Clair Ree

I was just finishing the last of the paperwork Flurry had gotten for me when the door to my office burst open. Setting the pen down and freeing up my mouth, I looked up to see Colonel Richards looking ready to start an interdimensional war (which is to say her normal appearance). "What can I help you with, col—"

"They've kidnapped your son!"

A slow breath was in order. I'd already sent word home that the colonel was to be replaced at their earliest convenience, and I'd gotten a hand-written note from Jeff telling me she'd have a transfer within a month. All I had to do was keep my cool and dissuade her from ruining our entire species' chance at peaceful relations with another sentient creature. "I know. Flying lessons. It was all Saffron could talk about today."

Richards looked about ready to blow a gasket. "You don't understand, Madam Ambassador. The marine assigned to watch over him just came back and reported that—"

"Colonel, remember the meeting I had with Commander Spitfire last week?" I waited for her to nod to my question before I continued. "The one where I gave her official permission to begin this new step of my son's flight training?" She didn't nod this time, I hadn't invited her or any of her soldiers into the meeting. "Well, I gave her that permission enthusiastically, and you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because she assured me that no matter what happens, one of her Wonderbolts will be with Saffron at all times. These are Equestria's most elite flying soldiers, I'll add, and if they want to teach my son to fly properly and not give him the chance to try it on his own and break his neck—" I'd built up a good bit of volume and momentum as I'd delivered my reasoning, "—then I not only welcome their assistance, but am very thankful for it."

Leaning my head back down, I picked up my pen with my lips and went back to writing the report for Jeff. It had been awkward at first to write with my mouth, but the dexterity of pony lips had surprised me, and thanks to plenty of practice I was actually quite neat with it now. Though painfully slow.

Something, or rather someone, was still intruding on my thoughts. Lifting my head back up, I rolled the pen to the corner of my mouth. "Yes, Colonel?" I let my pen drop to the desk again.

"You're having me transferred back."

"Yes. Not that the contents of diplomatic pouches are for your eyes. You don't fit this mission, colonel. You know that and I know that."

I waited for her to fire up and challenge me, but Colonel Richards just heaved out a sigh and seemed to slump a little. "There's regulations and requirements. I'm trying to enforce them, but it's not working. Do you know who they're sending?"

"No."

"Tell 'em to shove their choice. Captain Bryant is your man. Tell the brass to promote him and give him my job. You're not using half of my soldiers—might as well reduce the ranks a little. I'll forward you a letter for my replacement." She looked defeated. Utterly and completely undone.

"Colonel—Maria, wait. This was the wrong job for you from the start. Things were rushed, I know, but you shouldn't have been shoved into this." She'd accepted her fate, Clair, what are you doing? Duh, I'm doing what any good diplomat should. "There's no reason this needs to be the end of your career."

"My career was already over, Clair. You don't stay a bird colonel this long without getting to general before the end of your career. I'd hoped this would be the thing that got me there, and that playing it all by the book would do it." She let out the sigh of someone who didn't see a way out of their situation. "Truth be told, I don't know how to do things any other way."

"This was never going to be straightforward. Any other embassy—on Earth—and you would have had established patterns and rules to follow. This wasn't that kind of mission. It's not your fault, colonel, whoever tapped you for this fucked it up." I would normally never swear, but under the circumstances someone earning more money than both of us put together had screwed up her life.

Colonel Maria Richards wasn't a bad person, she was a patriot in the wrong place at the wrong time—though maybe this place would never have a right time for her. I resolved to add a little more to my letter to Jeff.

"For what it's worth, I think you're perfect for this job. I haven't had as much push-back from a civvie since I made first lieutenant." The colonel turned for the door and made her way outside.

Looking at the time, I realized I could expect my (new) weekly update from Moon Dancer and Riley at any minute. Plucking back up my pen, I finished the report and added a final paragraph regarding the colonel.

Whomever decided on Colonel Richards needs their ass kicked, Jeff. The only two things right about that woman for this job is that she's within the age bracket and of sufficient rank. She's a troop commander. Find her a job directing a few thousand marines and she'll be the happiest colonel you can find. Give her a promotion and she'll keep fighting for her country until the second she dies of old age.

Consider this a formal suggestion she be assigned to a general overseeing actual combat, and be evaluated for promotion. Give her the chance this post stole from her.

She suggested Captain Jason Bryant take her position. I don't know Bryant as well as I should. I'll give my evaluation of him in a week with the next goods shipment.

Things are moving slowly, Jeff. That's how ponies work. One thing's for sure, and that's that we've integrated into their capital and are making connections. Princess Flurry Heart is showing a greater and greater interest in computers, I'd like to make a formal gift to her of one with a solar setup to power it. Get Caroline to organize that (and make sure she doesn't cut corners).

Riley and Saffron are doing well, Jeff. Thank you for persuading me to do this. They're really taking off.

I barely got the chance to sign the bottom of the page when there was a gentle knock at the door. "Come in."

Moon Dancer opened the door with her magic, but it was Riley galloping in that had my attention. Jumping to my hooves, I barely got around the table in time for her to leap up and latch her forelegs around my neck in a hug.

"What's gotten into you?" Scooping one foreleg around Riley, I hopped back to my chair and sat down with her still attached.

"Remember how I had her do a series of standardized tests?" Moon Dancer asked as she took a seat at the table. "She passed everything but magic studies, history, and the compulsory languages. But that's not the point. You want her to continue her high school classes?"

Riley squirmed around my neck a little. "I only need to learn about ponies and magic and growling, right Mom?"

"Thank you, Moon, having her continue her high schooling would be wonderful. Is Equestria's education far behind Earth's?" I watched Moon Dancer as I asked my question, curious to find out how the two institutions stacked up.

"Yes and no. Here in Equestria, specialized training is often sought once schooling is finished. We have schools for training pegasi in flight or weather; earth ponies in rocks or horticulture; and unicorns in magic, as well as smaller institutions that will cross train ponies if their own specialization isn't found for their pony type. Pony schooling is taken slow, with an emphasis on everypony finding their special talent.

"That said, history and magic are our two biggest subjects because they are what we use to inspire ponies to find where their talents lie. Some of us do pursue subjects outside the strict focus of our special talent." Moon Dancer had a growing smile that showed she was likely talking about herself and her favorite topic. "And there are some for whom learning is their special talent, but I don't think that's where Riley's future lies."

"I wanna do magic!"

I barely managed to catch Riley before she climbed onto my desk. "Riley Ree, this isn't a holiday. You will finish out the 7th grade, and you will do everything Moon Dancer asks."

"But Moooooooom!"

"No buts young lady. You didn't like what the other schools were teaching, and Moon Dancer has agreed to offer her time so that you can learn. Learn you will." I looked up at Moon Dancer.

Lifting books from a saddlebag she wore, Moon Dancer set two on the table. "It's not the magic classes she's upset about. You were gracious enough to lend me some textbooks from your home, and I think she's allergic to them." The tomes were big, thick textbooks—how they fit in her saddlebags was probably literal magic. I'd learned not to question such things. "I don't think she should be in the 7th grade. Between the few human textbooks you've supplied and our Equestrian counterparts, I think I can push her up to 9th grade with some faster paced learning. She will be getting one-on-one schooling—why not take advantage of that?"

"What's so bad about that, Riley?" I asked.

Riley let out the most heartfelt sigh I'd ever heard from her. "It means I need to go to classes five days a week!"

I looked at my daughter with a single raised eyebrow.

She sighed again. "Mom!"

"You know how many days I'm working at the moment, don't you?" I kept my attention on Riley, but I could see Moon Dancer trying to square away a smile. "Well?"

"But Mooooooooom! I want to do stuff like Saf!"

"You don't have the wings for it, Riley Ree. And if you use that tone again I'll ground you for whatever days you aren't in school." It was a light threat so far as they went, but Riley would know I'd not hesitate to back it up if she pushed. She wanted to haggle. "Exactly what will be the syllabus for each day?" I asked Moon Dancer.

"Morning each day will be spent on history—a mix of Earth and Equestrian—or math. Early afternoon will be devoted to magic and language—English, Ponish, and another of her choice. Late afternoons are where social studies and science will be the main two subjects, with some touching on personal biology." She passed over a set of notes with her magic that detailed the course structure and what she was going to teach Riley. "This is ridiculously fast-paced learning for a pony, or even a human, but after a week talking to Riley I think she can complete it."

Honestly, I'd never really sat down with a teacher to discuss this kind of tailored learning. My children had gone to public schools to learn what they needed to in order to reach college—should they want it. "And how will this leave her for next year?"

"If we can keep this pace, Riley will complete her 10th grade level by about eight months. We can move right into her 11th grade. There's no reason to break things off exactly at mid year, so long as she can pass her tests," Moon Dancer said.

"Riley?" I looked at my daughter. "You wanted to be recognized for the smarts you have. Moon Dancer wants you to pass your Senior year before we head back home."

"Wait!" Riley froze and looked at Moon Dancer. "That'd mean I'd be… 15? And graduating?!"

Moon Dancer just nodded.

"That'd be pretty awesome, but I want to have fun while I'm here. I can't do that if I'm stuck in school every day." She folded her forelegs over each other and blew out a snort of pre-teen disapproval. Then she looked up at me hopefully.

"I think I can ask a question that will clear things up," I said. "How many hours a week will she be learning about magic and magic things?"

"Well, considering that's two different subjects, I think it's safe to bet at least ten hours."

Riley's eyes widened in surprise. She reached out a hoof and pulled the syllabus toward her and started reading through it. "That's way more than math. What kind of science will there be?"

"Human and Equestrian. Physics, chemistry, biology, and thaumology." As Moon Dancer recited the subjects, Riley's eyes began to narrow—but then she reached the last one. "Thaumology is magic science."

Bouncing in her seat, Riley grinned as she read through the paper. "Why do I need to learn English and Ponish? I mean, I know one already, and Princess Twilight Sparkle's zappy-thing gave me the other. Can't I use that time to learn more magic?"

"My spell doesn't work long-term. If you went back to Earth and didn't speak Ponish ever again, you'd lose the ability to speak it in a few months. Speaking it and using it keeps it in your mind, and should have it fully ingrained after a year or two of use, but you have to use it." Moon Dance tapped the sheet Riley had been looking at. "If the class is too easy for you, I'll push you ahead in that one."

Riley blinked in surprise at the last bit. "But then I'd be ahead on one subject. What happens if—" She cut herself short before Moon Dancer could stop her. "Oh. Right. It means I learn that faster and graduate that part sooner."

Moon Dancer held up a hoof and rocked it side to side. "Partly correct. It means you can devote the extra time to other subjects, but the result is the same."

Looking thoughtful, Riley tilted her head to the side a little. "I'll do it on one condition."

"Name it," I said.

"Cupcakes. Really yummy ones."

"Those will be after every magic and thaumology, perhaps if you've been good too," Moon Dancer said. "Magic burns calories. Cupcakes are a great source of quick energy to replace them."

"Deal!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe buying my daughter's affection with cupcakes would seem like a bad idea back on Earth, but if she's able to keep even roughly near Moon Dancer's pace, it'll be worth it. And I don't doubt Riley will be able to burn off the extra energy. "I'm glad negotiations worked well. Are you ready for tomorrow, Riley-dear?"

"For the move? Yup!"

"I'll leave you both to it. I've got yet another class to prepare for." Moon Dancer let out a sigh, but winked to Riley conspiratorially. "If you're moving tomorrow, I'll expect you for your first class the day after."

We both waited for Moon Dancer to walk out and close the door before Riley and I turned to each other. "Well," I said, "You're sure you can handle this? She's going to push you—"

"Mom, I said I'd do it. No need for all this. Moon is the coolest teacher ever, and if she's bringing cupcakes, I'll bring my brain." She sat up on the chair opposite me and barely managed to look over the edge of my desk. "Whatcha working on?"

This was an old game we'd played out hundreds of times. "Stuff," I said.

"Stuff?"

"And things. What's up?"

Riley examined one of her hooves, which kept her from being able to look me in the eyes. I'd seen through my daughter's tricks for long enough to know she was about to ask something she already knew the answer to. "Why doesn't Saf have to go to school?"

The ultimate answer to this wasn't mine to give. I just raised my left eyebrow.

"He's not an adult yet here, so why doesn't he have to study all the Equestrian stuff?" Riley asked.

Her question wasn't actually that bad, but the answer was ultimately an easy one. "He's seventeen, Riley. Eighteen in three weeks. I could force him to start studying, but he'd only walk out of it as soon as he's eighteen."

"But—"

"Riley, I have this under control." She didn't look convinced. There was probably some psychology-related detail here about children believing everything they want to believe and needing proof for everything else—Come to think of it, that's how adults were as well. "If you must know, Saffron is enrolling in a school right now."

"Whaaaaaat?!" Riley's hoof became significantly less interesting to her. She jumped forward with her forehooves braced on the desk. "Where? How'd you do that? What school would take him and not make him feel as poopy as I did?"

"What time do you get up in the morning, Riley?"

"What's that got to do with it?" When I raised my eyebrow again, she knew I wasn't moving on until I got an answer. "About eight. Why?"

"Saffron has been up at five every morning for the last week. He's exercising his wings, going for a run, and is back and goofing off by the time you wake up. He—" I leaned forward to boop my daughter on the nose with a hoof, "—hasn't just been sitting around doing nothing. Commander Spitfire had a chat with me, and wants to see somepony so dedicated to flying try out for her Junior Wonderbolts. He doesn't realize this, but school is involved."

It wasn't a risk. Riley could tell Saffron all she liked when he got back, but by then he'd either have agreed to the deal or turned it down. The way Spitfire had spoken led me to believe it would be the former.

Riley giggled. "So he doesn't know he's signing up for school?"

"He doesn't. Now come around and give me a hug, and let me get back to work." I waited for her to do so before picking her up and hugging her to me. It was different, not having hands, but every inch of a pony's body was just about as sensitive as hands were. "Do you have everything packed?"

Poking her head up, Riley looked at me with evidence on her face that I could have relied on in court. "I thought I'd finish in the mor—"

"No. We're moving first thing in the morning. You need to pack up now. Everything but your bed." I almost stumbled and told her to keep a change of clothes out. That part of the pony mindset had sunk in quickly, and I couldn't help but wonder if I'd slip when we get home again and just head up to the White House naked one morning.

Thanks, brain, now I know what nightmare from forty years ago I'll be having tonight.

Philip Ree

My morning run was always a time for introspection and self-reflection.

Shining Armor had told me he was having to head home again. It was a touch annoying—having him around for a week had shown me a side of Canterlot that probably would have been closed to me. While I didn't have a royal prince by my side as I explored Canterlot on my morning and evening runs, I did have the good will that came of all the ponies that'd seen me running with him.

I got waves and smiles, and never hesitated to wave back. What was better was it had become a routine enough that Colonel Tight-Pants hadn't realized I didn't still have Shining Armor with me on my runs.

The rush of a well-built body moving through the chill morning air was a joy for me—no matter if I was pony or human. What had seemed so strange when I first got here was now me with enough familiarity that I could walk, trot, canter, and gallop without even thinking about my limbs. My body shifted and stretched like it was my body.

It was my body.

Since arriving in Equestria I'd gained muscle mass and become a much fitter pony. Unlike earth ponies and pegasi, unicorns had a unique hoof with two toes. The rest of our legs were just as solid as any of the other tribes, barring a certain amount of leanness.

Apart from feeling physically younger and the great sex, it was nice to see women—mares—turn and look at me as I ran by (as well as a few stallions). I might feel older than I appear, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the "complements".

The male attention was a little harder to square away. The advice and ribbing Shining, Neighdine, and Prances had given me all conflicted and made resolving things harder. That the stallions who checked me out were probably married made it worse, not better.

What was nice was knowing that Saffron was now too young to get into that trouble, and Riley was so young she hadn't even noticed anything was missing from her life.

Curving around, I had to come in from the edge of the city to run past the walls protecting the castle, and then turn inward to the chancery.

Clair was standing out front ordering a group of moving-ponies as they loaded up a huge cart with what items we'd come to call our own here. "They arrived early?" I asked.

Turning to look at me as I trotted toward her, Clair looked haggard. "Of course. Riley was only half packed, so she's rushing to get her things boxed up so we can move her room last. Saffron was all packed and ready—that's his stuff in the wagon. Do you think you coul—"

She stopped talking while I kissed her, something that took the better part of thirty seconds.

"—could help Riley? Your magic is so helpful for this kind of thing." She barely missed a beat.

"Of course I can. How's Colonel Tight-Pants taking all this?" I kissed her cheek again, unable to resist one more little peck before I headed toward the door.

Clair, when I looked back at her, seemed to have a great weight on her shoulders. "We have an understanding. She knows, Philip."

"I'll try to keep out of her way and not antagonize her, then." Heading inside, I passed the two armed guards at the door and nodded to each. There were still people living here, but the chancery no longer felt like our home.

"Riley?" I asked when I reached her bedroom door. "You want a hand with your things?"

At that moment Riley was sitting on the floor staring at a box as if she could fill it by will alone. "I can't go."

Smiling, I stepped into her room and used a leg to pick her up and hug my little girl close. All the time she was squirming. "Look, I know it can be hard to adjust when we keep shifting around like this, but this one will be—"

"You don't understand!"

I set Riley down in surprise at her vehemence. "You don't want to move?"

"I want to move!"

"Well, what's the problem?" I picked up the empty box with my magic just in time for a big spider to practically jump out at me. I squealed almost as loud as Riley did, and used my magic to grab the spider and drop it in the box again. Quickly, I sealed the box up.

"Now you understand?" Riley asked.

"Yeah." I stared at the box with all the intensity Riley had when I'd first come in. "What do we do with it now?"

"We can't squish it. You remember how Miss Fluttershy was when we swatted a fly? How would I be able to look her in the face if I squished a spider?" Riley stood up and walked over to where the other boxes were sitting—mostly packed—and picked up a sharpie in her mouth.

Saffron's stuff

I giggled. I giggled a lot. "That's my girl. Let's get the rest of this packed, okay?"

"Just thinkin' inside the box!" Her joke had be giggling more, and together we got her things packed just as the moving-ponies came up to the door.

One of the ponies knocked at the door and poked his horned head in. "Sorry to bother you, but we've got the rest of your things. This is the last—Oh! You're packed?"

"Just got done with it. It's perfect timing, I'd say—Be careful with that one marked Saffron's stuff, it's a little delicate." I looked at Riley, and she looked at me, and we nearly broke into laughter.

"Snake or spider? Or is it one of those little lizards that seem to be hanging around the city?" The delivery pony didn't miss a beat.

"Spider," Riley and I said together as we walked out of the room.

The change in my daughter since we'd moved to Canterlot and gotten her a teacher was astounding. She looked more confident, despite her diminutive size, and if she'd gotten tired doing something I certainly hadn't seen it. Though on the other hand—hoof—she was eating like two ponies. The days where she wanted to ride on someone's back were gone.

"You two all done? Did the movers find you?" Clair asked when we left through the front door.

"Yup!" Riley pranced down the steps and bumped her head against Clair's leg. "Dad's magic is really handy!"

I plucked up Riley and set her on Clair's back. Despite the indignity of being picked up with my magic, Riley lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Clair's neck. "You were pretty helpful yourself. I'd have never survived that first box without your help," I said.

This got Riley giggling again.

"Where's Saf?" I asked.

Clair lifted her hoof and pointed upward. "Somewhere up there. After his morning exercises, he took off for school. He'd packed all his room so I figured he deserved it. Did you know there's an entire other city up there?"

"I'd heard about Cloudsdale from Shining Armor. He didn't say it was here at the moment." At Clair's blank stare, I had to backpedal and try to work out what she didn't get, but couldn't find it.

"'Here'?"

"Oh!" Well, I guess that was confusing for me when Shining had first mentioned it. "It's mobile. Pegasus magic or something. They push it around mostly during the turning of the seasons. No clue why, they just do."

She looked at me like I'd sprouted—You know what, I think that saying doesn't work here.

"Maybe it's something you should talk to Flurry about?" I asked.

"That's a list I'll never reach the bottom of." Clair walked beside me as we meandered along the ring-road leading to the far side of Canterlot.

The looks I'd gotten only scant hours earlier were different now. Mares looked at me, but they didn't see the stallion out for his morning run—they saw a married couple with their daughter. The stallions, however, still looked at me.

For all Equestria had some odd things, I still liked the place.

"Are they looking at you again? It's a compliment, Philip." Clair's voice held an edge that threatened to break into actual laughter at any moment. When I glanced back to see where Riley was, Clair snorted. "You're daughter's not going to save you from this talk. She wanted to run ahead."

"It's just so different here. Am I too old to adapt, honey?" I didn't even know if I should try to slouch or look uncomfortable, or if that would only encourage them more because they'd think I wasn't happy with Clair.

Clair leaned over and kissed my cheek, something that always made my worries melt away. "Philip, more ponies will be staring at a couple as young as we are already having a foal of ten years—let alone if they knew Saffron was ours too—than will be looking at your well toned butt."

I couldn't help myself—I started to prance. "You think my butt looks good?"

"On this one topic I am probably the only expert in any of the worlds we've lived in. Your butt is toned, and tight, and—"

"Mooom!" Riley was running toward us as fast as her legs would carry her. "I found the nice mare who helped me and Saf!"

Author's Note

Celestia: hypothetically speaking here, what would you do about the Ree family were they to remain in Equestria permanently?

"It would depend on several factors. If they wished to of their own will—like all ponies—they have a home here. It might shock you, but we've had friends who've tried to outstay their welcome by force before, though Princess Twilight, Princess Cadance, and Shining Armor have always been wonderful about explaining to them that it's time to leave." Princess Celestia looked very smug and the smile on her lips reached all the way up to her one visible eye.

So I do this "Ask X" thing. X can be any pony within the story. You can ask them anything and they will definitely, hopefully reply. Keep the questions appropriate to the age-rating of the stories, and they will answer the best question in the author notes of the next chapter. The more votes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right pony to answer. Try to keep it to one question per post! They will pick one question per chapter.

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