oh hey Bonnie, can I take Aspect to a party?” she asked, as the mare’s eyes widened.

“No.”

“Aw comeon,it’ll be fuuun~”

“No.”

“What sort of party is she talking about?” Aspect asked.

Bon Bon sighed. “It’s something that stemmed from old Earth pony tradition,” she sighed. “Back when population was an issue and herds were more common. Sometimes… herds would, mingle, to boost productivity so to speak. Fast forward a few centuries and now couples have these parties were they… swap partners so to speak. Lyra would go to them as a Single.”

“Singles can go, if they feel lonely,” Lyra said. “I’d try to get Bon to go, but that always ended in a bust.”

“I see…” Aspect mused. “So...you’d purposely take me to this sort of party to...what, share me?”

“Why not?” Lyra shrugged. “It’s a bit of harmless fun. As long as you're careful.”

“Yeah… Mrs. Cake screwed the pooch on that one,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

“...I suddenly don’t think I want to know,” Aspect muttered, shaking his head. “So, what...you’d bring me there to share me and my myriad forms? Just for the sake of fun?”

“Mhm,” Lyra nodded. “Bit of harmless sex.”

“Honestly…” Bon Bon sighed.

“Tell you what,” Aspect walked over and booped the mare’s nose. “Get the others to agree to this and I’ll take part.”

“Mmm, well it’s just a thought,” Lyra said.

“And would you honestly unleash Midnight on those poor ponies?” Bon Bon mused.

“I meant more ‘get everyone to agree to share me’, not ‘get everyone to agree to go,’” the stallion clarified. “I just don’t want the others to be surprised by this.”

“Well, our completely messed up lovelife aside,” Bon Bon sighed. “Finish your breakfast. I’m going to be taking over the kitchen soon.”

“Uhoh, better warn the others,” Aspect chuckled as he downed his coffee. “Right, I’m off to take in the sights today.”

“Bye,” Bon Bon, waving her tail at him and offering him a sparse glance underneath as she resumed cooking in that cute little pink apron.

Aspect chuckled and used his magic to swat that flank of hers, getting a surprised squeak from her, before he walked deeper into the house, going over his mental checklist to see if anything needed to be done. When he couldn’t find anything in his immediate concerns, he walked outside and sighed as he sat down and just took in the day.

This...was a nice day. He wished more were like it. Nice and calm.

Well it was, up until he saw Artemis standing a few feet away, his fur standing on end as he snarled, claws extended and fangs bared.

“Artemis?” Aspect asked. “What’s wrong?” He looked up saw exactly what was wrong. Standing on his front lawn, simply looking around, was a human woman. She was, around five and a half feet, maybe taller. Long, black hair flowed down her back. Her crimson eyes taking in the scenery, her lithe, curvaceous body covered in a mix of tattered rags held together with strips of cloth.

And she radiated power.

“Okay, that...shouldn’t be possible,” Aspect muttered. “We sunk that crystal into the earth. You should be trapped.”

“Hm?” she turned, apparently not having noticed him. “You look the same. Why…” she tilted her head. “Ah, time flowed differently for me in that realm. Tell me, how long has it been since we met?”

“Not long, maybe a few days,” Aspect said, mentally preparing to secure what he could from her. If he had to, he’d fight her first and send a message later about the damages.

“Hm, it’s been two hundred years for me,” she replied, almost bored. “I suppose that’s what I reap for experimenting with the Aspect of Time.”

“S-She’s the Aspect of Time?” Artemis asked, already preparing to attack.

“No, she’s...different,” Aspect replied. “Stay out of this, you wouldn’t be able to fight her.”

“Hmm, is this little one strong?” she mused, having appeared behind him. What? How? She didn’t teleport. He couldn’t feel displaced air. How did she move like that? “Ahh, the Aspect of Earth? He’s cute.” She leaned down and pet his head, making his ears fold back and whine. “Hm, I suppose my Water Aspect doesn’t agree with you though.”

“Why are you here?” Aspect grit his teeth. “It was going to be a peaceful day.”

“I am curious. Why are you strong? How did you get so strong? Was it merely time and experience? Or something more?” She appeared next to him. Again, he felt and sensed nothing. How!? “You are… curious.”

“If I told you how I got stronger, it would lead to you trying the same thing, and I think I’d rather avoid that,” Aspect growled. “Why don’t you just—”

“Ahem.” That...was someone new. A small voice calling from just behind the lady. And she didn’t see anything when she turned to look...until she looked down.

Then she saw a small, white rabbit...wearing a waistcoat, glasses, and holding a pocketwatch. And he seemed to be...very angry with her.

“Would you care to stop mucking about with time?” he asked. “It’s giving me a headache.”

“Hmm, and what are you?” she leaned down and looked at the rabbit. “Are you strong too?”

“You are meddling with my element, and I don’t appreciate it,” the rabbit replied angrily. “You’re making me late for a very important date. So either you stop, or I make you stop.”

“I do not care for you little fuzzy,” she said and stood up to her full height. “Only for the strong one here.”

The rabbit sighed and pulled a small, rabbit-sized sword from his belt, careful not to let it touch anything as the edge faintly glowed blue. “Last chance, otherwise you’ll experience all the pain of Time,” he warned. “Either you stop or I will make you.”

“Hmm, I am still… experimenting with my powers,” she said and looked at him. “Careful who you threaten though. I have consumed much bigger than you.” Her arm warped, becoming shadows and ending in a great maw.

There wasn’t even a flash from the rabbit, he didn’t even move to the naked eye.

She just suddenly...lost her hand, whisps of shadow leaking from where the maw connected to her arm as a black liquid stained his blade.

“The Vorpal Blade. Snicker-snack,” the rabbit said, wiping it clean with a handkerchief.

She just, stared at the stump, blinking once… twice… Before her arm returned to normal, flexing the fingers of her regenerated hand. “How… interesting. I did not even see that attack just now. How did you do that?”

“I am Time,” the rabbit explained. “You think you’re strong? I’ve been here since before this young one here went around righting the wrongs. My children can do it without a sword, but I’m the original one who learned how to cut through Time itself.”

“Cutting through time…” she flexed her hand again, “I should learn that. It seems like a useful technique.” She looked at the rabbit. “You are too strong. I cannot defeat you as I am now.”

“I should bloody well hope not, if you did time would stop,” the rabbit snorted. “Many have tried to kill me over the years. I’ve gotten very good at defending myself.”

“Hmm, time stopping would be detrimental to me defeating this one,” she said, looking at Aspect. “However, I have observed that he would not take me seriously either.”

“The last time he got serious, I had to put in overtime to make sure that the world didn’t unravel from his grievous power useage,” the rabbit muttered. “Damn runes warping the fabric of space and time...should have just been forgotten, but nooooo, he had to go and find them.”

“Yes, runic magic, what he used to defeat the Chaos Aspect,” she nodded as she snapped her fingers, turning a nearby tree into a cardboard cutout. “Tch, this power is difficult to control… I had meant to do something else.”

“Oh would you bloody stop that already?” Aspect growled as he shot a beam of power at the tree, runes dancing along the beam as he turned it back to normal. “If I catch wind of you attempting to consume any pony out here, I will hunt you down and destroy you,” he threatened the mysterious woman.

“I need not consume ponies, they have not wronged me in anyway,” she said plainly. “I consumed the Umbrum because that was what they desired. They called a creature that would destroy everything. They did not exclude themselves in their haste to bring me into being.” She summoned her sword, a black and red mockery of his own. “Besides, after gaining sentience, I have decided that total destruction would be… boring. If I killed everything, then what would be left? No, you will entertain me. But as it stands, I cannot challenge you. Your full might would overwhelm me. I must become stronger.”

“...” Aspect looked her over for a time, not sure if she was serious or not. “...Is she being serious?” he asked the rabbit.

“Mmm...I can see many probable futures,” the rabbit replied. “The only ones in which she is the destroyer have already been averted. She honestly is just looking for a good fight.”

“...How about this?” Aspect said to the lady. “You learn from the beings here, on this side of the world, figure out the sorts of things a normal being gets educated in during their lifespan here, and you’ll understand the source of my strength. I’ve walked among most of them and learned their lives and culture, their ways of fighting and protecting. If you can do the same, you’ll learn why I’m so strong.”

“Intriguing,” she said, sending her sword away. “So, you say it is because of others that you are strong? That, somehow being with them gives you your strength?”

“It is because I have done so much, been with so many, learned from all the walks of life, that I am as strong as I am,” Aspect replied carefully. “I have blended as many ways of fighting into myself as possible, learning them by heart. I am comfortable in any form, so can fight no matter the situation. But most importantly, I know what all the races of the world hold dear to their hearts...so I know how to properly fight to defend what I hold closest to me as well.”

“Hmm…” she leaned back, just floating in the air. “How curious,” she murmured. She closed her eyes, before just… teleporting away.

Aspect let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding before looking over at the rabbit and inclining his head. “White. Normally don’t see you.”

“No, nobody normally does, but when you muck about with time, you tend to draw me out,” the rabbit muttered. “Which reminds me, quit rewinding time with your bloody runes. It’s like a headache and a fever all at once.”

“I’ll...keep that in mind,” Aspect chuckled. “Planning on sticking around?”

“Eh, I’ll visit my grandson while I’m in the area,” the rabbit replied, sheathing his sword and pulling out his watch. “Should have the time for that before I have to be off to see another family member.”

There should have been some effect. Some sort of ripple or something. Not just...blink and the rabbit was gone. Leaving the others to question how he could possibly move so quickly.

“Um…” Artemis held up a paw. “Teacher? What the holes was THAT!?”

“The White Rabbit, the Aspect of Time,” Aspect explained. “He’s been doing his job since before I got here. Though if you’re asking about the woman...let’s just say she’s a negative version of me.”

“But, it’s not even Tuesday!” Artemis sighed and sat down. “Seriously… Can’t we have a normal day for once?”

“I’m sorry, do you even know the family you’re a part of?” Aspect quipped as he lay on the grass. “Just...accept it as being part and parcel of being immortal. Some beings go a bit...kooky with age.”

“Am I gonna go crazy?” Artemis said, sounding worried. “Can I hand my Aspect back now?”

“As long as you don’t do something that requires me to step in and tell you to behave, I wouldn’t worry about your sanity,” Aspect replied. “At least for a thousand years or so.”

“Greeaaaat,” the canine sighed.

“You know, that’s an interesting thought,” a voice spoke up. The males turned to see Nightmare leaning against the doorway. “You step in to correct wayward Aspects. Yet, who steps in if you go nuts and want to destroy everything…? Again. We’re fresh out of Chaos spirits to distract you with shiny mirrors.”

“That is...an excellent point,” Aspect regretfully admitted. “I wish I had an answer for you.”

“That’s reassuring,” Nightmare shook her head. “By the way… I’ve come up with an idea I would like to run by you.”

“Oh?” the stallion asked as he tilted his head in curiosity.

“Mmm,” she stepped out into the light, her starry mane lying limp in dark blue strands. “I got the idea from the Music Aspects… and I’ve already run it by Luna. She got… weirdly happy for some reason.” She sat down on the lawn. “Come and sit with me… I won’t bite.”

“That is actually the last thing I’m afraid of, but okay,” the stallion muttered as he walked over, sitting next to the diminutive Dream aspect and wondering what she was going to do.

“I have decided to split the dream Aspect,” she said with a small nod. “I have… decided that I quite like being this age. It, lets me live the life I never had. I came into being as a full grown mare. Bent only on destroying the world and ridding it of Celestia and her sun. Now…” She sighed and shrugged. “I don’t really know. Maybe I’ll get bored of it soon enough.”

“A choice I will never fault you for,” Aspect replied softly. “So...what is to become of the rest of it?”

“I’m giving most of it back to Luna. She knows what she’s doing after all. But me… I’m handling foals dreams. Luna’s a bit too… intense for them sometimes. And vague. Kids want it spelled out for them, not some cryptic riddle that will only make things worse.”

“Aye, that they do,” Aspect chuckled, reaching over and rubbing Nightmare between the ears. “I assume she’ll hold onto it until you feel ready for it?”

“She’s keeping it. I’m good the way I am… plus I like the idea of Fate giving me this and me flipping it off and doing what I want instead,” she smirked maliciously.

“Oh dear, I’m pretty sure Yggdrasil will not be happy about that,” the stallion chuckled, one ear turned in the tree’s direction.

“I had EVERYTHING planned out! She was going to make a wonderful Aspect of Dreams. Now she’s going to be the the Aspect of ‘foal’s Dreams… Urgh… you know what, I don’t care. She can do what she bloody likes! I have bigger plans in the works, she was just a hobby.”

“Yup, he’s mad,” Aspect chuckled. “Well, sometimes you just need to be yourself,” the stallion said to the filly. “Controlling everything about someone’s life just sounds like a bit too much to me.”

“Hmm, says the stallion that slapped a Runic curse on me,” she replied with a teasing wink.

“Don’t act like you didn’t deserve it,” Aspect warned her. “It’s only now that you’re turning over a new leaf that I’m even considering just taking it off, consequences be damned.”

“Uhuh,” she mused and folded her forelegs. “So, seems you’ve made a new friend. She wields how many Aspects now?”

“She’s not a friend,” Aspect replied sternly. “She’s someone that wants to fight me. She’s the mirror version of me, the negative from where Sombra once lived. They made her to counter me...before she killed them all.”

“Huh… sooo, does that mean she has every Aspect?” Nightmare pointed out. “Even the fun ones like Fate, Life and Creation?”

“Goodness I hope not,” Aspect muttered. “That would just get...confusing, fast.”

“She could literally make it her Fate to never lose to you… or you know, create and imbue her own Aspects,” Nightmare pointed out. “She’s a god and has no idea she is one from the looks of it.”

“The reason I was ever as strong as I was was because I slew the old Aspects, taking their magical essence into myself, when they went astray,” Aspect explained. “She doesn’t have that. She has a bit of everything...but she’s not as strong in them as I am. She would have to kill an Aspect to get that strong.”

“Huh… still, she’s versatile, unlike you,” Nightmare pointed out. “Just be careful. I still have dibs for ones wanting to kill you. She needs to get in line.”

“Yeah, I never had Time, so she has that on me,” Aspect agreed. “I wonder which one of the local rabbits is his grandson…”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if it was that little shit of Fluttershy’s,” Nightmare chuckled. “Could you imagine that little terror being a Vorpal Rabbit?”

“And you’re certain you don’t need anything?” White asked his grandson. “Your pony is taking care of you, and you’re taking care of her?”

“Yeah, though it’s mostly me taking care of her,” Angel shrugged. “She has her moments, but damn if she isn’t afraid of her own shadow… and I mean that literally, half the time.”

“Ah, well, ponies are sometimes softer than your average rabbit,” White nodded. “I have no idea why that youngster thinks they’re running the show these days.”

“Eh, they make some damned fine carrots,” Angel said as he gnawed on one. “Plus she’s cute, so that’s a plus~”

“Just keep in mind that she’s only ever going to see you as a pet,” White warned. “Well...if that’s everything, I’ll be off. Bun-Bun is celebrating his litter’s birthday today, and I promised I’d make i—”

“Oh, there you are Angel,” Fluttershy cooed as she approached. “Hm? You have a friend? Aww, what an adorable little coat he has~” The soft pegasus scooping him up and nuzzling him. “Aww, aren’t you just the cutest widdle thing, yes you are~”

Angel was rolling in the tears of his laughter.

“...Angel, please explain to your pony who I am,” White deadpanned. He wasn’t going to admit that it felt nice. He was the Aspect of Time. He had all the time in the world for ponies when he wasn’t busy seeing to family obligations.

“N-Not a chance,” he cackled as Fluttershy pet his little rabbit ears.

“Ooh, are you hungry?” the pegasus said as she started heading inside. “I just bought some fresh lettuce and juicy carrots~”

“I don’t have time for this,” White replied. “I have to visit my next grandson before he starts the birthday party for his litt—”

“You ain’t getting outta this one grandpa, sides...her food is pretty awesome,” Angel said as he hopped inside after them.

“I...suppose I can spare a minute or two,” White muttered. “But no more than that! Any more and I’ll be late for a very important date.”

“So you keep saying, have you ever actually been late?” Angel deadpanned as Fluttershy put White down and headed into the kitchen.

“Not yet, but I keep barely making it to important events,” the rabbit replied as he looked around. “She...has a thing for animals, I see.”

“Wow… totally not taking that out of context,” Angel said as White beheld Fluttershy’s menagerie of critters. “You really need to learn phrasing old man.”

“Bah, language just needs to quit evolving on me, problem sorted,” the rabbit muttered as he took out his watch to stare at it for a moment, before sighing. “I’ll have to cut through time to get there on time.”

“Yeah yeah,” Angel rolled his eyes as Fluttershy came back, setting two bowls down. Fresh cucumber, lettuce, tomato and carrot, dressed with a clear dressing and it smelled divine, Angel was already facefirst in his bowl, utterly destroying the work of art.

“Decorum!” White huffed, slapping his grandson upside the head with a paw. “I know you know it!”

“Ow!” Angel rubbed his head. “Come on, if I have to play a pet, I might as well act the part right?”

“Act a pet?” Fluttershy blinked. “What do you mean?”

Oh… right, she could understand them.

“Well, now you’ve gone and done it,” White chuckled. “And this time, I’ll let you explain what you are to the pony.”

“Uh, something like… a protector I guess,” Angel sighed. “You know the human right? Balanced Aspect I believe he goes by. Well, the geezer here is like him. He commands Time itself.”

“Oh my…” Fluttershy gasped, her eyes going wide. “And… and I treated you like.. Oh dear oh dear…” She lowered her head. “I’m ever so sorry.”

“It’s fine, I’m used to ponies doing that by now,” White replied, munching on a bit of the salad. “Mmm...quite good food you make miss Fluttershy. I can see my grandson picked out a good home with you.”

“So… protector hm?” Fluttershy giggled. “You always did act like my little white knight~” she said, leaning down to nuzzle his head.

“Gaaah,” Angel pouted, fixing his messed up fur.

“Mmm, Vorpal rabbits are like that, once they get attached to a pony,” White noted.

“Vorpal Rabbit?” Fluttershy blinked. “What’s that?”

“I’ll explain later,” Angel sighed. “Any other secrets you wanna blurt out while you’re here you old coot?”

“No, I think I’m good,” White chuckled as he drew his tiny sword. “Take care.” He swung it in front of himself and vanished with a blue flash, having cut through time itself to get to his next destination.

“Always a show off,” Angel rolled his eyes and looked at his mistress. “Well… guess I have a few things to explain.”

Aspect hummed to himself as he walked back home. After a quick check around town to make sure that woman wasn’t lingering, disguised as him checking to see if there was anything anyone needed help with for setting up for the festival, the stallion had returned home to wait out the rest of the time until the show started.

What he found was Megan carrying some large boxes out of the mirror room and towards his living room. He could also hear some banging coming from the roof.

“...I’m sorry, what?” he asked. “Is...something going on?”

“Mhm, but you’ll have to wait and see,” Megan said as she pushed past him. “Stay out of the living room. Also, tempted to steal some of these bug ponies. They’re hard workers, unlike their great grandfather here.”

“What?” Aspect asked, a bit more shrilly than he had meant to. “I made Chrysalis, she made them. The furthest back their family tree goes is to me, the grandfather.”

“They have kids too ya butt,” she smirked. “Wow, doesn’t even know they exist… that’s just sad Chris…” She put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. “Must break their lil buggy hearts.”

“...Okay, so maybe I need to catch up with some species a bit more than others,” the stallion muttered as he shook his head. “I look at all of them like they’re my grandkids anyways.”

“Honestly,” she sighed and kept walking. “Stay out of the living room. I mean it, or we’ll see if my boot fits up your butt.”

“MOOOOOOM! GONNA STUDY WITH TWILIGHT BYE!”

A younger girl tore past Aspect and off into the noon sun, eager to meet her purple study buddy.

“Gonna hang with the Crusaders! I want my Cutie Mark too!” the younger daughter yelled as she ran past, spinning him the other way.

Once the stallion stopped spinning, he looked up at Megan and folded his forelegs, sitting on his haunches. “If things go sideways today, I blame them,” he stated.

“Drama queen,” she mused and poked her tongue out. “How are they worse than your little hellions huh? At least they can’t fly or use magic.”

“Give the Crusaders an afternoon, they’ll fix that,” the stallion muttered.

“...That terrifies me,” the woman shuddered as she entered his living room and closed the door. A moment later, he could hear power tools starting up. The hell was she doing in there?

“Try not to damage anything!” Aspect cried through the door.

*crunch*

“I CAN FIX THAT!” the woman shouted. Aspect shuddered in fear of what she was doing to his home.

The Harvest Festival itself was… interesting. Seems ponies made floats of various things like fruit and vegetables. Some were actually rather well made… some, not so much.

And then… the ground shook.

And a float bigger than others stomped into view. A simply giant timberwolf. One could have been scared that it was actually real.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the Cutie Mark Crusader’s symbol was painted on the side. And that Scootaloo was waving from one of the massive eyesockets.

Aspect could feel the various magicks in play. The Sorcery that moved the thing. The Geomancy that held it all together and… when it opened it’s mouth and roared, yup, that was Aeromancy being shunted through a few pipes to make the sound.

“They’re really getting the hang of their magics,” Aspect muttered as he smiled and waved at the float. They were some of his better students, he had to admit. He was surprised they’d mastered this much already. Maybe they’d prove to be prodigies at the arts.

So… why was the giant timberwolf staring at a float further down… One driven by Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and a filly he didn’t recognise.

Oh no…

“Girls, no,” Aspect whispered. “Don’t do it. Be better than that.”

The wolf stomped closer, Scootaloo making it roar again as it got the attention of Diamond. Her eyes widened, as did Silver’s as the third filly floored it.

Too bad she didn’t see the turn coming up, and the float went over the edge…

Or it would have… had the wolf float not caught it.

“...Better than I was hoping for, to be honest,” the stallion breathed. That...had been close.

Only in their celebrations, Applebloom forgot that her magic needed upkeep…

And that was how six fillies got buried in wood, mud and shame with a mighty crash.

“...And that’s a pretty big lesson in humility delivered as well,” the stallion chuckled. “No intervention on my part needed.”

When he returned home, he saw something that… perplexed him. Part of his roof was now covered in dark, glossy panels. What the heck were those? He could only assume Megan was behind this. Somehow.

He resolved to get answers by walking up into his house and heading for the living room. He got there just as the door opened, revealing Megan.

“Oh hey, nice timing,” she mused. “How was your day? I heard there was some kind of parade.”

“Harvest festival, but that’s not important right now,” the stallion said. “What have you put on my house?”

“Stuff and things,” she mused. “Figured you missed some crap in the last twenty odd years. You can pay me back later.”

“That tells me nothing,” the stallion grumbled. “What did you do?”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” she mused as she opened the door. “And would you turn back, I’m used to your human form.”

“Fine, for you,” the stallion muttered. There was a flash of light, and Christopher was standing there, his arms crossed. “Spill,” he ordered.

“Better,” she mused as she pulled him arm and led him inside.

Against one wall, one of his bookcases had been replaced. A large black cabinet stood there, and inside was something he hadn’t seen in over two thousand years.

An honest to god television!

“...What?” He asked. “How? There’s no way you got that through the mirror.” Not that he was complaining. He just knew the dimensions of the thing.

“Of course not… had to borrow these,” she tossed him his saddlebags. “I totally want a pair by the way. Now, earth’s gone through a huge technological boom in the last decade. We went from… shit, VHS and radio to bloody science fiction space travel thanks to some… friends. So something like this was surprisingly cheap. Got you nice and stocked up on DVD’s too. Movies, music, documentaries. Few history ones too for you. One in particular should be very interesting.”

“Okay, I’m interested,” the male admitted as he put his saddlebags by the door. “What did you get us? And how does it work?”

“Right… forgot you’re from the stone age,” she muttered. She looked at the remotes and frowned. “Fuck...I don’t have a clue. The kids usually do this.”

“Well your younger one is probably helping to hose the Crusaders off after a little...incident in the festival’s floats went awry. No idea when your older one will come back from Twilight’s,” Chris supplied. “I’m sure the quantities of nerd in that library are approaching critical mass.”

“...You dissin’ my kid?” Megan said in a warning tone. “You’re not too big to be put on your ass Chris.”

“I’m just saying that there comes a time when you have to admit your kids have become nerds,” the human said consolingly. “I’m sure Twilight and her will make wonderful foals together.”

“...That’s it, killing you now,” she said, walking up to him and cracking her knuckles.

“Think of it, little satyrs running around,” Chris waved a hand. “Hooves of a pony, hands of a human, horns of a unicorn...it’d be the best of both wor—”

And that was a fist connecting with his shoulder. Cripes that bloody hurt!

“Aww, wookit the poor widdle immortal, ‘bout to get his ass kicked by a girl,” she smirked.

“You’ll have to catch me to do that~” Chris chuckled as he drew on his power and vanished, appearing behind her and heading for the door.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, a feet sweeping his leg as his back hit the ground, the woman sitting on his chest.

“Seven years of Judo classes,” she smirked and patted his cheek. “Don’t worry, it’s okay to be second best Chrissy.”

“I still do not regret anything,” he said with a smirk on his face. “Face it, Megan, they’re nerding out over each other’s culture right now.”

“They are not!” Megan shouted, before kicking him out of the room. She had work to do and he was being distracting.

“So… you’re saying that humans are pretty much a monogamous species, sans for a few exceptions?” Twilight said as she wrote that down. “Well, I suppose you have the gender ratio for it.”

“And ponies used to herd until their gender ratios appeared to even out,” Stacy mused as she wrote that down as well. “I still don’t understand how mammals could ever not have a 50/50 split. It’s basic biology.”

“Species war, followed by spirits that feed on hatred freezing half the continent,” Twilight said. “Given that most of the military was male, they were the ones that were lost. I believe back in the early days, just after the war, inbreeding was also a thing that happened. Some regions still allow cousins to marry,” she stated. “It’s not illegal… but I believe it’s not socially acceptable.”

“That’s definitely not something you should allow,” Stacy replied with knowledge of her own. “Inbreeding means if there’s any genetic diseases in the family, they have a higher chance of being passed on to the offspring. Meaning you get things like brittle bones, weak immune systems, or just mental disorders.”

“Perhaps on your world,” Twilight said. “That said, we used what was called ‘Line Breeding’ only half-related could produce offspring. It actually helped in most cases. Mostly nobility practiced it, to keep their wealth within the family. Trust me, it’s not practised these days. Nor are herds. Aspect’s is the only one I have ever seen with my own eyes.”

“So not focusing on that,” Stacy muttered. “It raises way too many questions.”

“Agreed, honestly, I have no trouble on the theory… the practical on the other hoof… nothing but awkwardness.” She sighed and looked up. “Tell me, do humans only form relationships with the opposite gender?”

“No, there’s plenty of known relationships with same-sex couples,” Stacy replied as she flipped through her notes. “There used to be a big controversy about it, but it gained traction and became legal to marry wherever you lived, whoever you loved.”

“Ah, whereas same sex relations here have always been acceptable,” Twilight said, rifling through her own notes. “And… on a more personal note. How would a human… confirm their sexuality if they were unsure?”

“Most people form relationships over their lifespan through schooling,” Stacy said as she looked up briefly. “They go through puberty and find themselves attracted to one gender or another...or sometimes both. They confront themselves about who they feel romantically for and eventually accept it...and then most people go through college with their newly discovered orientation and ‘explore’ the possibilities with all new people that they’ve never met before who want the same thing.”

Twilight remained silent for a moment. “So… experimentation would be the most suitable way… but…” She sighed. “Goodness, how am I supposed to do that?” She muttered to herself, unaware that humans had pretty decent hearing.

“Usually dating is involved,” Stacy spoke up cheekily. “Ask someone you have feelings for out for a date to see how the night goes and if it triggers any romantic feelings in yourself. And as mom always says, ‘other stuff later, I’ll tell you when you’re older.’” The girl shrugged. “She forgets who installs the child-proofing on the computers…”

Twilight giggled at that one. “Mom was the same. Tried to give me the Talk, even though I’d already read several biology books and knew fully well the mechanics involved in sexual activities and reproduction.” She paused and closed her eyes. “I was eight.”

“Thirteen here,” the girl admitted. “Didn’t get free access to a computer at home unsupervised until then.”

“I didn’t have any experience in the area until I got… inebriated one evening,” Twilight sighed. “I then flirted with a mature-acting thirteen year old and wound up in Aspect’s bed with him muzzle deep in my—”

“I did not need the details!” Stacy cried out, putting her hands over her ears.

“Ah, my bad,” Twilight winced. “Sorry, I tend to ramble when I get a bit of wind under my sails. Sorry Stacey.”

“Look, what you need is to approach it with emotion, rather than as just a thing that happens,” Stacy said, pulling her hands away from her ears. “You need to find someone that makes you happy rather than just someone that’s...there. Otherwise you’ll keep running into the same stumbling block.”

“But that’s just the thing,” Twilight groaned. “If I asked, Aspect would likely welcome me into his herd with open hooves. But that would mean being romantic with Rainbow Dash, who’s one of my best friends. Not to mention a whole slew of confusion surrounding Aspect and I. Then there’s the mare who’s taught me since a foal and somepony I consider a second mother. I find out that not only does she have feelings for me, she tried to brainwash me into it!”

“Hmm…” Stacy hummed. “Well while I won’t condone the brainwashing, at least she has feelings for you that you can easily identify. If there’s confusion with Aspect, then it might be harder to unravel that than it would be to make this other mare own up to being in the wrong and fix her behavior. Or it could be the other way around. Just because Dash is your friend doesn’t mean you can’t have more than friendship. Some high-school sweethearts started as best friends and stayed happily married fifty years later.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of stories like that… heck, my own parents met at school,” Twilight said. “But, you also make a lot of sense. I could have something with Dash, but… I simply don’t feel that way. I even tried reading griffon and dragon romance books. To see if other species made me feel that way. But… written word doesn’t quite cut it. This is something that requires actual experience. And so far, my experiences have been… less than stellar.”

“Then you need to go out there and get that experience you’re missing,” Stacy replied sagely. “You need to figure out for yourself what you’re attracted to—wait. Did...did you just skip that part of puberty?”

“Sort of?” Twilight shrugged. “It was just never all that relevant to me. It had nothing to do with furthering my studies, only hindering them. Besides, I wasn’t the most… social of ponies. Even now, I doubt I have the necessary social skills. Then there’s this whole thing with Princess Celestia…” She sighed and closed her book. “She’s never been so… possessive before. Nor has she shown romantic interest. Titles aside, I don’t know if I could think of her that way. She practically raised me. She’s more like a second mother than a possible romantic partner.”

She sighed again and shrugged. “That’s neither here nor there. Now, let’s get you caught up on recent Equestrian history hm?”

“Fine, but we’re circling back around to your issues once we’re done,” Stacy promised, pulling up a book. “Griffon wars? That doesn’t sound like it was...well thought out.”

“Ponies and Griffons used to fight hoof and talon over territory a few hundred years back,” Twilight explained as she held open the tome. “Some animosity still exists today, but overall, we’re on good relations. Funny thing is, nopony knows how the war actually ended, only that it did. I don’t even think Aspect knows about it, as this was during the time of his self-imposed wanderings of the world. The last thousand years of Equestrian history are as unknown to him as they are you.”

“Hmm, sounds like something someone should get to telling him one day,” the teen mused. “Mom did say he made quite a few things...griffons were on that list. It’d be a shame if nobody told him how his ‘kids’ have been acting…”

“I think he knows?” Twilight said. “Rainbow mentioned about him making a Griffon the Aspect of Air. So, he might have visited them already. Still… I might bring it up. Now, it was around this time that dragons…”

“So uh…” Lyra and Bon Bon stared at the giant TV, along with a surround sound system set up and some other things that they hadn’t been told what they were yet. All of which was hooked up to a solar power panel on the roof. “What… is all this?” the minty unicorn asked.

“Ahh, I was hoping you’d ask,” Megan smiled broadly. “This, is what Chris has been missing out on in the last twenty odd years on Earth. Admittedly, this is an old model. I’m not that rich to buy him the newest crap. But it’ll do.”

“Okay… but what is it?” Bon Bon said. “It looks like a miniature movie theater…”

“That’s pretty much what it is,” Megan nodded. “You put these little discs in that machine there,” she said, pointing at the Blu-ray player. “And then you can watch movies and stuff. I brought them, documentaries, cartoons for the kids and some other random stuff.”

“Huh…” Bon Bon blinked and looked at Aspect, to see how he was reacting.

“I still cannot believe you risked taking the saddlebags across the mirror,” the stallion muttered. “Who knows how they would have reacted? Twilight says it’s a low-energy density world for magic over there. If they’d worn out of magic, they could have lost the enchantments woven into them, and that would have been a mess you’d need a bulldozer to clean up.”

“Yeah well… I was only there with them for a few minutes,” Megan shrugged. “Now… where’s—”

With a magenta flash, Twilight and Stacey teleported into the room.

“There,” Megan nodded and pulled her daughter closer. “Now, need your help kiddo. Mom’s got no idea how any of this crap works properly.”

“I know, dad spent three hours reading the manual, only to plug it in wrong and call tech support,” Stacey replied, walking over to the TV. Getting a sneaking suspicion, she picked up the manual to the blu-ray player, flipped through it...and then looked at the TV’s input plugs before sighing.

“This all has to go to AV input one,” she said, unplugging a few things and rewiring the system. “And do I want to know where you got a cable line for this TV from? Or where it’s going to?”

“I don’t know!” Megan threw her hands in the air. “I’m normally blowing up technology, not putting it together!”

“Oh, you mean like with those—” She was cut off as her mother put her hands over her mouth.

“Ahaha, kids, they say the darndest things,” she smiled. She leaned down and shook her head at her daughter. Stacey raised an eyebrow, wondering why her mom didn’t want her to say…

Then her eyes fell on Aspect and she figured it out. Ah…

The teen ducked out from her mom’s hold and said her next sentence a little more carefully. “He’s going to find out, you know, so...why are you not telling him?”

Megan groaned. “Because if I tell him. He’ll want to do something about it. And if he does something about it, it’ll get their attention.” She narrowed her eyes and looked at her. “And suppose they find Equestria hm? How long will a pony last against them?”

“Fair enough, but the portal would seem to be distinctly not them-sized,” her daughter pointed out, pushing the power button on the TV dramatically and bringing the whole thing to life.

“...Well there you go,” Megan hummed and sighed. “And three… two… one…”

“So what’s this ‘them’ you keep talking about?” Aspect asked, and when Megan turned to look at him, he flicked his pony ears a little cheekily.

“Of bloody course,” she sighed. “If you must know… around five years back, mankind got definitive proof that other life exists in the galaxy. In short, aliens.”

“Ooohhh~” Lyra leaned in closer, looking very interested.

“That sounds like it has its own host of problems,” the stallion observed carefully. “Because last I knew, we were only planning on going as far as the moon. Which implies they found us...which implies a significant power disparity.”

“Mhm,” Megan sighed as she sat on the couch. “And… not all of them are friendly. Now, what do you think when you think aliens Chris?”

“Oh, you’ll think it’s silly, but the first thing that comes to mind is the typical ‘little green man from Mars’ idea,” the stallion waved off.

“So, not thirty foot tall robots that can transform into just about any earth vehicle you can imagine?” Megan said. “Or, giant robot dinosaurs… or giant robots that merge with other giant robots… Or stories of a robot so big it eats planets?”

“...You know, for once, I don’t think I can do anything about that,” Aspect whispered in a quiet voice. “I honestly don’t think I can.”

“Mhm, human issues,” Megan said. “Don’t worry, we have some on our side, so we usually just have them go at it. That said, you think my shotgun is scary? Maybe I’ll bring my alien gun next time~”

“You’re either going to scare the ponies, or give them a kick start into the I-don’t-know-what-era,” Aspect pointed out. “And forced advancement is a bad idea. They won’t have time to figure out rules and laws about the technology they’ll be outstripping past before they invent the next thing.”

“...You think I don’t know that?” Megan sighed and shook her head. “This TV is about as advanced as you’re getting from me. Consider it a favour for calling me back here again.”

Aspect chuckled, before he pulled his bags to him with his magic, sticking his muzzle in and rooting around inside for a moment. When he pulled back out, he had a small pouch clasped in his teeth, which he floated out towards Megan. “Friends don’t owe each other favors,” he explained, putting it in her hands.

“What’s this?” she asked, hesitantly taking the pouch.

“Open it,” the stallion suggested. The woman rolled her eyes and opened the pouch…

The contents of the pouch glimmered, and when the glow was a little more manageable, she saw a small collection of...glowing diamonds?

“Star diamonds, so they were called in the day, for the way they resembled the night sky’s treasures,” the stallion explained. “They were a rare formation in Dream Valley, I picked some up before we had to abandon it. I never did get the knack for making them while I held Earth.”

“Okay… they’re pretty, I’ll give you that,” Megan said as she looked at them. “So, what am I supposed to do with them?”

“Whatever you want,” Aspect shrugged. “I have another small pouch of them. Keep them, sell them, decorate your house with them. They’re yours.”

“Well I can’t sell something that doesn’t exist on Earth,” she said and rubbed her chin. “Actually… I have an idea on what do do with them.” Uhoh… that was her patented ‘I’m scheming something’ smile.

“Mares,” Aspect pulled Bon Bon and Lyra closer, hugging them. “That is a look that you run from,” he explained. “It does not end well.”

“Oh shut up,” Megan said, throwing a cushion in his face. “You’ll like this surprise. Same with you…” She looked at Stacey. Then to Twilight. “And, you’ll tell your mom if you decide to… experiment okay? I got nothing against it. You know I have nothing against same-sex relationships…”

“Mom!” Stacey blushed and looked away. “I am not in a relationship!”

“Huh?” Twilight looked up from reading the instruction manual for the TV. “Experiments? We haven’t reached that stage in our studies yet. What kind of experiments exactly?”

“You don’t want to know,” Stacey quickly provided, going so far as to cup her hands over the mare’s ears to prevent her from hearing more lies from her mother.

“See!” Megan pointed at Aspect. “I knew I was right, fucking asshole.”

“I dunno, the way she blushes and denies it,” the stallion hummed.

“...Stacey, we’re going home,” Megan said as she stood up.

“Huh? Why?” Twilight blinked, a little sad to lose her study buddy. None of her other friends were even remotely interested in learning history. “Oh, speaking of. Aspect? What do you know about the Griffon/Pony wars?”

“Only that they happened, and that apparently I have an entire species to discipline, but beyond that, not much,” the stallion replied. “The exact details escape me.”

“...I have two to teach now?” Twilight’s eyes sparkled.

“And we’re leaving,” Bon Bon and Lyra said, leaving Aspect to his nerdy fate. “Don’t break him Twilight, we need him to help raise foals.”

“I’ll try my best,” Twilight said, before smiling and teleporting Realm, Artemis and Nightmare into the room. “You three could do with this as well.”

“Waitwhat?” Nightmare looked around.

“Uhoh,” Aspect noted. “This promises to be one of the good lectures.”

“We have to learn now?” Artemis sighed.

“Yes, because I think Cheerilee will be impressed if you knew beforehoof,” Twilight smiled and rubbed her hooves. “Now, the first instigations between Ponies and Griffons started in…”

Author's Note

Well, things can't get more out of control, right?

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on crazy projects.

Chapter 67 - Apogee of the Sun

The three guards that had been accompanying Princess Celestia awoke, not having seen their Princess for three days since she fled from them. They were worried, for what she might be going through mentally.

But when the earth shook, they all looked at one another and hurried outside. What they found wasn't what they expected.

Princess Celestia, her usual pristine coat marred in scars. One down her neck, ones across her shoulders and near her wings. A deep claw-like mark down her flank, going clear across her Cutie Mark.

That wasn't what disturbed them though. They were guards, scars like that were badges of honor. A scar on them meant none on a civilian or their Princess.

But the scars she bore now? They were aged… old. She'd had them for a long time…

Her head turned, looking away from the evil doppelganger she faced as she saw them. Dawnbreaker also pausing it what looked like a rather destructive fight. The ground was littered with craters, scorch marks and places that still burned.

“Seems my barrier dropped,” Celestia murmured. “Sorry to wake you. I'd hoped to have had this done by now.”

The three guards weren’t stupid by any stretch of the imagination. They all clearly saw the doppelganger Celestia was fighting. If the two of them fighting each other could do this much damage to the environment as collateral, they wouldn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Tartarus. So they opted to watch. If they were going to be court-martialed by Princess Luna for failing in their duties, they wanted as many details to offer in their defense as possible.

“Hmhmhm, seems they’ve already decided you’ll lose,” Daybreaker chuckled. “Well, I’ll let them live when I win, I’ll need somepony to announce their new Queen after all.”

“You’ve won nothing yet,” Celestia panted.

“They aren’t even moving to defend you, guess your little stunt the other night upset them~”

“That was you and you know it!”

“Oh? You still haven’t realised it yet have you?” Daybreaker sighed and looked at the guards. “Tell you three what. Pledge yourselves to me, and I’ll see it you live the rest of your lives living whatever dream you see fit. Money, mares… whatever you want~”

“As Princess Luna would say,” the Pegasus of the trio said, “‘You can stick that offer where my sister’s sun shineth not.’”

“We aren’t moving to defend her because it’s you attacking her,” the Earth Pony agreed. “Honestly, we’d be about as effective as ticks. Plus if you hurt us, she’d spend her magic defending us instead of beating you into submission.”

“We’re being strategic, not traitors. Our Commanding Officer taught us better,” the unicorn finished. “If we knew where we were in relation to Canterlot, we’d be raising the alarm right now and trying to get the Element Bearers mobilized.”

“So in short,” they all said in unison. “Buck you.”

Daybreaker was buffing her hoof on her chest. “Oh, are you done? Goodness, and they say the villains like to monologue.”

“It was your greed that made me assault poor Twilight, twisting the love I have for her into something… lewd and wicked,” Celestia snarled. “Twice I nearly lost control to your lust for power. But I will defeat you!”

“How?” Daybreaker smirked. “I art thou, and thou art I… as Luna would say.” Daybreaker shook her head. “You still don’t get it do you? And until you do, you’ll never win.”

Celestia launched herself at the other alicorn as they battle began anew, the three guards having to retreat a distance to avoid getting incinerated.

It was an odd morning for Aspect. He’d awoken to it being awfully bright today. As well as three exhausted children that had stayed up all night watching the TV. Pupal, Realm and Artemis were little better than zombies.

“Honestly, that thing was an awful idea,” Bon Bon sighed. “I think you need to do some parenting dear.”

Aspect smiled wickedly as he carefully maneuvered the three young spawn in a line, before clearing his throat.

Celly and Lulu had learned the Royal Canterlot Voice from him after all.

“GOOD MORNING!” Twilight heard from clear across town. The unicorn mare blinked, shook her head before turning back to her lessons.

“All… my… haaaaaaate,” Artemis groaned, having been knocked to the ground.

“Pupal c-can t-t-taste c-colours…” the changeling said.

“Better than being able to feel sound,” the alicorn colt muttered, having been directly at the center of the blast and thus, the one who got blasted back to the wall.

“And what have we all learned about staying up late watching television?” Aspect asked.

“P-P-Pupal has a-all the regrets.”

“.......ow,” Artemis groaned.

Then Aspect felt a chill go down his spine.

“There… had better be…” Chrysalis whispered in his ear. “A damn good reason you chose to wake up my entire fucking hive!”

“Ahehehe...whoops?” Aspect chuckled. “Just...doing some parenting. Teaching the young ones what happens when you decide to stay up all night and aren’t Luna. Blame Megan, she brought the TV over.”

“I’ll smack her later,” Chrysalis groaned and yawned. “Whatever… I have to go to work.” With a flash of eldritch flame, she took the form of Celestia. “Gods I hope the nobles aren’t too insufferable today.”

“...And suddenly I realize we don’t pay you enough,” Aspect said, turning more fully to her and hugging her. “Feel free to weed out the parasites that get under your chitin,” he whispered to her. “I’m sure Celly would appreciate it.”

“Hmm, do a little house cleaning eh?” her eyes flashed green and she gave a fanged smile, a wicked, rather sinister laugh filling the room as she teleported away.

“M-Mommy is f-f-funny,” Pupal giggled.

“She always has been,” Aspect agreed, using his magic to right the foals. “Now, I think a strict TV limit is the way to go. You all can keep watching until...oh, let’s be generous. Nine PM. But after that it goes off. And it only gets turned on if you all have all your homework done. Otherwise, you all get a wake-up call again. Sound good?”

“Yes sir…” the three murmured.

“Christopher dear?” Bon Bon called. “Why is there an odd mare in our garden?”

“Define odd,” Aspect called back.

“She’s just… looking around our garden. This place is kind of out of the way.”

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “I’ll go ask her if she’s here for a reason. We’re not exactly a tourist destination.” He trotted through the house, reaching the front and giving Bon Bon a kiss as he passed her, before stepping outside and looking for the mare she’d been talking about.

There was indeed a mare there. She was… oddly plain. A white mane and tail, and a chocolate brown coat. What was odd was that she was a blank flank. She leaned down to sniff a flower, humming slightly and smiling.

“Good morning,” Aspect said as he walked closer to her. “Are you lost?”

“One cannot be lost if they never had a destination in mind,” she smiled, unfazed by his appearance. “But no, I’m not. I am exactly where I wished to be. You are the one dubbed Balanced Aspect yes?”

“That is indeed correct, but now you have me wondering about why you sought me out,” the stallion countered.

“Oh, I was just curious is all. Much has happened recently and you seem to be at the center of it quite a bit.” She picked herself up and smiled. “The Crystal Empire was a doozy was it not?”

“For multiple reasons, yes,” the stallion agreed. “But I’d like to think we all came out of it a little smarter and stronger.” Which reminded him, he still had a stallion to make sure got hit with the Elements before he unleashed the master of fear and shadows on the world at large. “Oh, but look at me being so rude,” Aspect said with a small bow. “You know my name, but I’ve not done you the courtesy of asking for yours.”

“Oh, you need one of those yes… hmm…” She rubbed her chin and nodded. “Call me Epona. How do you do.” She gave a light bow. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your morning. I just thought I’d stretch my legs a little.”

“What a lovely name,” Aspect said, standing back up. “I can’t help but feel I’ve heard it before. Well, if you’re not busy, would you care to join us for a quick breakfast? Bon Bon makes the best food I’ve tasted in a long while.”

“Oh no, I shouldn’t intrude for much longer,” Epona smiled. “Just, a few small things really. Your name, it’s something on a conundrum. You say Balance is needed, yet you only allow the light to shine. Such a way is what led to Luna losing control of her power no?”

“True,” Aspect sighed. “It was more a symbol of what was needed in the bad old days. What my job still is. There was far too many monsters drunk on their power. One of these days I’ll hang up my sword for good. One of these days I won’t need to be the other side of the coin. There will be plenty of good to outshine me. Then I’ll simply let the sword gather rust at the roots of Yggdrasil.”

“The world is a mysterious place dearest human. Many dance to a song they cannot hear. Still, you all do the best you can. Mistakes are simply a part of growing up, as long as you learn from them.” She smiled and looked at him.

Aspect blinked a few times and looked at her a little more closely. “Whyyyy do I get the feeling you didn’t need to learn that from the locals?” he asked. “And why do I get a distinctly motherly feeling from your advice?”

“You’re a parent yourself, is it not the job of the parent to make sure their kids grow up right?” she asked. “Besides, I’m not being too subtle. And you’re one of the few that wouldn’t ask too many questions. I’d love to meet that little Twilight filly, but I’d likely never leave the clutches of her adorable curiosity.” She giggled at her words and nodded. “Still, I must get back. I have a lot to tend to after all. My garden is an ever changing one and needs constant care.”

Aspect blinked a few more times before sighing. “I’ve just recalled where I heard your name,” he said, opening his eyes. “If I ask my son about you, I’m sure I’d hear it from him...but I only have one question of you. The fountain...it was always a test, wasn’t it?”

“In a way,” she said as she raised a hoof and called his sword to her. “You know, I’d almost forgotten about this guy. Has he been treating you well dear?”

The pommel flashed a few times.

“Oh goodness, well, I am glad to hear that,” Epona smiled as she held the blade to him. “He seems happy. I trust you’ll look after each other for the foreseeable future.”

“Well, he did save my behind multiple times when we were starting,” the stallion chuckled as he took the sword back and placed it on his back. “It’s been...interesting meeting you,” he said finally. “Though I do have more questions, I get the feeling those will have to wait for another day.”

“Perhaps,” she said. Small flowers bloomed around her hooves. “I love this world Christopher. I love everyone and everything in it. It’s one of my most favourite creations you know.”

Oh?

Ohhhhh…

“I bet I can name some you don’t like,” he teased. “But that’s neither here nor there. I just hope Grogar’s final words weren’t true.”

“We’ll see. After all, everyone has a purpose. I may have made that a little easier for ponies to find out with Cutie marks, but they’d look silly on other species.” She giggled as her own appeared. That of the World Tree. “You wouldn’t have half your children if not for the essence you got from them no?”

“That I wouldn’t,” Aspect agreed. “Though...I have to wonder why you left the Runes behind as well.”

“Oh you’ll find out,” Epona smiled. “It’s no fun if I give you all the answers now.” Small flowers bloomed around her hooves as she sighed. “Well time’s up. Though it was nice meeting you. I wish you well, and your lovely brides too.” She paused and nodded. “And… leave the Sun be. She’ll pull through, I hope. I look forward to her company.”

“...You know that saying that is just going to make me want to go there with a big cake, right?” Aspect pointed out.

“Oh, you won’t have the time,” she giggled as Aspect heard a shout, several shouts, coming from down the path. “Good luck dear.” He turned away for just a moment, and Epona was gone.

...Okay, that was...not something he was ever expecting to happen to him. So...who was trying to get his attention now?

Turns out, it was Fluttershy and… Sombra?

“A-Aspect!” the pegasus mare panted as she drew close. “I-It’s a disaster!”

...Okay, if it was enough to make Fluttershy run all the way to him, that got Aspect’s hackles up. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s the Everfree,” she said. “All the animals are leaving the forest. It’s out of control, the trees are moving on their own!”

“It’s unusual,” Sombra said. “She insisted on notifying you.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he thought about it. There could be a few reasons as to why the Everfree was acting more unnatural than usual. “One moment,” he said, holding up a hoof to point at Sombra. “We’ll talk about this later,” he promised. Son, he asked through the ether. What is going on with the forest?

“Honestly, I’d be easier for you to see yourself,” Yggdrasil said to him. “Your reaction should be interesting indeed.”

“Bloody ungrateful tree sons,” the stallion muttered as he opened his eyes. “Alright, fine. I suppose I’ll take a look myself,” he said. He looked at Sombra with a critical eye, before looking back at the sword on his back for effect, before looking at Sombra again. “No funny business now,” he said. “I might need this and I’d rather it not be for you.”

“Aspect!” Fluttershy gasped and frowned at him. “It’s bad enough the poor stallion was locked up. There’s no need to threaten violence as well.”

“He was locked up for a reason,” Aspect muttered as he still didn’t take an eye off the dark stallion.

“And yet, nopony has tried to help him either,” she said. “Luna got a second chance. As did you, or have you forgotten about unleashing Arabus in Canterlot?”

“Chrysalis goaded me into that, so that she could conspire with Thantos to finally kill him,” Aspect countered. “I would have gladly taken the fall for it. I should have known better than to think I could contain something whose power only grew with time.”

“Yes, but many were still hurt,” she said. “Look, I shall worry about Mister Sombra. But something is wrong with the forest, and I can only handle so many critters.” On that note, seems one had followed and… ohsweetholygod! That was a big spider!

“Aww, you as well,” she sighed, rubbing one of his many legs. “Don’t worry. Mister Aspect will fix things.”

The spider clicked it’s nightmarish maw and nodded.

“Clearly, I missed at least a few spiders in my purge,” Aspect muttered, shaking his head again. “Fine, fine. Send the stallion into the forest alone after it’s had a thousand years to go wild. What’s the worst that can happen?” he asked sarcastically.

“I really want to go home…” Twilight whimpered as she followed Rainbow. Who was following Aspect.

“Hey, you’ve gotta get over this fear sooner or later,” Rainbow said. “Look, if you really freak, I’ll fly you home. But for now, consider this part of your training young grasshopper.”

“Fine… doesn’t mean I have to like it,” the little unicorn said.

True to Fluttershy's words. They hadn’t encountered any large animals since entering. And every now and then, Aspect swore he saw something move from the corner of his eye.

“Trees moving, creatures leaving, where have I heard this before?” he muttered. “It’s on the tip of my tongue, I know it is…” What could possibly alter the forest on this scale? It had always been a font of wild magic, a natural haven for plenty of things not seen elsewhere in the world. It was also the only place where Discord’s Poison Joke could grow as fast as it did. Nowhere else was chaotic enough.

Then a large root burst from the ground in front of them, blocking their path. And Aspect and Twilight came to the same conclusion.

“Geomancy?” the unicorn asked.

“On a scale I’ve not seen before, but yes,” Aspect agreed. “...I wish I’d brought Artemis here,” he moaned. “He’d be perfect for countering it.”

“Hey, we’re all super awesome,” Rainbow huffed, but Twilight held up a hoof.

“Aspect, Geomancy works well when you’re attuned to the land yes? Then, who or what could be attuned to the Everfree of all places?”

That...was an excellent question. He turned his head and listened. Not just with his ears. He reached out with his magic to try and figure out who had done this, where it had come from. Everything left a trace…

And he felt it, there was someone nearby, likely the Geomancer.

“I know you’re there,” Aspect said. “I’m impressed you have enough control over one of my gifts, and enough attunement to this forest of all places to use it. But unless you come out, I’ll start using an older gift to counter it. I’d rather not make an enemy today.”

“Your gift… how laughable,” came the voice as someone stepped out. It… it was a deer. A young buck to be precise. “We have cultivated this ourselves. You, I know not who you are, but your kind is not welcome here in this forest. Leave now or you’ll be punished like the others.”

Aspect chuckled a little bit, before lifting the sword off his back. “Before you ever came to possess Geomancy,” he said, “It was a dark power held in the thrall of Crunch the Rockdog, who turned all to stone with but a touch. I slew him and distributed his power as Geomancy, in an age that was not even written about. I turned darkness to light, because that is what I do. I am Balanced Aspect, and you are angering me, young bucker.”

“It is you, that spit on our history and tradition with your lies!” he shouted, vines rearing up around him. “You were warned, now I’ll be rid of—”

“ENOUGH!” came a more powerful voice as a pulse knocked the plants inert. Even Aspect’s eyes widened. He’d felt that. Whoever it was, it was on par with his own Geomancy. From the treeline a powerful looking doe stepped out, draped in a red scarf and jewelry. “Honestly, stop picking fights buck. And you, you’re older than him and should know better. Honestly….”

“S-Sorry mom…” the buck whimpered.

“Guilty, but I figured the commotion we’d be causing would draw someone older and more likely to be in charge of…” Aspect pursed his lips. “This restructuring of the forest.”

“Not my doing… but this is hardly the place to talk about such things. Follow me back to our city.”

“Mother!” the buck shouted. “W-We can’t bring outsiders in to the city!”

“We’ll do so because I say so,” she snapped, making him wither under her gaze. “Now you three, follow and touch nothing.”

“Understood,” Aspect nodded, putting the sword back on his back. He looked back to Twilight and Dash and raised an eyebrow, wondering if they really wanted to follow along. Dash looked a bit put out, and Twilight?

Her eye were sparkling as she pulled out a quill and some paper, starting to write.

“Just remember to follow the rules,” Aspect said. In his mind, he added the ‘for now.’ He would be entering into negotiations with these deer.

When they reached the ‘city’, well… that was an apt term. It was most impressive. A city likely built with geomancy, trees altered to look like the houses were grown right out of them. Deer wandered about as he saw they’d incorporated the power into everyday life. Several stood on a large leaf as it lifted them up into a building, while one carrying a foal altered the flowers framing her doorway with a wave of a hoof.

“See, this is impressive right here,” Aspect muttered. “It’s what I always hoped we’d be able to do with the Everfree one day.” He sighed afterwards. Such a shame they were being so rude about their powers. They’d likely have to alter quite a bit of it.

“Follow me,” the tall doe said as she stepped up onto a leaf. “Buck, you go and fix your mistake.”

“But I—”

“You weren’t supposed to send them to the pony settlement,” she snapped curtly. “Now fix it!”

“Yes mother…” he said as he skulked off.

With a nod, the leaf lifted them off of the ground and up into a large room. It was open, allowing them to step off and into it. It was lined with a soft, mossy carpet and adorned with various trinkets. Once they were alone, the doe dropped the tension she was carrying as she turned to them.

“I am so sorry your town was put out, that was not our intention.”

“You seem to have read our intention very clearly just by having us come here,” Aspect pointed out. “While yes, the animals being forced to leave does weigh very heavily on the caretaker we have for them, that was not my main concern when coming here.”

“So what was?” the doe asked. “Oh forgive me, my name is Lady Titania, the leader of this city.”

“Balanced Aspect, but I’m sure you know that already,” Aspect said with a dip of his head. “See, I have no doubt that the forest will be...what’s the word I’m looking for,” he tapped his hoof a few times. “Less chaotic under your care, but there are a few points I’m going to make to make sure of so that a foreign power, which is what you are, doesn’t start abusing the nearby settlement of ponies.”

Titania looked at him and tilted her head. “We’ve never done so in the past. Not in the seven hundred years we have lived here. Why would you think we would start now?”

Aspect deadpanned, before looking at where her son had been before she sent him off.

“Right,” she sighed. “He’s hotheaded, and he does have a reason. We are losing our forest. And the interlopers will be punished for their transgressions.”

“Fair trade then,” Aspect proffered. “You show me to where this is happening, and I’ll make sure it stops. In return, you agree to my few, reasonable demands regarding the forest.”

“What demands?” Titania asked with a raised eyebrow. “The Everfree is a delicate ecosystem. We do not touch it unless absolutely necessary.”

“Just a few,” the stallion promised. “Such as leaving a certain set of ruins alone until we can figure out if we want to rebuild that old castle, or just tear it down.”

“Ah, the Castle of the Two Sisters,” she said. “Do not worry, that falls in pony territory, as does the crystal tree. We stay well away from them.” She looked at Twilight and chuckled. “I take it you have many questions?”

“I do!” Twilight beamed, but before she could launch a verbal assault, several books were handed to her via vine.

“Here, a written history since we settled into the forest, as well as a medical text and oneon Geomancy,” the doe smiled. “You may borrow them, but must return them.”

“Of course!” Twilight beamed like a foal on Hearth’s Warming. “Oh thank you!”

“Now… please follow me my friends,” Titania said.

Aspect nodded, he still had a few stipulations he wanted to talk to her about, but he’d get into those once he’d helped. He wanted to frame them correctly anyways. It wouldn’t be good of him to ask and risk looking the fool when it backfired on him.

He’d expected a lot…

He’d not expected this.

The forest was just… gone. Tree’s stripped down to torn stumps. Grass and flowers replaced with upturned earth and… barely a pulse of life left in the ground. Geomancy would be weak here…

And some distance away, lay large construction equipment. And a large billboard advertising… a theme park?

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he looked the damage over. “I could help on my own. It wouldn’t be hard to just turn back time. The problem is, if I did, you’d be back to where you started. And I’d be out of commission for days. Plus, it’d get Tempus mad at me if I did it again. The problem with replacing it is that the forest is dead, something we have a proper Aspect for to fix. But getting them to stop…” He looked at the billboard again. “Someone’s put a lot of money into making this. Trying to make it seem like the Everfree is safe to play in.” He grinned. “I think I can rustle up some lights and sound illusions as part of my magic. What say we make them think these lands are haunted? Possessed, even?”

“The forest is only part of the problem,” the doe said sadly. “It’s what’s sealed here that’s the issue. But that… that idiotic brute will not listen. If they keep going, all of Equus will be in danger!”

Aspect blinked a few times. “Okay, you’ve lost me,” he admitted. “What evil in a can have I forgotten about? I dealt with most of them.”

“Found it,” Twilight spoke up, having read the book about the deer’s history the whole walk. “Five hundred years ago, the current Lady and Princess Celestia? Huh… well they worked together to seal away something called… Um, what’s this word? My ancient Coltish is a little rusty.”

“The Absolute, it called itself. A terrifying monster that can mimic another’s powers,” Titania said. “And considering the last to fight it was the Sun Princess…”

“Ah, not a good thing,” Aspect noted aloud. “Well then. We simply have to make sure their deforesting stops now. I have no doubt that with a bit of help from the Aspect of Earth, the deer will be able to get what was lost back. The problem is getting them to leave. If I show you this hoof of friendship, will you agree to my plan to run them off?”

“We shall, we do prefer our privacy, but if deer and pony can work together once, they can do so again,” she nodded and sighed. “I just hope we are not too late.”

With a heavy thud, Celestia hit the ground hard, actually bouncing a few times as she skidded to a stop some few dozen feet away from Daybreaker. Her feathers were bent, broken or outright missing, flight was impossible now. Her coat was marred with scorchmarks, cuts and bruises…

And even worse? Daybreaker was virtually unharmed.

Celestia slowly rose to her hooves, but her legs buckled and she fell…

Only to find herself being supported by her guards. “You know, you think you’d have learned this lesson by now,” the Unicorn of the three pointed out.

“Sarge says being a guard means being good at one of two things,” the Pegasus said. “The spear or the shield.”

“But what he likes most is those that try both,” the Earth Pony finished. They didn’t outright say anything, but the implications were there for the battered mare to pick up on.

“I won’t let her hurt you… or the rest of my ponies,” Celestia panted. “But… I’m failing… as I always do…” she looked down. “Father’s right… this should be his job… I’m just, a figurehead…”

“No, you’re just trying too hard to be one thing,” the Unicorn of the trio pointed out. “She’s the other side, yeah? The one that’s supposed to balance you out? What do you think happens when magic and antimagic meet? They annihilate each other. If you keep this up, the same thing will happen here. She’ll destroy you, because you’re everything she’s not...and without you to provide a self for her to be the opposite of, she’ll wither and die too.”

“Then maybe, that will be for the best,” she said. “Father will find a suitable Aspect for the sun. Young Twilight… would be good.” She’d been grooming the mare for just such a role. Somepony that, could potentially replace her. “I’ve made so many mistakes… too many…” She narrowed her eyes. “If I can rid the world of one more disaster, maybe, that’ll finally make up for it. Maybe… maybe father will finally tell me, that I’ve done a good job…”

“Oh for the love of—” all three stallions said at the same time, before hoofing the back of her head. “Stop fighting and use your brain!”

She turned, her eyes watering as the force of the blow had knocked the weakend mare face first into the dirt. “T-That hurt…”

Then the stallions found themselves on a nearby cliff, teleported as a new mare sat between them. A rather plain looking earth pony mare sitting there.

“Careful now, it doesn’t mean anything if you hoof her the answer,” she smiled. “She’s stubborn, but have some faith in her hm?”

The three stallions looked at her, before looking back at the princess they were sworn to guard. “With respect, ma’am,” the unicorn said. “We’re sworn to guard her. Even, it would seem, from her own stupidity.”

“You must like her a lot hm,” she smiled and looked down at the battling alicorns. “Is she a good princess? Is she a good mare?”

“She’s done her best in the situation she was given,” the pegasus answered. “She just needs to believe in herself a little more. She seems to think her father doesn’t love her.”

“Well, a child can sometimes feel like that, her father can be very… flippant,” the mare giggled. “Do you think, that she can shine? That she’s good to lead Equestria?”

“Will all due respect, there’s a reason we’ve volunteered to become her guard,” the earth pony answered. “Not because we thought we were needed. Because we wanted to help her, however we could. If we could in some way help her become herself again, we’d have all the faith in the world in her ability to reconcile who she is with what she’s done, and be better for it.”

“And who is herself exactly?” the mare asked. “The perfect, infallible Princess? The scarred, frightened mare down below? Or perhaps the mischievous filly she used to be? Perhaps the master manipulator, whose plans play out for generations at a time.”

“Who you are changes as you grow,” the unicorn answered. “I am not the same colt I was ten years ago, and I doubt I’ll be the same stallion twenty years from now. The answer is not ‘who are you’ but ‘are you comfortable in your own skin’? But that?” He pointed a hoof down at the two battling alicorns. “That is not my princess. Not until she realizes that she needs to come together. Then...then she will be the one I pledged to serve.”

“You mean, that princess down there. The one fighting with every iota of strength so her little ponies don’t have to?” Epona said calmly. “Yes, she might be a foolish filly right now, but she’s also still her in a way. Sacrificing herself so that others can live peacefully, free of burden and worry. How heavy that must be for her…” She shook her head. “Perhaps she is not ready…Or maybe she has been for a very long time.”

“The princess we vowed to protect was wise, regal, and understanding,” the pegasus countered. “True, she might be powerful and ready to lay her life on the line. But the one we know wouldn’t have to, because she would understand that she has friends and family she can call on to help her understand this doesn’t have to be a fight.”

“True, one can always call on another,” Epona nodded. “But, she was alone for a long time. Sending away her sister, abandoned by her father. She had to saddle that pain, along with leading a fledgling nation all on her own. Her own ponies mistrusted her, and yet she kept them safe and happy as best she could, as you can see, often at great cost.” Epona smiled. “Now watch, you three about to see something no mortal has ever witnessed.”

The three blinked before turning to look down at the crater as one.

Celestia panted, barely standing before Daybreaker. “I will not… let you win,” she gasped.

“Honestly, your tenacity is impressive though,” the dark mare chuckled.

“But… I guess, I finally understand,” Celestia added. Daybreaker paused and raised an eyebrow. “For so… so long, I have strived to be perfect. If I were to lead Equestria, I had to be. If I faltered, then ponies would in turn, lose faith in one another. I buried my greed… my selfishness. My anger and rage. Even my lust. Evey attribute… I saw as negative.”

The alicorn stood a bit taller. “But that simply gave you more room didn’t it?” she asked. “You’re not some evil parasite, nor is Nightmare Moon.”

“So you finally get it,” Daybreaker said. “Alicorns are… different, especially should we become an Aspect. No, I am no such thing. As I said… I am you…”

“And you’re me,” Celestia nodded and chuckled. “I’ve been so foolish.”

“Immensely so,” Daybreaker mused. “Or maybe I’m lying. Maybe I’m just trying to gain control of your form.”

“You’d have done so, after all, you have my impatience,” Celestia mused. “But, even so… am I allowed? Am I allowed to be selfish? To follow my own desires?” She hung her head. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

Daybreak just stood there.

“Well, I guess.. We can find out,” she said and looked up. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ignored you, pushed you out and shut you down for so long.” She held out a hoof. “But I’m not done. There’s still much to do. But, we’ll do it together.”

“Indeed we shall, but there is no going back,” Daybreaker said as she neared the alicorn.

“What’s life without a little adventure,” Celestia said with a smile as they vanished into a blinding light… So much so and even the three guards nearly half a mile away had to look away and shield their eyes…

“Aspect, I think this is very, very bad!” Twilight yelled as she dodged a searing beam. They’d been too late, the foolish minotaur that had been excavating had released the seal, and a massive, dark dragon had emerged from the sealed ruins. And true to Titania’s words, it wielded some mockery of the Sun Aspect, it’s flames searing the ground. Rainbow had flown off to get the other Element Bearers and Aspects, but she still hadn’t returned. Aspect had also asked Yggdrasil to send a message to Chrysalis…

“I had hoped I wouldn’t have to do this, but I figured this would be the only way to fight him,” Aspect sighed as he focused his energy on his horn. “Whatever happens, don’t touch me.”

“Whaaaaat are you doing?” Twilight said as her shield shattered like glass from another beam. A vine pulled her back out of the way as the doe nuzzled her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, thanks for the save,” Twilight said. This was annoying, even now… she was so useless on her own.

Aspect approached the dragon, his horn not the only thing shining anymore. His whole body was emitting light. “Tell me,” he whispered. “Do you know what happens to a star that can’t support its own weight anymore?” There...was a dark tone to his voice when he asked that.

Twilight blinked. “Aspect NO!” You’ll destroy everything!” she shouted.

“I am the sun, your power is meaningless,” the dragon chuckled, sunfire burning in his eye sockets.

“The sun is just another star,” the stallion said, holding out a hoof as the light in his body went blue-white. “But unlike it, you can die right now. Tell me...what will happen when your body compressess in on itself at a million times normal gravity?”

“Aspect, do not make the scary sun dragon go supernova!” Twilight yelled louder.

“Oh no, I wasn’t going to make him explode,” the stallion replied calmly…

Before his body went black, the only evidence he was there being the stallion-shaped hole of darkness from which no light escaped. “I was going to make him implode,” he finished, twisting a hoof. “Saves on mess.”

“You’re gonna make a black hole!? That’s even worse!” Twilight screamed.

“Just a tiny one,” Aspect replied. “No bigger than the head of a pin in his core. It’ll suck him in and evaporate when it runs out of things to eat.”

“And if you lose control, it’ll suck in the entire planet!” Twilight yelled as the dragon growled.

“Interesting power you have there,” he chuckled as a magic circle appeared under Aspect and the dragon. “Very interesting~ I think I’ll take it!”

The dragon’s wings changed, from bony protrusions that were filled with flame, to large, leathery wings that glittered with starlight. His eyes dimmed for a moment, the sockets going black, before he shone with light, pure starlight. His chest thrummed with pulsing energy as Aspect felt the copied power negate what he was trying to do.

“Oohhh, you are very powerful~” the dragon purred. “I like this~”

“...When did there exist someone like me in the world?” Aspect blinked. “You can change what magic you use? At will?” He had to go through quite a few hoops for his.

“Wonderous is it not?” the dragon chuckled as he held up a claw, starlight forming in his open palm. “Now, where is the Sun Princess, I wish to add to the scars I gave her last time~”

“Like I’d just stand aside and let you hurt her,” Aspect growled. “I might not be able to use a black hole on you, but let’s see you withstand the gravity of one.”

“That was an interesting trick you were about to pull,” he said as his eyes scanned the field, before looking Twilight dead in the eye. “I wonder… if I killed this one? Would the sun appear before me?” he said as he raised a claw, about to use the same spell Aspect was about to use on him.

Aspect flared back to his starry self, before runes woven of light appeared between himself and the dragon. A shield made of fire separated the two combatants from the others, the stallion glaring at the uppity dragon. “And that is the difference between power and knowledge,” he said. “The things I know, you cannot copy.”

“Then I’ll just send you to Oblivion instead!” the dragon roared as he started building up a ridiculous amount of magic. “Let’s see if you can survive a full blast!” The ground trembled as he held both claws out and fired a massive blast of raw magical power, the ground melting under the beam as it travelled towards Aspect…

Only to slam into a golden barrier, the powerful shield stopping the beam cold before it shimmered away.

And next to Aspect, a white mare stood, her mane waving gently in the breeze as she put a wing on his back. “I see you found an interesting play date again father.” Celestia chuckled lightly.

“He’s a magical mimic, like me, only he does it on purpose,” Aspect replied. “He’d be fascinating to study if he wasn’t so...what’s the word...ah yes. Wicked.”

“Hmm… oh!” she said and looked up at the dragon. “I remember you now. Actually father, he is a mimic, well, one that found a crystal that gave him quite the power boost. So, dragon form this time? Last time it was a… hm, I forget. A squirrel? No… that’s not right. A kangaroo?”

“DIE!” the dragon roared as he went to slam her with his claws… only for him to freeze a few inches away. Celestia staring at him with an unblinking gaze.

“Now, that’s rather rude,” she said.

“W-What… how are you…” the dragon seemed to be struggling to break the invisible hold. Wait… was Celestia doing this? But, Aspect didn’t see or feel her cast. She was just… staring at him. And, where had she come from? She didn’t teleport in, he didn’t see it. It was like she’d Blinked in… but, according to Luna, she’d been halfway across the planet…

“We are going to need to have a talk, later,” Aspect said to her. “So, how do you intend on dealing with him?”

Celestia looked at the dragon. “Will you behave? Life is a lot better with friends you know. Something I’ve made a real mess of recently.”

“I will tear the flesh from your bones you litt—”

Celestia backhoofed him, sending him tumbling across the ground, before blinking ahead of him and a kick buried him in a small crater. “Please… do try and listen to reason,” she said.

“How…” he coughed. “How are you so powerful… that stallion. He tricked me! His power is too weak!”

The same circle appeared under Celestia as he went to copy her power, before she flicked a wing and the circles shattered.

“W-Wha….”

She breathed, a long and deep draw of air and…

Aspect staggered, whereas the others were outright floored. That magical pressure was like an entire ocean suddenly dropping on their backs as Celestia… changed. Her mane flickered like flame… a ring of light behind her head as her coat burned a pure, pristine white. The ground under her burned away, grass incinerating and rock melted. She looked up at the dragon and sighed.

“W-What are you…?” the dragon stammered.

“Sol Invictus Celestia,” the alicorn replied. “Divine Aspect of the Sun and ruler of Equestria. You who threaten this world. Leave or face oblivion.”

“I will end you! You insuff—”

“Prominence.”

A pillar of burning flame dropped on the dragon, even Aspect looked away, as it was like looking into the sun itself as her magic burned him away. And a moment later…

Not even ash remained. Just a glowing crater as runes crawled across Celestia’s body, resealing her power once again. Her mane turned back to a pastel pink, and both Aspect and Twilight saw that her body had numerous scars, before her glamour spell kicked in, making her look like her normal self once more. She exhaled and looked at the others.

Aspect dropped the wall of flame and returned to being normal, shaking his head as the power was returned to its normal state. “Goodness, but that much strength is a bit intoxicating, isn’t it?”

“It will take some getting used to,” she said as she held up a foreleg, rings of glowing runes surrounding her neck and ankles. “I have to bind most of it until it becomes my own.” She looked at the fleeing workers, she’d deal with that mess later. She had more pressing concerns.

“It has been a while,” Titania said, nodding her head. “Hello little Tia.”

“Tani,” she smiled as he pair shared a brief nuzzle. “I see you’re keeping well.”

“I do as I can,” the doe replied as Celestia turned to Twilight, who was staring with wide eyes and a stunned expression. “And… oh dear but do I owe you a great apology Twilight.”

“I… but you…” Twilight stammered. Had, Celestia always been this powerful?

“But perhaps this isn’t the place for it,” she said as she looked around. “Titania?”

“There’s little magic left in the earth here,” she sighed. “I doubt we can regrow much, if anything at all.”

Celestia nodded and looked at Aspect. “Father, when we get home, can you summon Pyroclastia?”

“Artemis would be a better choice,” the stallion pointed out. “Given that he’s Earth.”

“Yes, but Pyro can burn away the impurities that have soaked here. Then Artemis can renew the earth and the deerfolk can start regrowing the forest,” Celestia said.

“Aaah, I see your plan there,” Aspect nodded. “Fair enough. We’ll do that then.”

“What. Is going. ON!?” Twilight suddenly yelled, her poor shattered sanity having reached it’s last straw. “First we find deer that use Geomancy! Then a flipping dragon that copies magic and now… now Princess Celestia is apparently a Super Alicorn or something!?” Her mane was frazzled as she huffed from the exertion of her little outburst.

“I think we’ve broken poor Twilight,” Aspect noted.

“I have a good deal to explain, and so much more to apologize for,” Celestia said as she lowered her head. “I’ve done… a great injustice to you Twilight. One that betrayed your trust in me, our friendship. I’ll do whatever you ask to atone for it.” She lowered herself in front of her. “I could explain it, but it would just be an excuse. To allow my love of you to become so… twisted and ugly. Your as much a part of my family as anyone else in it. And yet time and time again we have hurt you.” She turned her head and nudged Aspect with a wingtip.

“I too have abused your trust, your friendship,” Aspect said, bowing his head. “I could have been, should have been, so much more to you. But time and again, I hurt you. Whatever punishment you decide is worthy of what I have done to you, command it and it will be so.”

“P-Punish… but I…” Twilight shook her head. She frowned and her horn blazed with emotion. “Ah, would you two just… just STOP!”

Well… this was an interesting sensation. No matter how hard Aspect tried, his body wouldn’t respond. He couldn’t even move his eyes. Did Twilight… ohdear, he couldn’t even tell her what she’d accidentally done.

“All this talk of punishing and wrongdoing… seriously, are the two of you masochists or something?” the little unicorn said as she paced up and down. Titania seemed to be giggling, oh that little, she knew. “And what exactly would that resolve? What’s done is done and honestly, the pair of you are so… so damned obstinate that it’d probably happen again regardless.”

She paused and took a moment to her thoughts. “Okay, first thing is first. Christopher. I am flattered that you considered me for your relationship. But honestly? Could you honestly say that you liked me, like you do the others? Or are you just grateful that I helped in freeing Luna?” Then she looked at the equally frozen alicorn. “And Princess… You’re beautiful, very much so. But, you’re also like a second mother to me and while I may have… entertained a few thoughts every now and then. I just think a relationship with either of you would be… too awkward and in the end, just wouldn’t work.”

She sighed, finally having gotten that off her chest, She felt… lighter. “So… what do you say?”

Utter. Silence.

“You can talk you know,” Twilight frowned.

More silence.

“Oh COME ON!”

“Eeaahahahaha!” Titania laughed musically. “They cannot little one, you froze them with Sorcery.”

“...what?” Twilight blinked.

In the end, Twilight’s friends arrived and Rainbow and Midnight took great fun in laughing and teasing Aspect at his current predicament. The pegasus eventually leaving, returning a little while later with Sweetie Belle, who after a few attempts, was able to break the hold Twilight had placed on them.

“And that is why you practice safe Sorcery,” Aspect said as he worked the cricks out of his neck.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry,” Twilight bowed her head repeatedly as Celestia chuckled.

“Nonsense dear, it was a good lesson for us all. You need a little more practice and we should now actively avoid upsetting you~”

“Not helping…” Twilight pouted as Celestia rubbed her head.

“It’s quite alright, I’m glad to see you’re okay though. I was a tad worried about Equestria in my absence, seems that Luna’s done well though.”

“I honestly expected her to dismantle the noble courts in a day with Chryssy helping,” Aspect noted out loud.

“....wat?” the alicorn blinked, her coat going a little pale. “Are… are the nobles still alive?”

“...I honestly don’t know,” Aspect admitted. “We can easily check.”

“...later,” the mare sighed as she stretched her wings.

“So um…” Twilight started as Celestia nodded.

“You want to know where I got my new power from?”

“Yes.”

Celestia chuckled. “As blunt as a hoof to the face,” she giggled as she looked at Titania. The deer smiled and nodded, heading back towards the forest. Then the scenery was replaced with Aspect’s living room, Realm and Artemis yelping as the large group appeared out of thin air. And Aspect’s assumption had been right, she’d Blinked all of them.

“...Okay, you’re telling me how you blinked us to somewhere you couldn’t actually see later,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at her. “Blinking works on line of sight!”

“I know… I used my minds eye to look where I was going,” she said.

“...Can she do that?” Twilight whispered to Aspect. “Can you do that?”

“I can’t do that, but I’m less skilled in typical magic than her,” Aspect replied back.

“My power has… grown,” Celestia said as she held up a hoof, staring at the underside of it. “I still don’t quite understand it, but, accepting the negative side of myself, admitting that I cannot be infallible and without error. It has allowed me to, exceed my limitations. Much like how when I first became an Aspect. I think, my power as an Aspect has… evolved in a manner.”

“We’ll have to study that,” the stallion promised. “So. Are you feeling up to retaking your mantle?”

Celestia let her hoof drop back to the floor. “As it stands… I don’t have much right to that mantle now do I? Given the complete and utter mess I’ve made of things recently.”

“The mess isn’t what’s important,” Aspect pointed out. “It’s how you deal with it that matters. You can just let your mess lie and let someone else clean it up. Or you can own up to it and try to make the world better, despite what you’ve done. One path is far more mature than the other.”

“I am well aware,” she said and sighed. “Give me a few more days to get my personal affairs in order. This power is still new to me and I wish to tame it first.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded. “You might be out of a court of nobles by then, though. I think Chryssy’s been enjoying being ‘you’ far too much.”

“Of course she has,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. She turned to Twilight, before kneeling down. “I truly am sorry Twilight,” she said. “For everything I have done. What I did to you… was utterly unforgivable and…”

“That’s enough,” Twilight raised a hoof to the alicorn’s muzzle. “That… doesn’t suit you. What’s done is done, and unless you know a time travel spell…”

“Well…” Celestia started.

“I was being sarcastic,” Twilight deadpanned. Truly, the snark was strong with her. “Look Princess. You made a mistake. You’re not perfect… as much as I thought you were. Perhaps I still do.” She sighed and leaned in close, nuzzling her. “I didn’t blame Aspect too much, because he’s more socially inept than I am. Nor am I blaming you for the… circumstances surrounding that.”

“But you should…”

“I forgive you Princess, you too Aspect. Just, don’t do it again. To me or anypony else. Am I clear?”

“As soon as I figure out why you’re forgiving me for what I did, sure,” Aspect agreed.

“Because what’s the use in holding a grudge?” she said. “What would I do? Do the same back to you? What good would that accomplish? What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t forgive mistakes my friends made.”

Aspect chuckled and nudged Celestia. “She gets it, and now I do too,” he whispered, before walking up to Twilight and bowing his head. “A thousand apologies wouldn’t be enough,” he replied, “But thank you for forgiving me all the same. I will endeavor to be a better friend than I have been.”

“Not just to me,” Twilight said and kissed his cheek. “Besides, let’s face it Celestia, I’d not make a very good Princess-Consort. What would I be? The Princess of Books?”

Celestia remained oddly quiet for a moment, before giggling. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Now…” She blinked and looked around the room. “Where did you get a TV?”

“Blame Megan,” Aspect groaned. “The damn thing’s been sucking the foals in.”

“Hmm, I wonder if I can get one for Luna and I,” she mused. “Well, do you want to help me get used to this new power father? I’d like to not have to worry about sealing myself with runes.” She turned to Twilight. “You could help too. I’ll teach you some new magic as payment.”

Twilight’s eyes were literally sparkling at the prospect.

“As long as you’re not setting fire to things,” Aspect replied. “I would rather not have to rewind time again. Time gets snippy if I do that.”

“Oh, you met him?” Celestia chuckled as her fur suddenly stood on end. She suddenly stepped to one side as a blue blur shot past her, tackle-hugging Aspect instead with bonecrushing force.

“Sister, we have missed y—” Luna looked at the limp stallion in her arms. “You are not sister.”

“Bleh,” Aspect said, his head lolling to one side. The alicorn-strength surprise hug had blindsided him utterly.

“I’m here Lulu,” Celestia giggled as Aspect was dropped, the lunar alicorn turning to hug her instead. Twilight walked over to him him, chuckling as she poked him with a hoof.

“Still alive there?”

“You try getting hugged by Lulu one day, see how you feel about it,” the stallion huffed as he picked himself up slowly.

“Drama queen,” Twilight chuckled as she helped him up. “Just another day in the House of Aspect huh?”

“Well at least things are turning again,” the stallion mused. “Now all we need is to get a few quality of life improvements done.”

“Such as?” the purple unicorn asked.

“Oh, you know,” Aspect waved a hoof. “Track down that antagonist of mine. Turn Sombra nor-”

His eyes widened. “Somba...we never did make sure he was back under lock and key,” he breathed.

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Oh horseapples.”

Author's Note

And this may or may not be the last chapter until Aus and I work up another backlog. Depends on if I can tempt him into capping off the next. You'll know by next week!

Like the story? Consider dropping Aus and me a dollar on my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent modding Stardew Valley.

Chapter 68 - Silly amulet, Trixie's for kids

By the time Aspect found Sombra, it was… honestly where he least expected it. He’d first searched by hoof, before Bon Bon helpfully pointed out he could just search for Sombra’s unique magic.

The time to facehoof over his hindsight would come later.

Right now?

He had to process the fact the the dreaded King of Darkness was sitting in Fluttershy’s living room, having what appeared to be a tea party with her.

“Okay, what?” Aspect blinked. “I mean, really. How do you go from what you were to having a tea party?”

“To be fair,” his deep, baritone voice said. “The tea is quite good.”

“Oh, hello Aspect,” Fluttershy smiled as she fluttered into the room, carrying a tray of fresh biscuits. “Have you come to join us too?”

“I was just...concerned,” Aspect replied carefully. “You have the king of shadows unbound in your house, and we’ve yet to impart upon him the emotions the Umbrum lacked. I was concerned for you, Fluttershy.”

“I wouldn’t say he lacked emotions,” Fluttershy said. “More like… he didn’t know how to express them.” She smiled as she pat Sombra’s hoof. “It’s been an informative day.”

“Indeed,” Sombra nodded. “Were you aware that the earlier emotion we had to convey was concern or worry? A rather novel emotion. Not sure if I am overly fond of it however.”

“Huh…” Okay, that was...new. The Sombra he knew wasn’t like this. The Sombra he’d fought against had been a madman and a tyrant. What had changed? “Well, if you’re sure you have this in hand…” Aspect’s voice trailed off as he continued to process this change.

Sombra stood up. “Should you wish it, I shall return to the holding cell.”

“I’ve learned a lot,” Fluttershy said, getting between them. “What happened in the Crystal Empire, it was all due to the whispers that the Umbrum inflicted him with, and the loss of control of his Aspect.”

“Indeed, when that creature slayed all the Umbrum, their incessant chatter finally stopped.” He looked at his iron-clad hoof. “Besides, I am well aware of the atrocities I have caused. The curse I placed upon the empire. And I doubt that shall be forgiven…”

Aspect sighed before shaking his head. “One of these days,” he promised, “I’ll install you as the actual Aspect of Darkness. There’s only one obstacle to that, and that is the office is occupied. But it is important that things be...balanced. Air to Earth. Fire to Water. Light...to shadow. If the world is unbalanced, then it corrects itself. I would rather have one that I can trust in the office. But you have to show me that you can be trusted, too.”

“For what it counts, I no longer wish for the Empire… besides, you and I both know that I would lose that fight, especially with the Sun Princess’s new power. I can only think of two… perhaps three that would still be a threat.”

“Oh, there are plenty of threats, even to those that embody one of the non-elemental powers like ourselves,” Aspect chuckled. “That’s why I started training the younger generation in the fine, old artes again.”

“Ah yes, those three little Chaos mages,” Sombra said and shook his head. “The next thing you know, Discord will train them personally.”

“Discord is still a...sore topic,” Aspect replied. “He still won’t remember who he was, but I remember him and what he meant to me.”

Sombra looked at Fluttershy and tilted his head.

“Sentimental,” she smiled.

“Ah.” The dark stallion nodded as he suddenly lifted his head. “Curious… I thought I was the only dark mage here. Why do I sense another in the middle of town?”

“Aaand of course,” Aspect deadpanned. “Is it Tuesday? It must be Tuesday, that’s the only explanation for everything going wrong.” He sighed. “Right. Time to figure this out. Dark magic rarely leads to anything good. I’ve yet to see anything that didn’t warp the mind, raise the dead, or feast on the blood of innocents come from dark magic.”

“A-Actually it’s Thursday,” Fluttershy corrected him. “Oh, but it can be Tuesday… if you like…”

“Shall we go and see what it is?” Sombra asked. “I am curious.”

“Let’s find out what’s going on,” Aspect agreed. Time to stop whatever this was before it got out of hand.

On the way there, a filly Nightmare Moon caught up with him. “Now listen,” she said as she walked with them. “Can you make me a promise?”

“Depends, what about?” Aspect asked as they kept heading towards the center.

“That whatever happens next is not my fault okay?”

“Nighty, what do you know?” Aspect asked in a tone of voice that said he wasn’t putting up with any double-talk today.

“Okay okay, so I might have made a few items way back when… or, convinced Luna to make them. One of them was an amulet that could bestow a normal pony with the magic of an alicorn. The plan was to mass produce them and create an army of super mages… only there was a teeeensy downside to boosting magic to that level.”

“Oh gee, could it possibly be that making them based on dark magic meant that something got lost along the way?” Aspect snarked.

“Yes well… so it had the unfortunate side-effect of sending the wearer crazy,” she muttered as they looked up… was that a massive fish bowl covering the city like some kind of shield?

“...Nighty, if we don’t destroy this thing, you’re grounded for a week,” Aspect promised. “How do we combat it?”

“Well that’s the thing,” she said with a wince. “Only the wearer can remove it. If you try to force it, their magic will tear them apart from the inside out. Very messy.”

“...Because of course,” Aspect sighed. “Okay, so we need to figure out who’s wearing it and get them to take it off—”

“Aaaaahhhahahahahahaaha!” a blue-coated mare cackled loudly, lightning flashing in the background as she stood in the center of town. Mayor Mare was locked inside a giant gold birdcage, while a few ponies were still looking shocked. The mare smirked as her crimson eyes looked around. “With the ‘Great’ Twilight Sparkle vanquished, nopony will stand in my way,” she giggled.

“Found it,” Nightmare said helpfully, pointing at her.

“I get the feeling talking to her won’t help, so...time for me to do what I do best,” Aspect replied, humming a little tune. The magic of the world caught onto it and began making a musical number happen...just according to Aspect’s plans.

“Hey!” he called out to the mare. “You think you can just walk in and take over? Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do any magic better than you.”

“Oh?” the mare turned and looked at him with a smile. “Another challenger steps up. Well, I’ll have you know that the Great and Powerful Trixie isn’t taking requests right now. She has a little podunk town to rule over.”

“Oh really?” Aspect smirked at her. “Afraid to put your money where your mouth is? I’ll even make a wager with you. You win, I’ll teach you artes not even Sparkle knows. Fail...and I’ll have that amulet from you. Unless you’re a coward.”

“Trixie is no coward!” she yelled at him, her horn sparking. He could definitely sense she was dangerous. And then he was pulled back into the crowd by a blue aura, coming face to face with Rarity.

“Hey Aspect,” Dash said as he was confronted with that little circle of… why did Pinkie Pie have no mouth?

“Look, I appreciate you looking out for me,” Aspect told them, “But she literally can’t beat me. And the only way to get the amulet off of her is to get her to take it off herself. It’ll be ten minutes, tops. Alicorn magic or no, she won’t be able to keep going at the levels I intend to run at.”

“She involves innocents,” Rainbow pointed out, especially Pinkie. “She already ran those two colts through enough Age magic to let them spend several lives. If you start, then how much of Ponyville will be left?”

“Simple,” Aspect replied with a smirk. “I’ll involve my transformation magic. I’d like to see her turn into an Elder Dragon.”

They all just stared at him.

Rainbow sighed. “Fine… be my guest then.”

Aspect emerged from the crowd and dusted himself off dramatically. “Sorry,” he said to Trixie. “My friends were just concerned that I would involve some innocent bystanders, like a certain stage magician has. It’s one thing when you’re doing simple parlor magic, it’s quite another when you drastically alter the beings of your fans.” If there was any of the old Trixie left in there, hopefully she was hearing his words. “So, how about I start?” he asked. “I’ll do a trick and you’ll see if you can match it.”

“Hm, sure… be my guest,” she said as she looked him over. “If you win, I’ll do as you say… If I win…” she smirked. “Well, I could use a handsome pet like you~”

“That’s IT. I’m kicking her teeth in!” Rainbow roared, only to be held back by Applejack and Rarity.

“Now, where was I?” Aspect hummed, the beat from before coming back. “Ah yes. Anything you can do, I can do better~”

Then he flashed into his Alicorn form. “I can do anything better than you~”

She took a step back. “An illusion to make yourself look like an alicorn… no, that’s not it…”

‘He’s dangerous.’

‘Very dangerous.’

‘But he’s smug.’

‘Confident.’

‘Use it.’

“Okay,” Trixie mused. “So, let’s see what you can do then Mister Alicorn.”

“Oh, what I can do is a myriad of things~” Aspect hummed, holding up a hoof. “With a single hoof, I can make a star, or cause one to shine brighter from afar~”

There, glowing on his hoof, was a small, dense lightsource comparable to the sun. It grew brighter and brighter and brighter and-

Aspect raised his horn and caused the star to shoot off, through the dome, into the sky above. “Not sure it replaces the one I took, but that’s a trick that’s in my Light book~”

“Interesting,” she said as she watched the star glow in the distance. She lit up her horn and…

The night sky vanished. A blanket of pure blackness washing over the sky. “Oops, no more stars.”

“Hmm, not bad,” Aspect mused...before his form became blindingly bright. He seemed to be made of light. “Then again, I have so many forms to use too~ Light Incarnate can brighten up any night sky, wouldn’t you say?”

And from the black veil, little pinpoints of light started to glow through them. “Oh look, they came out for one of their own,” Aspect cooed.

“Tch…” Trixie clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Trixie thinks you are annoying. Very well. My turn.” She looked him over and tapped her chin. “Size altering magic. A difficult spell, easy to screw up, since one must make sure all their bits and pieces grow and shrink accordingly. Prove to Trixie you can do both ends of the scale and she will concede defeat to you.”

“Oh, but why not have fun with this?” Aspect cooed to her. “It wouldn’t be very interesting if I just shrank or grew and became a smaller or larger pony. Plus if I was silly enough to shrink around you right now, you might just stick me in a jar to keep me as your pet, like you called me earlier! I want…” his eyes travelled over to Pinkie and smirked. “A Pinkie Promise that you won’t do anything like that, you devious mare you.”

Trixie seemed to pause for a moment. Her eye twitched as she smiled. “Very well. Trixie… ‘Pinkie Promises’ that she will not put you in a jar.”

“Cross your heart, hope to fly,” Aspect replied, making the motions, “Stick a cupcake in your eye. And you’d better mean it. A Pinkie Promise might as well be a Geas, with how zealously one mare makes sure they’re followed.” He mused to himself, seemingly, “Never did test the limits of Earth Pony Strange Magic…” He then looked at her. “Or do you concede that I’m trickier than you thought to subdue?”

Trixie rolled her eyes and went through the ridiculous motions. “Hardly, Trixie thinks you cannot do as you say.”

“For my first trick,” Aspect replied, holding his hooves up dramatically, before flashing into a much smaller form.

When they looked for him, the bystanders found a little Breezie flapping its wings where he’d been standing, roughly.

“I see,” Trixie smiled, before she closed a tiny box around him. One made of magic nullifying Etherite. “And look, it’s not a jar, so I have broken no promise either.” She smirked as she tucked it inside her cloak.

Then the box rattled in her cloak. Rattled dangerously, in fact. When Trixie looked at it, she swore it was bulging. But that was impossible, he couldn’t use magic in there!

“W-Well now…” Trixie sweated slightly. “Now that that bothersome stallion is out of the way I shall—”

The box exploded.

And standing over Trixie, keeping her pinned to the ground with a single claw, was a simply massive dragon. “And how do you like part two?” he grumbled down to her, looking her in the eyes with ones that seemed to be made of fire and death.

“T-That’s impossible…” she squeaked. “How…?”

“You should never go up against a natural shapechanger, dear,” Aspect chuckled down to her. “The only way you’re cutting me off from altering my magical core is to put me in the Dead Zone.”

“Okay.”

Wait what?

*pop*

He found himself teleported, now standing in an area with a checkerboard pattern ground, the land warped and twisted and… oh sonofabitch!

It would take him days to find the edge enough to teleport out. Not even Aspect magic could help him here.

Frick… Well, the town still had his kids… Celestia… Chrys… alis…

Oh dear, Chryssie would not hold back against her. Especially when she learned where she’d sent him.

For now...well, he might as well follow that school of flying fish. Water would help. As far as he knew, if the water was on the ground, he’d be able to follow it back out of this land.

Honestly, this place wasn’t so bad… despite having no magic whatsoever. It also meant he was stuck in his default human form too. Walking on two legs was… slow.

He eventually found the source of liquid that the fish dove in.

Chocolate milk. Oddly enough, still cold and fresh.

Well, he was thirsty anyways. So he had some for himself and...okay, that was not milk. That was distinctly soda.

...Well, it made a good landmark if nothing else. He could follow the river out and eventually find the edge of this place. It was… disturbingly like when Discord ruled Equestria. Only here, his Chaos magic was allowed to run rampant without his supervision.

“This is an interesting place,” a voice said, startling him. Most due to the fact he really wasn’t expecting it.

That woman, the Umbrum weapon. She was leaning against a tree, eating an apple that seemed to have a watermelon center.

“Chaos once ruled here,” Christopher replied carefully. “But he broke it in such a way that it cannot be fixed. No magic works here, nothing can or will change about this place. All his other leftovers, I returned to normal. This, this place cannot be salvaged.”

“Well, seems you are wrong for once,” she said as she stood up. “And, it seems I have the advantage here. I could probably even defeat you…” She raised a hand as some power swirled. Ooh, right. She had every Aspect, including Chaos.

“Resorting to bringing me low with the environment to gain an unfair advantage?” Christopher raised an eyebrow. “There’s a reason I don’t have Chaos.”

“I’d call it a tactical advantage,” she said and lowered her hand. “But no, defeating you at any less than your full might would be pointless.” She looked around. “I came here to better understand the Aspect. Perhaps learn to control it. I have been… less than successful.”

“The only one who could teach you about Chaos is locked in stone, because he abused his power,” Christopher carefully replied. “Until he learns how to get along, he will remain in such a state.”

“So I have heard,” she said as she looked him over. Her crimson eyes flashing curiously. “I have learned a great many things actually. But nothing that has brought me closer to the power I’ll need to defeat you.” She looked at him. “You’d not fight me seriously anyway, would you? Not like when you fought the Chaos and Darkness Aspects.”

“I very nearly was serious with a natural mimic, who thought he could mimic my powers,” Christopher replied. “One that had grown to the size of a dragon, with power to match. He thought he could wield the stars themselves...so I got...angry. When he threatened the bystanders, I unleashed the other half of my new power.” He held up a hand, before turning it over. “There is only light...because that is where there is no shadow. My other half is an angry thing, and now he has his own power to draw on. The power of a black hole.”

“Curious,” she mused, not really understanding half of that. “But, why are you here? You are powerless, so it doesn’t make much sense.”

“I was trying to get someone to remove a dark artifact from herself, and she thought she could trap me,” Christopher sighed. “Then I told her the only way to cut off a natural shapeshifter from his magical core would be to send them here...so she did.”

“Well, guess you’ll keep your mouth shut next time hm?” she mused as she sighed. “Well, shall we go then?”

“We?” Chris asked with a raised eyebrow. “You can leave at any time, apparently. Granted, you might not end up where you want to, but with Chaos in you, this place is little more than an amusement park to you. Why would you choose to accompany me on my stumbling outside of this blighted land?”

“Because I can do this,” she said and swiped her hand, the scenery shifted like a book turning a page, and they found themselves at the edge of the tainted land. “Interesting no? Discovered that one by accident.”

“You are an...interesting creature,” Aspect replied carefully. “Should you ever learn mastery of Chaos, then you might even be a worthy foe. But I doubt you’ll find what you seek, truly, from him, should he ever be free.”

“I shall do as I have been for now,” she said as she drew her sword and pointed it at him. “Mark my words however, I will defeat you. Completely and utterly.”

“I have no doubt about it,” Aspect replied as he began to walk to the edge. “However, there’s a reason you won’t learn it on your own, and a reason you might not learn it from him.”

“And why’s that?” she asked, lowering her sword.

“The same reason why I don’t have Chaos,” Aspect replied. “He’s my brother, though he doesn’t remember it. It’s why I couldn’t kill him. He’s just as devious as I am. Knowing him, there are only rules around Chaos Magic if it amused him to install them.”

“Interesting, a family bond makes you fight harder hm.” She mused on that, before teleporting away, leaving the human be again.

Once Chris finally was free of the tainted land, he sighed happily as he felt his magic return. He assumed his alicorn form and vanished in a flash of light.

Now...to find Ponyville again…

By the time he returned… Um, what?

Twilight was sighing as she floated the Alicorn Amulet into a box, one that Zecora was holding.

“You’re back,” Rainbow tackled him. “Where did you go?”

“She put me in the Dead Zone,” Aspect grumbled as he assumed his unicorn form. “And I met our little runaway friend while I was there. She’s trying to understand Chaos magic, because of course she has it.”

Then he looked up as a second Rainbow Dash was looking at him. Wait, two adorable Dashies?

“Dash, I was unaware you had a twin sister,” Aspect noted aloud.

“Huh, oh uh… well,” Dash chuckled as the other one blushed cutely. “Not… exactly.”

The second one pulled off the rainbow wig, revealing a disguised Fluttershy.

“...Okay, at least I learned before I pulled your double in for a kiss,” Aspect replied casually.

And that made Fluttershy blush even brighter at the thought, and the real Rainbow punch his shoulder.

Eventually, Aspect found out that Twilight defeated Trixie not through raw power, but sleight of hoof and illusions. She tricked the mare into thinking Twilight possessed an even more powerful amulet, which was just a rock.

“Aww, why did the zebra get my toy?” Nightmare pouted.

“Because she can be trusted to not use it,” Aspect replied to her, petting the filly. “Zebra magic runs counter to dark magic, so she’ll never hear its whispers.”

“Rassafrassen zebras,” she grumbled as Aspect also noticed a distinct lack of blue unicorn mare.

“Yeah, she ran off after we got the amulet,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “So who knows. Another day another drama. All in all… it was kinda boring.”

“I’ll take boring over her being smart,” Aspect grumbled. “Well, let’s turn in for the night.”

“Yeah I guess,” Rainbow shrugged as she looked at Fluttershy. “I’m pretty hot huh…?”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Well I need a shower to wash off this dye. And…”

“Mmmppphhff!” Pinkie gave a muffled yell. Oh, she still had no mouth. Something a quick spell from Twilight soon rectified.

“Well, all’s well that ends well,” Aspect summed up. “Everyone learned a valuable lesson. I for one learned to keep my mouth shut around inventive, tricksy mares that are corrupted by a dark artifact.”

“That too,” Rainbow said. Also, they’d dressed up Fluttershy a lot today. Weird. Oh well~

Twilight finished things up with Zecora before…

“So um?” Sweetie Belle spoke up. “How come nopony just stopped her with Sorcery?”

“Because Dark Magic doesn’t play by the rules,” Aspect replied. “Also, if she didn’t take it off herself, her own magic would have started tearing her apart.” Aspect looked over to Nightmare before looking back at Sweetie. “The pony who made it had a very twisted mind, at the time.”

“Oh bite me,” Nightmare said with a snort.

“Well let’s go home,” Rainbow yawned. “I’m beat.”

“I can agree to that,” Aspect said. “All in favor?”

Most of the ponies present, aka, half the town raised their hooves. Clean up could wait until tomorrow at least. Mayor Mare in particular was exhausted. After the group broke up, Aspect headed home with Rainbow and Nightmare in tow…

Only to find a familiar unicorn on his lawn, staring down at the grass.

“Trixie,” Aspect said levelly. “I don’t blame you for what you did with the amulet on. Once you put it on, you were under its power, and your actions were not your own. For that, you are blameless. It was using you to get what it wanted. You were just its puppet on a string.”

She let out a long sigh and looked up. “Even so…” she said quietly. “Trixie believes she must apologise. She must have put you through something awful. All in the name of one-upping Spark-er… Twilight,” she said with a small shake of her head. “Will you accept Trixie’s most profound apologies?”

“Like I said, you don’t have to apologize for what you did with the amulet on,” Aspect countered. “Hell, it could be argued that part of the blame lies on my shoulders, for giving you loopholes, or the information you needed to best me. Granted, I couldn’t have known that you had that much power, but one should never assume anything with a dark magic artifact. Mine’s the fault for my own troubles.”

“No, this one is all on Trixie,” she said and sighed. “Trixie allowed herself to be overcome with anger at the results of her previous actions here in Ponyville. Regardless, Trixie shall endeavour to make it up to those she has wronged.”

“The only thing I truly blame you for,” Aspect agreed, “Is putting the amulet on in the first place. I mean, seriously. Did nobody teach you basic Dark Magic detection?”

“No… however, Trixie’s mind was not in a good place when she bought the Amulet in the first place,” she said.

“Besides, I made the thing immune to detection,” Nightmare shrugged.

“Not helping,” Aspect hissed to the filly. “Well,” he said to the magician, “Come on in. Maybe I can help you.”

“Help how?” the unicorn asked, her head tilting slightly.

“You’re a magician, right?” Aspect pointed to the mark on her flank. “Well, I have a friend that has access to a whole world’s worth of magic tricks...maybe she can inspire you.”

“That… sounds far too nice for somepony like Trixie,” she said as she stood up. “Trixie thinks she should just leave…”

“Trixie,” Aspect stopped her with a hoof, “Stay for dinner. Let us help you get over what the amulet did to you, and help you become a famous magician again. It’s only right. You’re in a bad spot, right? Ponies help their friends. It’s just what we do. And while we’ve only just met, under less than optimal circumstances...I’d like to make sure that you have a running start when you hit the ground.”

“That is far more than what Trixie deserves…”

“Oh just give it up,” Rainbow sighed. “He’s like a dog with a bone. He won’t drop this no matter what so come on…” she started nudging the protesting mare inside the house, Nightmare shrugging and following behind.

“Plus, aren’t you curious to see what sort of magic tricks I can dig up for you to learn from?” Aspect teased her. “Or rather, my friend. I don’t think she’ll be thrilled to be woken up at this hour of the night though. So we’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning or afternoon.”

“Fine… the Begrudgingly Apprehensive Trixie will allow you the honor of housing her tonight,” she murmured. At least it would beat sleeping by the side of the road again.

“We still have plenty of rooms, so no worries there,” Aspect chirped up. “And Bon’s cooking is to die for~”

“Just try and avoid this horndog,” Rainbow mused and nudged Aspect with her wing. “Else he’ll be under your tail before you know what’s going on.”

“W-What!?” Trixie blushed brightly.

“I would not!” Aspect retorted. “I have plenty of mares, thank you.”

“Uhuh, what about the Spa Twins?” Rainbow smirked as she trotted into the kitchen. “Or Lyra?”

“What about Lyra?” the minty mare asked as she flopped onto Aspect’s back, nibbling his ear. “Hiya studmuffin.”

“Hello horny,” Aspect joked back.

“See Bonnie, he gets my jokes,” she smiled and slid off of him, kissing his lips lightly.

“Y-Your marefriend?” Trixie asked, hiding behind him.

“Ack!” Lyra gasped. “Ohnoes! Aspy’s gonna replace me with another horny pony!”

“Okay, Lyra, stop scaring the poor mare,” Aspect said, beeping the minty mare’s nose. He then turned to Trixie. “I have something of a...unique relationship,” he explained. “In that there are four mares currently in one with me at the same time.”

Trixie seemed to have frozen as she processed that.

“Hehehe, I like her, she’s funny,” Lyra giggled as she trotted away to hug Bon Bon.

“So, I hear some trouble went down again,” the earth pony said from where was situated at the stove. “What happened?”

“Tuesdayitis on a Thursday,” Aspect summed up. “Someone got ahold of a cloaked dark magical artifact and used it to cause all sorts of trouble. It’s been fixed though.”

“Well, good to hear,” Bon Bon said with a nod. “I’m making vegetable stew tonight. So, why don’t you get our new guest settled and then we’ll eat.”

“Oooh, yummy stew,” Aspect hummed as he pecked Bon Bon on the cheek. “Come on Trixie, let’s get you a place at the table.”

“I meant show her to a room first,” Bon Bon shook her head. “Stew will still be a few minutes.”

“Oh fine, if I must,” Aspect swooned dramatically. “I shall return to the tender embrace of your lovely foodstuffs in due time.”

“Drama queen,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes, whipping his flank with her tail, before Trixie let out a small scream.

“T-That painting moved!” she yelped, pointing at the painting containing Hurricane. “T-Trixie swore it did!”

Aspect walked over to her and sat next to her, before studying the picture of Hurricane. “Hmm,” he mock observed. “A painting done of a Unification-era warmare. Seems highly unlikely,” he continued. “Unless of course you know the trick.”

“A-A trick?” Trixie blinked, clearly confused. “What kind of trick makes a painting move?”

“Simple,” Aspect smiled. “Just this. Call her an old mare.”

“Well obviously,” Trixie snorted. “If she is Pre-Unification then she is positively ancient.”

“Who are you calling an old mare?” Hurricane asked.

“Yeeeep!” Trixie yelped as she hid behind Aspect.

“You’re never going to tire of that, are you?” Bon Bon deadpanned.

“Not when some ponies go to great lengths to insult me!” Hurricane replied as she looked at the newcomer. “Ooh, fresh blood!” she cackled madly. “Oh, the rest are going to love this! All new pony to spook!”

“Trixie thanks you for your hospitality, but Trixie will be going now…” she murmured as she made for the door at a hurried pace.

“Oh sit down,” Aspect said, easily floating her over and pushing on her rump to get her to sit. “It’s not haunted. It’s just an old art that nobody practices anymore.”

“Pictomancy… at least get the name right dad,” Realm grumbled as he walked into the room. He looked at Trixie and blinked. “Can I paint you?”

“....wat?” Trixie blinked.

“This is my son Realm,” Aspect replied, giving the colt a headrub. “He’s the foremost practitioner of Pictomancy. He’s also Art, or will be when he grows into it. When he asks if he can paint you, he’s being quite serious about how he views you.”

“You… wish to paint Trixie?” the mare blinked.

“I like painting any pretty mare really. You happen to make for an interesting subject. And a break from my usual muses.”

Trixie nodded and then smiled. “Well naturally, you recognise Trixie’s greatness. Very well, you shall have the honor of painting her.”

Realm smiled. All too easy~

“So, let’s find you a room,” Aspect replied, nudging Trixie. “Oh, and don’t mind the paintings. They can talk and follow you around, but they’re harmless. They’re more like...echoes of what once was. Memories trapped in paint. Ones I wouldn’t trade for anything, true, but that doesn’t change what they are.”

“Huh…” Trixie contemplated as she looked around at the walls. Seeing the paintings move and even talk to one another was… interesting. They eventually found a room, one across from Twinkle’s. Speaking of, the mare was oddly absent at the moment.

“Well, this should do you for a nice bed,” Aspect said, opening the door to be sure. “All we have to do is get you back here when dinner’s done.”

“Trixie still thinks you are wasting your time on her,” she murmured. “All you are doing is leaving me even more in debt with you.”

“As long as you make the most of your life when we turn you loose again, I’ll call it a win,” Aspect replied. “Now, let’s head to dinner. It’s bound to be delicious.”

Then she kissed his cheek and blushed. “You are far too nice to ponies that do not deserve it,” she murmured.

Aspect shook his head a bit to clear it before answering. “If we only reserved kindness for those that had earned it, it would be a far crueller one, indeed,” the stallion replied.

“Trixie supposes you are right,” she said as she wiped her eyes. “Alright, let us see if your boasts about this mare’s cooking are true.”

The stallion merely smiled at her as they entered the dining hall again.

“So, how shall Trixie pose for your painting?” the mare asked as she looked around Realm’s room. “She has never done anything like this before.”

“Whatever comes natural to you,” the colt said as he set up his easel. “I need more practice with non-magical paint, so I’ll be using that. Oh! And make sure you can hold the pose for a while. It takes some time to actually paint somepony with non-magical paints.”

“Well, Trixie does not know,” she said, looking at some of his other work. “You painted Twilight Sparkle?” she asked, looking at the one of her draped across the chaise lounge. “Trixie did not think that she would do something so… risque.”

“It’s amazing what ponies will do if you ask,” Realm replied as he waited for her to strike a pose. He’d also conveniently left out how he’d asked her to assume that pose. Let her assume things on her own.

“L-Lewd,” she chuckled as she looked around. “Mind you, Trixie is much prettier than her, her painting will look a million times better!”

“Well, we’ll have to see,” the colt replied. “Once you feel comfortable, assume any pose you wish.”

“Hmm, what to do,” she mused and then lay on the couch, her tail barely covering her modesty. She drooped her eyes into a half-lid gaze as she stared at the colt. “Well~?”

“...I can work with that,” he squeaked out, his wings half-erect at the sight.

“Hmhmhm, Trixie is much better than Twilight no?” she teased him, licking her lips slowly.

“I can’t argue with that,” Realm replied as he started working on her painting. It would be a lot faster if he didn’t have to fight his wings every step of the way.

“Is something wrong~?” Trixie chuckled. “You look a little red there colt~”

“I’m fine!” Realm squeaked out. This...was not going to be a simple painting, was it?

Judging by the look in the mare’s eyes...probably not.

Author's Note

The last chapter we have pre-written. I put a capper on it and called it good.

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