John Sampson's Story

Shining agrees, “Yes, where’s lunch?”

“In the kitchen. Where else?” Cadance has no sympathy.

Shining and I head that way at speed while Cadance follows at more regal pace.

In chorus, “Hello, Spike. What’s to eat?” Which made us both laugh.

I ask, “Are we still linked? Or just both forgot to eat all day?”

I’m having smoked salmon, cheese, bread, and fruit.

Shining looks thoughtful, “Would you believe that I’m even beginning to adjust to your diet? Not to the point of trying Manticore, but at least I can sit next to it.”

“Shining, let me warn you. If you start swapping bodies, some of the tastes go with the body. As an equine I can munch on fresh green grass for hours. As a human, I have no use for it.”

Cadance has walked in on this exchange, “If he starts eating Manticore, he’s going to do it in the Everfree because he isn’t doing it anywhere near me.”

I am feeling evil, “Now Cadance, how do you know you don’t like it yourself? Have you ever tried it?”

She just smiles sweetly, “Got any idea where you’re sleeping tonight? I’m sure Twilight will agree with me.”

I just smile back, “Cadance darling, do you know where the biggest strongest stallion in Equestria sleeps? Anywhere he wants to.”

Shining has had enough, “You two get a room. And soundproof it.”

Swift is standing in the door giggling and Twilight’s voice comes from behind her. “Hey, I wanna watch.”

“You two come in here and tell me what you decided about our storage problem.”

Twilight steps by Swift, “We think the floor under the observatory is ideal. We can wall in half of it and the only way to get near it is to float next to the Castle in plain sight. The observatory itself has some of the strongest wards in the Castle so it’s as safe as we can get it without casting it all into the Sun. Steel approves. He also says he has two suspects and is digging deeper.”

“I agree with that idea. How soon can it be ready? And Shining and I are having a great day. We are both learning lots of fun things”

“It can be ready in two days and Celestia sends her regards with a notice that you are on the Throne tomorrow.

I smile, “No problem. I’ll just go sit and listen to stories all day while you manage the construction and moving.”

Twilight sticks her tongue out and, “If you two are done maybe some of the rest of us can have a little dinner.”

I’m happy to be done. I have some heavy duty thinking to do. But I need to talk with Shining first.

“Shining, let’s go do a little post event analysis.”

“Okay. I’m not sure why but if you think we need it.”

We went up and found a private spot.

“I want to tell you that when I make a change, I select an image and pour my magic into it. I don’t know if anything at all will happen for you. It might be my magic. But it’s better if you do it laying down because there may be things like a sudden change in height or eyesight. And it would probably be better to do it the first time with me nearby. I’m about to do some editing but that can be paused and it’s no harder than waking from a nap.”

“John, if it doesn’t work, I’ll be disappointed but not terribly so. Some of the other things you’ve shown me are worth the trip all by themselves.”

We chorus, “Good luck, my brother.” and laugh while hoofbumping.

I find a spare bedroom and get comfortable. Closing my eyes, I pull up my ponies and begin to study. After a while I decide it’s safest to simply change heads. I know from the eye experiment that neural and vascular connections can be made. So I choose my splice point. I have to enlarge the head a little to cover a size difference but it fits nicely afterwards. I put Fred’s ears and eyes back on because I like them better. Then I put Fred’s bay over the pony head and throw a few spots on my mostly white body to make me unique. When everything is double and triple checked I make a copy and call it A-Pony.

One more chore to go. I carefully edit out the horn and all associated vessels back to where they join the mains coming up the neck. I move in and stand. Everything feels normal. Muscles all work.

Here it goes, “A. B. C. D. E. F. . . .” It all works!! Time to show it off.

Swift is in the kitchen, “Hello, John. I like the new look.”

“I like it too, though I may tweak a few things yet.”

“Oh. And it sounds good too. Now we’re going to have to start over again on the wardrobe.”

“It’s not that bad. I’m going to keep this private for a while. I want it for a surprise when Blueblood strikes.”

Spike walks in and blinks, “John?”

He hadn’t been around for my farm vacation, “Yes, Spike. This is the me I’ve been working on. I’m going to wear it with family but I don’t want it public. I want it to be a surprise for Blueblood next time he gets stupid.”

“Cool.”

I spend some time in the main room socializing then we drift to the bed pad. I am so happy it hurts being a normal equine with my band.

It doesn’t just feel good, it smells good. But that voice insists, “Zero four hundred, John.”

Sliding out is a little trickier but more than made up for by the fact that I feel good. I want to go somewhere and run. Instead I go to the toilet and do the normal thing. After thumping my chest a few times I do the necessary thing and switch to human. At least the good feeling carries over.

Spike has the tea ready but seems disappointed in me, “I was hoping you would stay pony. I like the way your pony looks. He’s completely unique and still a pony.”

“I like him too, Spike. But if he shows up on the Throne today it will distract from important things and ruin him as secret weapon. I’m going to show him off to Celestia though. That should be fun enough.”

Swift and Twilight ambled in and we all cheek rub.

Twilight sips her tea and,”I really wish you could stay pony. By the way, Cadance and Shining may sleep in this morning. There was a light show after everypony else went to sleep.”

I laughed, “Good. Shining was collecting ideas from my memories.”

Twilight’s turn to laugh, “We know. He did what I told you stallions always do when he got in your head. From the outside it looked like he was going to make a mess on the pad. Cadance was hoping he’d come out with something to try.”

“He did but we don’t know how some of it is going to work. If it does we will have some major new weapons. I need to sit down with you later and run through some parts of it. Swift, did you pack my pretty uniform?”

“It’s in the bag and your small sword too.”

“Good deal. As soon as I get my cammies we are going to breakfast.

The chicken and cheese omelet is good and doesn’t last long at all. Time for PT. Everything is normal and I’m getting over the urge to run after some hard core weight action. Sitting on the bench, I’m trying to decide if there’s something else to try or should I just hit the showers when an Earth Filly approaches.

“Excuse me sir, my friends told me that you were the biggest stallion there is. Is that true?”

“Yes it is. Did they also dare you to ask me?”

She blushes a deep red so the question is answered. She has a cutie mark so she’s probably a recruit.

“Would you like to sit here and talk for a few minutes? I’ve got another hour before I have to be in the Throne Room.”

“Oh! Do you actually get to see Her Majesty often?”

“All the time.”

“You must have an important job.”

“I think I do. Would you like to have some fun with your friends?”

“Sure. What do I have to do?”

“Just smile and go along with me.”

“Okay.”

I reach over and pick her up cradling her in my arms. She trembles then relaxes.

“I want you to grow your body and study hard. I want you to become the great mare that you are capable of being. And I want you to develop your magic no matter what anypony else tells you. And you can tell your friends that I said I will come for you one spring.”

I put an R rated kiss on her and set her back on the bench as I head for the showers.

The usual line is waiting when I come out of the showers. My filly is with a group of her friends and looking dazed as I walk up to her

“i sorry, I almost forgot to ask your name.”

Very shaky, “It’s Sweet Butter, Your Majesty.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Sweet Butter. I’m John Sampson. Remember what I said.”

I left a another small legend forming as I exit the gym.

Celestia is in her office, “Hello, John. Any good news?”

“Yes there is. Steel has a very short list of suspects. Twilight and I have decided to fix a room high in her tower for storage of the items. They won’t be able to get near it without being seen. And I have something new to show you but we can’t do it here. Can you take us to someplace very far away and isolated?”

“Is that necessary, John?”

“I want to be a complete surprise to the Blueblood crowd and if I do it here they can’t miss it.”

“All right.”

‘pop’ We are standing in the middle of a former castle. It was a nice courtyard long ago but it’s mostly a gap in the jungle today.

Celestia looks sad, “This is what’s left of the original Castle. We are actually in the far side of the Everfree. Is this isolated enough?”

“I hope.”

I undress and shift to A-Pony. A storm of images and sensations hit me. Everything around me is clamoring for attention. My horn (MY horn) is sparkling. Grab hold and slow everything down.

“Are you in control, John?”

“Kinda. I’m still finding all the handles.”

“This is your first time, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I know that if I did this in Canterlot it would look like a flare to every Unicorn for miles.”

I’m getting some real control now. The spewing magic has stopped. My sight is steady.

“Dammit, that was intense.”

“John, you’re lucky that you didn’t blow your own brains out. You have way too much magic to just jump in like that.”

“What can I say? It worked. Now I need to learn how to use it. The trick is that I don’t want anypony to know about it, least of all Blueblood.”

“You have a lot to learn before you start using the horn. A foal would learn it before they got strong enough to cause too much damage. You skipped that part.”

“What do I need to know?”

“The first thing you must do is to get your mind under full control. Random thoughts and memories can ‘come out’ as side effects when you use magic.”

“Already been done. In fact, I’m to teach Twilight more of my methods tonight. We had to do some serious mind searches to verify that nopony was compromised in the tech theft. We found out why I got that cutie mark.”

“Are you sure.”

“Very sure.”

“The next thing you must learn is to see the essence of things. You can’t manipulate it until you can grasp all of it.”

I look around. I can see many things that I have always known are there like the crystalline structure of the rocks but nothing startlingly new.

“I’m fair at that right now. I may have a little advantage because human tech is based on understanding the nature of materials and structures.”

“Then what’s left is practice, practice, practice.”

“What I need to learn most is how to teleport.”

“Not yet, John. You have to have very fine control to perform magic on yourself. One of us will tell you when it is time. Meanwhile, have Twilight bring you some place like this to learn your control. You will break a lot of things at first. See that small statue over there? Lift it a short distance, turn it around, and set it back in place.”

I’m looking at it but I can’t find a division between it and the pavement.

“I don’t see how to separate it from the pavement without breaking something. Is there a way to cut it free?”

“That is the kind of thing you need to learn yet. You did very well to realize that it is one piece. But you must also learn to make it conform to your needs. Right now we need to get back to Canterlot so will you please resume your human shape.”

I change and get dressed. ‘pop’ We are back in Celestia’s office.

“Don’t misunderstand me, John. I am very impressed. You just covered several years of Unicorn school in fifteen minutes. And that’s without even considering getting a horn to begin with. I even like your new coat. But be very careful. You are playing some very powerful forces and I would hate to lose you.”

“I would hate to lose me. That’s why I’m in a hurry. I’m in enough danger as an upstart Earth pony. As a Unicorn a whole new set of possibilities open up. Blueblood will know that he has a narrow window in which to kill me or face the end of everything he holds dear. Now where’s the list.”

It’s a long day composed of many small tragedies and triumphs. I did have one rather pleasant moment. The first Proclamation I read was a request for proposals for a new repository for Royal funds with all of the Blueblood clan excluded.

We run a little long because once word gets around we draw an audience. The audience can’t interfere or even comment. Cough at the wrong moment and the Guard will ‘show you out’. But they have an effect on the principals. Believe it or not, while standing in front of a near god that has the literal power of life and death over him, Big Johnny’s greatest fear is what his mare’s farrier is going to say about him next time she gets her hooves done. We have found another universal constant.

Finally, back in the tower, “Honey, I’m home.” I’ve always wanted to say that.

Cadance and Shining are in the library. I drop my clothes in the bathroom and shift to my new pony.

Cadance greets me, “Hello, John. That’s a very interesting collection of gifts you are passing around. I never imagined that things like copying and transferring are possible. The big one wouldn’t work for us but we aren’t done trying.”

Shining is examining my new face, “I like it but why did you leave a scar where the horn was? For that matter, why didn’t you keep the horn?”

“First, a horn will panic the Blueblood herd. I’ve shown incredible strength as an Earth pony and overcome five Unicorns at once. If I was a Royal Unicorn with that kind of strength I could be expected to ascend any day. That would leave Blueblood the choice of killing me before I ascend or losing everything forever.

"Second, that’s not a scar, that’s my whorl. All Terran equines have a whorl, most commonly about where mine is. It’s connected to the formation of the brain and is unique to each individual. What’s extra interesting is that is my whorl, not Fred’s. Fred’s is different. And this one stays with me when I change bodies. I did add the star to accent it because conventional wisdom says that the size, shape, and location mean that I am extremely intelligent, strong willed, and social.”

“By ‘star’ you mean the white part?”

“Yes. And technically my coat is bay and white tobiano. Bay means the brown with black mane and tail.”

I can hear voices coming down the stairs from above. It’s Twilight and Swift.

“How are our construction workers doing up there?”

As Twilight comes into view, “Quite well. How about our Noble Stallion?”

“Wondering if you want to trade jobs?”

“Oh hell no! Been there. Done that. Threw the shirt away.”

As she’s rubbing cheeks with me, Swift comes up and starts on the other side. This is life the way it should be.

“Twilight, after dinner we need to continue my education and we may have to travel.”

I have an equine dinner and love the flavors.

Twilight and I take our positions on a bean bag in the library and in a few seconds we are on the now familiar white floor in Twilight's mind.

“We learned some things when Shining and I were exploring. I want to combine two lessons into one today. I want to get you upon the features of this browser and I need all the horn instructions I can get.”

I turned to the images and wanted magic instruction. There were a lot. So I tried magic exercises. Also a lot.

“Twilight, I need unicorn education after visualization up to teleporting. Can you help?”

“Of course, but why do you need this?”

I try something new. I was in my inner pony when we linked so I am still him inside. I have changed bodies in dreams so I know I can do it without altering my physical body. I consider the details then will it. Now the me standing next to Twilight had a horn.

“Yes, that’s an excellent reason. I’ve got to tell you that all I or anypony can give you is hints. It’s the doing that brings the learning.”

“I understand. My problem is that I have to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. I don’t want anypony outside of selected herd members to know about this until I have full control and use. It changes too many things.”

She started flipping through and pointing out memories while I made a list.

“John, are you going to watch any of these?”

“All of them. Do you mind if I save copies for myself to watch later?”

“You can do that?”

“That’s part of today’s lesson.”

“Show me.”

I copy the list and in the process have to explain the progress bar again.

“John, I am going to make a list for you later when I can take time to consider all the details. We can pass it later. Do you have any other surprises?”

“Let’s step over to my side.”

And we are standing in front of my memories. I flip through quickly to find the other side of the memory Twilight had ‘pushed’ me into and bring it to right in front of us.

“And as promised, the other point of view.”

“I deserve that, don’t I?”

“In more ways than you know. I don’t expect you to wade through it all right now but take a copy for later study. That’s your practical exercise.”

“Do you think I should study some human sex too?”

“Why? You’re already way out of their league.”

“John, you continue to surprise me. That’s the nicest thing anypony has ever said to me.”

“It’s true.”

She leans over and rubs her horn against mine and the world explodes. I feel her. I feel her desire. I feel her feeling my desire. And it spirals wildly until she breaks the contact.

“Consider that another Unicorn lesson.”

We explored Terra for a while. I showed her planes, trains, cars, and TVs. She wants to stay for a while.

“John, you actually know how to make all those things?”

“Mostly, yes. I’m used to being able to order parts and have them arrive in a few days at most. I could buy many metals that I’m only kinda aware of how to make. But I know enough to put some ponies on the right track to make something very like it. The problem is what those kind of changes might do to Equestria. They call the output of those engines ‘horsepower’ because that’s what they’re designed to replace. Do you want to put that many ponies out of work?”

On that note we stepped back outside.

Everypony else was asleep. Twilight and I have the library all to ourselves.

“Celestia took me to the old castle in the Everfree for my demonstration. Do you feel up to something like that or do you want to wait?”

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

‘pop’ Twilight and I are in the same courtyard except we’re under a full moon. I shift to my A-Pony and I can see and ‘see’. There’s no fireworks this time and I’m comfortable.

“How are we doing, John?”

“We are doing good and enjoying the new view of the world.”

“I can feel your strength. Apparently you are as strong as a Unicorn as you are as an Earth pony.”

“That would make perfect sense.”

“You see that bench over there? See if you can lift it. Be very sure to specify slowly and how high.”

I see it and ‘see’ it. It’s a simple stone plank on top of two stone blocks. I see the divisions. I touch the plank with my magic and will it to lift slowly to waist high. I lifts on one end and begins to slide. I reach out with my hands and steady it. No problems. Then I realize that it’s over there across the courtyard and I’m a pony. But I can still feel it in my hands. So I pick it up with my hands, turn it over, swap ends, and set back exactly on the blocks.

“Twilight is staring at me, “How did you do that?”

I choose a flower from the bush behind the bench. Carefully cupping it in one hand, I squeeze the stem behind the flower with my other hand until it separates. I carry the flower over to Twilight and carefully insert it into her mane between her ears. Then I caress her cheek feeling every hair and loving it. She leans into my touch a little and purrs.

“I think I’ve got fine manipulation down. Can you come into me and watch how I do it?”

Twilight steps over to me and rests her horn lightly on my head. I feel her presence.

I reach over to the bush and cut another flower placing it next to the flower already in Twilight’s mane.

“You’re using your hands, John?”

“No, I’m using my magic. It’s like the memories. What you are seeing there is a common computer file browser. I’ve used many of them for years. I’ve even written a couple. Now how many digital computers are there in Equestria? One. My smart phone. But magic has no form. Your will gives it form, right?”

“Right, John.”

“So I come from Terra with all these forms that nopony has ever thought of. They shape my magic in ways previously unknown in Equestria. All that time you spent in Unicorn school wasn’t learning magic. It was learning fine motor skills. Being born human, I come with extreme fine motor skills.”

“That makes scary good sense."

I play around with the landscape for a while. There doesn't seem to be any limit on how much I can lift. I just make my magic hands bigger.

Twilight is bored, "Right now, I think we need to rest and digest. You may come up with some more wild ideas. Go ahead and change back.”

I do and ‘pop’ we are home. Creeping quietly, we merge into the pile and drift away.

“Zero four hundred, John”

Slide carefully out of the pile, hit the toilet. Thump my chest, and head for the kitchen. I’m annoyed but I have to learn.

“Spike, please put my tea in something Earth pony friendly. It’s my fault for not having a system to tell you what I am this morning.”

“John, I’m not sure anypony has ever had that problem.”

Twilight wanders in just then, “What problem?”

“Waking up in different bodies on different days.”

Swift joins in, “Sounds like a stallion problem to me.”

“Twilight, my subconscious has been busy with those new memories and experiences. I feel like something is missing right now. I’m tempted to just do it.”

“You might want to get some more experience first. There’s still some important things you haven’t tried.”

“My mind knows you are right but the rest of me is going nuts.”

Swift is looking from me to Twilight and back, “What in the hell are two gibbering about?”

I hadn’t thought about this part of it. “Swift, I’m turning into a Unicorn. I haven’t meant to hide it from you but most of it is happening inside my head.”

Swift just smiled, “About time.”

Spike says, “Cool.”

“Please help me keep this inside the band. It would trigger madness if it got out to Blueblood.

“And Twilight, I’ve been thinking. Handling information, making useful things, doing complex tasks, these are all the basics of civilization. Humans and ponies developed parallel ways of doing these things. I was an elite top level technologist on Terra because of the skills you’ve been seeing me exercise. So why shouldn’t my pony self parallel that on Equestria?”

Twilight is agreeing, “The more you say, the more sense you make. But today we have to move your tech and start preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. If there’s time left over we’ll practice some more.”

I go back to human so we can eat breakfast and do PT. All went normally and we dropped by Steel’s office.

“You can have your room back after today. We’re going to move it all right now.”

“Where Twilight has said you were going with it?”

“Yes. And we need to have a head session some time soon. I’ve got some new internal tech for you.”

“That sounds extra interesting. Just pick a time and tell me.”

“Twilight and I open the locks with our keys and go in. I reassemble my weapons and kit. Then I leave with everything on my shoulder or carried just like I brought it in. It’s a quick trip down the hall, around the corner and up the stairs in the tower to our new safe storage.

“Mares, I’m going to leave you to party planning. I’m going to pay Luna a visit. I owe her an update and I want to offer her some of the new ‘wetware’.”

Twilight and Swift agree so I set out for Luna’s private apartment. The Guard at the door waves me through. She’s in the main room relaxing.

“Hello and welcome, John Sampson.”

“Hello my good friend Luna.”

I walk over and rub cheeks with her.

“I have something to show you.”

I remove and fold my clothes then shift to my inner pony.

“Mine Sister hath told me of this but not of the look. It suits thou, John.”

“I like it. There is more but I will not show it in Canterlot just yet.”

“Celestia hath disclosed that part also.”

“Celestia doesn’t know the whole story. Twilight and I have discovered that many of my talents from Terra transfer to Equestria. Would you like to see some of them?”

I showed her my file browser and memories of using my hands to pluck flowers for Twilight.

“If beginning magic students can simply download my standard systems, they can spend the next several years on advanced studies instead of what humans call ‘reinventing the wheel’. Graduate students can improve my systems or invent new systems for their thesis.”

We settle back to socialize and I preen her wings for a couple of hours. Luna is a very happy Alicorn so I take a break.

“Luna, I’m going to take a few Night Courts for you.”

“There be no need, Friend John.”

“I know that but Celestia has me taking Day Courts and I am Herd Stallion, not Celestia’s personal servant. I will not favor any of my mares. So if she gets a day off, so do you and Twilight. Besides, I intend to spend any extra time visiting.”

That gets me a full wing hug.

“Swift and Twilight are planning the Sun Celebration. I will escort Celestia to the first half but you get me for the rest of it. I am thinking of changing clothes to match you when I do that. Is there anything special I need to know.

The hug gets tighter and with some heavy cheek and nose added in.

We have lunch in Luna’s kitchen and she’s having the time of her life feeding the helpless Earth pony. This is going to be good for giggles forever.

“Luna, I really need to go somewhere secluded and practice with my horn. I want to be proficient enough to shock an attacker. I have this worry about the upcoming celebration. They’ve used one to slip in assassins before.”

“Thou went with Twilight to the main courtyard in the old castle. Will that suffice?”

“Yes.”

And before I could finish the word, we are there. I immediately shifted to A-Pony.

“That’s what I want to learn most. But for now, what comes after fine manipulation?”

“Didst Celestia play the old rooted block trick on thou?”

“She asked me to lift that statue over there and I told her it was part of the pavement and I didn’t want to trash the courtyard.”

“Thou hast passed the first half of thy test. Now thou must learn to make the statue ready for thy lifting. Watch with thy magic.”

I stood watching as she wrapped the statue in her magic then pulled the magic up to the middle of the column it is sitting on. Her magic rippled then I could ‘see’ that there is a division between the top and bottom halves of the column. Her magic rippled again and there is no division.

“I see the division come and go but I don’t see a cut or join happen.”

“This requires a faith in thyself. Just as thou may wrap the statue in thy magic and lift it, thou may wrap it and change it. I willed that the statue be with division and I willed that it be without. The trick be in knowing for the first time that thou canst alter the solid world by thy will.”

I reach out and wrap a hand around the statue. I decide that it should have a neat platform on top of the column and be standing loose on it. I will it so and lift the statue enough to see air under it. Then I grasp the head with my other hand and will a separation in the neck. I rotate the head half around and will the separation to be gone. Then I set it back on its platform and will that separation away.

“You forgot something. I already know that I can throw a spell that alters an entire world. Remember my Oath?”

“I would give much to witness Celestia’s countenance when next she visits this place. Very well done, Friend John. There remains one test between thy will and mine. Thou must learn the art of self levitation and thou must learn it unassisted. The method of thy learning will be used to learn teleportation.

Change thou back to thy ‘safe’ body and we will return to Canterlot. Spend thine time on this conundrum but do not expect immediate understanding.”

I shift and we ‘pop’ into her apartment. We spend a little more time rubbing and grooming but. . .

“I have to go. I thank you for the lesson and for being my friend. I wish you would come and spend time with the herd in the tower. You would be among friends. Cadance has been happy there.”

“I will consider it, Friend John.”

Human and dressed, I leave past the same Guard pony. Back in the tower, nopony is home but Swift. She’s in the library, reading. I plop down beside her and lift her on top of me.

“I remember this and haven’t done it recently enough. You, my perfect Swift, have been ignored far too much.”

“You aren’t ignoring me, John. I feel your heart every time you look at me. I know your love all day every day.”

“But I haven’t said it often enough. And it’s not just the feelings. You are the other half of the Royal Stallion. The half that makes me look good and right on top of everything. I will forever owe you for that.”

“Don’t be silly, John. You are Royal. I’m just your gofer.”

“You are the only pony that believes that. Steel and Shining have both notified me that they will challenge me for you if I ever give them half a chance.”

I haven’t seen that shade of red for a while, “And you just let me go play with Shining . . .”

“It made you happy. You spend too much of your life making me happy. You need some moments for yourself. If anything happens to me, I want you to go to him. Make him as happy as you have made me.”

“You’re the strongest stallion in Equestria. Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“Swift, there will be a time between when the Blueblood herd realizes that it is possible for me to ascend and when I can actually do it that I will be vulnerable. Nopony knows what will happen then. If I fail, I don’t want you to forget me but I also don’t want you ruin what is left of your life thinking I would consider that honor. Do we understand each other?”

She’s clinging hard now but no tears, “Yes, John, no matter what may happen I will always honor you including in this.”

“Good. Now that’s out of the way, I’ll need dress to match Celestia for the first half of the Sun Celebration and to match Luna for the second half. And since the biggest parts are outdoors in the Central Courtyard, I’ll wear my big sword. I’ll look good on the balcony anyway.”

“Yes, you will.”

From below, “Honey, I’m home.” I have to giggle. I taught Twilight that.

“Up here, Twilight.”

Twilight comes bouncing up the stairs followed by Spike. Spotting Swift on top of me, she bounces over and sits on my legs.

“We’ve got him now, Swift.”

I smiled, “Who has who? This has always been my goal, to be covered in warm furry love.”

Spike says, “Call me when the mush is over.”

I reply, “Not yet Spike. We were talking about the Summer Celebration. I’ll be starting with Celestia and ending with Luna but I will always be with one of them. If Twilight gets too involved or has to run an errand, stick with Swift or me. I don’t want you to become a target.”

“Aw, John. I can take care of myself.”

“Spike, that’s not my concern. I know that a small Dragon is still a Dragon. But killing changes you, even in defense of those you love. I want to put that pain off for as long as possible for you. It’s the kind of thing that parents do.”

“But what am I supposed to do if they attack you?”

“You are supposed to do what all stallions do. Keep the mares safe. Get them away while I hold the attackers back. A serious battle with me is liable to destroy acreage. I don’t want to be worrying about them getting hurt so your job will be to get them out of the way.”

“I can do that. And now I can leave you to your mush.”

When Spike had gone Twilight said quietly, “You know that he has enough dragonfire to annoy two ponies at most then he’s out?”

“Of course. But he is a stud. A small, young stud but still a stud. He will do his best no matter what you say. I would prefer that he do it within my plan. And we owe him his pride.”

“Thank you, John.”

“You don’t get off that easy. Luna gave me an assignment. I have to figure out how to self levitate.”

“Then you know I can’t help you.”

“Yes but I need to be in a place where I can try it and you can help with that.”

“Let me get back to you on that. I have an idea.”

Dinner is both harder and easier as an Earth pony. Salad is all it takes but getting it for myself is tricky. We go quickly to our sleeping pile because we are going without the day after tomorrow. With Luna’s Celebration added on I will be going non-stop for about thirty hours.