If it wasn’t for the fact that Return of Harmony wasn’t fully completed yet and that the owl harpies needed all the time for scheduled training they could get, Midnight would have said they were ready to go already. The rest of the guard was prepped and the bearers had all their affairs in order so they could leave without worry. Even AJ, who’d harbored misgivings about ponies other than the Apple Family working on Sweet Apple Acres, had to admit that things on the farm were going a lot smoother than the farming family was used to. “Ah know Big Mac’s happy at least,” she’d told the kirin when she’d stopped by, “he can actually catch up with the books an’ Granny Smith can give her old bones a break.”

“What about Apple Bloom?” Midnight asked, looking around for the smallest Apple.

“Bummed that she can’t go with us, but she doesn’t need ta go on such a dangerous trip.” The apple farmer gave the kirin a scowl. “She’s also annoyed that Squeaks gets ta go.”

Midnight returned her look with a snort. “Not to poke too deeply, AJ, but last I checked your grandfather and great grandfather aren’t hold up in the far north where we’re going.”

“Point,” the earth pony conceded, “but do ya really think its safe enough for her ta tag along?”

Midnight gave her the same run down she gave her mom.

“Well, hard ta argue with all that.”

“I’m checking in with Rarity next; any chance I’ll get the same talk from her because of Sweetie Belle?” Midnight asked but AJ waved a dismissive hoof.

“Ah doubt Rarity’s given the girl a real ear since we got back. She practically ran some ponies over tryin’ ta get back to her boutique ta start working on them new designs she was thinkin’ up.”

“Probably better to just let her be, then,” Midnight mused.

“’Less ya want ta be a mannequin,” AJ agreed.

“Then any chance you can tell me how Fluttershy is doing?” the kirin asked, “Her animals don’t like me very much as you can imagine.”

AJ chuckled. “Ah can and from the sounds of it the animals that don’t want ta go on the trip either have homes in the Everfree or don’t have a problem stayin’ up at the castle like the princesses offered. How’s them owl harpies comin’ along, by the way? Hear you’ve been keeping odd hours trainin’ them.”

Midnight sighed tiredly. “Fine but they’ll need supervision on the trip. While I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into another Crystal Empire I think they’ll be ready for duty when we get back.”

They said their goodbyes, Midnight double checking with Scarlet before leaving the farm, then flew up into the late morning sky and banked for home once again. With no need to check in on Rarity or Fluttershy, she could hit the hay early and catch an extra hour of sleep after having lunch. She could even cuddle Sapphire properly tonight, as her leg was now fully healed, thanks to Honey. The young changeling queen had taken one look at her friend’s injured leg after their talk and had started casting a healing spell on it daily. Now unless you really looked at it, you’d never suspect there’d been an injury there at all. The kirin had wondered why the doctor in Hallow Shades hadn’t said anything about using such a spell but he’d been an earth pony, so there was a chance he didn’t know anyone that could perform one and thus didn’t think it was an option. She’d have to see if Honey could teach the spell to Doppler and Cricket.

As she came back to the house, she noticed one large and one small figure standing outside Forest’s house that quickly became recognizable as Spine and Ember. From the arm and wing gestures and the volume they were speaking, it was clearly and argument and the kirin decided it would be a wiser idea to go in through the side door. As she flew over, though, she heard Ember yell “That’s not fair! Squeaks and Norik get to go!” and pulled back up. When AJ told her Apple Bloom wasn’t happy about being left behind she should have figured word would have gotten to the smallest kirin as well. Of course she wouldn’t be happy either but who said that Norik was going? He certainly hadn’t asked to nor had she any idea anyone had approached him with the idea. Wondering where she’d heard this, the older kirin banked back around and descended, landing within sight of them but far enough away to look like she wasn’t ease-dropping.

They both saw her and Ember immediately bolted over, quickly followed by Spine trying to catch her. “Midnight, why does Squeaks and Norik get to go on the adventure and not me!?” Ember called out as they got close.

“Ember! I already said you can’t,” Spine yelled after her, “and Midnight has things to do! I’m sorry, captain,” he added as they reached her, “when she heard that Squeaks and Norik were going on the trip she demanded to come along, too. Forest is out picking mushrooms or this would have been taken care of already.”

“It’s not fair!” Ember repeated, “I want to be part of the Storm Clan, too!”

“Okay,” Midnight began, making an easing motion with her hooves, “I understand knowing about Squeaks; AJ told me about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle so I should have figured you would know by now, too, but who told you that Norik was going? And what’s this about joining the Storm Clan?”

“He’s not going?” Spine asked, confused.

“He never said anything to me,” Midnight explained, “and I can’t imagine he wants to interrupt his lessons with Zecora or that his mother would even let him go so soon after reuniting.”

Once things had settled after the debacle with the Alicorn Amulet, the teen kirin had expressed three things he wanted to do while in Ponyville: get to know his mother, learn about being a kirin from Midnight, and, hopefully, continue the training that had ended when his caretaker had died with Zecora. Eden was over the moon to help with the first, Midnight said she would try with the second, and to their surprise Zecora had agreed to the third. “A mind I can help mentor, would certainly please me to the core!” the zebra had said. Eden had gone above and beyond, spending much of her time in Norik’s new home once it was finished and telling him all about his family’s history and her about her travels. Zecora reported that he was a great student and, as his cutie mark suggested, very talented when it came to healing potions. She already had an overstocked cupboard of the things and was debating whether or not to try and sell them at the town market.

Midnight… had more or less dropped the ball on giving him one-on-one time for “kirin lessons”. Of course a lot had happened in the short time after his arrival, what with “reforming” Discord, her stint recovering from the trap, and the sudden trip to Hollow Shades, but there were some quieter times where she could had given him some pointers such as where the best place to dig for gems were or even a quick hunting lesson. Now the preparation for the trip north was underway and all that entailed but, as she sat there trying to figure out what Ember was talking about, she realized that she could try and squeeze in a few of those talks in after the owl harpy training each morning if everyone else was more or less ready and just waiting for the word.

“Um…” Spine said, getting her attention, “from what I understand, it was his mother that said if he went on the trip, they would let him be part of the clan. She’s going too, apparently.”

“She is, is she?” Midnight said, an eyebrow going up.

“She told him to tell me so that I can ask to go, too,” Ember added.

“Well, this decision is up to your parents and from the sound of it they already said “no”,” Midnight told the filly. “As for Norik and his mother going, they didn’t tell me and I make the final call on who goes or not, so the three of us, or I should say two of us, are going to have a little chat.”

“That’s not fair…” Ember whined but Spine was already picking her up and heading back to their house while Midnight started for the cottage. By some luck she saw Norik and his pet phoenix flying in over the forest and waved them down to her.

“Hello Midnight!” He called out as he landed. “How are you feeling?”

“Hello Norik, Lhikan. I was doing fine until I came in to land and Ember and Spine were having a small argument right in front of the house.”

The younger kirin and phoenix drooped a little. “Oh?” he said nervously.

“It was something about how if she went up north with us the she’d become part of the Storm Clan, too. She said it came from a very interesting source, not to mention that there are at least two more on the guest list that I wasn’t aware of, though it’s probably five.” She raised an eyebrow expectantly.

Norik fidgeted, looking liked he was trying think of what to say. “My mother-” he began.

“Norik!” a familiar voice called out and both kirin turned to see Eden in the doorway of the cottage, waving at them both. “Lunch is almost ready! And hello to you, Captain Storm! Beautiful weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

Midnight began walking over to Eden, Norik following in step just behind her with Lhikan perched on his back. “Morning Eden, the weather is nice indeed,” the elder kirin greeted. “I was talking with Norik about something I just found out and perhaps you can help as well.”

“I’ll certainly try,” the unicorn said, still sounding innocent.

“Well,” Midnight went on, “Before Norik I was talking to Spine and Ember and they told me that they were told that you and Norik, and probably Sun, Blade, and Lhikan, are all going on the trip up north with us and that you were doing so because the Storm Clan would allow you, or at least Norik, to become a part of it. It’s funny, because this is the first I’ve heard of any of you going and it’s also the first I’m hearing about wyvern clans letting random kirins into them.” The smile she finished this with noticeably contained fangs. “Would you care to enlighten me?”

“Oh, of course, Captain Storm!” Eden said sweetly. “You see, Plenipotentiary Twilight Sparkle is the head of the ambassadorial party going north and has invited some notable scholars to join her to study the new wildlife expected to be found, one of which is Professor Puzzle Mixer, whom I believe you’re aquatinted with.”

“I am indeed,” Midnight said, the smile now looking strained.

“Well, as I’m sure you’re also aware of, the professor is currently studying all he can about kirins. Since you’ve been busy lately, he’s been taking to petitioning the princesses for any information he can in the meantime. One thing he found stated that wyvern clans in the past would “adopt” wayward kirins, those usually born from dragons. I felt it would be a great thing for my Norik if he could be taken in by the clan, in spirit at least, and it would help him feel closer to the only other two kirins we know about, especially since one is already a member and could help convince both to be taken in. Professor Mixer agreed and as his mother I would be going along, of course.”

“Of course,” Midnight said. “Well, while Twilight is in fact leading the scientific and political part of the trip, I am in charge of security so it is very important that I know who is coming on the trip and not hear about it second hoof. I would also appreciate it if you could be mindful of where and around whom you talk about such things with. Children can get worked up over what could turn out to just be rumor and hearsay and in turn makes life for their parents just that much harder. As a mother yourself I’m sure you’re learning that.”

“Of course,” Eden said sweetly, “I will certainly remember that and thank you as one mother to another.”

Midnight glanced at Norik. “I know you said lunch is almost ready but could I get a few minutes to talk with Norik, privately, please? Something between kirins.”

Now it was Eden’s turn to have a strained smile. “I don’t see the harm and the two of you will finally get to spend some time together. He’s been looking forward to learning from you for some time now.”

“A fumble on my part I plan to rectify,” Midnight said before turning back towards her own home with a nod goodbye.

Norik followed her again, waiting until they were some distance away. “Midnight, I’m sorry, I-” But the older kirin raised a wing and he fell silent as she let out a long breath.

“Your mother has a good heart but how she goes about things tries my patience something fierce,” she said then turned to face him. “And Puzzle Mixer, while I’m sure he’s good at his job, has no social tack whatsoever. Had they both come to me and asked, I don’t think I’d have a problem as long you were okay with it since I know you’ve been training with Zecora as well.”

“I wouldn’t mind going,” Norik admitted, “but I just don’t know how to feel about being adopted by the clan when we get there.”

“I’d bet bits that there’s more to it than just showing up and asking,” Midnight told him, “and I wonder if the suggestion is some kind of ploy to legitimize you in some way that she can use against other nobles. Your mother is a good pony, like I said, but she’s still a noble. Right now what’s really making me mad is her singing that tune to Ember and getting her all worked up.” She growled. “There were already problems when she and her mother first moved here.”

“Speaking of Ember, I think that’s her mother coming this way,” Norik said, motioning behind Midnight.

She turned her head just enough to see behind her and let out a curse when she saw the brown and green mare. “Your mother is going to pay for this,” she told him. “After the two of us have another, franker talk without the fake smiling and politeness. Thanks for being honest with me, now get out of here so you don’t get caught in the fallout.”

“Sorry again,” he said before turning back to the cottage.

Midnight took a deep breath then turned to the oncoming earth pony. The smile she put on wasn’t as fake as the one she’d used with Eden but it still wasn’t true. “Forest,” she greeted.

“Midnight,” Forest greeted back. “Spine and Ember were just telling me what was going on.”

“I’m trying to handle it, Forest,” Midnight said, dropping the smile. “I just talked with Eden and she shouldn’t go flapping her mouth again but-” Now it was Midnight’s turn to be interrupted with a raised hoof.

“It’s been wonderful having Spine back and he’s been a great father to Ember,” Forest said, “but since he jumped into the guard right after the wedding and a lot has happened since, he hasn’t been around as much as Ember or I would like. I think it’s been harder on Ember knowing her dad and him not being around much than not knowing him and him never being around. I’ve been meaning to ask him to ask for some time off so he can spend more one-on-one time with her. The fact that you’re bringing your own daughter on this trip means that it can’t be that dangerous.”

“Only because I trust Squeaks to stay on the ship and not argue when I tell her to go hide,” Midnight noted.

Forest nodded. “True. Ember is… oh makers, forget the bush, Ember is a trouble maker, I know, and I’m not asking you to keep an eye on her when Spine can’t, but since there’s only so many places she can go on a ship, the fact that she still can’t fly that well yet, and she’ll probably spend most of her time with Squeaks when she’s not with her father, I think I’d be okay with her going with him this time.”

Both eyebrows went up on the kirin’s face. “I’m… honestly surprised to hear you say that. I thought you’d be angry at even the suggestion.”

“I think before Spine came I would be,” Forest admitted, “and I know that, with him being a dragon and her being a kirin, they’ll end up spending much more time together than she will with me in the long run but I want them to make memories while she’s still young, to grow up with memories rather than waiting to make them when she’s grown. Maybe it would be better to wait until he comes back with all of you since things can’t keep happening as often as they are but,” she shrugged, “something tells me she’d be missing out on more than just time with her father if she stays behind.”

THAT was certainly something for Midnight to process, more so since she was ready to be yelled at and had to suddenly switch gears. She could see Forest’s point about it being worse for Ember to have her dad live with her but not be around as often as he could be, though she didn’t think she had him on rotation more than anyone else or had him do any double shifts. Maybe it was the fact that they’d just gotten him back and had barely gotten to know him before he jumped into the guard that made it seem like that. From her perspective he’d certainly thrown himself into the job and she had been glad for him to do so but she hadn’t thought he’d done so at the expense of his family. Maybe he hadn’t noticed either, like it was some kind of blind spot for a dragon since they didn’t normally have families? That was something she should talk with Shoal about and definitely bring it up with Spine. If more folks besides Forest pointed it out, it might make it easier for him to see it, too.

Having Ember on board, while having the potential for disaster that only a fire-breathing, precocious child could cause, might be a good idea. It gave Squeaks some company her own age, for one thing, and they were already friends so there’d be little chance of them getting into inconsolable fights. And if she was already going to be spending time with Norik discussing their kind, then it wouldn’t hurt to include Ember. As long as they made sure to make her promise to stay on the ship then there really wouldn’t be a downside to her coming along. Add yet another passenger.

“I would absolutely discuss it with Spine first,” Midnight said slowly, “but if he agrees to it, then there really wouldn’t be any issue with her coming along. I know Squeaks will like having a friend around. And with a ship full of guards and a full-grown dragon, how much-?” She stopped mid-sentence, then shook her head. “Nope, not finishing that. Not even THINKING about finishing that.”

“What do you mean?” Forest asked, head tilting in confusion.

“If I finish that sentence, then somewhere down the line I’m going to be in trouble and I do NOT want to be in that kind of trouble.”

“MIDNIGHT STORM!” yelled the angry, purple alicorn from below. “GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!”

The kirin just hovered there for a minute, eyes tabled. “I guess I can say this is better than, say, the airship crashing, but I won’t know unless I go down there, so if I stay up here I won’t have to worry about it.”

“Not sure if she’ll just go away,” Shade said as he and the others hovered around the kirin. “Besides, she has wings.”

“And thankfully doesn’t know how to use them yet,” Midnight pointed out. “If we grab a cloud we can wait her out.” There was a sensation on her tail and she looked down to see a purple glow gathering around it. She snorted at it and tried to flick her tail to dispel the magic, only for it to suddenly grip her tightly and start yanking her down.

“You’re not getting away that easily!” Twilight yelled up at her, flaring her new wings.

‘Oh, right, alicorn.’ Midnight tired pumping her wings, hoping that angry purple pony below didn’t have full control of her new power and she could pull herself out of the grip but the magic held fast and she was still descending. Finally admitting defeat, Midnight let herself be pulled down, meeting Twilight’s angry glare with a tabled look of her own. “And how can I help you this morning?” she asked flatly as Sapphire and Windrunner came out of the side door to see what all the shouting was about. Surprisingly, Summer was also coming around from the front of the house, head cocked in confusion.

“You can help by telling me why you STOLE THIS BOOK!” Twilight yelled, using her magic to pull a large book out of her saddle bags and shove it into Midnight’s face.

When she finally got a good look at more than just a couple of letters jammed right next to her eyeball, she realized it was the copy of The Detailed Guide to Mythical and Rare Creatures she’d let her borrow the other day. “Oh yeah, that thing. Who says I stole it?”

Angrily, Twilight used her magic to flip to the back of the book. “It has a library card holder on the inside of the back cover! That means it’s a library book! That means you stole it!”

“I could have bought it,” Midnight pointed out.

“Library’s are supposed to remove these sleeves before they get rid of any book!” Twilight told her.

“So maybe they didn’t do their job,” Midnight pointed out, which made the librarian’s eye begin to twitch.

“Midnight,” Sapphire said gently, coming between the two slightly, “did you steal the book? You’ve never mentioned where you got it from.”

“I swiped it from the Manehattan Public Library right after I ran away from home,” Midnight admitted, making Twilight’s eye twitch even harder. “Scared the heck out of whoever was on duty when I did so, too.”

“Oh, Midnight…” both Sapphire and Summer said at the same time while Snow started laughing.

“So you admit it!” Twilight yelled as if she just broke a case.

Midnight shrugged. “Yeah, I stole it, so?”

“So? So!? SO!? You can’t just steal a book like that! That’s one of the worse crimes anypony can commit!” the alicorn practically shrieked.

“I can think of several worse,” Midnight deadpanned.

“Books are meant for everyone, ESPECIALLY LIBRARY BOOKS! You can’t just horde knowledge like that!”

“I’m part dragon,” Midnight pointed out.

“And who knows how many ponies wanted to learn from this book but couldn’t after you stole it!” Twilight continued. “How many foals didn’t get a complete education because of what you did you… you… BOOK THEIF! You’ve got a BIG fine coming, missy! And library jail!”

“Library jail?” Midnight asked, barely holding back a chuckle.

“I will make it a thing!” Twilight threatened. “And you can be in there with everyone else who steals books! And returns them damaged! And who constantly talks while others are studying!”

“Riiiiiight,” Midnight said with a raised eyebrow. Sapphire and Summer were no longer giving the kirin disappointed looks but shaking their heads, Windrunner, Shade, Marina, and Brick looked confused, and Snow was laughing even harder. “Well, ex-CUSE me, princess, but I doubt Celestia or Luna will back you up over a book that contains such out of date information that I actually did that library a favor.” She booped Twilight’s nose. “I don’t exist according to this book, remember? Nor do I think they’ll let you imprison ponies for talking too loudly or returning books late.”

It would have been funny how red Twilight’s face was getting if it wasn’t for the fact that she was an alicorn that still had a grip on her tail. With a loud growl Twilight finally released the kirin and teleported away.

“Well, this trip is going to start off fun,” Midnight said.

“Really, Midnight,” Summer groaned.

“What? It was the only thing with information about me I could ever find, even if it was wrong. Also, I was an emotional teenager,” Midnight defended.

“You should still apologize since you know she takes books and libraries seriously,” Sapphire said.

“And give her the impression that I’m afraid to go to library jail? I think not,” the kirin said, flicking her nose up.

Sapphire sighed again. “Would you like some coffee, Summer?”

“Thank you Sapphire, yes,” Summer said, “but first I want to tell you, Midnight, that I want to go on this trip as well.”

Midnight blinked at her. “Why?”

It was Summer’s turn to table her eyes. “Is it really going to be such a big deal?”

Midnight looked a little embarrassed. “No, you’d be a big help keeping an eye on Squeaks and Ember when the rest of us can’t but I’m surprised you want to. What about Autumn, Orange, and your job? And I thought you were done with dad.”

“Just like you, I want to put a close to the past two decades. He didn’t just leave you, remember.”

“Yeah,” Midnight admitted.

“And after meeting my mother-in-law, finally, I should pay respects to my father-in-law,” she continued. “Orange understands and Autumn just knows I’ll be gone for a bit, so she’ll be able to get Orange to spoil her while I’m away, whether I like it or not, so she’s fine. As for my job, I’ll actually still be doing it while we’re gone, sort of.” At Midnight’s raised eyebrow, she explained. “Fancy Pants got a letter from Rarity about a new line she was thinking of and he liked the idea. When she told him she was going to be working on them while on a long trip, he contacted and asked me if I would go on the trip with her so the company can have first refusal rights to the designs. I wanted to go already so I told him I would.” Now it was also Summer’s turn to look a bit embarrassed. “I also wanted to ask if Honey and her changelings could model the dresses so I don’t have to ask to bring actual models along; I’ve heard there’s more ponies going now than you originally thought.”

“It’s the way they “asked” that bothers me,” Midnight explained, “otherwise there’s plenty of room for all.” She gave her mother a small smile. “I guess this really will be a family reunion, for better or worse.”

Summer smiled back. “However it goes, definitely for the better.”

Author's Note

And so the guest list is finally complete and it turns out Twilight is no longer a push over when it comes to our favorite book thief. Their arguments now will be legendary!

And punny!

Now we just need to get on board and set sail! Warn the buffet and keep the mojitos flowing!