"Welcome to the throne room of the Castle of the Everfree Sisters, or Castle of the Two Sisters. You were born here, I think the name is good. Everfree Castle wasn't really sticking much because of the other Castles in my hidden Kingdoms." Royal says.

"You did the murals in the stained glass? It's exquisite." Celestia complements.

"It's so realistic." Luna sits in her throne and her sister follows suit. "How are we supposed to talk if your thrones are turned away?"

"Girls, please have a seat." After everyone is seated, Royal presses a hidden button on her throne and the thrones, table, and fire pit rotate to face the Princesses. "Now, as I was discussing with the Princesses earlier. I would like to be taken on as a Royal guard trainee as a Dignitary from the Kingdoms of Everfree."

"What?!" The Mane Six yell.

"My identity as it's ruler would not be given. I would come as myself and train under the watchful eye of you and your people to gain the trust of the people towards us Hybrids. Through this, once I feel I've gained a certain amount of trust I will reveal a small part of my Kingdoms to your world and return certain memories of it." Royal opens a small slit in reality and pulls out a glowing scroll. "This document has been written in my blood and the blood of my land. It binds me eternally, until I fulfill my duty at least."

Celestia grabs the scroll with her magic and reads it aloud. "By decree of the Empress of the Everfree Kingdoms, under the agreement of Princesses Luna and Celestia, Imperial Ambassadors Royal Imagery and Clover the Clever- Wait! Clover the Clever?"

"Yes, that would be me." Clover answers, appearing beside Royal.

"Oh. Imperial Ambassadors Royal Imagery and Clover the Clever will be surrendered to the Princesses of Equestria. If the Princesses agree Royal Imagery is to be given a high exposure job as to earn the trust and goodwill of Equestria to us Hybrids and our Empire. Clover is to report the status Royal is given, her treatment under the Princesses care, and her success in earning the trust of the people."

"So... What do you think?" Royal asks.

"The answer would be yes, but you are the Empress. They need you." Luna says.

"That's the thing..." Royal starts.

"The Council of Rulers, and the Kingdom, voted her off the throne." Clover says bluntly.

"They what?! Are they allowed to do that?!" Rainbow Dash asks.

"Actually, yes and no. They voted behind my back and then all ganged up on me. 'Since I ascended to the throne I've worked nonstop and haven't done anything for myself.' at least that's what they said. They made me take a vacation... For a two years." Royal explains.

"Who is ruling until you get back?" Twilight inquires.

"Tua."

"He's still alive?!"

"He is a vampire. Tua's had some close calls but that Stallion is stubborn if nothing else. So... What do you think?"

"I think this is a great idea." Luna says.

"Yes. You can start by coming to Canterlot by train tomorrow. I'll get in the final papers for your adoption of Scootaloo and expect to see the three of you at noon tomorrow." Celestia agrees.

The sisters stand as one. "Now if you'll excuse us we must be off." Luna says.

Royal breathes a sigh of relief after they leave. "I did it, I passed."

"You sure did! And you got into the Royal Guard training. Which is nearly as hard as the training itself." Rainbow Dash says.

"Yeah. They are the Elite of the Elite. It took my brother years to get in. He's now one of the Captains." Twilight says, straightening with pride.

"Shouldn't you be packing?" Rarity asks.

"I already did. I was very optimistic and went ahead and packed. Though I'm kind of surprised one of them didn't flip. We were so close and I just disappeared." Royal looks down at her hooves. "Oh, and I told them about your predicament and your progress in your training. I don't know how long I'll be gone so I filled the fridge with my blood in the East Wing's kitchen."

"Why is it always your blood?" Fluttershy asks.

"Yeah, can't she use animal blood." Rainbow says.

"We've tried using animal blood, but I didn't feel the same afterwards." Twilight says.

"She attacked Royal after she got a whiff of her blood. Royal's blood is addicting because of the raw power flowing in it." Clover says.

"How did she even wind up smellin' Roy's blood?" Apple Jack inquires, raising a brow.

"Royal bit herself the first time they met to prove Twilight was a Vampire and... We might have gotten into a knife fight and I nearly took her finger off." Clover shrugs.

"She cheated." Royal pouts as she leads them to Scootaloo's room. "Every time I was about to stab her she went ghost on me."

"I still won." Clover sticks her tongue out.

"Why were y'all having a knife fight!" Apple Jack yells.

"Clover was being childish." Royal says, packing Scootaloo's clothes, toys, and scooter into two trunks.

"I was not!" Clover huffs indignantly. "I was informing her of the goings on in the court and she completely ignore me. So I threw a knife at her head."

"I did not ignore you." Royal says, teleporting the luggage to the front of the castle and then into her room to teleport her trunks. "I listened until she started prattling on about gossip and what she thought about the other snobby ghosts."

She teleports them out into the garden and starts to pick herbs. She dries them out and puts them into different labeled bags with her magic. "Fluttershy can you get me some Jade Root?"

"Sure." Fluttershy heads happily to the other side of the huge garden.

"What are you doing?" Rainbow asks, looking over Royal's shoulder and into the bag of herbs.

"It's medicinals and other seasonings that Canterlot might not have. For my meat, teas, and something to help with Scootaloo's wing growth." She answers, grabbing the plant from Fluttershy. "Thank you. Now I'm ready."

"Wait, you said you had training, with swords right?" Twilight asks.

"It's been a while since there's been a war, but yes."

"We can't have you being rusty if your going to make it in the Guard." Rainbow Dash says.

"But none of us know how tah swordfight." Apple Jack says.

"I do, actually. My brother taught me. He's a bit over protective and thought I should learn how to defend myself." Twilight says, rubbing her arm sheepishly.

Rarity nods. "It's perfect! Since you're a Vampire you have the strength to hold your own and the skills to decide if she's rusty. If she were to go against one of us, her brute strength would be enough to beat us even if she was horrible at swordfighting."

"Speak for yourself, Ah could take 'er." Apple Jack says smugly.

"Let's just go!" Pinky says, bouncing off down a corridor.

"Wrong way Pinks!" Rainbow bellows, chasing after her.

"You ready?" Twilight asks, holding out her claymore.

"Ready." Royal nods, holding her Khopesh and Hook Sword at the ready.

"Are you sure you want to use two different swords?" Twilight asks.

"I'm positive."

"Ready, set... Fight."

Royal stands her ground as Twilight comes in for a quick diagonal swing. Royal dodges but is forced to retreat when Twilight expertly changes her Claymore's direction.

"This is so much easier now!" Twilight beams.

Royal smiles and hooks her swords around Twilight's claymore. She jumps and spins, disarming her, before sweeping her legs from under her and pointing her other sword at her throat. "I'm not too rusty."

"Show off! My turn." Apple Jack smirks, moving into the sparring area and raising her wrapped fists.

Royal teleports her swords back to the wall and wraps her knuckles. "Let's go Jackie."

Apple Jack rushes forward goes for a high kick. Royal meets it with one of her own and they push against the other. Royal stops putting pressure on her and uses the force of Apple Jack's kick to gain momentum when she twists around for a roundhouse. Apple Jack ducks and hits Royal hard in the stomach. Royal backs away and toe kicks Apple Jack in her diaphragm.

"Nice kick Jackie."

"Right back at cha Roy." Apple Jack chuckles holding her stomach while she catches her breath. She suddenly lunges and dropkicks Royal in the chest. She quickly stands and leaps, rotating her hips for a brutally blow to the chest.

Royal grabs the heel and slams Apple Jack down beside her. "That hurt." She wheezes, standing.

Apple Jack leaps to her feet and rubs her shoulder. "Yah holdin' back, why?"

"Because you are." Royal smirks. "I know you're way better than this."

"Can we just call it a tie?! I'm hungry!" Pinky Pie says, a small pout on her face.

"What do yah say, tie?" Apple Jack asks, holding her fist out.

"Tie." Royal hits it and unwinds the bandages on her hands.

Scootaloo bursts through the door. "Mom." She grabs her knees and weakly lifts a finger. After she catches her breath she smiles. "My teacher wants to meet you, and when are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow before noon. When and as what?" Royal asks.

"Now and as yourself." Scootaloo's smiles grows.

"She's here now?! How? Why?"

"Yeah she's here now, she wanted to meet my new caretaker, as she called you. It took a while but she got past the Timberwolves." She answers.

Royal speeds out of the room, down a corridor, and into the foyer. She slides to a stop and fixes her wind swept hair, smiling politely. "Hello! I'm Royal Imagery. Scootaloo's mom. Well adoptive Mom. As of today that is. I just had the authorities over to make it official. I'm rambling aren't I?"

Cheerilee nods with a small smile. "Just a bit. I'm Cheerilee, Scootaloo's teacher. I know about her previous situation and wanted to make sure its better this time. Scootaloo defended your honor, told me all kinds of stories."

"I hope they were all good ones." She panics at Cheerilee's raised brow. "Not that there are any bad ones! Would you like to sit down before I make an even bigger foal of myself?"

"Yes please."

Royal holds out her arm and Cheerilee takes it. "Right this way. I'm think they've moved to the east wings common room."

"Speaking of wings. I couldn't believe it when Scootaloo told me you had wings and a horn." Cheerilee says

"Not many people do."

"What are all these scars from?" Cheerilee asks, gesturing to Royal's exposed arms.

"Battles fought ages ago. How has my Little Sparrow been doing in class?"

"Well. She's a very smart girl, but troubled. She's gets bullied a lot by some of the girls for not having a Cutie-Mark and not being able to fly. I try to help where I can but their parents are pompous fools." Cheerilee scowls.

"You're talking about Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Those two will learn. I have a feeling it will be Scootaloo and her friends that show them the way." Royal smirks, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Little Sparrow's wing condition is a simple case of malnutrition. Not getting the right amount of care needed as a baby and as a growing child. The muscles in her back and wings are quite strong from riding her scooter and using her wings as propellants, so she has the strength and endurance. Just not the size."

Cheerilee nods in understanding and looks up at the murals on the walls. "I recognize the Princesses, just not every one else."

"I'd be surprised if you did. These are people from the oldest of ages, painted from memory only I have." Royal explains. "The the large fit stallion with the golden mane and ashen coat is Golden Heart. Long forgotten Legendary Defender, and father of the Princesses."

"Really?!" Cheerilee asks, her eyes widening to saucers in surprise.

"Yes. The beautiful black, silver, and pink mare is, Altea. The Goddess that created Pegasus and Unicorn Ponies and the Princesses' mother. That regal and calm Queen is my Mother. Queen Chrysalis the tenth."

"She's a beauty." Cheerilee complements.

"Thank you. Come, I'm sure the others are wondering what's keeping us."

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait, I hope you enjoy it. Please don't forget to comment and share!😄