And Now For Something Exactly the Same

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 Part 1
Chapter 14 Part 2
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18 Part 1
Chapter 18 Part 2
Chapter 18 Part 3
Chapter 18 Part 4
Chapter 18 Part 5
Epilogue
Chapter 14 Part 3
Prologue
Chapter 4 and 1/2
Chapter 12

Chapter 1

"How does that work, though?" Luna looked up from her book and pointed to a passage on the page with a feather. "These machines can move simply with the power of magic?"

A thousand years of history to catch up on. A thousand years of apologies to make. There was only one pony she felt truly comfortable being alone with over the weeks since her return. "I can't do this. How can she expect me to be ready to rule in just two more months?"

"Remember our deal," Joyce narrowed her eyes at Luna, "Your Highness?"

Shuddering at the title, Luna slumped down onto the pillows a little more. "It's these facts. How in Equestria am I meant to catch up so much in so short a time?"

"You don't. I should have asked my daughter to help with this, but she has her hooves full tutoring a princess and a whole town of unicorn foals. The trick to ruling is you make decisions—informed decisions. Your sister hired me to help her because I know several topics intimately and I know when to say I don't know." Flicking the cover up just a little with one wing-finger, Joyce shuddered. "Why'd you pick Great Feats of Railroad Engineering Volume IX?"

Tossing her wings in the air, Luna flopped over to her back. "I don't even know! This wasn't meant to be so complicated. Back when we ruled together, we would listen to what ponies wanted and make a decision if it sounded good or not. Most ponies just wanted to help and it was easy to say yes to them all."

It was exactly as Joyce had suspected. Luna's size compared to the other two alicorns was far closer to Cadance's than Celestia's, which in Joyce's mind implied that when Luna had been banished, she'd been in her late teens. "You could announce a recruitment process for an advisor, but I wouldn't suggest that. You need somepony who understands the politics in Canterlot and Equestria with—"

"You." Luna squirmed on her back so she could look at Joyce. "You're the only pony I trust—except for my sister, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie." Her list had expanded greatly in that first day of her return, but it was a list that hadn't gained any new additions.

"What about Sharp Fang, Phil, and Fire Blossom?" Joyce was referring to the bat ponies who'd come when Nightmare Moon had first returned. "Despite disliking being summoned, they keep returning to Canterlot."

"I don't know. It feels wrong. They told me they were doing it voluntarily now, but what if my power is still influencing them? What if they want the old me back?" Rolling back to her belly, Luna was surprised at the large wing folding itself over her back. In her worried state, however, she didn't shy away from Joyce.

"That's a conversation you need to have with them. I think they like you, personally, and I also think they see you as needing their support. Perhaps you do. Let's forget about engineering for now. Trains work, they need a lot of ponies working together to keep them working."

"I—I'll try." Luna bit her lip a little and let out a slow breath. "Could we have a test run first?"

"I can organize that. I'll find some ponies who can ease you into it." Joyce felt confident that she had Luna steered in the right direction.

"Why do I have to do this?" Lyra looked at her mother, then behind her mother to Luna, then back to her mother.

"Because you are a problem solver and I have a problem. Also, Cadance and Shining both had something mysterious they needed to do without any notice, and I couldn't even find an off-duty Royal Guard. Also, I want somepony who won't feel threatened by Luna." Trying to be somewhat discreet, Joyce pointed at the pages Lyra was holding with one of her wings. "Just read through that and follow the cues."

Looking at the script, Lyra's mind quickly tried to extract all the comedy potential it could from it—then she discarded what it came up with. "Alright. But I have to head back to Ponyville by three. The weekend starts tomorrow, and I need to catch the train to Stonecrop."

"You can leave at two-thirty. Now, places!" Trotting over to where Luna was standing, Joyce smiled enough to show off her fangs. "Okay. Lyra will be playing the part of several petitioners. You have to work out which ones are legitimate and which ones are hiding things. Remember, ponies can still be telling you the truth as they understand it, but…"

"… but that doesn't mean their claim is valid." The phrase had been one Joyce had drummed into her, and Luna knew it by rote. "Okay, so where is my throne?"

"There!" Joyce pointed a wing toward the seat perched on a few wooden crates. "It's the best I could do, but it should give you the perspective to look down and—"

"It will be fine. Thank you, Joyce." Not a trace of sarcasm in her voice, Luna spread her wings and gave a few quick flaps to reach the throne. "Now… SEND IN THE PETITIONER!" The Royal Canterlot Voice was, of course, the most official Luna had at her disposal, and she considered it important to follow this exercise properly.

"Uh, hi!" Her head still ringing from the shout, Lyra tried to will herself to walk toward Luna's dais with limited success. "I'm here about the, uh…" A glance down at her script showed Lyra all she needed to get her head back in the game. "… apples in Ponyville. There's been a bunch of bad growing seasons, and we need you to talk to the weather ponies to fix it."

As simple as the situation seemed, Luna had expected Joyce to try tripping her up from the start. She gave a careful nod to show she heard Lyra's words and was thinking them over. "You must tell the weather ponies they must help your farm. Do whatever you need to." After a few moments, Luna looked over to Joyce. "Was that right?"

But before Joyce could say anything, Lyra cut in. "This was a setup. Getting me to talk to the weather ponies is good, but you need to try to calm down a little. Sure I had a bad apple harvest or three, but there must be a good reason why the weather ponies are doing what they're doing."

Luna narrowed her eyes at Lyra. "You speak well. YOU WILL BE MY NEW ADVISOR!"

Her ears tucked back, Lyra pondered actually stepping away too, but remembered before she did that this wasn't a normal pony she was talking to. "Uh, I—"

Joyce cut in, "Lyra is already performing several duties for your sister, Luna. She is not free to advise you—"

"Mum, hold up. I was going to say all that, but there's more. I can suggest ponies who would make good advisors." Bowing her head to Luna, Lyra hoped she could avoid any further loud voices—but she had her ears pinned back just in case. "They were classmates of Twilight's and mine."

The news excited Luna. She liked Twilight Sparkle and she liked Joyce Mango. That Lyra Heartstrings was Joyce's daughter extended that like to her. Therefore, anypony that was Lyra and Twilight's classmate would have to be likewise worthy of respect. "I would appreciate that."

It was a struggle for Joyce not to flick her tail in delight at solving further problems for Luna. "Alright. Next scenario."

It wasn't exactly terror that kept ponies away from the table in Donut Joe's that day. The correct emotion would probably be shock. Everypony in Canterlot had heard various levels of true retellings of Luna's story—some ranging from he still being Nightmare Moon to her being the true ruler of Equestria—but all knew that something important was going on.

Luna sat on the stool provided at the table and sipped at her third milkshake until it too made the sad sound of a drink reduced to bubbles at the bottom of a glass. "Ah! Another!" Luna raised her hoof high as if her simple request was a royal decree. "In the meantime, Lyra Heartstrings, when are my new advisors arriving?"

Lyra spied the first walking through the door and looking around. Moon Dancer wasn't an easy mare to approach and even harder to encourage to try a new project. "Moon! We're over here." She waved a hoof at Moon Dancer.

"'Moon'?" Luna turned around and her eyes widened. All around them ponies were trying to look like they were doing something else, but Moon Dancer was trapped in her gaze. She spotted Moon Dancer's cutie mark and felt a surge of pride and excitement.

Seeing that Moon wasn't approaching, Lyra got up and walked over to her friend. "This is Princess Luna. You might have heard of her?"

The world started percolating in Moon Dancer's head again. "N-Not really. I've been studying the effects of sleep-deprivation on an analytical mind by repeatedly spending late nights in a private library of late, and didn't exactly pay attention to goings on. There's another alicorn now?" Her sarcasm came easily as a social defense against everything.

Rolling her eyes, Lyra gestured to Luna. "Well, this is Princess Luna. If you persist in calling her Princess Luna, she will promise to fill your dreams with horrible-tasting cream pies." The last part Lyra said with enough of Luna's tone that she was sure the princess would get the joke. "She has a problem—she needs your help."

"You need my help?" If there was one thing that would cut through Moon Dancer's social defenses, it was hearing her help was needed. "What can I do?"

"I need advisors. I'm woefully out of touch with society and only have a vague idea how Equestria functions." Luna hated to admit it, but she was desperate at this point. Her time spent practicing governance with Lyra and Joyce had worried her more with each case they'd brought to her.

The information still wasn't making sense to Moon. "Okay, that sarcastic comment before wasn't exactly wrong, though I was researching the effects of chaotic magic on lawful magic constructs. What is the significance of a new alicorn princess needing advisors?"

Lyra opened her mouth to explain, but Luna cut her off. "I was a bad pony. My sister, Celestia, used the Elements of Harmony to exile me." She had to give Lyra a hard look to keep her from butting in. "I returned and tried to exact revenge, but a group of friends used those same Elements to break my anger."

"It's more complicated than that!" Lyra couldn't keep her mouth closed. She'd listened to the whole story from her mother, now it was safe to do so, and wanted to defend Luna's side of the argument. "You deserved at least a bit of that a—" But now there was a hoof in her mouth and she couldn't finish. A very dark blue hoof.

"I will not have that argument. Regardless of the situation that sparked my anger in the first place, I let it grow out of control. I have been given a second chance and I intend to take it. Now my sister wants me to take on some of her duties." Luna drew her hoof back from Lyra's mouth only when Lyra stopped trying to talk around it.

Mentally masticating the facts she'd been given, Moon Dancer tried to assemble them into something cohesive. "Princess Celestia's sister? But that—that would mean you're—"

"Technically over eleven-hundred years old, yes," Luna said. "And, I'm out of touch."

Moon sat down on a stool at the table just as a chocolate milkshake arrived. She ignored the blue glow that pulled it over to Luna and kept her focus on the problem. "But you're a princess. You were born to… Hrmm."

"Could we get another milkshake, please?" Lyra asked Joe as he started to turn. "Strawberry malt." Her eyes flicked to Moon, who seemed completely oblivious to the order. "Yeah, strawberry malt was always her favorite."

"You need ponies who can help advise you on the technical aspects of problems you face so that you can break things down to simple terms. I can help with some of that, but I'm not—Twinkleshine! She'll try to downplay it, but there isn't a single engineering project in Equestria she hasn't explored. That's somepony for purely theoretical and purely physical, you just need one for political and you should be fine." Moon looked at Lyra and together they said, "Minuette."

"Minuette?" Luna asked.

Moon jumped in to explain just as a milkshake arrived for her. "Princess Celestia's bane. All through school she studied every political trend and decision Princess Celestia made for the last thousand years. Now she publishes a weekly broadsheet paper where she investigates every single move made in Equestria and beyond. It is read by everypony who is anypony, and not only doesn't she spare our former teacher from the truth, she's often critical of the princess' decisions. If you want a pony who will tell you exactly what the political ramifications of a situation are, it's Minuette."

The information dump surprised Luna and took a few moments (spent drinking her chocolate milkshake) to absorb. "So, you intend for me to take on this seditious pony as my advisor on politics?"

Lyra nodded. "Minuette isn't seditious. Even Princess Celestia reads her papers. She is insightful and will never compromise her logic for the sake of somepony's opinion. You don't have to do what she says, but if you ask her for the reasoning in any political situation, she'll give every side without prejudice. If you ask for her opinion, she'll give that too."

"For her to be truly seditious," Moon said, "she'd need to do more than just speak her mind and give great insight on her chosen field."

Carefully draining her latest milkshake down to hopeful sucking sounds, Luna nodded. "I believe I understand. What you're saying is she will give me perfect advice on the current political situation, and her opinion only if I ask for it?"

Giggling, Moon held her hoof up and wobbled it side to side. "She'll give you both, but she'll tell you which is which."

"And you mentioned another, Twinkleshine?" Luna looked forlornly into the bottom of her glass.

"Mum said you were looking at railway engineering—Twinkleshine would be able to explain to you how their locomotives work, why they are built that way, and could probably design you a better one if you gave her some time." Lyra looked over toward Joe and nodded again.

That description suited Luna far more. The facts of the world had been her first choice for a reason. "And yourself?"

"My work is just about done, Your Highness." The slight frown Luna made at the form of address made Lyra grin a little more. "You're going to need to get used to that. Besides, you can't threaten me like your sister does—yet. Anyway, what I meant to say was that I'm a pony who finds problems and tries to find solutions for them. Moon Dancer, Twinkleshine, and Minuette are your solution here. You wouldn't believe some of the things I've signed myself up for of late."

"Oh?" Luna was about to say more when her next milkshake arrived.

Lyra smiled still wider to see Luna so excited for another drink. "I have a filly to take care of, a slew of unicorn foals to teach magic to, and on weekends I've been training a princess how to use magic. Here I thought that getting married to a mare in the Guard would be a big step in my life…"

"You're married?" Moon Dancer stared at Lyra.

"You need to get out of the library more often. I'm married, raising a foal, and I moved to Ponyville." Each statement seemed to Lyra to make Moon's jaw drop more. "I was only joking, but maybe you do need to get out more. Do you want to come to Batstralia on the weekend?"

Moon sighed with happiness when she was given a lifeline—a topic she knew. "Batstralia? They have libraries, right?"

Even Luna couldn't keep from giggling at the wistful note in Moon's voice. "You enjoy books?"

"Does a bunyip like water?" Moon winked at Lyra, trusting her friend to understand the joke.

"Err, does it?" Luna asked.

Twinkleshine had been an easy sell, Lyra had to admit, but this was less so. She sat across the table, in a coffee shop, from Minuette. She studied her friend's face. "Why not?"

"Because nopony would take me seriously anymore. Doing this is my calling, Lyra. If I gave advice on politics and Princess Luna acted upon it, I'm no longer ensuring the truth is revealed—I'm making policy." Minuette picked up her small cup of coffee and sipped at it carefully. She was in shock and she needed the sweet kiss of caffeine to keep her sane. "And before you know it, I'm mad with power. What you're asking me to do is literally advise a princess on actions she should ta—"

"Advice that Princess Luna is perfectly within her right to ignore, refuse, or lock you up for. You honestly think you could manipulate her into your evil designs without her realizing?" Quirking her eyebrow up, Lyra lifted her own large cup of dark brew to her lips. In the Guard, coffee had been provided to anypony who needed it at any time of day, and while the coffee in this particular shop was good, it wasn't amazing.

Minuette stopped and let out a sigh. "No, I don't think I could, I worry I could. When I found out Princess Celestia read my rags, I was terrified. I didn't know what to do. Should I lie in them or keep telling my own truth." The last word came out, as it always did from Minuette, sounding like a fact of life. "I feared she'd take my advice and use it as policy, but she didn't. It was a relief. Though, I have seen her using some of it."

"You're so full of yourself, Minuette." Lyra tipped back the coffee and let it drain down her throat. "Okay, if you won't do it, I won't force you. Who do you recommend to take your place?"

Her eyes narrowing to points, Minuette stared through Lyra, the coffee shop they were in, and even the city beyond. "You… You monster."

Lyra just smirked.

"You know I won't. I can't. Everypony in this city is an idiot when it comes to politics. I might as well name you as soon as recommend the likes of Fancy Pants or Blue Blood." The names were just two of the nobles that Minuette suspected were playing political games already. "They'd destroy Equestria from within."

"So? If not you, Luna needs somepony. Even if they're incompetent."

"Ask me again tomorrow." Downing her own coffee, Minuette started to stand.

"No. This is a one-time-deal. I'm going to meet a foreign princess tomorrow to teach her magic, and I won't be back until Monday. You tell me you're in or out right now so I can go to the second name on my list… or not."

"Give me exactly one minute. If I don't get back to you in that time, you can ask whoever you like."

"Deal." Lyra watched Minuette stomp off to the bathroom of the shop. Turning her attention back to the tray of cakes that sat uneaten on the table, Lyra selected a coffee-chocolate cake and started levitating it up.

"BUCK!" the shout came from the bathroom and was only barely muffled.

Lyra smirked as she saw a furious Minuette storm out and over to the table again. "You have fifteen seconds."

"You play dirty, Lyra. You played dirty in school and you play dirty now."

"Six seconds."

"I'll do it." Minuette huffed out the words and sat back down. Levitating one of the cakes up, she took a deep sigh and let out her annoyance. "So, how's married life treating you?" The decision made, her fate sealed, Minuette was already putting Lyra's manipulation behind her—after all, Minuette would have advised Lyra to do exactly what she'd done. She could respect that.

Relaxing now the stressful part of their conversation was over, Lyra ran back over the content of it and mentally shook her head at how strange her friends were. "It's great. Living together, comfortably, and always knowing she'll be there for me is just the best feeling in the world."

"Rumor is you have a filly, too. How'd that come about?"

Grinning behind her coffee, Lyra nodded with every indication it shouldn't come as a surprise. "Shouldn't your parents have explained that?"

While she didn't appreciate Lyra's sense of humor as much as Sweetie did, Minuette gave the joke a smile. "Ha, ha. Okay, I take it you adopted her. Thanks for setting the bar of Princess Celestia's Students just a little higher."

"Oh come on, Minuette! Twilight Sparkle just literally saved the world from eternal night and Equestria from a succession war. You want a shadow for us all to live in, it's living in my home town now." Rolling her eyes comically, Lyra was glad she got a chuckle from Minuette. "And that's not even adding that she's running the local library and raising a young dragon."

"Yeah. I remember Spike. So what now? You said you're teaching a foreign alicorn? Since I only know of one, and know your history, that means it's the Batstralian ruler." Minuette waved to the barista and waited for her coffee to be refilled. "Thanks."

"Can I get you two fillies something else?"

"I'll take a cupcake if you have one?" Lyra asked. "Something with a lot of chocolate."

"Better make that two," Minuette said.

"Two chocolate surprises, coming up!"

With the order out of the way, Lyra turned back to Minuette. "I know it might be hard to believe, but I'm actually sorry to drag you into all this."

"Pfft! Yeah, right. Between you and me, I think it's probably for the best. I was going a little stir-crazy with all the things I was finding out. Did you know Princess Celestia supposedly has several vaults full of books that she doesn't let anypony read? Why even keep them?" Chuckling at what she thought should have made Lyra laugh, Minuette stopped when she realized her friend wasn't laughing. "Uh, is this something above my soon-to-be paygrade?"

"Yes and no. It has to do with a curse. When Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon first battled, and Nightmare Moon knew she was about to lose, she used her anger to cast and fuel a spell that would rip from ponies' memories all hint of Princess Luna's existence. It was meant to torment Princess Celestia."

Minuette stared at Lyra for a full two minutes; long enough that the waitress arrived with their cupcakes and left again. "So it was true?"

Lyra nodded. "Was is the key word there. If anypony had read one of the books and found Princess Luna's name, the curse would have hit them. It had only gained in potency over the years."

"Curses are like that. Well, I guess I'm going to have to explore all this more and do a full write-up on it for my—" Lifting her hoof to her face, Minuette sighed. "Except I'm now working for Princess Luna, which means I shouldn't be publishing all that anymore."

Chuckling, Lyra shook her head. "She knows about your work. Ask her if you can continue."

"You're joking, surely?"

Though every joke-center in Lyra's brain lit up at the perfect straight-line, she managed to hold her face from showing it. "I'm not joking. And don't call me Shirley."

Minuette's groan was only halted by her shoving some cupcake in her mouth. The decadent chocolate treat made her groan turn to a sigh as she began to chew on it.

Taking the moment to eat her own cupcake, Lyra too was completely distracted by the treat, sharing only a few more words together before she actually needed to leave.

Lyra left Minuette to report to the castle while she headed to the E.U.P. Guard headquarters. She felt an odd sense of nakedness in turning up without her armor on. Walking up to the winged gate guard, Lyra snapped a perfect salute. "Private Lyra Heartstrings here to see Lieutenant Stiff Peaks!"

Stiffening at the two names mentioned, private Tap Dance snapped back her own salute. She'd never seen Lyra before, but she'd learned the kind of way a Guardpony moved. It helped that an appraising glance picked up on how solid Lyra looked. "Private Glitter Bug? Escort private Lyra Heartstrings to the lieutenant's office."

Glitter Bug stepped out from the other side of the gate and looked Lyra up and down. "This way."

Following Glitter, Lyra was amused by how stiff he was and how pretty his coloration. His coat was a soft red leading to a brilliant green mane and tail. It took her a moment to realize what it was about him that took her fancy—he looked like a mare. Pretty and curvy under his armor, she had to bite her lip and try to avoid checking him out further. "Join up recently?"

"Yeah. Was in the group trained six months ago." As he walked, Glitter found himself side-by-side with Lyra. "You're in the reserves, right?"

"Something like that. I joined up a few years ago, but keep finding myself coming back for little jobs and favors. Between you and me, I'm surprised they let me in the gate anymore. This one time I came over just to borrow some sugar." Keeping her face blank, Lyra started the story only when she saw the stallion who'd moved up on Glitter's other flank.

"What? Sugar? What did they do when you asked for that?" Glitter Bug asked.

"Simple," lieutenant Stiff Peaks said, "I told her to use honey and stop bugging me for recipes. Dismissed, private Glitter Bug. Return to your post." His gaze moved from the stunned Glitter to Lyra. "What does the princess want from me today, private?"

"Sir, this is a sugar run. You remember that filly I brought here several months back?"

Walking slowly to toward the mess, Stiff raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Cute little thing, couldn't fly, right?"

"That's the nail right there, sir. I've had her looked at by my mother—she's a doctor, but not a specialist—and she couldn't figure out a way forward. I was wondering if the Guard had any records or history with this problem?" Lyra knew full well why they were headed to the mess. Stiff Peaks was a pony of the Guard, sure enough, but he loved cooking.

Stepping into the back of the mess, Stiff Peaks absolutely ignored the way the staff there failed to salute or acknowledge his presence in any way except to make room—his standing orders, of course, were for them to always carry on in their kitchen. "Wing problems are an issue for any pegasus. What has been tried so far?"

Lyra quickly went through the list of things her mother had tried, then got to her own idea that had fizzled. While doing so, she fell-in beside Stiff and began helping him with prep. "Finally, I took her to Batstralia. This isn't widely known, but a foal without a cutie mark going there will slowly turn into a bat pony. If they get a cutie mark there, they're stuck that way. It was a roll of the dice for her, but fate seemed to have something else in mind."

Stiff Peaks whistled at the length Lyra had gone to. "Can you make me a caramel? Okay, so you tried all that, even gave destiny a chance, and still come to me? Have you thought that maybe it's her destiny not to fly?"

Lyra levitated over some sugar, seasoning, and a pan. "Not for a second."

"Yeah, that's what I figured. You're not the kind to give up—ever—are you?"

Smirking, Lyra started to cook. "Not for a second."

"I'll call in a favor. Commander Spitfire's been excited since your friend's showing at the Summer Sun Celebration, and she remembers who suggested them. I'll have her send the Wonderbolts' medical officer down to take a look at her. How does Monday sound?" Preparing a baking pan, Stiff mixed up a quick cookie base and spread it out.

"Monday would be perfect. You know about my current assignment? It takes up most of my weekends, but I should be back for Monday. Normally Scoots would be at school, of course, but I can keep her out for a day." Whisking the mixture that started dissolving in the pan, Lyra was comfortable judging the caramel without needing to check its temperature.

"Here's some butter and condensed milk." Stiff put the tray into the baking oven and set a timer. "I heard only that you were busy on weekends and off-limits for those days without a world-ending-disaster for a reason to counteract it. How world-ending is this situation?"

"For Scootaloo? About a fifteen out of ten. We can wait until Monday." Adding some butter and the milk, Lyra kept her whisking up on the caramel. "What are we making?"

"Million mare's shortbread. Next is chocolate." Unsurprised to see said chocolate floating over to him, Stiff began setting up a double-boiler on the stove top to start melting it. "And I can certainly understand her dilemma. Even if she can't fly, Lyra, she's welcome in the Guard."

"I didn't worry about that for a second, sir." When Lyra encountered a raised eyebrow from Stiff, she stuck her tongue out at him. "I call my wife 'sir' in the kitchen too, when she's taking the lead."

Stiff Peaks barked a laugh and used his shoulder to bump Lyra's. "I hear that. How well does she run?"

Snorting, Lyra lifted the caramel off the heat and kept whisking it. "Probably about ten times as much as a filly her size should. She manages two laps of Ponyville at a fast trot—for me."

"Speaking of. You're up to renew your training in a month. I'll arrange to have Sweetie get a week off to watch your filly." The timer chimed and Stiff leaned down to pull the tray from the magically sped-up oven. Without any protection, he lifted the hot tray out and put it on the side of the cooktop where the burners weren't lit. "Thanks," he said when he once again took over stirring the chocolate from Lyra's magic. "Can you pour the caramel out?"

"There's a training session coming up?" Lyra asked as she poured out the caramel on the tray.

"Nope, but I have something better. I have no doubt you're keeping up your physical training." Stiff added a dash of oil to the chocolate and mixed it through. "But sergeant Precise Pedagogue is out with a bad case of horn-wilt. He'll be fine, but he needs a month to recover from that and longer to be at the top of his game again."

"You can't—"

"I can. The position won't be permanent, of course, since you're not permanent staff. The rank will only be temporary, too, but you need the rank of sergeant to be a trainer." Opening the magic oven, Stiff Peaks nudged Lyra again. "Put the tray in, quick."

The oven wasn't as hot as a normal one might be, but Lyra felt something threaten her grip on the tray with her magic just as she was sliding it in. She wound up pushing it the last bit with her hoof. "Ugh, this oven just tried to gobble my magic."

"Yeah, they do that. Sorry, thought you'd used one of these before."

"Well, I hadn't, but I'll remember that for next time. Also, someone was saying something crazy." Lyra glared at Stiff.

"It's not crazy. You're the best battle-trained—and tested—unicorn at my disposal. I know you've been teaching foals, and while our recruits aren't exactly foals, I think you can step up to teaching adults." Stiff noticed Lyra's smirk and shook his head. "Who?"

"You know my weekends? It's not exactly a secret that I catch the train to Stonecrop and cross over to give magic lessons to Princess Screech. She needed somepony who was—"

"And you balk at taking on a few recruits for two weeks? You won't even need your weekends. I can count on you then?" The timer sounded again and Stiff lifted the tray out of the oven once more.

"Damn you. Alright. Name your dates and I'll be here, but don't you dare try to make this more than it is already." Lyra stepped back to let Stiff handle adding the chocolate to the tray.

"More? Lyra, if Precise quits, you're the first pony I will be calling on to fill his role—assuming you can handle this trial run." Pouring the chocolate out, Stiff Peaks smoothed it over the whole tray. "Put that in the blast chiller now."

Biting her tongue from more complains, Lyra lifted the tray up quickly opened the chiller, put the tray in, then closed it again. It gave her a few moments to think on this new revelation. "If that happens, how long would I be needed?"

"It would be full-time. Your duties on weekends could be worked around it. There would only be long hours on weeks when you're actively training new recruits. The rest of the time you would spend developing your own techniques, passing that on to existing Guardponies, and taking on any ideas they have." Stiff walked over to the chiller and stood beside Lyra. "I know you weren't interested in a full-time position when you first started, but the Guard needs a unicorn with as good a head on her shoulders as you have."

"And if I need to—"

"Princess Celestia is, ultimately, the leader of the Guard. If she wants to reassign you, she can. I will complain repeatedly and with a significant amount of handwritten letters to her personal chef, of course, but we are all hers to guide." Reaching over to the rack of timers beside the chiller, Stiff Peaks took one down and set it to ten minutes. "Will you think about it?"

"Thinking about it is free." Lyra looked down at the floor and counted to twenty slowly. "So I'll be doing that and letting you know when I get back on Monday. In the mean time, I'd do your training fortnight." When Stiff looked at her confused, she groaned. "Two weeks."

"As you know yourself, you won't be teaching more than a small group at a time, and most of those will be weeded out to remedial training for their first year of training before being made to recertify. Though given your expertise in training and a fresh angle, maybe that process could be reviewed."

Lyra groaned, but she did so with a smile on her face. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"

"My job—maybe our job—is to ensure every recruit is brought up to speed and ready to pass into the various training courses and to certify part-timers are ready to be useful at a moment's notice. If you can help ensure more of our unicorn recruits find their potential sooner, that would be us doing our job better than expected. You have a reputation for solving problems, Lyra, and I might have a problem soon."

"How long is that going to take before I can taste it?" Lyra jabbed a hoof at the chiller.

Stiff snorted. "Fair enough. Moving on, then. It should be another seven minutes."

"Wait." Glaring at Stiff, Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Is this all a plan to get somepony to be your sous chef?"

Breaking into laughter, Stiff shook his head. "I promise you, having your help while I cook has nothing to do with my decision, though your ease around my command and the authority certain ponies have placed in you helped make it an easier one—acting sergeant."

"Oh poop." Lyra froze in her tracks, her eyes narrowing and heart racing. "Now you've done it."

"Hrmm?"

"I'll outrank Sweetie."

It was a warm Saturday morning. Lyra was on the train that had left Canterlot at sunrise, but was pulling out of Ponyville a little later—when the heat of Celestia's sun had begun to warm the world. She looked out the window and sighed. Her legs were feeling good after the normal run, and the little package of treats to her right were sure to earn her a smile from a particular bat pony she was liking more and more by the day.

"The next school holidays, can I stay with aunt Candela?" Scootaloo knew that Candela wasn't her aunt, but it was what she'd insisted on being called.

"You want to try for bat wings again, huh?" Reaching to the side, Lyra put a foreleg around Scootaloo and hugged her. "If it comes to that, and Candela is fine with it, sure."

"Can I have another piece of that…?"

"Not until we get there. I want Candela and Screech to get some." Reaching up slowly, Lyra ruffled Scootaloo's mane a little before setting it straight.

Working to check her mane, Scootaloo brushed at it with a hoof in annoyance. "Why don't you just fly us there? It'd be so much faster."

"Yeah, but I'm teaching an alicorn. It takes everything I've got to even show her the weaves for the magic she's learning. If I screw something up, I need all my magic to stop whatever horrible side effect it is I might unleash by mistake."

"Have you unleashed anything horrible before?" Scootaloo tilted her head to the side.

"You mean apart from the ticklenomicon?"

Startled and intrigued at the same time, Scootaloo's voice trembled a little as she asked, "W-What's that?"

Telekinesis was simple for Lyra. Multiple targets a little less so. Multiple targets she had to be precise with the strength on took more work still, but suddenly attacking Scootaloo from every side with tickles was something she felt obliged to do. "This!"

Eyes opening wide as saucers, Scootaloo fell sideways and started struggling to get away from the tickles. Her laughs filled the deserted train car all the way to the Ghastly Gorge station, where Lyra let up on her. "You're the monster, Lyra!"

"I can't help it, Scoots. Most of the time I'm the cool and calm Dr. Lyra, but sometimes a darkness overcomes me and I become Mr. Tickles." Holding a hoof out, Lyra helped Scootaloo back onto the seat. She noticed, from the corner of her eye, that several bat ponies were getting on the train.

Outside the window, the Batstralian Embassy building was almost half done. There were lean-to buildings off to the side that staff were using temporarily, and it was from these that the last few bats seeking a ride home for the weekend flew.

"It's not like the train will leave without them. Stamped is too nice for that," Scootaloo said.

"It's different on Earth. At least, it was when I was there. Trains had set timetables that they had to follow to the second. If this was Earth, they'd all be flying after the train as it pulls away." As the car showed signs of filling up, Lyra shifted as close as she could to the window and made room beside her for Scootaloo.

Taking one of the few empty seats, Broadperch settled herself with a yawn. "S-Sorry." Something about the mare beside her was familiar on a level she couldn't place. She didn't even know why she was apologizing to the unicorn.

"That's fine. My mum, dad, and sister are bat ponies, so I know how it can be. New to daylight-schedule?" Lyra asked.

"Yeah." Broadperch blinked a few times in surprise before her thoughts came together. "Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name's Broadperch, and I can't help but get the feeling I know you from somewhere."

"I'm Scootaloo!" Knowing Lyra's embarrassment about being known by lots of bat ponies, Scootaloo tried to shield her from at least one case of it.

Bumping the little hoof with her own, Broadperch turned her eyes to Lyra.

"It's alright, Scoots. Sorry, Broadperch, she gets a little defensive sometimes. My name's Lyra Heartstrings. It's nice to meet you." Counting down the requisite three seconds it took most bat ponies to jog their memories to the glut of information that'd come with their transformation from human to pony, and its accompanying knowledge of herself, Lyra watched the usual recognition dawn in the mare's eyes. "Yeah, that Lyra."

"But you—That means you're—Wow!" Her wings itching to reach out to her long-lost-big-sister, Broadperch kept them folded only by force of will. "You're going back?"

"Yeah. I've been visiting a friend in Batstralia every weekend for a while now." There was the truth, Lyra knew, and then there was telling somepony that her nation's leader was getting magic lessons as if she were a young filly. Besides, Screech was her friend. "What about you? Working all the way out here?"

"Oh! Well, you know how it is, bureaucracy lives and breathes on paper records. With computers not working so great here—or at home anymore—they needed people trained with typewriters. I'm"—Broadperch normally wasn't so open, but she found herself wanting to chat with Lyra and tell her everything—"a little older than I look."

"Me too, but not more than a few years." The train made the trip between Ponyville and Stonecrop far more pleasant than walking it, and with some talkative company Lyra was surprised to feel the train slowing down as they reached the station just outside the border. "Well, Broadperch, I hope you have a great day. Are you coming back on the train tomorrow?"

"No-no. There's some big thing happening on Monday, but they don't need me there. Long weekend!" Broadperch, despite her seventy-three years alive, had never met anyone she could talk to as easily as Lyra. She was pondering making an excuse to catch the train back to the embassy anyway, just to be able to talk more. "Is that when you're heading back?"

Lyra could practically see the interest on Broadperch's face. The truth was she hadn't minded their little chat, and was glad that she'd gained a new perspective on the changes that'd happened to her former home. "Yup. We come down here every weekend. Hey, if you're working at the embassy full time now, we'll probably be catching the same train together all the time."

The news excited Broadperch and she now couldn't stop her wings ruffling in glee. "That would be wonderful. I guess I'll see you next weekend?"

"Sure! Anyway, I have to go meet my—" The words died in Lyra's throat as the train slowed to a stop and she saw Princess Screech standing there. "So much for a low-key exit."

Mumbling and excited little screeches distracted Broadperch from Lyra and she looked around to see why everyone in the train was excited. "Oh my goodness, it's the princess!"

Scootaloo grinned wide and took off as fast as her hooves would take her for the door. The moment it was open, she bounced outside and ran up to Screech. "Hi!"

Looking down in surprise, Screech smiled as she recognized Scootaloo. "Hey there. I figured I'd meet you at the station today so you didn't have to stress with all the stuff getting into Batstralia. Where's Lyra?"

"She's coming. I told my friends about you and they wouldn't believe me! They said I was making stuff up." It wasn't her fellow Crusaders of course—Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had asked all kinds of questions—it had been when she'd told everyone in class. Nopony had believed her. "Can you come to school on Monday and tell them you're real?"

Lyra, having caught up to Scootaloo to hear the end of the story, shook her head. "Scoots, you know—"

"Actually, I'll be passing through Ponyville Monday morning. Perhaps I could stop in and take a look around?" Screech loved the idea of getting away from her planned event.

Freezing, Lyra looked between Screech and Scootaloo. "If you don't mind, this is probably the moment to tell Scootaloo her big surprise." Turning her head to Scootaloo, Lyra tried for her most deadpan look ever. "Scoots, I've arranged to get some specialist flight doctors to look at your wings. Monday. Wooo. Go me…" Not for the first time in her life did Lyra wish she had Pinkie Pie's ability to produce party poppers from thin air.

"Wait, flight doctors?" Scootaloo's eyes widened in surprise. "W-Where did you find ponies like that?"

"I talked to a Guard lieutenant and he organized for the Wonderbolts' own doctor to come and pay us a visit. But if—" Lyra stopped talking when Scootaloo rushed to her and jumped up to hug her. Catching the filly mid-air, Lyra used a foreleg to hug her back. "I told you I wouldn't stop."

Tears stained Scootaloo's cheeks and she didn't care. She hugged and hugged Lyra as tight as she could. "You—You said that. Didn't believe you. Was stupid."

"You're not stupid, Scoots. Never say that."

"But—"

"You just didn't know how stubborn I am. Now, let's head over and see Candela, then we can start on lessons." Lyra looked over to Screech and grinned. "I'm being asked to teach some other ponies how to use their magic."

"The unicorns at school. I know." Scootaloo quickly scrunched up her snout when Lyra brought a hoof up to boop her on the nose.

Lyra made sure to deliver the boop with a little sound effect to match. "Actually, the Guard have asked me to fill in for one of their instructors. For some reason they think I'm qualified to teach magic."

"Who would have given them that idea?" Screech asked with a tone heavily laden with sarcasm. Turning, she began leading the way to Stonecrop. "It's like you have experience teaching adults and children a foundation in magic."

"Who'd think that?" Scootaloo asked.

Unable to hold back her laugh, Lyra shook her head. "Yeah, yeah. He's also asked if I'd be interested in taking it on full time. I don't know. It would mean I'd be away from Ponyville more, and I kinda like spending time with the most awesome filly in two worlds."

"Well, what times will you be away for?" It wasn't that Scootaloo was worried Lyra would leave her, but she enjoyed their time together too.

"That's the thing. When training is going on, I'll need to be there before dawn and until after dusk. It'll eat each day for two weeks. It would normally be weekends too, but the lieutenant said I can keep it to weekdays only."

"Why don't you have Scootaloo go to Canterlot each evening?" The daily problems of normal ponies was a huge point of relaxation for Screech. What with her duties running a country, a normal home life was beyond her reach.

Lyra looked at Scootaloo beside her. "What do you think? Would you be able to take the train on your own if it's just to Canterlot?"

The thought that she wouldn't be up to a short journey like that made Scootaloo fluff out her wings and strut a little. "Of course. I was living on my own for ages, remember?" She turned her head to look up at Lyra. "Besides, I'm sure I could get somepony to teach me enough geography to understand where the trains go."

"Figured you would. Come on, I want to have some more of this shortbread." Lyra kept the container balanced on her back while she trotted at Screech and Scootaloo's side.

The ride back to Ponyville had failed to dull Scootaloo's excitement. Nor had the night's sleep since. She woke up before dawn and jumped out of bed—just like every day—and just as she always did she slipped over to the door to sneak out, but Lyra was already waiting. "When do you get up?"

"Earlier than you. Come on, let's go for a run. Screech might be coming through town before we head up to Canterlot." Lyra had only just beaten Scootaloo, which concerned her. Mentally, she made note to fight harder not to give up the illusion of being the best. "Rainbow should be waiting for us."

"She's really working hard, isn't she?"

"Yeah. But that's what it takes sometimes. She wants to be the best, she has to become the best." Walking through to their armory, Lyra used her magic to lift her light field armor on.

Scootaloo used her wings to help tug Lyra's armor into place and pull the straps tight. It was a morning and evening ritual that she enjoyed because she got to do some good stretches before their run. "Did you know she was friends with a griffon?"

"Huh? Really?" It was a point of pride for Lyra that she didn't need to check Scootaloo's work anymore. Her armor was fitted and strapped on perfectly.

"Yup! Her name's Gilda, and she's really mean."

"Hold up, you mean that griffon that was being mean to Pinkie?" Lyra's blood boiled a little at the memory, but she'd learned exactly how good Pinkie was at setting someone up. "Huh. Well, I guess she wasn't such a great friend if she broke the friendship over a few pranks."

Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders. "All tight?"

"Yup! You did great, as always. It's going to be funny that I'll have to teach a bunch of recruits who'll be terrible at doing this." As she led the way to the door, Lyra noticed a slightly more bouncy strut in Scootaloo's walk.

Their morning run went well, and Lyra was proud to see Scootaloo do a full extra lap than usual. When the run was over she detoured by the school, where she told Cheerilee the news about taking Scootaloo to a specialist, then made their way to the train station before any other students even reached the school.

"It still feels odd not going to school on a school day," Scootaloo said as they walked through Canterlot. "Like I'm doing something naughty."

"I mean, you're with me. So probably everything we're doing is naughty." Lyra nudged at Scootaloo's shoulder and found it more solid than when they'd first met. "You're building up some strength in those shoulders."

"Not as much as Apple Bloom."

"You wanna bet on that? She's an earth pony, sure, but I bet you know how to use those muscles a lot better than she does. Just don't try to run laps with her."

"Yeah, already learned that one. She just doesn't stop."

Lyra snorted a laugh. "Earth ponies are like that. It takes a lot of work to get more stamina than an average one, and I bet Apple Bloom is anything but average."

Scootaloo laughed. "She's pretty amazing, yeah. I told them about going to Batstralia to get my cutie mark. They were a bit upset with me for trying it alone."

As they approached the entrance to the E.U.P. Guard training headquarters, Lyra noticed both ponies at the gate snap to sharp attention at the sight of her. With a sinking feeling she knew the reason why. "I'm not—"

"Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings! Lieutenant Stiff Peaks said you're to report to his office ASAP!"

Almost working herself up to a growl, Lyra saluted back. "Just wait until I find him…"

Building up to a canter to keep up with Lyra, Scootaloo had to hide her giggles as best she could—which wasn't very well. She could tell when Lyra was serious, and this wasn't exactly it. "Wait, isn't this the kitchen?"

The smell of early-morning baking filled the air as Lyra opened the door. "That's a misnomer. This is the lieutenant's office."

"No need to salute for the sergeant in here." Stiff Peaks was in the process of checking up on his bread dough when Lyra entered. He turned toward her. "Ah, here with Scootaloo, sergeant Heartstrings?"

Lyra knew it was a reminder of this being a favor for a favor. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then snapped to attention. "Sir! Yes, sir! Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings reporting, sir!"

Snapping off a sharp salute, Stiff let out a sigh and lifted a hoof to his left ear. "I asked for that, but at least I know you have the lungs for the job. Let's go see to some paperwork and I'm sure your visitor will be here shortly." Turning back to the chefs, Stiff shrugged. "It's all yours."

Scootaloo made room for Stiff Peaks to get past her, then started following him with Lyra. She had to wonder what was going on when Stiff and Lyra both broke into giggles. "Huh?"

"You're going to fight me all the way on this, aren't you?" Stiff asked.

Lyra nodded. "Only because you made those poor ponies at the gate jump out of their armor to salute."

"Fair enough. You'll be pulled to active duty next week, but I decided to shunt through the paperwork a little early. You're officially an acting sergeant. I get to make a case for this later today to Princess Celestia herself." Stiff walked into the offices of the compound and made his way past his secretary. "Send the Wonderbolt's doctor through as soon as they arrive."

"Yes, sir."

Giving a quick smile to the young stallion working behind the desk, Lyra followed Stiff through to his actual office.

"The paperwork is similar to what you filled out last time. I don't know why you stay in the reserves, Lyra, you're too good at what you do." Stiff plucked up a pen in his teeth and started filling out the form. "You will receive a sergeant's pay, of course."

"You know how much bits worry me. There's only a few things I care about, one's off on her latest mission and another's sitting on the chair beside me." As she spoke, Lyra held out a hoof sideways to Scootaloo and got a firm clop back. "Equestria, as a whole, is on that list—which is why I'm here."

Stiff paused his writing a moment and looked at Lyra with a raised eyebrow. He then sighed and finished the last part of the form and turned it around for her to sign. "I just need your signature and it's all official."

Lifting up the pen with her magic, Lyra quickly scrawled her name in the box at the bottom. "There's going to be more shouting. Every time they salute I will want to shout."

"See, I told you you'd be good at this. How do you think Guard sergeants have kept their voices up since the first days of the Guard?" Stiff filled the paperwork and pulled out a little chit. "Take this to the armorer. She'll get your new rank tags affixed to your armor while the doctor sees to Scootaloo."

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Stiff Peaks called out, "Come in."

Walking into the lieutenant's office, Cloud Bank looked between earth pony, unicorn, and finally set his eyes on the lone pegasus in the room. "Lieutenant Stiff Peaks? Sergeant Cloud Bank reporting, sir. You needed a medical opinion?"

"Yeah. For me!" Standing up on the chair, Scootaloo tried to spin around to face the new pony but her chair decided to spin the other way. Moving a little slower, she buzzed her little wings to turn the chair.

"Well, that is interesting. Lieutenant, may I have the use of your facilities?" Cloud's mind raced. He'd seen such cases before, but not when he was serving with the Wonderbolts, of course.

"Of course. Let me show you the way. Lyra here was just going to collect her sergeant stripes." Standing up, Stiff gave Lyra the biggest grin he could muster. "I'll make sure he doesn't steal Scootaloo away to join the Wonderbolts."

Lyra left the office with one more look and nod to Scootaloo. She knew the way to the armory and made her way over to find Sergeant Sharp Horn in her smithy working on some armor. The mare stood nearly fifty percent taller than Lyra, and looked to have more muscles on her than any of the farm ponies she'd seen in Ponyville. "Sergeant Sharp Horn?"

"Lyra Heartstrings? A blue chit already? You're moving up in the world. How long until I have to salute you?" Sharp Horn's namesake burned bright with red magic and plucked the blue coin from Lyra's. "Well, get out of that and let me take a look at it. Have you been keeping it oiled? Working the straps? You're a reservist, right? So you haven't been using it too much, surely?"

"Yes, yes, yes—kinda, no. I think? Lieutenant Stiff Peaks wants me to take over for Sergeant Precise Pedagogue for the next recruit drive." Lyra didn't use her magic to unbuckle, instead using her hooves to unfasten Scootaloo's work. "Something-something, I can't be an instructor and still be a private."

"Red tape. The joys of life in the Guard. Don't worry, you'll have your own fair share." Picking up the right chisel for the job, Sharp picked her forge hammer up in her magic and arranged the armor's shoulders over her anvil.

The taps of the hammer looked light, but Lyra had a sense of implacable motion, as if there wasn't a single thing that would stop the blows short of an immovable object. The little welded-on insignia of her private status broke free and were grabbed by Sharp's horn.

"Do you reuse those?" Lyra asked.

"Yes and no. We don't reuse the actual insignia. I melt them down and cast them anew. Each one comes from my hammer and my hammer alone." Tap-tap-tap and another one was gone and caught. Sharp set the two insignia aside and looked at her collection.

"You do all the insignia for all the Guard?"

"Yes. From each newly made private to the commander of each detachment." Loading an iron into her forge, Sharp Horn left the door open to keep from melting her iron completely. "Might even do a refresher on combat techniques myself. I'm not one for complicated spellcasting—enchanting is my business."

Lyra made a gagging sound. "Now there's a magic subject I almost failed. Way too much maths in it."

"There is that. I've heard you have a quick mind, though." Lifting out the iron, Sharp pressed it to the armor first to start heating it. "I've heard stories about your flying."

Watching as Sharp added a copper-zinc-alloy in a big blob, Lyra chuckled. "I cheat. There's ways to do teleportation with tons less maths than normal. I can tech it to you, if you want, though I think you'd have a head for the harder stuff if you can do enchantment magic."

"You're thinking about enchantment all wrong. You don't do the math as you're casting it. You have to plan enchantments. I'm no better than anypony else at doing complicated math on the fly." Bringing the emblem down to the melted metal, Sharp pressed it on firmly and used her magic to gather up the excess and drop it onto her anvil.

"But you can do the complicated maths, right?" Lyra asked.

Setting her iron back in the fire, Sharp nodded. "Yeah. That's kinda my thing, though." She nodded toward her flank. "There's enchantments on these insignia, you know."

"Yeah, I know that. Verifying they were properly and lawfully attached. Verifying the owner. I know the spells that trigger them."

"Exactly. Here, let me show you how to put them on. The actual casting of an enchantment is easy." Sharp built enchantments every single day, and for her it was easy. This time, however, she made a point of tracing the pattern out with her horn as she built it. "This verifies that this was affixed lawfully."

Lyra could feel the rush of magic as Sharp pressed the spell into the metal. "That was a lot of magic. Do you use that every time?"

"An enchantment can take as little as much magic as you want to give it. It depends on the material. The longer-lasting the material, the harder it is to imbue." Sizing up Lyra, Sharp built the second enchantment and blasted that into the metal too. "That one will identify you."

Since her time at Princess Celestia's School, Lyra had become better at examining spells, but the enchantments looked wrong. There was certain ways that spell weaves worked, and neither of the enchantments used anything like any of her spells. She watched in silence as Sharp Horn soldered on the second insignia and then repeated the enchantments. Then, when she applied a third to each side, Lyra caught something familiar about it. "Glue!"

"Yeah. I cheat like that. The solder mix I use is pretty good for holding them on, but a little magic never hurts." Sharp cleaned up around the edges of the insignia with a fine brush. "Now it just needs some time to cool down and you'll be right to go, sergeant."

Lyra spent a few moments just looking at the armor and its new insignia. "How long?"

"About half an hour, usually. You have something you need to do?"

"My foster filly. She can't fly, and several doctors have looked at her without any clue, or worse, several clues that all contradict each other. This"—Lyra gestured at the insignia—"is the price I pay to get her the best doctor in Equestria, and I'll pay it gladly."

"Sounds like you have your hooves full then. A wife on active duty, a filly about to leap off the ground, and now a career teaching." Sharp prodded Lyra in the breast with a big hoof. "Sounds like your life is pretty well worked out."

It took a little introspection, but Lyra realized Sharp was right. "Yeah. I guess I am. Also giving foals lessons too, and a not-so-foal."

"Either you swore at an alicorn or you asked for this. Either way, I don't envy you." Sharp nodded toward the door to her smithy. "Looks like you've got a visitor."

"I'll be able to fly one day!" Scootaloo ignored the intense heat coming from one end of the room and raced to Lyra before she latched onto a leg. "They said so!"

Following the direction of Scootaloo's outstretched wing, Lyra spotted the doctor standing in the doorway. "Sorry, Sharp, I guess I'll be back to pick it up in a bit."

"Not a problem, sergeant." Sharp Horn knew exactly the effect her use of rank would have, that was why she'd used it.

Walking wasn't easy with a filly attached to her leg, but Lyra was persistent and got all the way out the door before Scootaloo let go. "So good news?"

"I paid a visit to the hospital where your daughter was first checked, and had several x-rays done, and I can say for certain that the weak tendons and undeveloped ligaments that she'd been afflicted with—that none of their reports even noticed—are not evident any longer. I felt good tendon development and everything seems attached as it should be." Cloud Bank looked Lyra Heartstrings in the eye. "Has she been subject to any powerful transformation magic?"

Scootaloo began giggling. "Bats!" After saying the word, she fell over and ran in a circle on her side. "Bats bats bats!"

"The answer," Lyra said with a big grin, "is yes. She visited an altered-magic location, underwent a transformation into a bat pony, then left it again and turned back. Are you saying that cured her wings?"

"No. What will cure her wings is exercise and more exercise. I can tell she's already getting that, but I want her doing specific things to build up her wing muscles and strengthen those tendons." All Cloud had been told about Lyra and Scootaloo was that there were topics she wasn't meant to probe, and if anything sounded fascinating, avoid asking about it. Bats, to her, was now one such topic.

The news made Lyra want to join Scootaloo on the ground running in circles and cheering, but she managed to keep herself to just an excited stomp. "So, more workouts for you? What do you think, Scoots, up for some wing exercises as well as running?"

"You bet!" Scootaloo jumped back to her hooves and looked from Lyra to Cloud. "How long until I'll be able to fly?"

"That I don't know. It will depend on how much you stick to it and how determined you are. Once your wings are more developed, we'll be able to make a better decision on the next step." Leading the way back to the medical wing, Cloud noticed how positively Scootaloo moved. Seeing as Lyra had just been promoted to sergeant, she could only assume there was a good amount of regiment in their home life.

"'We'?" Lyra asked.

"It was made clear to me by the Wonderbolts' commander and your lieutenant that Scootaloo's recovery was a vital task. I'll be reviewing her recovery every month until she's up in the air, and I can bet that it won't be long after that I'll have her health to worry about because she's a member of the Wonderbolts." Cloud looked at Scootaloo, one eyebrow raised.

"Sir! Yes, sir!" Scootaloo knew how to salute properly, and deployed her best stiff-legged salute to Cloud Bank.

"One step at a time though, right?" Lyra followed Cloud into the room she'd acquired.

"Absolutely. First, I need this paperwork filled out to explain why I was here. The important parts are pre-filled by commander Spitfire and lieutenant Stiff Peaks. You just need to sign at the bottom." In all her years, Cloud had never felt shuffled around by brass so much, but finding out the reason behind it had eased her worries. Being able to give good news was icing on the cake. "Now, as for the exercises, I have some pamphlets here, but I can show you what I want you doing, okay?"

Lyra paid as much attention to the instructions Cloud gave Scootaloo as the filly did herself. Her heart felt lighter, and she was almost on the verge of singing she was so happy. When Cloud was satisfied Scootaloo knew the exercises, and had passed out the little pamphlets on them, Lyra felt her hooves start to itch. "Thank you, Doctor Cloud."

"Don't mention it. The Guard stands together, remember?" Cloud packed up her things into her flight bag. "I'll send a few days' warning before my next visit."

By the time Lyra and Cloud had said their goodbyes, Scootaloo was ready to start bouncing again. Her wings felt stretched in odd ways by the exercises, but it was a good stretch. "I can't believe that's all it took!"

"You mean a little tap of fate and a lot of hard work?" Lyra reached out and ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "That's all a lot of life's goals take, Scoots."

"She called you my mum."

"Yeah. I didn't want to interrupt, and I know—"

"It's okay." Stretching her neck as much as she could, Scootaloo jumped up on her back hooves to hug and snuggle against Lyra's neck. "It sounded nice."

Reaching around Scootaloo's back, Lyra hugged her tight. "Told you I was too stubborn to let things go. So, morning and night?"

"Doctor Cloud said I could do them at lunch, too."

"Yup. But, morning and night are the minimum. Besides, you can do them after running." The feeling of walking around the E.U.P. Guards' training area without armor on was strange for Lyra, and she felt her muscles twitching at the lack of weight.

"Do you think I could get some armor of my own?"

"Armor? Aren't you a little small to need—"

"I mean so I can do that resistance stuff. Your armor increases your weight, so your muscles build faster and stronger. I know it wouldn't do anything for my wing exercises, but I want to be able to run better too."

Waiting at the forge door, Sharp heard the exchange and barked a laugh. "Now that's a filly who knows what being in the Guard is all about. Running, sergeant, is what we do, remember?"

Lyra barked out a laugh. "Right you are. Well, then, can you have something for her to carry while she runs?"

"I'll tell you what I'll do. If lieutenant Stiff Peaks approves, I'll design a Junior Guards uniform with some chain mail and emblems on it, and if he approves, I'll get you something made up by Wednesday." Sharp Horn wore a big grin, her eyes fixed on the lieutenant in question as he stood behind Lyra and Scootaloo.

Stiff cleared his throat. "Sounds like an excellent idea, sergeant, go ahead with that. I understand there was good news?"

"I'm gonna be able to fly!" Scootaloo said. "But it'll take lots of exercises."

"Good to hear! You'll be in the Guard in no time, I bet." He tried not to show it much beyond a big smile, but Stiff Peaks was tickled pink by the news.

"Well, maybe. Unless I join the Wonderbolts first!" Puffing up and spreading her wings, Scootaloo tried to do the pose she'd seen on the Wonderbolts' posters.

"Well, of course you could," Stiff said, keeping Scootaloo entertained while Lyra went inside to get her armor, "but then you'd just be a flygirl. Do I think you'll be able to soar through the sky and do great stunts? Sure, but I also think you'll be able to do much more. Spend a year in the Guard first and you get to be more to the Wonderbolts."

That made sense to Scootaloo, and she'd already all-but decided on taking that path anyway. "Y-Yeah. How old do I have to be to apply?"

"I'll tell you what, when you get your cutie mark, you come up here and present yourself and I'll put you through a basic assessment myself." Feeling the guiding hoof of fate on his withers, Stiff Peaks relaxed and let the words flow. Something about Scootaloo seemed important to him, and he knew that she'd be something special.

Author's Note

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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Lab

Chapter 2 [[ A Sweetie Drops Perspective ]]

The train ride back to Canterlot had been relaxed—calming. Our unit had been sent two newly trained earth ponies for our sergeant to straighten out and part of their orders were for me to rotate home. It was a common enough thing, but I was surprised to have it happen just two weeks into my latest tour.

Walking through Canterlot reminded me so much of her—Lyra. Just thinking of my wife put a smile on my face a mile wide and made my insides bounce and jostle for joy.

I got waves and cheers from ponies as I passed them by, and a pair of sharp salutes from the ponies at the gate of the Guard training grounds. I only paused long enough to give them a return salute before heading in and toward administration. But I only got halfway there and stopped.

The E.U.P. Guard training fields were busy with trainees. Everypony looked proud in their shiny armor—and here I was in my heavy gear that had battlescars on it. Despite how young and carefree they all looked, it filled me with excitement and pride to know the Guard was still growing and still getting stronger.

The sound of two-dozen marching hooves stopped on a half-meter nearby and a gruff voice called out, "Now there's a face I wasn't expecting. Corporal Sweetie Drops, it's good to see you."

Turning, I snapped to attention and gave sergeant Broad Strokes a salute. "Good to see you too, sergeant." I lowered my foreleg as she returned my salute. "Got some fresh blood in?"

"In more ways than one. Hey, you want to come and do a little sparring? This lot have had a week to learn how to take on strong opponents, but they've never faced a veteran in full armor before." The grin Broad shot me said, without a word, that she wanted somepony to beat some sense into her squad and show them that, despite their training, they had a lot to learn.

"I'm not in any rush to report, but do you think there's enough of them?" Rolling my shoulders, I looked over the group. There was a few larger-than-average stallions—I knew from experience they could be amazing if they learned to use their size—but there were two mares who looked at me as if they know how to size somepony up, and they both looked comfortable in their armor.

"If it's too easy, I can always jump in on their side. Guess what, recruits, you get to try taking on the corporal here. Don't let her heavy armor, tight muscles, or steely gaze distract you from the fact she's a soft marshmallow puff and a pushover."

Nervous laughter chased around the group as we walked out to one of the near-side practice fields. It was one far enough from the edge that earth ponies had nothing to fear from the long fall. I unhitched my backpack and let it slide to the ground, then looked over to sergeant Broad Strokes.

"Alright. Everypony form an orderly queue over here. For your first try, you'll be one on one with the corporal. If any of you manage to make her step back a pace, you don't have to fight her in the pairs section." The sergeant turned to me. "Are you ready?"

Without stepping back? Okay, that was her being a little hard on me, but they were just recruits. Focusing, I brought my magic into play and anchored myself to the ground. "Sure. Let's have some fun."

"You're up, big guy," said sergeant Broad Strokes.

The stallion was a big guy. He stood nearly half again my height. I quested forward—through the ground—to feel his energy. There was almost nothing there, he was practically weak as a kitten. "Well?" I asked.

His advance was confident. He stomped toward me as if I was an errant filly who was caught playing hooky. When he reached out to me with a hoof, I grabbed it with both forelegs and twisted. There was no way I outweighed him, even with my armor, but I was so well grounded that it was filly's play to break his contact with the ground and toss him to the back of the queue.

Broad Strokes wore the smile of every teacher who'd explained something so many times as to go hoarse, only to be ignored. "Next?"

Throws were the order of the day. I got halfway through the pack of them before a pony showed enough sense to cling to the ground as they should have been trained. Of course, it was the first of the two mares who'd sized me up earlier. "Nice grip," I said.

"Ha! Only just. How much strength have you got hiding under that armor?" Her banter surprised me a little. Who were these two?

"Enough." Rather than hold my ground and let her come to me again, I stepped forward, anchoring myself down with each hoof, and poured energy through the ground and under her. This wasn't a trick you got taught in training, but something advanced combat training taught.

When I threw her this time, a huge scoop of the ground ripped up with her and sailed through the air after the mare and her shocked expression.

"Can anypony tell me what the corporal did then?" Broad asked.

The mare's twin, who was next in line, shook her head to break a shocked stare. "Did she just rip Solid Ground free with her strength? What pony has that much strength?!"

"Nopony does," I said. "I ripped up the ground underneath her with my own energy. It left her clinging to the ground, but only a very weak part of it. This works even better on stone, since it's so easy to crack with expansion. You're up next?"

The bravery on the mare's face had abandoned her. She nodded without a hint of the earlier confidence and started walking to me—around the divot her twin had been hurled with. "C-Can you teach me how to do that?"

Broad glanced at me. "We don't know that the corporal is going to be around for too—"

"I'm going to be on leave after I report in. This is their last week?" Distraction, of course, was another great tool. I weakened my grip with the ground and charged the mare. Rather than stop to fight her, like she seemed to expect, I just kept up the charged and trampled right over her (though I did spare enough focus to avoid stomping on her. The thud of my breastplate connecting with her shoulder told me she'd tried to brace, but the resulting give meant she hadn't braced enough.

"Recruit Stone Wall, when a soldier in heavy armor charges you, don't try to stop them. Get out of the way and try to attack their rear instead. Next!" The sergeant knew every move I made, and she knew why I'd chosen them—mostly because she'd taught me a lot of this.

Repeating myself, I reached down to the dazed mare named Stone Wall. "I asked, is this your last week of basic training, recruit?"

"Y-Yeah." She didn't seem to have recovered from my overrun yet.

"Then I'll give some lessons to any of you who want to learn advanced maneuvers, as long as your sergeant is okay. And only those she thinks are up to it." I looked at Broad and got a nod from her. "I expect to see you there, Stone."

Her expression showed immediate recovery and a smile before she trotted to the back of the line, her training armor now showing an obvious ding in the shoulder.

The rest were much like the first half, except for one stallion who, though not as big as the first meathead, knew how to use his magic and a little in how to move around in a fight. He had none of the confidence of the twins, however.

"Sergeant," I said while moving slowly side to side, looking for an easy opening.

"Yes, corporal?"

I didn't take my eyes off my opponent. "You have a very promising recruit here. He can think, he can use his magic worth a damn, and he won't stand still long enough for me to pin him. Permission to hurt the recruit?"

"Just don't break him, corporal Sweetie Drops."

Bracing my back legs with a burst of magic, I jumped forward with as much speed and force as I could. When the recruit started to turn to away from my charge, I pivoted on my forelegs and twisted my back-end toward him.

Still with my eyes on him, I saw the shock register as he realized what was coming. Bunching my rear legs up, I lashed out with just one and tapped his side when I could have caved his armor in and done serious damage to him.

"You move way too fast," he said.

"You move fast for a recruit. You'd be faster than me with some training. Tell the sergeant you want to learn with me." What was I doing? This was lunacy! But… But it was for the Guard, and it was for these ponies who were now part of the Guard.

"Will do, ma'am!"

That rounded out the solo fights. I wasn't looking forward to the duo fights—mostly because of the few competent recruits that would likely band together—but before I could get to that, I froze at what I saw.

A mare with sergeant insignia was walking past the training field. She had six unicorns trailing her, but the group she had with her was not as shocking as who it was in sergeants' uniform. "Lyra?!"

"Didn't hear, huh?" Broad Strokes walked over beside me. "Precise Pedagogue came down with something and couldn't teach this lot. Turns out your wife needed a favor of the lieutenant, and he called it in immediately to get her to train."

The words made sense, sure, but when I tried to take them together with the fact Lyra had been promoted to sergeant, it made the whole world turn plaid. "L-Lyra?!"

She turned to look at me. "Wait here, recruits." Lyra walked over to me wearing the biggest blush—and grin—ever. "Well, corporal. You're supposed to salute a senior Guardpony."

I narrowed my eyes at her, slowly lifted my hoof to salute, and completely missed the tell she was about to move until it was too late to dodge.

Stepping forward, Lyra kissed my cheek. "I'll tell you more later. It's just acting sergeant, not a full promotion. I'm sorry." When she pulled back, she gave me a smart salute. "As you were, corporal."

"I'm going to clobber you later—the moment you take that uniform off." Okay, so she was probably roped into this, which made it more funny than tragic. I still planned to get her to run until she falls over, if only so I can kick her a few times.

The worst part was that Lyra could always see through me. She looked excited for my proposed later. "Look forward to it. We got some good news about Scoots, too. But, that can wait, unless you want to help me toss some unicorn recruits around?"

"I promised sergeant Broad Strokes. See you later." Damn it but the armor looked good on her, too. Drat but I had a thing for mares in uniform.

"Good luck."

I turned back to find Broad Strokes already organizing the pairs into groups to face off with each other. I approached, feeling a little sheepish. "Sorry, sergeant."

"No problem, corporal. If you want to report in now, I think I have this lot suitably chastened. Mention your advanced training to him, too. I think it would do them good to have a fresh-from-the-field Guardpony to show them the kinds of things they will be expected to learn." She saluted. "Dismissed, corporal."

"Yes, sergeant," I said and returned her salute.

With nowhere else to go, I turned toward lieutenant Stiff Peaks' actual office in the admin building, and started trotting. Heading inside, I waved to the various staff and reported to the lieutenant's secretary and passed him my paperwork.

When told, I headed inside and saw him with a grim expression. "Sir?" Despite how he looked, and the mood in the room, I still gave him a crisp salute.

"At ease, corporal." He gestured to the front of his desk where the option was to either sit or stand.

I preferred the latter, but he was seated so I followed suit. The poor chair creaked under the weight of me and my armor, but held. "Sir, is something wrong?"

"Yes and no. You no doubt are surprised to be given leave this early in your tour. Did your sergeant tell you why?" When I shook my head, Stiff continued. "You know our scouts are second to none, which is why their latest reports were so worrying. The bugbears weren't scattered after your defense of Trottingham. Their leader has a grudge against the Guard now, and you in particular."

That surprised me and I must have shown it because Stiff gave a nod. "So what do I do about that?"

"Nothing alone. You're in the Guard, we're all brothers and sisters here. Our diplomatic arm are contacting cohorts in the Griffon Defense Force to let them know to expect increased activity, and Princess Celestia has sent envoys to the Yaks to ask them for help keeping the bugbears contained. Plus, for the first time ever, we're trying to engage with the bugbears directly—diplomatically."

It all flew over my head. The politics of Equestria and its neighbors was more Lyra's mom's kinda thing. "That didn't answer my question, sir."

"Your duties will be limited to Canterlot and its immediate surrounds, except for extenuating circumstances. Until this situation is dealt with, of course. We can't have your presence endangering an entire squad."

He had me getting furious with the first bit, but when he finished up I was hit by reality. If this damn bugbear had it in for me, there was no saying what he'd do. Lead an invasion after just me and my squad? Ugh! "Sir, this sucks."

"I know, corporal. You can have your pick of assignments in and around Canterlot. I don't care if I have to give you my post—you are too good a guardpony to do this to. But, I have to do it." He looked about as angry as I felt, which was odd for Stiff Peaks. He was normally a rock of calm.

And it was right then that I had a breakthrough. "Sir, I might have something in mind to do. There's always some overachievers in basic, right?" I waited for him to nod. "I was helping Broad Strokes give some of her students a quick lesson in playing rough. What if I offered to lend my own experience as special training?"

"Have you spoken with your wife?"

"Why?"

"That's partly why I wanted her on staff here. Her training, from what I've heard, is second to none. Don't tell her this or her head will grow too big for a helmet, but taking her on as a trainer is something I've wanted since I first watched her work in your basic. I have never seen a unicorn so effectively keep an entire squad of trainees from getting anywhere near them." Stiff's smile grew by the second. "And now I have her."

This was not exactly news to me. The guardponies from my graduating class all spoke in awe of Lyra's magic. I guess I'd find out later, when I can talk to her more freely, and get some idea of what happened to change her mind about being in the Guard full time. "Right where you want her? She's a grown mare, she can make her own decisions, but did you really have to make her a sergeant?"

"Actually, I did. It's codified that only those of sergeant rank or higher can teach recruits." He had an expectant look on his face. "And that idea of yours plays right into this. But you realize the situation you've put me in?"

That stopped me dead in my tracks. What situation? What was this doing? "Uh, not specifically."

"If you're going to be training recruits, you can't be a corporal. Grab yourself an office and write up a proposal for what you intend to teach them and get it to me by the end of the day. If I like it, you'll have to see Sharp Horn about updating your armor." Stiff looked down at the paperwork before him. "This is the part where you salute and retreat from my office unsure what to do next. Just relax, ask Pen Stroke for the paperwork and he'll help you. Dismissed."

My mouth opened, but training drove all the words away that should have been coming out. He'd dismissed me with a job to do, so I had to do it. I saluted, turned, and marched out of his office. How did this make any sense?

Running through the conversation again, I realized what had happened. He'd literally asked me what I wanted to do. I could have said anything—even Royal Guard (though that would have been impossible even for him to arrange)—but I started talking of training recruits. "I'm an idiot."

"I've heard a lot of ponies say that when they've left the lieutenant's office. What did he talk you into doing?" Pen Stroke, apparently, was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

I heaved a sigh. He could have, what with being a staff sergeant, demanded I salute, but Pen Stroke seemed like a genuinely friendly guy. Nonetheless, we both had jobs to do. "He let me do the talking. He just set me up to talk too much. I need paperwork to devise a training program."

"Another one? He had Sergeant Heartstrings working for a week on hers. When does he want you done by?" Pen Stroke reached to a row of shelving that had paperwork stacked neatly in each section and drew out papers with one of his wings.

"Later on this afternoon. I'm not going to be doing too much. Small class, teaching them irregular techniques and field training. Volunteer basis only." As I spoke, the ideas for what I'd be teaching fell into place. It wouldn't be the specialist training for the Monster Hunters, but the kinds of things every Guardpony could benefit from.

"Sounds like more of the lieutenant's new advanced preparedness training. He's already talking with the various arms of the Guard into allowing another two weeks for basic training. He wants every recruit to be a fully-trained Guardpony before they reach initial field training." As he spoke, Pen set the papers down before me and drew a pencil out. Quickly, he scribbled in almost half the form. "This will help. Just basic stuff, but basic stuff keeps the paperwork flowing, you know? Well, I guess you don't. Make sure to list any special requisitions you might need, as well as any additional personnel. Don't get hung up on specifics—this is Guard paperwork, so anypony reading it will have been through basic already."

Efficiency seemed to be Pen Stroke's middle name. He had all the filing parts of the form filled out for me already. I took the page and an offered pencil. "Thanks. I shouldn't be too long. Is there a room I can borrow?"

Sitting down, I began to write. The first thing would be teaching them to use equipment. Heavy armor was normally reserved for those trained to use it, but there was no reason we couldn't train ponies to use it sooner. I'd have to talk to Sharp Horn about getting adjustable heavy armor.

There was a slew of training techniques I could think of to fill gaps in an earth pony's normal MO. Bolas to deal with flying creatures, fighting styles to make use of solidness and mass that weren't trained as standard, as well as critical thinking to request the right aid from squadmates.

Thankfully there was extra paper in the room, because I made good use of it. I'd just finished collating the pages together when the door opened. Lieutenant Stiff Peaks looked in, one eyebrow raised.

"Just got finished, sir." I picked up the pages and passed them over to him. "Pen Stroke mentioned you wanted to expand training by several weeks. I believe my ideas here could be stretched out to at least one if not two."

"I can't hold this lot back for that long. What can you do with six to eight students right now, for three days?" His face was unreadable as he worked through my notes.

"In three days I could teach eight ponies how to wear heavy armor and how to use it with some proficiency."

"You'll give sergeant Sharp Horn a—Oh, adjustable armor? It's been a while since I've strapped up in heavy gear. Can that be done?" He looked up from his papers and seemed to notice I was still wearing my full gear.

"I believe so, sir. With just one suit I could have them train one at a time in moving with it, using it, and also how to exploit a pony wearing it."

He shook his head. "That would be good, but I'd want armor for all the recruits, and Sharp Horn isn't that good. Pick another path."

Was this throwing me intentional? Probably. "I'll teach them distance fighting. Dealing with opponents who always keep just out of reach. Javelins, spears, even a well-thrown rock."

"Excellent. See Sharp Horn. She'll find you the equipment you need and get your armor sorted out. Take this with you." Stiff held out a token to me. "And when you have that done, come back and see Pen Stroke about some paperwork regarding your promotion."

"Prom—" My brain shorted out. I hadn't realized exactly what he'd meant earlier, but now I did. I couldn't be a trainer without being a sergeant. "But sir…?" Words failed me again. How did I tell him no?

"But? Sergeant, there are no buts in the E.U.P. Guard, only a lot of hard-working flanks. Dismissed." He turned and walked off with my paper work.

Now I knew exactly how Lyra had been trapped. What had she said that got her wrapped around Stiff Peaks' hoof?

Sighing, I straightened up and decided that if I were to go through with this, I'd do so with my head high. Until, at least, I could find Lyra and cry on her shoulder.

"Another one? What's the lieutenant up to?" Sharp Horn took the token and set it aside. "You're lucky I made a new set of insignia after your other half got the last ones. Off with your armor."

"There's more." I explained my ideas for practice heavy armor, as well as the practice weapons I'd need for the next three days.

"Well, I can get you those practice weapons from stores, but that type of heavy armor has never been made before. You understand that every suit is built custom for the pony who is intended to wear it?" Sharp almost broke my heart in two when she chiseled off my corporal insignia.

"I heard a rumor there's a cute mare in here." Lyra's voice from the door of the smithy made all my muscles turn to jello. I would have collapsed on the spot if I didn't have as much training as I did. "And there's somepony else here too."

As I turned, I saw Lyra walking through the door, but it was Scootaloo that surprised me. "Hey! How are you, Scoots?" When she rushed up for a hug, I sat down and put a foreleg around her back. How had she grown so big in just a few weeks? What was going on? I mean, duh, she's a growing filly, but she just seemed so much taller and more solid.

Scootaloo managed to pull back from my hug long enough to shout, "I'm gonna fly!" before she hugged me again.

"Oh?" I looked up at Lyra for answers, since Scootaloo seemed pretty dedicated to the hugging.

"Apparently some hefty transformational magic she underwent in the last year has repaired some of the damage to her wings. Now she just has a lot of work ahead of her to strengthen the muscles and tendons so she can fly." The casual smirk Lyra wore as she explained told me everything I needed to know about the magic she was talking about. "What're you in here for?"

"That's great to hear!" I hugged Scootaloo a little tighter. "Some training exercises? Is the training hard?"

She tilted her head up and gave me the biggest smile. "Nah, it's nowhere near as much work as running, but Doctor Cloud said I have to do them as much as I can, so I do them three times a day!"

"How is your running going? Did Lyra let you slack off because she has to make other ponies run?"

Laughing, Scootaloo let go and ran in place. "That's why I'm here now. Lyra said if I beat any of the recruits, I get their place."

I remembered back to my basic training and recalled how poorly some of my fellow recruits had run. "So, you in the Guard yet?"

"Nah, but there's a unicorn I almost beat on day one, but everypony yelled at her and now she's running better. Rainbow's been making sure I do my morning run before school." There was a bit of extra excitement in her voice when she spoke about Rainbow Dash. It was good she had a hero to look up to, but I just wish Rainbow wasn't quite so… Rainbow.

"How long until everypony will be running tonight?" I asked.

"Long enough for me to get these welded on." Sharp Horn floated my armor over to me in her magic. "Here we are, sergeant. I hope the extra weight isn't too much?"

I rolled my eyes at her and let the armor settle down on my back. Despite her joke, it did feel a little heavier, but in a way that had nothing to do with weight. This was me accepting that I couldn't work in the field.

Scootaloo jumped around me, tightening straps and getting my armor fastened properly.

"Thanks, Scoots." I offered my hoof to her, which she clopped her own smaller one against. "Now I feel like doing some training and going for a run. The lieutenant liked some of my ideas, and now I need to start actually carrying them out."

"Oh?" Lyra's eyes flowed over me like water in a way I always enjoyed. It was good to know how I dressed caught her eye.

"Special training for those who are up to it at first, but the lieutenant wants to expand basic training to include special weapons, special tactics, and special armor training." With Lyra's eyes on me, I couldn't help but stretch and shift in my armor—her eyes told me my little show bore fruit.

Feeling a little like she was butting-in, Sharp Horn nodded her head. "Yeah, he mentioned something about that to me. Something about taking the load off specialty training so that any Guardpony is ready for any situation with far less training time."

"Makes sense with what he told me, too," Lyra said. "He wants a comprehensive rewrite of the magical training syllabus to boost less-capable unicorns into a combat-ready status before they leave basic. Does he know something about the future of Equestria that we don't?"

"From what I understand, Problem Solver, sergeant Lyra Heartstrings, you should be able to tell us that." Sharp's sarcastic tone made me giggle.

"Hey, I didn't ask for any of this stuff. It's like the universe itself has this picture of me as I run from fire to fire with a bucket of water, and it is doing everything within its power to make sure I never actually get anything done." As she spoke, Lyra marched herself closer to me and at the end, kissed my cheek.

"You, Lyra Heartstrings, are a hopeless liar. You love helping ponies." I kissed her back, though because of the present company I kept things a little short.

"Oh! One thing you're going to like, Bon Bon, the lieutenant cooks desserts for the officers' dinner each night. Oh, and there's a new thing he taught me to make in the fridge back home. Million mare's shortbread, though back home we called it millionaire's shortbread."

"But first, we get to run." Scootaloo was still trotting in place, now at the doorway, and she really looked into running. The difference between the little filly Lyra had first shown me was beyond belief. "Come on, I can hear them forming up!"

I took a few steps after her, with Lyra at my side, and felt like the richest mare in Equestria. Okay, so my chosen career was on hold a little, but surely that would be temporary, and until it was resolved I could help train ponies to do my job.

Outside, the air had started to chill, but there was an anticipation that was building—the Guard were about to gallop through town. It was an event for the ponies of Canterlot. A symbol of their friends, family, and caring strangers' willingness to come together and protect the country.

"Another new sergeant? What's the lieutenant got you signed up for?" Broad Strokes walked over to us and, for just a moment, I almost saluted her.

"Something about me being unable to train anypony without being a sergeant. For that matter, he liked my ideas." It was downright messed up being the same rank as her. For all my career, sergeant Broad Strokes was a senior figure in the Guard. Now she was a peer. I could see various recruits' ears turned in our direction. "About to go for a little trot?"

"Yeah. Any thoughts on pacing? You have some heavy armor, so I expect they'll all outpace you." Broad made sure to say the last bit loud enough that everypony listening in would hear.

"I haven't seen Bon Bon run without her heavy armor since she got it. She tells me the extra weight makes a good fast-gallop much more fun." And of course Lyra picked up on the gag and ran with it.

"I bet she could beat everypony here," Scootaloo added.

"Now that sounds like a good challenge." Broad strode around the ranks of recruits, motioning to me to follow her. "Recruits, some of you have already met Sweetie Drops. She's a corporal recently promoted to sergeant to assist with training here. You'll all note she has equipped the heaviest armor the E.U.P. Guard has in its armory—and she wants to run with us. Who here thinks they can keep up with her?"

I noticed not a single earth pony volunteered. The looked at me with knowing eyes, and a few smiling as well.

"A weighed-down sergeant? Yeah, I can beat her." A pegasus stepped forward. He wore the usual light armor of recruits—which was barely enough to stop a light tap from a hoof—and while he looked like a fast flier, I wondered how fast he could move on the ground.

"Recruit Breakneck Fastwave, line up over here with the sergeant. Any others?" None others raised their hooves, probably because the earth pony recruits were visibly pointing at Breakneck and laughing.

"Hey, good luck," I said to the stallion.

Looking back at the group, Breakneck visibly gulped. "Am I going to need it?"

"Probably. Can you normally outrun sergeant Lyra?" The answer to my question was plain in the horrified look on his face. "You're going to need it, but at least there's nothing riding on this."

Lyra marched up to the front rank of the recruits. She looked back at me and winked. "Forward!"

The others started as a trot, as was pretty normal. I turned to look at Breakneck. "You wanna show 'em up?"

His laugh sounded half nerves half excitement. "Uh, sure."

"Then how about we see how many laps we can do at a dead gallop by the time they're done?" Now his look changed to all terror. "Thought so, come on!"

The wonderful thing about heavy armor was how much weight it gave every shift of your muscles. I just had to lean forward a little and I was already stepping into a canter. My hooves shoved faster, harder, driving me up into a normal gallop.

When he caught up to me, I spotted a slightly concerned look on his face. He was keeping up, though, and my time working with Rainbow Dash had taught me how to lengthen my stride a little more.

It wasn't often I got to do it with the Guard. There were regulations about stride when moving with a squad. I was surprised, however, to see that Breakneck managed to keep up with me—though I could see he didn't look so great.

Just ahead was the rolling thunder that was the rest of the recruits. Scootaloo was running in the rear of their group, but she kept up surprisingly well for such a little filly. We pulled to one side of them and started passing the back ranks. "You hear that?"

Breakneck looked at me like I was mad. I knew his problem—he couldn't time his breathing to gulp in enough air for his running and talk.

"Can't talk? More running will help build your lung capacity. That'll also help with flying." The last bit got a cautious smile from him. "But if you listen for the sour beat, that's us. That's why the Guard run at specific cadences. It's easy to pick out something sneaking up on you if they run differently."

I spared Lyra a nod as we passed her, then led Breakneck into the open street. There was something easier about galloping with so many ponies chasing after you, than trying to catch up. I settled into a relaxed pace and pushed through plazas and streets without anything to get in our way.

Barely realizing where I was, I spotted Princess Celestia waiting at the lower steps that led to the castle. I turned to her, and she saluted to me—not that I could spare a hoof to salute back. I wonder if she knows about the bugbear?

In moments she was gone behind us, and we were heading into the wide arc around the back-side of Canterlot. We swung past the Guard again, then chased back toward the castle. Celestia wasn't there this time, but the Royal Guard at the top of the stairs saluted us.

By the third lap, Breakneck was not doing well. He seemed to be struggling to keep up and I could hear him panting.

"Slow! Bring it down to a canter," I said.

He almost stumbled at the stride change. He still looked pretty rough, though he was on his hooves.

"Okay, we can canter it in like this if you want." When he didn't reply, I looked at him. "Or you can try for a gallop?"

"H-How close—are we?"

"If we gallop at full speed, we might catch them." Despite his condition, I watched him kick his pace back to a gallop again. "Good choice." Driving my hooves, I launched up to a gallop to meet him, then stretched my stride out again. He kept up.

As we blew through the last plaza before the Guard headquarters, I spotted Scootaloo pounding her hooves after the last rank of recruits. "There they are, Recruit. Got anymore to give?"

He actually surprised me. It was like a fire lit inside him and his long-gallop turned into something else—something I struggled to keep up with. Struggled, but I managed to blast through enough of my earth pony tricks to keep stride with him. We shot past Scootaloo and the column of recruits, only slowing down as we reached the gate and broke down into a canter, trot, and finally a walk.

As the recruits galloped by, Breakneck stared at them in utter shock—until I passed him one of my emergency bottles.

"Drink half of this, and only half." I used the same tone I would on any new private who joined our squad and overexerted themselves. When he started to gulp the caffeine-sugar-salt mix down, his eyes widened and I was forced to snatch the bottle off him before he finished it. "Dammit. If the captain knew I'd fed a recruit a whole bottle of that, on my first day, he'd have me tied up by my back legs." To stop him drinking more, I gulped down my share of the bottle and felt the mixture immediately give me back a measure of strength.

"You two were moving pretty fast," Scootaloo said. "I've never seen ponies run that fast before."

I watched her for a moment, trying to come up with words to say. She was stretching her wings in complicated movements that seemed to make her keep crossing them over her back, then recrossing them. "I couldn't let him beat me."

"You're carrying armor that probably weighs as much as I do!" Breakneck gestured at my gear with a wing. "And you had a pack of supplies on there too? How much are you carrying?"

Well, at least he was thinking, but given what I just fed him, I'd be surprised if he was still fuzzy-headed. "Light pack. I was returning home from duty and had spread out my supplies to my squadmates. How long have you been running for?" I reached a hoof out to interrupt Scootaloo's wing stretches and pull her into a hug.

"You could beat anyone!" Scootaloo said as she hugged me, but started squirming a moment later. "I need to finish my stretches."

I ruffled her mane and turned to Breakneck. "Look, I know your a pegasus, but I'd like you to join my training tonight."

"What training?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Just say yes. You want to be the best, right? Tell me why?"

"In the Guard? I want to protect ponies. I want to show all of Equestria that—that I'm the best, but not by showing off in the Wonderbolts or anything like that. I want make them safe because they know how awesome every Guardpony is." The first few words from him, I could see, were rehearsed. When Breakneck stumbled, however, I saw the real pony.

"Exactly. And, that's why you're going to get some extra training"—I looked him square in the eyes and made sure he could see my seriousness—"because I can make you better than all the other newbies here."

"Alright. So, when?"

"Right now. You've done your cross-species fights with earth ponies yet?" I took off my light pack and shook my shoulders too loosen them up.

He nodded and rolled his own shoulders, stretched out his wings to give them a little warmup. "Yeah. Sergeant Broad Strokes beat us all until we were sore without even raising a hoof."

"Okay, so I'm not going to make you beat me down hoof-to-hoof—we both know that isn't happening—so how would you deal with me from range?" I started backing up, building a slow rapport with the ground in case he decided to go with a rush.

"If I was in a squad? Let my commanding officer know about the problem." He used his wings to pull himself into the air, which was the smart thing for any pegasus to do in a fight. Hovering in place, he kept his hooves up defensively. "Probably ask one of the unicorns to help me."

"Good thinking, but what if you're alone?"

He looked to think for a few moments, something I approved of. "Fly off, grab some rocks, drop rocks."

"Good thinking, now I want you to try that," I said, spotting Lyra leading the rest of the recruits in. "But do it to the recruits that will come and stand with me. Use small rocks and try to aim for bodies."

It was setting them up, which is exactly how I wanted it to go.

The train home was cruising along in darkness. Scootaloo was sitting between Lyra and I, yawning every time the train jostled.

"The lieutenant has me working with him tomorrow to redesign the course-structure to suit a longer stint of basic training. I forgot how excited and brash recruits were." It was my turn to yawn, mostly because Scoots yawned yet again and leaned against me for support.

"Don't you get new recruits every few months in the field?" Lyra asked.

"Yeah, but they're not new-new. They've spent a year preparing and training. They're hardly recruits by that stage." The jolt of the train as it began to slow for Ponyville station was welcome, though the shunt in momentum required me to brace my muscles to stop from falling forward. "One pegasus recruit seems to have a lot of aspirations."

Snorting and getting to her hooves, Lyra stretched and rolled her shoulders. "Going to take a guess at Breakneck Fastwave? The stallion that wanted to run with you, right?"

I put my foreleg around Scootaloo's shoulder to keep her from falling in the direction Lyra had just moved from. "Yeah, that was him. I started off my lesson in projectile use and avoidance with his help. He tried to run himself into the ground to beat me, you know."

"I saw. You gave him something to pick him up?"

"Half a bottle of Bounceback in a Bottle. He's going to sleep well tonight, but he won't be getting cramps because of it." I only moved after Scootaloo had jumped to her hooves too. In a fight my heavy armor meant I could lead the dance and do what I wanted, but around those I cared about I needed to be careful. "We need to get a pegasus in on this training. I told Stiff as much."

"You've spoken to Bluebelle?"

I followed Lyra and Scootaloo to the end of the carriage and the waiting doors. The train was slowing for its stop. "That's the lieutenant's job. I needed to find my girls and bring them home." I wanted to ruffle Scootaloo's mane, but with the train slowing down I wanted to keep from falling on her first.

When the train stopped, we filed off with the sound of softly clunking armor to signal our return home. The walk home was mostly in silence, in the dark, but I noticed Lyra's attention was on the town square where there was something going on in the dim light provided by the street lamps. "A problem?"

Lyra narrowed her eyes at the large wagon and the cloaked shape that was working around it. "I don't think so. Let's go take a look anyway. Scoots, keep behind us, okay?"

"It never hurts to ask questions," I said.

"Or be friendly," Lyra said.

"In armor." Scootaloo's droll rejoinder made all of us giggle a little. "It's just a stranger doing something strange in the middle of sleepy little Ponyville. What could be so crazy about that?"

"Scoots," Lyra said, "we might need to talk about your use of sarcasm. I mean—really talk—because it's amazing."

As we neared the bright yellow wagon, the cloaked figure finally noticed us. "Excuse me," I asked, "we noticed you having some trouble with your wagon and thought we'd offer to help?" Okay, so not strictly the truth, but I wasn't going to just stomp up to her and demand to know what she was doing—that just wasn't polite.

Turning and stepping into the light, the pony reached up to adjust the hat she (her size and shape screamed female) wore. "Normally I wouldn't ask for help, but it's getting late and I just want to slee—"

"Trixie?!" Lyra's shout and teleport-tackle-hug surprised the mare and Scootaloo, but nothing could surprise me after seeing the sergeant insignia on her shoulder. I was surprised out.

"Lyra?" Trixie Lulamoon stared at Lyra for a few seconds before hugging back. "It's so good to see you!"

"Who's she?" Scootaloo asked.

Lyra and Trixie both gasped. "Trixie," Lyra said, "was the first mare I ever kissed." I rolled my eyes as she attempted to throw herself into Trixie's embrace but of course, with Lyra wearing armor, Trixie misjudged Lyra's mass and they both fell into a heap.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie…" Trixie said from somewhere under Lyra.

It was up to me to explain, it seemed. "Trixie's an old friend from Canterlot, and somepony who seems to need somewhere to sleep for the night that isn't an old wagon?"

"Of course! Trixie you—Where's Trixie?" Lyra asked.

"You're sitting on her." Trixie's blue glow wrapped around Lyra and lifted her off. "Now, where was I? Right. A filly who has never been in the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie before! Uh, hi?"

"Are you some kind of wizard?" Scootaloo asked in awe. "It's just that I know Lyra is, and all her old friends seem amazing with magic…"

"Only the greatest and most powerful wizard." I walked over to Trixie and gave her a regular hug—the kind that doesn't involve a trip to the local emergency ward. "I meant it. You want me to pull your wagon over to our house and you can spend a night in a warm bed?"

Trixie looked about to say something. She straightened up and took on her proudest stance—then slumped her shoulders. "Please? I normally don't arrive in a town this late, but I really wanted to do my show tomorrow, and—"

Lyra, who had managed to get back to her hooves from where Trixie had dropped her, put her foreleg around Trixie's shoulders. "Relax, Trixie. We have an awesome house with plenty of room for you. Even got a spare bed in there just in case a friend needed to stay. Big, soft, queen-sized bed." As she spoke about the bed, I could see Trixie melt a little. "So come on. Leave your wagon here until morning, and we'll help you set up tomorrow."

"Alright. One night, but I'll be okay setting up in the morning. Stages are my life, after all." Trixie followed us as we walked back toward our home. "So, you both joined the Guard for real, huh?"

"Lyra tried not to. She went through basic training with me, then spent a few years on the reserves, doing work for Princess Celestia, but apparently she just couldn't stay away and got herself made a training sergeant." As I spoke, I batted my eyelashes at Lyra as best I could, daring her to gainsay anything I said.

"Says the mare who got herself talked into training duties." Lyra poked her tongue out at me. "I meant to ask, why did you do this?"

I reached the front door first and opened it. "That's a bit of a story." I let my eyes flick to Trixie and shook my head a little. Stepping inside, I turned the light on and stepped out of the way.

"Oh, right." Lyra nodded slightly to me. "We shouldn't bore Trixie with work stuff. I bet you just want a nice warm shower and bed."

Spinning around, Trixie looked at Lyra with near-crying eyes. "A warm shower?" She shook her head. "Clearly the Great and Powerful Trixie should have pursued her suit more."

I snorted at the silliness. "If you're quick, you might just beat Scootaloo. Otherwise, take all the time you need. We'll doff our armor and use the downstairs bathroom."

"Come on, I'll show you where it is." Scootaloo reached out for Trixie's foreleg with one wing and led her to the stairs.

When they were out of sight, I let out a sigh and leaned against Lyra. Of course, I forgot about my heavy armor until I realized she was using magic to hold me upright. "Remember that mission a bit ago, with the bugbears?"

"You mean bumblebears?"

"We're not having this argument again, Lyra." I straightened up and kissed her on the cheek. "Turns out the chief bugbear has it in for me ever since I bucked him out of Trottingham. He's kept hold of the various villages of bugbears and is trying to skirmish deep into Equestria to find me. The Guard have pulled me because they're worried that me being seen in the field will mean he keeps it up."

"Come and get that armor off so I can cuddle you properly. You can talk while you undress." Lyra led the way to our armory. My old armor was in there—the light gear—still with its corporal insignia. Lyra started using her magic right away to strip us both off.

I just stood passively while she worked the buckles and straps undone. When the suit was lifted from me, I let out a little whine. "I like my armor a little too much, I think."

"It's good armor. Now let's clean our gear and have a shower."

In silence we used oil and rags to clean down our armor and restore it back to its proper state. As I mused on my gear, I was reminded of the idea of resizeable heavy armor for training. "I broached the idea of training recruits in heavy armor. Stuff that can be resized to fit almost any pony shape."

"Yeah, I heard some of what you and Sharp Horn were discussing. That could really give some earth pony recruits a leg-up. I've been working on ways to train recruits in a core of useful spells that any unicorn should be able to memorize with only an hour or two a week." Lyra was done with her armor before I was, but rather than help me she floated a curry-comb over and started brushing my coat.

"If you do that I'll melt."

"Then I'll find a bucket. You feel tense. It's the bumblebear thing, right?"

Each stroke of the brush made it harder and harder to finish cleaning up my gear. I only had to oil two more straps, and already I couldn't even focus enough to speak. I nodded.

"I have exactly twelve spells that will deal with a bumblebear before it could get close to you—two of them are cantrips that I could probably teach Scootaloo to cast."

My brain registered something wrong was said, but it took until I was finished oiling the straps to work it out. "Scootaloo's a pegasus."

"That's how easy they are to cast. Relax, love. You protected Equestria for years, now let Equestria protect you."

She was so damn good at arguing—wearing me down with her words—that I was already willing to put that aside for the moment, but… "Okay, but how does a pegasus cast spells?"

"I figure the same way an earth pony does." Lyra was, when she wanted to be, the most annoying mare in all of Equestria, but brushing my coat made up for it and then some.

With a mental shunt of perspective, I shoved the problem out of my head and let the brush do its job. "I give up. You win." I leaned to the side a little and found her lips.

After several minutes of kissing, and with Lyra still brushing me down despite being done already, we broke apart with a sigh.

"Have I told you how much I love you today?" Lyra asked.

"I'd rather if you showed me, but telling is good too."

I gasped when she picked me up—literally plucking me from my hooves with her magic. It was a sign of how weary I was that my first instinct to grab the ground and hold on didn't kick in. "What are you doing?"

"Showing you." She carried me through to our bathroom and got the shower running nice and hot—still holding me in the air—before following me into the shower. Marrying a unicorn that liked showing off her magic had made a lot of my life seem either like living at a beauty spa, or roughing it—depending on my proximity to Lyra.

She definitely showed me.

Author's Note

Lyra: might have missed this, but any plans to give Scootaloo her proper movie education? Unlaiden swallows, don’t call me Shirley, and have fun storming the castle?

"Oh my hecking yes! Wait, I need to get them on film though. Human tech stuff isn't so hot here. Even my amplifier has trouble, and that's just a bunch of valves and resistors holding hands. Maybe I can get Screech to nab some things...?" Lyra tapped her chin with a hand made out of golden magic. "Or take Scoots back to Batstralia for a bit. That might be easier."

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Lab

Chapter 3 [[ A Scootaloo Perspective ]]

Stretching and rolling out of bed, I couldn't hold back a long yawn as I dropped down to my hooves. Reaching back up, I quickly made my bed and got to the door before the yawn was done with me.

In the bathroom, a quick splash of water on my face was enough to wake me up fully and get my brain working properly. Sweetie Drops was back, which made me happy, and she'd gotten a promotion. There was something about it that seemed to have her worried, though, and it annoyed me that I couldn't work out what it was.

Then there was the situation with having another pony living here. I perked my ears, trying to hear anything, but the house was quiet. Too quiet. Quickly going over my mane and tail with a brush, I walked downstairs only to encounter a strong, sugary smell halfway to the bottom.

When I peeked around the corner into the kitchen, I saw Sweetie fanning a tray of something on the bench.

"Good morning, Scoots. Sleep well?" Sweetie asked me.

"Yeah! What'cha makin'?" Walking up to the table where the smell was concentrated, I reared up to plant my hooves on the edge.

I realized, then, that apart from her talking, Sweetie was making not a single sound as she worked—it was kinda freaky. "Hard candy. I thought you could take some to school with you. Don't touch them yet, though, they're really hot."

"Will there be enough for everypony, or just me and my friends?" The temptation to reach out and grab one was strong, but before my right forehoof could quite reach the tray, a metal spatula blocked me. I looked up at Sweetie, feeling a little embarrassed.

"I wasn't joking about them being hot. They're on a cooling tray for a reason. Let's wake Lyra and go for our morning run while they do. Our guest didn't wake you up did she?" Sweetie walked around the table and was on her way to the armory.

Following, I rolled my shoulders and loosened up my hips and wings. "Nah. Took me a bit to remember she was even here when I woke up. Heavy armor?" I liked the heavy armor because it had so many more straps and they needed to be tighter than normal. It let me really get a good workout going when I pulled on them.

"Of course. I need to take my light plate in to get new insignia on it, but I'm so used to the heavy gear now it'd be a shame not to keep using it. Besides, it makes me look badass." She giggled after that and walked up beside the armor, then lifted it over to her own back.

I rushed up before she had to ask and started tugging on straps and getting everything lined up. "You already are awesome, though. You could beat up those recruits even without your armor."

"Hrmm. Probably, but I'd have to use a lot more effort to defend myself. Armor just makes it easier for me to focus on dealing with their defenses and tactics. Hey, babe, ready for a run?" As Sweetie turned her head, I realized Lyra had walked into the room with us. How both of them could move so quietly I had no idea, but I wish they'd tie bells to their hooves or something.

"Heck yeah. How'd you sleep?" Lyra walked up beside Sweetie and they both kissed.

At first, it had felt awkward when they got like that, but I guess I sorta got used to them. I focused on getting the straps of Sweetie's armor tight. It took all my strength on some of the straps, which was a good way to stretch my muscles in the morning. Grabbing onto one here or there, leaning back, and pulling so hard I had to brace with my back legs to get it done.

Lyra startled me by asking, "Hey, Scoots, wanna give me a hoof with mine, too?"

"Of course. Gimme a sec to get this last—Okay." Rolling my shoulders a bit, I was itching to get my run done and do my stretches for the morning. As I helped Lyra get her straps done up on her armor, I thought back to what it had been like to fly as a bat pony.

Even just the dream where Tufts had made be into a bat pony for a few days had been the most amazing time of my life up until then, but going to Batstralia and becoming one for real still left my wings tingling. When the doctor had spelled out that it was because of that transformation that my wings would—eventually—work… I wanted to go back, when I had my cutie mark and could fly, so I could thank every bat pony I could find.

"Hey, uh, Scoots? You've been on that strap a while and I don't think it's going to get any tighter," Lyra said.

"Huh? Oh!" I finished buckling that strap and started trotting in place. "Got a bit distracted."

She stopped checking her straps and looked down at me. "Any problems?" How in Equestria was I meant to tell her about any problem when she jumps in and fixes all of them? Well, not exactly fixes them, but makes it so that I can fix them—like my wings, living here…

"Nah. I'm fine. Just thinking about flying." I spread my little wings and gave them a few flaps—actual flaps. Always before my wings had buzzed (because, the doctor had said, I was missing some key tendons), but now there was more pull and push to them. "Did you know going to Batstralia and coming back would heal them?"

Lyra lifted me up with her magic and sat me on Sweetie's spare suit of armor that was sitting on a stand. "The most important thing Princess Celestia ever taught me was to do what felt right and let destiny find a way. Back on Earth, before all the magic made Australia into Batstralia, that would be a sure sign of being crazy and poor." She ruffled my mane with her hoof. "But here, Scoots, that is how you do things. It's the best way! Do what you feel is right and trust in magic."

The idea was insane, but it had worked. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's crazy here, too. How often has this actually worked?"

"Lots!"

How could I argue with something that worked so much? "It's just hard to wait for it to work."

"There's a trick to that, Scoots. What you do is keep doing whatever you can to do the right thing. Don't wait for destiny to catch up."

It took me far too long to realize what she was saying and how she was explaining it. "So you're saying I should just be nice and always do good things?"

"Nope. Being nice and good things isn't always what's right, Scoots. What's good to one pony might not be good for all ponies, and being nice to a timberwolf isn't going to help at all. You need to look deeper and work out what's right. That's the hard bit." She lifted me down from the armor and set me on the floor.

"Are you two done yapping and ready for our run?" Sweetie Drops asked. "Don't make me break out my sergeant's voice."

The run, after the talk Lyra had given, left me with time to think. Good, nice, right. They were hard to tell apart sometimes. We got a full lap done before Rainbow practically slammed into the ground nearby and took up the pace with us. "Rainbow!"

"Hey, Scoots. How're your wings doing? Also, what's with being up this early? You don't normally start running for a bit yet." Rainbow had started running the same distance Lyra and Sweetie did, though she did it without armor. I guess she was trying to build up her leg muscles like I was doing my wings.

"Well, I can flap them now and feel what the doctor was talking about. They don't buzz like they used to, either, which he said will be my tendons strengthening. I'm going to be flying again in no time!" I didn't duck in time and got my mane messed up by Rainbow's wing this time. "And we started early because I woke up a bit early, and Sweetie was cooking!'

"Cooking? But aren't you in the Guard?" Rainbow looked over my head toward Sweetie.

Snorting at that, Sweetie lifted her chin a little. "Protecting ponies is what I like to do, but cooking is my special talent. Hey, Scoots, shouldn't you have been done a lap ago?"

"Uh." I thought it over, trying to remember how many I'd done. "I got a bit distracted. How many have we done?"

"Four," Lyra said. "This is the fifth."

"Guess I'll finish this one and start my wing exercises." We were halfway around the town anyway. The only way I could shorten my last lap would be to run through town—and I wasn't going to do that with Rainbow watching me.

"Don't push yourself too hard, Scoots," Lyra said.

"Pfft! Push myself too hard? I'm just trying to be the best I can be. They don't let weaklings into the E.U.P. Guard and Wonderbolts." I was surprised when Rainbow held her wing out to me, but I didn't hesitate to reach up and smack it with my own—something I couldn't have done until after that trip to Batstralia.

"So you're going to join the Guard first, huh?" Rainbow asked. "I know they do some military stuff with that side of the Wonderbolts, but I really want to just fly."

I snorted. "I want to be the best, Rainbow. That means proving it to everypony." With my legs occupied keeping up a fast gallop, I poked Rainbow in the ribs with a wingtip. "That means you, too."

Rainbow Dash let out a loud laugh. "Ha! Well, I guess I'll need to keep an eye out after I join."

With that, and with home in sight, the moon faded from the sky and the sun practically jumped onto the horizon. "Not for long," I said, "because I'll pass you soon enough."

I broke off from the group of ponies with Lyra and Sweetie's laughter chasing me. They weren't laughing at me because I knew neither of them would do that. I almost wished I could look back to see what expression was on Rainbow's face—but cool ponies don't look back. Rainbow had taught me that.

When I got inside, I found a strange unicorn looking around in a bit of a daze. "Hiya, Miss Trixie. Lyra, Sweetie, and Rainbow are out having their morning run. They'll be back in about half an hour."

She looked startled to see me, and even more so when I started doing my wing-stretches. "You're in school, yes?" Her confusion had turned into something else. When I nodded, midway between shifting positions and making the muscles tug at the weak tendons in my wing, she beamed. "Could you put some things up at your school?"

"Posters? Sure. Gimme a few minutes to finish up here first." My next exercise was long, rowing motions with both wings. Each of the moves was designed to stretch and work my wings, and while I knew they were getting better, I wanted to be able to fly now!

"What are you doing?"

"Stretching my wings. I had a problem with them when I was born, and until recently nopony thought it could be fixed." Lowering myself to the floor, I braced a wing down on each side of me and started doing wing-ups. "Then Lyra happened, and now I'll be able to fly when I get them strong enough."

Trixie snorted and shook her head in what seemed to be a total lack of surprise. "She's still doing that?"

"Apparently. She's been working for Princess Celestia doing things. Others call her Celestia's Problem-Solver. She told me how she does it, but I don't know if it would work for anypony but Lyra." I closed my eyes and started counting my lifts—my target was fifty.

"She's quite a pony. Do you want to know a great and powerful secret? She's responsible not only for me getting into Princess Celestia's school, but she also gave me the idea for my stage show—the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Her shout made me open my eyes and look up to see her posing dramatically. "I've been performing all over Equestria."

"Really?" I paused a moment to look at her. "That's cool. When are you doing your show here?"

"Tomorrow. It's not good to have a show on a day when there aren't any foals around. Err, today is Friday, right?"

I snorted and got back to my exercise. "Yeah. Last day of the week. What kind of show do you do?"

"Stage magic! Tricks! Sleight-of-hoof!" She sounded excited about it.

"But, uh, don't you have actual magic?"

She snorted and waved off my question with a hoof. "While it's true that all of the Great and Powerful Trixie's magic tricks could be done with overwhelming amounts of magic—that would be cheating. The art to Tri—to my tricks is that they use no magic at all for the actual trick. Though, I sometimes use it as a distraction."

"Huh. Well, I guess that makes it kinda special then. I hope I get a chance to see it!"

It almost looked like I'd zapped her with a thundercloud. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't you come to my show?"

I managed to stop myself from blurting about Screech. She wasn't exactly a secret, but she'd asked us not to talk about her needing magic lessons too much. "Well, on weekends we normally visit Batstralia. Lyra has a thing she does for Princess Celestia, and I spend the day with Miss Candela."

"Oh. Uh…"

"It might be different tomorrow, though. With you here and with Lyra's new job, she might be staying in Equestria for the day—which means I could come for your show." Done with my wings-ups, I rolled over to my back and pushed the other way. It was a lot harder than wing-ups, but the doctor said I needed to do all the exercises.

"That… makes sense. Maybe the Great and Powerful Trixie could put on a special show!" She looked around the room quickly and then scrunched her snout a little. "Do you happen to have three cups?"

Looking at her upside down, I wasn't sure what she meant, but I could definitely find three cups. "Sure, gimme a second to finish these crunches. 97… 98… 99… 100!" My wings felt great, stretched and used, but great. I rolled to my hooves and shook as I stood up. "Maybe you could come to my school and do some tricks?"

Trixie followed me into the kitchen and tapped her chin with a hoof. "That's not a bad idea. A few things to warm up the fillies and colts so they'll bring their parents to my show tomorrow." As she spoke, Trixie took the cups from me and set them on the table. "You need to watch where I put this ball."

I stared at the ball that she'd produced from thin air. "I thought you said you didn't use magic?"

"I didn't. Here—" She turned to the side and revealed that the ball was under her hat, and with a twitch of one ear it dropped down her back, was caught in her left, which passed it to the right and eventually put it under the center cup. "Now, where is the ball?"

I looked at her in confusion. "Under that cup?" I gestured at the one I'd just seen her put the ball under.

Trixie tilted that cup up to reveal no ball. "No, but I always keep a spare ball in the left cup, see?" She tilted the left cup to reveal the ball under it.

"Trixie, if you're teaching Scoots how to hustle at three-card-monty, I'll be upset," Lyra said from the doorway. "C'mon, kiddo, you need to get ready for school."

I jumped down from my seat and walked over to her. "Lyra, can I stay in Ponyville tomorrow to watch Trixie's show?"

She grabbed me with her foreleg and hugged me. Despite how much I told myself she wasn't like Mom, she made sure I didn't feel alone. "Normally I'd have to go teach—Right. Yeah. That's not going to be happening tomorrow. I thought you might want to come to Canterlot for the day and try out with some of the recruits, but if Trixie wants an assistant for the day…?"

I turned my head to look at Trixie.

"This could be acceptable. The Great and Powerful Trixie's personal assistant has already arranged for a show at her school." She winked as she picked up the three cups to reveal hundreds of balls spilling out from under each.

"I owe you one, Trixie. If you want, you should come up to Canterlot in the evening and we could all have dinner with Shiny and Cadance too. It'd be just like—Oh! You remember Pinkie Pie, right?" Lyra was bouncing in place in excitement.

I left them chatting and headed upstairs to get my books and saddlebag for the day. Compared to armor, they weighed nothing and had barely any straps, but they were mine—Dad had gotten them for me. "Ugh. Darn. Don't cry now."

"I don't know if my hugs are as good as Lyra's, but you're welcome to try them out."

My head snapped around to see Sweetie Drops standing in the doorway. "Sometimes things just remind me of them. Still. I'll get over it in a minute."

I don't think I'll ever get used to how quiet she moves in her armor. She stepped into my room and over to where I stood and picked me up into a firm hug with her right foreleg. "You don't have to get over it, Scoots. They will always be important to you."

I hugged her and hoped I wasn't going to rust her armor with my tears. "Thanks." She didn't reply, but her continued hug was exactly what I needed. I squeezed as tight as I could for a few minutes before finally feeling okay enough to start letting go.

"If you ever need a hug, just find me. I don't care where you are or what either of us are doing, I'll be there for you."

Her words made letting go harder. "Thanks."

"You want a ride to school?"

The question made me blink in surprise a few times. "A ride would be…?"

"I think you know. Grab your books and get on, you'll be running a little late if we don't hustle."

It was impossible not to smile like crazy when you're riding on the back of a thundering earth pony wearing a ton of armor and literally making room wherever she goes. She galloped all the way through, only stopping when we reached the school—only to find Lyra and Trixie already there.

"Whoa. Slowpokes. You need to take the unicorn-express next time." Lyra walked up to Sweetie and kissed her cheek. Them kissing and being all lovey-lovey was something I'd kinda gotten used to. It reminded me a little of Mom and Dad, but only the best parts of them.

"Wait." I jumped down from Sweetie's back. "Did you two go to the same school?" I looked between Lyra and Trixie.

"Yeah," Lyra said.

"Sort of," Trixie said. "There's different study paths and"—she sighed and hung her head—"I didn't want to learn all that fancy stuff. I wanted to learn practical magic and illusions."

"Which I'll point out are exact opposites," Lyra said.

"Well, yeah. That's why I wanted to learn them. I can use the practical stuff to help with distractions, and the illusions to help with big distractions." Trixie's horn lit and, when she flicked her hoof up, she was holding a deck of cards. She levitated them up without using telekinesis (somehow) and then flicked through them to reveal they were all aces. "When I said I don't use magic to make my tricks work, that didn't mean I can't use magic to make them work."

Lyra was grinning like a fool—which I knew she wasn't. That meant that she knew more and was about to tell it. "Trixie is being a bit sneaky, Scoots. She's probably one of the best illusionists to come out of—"

"Scootaloo." Miss Cheerilee stepped out of the schoolhouse and blinked in surprise. "Oh, I didn't realize we had company today. Is everything alright?" She looked between Lyra and Sweetie, then to Trixie.

"Sorry. We were just making sure Scoots got to school on time." Lyra took a few steps toward Sweetie and I could already sense what she was about to do. "And we wanted to introduce an old friend who might be able to help you with a little entertainment for the foals. Cheerilee, this is Trixie Lulamoon—stage magician extraordinaire!" And, with that, she teleported away with Sweetie.

"You're a magician?" Miss Cheerilee sounded excited. "Please, please, come inside. You too, Scootloo. We normally have a show and tell first thing in the morning. You can be Scootaloo's. Do you need to get anything prepared?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is always prepared!" She started walking alongside Cheerilee to the schoolhouse door, then stopped. "And her amazing assistant, of course." The look she shot me reminded me of Lyra about to do something crazy-awesome.

Trotting after her, we both followed Miss Cheerilee into our classroom.

"Good morning, everypony, now that we're all here, I'd like to introduce you to a very special pony who's here to show you all some magic!"

Miss Cheerilee didn't seem inclined to tell me to take a seat, and when I started to go anyway, Trixie reached a hoof out to block my path.

"Thank you, Miss Cheerilee." Trixie took a step forward and tilted her hat down a little at the front. "I can imagine you all wondering which amazing magician stands before you. The great Hoofdini? Quill and/or Ledger? No." Two explosions went off on each side of the classroom, shooting confetti into the air. Trixie tilted her hat up just as her horn started to dim (which I could only see by being so close, I realized). "You are in the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie! And assistant!"

Everypony in the room cheered and clapped their hooves. While they were distracted, I noticed that the confetti from the "magic, hidden cannons" slowly disappeared from where it had landed on the floor. That made it actually magic confetti, I guess.

"For my first trick, I'll need somepony from the audience." She made a point of looking around the sea of hooves raised before selecting Snails. "You! Trixie senses great psychic power emanating from you. Please come up here."

Trixie reached behind her and pulled a card table seemingly from thin air. I'd seen a line of pink magic appear where it had actually appeared from. That's when I realized that Lyra hadn't been joking about Trixie being really good with specific kinds of magic. When three cups appeared as well, accompanied by similar barely-seen lines of magic that produced them, I knew for sure that she was very good at what she does.

"Now, the trick here is to keep your eye on where the ball goes." Trixie made a show of putting the ball under the middle cup. "Which cup is it under?"

Snails looked at the three cups and eventually pointed at the middle one. "That one!"

"Nice guess, but it's not there." Trixie tilted the cup over to reveal nothing under it. "See, it's in the right one." She tilted the right cup, and as she did I noticed her slip a ball under it that was revealed. "See?" When the applause died down, Trixie prodded me between my shoulders. "But I always keep a spare ball, don't I, assistant?"

It took me a moment to remember her trick from earlier. "Of course. You always keep a spare ball under the left cup."

Again Trixie revealed the contents of the third cup while slipping a ball under it. She made a point of removing it, but I saw her put the ball under it again just before she put the cup back down. It was all so smooth and natural looking that—being beside her—I was the only one who noticed.

"Now, let's move onto something a little harder." Trixie removed the ball from the right cup, then lifted the middle one to show it was empty—but I saw her slide two balls under it. Then she made a show of holding up a ball and putting it under the right cup before slipping it away again as she lowered it. "Which cup do you think has the—wait! I feel something under the cup on my left."

As Trixie started to lift the cup, it flew toward the middle one and they clanged together. She dragged it back to the left as if it took a lot of work. "They've never done this befo—" Now she lunged to the right one and repeated the same thing with that. "Well, that's messed the trick up. The ball was going to be under the right one, but I think…" She lifted the middle cup to reveal two balls under it. "They must have migrated!" She tapped me on the shoulders again.

"What about the left cup?" I asked.

"Good question." Trixie reached for the left cup and tilted it up to reveal the ball under. "It's where I keep my spare ball." With that she made a show of taking the ball away and, as she lowered the cup again, slipped a huge ball under it. The soft, squishy thing was tiny at first, but even as she let it go under the cup it swelled up. "Now we know there is two under the middle one"—she again lifted the middle cup, but now there was three under it—"and… oh, they seem to be multiplying."

This time I did see what she did with the middle cup. She removed the three balls and left nothing under it. It was all so smooth and steady that I realized how much she had to be practicing this to get it so good that I missed one of her setups.

"But there's nothing under this one, right?" She lifted the right cup to reveal it empty, then looked at me. "Phew. I was starting to worry they were ganging up on us." When she put the cup back down, I spotted another large ball go under it. "Perhaps we should check on the spare one again?"

I knew what was coming. The ball she'd put under the left cup was huge. When she lifted it up and the huge ball was sitting there, I let out an appropriate gasp of surprise.

"Oh no, they're growing now! Quick, assistant, check the right one."

I reached up to the table and lifted the right cup to reveal the huge ball she'd put under it.

Everypony in the room was now fixated on that middle cup. While they were, I noticed Trixie hold an apple just under the card table, which seemed to have some kind of flap under it that concealed the apple from everypony watching.

"Do you want to guess what's under the last cup?" Trixie looked around the audience and got tons of shouted-back replies. When she lifted the cup up completely, I'd expected the same three balls—instead there were dozens. Balls spilled all over the card table and threatened to fall of the table in all directions. She slammed the cup back down, but was too late to contain any of them.

That's when it hit me that she'd completely missed all the balls with the cup, and she wasn't holding the apple anymore. When she picked the cup back up to reveal the apple under it, everypony in the room started cheering.

Taking her hat off, Trixie levitated the apple up and over to set it on Cheerilee's desk. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will be performing tomorrow in the town square!" Showing none of the sleight of hoof she'd used earlier, Trixie pulled out a small round thing and threw it to the floor.

A puff of smoke completely failed to obscure her grabbing the table, the balls, and her cups and running out the door with them—but it didn't stop everypony in the room laughing at the silliness of what she'd done.

When the laughter started to die down, Miss Cheerilee gestured toward the desks with her hoof. "Snails, Scootaloo, please take your seats."

And, of course, that's the start of class. I don't know why I disliked class so much, but it probably had to do with how much we had to sit still. I liked doing stuff. Exercising. Running around. Flying.

As soon as Miss Cheerilee announced lunch break, I was out the door with my packed lunch before any other foal could get out of their desks. Being inside so much was the worst.

Racing toward my favorite tree, I put my lunch down carefully and started to do my exercises.

"What'cha doing?"

I Turned my head to see it was an earth pony with glasses on asking me. "Hey, Peppermint, just doing my stretches."

She sat down at my tree and leaned against it. "Oh, right, so you can use your wings, right?" She pulled out a sandwich and started munching on it.

"Yeah. I wanna fly, and that means I need to get my wings in shape." Bracing my wings on the ground, I started doing wing-ups. "Do you have anything planned for the weekend?"

"Going and seeing that show, for one. What about you?" she asked between mouthfuls.

"Yeah, but I probably won't be around all day. Lyra wants to have dinner with friends in Canterlot, and that means my usual train ride." It had been a little scary at first, but once I figured out how to know when the right stop was, and how to ask the conductor to tell me when I should be getting off, it was really easy.

I kept at my exercises, barely noticing how long it was taking as I counted out the repetitions. When I swapped onto my back, my belly let out a grumble.

"Aren't you going to have lunch?"

"When I'm done with this, I will. If you look in my lunch bag, there're some sweets Sweetie packed for me. You can have one if you want." My wings strained against my weight, but this was what I had to do.

I watched her dig into my lunch bag and lift out a smaller bag. "Sweetie Belle made these? You might not want to—"

"No"—I huffed as I lifted myself back up—"Sweetie Drops. She and Lyra look after me, remember?"

"Ohhhh." She opened the bag up and took one out. "These smell really good." When she put it in her mouth, I watched as her eyes dilated wide and a huge smile covered her snout. "If weawy goodf!"

I finished my stretches and stood up. "I'll be flying in no time!"

"Y-You said your foster Mom made these?" Peppermint Twist asked. "D-Do you think I could meet her? I really like them and I'd love to try making them too!"

"She's probably going to be around a lot more now. She works in Canterlot." I looked inside my lunch bag and found an apple and a sandwich. When I lifted the latter from the bag, I knew it was Lyra who made it.

Not all ponies liked to eat fish. In fact, it was mostly only pegasi who did so, but I'd grown to enjoy the taste and the doctor had said that I should be eating protein-rich food. I took a bite of it and tasted the usual mayonnaise and cheese as well.

"What's that smell?" Peppermint turned to look at me, screwing her snout up.

Shoving the mouthful to one side of my mouth, I asked, "Do you really want me to tell you?" I finished that mouthful and swallowed it before she even worked out I'd asked her a question.

"It's not tomato and lettuce, is it…?"

I just snorted at that. "Poached trout, mayonnaise, and cheese. Lyra makes them specially for me. You're lucky she didn't make me lunch from her homeland." I took another bite of my sandwich, relishing the rich flavors.

"W-W-What—No! I don't want to know." She shrank back for a moment, but by the time I finished my first half a sandwich, she was looking curious. "Okay, tell me."

"Well, you have to imagine that she's from a whole different world. Cows and sheep aren't smart there—can't even talk." I nibbled on a corner of the next half. "She's eaten all kinds of animals."

"C-Cows?"

"Yup."

"S-Sheep?"

"Of course."

"What about…"

I waited a few moments for her to finish, but Peppermint seemed unable to come up with something suitable. "Like I said, a whole other world. I went there on the school holidays." I turned to look at her and flashed my biggest smile. On second thought, given my fish-breath and the likelihood there was bits of fish in my teeth, I probably shouldn't have done that.

Peppermint Twist screamed and had to quickly cover her mouth with her hooves.

"What's going on here, girls?" Miss Cheerilee asked as she approached.

Peppermint uncovered her mouth. "Scootaloo was going to eat me!"

I couldn't help myself and fell over sideways giggling. Okay, so I might have set that up, but she didn't have to actually think that.

Or say it.

"Peppermint Twist, Scootaloo isn't going to eat you. Are you, Scootaloo?" Miss Cheerilee looked at me, and I could swear she was struggling not to laugh.

"I mean, I was pretty hungry, but I have an apple to eat after my sandwich. I should be okay today."

Now Miss Cheerilee was almost losing it. When she turned back to look at Peppermint, however, her face was back to normal. "Peppermint, she won't eat you."

"B-But she said she went to another world where they eat meat all the time." Pointing at my sandwich, Peppermint's hoof wavered a little. "A-And she's eating fish! She never ate fish before!"

"Scootaloo is on a high-protein diet to help her wing muscles and tendons strengthen. She won't be eating anything more exciting than that—which I'll remind you that a lot of ponies eat." Now with a warm smile in place of her earlier smirk, Miss Cheerilee turned back to me. "And it'd be wonderful if you'd tell the whole class about your holiday on Monday, Scootaloo. I know Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's holiday report took up all the day we had planned for them, but I'm quite sure she didn't go to another world."

Homework! Ack! The surefire way to ruin a great weekend! Okay, I could put off writing it up until Sunday, that way I could enjoy Trixie's show tomorrow and still go up to the Guard HQ and talk to Sharp Horn. "Okay!" Despite having to do extra work, I was excited to talk about my holidays. There was so much awesome stuff I did, and it was the reason I'll be able to fly!

When Miss Cheerilee walked off to do something else, Peppermint let out a sigh. "S-Sorry. Sometimes I just blurt things out without thinking about it first."

"I mean, I was poking fun, so I guess we're even. Batstralia's a strange place, but they don't eat meat there anymore." Which was ironic because I was. "You see, all the people there got turned into bat ponies. All they want to eat now is fruit."

I gulped down the last bite of my sandwich but, instead of going for my apple, I grabbed the bag of sweets and opened it. The smell of sugar hit me like a hammer, and before I realized it I had one in my mouth.

Sweetie Drops' candies were, without a doubt, the best thing in the world—at least for the seconds they lasted. Everything else faded into background noise as the taste and intensity of the treats stole everything but my ability to eat them.

"Can I have another one?" Peppermint asked.

I looked into the paper bag and saw two left. Holding it out, I offered her her pick of them. "Sure. Just enough for one more each."

When we each finished the last of the candy, I picked up my apple and brushed it against my coat. "The bell will be ringing soon. Want to see how many laps we can run of the school before it does?"

I could see Peppermint Twist thought I was a crazy, but a moment later she shrugged her shoulders and laughed. "You'll win, but okay!"

Our afternoon was spent studying geography. It wasn't as terrible as math or comprehension, but it still wasn't the same as going out and experiencing those places. I guess I should thank Lyra and Sweetie for that—they'd shown me how great it can be to find new and interesting places.

As Miss Cheerilee explained about the island-city of Trottingham, I remembered that Sweetie Drops had been there with her squad, defending them from bugbears. I wondered what it would be like having to deal with monsters like that on the regular. Apart from Nightmare Moon and that nasty thing from Batstralia, Ponyville was fairly quiet.

"Oh, and before you go today, please take a permission slip home for your parents to sign. At the end of the school year, this year, we're going to be visiting Princess Celestia's own private garden—and you'll all need to get the paperwork filled out." Miss Cheerilee passed a stack of papers to each foal in the first row of desks, who took one and passed them back.

The bell, which was on a timer, sounded and everypony jumped to their hooves and stampeded for the doorway. I took my time getting up and walked up to Miss Cheerilee's desk. "Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee?"

"Ah, I had wanted to speak to you about the form, Scootaloo. Either of your guardians' signatures will be fine." If there was one thing about Miss Cheerilee that was reliable, it was her knowing everything about classes and stuff in advance.

"Oh! Thanks! Goodbye, Miss Cheerilee!" I didn't wait to hear her reply, instead pounding my hooves to get outside. I'd barely gotten out the door when an explosion startled me to a stop.

A huge, billowing cloud of smoke brought me up short, only to blow away and reveal Trixie standing there with a big grin on her snout. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to escort her number-one apprentice!"

Okay, that smoke cloud showed up the one in class for the gag it was. This was so awesome that I couldn't help but cheer. "Where are we going? Canterlot? I normally do some homework and then take the train there."

"Do you have any homework?" Trixie asked. When I shook my head, she struck another pose. "Then let's go and I'll show you some of the tricks we can do together tomorrow. It's not often Trixie has an assistant, but I can work something out."

We trotted together through town and toward her wagon. Ponies glanced at us—well, they glanced at Trixie—and there was an air of excitement building. "Your hooves are really quick. How did you do that thing with the cup and all the balls at the end?"

"You were watching me, how do you think I did it?" she asked.

"You said you don't use magic for the tricks, which means you did something to get all those balls under there, but how—" I stopped talking when she produced one of the tiny balls and floated it over to me. Used to grasping things out of Lyra's magic aura, I took the ball in my wing and it all came together. "They're soft!"

"Now do you understand how I did it?"

"You put a whole bunch under there and they expand as they come out. I still didn't see you put them in, though." I followed her up to the back door of her wagon and, when she threw the door wide, I froze. There was a bed in there—a hammock—but it was boxed in on all sides by stuff. "Whoa…"

"Now, we can do the classic Sawing a Pony in Half bit, though you'll be a little short to make the box believable. I guess you can saw me in half for that. We can do a bit where you struggle with the saw and have to get another pony to help. We don't even need to instant-stooge for that." She was rummaging around in a pile of stuff and pulling things out at random and passing them to me.

"What's the 'instant-stooge'?" I asked, taking a puppet of a giant tarantula in my wings and carefully setting it to the side.

"Instant-stooging is when we get an audience member on stage and show them—and only them—how we are doing a trick. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred they will be more than happy to go along to be part of the show." She grimaced, and I could practically see her memory of something like that going wrong. "Never instant-stooge a foal. Your chances of having the trick ruined go up to about a hundred percent then."

It clicked what Trixie was doing, and it was the same thing Lyra and Sweetie did—she was treating me as an adult. My adoptive mums had their reasons to, I guess, but why was Trixie doing it? "Trixie, can I ask something?"

"Scootaloo, you can always ask me anything."

I liked that answer. "You don't treat me like a foal. I mean, you do a little, but only in fun ways. If I asked another adult that, they would try to make it simpler or something, or not include the foal bit."

"Several reasons, the first is easily shown by how good that question was. You're a filly, I know that, but you think a little beyond what a filly your age would. I just figured I'd speak to you like you were an adult and let you ask questions to fill in any blanks you didn't understand.

"The second reason is my experience. The Great and Powerful Trixie has toured over much of Equestria and even beyond in some cases—I have met a lot of very smart foals who can see past my tricks, and even a few who were smart enough not to blurt that out to everypony present.

"The last is that Lyra Heartstrings, somepony who I trust a great deal, told me you were a smart filly."

Her reply was amazing. It wasn't just talking to an adult, it was talking to a smart adult. While I got most of what she was saying, there was something that didn't click. "What do you mean 'smart enough not to say that'?"

"My little show at the school. You saw how I was doing the tricks—at least some of them. A lot of foals would have tried to show they were smart by showing that to everypony else. You didn't." She passed me four different decks of cards that were still wrapped in brand-new packaging.

"I—I didn't want to ruin the show. They were all enjoying it. If I'd opened my mouth and told them, they might have liked to know how you did it, but not as much as seeing you do all of it." When she passed me what seemed like a rubber snake—but turned out to be a real snake—I froze. "W-W-What is this?"

"The best work I've managed yet. Hold still and let me drive it." Trixie's horn started to glow the softest shade of blue I'd ever seen while the snake started slithering up my wing and onto my back. It didn't seem to be aggressive. "It's a puppet that can naturally move and slither on its own. My final year at Princess Celestia's school was spent working on it."

"S-So it's not a real snake?" I asked.

"No. I wouldn't pass you a real snake without warning you. This was just for fun. Now, have you had any training using pegasi magic?"

"N-No. I can't exactly fly yet." I flicked both my wings out and immediately knocked myself over and fell into the hammock—which spun around a few times.

Trixie used her magic to untangle me from her hammock and lift me out of the wagon safely. "My wagon is not the place to practice, either. I know most pegasus magic requires you to fly, but if you could at least change the flow of magic around your body you could have controlled that snake." She lifted a hoof to rub at her chin. "We should probably be going—don't want to miss the train. Bring the snake."

When she floated the snake over to me, I took hold of it with a little more confidence and set it on my back again. "Why?"

"Because I think we'll be able to find a pony there who can show you a trick or two. A non-unicorn, that is. The snake is controlled by the flow of magic. It doesn't have to be unicorn magic. Unicorn magic just lets me control it at a distance."

We reached the train station and boarded the train. It was all pretty normal stuff, and Trixie paid for her ticket and mine.

"Would you like to learn a little?"

Her question caught me by surprise. I looked up at Trixie and thought about it. "How can a unicorn teach a pegasus about magic?"

"Well, I won't be teaching you about pegasus magic, just the magic flow everypony has inside them. Close your eyes and focus on your chest." Apparently she'd made my decision for me, but what else were we going to do?

Closing my eyes, I readied to do what she said. Each breath I took made my chest puff out a little before deflating again. After a little longer, I started to feel the thudding in there too. "Yeah."

"You can feel your chest move with your lungs and with your heart, but can you feel deeper? There is another flow in there that will twitch with your heart and stretch with your lungs. Try to look for echoes of them."

This wasn't easy. I could feel my body breathing and beating, but the echo wasn't there. My breathing was the biggest of the feelings, so I focused on that. In. Out. In. Out. It took a little while, but eventually I felt something not as an echo, but triggering just before my breathing. "It's not an echo. My breathing is the echo!"

"Understanding that means you're doing a lot better than most foals when they first try this." Trixie even sounded impressed. "Now I want you to focus on feeling that pre-echo. Feel where it comes from and goes to. Trace it out."

Breathing slowly, I tried to feel it out. The pre-echo started somewhere in my neck and rushed down to my lungs, but there was more. My heart beats were another easy one to spot—then I realized why it had been so hard to see them. "There's so many!"

"Bingo. Now you're seeing it. Follow each one. Try to find the one that's making your tail flick. The one that makes your wings twitch. Can you guess what this is?"

It was interesting to see all the twitches. I flicked various feathers and got the most reaction, though. It was like my wings were a huge switch and whatever these pre-echoes were, they had a lot to do with my wings. "They're like nerves, but not. We learned about nerves in school—they're what make our body react and what makes us feel things, but this is all coming from my head, not going to it."

"Which means it's not nerves. Have you tried feeling how your brain sends it?"

That would be tricky. I tried to focus up higher, but there was a lot of noise in my neck. Still, I felt for that pre-echo when I was about to move my whole wing, and when it was starting I tried to mentally push at it. It worked! My wing got a huge kick of pre-echo, and to my surprise the snake slithered along my back and to that wing. "What is it?"

"That's your magic. Pony bodies are full of it. Everything we do uses a little, but we can use more. Do you have somepony teaching you about your wings work?" Trixie reached out her hoof and booped the snake on the nose.

"Well, kinda. Miss Derpy was trying to teach me how, but what with all the problems with my tendons and seeing the Wonderbolts' doctor, my time with her was kinda shortened. Should I ask her if I can have lessons again?" I changed my focus and pushed more magic to my other wing, which encouraged the snake to go that way instead. "This is kinda cool."

"If she can teach you about using your pegasus magic in your wings, I think it would be a good thing. Magic does more than just help you push clouds, it will encourage your wings to grow stronger."

I kept playing with the snake until we reached the station in Canterlot. Eventually, when I worked out how to get it to coil around my neck, I left it there while we climbed off and headed into the city. "They'll be almost ready for their nightly run. I normally get there in time to see them finishing their training."

Lyra and Sweetie had, through the bits and pieces of conversations and training I'd overheard, taught me how to watch a pony to gauge physical ability, and it surprised me when I paid attention to Trixie's movements that she had muscle. It wasn't the kind gained by running, though, which made me more curious. "How'd you get so strong?"

Trixie paused and looked at me for a second before she started walking again. "My magic? I'm not strong with that."

"No, I mean your muscles," I asked.

"You're a very observant filly. You saw my wagon, imagine if the only way to get around Equestria was to pull that behind you?" Her answer made a lot of sense. The wagon had been fairly large, even if it was packed full of stuff so much it was tiny inside. "Or the Great and Powerful Trixie got strong wrestling ursa-majors."

The idea of anypony physically fighting an ursa-major was absurd—I couldn't help but to giggle as we reached the gates of the E.U.P. Guard grounds.

"Miss Scootaloo?" one of the gate guards asked. "Lieutenant Stiff Peaks asked for you to meet him as soon as you arrive!"

This was different. Normally I just asked to go through to see Lyra. "Okay. Where is he?"

The guard looked at Trixie with a raised eyebrow.

"Trixie is looking after me today. She's one of Lyra—Sergeant Lyra's—friends."

That got a slight nod from the guard. "I will escort you to see the lieutenant." He turned and started doing just that.

I noticed Trixie was smiling, but she seemed comfortable enough following along with me. We weren't going to Stiff Peaks' "office", we were going to his actual office. "He's in his office today? Is that natural?"

"We're sure the lieutenant visits his office at least once a day, though most of us never manage to catch him doing it." The guard sounded more relaxed. I had to wonder if he'd have led me in with Trixie if I hadn't mentioned she was Lyra's friend.

"Thank you," Trixie said when the guard at last stopped at the door to the offices building.

"No problems, ma'am. Just head inside, Miss Scootaloo knows the way." The guard turned and started marching back to the front gate.

"I got the impression he wasn't going to let me in. At least until you spoke up for me. Do they know you that well here?" Trixie used her magic to grasp the door handle and open it.

"Well, I don't know everypony here, but all of them know Lyra and Sweetie. Mentioning either of them will get you some extra attention until they can find one of them. It's kinda their thing, you know?" I stepped through the door ahead of Trixie to see Stiff Peaks talking to somepony else.

"And speak of the filly. Come on through, Scootaloo—Who's this?" Stiff looked up from me to Trixie.

"That's Trixie. Lyra asked her to take care of me today." I didn't bother complaining about needing to be looked after. The change between me living alone and living with Lyra and Sweetie was enough to make me value having somepony around to watch my back.

Also, Trixie was an interesting pony to talk to. She didn't just know the in-school kinda stuff, but she knew what it was like out in the world too.

"Well, we can't get into the details until Lyra and Sweetie get in, but we can chat about your recovery." Stiff gestured back to his office and started to walk toward it. "I understand you're doing all your exercises? Has Cloud Bank given you a time-frame on when you'll be able to start flying?"

"She said it might be a year or two, sir." It was easy to call him sir when everypony else I knew called him that. "Can't you ask her yourself?"

"I could, but you're a foal and a civilian, which means your doctor can give me a smack around the ears for asking such a thing. Two years… This could still work out well." His eyes drifted to my neck as I sat up on the chair at his desk. "Interesting pet you have there."

I looked down and remembered the snake I'd coiled around my neck. "It's—"

"This was my final project at school," Trixie said. "It's a toy that encourages ponies to use their magic-field to manipulate the snake and make it chase around their body. I was surprised to find Scootaloo hadn't had any training in using hers, and thought she might be able to put it to good use."

Stiff's attention turned to Trixie and I caught an evaluating look from him. He knew more about working out what a pony does that Lyra and Sweetie—for all I knew he'd taught them how to do it—so I had to wonder what he figured out. "I shouldn't be surprised, given the company you keep, Miss…?"

"Trixie Lulamoon."

"Miss Trixie. This is a very good idea but how does it work?"

"It follows magic fields. The stronger the field, the faster it moves. I had hoped they would catch on, but as it turned out most ponies are scared of snakes." Trixie's voice was really expressive sometimes, and right now I got the idea that she thought such fears were really stupid.

I limbered up a little and focused on my wings again. I sent a little jolt of magic down and to my right wing, which the snake twitched at. Right, I needed to lead it properly. The path from my neck to my wing was short, but I still had to trace it with magic to get the snake to unwind and slither across my back. "Like that."

"Can I have a try?" Stiff asked.

I shrugged my shoulders, to which Trixie lifted the snake off my back with her magic and transferred it to Stiff Peaks' back.

The little snake started racing around his back, darting around like it was a little rocket on a scooter. Even with his armor between him and the snake, it seemed to never slow down. "Very interesting. How much do you sell them for?"

Trixie coughed. "That one is not for sale. Perhaps I could make some more for you, though. How many do you need?"

"I'd like to start with about twenty. We often have trainees who can't manipulate their magic due to never having learned, and it would be a great boon to give them a way to see when they're doing it right." Stiff made the snake slither down his outstretched leg and set it on the edge of the desk nearest me. "If you could teach us how to make them, we could just pay you invention rights?"

"That would suit me better. My life is on the road, and I hadn't planned to chan—"

There was a double knock on the door from somepony, to whom Stiff called out permission to enter. Lyra and Sweetie, both looking huge in their armor, walked in and snapped off salutes—though both their eyes were on me.

"At ease, sergeants. Lyra, what do you make of this?"

"Trixie, is that your final-year project from Princess Celestia's school? Oh heck, I remember this. It was so awesome." Lyra's horn lit up and the snake started doing a wiggling dance before jumping onto my head.

I caught the snake by directing a pulse of magic to the back of my head and then down, coiling it up around my neck again.

"Huh, when'd you learn to do that?" Lyra asked.

"The question, Lyra, is why you didn't have somepony teaching her how to use her pegasi magic?" Trixie's eyes narrowed. "You know healing will go faster with her magic flowing."

"Uh, I figured Doctor Cloud Bank would be handling all that. I mean she—Oh ponyfeathers, she's used to treating adults, isn't she?" Panic seemed to slam into Lyra and she stared at me as if she'd just done something really bad. "I'm so sorry, Scoots!"

"This"—Trixie gestured to the snake around my neck with a hoof—"is something I've already started helping with. Firstly, you're welcome. Secondly, find a pegasus to teach her properly."

Lyra's eyes locked on the snake again and her eyes widened. "Oh! Your snake! That's why you have it here?"

"Scootaloo's snake now, but yes." Trixie rolled her eyes at Sweetie. "Now, I believe there was something your boss wanted to talk to you about Scootaloo. I can leave if you'd rather?"

Quiet up until now, Sweetie shook her head. "Trixie, you don't need to go unless the lieutenant needs you to."

I nodded my head. Since Trixie seemed so smart, I wanted her around in case I could find out any more fun things.

"Well, I'll get down to it. I know that the Wonderbolts have been scouting the various young flier events in Cloudsdale for a long time, but there's noting particularly special like that for either earth ponies or unicorns, or pegasi who aren't flight-crazy. Which is why I wanted to see about organizing something." He looked at Sweetie and Lyra significantly.

"By that, sir, you mean you want us to organize something?" Sweetie asked.

Stiff laughed. "This is why I like having you both here. You understand me so well. So, can you do it?"

I looked at Lyra, though she was looking at Sweetie. They both looked serious and nodded at each other after a few moments. "So why am I here?" I asked Stiff.

"That's partly related to this. As well as these contests, I'd like to start a junior guard. There would be no requirements to sign up or perform active duties at all, but there would be training. Like how to use your magic properly, how to defend yourself in a situation, and how to think enough to keep situations from happening." While he spoke, his eyes were locked on mine.

"Hold up." My brain was running overtime. I leaned forward and planted a hoof on his desk. "You are going to start a junior guard, and that has to do with me?" Excitement started to bubble up inside. "W-What would we be doing? Running, because everypony does that, but will I learn to use my pegasi magic and fly?"

"No." Stiff looked at Lyra. "I think I have the right pony to organize this right here. It needs somepony known to those in the school system here in Canterlot, it needs a pony who knows the workings of the Guard and how training works, and it needs somepony who can understand what parents will want."

Lyra paused a moment and then her eyes widened. "Wait. Me?!"

"There's not a lot of ponies I'd trust with this role. You have proved you can handle training, and you've had experience training foals, and all the things I just mentioned. There wouldn't be a promotion immediately, but there may be in future—though I understand you aren't concerned about promotion-hopping."

"I need to think about this. Why do you keep dropping these bombshells on me?"

Sweetie cleared her throat. "Because you're you, Lyra. Every time somepony throws a huge problem your way, you solve it." She reached a foreleg out and bumped Lyra on her armored shoulder. "And because you care. There's a lot of ponies in the Guard that would be terrible at this, but you're not one of them."

Lyra's shoulders slumped and she hunched over a little. "I just don't want to screw this up."

"Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings, I have never seen you screw up a single thing. I don't think you'll start now. Now, Sergeant Sweetie Drops, I have a proposal for you, too." Stiff looked at Sweetie like he'd cornered a very dangerous animal, given how much I'd seen Sweetie spar with the recruits, I could believe it. "I don't intend for you to remain idle here either, as well as assisting Lyra with her project, I'd like you to build me outlines for what it would take to get a pony from no aptitude to fully combat ready. Please take into account any pre-training like what Lyra will be doing, as well as pushing gifted recruits to overperform and less-capable recruits to reach that minimum level required.

"Naturally, neither of you need to dive into this until after your recruits have graduated. Dismissed."

Lyra and Sweetie started to turn, but waited for me to jump down from the chair and follow them. When we were outside the room, I looked between the two of them—they looked surprised. "So what does all this mean?"

"That we're going to be busy as of Monday. On the plus side, we don't need to be at the training grounds to plan this. We might even want to get our own offices somewhere to give us some space where the work stays." Lyra looked at Sweetie with an expression that I'd learned meant she had a plan for something. "And I need to see Princess Celestia about it. I have some ideas, but I want her advice."

We walked to the castle while Lyra, Sweetie, and Trixie talked. The Royal Guard just saluted when we arrived, at which point a pink blur galloped toward us and caught Trixie in a hug. "Trixie! When did you get back into Canterlot?" Cadance asked.

"Oh, you know how it is traveling the roads of Equestria, one moment you're leaving Manehatten and next you wander into a town and find two of your besties rushing to give you a hoof with your wagon." Hugging back, Trixie had a big smile on her snout. "What about you? Still with—"

"Yeah she is." Shining walked more sedately than Cadance, but he still went right up to Trixie and hugged her. He was big—as big as Cadance—and with his Royal Guard armor he looked extra imposing. "It's good to see you again."

"You all know each other?" The words tumbled from my mouth before I realized it.

Shining looked down at me and turned a little, keeping one foreleg around Trixie's neck. "Trixie helped Cadie show me how much she cared for me."

"We're still having dinner in two hours, right?" Cadance asked.

Sweetie nodded. "Yup. We have some things to discuss with Princess Celestia. Our Lieutenant has us organizing a school to teach foals how to use their innate abilities as well as to defend themselves."

"Lieutenant Stiff Peaks, right?" Shining asked. When he got a nod from both Lyra and Sweetie, he smirked. "He's always been a forward thinker. Does he smell trouble coming?"

"He said something about how the Wonderbolts were doing something similar with their young flier program. Of course, we need to cater for all three—" Lyra paused and looked surprised. "Uh, well, we should probably make up something for alicorns too. After all, they can come into their power at any age."

"You know, I wouldn't mind helping you out with that side of things. Celestia gave me some time in her school to learn magic, but I've never really explored my earth pony side, and as far as my pegasus training goes—" She was looking right at me. "Is that a snake around your neck?"

Wanting to show off, I pushed my magic in a wave down from my neck and then up the back (through my mane) so the snake was on top of my head. "Sure is! Trixie made it to help teach ponies to use their magic."

"Stiff Peaks asked me to supply him with more to use them as teaching aids. I don't know if I'll have the time to, what with my traveling show." Trixie tapped her chin with a hoof. "I'll figure something out. The Great and Powerful Trixie will not be detained!"

"Hey, Scoots, do you want to come with us or wait out here?" As Lyra asked, she looked at Cadance.

By the time I turned to look at Cadance, I missed whatever expression she'd made back. "Uh, I might stay out here."

Sweetie and Lyra both gave me encouraging smiles and turned to head into the castle.

"Hey." Shining's voice surprised me, mostly because I could hear Cadance and Trixie walking away. "You wanna go look around the armory?"

Not just "the armory" but the Royal Guard Armory?! There was only one answer to that. "Yes please!"

"Alrighty then, come on and we can poke around at what goodies Sharp Horn has made. Do you know her?" As we walked around to the guardhouse, I noticed that Shining's armor looked different to the rest. There was something else—all the other Royal Guard saluted him.

"Uh, yeah! I've met Sharp Horn. She's nice."

"She makes all the metal equipment for the Guard, no matter the detachment." At the doors to the Royal Guard guardhouse, the two ponies there snapped a salute to Shining, and he returned it. "At ease. Just taking a future recruit to see the good toys."

"You got a promotion?" I asked as we walked into the guardhouse.

"Yeah. Captain. It was all kinda rushed, though. I think she—Princess Celestia—is planning something. Not that I haven't worked my flank off." When we reached a heavy door, Shining leaned forward and pressed the tip of his horn to the middle of it. A flicker of pink magic was all it took and the door started to open. "Here we go. Best gear in Equestria."

"Whoa. Those are enchanted Royal Guard spears, right?" I knew better than to reach out and touch them. The fabled spears of the Royal Guard would pierce anything—literally anything. Each was enchanted by Princess Celestia herself.

I reached a hoof toward one, then paused and looked at Shining. "Wait, isn't captain higher rank than lieutenant?"

"Kinda. Oh, you can pick one up. The enchantments won't kick-in unless you're wearing Royal Guard armor." Shining used his magic to lift two of the spears from the rack—passing one to me. "Captain is higher than lieutenant, but I only outrank lieutenants in the Royal Guard detachment. Like, lieutenant Stiff Peaks wouldn't be required to salute me or follow my orders, just like I don't have to follow his or salute him. I respect him too much not to at least listen to him, though, and we saluted each other when we met after my promotion."

Holding the spear with my right foreleg and my right wing together, I struggled to hold it. It was heavy, and there was a feeling like it didn't want me holding it. Still, I had permission, and it wasn't like the Royal Guard took mares, so this is probably my only shot of holding one. "These can pierce anything, can't they?"

"When activated, yeah. It's…"

I looked back to see him staring over my head at nothing. "Shining?"

"Lyra keeps telling me how adult you are, but I don't know about this. It's—Oh, horse apples. So I'm holding this spear, right?"

I nodded, bracing the butt of my spear on the ground and holding it upright with my wing.

"Okay, so this could slice through the heaviest armor, through stone, and even through magical enchantments—like my own shield. It doesn't just pierce the enchantment, it rips it apart and destroys it, and yeah, it hurts like hell when someone uses one to do it. So you have all this power that Princess Celestia was put in your own hooves—now what happens if you just need to stop a few creatures?" He looked at me.

"Why don't you get some other weapons? Sweetie seems just fine using her own hooves, armor, and body as a weapon." I was trying to get my head around it, but it was still kinda awe-inspiring just to hold one of the weapons.

Shining twirled his spear and made a thrust away from us with it. As he shoved it forward with his magic, the tip crackled with magic for just a moment. "That'd be great, though with nearly 80% of the Royal Guard being pegasi or unicorns, we kinda lack the earth ponies that would be needed for that. Strong as I am, if it's an earth pony I have to subdue, and they know how to use their innate magic, I am starting on the back-hoof."

Lifting the spear back up, I turned it slowly with my wing and my leg, careful not to drop it even as I had it upside down. "The enchantments are all aimed along the tip, and you said this won't work in my hooves?"

"Yeah, I—"

I turned the butt of the spear toward him and poked him in the shoulder. "Well?"

Staring at the spear where it hit him, Shining's eyes were wide. "How in Celestia's name did you just—Did you come up with that just now?"

I shrugged my shoulders—almost dropping the spear as I did. "Seemed obvious."

"It is. So obvious nopony has ever thought of it before. Scootaloo, that's an amazing idea." Prancing in place, he looked so excited and happy. "I need to contact our training group and have them work to come up with ways to use the butt of the spears.

"Still, it won't stop us from having to put ourselves between any threat and our princesses, but it gives us another tool. Is there anything I—or the Royal Guard—can do to show our thanks?"

Again I was forced to put my brain into gear. I mean, I wasn't an egg-head or anything, but some of this stuff just came naturally. Or, so it seemed. The weight of the spear had become more accustomed in my hooves, though no easier to hold, but it gave me an idea. "Lyra and Sweetie are starting this school to teach young ponies how to use their innate magic and how to fight, but I want—I want more than just that. I can use one of these, but could you teach me how to use a smaller spear? How to use pegasus armor? Use my innate magic?"

"You remind me of Twily," Shining said.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. I can't teach you how to do any of those things"—when I frowned, he held up a hoof to ward off my mood-change—"but I could have one of our company sergeants, a pegasus, come and teach you. Armor might be harder, but Sharp Horn owes me one. I take it you don't want Lyra or Sweetie to know?"

"Well, I mean, I'd like to surprise them, but if they ask I don't want you getting in trouble or anything. So, uh, tell them if they ask. It'd be fun to turn up on the first day of their school and just kick flank." But it filled me with excitement. Would Shining be okay with it? Could he find somepony to help me? What would Sharp Horn say?

"Yeah, I think I can do that. I know Lyra and Sweetie pretty good, so I'm pretty sure they'd be cool with it. Okay, recruit Scootaloo, I'll organize you some pegasus armor, a quarterstaff, and somepony to train you for a few weeks. You need to work out how to keep this hidden from two of the sharpest minds in the E.U.P. Guard." His words made me gulp because he was absolutely right.

"H-How long each day will I need?" I asked.

"Let's go with two hours with two hours of supervised learning, and then you can spend as much time as you want on personal practice?" Shining held up his huge hoof to me.

At first, I thought he wanted the spear back, but then I realized he wanted the age-old way all ponies agreed on things. I lifted my hoof and bumped it against his. "I'll work something out."

"You know, I'm sure you will. Come on, we should go and see what everypony is doing. I'm sure Cadie will have something for me to wear. I don't get it, why can Sweetie and Lyra wear armor to dinner but I have to dress up?" As he spoke, Shining put his spear back on the rack and, when I offered him the one I'd been holding, he put that away too.

"Maybe I could say something?" I followed along at his side as we left the armory.

"Might work, but might seem too much like us conspiring. Can't be helped, I guess. They do work in Canterlot, after all, and don't exactly have their wardrobes here." We walked together out into the grounds again and toward the building that was Shining and Cadance's home.

Trixie and Cadance were both working on their makeup, but the moment Shining opened the door, he was engulfed in a blue glob of telekinesis. "Where have you been?! You need to get changed and have a shower and get ready!"

I did my best to keep out of their manes, but even with Cadance and Shining making a lot of noise about how much work his mane needed Trixie watched me. At last I realized she wasn't going to look away so I could hide. "I need to dress up for this too?"

"No, but you do need to look like you didn't come straight from the Royal Guard armory." At my look of shock, Trixie smiled wider. "Let me see. You went off with Shining Armor, you both came back looking excited about something, and I heard Shining mention it to Cadance when she asked him where you went."

I wasn't sure if I would tell her—or anypony else—about my deal with Shining. "Oh, uh, we just talked about stuff. Since I want to join the Guard when I'm older, I want to find out about all the different parts of it."

Rolling her eyes, Trixie floated a brush over to me and attacked my mane with it. "You're not the right color or sex for that job, kiddo, but if you get those wings working well enough, have you considered the Wonderbolts?"

"That'd be cool, and I kinda told somepony I would, but I'm having second thoughts. The Wonderbolts are amazing, but the more I see of the work the rest of the E.U.P. Guard does, the more I see how important it is to have talented ponies there." As I spoke, I said what was coming from my thoughts on the matter. Was I going to try for Wonderbolts? I think I need to know what they do, first—apart from their shows.

"Well, you have some time to decide on that. Given what Lyra and Sweetie are doing, I think you'll get a first-hoof view of it, too." Trixie moved the brush from my mane to my tail. "Hold still. If you think you'll be on stage with me tomorrow without double this amount of presentation, you have another thing coming."

I groaned and put up with Trixie brushing the knots out of my tail. When Lyra and Sweetie came back, they were both talking excitedly. I turned my attention onto them. "What happened?"

"Princess Celestia loves the idea and she is more than happy with Lyra and myself organizing it. She wants to add an extra bit to it being a Junior Equestrian Games. There's going to be so much to plan, but she has told us we will have a government grant so that we are only partially funded by the Guard." Sweetie nodded to Trixie. "So we're going to have the authority to run this as it should be run, and the budget to make it something special. Thanks, Trixie."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 4 [[ A Scootaloo Perspective ]]

So it turned out that helping a magician was hard work. After my morning run and stretches, we spent four hours getting the stage set up and ready, as well as positioning all the special things for the show. Trap doors, special props, and even a bunch of chemicals that Trixie had to mix were all meticulously put together and placed.

Finally, as everypony was having lunch in and around the town square, did Trixie turn to me. "You ready?"

Almost bouncing in my excitement, I nodded at her.

Reaching magically to the lever that operated the stage, Trixie pulled it down. "Come one! Come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She jumped out onto the stage. "And her assistant!"

That was my cue! I jumped out to stand beside her, then reared up into the air beside her as the crowd gasped. And so we started the routine. It was going great, but there were some ponies a little back from the front of the crowd that were talking loudly, and their talk ended with a voice I recognized booing us. I froze at the sound of Rainbow Dash's voice.

"Well-well-well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience!" Trixie had moved smoothly from the actual act to the accusation, and when the crowd parted to reveal Rainbow and her friends, my heart nearly stopped.

I took a few steps back, hating the pain Rainbow's sneer hit me with. Looking around, I spotted an equally surprised Lyra.

While I'd stood there in shock, Rainbow actually flew up onto the stage and was challenging Trixie. I barely registered Trixie's deflection with what was actual magic—and telling a tale about defeating an ursa major.

From the back of the stage I could hear as Applejack, Rainbow, and then Rarity challenge Trixie, and each of them doing it was like a knife stabbing me in the chest. What were they thinking? It was just a show!

"Hey Scoots. You okay?"

At the sound of Lyra's voice, I practically jumped at her and wrapped my forelegs around her neck. "What are they doing?"

"Some ponies just don't get shows. I'll find Twilight and talk to her in a bit, but I just wanted to make sure you're okay." She wrapped a foreleg around my back and squeezed, and that was the trigger.

My eyes filled with tears and I started to sob. I couldn't help myself and kept trying to ask why Rainbow had done what she'd done. It was all stupid. All we wanted to do was help some ponies have fun.

And all through it, while I struggled to put two words together without sobbing, Lyra held me and. She didn't try to tell me everything would be better or that she could fix it all. But I wanted to know one thing. "Why?"

"This is a case of smart ponies being stupid when in a group." She loosened her grip a little, so I did too. Lyra held me up in her magic now and used her fetlock to wipe away my tears. "Rainbow just got—she got carried away."

But Rainbow wasn't just anypony. She was—was—the most awesome pony I knew. "C-Can we just go home?"

"You don't want to watch the rest of the show? I think things have calmed down out there now." Lifting me up to her back, Lyra turned and started walking out of the wagon.

"B-But—"

"Trixie has been on the road for years, Scoots. If anypony can chase off a few hecklers, it's her." She kept walking and circled around the stage to sneak back into the crowd. Winding her way through the other ponies of town, I noticed Trixie look at us for a moment, and Lyra nodded. "See?"

"Now the Great and Powerful Trixie needs an assistant from the audience!" Trixie looked our way, but this time Lyra shook her head. She kept scanning ponies until she spotted one who had her hoof in the air. "Ah! This pony whom the Great and Powerful Trixie has never met before will do. What's your name, Pinkie Pie?"

I couldn't help it, I giggled at the question so much, then even more when Pinkie shouted out her name. "Trixie knows Pinkie?" I asked softly.

Lyra snorted. "You'd be surprised who Trixie knows—though, after last night, maybe not. She was a popular pony a few classes ahead of me in school and I don't think she's been wasting her time. This should be funny."

Taking off her hat, Trixie bowed to Pinkie. "Now, if you could—Hey! Give that back!" The motion had been so quick I would have sworn the hat teleported with magic onto Pinkie's head. "Trixie demands her hat back from the—"

"The Great and Powerful Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie seemed just as fast as Trixie, taking Trixie's cape and posing dramatically. "… will now do a trick with her fantastic assistant, Trixie!"

My giggles turned into laughter, as did everyone. This was what Trixie's show should have been!

We watched as Pinkie sawed Trixie in half, pausing to ask her if the saw was fake (and proving that it wasn't). Then they did the making a pony disappear trick. Which is how Pinkie got off stage leaving just the hat and cape behind—which Trixie quickly gathered up and put back on.

"Hi, guys," Pinkie said from beside us. "Who was that amazing pink pony before?"

Around us (and including us), everypony cracked up into more laughter. I took a moment to look on stage, and Trixie was looking at me—then winked.

"And now, without any further interruptions from the—the Great and Powerful Pinkie," Trixie said, her voice raised above the crowd, "Trixie will perform one last—" Before she could get out another word, Trixie exploded.

A series of fireworks went off and smoke billowed from the stage, and everypony stomped their hooves in excitement. As the smoke cleared to reveal a burnt black patch on the stage, everypony gasped in shock, only to fall into more cheers as Trixie poked her head out from between the curtains and winked.

"Hey, Pinkie, you're friends with Twilight and all them, right?" Lyra asked.

"Not today I'm not. What was with all that?" Pinkie sat down and pointed toward the stage with both forelegs. "Trixie was just getting warmed up and then Spike starts going on and on about how much Twilight was better than her at magic, and then Applejack and Rainbow start arguing about it, then—Well, you saw how it turned out."

"Do you want to have a word with Twilight, or should I?" Lyra asked.

"I'll do it. I think she'll take it more seriously if I deliver the scalding. What is it with ponies when they get into a group and go bonkers?" Standing up again, Pinkie gave her opinion on bonkers by twirling her hoof at the side of her head. "Maybe I'll talk Fluttershy into coming too. Nopony confronts you on how terrible you've been like she does.

"Hey." Pinkie stepped closer and stuck her snout under mine, looking up into my eyes. "Weren't you on stage with Trixie?"

"Y-Yeah." It was all I could get out, but Pinkie's gaze was like some kind of drill boring into my head to turn my mouth on. "We were supposed to do a bunch of tricks together. We even rehearsed last night and earlier today. But then—then Rainbow Dash started—and I couldn't—"

"Whoah. Okay, now they're all going to get their plots kicked, but first there's something I need to show you." Somehow, Pinkie grabbed Lyra and me and she rushed us to Sugarcube Corner and into a booth. My mind spun at how she'd done it so fast that we hadn't been able to say anything let alone stop her, but here we were and she was setting a slice of cake in front of each of us and a shake too. "This should be a good start. Is there anything else I can get you? I am great and powerful, you know."

Lyra leaned over to me and asked, "Did she just—?"

I nodded.

"Right. Probably something to do with her special talent. Thanks, Pinkie, I think we can take it from here. Could you tell Trixie we're going home after this?" Lyra asked.

"Sure!" Pinkie bounced on all four legs toward the door. "Bye bye!"

"She's like a tornado," I said.

"Yeah, you get used to her—though that thing she did just now was new. Maybe all that stuff with the Elements of Harmony did something to her?" Taking a deep breath, Lyra shook her head. "That's for another time. Right now we need to eat and enjoy this cake and drink our 'shakes. She'll know if we don't."

"Do you think Rainbow meant all that?" I asked.

"The heckling? Maybe a little, but I wonder if what Pinkie said about Spike was right. He's a young dragon, which might be significant or not, but young—" Lyra paused and looked at me, blushing. "I kinda forget you're a filly sometimes. You always act so grown-up around me."

"You make me want to act more responsible. How am I meant to be awesome if you're already too awesome to beat?" I poked Lyra with a wing.

"Me?! What about Bon Bon? I have to deal with this awesome, amazing mare who just won't quit being both those things 24/7. I'm just glad nopony in town has made the connection between Twilight and me going to the same school. She's saved Equestria. It's going to be hard to catch up to that!"

"You've saved Equestria." I fished around for the exact circumstances. "Well, kinda. You do a lot of things that add up to at least one saving. There was that monster that got loose in town, teaching ponies in the Guard, teaching an alicorn, teaching all the unicorn foals, doing…" I waved a wing in a circle. "… stuff."

"And who remembers that stuff when Twilight swooped in and literally defeated Nightmare Moon and freed Princess Celestia's little sister at the same time?" She took a long sip of her drink.

There had to be something that she was doing that compared to what Twilight had done. Not being able to come up with something made me feel bad.

"What's the matter?" Lyra asked. "You don't look like a filly eating one of the best cakes of her life."

"I just—" Clamping my jaw shut so I didn't say something stupid, I thought about what I actually wanted to say. "You might not have saved Equestria yet, but you saved me."

It felt like forever since my mom and dad had died—since somepony told me—but I have learned enough to know that another year living like I was wouldn't have worked. I would have been slipping behind on my studies, I wouldn't have ever gotten my wings fixed, and my house would have rotted around me.

Closing my eyes, I didn't so much cry as ran through all the things Lyra and Sweetie had done to change my life. "You saved me."

Lyra reached out to me with her hoof and brushed my cheek. It was nice to be appreciated, to be welcome. If I hadn't just cried until I was out of tears, I might have started right then. "There's a lot of sappy stuff I could say, but I won't. I'd get the words all wrong and stumble over half of them. Let's finish this cake and get some more."

"More?"

"Yeah. Today is definitely a cake day." Using her magic to pick up her fork, Lyra took a huge piece of her own cake slice and put it in her mouth.

"Pfft. Why would we buy more cake? We can go home and make a cake. Then Sweetie can have some too."

"You have the best ideas," Lyra said. Or, at least, I think that's what she said—her mouth was still full of cake and it was hard to understand her.

We spent the whole afternoon baking. First it was a huge cake, then so many cookies we had to empty out a cookie jar ourselves just to fill it with cookies, and finally we made the wonder that Lyra called Pavlova. It was literally the best way to ignore the feelings from early in the show with Trixie.

"Come on, let's get a run in while that's chilling and the last cake is cooling down," Lyra said. She wasn't wearing her armor, having taken it off to bake, and just walked for the front door. "Come on, we can get a few laps in before Trixie arrives."

We didn't bother with starting stretches, we just headed outside and started galloping. It was a great way to clear my mind and just worry about putting each hoof down in the right place to keep up with Lyra.

It was our third lap—with my legs starting to feel a little like jello—that we heard the roar from across town. Lyra didn't even hesitate. She turned on a die and aimed directly for the sound and sped her pace up.

If I spoke up, she'd probably stop to make sure I was somewhere safe, which would mean whichever ponies are in trouble wouldn't have the most capable unicorn in Equestria between them and the monster.

Well, it was time for me to prove I wasn't just a scared filly who always needed protecting! Keeping my mouth closed, I stretched my gait as far as I could to keep up with Lyra.

"Scoots, I want you to keep back. If there's anypony in the way of whatever this thing is, try to get them out of the way, got it?" She didn't look at me, but her words shocked me to my core. She wasn't going to tell me to run and leave her to deal with whatever it was.

She trusted me!

That's when I realized she wasn't running at her full speed—she was only going as fast as I could run at my maximum. "Yeah! I mean, got it!"

Together we galloped around the corner of a house and almost got stampeded by ponies coming the other way. There was so many around that I couldn't see what made Lyra gasp in shock, but I heard two voices ahead say—at the same time—"Made it up?!"

Snips and Snails. I'd only been in Cheerilee's class for a year now, but at least three minor disasters had been caused by one or the other—or both. When the crowd blew by us, I saw what made Lyra gasp—it made me gasp too.

It was a bear that was as big as a house and it looked angry. Trixie was standing there staring at it with Snips and Snails behind her. Twilight Sparkle stood with a bunch of other ponies that all looked frozen with fear.

As the bear advanced, so did Twilight.

"Is she—?" I asked, not able to finish asking the question as Twilight's horn turned into a giant flare of power.

"Saving the town? Yeah." Lyra watched with me while Twilight soothed the giant bear with music and then fed it milk. "How am I meant to compete with this? I couldn't even start to feed these spells the energy they need to—Now she's picking it up just with her telekinesis?"

With everypony rushing back and cheering for Twilight, it was impossible to make out what was going on in the center of the group. Pushing in behind Lyra, I followed her through the crowd and to inner edge just as the sound of a smoke bomb going off got my attention. "Was that Trixie?"

"Oh Tartarus. Scoots, hold on tight and keep your wings tucked." When Lyra crouched low, I jumped onto her back and held on around her neck. No sooner did I have a good grip than her horn glowed and we teleported.

Knowing the destination was impossible, though with my experience of Lyra's tactics, "in the sky" and "falling" were the only logical solutions. I looked over her shoulder and spotted Trixie before Lyra did. "Over there!" I said, only pointing with a hoof.

The result was Another two teleports in quick succession—the first sent us back up again and the seconds (when we reached the top of our arc) was to the ground right in front of Trixie.

"Trixie, stop!" Lyra had accounted for a lot of things, but when Trixie opened her eyes wide to reveal she was crying (and couldn't see well), she couldn't actually move quickly enough to avoid Trixie running right into her.

Jumping clear before the collided, I rolled away and got back on my hooves. "What the heck happened?"

That's when Trixie lifted her head from the tangle of limbs she and Lyra were in, and I saw tears in her eyes. Adults weren't meant to cry except when they were really sad. Trixie looked sad, but there was more emotions there than just sadness. I couldn't figure it out, so I did the only thing I could think of—what Lyra had done for me.

Walking back to them, I hugged Trixie with my forelegs.

"Those—those foals brought that ursa to town and it—it crush my wagon! Everything I owned was in that wagon and they—" She hugged me tight and I felt her wet cheek on my neck. "They thought I did the wrong thing!"

I had to reach a wing around to pat her on the back. Lyra was getting up as well now, but she left me to hug Trixie. "It will be okay, Trixie."

She jerked her head back, which had slightly stuck to my mane because I could feel the wetness of her tears there. "How can you say that? It had all my stuff!"

"Simple, because we're here. If you think for a second that you'll be stuck without all your things, you're wrong, Trixie. Where's your wagon? We need to get whatever's still okay out of it," I said.

Trixie just stared at me. Almost a minute passed before she finally shook her head and reached up with a hoof to wipe her tears away. "It's back in town. The ursa crushed it with one paw." She looked like she might cry at any moment.

"Well, there has to be something still in there. Come on." I stood up and prodded her with a wing.

"You're right." turning back toward Ponyville, Trixie let out a sigh. "I guess I will be needing those bits from the Guard after all."

I had to think. There was a pile of bits I had building up from Lyra and Sweetie's rent, but if she didn't need bits then there was only one other thing I could offer apart from friendship. "If you need somewhere to stay, Trixie, I have a spare room in my house."

"Oh, yeah." Lyra moved with us, taking up my other flank.

"I might take you up on that, at least until I get a new wagon. Nice as it would be to settle into one place, my hooves itch if I don't move around." She went quiet as we got closer to town, but it was surprising to see the crowd had dispersed and left… "My poor wagon."

It was crushed, just like she'd said. All four wheels were broken. The roof was kindling, the walls were splintered, and the bottom seemed caved-in by the volume of everything inside being compacted. Walking around it, I spotted a few things I knew were hers. "There's one of your decks of cards."

I walked around the wagon and picked up things I could see where still whole while Trixie and Lyra took the top off it and looked inside. We spent ages going over the wagon and getting everything that might be salvageable out.

I noticed Lyra's ears twitch. She looked around, then sighed. "You might as well help us carry all this."

Slinking out of the shadows, Rainbow Dash was hanging her head. "I didn't mean for—"

Anger boiled up inside and I couldn't stop myself. "You! We were trying to put on a magic show and you did this?!" Stomping up to her, I wanted to—to do something to show how angry I was. Instead I just huffed out a breath that turned into a whinny.

"Wait. I had nothing to do with this mess. I just wanted to—to apologize for earlier. I got—" Rainbow's wings were dangling at her side almost as much as she was hanging her head. "When Spike started saying you were here to show up Twilight, it just hit a nerve." She lifted her head and looked at me. "Wait, 'we'?"

Lyra facehoofed dramatically. "Scootaloo was going to be Trixie's assistant for the show, Rainbow. She was just coming out on stage when you started heckling. Now, give us a hoof and carry some of this back to our house so we can see what can be recovered."

"You were? How do you even know her?" Rainbow walked over to the pile of salvaged stuff and started picking things up with her wings.

I followed Rainbow and got my own load, though just because I wanted to help more. "She's Lyra's friend. They met at school."

"Actually," Trixie said, "we met before school. Lyra is the reason I got into Princess Celestia's school."

Rainbow stopped so suddenly I almost walked into her. She stared at Trixie. "Hold up, you mean that wasn't all boasting? You went to the same school Twilight did?"

Using her magic to pick up a huge pile of Trixie's belongings, Lyra looked at Rainbow with a raised eyebrow. "We both did. There's like ten ponies a year graduate from Celestia's class alone." She sighed. "But Twilight is amazing. She tutored me in school, and I can't help but admire how she just gets magic. What she did tonight was amazing."

Trixie kept oddly silent, picking up her own load with her magic.

"She's—I don't know what it is, but when we used the Elements together it really brought us together. Mine's the Element of Loyalty, but I guess I need to be careful I don't go too far with it."

Shrugging, Lyra walked along with us—aimed toward home. "Spike's just a baby dragon still. I mean, he's around fifteen, I think, but to dragons that's barely hatched. Pinkie said she'd talk to Twilight about what happened."

Trixie snorted. "Now there's a mare who appreciates a good act." She turned to look at me. "Did you see how we worked together on stage? It was like we were back in Canterlot together."

"You know Pinkie, too? Ugh. Now I feel terrible about what I did. I'm so sorry. Can I do anything else to help?"

"You only feel terrible now?" I asked, still not over being angry at her.

Lyra shot me a neutral look that I couldn't interpret. "Scoots, she came here to help without knowing any of that. Together we'll get Trixie a new wagon and help her replace all her broken things, won't we?" Okay, so the look was probably trying to tell me that I wasn't helping the situation, but I didn't care. I wanted Rainbow to know how angry she'd made me!

"I just got caught up in what my friends were saying. Spike said that Trixie couldn't be the best because Twilight was, then Applejack started talking about how much of a show-off Trixie was, then Rarity said something like somepony needs to go up there and show her who's boss." Rainbow followed Lyra inside our house and set her load of stuff down beside the pile Lyra made.

Trixie set her own load down as well and heaved a sigh. "The heckling, honestly, didn't affect me, Rainbow Dash. I deal with it in every fifth town or so—and dealt with it here today. There's someone you should be apologizing to about it, however. Now, you'll excuse me but I'm going to take a shower, go to bed, and leave all the thinking until tomorrow." With that, Trixie walked off to the stairs.

"You're home?" Sweetie asked from the kitchen and poked her head in. "What's with all the stuff?"

Walking over to Sweetie, Lyra kissed her and murmured something I didn't catch—then they both went into the kitchen together.

I looked at Rainbow and then walked over to an empty bit of living room. Having missed the chance to do my stretches before the run, I decided now was as good a moment as any.

"Guess I wasn't so awesome today. I'm sorry, Scootaloo. You know how it is, though. Sometimes your friends egg you on to do something and you can't stop until you've done it?" She dropped to her belly beside me and started doing wing-ups.

"I kinda lost track of everypony at school with all the stuff I'm doing lately. It just seemed more important to get my own life straight again." Stretching the base joints of my wings, I stopped and held when I felt the tendons tighten up. That's it, focus on what you're doing and not being angry. "It really hurt to hear you saying all those things."

We kept working out together. Rainbow was building up a sweat doing wing-ups while I got through all my stretches. When I was done (having worked through a few wing-ups myself), I straightened out and folded back my wings.

"Do you do your stretches before or after your morning run?" Rainbow asked.

"Before."

"I'll be here early then." The look in Rainbow's eyes held pain I could recognize as easy as day.

Angry as I was, I had to forgive her. She was a friend. Walking over, I reached out and hugged Rainbow. "You're a smart pony, Rainbow Dash. You should do your own thinking instead of letting others do it for you."

The look of shock on her face when I pulled back was a sight to behold. "Y-Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow."

Author's Note

Dear Princess Luna: What are your thoughts on a foal producing a revolutionary technique for non-lethal combat?

"In my day we didn't need a foal to tell us that we could hit things with a stick. I must do a review of this military force my sister has built, if nothing else than to see what other innovations it has forgotten." Delivering the words with a perfect deadpan tone, Luna finished up with a wink.

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Lab

Chapter 5

Lyra and Sweetie were at work in Canterlot, Scootaloo was at school, and Trixie was left to look over the remains of her life again. She'd put-off the inevitable for a day while she recovered emotionally and just avoided the town and its inhabitants—but now it was time to get things done.

Working through her possessions, she started sorting them first into groups of what was required to live her life—this had things like the kitchenware, bedding, and general items she needed for everyday life—all the way down to frivolities. Trixie Lulamoon did not have many frivolities in her life.

Next, she sorted each individual stack by what was fine, what was damaged and could be repaired, what was damaged beyond repair, and wrote a little note for each stack of things she was missing.

"I hate how long these lists are." Trixie let out a huff and picked up the first fixable item in her required to live stack—the pot she cooked most of her meals in when traveling around Equestria was a cast piece of iron that weighed a ton. Normally it was bowl shaped with a heavy lid that could sit on top—now it was bent sideways and the lid was folded in half.

Trixie's telekinetic grip was a trained and precise marvel. She was the best student of her class when it came to fine manipulation without using spells—which is why bending an old iron pot back into shape was both trivial and a waste of her skills.

Straightening her cutlery too, Trixie heaved a sigh. "This isn't what I'd planned to do after the weekend. How did thing—?" A knock at the door interrupted Trixie.

Walking to the door, Trixie started pulling it open while saying, "Neither Lyra nor Sweetie are here right now, bu—" This time she interrupted herself. "Twilight?"

"Oh thanks goodness. I was worried you'd run off and had gone looking for an ancient artifact to seek your revenge and come back later to enslave the town under a giant dome!" Panting by the time she was done, Twilight shook her head. "I mean, can I come in?"

"Sure, I guess. That was awfully specific just now." Trixie backed up to give Twilight room. "Can I get you a drink of something?"

"Why don't we go and had something at Sugarcube Corner?" Desperately wanting to make as good impression as she could, Twilight didn't want to impose on Trixie.

Tilting her head, Trixie tried to work out what Twilight's angle was, but when none was apparent, she let out a sigh. "Sure."

The walk to Sugarcube Corner passed without either saying a word to the other. They only barely got into the bakery when a huge gasp from the front counter drew their attention. Pinkie Pie was almost overcome with surprise—gleeful and happy surprise at that. "Trixie! Twilight!"

Pinkie wanted to vault over the counter and hug her two friends, but she had the tiniest thread of self-control when actually working, and managed to keep her reaction to just a huge grin until the pair were at the front of the line. "Oh! Fancy seeing you two here. What can I get for you?"

Twilight was about to introduce Trixie, but she was halted by Trixie herself saying, "A horse!"

"A horse?" Pinkie asked, smile widening further.

"My kingdom for a horse! It's good to see you again, Pinkie." Leaning across the counter, Trixie gave Pinkie a hug. "I hope the performance on Saturday wasn't too much for you?"

"Oh pssh. It was good to get on stage again. How are you feeling after all that?"

A little bewildered, Twilight watched as Pinkie and Trixie chatted for a good minute or two before one of them turned to look at her. "Oh. Uh… Huh?"

"I think we broke her." Pinkie walked around to stand in front of Twilight. "Twilight! Can you hear me?! It's your friend, Pinkie Pie!"

The gag worked, and Twilight was giggling along with Trixie at the joke. "I know it's you' Pinkie. I just didn't realize everypony I'm friends with—well, almost everypony—was friends with Trixie. I'd never even met her before."

Trixie snorted. "It's okay. You don't have to know everypony. You didn't know Pinkie back then either—did you?"

"Nope! We met on her first day in Ponyville. That was the day before Nightmare Moon—that's Luna's—return. If you thought hecklers were bad, try dealing with a princess who thinks you should just give up and do everything she wants." Pinkie leaned on the counter. "Want a table?"

"That'd be great, thanks Pinkie," Twilight said and followed Pinkie to a table. Sitting down, and with Trixie opposite her, Twilight let out a deep sigh. "For my part—and Spike's part—in what happened, I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Twilight. I just—This town has been a very strange place to visit. I'm not sure if I will be back, but if I'm not—it won't be because of you." The words startled Trixie with how well they flowed. In the mare across from her, she saw everything the little filly living in her father's shadow in Las Pegasus wanted to be. But she had changed and adjusted who that was, and now Trixie didn't want to be a Twilight—a hero. "That said, what were those two foals thinking?"

"That's a very good question. I believe our next stop after here will be to see Mayor Mare. Snips and Snails might be foals, but their parents should have been supervising them—to say nothing of letting them run off after dark." Twilight mentally flinched a little, since she'd been letting Spike get away with a bit much lately herself.

"Here you both go. Double-fudge-sundae-surprise. Two of! And a large extra-strawberry shake for Twilight, and vanilla malt for Trixie." Pinkie Pie looked left and right shiftily, as if looking for somepony following her. "And a mint-chocolate for me!"

Trixie and Twilight both made room for Pinkie, only for her to pull up a chair to the end of the booth. Slurping at her shake, Pinkie let out a satisfied sigh. "There's nothing better than a good drink with friends."

Turning from looking at Pinkie to Trixie, Twilight gave a hopeful glance. "I—I'd really like to be friends, but after what you've been through here, I wouldn't expe—"

Thrusting her hoof out, Trixie said, "We have too many friends in common to not be friends too."

Bopping Trixie's hoof with her own, Twilight couldn't help but smile at this—the first step. "Okay, that's good to establish, but friends help each other. What can I do to help with what happened?"

"Just saying that's a relief. I mean, I've heard stories about what Lyra can get done after a simple nod from Princess Celestia, but you—you picked up an ursa minor and calmed it down. Lyra wouldn't shut up about it yesterday." Trixie levitated her spoon up and got a good scoop of her ice cream and put it in her mouth.

When Twilight saw the pure, unadulterated joy on Trixie's face, she knew she had to have some of the ice cream too. Likewise using her magic to pick up her spoon, she dug into her own sundae and was soon wearing a similar expression to Trixie.

Pinkie Pie was about as happy as anypony who makes food can be. She watched as Trixie and Twilight ate her ice cream until there wasn't a so much as a drop left. "Sooooo—how was it?"

Twilight and Trixie started gushing at the same time. "It was amazing!" "I can't believe how good—" Both mares looked at each other and giggled.

"You first," Trixie said.

"That was, Pinkie, as amazing as everything you make. Your food is—well it's like a second special talent for you." Scraping the bottom of her bowl with her spoon, Twilight tried in vain to search for one last taste—one last memory—to savor.

"I mean, my special talent is parties. Party food, party decorations, party games—all part of being the best party pony in all Equestria!" When Pinkie threw her hooves in the air, party streamers rained down around all three of them and confetti fell in random patterns—though never in their drinks.

"I've done a bit of traveling since graduation, and I have to say this is the best ice cream ever. Thanks, Pinkie." Trixie was aware that the confetti wasn't fouling her drink, so picked it up and tried to gather some in the remains of her milkshake—with no luck at all.

"There's still one matter we need to bring up." Twilight looked to Pinkie to get her advice on the topic. "Snips and Snails."

Pinkie spared a look at Trixie and sighed—part of her mane deflating a little. It was a tough job being happy for everypony in town, and right now there was some very unhappy things to fight through. "That's a tough one. Earth pony parents, of both of them, with unicorn foals. They dote on those colts and have no idea about limiting them or their magic. I know Lyra was teaching them the basics of magic, but I don't know if she'll keep doing that now."

"I wouldn't blame her," Twilight said, "not after all this. Perhaps I can take on teaching some of the unicorns around town? I could talk to Cheerilee about Snips and Snails, too. She'll probably be best to ask to talk to their parents."

"Their teacher? Probably better to talk to than the mayor." Having given up trying to violate the laws of Pinkie, Trixie settled for just drinking her shake.

Pinkie's mane returned to full bounce now a plan had been organized. "Can I help with anything else?"

"I think we can handle it from here. Thank you, Pinkie, you're the best at this." Twilight stood up and caught her friend in a hug.

"Likewise." Standing, Trixie caught up Pinkie from the other side. "We need to catch up more often. I guess I will be coming back here regularly then—what with all the friends I'm making here."

As she felt the corners of her mouth reach a new level of smile, Pinkie couldn't hold back a giggle or stop herself from squeezing Trixie and Twilight in the Pinkie-of-All-Hugs. "I was extra worried about this. I had a kink in my tail all yesterday that made me think something terrible was about to happen regarding friends, but this definitely wasn't that." Pinkie was about to continue, but realized the implication was that another of her friends was about to have a bad day.

Not noticing Pinkie's fugue, Twilight let go of the hug. "Thanks again, Pinkie. I'll fix you up for the ice cream and shakes once all this is dealt with. Don't let me forget."

Trixie felt good for the first time in two days. The world felt lighter and she felt herself wanting to get back on stage. "If you ever want a part in my act, you just have to ask. Never hesitate to raise your hoof and have some fun again, Pinkie."

Giggling, Pinkie tried to brush off the praise. "You two are just trying to make me blush! Go on, get out there and make other ponies happy—I'm already as happy as can be!" With goodbyes exchanged, Pinkie waited for Trixie and Twilight to leave Sugarcube Corner before her face turned serious again. "Now, who else might be having a bad day?"

Twilight and Trixie made their way to Ponyville school, mostly chatting about their school days. Trixie discovered that Twilight had studied everything. Twilight found out about Trixie's final project. They were just about to start discussing the deepest workings of the magic aura snakes when they were both startled to find they were at the school.

"Should we wait until class finishes?" Trixie asked.

"Probably a good idea. We don't want to disrupt classes, after all. Cheerilee might give us detention." Twilight was joking, but she remembered the fear her time at Celestia's school made of detention. At first, she'd thought it was a reward—more time at school, after all—but had quickly learned otherwise.

Trixie managed a laugh for the joke. "Don't even get me started on that. Did Miss Hackney threaten you with detention every time you didn't sit straight enough for her?"

"I sat straight enough, but she kept telling me my pencils were not placed correctly. That's why I got into the habit of using a quill. There were school rules about how to place ink wells and blotter, and she couldn't argue with me about them." Walking over to the school swings, Twilight lifted herself up and sat on one—then started to slowly swing.

Climbing onto the second swing, Trixie started moving too. "I wish I'd thought of doing something like that." She sighed and stared off into the distance—looking at nothing in particular. "I don't have all the magic of you or Lyra, but I like to think I put what I have to good use."

"Making ponies happy?"

Trixie just nodded and swung a little in silence. School hadn't been easy for her. She'd wanted to master everything at first, but her talents didn't stretch past delicate and directly physical manipulations and their complete opposite—showy illusions. "Yeah, I—"

The school bell cut short Trixie's reply. Standing up from the swing, she waited for Twilight to do the same and they turned together for the schoolhouse.

Cheerilee saw the two unicorns approaching and was curious as to their intent. "What can I help you with?" She remembered Trixie from her show on Friday, and everypony in town knew Twilight, so she wasn't exactly going into the conversation blind. She hadn't, however, heard about events on Saturday.

"We'd like to speak in private, if that's alright?" Twilight felt the need to speak up first.

"Come right in." Discretely showing Twilight and Trixie inside, Cheerilee followed them—paying attention to Trixie more than Twilight—to her classroom. "Now, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"It's about Snips and Snails," Twilight said.

No words relating to two specific foals could fill Cheerilee with so much dread. She braced herself for what she expected to come next.

Continuing without being privy to the way Cheerilee mentally clenched, Twilight caught Cheerilee up with what she knew of events on the day in question. When the destruction of Trixie's wagon was divulged, Cheerilee's face and heart fell together. "I'll send letters home with them for their parents to come see me. Miss Trixie, I hate to have to ask this, will you be in town long?"

No, Trixie wanted to reply, I was going to put a lot of distance between those colts and myself as I can and never look back. Instead she nodded. "I will be, but I'm going to need to find somewhere to stay. I don't want to keep intruding on my friends' lives, and without my wagon I can't exactly—"

"You can stay at the library if you need to," Twilight said.

"I used the plural of friends." Trixie spared a smile to Twilight. "I'll contact the authorities and see about getting a place temporarily."

"You'll want to speak to Mayor Mare about that. I can take you to see her if you like?" Ever watchful for more ways she can put things right, Twilight was quick to offer assistance.

Having spent years living on her own on the road, Trixie was unused to all the support. She wanted to turn Twilight down, but she couldn't help but admit (to herself at least) that having the savior of Equestria at her side would get things done. "Thank you, Twilight." Trixie was thanking ponies more in the last several days than for the previous five years.

"I'll let you both know when I can arrange a meeting with their parents. I can only watch the foals during school hours, but I'll keep an extra eye on them." Cheerilee tried to remain as detached from the two mares as she could, but Trixie's physique was appealing to her. Mentally telling herself to tap it down, Cheerilee went on, "And please, if you need any help—with anything—don't hesitate to come and check me out."

The look Trixie gave Cheerilee told the teacher she'd said something wrong. Her brain rushed to review what she'd said and immediately located the problem. "I—I mean come and see me. For help. Not to—"

"I think," Twilight said to save Cheerilee from further exclamations, "we're all under a lot of stress. I'll go see about getting you some sort of temporary accommodation, Trixie. Leave that to me, okay?"

Before Trixie could even reply, Twilight had given her best smile and retreated from the room—leaving her alone with Cheerilee. "I…" Trixie could see the nerves on the other mare's face increase as the silence continued. Being a showmare, she knew all the best ways to break an awkward silence. "Perhaps not check you out, but perhaps you might know somewhere for me to take you out?"

Author's Note

Say Trixie, ever figure out the illusion that your horn isn't lit? Verra useful that one?

"A magician never gives away all her tricks, but a hat with extra-thick lining acts as a great blackout curtain for a powered-up horn." Winking, Trixie wears a smirk that says she isn't telling everything.

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Lab

Chapter 6

A month of work and it seemed like we'd barely gotten anything done. Training for older foals meant ascertaining what skill such foals would be at. Then we had to get EEA certification—although that was really easy once they inspected our paperwork and found it stamped and approved by Princess Celestia.

"And we still don't have our venue for this. If we want to run our first summer school this year, we need to work out where we'll hold this." I looked up at Sweetie and threw my hooves up.

"Where is easy. We build the summer school at the bottom of the mountain. It's central and close enough to Canterlot that we should be able to get ponies from there and all over Equestria. We need to build it from scratch, but that's what we prod the Guard Engineers for. Make the lieutenant work for us for a change." As she spoke, Sweetie Drops prodded at the map we had. "And the land down there is mostly unworked because of the shadow Canterlot casts over it. This means we don't have to pay anypony to move."

"We'll still need direct approval of the princess for this." I circled the spot Sweetie suggested.

"No, we need approval of a princess. It's late and I believe Princess Luna had started holding evening court. You should pay her a visit and see how her advisors are working out. I'll go talk to Stiff."

"Scootaloo will be here soon." I stretched and rolled my shoulders. It was almost time to go for a run, but I'd see Princess Luna first.

"Have you noticed anything about her?" Kissing me, Sweetie Drops let out a happy huff of breath and nuzzled me even when our lips parted.

"You mean how she got in tight with some fillies at school? That's distracting, you know." Despite my complaint, I nuzzled her back.

"I hadn't heard her mention that, but she has been very busy after school each day, even now Trixie has moved out. Also, she's running better."

"She almost runs as fast as we can. Pegasi just have that extra stride, you know. Maybe I'll try to—" Our almost-embrace was broken at the sound of the front door of our small office opening. Jerking away from Sweetie, I spotted the subject of our discussion walking in.

Scootaloo did look more solid, as well as the tone she was putting on from running with us. She'd developed some muscle across her breast that said she was doing something more than running with her forelegs. "Hey! What's up?"

"Just about to settle on a location for the summer school. What about you?" Sweetie asked.

Opening her mouth, Scootaloo looked about to say something when someone knocked loudly on the door. She turned around and used her wing to open it—then looked up at the Royal Guard stallion who stood in the doorway. "Uh, hi?"

"I have an urgent message for Lyra Heartstrings from Tufts Mango. Your mother just went into labor. She's at Canterlot General hospital." The stallion didn't seem to blink at Sweetie and myself wearing armor, which meant he probably knew who we were. Well, of course he knew who I was, he hadn't asked to see me—he'd just blurted his message out.

My brain prodded me that there was something more important to attend to that had nothing to do with the Guard or our plans or anything. Mum was having her foal. "Mum's having her foal? Mum's having her foal!"

Sweetie snorted a laugh. "Lyra, go. You can teleport yourself there quicker tha—"

I didn't let her finish. I jumped over my desk and grabbed Sweetie and Scootaloo with my magic, pulled them close, and teleported straight up. It had become as normal for me as running. I sighted around as gravity started to pull me down. The hospital was across the city, but there was nothing in the way between us and the ground in front of it. "Hold on!"

"Lyra!" Sweetie and Scootaloo shouted together.

Not normally teleporting to the ground directly, the reversal I added to our falling sent us bouncing up into the air a few pony lengths. Scootaloo jumped clear of us and spread her wings to glide down while I used a smaller teleport to bring us down to ground level again.

"In the interests of time, I won't yell at you now for doing that. Come on." Sweetie led us inside in the unique way a mare in heavy armor could that defied everypony's ability to stand their ground against her.

Everypony but the duty nurse who stepped in front of Sweetie and deployed a glare that said she'd stopped entire armies in this very entrance. "Are you invading, is this an emergency, or is this a social visit?"

"Lyra's mother is having a foal. Joyce Mango." Sweetie planted her hooves and I could feel the buzz of her personal magic that could have stopped a train in its tracks. "Please escort us there immediately."

Leaning to the side to look around Sweetie, the nurse raised an eyebrow. "Funny, for the daughter of two bat ponies, she sure seems to be lacking in the bat department."

I didn't have time for this. Reaching out for Mum, I tried to locate her or Tufts. Tufts was far easier to find, and I picked coordinates nearby him—ran the numbers in my head as fast as I could—and grabbed Sweetie and Scootaloo with my magic.

Sweetie, unfortunately enough, was still anchored to the floor with earth pony magic—so when I tried to teleport, her anchor sucked all my magic up and sunk it into the rock under her. "Lyra? Oh, horseapples."

Horseapples. It was the last word I remembered before everything turned black and fuzzy.

Waking up, I realized the mistake I'd made in trying to cast a complex spell on an earth pony who had grounded herself. Yup, and I even had the headache to prove it. "What happened?"

Sweetie loomed over me and reached to my face with her huge, armored hoof—and booped me. "You've got a new sister. Oh, and don't try to teleport me when I've anchored." The giant hoof retreated, she stepped to the side, and I could see the rest of the room.

Mum was laying on a hospital bed on her back with a tiny bundle cradled in one wing. Beside her, Tufts seemed completely oblivious to anything but the two, and on her other side Scootaloo was asleep.

Okay, the world around me seems fine, time to take stock of what I did to myself.

Headache—check.

Horn feeling like it was going to drop off—check (but at least that meant it hadn't dropped off yet).

Armor—missing (hopefully it was Sweetie or Scootaloo who removed it and not the nurse).

Nopony was panicking about anything, either, which meant I probably wasn't in too much trouble. Wait a second. "Mum?"

"Seems all I can get these days is girls. You want to come and see little Garawang?" She sounded like she was more wrecked than I felt, though her face was pulled into a big grin that had her fangs showing all the time.

"Garawang?" The name felt familiar, but I couldn't remember where it was from. Leaving that thought aside, I stood up and walked slowly over to the side of the bed Tufts was laying on.

"A native fruit. Tiny berries that taste like apples." Tufts reached out to me with one of his wings and hooked it around my neck to pull me closer. I froze at the sight of her eyes. Big and golden, she looked up at me with every indication that she knew who I was.

"Whoa." It was all I could get out.

"You said the same thing when you first saw Robin," Mum said. "And Gara is fine for a shortened version of her name." Then Mum eased the blanket down from Gara's head and showed off her tufted ears and gray-black hair with a deep red mane.

Now I realized why Tufts was so engrossed. "She's amazing. Here eyes are—"

"Golden, like yours. I'd lift her out of her blanket so you can see her wings, but I can promise you they're huge, and she needs to rest too." Mum still sounded completely drained, but at the same time there was a warmth to her tone. "Sweetie said you tried to teleport to me when the nurse questioned you invading the hospital."

"Yeah. When Nurse Ratched tried to stop us, Sweetie dug her hooves in. I completely forgot about that when I grabbed her and tried to teleport us all to see you. Who'd have thought it would be bad to try to teleport an earth pony who doesn't want to be moved?" Setting my chin down on Tufts' side, I slumped myself against him and the bed. "How bad was it?"

"Easier than either you or Robin were. Pony bodies are so much better at this than human ones. Can't say I'm not feeling a little drained, still. I think, out of the two of us, you had a worse day." She stretched out a forehoof toward me.

Squirming to press my nose against her hoof, I relaxed a little more and almost slumped my way right off the bed. "We need to send word to Robin. She'll want to come and see Gara."

Mum's hoof rubbed the soft fuzz of my snout for a bit before she let out a chuckle. "Don't forget to let Dream and Candela know too. I don't suppose you'd be able to get me some of that fruit over there? I'm feeling a little drained and—Thank you, dear." She cut off short when Sweetie got her the whole bowl.

Tufts used his thumb-claw to tap Gara on the nose, only for the little bat pony to let loose a high-pitched squeak that was just about the cutest sound I'd ever heard.

"Your armor's safe, love." Sweetie set the bowl down in front of Tufts. "Come on, let's get Scoots and head home so your parents can relax a bit before the coming storm."

Mum laughed. "This isn't my first chick in the nest. I know what's coming." Her eyes twinkled as we walked around and picked up Scootaloo.

"Mmm—What's going on? Where are we?" Scootaloo looked around and reached up with her hooves to rub at her eyes. "Oh."

Gara seemed intensely curious about everything and watched Scootaloo closely as I picked her up and set her on Sweetie's back.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Way past the last train to Ponyville, and the doctor said you won't be casting any more spells tonight. We'll head to the Guardhouse and get a bunk for the night. It's not like we use the ones they're supposed to provide for us anyway." Sweetie started for the door. "Your armor's under the bed, Lyra."

Feeling myself needing more sleep, I managed to drag my armor out and flop it over my back. "Sorry, Mum, wife is dragging me away. I'll visit again in the morning when my work can brain again good."

I stumbled out of the room with Mum and Dad's laughter behind me and followed Sweetie down the hall. Scootaloo (still on Sweetie's back) looked about how I felt. She was slumped down and looking at me with a grin, though. "No run tonight."

"Yeah. Was it really that bad to try to do magic on Bon Bon?" Scootaloo asked.

"If I'd been prepared for it and buffering for a fizzled cast, I could have shrugged it off. I wasn't exactly thinking straight at the time." Reaching through my own mind, I found things a little fuzzy in my short-term memory. "Ugh, and I think I've forgotten a few weaves, too. Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow morning."

"Don't you normally spend just an hour doing that?"

"Not when half my spell weaves—that should be pristine and clear to me—are fuzzy and loose around the edges."

Sweetie cleared her throat. "Sorry about that. I didn't think you'd try to grab me, and reinforcing like that has become second nature."

Looking at her, I couldn't resist reaching out to hug my wife. Arguments were one thing, but staying mad at this mare was impossible for me. Halted as we were in the street, I had all my physical attention on Sweetie but my magic focus was yanked skywards.

When two alicorns—ancient beyond a thousand years—reach into the sky and shove heavenly bodies around, it causes a certain amount of wonder in any unicorn sensitive to their magic. With my horn still rattled by the failed teleport, I felt particularly vulnerable to the rush of power overhead.

"Are you alright, Lyra?" Sweetie asked.

With the spell broken—literally, they were done moving the sun and moon—I shook my head and looked back to Sweetie. "Sorry. With my horn all woogly, it made me a little extra sensitive to what the princesses do."

"Huh. Come on. We'll bed down and worry about the world again tomorrow." Sweetie led the way to the E.U.P. Guard grounds and we got waved through by the guard there. It was hard to even think straight, so I didn't and just kept following until—inexplicably—I was in a bedroom with just one bed. "Let me get that off your back. We can visit Sharp Horn tomorrow and she can chew you out for the state of your gear."

All I could manage was a whine as I stumbled toward the bed. Sweetie moved faster than I could process (which probably wasn't all that fast) and caught me on the bed. Strong legs and a snuggly muzzle found me and coaxed me to sleep.

It had been sunset when I'd gone to sleep, but my training wouldn't let me sleep past dawn. Dawn, when I felt again Celestia and Luna's magic thundering into the sky with intense purpose. The curtains were drawn, but they wouldn't stop me from feeling the sun's wrath.

The shoulder I was using as a pillow shifted. "Awake?" Sweetie's voice was soft, for which I was thankful.

"Yeah. I'm way more sensitive to the princesses' magic than I should be. I need breakfast, a coffee, and a good run to get this out of my system, then I'm going to spend the rest of the morning focused on spells." Though the day was calling, and my morning was planned, I spent a few more minutes just snuggling and nuzzling Sweetie.

A knock at the door broke the mood, but only barely. Getting out of bed—a bed far too narrow for ponies who didn't know each other very well to sleep in together—I walked over to the mirror while Sweetie walked to the door.

I looked at my horn and found it to still be there. Yay. I didn't dare attempt to use my magic before having a clear head for it, so settled for using my hoof to straighten my mane and tail.

"Morning, Scoots. Sleep well?" Sweetie asked behind me.

Shifting a little, I could see over my shoulder in the mirror and spot Scootaloo at the door. She looked like she'd been up for some time doing exercise. Thinking back on the previous day, we'd talked about her adding new muscle.

"Morning!" Scootaloo said. "Are we running?"

I nodded to her in the mirror. "Heck yes. I feel terrible enough today without missing a few laps of the city."

"Is that meant to be sarcastic?" Scootaloo asked.

"Honestly?" Sweetie rolled her eyes at me. "I can't even tell sometimes. She can go from deadly serious to cracking wise in a heartbeat, but I think she's serious here. Let's go and stretch our legs."

Turning, I hoped my mane didn't look quite as bad as I feared. By the look on Sweetie and Scoots' faces, it did. Don't care. "I'll demand a double tribute of coffee after this."

"Yeah, yeah. Get your armor on and let's go."

"She's probably not using her horn, so we'll have to help with her armor." Scootaloo walked over to where my armor was on the floor and tried to pick it up. What surprised me is how well she was managing it.

"Yeah. My horn will be tender for a bit yet. I don't want to stress it," I said. What I wanted to ask, though, was how Scoots knew that. It wasn't like she'd been with me when I'd overreached with my magic before. I couldn't ask her outright, of course. She had a secret, and I had to trust her that it wasn't anything dangerous—and maybe pick up the pieces if it was.

I let Scoots help me get the armor on, and we headed out for our run. My whole body felt stiff, and the movement helped to free up all those muscles—all except one. We got three laps in at a good pace before we judged it time to break. Circling back around, we came into the training grounds again with a good lather under our armor.

"Hey, uh…" Scootaloo was walking beside us to the mess, but she slowed a little. "I need to see Sharp Horn about something. Can I…?"

"Sure." Sweetie showed no hesitation. I could sense she was as curious as I was, but she seemed ready to let Scootaloo do her own thing. "We'll be in the mess having breakfast. Don't be long."

As soon as we were out of earshot of Scoots, we looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"She's been training," I said.

"She's getting armor," Sweetie said.

"But who's training her?" we both asked at the same time, then laughed.

The mess was fairly empty. There was a few other officers sitting down and chatting about this and that. Stiff Peaks was sitting down with a daily paper propped before him, eating his breakfast.

We aimed away from them, making our way to the serving counter and got a bowl of porridge each and a cup of coffee. I carried mine around like any earth pony would, and we settled at a table together. "We'd have noticed if it was someone from the Guard," I said.

Sweetie nodded. "True. That leaves somepony in the field, somepony in Ponyville maybe, or…" Her eyes widened and she grinned. "She knows a certain captain of the Royal Guard, doesn't she?"

It fit so well. I scooped some of the hot oats into my mouth and chewed them thoughtfully. When I gulped it down, I had come up with something. "We ask Cadance. She'll be able to get anything out of Shining. If it's him or even one of his subordinates doing it, she'll find out."

"That's a little cruel, don't you think?" Like me, Sweetie was gulping down her breakfast between sentences. "Getting a princess to use all her powers to crush the mind of one, poor captain?"

"He'll get over it. Besides, he needs to get used to—" I realized I was planning to do the thing I said I wouldn't. "Scratch that. We should let her have this. She—We should treat her like an adult."

Pausing for a few seconds—not even eating her food—Sweetie finally let out a sigh. "You're right. I just want to make sure she won't get hurt."

"If it's Shining organizing it, she won't. I'd trust any of the Royal Guard at my back." It was time for coffee. I reached out with both hooves, careful not to spill a drop, and lifted the mug to my lips and sipped.

"Lyra, if you made that face and that sound in public, we'd get arrested." Her comment almost made me spit the coffee out—almost. Not that Sweetie didn't enjoy her coffee too. She lifted her own mug and took a sip while making much the same face and sound I had.

We finished the sacred ritual of absorbing caffeine and stood up from the remains of our breakfasts and carried our trays over to the cleaning pile. I grabbed a second coffee, gulped it down, and we made our way out of the mess and back into the cool morning air.

"Winter's getting closer," Sweetie said as if she heard my thoughts. "Where's Scoots? My hooves are itchy."

I fussed at my armor, working the straps to make sure it was on and fitted properly. By the time I was done, Scootaloo was trotting toward us, looking excited. And for good reason. The armor she was wearing looked like good, light pegasus armor, but there was obviously some work done to make it adjustable for the filly wearing it to grow. I recognized some of the modifications as those Sweetie had been designing for her adjustable heavy armor.

Okay, Lyra, time to play it cool. Don't even mention the armor. "Hey."

"Nice gear." Meeting Scootaloo halfway, Sweetie walked around her and tested the armor with a few strikes. "Solid fit, too. You need to brace behind hits. I can teach you that if you want?"

Scoots looked surprised. She hadn't expected us to offer to help? She rolled her shoulders under the armor and shrugged. "I have somepony teaching me stuff already. If you really want to, though, I could always tell them I found another trainer."

"Give me a few hours each evening before our run and I can get you bracing and shrugging off strikes in no time." Sweetie trotted in place a few times and then gestured to the main gate. "Come on, time to start getting used to extra weight."

It's true, I wanted to protect Scootaloo. That's why I joined up and why I stay part of the Guard, after all, but I could see a filly who walked in my hoofsteps. Dammit. When did I become a role model? "Last one to finish the first lap has to lead the second," I said.

The first lap saw us all gallop past the gate together, but I could see that Scootaloo was straining to keep up her pace. Armor put a whole different kind of purpose to every movement you took, and she wasn't used to that. At times she was fighting her armor, which meant she was burning more energy.

After the second lap, Scoots looked really beaten—but she strained to keep her pace up with ours. She was using that extra gear that pegasi had, and it was costing her stamina at a huge rate. I slowed my pace to a canter, which Scoots and Sweetie matched as well. "Sorry, guys, I guess I'm still a little wonky after last night," I said.

Lying through my teeth? Yeah. I could have galloped all day, but pride cost me nothing and bought Scoots a bit of a reprieve. She still looked like the third lap would do her in, but now it wouldn't send her to hospital. So we cantered around Canterlot, our muscles singing the tune all ponies' (and horses, I guess) bodies knew.

By the time we got back to the Guard training grounds, Scootaloo looked pretty wiped out, but she was still moving. Hooray!

"Alright, I'm going to hit the showers and then try to recover some semblance of my normal spell repertoire. Might I suggest giving Scoots a quick lesson in not fighting her armor?" I gave a wink to Sweetie when Scoots wasn't looking.

Pegasi metabolism being what it was, and her being the kind of filly who ran three times a day, Scootaloo was recovering fast. "Not fighting it? What do you mean?"

I left Scootaloo to Sweetie and headed for the showers. Once clean, I made my way to the Guard magic library and started in on my memorization work. Normally it only took an hour a day or so to keep most of my spells up to date—but I'd taken a major mental thump from the failed teleport, and everything felt fuzzy.

Teleport was the first. I opened the book—one of my spare spellbooks—to the appropriate page and began to dread what was coming. "No pain, no gain. Come on." Focusing on the weakest amount of magic I could, I produced the barest flicker of light—and it still caused my horn to throb.

By the time I was done with all but my simplest spells (that I still had a good grip on mentally), my stomach was grumbling and my legs felt like jelly. Too bad, I had a head full of magic and wanted a belly full of food. Trusting my horn to not fall off, I let my magic flow and ran the calculation I needed to go up—up a lot.

The clouds over Canterlot always felt at home to me for some reason. The pegasi didn't bother with the really high ones, and they provided great cover and, sometimes, a good place to stop and think. A quick shot of cloud-walking on my hooves and I landed on one fluffy ball of moisture and air.

"Hi, Lyra!"

It wasn't that uncommon to see a pegasus up here, let alone have one talk to me. I turned and looked back with a smile. "Hiya, Derpy. Fancy meeting you up here."

"Well, I am a pegasus. I was just taking Dinky to Canterlot to get her registered to receive her own payments. She's growing up so fast!" Shifting her body a little let me see that Dinky was astride her mother's back.

"Hi, Lyra!" Waving a hoof, Dinky grinned from cheek to cheek. She was an adorable little filly, and sharp as a knife with magic. I might not have learned magic how your average unicorn did, but I couldn't help but recognize that she was well-ahead of foals several years older than her.

"How's my number-one student doing today? I hope Trixie has been keeping you on-track?" I walked over the soft cloud to where Derpy and Dinky were. Before Dinky could answer, I cast a cloud-walk spell on her.

Nodding her head a bunch, the filly nearly exploded my heart with cuteness. "Tr-Trixie taught me how to count cards!"

There would need to be words with Trixie when I saw her next. "Did she? Well, counting and probability are good skills for a pony to have. What about your magic?"

"Oh! I learned how to clean things! Twixie has me re-memorizing it every day, though, so it's getting boooooring." Scrunching her snout up and squeezing her eyes closed, Dinky stuck out her tongue to show what she thought of it.

Turning her head, Derpy kissed Dinky on the nose. "But it's a great help." Both their faces burned bright with happiness. I was glad I wasn't diabetic or I'd be dead where I stood.

I'd mostly been focused on spells to help the foals learn, but maybe I should be pushing Dinky with ones that she'd want to use. I'll have to work on that idea. "I was just about to have lunch with Sweetie and Scootaloo. Would you two like to join us?"

"Can we, Mom? You have the whole day off, and we were going to have something anyway." Dinky jumped to her hooves and started bouncing on Derpy's back. She slipped on the third bounce and landed on the soft cloud.

Derpy looked from her filly to me with a frown on her face that quickly broke back into a smile. "Thank you, Lyra."

I gave her a wink. High as we were, even if Dinky fell from the cloud her mother would be more than capable of catching up with her before anything actually dangerous happened. It's why the sky was always safe for a pegasus—it was the last few meters that caused the most problems. "Dinky, you know cloud-walking. Why don't you cast it?"

"But you alread—" Dinky closed her eyes and I could feel her building the spell from memory. She had it perfect (better than I did six hours ago). "You wanted to test me, didn't you?"

"Always. Gotta keep you on your hooves. You think you'll get into Princess Celestia's school without work?" Reaching out with a hoof, I ruffled her mane a little. "Besides, you need to remember to do that whenever your mum is taking you for a fly."

Dinky nodded while her mother picked her back up with her wings.

"Where will we meet you?" Derpy asked while getting Dinky settled again.

I thought quickly for one of the places I used to visit frequently. "You know that little coffee shop on the second ring in the castle-quarter?"

Derpy's wings shot up and she was nodding excitedly. "They do great muffins!"

"That's the one. How about we meet there in about ten minutes?" I asked.

Not pausing her nodding, Derpy just turned for the edge of the cloud. "We'll see you there!" She stepped off the cloud with her wings out, hovering in place for a moment before she started to drift away and down.

"Sometimes I wish I had wings, but from what Cadance said, it's not all it's cracked up to be to have all the toys." Stepping off the cloud, I triggered a teleport to the practice field I could see below. I didn't target right for the ground, of course. I popped into being about four meters in the air, just enough distance for a quick bouncy legs spell that had me land with ease right beside Scoots and Sweetie. "Hiya! You'll never guess who I met."

"Your magic's working again, I see. What was that spell you used at the end there?" Sweetie asked, her stance changing from "ready for anything" to "relaxed".

"Oh, wobbly-legs? It's normally used to disable a pony by turning their legs all rubbery, but I found if you reduce the kick to it, it makes your legs into great shock absorbers." I noticed that Scoots had been standing in that same wary pose, but she took longer to leave it. "Anyway, how does lunch in about ten minutes with Derpy and Dinky sound?"

"Like we need to rush a shower. Where are we heading?" Sweetie wasted no time. She was unbuckling her armor as she walked toward the shower block.

Giving chase, I kept pace with Sweetie and let Scoots catch up. "That little cafe I used to get lunch at all the time when I wasn't eating lunch at school. Want me to help you dry off?"

"That'd help." The way she said it made me think Sweetie would have wanted to do more than let me dry her off.

In the end we cleaned up and made our way through Canterlot sans armor. Sweetie and Scoots' armor was all sweaty, and mine still needed a little looking at. I don't like having others handle my armor—well, anypony but Sweetie and Scoots—and was still a bit worried the nurse might have done something to it.

There was a certain amount of off-dutyness to being out of our armor. Derpy and Dinky were already seated at a table with drinks in front of them. "Hi again!"

As we settled down, the waitress came over and pulled an extra table up so we had more room, and she also took our orders. It was an unwinding. We chatted about schooling—for both Dinky and Scoots—as well as the special school we were going to set up.

Derpy talked about how she was giving pegasus lessons in Ponyville on her off days while she worked for the post office during the week. When Derpy let it slip that Dinky getting her own income would make life easier, it made my heart wrench into a knot. I didn't know things had been hard for her, but then I realized that she'd been raising a filly on just her own income—of course things would have been tight.

"Hey, uh, Derpy. You mentioned you trained in Cloudsdale's flight school, right?" I asked.

Perking up even more, Derpy ruffled her wings and nodded. "I was training up to be a Wonderbolt, but then I got my cutie mark and my eyes started messing up. It—It's not easy to talk about even now, but if it hadn't happened, I'd never have had Dinky." She reached a wing around her filly and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "But if you're asking what I think you're going to ask, I'm too busy with my job at the post office, Lyra, and teaching young pegasi how to work their wings for Cheerilee."

I paused to catch up with her reasoning and realized she was ahead of me in the conversation by a few steps. "Ya got me. Are you sure we can't tempt you?"

"Until this little bundle of fluff is all grown up, I want to spend as much time as I can with her." Spreading her wing around Dinky's back, they hugged for a moment. "She might even want to go to your school."

"About that. I was thinking of sponsoring her, actually." I looked to Sweetie and noticed her shocked expression—she knew what I was talking about. "All the work I've done with Dinky has shown her to be a very special filly, and I know the perfect school for clever, young unicorns."

Tapping her chin with her hoof, Derpy looked down at Dinky. "What schools are there?"

"Well," Scootaloo looked across the table at Dinky, "she can't go to the Wonderbolts, and the earth pony university is out too. That only leaves the new school Lyra and Sweetie are making or…" She snapped around and looked at me before covering her snout with both hooves.

Leaning across the table, about halfway, I used my magic to make a hand to shield one side of my mouth and whispered loudly to Dinky, "Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

"I-I can't afford that," Derpy said.

"You won't need to. Princess Celestia accepts recommendations from her staff and former students. If Dinky was accepted in that way, her tuition would be free. If not, I'll pay for her to attend." It wouldn't be cheap, but Sweetie and I were getting paid well for our jobs and even helping Trixie get a new wagon didn't bite into that too much.

Scootaloo, whether she wanted to go through the Guard or direct to the Wonderbolts, would have her path paved by others.

"You can't do that, Lyra." Derpy looked shocked and turned to Sweetie. "You can't do that. Tell Lyra she can't."

Sweetie bumped my hoof with her own under the table before she started talking. "If Lyra thinks that's a good plan—and if it comes to that—then that's exactly what we'll do. Assuming, Derpy, that would be alright with you and Dinky?"

Dinky was bouncing in her seat and Derpy looked at least twice as confused as usual. "I—" Derpy looked at her excited filly and I saw the first crack in her resistance. "Y-You know what this means, Dinky?" When Dinky shook her head, Derpy yanked her a bit closer with one wing. "You have to work really hard in school and do your horn exercises."

"Yes, Mom." The little filly had a huge grin on her face. "I do that already."

The conversation returned to simpler things—things I didn't have to bet a stake in our family's finances in. When the lunch was over, and a great deal of hugging from both Derpy and Dinky wound down, we said our goodbyes and left the cafe.

"You can't help it, so don't bother begging my forgiveness. You don't need my forgiveness." Sweetie put a foreleg around my neck and pulled me into a hug the likes of which nothing short of a freight train could break away from. "I love you because you have that attitude, not despite it."

What else could I do than hug back? She was the greatest mare in all Equestria and somehow I'd found her and, crazier still, she'd agreed to marry me. "I love you too, Bon Bon, despite being unable to work out how a mad mare like me managed to catch your eye."

We traded more sappy and sweet phrases, only stopping when we both were lost for words due to giggling at them. "Let's go and see Princess Celestia instead of Princess Luna. We don't really have much else to do today," I said. "Then we can make more plans from there."

"We'll see your mom after that." Sweetie sounded absolutely firm on the matter. Of course, it reminded me of how amazing a pony birth had been—though I suspected Tufts might have had something to do with it too.

We broke the hug, though I couldn't stop walking beside Sweetie close enough that our shoulders and hips kept brushing. If Scootaloo weren't with us, I'd have booked us into a cheap hotel for the rest of the day.

That's when it hit me. Mum having a new foal, offering to be a fairy godmother for Dinky, increased sex drive—I was going clucky. My hormones were screaming for a foal of my own. Wow.

Michael Robertson couldn't be further from who I was now. Slaking my desire for an offspring only required me to look to my other side and see Scootaloo. She was as much a daughter to me as I will ever have.

Sweetie bumped my shoulder a little more firmly. "You're quiet. What's up?"

When I looked around me, broken from the daze of my own thoughts, I realized we were at the ramp that led up to the castle. "Realizing a bunch of things. I was getting clucky."

"You were what?"

"Clucky. It's, uh, based on the sounds chickens make." I only just realized I'd used an Equestrian accent to say an English word. Well, I had to move on now. "It means I kept seeing foals around me and got them on my brain."

"Ah. Biological clock ticking a little early, don't you think?" Sweetie asked.

"Turns out I'm all-in on being a mare now. Michael wouldn't have had these thoughts, I can tell you."

"Thoughts?"

"I need to learn to keep my mouth closed, don't I?"

"You didn't answer the question."

"Okay. So I was thinking about it all. How seeing Mum with Gara, Derpy with Dinky, and even the naughty things I was thinking about you all piled up to one conclusion—and it was stupid. I already have an amazing filly to help take care of." I turned my head to look at Scoots. "Just nod and look adorable."

After a moment of her looking at me with confusion on her face, I shrugged. "That'll do. So, big confession I guess. I think of you as my filly." Was I saying these words? It seemed like I was, and the surprise on Scoots' face seemed to imply I was. "I don't mean to—"

"Lyra, I—I kinda feel the same way. Whenever I do anything new, I want to come running to you or Sweetie to show it to you—just like I did with Mum. When I get sad, I want you to hug me—and you do." Scootaloo sighed. "I actually started feeling bad getting training behind your backs, but I didn't want you to worry about me. I wanted to be strong."

"Well, you still have a bit of growing to do." It was understatement of the year, though for her age Scootaloo was doing super well. "And I might slip and say something that implies you are my filly. Can you deal with that? You're allowed to bop me on the shoulder if I do."

"Only if I can slip and call you Mum every now and again."

Ugh. These feelings were too strong and—dammit, now I'm crying. Using my magic I picked Scoots up hugged her, then put her on my back. And that's how we marched all the way up to the front doors of the royal castle.

I didn't recognize the stallion taking names at the entrance. He took one glance at me and nodded softly. "Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings, Sergeant Sweetie Drops, and Scootaloo to see Her Highness. Please escort them through as the next petitioner." It was an odd sensation to be known on sight to someone who I didn't know. We weren't wearing our armor, she he must have either read a description or seen us.

"We're not in a hurry," Sweetie said. "We can wait behind the others."

"Sergeant, I am not going to be the pony to tell Princess Celestia why you were kept waiting when her direct orders were that if you ever come here seeking audience, you be admitted at the next possible juncture." The stallion gestured with a hoof that I estimated could break a tree in half. "Please, proceed to the end of the hall."

Scoots jumped down from my back. "I mean, you are here on official business, right?"

Dammit, she was right. I sighed, since I couldn't think of a good enough gag to use in reply. There was nothing else for it but to be resigned to exploiting privilege. At the front of the queue we weren't even told to wait—the Royal Guards just opened the doors and let us in.

Princess Celestia wasn't alone. Even excluding her guards, Prince Blue Blood was present—as was Princess Luna.

Okay, so a packed house of royalty, and here was me, my wife, and my adopted daughter. That last bit, even in my head, sounded amazing. "Your Highnesses," I said as I dipped my head the appropriate amount.

The moment the doors closed behind us, all three royals sighed. Luna, however, passed a Bit to Celestia. "Next time I won't take that bet."

"Ah! It's been some time since I've had a meeting with a fellow troubleshooter. I trust you and your family are doing well?" Blue Blood waved us over to the little grouping he had with Celestia and Luna.

I looked at Sweetie, then at Scoots, and had to admit things were going well, despite the craziness that seemed to happen around us. "We're well. How goes your eternal search for the perfect mate?"

Both Luna and Celestia snorted, while Blue actually laughed. "Such a creature, I fear, doesn't exist. It doesn't help that everypony knows me as the foppish, self-absorbed nincompoop who only reflects on his own beauty. Well, everypony who doesn't know me professionally."

"Lyra's the opposite. Nopony but Scootaloo and myself know how much of a lunatic she is." Sweetie tilted her head to look at me, daring me to gainsay her.

I just shrugged. "Guilty as charged." Of course I stuck my tongue out at her. "But my continued charade of normalcy is not why we're here. We need a grant of land to build our school on, and a further grant for a stadium."

Sweetie produced the sheaf of papers and let me pass them to Celestia. "As you can see, we have a site scouted out already that would be perfect and isn't already in use."

"The base of the mountain?" Celestia sounded surprised.

"It would have great access to Canterlot via the railway." Princess Luna was bringing up all the talking points for us, or so I hoped, so I decided to keep my mouth shut. "And it is just as central to the rest of Equestria as Canterlot. The only downside is there are literally no services extended down there. You'd need power and water."

Sweetie was quick to reply. "The main aquifer that feeds Canterlot's water supply is nearby. With just a little work we could bore into that for water. Power is another matter."

That's when it came to me. "We won't need power. We'll have unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi. Teaching them to work together to work around what each lacks will be a major part of the school." It worked so well I should have thought of it before.

Luna looked surprised for just a moment before a big smile creased her lips. "Working together in harmony is a good endeavor. If my sister doesn't grant you access to this land, I will."

It surprised me that Luna would make such a statement, but then, she did want to be seen as an active influence on Equestria. At first I thought Celestia was going to say something to Luna to claim it back for herself, but instead she nodded. "I believe this will be a good project for you to approve. Are there any other assets you'll require?" Princess Celestia asked.

There was, and I should have thought of this before too. "We'll need a Guard outpost. Sweetie and myself would be enough, but we can't always be there. The foals' safety needs to be our top priority."

Smiling more, Princess Luna dipped her head. "Please tender such a request to Lieutenant Stiff Peaks. I'm sure he'll be able to resolve that issue."

"Was there any more business?" Princess Celestia asked.

Something clicked for me as to how I thought about both princesses—how they spoke and what they were talking about also affected whether I measured them as being on duty or not. I even thought of them as more princess in those moments.

"Actually," Sweetie Drops said, "there was one more thing. One of our friends is a single mother, and though she worked hard at multiple jobs, she still barely had enough bits at the end of each month. Is there really no compensation for single parents with a foal under the legal age to receive their own payments?"

Celestia paused, and I mean really paused. She appeared to stop breathing for a moment, then became animated again. "A quick review of the payment code would reveal there is such a hole. I will ensure something is done about your friend's situation."

"Well, her daughter has just reached the legal age where she can apply for her own, but I'm sure she's not the only single mother out there—" I'd almost forgotten! "Also, I'd like to propose her daughter for a scholarship to your school."

I'd like to say I captured her interest. She raised one eyebrow and I got a glimpse of both her eyes at the same time as her mane fluttered a little more than usual. "You have taught her?" At my nod, she smiled and her face registered more relaxation. "Then she's accepted."

Just like that. Was my word really that powerful? It was a little startling that she would say yes without even having seen Dinky. "No test?"

"She's already passed the most important one—she impressed one of the greatest magic users in Equestria. If you think a test would be a good idea, however, I could arrange for one." This was pure Celestia. There was none of the ruler in the way she spoke, only a mare who enjoyed helping foals become all they could.

"I think it might be best. She's still very young, but I'd judge her memorization and attention to detail as being that of a foal several years older than her. Can I give her the news?" It was exciting, and I couldn't wait to see Derpy and Dinky's faces when I told them she got in.

"That is my prerogative." Celestia stuck her tongue out at me. "Imagine how excited she'll be when I knock on the front door?"

Blue snorted, reminding me that he was present. "It's one of auntie's favorite things." It was so easy to lose track of even an amazing pony like Prince Blue Blood with both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna present. They filled the room so much that it almost made everypony else seem smaller.

"Perhaps I could do a similar thing with your school, Lyra?" Luna, I realized, would make a great figurehead for the school. She was just as regal as her sister, but she had a certain youthful energy.

I nodded. How could I not agree to having a princess as a patron of the school? "That would be great! Though, we will be accepting anypony, so there won't be as much competition as with Princess Celestia's school."

"Everypony?" Luna asked.

Sweetie mad an affirmative noise. "Absolutely everypony. This isn't something we're willing to bend on. If we have two hundred foals arrive on our first day, we'll find a way to teach all two hundred of them."

"If we have business taken care of, I have a small task for you, Lyra." Despite her claiming business was done with, this was Princess Celestia all the way. I was a trouble-shooter and she had some trouble. "As you may know, I have my annual Grand Galloping Gala coming up soon. I'd like you both there as casual guards. I'm not expecting anything exactly, but I have an uneasy feeling that life will be getting far too interesting soon, and I don't want to be caught unawares."

It wasn't the kind of request any Guardpony would say no to. Beside me, Sweetie joined me in straightening up and snapping off a crisp salute. What I didn't expect was Scootaloo on the other side of Sweetie managing her own perfect salute. "Your Highness, we're on the job."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 7

Note: For purposes of keeping the story flow simpler, and to make things easier on you—dear readers—for this chapter Sweetie Drops will be referred to (in prose) as Bon Bon so as to not confuse her with Sweetie Belle.

Winter had come to a close, and with warmer weather came a sense of growing. For Scootaloo, this meant exercising more to ensure that she would be in perfect condition when Princess Luna's School of Physical Excellence began.

She was trotting to school after her day of training with Pinkie Pie to speak to her teacher. It was late in the day, and while classes were still going on, Scootaloo waited patiently by doing her wing exercises.

When Cheerilee stepped out of the school at the end of another day inspiring young minds to grow, she was surprised to see Scootaloo, but more surprised to see Apple Bloom run up to her. "Hello there, Scootaloo."

Jumping to all four hooves after her sideways-tilting single-wing crunch, Scootaloo bounced a few times on her hooves to loosen them up. "Hello, Miss Cheerilee. Hi, Apple Bloom." The last name was said with considerable enthusiasm. "I've come to ask to have my school days changed."

"Hold up," Apple Bloom said. "I just asked to have mine changed so I'd be with you and Sweetie Belle!"

Cheerilee was glad that the last problem of her day was already solved. Gesturing back toward the middle of town, she started to walk while the fillies followed her. "Which I have arranged. Not that it's a problem, but what brought you three together?"

"Well, you remember how I was passing a note in class? That was Diamond Tiara setting me up. She wanted me to get in trouble because I'm still a blank flank." Apple Bloom still felt the sting of Cheerilee's rebuke, though having her new-old friend with her helped. "She kept it up all day until her party—that's when I met Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle—again."

The stories of her students' lives never failed to interest Cheerilee. Listening to them and understanding their struggles made her a better teacher and allowed her to tailor their learning. "Again? What happened?"

Scootaloo let out a sigh and took over explaining. "I had that whole thing with my parents, and then Lyra and Sweetie—err, Drops, not Belle—and what with my holiday and everything, we all kinda drifted apart."

"And we got put in two different sets of classes." Apple Bloom looked up at Cheerilee. "But now we're in the same class it will mean the Cutie Mark Crusaders are back in business!"

"'Cutie Mark Crusaders'?" Cheerilee asked.

"CMC for short. It's our secret society to help us get cutie marks!" Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo face-hoofed. "Does it still count as secret if we keep telling everypony it's secret?"

"Of course it does. So long as they don't tell everypony about it, it will just be a bigger secret." Apple Bloom was sure of her logic. "Besides, with everything we have planned, we're going to get our cutie marks in no time!"

As the pair lifted a forehoof each to do a hoof-bump, a white blur rushed up to them and managed to join in. Sweetie Belle was panting. She'd had to run all the way from her sister's shop to reach the school in time to talk to her teacher when she'd spotted her two friends already talking to Cheerilee. When she'd seen them about to hoof-bump, she had to join in. "Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were in complete awe of Sweetie's ability to just appear when they were about to hoof-bump. The awe lasted a fraction of a second, however, because a new energy suffused all three of them.

"We're going to be in the same class, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo said.

"It's going to be so cool to be together! And we won't have an annoying filly like Diamond Tiara to—to annoy us!" Apple Bloom said.

Cheerilee felt genuinely embarrassed to have to say, "Well… Girls, there wasn't any room in the class Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were in, so it worked out easier for me to move Scootaloo and Sweetie into your class, Apple Bloom."

Dropping to her knees, Apple Bloom tilted her head back and wailed in pain. Or, so she wanted to. It wasn't fair, in her mind, to get her best friends to be in her class where all three would have to put up with Diamond Tiara. "Well, that's a load of horse-apples."

Gasping in shock, Cheerilee frowned at Apple Bloom. "I'd thank you not to use that kind of language around the school, young filly, and I'll be speaking to your sister about this."

Apple Bloom had the good grace to look ashamed, but the moment Cheerilee walked away, she turned to her giggling friends. "Sorry. I shouldn't be talkin' like that. I heard Applejack say it the other day and I guess it just stuck."

Scootaloo giggled and cleared her throat. "Next time just say clownshoes."

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both looked at Scootaloo as if she'd gone just a little crazy. "What?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I heard Lyra use it once. She looked really embarrassed about it, so I figured it must be a good one." Confident in her logic, Scootaloo started to walk back toward town. She would have run, but she knew that Sweetie Belle wasn't really in the best of shape and Apple Bloom tended to not do anything fast unless there was a good reason.

After some aimless walking, all three fillies paused and looked around. "What do you want to—?" all three asked together, then laughed.

"C'mon, girls, let's go to Sweet Apple Acres and build a fort out of leftover wood. Every secret society needs a clubhouse." Pointing toward her family's farm, Apple Bloom started to gallop in that direction—only to have Scootaloo draw up beside her in what looked like a trot. On her other side, Sweetie Belle looked like she was not enjoying running. "You're both weird."

"Huh?" Scootaloo asked.

"You! Look, you're barely even trotting while Sweetie's only barely keeping her lungs from exploding." Apple Bloom nodded to her other side where Sweetie Belle was lagging behind.

Directed to one of her favorite topics, Scootaloo was perfectly happy to pontificate on the joys of exercise and training. "I mean, I run with my family twice a day, and I even started doing it in armor now. Trotting like this is easy. You two should join us."

"Huh, that doesn't sound too bad. When do you do it?"

"Usually at dawn and dusk. We keep getting caught up in Canterlot lately, though, so we usually do our runs there in the evening and then catch the train home." Seeing the front gate of the Apple farm, Scootaloo poured on the speed and kicked her gait into pegasus-gallop to reach the sign first.

Slowing to a walk, panting with her mouth wide open at how fast she'd just seen Scootaloo move, Sweetie Belle used the remaining distance to catch her breath. "Well, there's no need to rub it in."

"Huh?" Scootaloo was waiting at the fence for her slower friends to catch up—trotting in place.

"I see you running around everywhere, and doing all those weird exercises with your wings," Apple Bloom said as she pointed further down the road, "but why don't you fly?"

"Oh!" Spreading out her wings, Scootaloo could feel the difference in them from when she'd started her stretches. "I was born with some of my tendons missing. Doctors told me I'd never be able to fly. Then I went to another world, turned into a different kind of pony for a bit, and when I turned back the tendons were there. But they're really weak still, so I gotta get them up to speed before I can risk flying with them."

"Anyway, we need to prepare!" Apple Bloom said. "There's a million-bajillion cutie marks we could get, and we might have to try absolutely everything to get one."

"Imagine if we got our cutie marks in running! Or flying!" Scootaloo turned her trot-in-place up to a frantic gallop, then slowed back down to a walk beside her friends.

"I'm pretty sure if your cutie mark was meant to be in running, you'd have it already." The deadpan Sweetie Belle had cultivated was honed by seeing how much energy Scootaloo had. "But you might be right. What do you normally do when exercising again? Run around town?"

"Yup. Simple as that. Just run every day and you end up being able to run all day," Scootaloo said, stopping as Apple Bloom led them to a pile of timber behind a huge barn. "Whoa. We can build a house with this!"

"Y'all could build a tree house. Or more t' the point, y'all could repair one." Applejack hadn't tried to hide her approach, but she got a chuckle out of all three fillies jumping in surprise. "Y'see, when I grew up on the farm, Pa helped me and Big Mac build a tree house. It's not lookin' so great now, but I figure you three are clever fillies and could do it back up."

"O-Okay!" Scootaloo said. "Where is it?"

"Is that the old one by the west field?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Sure is. Just needs a few timbers replaced and a new coat of paint." Applejack, when they walked to said tree house, realized the error in her statement. Looking at the old tree house, it was a wonder it hadn't completely fallen down yet. "Okay, maybe more than a few, but that's why I got all the tools and wood!"

By the time they'd moved all the lumber and tools across to the tree house, it was starting to get dark. "So," Scootaloo said, "how about you two come for a run?"

"H-How many laps do you do?" Sweetie Belle felt nervous just thinking about it, but her friend had impressed her enough that she wanted to get better at running herself.

"How about you just start at one lap?" Leading the way at a slow trot, Scootaloo headed down the path back to town and to her own home.

Looking at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle saw excitement and a little anticipation in her fellow Crusader's eyes. "Okay. One lap. How long does it take to get better at it?"

"Lyra said it's more of a journey than a destination. Her words. I don't really get it, but I think she means you do it because you enjoy feeling better about yourself rather than just to be better. Or something like that." It was painfully obvious to Scootaloo, who was barely keeping a trot going, that Sweetie Belle was not going to handle running well.

Sweetie Belle kept quiet during the trot, mostly because even at a trot for her it was a struggle. When they reached Scootaloo's home, they saw Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops waiting outside dressed in E.U.P. Guard uniforms and armor.

"Heya Scoots. Ready for our run?" Bon Bon asked.

"Yeah, I think I might hang back and chat with my friends tonight. Just going to grab my armor." Racing inside, Scootaloo used her wings to make quick turns while keeping ground-bound—navigating the house to the armory in quick order.

"Hey kids, doing a little running with Scoots today?" Lyra asked.

"Sure are." Apple Bloom looked between Lyra and Bon Bon and tilted her head. "Are you really in the Guard?"

"We are, but we've been tasked with starting a new school for fillies and colts who want to learn how to protect themselves, their friends, and be more confident." As soon as she said it, Lyra realized she was literally spouting an advertising slogan at fillies. "Not that I think you need to—I mean, this is just—"

Bon Bon gave Lyra a shove in the shoulder to reboot her brain. "They asked, you answered. It's only bad if you go out and deliberately shove it down ponies' throats." She turned her attention back to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Don't let Scootaloo show off too much."

Sweetie Belle giggled at that, maybe a little nervous energy leaking out before what was about to happen. "Too late, but she's pretty awesome."

"What's taking her so long?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's not easy to put on armor. Hers might be made for a foal, but it's made by the Guard's own armorer. It's the real deal, just scaled down a little." Bon Bon could heard Scootaloo's hooves hammering on the floor inside—now a little deeper thanks to extra weight—as the filly neared the door again. "Here she comes."

With a grin from one side of her face to the other, Scootaloo felt so light on her hooves that she was ready to gallop faster than anypony. The surprise and awe on her friends' faces only encouraged her to strike a pose. "You girls ready?"

Sweetie Belle's excitement peaked and she raised her hoof to her friends. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, galloping fillies!"

Rearing up after she clopped her hoof with her friends', Scootaloo started off not at the gallop Sweetie Belle had called for, but a medium trot. When Sweetie Belle took up one flank and Apple Bloom the other, she felt pure elation.

Bon Bon turned and looked to Lyra with a raised eyebrow.

"Let's give them a bit before we head out—Oh! Better yet. Let's circle the other way." Already bouncing on her hooves, Lyra pointed in the opposite direction.

It made sense to Bon Bon, so she started off at a canter. "Come on, then, let's get these hooves flashing!"

Scootaloo saw Lyra and Bon Bon coming the other way just as she and her friends reached a third of a lap. "You're going the wrong way!" Her shout was backed up with a laugh. The "run" wasn't exactly stressing her, but she didn't want to go any faster because Sweetie Belle looked like she was struggling—and Scootaloo wouldn't leave her friend behind.

"Figured we'd swap it up!" Bon Bon said at a gallop going the opposite direction.

"Whoa! They're fast!" Looking back over her shoulder, Apple Bloom wasn't having too hard a time of the pace Scootaloo had set. "Hey, isn't that your sister's house, Sweetie Belle?"

"Why don't you stop there and we'll swing back around to Sweet Apple Acres?" Scootaloo asked.

Relief flooded Sweetie Belle. She hadn't realized how out-of-shape she was until seeing Scootaloo move so easily for so long. When her sister's boutique was in sight, she slowed to a walk with her friends beside her slowing too. "I—" It would have been easy to ignore it all and go back to how she'd been, but she wanted to keep up with her friends. "Can we do this every night?"

It was a surprise to Scootaloo. She looked at her friend—noticed how her coat was matted and she was panting a little—and realized that Sweetie Belle really wanted to do this. "Sure can!"

The moment Sweetie Belle got into Carousal Boutique, she noticed her legs wobbling.

Rarity noticed the state of her little sister the moment she entered the door. "Sweetie, darling, whatever have you done to yourself? Was a bully chasing you? A monster?"

"Worse," Sweetie Belle said. "My friends."

Outside, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom built up their pace a little. Scootaloo pushed to the lowest of her canter speeds while Apple Bloom was thundering along in a gallop. They actually reached the road to Sweet Apple Acres just as Bon Bon and Lyra approached.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo reared up a little, kicked around, and took off with Bon Bon and Lyra.

"How was your other friend?" Bon Bon asked. She'd been pushing a hard gallop with Lyra, but the pair slowed a little so that Scootaloo's pegasus-gallop would keep up with them.

Now she had to really work, Scootaloo's legs were a blur and she had to stretch out to her fastest pace. "Sweetie Belle? She really isn't into running, but she wants to keep doing it."

"Well, it's great to hear you're a positive influence on your friends. Think you can go a bit faster?" Bon Bon's voice held challenge even as her hooves slammed into the ground repeatedly. She wanted to push Scootaloo to be everything she could be, but wanted Scootaloo to feel like she'd done the pushing.

Feeling for her stride, Scootaloo felt that she was going as fast as her legs could carry her. "This is my top gear until my legs get longer!"

"Then let's just run!" Bon Bon said.

Each day brought more sunshine, exercise, and more work on the club house. The first weekend since starting work on it had all three fillies excited to spend all day on it. As they'd agreed to the previous evening, they met in the middle of town.

Scootaloo spotted her friends approaching. "Hey Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle!"

Each evening since the first, Sweetie Belle had felt slightly less terrible about her one lap of Ponyville trot. The first night had left her barely able to get up the stairs in her sister's boutique, but after several in a row she was starting to notice it didn't wipe her out. Walking around town with her friends was a piece of cake by comparison. "Hello Scootaloo."

"Heya Scoots!" Apple Bloom hadn't taken the evening trots nearly as bad as Sweetie Belle, but spending more time with her friends more than made up for any awkwardness she felt. The other reason she was sticking with it was how much confidence Sweetie Belle had seemed to gain from it. "Ready for a day workin' on the club house?"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo shoved her forehoof into the air. "Cutie Mark Crusaders: handy-ponies!" A resounding clop as their three hooves came together made her even more excited. "Will we get it finished today?"

"Maybe. Big Mac kept working on it last night after we'd stopped. I didn't take a look, but I figure he got those last two planks out that were causing problems." Turning toward her home, Apple Bloom felt the whole world lighten around her now she had both her best friends with her.

Scootaloo mulled over the idea of McIntosh Apple having done a pile of work and shook her head. "I hope he didn't do too much. I want to be able to say I helped do most of the work."

"W-We could make him a temporary adjunct member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Like a sub-contracted crusader." The words were new to Sweetie Belle, but she'd heard Rarity using them a lot lately. Her time spent living with her big sister was still new to her, but staying out of Rarity's way while she was talking to ponies about opening a new store meant she got to expand her business vocabulary.

"A what-now?" Apple Bloom asked.

Sweetie Belle felt pride swell up inside. "It means he's only helping us, but in a formal way that's non-binding."

Apple Bloom just stared at Sweetie Belle for a good twenty seconds before letting out a breath she wasn't even sure she was holding. "But that still means he did a lot of work."

"Correct!" Bouncing on her hooves, Sweetie Belle giggled. "But it would be a Cutie Mark Crusader who did it!"

The problem, Apple Bloom realized, was that Sweetie Belle had impeccable logic. "Well, I guess."

Trotting together, the three friends made it all the way to tree house without any disasters interrupting their discussion of serious business—that is, how to get cutie marks.

"What if," Scootaloo asked, "we get cutie marks in getting cutie marks?"

"Huh?" Apple Bloom's brain had trouble with the concept.

"You mean if we get our cutie marks for helping each other get cutie marks?" The concept was curious to Sweetie Belle—mostly because it seemed somewhat recursive. "What if I get mine for helping you, Scootaloo, but Scootaloo gets hers for helping you, Apple Bloom, and then—"

"Ah don't think this is a good idea. Hey, there's the clubhouse, and there's Big Mac!" Turning her light trot into a gallop, Apple Bloom charged for her brother.

The collision should have made the big stallion at least flinch, but all he did was turn to look at what'd connected with him. "Hey, Apple Bloom."

Shaking her head at the solid thump she'd made against her brother's mass, Apple Bloom beamed up at the stallion. "Hiya! Guess what? You're a temporary inject member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"'Adjunct'," Sweetie Belle said.

For a moment Apple Bloom considered saying something, but then she just surrendered to the inevitability of Sweetie Belle sounding like a dictionary and just continued. "Have you been working on the tree house on your own?"

"Eeyup. Left the most important bit fer you." Gesturing with one huge hoof, McIntosh smiled just a little as he pointed to the empty doorway on the tree house.

Three gasps sounded at the same time as they realized how much McIntosh had worked. The gasps were followed by squeals, which were carried with the fillies as they stampeded toward the ramp leading up to the tree house.

"This is amazing!" Scootaloo said.

"It's great!" Apple Bloom said.

"It's magnifique!" When her two friends turned to stare at her, Sweetie Belle ignored them.

"Here ya go." Holding out the door, hinges, and screws, McIntosh nodded toward the three fillies.

Scootaloo ran down the ramp and grabbed the hinges, Sweetie Belle the screws and screwdriver, and Apple Bloom hefted the door up the ramp on her back. It took the three a few minutes to work out that it would take all three of them to hang the door, and how to hang the door, but they finally got it attached and swinging open.

"We did it!" All the fancy words were forgotten as Sweetie Belle shouted. She bounced around from hoof to hoof and then rushed inside.

Right on Sweetie Belle's heels, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked around the inside of the tree house.

"Uh, it's a little bare." The first to comment, Scootaloo pulled no punches.

Apple Bloom's excitement waned a little at that realization, but she sensed a blazing inferno of raw, enthusiastic energy beside her. Turning her head, she stared at Sweetie Belle.

"We need posters, and furniture, and a blackboard, and some curtains for the windows, and a mat for the door, and—and…" Sweetie Belle was panting. The same excitement her sister got when creating something new suffused her. "This place must not be bare!"

"Then let's fill it with stuff. Why don't we each go home and get some things, then meet back here and decorate it?" Looking between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom got a nod from them both. "Alright then! Cutie Mark Crusaders"—two hooves met her raised one with a firm clop, and they all continued together—

"home decorators!" Sweetie Belle said.

"movers!" Scootaloo said.

"coordi— Idiots…" Apple Bloom said.

All three broke into giggles before galloping out the door, past McIntosh, and off in the directions of their respective homes.

"You're leaving?" Scootaloo had intended to get a bunch of her coolest things to take back to the club house, but instead she found Lyra, Bon Bon, and Trixie sitting in the living room discussing heavy topics.

"I got enough bits to get a new wagon, some good tricks, and a little for a rainy day." Looking aside at Lyra and Bon Bon, Trixie almost exploded with pride. "This was never going to be permanent—I live for the road."

"But I—" Words failed Scootaloo when she tried to continue to question it. The truth was she knew exactly what Trixie meant—she hung her head. "I know that feeling. I want to fly more than anything. I'm a pegasus—I'm meant to be in the sky."

That made Trixie smile. She stood up and walked over to Scootaloo. "And you will be. It will just take time. How is your work with the snake going? What's your time from wingtip to wingtip?" She knew what an average pegasus should be capable of, as well as military-trained pegasi—thanks to her contracts and a little research with the E.U.P. Guard.

"Three point two seconds!" Scootaloo snapped out the number just like when her instructors asked it. She froze for a moment, blushing. "Sorry."

It was one of those moments in Trixie's life when she realized there was fate driving her. She had to say something or do something that would be just the right thing. Last time she'd felt this, she'd been making friends with a strange creature that had turned out to be Lyra. "You're improving. Keep working at it, and never be sorry for working your hardest to be able to fly." The wide-eyed stare of excitement in Scootaloo's eyes told her she'd said exactly the right thing.

Hesitating for a moment, Scootaloo rushed up to Trixie and hugged her. "You'll come back?"

Snorting, Trixie remembered what she'd promised herself and then tore that promise up. "Of course I will. But, I'll need to get a bunch of new tricks before I do. Can't go repeating my routine in the same place."

"I'm sorry Ponyville was such a terrible place to put on a show." Squeezing for all she was worth, Scootaloo felt a few tears start to grow in the corners of her eyes. It was hard to keep hugging while trying to rub them away.

Squeezing and then letting go of Scootaloo, Trixie did her best to leave the filly her dignity and ignore the tears. "Don't worry. Next time I'm here, I just know I'll have a great show to blow everypony away. Just you wait."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 8

"A bow?" Sweetie Drops asked. "All the ponies getting dressed up for this, and you wear a bow?" She glared daggers at Lyra Heartstrings. "Look around you, Lyra. Even Princess Celestia is wearing a dress tonight."

Lyra didn't dignify that with an answer. "You're not."

"That's because I need to be ready in case I need to—" Grumping a little, Sweetie let out a low sigh. "Next time we'll both dress up."

"As long as we don't have a job to do at the same time. Do you think the Wonderbolts know about this intangible threat?" Looking around the crowd, Lyra saw a good number of uniformed Wonderbolts roaming around.

Sweetie, likewise, was casting a critical look around the party-goers. "Probably not. Only a handful of them are trained Guards, and they don't exactly have a tight confidence with Princess Celestia."

"Speaking of. Did you see who's standing at the princess' side?" Nodding her head toward the stairs at the end of the room where a queue of ponies were waiting to speak with Celestia, Lyra went on, "Twilight Sparkle. All her friends got invites."

"All yours did too. Derpy's here, as well as your school friends. I'm surprised Cadance and Shining aren't."

"Shining had business in Yakyakistan and Cadance had to see to something in Prance. The princess seems to be keeping them apart for some reason—I hope it's so she can surprise them by giving them a date." Nothing gave Lyra more feel-good-vibes than the idea of that pair getting married. "I think it will do them both some good to finally secure things."

"Keep it down with that. You never know who might be listening," Sweetie said.

"Yes. You never know." Blue Blood's voice was soft but deeper than either of the two mares. He sidled up beside them with the look of a pony utterly indifferent and bored with his situation. "Good evening, ladies."

Lyra perked up a little. "Hey, Blue. You here under cover?"

His face maintaining a superior sneer, Blue rolled his eyes. "Boorishly so. Please, when we part, snarl something at me behind my back and I'll do my best to ignore it. Any leads?"

"Nothing," Sweetie said. "If there's something going to happen tonight, whoever planned it is subtle."

"Maybe I can get this whole thing ended quickly if I provoke some heiress to snub me. Any suggestions on a mark?" Blue scanned the crowd, mostly looking for suspicious characters. "There's a rainbow-maned mare chasing the Wonderbolts' commander around like a lost puppy."

"Rainbow Dash. She's not a threat to anything but your sanity." Lyra watched as Pinkie attempted to liven up the party with limited success. "This is worse than watching paint dry. I can't believe Pinkie can't even get these crusty old ponies to dance."

"That feisty pink mare?" Blue asked, voice almost purring.

Sweetie snorted. "I haven't known Pinkie as long as Lyra, but I know that mare would bend you sideways and break you, Blue."

"Finally I'll have a use for my bridle." Flashing his best smile, Blue Blood flicked his eyes toward the mare in question again as she danced vigorously at the stuffy upper class elite of Canterlot.

"Ugh!" Lyra turned her head from Blue and groaned some more. "That pony is the worst, Bon Bon. Let's get a drink to wash the bad taste out of our mouths."

Leaving Blue to turn his nose up at their departure—and ogle Pinkie a little more—Lyra and Sweetie made good on their escape to the drinks table. Each grabbed a glass of what they hoped was something low in alcohol and tasted them.

"Rich pony apple juice." Lyra almost spat the stuff out.

"Is that why it's so tart? It definitely explains the attitudes of most of the ponies here. I'd be stuffy and annoyed at everything if I had to drink this too." Sweetie looked around for a valid target to unload her drink in, but there were no houseplants in sight.

"Try the pink and bubbly one at the back. It's hiding behind that large mug of horrid milk."

Both mares turned to the speaker and saw a dark maned unicorn stallion with gray coat and an impeccable shirt on. "Or not. Jet Set's my name. A pleasure—I'm sure." He bowed low enough to consider the pair nobles—mostly because he knew that both had regular business with Celestia.

"Oh." Looking the stallion over, Sweetie tried to remember where she'd seen him before. "Sweetie Drops. Thank you." She made a point of reaching over the back and securing one of the glasses of pink bubbling drink. A sip proved it wasn't even alcoholic. "Is this peach and soda water?"

"A good palate. It definitely is, and it looks enough like champagne that most will think your faculties are compromised. You wouldn't believe the deals ponies will make when they think they have the advantage. Like supplies for a new school."

Lyra's eyes narrowed to a point as she realized who she was talking to. "Jet Set of Jet Logistics?"

"I have a few commercial interests. Jet Logistics is one such. I believe you were looking for somepony in that line of work to form a contract with." Sipping at his own peach soda, Jet waited to see what their reply would be.

"We are. So far everypony we've spoken to has tried to charge us triple what our estimates were," Sweetie said.

"That's because they smell blood. Sharks, the lot of them."

"And what are you?" Lyra asked.

Glancing toward the stairs where Celestia and Twilight stood, Jet smiled. "A very well-mannered shark who has been trying to find new business partners. Come and see me in the morning." He nodded to both the mares and slipped away from them.

"What were you up to, darling?" Upper Crust asked.

Jet Set stepped up to his fiance's side and stood close enough to feel her warmth at shoulder and thigh. "Meeting a pair of ponies I'd been asked to assist."

"Is it going to cost you?"

"What? Of course not. They're funded by the crown—of course I will ensure I still make a profit." Jet levitated a fresh drink over for Upper. "Now, let's go watch what that oaf Blue Blood does next."

The evening, surprisingly enough, was relatively calm. Lyra and Sweetie circulated, and while there were a few kerfuffles that happened, neither found anything they had to break character and throw themselves at.

Once partygoers began to file out, Celestia ensured to give each of her Problem Solvers a slight nod and a gesture toward her. Seemingly all individually, her assistants joined the line to bid her goodbye and—somehow—they were all at the back of it.

"Hiya, Derpy. I didn't know you came to the princess' galas too?" Lyra asked, surprised to find herself right behind the mare.

"She sent me a ticket." Derpy ruffled her wings, looking a little nervous. "I had to leave Dinky with a friend in Ponyville. I hope she'll be okay."

Celestia dismissed the last few guests before spotting a familiar face right before her special assistants. "Ah, Miss Hooves. Just the mare I wanted to see."

"M-Me?!" In shock, Derpy's wings shot out and she looked around, only to realize she, Lyra, Sweetie, Blue, and Celestia were alone in the hall. There wasn't even a Royal Guardpony to be seen. "Y-Your Highness, you must be mistaken. W-Why do you want to see me?"

"Because I am responsible for every pony in Equestria, and it was brought to my attention that there was at least one who I was failing." It was never easy for Celestia to apologize. Ponies seemed to be unable to comprehend that it was her making the mistake, while also stumbling to try to make it their own. "I am in the process of expanding an—oversight department. A group of ponies who can tell me when they see something that might need fixing. For example, when a young mare is raising a bright little filly on a single income."

Derpy spun around and stared at Lyra for a moment.

Smiling in the face of her friend's shock, Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "Derpy, you know what I do for Princess Celestia, right?"

"I—I don't want charity," Derpy said.

"And I don't intend to give it." Celestia took back control of the conversation. "With my usual eyes spending more time away from Ponyville, I need somepony I can rely on to keep her eyes open for problems."

Tucking one wing down, Derpy brought the other forward to rub her chin in thought. "Okay, but I'll be writing weekly reports."

"I look forward to them. If anything is more pressing than those reports allow, please feel free to pop up here for a visit." When Derpy snapped off a clean salute—something Celestia was accustomed to—she was more than a little surprised. "Have you served in the E.U.P. Guard?"

"No, uh, Your—"

"Please just call me Celestia."

Scrunching her snout, Derpy tried to shove her thoughts on the subject in order and just go with the princess' request. "No, Celestia, but I was in the Wonderbolts' young fliers until my accident."

Celestia's hidden eye watered a little. She'd read the reports on Derpy's condition, and how it was incurable. "Then I believe you know how important it is that I know what is happening in the most active town in Equestria." As Derpy snapped another salute, Celestia bowed her head. "Please ensure you keep on top of those reports."

"I will do, Your Celestia!" The bottom fell out of Derpy's world. She'd screwed up not just what Celestia wanted to be called but what she should be called. She managed a good few seconds of absolute terror before a huge white wing cupped her cheek with two huge feathers.

"It's okay. I also have one more thing to tell you. Two of my former students have brought a very clever young filly to my attention. Now, I won't just give her a free pass on hearsay. Could you please escort your daughter to my school at your earliest convenience—she needs to sit an entrance exam."

By the time Celestia was finished explaining her plan, Derpy's wings weren't just out—she was flapping them in excitement. "Y-Y-You mean Dinky?!"

"Miss Dinky Hooves, so her tutors have told me, is very advanced in her use of magic. It's their belief that there is a place for her at my school when she is old enough." Looking briefly over Derpy's head, Celestia could see a huge smile on Lyra's face.

Before Celestia could even begin to get ready, Derpy rushed up and caught her in a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She couldn't think far enough that hugging and smearing tears of joy all over Celestia wasn't the most appropriate thing to do in any situation, but she was so full of emotion that she wasn't doing a lot of thinking.

It was one of Celestia's favorite things. She wrapped a wing around Derpy and hugged the mare against her. Tears flowed steadily from both eyes now as she dipped her head down to rest along the top of Derpy's.

"Wait." Derpy pulled back and spun around to look at the ponies behind her. "Dinky's only had two tutors for magic." It wasn't hard to do the math. "Y-You and Trixie were both Princess Celestia's students?"

"Yeah. I don't normally go around blowing my own horn about it. Surprisingly, neither does Trixie—and she is probably the best at blowing her own horn." Having spent most of the encounter hanging back, Lyra stepped up toward Derpy. "Dinky's an amazing filly. It would be a crime not to let her see how far she can grow."

"I'm too emotional to think straight right now. There's a million things I want to ask you, all of you, but I can't think of a single one." Almost seeming to deflate, Derpy tucked her wings back at her side and bowed to Lyra. She then turned and did the same to Celestia. "I'll write my first report and hoof-deliver it to you when I bring Dinky for her test."

Celestia and Lyra said their farewells to Derpy—amidst more hugging—before finally seeing the mare off.

A last look at Derpy prancing down the hallway before the doors closed with Celestia's telekinetic grip filled Lyra with joy. Then she felt the privacy spell lock down around the room. "I didn't see anything that would warrant serious security tonight. Twilight and her friends all caused scenes, but that was just ponies being ponies."

"It was horrible. I had to blow off Rarity. She's the big thing in Canterlot right now, and here I had to snub her just to appease those who expect it of me." Blue arched his head down and hung it in disgrace. "I'd be surprised if she so much as looked my way after that show."

"We were approached by Jet Set. He is offering us a big discount on the equipment and work we need done." Sweetie looked up at Celestia and raised an eyebrow. "Was that your doing?"

"Mine, actually. Jet is one of my foalhood friends, and the only pony that completely saw through my foppish front. He mentioned that you two were about to sign a deal with some company that would probably see your project's budget eaten up before you even opened." Holding up a hoof, Blue blew on it and rubbed it on his chest. "I suggested that he might want to be your white knight." He raised his gaze to Celestia. "Perhaps mentioning that it may lead to a warmer relationship with the crown."

"Good work, nephew. Having some nobles loyal to the throne would be an advantage." Celestia's words were heavy with sarcasm. She looked at Lyra next. "Any thoughts on events here?"

With her thoughts together, Lyra shook her head. "Nothing out of the ordinary, like Bonny said. It was all ponies being ponies. Your feeling…?"

"There is still that something bad is coming. I'm sorry to have dragged you all here for no reason." Breathing out a sigh, Celestia used her magic to dispell the ward she'd placed against eavesdropping. "Please, don't worry about this. I'll figure it out."

"No." Sweetie Drops was shocked to hear the word come from her own mouth. "I might be new to this little team, but we are a team—all four of us. If there is a problem coming, we'll keep our noses to the wind and see what we can find out."

"Hearing you put it like that is a surprise, but a welcome one. Well, since you count myself among the troubleshooters," Celestia said, "could I perhaps add a fifth?"

Timing was everything. Celestia had been trying to integrate her sister into all aspects of leadership, and that included her special interest groups. "My sister."

Opening the doors with her magic, Luna stepped into the ballroom and was relieved to see the population was as minimal as her sister had told her. She recognized Lyra Heartstrings immediately, and her wife Sweetie Drops was known to her, but the third of Celestia's little group shocked Luna. "Prince Blue Blood?!"

Dipping his head, Blue bowed to Luna. "Please, Your Highness, just call me Blue."

"But—"

"Luna, Blue cultivates a very distinct cover he uses in public and reveals a very different side when he is with confidants." None but Celestia would cut in on Luna with witnesses present, but she felt it was needed. "He is smart, confident, and utterly loyal to Equestria."

"Auntie, please." Blue felt a blush rising in his cheeks. He tilted his head to look at Luna and dipped it to show more humility. "Please forgive me the spreading of certain rumors."

Blowing out an annoyed breath, Luna sighed. "So long as you don't start new ones, I think I can manage. So this is your special team, sister?" She looked aside at Celestia.

"These are the troubleshooters I have close at hoof. Blue undoubtedly knows everypony in Canterlot and could tell you where they are, what they're doing, and what they will be doing tomorrow. Lyra is without doubt the best pony for falling into the biggest problems and unraveling them. Sweetie is the softest hammer I've found—I could tromp my way into a problem and start blasting—but I'd rather her more subtle methods. Plus, Sweetie shares some of Lyra's talent." Celestia pointedly ignored the smirk Lyra gave Sweetie and the tongue-poking-out that she got in reply.

"Working off what I know of Lyra, and extrapolating the others are at the same level in their fields, I must conclude you have gathered a mighty force here indeed." Luna was not afraid to give Lyra a little boost to her ego—she had helped Luna immensely with the cabinet group she'd put together. "So why am I here?"

"Because you can operate outside of the restrictions ponies place on me, because you can employ the leadership of a princess, but mostly because I want you to know that I want you to be my equal." As Celestia finished her list, she noticed a smile flicker on Luna's face for just a moment. "Also, it means less work for me to do, which means more time spent baking."

"So what is it we're investigating? What evil looms over Canterlot?" The gravitas of her words seemed a bit much given her sister's joke, so Luna added, "Are the bakeries threatened?"

Everypony froze for a moment as Luna's joke percolated through their heads. Lyra and Celestia were the first two to giggle, then Sweetie and Blue joined in.

When Celestia managed to contain her mirth, she said, "No, sister. In a thousand years of leadership, however, I have gained a sense for when something troubling is about to happen. That feeling is stronger now than it has been in all the time we've been apart."

"You have a hunch?" Luna asked.

"A strong hunch from a well-trained hunch-sensing organ."

"Stronger than me?"

The room—already echoing with quiet—seemed to become even more so. Celestia sighed to break the deafening silence. "Luna, I didn't have a hunch with you. I knew you were returning and I planned for the right ponies to be present at all steps to give you the best chance of recovery."

Luna closed her eyes and focused on how different things were, on the ponies that had sought her out, and tried to ignore her sister's continued foibles. Finally, she took a deep breath and counted backwards from twenty. By the time she reached one, she opened her eyes and felt the calm that behooved a princess of Equestria in her chest. "I cannot argue with the effectiveness of your methods."

Pausing only for a moment, Celestia approached her sister and hugged her. With both forelegs around Luna, Celestia whispered, "I have been in sole command of Equestria for too long. Please tell me when I tread on your hooves."

"'When'?" Luna asked.

"I'll try not to, but I hope we have a long time ruling together. It will happen and when it does I want you to tell me I'm doing it. Don't bottle it up." It was Celestia's latest fear, in fact, that she'd form another schism between them. "I love you."

Three words. That was all it took for Luna's sisterly love to grow. "I love you too, but we are technically working here."

"Oh!" Celestia back off and blinked a few times, reminded that they weren't the only two in the room. "So, as I was saying, we're investigating what I believe to be something or someone looking to bring down Equestria."

Blue let out a soft whine. "I guess I'll go through my contacts in high society and see if any idiots are trying to summon something. Are you sure the threat is that big, Auntie?"

"Now, I must say, this is a surprise." Discord was done with the six ponies and had found something vastly more interesting for his attention. "Fancy finding another chaotic god here biding his time. Go on, tell me your origin story." Cupping his paw to his mouth, Discord turned to face you. "I just love a good origin story."

His teeth on edge a little, Tufts Mango shook his head. "I wouldn't dream of telling you my story until we've shared a drink and a mango."

"See?! This is civilized. You know those ponies tried to blast me with magic? Me?!" Zapping himself with a pointed claw, Discord turned into a bat pony briefly himself—then he froze. "My goodness, now a mango sounds even better."

Turning and leaving the door open for what he could feel was his own equivalent in Equestria, Tufts walked back inside his home. "Once you go bat, you never go back. Do you enjoy tea?"

"Well, I haven't had a cup in about… a thousand years. I can't say I remember if I do enjoy it." Discord told himself he only assumed the pony form to fit inside the house, and picked bat because it looked interesting and would make his host more relaxed. "Tell me, what are you doing here?"

"Would you believe it started with a bang and a whoosh?"

"Those are my favorite types of starts!"

Using his wings to put the kettle on and get two mugs ready, Tufts added some hot water to the mugs. "It started with someone blowing a hole between our two worlds. My world had no magic, so you can imagine the effect."

His eyes widening, Discord felt his very heart swell at the thought—then he realized it was indigestion from the last meal he'd had over a thousand years ago. "That sounds simply marvelous. What manner of chaos did it spawn?"

Grabbing two mangoes from his fridge, Tufts brought them to the bench and twirled a knife around his wing-claw before bringing it down to neatly carve off one mango cheek. "Me. It spawned me." After a pause for effect, Tufts went on. "Well, not just me. It started turning animals into all nature of monsters. It seemed to be a mix of chaos and order—flowing down lines of belief and myth that were thousands of years old. I couldn't do much for the animals—there was just too many of them—but the humans there needed a form and the magic wanted pony. Being a bat, I decided something like this"—he gestured to himself—"would do."

"Well, I mean it does have a certain something. The wings look useful compared to the usual pony equipment, but have you considered draconequus?" With a popping sound, Discord was back to his normal self. "It has several bonus limbs that prove quite—handy—from time to time."

Tufts grinned at the gag. "That was a good one, but this has its perks too. Here, try a piece of mango like you are, then try it as a bat pony."

Narrowing his eyes, wondering if it was a trick, Discord nibbled on the fruit. His eyes shot open. "That's actually pretty good. Could use some hot sauce." A snap of his digits later and he nibbled it again as a bat pony. "You have a very good point there, but I still prefer to noodle."

"Whatever you're comfortable with. So, there was still a lot of magic, right, and I was sick of being the voice of reason and all that, so I directed it to make another myth real. Yada-yada-yada, I think I have the perfect bachelor's life until I meet her."

"Oh dear. You didn't?"

Pouring the water into two mugs and adding tea infusors, Tufts carried the drinks to the table and then fetched the rest of the mangoes. "I did. You should try it some time."

"No. Thank. You. This spirit of chaos is married to his job, and his job is chaos." For just a fraction of a monad of an atomic moment, Discord felt his self-aware nature tingle. He yelled at it, kicked it, and told it to keep its mouth shut if it knew what was good for it. He lifted the mug of tea and took a sip. "Oh, this is quite good."

"You better believe it is, my wife gets it from pr—" Just as he was about to say the source of their excellent tea, a tiny cry came from upstairs. It wasn't the kind of cry that indicated pain or fear—just hunger. "Excuse me a moment."

The crying combined with Tufts leaving made Discord's world tilt a little. His mind raced but, when he appeared at the bottom of the stairs again with a tiny filly in one wing, it was obvious that he was at least playing the part of father. What told Discord everything he needed to know was the intense magic aura coming off the filly.

Realization struck that here was a being of chaos who had settled down. He'd been tamed enough to produce an heir to his magic. A small amount of panic started within Discord. Is this to be my end, too? he asked himself.

As Tufts took a bottle of milk from the fridge and put it in another mug of hot water from the kettle, he realized Discord wasn't really focused on him anymore. "Something the matter?"

Staring down the barrel of his own future, a future where he has a lot less chaos in his life, Discord jumped up and raced out the front door before eating any further mango.

"Huh. Well, I guess that means more mango for me, doesn't it little Gara?" Tufts tickled the sobbing filly's nose and fetched her bottle of milk. "I was worried I'd have to bluff and warn him not to mess with us."

Author's Note

Rarity: What do you think of Sweetie's new friends?

"Her what, darling? Oh! Her school friends. Well, I'm—well I'm sure they..." Pausing a moment, Rarity seemed rather distracted. "You see, I'm a little distracted right now trying to get these dresses finalized. Applejack's alone is—" Closing her eyes, Rarity counted slowly to calm herself again. "I'm sure that Miss Cheerilee would tell me if there was something wrong with the company Sweetie Belle keeps."

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Lab

Chapter 9

Lyra huffed out a breath and kept working to clear away the cotton candy. What had happened had been right out of left field—not even Princess Celestia had seen Discord coming. "How are you doing, Bon Bon?"

"Well, it's sticky, but a bit of water gets rid of it quickly. Don't you have a spell for that?" They were clearing off the construction site. The training fields were all built, the offices were mostly done, and the barracks were about half finished.

The cotton candy clouds that had blanketed Canterlot and Ponyville hadn't missed their little camp at the base of the mountain, even if Discord had ignored it personally. This didn't stop some of the rampaging, giant bunnies from causing problems.

"I told you why I'm not using my magic for a few days."

"Yeah, yeah. Thaumic overload and all that. Isn't your telekinesis magic?"

"Well, kinda. I'm just using as little as I can until everything is under control again. Think of it like the ocean. Normally there's a few little waves as various ponies cast big spells and cause the magic to slosh around. Well, Discord made it more like huge tsunami waves. If I drain my tank, I might literally get blasted by a supercharged wave of magic rather than it just washing past me." Sweeping cotton candy off the ceiling was now Lyra's least fun activity.

"So, hypothetically," Sweetie said, "if there was a huge explosion of rainbow magic over toward Ponyville, that would be a bad thing then?"

Lyra managed one more stroke of the now-sticky broom before what Sweetie said actually made sense to her as being the opposite of a hypothetical. "I wanted a break from sweeping, anyway." Walking over to where Sweetie stood, she looked back toward Ponyville and saw the remnants of a wave of light. "Yeah, now that's going to leave somepony with a headache tomorrow, but you know that rainbow blasts coming from Ponyville mean one of two things."

Leaning against her mate, Sweetie rubbed her cheek against Lyra's jaw. "Either something needed Twilight and all her friends to beat up, or Rainbow is doing something crazy. Odds are pretty even either way of late."

"If it was Rainbow, and she used that much of her reserves, she might have hurt herself then."

Setting down the mop she'd been holding for support, Sweetie leaned back off me and started walking toward the exit of the half-finished barracks building.

Lyra followed, and even without having suitable armor on, the pair ran at a full gallop toward Ponyville. The wind in their manes was a nice side benefit, but having Sweetie at her side was the best feeling Lyra could ever experience. The center of the blast, as near as Lyra remembered it, was outside of the town itself—on a nearby farm.

They arrived just in time to see Applejack measuring out the ground beside a huge pile of smashed and burning timber. The fire was burning low, thankfully, Applejack apparently capable enough not to cause a grass fire.

Sweetie, thanks toher earth pony stamina, was first to be able to talk. "Uh, excuse us, Applejack, but did you see Rainbow Dash cause a—?"

"Well, howdy there Bon Bon, Lyra." Applejack turned from her task and jutted a hoof toward the two newcomers. "Put 'er there." A mare with old fashioned sensibility, she preferred to shake hooves rather than bump them. With the ritual greeting complete, Applejack gestured to the pile of rubble that was burning. "Yeah, Rainbow got upset when Twilight delayed her work demolishing my old barn, so she did a big, flashy thing—typical Rainbow Dash, really—and smashed the rest up with a huge blast."

Lyra winced, which earned her a confused look from Applejack. "After all of you defeated Discord, the magic around here has been a little troublesome. Most ponies who only use a little at a time don't need to worry, but if you are lacking in reserves and a sort of wave of magic hits—" Lyra stopped, realizing she'd completely lost Applejack. "She's probably curled up in a ball somewhere with the worst headache ever and hurting all over."

"Oof, an' all because she helped me. Well, I saw her flying back toward her house, but I don't know if she stopped somewhere on the way. Ya got most of Ponyville between us and there." Genuine concern ate at Applejack's normally relaxed tone. For all their one-up-ponyship, Rainbow was one of her best friends.

"We'll find her even if I have to burn up some of my own magic doing it," Lyra said.

Tilting her head to one side, Applejack squinted at Lyra. "Won't that, uh, leave you with a bad headache and feeling terrible?"

"Yeah, but at least I won't be suffering alone. A problem shared is—"

Applejack cut in with more of that country drawl and an expression that betrayed a lot of appreciation. "… a problem halved. Ye're a good friend, Lyra. Let me know if ya can't find her and I'll give ya a hand."

Sweetie sighed and nodded. "It's the least we can do after we dropped the ball on the whole Discord thing."

Curiosity struck Applejack at the way Sweetie had spoken. "'Dropped the ball'? Whaddaya mean?"

Lyra winced and looked at Sweetie before turning to Applejack. "The Guard. She means the E.U.P. Guard. He was just way too much for us."

"Well, lucky we all got Twilight around to remind us who we are and what it means to be ponies. I couldn't imagine tryin' t' fight Discord again without her." Applejack reached up and adjusted her hat a little.

"Yeah!" It wasn't just lip-service—Lyra was genuinely relieved Equestria had a pony like Twilight. "We'd better go if we want any chance of catching up to Rainbow before she crashes."

Saying their goodbyes, Lyra and Sweetie took off at a trot toward town that they quickly built into a canter and then gallop. And that's when they spotted the rainbow blur in the sky above them.

"Rainbow Dash!" Sweetie Drops put every ounce of her earth pony lungpower behind the shout. The practice of hours spent as a training sergeant in the Guard was the only reason she managed to catch Rainbow's attention.

Stopping on a dime, Rainbow shifted her direction and shot down to her friends like a multi-colored missile. Stopping just before the ground, she started flapping her wings to keep hovering. "Hey, what's up with all the shouting?" As she asked, she felt a little stiffness in her left wing.

Lyra closed her eyes and got her words straight. "Rainbow, if you don't want to have the worst day ever, land and stop flapping your wings."

A little surprised, and curious, Rainbow nonetheless dropped to the ground and noticed the twitch in her wing was getting worse. "Uh, you'll have to excuse me. My wing is starting to cramp pretty—" She didn't get any further. The muscle in her left wing decided to cramp up hard and jerk her wing out at the same time. Rainbow's forelegs buckled in pain at the muscle tension.

Sweetie moved faster than her wife or Rainbow. She rushed up to Rainbow Dash's side and reached out for the traitorous wing. The muscle was an angry ball of tension that she started rubbing with the undersides of her hooves. "Try to relax it. You can't pull it in, you need to stretch it all the way out."

Rainbow, as was her prerogative, was trying not to scream through clenched teeth. She followed the instructions and slowly managed to fight the muscle and stretch her wing out—repeating the motion for her other wing. That was the only reason her right wing didn't cramp too. Eyes wide, she stared at the ground as tears welled in them.

"You'll be okay. You just used too much magic and got hit by a dirty magic wave." Explaining the problem, Lyra tried to work out what was the best way from here. "Hey, can you get up on my back and we'll head over to our place?"

Having never been in so much pain before, Rainbow let herself be lifted onto Lyra's back like a foal and carried along. Her wings remained stretched out to each side while Sweetie swapped sides and started massaging the muscles of her right wing.

Inside, Rainbow barely noticed that she'd been transferred from Lyra's back to a bed, though she did let out a relieved sigh when she felt another pair of hooves massaging her left wing again. That's when a horrid smell hit her. "W-What was that?"

"You explain it," Sweetie said to Lyra. "You actually understand what it is."

"The easiest way to explain it is that when Discord used magic, he would suck up a huge amount and then release it all at once. The effects might have been random, but he made what became huge waves of magic. Normally this would only be a problem for a unicorn, but you've started using a lot more magic lately—like that explosion up at Sweet Apple Acres. Each time a bad wave comes, it beats against the part of your body that regulates magic—your wings."

Rainbow wasn't a fool, but when it came to maybe not being able to fly, she lost about half her IQ. "So, what, I can't fly now? Also, what is that stuff that stinks?"

"Liniment. It will sooth sore muscles, aches, and pains. Also, drink some of this—but don't use your wings to hold the bottle." Lyra floated a bottle of E.U.P. Guard Rocket Fuel over to Rainbow. "You'll be fine to fly, just stick to doing normal pegasi stuff."

"Boring." The idea of just being a normal pegasus was antithesis to Rainbow Dash. What was most annoying, however, was that she trusted Lyra when it came to magic. "How long's this going to last?"

"No longer than a week. We sent a warning to all the unicorns in the area, but I guess you guys probably should have been warned too." Lyra could feel the muscle stop twitching at last. "I told you to drink that."

"What is it? Wait, is this that stuff from the Guard?"

Sweetie rolled her eyes out of Rainbow's line of sight. "Rocket Fuel. Down the bottle and you'll feel better. The electrolytes will ease your muscles. Just don't start flying again right away."

Opening the bottle and tipping it up, Rainbow tasted it and found it sweet and not terrible—though it was no Apple Family Cider. It took nearly thirty seconds for the effect to hit her wings, but when it did she let out an appreciative moan and flopped bonelessly into the bed's embrace. "Wake me in an hour."

"Wake you? With that much Rocket Fuel in you you could never"—Lyra blinked in surprise as Rainbow began to snore—"sleep. How did she do that?"

"It's probably what she needs right now. I wonder what it is she needs to be awake for in an hour?" Walking around the bed, Sweetie caught up the empty bottle and balanced it on her back as she walked out.

Following her wife out of the room, Lyra used her magic to pull the curtains closed and closed the door behind her. "No clue, but I bet we can find out if we ask one of her close friends. Let's go visit Pinkie."

That walk, of course, was interrupted by a unicorn. A purple unicorn. A purple unicorn who looked like her mane had seen far better days. "Twilight?" Lyra asked.

Freezing mid-teleport, Twilight Sparkle craned her head around to look at Lyra and Sweetie. She scanned them, mentally looking for fractious friendship issues. "Are you having a p-pleasant day?"

There was something wrong with Twilight. Something very wrong that Lyra was worried had something to do with the magic waves. "Yes, uh. Twilight? Is everything okay? You shouldn't be using teleport spells…" She trailed off because a moment after she said Twilight's name, Twilight vanished with another teleport.

"She's going to have a massive headache later, isn't she?" Sweetie asked.

"That or her magic is going to go wild. Probably a fifty-fifty with her. Nothing we can do—she got the same warning as every other unicorn." Gesturing forward, Lyra started to trot the last half block to Sugarcube Corner.

Stepping inside, the smells of dozens of pastries seemed to combine into some monster of sugar, spice, and all things nice that almost knocked Lyra and Sweetie back a few paces. Both shook their heads to regain their bearings before standing in line.

It didn't take long to reach the front. Generally, when most ponies had made a purchase, they wanted to rush off and eat the treat and not stand around and chat with the baker. "Lyra? Sweetie? How are you guys going?!" The baker—one Pinkie Pie—was more than happy to chat.

"We're doing fine, Pinkie, but Rainbow isn't so hot." Walking up to the counter, Lyra wasn't at all surprised to have Pinkie vault over it and hug her. Squeezing back, Lyra felt herself relax a little. Pinkie Pie was a literal force for good, and having grown up with her as a friend meant the world to Lyra.

"Wait!" Pinkie jerked back from the hug, her brain catching up on the conversation she'd only just started. "What's wrong with Rainbow?"

Describing, Lyra made sure to warn Pinkie about using her earth pony magic too much. "And so she fell asleep, telling us to wake her in an hour. We figured it would be better to let her sleep more, but if the thing she has planned is important…"

"Oh! Our picnic! We were all planning to have a picnic together just outside of town. As far as I know it's still on, but I've been noticing some weird stuff today." As soon as she said it, Pinkie let loose a giggle. "Weird! Can you believe I called something weird?"

"Twilight?" Sweetie asked and got a nod back. "We met her. She asked if we were having a good day, when Lyra said yes, she teleported away."

"That… kinda sounds like Twilight, but not." Thinking for a moment, Pinkie tapped a hoof in thought. When no Pinkie Sense™️ triggered, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sure we can get to the bottom of that at the picnic. Hang on, did you say not to use magic? And Twilight was teleporting around? Did you warn her?"

"Tried to. She should have gotten a warning about it earlier, anyway. Discord made some real waves in the magic field around here, but it should be fine to work bigger magic in about a week." Lyra pointed her hoof excitedly at the choux pastry, chocolate, and cream creation in the cabinet before her. "Four of those—the eclairs!"

"Lyra!" Sweetie looked at Lyra with a stunned expression.

"Huh? Oh! You want some too?" Turning to look at Pinkie, Lyra wore the biggest grin of the day. "Better make it eight."

Lifting her hoof up, Sweetie face-hoofed. "Why not. I'm sure we'll find some hungry ponies to eat them."

Pinkie dutifully loaded eight of their chocolate eclairs into a tray and then put it into a large paper bag. "Anything else I can get you?"

Looking left and then right, Lyra leaned in and whispered, "Did you manage to find any Vegemite?"

"Yes!" Pinkie quickly covered her mouth, then tried to whisper (far too loudly to be a whisper), "Maud sent some. She's in her last year of her doctorate, and thought we'd need some tastes of home."

"What is Vegemite?" Sweetie asked while trying to ignore the fact that the line of ponies behind them were now all leaning forward to hear.

When Pinkie reached into her mane and pulled out a glass jar of the substance with the familiar (to Lyra and Pinkie) yellow label and lid, Lyra began to bounce in place. "You can have this one," Pinkie said. "She sent me a whole case of it."

Tilting her head forward, Lyra leaned her forehead on Pinkie's and let out a sigh. "I owe you big time for this. I'd been asking Robin to get me some, but she's always too busy to get around to it."

Pinkie snorted and replied, "We're practically family, Lyra. You only owe me a smile and a giggle. But for these you owe me big time." With that, Pinkie Pie slid a packet of Tim Tams from her mane and passed them to Lyra.

Sweetie Drops, along with everypony else in the bakery, had to cover their ears to block out the high-pitched squeal of excitement from Lyra. "Lyra! What—?"

"ThisisthebestthingeverandIoweyousooooomuchPinkiecomeonSweetiewehavetogomakecoffee!" Grabbing the bag of eclairs, the Vegemite, and the Tim Tams, Lyra lifted Sweetie up with her magic and—with the door currently closed—jumped out the window of Sugarcube Corner and took off at a gallop.

A few coins on the counter in Sugarcube Corner were all that was left of Lyra and Sweetie. Pinkie dutifully scooped up the payment and put it in the register. "Who's next?"

"I'll have some of that vege-whatsit and tammies too," Granny Smith said, her head still turned to observe the dust cloud wake of Lyra Heartstrings.

At any moment during the mad dash back to their home, Sweetie could have dropped out of Lyra's grip merely by calling the ground to her hooves. It was a trick not all earth ponies could do—in fact usually getting an earth pony off the ground was to defeat them—but Sweetie had dedicated herself to being the solid rock that anypony could depend on, and that meant being the best at what she did.

But of course she didn't. Breaking from Lyra's grip like that would have left Lyra with almost as bad a headache as if she'd used magic like Rainbow had. Instead, she had to content herself with the fact that Lyra would at least have something tasty for her to try.

Inside, Lyra set Sweetie down. "Okay, for the first thing I need to make us some coffee. I can—" She stopped as she realized Sweetie was staring at her with an unreadable expression. "What's wrong?"

"Lyra Heartstrings, if you can't tell when you've gone silly mode, I am not going to be the one to shatter your fun. Okay, so what are these things?" Sweetie followed Lyra into the kitchen and set about boiling the kettle.

"Well, one will require bread, which I guess we should have gotten from Sugarcube Corner, but Tim Tams only require a hot drink to truly enjoy." Despite the fact that the bakery was only a short walk away, Lyra nonetheless started lifting out some bread flour to start making dough.

"Bread? What is this stuff?" Reaching for the jar, Sweetie used her hooves to open it and took a sniff of the Vegemite—and almost gagged. "Lyra!"

"It's really good, I promise. It's literally pure umami, but once you get used to it—"

"Once I get used to it?" Sniffing again, and finding the smell not to have improved, Sweetie screwed the lid back on tight. "Why in Celestia's name would I want to get used to it?"

"Well, it…" While Lyra started kneading the dough she was making, Sweetie just kept staring at her. "It tastes nice?"

Leaning close to Lyra, Sweetie kissed her wife on the cheek. "That's good enough for me to try it."

"So despite it smelling horrible and me having no logical reasoning for why it is good, you'd still try it just because I said so?" When Sweetie nodded to her, Lyra's magic winked out and she let the dough drop to the bench while she hugged Sweetie. The strong return of Sweetie's hug only deepened her emotion. "I love you so much, Bonny."

As Sweetie closed for a more intimate kiss, she whispered, "I love you too, Lyra."

Their lips joined for nearly two whole seconds when the front door of the house burst open and four hooves stampeded through the living area and upstairs. Both broke the kiss off with a giggling grin apiece.

"Just leaving my school stuff here! Going to get up to shenanigans with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom!" Literally dumping her bag on her bed, Scootaloo turned back around and reversed the path she'd taken entering the house. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, and noticed things were quiet, she slowed and leaned her head around the corner of the kitchen. "Uh, is something up?"

"The usual madness. Lyra got some tastes of home while I over-ordered chocolate eclairs. Would you like to take three?" Assuming she knew the answer, Sweetie was already picking up one of the bags and lightening its load by one for Scootaloo.

"Are you sure?" Scootaloo rushed into the kitchen and spied the bag. "Are these from Sugarcube Corner?"

"Mmhmm! Here, take one for each of your friends. This one's for me, and Lyra gets the other four." Rolling her eyes at Lyra, Sweetie passed the treats to Scootaloo, who quickly balanced them on her back with her wings flanking the bag.

Lyra groaned. "You make it sound like I'd planned to eat four of them from the start!" Her tone was full of self-mockery. "Go and have some fun, Scoots, but don't forget our run."

Nodding with excitement, Scootaloo raced to the front door with the snacks balanced on her back. Outside she grabbed up her scooter and fell-in with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Got us something to eat, too."

Sweetie Belle's eyes opened as large as saucers at the sight of the chocolate eclairs. Though her magic spluttered with sparks from her horn, her grip was as sure and steady as that Celestia had with the sun. "Thank you," she said, the words of thanks having been drummed into her, before taking a bite of the treat.

The flavors that hit Apple Bloom were almost enough to make her fall over. One mouthful turned into a second, then a third, and before she knew it she was done with the eclair and only had the lingering chocolate-cream taste in her mouth. "That. Was. Amazin'!"

Scootaloo had to wipe the cream from her lips with her forearm before she licked it off again. "Sure was. So, girls, what are the Cutie Mark Crusaders going to do next?"

"Picking apples!" Apple Bloom bounced in place excitedly. "Wait, no, planting apple trees!"

"Maybe you'd get a cutie mark in that," Sweetie Belle said, "but I want to practice magic!"

With both her friends looking at her, eager to hear which of them Scootaloo would pick, Scoots closed her eyes and grinned as she shook her head. "You girls are thinking too narrow." When she opened her eyes and saw two confused expressions, she continued, "Let's combine them. Picking and planting apples with magic!"

Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom started bouncing in place with excitement.

Back in the kitchen, Lyra Heartstrings was grinning like a loon at Sweetie Drops. "Now you do it."

Looking at the chocolate biscuit that she'd been given, Sweetie tried to work out if this was another thing Lyra was going to prank her wing. "I can't believe I'm trying this." Carefully nibbling opposing corners through the chocolate layer, she carefully held it in her coffee and started sucking through it like a straw.

"Now in your mouth! All of it!"

Since the snack was about ready to completely discombobulate due to the heat melting it from the inside, Sweetie did just that and tossed the Tim Tam into her mouth. For a species with a predisposition toward sweet things, the Tim Tam Slam turned out to be just about the best chocolaty treat Sweetie had had in her whole life. Her eyes widened and her pulse quickened.

Watching the shudder that started at Sweetie's nose and ended only at the tip of her tail, Lyra giggled. "So?"

"How many more do we have?" Sweetie asked, only it sounded more like, "Wow wewwy war woo we wave?"

Passing another of the biscuits to Sweetie, Lyra pulled out another for herself and repeated the procedure. And again. And again. And finally the two came to the ultimate test of their marriage.

"You're kidding?" Sweetie asked. "Why do they put an odd number of them in the packet?"

"This is fate. When two great powers must come together and do battle for the ultimate prize." Lyra glared at Sweetie over the empty-but-one packet. Thanks to her magic being at the speed of thought, Lyra plucked the last Tim Tam from the packet and pulled it toward her.

Ignoring the daggers Sweetie was looking at her, Lyra bit the opposing corners off and then floated it over and into Sweetie's coffee. "Well?"

Realizing the direction things had gone, Sweetie sighed and smiled at Lyra. "You are a most horrible tease sometimes, you know that?" She leaned down and, with Lyra holding the biscuit, sucked her coffee up through it.

Lifting the Tim Tam from the coffee when it was suitably laden, Lyra leaned forward across the table held the precious, final biscuit between them—hoping her grin and inviting eyebrow waggles gave Sweetie an idea what to do.

Leaning closer to Lyra, Sweetie positioned her mouth just right at one end of the Tim Tam while Lyra did the same at the other. Pushing together into an open-mouthed kiss, they both bit into the last treat and let their eyes flutter closed in married bliss.

The kiss lingered far past the moment both had swallowed their share of the last biscuit, and even toward the point where neither could taste the chocolate-coffee-toffee mix any longer. Neither seemed to want to break apart, but as all kisses must—it ended.

"Okay, they might be onto something with the odd numbered thing." Lyra's eyes had opened and were spellbound by Sweetie's. Her heart was thudding away in excitement at being alone together.

Smirking, equally lost in Lyra's eyes as Lyra was in hers, Sweetie ran her tongue over her lips to remind her of not just the taste of Lyra's, but also the chocolate sensation she'd just experienced. "Seems that way. I can't imagine how two ponies that were just friends would cope with that."

Lyra snorted and bit her lower lip. "You know, with Scoots out with her friends…"

Sweetie didn't reply in words, but actions.

An afternoon having fun while their dough rose turned out to be what both of them needed, but the insistent knocking at the front door eventually grew too much for either Lyra or Sweetie to ignore any longer.

Untangling herself from Sweetie, Lyra rolled over to her side of the bed and off it. "I'll get the door, you—" She had looked back and saw Sweetie looking at her, hungrily, and for a moment Lyra thought of putting up a sound-barrier and climbing back on the bed.

"They really sound like it's important. If it was Scoots, she'd just come in," Sweetie said, surrendering to the inevitable and slipping from her side of the bed. "Should I start putting my armor on?"

"Magic's all bent to Tartarus and back. I can't see it being anything serious." Lyra walked out of the bedroom and used her weakest freshen up spell to get her coat in a semblance of order. When she opened the door, it was to see a panicked Cheerilee. "What's up?"

"It's something really serious!" Cheerilee had never been so relieved to see a member of the Guard in her life. "Please, I didn't know who else to ask. Everypony is going crazy on the other side of town!"

Turning to look for Sweetie, Lyra was relieved to see her heading out of the bedroom too. A quick zap with the same freshening spell sorted her darling out. "You ready to roll?"

"Yeah. What's going on? Did you see if something was attacking?" Sweetie was all business, despite not having her armor. Even devoid of the mass that made her one of the more fearsome creatures in Equestria, she still had a lot of weapon in just her body.

"They seemed to be attacking each other. There was dust everywhere." Making room, Cheerilee stepped aside to let Lyra and Sweetie out of their home. "This way!"

Already able to see the dust cloud in the distance, Sweetie nonetheless suppressed her desire to gallop ahead of Cheerilee. As it was, the teacher was their only source of intel and she was a civilian to be protected. "Lyra, keep behind me. I'll be able to take any blowback from using magic better than you."

It was annoying for Lyra that Sweetie was right. She liked to deal with problems with her magic—at range—and not have anypony need to get physically involved in a fight, but she also had to face facts that Sweetie was always going to be thinking the exact same thing. "Okay, but whatever it is, remember you haven't got your heavy gear to protect you. Dance, Bonny, don't brace."

Sweetie tilted her head just enough that she could still see forward and spot Lyra behind her. "Lyra, you didn't just lecture me on how to fight?"

"And what did you just tell me?" Lyra asked, her grin a mile wide.

For a moment Sweetie reviewed what she'd just said and, if she weren't galloping hard, would have face-hoofed. "Sorry. Too used to recruits needing instruction."

"Yeah. Same. So what do you think would cause—" Lyra's voice faltered as she saw what looked like half the town brawling. There were spot fights here and there, but it seemed like most of the melee was happening in one big glut. Beside it, Twilight Sparkle looked terrified. "Okay, so what the heck is this?" When Sweetie didn't answer and didn't even slow, Lyra looked toward Sweetie and then followed her gaze toward that big fight.

Something caught Lyra's eye. It looked like the ugliest little stuffed toy she'd ever seen, but even as far away as she was, Lyra realized two things—she wanted it and she needed it. Grunting and blowing her breath out angrily, Lyra sped back up to a full gallop as she aimed herself squarely at the thickest of the fighting.

Sweetie, too, had a head full of desire to get the stuffed toy all for herself. Eyes fixed on her target, she brought her speed up to a full gallop and tried to shove her way through the crowd. Something about her fixation stopped her being able to use her earth pony magic, but she was still a solid mare moving at high speed.

The collision almost knocked McIntosh over. He let out a grunt turned to look at what had hit him. "Mmm—nope!" Turning his head, he grabbed the stuffed toy from a foal and started plowing his way out of the melee as fast as his mighty limbs would carry him.

Running along beside the main crowd, Twilight tried to keep pace with the mad rush and aim her horn at the doll—but every time she thought she had a clear shot, somepony else would grab it and steal it from her sight. That's when she watched the leading few ponies charge through the middle of her friends' picnic.

"Don't look at it!"

The shout made Rainbow turn to look around, of course, only to have Twilight grab her head before she could focus on the amazing thing—at least she'd thought for a moment that it was exciting. The jerking around caused her head to get dizzy again, and she felt the ground coming up to say hello.

With Twilight ranting about magic stuff above her, Rainbow slowly got back to her hooves. She opened her mouth to ask what was actually going on, when she realized it had suddenly gotten very dark.

"Twilight Sparkle!"

Everypony present heard the shout. It shot through their heads and was followed a moment later by a bright flash of golden magic. The silence was deafening. Where there were shouts of "mine" and "give me that" over the sounds of actual violence, now the meadow was quiet.

"What—?" Sweetie Drops looked up at McIntosh, whom she'd been trying to fight just moments earlier. "I'm so sorry!" She tried to scoot backward from McIntosh, acutely aware that she could have seriously hurt him.

McIntosh, however, was worried of the same thing—but in reverse. "Are"—he had to fight his normal almost-mute tendencies—"are you hurt?"

Sweetie and McIntosh stared at each other for a few seconds before they both laughed. A moment later each winced as the soft-tissue injuries they'd dealt each other became more evident.

Blinking away the daze of the Want-It Need-It spell, Lyra tried to sort out where she was, what had happened, and what she needed to do. As her eyes started to focus, she realized she was laid-out on her belly. "Uh, did anypony get the number of that truck?"

Looking up, however, revealed that it was Apple Bloom who was standing over her with her own dazed expression. What shocked Lyra the most was there didn't seem to be a mark on the filly. "Uh, hi. You're Scoots' friend, right?"

"Uh, yeah." Apple Bloom looked at Lyra with a little worry. She could see that Lyra had been roughed up by something, and when she looked to another mare that was with them (she had no idea what their name was) she looked in a similar condition to Lyra. "Are you both alright?"

Slowly getting her legs under her and standing, Lyra looked at the pegasus who had apparently also not done well against Apple Bloom. "Yeah, just a bit sore. You've got quite the buck, Apple Bloom. Sorry, Orange Swirl, right?"

"Yeah. Hey, you're Lyra Heartstrings? My little sister has been getting lessons from you." Tucking her wings up carefully, Orange felt a little tender just about everywhere.

"I've been doing some for Cheerilee, yeah—That's Princess Celestia!" Things started to slot into place. Celestia had arrived to stop whatever had them all fighting. Lyra started walking in Celestia's direction, only to realize Twilight Sparkle was cowering on her belly.

It was one of those scenes that immediately screamed at Lyra that they were above her pay grade. She waited for a while to see if Celestia would leave or hang around, and to her relief Celestia walked down from where the six friends were. "Princess Celestia," Lyra said, bowing her head.

"Don't bow, please. I'm angry enough already and I don't want to take it out on anypony." Celestia's teeth were grit together almost too hard for her to talk. It wasn't just being upset at Twilight for so badly misunderstanding her request that did it, it was also the brain-splitting migraine from using so much magic with Discord's discordant waves still sloshing around Ponyville. "How is everypony?"

"I—" Lyra realized that in her distraction and waiting for Celestia, she hadn't checked on anypony but the two she'd woken up beside. "What was that spell? I didn't even think to check on anypony else. It was—"

Seeing the panic and concern well to the surface of Lyra's mind through the expression on her face, Celestia sought to calm her back down. "Shh. It was a Want-It Need-It. One of the more contagious and insidious mind-control spells. Thankfully it can be dispelled by its source—but requires a significant amount of magic to do so."

"Would you like some tea? We've got some chocolate eclairs at home." At mention of the eclairs, Lyra noticed Celestia's ears perked forward a little sharper. "I'll take that as a yes. Well, let's check up to make sure everypony is okay." That's when Lyra's blood ran cold—she spotted Scootaloo.

Celestia moved instead to the nearest ponies. "Is everypony okay? Any injuries?"

It hadn't been a teleport spell that Celestia used to leave the balcony of the Golden Oaks Library, rather she'd used a combination of her weakest invisibility spell and a simple disguise to glide down to the street below. When she was out of sight of the library, she let go of the invisibility spell—rubbed her head with one wing—and started walking off to find where Lyra and Sweetie were.

All the lights in Ponyville were on that night. After the event, Celestia was sure that everypony was trying to make sense of what had happened and take care of whatever minor wounds they had. For her part—hiding her horn and stature with the illusion—she wanted to reassure two of her more valued instruments that this was not their fault.

"Excuse me?" Celestia asked when she finally found a pony. She recognized Derpy Hooves, of course, but not the little filly at her side—though she could take a guess at it being Dinky. "You wouldn't happen to know where Lyra Heartstrings lives, would you?"

Blinking at the bright white pegasus that stepped out from between two buildings, Derpy smiled without a hint of worry. "It's that one just over there." She pointed a wing at a building two doors down.

With her head feeling better by the minute, Celestia gave her best, genuine smile. "Thank you." With a wave of her wing—something that Celestia had to remind herself to do since she was a pegasus right now—she started walking toward the indicated house and made it up to the front door.

"I'll get it!" Scootaloo had been bent down to the floor with all her weight on her primaries when she heard a knock, but she jumped upward with the strength her wings now had and practically pounced across the room to the front door. When she opened it, she looked up at the pony waiting there. "Uh, hi. Do you want to speak to Lyra or Sweetie?"

"All three of you, actually, Scootaloo. May I come in?" Celestia had to restrain herself from giggling at the earnest look from Scootaloo. It was equal parts evaluation and curiosity.

Taking a deep breath after she decided that it would be best to leave the actual decision to Lyra and Sweetie, Scootaloo called out, "Lyra! Sweetie! We have company!"

As she walked from kitchen to living room, Lyra could feel a slight buzz of active magic against her senses. It was only the slightest hint, but when she looked at the pegasus she could tell it was definitely coming from her and it was some kind of illusion. "Hi there. Please, come in." It was hard to restrain herself from asking the stranger to dispense with the magic.

Walking inside, Celestia noticed Sweetie step into the room beside Lyra. She waited, however, for Scootaloo to close the door behind her before she finally let go of the illusion. "Sorry for the subterfuge, I didn't want to cause a ruckus in town."

Lyra actually face-hoofed. She'd been on her guard and everything, and had completely failed to detect the most powerful alicorn in the world in her living room.

"P-Princess Celestia?!" Scootaloo's back was pressed to the door as the larger than life (literally) princess seemed to take up more space now.

"Please, just relax. I'm not here on business." Berating herself a little, Celestia realized that Joyce might just be the only pony in the whole world that wouldn't freak out at seeing her. "I was just wondering if you might have a spare cup of tea?"

The normalcy of being asked for a cup of tea broke Sweetie from her own stupor. "We were actually just about to have dinner. Would you like to join us?" She did her best to ignore Scootaloo and Lyra's shocked expressions, which was made easier that Celestia smiled and nodded. "I'll just go and make sure to get a little extra on each plate…"

Her brain spinning around on its horizontal axis, Lyra tried to figure out what to do or say when she had Celestia in her home. Pointing out the various pictures on the wall? Maybe showing off their armor collection?

Thinking a bit quicker than Lyra, Scootaloo walked carefully around Celestia and gestured to the didgeridoos on a stand mounted on the wall. "Have you ever heard anypony play these?"

Intrigued, Celestia shook her head. "Can you?"

It was hard for Scootaloo to keep her wings from flapping in excitement at getting to play. "I sure can!" She reached out a twitchy wing and picked up her smaller didgeridoo. She made her way over to the couch to sit down and brace it with her forelegs while holding the end with her wings.

"You've figured out the reciprocal breathing?" Lyra asked.

"Mmhmm. Listen." Holding the small wooden pipe to her lips, Scootaloo started the special breathing she'd need to keep the sound up and started.

Celestia froze at the sound that came from the instrument. It was at once both ancient and new. Closing her eyes to focus on it, she snapped them back open when she realized there was no pause to the tune Scootaloo was making. Sitting down, she focused all her attention on listening and trying to follow the guttural notes that vibrated on the air.

Getting into her music, Scootaloo lined up her hoof on the side of the didgeridoo and started tapping a rhythm on it. It was easy to just let the song of the instrument play through her. Almost stumbling at one point, she watched Lyra float her guitar across the room as she settled back on the couch with the instrument balanced on her lap.

With perfect timing born of her special talent, Lyra joined her guitar's bass notes to Scootaloo's tune and chased it through the rhythm, always just a moment behind the filly.

Now that she had Lyra backing her up, Scootaloo felt like she was riding the music now, tapping out percussion with her hoof that also colored the notes that the didgeridoo made. It was easy to get swept up in music with Lyra playing too, and it wasn't until the tune wanted to finish that Scootaloo was finally able to stop playing.

Panting a little as she got her breathing back to normal, Scootaloo quickly checked her flank. A musical cutie mark wouldn't have been as awesome as one for flying, but with everything she'd seen Sweetie and Lyra do, with food and music cutie marks, she wouldn't have complained. But, her flank was still blank. What snapped her out of her contemplation was the sound of hooves clopping together.

Sometimes Celestia wished she could bottle moments in time. Slip them into a stasis and save them for later enjoyment. The improvised music she'd just witnessed was one such moment. Clopping her forehooves together enthusiastically, she did her best to contain her almost overflowing enthusiasm. "That was wonderful!"

Sweetie, too, was caught up and applauding the music. Her eyes were mostly focused on Lyra, her pulse thudding in her ears at her wife's show of support for their adopted filly.

Lyra struggled to break her own gaze from Sweetie's, but managed to turn to Scootaloo. "You really worked that out well. Been practicing?"

"Every day." The realization that putting in work and practicing things really paid off had inspired Scootaloo. Her weapons practice, her wing exercises, and her breathing had all stemmed from her running and how much easier she could move now. Even her best friends were looking and sounding better after their nightly trots together.

"How's the weapons training going?" Sweetie asked.

"They won't let me train with hoof-claws. I really want to, but Sure Fire said I can't use those safely until I can fly." Blowing out a huff, Scootaloo looked at the didgeridoo and ran a gentle hoof over it. "So he's sticking to unarmed combat. Hooves, wings, biting, the whole business."

Sweetie couldn't help but giggle. "Even when you can fly, that kind of fighting will be useful. There's been several pegasi recruits I've seen now that surprised a unicorn by just bracing and diving into them. You'll get to claws when you can fly. After all, you couldn't walk properly with them extended."

Looking at her hooves, Scootaloo pondered that. "But I could rear up and use them to strike forward. I just think it's a good idea not to rely on only one weapon. When I was talking to Shining Armor, he was saying that the Royal Guard were trying to work out less-lethal ways of dealing with problems than poking them with spears—spears that do bad things if you get poked."

"That's an understatement." Celestia cleared her throat when everypony in the room looked at her, seemingly surprised she was still there. For just a moment she pondered making an alicorn in the room joke—it took a lot of willpower to resist. "I enchant every single one of those spears myself. Part of the Royal Guards' promise to me is that they wield my power with the same compassion I would."

It was a little more information about Royal Guards that both Sweetie and Lyra had learned. Both were quiet while they digested it. Scootaloo was not.

"Why do you only allow stallions to be Royal Guards?" Scootaloo asked.

Though they'd both gained substantial information on the Royal Guards, neither Lyra nor Sweetie had ever actually asked Celestia directly. Both felt shocked at the brashness of Scootaloo.

"Momentum. Well, momentum in the form of tradition. It started in 572. The year was hard on everypony, but there was a sickness that hit mares harder than stallions. Everypony came down sick at some point, but there was a certain formality in my female guards at the time demanding the stallions protect me." It was a situation Celestia certainly wouldn't have bottled to remember, but remember she did. "They made that part of the oath—that the stallions of the Royal Guard will protect me to their last breath. I need to change that. It's not a healthy mindset."

Looking to the side, to her foster parents, Scootaloo narrowed her eyes. "I think we can help."

Celestia was startled by the certainty in Scootaloo's voice. The assuredness that she could do a thing and nothing would stop her. For a moment Celestia wondered if she really could help—despite being a young filly.

"So, what we do is have an end of year contest. A display of prowess with weapons, with agility, and even magic and smarts. The winner gets to choose a section of the E.U.P. Guard to apprentice to." Turning her head back to look at Celestia, Scootaloo smiled as wide and happy as any foal her age would. "Because I'll win, and I'll demand to apprentice as a Royal Guard."

"It—" Celestia was stuck. She tried to work out how to argue against the plan, but the only fault she could begin to find was that Scootaloo might not win. Not in her first year at least. "It would take some PR work. Everypony would need to believe you were going to join the Wonderbolts."

Sweetie snorted. "That'd be easy to arrange. We ask Spitfire nicely to help. She and a few of her best can schmooze around and Scoots can spend time with them. But there's one thing we can't do."

"What's that?" Scootaloo asked.

Nodding, Lyra picked up what Sweetie was putting down. "I get it. We can't help you. It'd be seen as favoritism. You have to win this on your own."

"Nuh uh!" Scootaloo tucked her didgeridoo under her wing and jumped down to the floor. "If I'm going to apprentice to the Royal Guard, they can keep training me, right?" She raised an eyebrow at Celestia as she put her instrument back on its stand.

"Ha!" There was something about the raw forwardness Scootaloo displayed that made Celestia feel more alive and excited to be around her. A stray thought hit her that if this all worked, Scootaloo might be spending more time at the castle. "I daresay after this it might be a requirement that foals specify their desired target ahead of time so they may only get outside training from that group."

"But we can't do that at first. At least we can't do it until Scootaloo wins. I think this could work. I'll have to speak to all the branches of the E.U.P. Guard." Sweetie tapped her chin, voicing her thoughts on what it will take.

"Make sure to run it past Raven. I'll ensure to let her know I want this meeting to happen and I want to be in attendance." Unsaid by Celestia was that her presence there would ensure Sweetie and Lyra had full cooperation without anymore coercion.

There was more than a little consternation that Celestia would just put her weight behind Scootaloo's plan, but Sweetie had to console herself with the fact it would show their school as being a power in its own right. "I'll do that as soon as I can."

For a moment Celestia dreaded that Sweetie would tack on some formal address at the end, but it came as great relief to just be able to talk without them. She pondered briefly if it was because she was a guest in their home.

Standing up, Sweetie turned for the kitchen. "It should be ready if you give me a few minutes to serve?"

Lyra looked down at her bass and turned the volume down on the little amplifier inside it. Her hooves moved, and before she knew it she had a soft, thrumming beat going. It wasn't any of her homeworld's music, but just something new to keep her hooves busy. "Do you think we could convince your friends to join too?"

Scootaloo was about to answer with a no, but then she thought about it. "I wouldn't have said yes a year ago. Sweetie—Sweetie Belle—was out of shape and Apple Bloom didn't approve of fighting. But if I tell them I'm going, they might come. Those girls would do anything if it meant a chance at getting a cutie mark."

"Unlike somefilly we know," Lyra said, rolling her eyes to Celestia.

The laughter in the living room—especially Celestia's—made Sweetie smile a little more. She couldn't remember another time when she'd heard the princess actually laugh and, combined with Lyra and Scootaloo's, it made her feel lighter and more accomplished. "Dinner's ready!"

Being summer, the dinner was lighter than the heavy meals they made for colder months. Each plate had a little bread roll with it and was a warm but light stew. Sweetie knew the meal had hit the spot because nopony spoke while eating.

When the meal was finally done with, Celestia couldn't help but think she'd done her tastebuds a great disservice. She had some of the greatest culinary experts working to put the finest dishes on her table, and yet she always ordered the same things. A simple stew, made by a mare with a culinary cutie mark had blown away all the fine dining meals Celestia'd had for the last fifty years. "That was unforgettable."

"Uh, err…" Sweetie wasn't sure what to say.

"It occurs to me that, except for special occasions, I have eaten the same meals every day for nearly three hundred years. This—this was a welcome change."

"We'll have to put on something more interesting next time you come to dinner." Lyra stood up from her seat and used her magic to gather up the dishes. "But there's one more thing." Opening the refrigerator, she lifted out the bag with the last five eclairs. "I promised you these, after all."

Seeing the chocolate eclairs float to the table, Celestia wasn't sure if supplying them was worth a knighthood or perhaps a higher honor. There was something about the treats that just called to her, demanding to be eaten. "My goodness."

"We got them earlier from Sugarcube Corner." Lyra set each of the plates down and took her seat again. Using her hoof, she reached out and carefully grasped one end of the eclair.

Noticing that, Celestia had to ask, "I noticed you don't use your magic to eat."

Sweetie snorted. "She thinks it's being understanding. I try to tell her she's a fool and to use her magic." She gave her wife a pointed look and only got a silent raspberry in return. "But I'd rather her care too much than not enough."

Celestia accepted the answer and, carefully setting her shoes down on the floor beside her, reached out and picked up her own eclair with one hoof. "This is your house. I should have asked earlier." She enjoyed the vindicated look that Lyra shot Sweetie almost as much as the first taste of the baked treat.

Having already tasted one of the eclairs earlier, Scootaloo knew what an amazing thing she was about to experience. From the first bite to the last, she completely forgot about everything else in the whole universe but her and that eclair. Even with it gone and just the fading taste remaining, she was so intent on the eclair that she failed to notice somepony talking to her until they repeated themselves. "Huh?"

"I said"—Lyra was trying and failing to keep from giggling—"you got a little something on your snout." She gestured to her own nose.

Both Scootaloo's forehooves flashed up and, before she could think to stop them, covered her nose. Carefully sticking her tongue out, she licked upward until she found more of the Chantilly cream and pulled it into her mouth before using her hoof to wipe in case she'd missed some. "Thanks."

While that was happening, Sweetie gave Lyra a curious look, but said nothing about the last eclair. "It's been nice to have you visit."

Again Celestia breathed out a figurative sigh of relief. She was doing her best to keep things informal, though that was hard when she'd already had to use a little magic to reinforce the chair she was sitting on. "You realize I have to return the favor now?"

Not sure what to say, Sweetie chewed her lower lip a little before finally realizing that she really shouldn't turn down such an invitation. "Pick a night and I'm sure we can all come and spend the afternoon in the kitchen together." It was bold and forward, but she saw Celestia's smile widen and continued. "Perhaps we could cook a big meal together and show your cooks the kind of food you'd like?"

That brought Celestia up short. Not that she'd planned the evening herself, but she'd immediately thought have a large dinner cooked by the castle kitchen. "I think that would be wonderful. I'm afraid I'm not much of a cook, though." It was a bit of a lie since Celestia could cook cakes quite well, but at the same time she'd never learned to cook normal meals.

"That's okay. Good food only needs two things, a loving heart and a keen sense of taste." Sweetie attempted her most reassuring smile. Her only hint it was working was the replying smile from Celestia. "I'm sure you know how to contact us, just give a little warning in advance and we can do some shopping and make a fine meal."

It was almost too much for Celestia to handle. She bestowed her widest genuine smile and stood up. "On that note, I really must be going. Something tells me I need to be up early in the morning to do something."

Scootaloo giggled at the implication and because Celestia winked at her.

"I believe I'll fly home tonight. Goodbye, and thank you for dinner." Walking to the front door, Celestia remembered to employ her little illusion again. It didn't actually make her a pegasus, just hid her height, horn, cutie mark, and jewelry.

When they said their goodbyes, Lyra, turned to Sweetie and kissed her cheek. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"What did I just set us up for?" Sweetie asked, tossing plates on her back and turning for the sink.

"We're going to be cooking with Celestia!" Scootaloo jumped from her seat and pronked around a bit in excitement. "What are we going to make?"

Author's Note

Blue Blood: Any plans to try atone with Rarity, or will you try for Pinkie instead? Or a third option; I'm sure you wouldn't let your thinking get so constrained.

"Not if I want to keep my reputation intact. She's started making a mark on Equestria's nobles, and worse, she's recognized as a direct ally of Aunty. If they saw me so much as approach her, there would be rumors going around that I've softened on Aunty—they'd probably say I wasn't the idiot figurehead for the coup-of-the-month club anymore." Blue Blood's easy smile belayed the much more genuine smile that reached his eyes. "And, we wouldn't want that. It's nice to have all the dissidents right where I can keep an eye on them."

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Lab

Chapter 10 [[ A Scootaloo Perspective ]]

This was it. It would have been impossible to sleep last night, so I'd done extra laps of Ponyville to literally wear myself out. It'd worked. After a shower and a light dinner I'd passed out and—seemingly seconds later—I opened my eyes again.

It was still dark. I don't know when exactly I'd gotten used to waking up this early, but the moment my eyes focused on the moonlight outside my window I was fully focused on my day. "This is it."

Flinging myself from bed, I was out in the hallway and aiming toward the stairs down to the kitchen. Moving too fast for my hooves to keep up on the stairs, I stretched out my wings so I could brace between the wall on one side and the banister on the other.

Sliding down, I let out a laugh of excitement as my hooves hit the floor at the bottom. I just couldn't keep the strut out of my step as I walked into the kitchen. Lyra and Sweetie had both beaten me. "Hey." Best to play it cool. We all knew what today was.

Lyra lifted her head from the toast she was eating. The smell of the hell-spread she'd brought home couldn't put me off how awesome the day was going to be, though. "Hey yourself. Are you ready?"

Loosing my wings a little on each side, I took up the primary, defensive combat pose and glared at Lyra. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm ready."

I could count the seconds. By the third I could feel the magic boiling around Lyra. If I didn't move before she unleashed whatever spell she was building, I was done for. Of course, if I dove at her and she tried to hit me mid-air, she'd barely get whatever the spell was to hit—but that would be little consolation if it was one of her favorite minute-long-stunners. My hooves itched and as I watched golden light pour up her horn, I dove to the side—

Sweetie stepped between us. Whatever the spell was slammed against her side and fizzled as she set a bowl of porridge on the table. "You two! Lyra, let Scoots have her breakfast or I'll take your Vegemite away. Scootaloo, sit up at the table and eat your breakfast."

Tucking my ears back, I climbed up onto the chair and sat up straight. Looking at Lyra, she'd cast a forcefield dome over her toast and was mock-glaring at Sweetie. Even when she was trying to look fierce, I could see how much she loved Sweetie. It'd been hard at first, and sometimes I thought they were fighting for real, but then one or the other would crack a grin and they'd both laugh it off.

Grabbing the spoon beside my bowl with my wing, I started scooping the porridge into my mouth. I was nearly half done with breakfast when a glass of juice floated over in Lyra's magic. Gulping down my latest mouthful, I barely managed to get, "Thank you," out before I tipped half the glass of juice down my throat.

"We'll be running to the school, so no need to do our usual laps of town. I saw two names on the try-out sign-up form. Your doing?" Sweetie asked, looking at me.

I stopped shoveling porridge long enough to nod and grab another mouthful of juice. When she seemed to want to know more, I laughed. "Yeah. When I told them I was going to spend my Monday and Tuesday trade-schooling days for this, they wanted to know what it was like just in case they—"

"Get their cutie marks. Of course," Lyra said.

I beamed at her. She knew us that well. "They also get to see what I want to do—even if Sweetie Belle goes back to learning singing from Vinyl and Apple Bloom slips back into learning horti—hart—growing things from Miss Roseluck."

"It's a shame I couldn't talk Trixie into staying. Though I might take time out of the new school from time to time to check on the growth of unicorn foals here." Lyra carefully slipped a piece of her toast out from under the shimmering, gold forcefield. "Did you hear about Dinky's score?"

I wasn't sure if Lyra had mentioned it before, so I shook my head. She seemed to be having fun talking about it anyway.

"Princess Celestia told me only two ponies have ever scored higher on the modern magic test—Twilight Sparkle and Moon Dancer. I probably don't need to tell you how stupidly knowledgeable Twilight is, but Moon is just as smart when it comes to magic theory." Somehow Lyra was munching her way through the toast as she spoke, biting off little bits here and there and gulping them between sentences. I had to wonder if she even tasted the horrific black stuff.

"What'd you get for your score?" I asked.

"Didn't do it. Princess Celestia invited me to her school before I'd turned into a unicorn. It would have been pretty crazy being there as a human—I would have missed out on so many things." She picked up the last slice of her toast with a hoof and stuffed half of it in her mouth. "Glad things worked out how they did." At least, I think that's what she said. There was a lot of crumbs involved.

Sweetie just sighed expressively and rolled her eyes at Lyra. "Don't forget, we have dinner with Celestia on Saturday. Try not to organize anything too crazy for the weekend. We'll need to do some shopping Saturday morning in Canterlot."

Lyra gulped down the last of her toast. "And, don't forget Scoots, you have Thursday with the Wonderbolts doctor."

Yeah, that's right. I'd been trying to keep from thinking about that so I didn't start prancing everywhere, but now she'd reminded me I felt a bit light-headed. They wanted me doing glide-practice. It wasn't going to actually be flying, but I'd be gliding on my own two wings! "I know! I can't wait!"

"Well, both of you need to stop yapping and get ready. We need to beat the sun to the school if we can. Scoots, do you want to wear armor?" Sweetie asked.

"W-Would it be too much? On my first day and everything…" I mean, I wanted to be awesome, but I didn't want to be too much. I had a job to do, after all.

"Bring it with you. If you want to wear it for classes, wear it, but you could always just leave it in the armory." Lyra stood up, charged her horn, and literally zapped all the plates, bowls, and cups clean. Sticking her tongue out at Sweetie, she put them away.

"Just remember, your armor isn't all show. It has weight and will slow you down in both running—and you're going to do plenty of that—and martial practice." Sweetie kissed Lyra on the cheek as she walked past. "Let's get our armor on, girls."

Mine was the easiest of all three to get on, so I helped Sweetie with hers first and then Lyra helped us too, after she got her own on. Then both got to work on my armor and I felt—I felt great. For the last four weeks I'd been practicing with my armor on, learning how to use a spear with my wings and, despite Sure Fire's grumbling, foreleg claws.

None of us had weapons to bring because we didn't need them. The training school had plenty of practice weapons and light, wicker armor for foals to practice with. That had been Sharp Horn's idea, and I'd been the guinea pig. You can make wicker armor that moves almost the same as regular armor for much cheaper, and you could even weave weights into it.

Stepping out of the house on the cool Monday morning, the sun was still some time from being risen. "How fast are we going to go?"

"Teleport on every tenth stride, keep a cool gallop and try not to stumble as you come out of the teleport. You both ready?" Lyra in her Sergeant Heartstrings mode was something else. Her words bore into your head and her questions required answering.

"Yes, ma'am!" I shouted.

Sweetie bumped my shoulder and flashed a grin at me. "We're all ready, sergeant!"

"Okay, by the numbers." Lyra was grinning now, though her words were still perfect commands for what we were about to do. "We'll build up to it and I'll give you the first count. On ten, expect a teleport."

In lock step we broke into a trot together. After ten paces we stepped up into a canter and ten more saw us in a gallop.

"One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten!" Lyra's horn flashed and we were maybe fifty strides ahead of where we'd been. She counted up again and on ten her horn flashed once more.

It became just another part of the gallop. On every tenth stride as we left the ground we'd be that much closer to our target. The thing with this was it didn't mean any less work for us over time, it just meant Lyra was working harder and we covered massive distances fast.

With the moonlight shining down on us, we kept the gallop-teleporting going until the lights around the school were in view. "Holding teleport! Maintain gallop!"

This was where we could just stretch our legs and get some good running in that didn't require concentration to keep from stumbling. The gallop-teleport style was something Lyra had worked on, claiming she'd timed it so that she could regenerate her energy constantly and still finish up the pattern with a full tank. Nights for the last two weeks had seen us practicing it.

It was kinda cool to see it really work in practice. "That worked great!"

"It did!" Sweetie said. "Remember when we ran that together back when Twilight did that spell?"

"That's why I came up with it. There had to be a better way to get around fast than just running. This is running and magic!" Lyra slowed her gallop to a canter—something I'd been looking for (and Sweetie too, apparently). We all slowed down and then again when Lyra dropped to a trot at the front entry to the huge courtyard of the school.

"Sergeant Heartstrings! Sergeant Drops! All's quiet here!" The voice came from the guardhouse that Lyra now wheeled us toward.

"That you, Razzle?" Lyra asked. "It is you! How are you going?"

The unicorn named Razzle, or so I assumed, snapped to attention rather than relaxed. "Ma'am!"

"Ugh, damn this rank sometimes. At ease, Private."

It was like a magic word. Razzle dropped from their sharp stance and smiled. "And here I heard my old fellow recruit made sergeant. Good to see you, Lyra."

"You're the only one out here?" Lyra asked, bumping hooves with Razzle.

"Nah. Bottle Rocket is doing rounds. She wanted to keep an eye on the surrounds. She probably saw you zoom in. What was that you were doing, anyway? It looked like you kept teleporting closer." That's when Razzle's eyes spotted me and I saw him blink in surprise. "Hey, sarge, is the Guard takin' recruits a bit young now?"

"Careful, Razzle," Lyra said as she looked back at me, "she'll be taking your job in a year or two."

I wasn't the filly that would strut around at hearing that—not anymore. Instead, I just stood beside Lyra and waited for her to tell me what I should do next.

"So, today's the big day, sarge?" Razzle asked.

"Certainly is. We have two dozen foals who are going to be here about an hour after dawn, and from then on it'll be full-steam ahead. Scoots here is ahead of the pack—she's been hanging around the H.Q. for a few years now, and every now and again I catch Bonny showing her how to swing a spear. She'd probably outrun you right now." Puffing her chest out, Lyra looked, well, proud. I'd never thought how much what I did would reflect on her and Sweetie, but it made sense I guess.

"Flies like she was born to it too, I imagine?"

If I wasn't wearing armor, I would have flinched at that. Well, I did flinch, it's just the weight of the armor kept me from actually moving because of it.

"She will, soon. Old injury in her wings—she's got Cloud Bank from the Wonderbolts helping her get on top of it. Isn't that right, Scoots?" She turned and looked down at me with a big smirk. Damn but she was pretty awesome.

Well, there was only one way to answer that. "Sir! Yes, sir!"

"Head inside and change out of your armor. I don't think we want to scare all the new students away," Lyra said.

Walking inside, the place smelled like fresh paint. There were three classrooms, two sparring halls, and offices in the main building. A second building, I knew, had showers and bunks for the students, while a third had similar for the adults who would be running the school. There was a fourth building that I'd been told was just a warehouse for storage.

Each of the offices had attached a small dressing room for armor and weapons. I walked into the biggest office and into its dressing room and grinned at the four poniquins set up to put armor on.

I'd just gotten most of the straps undone and was about to lift the armor off my back and onto the small poniquin when the door of the office opened. Looking, I spotted Sweetie walking in, then another pony coming in behind her.

I recognized the pony instantly. She might not be wearing her flight suit or dress uniform, but Commander Spitfire was the most identifiable pegasus I know—well, excluding Rainbow Dash. But there was more. Behind Spitfire walked Shining Armor, then Stiff Peaks, then three other ponies I didn't recognize.

Hiding in the closet and listening to them would be the most awesome thing ever. It didn't take a genius to realize that the other ponies were likely all commanders of their own branches of the E.U.P. Guard—they all walked like soldiers.

But I was a good pony, drat it. Stepping out of the closet, I ruffled my wings to make sure I was noticed.

"Your first student, Sergeant?" Spitfire asked. But she didn't stop there. While all the other important ponies watched her, she turned and walked up to me. "Spread those wings."

Even if I wasn't shocked out of my mind at the situation, my wings would have shot out in panic. Spitfire reached out and started feeling over my left wing, her feathers squeezing muscles and then the tendon that I'd been working on.

"It's an amazing recovery. I hope to see you in the Young Fliers program in a year." She let go of my wing and held a hoof out to me. I was almost too freaked out to return the hoof-bump. Almost.

"Scootaloo, I'd like you to stay for now if you would. This was your idea, after all." Sweetie fixed me with her eyes and had a tight smile.

With nothing else to do, I stood my ground and waited for her to continue.

"You've all read the brief. We're planning to hold a contest at the end of each six months that will find the best three new recruits—one earth pony, one pegasus, and one unicorn. Each will be given their choice of what part of the E.U.P. Guard they wish to join. Participation will be voluntary, of course." Sweetie looked around the crowd. "Any questions?"

"And we will have to entertain them?" Shining Armor asked. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but all parts of the Guard have jobs to do. We don't have room to add a civilian."

"You don't have to. Anyone we allow to participate will be at least as well-trained as the recruits leaving H.Q." Sweetie nodded to me, and all eyes were once more locked on me. "Each of the trainers here will be sergeants and I can assure you that any foal we allow into this will be as well-trained and disciplined as Scootaloo."

Shining Armor was a rock. His eyes were hard and evaluating. Then a smile creased his features and he laughed. "The Royal Guard are fine with this, then, so long as we have the option to cease the training."

"A month trial should weed them out," Stiff Peaks said. "If they're so terrible they can't hold a spear, you can always assign them to your armory."

Spitfire snorted at them. "I've heard Sure Fire complain about sparring with Scootaloo, he showed off bruises that made me think he'd spent time sparring with an earth pony. If she's a sample of the recruits you will give us, the Wonderbolts are on-board with this."

"And Public Safety," one of the ponies I didn't recognize said.

"And the Guard itself." This came from Stiff Peaks.

"And the Scouts."

The last holdout wasn't looking at me but Sweetie. The stallion only had one eye and there was a crack in his horn that looked to have been reinforced with bands around it. "You were one of the best up-and-coming Monster Hunters, and I see now that you've hit the ground galloping here. It's more dangerous even than the Wonderbolts—being in the 'Hunters—but if you think a foal is up to the task, the Monster Hunters do too."

I'd forgotten that she'd been in the Monster Hunters. They were meant to be the toughest fighters in all Equestria—rivaling even the Royal Guard. And Sweetie had been seen as a strong member there? I knew she was tough as old nails, but that was really something.

Sweetie didn't look like she'd just won a major battle with words, but I could tell by the way she shifted her left forehoof that she was happy about something. It was her tell. Trixie had taught me all about tells and watching where ponies looked so you could do things where they weren't.

"Now, I asked for two hours of your time for a reason. We have a group of fillies and colts arriving soon and in a few more years they'll be your sergeants and corporals. If you'll come with me we'll put on a stern display for them and make them want to fight to be in your units." Gesturing to the door, Sweetie was clearly inviting everypony to leave.

Well, I might as well take the lead. Turning for the door, I left the room at a trot and headed to the front of the compound to find that the sun was up.

Lyra was talking with a pegasus from the Wonderbolts. Unlike Spitfire, Surprise was wearing her Wonderbolts flight suit, though she had the hood pulled back so her mane and head were free.

I trotted all the way up to the pair and stood to the side, trying to be obvious with my presence.

"Hey, Scoots, you've met Surprise before?" Lyra asked me.

Well, of course I hadn't, but now I was getting to meet all the awesome ponies in the Guard, I might as well add another. "No, sir."

Lyra reached a hoof out to me and ruffled up my mane. "Lay off the sirs unless we ask for 'em. Anyway, this is Surprise. She's going to be our pegasi trainer here. And, according to Commander Spitfire, she will be assisting you with gliding lessons."

This time my wings did shoot out in surprise. I stared up at Surprise and tried the best I could not to start bouncing excitedly.

"I talked to Cloud Bank. She told me how much work you've been doing. I figure anypony who wants to fly as much as you do deserves the best flight trainer in Equestria." I guess now I really know who Surprise is. The markings on her shoulders—applied to her flight suit directly—were those of a sergeant. Training was her job, then. "But then Commander Spitfire suggested I might want to take on the training position here."

"We wanted the best," Lyra said with a shrug. "So I asked the Wonderbolts for their best."

The sound of a train whistle broke our conversation and all three of us turned to look for it. The school only had a small platform for trains to stop at, but it had its own little section of train track for them to pull up on. And, the train was just pulling off the main line.

Hoofsteps behind us made me glance back for a moment to see all the Guard leaders approaching—but there was two ponies missing. Shining and Sweetie were conspicuously not there. "Where's Sweetie?" I asked Lyra.

"Huh? She…" Lyra looked around and groaned. "She'll probably try to make a grand entrance or some—"

Sweetie and Shining appeared beside us with a loud pomf sound. In a very Lyra-esque move, a pink puff of magic heralded their arrival—Shining's magic.

"… thing." Glaring at Shining, Lyra did a double-take, something I almost did too. Sweetie had the biggest smile I'd ever seen on a pony ever. "What's the deal with—? No, don't tell me. They're already here."

The other foals were walking over from the train platform. Some had bags with them, others had cases, and then there was Sweetie Belle with two chests and a hat box. I only knew what a hat box was because she'd told me all about her new hat for the last week.

Lyra, Sweetie Drops, and Surprise took the lead, the Guard leaders coming up behind them, and I kept to the back behind the leaders—which was easy when they were almost all about ten times bigger than a normal pony, or so it seemed.

"Welcome, cadets, to Princess Luna's School of Excellence. Please come and set your things down in the storage room and we'll get you some breakfast and have you ready for your first day. Do any of you have any questions or any special requirements?" The speech Lyra was giving was a good one, but she had one major problem. She was a normal looking unicorn in E.U.P. Guard armor, while behind her stood living legends. Commander Spitfire and Shining Armor got most of the excited looks, while others looked at the commander of the Monster Hunters and whispered among themselves.

When nopony actually asked a question, Sweetie Drops gestured back toward the buildings behind us. "This way, cadets." As Sweetie Drops turned and started walking, I fell-in behind her.

"Scootaloo?" I heard Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom's voices and then the pounding of hooves as they rushed up—then the hooves falter. When I looked back, Sweetie Belle had dropped her boxes.

"Hey, girls. Sweetie, do you want a hoof with that?" I asked.

Looking relieved, Sweetie Belle gave me a nod. "I tried to tell Rarity I wouldn't need all this, but she insisted I needed three ball gowns in case there would be dances. Three! Then she wouldn't let me leave without bringing my new hat, and I don't want to ruin it here!"

"Relax, cadet. We can put all that in storage for you." Along with hearing Lyra's voice, I saw her golden light pick up all of Sweetie's things. "Does anypony else have anything they'd like stored?"

Tons of foals passed over things that their parents had obviously made them bring. I watched as everything right up to musical instruments were passed over to Lyra for storing. When everything was put away, Lyra closed the door and led everypony to the barracks.

"Alright. This will be where you sleep while here. There's enough room for nearly three times as many of you, so I don't want to hear about fighting for the top bunk, got it?" Lyra looked around us all. I knew what kind of reply she wanted, but I also didn't want to stand out. When a few foals mumbled something in reply, Lyra shook her head. "I said, got it? This is the bit where you get to shout."

I was about to give the reply she wanted, when a colt I didn't recognize shouted, "Sir! Yes, sir!" He had a yellow coat like Apple Bloom, but a deep blue mane and tail—oh, and he was a unicorn. He was also just a bit taller than me.

"That's what I want to hear. Can you all try that?" Lyra asked.

"Sir! Yes, sir!" The colt's and my shout came out and echoed around the barracks while everypony else's was a little softer, but Lyra looked happy enough with it.

"Okay, we're going to have to work on that, but for now it's fine. Let me continue the tour."

We followed her around, and while everypony else was paying close attention, I was watching them pay attention. The colt from earlier looked really focused on everything, but there was something I noticed about him—he had muscles that showed he did more than the usual amount of work.

We looked around the kitchen, the training rooms, and even got a quick peek into the adults' barracks—which were exactly the same as ours but with bigger bunks a bit further apart. I hadn't actually looked into this area, so poked my head around to look at everything.

When I noticed Lyra leading us away, I looked around everypony again and saw the colt looking back at me. He froze for a moment, then nodded. What did it mean? Should I nod back? I did, trying to keep my own the exact same as he'd used.

Lyra cleared her throat to get everypony's attention. "Alright, cadets, we're going to go for a little run. No matter what you do in life, build up your physical wellbeing will keep you ready for anything. We'll be keeping things slow today, so I can judge your ability, but I hope to have you all able to do a full gallop by the end of the course. Now, let's go!"

Sweetie Belle bumped into my left side. "I am so glad I've been running with you."

I rolled my eyes at her as we started into a trot. "Hey, you did the work all on your own. I just ran beside you."

"Yup!" Apple Bloom slipped in on my right side and moved easily, her own maximum pace faster than Sweetie Belle's, not that we'd pushed past a trot yet. "Who knows, we might all get cutie marks in bein' guardponies!"

Cheering with my friends over the prospect of getting our cutie marks, I glanced to one side and saw that colt. On his flank was a cutie mark of a shield and spear. I boiled over with envy. It was like everything I'd been through was for nothing that somepony could get a soldiering cutie mark so easily!

"Hey, are you gonna speed up?" Apple Bloom's voice jerked me from my anger.

Realizing everypony was speeding up to a canter, I followed suit. "Sorry."

"What's the matter?" Sweetie Belle, who was keeping her own canter pretty well, sounded concerned. "You're not normally like this."

"I just want to get my cutie mark," I said, then quickly added, "I want all of us to."

A little frown creased Sweetie Belle's cheeks. "We'll get them eventually. Not everypony gets theirs when they're smaller."

I glanced over at the colt again. "Yeah but I—"

"Oh." Apple Bloom bumped me with her shoulder—which wouldn't normally have done much but I wasn't ready for it.

I broke stride for a moment and had to fight to get my pace back in order. "'Oh' what?"

"Sweetie," Apple Bloom said, "I think Scootaloo's got a crush on somepony."

"What?!" Sweetie Belle and me shouted at the same time, though my shout was higher pitched and louder than Sweetie Belle's.

"Keep up here for a sec. I'm gonna go ask him what his name is." My jaw dropped open as Apple Bloom swerved through the crowd of foals, getting closer to the unicorn.

"Him? You're special someponies with him?" Sweetie Belle asked, her voice rising in pitch. "He's so—Hrmm. He is kinda cute. In a dashing and strong way."

"He's not—" I said, just as I saw Apple Bloom start to plow her way back over to us. Earth ponies…

When Apple Bloom reached us, she had a huge grin. "His name's Firelance."

Firelance. Okay, that was a pretty cool name. "Did he—?" I bit back my question.

"Did he ask your name? He sure did. I told him, too." Sounding smug, Apple Bloom almost seemed to prance along in her canter. "Didn't have time to ask him anything else, but he didn't ask for my name, if'n you catch my drift."

"I don't like him, I just—" Ugh. Now I couldn't even remember why I was angry with him. "Did he really want to know my name or did you just tell him?" The words had spilled out. It was stupid, and I couldn't take them back, but I don't think I'd ever listened to anything so carefully as I was for Apple Bloom's reply.

"He asked me."

"Okay, cadets, this is enough for most of you. If anypony wants to try another lap, at a gallop, shift to the right and get your hooves ready!" Lyra's voice drowned us all out.

To the side I saw Sweetie Drops, and she was opening her mouth ready to shout. "Everypony over here who wants to take a break!"

"That's enough for me, I think," Sweetie Belle said, breaking to the left.

"I'm gonna try to push another lap. I've been practicing a good gallop lately, time to put it to the test." Apple Bloom, like me, shifted to the right.

Firelance moved up to my side—where Sweetie Belle had been. There was only six of us lined up behind Lyra, including three other colts who didn't look to have half the definition in their muscles as Firelance did.

Why was I looking at his muscles?!

"Hey. Scootaloo, wasn't it?" Firelance nodded over to Apple Bloom. "You run a bit?"

Lyra didn't shout anything, she just broke from her canter into a gallop. The three of us moved easily into a matching stride, and so did two of the other three—the third colt stumbled and fell over in the grass.

"Sometimes," I said, trying to not let on everything.

Apple Bloom snorted at that. "Are you kiddin'? She runs morning and night every day."

"Every day, huh? Just like in the Guard?" He was barely even breathing hard at the pace. Wait, he knew the Guard run morning and night? That means he must know somepony in the Guard.

"Yeah. Lyra and Bon Bon are kinda my parents. Long story." Kinda my parents? They were my parents. Ugh, could I possibly say the right thing for once. "You know anypony in the Guard?"

"My mom. Dad was too, but he got injured pretty bad before I was born. We run." His voice cracked when he talked about his dad. I wonder what happened? "Wait, Sergeant Lyra and Sergeant Sweetie are your parents?!"

Okay, time to just say it. "Yeah. They are." It felt good to just not tack anything on that.

Firelance's eyes widened a little. "Wow, that's pretty awesome. It explains why you're—uh—I mean you have—" He snapped his mouth closed.

"I think that will do me!" Apple Bloom said in a loud voice. She dropped her pace just enough to fall back and then sped up again as she ran toward where Sweetie Drops was.

Leaving me alone with Firelance. I had a momentary desire to rush after her and kick her. Kick her a lot.

"Come on, Cadets. Let's stretch those legs. Last pony back to the line has to help in the kitchen tonight!" Lyra shouted.

I knew what she wanted. Stretching my muscles, I stretched into that longer gait that was still a gallop, just with more pegasus in it.

Firelance seemed to struggle to get it, but after a few strides he seemed to be keeping up with me. It was kinda weird to have another foal keep up. When I looked at the other two colts, they were gone.

"Just two of you, huh?" Lyra asked. "I know Scoots can keep this pace up, but wouldn't have figured a unicorn could. Got some pegasus in you?"

"M-Mom's a pegasus. Dad's a unicorn." His voice strained and struggled. He was fighting to keep up with the two of us. It was pretty awesome.

Lyra didn't seem bothered by the speed at all—her longer legs meant she wasn't even doing more than a normal gallop for her. "Ha! Just missing an earth pony and you'd have a bit of everything. How're your spells? Know any good ones?"

I only barely held back my giggle at seeing Firelance trying to speak. "Maybe wait until we aren't running crazy-fast to ask?" I asked.

"Ha! We're almost done. There they are." Lyra nodded toward where Sweetie Drops and all the other foals were standing around. "Let's start slowing now." Her pace slowed to a canter—which still had us at a gallop, but only barely.

Eventually we worked down to a trot as we neared the group, then finally a walk. Okay, so Firelance struggled, but he actually kept up with me at a hard gallop. That was kinda cool.

"Now we're all together again, I want all of you breaking up into three groups. Pegasi with Surprise, unicorns with Lyra, and I'll take earth ponies." Sweetie Drops walked off to the side a bit, which left us all looking between her, Lyra, and Surprise.

"Well, that kinda splits us up a bit," I said. I realized that though I'd stopped beside Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, Firelance was on my other side. "I mean—"

"Hey, we'll have to meet up after this and figure out what each class gets taught that's different. It was cool to meet you, Scootaloo." Firelance turned toward Lyra, only to have Sweetie Belle trot to catch up and walk with him.

"Soooooo," Apple Bloom said, "how was it?"

I stuck out my tongue at her and set off to stand with Surprise—trying to ignore Apple Bloom's laughter behind me.

There was only four pegasi, though I was pretty sure that after word spread that a Wonderbolt was teaching here, that number would go up. There was two more fillies and one of the colts who'd tried to keep up at the higher speed gallop.

"This looks like everypony. Why don't we do some introductions?" Surprise looked around our little group. "My name's Sergeant Surprise, you can call me Slowpoke if you like."

"Is that your nickname?" the colt asked.

"Close. That's my flight name in the Wonderbolts. Commander Spitfire gave it to me when I kept slowing down to check out—When I kept looking around." Shifting her legs, Surprise looked embarrassed about something. "What's your name?"

The colt looked embarrassed too. "Daffodil Dreams."

I mean, it was a cute name, but I guess if he wanted to join the Guard at some point, it might seem a bit odd. Then again, I'd heard so many stranger ones that you'd never expect to be a soldier.

"You next." Surprise pointed a wing at me.

"Scootaloo, ma'am. Friends call me Scoots," I said back.

As her wing moved, the other two fillies said "Sun Shine" and "Wing Flare".

Surprise nodded to that like it all made sense or that she knew who they'd be from the start and was only asking to get us to know each other. "Okay. Has anypony had experience working with their own inner magic?" When I raised a wing—not realizing I'd be the only one to do so—she gave a curt nod. "Well, you'll have to just work along with us, because that's what we're working on today."

It shouldn't have been a surprise when she produced five of the snakes that Trixie made. It was a struggle not to giggle when she asked us to move our focus around our bodies to guide the snakes. I had mine zipping all over and doing little jumps as I got it to leap into the air.

Surprise noticed. She walked over to me and tapped my shoulder while "Scoots, since you seem to have this bit down, would you care to show us how to compact your size with the magic?"

It was one of the things Sure Fire had been able to teach me. Focusing on my magic, I drew it down smaller and smaller—but still flowed it around my body. Thin lines in my bones and feathers. Everything that was me was drawn out and fine—though my body still looked the same.

"Good form. Who taught you this?" Surprise sounded impressed, which almost broke me out of my focus on being small.

I didn't know if she had any inkling of the plan I'd cooked up for Princess Celestia. Did she even know I'd been getting trained by the Royal Guard? Damn, I'd been spending too much time with Lyra, for sure. "Corporal Sure Fire, ma'am."

There! I saw the little twitch of one eyebrow. She knew who Sure Fire was. "Great. I'm going to try and hit you now, just to demonstrate how effective this is." She waited for me to nod before she rushed at me.

It was ridiculous. She was about double my size and about four times my weight, but she took a swing with her hoof regardless. It was coming for my head, but I was ready for that. Leaning forward slightly, I trusted in my pegasus-nature to let the hoof go sweeping down from the top of my head and along my back as I closed with her and brought my own hoof up to her breast. If I'd had hoof-claws on, that would have been a fight-ending move.

"Can any of you tell me what she just did there?" Surprise asked. She had a big grin on her snout.

Daffodil pointed at me. "I mean, she ducked."

"No she didn't. The hoof just didn't hit her," Wing said.

"But that means she had to duck. The hoof was coming for her face!" Sun waved her wing at me as if I would back her up.

Wing had gotten it right, though, and I wanted to make sure she knew it. "I didn't duck, I was just too small to hit."

"You're not that small," Daffodil said.

"It's not physical smallness. Scoots spread her magic out through her body, then focused it down tight. I can barely even feel it—nice work. Tell Sure Fire he's doing good work next time you see him." Turning back to the others, Surprise gestured at me with a wing. "But can any of you think of a good way to stop a pegasus who's done this?"

Sun Shine rubbed her hoof on the ground and seemed embarrassed about raising her wing.

"Yes, Sun?" Surprise asked.

"If she spreads her magic out thin into lines, shouldn't we use a weapon that can work perpendicular to the lines?"

"Exactly! You can focus your magic on being long and thin too, or you can use a weapon to do it. The haft of a spear can be more useful than the point for this." Again Surprise turned to me. Was she going to try attacking me? "Scoots? Come at me and try to hit me like that."

"Yes ma'am." I was a bit nervous. Surprise seemed well-trained, and seemed to know what this was all about, but I had been training with the Royal Guard. Focusing, I brought myself small again and charged at her. Just before I reached her I felt that she too had shrunk her magic lines—even smaller than mine.

Without her wings being spread, my targets were her forelegs or neck—and I didn't plan to go for Surprise's throat. Darting in as close as I could, I brought my leg forward. At the last moment I twisted myself so I was sideways in the air and my leg was perpendicular to hers.

Our legs connected, though I kept from delivering any force through it. Just after the hit I was still turning in the air and braced to roll and get my hooves back under me. "Like that?"

"Exactly like that. Nice work finding that angle. As you can see, this technique gives you a lot of advantage if you're going to collide or connect with something. Your magic will strengthen your body so that even a crash from high altitude will leave you unharmed. Now, let me show you how to do it."

I could have ignored the rest of the morning. Surprise was drilling the others on how to use the shrinking technique, but I figured if a Wonderbolt was going to do the teaching, I was definitely going to listen—even if I did know it already.

Turns out it was mostly the same as how the Sure Fire taught it. Still, I spent the time working on my own focus and trying to do other things while maintaining the small nature.

When it came time to break for lunch, I felt really worn out. It was odd, not like running-tired, just drained. The mess hall was barely a third full, but I think everypony was just as hungry as me. The unicorns all looked drained like Lyra had made them cast magic constantly, and it was even crazier to see the earth ponies looking ready to wobble on their hooves.

That's when I realized where I'd seen this before—whenever Lyra used too much of her magic, or messed herself up with it. Slumping down at a table, I realized I did not like this feeling at all.

"Hey, this seat taken?"

My head jerked up and I almost bumped into Firelance. "Uh, no!" He was carrying a tray with food on his back. Wait, he was carrying two trays!

"I saw you hadn't gotten anything to eat yet." Lifting the two trays from his back, he set one before me. His magic was spluttering the whole time, and I could imagine that Lyra had probably pushed him to his limit already. "You don't mind?"

More than a little nervous, but overruled by my hunger, I shook my head to him. "Nope. Not me!" As I straightened my head back up, I spotted Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom across the room. They both had trays in front of them, and both were watching me with big grins.

I wanted to grind my teeth. What I actually did was reach for the knife and fork with my wings. "Did they send you over?" I scooped up some of the mashed potato with the fork and shoveled it quickly into my mouth.

It was almost like it dissolved into raw magic. I groaned a little and completely missed Firelance's answer. When I looked up at him, he laughed.

"They didn't tell me to come over, but I did ask them if you would be cool with it. Uh, do you really live with Sergeant Lyra?" He used his hoof to hold a fork, which made me think he'd really done a number on his horn.

"Yeah." I'd had to gulp down the food I was eating, but the second mouthful had been even better than the first. "Let me guess, she made you all work extra hard and now you can barely lift a fork?"

"She's like a firehose with magic. She explained how she built up her stamina, but that must have taken years and years of work."

I only nodded since I was halfway through another mouthful. I picked up the glass of water on my tray and took a long sip. "I've only really seen her have problems with it a few times, and it wasn't really because she overdid anything. One time she tried to teleport Sergeant Sweetie Drops while she'd grounded herself."

Firelance's eyes narrowed to points. "Ouch. Mom told me once about how she and her partner were trying to help a drunk griffon get home one night. Well, it turned out the griffon's friend thought they were trying to drag him off somewhere, and the friend tried to grab her partner their magic. She said he grounded and the stallion was in hospital for days."

"Your mom's a pegasus, right?"

"Yup! Dad's a unicorn, which is where I got my horn from. He—" I saw that look of pain again in his face as he tried talking about his dad.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it." Reaching my wing out, I didn't even realize I was patting him on the back with it. How many pats was being a good friend and how many were—Drat Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Both my original parents died. They were kinda adventurers."

I don't know why, but once I started talking about them, the words wouldn't stop. I talked about everything, spilling all the stupid stuff I'd done while living alone right up until Lyra had let herself into my life.

"Dad was in the monster hunters. Mom said he was one of their best magic users. There was this thing that they were trying to hold back. He had to use his magic to keep it from attacking anypony. They stopped it, but it literally sucked the magic out of Dad." My wing, still over his back, twitched and I found myself giving him a little hug. "And you know what? He didn't try to stop me from coming."

We ate the rest of our lunch in relative silence. He used his hoof to hold his fork while I used my free wing. From the corner of my eye I spotted Lyra approaching us and carefully drew my wing back from Firelance.

"Hey there, cadets. Hope morning exercises weren't too taxing?" Lyra sat down across from us, and I just knew she was looking at Firelance holding his fork with a hoof.

"You ground us up hard so our natural regeneration would improve. You also used it to teach defensive tricks too, I bet. At least, that's what Sergeant Surprise had us learning," I said.

Snorting, Lyra raised an eyebrow at me. "She had a trick you hadn't picked up already?"

"Not yet, well, not exactly. She gave me some tips on how to make my small shape a little tighter, but she had to teach the others how to do it at all. I spent my time trying to focus on keeping small and doing other things."

"Multi tasking is important," Lyra said with a nod. "What about you, Firelance, pick up any tips?"

"Let's see. Don't try to race against a pegasus. Don't try to show off my magic to an E.U.P. Guard sergeant. There's probably another one, but I can't think of it now." He had an edge of laughter in his voice that was so different to when he talked about his dad.

"We're going to go for another run after lunch is over. Make sure you get whatever drinks you need. Firelance, you were last coming back from the earlier run, you'll be reporting to the kitchen." Lyra stood up.

"You need an extra hoof?" I asked.

Lyra smirked as if she knew something I didn't. "Only if you want to give up a bit of time to slave away in the kitchen with us."

"Sounds good, actually." Looking aside to Firelance, I asked, "What do you think?"

The sadness from earlier was gone and he nodded. "Sounds good!"

With Lunch done we went on the run Lyra had told us about. It wasn't so much one to wear us out as to just get our bodies working, I think. I caught back up with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, but they wouldn't stop giggling at me.

Rounding back to the camp buildings again, I realized Lyra was missing from the run. And I could see why now. The wicker armor was all laid out in neat lines—except for one. Should I have been surprised she would bring my actual armor out when Lyra liked showing off so much?

"Welcome back, cadets! Next we're going to teach you how to get hit safely. Please line up and stand beside a suit of armor." By the way she stood before my armor, I kinda figured she was going to make a show of this.

Well, why not? I was proud of my armor! I'd had to work my tail off to get it, and now I'd get to show it off. What I didn't expect was for another foal to run over and stand beside my armor as if it was theirs.

"What's going on, you think?" Firelance asked. "Is that a special prize for the best foal?"

"Not exactly." Walking up, I could see Lyra looked a little confused as to the situation. "Hey," I called, "can you let me put my armor on?"

The unicorn filly spun around and glared at me. "I got here first! This armor is mine!" I realized that even if she looked older than me, and a little taller, my armor would kinda fit her.

"Copper, I think that is Scootaloo's." Standing on the opposite side of my gear from her, Firelance pointed with a hoof to the back. "It's pegasus armor. Also, her parents are our instructors."

Copper looked determined still. "Well of course it has wing holes. If they made it so anypony can wear it, it would have to."

Much as I kinda liked that Firelance was sticking up for me, I didn't really need it—even if she was older than me. "Look, you can wear it today if you want, so long as you can get the helmet on."

When Copper's horn glowed silver and she lifted up the helmet, she saw exactly what the problem with that was. She tossed it at me. "It's not fair!"

"Ahem." Lyra stepped closer. "This is Scootaloo's armor, but I had another little announcement. The pony that we think shows the best improvement—at the conclusion of each year—will get their own suit of armor."

Everypony started talking at the same time. It was like Lyra had lit a fire inside every foal there. While they talked, I picked up my gear and lifted it onto my back with my wings.

"You need any help with that?" Firelance asked just as I wiggled and got my wings through the holes for them. "Huh, guess not."

"Ha. I've been practicing getting this on and off on my own for ages. Let me know if you need help with yours." It was a bit cocky, but I didn't care. This was my armor and I knew how to wear it and take hits in it.

Of course, he used magic to put his wicker armor on, but I kept catching him looking at me while I got mine strapped down and in place. I couldn't exactly hold it against him, my armor was really cool after all.

"Now"—Sweetie Drops looked around all of us and her eyes came back to me with the kind of evil grin I'd come to associate with a rough workout—"I need somepony to volunteer to help me demonstrate how to safely get hit while wearing armor. One of the requirements for this punching bag—I mean valued position—is that you're wearing metal armor."

Everypony laughed and looked at me—I did too, at least the laughing bit.

"Come on, step up here and show off your undented armor." It was a joke, but I knew too well she could easily destroy my gear as if it were tissue paper. Well, not quite tissue paper, but it wouldn't take her a heck of a lot of effort to body me into a cube of uncomfortable steel. When I walked up, I knew to stand off to the side so that everyone could see me, which earned a nod from Sweetie Drops. "The most important part of working in armor is getting used to the weight. If you can't move easily in your armor, it'll only get in your way.

"Now, I know Scootaloo can move almost as fast in her armor as out of it, so I'll only hold back a little." She turned to look my way now, and just when I expected her to charge at me, Lyra passed her a quarterstaff. "The next most important thing to remember about armor is that it will only save your life if it is still in good condition. If Scootaloo takes hits straight on from a heavy, blunt weapon, her armor will get dented in and create weak spots. So, always move aside from strikes if you can—armor works best against glancing blows."

An earth pony holding a length of pole snug under one foreleg shouldn't have been able to move as fast in heavy armor as Sweetie Drops did. Like a Royal Guard lance, the pole flew toward my breastplate with deadly precision. Using my wings I shifted sideways just enough for the pole to connect at my shoulder and deflect off and under my wing.

The next jab was toward my leg, but I expected that—this was a standard training pattern. To protect my legs I pumped my wings and jumped a little. It wasn't enough to fly, but it was plenty good enough to support me while the staff missed me again.

Now I knew the plan, I knew how she wanted me to react—not that I moved before her staff did each time, but at least I knew which way to shift so she could speed up.

It was practically dancing. I dodged around in the correct steps, while Sweetie Drops led. We both knew the dance perfectly so it seemed a bit of a blur. I was still getting sore, though, because as good as my armor and dodging was, she was hitting hard.

Even after the pattern ended I kept light on my hooves in case she decided to start over. Instead, Lyra walked over and shook her head. "You girls need to slow that down so everypony can see those steps. Start again and I'll keep time."

Lyra started banging two heavy sticks of wood together, creating a loud clocking sound with each strike, and on the third beat Sweetie Drops started again.

We danced slower, which was harder. I couldn't use my wings without breaking tempo, so had to stick to the earth pony form of the defensive motions. It wasn't exactly showing off, but I could feel Firelance watching me, which spurred me on to keep perfect time with the beat.

When we finished our little dance, Sweetie Drops tilted her staff up and turned to the crowd. "Now, form up into three groups. You're going to learn how to dance."

Lyra walked up to our group and grinned around at us. "Looks like you get to learn from me. Alright, did all of you pay attention to how Scoots stood at the start of the exercise? The second time, that is."

Everyone shuffled into position, though a few watched me to see my stance so they could copy it. Not that it mattered if they did—copying it was what Lyra wanted them to do.

"You really know your stuff." I thought it would have been Firelance whispering to me, but it came from my other side—Copper. "Sorry about earlier. I got really excited."

"No sweat. I got pretty excited about my armor too the first time I got it. Watch your left-back hoof, you need to fall back onto that if someone tries to come at you directly." I used my wing to nudge her hoof to a better position.

She looked about to get angry, and for a moment she opened her mouth and I expected her to shout, but Lyra seemed to reach our spot in the line at just that moment.

"Good leg-placement, Copper Fluff. Keep it up, Scoots. Firelance, shift your back-left leg a little." Lyra moved on down the line.

"Thanks," Copper Fluff said.

Biting my lip as I moved through the stances as Lyra called them out, I managed to reply, "No sweat. Do you, uh, know Firelance?"

"We met in the morning in the unicorn class, that's it. He couldn't stop talking about you." Copper was openly watching my legs now as we moved through the positions. "And given the only thing you've asked me about is him, I'm going to assume the feelings are mutual."

I had no idea what she was talking about. "Huh?"

Copper laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Okay, now that we're through those, why don't you try going through the ones you can remember yourselves?" Lyra brought out her sticks again. "On the third strike, I want you to start. One, Two, Three!"

Only about half the group managed the first stance—Copper and Firelance nailed it, and so did I.

"It's okay if you watch each other and learn. Learning's the important bit here. It took me almost three days to work out this full drill, and I was a lot older than you were. Alright, you're all in the right stance, next one."

We spent four hours on the stances. Everyone was getting them mostly right by then, but that's when Sweetie Drops walked up to our group. "Listen up, cadets, those who were assigned KP duties, fall in with me."

When only Firelance stepped forward, I quickly moved to walk with him. Sweetie Drops and Lyra both looked at me, but Sweetie just shrugged and led us off toward the buildings while Lyra's group absorbed half of Sweetie's.

"What are you doing?" Firelance asked in a whisper.

"Helping. I know that drill by heart, anyway. Might as well have some fun cooking." I ignored his shocked look and raised my voice. "What're we cooking?"

"A hearty stew, some bread to mop it up with, and a self-saucing pudding recipe—no, not that kind of pudding." The last she had to have said for Firelance's sake, since I knew what she was talking about. "I've got plenty of stock already heating in our biggest pot, I just need you two cutting up vegetables for it while I sear off the onion and garlic."

The kitchen wasn't huge, but it had plenty of room for the three of us—even wearing armor.

"Alright. All those vegetables need to be peeled and chopped up into pieces about"—Grabbing up the nearest kitchen knife with her hoof, Sweetie quickly and easily cut a carrot up into small cubes—"that big. It all goes in the pot here. I want carrots in first, then celery, potato, and then I want you to wash all those beans and dump them in."

I picked up a knife with my wing and got to work on carrots. "Put all the extra bits we don't toss in the pot here," I said, pointing at a tub between us.

"Why's that?" Firelance was much slower at chopping vegetables, though he was better than nothing.

"That's how you make a stock. All the off-cuts means you don't use so many actual vegetables." He watched me scooping up the first three carrots I chopped before I dumped them in the huge pot.

He followed along, and while I think it was kinda cute that he tried, he wound up chopping less than a third what I did. We dumped in carrots, then moved onto the celery, then the potato, and just as we were tossing in the washed beans Sweetie Drops was sizzling away a huge pan worth of onion laced with garlic.

"Do you—uh—help like this a lot? At home, I mean." He stepped back from the bench, setting the knife down and seeming to relax a little.

"Often enough, though Sweetie and Lyra usually like taking care of the cooking themselves." I cupped over my snout with a wing. "They really like cooking together."

He looked about to say something, then he cleared his throat. "Well—I mean—That is—When you cook with someone, I guess you get to spend time talking to them and getting to know them."

"Yeah. Running, too." I looked at the pot and over to Sweetie. "Are we done?"

Sweetie turned and looked at us with a smirk. "Looks that way. Why don't you head out and run some laps before dinner? Try not to disturb the others with their training." She picked up the big pan with her hoof and tossed the onion and garlic a few times.

Walking out of the kitchen, I nodded toward the circle we'd run for breakfast and lunch. "Come on, try to keep up."

I knew he wouldn't be better at running right away—that's not how bodies worked—but I didn't try pushing him too hard. After all, I wanted to talk to him more. "After this I need a break to do my wing exercises."

"Wing exercises? I've never seen a pegasus need to do those before."

"My wings have never worked properly. Something to do with missing tendons. Long story short—"

"Why short? Tell me what happened." His interrupting me was surprising, but I guess we had time.

"I went on a holiday with Lyra and Sweetie to another world. They had different magic there, and anypony who goes there who doesn't have a cutie mark already turns into a bat pony." The memory of my time in Batstralia would never dim. My first time really flying with my own wings. "If I'd gotten my cutie mark while I was there, it would have meant I'd always be a bat pony."

He was looking at me like I was crazy.

"What?" I asked.

"You have got to be kidding, right? A bat pony?"

"I'd ask Lyra's mom if I were you. She is one, after all. So is her sister." He still didn't look convinced, but I couldn't exactly prove bat ponies existed without showing him one. "Anyway, we came home and I was still a blank flank."

"That's…" Firelance looked a little worried and a little confused. "That's kinda an insult where I'm from."

A year ago I wouldn't have had the guts to call myself a blank flank, but here I was—a Cutie Mark Crusader! "Ha! Not where I'm from. Well, okay, it kinda is, but we took it back. Being a blank flank just means you have more life ahead of you."

"Huh. Never really looked at it like that." His eyes drifted back as he slightly turned his head—looking at his flank, I guess. His cutie mark was pretty cool—a spear and shield—classic Guard marking. "And that fixed your wings?"

"It fixed my tendons. But now I'm missing out on about five years of flying that would have been strengthening my wing muscles and those tendons. So I do stretches. Cloud Bank—that's my doctor—said I can start gliding practice soon, and then in about a year I can start trying to fly."

He was quiet for nearly a quarter of a lap. I let him be quiet because he looked like he was thinking on something, and I knew (thanks to Lyra) that you don't interrupt a unicorn when they're thinking. "You've done more with your life before getting your cutie mark than most ponies ever would after getting theirs."

"I mean, most of it comes from being with Lyra and Sweetie." Sweetie's name, as was happening more and more lately, confused me with Sweetie.

"Mom mentioned Lyra once. She said something about her being a problem solver. What is that? I thought she was just a sergeant."

Opening my mouth, I barely managed to stop myself before spilling it all. "She works for Princess Celestia, like, directly. Her rank is only so far as she helps the Guard train new unicorns. If Princess Celestia has a problem, she talks about it with Lyra and a few other ponies, then they work out a way to solve it. That's kinda common knowledge, but there's so much more to her.

"Helping ponies with problems would be her special talent if it wasn't for her lyre cutie mark. When she found me, I—I wasn't doing good. I was living on my own and trying to not deal with my original parents being—being dead.

"She basically adopted me. I mean, the house is still technically mine, but it's our house. Lyra and Sweetie—" It was still hard to talk about, but for more reasons now. "They're my parents now." Four words. Just four words that felt so strange and so good to say.

We were running around at a good gallop, though it was Firelance's gallop, not mine. He was quiet until Lyra flagged us down to begin slowing up. "She took you to this other world in the hope you'd get your cutie mark there, right?"

"Yeah. Something like that. Didn't quite work—she said it was because I was destined to be a pegasus—but I got to fly for the first time in my life, and it set things up so I could get my proper wings working."

As we drew up close to Lyra, I dropped from a trot to a walk and then dropped to the grass and started doing my stretches. Firelance looked at me for a few seconds before Lyra cleared her throat.

"Don't sweat being late to dinner. I hear there's plenty to go around." Lyra kept looking at Firelance for some reason. "You can head-in, Firelance."

"I'll keep Scootaloo company out here, if it's okay?"

The grin on Lyra's face said that she knew something, and even while doing wing-ups I could see her enjoying whatever the secret was. "I wasn't asking, cadet. I need to discuss some things with Scootaloo."

"O-Oh!" Still, he looked at me with a grin before taking off at a canter for the dining area.

Lyra snorted and bumped my shoulder with a prod of her magic. "You stopped your wing-ups to watch him? How serious is this after just one day?"

"What?" I got back to my stretches. "What do you mean?"

She snorted. "Sometimes I forget that for all your maturity, there's some things that will take time to work out. I'm sure your friends will ask you that too, so you probably want to come up with a good answer."

I couldn't follow what she was talking about and it didn't make sense. "I'm almost done, anyway."

"Don't tell anypony else, but Princess Luna will be making an appearance tonight. Make sure you get to sleep early and don't stay up all night talking with anypony." When I paused to look up at Lyra, she laughed again. "If you don't tell me straight, I will… I'll eat all your Vegemite."

Her face went serious in the time it took me to finish saying Vegemite. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me. I've eaten worse things than that. Last week Sweetie Belle cooked lunch—and I choked that down with a smile." I glared at her—this was no time for bluffing.

"Ugh. Applejack told me about that. Apple Bloom was sick for two days." Reaching her hoof up to her face, Lyra pressed it to her forehead. "Alright, you win. The truth is"—she looked around like she was worried somepony would overhear—"Firelance has a crush on you."

"Huh?"

"Have you been paying attention at all? When you were galloping around, he was watching you. I had to yell at him nearly constantly during the first training period because he kept looking over at the pegasus group when he should have been practicing using up every last drop of his magic. Finally, he jumped to your defense when Copper Fluff was about to take your armor. He didn't hesitate for a moment—I don't even think he cared if it was yours or not."

She was saying things, and I could remember them happening, but it didn't make sense. "Hold on. What do you mean? He was barely able to keep running when you made me gallop first thing, when I got my armor, he already knew it was mine, and he was just admiring it."

"And you didn't stop watching him, either."

Of course my memory started a veritable slideshow of images—every time I'd looked at him. It was a struggle to shove them aside. "So? He has his cutie mark, I just…"

"And you stopped doing your stretches to talk about a colt."

She was right. Well, I can fix that right now. Turning to my back, I leaned on my wings and used them to lift me in inverse-wing-ups. "So?"

Lyra walked around until she was standing with her own head over mine, but looking upside down to me. "What I'm saying, you stubborn pony, is that he is pretty cool. He was straining hard to keep up with you, but he did. He was distracted all morning, but he was still the best out of the unicorn foals. When he was relegated to cutting up vegetables, he did the job as instructed. But do you want to know the thing I like about him most?"

I gulped and shook my head.

"When he realized you didn't need protecting, he let you defend yourself." Lyra stepped around me and started walking away. "Come on, you've done enough stretches."

Now I just wanted to do more—just so I could get a bit angry—but she was right. I rolled over to my belly and, bracing my legs, was up and moving in one smooth movement. "S-So, are you saying he has a crush on me?" Where did that stutter come from and why was I so alert for an answer?

"Yeah. He does and you do."

"I what?"

"It's not the worst thing in the world. Just be his friend, okay?" Lyra's golden magic reached out to the door handle of the dining room, but she didn't open it. "But importantly, don't forget your other friends."

As she opened the door, I felt shock settle on me like a huge weight. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom might have been trying to avoid me, but that didn't mean I had to let them. "Thanks, Lyra."

I spotted Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle eating together, but there was another pony sitting between them. He was easily recognizable because I'd been staring at his stupid flank all day. I turned toward them and took a step before Lyra prodded my shoulder again. "What?"

"Get yourself some food, Scoots." She pointed to where Sweetie Drops (I had to work out a better name for one of them) was standing behind a counter with the big stew pot I'd helped fill earlier on.

Walking over, I got a tray that had a bowl of stew, two dinner rolls, and a big glass of water. Carrying it across to where Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Firelance were sitting, I tried to attach myself to the end of the group—but I'd made the mistake of trying to put Sweetie Belle between me and Firelance.

"Scootaloo! Here, I saved you a seat!" Sweetie Belle scooted across to where I'd planned to sit, leaving the seat beside Firelance free. I looked at her and tried to judge how carefully my friend was planning this—but I realized I'd never been able to ever get a hint of what she planned before something very problematic occurred.

"Thanks." I sat down and put my tray on the table. "So, uh, how was the afternoon training?"

Sweetie Belle bounced excitedly in place. "We got to thump into each other. Lyra and Surprise had us practicing how to use our bodies to hit things, and then had us practice on each other after we'd learned how to do those dances."

"Dances?" I asked.

"She means those defense moves we were taught—though you seemed to already know 'em." Apple Bloom had to lean forward to see around Firelance, and she had a really odd expression—like she was waiting for me to say or do something.

A sharp inhale was all the warning I had of an impending Sweetie Belle counter-argument. "They are dances! You even have to do them with a partner!"

"Well, you don't have to, but it's easier," Firelance said.

That's when something hit me—neither Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom were complaining at all. "So, what do you girls think of this?"

Apple Bloom grinned and nodded her head. "It's fun."

"Yeah!" Nodding in agreement, Sweetie Belle looked really happy. It was reassuring and a surprise that my friends liked this so much. "Seeing them together is just so cute!"

Hoof meet face. "Sweetie, we were talking about the camp." I knew I was blushing. I knew that Lyra had been right. I knew that Firelance was also blushing. Why did all this have to get so complicated?

"Well I wasn't." Sweetie Belle crossed her hooves and glared at me for nearly five seconds before giggling. "It's true, though."

There was only one thing to do under the circumstances. I picked up my knife and fork and started eating. Beside me, Firelance did the same, and together we ate and ignored my terrible friends and their conversation about cute couples.

After dinner was finished, we all stood up—still ignoring two particular fillies talking about relationships, marriage, and old age together—and started filing out for the dormitory. I could just ignore them because of how much work the day had been. It wasn't any one thing, but running here from Ponyville, running laps, doing exercises, and running more laps—in armor—had me looking forward to sleep.

"Uh, do you sleep in your armor?" Firelance asked.

I stopped and looked down. "Ah horse-apples. Excuse me." I turned back toward where the offices were and spotted Lyra and Sweetie Drops standing there and chatting. Trotting toward them, I waited for them to pause in their conversation (they were talking about Princess Luna, but I tried not to listen). "I need to take my armor off."

Without waiting for either to say anything, I rushed inside and started unbuckling. As I worked, I tried to think over Firelance. He was cute, and I liked that he didn't just fawn over me, like I'd seen some stallions do with mares—he saw me as a challenge and a challenger.

By the time I lifted the armor off, I had no clue what to do about him. Turning, I saw Sweetie Drops standing in the doorway wearing a big grin. "Hey, Scoots, you better hurry to bed or you'll miss the fun."

"Huh?" I shook myself to get rid of the matted feeling of my coat. "What do you mean?"

"Just go to bed. Early start tomorrow. Shower and then more running."

Nope, not getting any answers. "Yeah, yeah." I trotted out of the offices and back to the dormitory. Walking around, I spotted where Sweetie Belle was because she made a little green glow with her horn to guide me in the dim lighting. There was a heap more beds than we needed, so we all got our choice of bottom or top bunk. The fillies were on one side and the colts on the other.

Slipping into the bed beside my friends, I felt the weariness of the day pour over me like warm honey. The moment I closed my eyes, I was out.

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 11 [[ A Luna Perspective ]]

There was only one pony that did what I could do. For a thousand years Equestria had been without my skills—and it showed. There were nightmares and horrors that lurked in the dream realm, but surprisingly they didn't linger around Canterlot.

I knew why, of course, and she was snoozing in the affluent area of the city with her husband and their foal. She had saved me almost as surely as Twilight Sparkle had. "It's time to inspire."

Magic had settled nicely after Discord had been dealt with, and now I had the opportunity to cast some alicorn-level magic on a scale that would normally be beyond even an alicorn—but this was my special talent.

I poured all my magic through my horn and then back into my body. Slowly, I teased my spirit free and let my form slump down into the soft bed of my quarters while I soared free. Like this, I felt like a midnight flame—a burning pyre of magic that blazed in the sky.

It didn't matter if ponies saw the new black star burning in the sky above Canterlot. I knew they knew it was me, but what truly amazed me was their smiles. This world was so different to how it had been.

My target, however, was almost twenty tiny dreamers below the mountain's slope. Drifting off the edge of the city—avoiding a burning-bright dream coming from the Mango residence—I began floating down toward the new school.

Each of the tiny dreamers had their own little shards of a whole that only the bats and myself had ever understood. Looking into their dreams always felt like such a violation. Instead of peeking, I built a new dream based on the world around us. I put a barracks in it, beds, and finally I put myself into it.

Dreams like this were both lonely and peaceful. They reminded me too much of the segregation of being on the moon. I reached out for the three teachers. First their was the pegasus, Surprise. Second an earth pony, Sweetie Drops. Last was a unicorn, and as I touched her sleeping mind, I decided she would now be called burning-fire-pain.

Every sense felt seared at trying to touch her mind. I wondered what I was to do when Sweetie Drops tried to get my attention. "Yes?"

"Lyra said to leave her out of the dream. It's not a good idea to touch her dreams—even her sister and father don't try to touch her dreams." She sounded most anxious. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, not sure how to take the news. More importantly, she didn't mentioned Lyra's mother's dream magics. "Who trained her to defend herself in this way?" With the searing pain distracting me, I'd let the edges of this dream fray a little. Centering myself, I pulled everything back together. "Never mind, we'll discuss that later. It's time to bring the foals in—none of them have Lyra's ability?"

She looked like she'd had to explain things about her wife enough that it had become somewhat of a comedy to her. "I don't believe another pony in all Equestria has Lyra's abilities. Which is probably for the best."

Sweetie Drops looked so serious until she winked at me. Adjusting to modern times had been hard so far, but the hardest part was adapting to modern comedy, but this I understood. "Very well, let's get this welcome underway.

Walking up to the building that was a mirror of the one that held the foals in the waking world, I reached out to them all, felt their tiny selves, and gently tugged them into these new beds.

Of course, they started to wake up in this dream world almost immediately. Tired fillies and colts climbing slowly out of their beds only to look down the dormitory to the entrance and see me. Most seemed to freeze in surprise. I recognized three from Ponyville—one of whom bowed to me.

Another—a colt—bowed as well, and a moment later they all seemed to catch on. It was thrilling to have ponies acknowledge me like this. I'd fought my sister and done some questionable things just to have this. "Please rise and welcome to Princess Luna's School's first night class."

I was happy enough to teach them the basics of dream navigation. After reading how poorly one little encounter with a dream-world monster had gone, she felt obliged to teach rudimentary dream combat to them.

It was nice. It felt nice to do. They were eager, though not all of them were particularly skilled. One filly in particular, though, had the knack for this that I wouldn't have expected. She could fly, manifest anything she wished, and even just ignore otherwise physical attacks with just her thoughts.

Copper Fluff was her name, and after the first night I could already see great potential in her growth. I bid my new students farewell and left them to their own dreams.

Even in the pregnant moments of the pre-dawn morning—when I normally got mopey about the day starting—I felt full of energy. When I settled back into my body and let true sleep catch me—it came.

Inky darkness flooded around me and whispered to me. I felt choked and dying, but I knew it wouldn't kill me. Rallying my strength, and calling on the new joy that teaching had brought me, I shrank the Tantabus down to a tiny thing. It was my fear and my doubts in myself. Only the Tantabus knew how terrible a pony I could be, and now it wouldn't any longer.

"Goodbye. I don't need you anymore." With that I dismissed it—let those negative emotions swirl around my dream until they pulled back into me. It was an easier weight to bear knowing there were new dreamers in the world.

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 13

"Are you ready?"

Scootaloo had never been more ready in her life. She'd been gliding for weeks now, and though it was great fun, the urge to flap her wings had been almost unbearable. She nodded. "Of course I am."

Listening to her feathers and hair, Surprise could feel what the wind was doing. A good strong breeze here would mean a fine headwind to help with takeoffs and landings. "Okay then, let's fly. You can feel where that wind is coming from?"

"Yeah." Turning toward the breeze, Scootaloo took deep breaths of air. She was filled with both nerves and calm. It had been so long since she'd started building her wings up, she could barely even comprehend a day without her stretching exercises, and yet this was a huge step.

"Let's see those wings." Surprise didn't need to wait long as the moment she said it, Scootaloo spread her wings out to each side. She went over each feather and tested the tendons and muscles just how Cloud Bank had told her.

When Surprise swapped sides—without a word of complaint—Scootaloo felt her heart beating faster. She'd spent nearly three times her normal ritual duration of preening her feathers. They were oiled to within an hair's breadth of being perfect, and each vane was perfectly straight.

"Looking good. Okay, cadet, give them a flap to see how they feel." Standing back and giving Scootaloo some room, Surprise watched with her eyes, listened with her ears, and listened with her feathers for the filly's movements.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Scootaloo pumped her wings against the air under them. She shuddered after the first, the feeling of air moving as it should putting her into a state of heightened awareness. Another pump, then another, and she started to flap in earnest.

"That's it. You're all good. Just keep going and jump into the air when you feel ready." Surprise waited for Scootaloo to do just that. There was no amount of lift the filly could manage that Surprise couldn't catch up to before saying Scootaloo's name out loud.

Flying was more than just pumping your wings, Scootaloo knew, but the moment she felt light enough to, she jumped upward and pumped down hard—purely on instinct. Everything narrowed down to a pinprick moment and she gasped in pure joy. Thankfully, her instinct kept her wings moving. "I'm flying!"

"Keep going! The higher you are, the safer you are!" Waiting until Scootaloo was several ponylengths off the ground, Surprise shot skyward with the speed and practice her profession and training afforded her. "Come on, cadet, get those wings working!"

Scootaloo had expected Surprise to make her take it easy, but being called to fly higher and use her wings more just stoked her joy higher. She was flying—really flying. "Higher?" A glance down revealed that Ponyville was barely a hoofwidth from one edge to the other now.

Flying slightly ahead of Scootaloo—having slipped into the wing-leader position with practiced ease—Surprise nodded. "High as you can go. Then we can see how well you can swoop and zoom around. How do your lungs feel? Not fighting for breath?"

Shaking her head, Scootaloo started pumping her wings when Surprise began doing so. The ground became further and further away, and without being able to hold it back, she shouted for joy.

After she judged them at a good height, Surprise leveled out and waited for Scootaloo to join her in gliding. "Okay, this is your default, got it? If things go bad, stick your wings out like this and just let your body catch the air."

"Okay, got it." It wasn't hard to get. There was nothing more natural-feeling for Scootaloo than flying. Even her time as a bat pony hadn't felt this right. The feel of air over all her feathers and coat made her feel alive. "Wow."

"You'll never stop thinking that for the rest of your life. Now, let's try a dive!" Surprise didn't often get foals having their first flight, but the raw enthusiasm Scootaloo showed made up for any inexperience she had shown so far.

Watching from the ground below, Lyra and Sweetie leaned against each other. Both had their heads tilted up to observe Scootaloo's first flight as a pegasus. For the first time she could recall in her whole life, words failed Lyra—all she could do was sigh.

"Anypony would think you needed this as much as she did." Sweetie, like Lyra, didn't take her eyes off the pegasi above.

Shrugging her shoulders a little, Lyra said, "I don't want to feel like she's been a project, but I really love watching her succeed. Seeing her enjoy doing some of the stuff I do has been—I don't even know how to explain it."

"Fulfilling?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah. I guess?" Several loops caught Lyra's attention as Scootaloo seemed to be pushing her wings. "Is she meant to be doing so much?"

"Remember how much you know about unicorns, and I do about earth ponies?"

"Yeah. I get that. Surprise is literally us but for pegasi." Lyra rolled a hoof in the air before her. "But—"

"But she's not you. You can't help her with everything, Lyra."

"And that's why I'm down here and why I'll pull every string I have access to, to get the best pony up there to teach her."

"I mean, you did that."

"We both did that, Bonny." Tilting her head so she could keep watching with one eye, Lyra kissed Sweetie's cheek.

For over an hour they watched. Several times Scootaloo lost her momentum or missed a beat and started to fall—every time she recovered into a glide and then beat her wings to regain altitude. Each time it happened, Lyra found herself drawing up the required teleport to shove the filly back into a higher altitude—but she never got so far as to actually start casting.

Landing on the ground was its own problem, though with her gliding practice Scootaloo at least wasn't a complete newbie at it. Instinctively back-winging, she dropped to her hooves only a few ponylengths from Lyra and Sweetie. Ruffling her wings to get her feathers settled, she managed to hold off racing over to the couple for nearly ten whole seconds.

Trotting over to Lyra and Sweetie, Scootaloo bounced up and down on her hooves. "Did you see me fly?!"

"Gonna have to give you a warning, kiddo, I'm going to hug you a lot in a moment and I don't know if I'll ever be able to let go." Lyra raised her eyebrow, waiting to see how Scootaloo would take the warning. When she didn't try to run, Lyra rushed forward and pulled her into a hug. "I am so proud of you. When you set your mind to doing something, it gets done."

"That makes two of us." Sweetie crowded the other side of Scootaloo and hugged her too. "How did it feel to fly?"

With no option than to stretch her wings out to hug properly, Scootaloo couldn't stop words from bubbling up. "It was amazing! I could feel everything with my feathers and ears and even my coat picked up how the air moved. I mean, I felt that before while gliding, but it's so much different when it's me making the air move. And then all the ways moving my wings changes things! There's so much I need to learn and practice and—and do!"

"Just saying that puts you ahead of basically every other pegasus I've ever trained. That was some good flying, cadet. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." Surprise was nonplussed when Scootaloo pulled out of the hug and turned to her to snap off a perfect salute. She was shocked when both Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops did the same. Lifting her wing, she gave them a sharp return and then—performing one of her favored vertical takeoffs—shot straight up with a combination of prowess and pegasi magic.

"Okay," Lyra said, "we gotta go test some things out now. We need a nice little place in Canterlot where we can hold the various parties."

Scootaloo tried to follow the reasoning. "So we're going to an ice cream parlor?"

"No." Sweetie reached out and ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "We're going to two ice cream parlors, three donut shops, and as many coffee shops as we can find."

"If I eat all that, I won't be able to get off the ground tomorrow!" Twitching her right wing, Scootaloo opened it up and noticed a feather had some vanes out of place. A few quick nips and some work with her tongue got them straight again.

The train ride to Canterlot had been a relaxed one. Lyra and Sweetie had worked a roster for trainers at the school so they would have the time off they needed to prepare for the wedding. When they reached the platform in Canterlot, however, they both knew their charge was going to be distracted.

Firelance had gotten off another train in the station, walked off the train with his father and was following him down the stairs when he heard his name shouted from behind him. Turning, he spotted Scootaloo trotting over. "Hey!"

"This your special friend from the camp?"

"Yeah, Dad. This is Scootaloo. Scootaloo, this is Skip Move, my dad." Firelance felt as, beside him, his father stiffened. When his father saluted, he tried to follow his line of sight—Sweetie Drops.

"Corporal Skip Move"—Sweetie quickly performed her own salute—"at ease."

It had been years since Skip Move had been in the Monster Hunters, but he'd kept up with their work. The young sergeant Sweetie Drops' rise in the ranks hadn't been as much of a surprise as her suddenly being transferred to a training position. "And this is sergeant Lyra Heartstrings, the training sergeant who has been producing the best-trained unicorns the Guard has ever seen."

Changing the topic, Lyra nodded to Firelance. "I guess I just have a knack for finding a unicorn's talent and teaching them how to exploit it. At least one of my students has been pushing himself hard to master his talents."

"But not hard enough to earn that armor." Firelance was annoyed at himself for that. He'd tried, but the speed Copper Fluff had set was amazing.

"That's why we're here, actually." Reaching his hoof out, Skip ruffled Firelance's mane. "I heard that there's a unicorn we can talk to about having cadet armor made."

Sweetie couldn't help but notice the look of excitement on Firelance's face. "We can make a detour if you'd like us to show you to her. She's the armorer for the Guard, sergeant Sharp Horn."

"You're getting your own armor?" Scootaloo asked Firelance, moving up to walk beside him while Lyra, Sweetie, and Skip started moving.

"Yeah! Dad and Mom found out that Copper won the sponsored armor through the school. I don't really hold it against her. She started off as probably the weakest unicorn there and now look at her!" Firelance blushed at speaking so well of Copper. "Wait, didn't you have your flight test soon?"

"Earlier today. Surprise sounded pretty happy with things and wants to do more tomorrow." Scootaloo couldn't help the little bit of a prance she got in her step. "We were going somewhere to celebrate."

"That's so cool. I'm glad you finally made it. I don't think I've seen anypony work so hard to get something before—the way you did all those exercises…" Firelance grinned, remembering all the times she'd been late into mess because she'd been doing her stretches.

Scootaloo felt obliged to defend Firelance's own efforts. "Pfft. I saw you doing those unicorn exercises before bed each night. You might not have grown as fast as Copper Fluff, but you're definitely stronger than her."

"But I can't do all that dream magic stuff."

"Not everypony is cut out for dream magic. You've seen Lyra in any of Princess Luna's dream lessons?"

Firelance took a moment to try to remember, but he couldn't recall one. "Uh, no?"

"Exactly! Tufts said Lyra has something weird going on in her head. He can pull her into a dream, but it takes crazy-amounts of effort, and he gets a bad headache after it."

"Tufts? What, is he better at it than Princess Luna?" Having not spent a lot of time in Canterlot, Firelance was unsure where they were going—until he saw the familiar sight of the Guard training grounds. He might not know the city streets, but he knew the Guard.

Scootaloo didn't want to lie. She knew her grandfather had secrets that she shouldn't spill. "Uh, kinda? I don't know how it works. He uses Batstralian dream magic, anyway. It's probably way different. Oh, he's my grandfather. He married Lyra's mum."

"Your family is kinda weird, but it's awesome you're all, I mean, together."

"You haven't seen anything yet. I have a new aunt. Tufts and Joyce—that's Lyra's mum—had a new foal together. Her name's Gara, and she's still really small."

Preempting the gate guards, Lyra and Sweetie gave them both a firm nod. The guards still saluted, but it was less sharply formal and left room for a casual salute back from Lyra and Sweetie. Inside, they made their way to the mess hall.

"Wait, this isn't the armory." Skip knew exactly where the big forge was in the Guard training grounds, he even cast a glance in its direction.

"Yeah, but we have to report-in whenever we arrive. Lieutenant Stiff Peaks would tan our hides if we didn't say hello at least." Sweetie made no effort to divert their direction away from the kitchen entrance to the mess hall.

"Knock knock!" Lyra rapped on the door as she stepped inside. "Sir, are you in your office?"

"Lyra Heartstrings? Brought a friend today, did we?" It might be known as his office, but the kitchen didn't have any paperwork—which was exactly how Stiff Peaks liked it.

Skip recognized the easy way Stiff handled two sergeants and stiffened. He remembered Lyra had also called him sir—which meant he was very sir above a retired corporal. "Sir! Corporal Skip Move, retired!" It was the beauty of such a command structure that such logic could be deployed so easily.

"Corporal Skip Move? I recognize that name. Get your hoof down, heroes don't have to salute nopony. Do you cook?" Stiff Stepped to the side to make more room at the baking station. "I was just preparing a tray of brownies."

It was a surprise offer for Skip, but despite how surreal it felt, he stepped forward and spotted all the things he needed. "I cook at home. Even spent a little time in the mess when I was training." Old memories of scaling recipes came back. He reached with a hoof for the flour.

Stiff's mind raced, recalling all the information he remembered on the corporal. A memory for ingredient lists and recipes had served him well in the Guard—he'd just had to memorize squads by their makeup and their orders as a recipe to obtain their goal. With the mnemonic tricks kicking over, he remembered why Skip wasn't using his magic. "What can the Guard do for you, corporal?"

Hearing his rank caused Skip to jerk a little out of the numbers zone he'd slipped into scaling the recipe up. He measured out the flour and cocoa before remembering Stiff had spoken. "My son. He joined Princess Luna's School, and I think it's about time he got himself some armor."

"Ah, I see. I believe we'd just gotten an order from the school itself. I'm sure Sharp will be happy to make a second suit. Your lad's a unicorn?" Stiff slipped into the role of commis to Skip, passing him the sugar he needed along with some salt.

Lyra slipped back from the kitchen doorway and back outside. One thing she'd learned to rely on, since coming to Equestria, was that ponies would be ponies. "Come on, Firelance, let's head over to Sharp Horn and get you measured up."

With a glance back at the mess, Firelance realized that his dad was probably going to need to catch up with them. "That was the stallion at the first day, right? One of the commanders?"

"Bingo. Lieutenant Stiff Peaks is the commander of the E.U.P. Training Regiment. Most of this place comes under his supervision. There's a few others that are technically above him, but they're more the leaders of the whole Guard." Making a note to discuss adding information about the Guard to the school's syllabus.

Firelance was about to ask about who those others were when he realized they were about to enter the forge. It was obvious what the building's function was just by the steady heat radiating from it. When he stepped inside, however, the heat became oppressive.

"Lyra! I heard you have some more work for me. A unicorn foal armor—is this the unicorn?" Looking at Firelance, Sharp Horn knew her guess was wrong. Her hunch was mostly because she'd been told it was a unicorn filly.

"Yes and no. The order has changed to two suits. This is one of the foals. I'm sure the other will be coming up here any day now." Looking at Firelance, Lyra felt a hit of pride by extension. His magic capacity had expanded dramatically with the exercises she'd given him, as well as his regeneration had swelled. "What do you say, Firelance, do you think it's time to let sergeant Sharp Horn fit you up for some armor?"

Scootaloo had waited with Sweetie in the mess. She watched as Skip and Stiff worked making the brownies. "Can I help?"

Stiff wasn't surprised in the least and nodded to a spare workstation beside him. "Why don't you and Sweetie make another tray here? If there's one thing that won't go uneaten in the Guard, it's brownies."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 14 Part 1

The plans were all coming together. Lyra sat at a table with Shining and Cadance—the last of the plans in her saddlebag. "Is something wrong?" She looked at Shining first, then at Cadance. "You both seem a little on-edge."

"It's the wedding," Chrysalis was quick to say, keeping her tone as even as she could. "I just want it to go perfect."

Lyra snorted and took a sip from the juice on the table. Relaxing in Cadance's private rooms was always a treat, but Lyra could sense something off about her friend. "I mean, of course you do. You seem a little off is all, maybe a spa day would be a good idea? You could both spend—"

Chrysalis had seen this problem coming. She knew there would be those around the princess who would know her too well to let slide any significant slips in character. Lyra Heartstrings, she'd quickly realized, was one such. But this was something she had a solution to.

Feeling her thoughts scatter, Lyra struggled to keep her mind afloat in the sea of green that invaded it. Green that poured into her from Cadance's eyes. "Wh—"

"Dammit, you're strong. Had a little experience with this before? No matter. With Shining Armor's love fueling me, I could take over a dozen ponies with this much willpower. You'll go get my other two bridesmaids and bring them here. You will not mention anything you suspect about me. You will do what you need to, to convince anyone you meet that you are just acting normally." It felt good to have her will focused and imposed. Chrysalis loved watching a delicious pony's head go empty as they became her minion. "Go."

Turning around, Lyra started for the door but was frozen by the voice again.

"And find some ponies to organize this thing. It doesn't matter who." Turning her attention back to Shining, Chrysalis inhaled the sweet love in the air around him.

Out in the morning air, Lyra blinked a few times in surprise and looked around as if she'd been in a daze. In her head, the little voice of reason railed against a sea of green that wanted to stop it, but there was a very small out she had against the encroaching magic. "Find somepony to organize the wedding."

Even with the very plans for the wedding on her back, Lyra was able to edge around the green and find the solution she hoped would be the best. "Of course—Twilight!" With both the green glow in her head and her own mind made up, Lyra trotted to the ramp leading down from the castle. "Hi!" she called to the Royal Guardponies. "I am acting normally!"

She kept up her trot, working through Canterlot and calling out to anypony she recognized just to tell them she was acting normally. In her head, her reason was fighting a war with the green that choked it. A war waged in malicious compliance.

Her first target was Minuette. Her school-friend had a home in Canterlot and Ponyville, though she mostly lived in her Canterlot one now. Lifting a hoof, Lyra knocked on the door. "Hey, Minuette! Cadance said she needs to talk to you and Twinkleshine. I am acting normally."

Minuette had seen Lyra act strange on many occasions—in fact, seeing her not acting strange would have been strange. "You want me to collect Twinkleshine and go see what's up?"

"Yes! Yes that! I need to write a letter!" Walking into Minuette's home, Lyra looked around and spotted a writing desk. "Can I use your stationary?"

"S-Sure. Look, I'll leave you to it. Just lock the door when you leave." Using her magic to levitate her scarf over, Minuette wrapped it around her neck, shook her head at the strangeness of her friends, and left.

Loyalty and honor was the part of Lyra that the green was choking. Those attributes had to be sacrificed in order for Lyra to be able to pull off the save she knew she needed. Twilight and her friends had handled Nightmare Moon, had dealt with Discord, and she was sure that there were no ponies better suited to stopping—And that's where her train of thought stopped. Lyra didn't even know who she was getting help with except that it was not Cadance.

Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot. I will be presiding over the ceremony, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion.

It was so out of character for Celestia that Lyra was sure Twilight would know something was up. They hadn't even made public that the wedding would be in a week, let alone that it was happening at all. But she needed more. She needed an excuse for Twilight to bring her friends, too.

Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music. Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception. Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception. Rainbow Dash, I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do"'s. Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids. And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all

Lyra screwed her eyes closed for a moment and managed to whisper, "Saving us all."

making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon.

Yours, Princess Celestia.

The sweat beading on Lyra's forehead dripped down over her eyes. She had more to write. Grabbing a second piece of paper, she started to write a wedding invitation—a very bad one given the dozens she'd already printed and mailed.

Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of

Lyra's grin turned manic. There was one thing that would tip Twilight off.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor

Finishing up with the invitation, Lyra dotted it with clues that would tip her friend off that this was not what it seemed. Folding both letter and invitation together, she located a stack of envelopes on the writing table and stuffed the invitation and letter inside.

With the flood of green in her head, it was hard for Lyra to put together the right spell she needed to teleport the envelope. The targeting was tricky, but she had time to work out where to send it so that it would trigger Celestia's send to Spike spell.

She just hoped Spike wouldn't have too much trouble with it.

Chrysalis was relieved with her decision to mind-control all three of her bridesmaids. The first one in particular had been extremely helpful—the only issue she'd had was when Shining's sister and her friends had arrived. "How am I meant to deal with this? I don't even like apples, and that—that beast is making literally every meal out of apple."

Lyra watched "Cadance" stomp around her room and shred a bouquet of flowers with green magic. Green magic that still bubbled in Lyra's head. She kept quiet, not volunteering any information and not putting her friends forward either.

"Just, just go. Do whatever you want for the day, but be here on time for tomorrow." It was literally too much for Chrysalis to worry about now. She gave each of her three minions another little jolt of her mind-control—enjoying the pained expression each wore as it sank in—and turned back to the empty bed.

Outside, Lyra let out a little whimper.

"You've been taking the brunt of it." Minuette leaned close to shore up Lyra's wobbly stride.

Twinkleshine nodded and moved in from the other side to support Lyra between them—not exactly easy given the physical mass Lyra possessed. "Yeah. We still can't reveal what's going on, but we can do whatever we want for the day."

"We can do whatever we want?" Lyra shook her head to try to clear the green flood that was settling into a sharp migraine in her head. "L-Like look for the real Cadance?"

"With all this you still want to save the day?" Twinkleshine asked.

"Yeah, it's what Guardponies do. We take care of all the stupid background stuff so Twilight Sparkle can be a hero." Feeling more sure of herself, Lyra walked to the entrance of the underground caves where she knew Chrysalis had put Cadance. "Down here—somewhere."

As they all walked down the stairs together, they reached a point where there was just nothing. Far below was shrouded in darkness. "You're not going to try teleporting again." Minuette grabbed Lyra's tail with her teeth and jerked her back from the edge.

"What about if we try to convince one of Twilight's friends that something really wrong is going on?" Twinkleshine asked. Action wasn't her normal thing, and so far she'd not been enjoying being a mind-controlled slave of Chrysalis.

"They didn't believe her. What makes you think they'd believe us when we can't just tell them?" Lyra asked. "No. We need to find somepony else. Somepony who's used to finding tiny threads of information and teasing them apart to reveal a web of impending disaster."

All three of them looked at each other and managed a halfhearted giggle. "Moon Dancer," they said together.

The walk wasn't far. Moon Dancer lived in the student area still, though she was in her own home now, and that was near to the castle. After assuring the doubled Royal Guards that they were all "Acting normally", the three made their way through the buzzing streets toward their friend's home.

Moon Dancer had learned the ways of the bat pony—she had mastered them. When a knock came at her front door, during the day, she pulled her pillow up and over her head. "I work nights! Go away!"

"Mooooon!" Lyra crooned the name from the front. "Moooon! I've got something you'll want to investigate!" It still wasn't giving Chrysalis away, so Lyra was still safe in the green muck filling her head.

"Mooooon!" Twinkleshine giggled. "Mooooooo—n!"

For Moon Dancer, hearing her friends' mangling of her name made her smile for a moment, until she realized they wouldn't stop until she answered the door. By the time she found her glasses and walked to the door, their calls had devolved into them mooing. She flung open the door and growled at them. "Just get inside and tell me what you want investigated."

Following Moon into her almost pitch black home, Lyra immediately tripped over a pile of books and landed on the floor.

Moon's first target was the kitchen and her coffee machine. If there was one singular thing working for Luna made her thankful for, it was the bits to buy a good coffee machine. "So what's with the visit?"

"We've got a secret!" Minuette danced on her hooves.

"But we can't tell you." Twinkleshine followed Minuette into the kitchen and they each stood flanking Moon.

Lyra followed along and shoved into the kitchen too, taking up what little room was left. "It's a huge secret. If you can guess it, you'll save Equestria!"

Twisting the knobs and adjusting her coffee machine, Moon yawned and didn't bother hiding it. "Since I'm not going to get any rest until I find out this secret—just tell me."

"Can't," all three of Moon's home-invaders said together.

"We can't even tell you that it's about not Cadance," Minuette said.

Moon Dancer, being quite the grammarian, was about to correct Minuette's wording when she remembered that her friend was not just as bloody-minded when it came to grammar, but she was far more blunt about it than Moon herself.

That's when the wheels started turning and Moon's mind engaged with the problem. "So, if I have this right, you have a big secret and it's all about not Cadance?"

"Getting there," Twinkleshine said.

"I really need coffee for this, so can you all just take five steps back?" Moon didn't exactly need the space, not from her friends, but she couldn't think straight when somepony was breathing down her neck. While they stood back in silence, she focused most of her attention on getting four cups of great coffee made, then turned around and floated one to each her friends.

Moon dancer sipped at her coffee and instantly felt better equipped to tackle the problem. "Okay, since this involves you three in particular, together, it must have something to do with the wedding."

Sipping her coffee, Lyra felt relief flooding her at putting the problem in competent hooves.

"Why can't you tell me?" Moon asked.

"We can't tell you why we can't tell you. It's annoying," Twinkleshine scrunched her snout up a little, but a sip of her coffee corrected that. "This is really good!"

"Something about the wedding, not Cadance, and it's a secret you can't talk about because it's annoying, but you want me to know anyway." As she said the last bit, Moon's eyes locked on Lyra's. She knew that Lyra might joke, but she always kept professional when things were vitally important—which meant she was acting out of character.

It didn't take a huge leap for Moon to connect the dots and realize that meant something was affecting Lyra's ability to be upfront. Wandering into her living room, which was not just wall-to-wall with bookshelves, but had a row of them down the middle of it, Moon found the right shelf and then the right book. "So, if my guess is correct, I win a prize?"

"If you guess this, all of Equestria gets a prize," Lyra said.

Floating the book out with her magic, Moon Dancer flicked through it idly. "Come over here please, Lyra." She waited for her friend to come over to her. "You remember the topic Princess Celestia was teaching when you first joined our class?"

Almost giddy, since she realized Moon was getting it, Lyra nodded. "It was on geographic distribution of magic and destiny, though we didn't know that at the time. It wasn't until third year that we realized why she'd been focusing on that."

Moon didn't consider herself a snap-caster, like Twilight and Lyra. She didn't memorize a great expanse of spells to be fired off at a moment's notice. What Moon did was always keep close to a huge store of spellbooks. Looking down at the page, she assembled the spell pattern quickly and effortlessly. She'd cast so many spells directly from books that she could do it with practically no hesitation. Her horn cast the brightest light in the room and then her soft pink glow spread out over Lyra—and turned green. "Well, that's one secret. You're being mind-controlled, right?"

Giggling, dancing from hoof to hoof in delight, Lyra shook her head. "I am acting normally!"

"Lots of it too, if I don't miss my guess. Mustn't be easy to even act how you are with that load in your head. I figure I can't remove it without setting off alarm bells for somepony—somecreature?" Moon changed her guess at the last moment when Lyra nodded. With the last word, however, Lyra shook her head and looked excited again. "Okay. Well, I'm definitely not going to tell anyone your secret that you totally didn't tell me and I don't know anyway."

The green wave of magic subsided back from Lyra's free will—only a little, but it was enough to make her relax. "Phew! That's a relief, isn't it girls? It would have been horrible if you'd found out this secret."

"Sure would be a problem for not Cadance." Minuette nodded and sipped more of her coffee. "We need to meet up more often—this coffee is really good."

"But we have to go now! There's places to be and secrets to not tell anyone!" Lyra floated her mug of coffee up to her lips and drank the rest of the mug of hot drink down. "Come on, girls!"

Moon noticed that Twinkleshine, of the three, seemed most withdrawn. When she walked over to make herself another mug of coffee for the long walk down to the E.U.P. Guard, she noticed there was a piece of paper on the table with dirty stains on it.

Of all her friends, Twinkleshine was the most into the graphical arts. Lyra played music, Minuette danced, and Lemon baked. Twinkleshine did stone sculpting with her magic, and in support of that she sketched her designs. The picture she'd drawn on the white paper with coffee terrified Moon.

Tall and monstrous, the insectile shape of the wings combined with the holes in the legs to hit Moon right in the uncanny valley. What had caused her to jerk back, though was the four letters underneath.

Help

Moon Dancer had given up on her second cup of coffee. With the piece of paper pressed carefully into a book, and the book in her saddlebags, she trotted through the streets of Canterlot. The image on the paper was burned into Moon's memory, and so when she reached the front gate of the Guard grounds, she breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two armored ponies there. "I need to speak to whomever is Lyra Heartstrings' commander."

"And who might you be?" Sparklebright was not one to be ordered around for no reason, but she also knew better than to ignore somepony who looked like they'd been chased by Nightmare Moon herself.

Turning and opening her saddlebag, Moon reached into it with her magic and pulled out a little black coin. "Moon Dancer, advisor to Princess Luna and graduate of Princess Celestia's school."

Flicking her horn to life with magic, Sparklebright let a single spark jump into the coin and felt a wave of power pour back. Her eyes widened and she nodded. "Right this way."

Relief flooded Moon. She followed the mare to an office building and inside. "Uh, who are we—?"

"Lieutenant Stiff Peaks will be here shortly. You'll excuse me." It was standard procedure with the lieutenant. Leave the pony in his office and then go and fetch him from his office.

Moon didn't have to wait long before a handsome stallion smelling of bread stepped in. "L-Lieutenant Stiff Peaks?"

"Yes, at your service, ma'am." Stiff didn't bother trying to figure out the full form of address for one of the princess' advisers, instead ushering her into his inner office. Once the door closed, he marched around the desk and took a seat. "What can I help you with?"

"I just talked to Lyra, and she was under a class one mind-control spell."

There wasn't a lot of words that would cause Stiff to completely forget the buns he'd just literally put in the oven, but that sentence contained a good portion of them. "Go on."

"She managed to let me know that if I'd removed it, the creature that'd cast it would know. It's on her and the other two bridesmaids, Twinkleshine and Minuette. It was cast on them by somecreature—she was careful to make sure I knew it wasn't a pony—she called not Cadance. And Twinkleshine managed to draw them." Pulling out the piece of paper, Moon floated it to Stiff.

Stiff took one look at the picture and winced. "Scouts have been reporting creatures like this to the south—on the border with the Badlands. This looks a little different to their descriptions and—Is that Saddle Arabian coffee?"

"Y-Yeah." It surprised Moon that a Guardpony would recognize imported, fine coffee, but here she was. "That was drawn by my friend, Twinkleshine, under the same level of mind-control as Lyra."

Nodding and pulling out a slip of paper, Stiff started writing down a recipe for bunt cake on it. "Congratulations on being drafted into the E.U.P. Guard's Messenger Service. Can you take this note to Princess Celestia—and only Princess Celestia—and show her this token, please?" He lifted out a silver token from his desk drawer, tapped it once to authenticate it with his own personal presence, then held it and the letter out to Moon.

Moon had been easily able to read the letter, and raised one eyebrow at Stiff. "That was a recipe for cake."

"Yes it was, and yet I'm giving you a token that will let the princess know that it was myself who sent it. What does that tell you about that recipe?" Stiff couldn't help himself. He could see Moon Dancer was a smart pony, and judging by her references that corporal Sparklebright had passed on, his estimation was backed not only by both reining princesses, but also Lyra Heartstrings. He was convinced she wasn't stupid.

"That either there's a hidden message in the cake recipe, or that the recipe itself is significant only in what recipe it is, and the fact that I'm taking it there means you want me to relate my facts again." Moon Dancer picked up the recipe and slipped it inside the book she'd used to conceal the drawing. When Stiff passed her the coffee-drawing, she slipped that in too. "So I go and talk to Princess Celestia. Should I show anypony that tag?"

"Royal Guard, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia only. And then, only if you trust they're who they look like." As he closed his eyes, Stiff saw that picture again and heard the report a scout had brought in of creatures with holes in their legs, insect wings, and curved horns atop their black bodies.

"And of course you're not sending anypony with me, because that would give everything away, right?" Moon asked.

"Smart, beautiful, and sarcastic? Miss Moon Dancer, if Canterlot is still standing in a week, would you like to have lunch somewhere?" It stunned Stiff to ask, but it wasn't every day he met a pony that could follow his logic without any history of knowing him.

Not seeing the invitation coming, all Moon could do was nod. "Y-Yes. Okay." Turning, she started walking for the door with a certain level of interpersonal shell-shock. Outside, her brain finally started working again and she asked, "Did I just agree to a date?"

Moon Dance could feel the weight of the token, however, and shook her head. "Get yourself together. A pretty smile from a smart and handsome stallion shouldn't distract you. And now I'm monologuing like Twilight probably does when she has to save Equestria." As she walked out of the offices, Moon looked up at Canterlot castle and realized how great a distance it was to cross the city.

"Did I call him handsome?" Hanging her shoulders at the realization that she'd been upgraded from quiet nerd to protagonist, Moon walked out the front gates and made her way toward the castle.

The city was bustling, and though she'd had coffee, Moon found herself craving something to eat. Stopping at a cart selling fruit, she pointed to a banana and looked up hopefully at the stallion running the cart. "How much for a banana and… a pear?"

"Two copper bits each."

Reaching into her purse, Moon saw the token in there and carefully used her magic to pluck out four copper bits. The token was a reminder that she was on a mission. "Here you go!"

"Thank you!" Moon said when she got the two pieces from him. Moving along at a trot now, she ate her way through the pear and was starting on the banana when she reached the bottom of the entrance to Canterlot castle.

"Halt! What is—?"

"Cool it, newbie," Citron said. "This is Moon Dancer. She's one of Princess Celestia's personal students. You're here to see the princess?"

Recognizing the stallion as one she'd met before, Moon nodded to him. "Security's pretty tight because of the wedding, huh?"

"Like you wouldn't believe. Commander has us on double-guards and has pushed up some recruits to assist. The Guard are buzzing around everywhere like wasps, and—here I am spilling everything to the first sympathetic ear I find." Citron was stepping aside to let Moon pass when he noticed her drop something. "Excuse me," he said, picking up the silver token, "you dropped—this."

Moon was relieved he'd spotted it. She wasn't good at this stuff, and literally tossing the token to his feet was all she'd thought to do. "So I did. Thank you."

Citron didn't need to see the token twice to know what it was. Moon Dancer carrying it meant he needed to verify the token and, if it was legitimate, escort her directly to the princess. "Bartlett, keep an eye on the new blood. You know those new orders that everypony on castle grounds needs to be escorted?"

"Really?" Moon asked. "And here I wanted to cut all the heads of the topiary without anypony else seeing me."

Laughing, Bartlett nodded to Citron. "Better keep this miscreant from causing too much trouble—though if you want to swing by the east garden, there's a new shrub shaped like Prince Blue Blood you could have some fun with."

Escorting Moon toward the castle, Citron cleared his throat when they were far enough from the guardhouse. "Can you show me that token again?"

Digging it out with her magic, Moon floated it over to him. She felt Citron use magic on it. "Stiff said it would verify—"

"It does. Right this way."

Moon had to speed up to keep pace with Citron. They passed two guard checkpoints on the way into the castle, and walked through each time without a word. With her mouth clamped shut, she soon found herself in the throne room with her former teacher—with Citron, several Royal Guard, and Shining Armor.

"Citron?" Moon Dancer asked quietly.

"What's wrong? You're safe in here, you can—"

"I don't think Shining Armor should be here."

"He's the commander of—"

"Trust me?"

Looking into Moon Dancer's eyes, Citron recognized honesty and more than a little worry. Turning, he walked up to Shining. "Commander, I need to make a report."

Feeling more than a little woozy, Shining had to shake his head to clear it. "Uh, outside. We should leave the princess to her business."

The moment Shining was out of the room, Moon breathed again. She turned from where she'd watched him leave and realized Celestia was right in front of her. Relief and caffeine fueled her (with the help of her fruit snack), as she pulled out the recipe from her bag and showed it to Celestia. "Y-Y-Your Highness, I—"

Celestia didn't need more than a glance at the recipe. It would have been a fond reminder of the times she'd cooked with Stiff Peaks if she didn't know what the recipe represented. "Bunt cake? Stiff Peaks never struck me as the kind of pony to go overboard. What's the information, Moon Dancer?"

"Well, my day started with Lyra Heartstrings, Twinkleshine, and Minuette knocking on my door…" Moon didn't leave anything out. She stumbled and stuttered her way through the information, but at last she finished with everything up until she met Stiff Peaks. "And that's why I asked, uh—"

"Senior Sergeant Citron," Celestia said.

"Right, that's why I asked Citron to get Shining Armor out of the room. If this thing can mimic a pony, and can control three of the sharpest minds I know with that kind of magic, it could have its claws in his head too."

Lifting her head and looking around the room, Celestia cast the lightest magic-detection spell she could. The usual glaring brightness of her Guards' armor and weapons abounded. Moon Dancer had several small enchantments around her: the token Celestia knew she carried would be one such, but her saddlebags and hair-clasp were two more. No hint of mental magic residue, however. "Alright, you just got promoted, Moon Dancer."

"P-Promoted? What do you mean?"

"Royal messenger, problem-solver, whatever else you think is good. Did you see the spell I just cast?" Celestia waited for Moon to nod. "Good. I want you to cast that and try to get a look at the three bridesmaids. I'll arrange for—"

Clearing her throat, Luna walked into the throne room and made her way over to her sister. "Might I inquire as to what is transpiring?" Her eyes flicked between Moon and Celestia.

"Of course!" Celestia felt a moment of jubilation at seeing her sister. "This creature will be keeping an eye on what I do, but you, Luna, can act without her knowing. Please, escort Moon Dancer to somewhere secure and start seeing about testing out ways to disrupt the mind-control magic."

Luna blinked in surprise at the topic. "Am I to take it we're going with the Discord Maneuver?"

"Yes. You and Moon Dancer play the part we both played all those years ago, and I'll be Princess Platinum and her court. Find us some weapons, Luna." Celestia took a deep breath. "And, please, try to help Twilight Sparkle. She saw this coming when none of us did."

Nodding her head, Moon Dancer ignored that Luna leaned in to whisper something to Celestia, and instead stepped back from the royal sisters and waited for Luna to join her. Together they walked from the room through a side door—where Moon almost collapsed.

"I didn't think this was your thing, Moon?" Luna asked.

"It's not! You know what I enjoy doing, Luna, and running all over Canterlot to warn princesses when there's a mind-controlling monster masquerading as a princess is not among those things. They even woke me up to—" Memory of the struggle Minuette, Lyra, and Twinkleshine had undergone halted Moon in her self-pitying tracks. "I need all the coffee."

"You can have the half I don't drink," Luna said, only now yawning once she was out of view of the Royal Guard.

Luna's study wasn't far, and it was there the pair headed. Once inside the walls of the modest room, Luna braced her hooves, closed her eyes, and threw up a wall of protection around them that would require a moderate army to break through. "Alright. Tell me everything going on."

Moon had been through this twice now. She gave as concise and careful a rundown for Luna as she did for Celestia, and while she spoke she performed the sacred ritual of coffee production. Just as she was coming to mentioning Shining Armor in the throne room, the kettle had boiled and she poured it into the Prench press.

"And then I came in, I gather?" Luna asked.

Moon filled the coffee mugs with boiling water and let them heat up while the coffee brewed. "Yeah. She did say something about problem-solvers or something. I have a feeling it's going to cut into my reading time."

"Ugh!" Luna slumped onto a chair. "Tell me about it. She read me in on all the things her little gang get up to, and now I can't stop getting reports from them. You too now, I bet."

"Well, you just got my first. That was technically Lyra's. She's in the gang too, right? That's what everypony calls her—the princess' problem-solver. Well, she might solve problems, but she's barely keeping her figurative head above water with all that magic in her head." Staring a hole through the glass pot, Moon said, "You know, if could get any power I want, it would be to make coffee brew instantly."

"You and me both. Okay, so if this monster can sense when its mind-control is broken, we need to be careful not to free anypony until the right time. This isn't common knowledge, but we have information that there is an army on its way. Perhaps this is—" Luna jumped back to her hooves so fast she almost planted her horn in the ceiling. "Shining Armor! The shield!"

Moon blanched. "C-Can you make a shield strong enough to—?"

"Not that big. Well, I could, but it wouldn't stop a filly determined to get through it. My magic's more confrontational. Also, it works best at night." Reaching out with her magic, Luna took the offered coffee mug from Moon. The first sip told her she was in for a double-strength Moon-special. "Thank you so much."

"Sometimes I wonder if I could get a duchy just by making you coffee."

"You want one? You got it. Dukedoms are a copper bit a dozen. Celestia would only be upset if I made you a baroness or a princess." Luna took a long gulp of coffee and felt it melt away the cobwebs in her head. "So, firstly, investigate the shield."

Summoning some paper and a pencil, Moon started taking notes. "Contact Stiff Peaks to coordinate with the E.U.P. Guard?" Moon tried to tell herself it wasn't just to get to see him again. It didn't work—mostly because she was a bad liar.

"Lower priority, but yes. My sister wants weapons, and what better weapons are there than the elements of harmony?" Luna had been defeated by the stones twice now and knew their potency. "And we need to assist Twilight Sparkle. When is the wedding?"

"Uh, tomorrow." Imbibing more coffee, Moon already started preparing another pot. "Right, so we need to move fast. Secure the elements, try to find Twilight Sparkle and fill her in, and then see about the shield and the Guard. Am I missing anything?"

"You're brewing more coffee?" Luna asked, and when she got a nod smiled. "Maybe I could talk my sister into a barony. You find the elements, I'll locate Twilight Sparkle."

"The shield?" Moon asked.

"The shield can be Twilight's problem. Or nopony's problem if we can deal with the main threat right now." Luna emptied her mug and held it out to Moon.

"Wait, we're missing something here. If the monster looks like Pr—Cadance, where is Cadance?" Still messing up sometimes, Moon tried her best to follow Luna's command not to use titles in her presence.

Luna pondered time travel. It was the best way to get a coffee when you wanted it rather than when it was available—but her sister had told her not to use temporal spells for caffeine drinks. "That's another good question. We need more information about this thing."

Moon sighed. "Which means one of us needs to visit her and get some questions answered."

Looking at Moon, Luna knew that Moon knew that she knew that couldn't be Luna. "I can give you the strongest anti-mind-control shield possible, if that—"

"No. If she zaps me, and finds me warded, that's the whole game given away." Slumping and wishing the pot would boil faster, Moon already planned how she would get answers from the impostor. "I have my doubts as to whether it can manipulate any further ponies, so I'll pose as a rule-bound and officious bureaucrat and probe her with dozens of inconsequential questions and some important ones."

"And if it does control you? If it makes you unable to relay what you learn?"

"Then I"—Moon paused talking as she focused on preparing another serve of coffee each—"use a spell in advance to take dictation, and pretend I'm controlling the quill with my horn."

Luna gave Moon a lop-sided grin. "Remind me never to make you angry with me."

"Every morning, or just once every now and again?" Moon inhaled the smell of brewing coffee, her senses waking up further.

"Every day, just to be on the safe side." Looking into the dark brew forming, Moon used her physical desire for coffee to overwhelm her disgust at what she'd be putting herself in the way of. "Why am I doing this?" When Luna kept quiet, she continued. "I'm not a hero."

"And yet you're acting heroic." Shrugging off the dour look Moon sent her way, Luna chuckled. "But no, neither of us are heroes. Heroes are ponies like my sister, like Twilight, and like Lyra. They will rush into danger head-first, jump between another pony and harm—but the key to it is they will do it without thinking it is odd. You and I, Moon Dancer, will plot and plan and work out when is the best time to be heroic."

Giving up on waiting and actuating the plunger, Moon poured off another two mugs of coffee and floated them over to the table. "Lyra doesn't strike me as heroic, then. She does a lot of thinking."

"She thinks fast, yes, but she acts faster. Plus, she tends to plan in advance and just be ready for any situation." Luna took her first sip of her second mug of coffee for the day and sighed. Looking to the clock (now feeling stable enough to do so), she noticed that it was almost six P.M.

"She wouldn't say she's a hero, either, but that might actually be a prerequisite. We should get a better coffee machine so we don't have to wait as long between cups." The idle thought had Moon trying to imagine systems for boiling water and preparing coffee without delay. "Wait, if that was a prerequisite, it means we both fit that criteria."

"Not me." Sipping repeatedly at her coffee, Luna judged it cool enough to drink—and did so. "I've been a monster. That means I technically cannot be a hero."

"Anti-hero. You'd be an anti-hero."

"What's an anti-hero?"

"It's when somepony with questionable methods takes the role of hero. So, let's say there was a villain that drew their power from the sun and used it to capture your sister. If you flicked things to eternal night for a few days, that would be the act of an anti-hero." Sipping her coffee, Moon started figuring out what spells she'd need to memorize to pull her mission off. Then she paused. "I just thought of this as a mission. What's that even mean?"

"It means you might be overthinking things."

"Well duh." Moon had spent long enough as Luna's advisor that her mouth often said things she would have never said to a princess normally. It still frightened her a little, sometimes, when she did such things. "Overthinking things is why you keep me around. It's my superpower."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 14 Part 2

It was almost eleven. Luna had brought out her moon fully, the light of it strongly illuminating the streets of skies of Canterlot—thought it was filtered by a pinkish shield.

Moon Dancer opened the door of the office she shared with Luna and stepped out with her head full of spells and hope that she'd still be herself at the end of the night. "Well, now I get to go pretend I'm a hero. Maybe I should ask what would Lyra do?"

"Don't ask that!" Luna's voice came from inside the office. "Ask yourself what would Moon Dancer do?!"

"Moon Dancer would run and hide and wait for a hero to fix everything." Despite her comment, Moon started off toward the main corridor that led outside. Just like when she'd entered the castle, there were extra Royal Guard everywhere. They all knew her on sight, but always stopped her at the major doorways and forced her to show the midnight black token Luna had given her in place of the silver one from Stiff Peaks.

Even just feeling that token made Moon remember the stallion, and despite herself a silly grin spread on her lips. "A date…" The words slipped out on her way across the castle grounds to Cadance and Shining's apartment.

Levitating her clipboard from her saddlebags, Moon formed up the spell for dictation and cast it on a pencil. A quick clearing of her throat and she lifted a hoof and knocked on the door.

Stomping to the door, her thoughts dark, Chrysalis grabbed it with her green telekinesis and yanked it open. "What do you—I mean, what do you want?" She fumbled to get her voice under control. "Don't you know we're busy getting ready for tomorrow?"

"Exactly!" Moon stepped forward, then beside, then past the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, and into the room. "We heard your request loud and clear, and I've arranged for some non-apple food to be delivered for breakfast." The rumors Moon had gathered from talking with Citron had been invaluable in crafting her entrance speech and ingratiating herself with the monster. "Now, if you could give me a quick list of your favorite foods, and I can get out of your mane."

Letting out a flood of stress she didn't even know she was holding-on to, Chrysalis almost slumped on her hooves. "At last somepony in this castle who'll challenge that orange menace." The problem was, while she could happily eat just about anything, Chrysalis wasn't hungry—Shining Armor had taken care of that. But, there was one thing that changelings always adored: "Some honeyed oat porridge will be just fine."

Holding her quill with her magic, Moon ignored the pencil that was writing down everything and pretended to write down the answer. "Orange menace? I believe you mean the bringer of apples?" Every part of her dialogue was cultivated to be the font of reason in the castle. The Guards had heard all of the monster's complaints, and Moon was here to be her co-conspirator—her hero of reason.

Chrysalis couldn't hold back the amused snort at the title. "It's such a relief to not be the only ch—pony that is noticing. Tell me, wise and all-seeing purveyor of things not apple, what else could you assist me with?"

"I can, for example, keep ponies from annoying you until a set hour. I was assigned to assist you by Princess Celestia herself, and her Royal Guards are at my beck and call to repel all comers." Times. Moon Dancer wanted an itinerary of what the monster had planned for the day, and that was easiest accomplished by just asking her when and where she wanted to be left alone.

"Whilst I'd love to just tell you to keep everypony out until the wedding, the fact is I have myriad small things to do in the morning. But, if you could keep the throngs away until nine A.M., I'd make you my royal advisor on the spot." It was like Celestia had delivered Chrysalis the keys to the castle already—or so the changeling thought. "Just—just make something up to excuse us."

"Of course!" More fake writing from Moon, and a deep desire for the monster to not check her clipboard. "What of your bridesmaids?" The sour look on the monster's face told Moon all she needed. "No—underlined—bridesmaids."

"Actually, even better, could you arrange for all of Twilight Sparkle's friends to be here at nine? If those three airheads can't do the job, I'll distract that orange menace and her friends into the role."

"Absolutely." Moon didn't plan on any such thing, but what the monster had let slip had given her the deepest look yet into its character. "I believe your flowerfillies will be here around midday, I'm sure Rarity can get their dresses organized in short order—and it will keep her out of your mane."

Things were going so swimmingly that Chrysalis almost blurted all her plans. Recovering mentally, she looked down at the bookish-looking pony. "I missed your name…"

If what was coming next was what Moon assumed would be coming next, she had to make sure not to lie, though every instinct told her to give a fake name. "Moon Dancer."

For a moment Chrysalis started to call her magic. She began to push it toward the place in her head that caused her eyes to become mesmeric, but felt a twinge of warning. Gritting her teeth tightly, she cursed under her breath that the three bridesmaids had taken so much of her focus to control.

Discarding her plan to invade the mind of Moon Dancer, Chrysalis instead opted for a ruse. Conspiratorially looking around the room, she leaned down to Moon and covered the side of her mouth with a hoof. "I need to know how loyal you are to Equestria?"

It was so cliché that Moon barely managed to not laugh outright. "I am dedicated to whomever sits on the throne." This was off-script, but Moon's mind was racing to cultivate her persona further and reinforce herself as a sycophant. "Why, Your Highness?"

Chrysalis could smell ambition, and the room was rank with it. "You see, Princess Celestia hasn't told anypony but us princesses that she plans to abdicate tomorrow. Since I'll be stepping up to take control of Equestria, that would make me the mare who 'sits on the throne', as it were."

Moon made an appropriate gasp, mostly because it was the real deal. The monster, she realized, intended to take over Equestria. "I-I was not aware of such, Your Highness." Every time Moon had said your highness, she'd noticed a flicker of green in "Cadance"'s eyes.

"Yes, well, it will mean that I'll have need of ponies—ponies loyal to the mare who sits on the throne—to assist in this changeover. It will not be easy, but I believe you have what it takes to be my right-hoof-mare. Do you think you'll be capable of that?" Chrysalis licked her lips and could almost taste the excitement to be in such a position that she perceived in Moon Dancer. "I believe you will."

Dipping her head to hide the gulp she used to force bile back down her throat, Moon Dancer lowered herself to one knee before the monster. "Your Highness, I am your servant to command."

"Rise, Moon Dancer. Stand tall and proud, and await my next commands. For now you have a list of—problems to take care of. See that those mares arrive sharply at nine." Chrysalis raised a hoof and made a dismissive gesture toward Moon. "Please, my fiance requires his—sleep."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Spinning about on the spot, Moon Dancer mentally defenestrated any further questions. She had too much to pass on to Luna as it was.

When the door closed, Chrysalis licked her lips with glee. "These ponies never cease to amaze me. How quickly will they not only welcome their doom, but beckon it on like some kind of—of small, suicidal mammal."

With the door closed behind her, Moon Dancer embraced the fight or flight response of her kind—she galloped like a windigo for the main castle.

Being late at night, and with all the Guard now familiar with her, Moon wasn't stopped until she reached the door of Luna's offices. One very hostile-looking bat pony stood there. "You need to let me in!"

"Princess Luna is in a conference with Princess Celestia. You'll have to head to—" Filthy Dreams almost spat when Moon Dancer galloped off without hearing him out. "Don't know why I bother sometimes."

Knowing the hallways of the castle, Moon rounded one and spotted a bat pony and Citron standing out front of the Two Sisters' Conference Room. Slowing down a little, she trotted up to them. "I need to see the princesses."

"You check. I can handle one on my own." Sharp Fang narrowed her eyes a moment then sharpened her peripheral vision again. When Citron stepped inside and closed the door, she tried to feel for every stray movement. "You reported this, didn't you? Princess Luna says there are monsters that can look like another pony, and we don't know exactly who might be who."

"Yeah, I—I just found out more information from the impostor." Moon was never sure how to handle the bat ponies that seemed to flock to Luna. They always looked as ready to tear something apart as smile and wave. "It—" The door opened again and Citron walked out.

"Go inside," Citron said, and closed the door behind Moon when she did so.

Within the conference room was more than the two alicorns Moon had expected. They were there, of course, but so was Blue Blood, Joyce Mango, and Sweetie Drops. The last of which stood out more because she had more armor on than even Citron had been attired in.

Dipping her head, Moon Dancer showed as much respect as she could given the way her heart was hammering still. "I have news of the impostor."

Luna rushed over to Moon and leaned down to her ear. "You are acting normal?"

The question made Moon snicker a little. "Never. I reject normalcy."

"She is not being controlled. Thank the night you're safe." Luna, surprising herself, reached a foreleg around Moon's withers and hugged her briefly. Stepping back, she cleared her throat. "Please, report on what you found."

"This creature is trying to take over. It—it tried to recruit me as a co-conspirator, to which I resisted a little, but then agreed." As she spoke, Moon was surprised at how expressive the normally haughty Blue Blood was. "It's vain, every time I called them 'your highness', it was like I promised it I would lead them directly to the throne. It wanted me to bring all of Twilight's friends—her friends from Ponyville—to Cadance's home at nine in the morning."

Taking the offered verbatim notes, Luna started to read them and then held them out to Blue. "This here. Hesitation on a word starting ch."

"She almost said her species." Blue Blood could practically taste the information just out of his reach.

Shaking her head, Sweetie Drops tapped her chin—as she'd seen Lyra do—as she thought on one thing. "Did she use telekinesis at all?"

The question surprised Moon. "Y-Yes." That's when it hit her what had been odd. "It was green!"

"And when she used it, did her whole horn glow as normal, or did it pulse from the base toward the tip?"

Thinking hard, Moon closed her eyes to focus on when she'd seen the monster pick something up. "Th-The latter, I think—No. It was definitely the latter. That's not how pony magic works."

"Changeling," Sweetie said. "It's a changeling, though I've never heard of one that could control minds. They're an annoyance in the south, but they've never made a move into Equestria before." She looked up at Celestia. "There was a warning?"

"A pony in Appleloosa who told the sheriff there that an invasion was coming. One changeling, no matter how powerful, is an invasion." Luna was getting better at following current events, but like in her older days, she excelled at minutiae of detail—it was the reason her fight with her sister had started, after all.

"What if that pony was a changeling trying to throw us off?" Sweetie asked.

Despite her recent encounter with one of the monsters, Moon Dancer couldn't help picking a contrary argument. "Or what if they were trying to warn us?"

"You know," Blue said, "I despise these kinds of answers. 'It's a changeling,' you say. Well, that just makes even more questions. You'll have to excuse me, I need to go spill cider all over myself and stumble into the monster in an effort to get more despicable answers like these."

Moon just stared at the stallion as he left the room. "Just like that? He's going to face it down and get—"

"Yes, Moon Dancer. My nephew knows what he's doing and what he's risking." Celestia cleared her throat to hide the fact she almost choked up. "So we're dealing with one or more changelings. How long until you can have a comprehensive report of their expected capabilities written up?"

Sweetie caught the relieved look on Moon's face that Celestia wasn't talking to her. "I'll head to the Guard library and start collating what they have. No more than two hours—less if I have somepony to help."

"I can help!" Moon was unsurprised by how loud she shouted it. The fact was this whole situation terrified her, and the thought of an hour or so in a library sounded like just what she needed.

"Sister," Celestia turned to Luna, "please accompany them to the Guard compound. I'd like you to head-up tactics. No matter if it's one singular, powerful changeling or an army of thousands."

Fire filled Luna's blood. This was what she'd lived for, and it was wonderful to find it again. "Of course."

It was a different vibe that saw Moon Dancer returning to the E.U.P. Guard that evening. She had, on one flank, a mare that looked like she could trample an army and then come back for seconds, and on the other she had an alicorn princess whom she was seeing an entirely new side of. For as long as Moon had known Luna, she'd been an awkward intellectual who'd struggled and fought to connect with the modern era. This Luna, now, had a new sense of purpose behind her.

When they were past the gate guards—who'd snapped to attention so quickly Moon thought they would knock themselves out with their salutes—she heard one sound she didn't expect from Sweetie.

Reaching a steel-clad hoof up to wipe the tear from her cheek, Sweetie turned to look at Moon. "Is Lyra okay? Do you—Luna said you'd met with her."

"She's fighting it. Spell effects like the one wrought on her shouldn't allow for so much autonomy, but somehow Lyra managed to raise the alarm about all this, get the right ponies to Canterlot to deal with a potential disaster, and is protecting her friends. Twinkleshine was barely able to speak, Minuette was a wreck, but Lyra held them together." Moon didn't need to embellish, and she surprised herself at how easy it was to sing her former classmate's praises. "The effect, though, will be easy to remove once we don't fear giving the game away."

"Thank you." The words choked free of Sweetie's throat. "Y-Your Highness, you will find Lieutenant Stiff Peaks in his offices. The heavily guarded building over there."

Pausing, Luna halted in her tracks—which caused the other two to stop as well. She examined Sweetie with some care to her aura. "You're bracing?"

"Yes," Sweetie Drops said.

"Bracing?" Moon Dancer asked, confusion evident on her face.

"Bracing is the old term for grounding, what a trained earth pony does to avoid magical effects. I will not end up like Lyra, and I will not see myself used as a weapon against my friends again." Sweetie's tone was deliberate and sounded like she was almost about to break into tears.

Luna felt worry and more than a little pride in Sweetie's tone. "How long have you been like this?"

"Since I heard the news of what happened to Lyra."

Being night time, Luna was quite literally within her element. Closing her eyes, she pulled the dark of the night down around them. "Relax your protection, sergeant."

Straining, Sweetie trembled for nearly ten seconds before finally being able to relax her defenses. When she finally stopped, her legs almost folded under her.

The change in the mare hardened Luna's resolve further. Pulling her power in closer, she wrapped it around all three of them individually.

It was akin to running a twelve-hour marathon, then being dunked in a barrel of ice water. Every part of Sweetie screamed for a second before the chill of Luna's magic shored her back up. Taking stock of the situation, she felt renewed and empowered—but above all she felt invincible. "Thank you, princess."

"You're welcome but, please, just call me Luna." Feeling the chill of her own magic wrapping around her like armor, Luna looked up at the moon and was reminded of what Equestria meant to her. "That will protect you until daybreak. Get your report for my sister, have Moon Dancer bring you to my study, and ensure you get some sleep."

"Yes, Your—Luna." Sweetie managed to correct herself just before the usual honorific spilled out. Turning for the library, she started marching with Moon at her side. The sound of four, heavy hooves hitting the ground near Luna made her look back, but it was one of the bat ponies that followed Luna everywhere.

Filthy Dreams didn't normally hit the ground so hard, but with all that was going on he didn't really care for being elegant and nice. "Okay, so they're going to find out what this bugger can do, while you're going to talk to a bunch of big-wigs about how to deal with it and any friends it's got. Expecting any hostiles in this place?"

"No. Preparing in case there is? Yes. I have to take it as a possibility that if we have one shapechanging monster in our city, we could have more." Reaching the doorway where two huge ponies (one unicorn, one earth pony) in armor stood—both members of the Royal Guard—Luna paused. "You need me to—"

Flaring his horn, Bartlett used a spell he'd been forced to study earlier in the day—Species Identification was getting a lot of use. "Sorry, Your Highness, but we have to be sure. You're both free to enter." Dialing it in to alicorn had let Bartlett easily recognize that Luna was who she said she was, and Filthy could be accepted by association.

Inside the building, Luna and Filthy found nearly a dozen ponies all grumbling over a map. As one they froze when they realized Luna had walked into the room. "My sister has asked me to return to her by morning with a series of plans for the defense of Canterlot. There could be one changeling, there could be thousands—we need to account for every possibility."

Spring Dance's blood chilled at the word. The old ache in his damaged horn faded into the background as he looked at the princess and her guard with his stoic, single-eyed stare. "Changeling? It's been confirmed?"

Luna nodded. "One of our operatives tricked it into using its magic to lift an object—bright green, and its horn pulsed from base to tip. I don't think I need to explain that Cadance's aura is typically in shades of light blue."

It was information Stiff Peaks knew how to act on. "I'll have some ponies scour the library for all information we have on changel—"

"Sergeant Sweetie Drops and my own advisor, Moon Dancer, are already in your library doing that." It shouldn't have surprised Luna that dropping Sweetie's name encouraged so many sighs of relief, but she kept forgetting that the mare in question had caught the eye of Lyra Heartstrings. "We need to prepare for war, gentleponies."

By the time the first hour was up, Sweetie was more than thankful she had Moon with her. A unicorn to carry books to/from the shelves was one thing, but one that understood at an instinctual level both the filing system and how to work with research books was something else.

Also, as Sweetie had discovered, Moon was literally fueled by coffee.

"So, from what we've gathered, the mind-control aspect is only possessed by a queen changeling. This is less than ideal news, but at least we have something to show for our time." Moon Dancer tilted her head from one side to the other, earning a pair of clicks. "I've been awake too long."

"Any cramps or stiff muscles? Have you tried adding a teaspoon of salt to your coffee?" With her nose in yet another tome on extra-Equestrian threats, Sweetie rattled off the questions without a second thought.

"Salt?!"

"Helps keep your electrolytes up. Give it a try." Sweetie closed the volume when she found nothing new on their topic. "I think this is all we're going to get."

"One last book. This is just a field guide, but it was retrieved by an archaeologist and translated to Equish from old Sealantean." Setting another book down before Sweetie, Moon walked over and started pouring another cup from the coffee pot.

Looking at the salt shaker, Moon now realized that Sweetie might not have been lying to her about it. Carefully, she added a small amount to her mug and took a sip.

The coffee was just horrid enough already that the salty flavor was almost completely destroyed—almost. "This was a terrible idea," Moon said as she took another sip. "Why did I listen to you?"

"No clue. Lyra normally ignores anything I say unless it's in praise of her." The way Sweetie loaded up her sentence with sarcastic undertones, she was sure Moon wouldn't get the wrong impression. "Huh. Apparently a good disorienting spell will stun a changeling and usually cause them to return to their natural form."

"I'm sure that would be immediately more useful if I knew any spells like that." Moon wasn't above using sarcasm herself. Taking a deeper sip of her coffee, she floated the books Sweetie wasn't using back to their correct spots on the shelves. "So, we're done here?"

Flicking through her notes on the two different types of changelings, Sweetie nodded. "We are. Let's go and see if Princess Luna wants this before we take a copy to Princess Celestia."

Putting the final book away, Moon followed Sweetie out of the library and into the dark night. "Shouldn't we feel, you know, afraid? Night time—evil monsters stalking the city…"

"And here we are, wrapped in Princess Luna's power that's probably a better foil for anything they could throw at us than my armor?" Sweetie raised one eyebrow at Moon as they walked toward Stiff Peaks' actual office.

"Sergeant, I can't let you in there, sorry." Bartlett stood his ground. "Order of damn near everypony senior to both of us."

Fishing around in her saddlebag, Moon Dancer pulled out a token. "What about if I show you this?" Midnight black, it actually glittered and reflected the starlight somehow.

Straightening, Bartlett used the standard identification spell on the token, then repeated the spell he'd used to identify Luna earlier. "With that you can go in. The Sergeant is with you?"

"She is," Moon said.

Entering the building together, Sweetie stepped before Moon. Instinct drove her—she trusted the two Royal Guards behind her, but beyond the foyer of the office anything could be present.

Noticing the way Sweetie got before her, Moon was a little concerned. "What are you doing?"

"Force of habit. You're a civilian and I don't know what's ahead." Sweetie shrugged her armored shoulders. "By the sound of it, they're in the planning room."

The knock on the door surprised Luna and the rest of the room into silence. Without a word, Filthy walked over and worked his nerves up to the edge of twitching. Two creatures, his senses told him, quadrupeds and one of them was far heavier than the other. "It's the sergeant and your assistant."

"Open the door, but be ready in case they are not who they appear to be." Luna's words were firm, but she was exceptionally grateful that she had such a pony as Filthy Dreams on her side.

When the door opened and Sweetie was facing Filthy, she let out a sigh of relief. "I have the reports, Your Highness."

With Sweetie in sight, Luna could feel her magic still on the mare. "They're who they appear, Filthy. Let them in." When the two stepped into the room, she was glad to feel they both still carried her magic. "What did you manage to find?"

"We're dealing with two threats from the same source. Regular changelings can't"—Sweetie froze as she watched Moon's magic pick the reports from her hoof and then duplicate the pages as she passed them out to all present—"can't make use of mind-control, but that's where we started picking up information on the greater threat."

"A queen changeling?" Spring Dance looked at Sweetie Drops. "Bigger, more magic, a greater threat, but it says here they are often accompanied by swarms of the regular changelings. Where's the swarm?"

"Outside the barrier." The pieces all fell together for Luna. "Who erected the barrier? Who maintains it?"

Spring's blood ran to ice. "Shining Armor."

"And who is closest to Shining Armor?"

"Right now, this." Spring held up the sheaf of papers with Changeling Queen written large on the front. "Your Highness, could you make another stallion look like Shining Armor?"

The room went quiet and still. Luna had to fight against that oppressive shock and look into Spring's one eye. "I can, but it won't be you, commander. There are other ponies better for this job than the most experienced fighter of monsters in the country." Mental sighs rang out around her, or so Luna liked to think. "Sweetie, Moon, Filthy—please escort me."

"Your Highness—Luna—please advise us what you plan," Stiff asked.

"I will be extracting Shining Armor from that creature's clutches and replacing him with an operative. I will not be naming the replacement, suffice to say he is completely loyal to the crown."

Prince Blue Blood stared at Luna. "You want me to go back to that beast and—and pretend to be its captive?" Of course she did. He knew it was his duty to, but there was a little voice in the back of his head (the one he referred to as his common sense) that screamed at him that this was the worst idea ever. Huffing out a sigh, Blue nodded and shoved that voice back in the box he normally kept it in. "Of course you do. How are we going to do this?"

"Not why?" Moon looked from Blue to Sweetie to Luna.

"If I asked why, it wouldn't be very sporting of me. I know Auntie Luna wouldn't cast such magics and put me into danger for a lark. Obviously this is important enough for me to risk my life." Blue winked at Luna. "So, how?"

"You're already the right coat color. The changes to make you the spitting image of Shining Armor are small and within my power. Then we need to sneak you into Cadance's bedroom and the real Shining Armor out. Moon, you've had the best rapport with the creature—can you distract it?" Luna turned her attention on Moon Dancer.

Sweetie cleared her throat. "Not alone. It might have enough juice left to mind-control one more pony, but it wouldn't think about trying two. According to the notes, it should be tapped-out already. I'll be your guard, Moon."

"Good idea," Luna said. "While you two keep it distracted, we'll slip in and Blue will take Shining's place, and I'll teleport Shining out and break the grip on his mind. That will probably result in this changeling getting very upset."

"And she'll find me in the bedroom, looking confused and a little triumphant." Blue sighed. "And she'll slam me with all her magic again and I'll have to think I'm Shining so much I'll need to convince myself."

Moon looked up at Blue. "That's easy. Luna, your word is absolute, right?" She waited for Luna to nod. "So, make an official proclamation that until tomorrow night, Blue Blood is Shining Armor. That way it'll be true."

"That will work?" Sweetie asked.

Grinning, Blue nodded. "Absolutely! Unless she digs around for more certain answers, I can use that hook to make myself know I am Shining. Good thinking, Miss Moon."

The praise made Moon's heart speed up a little and her cheeks grow a little red. For some reason she couldn't get her mind off Stiff Peaks and the date she had agreed to. "W-Well, good luck with that. I guess we get this done as soon as possible?"

"The longer we leave Shining in her clutches," Sweetie said, "the greater her chance of draining his magic and destroying the barrier."

"Okay, Auntie, hit me with your magic and let's do this," Blue said.

Moon had never seen this particular spell wrought, mostly because of how obscenely complicated it was. She watched as Luna built a spell matrix that would have taken Moon a week to memorize—at the loss of all her other spells—and then Luna cast it.

Staring down the barrel of enough cobalt magic to flatten him completely, Blue closed his eyes and trusted Luna to know what she was doing. When he couldn't feel magic crackling over his body anymore, he opened his eyes—and saw blue bangs hanging down into his vision. "How do I look?"

Sweetie stared in real shock. "Just like him. I mean, exactly like him."

"Good. Of everypony here, you know Shining Armor the best." Luna gave a nod. "Now, do you all know what you're going to do?"

Moon couldn't believe what she'd seen. The spell was a work of art and the result only a mere conclusion to its performance. Luna's question, however, broke her from her attempts to process what she'd seen. "Advise the creature that I can't contact Twilight's friends and that I'll have to get special permission to even get near them with all the new security."

"I'm part of that security. Whenever you start talking, I'll argue. Yell as much as you want." Sweetie held up her hoof to Moon, who looked at it with a little confusion before she realized she was meant to clop it with her own. "You'll want it sympathizing with you, which means you get to be its stand-in to yell at me while I try to be as infuriating as possible."

Blue tossed his head so that his new mane fell across one eye—until he blew upward to scatter it. "Why can't I play that role? You'd make a better Shining, anyway."

"Hrmm, but I lack certain equipment." Turning to Luna, Sweetie asked, "This spell can't make a mare into a stallion, can it?"

"Of the two of us, my sister's magic is far more potent. She burns with the potential of the sun. Mine is more subtle, and suited to this kind of spell. But between us, we couldn't do that." Luna used her magic to open the door of her office. "Just remember, Nephew, you don't actually have to marry her."

Stepping into the hallway, Blue Blood looked left and right at the two bat ponies. "Hey, uh, can you show me the way to the big pink monster?"

Filthy was a little startled by the change in Blue, but a glance back into the room showed him Luna walking out behind the stallion. "The big pink monster is right this way, Commander Shining Armor."

Following along toward the building Cadance and Shining had been living in for quite a few years, Sweetie steeled herself for her part in the upcoming situation, that's when she got an idea. "Moon, drink about half of this."

Walking beside Sweetie, Moon watched her reach back and produce a bottle of a yellowish substance. "What is it?"

"There's a few names for it, but if we're going to be on the ball here, we may need it." When Moon didn't look any further encouraged, Sweetie sighed. "Caffeine, sugar, salt. It's mostly just something to wake and fuel you up. It will make you not just awake, but hyper-awake."

"Huh. Sounds like breakfast." Taking the bottle, Moon opened it and sniffed. "Smells really sweet and—"

"We're almost there. Can you please just drink it?"

Sticking her tongue out at Sweetie, Moon tipped the bottle up and drank half of it down in one long swig. The effects were swift. The dulling of her mind that she'd been feeling was gone and Moon felt like she could gallop a marathon—not that she'd ever galloped (or even walked) one before, but she was sure she could now. "Wow!"

"Okay, let me drink the rest. My in-laws might be bat ponies, but that doesn't mean I can stay up all night." Sweetie caught the bottle Moon passed her and swigged it down. Like every time she'd used it before, the syrup-sweet concoction made her feel more solid and focused, though she knew its boost was limited. "If we want to survive past about two hours, we'll need to eat something."

"What? But I feel great!"

"Yeah, you see, there's enough caffeine in this for about four to six hours, but if you do anything beyond a light walk, you run out of energy in two. Pack more energy and you'll stay awake longer just because you're doing something." Screwing the lid back on the bottle, Sweetie stowed it in her pack. "I think it'd be best if you yelling at me was what wakes the monster up."

Moon shook her head. "I think it'd be best if your knocking on the door was what woke her up. That way she's immediately on my side if I defend her against you."

Tilting her head to the side a little, Sweetie nodded. "Yeah. Good plan. Okay." Nearing the door, Sweetie advanced right up to it and lifted her armored hoof.

What worried Moon the most, when Sweetie started hammering her hoof on the door, was her companion actually bringing the door down.

"Open up in the name of the E.U.P. Guard!"

Chrysalis had only barely gotten to sleep when the hammering on the building started. At first, she hoped to just ignore it, but when the third set of "knocking" came, it brought down some plaster from the ceiling. "I am going to grab whomever that is and glue them upside down to the ceiling. Stay here, slave."

Standing beside the bed, his legs locked, Shining couldn't get much further than the command she'd given him. He was almost completely done-in. His mind was a wreck and his body hadn't gotten true rest in days.

As soon as the monster left the bedroom, Luna struck. She eased open the doorway to the balcony and gave Blue a pat on the shoulders.

Blue still kept his mind focused on being Shining Armor. Using his magic, and working with Luna, he stripped the armor and uniform from Shining as the argument started downstairs.

"I'll give you ten seconds to tell me wh—" Chrysalis froze, staring at the two mares. One, wearing more armor than she'd ever seen a pony wear before, looked impassive and stoic. The other, Chrysalis' personal stooge, looked apoplectic.

"You can't just bang on the door of a quee—princess in the small hours before her wedding day! This is ridiculous behavior and I will personally see you drummed out of the Guard!" Moon was just working up to full steam.

Turning slightly, Chrysalis barely realized she was moving to stand beside Moon—taking up a supportive stance.

When Moon felt the monster touch her side, she almost jumped. "Oh! Your Imperial Majesty! I was just trying to stop this—"

"I'm just doing my duty, ma'am." Sweetie wasn't going to give either of them more prestige than that. "I was told to be down here at three A.M. and to wake you."

"No you weren't! You were instructed to be here at nine A.M.! Why would the que—princess want a wake-up call at this hour?!" With a serious hit of caffeine in her blood, Moon Dancer was in her element. She stood tall and glared down on (well, even she had to admit that Sweetie Drops was taller than her, but she was sure it was the armor doing that) Sweetie Drops, and kept up a flow of berating that grew more thorns the longer she went.

Having stripped the real Shining of his equipment, Luna and Blue worked fast to fit it onto Blue himself. Each piece needed to be quietly assembled before Blue was completely dressed the same. Turning to Luna, he hoped against hope that he'd see her again before the next evening. Instead of speaking, he bowed his head, and was shocked to see Luna do the same to him.

"Be ready," Luna said as softly as she could, which given her penchant for the Royal Canterlot Voice, was surprisingly quiet. Backing up to the balcony, she stood on the edge and then sent a wave of magic in and at Shining Armor.

Terror, strain, and panic ripped free of Shining's trapped mind as Luna swept away the mind-control. He looked around with a panic—saw a doppelganger of himself, and tried to shout. The only thing that stopped him was a cobalt glow of magic pinning his snout closed; a glow that wrapped around more of him and lifted him out the window.

"Ugh, what's going on?" Blue Blood asked, winking at the departing Shining Armor. "What's—?"

Chrysalis, having felt her mind-control spell shatter, turned from the ongoing argument and would have flown up the stairs if she thought she could manage it faster than galloping. "My love!" Her headache (from having her magic forcefully shattered) made building a repeat of the mind-control entrapment hard—after several tries to work it with precision and subtlety, she just shoved it into the stallion's head.

Mentally relaxing, Blue tried to move with the blow, but even doing that meant he felt darkness wrapping around him as well as the magic itself. Not fighting the knockout blow, he smiled a little as he crumpled to the floor.

"Your Majesty! I'll make sure this idiot is scrubbing the castle bathrooms for the rest of her life!" Backing away from the door, Moon used her magic to pull it closed. She tried to march Sweetie authoritatively toward the castle, but it wasn't easy to guide that much mare given her own size.

The moment they were inside the halls of the castle, Sweetie let out squeal she'd been desperately holding onto. "We did it. You did it!"

"Me? I just kept shouting, calling her whatever title or honorific I thought she'd like, and doing it all with the power of—What was that stuff you made me drink?" Moon was actually pronking on all four legs, her energy just buzzing around her body.

"Uh, it's got a lot of names. It's usually used by Guardponies whenever they need just a few more hours of peak energy. Remind me at some point to only recommend half-bottles for civilians." Sweetie guided Moon along the hall for a bit, before stopping. "I can't remember the way to Luna's—"

"I know the way!" Moon Dancer said, then disappeared with a pomf of magical teleportation, only to reappear a moment later. "That was the kitchen. This way!" Another pomf, and another return. "Princess Luna said to come back and lead you there without teleporting."

Sweetie reached out a hoof and poked Moon on the horn just before she cast what was obviously another teleport—it was the gentlest way to dissuade a spell. "How about we just walk?"

"Walk! Yes!" Moon's head was fizzing. She couldn't remember when she'd memorized a teleport spell, or how she'd worked out the coordinates. "Have you got another bottle of that—that good stuff?"

"Yeaaaaaah, no. We're going back to the princess' office and we're going to sleep there. You know why?" Sweetie walked beside Moon while she still pronked along. When Moon shook her head, Sweetie continued. "It's because we haven't eaten anything, and that means you, at least, are just about ready to—"

Chuckling, Sweetie lifted Moon onto her back. "And now, carrying you should give me just enough extra work that I'll be dead on my hooves when we reach the right room."

Author's Note

Cadence: congratulations on your wedding! It seems all the preparations are being taken care of, enjoying the opportunity to take a break before the big day?

A sob in the dark is the initial reply, soon followed by, "Please help me! I can't get out of this prison from the inside. It's like all the crystals focus magic back on this chamber."

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Lab

Chapter 15

It was evening on the day after the royal wedding that Sweetie, Lyra, Blue, Moon, Luna, and Celestia met up again. Lyra and Sweetie both looked like they'd had a rough day with their coats unbrushed and their manes messy, but both had smiles on their faces—happy, tired smiles. Blue Blood looked like he'd lost about a third of his body weight, though he was smiling too. Moon looked pristine and was wearing a pretty dress rather than her usual sweater. Celestia and Luna both looked as impeccably turned-out as usual.

"That could have gone far worse," Celstia said. "Equestria was hanging by a thread from being overtaken by the changelings. While normally I would induct somepony into this little grouping before putting the fate of Equestria on their shoulders, Moon Dancer, you were exceptional."

"Yeah you were!" Lyra stomped her hooves a few times in applause. "It was hard enough just holding onto one thought at a time, but you managed to work with what I could give you and got everypony warned."

Moon, wanting to take the spotlight off herself, gestured to Blue Blood. "What about him? He literally acted as a decoy!"

"That's my job. Admittedly, Chrysalis was a little more pushy than Canterlot's nobles are, but making a spectacle of myself is what I do best." Shrugging his shoulders, Blue deployed his best smile, which would have normally made any straight mare swoon, but even he couldn't fight the fact that he was in a room with exceptional mares.

"It still barely feels real." Moon tried to hold back from using her sarcastic tone—only because it really wasn't the place for it. "Are you sure they're all gone?"

Sweetie nodded. "Every last one of them was blasted out of Canterlot and, as far as we can tell, Equestria too. It's going to take them time to reestablish any information networks they may have had, and in that time we—the Guard—will be building counter-intelligence networks against them."

Celestia raised an eyebrow, and when that didn't get her more than a smug grin, she asked, "And you organized that in a day?"

"I pulled some things together. Somepony else will be running it." Sweetie just shrugged her shoulders.

"This, sister," Luna said, "is what comes of making her a captain for just a day. Perhaps you should make that perm—"

Stomping her hoof, Sweetie glared at Luna. "No. No, no, no. If you promote me above sergeant, I won't be able to keep up training ponies. I'll quit if you do."

"What my wife is trying to say is, thank you for the compliment, but unless you plan to make our school its own distinct arm of the Guard, we're quite happy as sergeants." Lyra leaned against Sweetie, unable to care if she looked completely wasted and in need of support.

"That fits quite nicely. Very well, one of you—I don't particularly care which—can be commander of the Junior Training Regiment." Celestia loved the shocked look on both mares' faces. "Moon Dancer, you were an astounding academic while part of my school, and I hear you have been assisting my sister with her own studies of modern times. I think it's about time that was recognized, too. Since I can't confer a military rank upon you, I think baroness will suit quite nicely, and it will give Blue something to do with his spare time—since you obviously have the ear of two princesses.

"And that brings me to you, nephew. Your rank is already prince, there's not much I can do with that. What if I gave you a year to yourself to court and secure the hoof of a mare?" Celestia did her best to ignore Moon's stunned look.

"Hold up." Moon Dancer stomped her way to stand between Blue Blood and Celestia. "You can't just make me a baron."

"Baroness," Luna said, her tone not at all on the verge of giggling.

Looking past Celestia at Luna, Moon snorted like her ancestors at the idea that this could be funny. "Baroness, whatever. The point is, you need a ceremony for all that, and—and I need to agree to it."

"I tried that. When Auntie came up with the notion that I was the long-lost scion of the Platinum line, she didn't ask my permission." Walking up beside Moon, Blue put his hoof on her shoulder. "Really, it's alright. You'll get used to it."

Moon looked at Lyra and Sweetie, as if they could challenge this—both of them took a slight step back. "I don't want to get used to it."

Stepping forward, Luna walked up to stand before her mentor. "Please, Moon, this is one of the few ways we get to show our thanks. Besides, a baroness, as you know, doesn't hold any land or have any court duties. All it does is give you peerage."

"I'm going to—to make mediocre coffee. Every night." Moon Dancer leveled her gaze at Luna. "Until I can't bear to drink the stuff."

"That is an idle threat and you know it." Luna reached out a wing to rest it on Moon's shoulder. "You did amazing work. Be proud of that."

Moon was about to try another tack when a little chime sounded. "I have to go."

Luna, Lyra, and Sweetie all smirked and giggled while Celestia looked around confused. "What's the matter?"

"She has a date, sister. Go on, Moon." Luna removed her wing from Moon's shoulder and gestured to the door. "Use my token if any of the Guard tries to make you late."

"Give Stiff Peaks our best!" Lyra called after a cantering Moon.

"While it's a relief to see her spending a little more time outside of study, I wish it wouldn't take an invasion to do it." Celestia walked over to the doors herself. "Lulu, I believe it is your time to shine. If anypony needs me, tell them they don't need me."

"She was talking to you, earlier," Lyra said.

"Definitely you she wanted to promote." Sweetie leaned down and to the side to scoop Lyra onto her back. "Look, you're already working hard and have tired yourself out."

Watching the last of his company leaving, Blue sighed and started toward the door that led down to the castle's kitchen. The big halls seemed a little more chilly than normal, though he knew the reason for that at least.

Blue nodded to the Royal Guards he passed on the way to the kitchen, they knew his secret and he trusted them all to keep it. Opening the door to the kitchen, however, Blue had to switch into a completely different person. "I'm simply wasting away over here. Why hasn't anybody even asked me what I want?"

Cursing under her breath that Head Chef Gretchen had already finished up—and more that she was in charge—Bread Bowl walked over to Blue Blood. "Yes, Your Highness, what can I do for you?"

A little caught off-guard, Blue looked at the pretty mare who lifted her head from a respectful bow to look into his eyes. She had a pretty, tied-back mane of lavender hair, and a coat of light pink. She looked at him like he was the biggest horseapple in Equestria and she had just stepped in it.

Celestia's words came back to Blue, and part of him skipped a beat. Taking a very careful breath, he cleared his throat and asked quietly, "Is there perhaps something I could eat? After the attack, my doctor has advised me to eat as much protein-rich meals as I can."

The change in tone surprised Bread. She tilted her head a little—recent events leaving her a little worried about ponies acting strange. And, from what Bread knew, Blue Blood was nothing but a empty-headed narcissist. "If it pleases sir, I have a fish soup, toast, and a vegetable stew to follow that up."

Nerves! Blue hadn't had them when he foppishly cast off Rarity, and he hadn't had them when facing down tribes of potentially vicious (but actually perfectly nice) bat ponies in Batstralia—but now, facing a pretty mare with the ability to for him to pay interest into her, he was terrified. "That sounds delicious. I don't suppose there's a table in here I could borrow to sup at?"

"Over here. It's where we normally eat when we have the time to. Can I get you anything to drink?" No sooner had she finished speaking than Bread realized she'd dropped honorifics. Nerves and a little panic grew. "B-Begging your pardon, Your Highness, I didn't mean to speak out of—"

"Quite alright. In fact, I'd prefer things a little informal." Finding the table Bread pointed to, Blue walked over. "A nice dry cider would be fine, and one more thing…"

"Y-Yes?"

"What's the name this beautiful creature before me goes by?" His heart thudding, Blue had never said words like that and meant them before. Flirting, and not deceiving, was very new to him.

The alarm bells that rang in Bread's mind were different from the maybe he's an invading monster ones. These were a handsome stallion is flirting with me alarms. "I am head-chef of the night brigade, Bread Bowl."

"Hrmm. Well, chef Bread Bowl, is there a special somepony in your life?" Blue asked, trying for hungry but not afraid to go all the way to smoldering with his look.

There were a few dark lines under Blue's eyes, and he looked like he was missing some body mass, but Bread wasn't so cultured as she couldn't recognize an interested stallion when she saw one. "I must be going cr— I mean, no, I'm not seeing anypony. Not that I have much of a chance since I work nights."

Despite the flour dusting her breast and down her forelegs, even ignoring the way Bread looked a little confused whenever he spoke, Blue was still like a young colt trying to string words together. He didn't want to use the million-and-one lines he'd given mares in the past—he wanted to just say something that was his own. "Would you like to go somewhere nice for breakfast—my breakfast, your dinner?"

Bread's thoughts were in a spin. She knew Blue's reputation as a foppish moron, but this stallion before her was nothing like the stallion she'd heard about. He wasn't even anything like she knew. He was completely different. "I'll say yes if you answer me one question."

Intrigue was always something that piqued Blue's curiosity. "Ask, and if it's within my power to answer, I will."

"Is the narcissistic aristocrat an act, or is this the false Blue Blood?"

"If you promise to not breathe a word of my answer to anypony else?" Blue waited for Bread to nod before continuing. "This is the real me."

That was worse than not getting an answer, so far as Bread was concerned. She had a dozen more questions now, and she was sure if he answered any one of them she'd have a dozen more. It was a baker's hydra. "Then find me at six in the morning. I'll be here finishing my shift and making my report to Executive Chef Gretchen."

"Then I'll definitely see you then." He hoped he'd impressed upon her how secret his dual nature was. The staff of the kitchen were usually quite loyal, but while she was a head chef, she wasn't Gretchen—who he knew far better. He waited for her to walk away and fetch the food he'd asked for, and the moment it hit the table his body screamed at him to eat.

It was a struggle not to just grab the sides of the bowl and drink the soup down in a rush, but Blue kept on top of his hunger to at least show the food the respect it deserved.

Bread had seen enough people eating to notice that Blue was eating neatly—but fast. The soup was her own work, prepared to be inoffensive to both unicorn or earth pony palates, but a fine source of vitamins and minerals—as well as protein.

No sooner was Blue done with the soup than the bowl was replaced with a bowl of thick vegetable stew and a few slices of buttered toast. The food seemed to fly into his mouth and, in no time, he'd finished it off and finally felt his stomach start to feel not-empty.

Recognizing the look on Blue's face, Bread fetched a second bowl of stew and brought it over. "You still looked hungry." She slid it down before him while taking away the empty one.

Blue was about to voice what his normal reply would be to such an insistence, but instead he levitated a fresh spoonful of stew into his mouth and muttered, "Thank you," around it.

Of course Bread enjoyed seeing ponies eating her cooking—that was one of the biggest reasons she became a chef. She just hadn't been prepared enough for seeing a stallion she maybe-kinda liked eating her food as if it was the last he would ever taste. She was so taken by him eating that she made her way up to a spare spot on the line, grabbed some bananas and sugar, and started work on making him a dessert.

When he was done, Blue set his spoon to rights in the bowl and realized he still had his glass of wine. Lifting it up, he took a far greater sip from it than he'd ever do in public, and let out a little belch. It broke so many rules of etiquette that Blue was mortified.

"The look on your face. Let me get rid of that and bring you your just desserts."

Regaining his composure wasn't easy, but Blue was used to hard fights. "That year sneaks up on you. So delicate to begin with, but diving your palate quickly into a deep ocean of fruity fl—Why are you laughing?"

"That wine was brewed by my great, great, great grandfather. He made exactly twelve-hundred and three bottles of it, as he did every year. The vintners of my family kept exacting records." Sliding a bowl of ice cream covered in caramelized banana with a dusting of icing sugar in front of him, Bread slid a spoon over. "This wasn't a wine made for delicate palettes or snobby tasting. This was a wine he made, from the grapes his wife grew, for his family and the local town."

Blue had trouble looking away from what should have been terribly common fare, but he managed it to look up at Bread. "It's sometimes hard to remember that even the most beautiful of things can have humble beginnings."

Blushing, Bread tried to fight down the little filly inside her that fawned over having a prince pay her compliments. It didn't go well. "I—Err—Maybe we could visit the vineyard my brother still runs?"

"A second date planned before we have our first?" Blue's heart was thudding like wild and butterfly swarms flew around his stomach—or so it seemed to him. Imagined insect infestation and heart arrhythmia aside, he felt lost in the conversation where actual love was involved.

"Right. Slow it down. Of course I'd be the one to move too fast. So, dinner first." Bread turned on her heels and marched away, trying to get her blush under control with very limited success—she had contained it to just her face.

Blue only barely extracted himself from the kitchen without blurting out a marriage proposal by the skin of his teeth. He was about to make his way out of the castle when a yawn caught him by surprise. He knew what he wanted, but he also needed help.

It might be interrupting, but Blue was desperate and there was one pony who knew exactly what to do—or so he hoped. He marched through the castle and out the door into the evening, and made his way to the apartment nearby. Raising his hoof, Blue knocked softly on the door.

Cadance stirred in the bed. Shining was aware of that because he was, at that moment, hugging his wife very tightly. Her movement, in fact, woke him up. "Cady?"

"Somepony needs my help, Shiny."

Shining tried to distract Cadance from getting out of bed. "They can find somepony else to—"

"No they can't. This is a love thing." Cadance turned and kissed Shining before sliding out of their bed. The cool night air of Canterlot was being well excluded by both magic and the still-smoldering fireplace in the room, but still Cadance plucked up a pink, fluffy bathrobe and flung it over her as she walked down the steps to the front room. By the time she got the door open, she could see Blue Blood walking away—his head slung low. "Come inside."

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Shining watched as Blue walked into the house. Any and all attempts at being upset were thrown out the window as he saw how thin Blue looked—because it had all been done to protect Shining. He kept quiet and walked through the room and into the kitchen.

Blue spilled the beans. He told Cadance—in a shaking voice—what Celestia had said to him, and the subsequent meeting in the kitchen. He laid out all his cards and slumped back into his seat just in time for Shining to float a cup of tea over to him. "Th-Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Want me to make myself scarce?" Shining looked from Blue to Cadance.

"It's up to you, Shiny, but you must remember that you did something right to marry the princess of love." Reminding herself and her husband about their marriage had become Cadance's new favorite thing. Well, her second-favorite. Kissing Shining was still something that made her hooves tingle.

"Am I rushing? Am I crazy? I kept feeling like I was going to explode, implode, or just say something that offended her." It wasn't that he knew he sounded silly, it was that Blue knew that and still had to say it. "What do I do?"

"How big a gesture do you want to make?" Shining asked, sitting on the couch beside Cadance—facing Blue.

"Huge! But not too big. I want it to be lavish. But not overwhelming."

"She's a chef, which means any meal you take her out for will be examined and disassembled then examined in minutiae by a refined palate—so going anywhere high-end is out of the question," Cadance said.

About to freak out just a little more, Blue froze at the sudden grin on Cadance's face. "What? Anything! Just tell me what to do!"

"I have the perfect plan," Cadance said.

Bread Bowl's shift had been long—at least it felt so. A lot of ponies who were very active during the previous night's party had likewise been up later for a second night, and thus the kitchen had found itself busy. But the work had been satisfying for Bread—feeding ponies was her special talent, after all.

She'd mixed up the dough for the morning bread, proofed it, and had set out all the kitchen's bread pans with the dough in them to rise one last time for the morning shift to take over and bake the whole batch.

"Don't you think that's a bit much, Bread?" Gretchen was still stretching as she walked into the kitchen. Rolling one shoulder, then the other, then each of her wings. Behind her, her brigade were filing into the kitchen.

Laughing, Bread shook her head. "How about a bet? If you use more loaves than normal, I get three days off."

"And if we wind up wasting all the extras?" Pulling an apron on, Gretchen checked on a few of the proving loaves and almost cursed at how good they looked.

"Then I'll make bread and butter pudding with any leftovers for you and your crew."

Eyeing the nearly fifty-percent higher yield, Gretchen liked the odds. "Okay. Now will you tell me?"

"There are a lot of ponies who only stopped partying about three hours ago. They are crashed all over the castle grounds and will probably need food in about four hours. There's porridge heating up and the bread should be cooked by then." Hanging up her apron, Bread smirked as she looked back at Gretchen. "See you tonight."

Walking out of the kitchen, Bread Bowl felt safe in her bet. She was surprised, however, when a member of the Royal Guard stood in her way. "Excuse me, I just need to get—"

"Chef Bread Bowl, I am to escort you to the Gallop." It wasn't often that Sure Fire got to really have some fun, but when two royals and the head of the Royal Guard gave you a mission, you got it done. "Please, follow me."

Curiosity banished the tiredness Bread felt. She started trotting after Sure as he swiftly led the way down the halls of the castle and then out into the morning light. "Wait," she said, her brain catching up with what was said. "Gallop? Isn't that—?"

"A restaurant above our pay, yeah. For that matter, I don't know of many ponies who could get a reservation there with less than a week's lead time—or so I've heard." Sure kept his pace mostly to a prancing trot so that Bread could keep up. "I didn't know they were open this early, either."

Bread clamped her mouth shut. There were plenty more questions she had, but she doubted Sure could answer them. The restaurant turned out to be tiny. There was a dozen tables inside, and the only pony present was the maitre d'.

"Please follow me, madam, you are expected at the chef's table." His mane combed back and expertly styled, Manières Parfaites directed their special guest through to the kitchen. It wasn't often the restaurant catered to a single guest—and it had never done so in this manner before—but extenuating circumstances were at play. "Please, take a seat here and your chef will explain the meal."

"Are you sure I—?" Blue was nervous. He'd spent two hours practicing and had to perform perfectly now. Just one look into Cadance's eyes, however, made him shut up and move. Slim as he was at the moment, he easily navigated the kitchen and stopped at the table. "I-I hope miss has had a good day?"

Bread's head shot up—past the chef's uniform—and she stared into Blue's eyes. "Wha—I mean. Uh. Yes. Things went well."

"Perfect." Clearing his throat softly, Blue started to read off the meal he'd practiced under the watchful eyes of some of the best chefs in the city. "Your starter tonight is a pair of delicate crepes, each with a mushroom and spinach filling. Your main will be pumpkin risotto. And, for dessert, vanilla bean ice cream with delicate banana caramel topping."

The two fancy dishes made Bread's mouth water, but the dessert was something that really made her smile. It sounded fancy, but she recognized it as what she'd made for him at the start of her shift. Her brain finally clicked as she realized he was standing there waiting. "Oh! Uh, that sounds wonderful. Thank you."

Watching as Blue turned and walked over to the chef's line, Bread noticed there was two mares there in chef uniforms. At first, she expected them to take charge, but instead they ran around helping Blue to prepare her meal. That's when it hit her that he'd brought her to the fanciest, most exclusive restaurant in town—just to cook for her.

Not sure what he'd expected from the pair, Blue was stunned to see Lyra and Sweetie working together to prep ingredients for him. He hadn't expected the two Guardponies to know their way around a kitchen, but neither seemed out of place.

"Stop glancing at her. She knows you're working your butt off, Blue," Lyra said as she passed him a bowl of shredded spinach.

"R-Right. I'm just so nervous. I've never really cooked this way before." Not that he hadn't cooked, but there was a difference between cooking oatcakes in rough country and cooking in a professional kitchen. Using his magic, he set the crepe pan onto the stove and poured a thin layer of batter onto it.

"Just relax." Sweetie tossed some mushrooms into a pan and started sauteing them in butter. "Cooking comes from your heart, and from what Cadance said, you have plenty of that right now."

Since midnight, Blue had made dozens of crepes. Every single one had been judged and found wanting in some way—until around two hours previous when his work had been judged acceptable. Then he'd moved onto risotto. But right now he flipped the crepe in his pan to reveal the slightest of color on it. "Thank you both for the help."

"That's what we do, right?" Sweetie asked. "We help-out ponies in need, whether they're fillies and colts, strangers, or even princes and princesses?"

Sighing, Blue turned with the pan to put the first crepe on the plate and started on the second. With the pan ripping hot now, the second would go faster than the first. When he got that cooked and turned, he set both crepes beside each other and used his magic to move just the right amount of filling to each and rolled them up. The last was a white sauce over the top.

Cleaning around the plate with a cloth, Blue felt nervous as he carried the plate over to the chef's table. Bread was sitting there with a glass of white wine. She watched him approach and smiled up. "Your crepes, madam."

The food smelled and looked great. Bread bit her lower lip in surprise and tried to pull her eyes from Blue to the plate of food. "Thank you."

Spinning around before he blew it and made some huge emotional outburst, Blue marched back to the stove to find Lyra and Sweetie both grinning at him. "Okay, risotto next."

"You've got this. We have the stock and extras here, you just need to start the rice off and cook at as they showed you." It wasn't often that Lyra got woken up at midnight to an excited Cadance at her door. She'd listened to the plan over coffee, then drank another coffee while she thought about it. A third coffee was needed while she explained things to Sweetie.

"How many of these have you made so far?" Sweetie asked.

"I lost count. I think I have the hang of it, though." A fresh pan, ladle in some stock, add rice. Blue felt surprisingly comfortable with this bit. There was an easy rule to follow that they'd drummed into him—don't let it get dry, but don't add more until the previous ladle of liquid was gone.

Beside Blue, Sweetie sauteed the pumpkin for the risotto for him, keeping the timing just right for him to add it just as the rice was almost ready. "You want this now?"

"Please. This last ladle will do the rice. I just need something to stop it cooking…" Blue fished for the sour cream and used a scoop of it in the risotto to stall the rice and stop it overcooking.

Lyra smirked, noticing the way he spoke. "You're actually thinking about the why, not just following the instructions."

"We'll make a cook of him yet," Sweetie said, adding the pumpkin to the risotto.

"I think there's a mare over there that will call dibs on that, Bon Bon."

Every word from the two made Blue blush a little more, but he'd done it. He seasoned the risotto, tasting it to ensure it was just the right amount, then served it in a bowl and carried it over.

"That smells amazing." Watching Blue walk over and set the bowl down, Bread picked up her spoon and tried the rice. "Oh gosh, it tastes even better. When did you learn to cook this?"

"Uh—" Blue marveled at Bread's ability to leave him tongue-tied. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. "Would you believe it was two hours ago?"

Bread had to pause her eating a moment and look into Blue's eyes. His sincerity seemed evident, but she'd heard of him doing and saying many things, and if this stallion now was play-acting at all of them—he was the best liar she'd ever met. But, right now, she could see nothing insincere about him. "Well, you have a talent for cooking."

Blue actually found himself blushing as he turned and raced back to his cooking station. "Okay, bananas."

Lyra was already preparing the ice cream on two plates while Blue fumbled to find the bananas and get them cooking in his pan. She looked at him and grinned—he was so flustered that he failed to notice Sweetie was cooking the exact same dish beside him.

When Blue turned with his pan to pour the sauce and banana over the ice cream, he was surprised to see Sweetie doing the same to a second one. "Err—?"

"This is supposed to be a date, doofus. How is it a date if you never get a chance to talk to your beau?" Lyra sprinkled some chocolate dust over both dishes and looked significantly at Blue.

"Go on. Take them over and sit down with her. We'll clean up your mess here." Sweetie didn't have an ounce of disdain for him, only a smile she found hard to put away. Even with just five hours sleep, she couldn't deny that this had been worth it.

Manières approached Lyra and Sweetie, his face a careful study in smiling and yet not. "Madams are experienced?" He used his horn to help them cleaning, slipping up to the sink and scrubbing the dishes.

"I worked with my mom in a dorm for Princess Celestia's school. Also helped out more often than not in the Guard. Now, with us running Princess Luna's school, somepony needs to cook for all the hungry bellies." Attending to the rinsing station, Sweetie got stuck in while behind her Lyra was gathering the pots and pans.

"Did Princess Cadance get you into this too?" Manières asked.

"She officiated at our wedding, and I did at hers. We're more partners in not-quite-crime." Sweetie looked at him. "What about you?"

"She brings in half my customers. If she leaves Canterlot, just for a week, bookings go down." He looked at Sweetie. "It's true." Her face didn't change, but there wasn't much Manières could do about it. He shrugged.

"Have you ever had a night when you haven't had enough bookings?" Sweetie asked.

"Since my second month of being open, I have never had a week I didn't have enough bookings. You said you're in the Guard?"

"E.U.P. Guard. We run Princess Luna's school for physical training, as well as work as instructors with new recruits. I used to be in the Monster Hunters, but situations changed and spending more time around Canterlot became a better idea." Sweetie sighed just a little for the path lost to her, but new futures have a way of opening up.

Manières lifted his head and spotted Blue and Bread having finished their meals and just talking quietly over their empty plates. "Princess Cadance strikes again. Just you see, they'll be married within a year."

"That's the plan," Lyra said. "When do we have to be out of here by?"

"You could leave whenever you want. My chefs will be arriving soon enough to start mise en place. I could get a pot washer to finish this"—Manières grinned—"but I'll never turn down the chance to work with a pair of pretty mares."

Sweetie groaned and shrugged it off, but Lyra felt a shock of surprise at the compliment. It had been some time since the point in her life she'd become a pony and a mare—and decided that was perfectly okay. Having a male (her mind didn't append another to the statement) call her pretty was just out of the ordinary. "Well, perhaps we should go? We have to take Scootaloo back to Ponyville. School starts today."

"You have a little one?"

It was easy for Lyra to forget his apparently covert ogling when thinking back to Scootaloo. "Yeah. Amazing little filly she is, but she needs to be back at school by nine."

"Then go, both of you. The train leaves far too soon." Manières set about shooing the pair from his kitchen.

Snapped from their conversation, Blue turned to see Lyra and Sweetie laughing and running from the restaurant. "We should probably go too. I think he needs to start getting ready for the day."

"And, I need to sleep." Bread heaved a breath. She couldn't believe how hard she'd fallen for Blue in just one day. "When do you want to come and visit our winery?"

"Next week?" Blue wanted to say tomorrow, but even in his current state he wouldn't push things that fast. "Or would you like to discuss it over breakfast?"

Standing, Bread started toward the door. "Your breakfast or mine?"

"Well, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I spent all night learning how to cook you dinner. It can be both our breakfasts."

"You," Bread said on her way out of the restaurant, "are a very strange pony, Blue. I believe a week is a good time to wait to visit the winery, but I'd like to get to know you a little more before then—so breakfast it is."

"Lyra, do you think they have a chance?" In the early morning light, Sweetie galloped through Canterlot with her wife at her side. There wasn't much else that could be as perfect for her as that moment, but still she felt the need to talk.

"As good as anypony. Maybe better given Cadance's interest. She seemed pretty intent on getting them together." Without her armor on, Lyra both found running easier and odd. "We should have worn our armor."

"In a kitchen like that? We'd have been laughed out. Or something. I know what you mean, though, it's a big part of me—us." Turning in perfect time with Lyra, Sweetie spotted the gates of the Guard grounds and aimed herself at them.

"Bon Bon, when you wear that armor, I don't think anypony would dare laugh at you. I heard that you were accounting for yourself pretty good with Queen Chrysalis." Even at a gallop, Lyra matched herself to Sweetie so their shoulders and hips would lightly brush against the other's.

"The second time I was. The first time I made the mistake of thinking I could ground her magic and tackle her. I guess watching her take out Princess Celestia should have tipped me off that was a bad idea." She slowed her pace as they arrived at the gate, coming down to a trot, walk, and finally returning the salute the two gate guards gave her.

"I didn't even see it coming. Cadance seemed a little odd, and I was just about to say something silly when that damn green magic just pushed me aside and emptied my head." Lyra shivered a little at the memory. "Not something I'd recommend, you know. Hearing that Blue walked into that makes me respect him a lot more."

"Hold up." Sweetie paused and gestured out to the pegasus training fields.

Scootaloo was working through the hoof-to-hoof fighting routine. Kicks, swings, even a vault where she flashed out with the blades attached via a sheath to her forelegs. Every limb played a part, her wings as much a tool for movement as they were to putting an imagined opponent off-balance.

"We didn't push her, did we?" Lyra asked.

Sweetie reached her hoof out and poked at Lyra's shoulder. "You asked that before. My answer's the same—we didn't push her, but we did provide a positive example."

"So I'm a good parent?"

Grabbing Lyra around the neck, Sweetie pulled her wife into a hug that was just a tad on the tight side. "How often are we going to have these talks until you can just know that? You're a great mom for her."

Finishing her routine, Scootaloo came out of her zone and noticed Lyra and Sweetie for the first time. "Hey! They said you both had to leave on top secret business early. I figured I'd just get some practice in where I won't freak anypony out or anything."

"You know Rose Luck wasn't too upset. She was just concerned that you had weapons." Sweetie let go of Lyra and reached out to Scootaloo, who literally flew the remaining distance between them to get a hug. "Maybe we need to build a practice hall in Ponyville?"

"That could tie into our plans, you know? The Network will need places where old-timers and new can gather. Why not one to pass on information and training to a new generation?" Lyra was annoyed that she hadn't thought of it before.

"The Network? Is that the thing you're working on for Princess Celestia?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah. You want the quick ride home, or do you want to fly back yourself?" Lyra asked.

Adjusting her shoulders to give Sweetie a hug back, Scootaloo thought about it a moment. "Quick ride. I need to get ready for school."

Author's Note

Shining: any prisoners taken?

Shaking his head, Shining wore a cross between an annoyed from and a silly grin. "When Cady supercharged my shield spell, it was really effective at getting rid of all the changelings. I still don't know what it did to them exactly—some were locked in enclosed rooms, and yet they're now gone without a trace."

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Lab

Chapter 16

Trixie Lulamoon stepped into the shop. She knew such places existed, had found some friends in a few of them, but she'd heard this one had something dangerous. With no sight of the object that'd been described to her, she started digging around in the products.

Just as the merchant came out into his shopfront, Trixie spotted what she was after. It was a pendant, had a small front-on view of a pony with wings and a horn. Just looking at it, she could feel an ache in the back of her head.

The alicorn amulet wanted to be used.

"May I help you, traveler? Hrmm, something—"

Trixie was already getting a headache from the amulet, she didn't want the shopkeeper adding to that. Raising her hoof, she pointed. "That."

"Uh, ah—I'm afraid this is far too danger—"

Always hating this bit, Trixie pulled out a bag of bits she'd been given to aid in this particular task. When she thumped them on the counter, she thought back to how much it had cost her to get her caravan built anew. "That should cover it."

Looking at the pile of bits, the shopkeeper let out a surprised whinny. "Would you like that gift-wrapped?"

"Actually, yes. Do you have anything lead-lined?" With her mind associating the amulet as being her property, she now felt it trying to worm into her head again.

"Why couldn't he have had a lead-lined chest? Ugh, I'll be getting one for this wagon—and I'll make Lyra pay for it." Trixie continued grumbling as she pulled her wagon, her mind being constantly teased at by the curse of the amulet.

"I am not going to put you on, no matter what ideas you give me. I—don't—betray—friends."

The amulet had explored her head—because Trixie couldn't stop it looking into her—and had latched onto Lyra as the target of her anger. It had spent five days and five horrid nights trying to find all the little moments in their time together to make Lyra look like somepony who deserved punishment.

She was almost two days from Ponyville, and sleeping under the stars in the rain, when the amulet swapped targets. In Trixie's head a small crack opened up—that crack was the size, shape, and color of Twilight Sparkle.

By the morning of the day she would arrive in Ponyville, Trixie's seething need for revenge finally hit the point at which she could deny it no longer. "That's it! I'm not going to put up with Twilight Sparkle being in my town."

Even in the middle of the day and with her armor on, Lyra didn't like walking through the Everfree Forest. Her danger sense was going crazy as wild magic popped and fizzled all around her, somehow all in perfect balance so that she didn't just spontaneously turn into a manticore.

For a brief moment she pondered a good fire spell. "Forests love fire, right?" Instead, she just swept around with her telekinesis, using it in the same manner she used it for cutting vegetables. After all, the overhanging trees were like vegetables.

"Please cease your attack of these trees, the damage you do leaves me weak at the knees." Even as she spoke, Zecora walked to the fallen branches and gathered them up.

"My attack of—Oh, right. Sorry. Uh, I've come to pick up the amulet." When Zecora didn't immediately act, Lyra cleared her throat. "I said, I—"

"Despite having heard all that you said, why should I trust you in my stead?" With the last of the branches carefully balanced on her back, Zecora started walking to her hut. She knew that there was going to be a long conversation coming, and wanted to get comfortable.

Lyra groaned. "I get it. Sending Trixie to pick up the alicorn amulet was probably not the best idea. Our information didn't suggest that it could control a pony's mind like that. You have it in a warded box." She was careful not to make it a question. "If you give that to me, I'll take it to Princess Celestia to deal with, and I'll bring your box back."

Reaching her hut, and not saying a word further, Zecora opened the door and stepped inside.

For a moment Lyra thought she was going to have the door slammed in her face, but Zecora held it open deliberately. Once inside, her eyes drifted to the little box on a shelf. She could take it and teleport out, but that was neither the pony way nor her own way. "Do you have something to drink?"

Relaxing a little, now she realized Lyra wasn't quite as impulsive as initially assumed, Zecora picked up a machete and started hacking at a large, coconut-like fruit. "It is few the pony who asks me for a drink, my cauldron is poison or so they think."

When Zecora held out the coconut-thing, Lyra held it up to her lips and took a sip. The sweet liquid had an odd bite to it, but even though it made her tongue grow a little hot, it still quenched her thirst. She sat down on what she hoped was a seat and waited.

Silence, so far as Zecora was concerned, was comfortable. She knew that it wasn't so for most ponies, and knew that would be creating much awkwardness for Lyra. Time stretched on and Zecora started on some chores. She hung the tree branches up to dry, started her cooking stove burning, and committed to preparing them both dinner.

Lyra wasn't new to the silence game, but she had an ace up her armored sleeve. As the day wore on and the light outside started to fade, Lyra reviewed her spell patterns. She couldn't verify them for errors, but she could go over them and check the parts she knew were symmetric as well as other common signs her memory of them was fading.

What finally got to Zecora was that she realized she was being a poor host. "My name Zecora be, of what are you known to be?"

Suspecting that the fragile thread of conversation could be lost if she didn't give Zecora something interesting, Lyra banished her focus on spell-forms and looked up at Zecora. "That's probably a story that will last well into the night. You could have the short version if you wish it, but then we wouldn't have anything to talk about."

It was by far the most devastating weapon Lyra could have brought to bear against Zecora—a curiosity wrapped in a story. "I wish to know all you'll share, if you'll join me in simple fare?" She nodded to the pot where a serve of dried beans were already heating.

"My name, back then, was"—Lyra added a little dramatic pause, though truly she was trying to remember how to say her old name in English—"Mike Robertson. When the story begins is with my mum driving my sister and me to our new home."

As Zecora listened to the tale, she crushed up some chili with a granite plate and a flat rock. She preferred traditional food from her homeland, and went to great effort to cultivate what she could and buy what she couldn't in Ponyville. Adding tomato to the mix, she kept up her work until Lyra got to the part where she gained her cutie mark. "These marks of destiny are important I know, I take it yours showed you where to go?"

"Exactly!" Lyra was struggling not to ask about Zecora's cooking. "It ended up being my little sister who chose my name for me. The change from human to pony wasn't easy, nor was it fast, but the hardest part by far was magic."

Onion was next, and she added half of what she had to the stone and crushed it, before adding the rest to the simmering beans. The story seemed extraordinary, but then Zecora herself had lived such a life to end up in Equestria.

Lyra was struggling to keep her story's flow going, having to settle into a rhythm to keep it going and not grow too curious of what Zecora was cooking.

The plantain were cut, the ground vegetables were added to the beans, and Zecora listened to how Lyra learned the ways of ponykind. Magic, friendship, and even love had come her way. What Zecora was listening for was the changes in pitch Lyra used to tell the story.

It reminded Zecora of the way her own people shared stories, using song to reinforce the telling and keep the memories fresh. Frying the plantain slices, she finally made the connection of why Lyra's story worked so well like that. "Your special talent." At that moment, unlike her affected speech pattern, Zecora spoke without a rhyme.

"My name is Lyra Heartstrings, and it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zecora froze, shocked at herself for both her words and missing what she now realized was a vocal performance and not just a story. The sound of sizzling plantain broke her from her stunned state and reminded her she had things to do. Firstly, she felt a need to reply to Lyra's giving of her name. "Zecora is how I am known, and so far I am from home. But to hear a story so well sung, reminds me of when I was young."

Lyra sat still and waited for Zecora to finish cooking everything. The smell in the hut was making her mouth water, and when presented with a bowl half filled with the beans and topped with fried plantain, she almost fell over at how good it was up close. "This smells amazing. What is it?"

"The name of this meal, in toto, is translated roughly to Beans and Dodo." Zecora sat down beside Lyra and started eating. The heat was just how she liked it, and everything was silky and soft.

At her first mouthful, Lyra realized this might be a little hot for her normal tastes. The chili in the beans was slow to come on, but if she didn't cram another mouthful in quickly, she knew it would overwhelm her. "It's spicy!" The fire was doing amazing things to her sinuses, but Lyra plowed on.

By the time they both finished the food, Zecora had made up her mind. "It is not many unicorn I would trust, with so much power over which to lust." Standing up from the remains of her meal, Zecora walked over to where the box sat. "Do not tarry too long under its effects, or it will be your own mind that will feel its affects."

"Wait, so the box doesn't ward it?" Lyra was scooping up the last fiery spoonful of beans onto her spoon.

"It stops a unicorn falling under its… sway, but get too close and you will become its prey." Setting the box down before Lyra, Zecora studied the mare more than the wards on the box. "But in you I feel a resistance to the fate, that this amulet would have you attempt to create."

"Yeah, I've been told it's a pain to get into my head, not that Chrysalis had a problem."

Zecora's sharp eyes didn't miss the way Lyra's expression changed to one of fondness when she spoke on the subject. "And yet, I see a smile at that thought, perhaps another story could be taught?"

"You know, you could come and have dinner with us one night. We could even swap some recipes." Reaching her hoof for the box, Lyra felt as something within probed at her head. "I can feel it. You know what always helps me keep things out of my head? Comedy."

"It's important to be on your way post-haste, and a meal cooked thus I'd love to taste." Zecora held the door open for Lyra, expecting her to run out as quick as she could. Instead, her house guest simply disappeared with a POMF sound. Relieved of her guest, Zecora relaxed a little more. "Well, I'm glad I got rid of that."

With her armor on, Lyra could have used gravity to build momentum and hurl herself up to Canterlot. Though, with night having begun, she didn't want to risk becoming the latest unicorn to fail at flying.

So, rather than big arcs with long sections of ballistic flight, Lyra burned her magic to teleport again and again, each going to her far limit, until she was up and above Canterlot—a city full of unicorns that the item she carried would love to take over. Timing an arc just right, she landed on the ramp leading up to the castle with a minimum of momentum.

Squinting through the darkness, Lyra spotted a unicorn and an earth pony on guard. "I'm Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings of the E.U.P. Guard. I request that only earth ponies and pegasi come within ten lengths of me."

"We'd be crazy if we didn't know who you are, sergeant. I'll step back and allow Corporal Wild Dash here to escort you." Citron stepped back and gave a full ten ponylengths of room to them. "Princess Luna's court ends in a half hour."

Lyra felt some relief at seeing they did what she asked. "Okay, first thing I'm doing is giving this thing to you, corporal. I want you grounded every step you take, and let me know if you feel anything poking at your mind."

The stallion seemed familiar to Lyra. She could recognize that he was only new to bleaching his coat, though his shock of mane was already a solid blue.

"I understand, sergeant." Steeling himself against whatever Lyra was about to do, Wild grounded himself out through all four hooves. The moment she set a small wooden box on his back, he felt power start to flow through his grounding. "It's active, but not in my mind."

"Thought as much. We'll need Princess Celestia woken up if she's not already." At the startled look on Wild's face as she said it, Lyra rolled her eyes. "It's important. Trust me, she won't be upset. Has she been in bed long?"

"I've been on the gate for four hours." Each pace Wild took, he stopped grounding through that one hoof, took his step, then started again. It was slow going, and took some mental practice, but he liked to think he'd had the best trainer when it came to grounding magic. "She had that show in Ponyville earlier."

Lyra cursed. It wasn't an Australian curse, like she would have used ten years previous, but it did contain some rather vehement and varied uses of the word apple and pony, none of which had specifically to do with the Apple family. "Great, and I missed my date with Bonny. But you know what I've learned not to do, corporal?"

"What's that?"

"Dare to utter the words—what could possibly make this worse?" As soon as Lyra said it, she realized what she'd done and took a few sideways steps to put a little more distance between her and Wild. "Wait! Now I remember! Sweetie was training you!"

"Got it in one, sergeant. Uh, I'll wait here, you go in and notify the foyer guards what's going on and get them to sort things out." Wild halted off to the side of the main entry to the castle, ensuring there was plenty of room around him.

Soon enough Lyra had the throne room filled with pegasi and earth pony guards, herself, Wild, and two princesses plus one Baroness Moon Dancer. Celestia didn't look particularly happy, but she didn't seem upset, either. Luna showed more curiosity than any other emotion.

"This is the amulet that we'd been hunting for. It's the Alicorn Amulet, and it's currently sitting on the back of a stallion grounding out its magic very effectively." Lyra had positioned herself at a good distance from Wild. "Zecora, the zebra who helped Twilight free Trixie Lulamoon, put it in this warded box and told me it only seems to affect unicorns."

"And alicorns, we have to assume," Luna said, not wanting to get near the thing. "The texts I'd read on it said nothing of its mind-influencing magics."

Lyra let out a sigh. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have sent a unicorn to fetch it. Though, the merchant may not have sold it to a non-unicorn."

Celestia raised her eyebrow at Lyra. "You suspect they may be antagonistic?"

Almost saying princess, Lyra managed to halt herself at the last moment. "Celestia, I don't want to take that chance. I have another agent paying them a visit to gauge their attitude and also to root out anything else that might be unfortunate to have get sold."

"Your group is already working, then?" Moon Dancer, who had been standing beside Luna and keeping her snout closed, finally decided to ask questions, though, even she had to admit this was a little obvious.

"It is. All major cities now have somewhere for foals, adults, and even veterans to go and relax and discuss self-defense and training. Those same hubs are used to gather information, and run by Guard veterans who have been in the field. There was so much untapped potential there that—" Lyra stopped, realizing both princesses were grinning at her. "I'll give you a report later, Moon."

Celestia didn't want to give either of the unicorns a chance to get sidetracked again, so she quickly brought things forward. "Twilight told me that she and her friends managed to get things under control with the help of a zebra. I believe I'd very much like to meet them."

Clearing her throat, Luna smiled at her big sister who, she had to admit, looked almost as chagrined as Lyra and Moon had. "That should probably wait until after we get this item secure. Shell we, Sister?"

Which began their procession down into the newly explored caves of magic-reflective crystal under Canterlot. Not only had they been explored, but there were halls of chambers with locks on doors made from the very same crystal as the walls of the caves.

Wild Dash walked twenty lengths behind Celestia and Luna and twenty before Lyra. There were Royal Guards before and after each end of their group. He was brought up short when Luna pointed to a door and the whole group stopped where they stood.

"These locks are works of art," Luna said, examining the magic within the door. "Are you ready to open it, sister?"

Leaning her head forward and tilting just so, Celestia aimed her horn at a hole on one side of the door and pressed the tip in. From the corner of her vision, she saw her sister do the same.

The door didn't feed deeply, it just had to taste the magic of two specific alicorns to activate and release its grip on the walls. When both mares pulled back, the door opened and revealed an empty room beyond.

Moving back, the two princesses nodded to Wild and, step by step, he advanced on the room and walked inside. The magic of the amulet became greater. Wild shuddered as blast after blast of mind-magic grounded out through his hooves.

Walking in behind Wild, Seltzer Spray had to hold back his normally boisterous personality for the somber moment. "I'm coming up on your right side, Wild. Now I'm going to press against your side and lift it off, okay?"

"Yeah. You can feel it?"

"Sure can. It's blasting both of us now. Good thing we got trained by the best, huh?" Reaching with both hooves, Seltzer grounded himself with his back legs and leaned against Wild to take advantage of his own grounding.

"The Guard has the best, yeah." Wild felt it turn all its attention to Seltzer and leaned harder against him. "Put it down and let's make like trees."

The soft clack of wood on crystal echoed in the room. "Got it. Back away one step at a time, don't stop touching me."

"Yeah, we got this." The further he moved back from the box, the less Wild could feel it hammering at him. When they were outside the door, a gold and cobalt mix of magic telekinesis swung the huge crystal mechanism closed and—with a soft sigh from everypony present—the air of magic ceased.

"That had a lot more power to it than when I first picked up the box." Lyra walked closer to the door, her senses focusing on any and all magic—but felt nothing. "It seems sealed."

Celestia nodded. "I can't feel anything now except the door lock." What she didn't want to say was how she'd felt the compulsion even twenty ponylengths away. She was just glad the lock required both her and Luna to open it together. "Let's head back upstairs. I need my sleep—as do several of you."

Of course a yawn would pick that moment to pull its way free of Lyra. She covered her mouth with a hoof and walked along with the Royal Guard and royalty themselves back up to the castle. "If you want to visit and speak to Zecora, I had invited her for dinner tomorrow—wait, it's later today now—night."

Biting her tongue, Celestia counted to five to stop from pouncing on the idea. "While I would love to sample your cooking again, and meet a new friend, I think I'll contact her directly."

Lyra nodded and turned for the doors. "Excuse me, I need to find my bed, my wife, and possibly—" What Lyra had been about to say died in her throat. She felt off-balance and wonky, and that was before gold magic levitated her into the air.

"Lyra Heartstrings, you are in no condition for any kind of magical travel. You are staying here tonight, and I won't hear another word about it." Tired herself, Celestia could see that something had left one of her ponies more drained than even they had noticed. She carried the barely struggling Lyra out into the hall, flanked by a pair of her Guard.

"I'm fine. I just need to—to try—" Lyra shuddered.

"How tightly were you shielding your mind against that amulet?" Celestia asked.

"As h-hard as I could. Zecora had said it was still leaking out, and I didn't want to take any chances of it c-corrulpt—messing with me."

"This is a royal suite that is one of many kept for visiting royalty. The one at the far end of the hall is inhabited by the delegates from Saddle Arabia. You get this one." Carrying the now unresisting Lyra into the suite, Celestia made her way through to the bedroom. "Remove her from her armor, please."

Seltzer saluted Celestia and stepped forward. He was well-used to removing armor, though he hadn't expected to be doffing a mare's armor that night, let alone a sergeant of the Guard. He worked swiftly and with precision, but by the time he was done he could already hear soft, snoozy sounds coming from Lyra.

The moment the last piece was removed, Celestia carried Lyra to the bed and set her down under the covers. "Bring her armor." She could see signs of scuffing and marks on it. "Have somepony buff it up and return it with an arming dummy."

Waking in a strange bed, alone, confused Lyra at first. She poked her head up and looked around the dark room a moment before she remembered that she had magic and could create light. The room looked like someone with far better taste and budget than Lyra had had gone to town. Everything spoke of opulence except one object that stuck out.

Beside the bed was an arming dummy with her armor on it. Her old, battered armor that was now polished to a mirror shine. "And now I have to scuff it up some more before everypony laughs at the sergeant in polished armor."

Climbing from bed, Lyra decided a shower and a song would be the best way to wake up properly without the need to gather her thoughts. With the shower done (in a bathroom almost as big as her house in Ponyville), Lyra walked into the bedroom again and started to don her armor.

All the straps had been oiled, the plates polished—she was shocked to see each link of the mail cleaned and polished. "Royal Guard, I bet." What she wouldn't admit was how good it felt to be wearing her comfortable armor all polished up.

Leaving her bedroom, Lyra was shocked all over again. The living room of the suite was bigger than her house and it made her feel tiny. She pondered teleporting to the door just so she could leave quicker, but shrugged her shoulders as she walked over and opened it.

"Sergeant!"

Lyra was normally far more prepared for a Guardpony saluting her, but right at that moment she was a little surprised. She sketched off a salute in return. "Which way's the kitchen from here?"

"Ma'am, I can escort you there if you wish? Princess Celestia ordered me to guard your quarters and to assist you in any way."

"Did you polish this?" Lyra turned left as directed and let the corporal (her eyes weren't so bleary as to misread his insignia) walk beside her.

"Yeah. I hope I didn't miss a spot. Sergeant Shift said I keep missing spots on my armor, but it's usually like one bristle of hair in the brush or a single link of my chain mail." Letting out a sigh, the corporal hung his head a little.

"Regretting the Royal Guard?" Racking her brain to remember the soldier's name, Lyra finally brought it back. "Rhodolite, isn't it?" By the way his head jerked up and his smile shone, Lyra knew she'd guessed right.

"Yes, ma'am. I know I wasn't the sharpest horn in the pack, but I took everything you taught me to heart. I don't regret being a Royal Guard, I guess I just wasn't aware how defensive the post was." Rhodolite turned the corner and sought out the hall that led to the kitchen. "I heard how you personally escorted a dangerous artifact that even the princesses didn't want to touch."

Lyra sighed. She was forced to face the reality of her actions. "Yeah. Took a lot out of me. A good friend got themselves in a lot of trouble with it."

"Are there many things like that out there?"

"I doubt it, but that's something I'm working on. Now, at least, there's one less." Lyra had never entered the kitchen through these particular doors before, but once they were open the smells of cooking wrapped around her like a warm blanket. "That smells amazing."

But though it smelled good, there was something wrong in the kitchen and Lyra could see part of it right away—two cooktops were switched off and the chefs from them had doubled up on the remaining ones.

"Hey, uh, Gretchen?" Lyra looked around, only to find the griffon in question looking all puffed up. "What's the matter?"

Hearing a voice she recognized, Gretchen walked over to Lyra and Rhodolite still unable to get her feathers under control. "We have two sets of burners not working and another one that might fail by the end of the day. We've had somepony come and look at them, but tomorrow afternoon is the earliest they can get the parts." Just describing her problem made Gretchen's stress increase.

Edging her way over to the line of chefs, Lyra got close to one of the abandoned cookers. "What is it or isn't it doing?" Her spells weren't exactly the right ones for this, but she poked at all the various parts of the stove with her telekinesis, hoping that doing so might reveal what wasn't working.

"The gas lines are blocked. The castle still works on old style gas stoves, and we've been getting more and more blockages in the last few years. The last one happened because of all that work in the you-know-where." Gretchen honestly was just done with any hope of working as a normal kitchen and was already prepared to march back to her room, sit on her roost, and ignore everypony for a week.

"You just need heat, right?" Rhodolite asked. "Couldn't a heat spell work?"

Shaking her head, Lyra said, "No, that would need to target the pans and pots themselves. It wouldn't work how they need it to work."

"Well, how much control do you need of the heat? Could you deal with us making a fire spell on each location so that you had two at low heat, two at—at moderate heat, and the last two ripping hot?" Lyra and Gretchen both looked at Rhodolite like he'd just said something both crazy and amazing. "Well?"

"Your chillers and ovens use charged crystals, right?" Lyra asked Gretchen. When Gretchen nodded back, Lyra added, "Is there one you don't mind me taking apart for a few days?"

One blast chiller in pieces later, and working with Rhodolite to work a flame spell into each burner of the two failed cooktops, Lyra finally bound the dormant spells to the dials and then to the crystal. "Right. We don't have limited power—"

"I can't believe you turned a gas dial into a magic control. I never saw that kind of enchantment before!" Rhodolite studied the softly fading glow on each dial one more time and shook his head.

"It's not going to last a month, but it will get you out of trouble. The spells aren't as efficient as a proper artisan would make them, and there's some loss in the controls, but this should do." Reaching her hoof up, Lyra turned a dial from off to low.

Gretchen stared at the small yellow-blue jet of flame. "Is it likely to explode in the next two days?"

"No. Don't touch the regulator on the crystal and it will never have enough energy to explode." Lyra dialed the "gas" up to full and the flame grew a lot more blue with only slight yellow tips. "It might not flow the same heat at the same settings, so have your people get used to it."

"Goulash! Over here. Try this station. You're still on protein." Gretchen's shout earned her a yes chef from the line and the pegasus in question approached her. "Fry, poach, and char me a fish. Watch the gas marks, they're not the same as they were."

A master when it came to protein, Goulash quickly selected three different fish for his test and set about testing the mettle of the magic-powered stove. A deep pan filled with water was set on maximum heat, while he got a second one on medium-low for the grilled option. Finally, he turned a third burner on low and set a small wire rack over it.

Lyra had been preparing Scootaloo various fish meals at least once a day for a few years now, and it had given both her and Sweetie confidence with it, but Goulash was a master. The water was turned down and two portions of fish were added, he brushed oil over the skin of a second serving and set it into the now sizzling pan, and the third was a whole fish he set over the third burner.

Adjusting the settings on the pan and wire rack, Goulash employed every bit of his talent at ensuring all three pieces of fish would be perfect. He inserted a skewer through the charred fish and turned it over expertly. Grabbing up a plate from behind him, he lifted out the poaching fish and set them down on the plate, then turned the pan-fried fish. Finally done, he scooped out the fried fish and set it beside the poached ones, grabbed the skewered fish from the stove, and turned all three burners off. "There. The high setting is a little hotter than they were, but otherwise it seems fine."

"Any problems with it and you want to speak to this guy." Giving Rhodolite a thump on his back, Lyra noticed Gretchen's feathers had flattened and her rear wiggled a little. That was all the warning she got that a big griffon was going to tackle-hug her.

Pouncing, Gretchen hugged Lyra and Rhodolite tight. "You've saved my tail feathers. Is there anything I can do for you?" She was almost crying at how relieved she felt.

"Cheese toasty," Lyra managed to say. "Double the cheese."

Laughing, Gretchen gave the pair another hug before turning to the newly powered cooktop. "Bread sliced thick, cheese, butter"—she rattled off ingredients various underlings raced around to fetch them—"and a hot pan."

Able to make a pretty good cheese toasty herself, Lyra didn't doubt for a moment that Gretchen could make better. She might lack a cutie mark in cooking, but Gretchen had years of experience and passion. Before she knew it, Lyra and Rhodolite both had toasted sandwiches wrapped with paper floating in their magic. "Thanks, Gretchen!"

The walk to the throne room was uneventful, mostly because both of them had breakfast to eat. When they checked at the doorway to the throne room, there were no petitioners within. Lyra led the way to see Celestia and Luna talking while seated at a table together.

Both sisters turned their heads to spot the new additions to the room, and both smiled to see Lyra. "Please," Celestia said, "join us."

A new chair appeared with a pink glow and Lyra approached and sat down. "Sorry I was late, there was a problem to fix in the kitchen."

Celestia opened her mouth, prepared to ask what Lyra meant, then sighed. There was no end to what the mare would come up with. She was interrupted in her contemplation by a screech at the entryway.

"Lyra!" Joyce ignored all propriety and spread her wings to fly into the middle of the room. "Sweetie came to visit. She said you didn't come home last night."

It was the second overwhelming hug Lyra had gotten that morning, but she would no more evade her mother's leathery-winged hug than she would stop breathing. "Sorry, Mum, I had a thing going on. I didn't get a chance to get word to Sweetie before doing it, and then I apparently passed out here."

"Then let me go find her and reassure her that—"

"Lyra!" Sweetie stomped her way into the throne room, leaving a bevy of worried Royal Guard in her wake. She expected to feel anger if she found Lyra unharmed, but the truth was all of her worry and fury melted and she charged the table as if it were a bugbear.

Not daring to ask any questions, Celestia sipped her tea and looked to her sister. "Fine morning we're having."

Luna managed to hold back her first giggle, but she was watching the reunion and the following few got free. "We should have sent word."

"I believe we were all off-balance last night. Lyra just took it harder." More movement drew Celestia's attention to the side door and she smiled to see breakfast coming out. "Could you bring more tea, please?"

"Ahem." Clearing her throat, Luna waited until she had all three mares' attention. "It was our fault. Lyra was on a special mission for us, and performing that mission left her far more drained than she realized. We ensured she had sleeping quarters here for the evening."

"Getting a princess to apologize for you doesn't get you off the hook." Sweetie's eyes were locked on Lyra. "What was it you were doing?"

"Delivering the alicorn amulet to Canterlot. I didn't want to risk anypony else falling under its influence—oh, and we will be having a guest for dinner tonight." When Lyra's explanation evoked shock and then a glare from Sweetie, she rolled her eyes. "She cooked the most amazing meal for me yesterday, I figured we could swap recipes."

"The amulet was particularly potent against unicorns, and we are sure it would be even more so against alicorns." Celestia could see that Sweetie still wasn't happy, but the initial anger had faded. "Well, captain, do you have anything to report?"

"We've had sightings of changelings in a half ring around the badlands, they're hungry and are pushing out again despite the thrashing Cadance and Shining gave them. The griffons are doing a good job with the bugbears, and I have a group in Trottingham feeding arms, armor, and supplies to their forces. The yaks are still a little concerning, and I don't think they're half as peaceful as we'd hoped." The list wasn't long, but Sweetie was nothing if not comprehensive about it. Each item was a battle she faced, judged, and deployed resources for. "I have notified Cadance and Shining that they might want to build their own armed forces just in case. There is talk of a bell with massive magical power in the old Arimaspi caves."

"Grogar's Bell. It should be safe for now, but it would be a good plan to get that safely in the vault too." The report pleased Celestia. In one swift move Sweetie Drops had filled in a gap in Equestria's defense. "Good work."

It shouldn't have been as much of a relief for Sweetie to hear those two words, but it was. She had assumed she would see great and sweeping changes come from her efforts, where in reality everything she was doing was specifically not to see changes. Equestria rolled on as safe as ever and nopony noticed the new building each town sported. She nodded her head, accepting the praise with as little pomp as she could.

"What does the bell do?" Lyra asked.

Luna noticed Celestia had started sipping her tea and relished the opportunity to contribute. "It steals magic from creatures and can then grant that magic to a target. Legend has it that even Discord can be drained in this manner, though I doubt he'd stick around if he knew you had it."

"That's terrifying, but you said it was safe?" Lyra asked.

"As safe as could be made at the time." Luna tried to resist the urge to slide the whole stack of pancakes closer, then revised her thoughts and only took the top half. "Please, have breakfast with us."

"Well," Sweetie said, "since the world isn't likely to come to an end in the next hour, I think we will."

"Okay, so we map any and all old sites. I don't care how mundane or non-threatening, if it is a ruin or cave from ancient times, I want somepony experienced and educated on what to look for delving it and turning over every single stone. If you so much as think there might be something magical there, contact your nearest martial training hall." Sweetie Drops looked across the table at the mare opposite her. It hadn't been easy to even find out she existed, let alone get a message to her.

"So," Daring Do—in her disguise as A.K. Yearling—said, "you want me to do this alone?"

"No. I want you selecting ponies, training them if you have to, and sending them. If there's one thing I learned recently, that's to delegate. You have the smarts, impart those onto others and get them to work."

"How? Unless you failed to get this, I don't exactly have an alternate identity that can claim such knowledge and not reveal a lot more about my situation than I'm comfortable with." Daring had a dislike for sitting unless her wings were busy typing. She stood up and stretched a little.

Sweetie focused on not ogling the pegasus and focused on the solution she'd already planned for. "Congratulations, sergeant, you're the newest sergeant in the E.U.P. Guard Research and Acquisitions wing. There will be exactly three ponies who know who you are, one is myself, another is my wife, and the third is the Guard armorer. She'll take care of making you look like an earth pony."

Daring stared at Sweetie for a few moments, then finally twitched her wings under her coat. "Hello? Already using an earth pony disguise."

"Would you rather pegasus, or do you have a horn handy we can stick on—you know, round out the three tribes?"

Taking a moment to absorb the sarcasm that'd been deployed against her, Daring let out a bark of laughter. "Look, I get it, for the good of Equestria and all that—"

"What about mane and tail dye? We can easily use a helmet and some heavy-looking armor to hide your body shape, but if we gave you a more stand-out hair color I'm sure nopony would make the connection."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. When Sweetie called out that they were busy, Lyra teleported inside the door. "Hey, just letting you know that Sharp Horn is ready to work her magic."

"This had better be your wife, or that number just went to four."

"Lyra Heartstrings, wife and significantly lower-ranked partner of Captain Sweetie Drops. At your service!" Snapping off a salute, Lyra wore a friendly grin. "I can teleport us right there if you'd like?"

About to shoot back with her own sarcasm, Daring halted in her tracks when she realized Lyra was actually being both genuine and useful. "Yes please. I don't often—" She hadn't expected Lyra to teleport so soon. Or so accurately. They were both standing in the significantly hotter forge. "… get to use teleportation magic. Sorry, what was your name again?"

"Lyra!" Sharp Horn levitated the modified heavy armor she'd been working on. "I don't know why I'm ruining this armor, but I've taken all the weight out of it in all the places that can't be seen. Is this the pony I'm fitting it to?"

"The one and only. We also need to make her look as little like herself as possible. What do you think would be the easiest way to do that?"

Rubbing her chin, Sharp looked down from her larger-than-average height to examine Daring. "Mane and tail dye. Black is the easiest, and would mask that contour perfectly."

Daring looked between the two, then settled on Sharp. "You're not even going to ask who I am or why you're hiding my identity?"

"Even if Captain Sweetie Drops didn't already cover all this, if Lyra Heartstrings asked me to do it, I'd do it. Whoever you are, and why I'm disguising you as an E.U.P. Guard sergeant don't matter in the slightest when I have rank and one of the princesses' right-hoof-mares overseeing this. So, no. I don't want to know who you are and I don't want to know why you need to look like an earth pony sergeant." Sharp cleared her throat and took a moment to recover from having to vehemently defend her position. "Now, if you could take your current disguise off and I'll fit this armor to you."

It didn't take the pair long. Adjusting the armor was Sharp's domain, while arranging something to dye Daring's mane and tail black was Lyra's, and in less than an hour they'd both succeeded.

"Welcome to the Research and Acquisitions arm of the E.U.P. Guard, sergeant. The downside is that you might have to shout a lot. The upside is that you get to shout a lot." Lyra beamed at the result of their work. "I'm kidding, obviously. I'll do any shouting that's required, all we want you to do is train our new recruits. And, by new recruits, I mean veterans who already know the right end of a spear from the wrong."

It made Daring Do actually laugh. "You know my normal job, right?"

"Yeah, I do. That's why we got you in to help. We needed the best." Lyra didn't mind stroking Daring's ego to help her get comfortable. "So, let's work on your training methods."

Author's Note

Bread Bowl: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of cooking? I will totally not be passing that answer on to another pony.

"Oh yes. I have one particular hobby, though I think I might have to give it up." Bread had a silly-happy grin on her face. "You see, I keep falling for idiots. At least, that's what my mom called them. Blue seems to be an exception to that. Who knows, maybe he's the one?"

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Lab

Chapter 17

Deep breaths. Scootaloo looked at the earth pony facing-off against her and judged his potential—about ten times more than any filly should hope to possess. Corporal Pace Setter was a member of the elite Royal Guard and her own foster mother had trained him.

"The first sparring session for Scootaloo will begin," Lyra said from the sideline, watching the two combatants closely.

Scootaloo flicked out one of her blunted practice claws and stumbled on it, tilting sideways. When her opponent rushed in to take advantage of her position, she flicked her wing and rolled sideways out of the feint. Tucking her weight in, she sped up her spin and brought a hoof into the side of the stallion.

It was the first strike, but Scootaloo was intent on it not being the last. He wouldn't fall for a feint like that again and she knew it. What Scootaloo had on her side was speed. For every motion the stallion made, every time he put a hoof down, she would swing past his guard and strike him twice.

Eventually he backed up and shook his head. "Hold. I can't lay a hoof on you and now I'm covered in bruises. Good work, cadet!"

The acknowledgment came as a bit of a shock. Scootaloo had been in her zone, focused on the spar. She twitched a few times when the stallion held out his hoof, but calmed herself and strode forward to give it a firm clop. "Thanks, corporal."

"You're welcome. I hope to see you in the Wonderbolts or the Guard some day."

"Don't worry, I have plans." Scootaloo wouldn't have to announce her years-long plan until she'd won, and definitely didn't want to give the game away.

Having watched Scootaloo pound their Royal Guard trainer, Lyra did nothing to hide her big grin. She had no say in the matter, of course, but she hoped this would be the filly's year to win a spot in one of the Guard's companies—and she knew what Scootaloo would choose. "Scootaloo's second sparring session will begin in one minute."

Trotting in place, Scootaloo rolled her shoulders and dodged imaginary strikes to keep her muscles moving and her heart rate up. She already knew who she'd be facing—Fleetfoot stepped up to the ring where they were sparring.

"Is this dance taken?" Fleetfoot asked. She watched Scootaloo's movements and already regretted having to face her.

"Depends. How much do you like bruises?" Scootaloo stopped her running and loosed her wings at her sides.

"Ha! You have to hit me first. Okay, let's start this." Unlike Scootaloo's previous sparring partner, Fleetfoot wasn't going to hold back. She pumped her wings to get some height and then spun in the air and threw all her magic into launching herself back down at Scootaloo.

There was no time for anything fancy, all Scootaloo could do was move with instinct and get out of the way of the strike. She used her wings to shove her, planted a hoof when she was clear of Fleetfoot's hard dive, and used it to swing her momentum around and back toward the Wonderbolt.

"Halt." Fleetfoot called it after seeing Scootaloo so easily evading her strike already launching a counter. "That's all I need to see."

"One minute for the final sparring match." Lyra could feel the buzz of excitement. The sparring ponies weren't going all-out, of course, but they weren't holding back. They were bouts meant to test the foals and give them some curve-balls. A Wonderbolt doing an explosively dangerous attack right out of the gate was amazing to see, and Lyra wasn't sure she could have handled it better herself—particularly if Fleetfoot had gone all out.

Scootaloo, when she saw her opponent, felt more than a little worried. Jam Scones stood before her, a sergeant of the Royal Dragoons and one of the more experienced combat specialists when it came to offensive magic. She hadn't even heard of the Royal Dragoons until several months earlier. Realizing she had to spar with one made her more than a little nervous.

Watching the filly keep working her wings and legs, Jam approved of the effort she was putting into things. "You ready?"

"To fight you? Probably not, but I'm going to anyway." Her mind racing, Scootaloo knew the first thing she absolutely had to do was get into the air—fighting a unicorn (or earth pony) on the ground as a pegasus was never going to end well.

"Come at me whenever you want. I look forward to seeing what you do." Bracing her legs, Jam started recalling her combat spells, selecting the ones she'd need and letting the rest fade to her latent memory.

Jumping into the air, Scootaloo barely made it as Jam tried to grab her by the leg with telekinesis. She slipped the grip with her native pegasi ability and gained some altitude to give herself a moment to think. Dodging a spell or two from Jam, Scootaloo decided on the stupidest course of action—but it was all she could think of.

Jam expected Scootaloo's nosedive, but she expected the filly to aim for spine or hindquarters. Instead, Jam found herself having to fend off a pair of rear hooves that snapped around at the last moment and delivered a double-barrel buck to the side of her head.

Pumping her wings to get away again, Scootaloo looked down to see Jam shaking her head. "If I try that again, she'll be ready for it. Gotta mix it up somehow."

"What are you waiting for? Come on and try that again!" While Jam didn't want to heckle the filly, it was the best way to inspire her to keep the energy of the bout up. Another dive came, but when Scootaloo started to get close, Jam lined up with her web spell.

What Jam didn't expect was Scootaloo to change her momentum to a sideways curve then grabbed her neck with a wing—doing three quick loops around Jam while speeding up before her spell even finished casting. As she circled, Scootaloo pulled herself tighter in and scored a second strike in the same place as the first.

This time Jam wasn't as ready for the strike and felt her head turn quickly before darkness closed in around her vision. "Cra—"

Everypony went silent as Jam Scones teetered and fell to the ground. Lyra literally teleported directly beside the two ponies, putting herself between Scootaloo and Jam, while feeling for the big vein in Jam's neck. "She's out cold. Get the doc over here to make sure she's fine."

By the time the medic rushed over, Jam was coming around. She looked around, feeling every bit demolished by the surprising attack. Slurring a little, she asked, "Where you learn that?"

Her nerves still heightened, Scootaloo practically bounced in a spin to face Jam. Blinking big eyes at the tall and willowy soldier as she slowly got up, Scootaloo tried not to smile too much. "I, uh, came up with it just after I got in the air from my first dive. See, my friend likes to dance, and she does this thing where she pulls her legs in tighter and spins—only she keeps falling over. I figured I'd just hold on and do it."

Steadying herself, Jam Scones nodded at that. "Interesting," she said, and walked off to confer with the other two testers.

Looking from the retreating Broad to Lyra, Scootaloo asked, "Will she be okay?"

"I'll take a wild guess and say you're going to get a visit from Bluebelle to demonstrate that move." It was hard for Lyra to keep her big mouth shut. With all the secrets she kept, holding this one back from Scootaloo would be tough. "You should go and wait with the others. I think Firelance is done with his sparring too."

Looking around, Scootaloo spotted Firelance and trotted off after him with a wave back to Lyra. When she reached him, she noticed he had a black eye. "What happened?"

"Sergeant Soarin wanted to teach me I should try to avoid pegasi hooves. I dodged the first two, but he connected just as my spell covered his wings with mud." Trying to put on his best smile—and doing a good job of it—Firelance used his magic to toss his mane back. "I mean, I won, but he clocked me pretty good. How'd you go?"

"Uh…" Wondering how she should explain it without sounding like she was bragging, Scootaloo began from the start and hoped he wouldn't be listening by the end. "Well, I had Good first fight. Earth ponies are tough, but I just kept hitting him over and over until he couldn't take it anymore. Then I had a bizarre fight with Fleetfoot. She tried some kind of weird wing-roll flip attack, and when I dodged it, she said she'd seen enough."

"What about your third fight?" Firelance could tell Scootaloo was holding back. He was a bit worried she'd had a bad match-up or something. "They didn't make you fight your mom, did they?"

"Lyra? Nah. I think they made sure we wouldn't be sparring with anypony we've studied under. I had to fight that mare from the Royal Dragoons, Jam Scones." Scootaloo tried to leave it at that, but the look of shock, excitement, and curiosity on Firelance's face told her she needed to continue. "I, uh, knocked her out."

"You what?!" The words didn't make sense to Firelance. "What do you mean, you 'knocked her out'?"

"Well, I mean, she was really good with magic, so I had to get in close. I wanted to make it something big, so I conked her one on the jaw the first time, which just seemed to ring her bell a little, then I used a spin to get speed up and hit her again. She just kinda—I mean, she fell down and I was really worried I'd done something bad, but she got up a bit later and seemed okay." Scootaloo couldn't stop blurting out words. In the back of her head she screamed for her mouth to close, but the signal was backed-up behind two novels worth of rambling dialogue about how she kinda-sorta-didn't-mean-to-but-totally-did knock out an elite trained unicorn.

Used to Scootaloo's panic-rambling, and knowing when she wanted to stop but couldn't, Firelance put his hoof over her snout and halted her mid-word. "Okay, describe it again. Debriefing style."

That was something Scootaloo could do. Calming herself down, she explained the bout in full detail, leaving nothing from the order of events—even Lyra teleporting in at the end to check the Royal Dragoon out.

"Okay, that sounds amazing. There's no way anything I did will top that. I don't think anypony did anything to top that." Sitting down, Firelance didn't know what else to say except, "You're amazing."

Scootaloo was so excited and so emotionally charged, she lunged forward and kissed Firelance's cheek before she could think to stop herself. "S-Sorry!"

"Huh?" Looking at Scootaloo with wide eyes, seeing the bravest filly he knew blushing, Firelance was a little shell-shocked by the kiss. "I—I mean it's fine. We're fine. I really like you!"

"Yeah? Well I really like you, too."

Both of them went dead silent for ten minutes. Not a single word was spoken as they locked eyes and just blinked their way through the seconds.

"Hey, what's up, you two?" Lyra asked as she walked up to Scootaloo and Firelance. "The judging is about to start." When neither foal reacted for several seconds, Lyra contemplated a concussive spell to check if they were awake.

"Yes! Let's go listen to the judging!" Scootaloo managed to break eye-contact with Firelance. "We were just talking about our bouts and I totally didn't kiss him."

Firelance watched one of Lyra's eyebrows rise slowly. "Let's go!"

Much as Lyra would have liked to hear what had just happened, she had a feeling neither of them would want to miss what was coming. She led the way—a silent procession—until they reached the gathering of foals, trainers, and examiners.

"It was decided for me that it's the Wonderbolts' turn to announce the results." Spitfire narrowed her eyes and singled out Lyra to glare at; not because she was angry, it was just her style. "Our first will be Daffodil Dreams. Could Cadet Daffodil's sparring partners please step forward?"

Long Shift, Surprise, and Lancer stepped forward. The three gave a brief breakdown on what they'd been testing for, how Daffodil reacted to unusual situations, and how he could improve.

Spitfire worked through the list of names and became worse and worse at hiding her smile. She had the same problem any time she oversaw the best young flier contest, too. There was something about determined foals that caused her to grin uncontrollably. "Next is Firelance. Could Cadet Firelance's sparring partners please step forward?"

Soarin walked forward with Razzle Dazzle and Seltzer Spray just a few steps behind. "Razzle, you take first. I need to go last."

Razzle gave the slightest nod. "As a fellow unicorn, Firelance put up a solid show of dueling spells with me. He was effective at both countering my spells and returning some of his own. His only downfall was when I put my all into a stunning spell. Sorry, cadet, but when somepony fires off something related to their cutie mark, you're best just being somewhere else."

Firelance nodded. "Thank you, Corporal Razzle Dazzle."

Looking sideways at Soarin, Seltzer Spray shrugged and stepped forward. "Cadet, you put in a good showing. There aren't many unicorns I've ever had to face that used heat and water spells combined with cloud walking to get away from me"—Seltzer looked directly at Lyra and winked—"but you're up there with the best of them. Sorry about the headache, but you really should never try using magic directly on a target who can cause backlash."

"Thank you, Corporal Seltzer Spray!" Firelance's backlash headache was still fading, but the fact was he'd cast expecting backlash, and had used a technique to reduce its effects.

"Sorry about the eye, cadet, but you were giving as good as you got and I wanted to see how well you could do once an enemy got physical with you. Work on that barrier of yours, it was hell to smash, and try to be careful of targets that have the mobility to get around your defenses." Soarin almost winced at the dark ring around Firelance's eye.

"Thank you, Sergeant Soarin!" Firelance grinned, noticing the way Soarin moved favored his left rear leg a little.

"You're showing a lot of promise, Firelance, and in another few years you'll be eligible to join the Guard if you wish." Spitfire walked over and tapped him on the shoulder with a wing. "But, now you're going to need to make room for our final challenger; Scootaloo. Could Cadet Scootaloo's sparring partners please step forward?"

Scootaloo got a push from Lyra to get her moving, but kept walking forward until she was standing beside Spitfire and facing her three sparring judges. She looked between them, waiting for one to start critiquing her behavior.

"Well, since the others pushed me forward, I guess I'm giving you my unbiased opinion. Fast as a dust devil, and you were ready to strike me the moment I'd landed. The only thing I'd suggest is a greater willingness to take the fight to the sky—you could out-turn me, and in the sky that's how you work out who can win a fight." Fleetfoot gave Scootaloo a half-grin and saluted her. "It was a good fight, cadet."

A million questions ran through Scootaloo's head, though they were all held back by ceremony and her confusion over how Fleetfoot had learned so much about her with just one attack. "Th-Thank you, Sergeant Fleetfoot."

"Scootaloo showed great speed and willingness to use it. She didn't hesitate to use my limits against me and stretch her advantages to cover her own. I can't help but to recommend her to any regiment of the Guard." Pace took a slow breath to adjust his dialogue. "But you need to always be careful. Your speed is a great asset, but you can't rely solely on it. One day you will find someone or something faster than you—you need a backup plan for that day."

"Thank you, Corporal Pace Setter." His words, far and above the performance in their fight, were sobering. Scootaloo had to embrace all the criticism as advice, though, and strained to keep it as such.

"Cadet Scootaloo's final tester is somepony few of you have met, from a branch of the Guard that is not widely known about. Sergeant Jam Scones of the Royal Dragoons is probably a match for anypony here one on one, and yet even though she went a little easy on the cadet, was dispatched with a stunning attack." Spitfire smirked at Jam Scones. "Literally. Please, sergeant, your own words on the bout."

"Thanks, Flames." Jam smirked at Spitfire before turning her attention on the crowd and then finally Scootaloo. "I tempered my attacks, I left openings, and stuck to non-lethal spells. None of this is in doubt—it's what all your instructors did here today. Having had a chance to observe other bouts, I then adjusted my expectations up just a little for our round together. Your speed, both in action and of thought, is your biggest asset. Using your own momentum to amplify the strike was genius, and I hope to see more Guard pegasi using it in coming years.

"That said, you need to temper that impulsiveness. There were several times I almost connected with a spell because you had switched your focus from protection to action. You'll learn how to focus on both."

Scootaloo felt a conflicted. She had expected the instructors to go easy on them, but at the same time finding out they definitely did stung a little. "Thank you, Sergeant Jam Scones. Sorry about the jaw."

For a moment Jam just stared at Scootaloo, then she burst into laughter. "Kid, if half my opponents in real fights could hit as hard as you can, I'd be in real trouble. It was a good strike and you should be proud of it." She held out her forehoof to Scootaloo and clopped it against hers when she did the same.

"Alright, enough showing off," Spitfire said, clearing her throat. "Can we get all the cadets who competed up here so I can make a call on this?"

Scootaloo was already in place, but was glad when Firelance, Daffodil, and the other foals all joined her on the platform. In all, there was ten of them standing there. "Who do you think won?" she asked Firelance.

"Duh, it's obvious, you feather-brain." Firelance struggled not to laugh at the confused expression on Scootaloo's face. He was still coming to terms with crushing on her as hard as he was. Sometimes it seemed just being around her made him unable to put words together and other times it seemed to make him say things he didn't mean to.

Lyra watched as Scootaloo and Firelance chatted on the stage. Every time she saw them together, they both had smiles on their faces. Doing the math in her head, she realized it wouldn't be all that long until she had a teenage filly, with a coltfriend, on her hooves. "Life's about to get more interesting."

"There is—" Spitfire grunted because she could still hear chatter. "I said, There is just one matter we need to clear up!" Her parade-ground voice still worked, for which was immensely thankful. "The little matter of this year's victor. The cadet who performed the best and improved the most will win for themselves a custom-made suit of armor—care of Sergeant Sharp Horn, the Guard's smith—and a trial period with their choice of the regiments supporting the school.

"I have it on good authority that the victor already has such a set of armor, so I'll leave it to them to choose another foal for that prize." With her hint dropped, Spitfire watched as the foals all looked at each other, trying to work out who already owned armor. "The cadet who won showed today how quick they can think in a stressful situation, how surely they can dedicate themselves to the plan they've chosen, and that they are more than capable of carrying out that plan.

"The victor is—Cadet Scootaloo!"

Firelance didn't feel the slightest pang of disappointment. He turned to the shocked filly at his side and—seeing her guard down—kissed her on the cheek. "You deserve it, Scoots. I'll see you after Commander Spitfire is done preening."

"You impressed one of my training sergeants with your reflexes, which is no easy feat. You pummeled a Royal Guard corporal so fast he had to give up. But, without a doubt, knocking Jam out was the icing on the cake." Spitfire had to admit that when Stiff Peaks talked her into having the Wonderbolts' medic visit a young filly to see if she could ever fly, she hadn't expected that filly to come this far. "Now, come on, tell us which regiment you want to train with?"

Scootaloo, once more wearing her armor, grinned up at Captain Bright Feather of the Royal Guard. "Shining Armor agreed that the victorious student could choose to train with the Royal Guard. I won. I want to train with the Royal Guard."

Bright Feather felt like he was arguing with a brick wall, and the worst part was it felt like a very small brick wall and it was definitely winning. "The Royal Guard is an all-stallion regiment. You know—"

"There's a way to settle it," Spitfire said. She glanced over Bright's shoulder at Lyra and, for a brief instant, wondered if the mare knew. "One that saves everypony's face. We take this to Princess Celestia. It's her guard, she gets to make the ultimate choice."

Pressing his primary feathers to his forehead, Bright could feel a headache coming. "Very well. We'll have this resolved quickly and you can see about making your new choice after that."

Scootaloo knew she had to keep her expression determined and not excited. She'd won, and she knew it, but if Bright suspected Celestia was in on this too, it would be a disaster. So she trotted along at Lyra, Spitfire, and Bright's side, keeping her serious face on while she secretly wanted to pronk around for joy.

They circled around the castle from the duty offices of the Royal Guard to the front, petitioners entrance. It was a busy day, or so it seemed, because there was three petitioners ahead of them—one of which Lyra knew well. "Jet Set, how is life treating you?"

Jet had learned to fear when he heard Lyra's voice. It meant upheaval. It meant change. It meant that he was going to have a very big spotlight shone on him very shortly. "Lyra! It's great to see you again. They still have you teaching Equestria's finest?"

"And how. Princess Luna has me working my hooves to the quick in her school, too. What about you? How are you taking to the job of teacher?" Lyra, like Scootaloo, was wearing her armor. The only pony in their little group who was without was Spitfire—and nopony would ever tell her to her face that she needed to wear armor.

"If Princess Luna were any sharper, she'd cut me to ribbons. I struggle, on a daily basis, to find things to teach her she hasn't already derived from what I've already taught. I've had to dedicate far more of my life to this than I expected." Despite how he made it sound, Jet couldn't help but smile. "But I manage."

"That's the important bit." Lyra dutifully moved forward as the ponies at the front of the queue advanced into the throne room. "More paperwork today?"

Jet shook his head. "Well, not exactly. Upper finally accepted my request to engage in a longer-term relationship, and I am here to invite Princess Celestia to our engagement party." Smooth as silk, Jet used his magic to produce a little gold-trimmed card. "You're invited too, of course. Plus two?"

Waiting until Jet was called into the throne room, Spitfire could hold herself back no longer. "Heartstrings?" she asked, still a little shocked by what she considered hobnobbing with nobles. "I wouldn't have pictured you as making nice with nobles."

"If you want to get anything done in and around Canterlot, you have to talk to one of them. Jet is far from the worst of them, though I have been steering him toward being closer aligned with the crown. He's been instructing Princess Luna on the finer points of commerce, trade, and the economy at large—particularly the ways ponies are evading restrictions." As she spoke, Lyra noticed Spitfire look more and more incredulous. "What?"

"I have way too much trouble reading you, you know that? Half the time you're just another sergeant of the Guard, competent as all get-out. Next thing I know you're talking about political reform and destiny as if you spent your every waking hour studying them."

"It's all just context," Lyra said.

"'Just another sergeant'?" Bright Feather asked, and gave a laugh. "You have seen that basically everypony she has any contact with ends up becoming a hero or in a high-ranking position, right? Twilight Sparkle, a friend who mentored her in high school; her wife, Captain Sweetie Drops; a friend of hers growing up, Prince Shining Armor; another school friend, Baroness Moon Dancer—You should probably be careful, commander, that you don't get tangled up with this mare or the princess might size you up for a horn."

"Don't forget the crippled orphan she took-in getting to fly and becoming the first female Royal Guard," Scootaloo said.

Spitfire couldn't help it, she laughed. "Yeah-yeah, I get it. It's just a little weird to see the process of it, though. She's just so casual about I just happen to know… and you should try to… that when you realize she's somehow steering you exactly where you need to go, it's too late to stop her."

"I'm not that bad. If you want to see somepony who can steer anypony to anything, try Princess Celestia. You know how I can tell?" Lyra waited for Spitfire to raise an eyebrow in question. "Because she invited me to be in her school. Then she had me spend the next few years in a dormitory that was run by Sweetie and her mother. Do I need to go on?"

"All that says is that the princess is a very good teacher, not that you aren't her pupil." Following her statement up with a chuckle, Spitfire noticed one of the guards ahead of them was nodding toward their little group. "Well, looks like we're going to get this resolved."

Marching into the throne room, Lyra smiled at the retreating Jet and then turned her grin up to her mentor. She had already decided that this was a perfect time for her to keep her nose out of things. Scootaloo had already arranged this with Celestia, and Lyra trusted both to handle things.

"Two commanders, a sergeant, and a cadet—To what do I owe the pleasure, ladies?" Celestia could guess. She didn't know Scootaloo had gotten top spot in the end-of-year contest, but she had learned to trust fate.

Scootaloo cleared her throat. "The rules of the contest stated that the foal who won gets to choose what branch of the Guard they spend their holidays apprenticed in."

Brightening, Celestia looked among the three adults present. "It's odd that such a thing be brought to me. Why is this a problem worth my time?" She knew full well that Bright Feather was a bit of a stickler for the rules and regulations—it was why he made such a good member of the Royal Guard.

"Because I won," Scootaloo said.

"Congratulations!" Celestia approached the filly and hugged her. "I knew you could do it. What position in the guard did you wish?"

Bright Feather cleared his throat. "Royal Guard, Your Highness."

"Oh," Princess Celestia said, and looked down at Scootaloo while trying to keep the glee from her expression.

"Indeed. She was most—"

"It's been some time since we've had any mares in the Royal Guard. It will be good to have a fresh face around. Now, Scootaloo, I won't require the full oath from you, but we will need to spend some time discussing your time protecting me." Celestia only managed not to laugh at the consternation and shock on Bright's face by channeling the emotion to joy for Scootaloo.

Bright blinked in shock. "'About time'? But the Royal Guard has always been just for stallions." He looked around the room at the other guard, and while one or two looked surprised, none looked anxious or worried. "When was the last time a mare was in the Royal Guard?"

"We'd need to check the records, but I believe it was nearly a hundred and fifteen years ago." Looking Scootaloo over, Celestia shook her head. "This won't do, though. She'll need to have Royal Guard armor made for her, and be outfitted with a spear."

It finally sank in that this wasn't exactly normal for inducting a new Guardpony to the Royal Guard. Bright took a slow breath and reexamined his situation. "I'll arrange that as soon as possible, Your Highness. I assume Sergeant Sharp Horn has your armor requirements?" The last bit he asked of Scootaloo.

"Yes, sir!"

The sharp salute and firm shout surprised and heartened Bright. He returned her salute and made his way from the throne room, trying to work out if he'd lost any dignity at all.

"Commander?" Lyra asked, and when Bright stopped and turned back to face her, she continued. "Thank you for being so accommodating. Perhaps this could be something of a revival of old ways?"

"I'll definitely take that under advisement. I can definitely admit to feeling a little saddened each intake of new Royal Guard that I wasn't able to always choose the most suited—in all ways but one—to the task." The slight nod of Celestia's head confirmed in Bright's mind that this was something put by her in advance and something she approves of. "I've not been commander for a year, so this could be seen as a new step in the Royal Guard's advance—rather than a step backwards."

When Bright Feather was out of the throne room, Lyra Heartstrings turned back to the little group. "Your new commander is more flexible than I gave him credit for."

"He is that. Sharp mind and sharper skills are not his only traits. Now, Scootaloo, you'll be spending the evening here. We need to discuss your duties while in my Royal Guard." Celestia looked over to Spitfire. "She's cleared for flight, what about air-combat?"

"Her reflexes made Fleetfoot envious and her speed is up there too. She is trained in hoof-claws and has a great sense for improvisation." Spitfire read off the list as if it were all written right in front of her. "I was hoping she'd join the Wonderbolts for her internship."

"I planned to," Scootaloo said. "But then we were talking and this seemed like a good way I could help Her Highness."

Barking out a laugh, Spitfire poked Scootaloo in the breast with one wing feather. "Once you graduate from the Guard training, I expect to see you in our intake, and I promise you I'll have my sergeants work you until you wonder if your hooves will ever touch the ground again."

It was as good an invitation to join as she was going to get, and Scootaloo enjoyed a brief rush of I did itness before she remembered that this was all about making the right choice—not the first one. "I'll think about it, Commander Spitfire."

Spitfire nodded. "Good. Now, Your Highness, if I might go back to my duties? I have some quality order-shouting I need to do."

"Yes, yes. You may go, Commander. Lyra, you can leave too." Celestia was very proud of Lyra, and would happily heap more responsibility on her if she weren't about as weighed down as anypony in Equestria. When Scootaloo looked back at her foster mother, however, Celestia put a wing around her shoulder. "We have a lot to talk about."

Freezing where she stood, Scootaloo looked up and nodded to Celestia. "Y-Yes, Your H—" Her reply was halted by two white feathers pressed to the bridge of her nose.

Waiting for the room to be empty of everypony except herself and her guards, Celestia smiled. "Now, you need to learn the history of the Royal Guard first." Walking over a stained-glass window, Celestia gestured at the pattern. "Simply put, when my sister and I became princesses and rulers, we needed ponies to assist us.

"At first it was clerks and bailiffs, but when my sister formed the E.U.P. Guard, we had warriors pledging themselves to us. The most awkward nights of my life were when I first fought Nightmare moon and, not long ago, I didn't fight her. I had to order the Royal Guard not to interfere—both times—to avoid them getting caught both physically and philosophically.

"The Royal Guard are here to protect the rulers from others—not each other. Do you understand that distinction?" Only since her sister had been freed of her curse, Celestia had begun telling this extended version of the Royal Guard's history. If she'd mentioned Luna before then, of course, the curse of Nightmare Moon would have ripped her guardponies' memories from their heads.

Thinking about it, Scootaloo put the idea into fighting terms she could reason around. "We keep our backs to the throne, you mean?"

"Exactly. Your duty is to put yourself between the ruler and the nation's enemies." Celestia was hardly surprised that Scootaloo, of all foals, would understand this key point. With the ponies who'd raised her, Celestia would trust her to make the right choices given all the information. "The next detail is I'm going to give you a weapon and ask you to never use it on any creature."

"The spear?"

"Yes. Though from what I remember, you came up with the idea of using it more as a staff than a spear. You have handled one before, or so Shining told me, but I will be bestowing an enchantment on you that makes it active."

Shining had been explicit with Scootaloo about how dangerous the spear of a Royal Guard was. "I understand. You enchanted them?"

"Partly. The enchantment is one of pure destruction. Sharp Horn works the pattern of the enchantment, and I fill it with the fury of the sun." Celestia always lamented the need for weapons, for the Guard themselves. "Even the greatest of monsters doesn't deserve what those spears will do."

"So why give it to us? Why make us promise never to use it?"

"Because," Celestia said, "it's a promise I expect—one day—the Royal Guard may need to break. Doubly so if it's myself they're defending Equestria from."

Scootaloo couldn't stop herself from gasping. First, she'd never considered that it was expected that a Royal Guard might need to break their promise to Celestia, but second that she herself might be a danger. "Y-You?"

"For over a thousand years I have lived with the knowledge that even Equestria's finest ponies can fall—and they have a long way to fall if they do. My sister served as more than just a torment—she was a lesson I will never forget. Absolute power can lead to abuse so readily." Celestia took slow, even breaths. It had been harder and easier in the past. Explaining this detail when there was no example she could give was harder to explain but easier on her emotions—the opposite was the case now. "Some day you may have to turn around and look at me with your spear held proud. That is why the spears' enchantments are powered by the sun and not by myself."

"I don't know if I could do that, but I promise you that I will try. I will stand with my back to the throne—and I will never use my spear." The words seemed like the right ones to Scootaloo. They were to the point and conveyed everything she understood of what Celestia had spoken about.

It was the promise worded how Celestia would have expected a pony twice Scootaloo's age to make it. "Thank you, Scootaloo, that's exactly what I wished. Now—" She froze as she heard a pair of hoofsteps—metal-on-stone—in the throne room. It was a gait and pattern she knew well. "Sister? You're up early."

"I had trouble sleeping. There is a huge disturbance coming soon." Luna's eyes strayed to Scootaloo and then back to her sister. "Foalnapping?"

"Luna, Royal Guard Cadet Scootaloo here won the event at your own school and earned an internship here, protecting us." Celestia turned and walked to her sister and, as they came together in a hug.

"So you relented and let a mare into the Royal Guard?" Smirking, Luna hugged Celestia for all she was worth. "I was starting to wonder if it was a trend that had roots in aesthetics."

"No. It was a trend that caught on over a hundred years ago, and nopony ever thought to ask me about it until Scootaloo did. I believe Commander Bright Feather is preparing an announcement about it, as well as Scootaloo's armor and weapon." Celestia slowly released Luna as she moved back, letting her sister end the hug on her own terms.

"Weapon too? You're giving her one of your spears?" Luna was looking around, feeling more than a little in need of her morning coffee. "Drat it, where is the coffee?"

"I prefer tea. Your coffee is normally brewed in another two hours." Celestia nodded to the Guards by the door that led to the kitchen. "Do tell the kitchen Luna requires her bitter bathwater to start the evening."

"I'll have you know, my bitter bathwater is the finest blend of dark beans in all Equestria. You don't even want to know how the beans are refined." Luna tossed her head and walked over to Scootaloo. "You have taken oath with my sister?"

Scootaloo stood straight. "No, Your Highness, I haven't. I promised Equestria I would protect its leader."

"Well said. Come, we hunt." Luna beckoned Scootaloo with her wing and gestured to the side door. "You will be up late tonight, so I'd suggest having some coffee. Have you had it before?"

"My mums are both in the Guard. I know what coffee tastes like."

"Well, now you're going to learn what good coffee tastes like." Luna almost pranced as she led Scootaloo to the exit of the throne room.

"Don't lead her astray, sister," Celestia said.

Pausing, Luna looked back over her shoulder with as much innocence as she could muster. "We will tread nowhere near astray, Tia. I will stop at amok."

The night became an eye-opener for Scootaloo. Celestia and Luna told her their stories, the battles they'd fought and the friends they'd made, and even as Celestia brought the sun up the next morning, she still felt excitement. "What will I be doing on my first day?"

"The same thing I'll be doing on your first day," Luna said. "But before we sleep, there's a matter of equipment."

"Yes. Once Sharp Horn arrives, I can give you your new armor and your spear." It had been a cozy night for Celestia. With just her and her sister sequestered with Scootaloo, the hours had passed easily as they reminded each other why they weren't just sisters, but friends. "We'll receive a chime when she's here. Would you like to have breakfast with us?"

Scootaloo jumped to her hooves and trotted in place to get them working right after she'd been laying still so long. "What do—" She was interrupted by a yawn that halted her in her tracks.

"I'll go see where Sharp Horn is," Luna said.

Leading Scootaloo to the kitchen, Celestia tried to sneak in and get a seat at the staff tables inside, but Gretchen stomped over and glared at the princess. "I would love to argue about my right to sit at a table in my own castle, Gretchen, but we both need something to put in our bellies before we sleep."

"This is the little terror that asked to join the Royal Guard? I heard about you from Jam Scones—she said you have quite the kick." Gretchen turned her head and let out a trilling-whistle. "I'll get you both something."

"How'd she know I was—?" Scootaloo stopped herself from finishing.

"The Terror?" Celestia liked the title. "The ritual of inducting a Royal Guard is old, Scootaloo. I have conducted them for almost a thousand years. The only reason I'd be escorting somepony here at this hour, looking like I hadn't slept, would be if you were a Royal Guard."

"Oh."

"I find myself enamored of your title, by the way. You haven't been in the Royal Guard a day and already you inspire upheaval. Don't stop."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 18 Part 1

"She said it was the only way she could foresee of dealing with all these insane little problems that keep cropping up. Chaotic magic is growing in strength without him around." Sweetie Drops was standing comfortably on a crest overlooking six friends talking to Celestia. Behind her was two squads of Monster Hunters and one of Royal Dragoons.

At Sweetie's shoulder, as she ever was when she could be, Lyra watched the exchange in the distance. "I felt it myself. It is not nice when your spell wants to make custard pies instead of letting you safely land."

Sweetie gave Lyra a nod. "And here it goes. Keep your eyes open, everypony. If things look to go wrong, we move in. Not before."

Together the three dozen and two ponies watched as Celestia departed on a chariot pulled by her guards. When Discord was finally released, and only performed minor chaotic actions, it was somewhat of a disappointment.

"Isn't he going to go wild and turn the sky into chocolate rain again? I can't even feel a wave coming off him." Lyra cautiously activated her horn and cast a few simple magic-detecting spells. "There are a few ripples, but it wouldn't even hurt a fly."

When the six friends—and Discord—left the field and headed their own ways, Sweetie let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, stand-down. I believe the Heroes have it under control."

Waiting for the small army to relax and start to organize a withdrawal, Lyra waited until she got Sweetie alone to ask, "Heroes?"

"Twilight and her friends. They just seem like ordinary ponies until you see them face-off against Discord or Luna when she was—" Sweetie cleared her throat. "To me, and to a lot of ponies, they're heroes."

Lyra snorted and shook her head. "It's a lot harder to picture Twilight as a hero when you have fond memories of engaging her in a burping contest." She looked among the platoon of Guardponies and spotted the three lead sergeants in each. They all looked at her for orders—it was starting to freak her out.

"Come on, let's get this lot back to Canterlot before they charge us for a second day of rental."

"Okay, everypony, the captain says we're heading home. Form up your squads for fast movement. Unicorns, you remember the drill?" Lyra didn't have to shout—everypony could hear her just fine because they were all listening for her. Getting six shouts in reply, she turned to Sweetie. "Ready when you are, captain."

Twenty-eight ponies stepped the moment Sweetie did. She'd never asked for this level of authority, but she was damned if she was going to let Celestia, Luna, or the soldiers under her (provincial) command down by screwing up. She stepped from her initial trot to a canter after ten strides, then to a gallop. When her tenth stride of the gallop finished, the first teleport happened.

The pattern was simple. Ten strides—ten pony-lengths. Lyra galloped alongside Sweetie, but while she performed the teleports, she was focused on the three squads and their own patterns. The spell was simple, as teleports went, the only strain to it was they were required to move nine ponies each per cycle. To combat that, she had two unicorns in each squad alternating their teleports so they only moved every twenty.

Lyra hadn't made the task hard. The spell was pre-built with all the variables punched in. All the unicorns had to do was count the strides and activate it. The combination of stamina and magic shunted them across the landscape faster than even the best squad of pegasi. Even reaching the bottom of the mountain and starting their assent didn't slow them down.

Only when they reached the plateau that Canterlot was built onto did Lyra call a cease to the teleporting. "Cease casting!" Sweetie guided them around the edge of the city and toward the Guard facility at the "rear" of Canterlot.

Sweetie slowed them down to a canter and trot, then she halted and turned—finding every single one of the platoon standing straight and looking proud of themselves. "Good work today. Any situation we can walk away from is successful. Dismissed."

"You heard the captain, you're all on leave until the end of the week, but ensure you report in here each morning." Lyra turned to walk with Sweetie, and was joined by the three sergeants from the squads. "Nice work."

"Ha. It was a cakewalk. That spell is ingenious, Heartstrings. I take it all the new unicorn recruits are being trained to use it?" Jam asked, her body still at fully readiness despite the command being given to stand down.

"Absolutely. I've tweaked it to within an inch of its life. Just a normal teleport, but it sure eats up the distance." Lyra looked to the two Monster Hunters sergeants. "Your scouts are in position?"

"Just visiting Ponyville," Fresh Baked, one of the Monster Hunters' finest, replied. "One of our scouts has been in Ponyville for years now, but his brother came home to spend some time keeping an eye on things. With the Everfree Forest so close, you better believe we keep an ear on that town." She looked over at Glider, the other Monster Hunters' sergeant.

"Yeah. On top of that, we have a family visiting the town. Daughter is in your training program, the couple are both in the Guard. Hey, heard your filly won the end of year award this year. Joined the Royal Guard—how did Shining Armor take that?"

"Change of hooves up at the castle. Shining took up with his wife, Cadance, and they're securing the Crystal Empire. Captain Bright Feather is commander up there now, and he took it well. After some research, he discovered that the Royal Guard used to have mares in it, but some hundred or so years back they got a little strange about it." Lyra didn't mind keeping to the official line that Bright had always been fine with the change. "So Cadet Scootaloo is the first mare in nearly two-hundred years to be in the Royal Guard."

"Oh, right, the changeling attack. How'd the defense against that go? I heard you had a queen to deal with," Jam asked.

"Ugh. Don't remind me. I thought I had pretty good mind-control resistance, but she cut through it like a knife through butter. Best I could do was tip a friend off what was happening—and only then because Queen Chrysalis was dumb as a plank when it came to giving restrictive commands." The conversation ran to less exciting topics as they worked through the city of Canterlot and finally advanced on the castle entrance.

On guard at the front gate, Scootaloo watched her parents and three other Guardponies advancing and tried to keep as unflappable as possible. It was hard to do, given seeing them both meant whatever mission they'd been on was done. "Halt! Who goes there?"

"Commander Sweetie Drops of the E.U.P. Guard, along with Sergeants Lyra Heartstrings, Jam Scones, Glider, and Fresh Baked." Their reply wasn't urgent, so Sweetie wasn't inclined to ask for express service. "My identification."

Scootaloo examined the mark that Sweetie held out, then brought her own one close to it. "Very well, I'll escort you in, commander." Shifting her spear to a position she could carry it while moving, Scootaloo turned and started marching.

Jam shot Lyra a big grin and nodded, and got an answering smile back. Cute as it was to see the young mare taking her role as Royal Guard so seriously, the weapon she carried and her skill from the sparring match was a firm reminder to Jam that she had to always be prepared.

The entry hall was quiet, no nobles apparently needing anything. They marched right through and into the throne room to see the throne vacant and Celestia at a small desk doing paperwork. Scootaloo halted, adjusted her spear, and took a step to the side. "Commander Sweetie Drops of the E.U.P. Guard, Sergeants Lyra Heartstrings, Jame Scones, Glider, and Fresh Baked!"

"At ease, Cadet Scootaloo." Celestia stood up from the seated position she'd been in and gave her tail a few flicks to remind it that she should be able to feel it. "Things went well, commander?"

"Exactly as you expected, Your Highness." Sweetie stepped forward, reaching hot a hoof to give Scootaloo's shoulder a gentle poke. "They freed Discord and immediately he started acting up. By the time they left, it all seemed under control."

"He won't be for long. I hold no expectations that this will go perfectly, but I believe it vital that he be offered redemption." Taking a deep breath, Celestia tried not to think about all the others she'd helped deal with in her past that also deserved a second chance. "How goes the search?"

"We dug up three candles that could, apparently, be used to summon a demon. They were just honey-scented. Our special instructor is training a squad of Guardponies in the fine art of defeating traps, and is itching to head out on a mission herself." Giving a knowing wink when she mentioned special instructor, Sweetie continued giving a rundown of their continued hunt for dangerous artifacts. "A set of teaspoons that were passed down from mother to daughter, in a small town, turned out to actually be haunted—by the spirits of the ponies who passed them down. We left them with the last in the line and offered her an exorcist, burial plan, and access to some really good silver polish my mother used to use. She has not gotten back to us about which of the three she wants."

Celestia struggled not to laugh, eventually compromising and sighing. "Perhaps I will let you go after the bell. At least it would give you something worthwhile to do. The item is said to be quite powerful, too. School holidays end in a week." Her eyes (the one she let remain visible and the one currently hidden by her mane) slid sideways to Scootaloo.

"Yes, Your Highness. We have already arranged with schools all over Equestria to provide unicorn, pegasus, or earth pony instructors if they lack anypony nearby to fill the role. A good example is Ponyville itself. Being predominantly settled by earth ponies, they lacked a lot of the extracurricular teaching that pegasi and unicorns would need. We have a pegasus in town who is competent enough that we're paying a stipend to help, but with Lyra's workload increasing, she isn't likely to be able to teach unicorn foals anymore."

"Trying to fill all the gaps in society?" Celestia asked.

"No. Just trying to fill the gaps I know I can fill."

"Very well. I will authorize a stipend for teachers in locations you can't provide for. This is more load for your shoulders—ensure you tell me should it become too much." Waiting for Sweetie to make eye-contact with her, Celestia nodded and smiled. "Now, I have plans for another gala, and given how well you planned that wedding—I wouldn't miss having Lyra help in its arrangement."

Lyra perked up at "I've already got a great idea for food. Zecora, the zebra I told you about, has been teaching us so much about her home's food. The trick will be teaching the kitchen how to emulate the dishes."

"Those overly spicy dishes, you mean?" Sweetie asked.

Celestia's smile widened and she wasn't able to stop her giggling this time. "This will be perfect!"

Sweetie rolled her eyes and "Why do you torture your courtiers?"

Schooling her giggles down to a confident smile, Celestia managed a moment of calm to say, "Tradition." She noticed somepony important waiting by the staff door and cleared her throat. "Joyce, please join us."

With a binder of papers under one wing, Joyce walked over and carefully stood beside her daughter. "Sorry to bother you, Celestia, but you wanted this information from the archives?"

"Perfect timing. This is the manifest of the magical items in the Castle of the Two Sisters." Just saying it made Celestia's heart ache, even if her last time there had been far more joyous than sad. "And one extra item. Commander Sweetie Drops, would you be able to arrange a pickup?"

The question captured Sweetie's interest and curiosity. She knew the Castle of the Two Sisters was where Luna had returned to and been restored by Twilight. "'Manifest'? How many ponies will I need for this pickup?"

"No more than a dozen. Most of the items are inert, though I would ask caution to be taken as many of them have significant value, both obvious and not." Celestia passed the notebook to Sweetie. "There shouldn't be any surprises there apart from any local beasts, but I wouldn't suggest taking the Everfree Forest lightly."

Sweetie bit back from all the wonderful and sarcastic responses she could have given, instead just taking the notebook and slipping it into one of her armor's little nooks for such things. "Of course, Your Highness, I'll begin work immediately."

Seeing her wife start the telltale motions that begin a salute, Lyra snapped one off too, both of them holding still, waiting for their dismissal.

Celestia waited longer than normal—giving the pair some time to panic and wonder what was going on. "If you don't hurry, I might get cross and assign you to the kitchen." But, to her delight, neither moved. "Dismissed."

Lyra and Sweetie both giggled on their way out of the throne room, not realizing their little retinue was giving chase. When Jam reached their side, both tried to get themselves under control. "Yes, sergeant?" Sweetie asked.

"Do I even need to ask what the deal is now? The princess gave you a new mission—do you think you'll need the Dragoons for it?" Jam was still trying to process what she'd seen. She'd heard of bat ponies, but it was her first time seeing one up close—to say nothing of how casual Lyra and Sweetie were with Celestia.

"You'll have to speak with your commander, Jam. We only had you because of Dis—" Lyra cut herself short of saying his name, knowing that doing so could attract Discord's attention. "Him." She had to freeze in place, halting her trot.

"Me? You should know just thinking my name is enough." Discord looked at the five ponies with more than a little curiosity. "You know, if I just took away your horn, and got another pegasus"—with a snap of his digits, Discord made Lyra's horn vanish and Scootaloo appear—"you'd be the spitting image of another group of six friends."

"Discord!" Sweetie didn't have time to notice Lyra's horn missing. She aimed herself at Discord and, walking right up to him, fought to keep herself grounded against magic attacks.

"My horn—" Lyra sat back and reached her hoof up to her forehead. "Where's my h—?"

Sweetie stomped a hoof on the ground and glared up at the draconequus. "You're out on parole, and that means not hurting ponies! Give Lyra back her horn and put Scootaloo back where she was or—"

"Or what? What could you possibly do to me? In case you hadn't noticed, you six are not the ponies with ancient-and-powerful artifacts of deus ex machina at your beck and call. For that matter, even they aren't in a good position to deal with my antics right now." Discord was just getting warmed up when Sweetie bumped against him. He'd felt earth ponies try to ground away his magic before, but none had come anywhere near what she did with the slightest touch. "You know, that almost hurt."

The relief Sweetie felt at actually being able to affect Discord completely failed her when he gestured her way and she started to float off the ground. It should have been impossible to break her bond with the stones of Canterlot, but he'd done it effortlessly.

Floating Sweetie all the way to eye-level, Discord poked her nose with one claw. "Didn't anypony ever teach you it's not nice to get all pushy?"

"I can't believe I'm going to do this." Lowering her head, Jam Scones warmed up her horn and unloaded her best lightning-blast spell. She'd never seen a non-pegasus ignore it, but the way Discord just flinched slightly at the crackling electricity left her starting to panic.

"This is odious," Discord said as he snapped his digits. The second blast coming at him from Fresh Baked turned into a long candy cane that he snapped off mid-air. Raising his paw again, he prepared to alter the fabric of reality. "Now it's time to have some fu—"

A rush of wings announced a new arrival. Dark fur covered Tufts' body as he slammed into the ground between Sweetie Drops and Discord. Clearing his throat, Tufts leveled a glare at Discord. "Are we going to have to do this after all?"

Freezing mid snap, Discord looked down at the bat pony and ground his teeth. "I was willing to leave you and all your family alone, but these"—Discord gestured with his talon toward the group—"don't look anything like you."

Seeing Tufts confused Lyra for several seconds, until she remembered what he was. "Dad? What's going on?"

When Tufts raised an eyebrow, Discord threw his head back dramatically and snapped his paw to return everything to normal again. "Oh bother. How many ponies are related to you?"

"Lyra and her wife, their daughter Scootaloo, and Scootaloo's coltfriend." Tufts wasn't about to leave anypony out. Reaching his wing up, Tufts poked Discord on the nose with it. "I'll consider this a favor you owe me." With no more words Tufts vanished.

"Well, that's what I get for not reading the previous two stories. Okay, since I'm not allowed to play with you, I'll go back to making Twilight's life a misery." Discord vanished too.

Sweetie dropped to the ground with a thud to find her earth pony magic reassert itself. She turned her head to see Scootaloo gone and Lyra's horn back. She felt like saying a whole string of bad words, but she held herself in check.

Clearing her throat, Jam asked, "Would somepony mind telling me what the horse apples just happened?" She slowly set aside the magic she'd been spooling up in the back of her head.

"My dad, uh, he's a bit of a big deal back home." Lyra looked to Sweetie for help.

Rolling her eyes, Sweetie tried to fill things in as politically as she could. "As in, a big enough deal magic wise that he'd give Discord a headache."

Fresh Baked shook her head to banish the thought from it. "I'll need to report this, even if I'm glad he sorted things out. What's your father's name?"

Lyra felt defeat settled in. She watched Fresh pull out a notepad and pencil to start writing details down. "Tufts Mango." Slumping against Sweetie, Lyra felt like she was betraying Tufts' trust by giving even that. "Please, he doesn't want to cause any trouble."

"It's less that I have to report your father and more that I have to report how a fight with Discord was resolved." For some reason it stung Fresh to have to do, but she knew it would be her rump on the line if somepony else reported it and she'd been found to let it slide.

Sweetie kissed Lyra on the cheek. "I'll start organizing a group to deal with the princess' needs, you find Tufts and talk to him."

"He should have left it up to us. We could have dealt with Discord."

"I don't know what fight you were watching, but I gave him my best frequently-lethal spell and he didn't seem all that fussed about it." Jam looked at the other two sergeants. "I'll be making a report too."

"You're right." Lyra shook her head and let out a sigh. "Thank you, commander, I'll take care of that and be with you as soon as possible." Turning for a side street that led to the outer-radial of Canterlot, Lyra stepped up from a trot to a gallop.

It didn't take Lyra long to reach her parents' home. She froze at the door, unsure whether to burst in or knock. Focusing her thoughts, she lifted a hoof and rapped on the door three times.

Tufts sighed and stood up. He'd managed to calm his anger only by taking it out on a mango, though he hadn't felt like he'd caused enough damage to the poor, delicious fruit yet. "Coming." He was unsurprised to see Lyra waiting for him. "You might as well come in."

Walking inside and closing the door behind her, Lyra practically fell onto the couch before heaving a sigh. "The cat's out of the bag."

Sitting on the couch beside her, Tufts reached around Lyra with a wing and gave her a squeeze. "I thought that would do it. He shouldn't have tested me."

"Tested you? What was all that about?" Lyra asked.

"Did you read anything about what I was in the Dreamtime?" When Lyra shook her head, Tufts continued. "Discord is close to me at my worst. I did—bad things simply because I wanted what others had. When Discord was first freed, we met. It wouldn't have been much of a fight, but it would have been a fight he wasn't prepared for. We had tea, we shared a mango, we were cool. Then I find him using magic on my little filly."

"Dad, we could have handled him. You didn't have to step-in like that. Now we all have to file reports detailing that he stood down because of you." Lyra, even in her armor, leaned sideways against Tufts.

"Would you be able to take care of Gara while I go and make my introductions to Celestia?" Tufts asked.

Lyra shook her head. "No, but I'll come with you while you take her with you. Mum was working up there today."

Letting out a surprised meep, Tufts looked into Lyra's eyes with surprise. "You're coming with me?"

"Of course I am, Dad. What, you'd think I would miss this—miss being there on your side?" Lyra scoffed and straightened up before stepping off the couch. "Grab the little mango thief and we'll all head on up to the castle. I was literally just coming from there."

"You don't have to—"

"Yes I do. Now, where's Gara and I'll carry her—if you're so nervous about this."

Rolling his eyes, Tufts fetched Gara and together they made their way to the castle. Scootaloo was once again at the gate and looked at Tufts with some surprise.

"I'm here to see Celestia," Tufts said.

"Relax, Scoots, we're just here to let the princess know who Tufts is." Lyra wanted to give the filly a relaxing pat on the shoulder, but under the circumstances she knew Scootaloo wouldn't appreciate it.

Long Shift looked from Scootaloo to Lyra and finally to Tufts. "Cadet, you wait here with Seltzer. I'll escort them in." He nodded to Lyra and the bat pony and led the way toward the castle. "How do you want to be introduced?" he asked when they had the privacy of distance.

"Tufts Tjinimin Mango." Looking over his shoulder, Tufts felt his serious expression melt at the sight of Gara yawning. "And Garawang Mango. Daughter of Joyce Mango."

"Tufts is my dad, and he's also Duchess Robin Mango's dad," Lyra said. "And even if Gara can't say it yet, he's her dad too."

The walk inside almost felt like a funeral procession. Lyra carried her little sister on her back and walked just behind and to the side of Tufts. There was two petitioners in front of her, but neither spent more than five minutes in the throne room. She lifted her head at last when the sergeant at arms called out Tufts' name, Gara's name, and her own.

Inside, Lyra could see her mum standing beside Celestia, looking as nervous as Lyra felt. She opened her mouth, intending to speak, only to see Joyce shake her head very slightly.

"And here I thought we had just one agent of chaos." Celestia's tone wasn't hard or angry, she didn't want this to be punishment. "Long have I maintained that anycreature is allowed to live in my domain so long as they maintain my peace. Why are you here?"

Tufts tried to read Celestia, at least visually, but there was nothing giving away how she was going to react. "I came to your country to be with my family. My wife, daughter, and"—turning to Lyra, Tufts lifted Garawang from her back with his wings and held the filly close—"my newest daughter."

"That's not an answer to my question. Why are you here—in my throne room?"

Joyce cleared her throat. "Your Highness?" When she got a nod from Celestia, she continued. "My husband was attempting to not cause trouble while in your domain. He kept his powers restricted to just our family. He was under the impression you would be unhappy with his mere existence."

"There are several beings with whom I am unhappy with, but their existence is not the reason I am. King Sombra, for example, because he attempted to enslave an entire continent and did manage to come back for a second try, or perhaps Tirek, a centaur so depraved that he would use his magic to drain others of theirs to fuel himself. Tell me, Tjinimin, what great crime have you done to draw my ire?" Celestia only managed one minute of confused stuttering before she smiled at him. "So, no great crimes, and you bring warmth and comfort to several ponies I have found to rely upon. Let me put it another way—in what way do you believe the scales of my judgment would be shifted from favorable?"

Tufts stared at Celestia with more than a little shock. "I—I could have fought Discord. Back when he first showed up."

Closing both her eyes for a moment to steady herself, Celestia looked to Lyra. "Sergeant Heartstrings, is he a member of the E.U.P. Guard?"

Lyra, seeing where Celestia was going, felt pure relief—but also playfulness. "Your Highness! No, ma'am!"

Celestia ignored the sharpest response she'd gotten from a Guardpony in over a hundred years and instead quirked her eyebrow at Tufts. "Well? While defending your home country would have been nice, you were under no obligation to." She let out an expansive sigh she'd mastered nearly six hundred years earlier. "But I assume you want to have a long talk, and I suppose I must, but you are under no obligation to."

"I—I would appreciate that." Tufts took a deep breath and looked to Lyra at his side. "Could you take care of Gara until I'm done?" Lyra's smile warmed him more than any words could. She trusted him to a ridiculous level—or so he judged it.

"Why don't I give you the rest of the day off, Joyce, and you can take care of your filly while I talk with your husband?" Celestia asked.

"Of course, and thank you." Joyce left Celestia's side and walked over to her husband and kissed his cheek. "You're making a mountain out of a molehill. Come home when you're done flagellating yourself."

Lyra waited for her mother to take Gara before sending Celestia her biggest smile, turning, and walking from the throne room.

When it was only her and Tufts in the room, along with her guards, Celestia sighed. "So, what manner of creature were you before you chose to be a pony?"

A feeling of utter relief poured through Tufts. He stretched a wing out to its full extent. "That's complicated. When magic leaked through to Australia, it made me. I was a god to the people there, though I wasn't worshiped. I did bad things in the past, but my daughters and wife have worked hard to convince me that I didn't do those things.

"Where was I? Right, created. Magic bubbled around me, and at first I thought about just using it to get what I wanted. It would have been easy to, but the more I looked at the world the more I saw magic warping the natural order. So I stepped-in. The magic was heavily loaded with patterns, but it was like they were dormant compared to local patterns. I used a mix of local patterns and the magic's patterns to make bat ponies."

Celestia listened, struggling to hide her shock at hearing how Tufts brought order from the chaos the magic of her world inflicted upon his. Deciding how a whole species would look chilled her to her bone, but he had wrought well—or so she estimated.

"But that wasn't enough. The animals of Australia were getting twisted, too. The Dreamtime wasn't a safe place for humans, so I had to make things work. I didn't have much time, either, but I had a—a friend.

"They gave up their freedom to secure the magic from flooding the world, but it probably won't stop forever. Damn big noodle is trying to protect them all, though. The last piece of the puzzle was that people didn't know how to use their new bodies or deal with the threats that magic needed to create. So, we made a—a package. A package of knowledge." Tufts let out an annoyed screech. "No, not just like that. We had help. Dream Thunder, daughter of Candela the teacher, put the information needed together, we gods just gave her all the magic she needed to make sure everyone in Australia got it."

"You don't sound like much of a god of chaos. If anything, you seem to have brought order from chaos," Celestia said. "I take it you spoke to Discord?"

"Twice. We had tea and mangoes the first time. It seemed to be a stand-off, so far as him wanting to face me in a fight, but when I showed him my daughter he ran away about as fast as I've seen any creature go."

Bursting into laughter, Celestia tossed her whole mane to the side as she howled with laughter at what she could see happening. "You, a god of chaos, remade a world about to be a blasted chaos-waste into order, settled down with a wife and three kids? He looked at you and saw his own possible future, and I would give somepony all the tea in the kitchen if they showed me a picture of his face when he realized that."

Tufts blinked at the assessment. Then he started to laugh in long, screeching bellows. It was a good release of pressure, and as it drew on Tufts felt more and more at-ease in the presence of Celestia. Finally, when they'd both managed to curtail their mirth, he admitted, "Not that I'd be able to stand up to him. I gave the bulk of my magic away to Dream Thunder. Uh, please don't let others know that."

"So you're out of the god business?" Celestia asked.

"I am. Too much responsibility. Exciting things are for the newer generation."

Letting out a short wheeze that threatened to become more laughter, Celestia shook her head. "You know, I believe you have my full support in that. I used to be young—used to chase around monsters and stallions—but now that is far better done by others. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy helping them grow, but I am weary of it. I think, however, I've found a solution."

"Giving your power away too?"

Shaking her head, Celestia felt at ease knowing the story behind Tufts. "Well, maybe eventually, but I'd rather encourage some to grow to surpass me. The wheels of destiny and harmony are already in motion."

"They needed a push?"

"Not usually with your daughter around, but in this case it has required a few nudges." Celestia's throat felt a little dry, and she considered it a perfect time to take her leave. "If you'll excuse me now, I believe I have business to get back to. If you ever need to talk, Tufts, please don't think me too busy."

"And if you ever want to share a mango, please visit." Tufts didn't need to be explicitly told to leave to understand Celestia's dismissal. It was a comfortable way to say goodbye, though, and a very batty one. Turning, he walked to the main doors and then out into the Canterlot air.

His wife had told him often enough that you don't fly over Canterlot castle, so he waited until he reached the front gate, when he saw Scootaloo was absent. Part of him worried that his visit had complicated her work experience, but he couldn't do much about that now. Spreading his wings at the top step, he took to the air with a joyful screech.

Not bothering to spiral into the clouds, Tufts flew relatively straight home, landing in their backyard and slowly folding his wings back up. A home on the outer rim, for bat ponies, was the best possible thing. Tufts delighted in being able to just step off the edge and glide, but it also served as a good landing area out of the way of the crowded streets.

"How'd things go?" Lyra asked when Tufts walked in the back door. "Did she exile you?"

"Yes. She told me I couldn't leave your mother's side for the rest of our lives." Tufts walked across the floor to where Joyce was laying on the couch nursing Gurawang, then sat down so he could face her. "I shouldn't have worried."

"Dad, you have a lot to worry about these days." Lyra started walking to the door. "Now you're all settled, I'll head off and find out what my new job is. Love you, Mum, Dad!"

As she walked outside, Lyra felt more relief take up the place where an old secret had been. It had never been a heavy secret—except when she'd had to keep it from her mother—but now it was in the open she felt like she wanted to trot. Except she needed to be at the Guard offices as quickly as possible.

Arching her neck, Lyra looked up into the sky and gave a little nod. Pomf! High above Canterlot, she tucked her legs under her as she began to fall. Soon it took another teleport—aimed on an angle—to shoot her on a ballistic trajectory toward the Guard training fields. At the last moment she teleported so that all her momentum pointed up. A final teleport, at her apogee, set her back on the ground with no momentum.

"It's not every day I see a unicorn fly. Welcome back, sergeant. Your commander is waiting in her offices." Solid Ground snapped off a salute to Lyra and got a quick one in reply.

"It's not every unicorn that can fly, that's why. Thanks for the message." Trotting through the gate, Lyra made her way to the offices that had been assembled for Sweetie's command.

When Lyra walked into the briefing room, Sweetie spotted the smile on her wife's face and felt herself relax somewhat. "Now we're all here, we can begin. Glider, Fresh, I got confirmation that you'll both be along with your squads. We don't know all the nasties of the Everfree Forest, but being ready for them will be your job. Sergeant Heartstrings will be my two-IC, in charge of the squad of Research and Acquisitions, while Sergeant Well can take care of the expertise aspect." She nodded toward Daring Do, A.K.A. Deep Well.

"Our list of targets includes a large quantity of royal jewelry, books, and as many scrolls as we can find. There should also be a set of horseshoes." Daring had started to fit-in, and that had scared her. She was the lone wolf, the wanderer who needed no assistant. Now? Now she had a squad of ponies she'd trained herself in how to get items out of ruins—and she was going to be accompanied by nearly twenty Monster Hunters.

"Everypony has a copy of the descriptions and quick concept sketches," Sweetie said. "Now, we could take a train down the mountain and ride in luxury, but we're the E.U.P. Guard!" Her voice was still just as loud and commanding as when she'd been a sergeant, and Sweetie was starting to appreciate how much Spitfire enjoyed delivering commands at full volume.

"You heard the commander. Form up outside. Two unicorns per squad. You all know the drill, let's beat the train!" Lyra stepped to the side of the door to let all the other ponies file out of the briefing room. When Sweetie came to her side, she gave a bump against her wife's hip with her own. "Tufts decided it was time to face the music—or in this case the princess. I wanted to be at his side to reassure him that it'd be okay, but he was still terrified when he went to meet her."

"How'd Princess Celestia respond?"

"She asked him why he was here. Making him think about his time in Equestria and what he loved about it. She was actually asking why he was bothering to bring it to her throne room. Nicely, though. She made a big deal about him not having done anything wrong." Following the last of the Guardponies out the door, Lyra let Sweetie walk behind her.

They avoided the ring streets of Canterlot, instead taking the grass of the mountain plateau—a longer route, but with less disruption to the city as 116 hooves flew in a gallop around to the southern descent from the mountain.

The descent involved a careful teleport at each rounding of the switchback, which meant the Guardponies were always turning. Lyra had considered using teleports to round the corners, but the resulting calculations were far harder to bake into a pre-made spell than merely forward.

When they reached the bottom of the mountain, Sweetie wheeled them around. "You're up, Lyra. Get us moving."

Even at a gallop, Lyra knew what Sweetie meant. "Alright! Ten strides, then teleport. First up in twenty. Prepare yourselves and no grounding!" She counted the strides. "Five. Four. Three. Two. Now!"

Three squads blinked out of existence and then reappeared again further down the road. Lyra and Sweetie were still in the lead, and everypony was still in formation.

"Good work. Five. Four. Three. Two. Now!"

Lyra felt and heard the failed teleport as she was activating her own. She slammed the brake on her own spell, accepted the blooming headache with grace, and turned to look at what had happened. Fresh's second unicorn was shaking his head while somepony tried to reach for him to check his horn. Trotting over, she came up on his off-side and could feel the crackling feedback of his horn from a full ponylength away.

"S-Sergeant?"

"Misty Vapor, you got some feedback there, huh? Let me balance it." Lyra stepped closer and started to weave a balancing net of magic. When she got to his side, she extended it around his horn and anchored it with a six hour duration. "Sorry, Corporal, but you're not using magic today."

As soon as the spell wrapped his horn, Misty almost folded in relief. The agony that had overtaken his horn faded to a dull throb and he found he didn't have to hate the world anymore. "S-Sorry, sergeant, I just—"

"You pushed too hard. Next time, Corporal, you let us know if you feel stretched. We have spare unicorns in this platoon." Lyra disliked dressing down a Guardpony, but this was not only something completely avoidable, but it would now cause them to be late.

"Are they alright?" Sweetie asked as she approached Lyra and Misty.

"They'll be fine. No magic casting for a week, and they shouldn't be around magic for a day. We'll have to run to Ponyville." Checking over her spell one more time, Lyra judged it a good enough splint to keep Misty from further injury.

Fresh Baked looked at Misty and felt her own annoyance grow. "Corporal, you can still run?"

"Yes, sir!" The shout might worsen his headache a little, but he needed to prove himself all over. The rookie of the squad, he always felt behind the 8-ball.

Turning his look away from Misty so the unicorn didn't see her anger show, Fresh addressed Lyra. "Sorry, sergeant. If you want to push on ahead, we'll catch up once we drop Misty off at the railway station in Ponyville. If you want to head the rest of the squad yourself, I'll make sure he is on that train and you still get over two teams."

Lyra turned to look at Sweetie, who she knew would be overhearing. The tight nod was enough. "Keep an earth pony with you too, there shouldn't be any trouble between here and Ponyville, but shouldn't isn't how we operate."

"This'll leave the squad with just one unicorn. You can take up the slack?" Fresh was already working through her squad to work out who best to take with her.

Giving a nod, Lyra turned to the squad of Monster Hunters. "Make ready to move out. Sergeant, do you have your escort picked out?" When Fresh nodded and tapped one of the heavy-armored earth ponies of the squad, Lyra returned her nod. "Okay, form up and we'll catch up with the others. I'll be calling the teleports and will be carrying them out."

"S-Sir?" the other unicorn in the squad, Dilly Dally, asked.

"Take a break, Corporal." The truth was Lyra worried Dilly Dally would do something stupid like try to show the training sergeant how awesome their teleports are. "Form up ranks!"

Running together as a command team, Sweetie was always the one in charge of the pair of them, but being in the squad with Lyra meant Sweetie had to follow her wife's instructions—particularly when it came to keeping in sync with the squad. She slipped into position in the squad where the missing earth pony had been.

Halving the distance she would teleport, Lyra drove the squad into a canter and finally a gallop before teleporting them to just behind the other two squads. When Lyra's squad appeared, the other two immediately kicked up from trot, to canter, to gallop as quickly as possible and stretched out to their flanks. "Ten strides, then teleport. Five. Four. Three. Two. Now!"

Having invented the fast travel system, Lyra had the best feel for the timing of it. What she'd been trying to do, however, was teach other squads how to get a similar feel for it. As they repeated the pattern again and again, she noticed the other two squads swapping unicorns several times—keeping one fresh magic user in case anything happened on the run.

By the time they reached Ponyville, Lyra felt a strain that reminded her of when she'd first started working to expand her capacity and regeneration. She wasn't physically panting, but she was feeling, magically, like she'd just gone a round with Twilight Sparkle. "Reports?!" As she shouted it, Lyra checked over the squad she'd been shifting. They all looked perfectly fine for Guardponies who'd just galloped from Canterlot.

"Monster Hunters ready for orders," Glider said.

"Research and Acquisitions ready for orders," Daring Do said.

"Nice work everypony, take a break and I'll see what our commander wants to do from here." Turning to Sweetie, Lyra raised an eyebrow at her.

"You show off. You didn't have to do that all alone." It was a struggle for Sweetie not to kiss Lyra, given how much work she'd put in, but she barely managed it and kept it to a butt-thump. "Fresh is probably going to dress-down that corporal all the way back. Let's keep moving. I'll take over control of the Monster Hunters squad, you keep everypony else in order, and we'll get this done with as little fuss as possible."

"Uh, begging the commander's pardon," Lyra said, "but shouldn't I be the one running the squad, Captain Drops?"

Sweetie glared at Lyra for a second then sighed. "I almost managed to retreat back into the cozy life of a sergeant then, didn't I?"

"Not for a second. You took the post, you have to do the work. Now, get your fuzzy butt out there and make a big announcement, then let me yell at everypony some more." Lyra delivered another thump with her flank against Sweetie's armor. For a moment she had to wonder if her wife even felt it, but Sweetie had a big, silly grin on her face.

Shaking her head and trying to banish her love-struck-filly expression, Sweetie said, "No dice. If you're running a single squad, I get to do the yelling." Clearing her voice, Sweetie called out, "We're going to circle around the town to the far side. From there we will wait for Sergeant Fresh Baked to catch up with us. Form up!"

The shouted order didn't need any discussion, everypony present knew their place in their squads and took them without complaint.

"We're not doing anything fancy, just keep it at a trot and move on my mark." Sweetie leaned forward and started to move. "Mark!" As tempting as it was to drag twenty-seven soldiers to Sugarcube Corner for something to eat, Sweetie knew that wasn't appropriate. She took them, as she'd explained, to the edge of the Everfree Forest.

Author's Note

Princess Luna: If Princess Celestia enchants the guards spears for destruction, are/were there any enchants that you placed upon them as well?

"The finer points of enchantment were not really my domain. The night, its denizens, the ponies sleeping in it, and fighting to survive are where I focused my attention." Luna looked happy to leave it there, but sighed and rolled her eyes. "Though, credit where it's due, my sister has wrought a grand weapon for our ponies."

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Lab

Chapter 18 Part 2

The sounds of Ponyville were more muted here, with some hills, trees, and distance between them and the burgeoning town. "This will do us. Settle in and have some rations. We're not going in without our missing members."

Relaxing, the three squads set about waiting for the return of the two Monster Hunters, and only had to wait an hour for Fresh Baked and their companion to rejoin them. Lyra spent the time refining her plans for the fast-travel system. Her chief requirement now was a check on the unicorns to ensure they weren't pushing too hard.

"We're ready to go, Lyra." Fresh Baked felt no worse for wear for having run all the way in, but she was looking over Lyra's shoulders at the notes the mare was writing. "I should have felt his fatigue."

"You weren't specifically looking for it, plus he was a new member to your squad. I'll figure something out to make this safer." Seeing Fresh look over her shoulder, Lyra held out her notes. "Do the Monster Hunters always have three unicorns per squad?"

"Hrmm. Luck of the draw. Ah, I see. Hoping to have the third unicorn use a spell to check up on the other two? No, there's no guarantee there will be more than two unicorns per squad." Tapping at that point on the list, Fresh asked, "Have you considered an item? I've long advocated for safety status gems to keep track of a unicorn's magical health. As a tribe, we're all too often pushing ourselves more than we should—like teleporting whole squads all the way to Ponyville."

"Yeah, yeah, but as a sergeant I can tell ponies what to do and do something different." Lyra stuck her tongue out at Fresh.

Rolling her eyes, Fresh asked, "Did it even cause you any strain, or is Celestia's Problem-Solver immune to regular unicorn problems?"

Counter-eye-rolling, Lyra gestured a hoof toward Ponyville proper. "I live in a town with Twilight freakin' Sparkle and her friends. Whenever I need ego deflation, I sit in the middle of town and watch them defeat some world-destroying monster."

"And yet, I heard tell that a certain unicorn tutored with and was good friends with that same Twilight Sparkle."

"I was a dumb pony who got dragged into Princess Celestia's school by luck. I needed all the help I could get." Folding up her notes, Lyra banished them back to her writing desk at her home in Ponyville. "Well, let's get these ponies working before they see the cozy life in Ponyville and all decide leave the Guard."

"No town is that comfortable to live in." Clearing her throat with a growl and a swig of water from her canteen, Fresh turned and walked to her squad to get them formed up.

Lyra watched the other two squads likewise prepare to move, and without her needing to raise her voice. "Bonny, what's the order of march?"

Pausing a moment to drink-in the love of her wife, Sweetie Drops turned to the assembled. "I want Glider's squad taking the lead on this, with Fresh bringing up the rear. You know the standard tactics for this, so I won't repeat them to you now. The Castle of the Two Sisters is down this path, over a pair of bridges, and shouldn't be too hard to reach. Let's move."

The march into the forest made the trees shake with the echoing of all those armored hooves. Everypony was tense and ready for anything, though the first bridge being washed away was not among their plans.

"This river is just a little too wild for us to swim it." Sweetie sighed and looked aside to Lyra. "You're going to teleport us—"

"I'm going to teleport us. But I think it'd be a good idea to put together the pegasi from both Monster Hunter squads to secure the shore would be a good idea. I'll send one of the squads across, half the pegasi can fly back—which gives us a squad of Monster Hunters on both sides—then I'll send the Research and Acquisitions squad, and finally the last Monster Hunters and myself." Lyra used her magic to create a model of the river mid-air, and showed how she planned to move ponies.

Reaching her hoof up, Sweetie tried to push all the ponies back to the other side, and was thankful when Lyra moved the little figures at her touch. "Can't we just have all the unicorns send us all over at the same time?"

"We could, so long as every unicorn has a firm grasp of teleportation. Also, that's a fair distance for most unicorns to teleport so many."

"But not you?" Sweetie smirked at her wife.

"Yeah, me too, but I know my limits—and I've been working on group teleportation lately. The only teleport that will be hard will be the last one, because I'll have to go with it."

"Why, though? You, me, a bunch of pegasi to keep our numbers up. You and me go sailing across and we'll be fine, right?"

As Sweetie suggested it, Lyra mapped it out on the diagram. "Huh, yeah, that would work. This is like the wolf, goat, and cabbage thing."

"'Wolf, goat, and cabbage thing'?"

"It's a logic problem. You have a boat that has room for two. You and one other. You have a goat, a cabbage, and a wolf. How do you get all three across the river when the goat will eat the cabbage if you leave them alone and the wolf would eat the goat." As she explained it, Lyra saw Sweetie's face turn to horror. "It's a human thing, the goats aren't intelligent there. So the trick is you take the goat across first, then go back, then take the cabbage across, and bring the goat back with you, then you take the wolf across, go back alone, and then take the goat over."

"But the wolf would eat the cabbage."

Opening her mouth to correct Sweetie, Lyra just groaned. "When did you get this sadistic streak?"

"When I married a mare who was right way too often and needed her ego trimmed on the regular." Bumping her flank against Lyra's, Sweetie was tempted—as always—to kiss her too. "Tell the squads how we're tackling this. Get our pegasi moving."

"Listen up, we need to get across this river and we don't have time to build a bridge. We have a plan put together. Every pegasus will head over to the other side to establish some safe ground with their numbers. I'll teleport Glider's squad over. I want every pegasus except for Gliders' to come back to this side. I'll then send Deep's squad, then Fresh's squad, then I'll teleport myself and the commander, and the remaining pegasi can fly back across to join us." Lyra noticed a few raised eyebrows on the unicorns in the group, but none more raised than Fresh Baked's. "Any questions?"

"Let me check your energy level before you do this. I'm not doubting you, sergeant, but you have put-in a lot of work today, and I don't want to lose another good unicorn." Fresh stepped forward, already working to recall the simple diagnostic spell. The spell she should have used on Misty.

"Thank you, Fresh. I'll confess I was feeling a bit drained earlier." Lyra had predicted, though, that her energy should be back to full following the repeated teleports from earlier. "I've always been better at training my regeneration rather than my capacity. It's why I had to cheat so much with making teleport spells."

"Cheat?" Fresh cast the spell and blinked as it gave her a sense of Lyra's magical wellbeing. "You're at full power. There's no sign of any distress or imbalance. I'd give my tail for that kind of magic regeneration."

"You're welcome, sergeant, to put your name down for retraining. I can show you the techniques used to build and maintain your magic regeneration rate." It was a challenge. Lyra didn't have any problem instructing experienced unicorns in how to improve their magic, but sometimes said unicorns didn't want to learn new methods.

Huffing out a breath, Fresh fought against her desire to appear tough and shook her head to clear the cobwebs out. "Seeing how hard you've worked today, I'd be crazy not to take you up on that."

Holding up her hoof, Lyra bumped it with the one Fresh offered her. "I'll see to your training myself. Now, how far have those pegasi gotten?" Looking across the river, Lyra could see the pegasi nearing the opposite shore. "Alright, Glider's squad, get ready for a push."

Fresh was more intrigued by Lyra's performance now, not having released the status spell. There was a series of small pulses of magic that left Lyra before she could feel the intense drain as Lyra cast the big teleport spell, but the way it spiked back up again was almost as big a shock. It only took Lyra four minutes to be back to where she'd started.

"Deep Well!" Lyra used the time it took the Research and Acquisitions squad to form up to ensure she'd recovered after the first teleport. When they were ready, she aimed and sent the entire squad hurtling through wherever teleportees went, only for them to land on the other shore.

While the pegasi on the other shore started flying back, Fresh bit her lip. "Lyra, what were those smaller pulses in your magic before the first big teleport?"

"Still had your spell up, huh? I am cheating. I always cheat, when I can. If you got Twilight Sparkle to teleport us across this river, she'd burn princess-levels of magic to do a point-to-point teleport. It would be exacting and leave her drained for a day or two." Trying not to preen, Lyra used her magic to pick up a small scattering of rocks. "But, if you use a distance-heading teleport instead, it uses far less magic."

"But you have to get the distance right, or you plunge them in the river?"

"Exactly! So…" With four quick jolts of tiny levels of magic, Lyra sent the rocks across the river in a walking series of teleports to judge distance. "Three hundred and twenty-two pony lengths."

"I almost preferred not knowing. You really do cheat then?"

"Every single time." As she said the last word, Lyra turned to look back across the river and, with the pegasi swooping in above them, she sent Fresh and her squad to the far bank—making sure Fresh herself landed right on top of one of the little rocks.

"You're putting in a lot of work on her, Lyra." Sweetie gave up all pretense and kissed her wife on the cheek. "She seems interested, at least. Planning on stealing her away from the 'Hunters?"

"Nope, the opposite, actually." With just the two of them, Lyra aimed her teleport to a clear bit of shore beside Fresh and her squad. The drain was far less than before, and with her regeneration she'd be able to accomplish it again moments later. "Taa-daa!"

The rest of the march to the castle was uneventful, even the bridge that covered a ravine had been repaired by someone. They marched right up to the dilapidated castle and inside the main gate.

"Alright. I want Fresh and her squad guarding the gate here. Glider, your ponies will work patrols of the castle while Deep's will get to work. Sergeant Deep Well, you have the lists of where everything should be?" Sweetie asked.

"I wish to enter a formal complaint about your emphasis on 'should'." Daring knew exactly what Sweetie was talking about. She didn't expect a single one of the items to be where the notes said, but it was a nice try by their author.

"Formally noted, sergeant. Let's get started, Guardponies!" Sweetie was relieved to see that the squads knew what to do from there on. Fresh's squad assembled a palisade at the front gate while Glider assigned teams of three into patrols. The rest was Daring and her trained ruin-raiders taking the castle apart inch by inch to retrieve everything on their list.

As night fell, watches were assigned and the ponies all gathered together in the treasure vault of the castle. It had only one escape route, but it also had just one way anything could come at them.

Settling down away from the rest of the squads, Daring pulled out a pack of her rations to eat. But, even as she started working on reconstituting a meal out of the magically preserved packages, her solitude was intruded upon.

"How are you holding up?" Lyra asked as she sat down beside Daring.

Daring knew it was her trying to be friendly, but she still wished she could have a little alone time. "You mean apart from working with more than just myself?"

"You're welcome to leave at any time, but I'd appreciate it if you could make sure this lot can do their job first."

"You're a monster, you know that? It would be so much easier to just slip away and go back to my old gig if you didn't say things like that." Pulling an apple out of a magic bag that had packed it flat surprised Daring, though she did her best not to show it. "Those lists—who wrote them? I know I joked about them always being bad, but these are accurate."

"Can I read one?"

"Here, try this one. Not only was it exactly as described, but it was exactly where the notes said." Daring passed over one page that had her own notes scrawled down the sides, between lines, and even over some of the writing. When Lyra snorted and laughed, it got a good frown from Daring. "What?"

"Guess it takes somepony who knows her handwriting." Lyra passed the page back. "That's Princess Celestia's writing."

Daring just stared at Lyra for several seconds before shaking her head. "I can't keep up with all this. You know the princess well enough to recognize her hornwriting? What next?"

Pulling an apple out of her own rations, Lyra polished it on her own shoulder a little. "I was her student for like six years. If you ask me, I kinda still am."

"You couldn't be normal?" The moment Daring said it, she realized this was the last thing to say in her position. "I retract the question."

After a few more chuckles, Lyra asked, "How much longer?"

"Here? If all these notes are this accurate, another day and a half." Daring was unsurprised when Sweetie walked over and sat down beside Lyra.

Knowing they were both looking at her, Sweetie started casually opening her rations bag. She waited right up until Lyra opened her mouth to speak. "You handled that squad well today, Deep."

"No I didn't. I just told them what to do and did it like she does." Pointing a hoof at Lyra, Daring bit another mouthful off her apple.

Lyra shrugged. "I just did the same thing but with Sergeant Broad Strokes. After a bit I figured out my own ways to do some of it. When this is done, have you considered staying on?"

"What? Keep running this?"

"No." Sweetie was in the process of tipping all the sugar from the little packets she'd gotten into an empty pan and setting the pan over the little magic heater. "You get reclassified as a specialist, and you get to do your own thing. We'll feed you location information."

"So you'd just let me—what? Go raiding wherever you get information of artifacts?"

"Sometimes one pony can get in and out easier than a whole bunch." Lyra was focused more on what Sweetie was doing than her own rations. "What are you doing?"

With the sugar melted, Sweetie pulled out her apple and stuck one of the provided forks into the bottom of it. "You knew I had a sweet tooth when you married me." She used the fork to roll the apple in the toffee and then used a hoof to pick up the little tray and tipped it over the apple.

Looking down at their apples, half eaten, both Lyra and Daring had regrets.

"Isn't that hot?" Daring asked, gesturing at the tray.

"Fireproof hooves. She grew up working in a kitchen." Lyra took mental notes to make candy apples with the squads with the following days' rations.

Waiting for the toffee to cool, Sweetie held out a hoof toward the notes. When Daring passed them to her, she started reading over them, nodding. "Good work so far—you've made great time. Keep it up, and we'll be out of here in two days."

The three set about making a more substantial dinner, trading unneeded items from their own rations for things they needed more of for their desired supper. Lyra and Sweetie both settled down and leaned slowly against each other so they could sleep with their cheeks pressed together.

Daring thought about her options and finally just shifted to her side and lay down. Her head barely touched down before she startled awake at a terrifying sound. A sonorous voice in the distance howled the call of a timber wolf. Then another picked it up. Then more.

The normal plan, when hearing such predators, was to spread her wings and get the heck away. Gear could be replaced and artifacts could be collected later. She jumped to her hooves and turned to wake Lyra and Sweetie—only to see both were already up and moving. She joined them.

"Timber wolves. I heard four, but that means there'll be more." Sweetie was glad she didn't need to give the Monster Hunters orders on how to handle the beasts as she advanced to the front ranks. "Scouts! Do we have a count?"

Lyra spotted the pegasus making his way over and let him have access to Sweetie. Her own mind was already working on solutions to problems their position afforded them. The treasure room was reasonably well-secured, even after a thousand years, but she knew timber wolves could be tricky.

"The pack's a big one. I saw the four howlers—big suckers—and four others. There'll be at least one or two I didn't see. Expect ten."

Using her magic, Lyra sent out tendrils of mist into the walls, floor, and ceiling of the room. She walked around, only vaguely aware that Daring was following her. On the third wall she checked, she found what she was looking for. "Can you mark this spot right here?"

Following Lyra's request, Daring pulled some chalk from her bags and started drawing a cross on the stonework. "What is—?"

With no time to shout a warning, Lyra grabbed Daring in her magic and teleported both of them backwards two ponylengths—just as a timber wolf smashed through the wall. "I hate it when I'm right. Sweetie!"

Sweetie's ears turned before she registered the shout fully. She turned to see dust coming from the back corner of the room. It took conscious effort to not lock down and harden herself up. "Lyra! Bring me!"

The teleport went off and Sweetie was standing between Lyra and a timber wolf. "Fresh! We have another back here!" Even as her voice was ringing out, Sweetie rushed forward, turned, and aimed squarely at the timber wolf's chest with both back legs.

Daring felt a shiver through the ground as Sweetie's hooves connected, and she heard a dull snapping sound as the rotting log that formed the timber wolf's chest cracked. She looked around, trying to work out what she could do, only to see Lyra send a dark red beam from her horn right into the timber wolf's face.

As the beast backed out of the hole, another lunged into it and leaned down to clamp its jaws around Sweetie's barrel.

"That's it, you big piece of rotting wood, spend all your time on me." Sweetie kept all four legs locked to the ground as she reached into the timber wolf with her talent and started to suck the magic out of it.

Seeing the timber wolf's eyes dim, Lyra aimed her horn just as two new beams flew past her and slammed into the side of the beast. Dumping the pattern and swapping for a shield, Lyra wrapped it as best she could around Sweetie, grunting with effort as her wife's talent sucked a lot of the energy from it.

Daring didn't know exactly what she was doing, but she rushed in fast and grabbed Sweetie up and onto her back. The strain was far more than she could have expected from one pony, but she reminded herself that Sweetie's armor was not the lightweight stuff she herself wore.

Lyra managed just two steps toward the onrushing Daring before her legs gave out. The blast that had hit her shield was the last straw for her magic and consciousness both. Folding her limbs, her last view was of the hard floor coming up to meet her.

"I can't believe I'm thinking what would Lyra do." Daring set down Sweetie and turned back to the gap. The timber wolf, its head a smoking hole, was being dragged back out. "I need somepony to shore up this gap! Any unicorns here know stone-summoning magic?"

Fresh Baked arrived at the hole just as two unicorns from R&A did. "Good thinking. Can you two pull stone up from underground?" She looked to the two unicorns—only one nodded. "Get on it. I want it as thick as you can make it. I'll keep the beasts out."

What shocked Daring was the corporal looked to her and not Fresh. "You assist the sergeant, Stellar. Swing, help me check on these two. I'll be damned if I'll be the one to report to Princess Celestia that we lost them."

And that was when Daring did the hardest thing of her entire life—she turned her back on the hole where imminent danger could come and left it to somepony else. "Check Sweetie first. Lyra collapsed from using magic, but Sweetie was hooves-deep with that thing."

Swingette wasn't as good with combat magic, but she could assess and heal basic wounds with her magic. "She's being squeezed by her armor. You need to help get it off her."

Games about her hiding her true self were all well and good, but Daring needed to use force—which meant she needed to use her wings. Pulling on the straps at her belly, breast, and rear, she shoved the armor free and reached out with her wings to start unbuckling Sweetie's armor.

"S-Sergeant?" Swingette, like most young adults keen on adventure, had read Daring Do novels. She couldn't keep back the shock in her voice at seeing that her sergeant had been a pegasus and had the right cutie mark.

"If it's not about Sweetie or Lyra, I don't want to hear it." It wasn't easy to get the armor off, and Daring could see why. Two big dents on each side where the beast had been crushing the heavy plates inward held fast around Sweetie. "I'm going to stand on the bottom plates and lift this side, okay? When I do, pull her out from inside it."

Clamping down on her excitement, Swingette used her magic to carefully form a sleeve around Sweetie—within her armor—and when Daring gave the signal, she pulled her out of the damaged steel. "Two broken ribs on this side and probably two more on the other if it's like this. Hold on, these aren't easy to fix."

Daring was about to say something when Swingette's horn lit up in a spiral of gold and silver, sending a trail of the twin-toned magic into Sweetie. Healing magic, she knew, was uncommon.

The exquisite pain of having three of her ribs pull themselves back into shape dragged Sweetie from unconsciousness. She shouted in pain as the bones knitted, but held as still as she could when she realized what was going on.

"I barely had enough to fix that, and couldn't spare anything to make it painless—sorry, commander."

Grimacing against the lingering shadow pain that was threatening to drag her unconscious again, Sweetie drew up her magic and pushed the agony aside. "No problems, Corporal Swingette. Thank you for making this a shorter recovery."

"Okay, corporal, now we check the sergeant." Turning to Lyra, Daring could see her laying still on the ground, but could see her chest moving.

Extending her magic to Lyra, Swingette felt for any problems. "She's fine. Magic drain and a little feedback." She drew back and then sent just a little twitch of her magic to settle Lyra's sleep. "She'll wake up weak tomorrow and with a headache."

"That's a normal Saturday morning for her." That's when Sweetie noticed Daring Do without her concealing armor on. It only took a glance at Swingette to see the mare almost exploding with questions. "Corporal, not a word to anypony else about our sergeant here."

Daring wasn't sure if it was disappointment or hope that blossomed. She could see the same slavish level of fan-excitement in Swingette as she'd seen in ponies in her past that discovered she was both real and in front of them.

There were so many words Swingette wanted to throw at Sweetie to argue about why she should drop it, but when her mouth opened she only had one to give the commander she respected. "Sir!" She turned to Daring. "Sir, can I help you with your armor?" It was a secret, after all—a Daring Do secret—and she was in on it.

Surprised by the discipline, Daring resigned herself to a nod. "Thank you, corporal."

Inspecting her own armor while Daring was hidden once more under the guise of Sergeant Deep Well again, Sweetie noticed how much it had been dented in when the timber wolf had bitten down on her. "I need to get this back to Sharp Horn." That's what she told herself, anyway. Sweetie didn't want to admit that she was sentimental for the heavy armor that had protected her for so long.

With the breach filled by layers of reinforced stone, Fresh Baked turned her attention to those recovering from the attempted flanking. A look back revealed Lyra resting on the ground (the slight rising and falling of her armor a huge relief) while Sweetie seemed to stand over her like a furious queen. "Not far from the mark."

"Sergeant?" Stellar Pie asked.

"Disregard that, corporal. Back to your squad now—it's going to be a long night." Approaching Sweetie, Fresh cleared her throat. "Captain, don't try to face off timber wolves alone, please? You have two squads of Monster Hunters here—use us." But, when Sweetie narrowed her eyes as Fresh, a deep sigh was her first response. "But thanks. Having them come up behind us would have been awkward."

"You're welcome, sergeant." Sweetie nodded to Fresh.

The remainder of their time at the Castle of the Two Sisters was spent mercifully quiet. The Research and Acquisitions squad completed their list and had several crates of extra scrolls and intact parchments.

What annoyed Lyra was having a corporal insisting she not do anything strenuous—it was only made worse by the fact that the first time she tried to do something strenuous with her magic, it made her feel worse. "You are the worst doctor ever, Swingette. When we get back to Canterlot, I'll take you on a forty-lap run around Canterlot, then give you a full magic review."

The threat, so Swingette had learned, was part of her sergeant's humor. "You know, sergeant, that when a member of the Guard is injured, it is up to the most senior medic to assess their condition, and no matter the rank of either, the medic has seniority."

It was exactly what Sweetie had established the moment Lyra had woken up and tried to tell Swingette to leave her alone. "This is the eighteenth time you've reminded me. Yes, I know that." Everypony else was stacking up crates and preparing their equipment to leave the castle with, while all Lyra was allowed to do was watch.

"That said, I would appreciate some more training with my non-healing spells, when you're cleared for duty again." It was a dream of Swingette's to be as good with magic as she'd seen and heard of Equestria's heroes being. "Y-Your teleports, some ponies say, are almost as good as Twilight Sparkle's."

"The same pony taught both of us"—Lyra smiled at the memories of school life—"but Twilight mentored me on magic, and we taught each other a lot of tricks with targeted spells. How good is your maths?"

Swingette's ears perked at the odd way Lyra tacked an S on the end of math. "Utterly terrible."

"Perfect! So you get to start how I did and I can teach you all the cheating ways to seem like an amazing teleporter." Without using her horn, Lyra started in on teaching how to use more of her "cheating" teleports than she normally did for recruits. "The trick is to get better at memorization. If you memorize different versions of a teleport with the distances and targets pre-calculated, you don't have to know maths."

"That—that really is cheating. Okay, so memory exercises are a big part of it." Swingette produced a notepad and pencil to start writing things down. "The other problem I have with them is the amount of magic they use."

"Yeah, that's going to be more hard work. You'll need to expand your amount of stored magic enough to cover at least two teleports quickly, but then you'll want your regeneration as high as you can manage."

"Right, so I need to work on both of those. How much work did it take to reach your level of regeneration?" It was something Swingette could be truly envious of. Even the Monster Hunters' unicorns had muttered in shock at how much magic Lyra had sustained in the repeated teleports.

"Per day, you mean." Lyra smirked. "I spend an hour every morning and another every night, when possible, to drain my magic down to nothing and keep it there. Constant work will make you able to reach the dizzying height that lets you look up and see Twilight Sparkle towering above you."

It got an appreciative laugh from Swingette. "She's that good?"

"The best way to explain it is a pony with exceptional capacity for magic, a natural affinity for all types of magic, and a mind that grasps every single aspect of it all and can bend all the rules to align with her desire."

"W-What about alicorns?"

"Like Cadance? Or like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" Lyra cursed herself for forgetting Cadance's title, but that was the problem with having royal best friends.

"Uh, any of them?"

"Twilight's magic knowledge is probably a few orders of magnitude greater than Princess Cadance's, and she wouldn't complain about that comparison. Princess Celestia has over a thousand years of knowledge and experience with magic, but despite that I think Twilight's intuition probably exceeds hers. Princess Luna is unknown. I have spoken to her only briefly on magic, and everything she seems to know is either related to dream magic or direct combat spells. Some of them aren't even spells—she just throws raw magic."

"You taught us that—"

"… that throwing raw magic is inefficient. It is, but there is one way in which it excels in combat, and that is for blasting through defenses and counters. To stop a blast of raw magic, you need an equal amount." Watching Daring organizing all the ponies into small groups to carry the big crates, Lyra let out a sigh. "I have to be content in the knowledge that I can never account for that. Alicorns can use a bludgeon to knock away anything with smaller magic capacity than them—and that includes just about everything in the world."

That made Swingette think about all the combat situations she'd read reports on. "Why didn't Princess Celestia use that on Queen Chrysalis?"

"When they invaded?" Lyra waited for a nod before continuing. "Bystanders. Instead she tried a more precise application of her magic directly into Chrysalis' horn. She didn't account for how much energy Chrysalis had. Apparently changeling queens can feed to insane capacities."

"Ahh…" It was hard to contemplate a monster like Chrysalis in her own terms. Swingette hadn't faced anything that needed that kind of reaction. Then she remembered the timber wolves of two night previous—the reason Lyra wasn't up to her duties. "It sometimes seems like the world's full of nasty things, but ponies have been pushing it back for a long time, haven't they?"

"Yeah, and we'll be pushing it back for a while yet." Arching her back, Lyra was happy to at least be allowed to wear her armor. A glance over at Sweetie, walking around without hers on, made her frown a little. They were supposed to be above this roughhousing now they had command positions.

Walking up to her squad with Lyra beside her, Swingette looked at the vast quantities of chests they'd liberated. The entire squad of Research and Acquisitions as well as half a squad of Monster Hunters were lugging their cargo. "Sergeant Deep Well is— You knew?"

"Let's avoid talk of this out here where anypony can overhear. A loose word or two could cost a pony her livelihood." Lyra hated being in the protected section of their column, but without her magic she was useless. "You understand?"

"Yeah." Swingette checked Lyra over with her magic, noting the snarl in the other mare's horn was slowly clearing. "I want to shout it from the rooftops of Canterlot, though."

The walk back through the Everfree Forest was uneventful, and their expedition arrived on the outskirts of Ponyville before the end of the day. Marching around the town was deemed the best idea, and soon the Guardponies were waiting at the train station.

"Why don't we march them all the way back? Is it really better to take the train?"

Without anything else to do, Lyra had been building a stronger rapport with Swingette. She nodded. "We are down several active members. There's no point risking something screwing up on the last leg of the mission. This was always a contingency."

Swingette gestured up toward Canterlot. "I just—I expected us to trot into Canterlot, cheered on as heroes."

"Every Guardpony is a hero, Swingette. I'd probably be struggling to walk still if it wasn't for your magic. And, from what I heard, you helped save Sweetie's life. That's something that makes you a hero to me." Lyra was just about to say something more when she heard a laugh behind her—a carefree and excited laugh. When she turned, it was just as Scootaloo was about to rush against her.

"Hold up! No attacking my patient—with hugs or otherwise. Please take it slowly miss…?" Swingette stood between Lyra and Scootaloo, her horn glowing in support of the barrier she'd put up.

"Relax, corporal, that's my daughter Scootaloo. I can still hug her, and for that I will pull rank on you." Lyra was pleased that Swingette didn't put up any fight on the matter. Wrapping a foreleg around Scootaloo, Lyra let out a happy sigh. "How'd your last few days in the Royal Guard go?"

"It was amazing! Wait, why are you her patient?" Scootaloo stepped back from the hug and looked Lyra over, trying to find signs of harm.

"Sweetie and I found ourselves in a bit of a bind with a pair of timber wolves. If you think I look bad, you should see how they came out of it." Nodding to her side, Lyra indicated Swingette. "This is Corporal Swingette of Research and Acquisitions. Corporal, this is my daughter, Cadet Scootaloo recently of the Royal Guard."

"Wait! You're that filly? We heard that the Royal Guard was opening back up to mares because a filly wanted to apprentice there." Swingette looked between Lyra and Scootaloo for a moment. "I should have known the ponies who would rush to take on a bunch of timber wolves on their own would be the parents of that filly. Hi, Scootaloo, can you help me to make sure your mom doesn't try to do anything crazy?"

"Sure. Magic injury again? Let me guess, a few days of rest for her horn… Did she try to use magic on Sweetie when she was grounding—again?" Scootaloo gave Lyra her best sergeant-sizing-up-a-corporal look.

"She's got your number, sergeant."

"I don't need help like that, corporal." Lyra had a big grin despite the wording. "What's got you in Ponyville, Scoots?"

"Just meeting up with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom before school starts next week." Spreading her wings, Scootaloo jumped through a few evasive movements that amounted to her bouncing around. "And I wanted to teach them some sweet new moves I learned—Oh, not fighting ones, dancing. For my last day, Princess Luna took me to a party, she said I was her bodyguard there, but Sharp Fang came too. Anyway, we met Vinyl there on her day off, and because it was Princess Luna, she did a set anyway, and we danced and danced!"

Pure and simple delight banished Lyra's worries as she heard that. A filly should get out to dance at parties, though it would be best if she didn't require orders from a princess to do it, or so she thought. "Did they let you keep the spear?"

Rolling her eyes and flopping her ears down to the sides, Scootaloo looked up at Lyra with as much drollness as he face could manage. "What do you think? I got to keep the fancy armor, though. Captain Bright Feather said I'd earned it."

"Are you kidding? The Terror of the Royal Guard? Of course you deserve your armor." Swingette gave a firm nod to show what she thought about that.

Scootaloo could see the crates of hidden items all packed up. It didn't take a genius to figure out that when three squads of Guardponies marched through town with what was probably treasure, it was probably also something that didn't particularly want to garner attention. "Anyway, I gotta go. I promised the girls we'd meet at Sweet Apple Acres. Bye!"

"Hold up, Cadet." Sweetie Drops reached out a foreleg and easily pulled Scootaloo into a hug, blindsiding her. "Take care."

Throwing her forelegs and wings into the hug, Scootaloo was surprised to realize Sweetie wasn't wearing her armor. It was a worrying thought since she knew Sweetie never took her armor off on missions. Now she had a pile more questions and knew she couldn't ask them out here. "Thanks, Mom."

"We should be back from Canterlot tonight." It still amazed Sweetie that Scootaloo was calling her mom.

"I'll cook then. I promise I won't let Sweetie Belle help again." It had been a good effort, but Scootaloo had struggled to find things such a novice cook could do without leaving her feel left out.

"Sorry to interrupt." Sweetie slowly let go, a little thrill of delight going through as Scootaloo hugged her a moment longer before she released too.

"Don't be sorry. I like your hugs." Giggling, Scootaloo took off at a gallop before pumping her wings and launching into the sky.

Lyra stepped up beside Sweetie and leaned her shoulder against the mare she loved. "Every time I see her, I'm amazed by how strong she is."

"Sergeant, you have my permission to kiss freely," Sweetie said. Lyra was fast, real fast. Sweetie barely had a moment to savor the touch of lips against her cheek and she'd withdrawn again. "Let's get this lot back to Canterlot and get this load signed off to the princess."

What met them in Canterlot was a squad of Royal Guard to escort them to the castle.

"Stall them," Sweetie told Lyra.

"What? Wh—?" It was too late. Sweetie had galloped off to the Guard training fields before Lyra had gotten the first syllable out. "Citron! Funny seeing you here." When Swingette tried to say something to interrupt her, Lyra made a firm gesture for her to keep back. "You'll just have to wait while we check over the manifest for all this."

One of Citron's eyebrows raised. "Lyra? What's going on?"

"Orders, sergeant. You know how it is with commanders, surely?" Lyra looked to Daring Do and nodded. "Captain wants us to verify the manifest. Just standard procedure." She hoped Daring would get the hint.

"Of course." Turning, Daring raised her voice. "You know the drill. I want every crate's contents double-checked before it leaves this station platform."

By the time Sweetie returned—wearing standard armor—she found Lyra standing between a grumbling Royal Guard sergeant and the rest of Research and Acquisitions squad—who were slowly sorting their way through the third box they'd brought with them. "What's going on here?"

"Just following standard procedures, Commander. All inventory must be checked against the manifest before surrendering it to any other guard unit." Lyra stood proud, awaiting Sweetie's telling-off.

"Sergeant, that procedure was revised a week ago. So long as a commanding officer of captain rank or higher is present, any amount of inventory can be transferred without a cross-checked manifest." It was all complete and utter nonsense, but it was just believable enough in a new Guard branch. "Get the crate in order and let's get things moving."

With the obstruction (Lyra) allowing the gears to move again, the Monster Hunters, R&A, and Royal Guards moved with swift efficiency through Canterlot to the castle. The stairway up to the castle was navigated easily and all the crates were diverted to the interim holding room (which was also the new entrance to the crystal caverns storage vaults).

It was some surprise to see Luna and Celestia join them in the holding room. Lyra ordered the three squads loosely under her control into rank and file while Citron had his fall into a flank position with the two princesses.

Sweetie Drops strode forward with the manifest of all their items. "Your Highnesses, we collected everything asked for and a range of items that you'd advised were secondary targets." She held out the paperwork and released it when a gold glow wrapped it.

"Were there any problems?" Luna asked. She could tell that one squad of Monster Hunters was a pony a short, and she recognized that Sweetie's armor was different.

"My staff sergeant can debrief if you'd like. I can ensure you have reports on the entire mission no later than tomorrow afternoon." Sweetie turned her head slightly until she could see Lyra behind her, then nodded.

Walking up, Lyra snapped off a deep bow to the princesses. "With your permission?" When Celestia gave her a bemused look that Lyra recognized as her I'll give you a title if you push this game further, she relented. "We had two incidents.

"The first incident was while trialing the new fast-march method I'd devised for accelerated movement of Guard squads beyond even train speeds without the use of long-range teleportation. Corporal Misty Vapor of Sergeant Fresh Baked's Monster Hunters suffered a minor case of overreach with his magic, resulting in an imbalance that I netted. I engaged with Sergeant Fresh Baked as to how we could better detect a pony trying to do more than their capability in this way—that information will be in my report.

"The second incident was after reaching the location and spending some time excavating the required objects. We were securing camp for the night when a pack of timber wolves attacked. The two squads of Monster Hunters were doing an excellent job of keeping them back from the entrance to our little cul de sac, but during my investigation of a hunch, I discovered the possibility they could make it not a cul de sac. Which is when a timber wolf broke in through the weakened castle wall. Commander Sweetie Drops and myself engaged with two timber wolves and drove them back long enough for the Monster Hunters to take over.

"During the second incident, I suffered from magical feedback and Commander Sweetie Drops had her armor crushed in the jaws of a timber wolf."

Luna was first of the princesses to recover from the information attack—she had become far more used to them with Moon Dancer as her advisor. "Quite the stumbling block. Do you have an estimate for when all ponies will be recovered?"

"I haven't checked on Corporal Misty Vapor, but they should be fully recovered already. My own recovery is estimated in another two days at most. Commander Sweetie Drops will require a new suit of armor," Lyra said.

While Lyra had been giving her report, Celestia was reading the manifest. She trusted her Guardponies to tell her anything immediately important, and it also proved a good moment for Luna to get further involved in the Guard. Then her eyes caught sight of two lines in the manifest. "Excellent work, everypony. Since this mission involved combat, I will accept citations for your squads in your reports. Dismissed, everypony."

Lyra and Sweetie didn't move a muscle. Seeing this, Swingette was conflicted. "C-Commander?"

"What's the trouble, Corporal Swingette?" Sweetie asked.

"I am supposed to be keeping an eye on Sergeant Lyra Heartstrings. I don't want to compromise her recovery."

"You have my promise she won't be undertaking any magic while in this room. You may wait outside." Sweetie waited for the hoofsteps to leave the room and the Royal Guard at the entrance to close the big doors. "Sorry about that. She took her duty very seriously."

"That's not a fault, nor something you should apologize for. The most important items are in crate four." Celestia didn't wait for anypony else present, she used her magic to pluck the top off the crate and withdraw what she needed. "No word of this is to leave this room or the ponies within it."

The crowns. Lyra had seen them when they'd been unpacked, but seeing Celestia holding them gave them far more weight than before. They weren't the simple tiaras any of the princesses wore day-to-day—these were ornate and huge.

"Our crown jewels. It's been far too long since I've seen these crowns." Luna approached her sister and picked up the smaller of the two in her magic. "These are only required at two moments—or so your own laws dictated. Your own coronation and the coronation of others. You didn't crown Cadance here, did you?"

"She was always destined to rule the Crystal Empire. I was but a leaf on the wind of fate with that mare." Celestia raised her crown up and put it on her head. "Equestria itself will have a new princess shortly, and I intend to crown her such."

"Twilight." The word slipped from Lyra's lips without her realizing or intending it. She felt like destiny had formed the word and put her breath behind it.

"Yes. Twilight Sparkle is about to face a test she is uniquely able to conquer. She may still fail, but I trust that harmony is taking a special part in this. You realize why you can't mention a word of this?" Looking at Lyra, Celestia felt the weight of her crown for the first time in centuries. It was heavy, but she was larger than the young mare who'd first worn it.

Together, Lyra and Sweetie dipped their heads.

"Your part in this was preparatory, and still is. The coronation will need to be catered. There will be the usual fare for most ponies wishing a good feast, but my nobles will require something more… exciting."

Lyra snorted at the command. "The preparations for the Grand Galloping Gala were for this?"

"My apologies for the ruse," Celestia said.

"The Gala will be perfect to use as cover so we can start training the kitchen now. I'll talk to Zecora about some truly mouth-destroying canapes."

"You have that look in your eyes, Lyra." Sweetie stole a quick kiss on her wife's cheek. "Tell me what you need me to do and I'll make sure you have assistance."

"Ahem." Luna hated herself for breaking up the nice, normal moment between two of the more trustworthy ponies she knew. "We all have work ahead of us. I'll expect your reports tomorrow."

It was dismissal, not that Sweetie could fault Luna in making it. "Of course, Your Highnesses." She bowed her head and started to turn, matching stride with Lyra toward the exit.

When the two were outside, Luna let out a sigh and turned to her sister. "Does it get easier?"

"Does what get easier?" Celestia had some idea of what Luna was asking, but she felt it important her sister say the words aloud.

"Giving ponies orders. Ponies who are—Ponies that don't deserve to be ordered around." The last sentence came out with more fire than Luna had expected, surprising even herself at her vehemence.

"They don't. They deserve a peaceful life of finding their heart's desire in love, work, and friendship. They deserve to be able to do as they please and not want for anything." It was a setup, of course. Celestia looked at her sister and quirked an eyebrow. "Care to finish it?"

"Is it that our duty is to make sure they're able to do that?"

"Partly. The world is not as forgiving as we are, Luna, and some ponies recognize that. They realize that for everypony else to be safe and happy, they need to adjust their own destiny to one of protector. They need to be the shield and spear that stands between Equestria and the things that wish it to end."

"Like you?" Luna asked.

"Like both of us, both of them, and all the brave ponies in this room." Looking around the few Royal Guard present, Celestia gave each a smile all their own.

"And Twilight?"

"Has walked the path she has not because I put her on it, but because it was always hers. I may have nudged her a little from time to time, but that was never more than—"

"You pushed her in my way," Stepping around, Luna faced her sister straight on. "That was more than a nudge."

Celestia nodded. "Perhaps, but I was desperate, and Harmony showed me the way."

"A vision?" Luna asked, getting a nod. "Why did life get this complicated?"

"It was always this complicated, Luna. It wasn't until I was able to see past my own shadow that I realized that." Reaching out a foreleg, Celestia was relieved when Luna gathered her up in a hug. "I've been scared and alone for so long I wasn't sure I would be able to share. You've taught me that I can, and soon Twilight will show us both that we can let go."

"You, maybe. I have time I wish to catch up on, sister." Squeezing Celestia for all she was worth, Luna let out a happy sigh. "And I'd like my big sister along for a while yet—I have so much more to learn."

Author's Note

Tufts: Do you ever regret giving up so much of your power?

"Not at all. Equestria has seen fit to give me enough magic to do some things still, for which I am thankful, but the bulk of my magic is back in Thestralia being used for good. Is this not what being alive is about?" Reaching to his back with a thumb, Tufts lifted Garawang up and under his wing. "To ensure that the world—or worlds in this case—are a better place for the next generation."

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Lab

Chapter 18 Part 3

[[ A Scootaloo Perspective ]]

Sweetie Belle found me first. It was way too early for school yet, but she always came to visit first thing in the morning. "Hey," I said.

"Do you still need to do wing-ups now you can fly?" She walked up beside me and started stretching her shoulders. "I mean, I wouldn't need to do all these little foal exercises once I can do real magic."

Pushing myself up from my belly with just two primaries on each side, I turned my head to look up at her. While she was doing her stretches, Sweetie was also working on channeling magic. "Lyra does that every day, you know? I figure it's just like cooking. You don't just stop cutting up vegetables because you can cook a big meal."

Sweetie froze and stared at me. "Wait, Lyra does basic exercises like this? Why?"

"You'd have to ask her. I've got a hunch it's a kind of stretching exercise for magic, but I'm not a unicorn." I settled back into my routine.

A bout of Sweetie-giggles let me know she was going to say something that would probably have me blushing. "You're not a unicorn—you just date one." Yup, she knew how to push that button.

"Firelance is—!" Ugh! Why did I always have to fall for that? Her giggles only increased as I fumbled for words.

Her laughter broke into a sigh. "I hope I find a gallant, handsome colt one day. Rarity keeps telling me I'm too young, and Mom says I shouldn't be distracted by a cute colt when I should be studying."

Finishing my wing-ups, I jumped to my hooves and started running in place to warm up. Sweetie followed along in silence. Eventually I had to ask, "So, any colts you do get distracted by?"

"A few." Without warning, Sweetie started her run.

I caught up quickly, cantering beside her gallop. She wasn't the fastest pony in Equestria, nor was she the slimmest, but I had to admire her determination to keep up her exercise. Apple Bloom had bailed on our early-morning runs because she helped out on the farm—exercise enough, I figured—but Sweetie had fought against the lazy path her life could take, and I'd be a poor friend if I didn't stand by her side.

We got halfway around town before I asked, "Well?"

"Well what?" Sweetie asked right back.

"Who are a few?"

She waited nearly a full lap before answering. "Not telling. Where are your parents today?"

"Working in Canterlot. They were up way earlier and left before sunrise." Sweetie wouldn't tell me, not now. I had to put up with her knowing about Firelance, but Celestia forbid she tell me who she liked. "One more lap?"

I could see the raw relief in her eyes for a second before she shouted, "Yeah!"

After our run we simply angled off toward Sweet Apple Acres. The sun was up and warming our coats, but we both needed to cool off before the hot sun made our sweating coats stink. Thankfully, Apple Bloom's big brother had showed us the bath he used—which was a huge barrel cut in half and filled with rainwater.

Our giggling and splashing must have made enough noise to get attention, because Apple Bloom walked around the side of the barn and spotted us. "How's your running going?"

Mid flap in the tub, I folded my soaking wet wings at my side and jumped out of the bath. "Great! Even better is getting to wash off quickly."

Instinct was crazy. It let me dodge attacks before the attacker even started them or, in some cases, before I could see them. Instinct made me duck to the side as fast as I could. A green-wrapped ball of water flew by my ear and right into Apple Bloom's face.

Blinking in surprise at the splash of water, Apple Bloom stared past me at Sweetie. "Now why'd you go and do that?"

"Scootaloo dodged!"

I turned to look at Sweetie, but she had that smile that made it practically impossible to get any meaningful revenge. Her coat was also soaking wet and her mane was hanging almost to her hooves. "You were aiming at me?"

"Yeah!" Sweetie still wore that grin.

My wings were useless for flying, but I didn't need them to jump up into the air and come crashing down in the water again, sending a wave over Sweetie.

"Hey!" Apple Bloom shouted from behind me.

Turning, I looked at her and realized that my splash had gotten Apple Bloom too. I couldn't help it—I started giggling.

Sweetie joined me, and soon Apple Bloom did too. Taking the few steps forward to join us, Apple Bloom jumped into the water too. "There!" she said. "Now we're all soaking wet!"

The water was half empty by the time we'd all splashed around and soaked each other repeatedly. Climbing out, I shook myself as dry as I could and then gave my wings a few good shakes to get as much water from my feathers as possible. "I can't believe we have school again tomorrow," I said.

"Yeah!" Apple Bloom bounced out of the water herself and shook dry even better than I had. I wonder if she learned from Winona? "Hey, what's up with the clouds?" She craned her head up.

Following her example, I looked up too and was stunned to silence.

"Are clouds meant to be able to be like that?" Sweetie asked.

"You mean like a checkerboard?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah."

"No," I said. It was all wrong and felt wrong. I hadn't done much beyond poking at clouds, but the weather felt broken and bad. "That feels all wrong."

"Ya got that right." McIntosh's voice came closer. "I don't suppose you three had anything to do with this?"

Tilting my head a little, I noticed the clouds were turning dark, so that the sky's pattern was matched on the ground by squares of snow and bright sunshine. In one of the warm bits, I spread my wings and felt them dry quickly. "W-Want me to try taking care of it?"

"Have you done any cloud-bucking before?" Sweetie asked.

"I poked one a few times. I'll figure it—" A crack of thunder cut me short as lightning lanced down and hit an apple tree not twenty pony lengths away.

"My apple trees!" McIntosh's shout became less distinct as I pumped my wings for altitude. The clouds were, thankfully, low. Building speed as quick as I could, I aimed myself at the cloud that had struck the tree below and turned at the last moment so my rear hooves were stretched out toward it.

The collision with the cloud sent a hard thud through me from the tips of my hooves to the end of my snout—but the cloud was gone! Looking around, I realized they were all starting to turn dark and angry.

I had new appreciation for Rainbow Dash. Flying up to get some more height, I aimed an arc that would let me hit three clouds in a row by using a diagonal. Building speed, I slammed into the first, second, and the third hit I finally realized I should bend my legs a little.

The shock of impact was much easier now, and I set about working on more clouds.

While I was setting up for yet more clouds, I spotted Pinkie Pie below. It was tempting to zoom down and ask her what was going on, because she usually knew, but I had to stop the clouds from advancing on the apple trees.

I was sore and felt like I'd been flying for days. Just as I would buck one lot of clouds, more would come in and try to take their place. I fought as hard as I could but they were inexhaustible.

When another pony flew up beside me, I barely even noticed. "Hey, you're Scootaloo, right? You're at school with my bro, Rumble. I'll take over here, you get some rest!" The stallion looked half-beat himself, but I recognized him as one of Rainbow's weather ponies.

Just giving him a hoof-gesture of acknowledgment (a Guard gesture) and hoping he'd recognize it, I spiraled down to the ground just as Twilight and Spike were approaching the farm—along with them was Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack.

As I got nearer to them, I realized they were singing. The song wasn't the just-happy kind of singing, either. Lyra had explained to me the differences between music in Equestria, and this was magic singing.

It was a catchy song about Pinkie needing help, but I got a feeling that it wasn't a song for me to sing. Despite how much my wings ached, I hovered above them to avoid being dragged into the musical magic.

"Scootaloo! Over here!" Apple Bloom was standing well-clear of Twilight and her friends too, with Sweetie beside her.

Seeing my chance, I flew down and landed with them. "What's going on?"

Sweetie pointed toward the five friends as they reached Pinkie. "Applejack has Rarity's cutie mark and Pinkie has Applejack's. Some really odd magic, I bet."

Lifting a hoof up to rub her chin, Apple Bloom nodded. "If it messed with their cutie marks, maybe it was like the Cutie Pox?"

"These are all in the right place, though. And after what happened to you, I don't think anypony would go eating magical plants." Sweetie Belle gave a firm nod.

"Hold on." I put a foreleg around each of my friends to pull them closer and make them look at what I was looking at. "What if they were all like that? All their cutie marks passed on to somepony else in a big circle."

"And now they only have Applejack and Pinkie Pie left to fix?" Apple Bloom asked.

"But why are they here? Shouldn't they be helping Applejack and then Pinkie pie?" I asked.

"Watch, sillies. Twilight has everything figured out. She's the cleverest!" Sweetie, again, nodded.

I wished I could argue about that, but even Lyra said that Twilight was a smart cookie. Twilight and her friends pushed Applejack through doing a whole bunch of farming things—carrying baskets of fruit, bucking a tree, even pulling a wagon—and when Twilight put Applejack's element of harmony on her, her cutie mark changed!

"Looks like they only have Pinkie Pie to go." Apple Bloom jumped up from where we'd been hiding as the six friends started trotting back toward town. "C'mon, girls, this is going to be big!"

She was right about that. There was a feeling like magic was swirling around, and the closer we got to town, the stronger it was. And I had to say it was nice to have it. My flying had left my wings and my magic reserves weakened, and having my magic start bubbling over was great.

"What are they doing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

I paid extra attention to Twilight and her friend now, no longer lingering on my own recovery. They were singing again and shoving Pinkie into the middle of a huge, mopey crowd. We were too short to see exactly what happened—and I didn't want to ignore my friends and take off—but there was an explosion of blue light and everypony cheered. "Pinkie!"

Well, that was it. The whole town was in the song now, us included. It was all singing and dancing and having a great time. The song finally wound down with Twilight and her friends hugging. I let out a sigh and looked to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Well I—"

"There you are, Scoots." Lyra's voice cut through the happy talking ponies all around. Town life seemed to just slip back to normal—even if there was way more magic buzzing around. "We're on duty this afternoon."

That was a surprise to hear. Lyra and Sweetie Drops were kinda always on duty, but her saying it like that meant something special, I think. I nodded to her. "Need help with anything?"

She looked about to dismiss my question, but paused. "Actually, I need you to take a message to Canterlot. It needs to go to Princess Celestia as fast as—Wait, where'd they go?"

"Where'd who go?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Twilight and her friends ran back to the library." Sweetie Belle pointed a hoof off in the distance where we all saw the door closing.

The feel of magic in the air stepped up a notch. Huge waves of magic seemed to thunder out of the library before the windows themselves erupted with beams of white light that sprayed out everywhere. It was a struggle to look away from, but I glanced at Lyra and saw her looking just as shocked.

"D-Do you need me to go to Canterlot still? They would have felt that, right?" I asked.

Shaking her head, I saw tears running down Lyra's cheeks—but she didn't seem sad. She was smiling! "No, I'm pretty sure everypony in Equestria felt that. It's—It's entirely new magic. There are—Ugh, too much stuff to do, not enough time. Come on, girls, we have five friends and a dragon to reassure."

"Cutie Mark Crusaders—reassuring squad!" Sweetie Belle shouted. Of course, Apple Bloom and me managed to join in with the battle cry. We trotted beside Lyra to the library and inside to find five arguing ponies and one shocked Spike.

"Calm down!" Lyra stomped her hoof to get everyone's attention. "Girls, can you go help reassure Spike?"

I managed to snap a salute and walked over to where Spike was crying tears that seemed to be burning holes in the floor. "Spike?" He just looked up at me. "What happened?"

Snorting up some kind of gunk from his nose that, like his tears, seemed to sear the wood of the floor on contact, Spike shook his head. "We were rushing here because T-Twilight said she'd figured something out."

The rest of the room was silent—everypony was focused on listening to Spike. The only reason I noticed was the training in the Royal Guards.

"She finished the spell and—and it triggered all the elements." Spike looked around the five of Twilight's friends. "What happened with them? Why did the elements hurt her?"

"They wouldn't!" Rainbow looked so sure and proud as she stepped up. "The elements of harmony—mine at least—wouldn't hurt her."

"Mine neither!" Applejack stood beside Rainbow.

"M-Mine wouldn't hurt her." Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane, like normal, but she still stood forward.

"Generosity has never let me down," Rarity said.

Giggling, Pinkie pronked over and hugged all four of them. "Sillies, of course our elements wouldn't hurt Twilight. We have to figure out what they did do." She turned to look at Lyra. "Right?"

"That magic was something different." Lyra gestured a hoof toward the ground where I just realized Twilight's cutie mark was burned. "You guys know about—Okay, you might not. I think we have some time so let's go with why I think this was a test that Twilight passed.

"Magic comes in elements—not the elements you're carrying—light, dark, change, motion, emotive, chaos, and harmony. All magic spells involve one or more of those magics woven together. This was something very different.

"Magic spells are classified on how hard the magic is to form into a weave and how many types of magic are used. Basic spells are limited complexity and just one type of magic, any unicorn can be taught these. Intermediate spells involve no more than two types of magic and support more complex weaves." Lyra nodded to Rarity. "I've seen you perform those, don't try to hide it."

"Rarity? You know these special spells?" Applejack asked.

"Applejack, really, I spend all day making dresses and my work is literally patterns. I'd be a poor seamstress if I couldn't make intermediate spells." Rarity tried to wave off the nervous laugh from her apple-farming friend. "I've seen Lyra perform far more complex magic."

"Advanced spells," Lyra said, "are when you can weave up to four types of magic together with complex weaves. Most unicorns will never be able to memorize these, though working together intermediate level casters could manage it.

"There is another classification of spells, and that is simply called alicorn. Nopony without horn and wings has ever woven more than four kinds of magic together, though Star Swirl the bearded worked with teams of unicorns to build alicorn-class spells in his day, that was out of desperation, and left all the ponies helping exhausted to the point of taking long-term harm." Lyra looked around, locking eyes with everyone—even Spike—at least once. "Care to guess how many types of magic Twilight wove just before?"

The room was quiet. Nopony spoke.

"I'll give you a hint," Lyra cleared her throat. "Twilight Sparkle just wove all seven types of magic at once. Crazier, the magic energy this created is—it's in the air. It's like it now exists as an eighth type of magic and I'm scared senseless because I think I can use it. Does that help?"

"Is—" Sweetie Belle's voice stumbled a little. I put a foreleg around her from one side and Spike hugged her from the other. "Is this new kind of magic nice?"

Closing her eyes, Lyra seemed to be doing her magic training exercises for a few moments before she smiled. "I'll need to talk to Twilight about it, and maybe Princess Celestia too, but I think it is. It's strong here and is radiating from everyone in this room."

"Everyone?" Spike asked.

Lyra gave one of her best semi-serious grins. "Well, I can't check myself out, but all of you are burning with it."

"Okay, so all the egg-head stuff aside," Rainbow pointed at the burn mark on the floor. "What has happened to Twilight and what do we do now?"

Applejack glanced at Apple Bloom a moment before turning to Rainbow. "I'm no more up with all this stuff than you are, Rainbow, but if we all trust our elements—"

"We do," the other four of Twilight's close friends said.

"… right, so we do, and we trust Twilight—"

"We do!" the reply was so firm that I even saw Fluttershy stomp a hoof.

"… right, so we have to wait for her to be done doin' whatever she done gone to do."

Pinkie laughed, falling over with a fit of the giggles. Rarity managed to remain standing despite a wide smile on her face. "That is certainly one way of putting it. I don't plan to leave before she returns."

I looked at Lyra and it was amazing how happy she looked. Using my best sneakiness, I managed to edge around the group to her. "What's going on?"

Lyra leaned toward me and down a little. "What makes you think I know what's going on?"

"Lyra?"

"Yeah?"

I rolled my eyes so much I'm surprised I didn't end up looking at Spike again. "You always know what's going on. So, what's going on?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

"I knew you knew."

"And you're not going to bug me about it?"

"I know like three ponies who you'd keep a secret this big for, and all three would have a good reason for you not telling anypony. Also, you're smiling like you just ate Sweetie's cooking. Uh"—I glanced back at Sweetie Belle—"Sweetie Drops, Mom, I mean."

Lyra's smile didn't change one bit. "Yeah, yeah. You told me about your friend's cooking. You should bring her around and we can work on teaching her the basics. Actually, do you and your friends want to help me?"

The question had me alert and ready, just like when a sergeant would bark something in the Royal Guard. "What with?"

"Well, everyone here is running on fumes right now—emotionally and physically. We need to get some food into them so they can be ready when Twilight comes back. So, want to come with me and help cook a pile of food to keep Equestria's heroes from falling over?" She gestured up the stairs toward the living area of the tree house.

Turning, I managed to catch Sweetie Belle and Spike's attention, but Apple Bloom was focused on her big sister. "Sweetie, Spike, we need to go upstairs and make some lunch for a bunch of hungry ponies."

Spike blinked a few times before nodding. "I can cook everypony something."

"No, Spike. We can work together on this." Lyra walked over to the stairs while we advanced on them too. "You can make food so much better when you work together."

First she surveyed Twilight's pantry and fridge. "Spike, you order this, don't you?" Lyra asked.

"You remember Twilight in school, right? If I didn't cook her meals, she would have just teleported between school and the Neighponese noodle place every day or so to reload on carbs." Spike peeked beside Lyra and pointed. "We could make something hearty with those fresh eggs."

"Seems like a good idea. What about a frittata? You have all these nice vegetables in here too an—And I lost you. Frittata is like a big savory omelette. Let me show you how to make it." Lyra levitated the little tray of eggs out and floated more things besides—cabbage, cheese, tomato, and some zucchini.

"What's the recipe for this?" Spike had to push a step-ladder over to the bench so he could climb up and see what Lyra was doing.

Me and Sweetie Belle just reared up and looked at Lyra preparing vegetables. "What can we do?" I asked.

"Try to find me a carbon steel pan, cast iron would do but it needs to be well seasoned. I need all those eggs broken into a bowl without any shells." Lyra was cheating and just using her magic itself to cut things up. "Oh, make it a big pan, and get the oven hot."

"They're in the cupboard over there. I don't have any of the first kind, but there are some big cast iron pans that I can barely lift." Spike was pointing across the kitchen to a cupboard.

We all got to work, though I know for a fact that Lyra could have done everything in half the time. She was probably just trying to keep us all distracted—well, Spike mainly. It couldn't be easy losing someone you've known for most of your life like…

I don't know how long I was just staring blankly at the cheese I was meant to be grating. Spike climbed up beside me and took over at some point.

"You okay, Scootaloo?" Spike asked.

It was the first time I'd really thought about my birth parents in a while. Despite everything Lyra and Sweetie Drops had done for me, I still missed them. "Y-Yeah. Just remembering some old stuff."

"Your parents?"

His question stung, but it made me focus more on how I felt now. "N-No. I mean, yes, but Lyra and Sweetie—Sweetie Drops—they're my parents now. My old parents—I still miss them, but it comes and goes."

"I'm scared that Twilight won't come back." When I turned to look at him, Spike was actually shaking.

Reaching my foreleg around him, I pulled him to my side. "I think she will. Lyra is trying to distract you, you know? Keeping you busy until Twilight comes back from—wherever she is. She beat Discord, remember? And she helped Luna get back to normal. I don't think whatever this is will stop her from coming home." He looked so small, even though he walked upright, but when I hugged him he felt as solid as a rock.

"I did it!" Sweetie Belle bounced from one back hoof to the other. "I didn't mess anything up!"

"Thanks," Spike said. "Lyra's good at this, huh?"

"Cooking? Yeah. She and Sweetie Drops are kinda big on making good food. Half the Guard seem to be. It's like part of being fit and healthy is eating good food." I tried to make it sound a little like a joke.

Giggling, Spike rubbed his chin. "Maybe I need to branch out and try to cook more for Twilight than pancakes, noodles, and soup."

Grabbing me from the opposite side, Sweetie seemed about ready to explode. "Did you see, Scootaloo? I didn't ruin the eggs! I used my magic to pull the shell bits out, and then I mixed them around really good!"

"I told you," Lyra said. "Cooking is just getting everything square in your head. How's that cheese coming, Scoots, Spike?"

Passing over the plate with my free wing, I offered it to Lyra and let go when her magic gripped it. "Do you need more?"

"You know, since we don't have any soft cheese, could you chop up some into smaller squares? About this big." Lyra demonstrated with her magic, easily creating a golden cube floating just above the knife.

"Got it," Spike said, and picked up a knife to start cutting perfect sized cubes.

Lyra started to cook the vegetables in the pan, frying them to get some color on them all. She was so at home in a kitchen—any kitchen—that it still amazed me it wasn't her cutie mark. Now it was mostly down to just her to finish cooking. She poured the eggs into the pan, added the hunks of cheese Spike cut inside, and then put the pan in the oven.

"I can't believe I didn't make anything catch fire."

We all turned to look at Sweetie Belle. Her honest surprise was too much and we all started giggling, even her.

One by one Twilight's friends came upstairs and each started the same conversation—how good the food smelled, how it was getting dark outside, and not a single one mentioned Twilight Sparkle.

The last to come up, Rarity froze when Sweetie Belle ran up to her and started bouncing. "Sweetie Belle, whatever is the matter?"

"I helped cook dinner!" Sweetie Belle did a legitimately cute spinning dance. "And nothing caught fire!"

Of course, right at that moment, the oven timer decided to go off. Rarity jumped so high I wondered if her horn would stick into the ceiling and leave her hanging there. "What was that?!"

Lyra, who walked over to the oven and turned the timer off, spared a giggle. "It's just the frittata finishing. I hope you all like the most delicious thing to do with vegetables and eggs since—well, since shire pie."

She always cheated in the kitchen, but it was the good kind of cheating. No oven mitts, no knives… I even caught her with a spell to automatically cut an onion into a fine mince once! Well, she just lifted the hot pan out with her magic and set a plate upside down on it. Then she carefully tipped it upside down and removed the pan. If the rich smell hadn't gotten everyone's attention already, it now did.

"Just a little cheese on top…" She was being fancy, but I'm glad she didn't make me grate the cheese for nothing. "Spike, can you get some plates out? I'll need something for everypony."

It was obvious Spike would have to go up and down the step ladder to pass the plates to Lyra, so I rushed over and took each plate from him and passed it to Lyra instead. She cut the frittata up and dished out each plate and put a fork on it.

"Sweetie, would you like to carry these to everypony?" Lyra asked.

We worked together to get everyone something to eat, and Lyra herself picked up the last four plates, giving one to Sweetie Belle, Spike, and me, before we all walked over to the kitchen table.

Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack all stared at Rarity while Rarity stared at her plate in what looked a little like terror. It was a bit stupid, and I made a point of digging my fork into my piece and started to eat. It was good—really good. The eggs were rich and held everything together, while the cheese carried the rest of the flavors—until I hit one of the little blocks inside. The pocket of cheese drooled out and I quickly mopped it up and put another forkful in my mouth.

"This is great!" Spike said, and it was then I heard a few crunching sounds coming from his mouth. "When'd you put rubies in there?" At least he kinda meant to ask that, it seemed more like Mmm foo woob dar? when it left his mouth.

"I saw them in the jar on the bench and figured you could do with a treat." Lyra looked like she was happy as could be, though I know she's always got something to focus on.

Even Rarity started to eat, and soon everyone was quiet while they ate. The food was good, and the company was too. Everyone seemed to just keep going, devouring their frittata slices in record time and leaving us all quieter and a little more relaxed.

"That was truly superb," Rarity said. "I—I must apologize to you, Sweetie dear, for assuming that would be bad because of—" She cut short her apology on account of the bright purple light now streaming in the windows.

It didn't take a genius to put two and two together and come up with a missing purple unicorn. In a rush Twilight's friends raced downstairs and outside, with Spike close on their tail. I barely even noticed that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had charged down too.

"Hey, Scoots, we should head down too." Lyra led the way and I followed down the stairs and out the front of the library.

Looking up into the sky, the purple light was coming from a huge purple star with five smaller stars around it. The star began drifting down toward us—well, toward Twilight's friends. When it touched the ground, the purple turned bright white for a moment, then faded.

"Twilight? Is that you?" Applejack asked, her night vision probably not completely ruined like mine was.

I was just able to look again when Twilight stood up—and spread her wings. With her friends crowding around her, I turned and looked up to Lyra. "Was this the secret?" I asked.

Grinning like a maniac, Lyra nodded.

"That's because she is a princess." Celestia had landed just behind the group, though even as short as I was, I could see her horn and wings above their heads. They went on talking, and when Twilight's friends bowed, I could see Celestia was bowed to Twilight too.

It seemed important, and with Lyra doing it beside me, I bowed as well—it just felt right.

"But, what do I do now? Is there a book I should read?" Twilight asked, looking around at us all as we started straightening back up.

"There will be time for that later," Celestia said. "For now, I believe we might need a little celebration?" She turned to look at Lyra, the one visible eyebrow raising.

"I think we can arrange something. Pinkie, how many marshmallows do you ha—" Lyra froze as Pinkie seemed to shimmer in the air before appearing beside us with a bag bigger than she was. "Perfect! Now, let's see what we can do with a little magic and a fire."

It wasn't the perfect dessert, but most of the town was sitting around a series of magical cooking fires in the town square, each and everypony holding a partially consumed marshmallow alicorn. Every time I glanced Twilight's way, I was reminded how special this night was. New princesses happened from time to time, but new alicorns were something amazing.

I had to choke back a yawn just as Twilight came over to where Lyra and me were sitting. She looked nervous as she sat down on the other side of Lyra from me. "Don't bow, please. I am so sick of bowing, and nopony I know as well as you should bow to me."

"Wasn't going to, not until your coronation." Lyra bit the head off her marshmallow alicorn and chewed it quickly before swallowing. "Did Princess Celestia tell you when that would be?"

"Five days. Now give me a hug without calling me your highness and I will promise I won't use my alicorn powers to—to turn you into an alicorn too."

They hugged without another word. It was funny to think that they'd been in school together. Lyra was the best magic-caster I knew—excluding Celestia and Luna, and now I had to add Twilight to that list. That's when something else hit me. "Uh, you're going to need flying lessons, right?"

"Rainbow Dash wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed to let her teach me flying. I'll see if she gets bored of it, though, and come around and ask for some lessons." Twilight looked at me as if that was a joke, and it took me a moment to realize that she meant she'd ask me for lessons. "If there's anypony I know who'd be perfect for teaching flying, it would probably be a filly who fought so hard to be able to fly even gravity gave up."

I couldn't help but giggle at that. "I meant you should ask the Wonderbolts if they could spare somepony to help."

"Maybe later, once I'm not tripping over my wings. I don't even know how to fold them properly without getting feathers bent and out of shape." Twilight froze for a moment and looked at Lyra. "You knew! I don't know how you knew, but you knew!"

Lyra bit off more of her marshmallow alicorn and said, "Can't talk with my mouth full." Only, she spoke perfectly fine with her mouth full.

"Did you know?" Twilight asked, looking at me.

"Nope. I knew Lyra knew something, though, but not until after you were gone. I was a little busy trying to stop the thick clouds somepony was making from burying the Apples' trees." I figured Lyra's method was best, though I only had a little alicorn butt left on mine to eat.

"I asked Princess Celestia again about a book on all this. She keeps putting it off like there isn't one." She bit her own likeness' wings off to munch on, which gave us all a chance to be quiet.

When I was living alone, I hated how quiet I had to be. If I made too much noise in the house, somepony would come and find me. I leaned against Lyra and put a foreleg around her.

"You getting tired?" Lyra asked me. I nodded my head a little. "Well, let's get you home then. I'll just check with Pinkie about cleaning up."

"I might try to escape too." Twilight stood up again, her wings nearly knocking Lyra and me over. "Sorry."

Standing up and shaking my head a little to clear it, I walked around Lyra and examined Twilight's wings. They. Were. Huge. "Mum, can you help me out? I just need you to hold this side down while I swap." Reaching up with my own wings, I took hold of Twilight's main and second joint and carefully folded her wing down. Even her feathers twitched-in snug when I finally got it down. "Okay, hold that and I'll get the other side."

Lyra's golden glow grabbed Twilight's wing and kept it pinned while I worked my way around and started on the other side. Soon I had that wing folded too. "Now you need something to go around them and keep them folded."

With the smallest blink of Twilight's magic a large scarf appeared. Lyra was quick to work it around Twilight's midsection to keep her wings pinned. "Thanks, Scootaloo," Twilight said.

Fighting a yawn, I managed a good salute. "'s my duty, Your Highness."

She stared at me a moment and then looked at Lyra.

"Scootaloo spent her school holidays apprenticed to the Royal Guard. She probably knows court protocols better than I do now. In fact, she'd certainly know them better than me." Standing up, Lyra started walking toward the middle of the party—invariably where Pinkie would be—which left me and Twilight together.

"This all feels so—so sudden." Twilight started walking toward the library, which was at least far closer than our house. "I thought it was just another little puzzle to figure out. Princess Celestia loved giving me those when I was in school. Then these—I won't pull them out, don't worry."

I was a little torn. As a Royal Guard, I'd learned to just be quiet unless one of the princesses asked me a question directly, but Twilight didn't seem to have that sort of thing worked out herself. "Everything's kinda sudden, though. When Lyra found me, that was sudden; when I finally got told I could fly, that was sudden; and when you're fighting something—everything's sudden." It was easy to fall-in beside Twilight and walk with her to her home. I used my own body to break up Twilight's shape and—combined with everypony expecting to see wings on her back—we made it to the library without anypony rushing up to her.

"You're a lot more mature than I would have thought—Uh, that's meant as a compliment." Twilight was blushing as she walked over to where Spike was asleep and tucked him in with some blankets. "Could you tell Lyra I'd appreciate talking to her first thing in the morning?"

"'First thing'?" My grin made Twilight look a little worried. "After dawn might be a better time."

"Y-Yes. Yes." Her shoulders were slumped as she aimed herself up the stairs to her bedroom. She sounded and looked tired.

Turning, I left the library and closed the door behind me. Eyes closed, I took a deep breath.

"It's not your duty to look after princesses, Scootaloo, but I'm sure she appreciated it." I didn't need to open my eyes and look up to see Celestia standing there. "Is she asleep?"

"I didn't see her head hit the pillow, but it wasn't far off." I struggled to hold back another yawn.

"Follow me."

There wasn't any two words that demanded attention like a princess saying that. I walked beside her, my head filling with the fuzz of sleep despite me still being upright. I barely even realized I'd reached home before Celestia's golden magic opened the door.

"Inside. Lyra, I found her." Celestia was herding me indoors now. I'd have protested, but I don't think it's actually allowed.

"Let me guess, she did go after Twilight and make sure our newest princess was tucked in?" Lyra gave me a stare with a wry grin. "Upstairs and bed—you're wobbling on your hooves, so no argument."

I wanted to say I wasn't wobbling, but that was Lyra's authoritative mum voice—which ranked up there with a princess giving an order in my book. I took the stairs up to my room, walked over to my bed, and collapsed.

Author's Note

Daring: what are you thoughts on further collaboration with the Guard?

"It's a tough one. I mean, I kinda swore that I'd do my best to liberate all these things for museums, but working with those crazy mares has gotten more artifacts rescued from the wrong hooves in just a year than I've managed on my own—for my whole life." Looking at her dented, pretend armor, Daring sighed. "And now I'm getting all kinds of stupid thoughts. Stupid thoughts that make sense."

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Lab

Chapter 18 Part 4

Lyra liked being home and able to run with Scootaloo. She'd left their morning routine until just after dawn—giving each of them time to sleep-in a little because of the night they'd had. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she heard the clatter of hooves behind her that would be Scootaloo. "Did you sleep well enough?"

"Good enough that a full night's sleep tonight will have me squared away." Knocking at the door made Scootaloo forget what else she was going to say. Walking through the living room, she checked who it was. "Good morning, Sweetie Belle!"

"Good morning! Can you believe it? Twilight's a princess now!"

"I know!" Her excitement flooded into Scootaloo so they both bounced around in circles. "Her wings are amazing and soft! She needed help to keep them hidden so she could sneak away to sleep, so I helped her fold them and tie them and smuggled her to the library."

Sweetie Belle's gasp and shocked expression—combined with a accusatory hoof—sent a flood of blame Scootaloo's way. "Rarity was trying to find her! Everypony was! Princess Celestia had to tell them she was okay and asleep. It was all your fault!"

"I'm pretty sure that Scootaloo couldn't really ignore the needs of a princess, Sweetie Belle," Lyra said.

"Yeah. She looked so tired I just wanted to help her. Besides, it was her party—she's allowed to sneak off." Scootaloo started stretching her wings and running in place. "Are we ready to—Oh! Twilight asked if you would visit her today. She said 'first thing in the morning', but I managed to get her to agree on 'after dawn'."

"Saved my butt. Thanks, Scoots. I guess I'll stop-in there after our run. Are you two ready?" Herding the two fillies to the door, Lyra got them all outside and the door closed behind her. "Anti-clockwise today. Let's start at a canter."

Running had, until a few years ago, been something Sweetie Belle didn't do. Her parents had always made sure she could eat as much as she wanted and her sister had never been above bribing her with ice cream—and now she knew that had left her heavier than most fillies her age. But then Scootaloo happened.

For months she'd struggled to even do more than a lap at a trot. Then it had been a lap at a canter. Now—Now Sweetie Belle still knew she had a little weight on her, but it was what her sister had called filly fat. It was something that would fade as part of an active lifestyle.

By the time she did her first lap at a canter, and she heard Lyra say they were galloping next, her legs were primed and ready for it. Like Lyra, she was at a full gallop, though Scootaloo was only cantering still.

Compared to Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle knew she'd always look big. Scootaloo was all lean muscle and tendons without an ounce of fat on her. Sweetie Belle, though, had come to terms with the fact she'd never look like Scootaloo. She would never fight as well as Scootaloo. She would definitely never fly as well as Scootaloo.

But she could run, and maybe it wasn't as fast as Scootaloo could, but she could do things Scootaloo couldn't too. "Lyra?"

Snapped out of her running focus, Lyra looked down at Sweetie Belle. "What's up?"

"Could you teach me how to use magic?" Sweetie Belle had heard Scootaloo go on at length about Lyra's prowess—and the rumors about Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops being at the beck and call of Celestia weren't exactly rumors.

Opening her mouth to say that Sweetie Belle was too young, Lyra disregarded that line of reply as being not worth the filly's time. "You attended the cadets' school. You could have learned spellcasting there."

"I could learn spellcasting anywhere. I want to learn the tricks you use with magic." Sweetie Belle's hooves thundered in the cutest way possible as she kept up with Lyra and Scootaloo. "Scootaloo said you used all kinds of special tricks to make casting easier."

Lyra didn't reply immediately. She kept up her pace, forcing Sweetie Belle to gallop beside her and Scootaloo to fast-canter—for two more laps of Ponyville before she slowed and turned toward the center of town. "I'll teach you if you can do one thing."

"What?" Sweetie Belle's chest was still pumping a little, her body having just pushed a full lap more than usual.

"You need to run and ask your parents to let me take you to Canterlot today. There's going to be a coronation and a test." Lyra started walking toward the town Library. "Well?"

Spinning around, Sweetie Belle aimed herself at her parents' home across town and dove right into a gallop again.

Turning to Scootaloo, Lyra reached out with her magic and ruffled the filly's mane. "You should get ready for a visit to Canterlot, too. Shine your armor up to a mirror finish—there will be important work for you."

"My armor's already shined—but I'll go over it again."

Alone now, Lyra took a deep breath and let it out again. "She's still my friend from school. There's nothing weird about her being an alicorn. I'm not going to freak out." Pausing a moment in contemplation, Lyra shook her head. "So why am I freaking out?"

Forming her magic into a politely-small pony hoof, Lyra reached forward to knock—only for the door to jerk open. Twilight stood there in all her majesty: one wing had escaped the cloth tied around her and seemed intent on swinging around all over the place, her mane was springy and shooting all over the place, and one eye was further dilated than the other. "Lyra! Perfect timing! I command you to reverse time to yesterday and stop me becoming an alicorn!"

"I know two, maybe three princesses who'd not be happy with me about that. Also, you know I'm terrible at time travel magic." Lyra started to walk forward, only to see that Spike was huddled in the library with a pile of books in a small fort. "Hey, Spike, has Twilight had coffee?"

"Are you kidding? She woke me up babbling about turning the planet backwards or something. If you can get her some coffee, it might fix her." Spike ducked below the battlements of his castle of literature to avoid a stray flash of purple light. "It should be easier to tell what's just purple light and what's magic," he muttered.

Sparing a nod toward Spike, Lyra turned her full attention on Twilight again—who had developed a twitching eye. "If only I had something stronger for you. Come on, Twilight, I bet you can't get to the kitchen before I do."

With her mind finding a problem it could solve readily, Twilight began the mammoth task of calculating teleportation coordinates for a planet in motion, adjusted the points by the spacial distance between where she stood and the kitchen, inputted those values into a teleportation spell and ended up on the roof of the library.

Lyra up the stairs to the kitchen, boiled up some water, added it to a Prench press along with some coffee, and was just carrying that, two cups, and some cookies she found in a cookie jar to the table when the series of repeated teleportation spells ended with a panting alicorn in the middle of the kitchen.

"I won!" Twilight said.

"Yeah you did. You know what winners get, Twi?" Lyra asked. She waited for Twilight's eyes to widen a little before replying. "Winners get coffee and a cookie."

Making it to her kitchen table—about four ponylengths away—only took Twilight three more teleports. Sitting on a chair took two attempts, but once Twilight was finally seated she used her hooves to pick up the mug of coffee and take a sip from it. The mild stimulant hit Twilight's brain seconds after ingesting it, which let her intellect catch up with the rest of her brain's manic pace and put everything into order.

Twilight's second sip worked to steady her more and she let out a relieved sigh. "I needed that, thanks Lyra."

"Not a problem, Your Highness." It was a calculated risk to prod at Twilight's nerves for such a joke, but Lyra couldn't resist it.

For a moment Twilight stared at her friend in mute horror, then finally she let out a laugh. "Okay, I deserved that for the freak-out, but if you ever call me that again, Lyra, I'll turn you into something."

"Just make sure it has four legs. I don't know if I could handle having just two again."

Twilight shuddered. "I remember you explaining it to us in school. I tried standing upright for long periods like that and I don't know how you could do it. I'm sure I'd just keep falling down."

"It helps if your brain is wired to deal with it—and you've dealt with it since birth. So, Twilight, what's up?"

Using her magic to tease the knot on the cloth undone, Twilight let her second wing spring out. "It's pretty obvious, I thought. I have literally no idea what to do with this, and that's not even mentioning I invented a new form of magic!"

"I wanted to talk about that last one, but it seems like the first issue is the big one, right?" Picking up the biscuit, Lyra checked it over for stray gemstones but found it clear of them. She nibbled it and was delighted at the taste. "Did Spike make these?"

"You know how good my cooking is—Of course Spike made them." Just thinking of Spike made Twilight calm a little more and even sigh a little. "As for the other bit, yes. I can work on the new magic, but understanding all this"—she tried to give her wings a little shake, and though they flapped they didn't seem to blow much air—"better."

"Well, I think talking to others who have been through it would be a good idea. Cadance might be the closest, but I think I could suggest writing a letter to Princess Screech too." When Twilight looked at her blankly, Lyra rolled her eyes. "The bat pony princess. She has wings and a horn and way more responsibility than she ever thought she would have."

"That would be helpful with some of it, but there was a reason I asked for you to visit and not Cadance." More coffee was required before Twilight could actually as one of her oldest friends for this help. The rush of caffeine met that already in her system and bolstered the positive effects on her mood. "I feel so different now. My friends last night barely seemed to know whether to bow or get tongue-tied with titles—Rainbow was the only stand-out, and that was probably all bravado. You've been through a big change, Lyra, what was it like?"

"That's a lot of questions rolled up into one." Lyra pondered draining her coffee, then did so. Standing up she walked over to the bench and started making more. "Firstly, it took time and we were all changing. My girlfriend—at the time—turned into a bat pony stallion and, like me, her preferences didn't change. So I had all that on top of just becoming somepony else.

"I guess the biggest change getting used to how others saw me. When I was human, I was a young guy with not a lot of desires in his head and two years before anyone would even call him adult. Then I got a purpose. I started to see, as my body changed, that things were going to be different.

"I visited Canterlot while I was still human, and even then Princess Celestia invited me back to attend her school. Did she know I was going to become a unicorn? I didn't have my cutie mark yet, and despite that she focused on me and invited me back.

"Then I began changing. It was awkward stuff first, my hooves started growing in, my tail too. On Earth, these would all be signs that something was very wrong with you. Then I got my horn. Then"—Lyra couldn't stop smiling now as she poured load of boiling water into the press—"I got my magic.

"Everything changed. I got a surge of magic that made everything I imagined a reality and—Okay, that's probably less important here. I decided to take-up Princess Celestia's offer because I started to feel that there was more for me.

"As a human I was just another person trying to grow up and live, taking happy moments where I could. As a pony I had purpose and the power to meet that purpose. Princess Celestia's teaching only fanned the flames. I wanted to help everypony I could. I wanted to protect everypony in Equestria. It wasn't until I met my Bonny that I realized how I could best do that."

Twilight was drinking the story in, but now she had an idea where it was going. "The Guard."

"Kinda. Well, yes, but it was more that I should trust in myself to find where I can do the most good." Carrying the coffee back to the table, Lyra sat down and poured herself a second cup of coffee. "You were in the same classes in school as I was—and I think you got most of the same answers as I did."

"Huh? On tests?"

Smirking, Lyra topped up Twilight's cup too. "No. There's something I think we both have figured out, but I think you haven't had a chance to look inward and examine it."

Lifting her cup, Twilight sipped at it and let out a happy sigh. "You have?"

"No, but Bonny told me enough for me to recognize it. Harmony. We both walk the paths we do with it to guide us. I have to trust my eyes, ears, and heart to guide me, but you have so much more. The elements of harmony, your friends, and Princess Celestia.

"But, don't you see, that's right. You need more guidance because you are going to be so much more. Right now those wings must feel heavy, like they were dropped on your back without any reason."

Twilight paused for a moment and looked back at her wings. "Y-Yeah. I don't deserve this."

The tingle was on Lyra again. She'd felt it several times when she and she alone had something important to do, and as she opened her mouth it was that tingle that guided her words. "Have you considered that you have them for all you need to do in the future?" Trying her best not to look as shell-shocked as Twilight did at the words, Lyra picked up her coffee to hide her face in case she started to freak out.

"What I need to do…" The concept hit Twilight hard. She stared past Lyra, past the walls of the library, and past even the horizon. Time itself spread out before her, and at some point she knew there was a moment coming when she'd need to be an alicorn—she'd need to be a princess.

"Twilight!" Spike's voice cut through the moment—at least for Lyra. When he reached the top of the stairs with a scroll in one talon, he saw the mare he thought of as his big sister just staring at the wall. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah. You know how that coffee hits you, right? What's up?" Lyra asked.

Spike held out the scroll to Lyra. "Scroll for Twilight from Princess Celestia—Wait, do I have to call her Princess Twilight now?"

"Only if she's annoying you. I bet I can tell you what's inside this already. It'll say, Blah blah blah, you need to come to Canterlot for your coronation, blah blah blah, wear your best outfit, blah blah blah, get somepony to preen your wings for you." As she spoke, Lyra levitated the unopened scroll to the table and put it in front of Twilight. "I don't think she'll be opening it anytime soon, thou—"

"Lyra!" Twilight shot upright and off her chair. "You're a genius!"

"No, I've just learned when to stop and let harmony do its thing. Read the scroll, it's important." Lyra winked to Spike.

"Oh! A scroll from Princess Celestia?" Used to opening such scrolls, Twilight plucked the seal off and opened the scroll. Normally her mentor's writing was simple black cursive on the scroll itself, this was nothing that simple. "Is this gold writing?"

The scroll had a sheet of pure white paper inside it and on that paper was gold-on-white writing that was itself embossed and slightly elevated from the rest of the paper. Such a letter was more than just communication—it was art.

"C-C-C-Coronation? But—But Cadance didn't get coronated! Wait, is that a word?" Twilight asked.

"Crowned," Spike said.

It was a topic she'd learned herself recently, but it didn't stop Lyra from passing it off as one of those things everypony knows. "Cadance didn't because Princess Celestia knew that Cadance wasn't destined to be an Equestrian ruler."

"TODAY?!"

"You need to have somepony speak for you, Twilight," Lyra said as they approached the train. "And of everypony I know, she has the right armor and knows how to say things right."

They'd been arguing about it all the way from Rarity's boutique, and Twilight knew she was covering already-trodden ground, but she was a little confused on the formality. "But you have armor—"

"Remember the part about saying things right? The only time I say things right is when I'm shouting at a new recruit or when I'm giving advice to alicorns. I don't know how titles work or what order to say the things."

It was time to concede the point. Twilight knew Scootaloo had some experience with the Royal Guard, and she definitely looked the part with her armor on. "Right. I'll accept that, but why is Sweetie Belle here?"

"Her purpose is unrelated to your coronation. I made a filly a promise and promises are important to keep," Lyra said. "And, before you ask, Apple Bloom is coming because she heard her best friends were both going to Canterlot, and her big sister too."

"Do I need to ask why you're going?" Twilight was defeated. Everypony around her was important and needed to be in Canterlot, and she had no chance of avoiding anything that was going to happen.

"Firstly, I need to supervise the girls here while you're all busy, but more importantly I need to check on the kitchen and make sure they're making the reception food just right." It was, in Lyra's estimation, one of the least stress reasons for her to be in Canterlot in some time.

"The food?" It was like a daze to Twilight. There was information rushing at her, but it all lacked context. "Why do you need to check on the kitchen?"

"Because if I don't, things won't be perfect for your first comedy night in Canterlot castle."

Opening her mouth to ask the next question, Twilight hesitated. In her mind's eye she saw thousand and thousands of questions, each slightly more absurd than the last, and yet she was unable to stop from draining Lyra of every last joke in her life. "You know what, I might leave that one be, too. In all honesty, it's good to have an old friend along for this."

"Good as old friends are, Twilight, don't forget your new friends." Lyra turned her head to look at Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy. "I hear they're kinda a big deal."

"They're amazing and I don't know if I deserve their—Well, I don't deserve them bowing to me like last night, and they don't deserve that either."

"You're going to need to get used to the bowing thing, Twi. There are a lot of ponies in Equestria who are going to hear your name first and foremost with the P word in front of it. To them you will always have been a pri—P word." Lyra rolled her eyes. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Giggling, Twilight nodded. "Immensely."

"And that's why I can trust you with all this. I've watched you grow up into an amazing pony, Twilight Sparkle. Go and have some fun with your friends and ask them not to use the P word either—though I think Rarity might be a hard-sell on that." Lyra rolled her shoulders and stood up. "I've got some future heroes to talk to."

Taking her cue, Twilight got up and approached her friends. A small pang of fear ran through her as it felt like they were all waiting for her permission to talk, but then—

"Your Supreme Majesty"—Pinkie Pie bowed low in a clearly exaggerated style—"can I use the bathroom?" When Twilight's face broke into a huge grin at her gag, Pinkie knew she'd found the right amount of silly to apply.

When Lyra sat down with her and her friends, Sweetie Belle sat up a bit straighter. There was something about the way Lyra looked at her, looked at Scootaloo, and even looked at Apple Bloom that made her think that Lyra treated them like adults. It was weird to her, given even her sister often didn't. "So, why am I going to Canterlot?"

"Test. Don't get me wrong, Sweetie Belle, I've taught a lot of ponies how to maximize their magic, but most of them have had a specific goal in mind." Lyra reclined on the seat opposite the Crusaders.

It wasn't hard to figure out what Lyra was talking about—she might not be wearing her armor, but there was still a sense of Guardpony about her. "Fighting. The Guard." When Lyra nodded, Sweetie Belle looked to Scootaloo. "I don't want that. Scootaloo's still my equal-bestest friend, but that's her thing. I want to learn spells and ways to make the world better for everypony."

"Bingo. And that's why I'm not the best judge for where your talent lies. Oh, don't get me wrong, you have talent—I'd recommend you to Princess Celestia's school in a second if leaving Ponyville and living in Canterlot was something you wanted—but I don't think you want that. Uh, tell me if you do want that, okay?"

Looking from Scootaloo to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle shook her head. "Not yet. Not until we all have our cutie marks. It feels important."

"So, first we need to find out what you're good at. Then I'll beg the relevant teachers at Princess Celestia's school to lend me their curriculum notes so I can teach you the relevant magic classes in Ponyville until your special mission is done." The distinct pleasure of seeing stunned astonishment on Sweetie Belle's face was entirely Lyra's. "It'll only be a few hours a week, and there will be a lot of homework, but would that suit you?"

Sweetie Belle nodded excitedly. It was an ideal solution in her mind.

"Perfect. Scoots, you'll need to go with Twilight and do one of your fancy announcements when she enters the throne room. You know the style." Waiting for a nod from Scootaloo, Lyra turned to Apple Bloom. "If you want, you can hang out with Scootaloo or come with us to the school. Both will probably be boring, but for different rea—"

"I figure Sweetie Belle will need support more." Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle. "Scootaloo's done this whole being-noisy-thing before, right Scootaloo?"

Wrapped in her highly-polished, shiny armor, Scootaloo struck as good a pose as she could to look awesome. "Sure, I got this. Just another day of introducing a new princess to Canterlot."

All three Crusaders and Lyra broke into giggles at the craziness of the statement.

Sweetie Belle hugged her two friends, but mostly Scootaloo. Despite the jokes about it, this was a big thing to have to do. "Good luck, Scootaloo!"

"Good luck yourself. I wish I could go with you, but—"

"But you both have important things to do." Apple Bloom squeezed her friends until they both squeaked a little at her display of strength. "I'm proud of both of you. Cutie Mark Crusaders—taking Canterlot by storm!" She let go of her friends and shoved her hoof between them, only to get Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both doing likewise.

"Who goes here?!" It was a job to be proud of, a job that would come once in a dozen lifetimes—maybe more—and it might even be considered a little menial normally, but Bright Feather, commander of the Royal Guard, stared at Twilight Sparkle with all the intensity he could muster.

"Make way!" Scootaloo spun around and stomped right up to Captain Bright Feather, glaring up at him. "Alicorn Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville goes here. You will escort her to the castle to entreat with the princesses!"

The language was perfect to Bright's ear. Scootaloo hadn't put her own authority forward at all, she hadn't even mentioned herself—merely the soon-to-be princess. "Very well! Royal Guard, form ranks!" A dozen big ponies formed an honor guard—mostly moving to be behind Twilight and her friends. Having been well-briefed as to what to expect, he arranged for himself to lead, Scootaloo behind him, and Twilight following her. Then was Twilight's friends and finally the honor guard. There was just one tricky bit to the whole affair.

"Twilight?" Scootaloo mumbled over her shoulder. "You need to take the first step."

Sweetie Belle watched all this while trying not to giggle. She waited for Twilight to take that step, watched as everypony else moved with her, and they marched off down the street. Looking back and up at Lyra, she asked, "So, we're going somewhere else?"

"Yup. You are going to Princess Celestia's school, where I will do my best to talk them into accepting you for an examination, then when that's going on I'll be going up to the castle to check on the kitchens and make sure they have things under control, and I'll come back and collect you both so we can all go to the coronation later on." Lyra had none of the formality of the Royal Guard, stepping down from the platform to the roads of Canterlot. "Wanna run a bit?"

Rolling her eyes, Apple Bloom was about to say something about ponies who used running to replace good, honest work, but Sweetie Belle and Lyra had already taken off at a canter. "Ugh." It wasn't that Apple Bloom had trouble keeping up with them—she could run a canter all day long—she just wasn't used to running as fast as they did.

Unused to running like this with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle was surprised to see her friend seem to struggle to keep pace. There was one thing that kept her from blurting out a comment about it, and that was the memory of how hard it had been for her to keep up—then she came up with the perfect way to say it. "You're too used to hauling heavy stuff."

For a moment Apple Bloom was going to snap, and then she realized it was the literal truth. "Y-Yeah. Not used to runnin' for runnin' sake." And that's when Apple Bloom saw the crowd ahead. Ponies were milling around a cart from which somepony was selling pears. Confused as to why ponies would want to eat a pear when there were probably perfectly good apple carts in the city, she nonetheless realized they had nowhere to go—not that Lyra seemed to be slowing at all.

Just two ponylengths from the crowd, Lyra fired off a teleport that sent them all into the air above the crowd, then down to the ground on the other side—where it was clear. She turned her head to look at Sweetie Belle, but she seemed unimpressed. On her other side, Apple Bloom looked stunned. "It's easier to use a little magic rather than slow down."

Sweetie Belle just giggled at the explanation. In her mind, magic should make things easier. She kept up running beside Lyra all the way to the huge building they'd circled around to. In the distance—about halfway down the center street of Canterlot—she could see Twilight and her guards walking toward them.

"In here. We beat the crowd—don't want to get caught in it now." Lyra led the way into the school.

The building looked huge from the outside and, when Sweetie Belle followed Lyra inside, it was huge inside too. She looked around at the rows and rows of pictures on the walls. They covered every inch and ranged from paintings to photographs. One of the ones high up she could see was Lyra and beside it was Twilight.

"Graduates. Ponies that met and exceeded the school's requirements." Lyra walked to the receptionist's counter. "Inky Stamp?"

"She retired last year. I'm Ink Blot—no relation." Ink's eyes flickered from Lyra's face to the picture of her on the wall. "What can I help you with, Ms. Heartstrings?"

"I have a filly I'd like to receive an aptitude test, then I'd like a meeting with the headmistress as soon as Professor Inkwell can see me." It was a completely ridiculous request and Lyra knew it. Furthermore, she knew Ink Blot knew it too—and she was reasonably aware that Ink Blot would know she knew it was ridiculous. "No, I'm not joking."

"No ma'am. I'd know if you were joking because there would be laughing. You are a graduate, so you know the rules. Admission tests happen in winter, and Professor Inkwell doesn't like to be disturbed without a day's notice unless you're Princess Celestia." Ink Blot delivered her answer firmly though, when she was done, she noticed Lyra's eyebrow start to rise. "Don't try to badger me, ma'am. I will summon the Guard if you prove rowdy."

It would be funny if it wasn't exactly what Lyra expected. The one day she didn't wear her armor to Canterlot and she was threatened to have the Guard called on her. For a fraction of a second she pondered pushing her case and calling Ink's bluff, but that would be an embarrassment for the Guard more than anything. "Just send Inkwell a note telling her who is here—at the end of her current class—and I'll be content if she doesn't want to see me."

Pulling one wing up to her forehead, ignoring the black-ink-tipped feathers as she massaged her temple, Ink Blot wrestled with the knowledge she had one of those kinds of ponies to deal with. "Under duress I'll do it. If she says to leave, and you refuse, I will call the Guard and give them your name. Got it?"

It was enough for Lyra—she nodded.

"'Sorry to bother you, headmistress, but Lyra Heartstrings is here and says she needs to speak to you.' Is that satisfactory?" Ink wrote as she spoke—not planning to word the note any other way. The worst part, as far as she was concerned, was that she would likely get somewhat in trouble unless she found somepony else to deliver it.

When the pegasus was gone, Sweetie Belle looked up at Lyra. "Why is she so angry?"

Lyra sighed. "She's new. Probably hasn't learned all the ropes yet. Maybe I should have worn my armor today?"

"Would that have made her do what you said?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Probably not," Lyra said, "but I'd have an excuse to be yelling then."

The sound of four hooves coming back down the hall was unsurprising to Lyra—the offices and lounge for teachers was just beside reception, and Inkwell never strayed too far from there. "Well?" Lyra asked.

Trying her best not to grind her teeth, Ink said, "She will be out in five minutes." Her anger persisted until she saw the unicorn filly gazing at her in shock. Like a needle connecting with a balloon, her anger at being proved wrong burst at the realization she was being a big meanie—for no real reason but spite—in front of foals.

Taking her time to walk back into the staff area of reception, Ink looked at Lyra with a much calmer face. "Sorry, it's been a trying day."

"I'm going to take a stab and say it's been a trying job to fill Inky's horseshoes?" Lyra asked, surprised to see the change in Ink. "She was a force of nature around here."

"You're telling me. She had a system of filing that worked, apparently, but compared to modern standards every task is like trying to find a needle in a pile of needles. The worst bit is I don't have the time to correct it—there's just too much going on every day." By the time she got to the end of her complaints about the filing system, she slumped down on the bench. "And that's just the start of it."

"Want some help?" Lyra asked.

Ink's eyebrows rose and rose until she could only lift them higher by raising her head from the bench—which she did. "Help how?"

"Well, what I want is for Inkwell to get Sweetie Belle here an aptitude test so I can put together a lesson plan for her. That will take a few hours, which means you can have yourself an assistant—two even—to help get things into the kind of order you'd prefer. All I can promise is I will follow all orders and that Apple Bloom will eat all the lollipops you have." Standing straight, Lyra saluted with the kind of crisp and perfect precision that she demanded of new recruits.

It took Ink a few seconds for the stance to sink-in before she face-hoofed. "You're in the Guard, aren't you? And I threatened to call them…"

Lyra waved the concern away. "Which was sensible of you. It's everypony's right to feel safe and the E.U.P. Guard are here to do that. Let me help you out of at least one of your messes to make up for badgering you about this."

"That's at least another smaller issue. I get told 'Don't bother Inkwell unless the pony asking is important.' How am I meant to know who is important? Wait—" Narrowing her eyes, Ink started to put more pieces together.

"Lyra Heartstrings," Professor Inkwell said as she approached the front counter, "sergeant of the E.U.P. Guard's latest division, troubleshooter for Princess Celestia, former classmate and friend of soon-to-be-Princess Twilight Sparkle, friend of Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor." She didn't bother keeping up with every little detail of her former students, but Inkwell did have a wall where she pinned achievements of those she was particularly proud of. "What can the school do for you?"

"I have a filly who wishes to learn more advanced magic and we'd both like to find what she has particular aptitudes for." Looking down at Sweetie Belle, Lyra smiled just thinking about the potential she held. "I can take over her training from there, with a little—"

Professor Inkwell held up a hoof to forestall Lyra's "Enroll her. If you believe she has aptitude for any magic, enroll her in the school and let us do our job."

"She doesn't want to leave Ponyville. Not yet, at least. Is there a way she could attend here for one or two days a week and I can assist with any training outside of that?" It was a long-shot, but Lyra was willing to spend a little of her time helping Sweetie Belle—it never even occurred to her that she shouldn't.

"I—" Closing her eyes so the hopes and dreams of a filly weren't boring their way into her heart, Inkwell sighed. "Anypony else and I would say no. Anypony except a graduate who is themselves a teacher of magic already and I wouldn't even be thinking about this." She opened her eyes and stared hard at Lyra. "You're going to need to report in on her progress, assist the local teacher in Ponyville in building her coursework, and you will attend a staff meeting here once a month. Am I clear?"

Lyra was more than familiar with the tone of a commander who expected their very words to be carried out as law. She snapped off a stiff salute. "Ma'am. Yes, ma'am!"

"Do that again, Lyra, and I'll clip you around the ears." Turning her attention from Lyra, Inkwell looked down at the cause of all the fuss. "Would you like to come with me, young lady, and we'll see if we can't work out what your magic talent is?"

Sweetie Belle blinked in surprise and then, without being able to control herself, she bounced in place. After a moment of all that excitement, she calmed down and looked up at Inkwell. "O-Okay."

"We'll be a few hours." Turning, Inkwell aimed herself back down the hallway with the aim of reaching the testing rooms. "You understand, it would be shorter but somepony had to go ahead and make a new type of magic. Speaking of that, there are eight kinds of magic now: light, dark, change, motion, emotive, chaos, and harmony—plus the new magic Twilight Sparkle created, friendship.

"We'll tackle them in order. The reason for that order, in fact, is important. Come." Stepping into the carefully protected room, Inkwell tried to ignore the feeling of deja vu she felt at leading a lone filly in. In the back of her mind she had to wonder if she was about to test another filly who would create an entirely new field of magic. "A simple medium, light is the first magic any unicorn learns. Please, make as much light as you're able using whatever magics you wish."

Light spells were something Sweetie Belle had been taught first. From the little single-point spell that foals used to burn off magic and stop their own surges to huge spells that could emulate the sun itself. She'd practiced a few, mostly the ones she thought were pretty, and that's why she started working a moderately complicated basic spell that she had thought, when she'd first seen its pattern, looked like a rose.

It was tricky, but working through the pattern slowly, Sweetie Belle finally completed it and sent her full magic rushing through the pattern. The light it generated was soft and tinted a subtle yellow-gold, casting no shadows.

"That's a complicated piece of magic just to make light. Would you mind explaining why you chose Solar Heart's Radiant Warmth?" Inkwell was impressed at the effort memorizing the spell would have taken for a foal.

Temptation to embellish the truth was hard to suppress, but Sweetie Belle did so—if for no other reason that she wanted to honestly pass the test. "The pattern is pretty and I enjoy looking at it. It also helps me relax when I use it to read by."

"Can you tell me why it leaves you relaxed?"

Tilting her head a little, Sweetie Belle bit her lower lip. She remembered there were a lot of notes beside the spell, but it was hard to remember those when she'd spent so much time focused on the pattern itself. "N-No."

"It's the warmth of sunlight itself. A lazy spring afternoon captured and wrought into the guise of a spell. Such days do more than just illuminate, they spark creativity and life within your heart. A good start, young lady. Now I wish to see you work a dark spell. As with light, any you can perform will suffice." Unsurprised when Sweetie Belle began the simplest of dark magics, a simple sphere that can snuff out flame, Inkwell noted that Sweetie Belle's aptitude for light magic was obvious. "Not your most favorite one, but you keep it memorized?"

"R-Rarity says I have to keep it memorized if I am going to cook in her kitchen. I have accidents." It pained Sweetie Belle to admit, but the sting to her ego was salved by her recent success in making food with her friends. "Change is next?"

"Yes. It's one of the more complicated magics but, please, if you would?" Inkwell hadn't expected much. Most unicorns learned spells to change the color of flowers first, so when Sweetie Belle cast another complex little spell at her own throat, she was surprised.

Having managed one of her favorite spells, Sweetie Belle cleared her throat and started singing—a whistling song that only a bird should be capable of. She had learned the tune while hiding near Fluttershy while she trained a choir of birds, and once she heard it she'd set about trying to find a way to sing like that.

Without looking at her pad, Inkwell began to take notes. The song was easy to get lost in with its swelling notes and elaborate harmony, but it was the spell that Sweetie Belle had used to achieve it that had her excited. Technically it was a basic spell, but this one was as complex as several intermediate ones. It showed not just aptitude with magic, but a specific type of magic or effect with which foals could map their whole lives around.

Once Sweetie Belle was done singing, and not a moment sooner, Inkwell clopped her hooves a few times on the floor in applause. "That was wonderful. Do you know other change spells?"

"Th—" Sweetie Belle realized she hadn't let go of the magic when her words devolved into tweeting, she did so and tried again. "That's the only one I've learned so far. I really wanted to be able to sing like a bird."

"Which pony assisted in your research?"

"Well…" Lowering her head, Sweetie Belle tried not to blush. "I asked Twilight for any change spellbooks. She wasn't really listening at the time, but Spike the dragon helped me find what I wanted."

Inkwell added a note about Sweetie Belle being a self-motivated learner. "I see. Please continue with motion."

"S-Sorry, I don't know any spells for motion, except telekinesis. Or emotive, chaos, or harmony. And I don't think there are any friendship spells yet." Sweetie Belle looked up into Inkwell's eyes, expecting to see derision or disappointment. Instead, she saw a big, warm smile on the teacher's face.

"Well, let's learn some. Not the friendship magic, of course. Like you said, no spells exist yet." Teleportation magic, particularly for objects, was a specialty for Inkwell. She plucked up books on the four topics and made them appear before them. "Why don't you start with motion?"

The first spell in the book was literally telekinesis. Just a single point of magic was all it took to pick up an object and wave it around—or accidentally crush it. Sweetie Belle shook her head at that. The second was a spell she'd seen used a lot by her sister; an advanced form of telekinesis that allowed multiple things to be held at once.

She'd never used it before, mostly because she'd never had a reason to, but she could recall seeing Lyra using it while she was cooking. Focusing hard, she imagined what shape the pattern made and, after a few moments, giggled as she noticed a pegasus wing hidden in the pattern. Pegasi, like Scootaloo, could hold lots of things thanks to their feathers, so she imagined the spell pattern as a wing with feathers extended and curling around things to hold them. "Okay, I think I've got this."

Raising an eyebrow, Inkwell watched as, with the book closed again, Sweetie Belle built and cast the spell perfectly, then picked up two balls from a stack in the corner. "Very good." How did this filly master Magnificent Multi-TK with just a minute of study? Three near-intermediate spells, one she just learned. Prodigy? "Would you like to try emotive next?"

Biting her lower lip, Sweetie Belle nodded and accepted the next book. Browsing through it, she found a spell that resembled a semi-quaver. The pattern sparked her memory before she even noticed what it did. Inspiration Incantation, which given what she knew of her big sister, Sweetie Belle immediately fell in love with it. "Okay, I've got one."

Inkwell managed a glance at the page. There was only one spell on it—and it was another borderline intermediate spell. "Very well. Please, cast it." When the filly, without looking at the book again, cast it without issue, Inkwell was starting to wonder if somepony was playing a prank on her. "You just learned this spell?"

Blinking away the bright light of the spell's effect, Sweetie Belle nodded. "I don't normally do much of this. Miss Cheerilee said I have to do the spells in the book she has before I can try others, and they're really hard to remember."

"Which book?"

"Foal's First Spells."

It was shocking to hear. "Every single one of those spells is simpler than the one you just cast."

"Well, they have less points, yeah." Sweetie Belle scrunched her snout up a bit. "But there's more to remember."

Inkwell felt the white-hot burning need to yell and demand an explanation. Thankfully, she'd spent a good deal of time talking with foals. "What are you remembering?"

Pointing her hoof at the Inspiration Incantation, Sweetie used her magic to trace a semi-quaver over the pattern. "This is just a semi-quaver with extra bits here and here. So I just remember the extra bits."

Everything started to make sense now. Inkwell lifted up the motion spellbook and found the spell for telekinesis Sweetie Belle had used. "And what's this pattern?"

"That's a pegasus wing, with all the feathers, and these two extra bits here and here." It was obvious to Sweetie Belle once she'd found the pattern once. She easily made it with the two tiny changes, being careful not to add enough magic to cast it, to show Inkwell how it worked.

"I believe we're done with the testing." Professor Inkwell now had a unicorn to beg, plead, and promise anything to—for the opportunity to teach the student of her dreams. "If you'll follow me back to reception."

Now Sweetie Belle was nervous. Inkwell hadn't let her finish all the potential spells, and she really liked the new spells she'd learned in just a few minutes at the school. Her mind raced as she tried to wonder what she'd done wrong. When they reached the front area again, she saw Lyra and Apple Bloom in the office moving folders of paper around various cabinets while Ink Blot was shuffling things around inside a cabinet.

"Ink Blot, please assemble the paperwork required to admit a student into the Princess' school. I will also need parental approval papers that will need signing—I assume you can arrange that, Lyra?" Inkwell watched as the Lyra quickly stuffed all the hovering folders into cabinets.

"Yes, ma'am. I just need to finish up my work here and I can arrange that."

Inkwell sighed. "You don't need to call me ma'am anymore, L—Wait, why are you working here?"

"Well, somepony hired Ink Blot here and threw her in the deep end without giving her a chance to bring order to Inky Stamp's chaos. Apple Bloom and I were helping her to bring a little sanity to the office." Lyra kept sorting folders, grabbing more from the to be sorted cabinet, glancing at them, then sending them in the appropriate direction. "But I could never imagine somepony doing that to her on purpose, so what's up?"

"If I tell you, will you get Sweetie Belle's parents to sign her up to the school as quickly as possible?" Inkwell, from experience, knew that Lyra wouldn't be able to refuse a dangling morsel of information. That Lyra had pointed out what she wanted to know was its own puzzle.

"Yes." Lyra was going to anyway, of course, but hearing Inkwell's excitement to secure the promise made her wonder what the testing had discovered. "So, spill it."

"Half our teaching staff were all at the point where they were waiting for an excuse to retire. When Inky Stamp gave her notice, I had six professors all decide that was a good enough sign for them. Cue me running around trying to organize staff to scrape through the year—and I forgot that I'd left a mess in my newest receptionists' lap." Inkwell turned her attention to a stunned Ink Blot. "I'm sorry."

"If you'd like, I'll have a talk with Princess Celestia about trying to find you some more staff." Not stopping in her sorting, Lyra was working through the to be sorted cabinet at a huge pace. "Now, what did you find? I'd talked to Miss Cheerilee, but she seemed to have trouble discovering what Sweetie Belle could be best at."

"Everything." Inkwell passed her clipboard over to Lyra, who paused in her sorting to start reading. When Lyra's eyebrows shot up at the notes, Inkwell let out a chuckle. "I can't blame this Miss Cheerilee, a talent like Sweetie Belle's is hard to pick up on. I only managed it myself through careful questioning. So, with a resounding yes, and pending your parents' permission"—she turned to face Sweetie Belle—"I would like to welcome you to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

Author's Note

To Celestia: Is there a book about being a princess that Twilight should read?

"Several. One of which was written by my sister and involves plans for the subjugation of—Well, let's just say it was during her odd period." The look on Celestia's face betrayed her melancholy. "Another was a many-times transposed etiquette book penned by Platinum herself. It's all completely out of date—I might give it to Twilight. There was also a five-part lesson plan written by Star Swirl himself, but I wouldn't inflict that on anypony... again."

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Lab

Chapter 18 Part 5

The ceremony was big and exciting and everything anypony could expect out of the coronation of a new princess. Twilight, of course, was the centerpiece of the whole event, but nopony could have missed the extravagant outfits and crowns that Luna and Celestia wore.

After all the announcements, proclamations, and speeches were done, the party began. Princesses, nobles, and special guests flooded the huge ballroom of the castle and it was an event that surpassed even the Grand Galloping Gala for excitement.

Lyra herded Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom away from the canapes table, arranging for them to be on the dais with Celestia when the first nobles braved the rich and spicy scents to sample the food.

"Why are their faces turning red?" Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo, who had started to build a tolerance for spicy food thanks to Lyra cooking it more and more often, was starting to giggle. "That one is actually breathing fire."

"Maybe he's part dragon?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I'm sure they're just not used to such wonderful cuisine." Celestia was struggling to hold her giggling back, though years of practice had made her an expert at it. "I noticed you were absent during the preparations, Lyra?"

"I had to take care of important, national security matters, Your Highness. It was with the utmost urgency that I have your newest protege tested at your school and found to be so amazingly good that you're going to have to devote all your time to teaching her." As she spoke, Lyra winked to Sweetie Belle.

If there was one thing that lifted Celestia's spirits more than seeing overly pompous aristocrats trying in vain to not show the food they were eating was burning their mouths, it was catching up on the antics of Lyra Heartstrings. "Interesting. How did Professor Inkwell take this news?"

"She was so infuriated I had found a loophole in her strict requirements that she immediately fired half her staff. Now she needs several new teachers and I told her I would ask you if you could help her out." It was the most fun Lyra had had for a while. "And she said her poor receptionist needs an assistant. Perhaps it could be a rotating duty for students?"

Knowing Inkwell, Celestia knew that Lyra was making some of her story up. It was fun to try to imagine what was fiction and what was reality, though. "So Inkwell needs some new staff and you want to help the receptionist. What has been going on in my school?"

Lyra explained the actual events, including all the delicious gossip she'd gotten while helping Ink Blot. "You know, I could send a clerk or two over to help her get the reception completely in order. At least with the filing done, she can keep on top of her work."

Celestia sighed. "I'll draft an official request for that. I don't suppose you have any suggestions for teachers?"

Grinning, Lyra was already prepared. "Well, I only know of one unicorn teacher who you could ask, retired Sergeant Precise Pedagogue. The others would be retired unicorns with less direct knowledge of teaching and more direct knowledge of—"

"Guardpony retirees?" Celestia asked, and got a nod. "It wouldn't be the worst source, though, but I don't think it would be appropriate to fill half the teaching positions that way. Find me two names apart from Precise and ensure they have some experience in teaching."

Lifting her drink, Lyra saluted Celestia by raising it toward her. "How's Twilight taking all this?"

"She is putting on a strong front. I don't think she'll remember a single name she's being introduced to today, but I trust you can help her remember the important ones?" Realizing that she was behind, Celestia summoned a martini glass filled with tea and took a sip.

"Hold up. You're saddling me with teaching her? Princess, I have a lot of other things on my plate, not the least of which is teaching your new prodigy for two days a week." Lyra used her magic to retrieve a tray of canapes from one of the waiters. She plucked one of the hotter ones off the tray and popped it in her mouth.

"Ooh, is that one of those stuffed peppers?" Scootaloo asked and, when Lyra held the tray out to her, she used her wing to carefully pick one of the treats up. "Be careful, girls, these can be really spicy."

Apple Bloom reached out, as was typical for earth ponies, with her mouth. She froze a moment before her teeth closed on a stuffed pepper when her eyes started to water. Jerking back in shock, she watched Scootaloo chewing with every evidence of enjoyment. "How can you do that to yourself?!"

"Can I try one?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Lyra froze. The nobles of Celestia's court were free targets, but she didn't usually like to torment foals. "These—No, they're pretty hot. This one here—No, that has a ton of cumin in it. They're all going to be hot."

"My sister would get all bossy about it, but the spiciest thing she ever tries is mayonnaise." Using her magic, Sweetie Belle picked up one of the stuffed peppers and put it in her mouth the same way Scootaloo had. The heat was more than anything she'd ever eaten before in her life. It felt like her mouth was on fire, but at the same time that seemed to make it better. "Deefs arr wheely goo!"

Everypony, even Celestia, stared at Sweetie Belle as she chewed away, her eyes watering a little, and eventually swallowed the pepper.

"Can I please have another? Or is there something else I should try?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"You know the best part of this party?" Celestia asked, watching as the three fillies left her and Lyra to explore.

"What's that?" Lyra asked, still a little incredulous.

"Seeing you shocked for once." When Lyra's head snapped around and stared at her, Celestia laughed. "Admit it. Normally you have this manic energy that leaves you completely impossible to put off balance. Now all I need to know is that Sweetie Belle and her friends can accomplish what timber wolves, a mind-controlling bug queen, and being turned into a pony didn't."

Approaching the two, Sweetie Drops walked up beside Lyra and kissed her on the cheek. "Nice party." She plucked up one of the little pieces of toast that had beans in a red sauce on it, then ate it. "Mmm, missing plantain."

Lyra stared at Sweetie and then looked down at the other such canapes. "Drat. Well, at least they get fiery beans and sauce."

"Mind if I hide over here for a while?" Twilight Sparkle asked, slipping up and ducking between Celestia and Lyra. "Why everypony needs to introduce themselves to me now, I don't know. They've had years to get to know me!"

"It could be," Sweetie Drops said, "that you created a new type of magic, grew wings, and sent a pulse of purple light out that covered all of Equestria. Maybe not, though." Grabbing a second treat from the tray, she tried to ignore the sense of heat she got just from bringing it near to her and popped it in her mouth.

Mention of friendship magic had Twilight's flagging energy suddenly rise again. "Okay, okay, I get it, but I just want to go home and start studying it. All this"—she waved her left forehoof at the party going on—"is just boring."

Celestia spotted the twitch in Twilight's wing when she gestured at the room. "Well, you could order some guardponies to escort you out of here. Though, you have to give them time to round up some foals they're taking care of."

Twilight turned to look at Lyra and Sweetie, hope dawning in her eyes. "Would you?"

Sweetie Drops looked over at Lyra to see her walking out into the crowd after Scootaloo and her friends. "Of course we can, Twilight. You don't need to be a princess to ask for help."

It didn't take the three long to exit through a server entrance and slip down to the kitchen with Scootaloo in tow. When they reached the kitchen, they found Blue Blood chatting away with Upper Crust and Jet Set—while all three had a bowl of stew each and some bread to accompany it.

"Here they are. Auntie's food-assassins—and I see they're foalnapping a princess. I believe that's a promotional offense." Blue flashed a grin at the newcomers. "Staying for some food?"

Twilight's eyes widened as she looked at the relaxed Blue Blood. She'd heard Rarity's lamentations of how snobby and self-absorbed he'd been. This was a very different stallion from what her friend had described.

"Oh, you know how it is," Lyra said, "if we don't make our get-away quickly, the whole castle worth of Royal Guard will hunt us down and then things will become problematic. If we beat up all of them, what will Princess Celestia do for guards?"

Sweetie leaned across to her wife and, in a loud voice whispered, "That's why it leads to promotion. You'd be captain of the Royal Guard in no time."

"Exactly!" Blue laughed, surprising even himself at how much freer he felt with himself now. "Well, don't let us keep you. I'm sure you have some crazy method for slipping back to Ponyville without anypony the wiser."

"Just a moment, please." Standing up from the table, Upper Crust bowed to Twilight, her high-born sensibilities not allowing the moment to slip by, no matter how casual the situation. "Your Highness, if there's ever anything Jet or I may do to aid you, please let us know."

"R-Right. I will." There was nothing in any book that prepared Twilight for helpful courtiers. Everything she'd ever heard from her parents regarding those who buzzed around the castle like flies was they had at least five reasons for everything they did or said.

"Come on, princess. This foalnapping doesn't count unless I can actually get you out of the castle." Lyra encouraged egress by simply putting herself between Twilight and anypony that might try to talk to them further. She did turn to Jet and Upper and gave them a nod of acknowledgment before rushing from the castle through the servants' gate.

"Do you literally know everypony in Equestria?" Twilight asked, laying on the droll tone as heavy as she could.

Scootaloo giggled. "As near as I can tell, she does."

"Lyra has this huge personality flaw." Sweetie Drops let Scootaloo take point position and took up the opposite flank to Lyra. "She meets somepony, she finds out what the biggest problem in their life is, and then she helps them work through it. It has a way of giving perspective and encouraging ponies to find ways to solve their other problems. Pretty soon, they think she has helped them solve them all."

"Okay, but why is it every time I meet somepony new with her around, they already know her?" Twilight asked, feeling like she was now losing a one-sided argument with reality itself.

Snorting, Lyra took a few prancing steps. "That's easy, Twilight. It's because I do know everypony." She paused at the top step of the path that led up to the castle and nodded to the guards. "Hey, Twilight, see those clouds up there?" She waited for Twilight to track along her outstretched foreleg to see the clouds and nod. "Why don't we have a race?"

Opening her mouth to ask what Lyra meant, Twilight was caught off balance as Lyra teleported herself and Sweetie Drops away from her. Unable to see where they were, Twilight rolled her eyes. "I can't believe"—she teleported directly to the cloud and cast a quick cloud-walking spell—"she thinks she can—"

"You beat us! I told you, Bonny, she's good at this!" Lyra's shout came closer before fading again as she and a very done with it looking Sweetie Drops flew past the cloud on a ballistic trajectory.

"You get used to them." Scootaloo landed on the cloud beside Twilight. "Before I could fly, Lyra would give me rides like that."

"I knew she was working on new teleportation-based travel, but this is a bit much." Twilight gestured to the rapidly approaching unicorn and earth pony.

"Last ones in Ponyville"—Lyra triggered another teleport to change their heading and aim them properly—"have to make dessert!"

Watching the pair hurtle off the side of the mountain, firmly in the grip of gravity, Twilight groaned. "I am not going to be the one to make dessert. Come on." She reached out to Scootaloo with her magic and teleported them directly to their front door.

"Wow." Scootaloo looked around, then up, and saw Lyra and Sweetie coming in for one of Lyra's typical velocity-shedding landings. "I guess we win. Come on inside."

Out of the moonlit night a pair of ponies rushed toward the ground, then back up into the air again and, finally, teleporting a short distance to land evenly on the ground.

"Lyra, why did you bother? She's a princess now, she has more magic than all the unicorns in town put together, and she's always been better at teleporting than you." Sweetie walked inside after Twilight and Scootaloo.

Not particularly fussed at losing, Lyra walked in and closed the door behind her. "I have to try, Bonny. This is just something I need to do. When we were at school, we'd always have these contests to try to beat each other at teleporting."

That got Twilight's attention away from examining the strange mix of instruments on display in the living room. "You remember all that?"

Rolling her eyes, Sweetie shooed Lyra towards Twilight. "Come on, Scoots. We'll get some chocolate mousse ready. Leave the geeks to geek over magic."

Twilight tried to ignore the gentle ribbing about being a geek. Turning her attention to Lyra, she asked again, "You still practice teleports?"

"Only all the time. You taught me how amazing magic can be, Twilight. You made me fall in love with spells and using them to help ponies. How could I forget something like that?" Lyra levitated her bass guitar up from its stand and checked the magic crystal batteries she'd put in it.

Watching as her old friend sat down on the couch and started strumming, Twilight took a seat as well. "I didn't—Well, I mean I know you liked magic, but I didn't think you liked it that much."

Lyra just letting her hooves work the guitar as they pleased. When she looked up from her guitar, she nodded to Twilight. "You bet. I mean, I already liked magic, but you showed me how to live and breathe it, and how to share it with others."

A little warm buzz filled Twilight. It was a combination of finding a friend she'd almost forgotten she'd had, the soft and thrumming music Lyra played, and the unique feeling that she'd taught another pony magic and they had done so well with it. She opened her mouth to ask something when she felt a deep hum of magic from the kitchen. "What was that?"

"Huh?" Lyra asked.

"It felt like somepony just turned on a magic snowstorm."

"Ah, quick-chiller. When you have a partner that loves making good food as much as Sweetie does, you make sure you buy her all the kitchen toys—even the ones costing mooost of my paycheck for a year. Though, you'd be surprised at what kind of discount you can get when you ask the right ponies." Lyra plucked away at the strings, interspersed with the strumming.

"Oh. I guess we just have a stove and a fridge." Thinking on it, Twilight had to wonder about her library now. "Maybe I should get a bigger place?"

"Probably a good idea, but don't feel obliged to leave your library behind too quickly. You might be a bit bigger than just the town librarian now, but that doesn't mean the town can do without you."

The reminder of her joy when she found a pony the right book to read put a big smile back on Twilight's face. "I wonder if that's how teachers feel when their students pick up something?"

"Huh?"

Twilight gestured with her forehoof—and almost fell sideways when her wing decided to move with it. Grumbling as she folded her wing back down, she briefly forgot what she was going to say. Then she recovered. "I mean, just now when you told me how much you learned about magic from me, it felt good, and it's sort of the same when I lend a pony the right book—I know they're going to learn something."

"It does feel good, doesn't it? I trained a lot of adult unicorns in using their magic in ways to help them and the ponies around them protect Equestria. I've taught foals how to expand their magic and taught them how to learn on their own and seek knowledge." Lyra took a big breath and let it out. "And, now I'm going to be helping Sweetie Belle learn magic. Professor Inkwell said she has a unique way of memorizing magic."

Perking up at the last bit, Twilight looked at Lyra with surprise. "A new way to memorize magic? And you'll be teaching her?"

"Yeah, and the last bit is the rub. It's probably going to be my weekends spent teaching her. She's going to spend some time in Canterlot learning at the princess' school, and the rest of her time she'll spend in Ponyville school with her friends." The last bit made Lyra smile, but at the same time she let out a huff. "And I need to do paperwork for the Guard, and every few months I will spend time training more guardponies, and… You get the idea."

"Maybe it's time to move-on from the Guard?" Twilight asked.

It was the question Lyra had been ignoring—the one hiding in the back of her head that she'd studiously walled up and moved-on from. "I'll need to train somepony to replace me."

"That shouldn't be too hard, surely?"

Lyra snorted. "Twilight, I do a lot more there than just train ponies. I—You're right, though. The Guard built me up to where I am today, but there's more for me to do beyond it."

Clearing her throat, Twilight rolled her shoulders and carefully extended her new wings (and managing not to knock anything over in the process). She looked at Lyra. "Lyra Heartstrings, I order you to transfer into a new E.U.P. Guard unit. You will be part of my own Guard, and you will be the best friend anypony needs you to be." When Lyra just stared at her, Twilight bit her lower lip. "Did I do that right?"

"Wings, horn, inflated sense of self—Yeah, Twilight, I think you did that right. Now I need to put things into action. You're going to have a bunch of work, too."

"What? I'm a princess now, I can order somepony else to do it."

Twilight and Lyra looked at each other, managing nearly fifteen seconds of silence before breaking into laughter.

"Thank you, Twilight. I was—I was stretched thin. I have trouble telling ponies no." Lyra looked down at her guitar and sighed. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"You have a student to teach, you have a wife to love, you have a filly who still needs her amazing role model to be awesome, Princess Celestia will still need you to do some things, and the Guard will probably want you to help train your replacement."

As she walked into the room, the tray of desserts on her back, Sweetie Drops noticed the odd mood that was present. She looked between Twilight and Lyra, trying to figure out what was going on between them. "Is everything alright?"

"Princess Twilight has demanded my service." Lyra strummed a dissonant chord on the base reminiscent of her inspiration for learning to play it in the first place.

"'Demanded' huh?" Sweetie passed out plates that had a fluted glass on each that was filled with chocolate mousse. "I'm not blind, Lyra, you've been struggling to keep up with everything, haven't you?"

"You noti—?" Lyra stopped and sighed. "Did everypony realize but me?"

"Yes," everypony, even Scootaloo, said.

Slumping back into her chair, Lyra scooped some of the whipped cream off the top of her mousse and looked at it. "I just wanted to help everypony."

"You did. You literally did." Sweetie Drops held her dessert with one hoof while she reached over to brush Lyra's mane with her other. "The Guard, every single princess, colts and fillies who wanted to learn how to protect Equestria, Trixie, Scootaloo, me, Deep Well, Shining Armor, probably all of Equestria… Batstralians too"—she paused and looked over at Twilight—"did I mention me?"

"Yeah," Twilight said, barely managing to hold back a giggle.

"Well, me twice." Content with the list as it stood, Sweetie hooked her hoof under Lyra's jaw and turned her to make eye contact. "Soon you'll spend more time running from problem to problem than you do working on them."

"But I do want to help everyone. It—" Lyra let out a whine.

"The training school almost runs itself, and thanks to Princess Luna taking a greater role in the country, she's making the decisions that need to be made. The Guard can find other unicorns to teach combat casting and, while the replacement won't be as good as you at it, you can train them to do the job as well as you do. Princess Celestia can still ask for your help, as can Cadance and Princess Luna. Research and Acquisitions will continue under my control, though I'll need a new sergeant to administrate it—and I already have one in mind. Find your own way."

Feeling almost ready to sulk, Lyra turned to look at Twilight.

"I have an order for you, sergeant." Twilight hoped against hope that she was getting things right. She ignored Sweetie Drops' raised eyebrow and Lyra's look of surprise. "Once your arrangements have been organized, and except for the work you promised Sweetie Belle, you will take two weeks off."

Sweetie Drops lowered her eyebrow and smiled. She really liked the way Twilight was handling this. "Maybe I should transfer too? No, that's just a joke. I'm perfectly fine where I am." She booped Lyra on the nose. "This will give you some time to breathe."

"But—" Lyra gulped. "What if something happens? What if—What if the changelings return?"

Finishing her mouthful of mousse, Sweetie snorted. "The same thing everypony else does, Lyra, you call the Guard."

Lyra's mouth fell open. "But—"

"Well," Twilight said, "I wouldn't object to you helping deal with them. You will still be a Guardpony, but you'll be in my Guard."

Eating more of her mousse, Lyra contemplated what that would mean. "So, this new friendship magic. Could I work with that?"

"Do you want to work with it?" Twilight asked and, when Lyra nodded, she said, "Then your first task, after two weeks of relaxation, is to explore at least three spells for it."

"'Explore'?" Lyra asked, about to deliver more mousse to her mouth.

Twilight could hear the curiosity in that single word. "It's new magic, Lyra. There are no spells. What do you think explore means?"

A raw and new enthusiasm filled Lyra. New vistas and plans were swirling around in her head as she pondered what types of spells to make. "Do I get to name them?"

As Lyra and Twilight exploded into conversation regarding magic, Sweetie settled herself a little more and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I didn't even really realize what was happening." Scootaloo had been quiet only in part due to eating her mousse, but also she hadn't known what to say to Lyra. She'd noticed Lyra doing more and more work of late, but hadn't identified it as a problem. "Is there something I can do to help?"

Shaking her head, Sweetie Drops said, "No. I think she's got just the right pony to help her here."

Author's Note

To Cadence: Any advice for your sister-in-law now that she’s earned her wings?

Looking somewhat in a panic, Cadance spread her wings wide in alarm. "Don't, whatever you do, take anything Celestia tells you as law. She will test you and use every trick in her arsenal to shape you into the perfect princess."

So I do this "Ask X" thing. X can be any character 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 upvotes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right character to answer. Try to keep it to one question per post!

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Lab

Epilogue

[[ A Lyra Perspective ]]

Smiling as best I could, I nodded to Stiff Peaks. "Sorry, sir, but there's not much I can do about it. You know how it is with princesses." It was a big pile of horseapples and we both knew it. Twilight hadn't been a princess for a week yet and here I was claiming her orders as being law. Well, they were law, but there was law and then there was law.

He looked at me like he recognized my explanation was as paper-thin as it actually was. There wasn't much else to do than hide behind Twilight's autograph on the letter. "Sergeant, let's be realistic now. This—What would happen if I took this letter up to Princess Celestia? Would she still transfer you to the private guard of a princess not even a month into her wings?"

A week was a long time for planning and paperwork. I'd never realized how much Twilight enjoyed paperwork or how good she was at it. Not just good as in can fill out forms good, she could write me a pennant of paperwork that would protect me from death itself. Reaching into my pack with my magic, I pulled out a second letter and set it before Stiff. "Sir."

I watched him open it with absolute glee—that I hid behind my sergeant demeanor. "A letter from Princess Celestia stating that Princess Twilight Sparkle is a princess in power as well as name? That's all you—" I cut him short with a letter from Princess Luna. He read it and stared at me with shock. "All this says is "Yes"."

Twilight was scary-good at paperwork. I had five more letters, but by the way Stiff slumped back in his seat, he was done. "If it makes any difference, sir, I will be permitted two weeks to train my replacement. This was as much a shock to me as it is to—"

"I can't fight this. No matter how well you train someone, they'll never replace your proficiency at training recruits." As he spoke, though, he started writing. It was an acceptance of transfer. "You won't be required to train the next sergeant—since you already have. I don't think there's a unicorn in the Guard right now who hasn't either been trained by you or studied every single one of your training methods."

"If they're one of mine, sir, they'll serve well." That was a feeling that was absolutely undeniable. I wouldn't hesitate to have any of my students fighting at my side. "If there's nothing further?"

"There is nothing further. Can I at least expect to hear more about you in future?"

I snorted and returned the salute he gave me. "Sir, I fully expect Princess Twilight Sparkle to have me working my horn down to a nubbin." Well, not for a few weeks at least.

He finished the salute and shook his head. "Don't be a stranger. If you find any more breakthroughs like that snake toy thing or the fast-march spell, you let us know."

Turning, I marched out of there with my counter-signed orders from Lieutenant Stiff Peaks, feeling a new kind of freedom. Like a winged Valkyrie, Twilight Sparkle had unhitched me from my life and aimed me in a new direction. The entire ride back to Ponyville had felt strange. I still had a pannier half-full of letters to get me out of my official duties for Stiff.

On the train, I pulled out a few of the letters. One was from Blue, an order to leave my current location as soon as possible with my transfer orders signed. Another was from Commander Spitfire, which was a request for me to transfer to the Wonderbolts' HQ (I had matching ones from Commanders Spring Dance, Bright Feather, and even Joy Dancer of the Royal Dragoons). Twilight had, somehow, gotten a letter from just about everypony senior to Stiff Peaks requesting him to release me with signed transfer orders.

And now I was in Ponyville, just having gotten off the train, and I had no idea what to do. Sweetie Belle's first lesson with me was in two days and I had nothing to do until then. Well, I had to report to Twilight, but the way she'd spoken when she sent me off to Canterlot, she wasn't expecting me to be back today.

Heading home, it was too early for Scootaloo to be out of school or Sweetie to be home from work, so I slipped out of my armor and had a quick shower to put my coat to right. Grabbing my saddlebags again, I headed out to explore Ponyville with no actual destination in mind.

Through the town center, around the market, past various shops, there was even a fast-food place that had recently opened. The town had really grown in the years since I moved here, but my hooves had brought me to one business that hadn't changed one bit.

Stepping into Sugarcube Corner, I got in line behind three mares who were discussing flower arranging while they waited for somepony else to be served. Was this going to be my life? Maybe for a few weeks, but then I would find things to do if Twilight didn't.

Flowers, apparently, required lots of chatter about color-matching, seasonal-matching, and very careful arrangements to balance brightness and a million other little details I wouldn't have ever thought of. There was so much language involved in flower-arranging that, if I wasn't sure that Sweetie Drops and Scootaloo had as little clue as I did about it, I would have wondered if it was me not being born a mare—or pony—that was at fault.

Eventually the three were at the front of the queue and then started deciding what they wanted. Doing such might be a common injustice, but it didn't bother me today. I waited patiently as they discussed the qualities of cupcakes over muffins, one pastry over another, and even which particular eclair they thought was best.

When they were finally done and I got to the front of the line, I recognized Mrs. Cake behind the counter. She looked apologetic, though maybe it was apoplectic? One of those. "Sorry for the wait, Lyra. What can I get you?" Apologetic it was.

I pointed a hoof at the special board. "I would love to try a lemon muffin surprise."

"You're lucky, I have just one left—" As soon as Mrs. Cake said it, I heard a gasp from behind me.

Turning, I spotted Derpy Hooves looking almost panicked. "You wanted the lemon muffin?" I asked her.

"Ye—Is that you, Mrs. Heartstrings?" Derpy's wings shot out and flapped in excitement. It was one of the cuter things I'd seen all week. "I haven't seen you in sooo long! I wanted to thank you again for helping Dinky get into Princess Celestia's school."

I gestured for her to move up to stand beside me. "It's good to see you too, Derpy. How is the little firecracker of a filly doing? She starts at the school next year, right?" I turned to face Mrs. Cake. "I'll take that lemon muffin for Derpy and a blueberry muffin for myself."

The look of delight on Derpy's face was worth any amount of muffins—even if I did prefer the lemon ones. "Yup! Next year she'll be going there and learning all kinds of amazing things. Are you sure you don't want me to pay for that muffin?"

"It wouldn't be a gift, then. Besides, I am celebrating." Walking to a table, I used my magic to fill a pair of glasses with water from a fountain to the side and brought them over.

"What are you celebrating?" Derpy asked.

From the corner of my eye I could see Cup conspicuously cleaning nearby, her ears no doubt soaking up all the delicious gossip of her guests. Given the information network I'd helped set up across Equestria, I couldn't complain about a mare's devotion to overhearing conversations without being a massive hypocrite, besides, it wasn't like it was a secret. "I've been transferred to a new part of the Guard."

When Derpy took a bite of her muffin, the look of enjoyment on her face was undeniably going to be a high point of my day. "What for?" she asked, when she'd chewed and swallowed enough muffin to clear her mouth.

"A friend needed help." It was the easiest way to explain it. I noticed that Cup had wandered away—apparently Guardpony gossip was less enjoyable than whatever she expected me to talk about. "And, well, you know how I love helping ponies." Derpy's enthusiastic nod egged me on. "So it looks like I am the first to serve as Princess Twilight Sparkle's guard."

Derpy gasped and her wings shot out from their folded, rest positions. "Really? That's amazing! What will you be doing for her?"

"Now that's the issue, isn't it? I'd say I'd be protecting her, but I've seen some of the fights she gets into. Discord, Nightmare Moon, Sombra… There's no way I'd be able to even attempt to stop any of them." It was fun to muse out loud on this. Normally, for my work in R&A, I couldn't exactly talk about things without causing a potential problem. "She has already given me three orders to carry out.

"First, I am to take some time off. She told me I was working far too much and I needed to wind down a bit. I'll be honest, I don't know how to handle that one.

"Second, I am going to be teaching Sweetie Belle magic as a distance-learning option from Princess Celestia's school. Maybe we can do that with Dinky next year.

"Third, Twilight wants me to start exploring the new magic she created. She wants all kinds of spells that use friendship magic, but I have no clue what sort of things to make." I could see Derpy wanted to ask something, so halted my explanation for now.

"Y-You mean we could keep living in Ponyville? How does this distance-learning work?" she asked.

"It's just a trial of it. Sweetie Belle will still have to go to Canterlot for two days a week for classes there, but the remaining work will be covered by myself and Cheerilee. I don't know exactly how it will go, but I'm definitely going to give it my all—and I think Sweetie Belle will as well."

Biting her lip for a moment, Derpy eventually asked, "So I'll still need to move to Canterlot to look after her?"

"There are dormitories in Canterlot for students. I was in one for a while—it's where I met Sweetie Drops. Her and her mother ran it and I started helping out. Next thing I knew I—Okay, that's probably going off-track a little. She could stay at that for the week and come home on weekends." Really off-track. It caught me a little by surprise to be talking about those days.

It seemed like an age ago. Ten years, in fact. Deep breath, Lyra, that means you get to do something super-awesome for your wife, but what?

"Oh. I didn't know that. I—I might still take at least a week off and go spend time in Canterlot to help her settle in." To say Derpy looked thoughtful was an understatement.

"Well, we do have a house in Canterlot you could stay at while she's settling. Sweetie Drops and I use it whenever it would be inconvenient to come back to Ponyville." With things changing so much, I wondered if we'd bother keeping it—but then, with Mum and Dad having a busy house, it's nice to have somewhere to stay in the city.

The topic turned to simpler things like the food and the weather. Derpy wasn't a weather pony, but it was funny how all pegasi got a focused look on their face when discussing anything weather related. It was so nice just to catch up with ponies I hadn't seen in a while that it kept me distracted right up until mid-afternoon between Derpy and then Cup.

I escaped at last and made my way to the town library. "Golden Oaks Library. The home of the local seat of power for Equestrian royalty." Lifting my hoof, I prepared to knock when the door flew open to reveal Twilight. "Princess!" I snapped my best salute.

"Lyra?" Twilight stared at me like she had no idea why I was here. "Oh, Lyra! Look, can you take care of the library for me? I need to go to Canterlot and—SPIKE! Sorry, I need to go to the princesses and—Spike! Where are you?! I need to go and—"

"I got it." Stepping to the side and lowering my hoof, I made room for my new commander to pass. "Need me to do anything while you're gone?"

Twilight's horn glowed for a moment and then Spike appeared on her back, he was (of course) holding dozens of scrolls, quills, and ink wells. "Just—I can't believe there's somepony I can ask this of and actually expect them to carry it out—Just make sure the town doesn't explode or get overrun by anything until at least next week?"

"Can't promise anything, Twi, but I'll do my best," I said.

"Your best is pretty good, Lyra," Twilight said.

"Don't we have to catch the train in about twenty seconds?" Spike asked.

Both of them vanished in a loud pomf of magic. With a certain amount of relief, I walked into the library and used my magic to start returning several books scattered around the room to their shelves. "Chillest job I've had in years. Just take care of a library. What could go wrong?"

Author's Note

To Joyce Mango: Have you been as much a presence in Princess Luna's court and personal circle as you have been in Princess Celestial's or has your sleep schedule precluded tea time with the night princess?

"I don't make a habit of being in Princess Luna's court. My daughter was extremely effective in building her a support network of ponies who can furnish all the domestic advice required." Joyce tapped her chin with one wing-claw. "She also, of course, has her guards to ask for Thestralian-specifc matter."

TA Unicorn and an Alicorn Walk Into a Library

It's a new life for Lyra Heartstrings, a new set of responsibilities, and a new princess to serve. Now she just needs to survive Ponyville to fully enjoy this new future.

Damaged · 124k words · 113 9 · 1k views

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Lab

Chapter 14 Part 3

Moon Dancer jerked awake. "What time is it? Where's Luna? Is everything—?"

"Not so loud, please?" Shining Armor was laying in the darkest corner of the room, hiding under a dozen blankets, with his horn glowing pink.

Blinking away at the grit in her eyes, Moon stood slowly and approached Shining. Softly, she asked, "Can I help with anything?"

It was hard to think about anything but the pounding his shield was taking far above the city of Canterlot. "If you can get me another juice, it'd be great."

The pain in Shining's voice was enough to spur Moon into action. Disregarding her own sour feeling, she used the bare minimum of magic to lift the pitcher of juice from the table in the room and brought it over. Setting it down before him, she lifted the straw from his empty glass and into the pitcher. "Here."

"Mmm…" The flare of energy from the sugar helped Shining's magic output, but the effort of moving—even just to drink—was taking its toll. "I can't hold it much longer."

"Is it magical energy you need? I can help with that." Moon watched Shining shake his head the tiniest amount. "Uh, what else… You have a migraine headache, so it means extreme disruption to normal spellcasting. Oh, right, you got a head full of changeling mind-control. I don't exactly know of a cure for that kind of hangover, sorry."

"Princess Luna asked me to hold it as long as I could." Speaking helped him focus on something other the skull-crushing pain in his head. "It was easy until the attacks started. Emergency reinforcements were already en-route. She said you were responsible for getting us the information."

"I guess I was. Really, though, it was Lyra, Minuette, and Twinkleshine. They visited me with their heads full of that mind-control magic, and still managed to get me the information I needed." Just thinking of the previous day made Moon shiver. "I guess everypony played their part."

Shining smiled and looked up at Moon. "I can't hold it much longer. I can feel every time one of them collides with the shield."

"A lot of them?"

"Probably thousands."

"Then I better get ready to defend this place. It's not easy to find, but it is part of Luna's private quarters." Moon looked back at the door, and as she cast her eyes around she spotted Sweetie—still asleep.

"Two bat pony guards at the door. I think we're safe." Shining let out a sigh as things seemed to ease for a moment—until over five thousand changeling hooves collided with the shield at once.

The sharp intake of breath from Shining got Moon's full attention. She looked at him just as the magic around his horn started to dim. It was probably the stupidest thing she could have done, but she had to try. Reaching out with her own magic, Moon Dancer gripped the spell Shining had built and held it—until the next strike of the changelings connected.

The cry of pain woke Sweetie Drops from her sleep. Looking around, she spotted Moon and Shining unconscious and laying nose to nose. Further investigation of the room revealed Luna hiding under a pile of midnight blue cushions—likewise asleep. Getting her hooves under her, she looked around for something to kick-start her metabolism.

All she could find was the empty pitcher and the coffee equipment that Moon and Luna preferred. "Well, it's not the best fuel, but it will get me going." Grabbing up the sugar bowl, Sweetie tipped it into her mouth, topped it up with water from the tap, and chased her sweet breakfast down with the liquid.

It was like lighting a fuse. Sweetie knew she needed more energy to face any fighting at all. Walking for the door, she opened it slowly to find two bat ponies outside.

"If you leave our sight and the room, we can't let you back in until the princess is awake."

Sweetie just nodded. "That sounds smart. Who gave you that order?"

"You did, just before you dragged an unconscious unicorn, an alicorn, and a member of the Royal Guard into the room." Fire Blossom smirked. "It sounded good enough for us, but that counts for you too."

"Yeah, yeah. Just keep them all safe." Sweetie walked out and past the two bat ponies and started toward what she hoped was the kitchen. Swinging the doors open, Sweetie tensed at the sounds of combat. Looking around the castle kitchen, she spotted several pony-like creatures that seemed to have a lot of bug influence. She didn't hold back for an instant, locking her focus on the black changeling nearest the line of chefs, Sweetie charged the creature, shrugging off a green blast from another in the room by grounding it out into the castle's old stones.

Gretchen watched the thunderous mare shrugging off magical blasts only to slam into the lead monster. She'd seen Sweetie Drops before when Celestia had invited her and her family to cook for the evening, but she could also see that the Guardpony was far outnumbered. In all griffons, despite their upbringing or the softness of their professions, there was a sharp-clawed predator. Gretchen was already upset at having her kitchen interrupted during preparations for a wedding.

When Gretchen pounced on the next changeling trying to come up on Sweetie's flank, she shoved that conflict to the side—she'd back a griffon over one a changeling any day. With her attention on the enemy, she started charging down the line of stove-tops and letting her armor's solidness deal with any changeling stupid enough not to get out of the way.

Several more green blasts were loosed, but they were no longer the targeted strikes of aggressors—they were used as a covering screen while the last few changelings fled from the kitchen.

Blowing an annoyed snort out of her nose, Sweetie started dragging the changelings together into one corner. "Do you have anywhere you can secure these?"

"Apart from the freezer, no."

"We'll just drag them outside, then. I don't want you risking yourselves guarding them. I don't suppose I could trouble you for a sandwich?" Sweetie started grabbing the changelings and dragging them to the doorway of the kitchen.

"A sandwich?" The request was not what Gretchen was expecting.

Sweetie could feel the sugar starting to boil off—used up in her fight. "Yeah. Haven't eaten in about a day. If I'm going to keep fighting today, I'm going to need—"

"Right. A sandwich." Turning to her brigade, Gretchen looked to her sous chef. "Sandwiches. She won't be the only pony who needs fuel. Everyone, we have an order to fulfill!"

While the kitchen started making bread and preparing fillings, Sweetie hauled the changelings outside the exterior doors of the kitchen and then barricaded them closed. She was just turning around from her task to find Gretchen herself passing her a plate piled with sandwiches. "Thanks."

"How bad is this? I saw a lot of those things raining from the sky." Gretchen tried to keep her edge of worry out of her voice, but she couldn't manage it entirely. A griffon was more than a match for one or two of them, but a hundred was going to drag her down eventually.

"We had warning. Most of the city has been evacuated to the E.U.P. Guard quarter, while we have Guardponies spread out all over the city. More coming in from outside if needed. The only threat we are not sure of is their leader, something I'm going to see about now." Sweetie spoke between bites of sandwich, a trick she'd learned in the Guard.

"There anything else I should know about them?" Gretchen asked.

Sweetie gulped down the last of her sandwich and nodded. "They can use magic to appear like anypony, possibly even griffons too. Stay safe and come up with a way to identify yourselves to each other." Grabbing another sandwich, her body working like an engine to break the egg and lettuce mix down into fuel for her muscles, Sweetie started toward the door. "I'll be seeing you when we have all this cleaned up."

The walk to the banquet hall—where the wedding had been planned for—was devoid of any contact for Sweetie. She saw nopony and no changeling either. Of course, she'd taken a different path to the most direct, not wanting to announce her presence. When she rounded the final corner, she watched as Twilight Sparkle and a very disheveled Cadance rushed into the banquet hall.

Sweetie's walk sped up into a trot on her way to the door, and she reached it just in time to hear the action start.

"Because it's not your special day! It's mine!"

When Sweetie leaned around the corner and looked, the Cadance standing on the dais with the disguised Blue Blood changed her demeanor completely. It didn't take a sharp mind to tell the difference between the two.

About to charge in, Sweetie froze at one sight in the audience—herself. Her eyes widened as she picked out a Sweetie Drops standing beside a Lyra Heartstrings, neither of which looked to be under the changeling queen's mind-control. She'd been so caught up that she barely registered the accusations flying—but she did see when the Cadance on the dais suddenly erupted with green fire and turned into a monster.

Glaring at Chrysalis, Cadance's vehemence rose. "They'll never get the chance! Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!" She didn't expect the laughter from the monster in front of her. When she looked to Shining Armor, she realized there was no sense of magic output coming from him—then she looked out the window and gasped.

"Way too late. He lost the last shreds of his power minutes ago. Even now my minions are attacking the city." Chrysalis like gloating and she liked monologuing. Now, with her victory cemented in place by her careful planning, she felt confident enough to indulge in both. Turning, she looked at Shining Armor. "He may not be my husband, but he is under my total control now."

Cadance turned her full attention on Shining Armor and tried to reach for his love—and got confused. Her talent was not pointing at the stallion on the dais, but behind her somewhere in the castle. What she did realize was she'd had enough of this monster. Taking a step forward, Cadance started to draw on her magic.

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to go back to the caves, now do you? Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you. Every moment he grows weaker and I grow stronger." Pulsing her horn with power, Chrysalis made to take a long drink of magic to refill her reserves—and got nothing. "What's this? A husk already?"

"No." Celestia stepped forward to put herself between Shining Armor and Chrysalis. "You won't be feeding from him or anypony else. You've revealed yourself, changeling, and that's always when you're most weak!"

Sweetie, peeking around the corner still, watched as Celestia started a magic duel with Chrysalis. She stared, dumbfounded, as Chrysalis' magic slowly overwhelmed Celestia. For a panicked moment she didn't know what to do, but as if on cue, Twilight and her friends led a charge from the room.

When the six bolted past her, Sweetie headed in the opposite direction. She galloped past the audience as they flared with green fire one by one. She raced all the way up to the dais and planted herself between Chrysalis and Cadance. "Take him and get out of here, Cadance."

"You!" Chrysalis' attention narrowed onto Sweetie. "You were the one last night interrupting my sleep! For that you will pay in equal measure to your former princ—" Forced to cut short her accusation, mostly because the mare she was monologuing at was charging at her, Chrysalis sent a blast of destructive energy at Sweetie.

Grounding magic was one of Sweetie's specialties. She timed her gait just right to plant all four hooves on the stone as the beam of green magic hit her. The stone itself reached up through her to soak away the dangerous magic, but it wasn't enough.

Even Celestia hadn't been able to deflect all of Chrysalis' magic, and as Sweetie stared at the changeling in shock, she felt the raw power overwhelm her and felt darkness close in around her head.

"Stop!" Cadance stepped forward and stood over Sweetie, glaring at Chrysalis. "What do you want?!"

The sound of defeat in Cadance's voice warmed Chrysalis' narcissistic nature. She cut off her beam and let Sweetie lie where she'd blasted her. "That's easy. I want every single pony wrapped up in a pod and used for food. I want to wipe out Equestria and use its every resource to build my hive bigger."

Sweetie, who had been struggling to hold onto her consciousness, finally lost that battle.

Green. Everything around Sweetie was green. Worse, she felt herself floating in something and was completely unable to feel the ground. Looking around the scene before her, she spotted Twilight Sparkle, her friends, Shining Armor, and a squad of E.U.P. Guard (a mixture of Royal Guard and Monster Hunters) standing at one end of the room while Chrysalis, Cadance, and the false Shining Armor stood at the other.

The thing that made Sweetie's heart soar was seeing Shining Armor fully clad in his namesake. She well knew how effective a big pony in heavy armor could be, and Royal Guard armor was only a notch below her own.

Looking a bit further to her side, she spotted Celestia—likewise floating in some kind of goop pod. A struggle broke out, pulling Sweetie's attention back to the room at large as the Guardponies started to engage the changelings. The most wonderful sight, though, was the look of confusion on Chrysalis' face and the look of realization on Cadance's.

Sweetie also noticed that Twilight had used a covert shot of magic to remove the goo that seemed to be binding Cadance's hooves to the floor.

Chrysalis shouted at her changelings to intercept the real Shining Armor, but now he had armor on, there was nothing they could do to stop his flying hooves as he broke through their ranks.

That's when somepony flushed Sweetie's pod by jamming a spear into the bottom of it. The din of combat finally reached her, though the pony who'd freed her had moved on to Celestia's pod. Without any changelings nearby, Sweetie didn't hesitate to get back on her hooves and start to gallop.

"No!" Chrysalis' full attention was on Cadance. She charged up her horn to blast the pink menace, when a freight train—or at least an angry earth pony—crashed into her side.

Cadance barely recognized the assistance she'd gotten—she only had eyes for her heart's desire, Shining Armor. He slowed, but she didn't. Crashing together, she pressed her cheek to his and tried to hold back tears of joy. "Shiny…"

"You're safe now," Shining Armor felt his own tears leaking down his cheeks and mixing with Cadance's. "I'm pretty much tapped out. Can you take this monster down?"

"Shining! Use your spell!" Twilight called.

For a moment Shining questioned Twilight's choice, but if there was one thing he trusted his little sister with, it was magic. He backed up a little and tried to cast, but even with the rocket fuel that'd gotten him up and mobile and the sandwich he'd gotten from the kitchen, he could barely produce more than a sputtering pink glow.

Unsure why she did it, Cadance leaned toward Shining until their horns almost touched. First a spark, then a rush of magic flowed from her to him. It was like their very hearts linked as their horns did touch, and power started to lift them both into the air.

Shining had no clue exactly what was happening except that Cadance's love was all around him and he was no longer too weak to cast the spell.

For Sweetie, who was wrestling with Chrysalis on the floor, the shock wave hitting her was less like a hammer and more like rejuvenation. All her hurts, all her pain, was blown away in that one instant as Shining and Cadance's magic combined in a blast of love.

The effect on Chrysalis was far different. "No. No!" She felt the wave of pure love like a spear in her side and a hammer in her face at the same time. The worst part was she couldn't feed off it—this love was weaponized.

Sweetie let go of Chrysalis the moment it clicked the magic was doing a number on her. Closing her eyes a moment, she felt safe and protected by the magic, but more intensely she felt a connection to a mare that was somewhere below her—Lyra.

All around the room ponies were thinking warm thoughts of those they loved while changelings were being revealed and catapulted out the windows. The sphere spread through the city, instantly halting all the fighting that was going on between invaders and Guardponies.

For the first time in his life, Shining Armor shared Cadance's magic. They were at the center of the burst, but even as he focused as much as he could on Cadance, he could feel the love in the hearts of every pony in the city.

The heat of all that love made Shining realize how important it was to protect and fight for. With their own magics swirling around them—a combination of his shield and her love—he felt at once whole and perfect.

"Shiny?"

He had to open his eyes to look at Cadance, but Shining immediately felt doubly blessed for doing so. "Cady?"

Cadance had an idea and was not going to let herself be dissuaded. "I want us to get married by the end of the day."

"You're not going to budge, are you?" When Cadance shook her head a little, Shining chuckled. "Yeah, didn't think so. Uh, how do we get back to the floor?"

"You think I know how this works?" Tilting her head forward, Cadance kissed Shining. "Oh, that got it."

"So we can fly by kissing?" Shining asked. "I think I could learn to appreciate this new skill."

Cadance, her heart now reinforced by the presence of Shining, took this moment to take stock of the room. There was still a second Shining Armor on the dais, looking a little confused. Twilight and her friends were cheering with a bunch of Guardponies. Beside her and Shining, Sweetie Drops was getting up from where she'd been wrestling Chrysalis, still with some traces of green changeling slime on her. Finally, though, was the big green pony who was doing a very good job of trying to look regal despite being covered in slime.

Realizing who the big green pony was, Cadance felt secure enough in the situation to inject a little levity. "Will anypony explain to me what happened here?"

Celestia opened her mouth to reply, but realized Sweetie probably had a better grip on the full topic. It would also give her a chance to get cleaned up. "Excuse me, niece, I'm sure you can keep Equestria together for an hour?"

Everyone paused their own conversations to watch as Celestia—bedecked with a mane and tail that drooped around her—left the room. Then all eyes turned to Cadance.

"Your Highness," Sweetie Drops said, "do you have any orders?"

Caught in a moment of surprise, Cadance turned to look at Sweetie in complete confusion.

"Cady, this is the moment where you get them to clean the hall up and get ready for your wedding," Shining said, gently bumping Cadance with his foreleg.

Eyes widening, Cadance's smile grew wide enough to scare everyone in the hall—even Sweetie. "Alright. Everypony, I want you to all check for residual injuries and magical effects, then I need somepony to organize this hall to be cleaned up and prepared. There needs to be a wedding here in exactly thirty minutes."

Looking up at Cadance, Sweetie gathered herself up and raised her voice. "Listen up! I want anypony medically trained on my right. We need to triage everypony. Any unicorns, once you are cleared, I want you straightening the room up! Do you understand me?!"

It took every ounce of Shining's willpower to resist the voice of a sergeant at full bellow—though he did indulge in mouthing the Yes sir! everypony shouted in answer. When everypony started scurrying around, Shining approached Sweetie. "There's somepony we need to find, isn't there?"

Emotion flooded into Sweetie, and despite all the chemicals she'd abused to perform at her best, there were cracks appearing in her solidity. "Lyra—"

"Wait." Cadance looked from Shining to Sweetie. "When Twilight and I came up from the caverns, there was—I thought they were more changelings."

"Cady?" Shining barely got the word out before he was forced to canter after his wife-to-be. "What's wrong?"

"Lyra, Minuette, and Twinkleshine are still down there!" Cadance's heart felt heavy. To guide her back to the staircase that led underground, she reached to Sweetie's heart and traced the direction of her love down to the depths.

"She's definitely safe," Lyra said. "She had Twilight Sparkle with her. I don't think anything could stand against those two."

"How's your magic, Lyra?" Minuette asked. "Magic returning yet?"

"If she's like me, she'll be about as drained as a unicorn can get. And, what's worse, these crystals are blocking any magic from getting in." Twinkleshine nonetheless had her horn lit—casting reflections and refracted reflections into the crystal around them.

"Yeah. Even with that gunk out of my head, no magic seems to move down here. This is weird. It's almost like Earth before it got magic." Walking around the odd room again, Lyra reached a hoof out to touch the crystal to find where the opening was. She got three-quarters around the chamber before she found the gap. "Here."

"They won then, right?" Minuette asked, walking over to the gap with Twinkleshine and slipping through it behind Lyra. "I mean, that's what it means that we can think again."

Twinkleshine struggled not to shake her head since she was the one providing light. "Not exactly. She could have just discarded us as no longer useful. If she won—and I hate thinking it—but if she did, we're no longer a threat to her."

"She won't win." Lyra tried to remember how they'd wound up in the chamber, though her memory of the fall was a bit hazy. "She can't, not so long as Bonny, Cadance, and Twilight are free."

"I wish I could find somepony I could trust as much as you trust Sweetie."

"You'll find somepony, Minuette. Just keep looking," Lyra said, navigating among crystal pillars and myriad images of Twinkleshine's horn. "Hold on."

"What is it?" Twinkleshine asked, approaching on Lyra's right flank while Minuette was on her left.

Blue. There was a blue glow in the crystal of the next chamber. Lyra had become so used to seeing Twinkleshine's pink/purple glow that she almost hadn't noticed it. "Something's coming. Get behind me, girls, and if it attacks me, try to help."

The three repositioned themselves. Lyra flattened against the wall beside the opening while both her friends found stalagmites to hide behind.

As the sound of hooves could be heard in the next chamber, Twinkleshine dimmed her light down and finally snuffed it out. Now that it was dark, and the creature bearing it had come closer, Twinkleshine could see the blue glow carried by dozens of crystals on thousands of facets.

Sweetie, still wearing her armor and serving as Cadance's vanguard, bore the brunt of Lyra's tackle well. She turned her head to assess her attacker, but had two more unicorns pounce.

Hearing the scuffle, Cadance poured a flood of magic into her horn's light and lit the scene ahead as if it were in broad (blue) daylight. Relief filled her. "Lyra!"

Eyes wide, Lyra stopped struggling with the behemoth she'd tackled and blinked before Cadance's light. "Uh"—she looked down and saw her wife still struggling with the wild attacks of Twinkleshine and Minuette—"Bonny!"

It wasn't that much of a shock to Sweetie to have Lyra hugging her, but at least now her wife wasn't trying to crush her windpipe. Rearing up—dumping Twinkleshine and Minuette on the ground—she wrapped her forelegs around Lyra and hugged her close.

Cadance felt the startlingly potent rush of her own magic in sympathy to Lyra and Sweetie's love for each other. As a result of that, her magic flared and she realized she had the opportunity to try a special kind of healing she'd been practicing. Tilting her head forward, Cadance aimed at the four ponies and let loose with her power.

It should have hurt. It should have at least gotten all three of them magic-drunk. Having her magic reserves go from nothing to boiling over, however, just seemed to invigorate Lyra excessively. She looked up from Sweetie to Cadance and couldn't help but smile at her friend. "Wow. So, uh, did we win?"

"We did," Sweetie said, "but only with you three raising the alarm."

"Us?" Minuette asked.

Twinkleshine let loose with her own light, happy to burn up a little magic to banish the dark further. "It was Moon Dancer, right? She figured out what we were saying?"

Sweetie nodded. "She contacted the Guard, then got Princess Luna involved, and helped us distract Chrysalis."

"Woo!" Lyra let go of Sweetie to hug her friends. Her energy was practically bubbling over and she wanted to hug everypony. "Hey, who wants a quick ride up?"

Sweetie put a hoof on Lyra's back to pin her down. "Lyra, you've never been able to move this many ponies at once. You can't—"

"Just, buckin', watch me. With all this magic, I could teleport Canterlot down just as easily!" Lyra was already building a spell matrix when Twinkleshine tapped her shoulder. "What?"

"Don't teleport us all up. Show me the pattern with the coordinates and I can teleport Minuette up with myself," Twinkleshine said.

Grinning like a maniac, Lyra pushed enough magic into the matrix to make a glowing gold-and-blue version of it hover in the air. "Wait, blue?"

"Cadance, remember? Pew-pew, magic for everypony," Sweetie said.

"Huh, right. Okay." Lyra held the pattern in place while she set about calculating the followups. "You know how to bounce, right? Or, uh, catch yourselves?"

Committing the pattern to memory, Twinkleshine looked a little confused. "Huh?"

"This spell puts you about two-hundred ponylengths above Canterlot. Ugh, forget it. Just cast that twenty seconds after I've gone up, okay?" Lyra was already working on calculations to save her friends. "Alright, one, two, th—"

"Wait!" Minuette reached a hoof up and poked Lyra's horn. "Twinkleshine, you have memorized it, right?" She waited for Twinkleshine to nod. "Okay. Good. I thought we were about to do something really stupid."

Walking into the chamber, Shining looked around at all the mares. "Uh, is everypony okay? What's all the shouting about?"

"Grab on, captain, we're going up! Express ride! Come on!" The moment Lyra felt three ponies touching her—Cadance, Shining, and Sweetie—she said, "Threetwoonego!" and teleported through the crystal, rock, ground, and into the air. "Weee!"

They weren't quite as high up as Lyra had calculated, but that's why she always worked with margins of error. From the moment she appeared above Canterlot, she could feel magic rushing into her again. Of course, having the very firm ground of Canterlot rushing up to meet her was a problem, but it was one she'd long-since solved. When she triggered another teleport, though, it was just her and Sweetie. "Where'd they go?" she managed to shout above the air rushing past them.

"Cadance spread her wings and grabbed"—Sweetie cut short as another teleport spell brought them to just a hoof's width above the ground at the peak of their parabola—"Shining. They're gliding down."

"AHHHHHH!"

Looking up, Lyra spotted Twinkleshine and Minuette. Still filled with magic, she teleported up beside them and juggled the three of them through a double-teleport-landing. Ignoring her friends' continued shouts, Lyra rushed back over to Sweetie and hugged her again.

Setting Shining down, Cadance alighted on the ground beside him and grabbed him up with both forelegs and her wings. "We have to hurry and get everything ready before Auntie can put it off again."

"Do you think she will"—Shining paused speaking to kiss Cadance—"officiate, or should we get somepony else?"

"We'd need a princess, a captain in the Guard or higher, or a city official." When Shining stared at her, Cadance followed up with, "What? I keep track of these things. Technically, it's my job to."

"Sure you do, Cady, sure you do. Okay, so we don't want to talk to Princess Celestia, since she might put it off. Most of the Guard are working in the city right now helping put things back to rights, and city officials are likely all hiding in their bedrooms." Shining mentally ticked off the options. "So, the only other princess is Princess Luna, and last I saw she had a sign beside her that read 'Disturb Me And Feel My Wrath' and I'm the only captain or higher rank in the castle."

Sweetie could feel the weight of a mountain descend upon her. She froze, the fear of some coming event now more serious than when she'd tried to wrestle a queen changeling. "Wha—?"

"Sergeant Sweetie Drops!" Cadance had done her best to sneak over to Sweetie, but as high-strung as the situation was, she doubted her target was surprised. "I hereby grant to you a field promotion to—"

"Jump-step field promotion," Shining said hastily.

"… a jump-step field promotion," Cadance said, picking up the new language with ease, "to captain. This will be a temporary promotion to fulfill a particular duty that only you are capable of."

Staring between Cadance and Shining, Sweetie turned and whispered to Lyra. "Can they do this?"

"Yeah. You, uh, I mean, Captain Sweetie Drops, ma'am, you might want to ask them what they want you to do." Lyra had to struggle not to break into a gale of laughter. She failed after only a few seconds.

Shining created a pink bubble that blocked the sound of Lyra's mirth. "What we need you to do, captain, is to marry us. As a captain of the E.U.P. Guard, you have the ability to marry two willing ponies—"

Cadance continued, "… and we'd rather not wait for Celestia to be free to do it—"

"… in case she says no again?" Sweetie tried to ignore the crazed, silent ball of unicorn rolling around. "Sure. Let's go."

Running inside what amounted to a hamster ball, Lyra tried to keep up with her friends—only to have Shining pop the bubble when she wasn't ready for it. Barely catching herself, Lyra looked around to see if anyone had noticed. "Okay, so what did you need her for?"

"How long will it take you to organize a wedding?" Sweetie asked.

Snapping to attention, Lyra saluted her wife. "Sir! About twenty seconds after I enter the hall, sir!"

"Good, but keep that up and you'll go back in the bubble." Sweetie kissed Lyra's cheek and set off toward the entrance of the castle at a trot. She looked around at the few Royal Guard standing in the entrance, and gave them a nod as she passed.

Minuette and Twinkleshine caught up with Lyra, and the three of them followed after Cadance and Shining—who were themselves following Sweetie. Door after door was thrown open before they reached it until they were at the open doors of the hall again.

"Excuse me, everypony, but if you know anypony who wants to stand witness to this wedding, you better hurry up and get them here. You have—" Turning to Cadance, Sweetie asked, "How long do we have?"

"About twenty minutes," Cadance said, struggling not to be distracted by Shining nibbling her neck.

"You have ten minutes!" Sweetie didn't care who rushed out or in now, she'd been given a mission from a princess, and that meant it would be carried out. Then she spotted Twilight and her friends. "Could you help get everypony seated in time?"

"Do you require the assistance of a seamstress? Those dresses don't exactly look their best." Rarity was on the edge of galloping forward already, and when she got a nod from Sweetie she did just that.

Ponies started making their way inside. None were nobility, though Twilight Velvet and Night Light filed all the way up and were directed to sit in the first row on the groom's side.

In her head, Sweetie counted off seconds for the ten minute deadline. She was at six minutes elapsed when she realized that there was nopony in the front row on Cadance's side. "Twilight, Pinkie?"

Pinkie, as she usually did, almost-but-not-quite teleported over in front of Sweetie, saluting with her left hoof. "Leftenant Pie, reporting for duty!" As she finished the salute, she managed to cross her eyes.

Arriving a moment later, Twilight noticed that Sweetie seemed to be fighting a case of the giggles. "What's the matter?"

"We need some ponies to sit on Cadance's family side in the front row." Sweetie gestured to the empty row. "I know you'd normally be on your brother's side, but—"

Shaking her head, eyes beaming with excitement, Twilight said, "No. It's perfectly fine. I used to think of her as my big sister, when she foalsat me. Besides, Shining Armor has Mom and Dad."

"Cadance and me go waaaaay back. I was planning on sitting there anyway," Pinkie Pie said.

"Wait, what?" Twilight had been mentally shifting gears to get her other friends to sit on the front row when Pinkie's words tossed a spanner into the fine-meshing gears in her head. "You know Cadance?"

"Of course I do, silly. Back when I was living in Canterlot, Lyra, Cadance, Trixie, and me would put on shows. I'm surprised you didn't see—" Pinkie had a moment of flashback, remembering that Twilight had been probably a little young for such things at the time. Not that Pinkie thought she had been too young—she'd been performing after all. "Why don't we get everypony settled and take our seats?"

"O-Of course." Grasping at straws, Twilight let herself be led to the seats and was parked there in no time.

Cadance stood as still as possible for Rarity. The mare worked around her in a hurricane of pins and blue magic to assemble the magically restored dress in place so that it would last for at least ten minutes. When Sweetie cleared her throat, Cadance felt like a billion butterflies had taken up residence in her tummy.

Having just counted off ten minutes, Sweetie was ready. "Everypony, on this most auspicious of days, we are gathered here in the warmth of the sun and everypony who lives under it, to begin and celebrate a new era for Equestria.

"We were gathered here today to defend Equestria, but now are here to celebrate the union of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor." Sweetie Drops paused a moment and looked around. "The rings?"

The doors at the end of the hall flew open, crashing against the walls as three little fillies poked their heads into the room. Scootaloo was wearing her armor—and it was scuffed up like she'd been in a fight. Apple Bloom had a look of determination that could have parted a mountain. Sweetie Belle, more importantly, had a little pillow with two rings sewn to it. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, wedding saviors!"

Giggles followed the fillies up the aisle. Sweetie Belle was prancing, completely lost in her role, while at her flanks Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked like trained bodyguards—except they sometimes broke into the same prancing gait as Sweetie Belle before slowing down again.

When she reached the dais, Sweetie Belle held up the cushion with her only-slightly-wobbly magic. "We kept them safe!"

It was hard for Sweetie Drops not to fawn at how adorable the trio were, but she promised herself she'd have a long chat with them after making some treats. "Good work." Taking the cushion, Sweetie Drops turned to Shining Armor. "Do you—?"

A shout came from the doorway. Firelance poked his head in and shouted, "Princess Celestia's coming!"

The look of panic on Cadance's face cemented Sweetie Drops' resolve. "Well, do you? Put the ring on her horn."

Shining didn't waste time. Sweetie Drops' tone, as a sergeant-slash-captain, was not one any soldier could ignore. "I do!"

"Cadance, do you?" Sweetie Drops asked.

Grabbing the second ring in her blue magic, Cadance dropped it down on Shining's horn. "Absolutely!"

"Then, as an acting captain of the E.U.P. Guard, I now pronounce you mare and stallion." Sweetie Drops watched the relief in both their eyes melt into pure love as they looked to one another. She was sure they didn't see the shocked expression on Celestia at the doorway, hear the cheer of everypony present, or even notice that the world existed anymore.

Looking into the room, Celestia raised her one visible eyebrow in Sweetie Drops' direction. She'd heard the final speech, including the acting captain part, and could imagine what had gone through Cadance's head and how quickly she'd moved in an hour. Smiling, she stomped her hooves along with everypony else present in celebration.

By the time the party had slowed down it was well past midnight. All the returning civilians and all the Guardponies had joined in with a wedding party that had become a double-celebration.

"How are you feeling now?" Sweetie asked Moon.

Moon Dancer's eye-roll was very nearly audible. "I slept all day and I could probably sleep all night, too. We did it, didn't we?"

"Yeah. This is the kind of madness that I imagine Twilight and her friends go through all the time." The way Moon froze caught Sweetie's attention. "Something wrong?"

"Twilight Sparkle. It's hard to imagine she's the same pony who skipped my birthday party two years back. I found out why she did, in the end. Turns out she had to save the world."

"Ouch. No warning, no apology?" Sweetie asked.

Moon shook her head. "Nope. I keep telling myself that one day she'll remember and come say something. I don't even know how I'd react if she did." She paused, took a sip of her drink, and leaned back a bit to look into the sky. "Can we change the topic from that?"

"Hrmm, what about Stiff Peaks?"

Almost coughing up her drink, Moon Dancer sat upright and looked at Sweetie with accusation in her eyes. "How'd you find out about—?"

"He's a smart stallion, Moon. Once everything was secure again, he started right in on finding out about you. He stopped and grilled me for nearly twenty minutes earlier. In the end I had to order him to dance with you."

"You ordered him? Oh, right, that silly field promotion thing. He was grumbling about that when he asked me." Moon didn't care that she was blushing. Just thinking back to that dance had her feeling excited for their date. "I've never met a stallion who is so quick to learn. I gave him a serve of every obscure topic I know, and somehow he knew a little about each."

"So you're going to date him based on his extensive general knowledge?" Sweetie asked.

"He's also cute."

"You're a better judge of that than me, so I'll take your word for it. As far as I know him, Stiff is a good stallion." Though she remembered how he'd pressure herself and Lyra, Sweetie knew that was part of his job. "What about Princess Luna?"

"I prefer stallions." Delivered with her driest tone, Moon stuck out her tongue at Sweetie. "But what about her?"

"I didn't get a chance to see how she'd fared. Her guards were quite adamant that once I left her rooms, I would not get back in. Apparently I'd told them to do that." Sweetie shrugged. "You woke up along with her, right?"

Moon remembered back to that. Waking up with Luna spreading her magic out to feel what was going on in the castle before the look of the wary warrior left her face. "She was ready for war when she woke up. I think she checked the castle with her magic, then relaxed into just being Princess Luna again."

Pausing to take-in everything, Sweetie finally just nodded. "Princess Luna has a lot going on. She seems to compartmentalize well. Most ponies only see the caring dream Luna, or the nervous new-ruler Luna. Showing a less—a less friendly side of herself says more about how serious she took this."

"And how much she cares. She was ready for war for us." Sweetie looked into the bottom of her glass and drank what was left. "You should find Stiff and dance with him again. He looked like he was a bit rusty."

"Is that an order?" Moon asked, grinning a lot more than she intended to.

"Sure, why not? It's not like you're a member of the Guard or that my rank is a pile of horse apples made up by a princess so she could get married." Standing up, Sweetie started walking back toward the party. "Now, this captain is going to go and break several standing orders with a sergeant."

Author's Note

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Lab

Prologue

"Bon Bon? What are you doing here today?" Lyra Heartstrings had been running a few laps of Ponyville before sundown, something she did every day. On one side of her her wife, Sweetie Drops, had fallen in at a canter that quickly stepped up in pace to the gallop Lyra was setting. On the other side, Rainbow Dash was keeping pace with the pair, though she wasn't wearing E.U.P. Guard armor (heavy armor in Sweetie Drops' case, light armor in Lyra Heartstrings'), and she definitely wasn't towing Scootaloo along behind her.

"We got some leave for the Summer Sun Celebration and I figured I'd come see my favorite unicorn and pegasus." Turning her head, Sweetie winked to Scootaloo. "So, what's happening? There's a party, right?"

"It wouldn't be a Summer Sun Celebration without a party, but you're not going to believe where it's at or who's house it is." Lyra didn't miss a single stride as she kept her legs pumping at a heavy rhythm.

Rainbow Dash, still working on her stamina, wasn't doing nearly so well as the two experienced guardponies at her side. She galloped, there was nod doubt about that, but she would have struggled to get a word out with the effort she was putting in.

"Oh, let me guess." Sweetie Drops ran comfortably in the heavy armor. She'd gotten used to its weight over several months and now it was as much a part of her as her cutie mark. "Princess Celestia sent Twilight Sparkle—your friend—here to oversee some parts of the event while also putting her in charge of the Ponyville library?"

"Who told you?" Lyra asked.

"Zest Spiral and Sure Fire flew her down here on a chariot with the strict instructions that she wasn't allowed to ride back. At least, that's the rumor going around the Guard." Turning her head, Sweetie looked back at Scootaloo. "How you doing back there?"

To prove how well she was doing, Scootaloo angled herself a little forward on her scooter and buzzed her wings for all she was worth. It would have been dangerous to do if she'd been using a rope to trail behind, but with Lyra's magic she could easily outpace the others for a burst and not risk getting a rope stuck in her wheels. "Like this!"

It was something every earth pony had to live with—the ability to run or grab something with a hoof, but never at the same time. "Wow! Doing great!" Sweetie could only watch as Scootaloo did a quick flip in the air on her scooter before landing perfectly back on her wheels.

"I did two whole laps today!" Scootaloo only kept up now because Lyra was holding the handle beside Sweetie. "Did you hear that the Wonderbolts will be performing tomorrow?"

"And you'll have to get home and go to sleep if you want to see them," Sweetie said.

Blowing out her lower lip, Scootaloo's buzzing wings stopped. "Yeah. One day I'll be old enough to stay up all night too!"

Lyra felt a pang in her heart for Scootaloo. "I promise we'll come and get you before dawn."

"Alright!" Scootaloo jumped her scooter again, but this time using her wings to give her a little extra hang-time. "I'll head home when we get near it on our next—"

"This'll be the last—lap for me," Rainbow Dash said. "I gotta make sure—the skies are clear before nightfall—then I'll have to do the same as soon as—Princess Celestia raises the sun. I figure I shouldn't exactly collapse—after a run before I can do that."

"A good reason, yeah. Alright, you get the night off, but tomorrow morning—after your morning work—let's run a few laps to show off to the Wonderbolts." Lyra ignored Rainbow's groan. "Come on, you know they do morning and evening runs too, right?"

"Really?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah. I'll tell you what, we'll ask them tomorrow." Lyra didn't need to be a genius to see the excitement on Rainbow's face. "Okay, coming up on the last straight. Let's make this a charge!"

Bracing herself, Scootaloo could see the "home point" ahead and buzzed her wings for all she was worth. She dropped the magic baton from Lyra and managed to keep up as all three adults lengthened their gallops into a ground-thundering charge.

As they all passed the point at the same time, voices lost to actual panting as they fought gravity, their bodies, and in some cases their armor, all four began to slow down first to a normal gallop, then down to a canter, a trot, and then they wheeled around and kept the trot going all the way back to Scootaloo's house.

Scootaloo, more agile than the other three and able to slow faster, beat them all to the house and rushed upstairs to clean up.

Rainbow rolled her shoulders and stretched out her wings. She couldn't deny that the running was making her more powerful on the ground, but her flying had become easier too. "Okay. Before I lose the light, I'll do a quick check on clouds and meet you there?"

"Sure!" Sweetie barely got the word out before Rainbow was gone, having literally launched herself into the sky. "Well, her stamina's improving. Remember how she was a few months back? A run would barely leave her walking by the end."

"She's started recognizing the changes herself. Probably why she's sticking with it. I don't know if she realized it, but there's some other ponies around town that have noticed her running." Lyra used her magic to open the door for Sweetie. "I'm not sure what way she swings, but there have been more than a few from both sides watching her."

"Are you sure they're not watching you?"

Lyra let out a disgusted noise. "Don't they know I'm married?" She jerked when Sweetie leaned in and nuzzled her cheek.

"Maybe they're looking because they see a gorgeous mare who's smart and fit and moves her butt in all the right ways." When Lyra turned her face toward her, Sweetie took advantage of the situation and kissed her more thoroughly.

Left panting by the time the embrace was finished, Lyra felt the urge to grab her wife and run off with her. "Let me go tuck Scootaloo in and have a shower."

"You do stink a bit. Come to think of it, if you do, I definitely do."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"We do have a big shower."

The surprise party had gone exceptionally well, or so Lyra thought. Twilight was being constantly accosted by five ponies, only two of which Lyra knew all that well. It was magnetism, she realized. There was a heavy hoof guiding the six, and Lyra knew its name. "Fate."

"What?" Sweetie asked. "Have you tried these cupcakes?"

"You're kidding, right? Would I ever miss a chance to eat Pinkie's food?"

"Lyra!" Rushing up to Lyra and Sweetie, Derpy reached out and shook a hoof with each of them. "I've seen you around town, but you've always looked busy. Did you really move in?"

Seeing Derpy filled Lyra with a spark of excitement. She could trace her recent bout of mothering instincts directly back to seeing Derpy and Dinky. "We did! We live in the old house on Windy Lane. How's Dinky doing?"

Chatting about friends and her daughter was just about Derpy's favorite thing to do. "She's doing great! She loves the playhouse you built for her. Though, I am a little concerned about her classes."

A weight touched Lyra right on the cutie mark. It wasn't her wife (though she had hoped), but rather a metaphysical touch. Fate. Destiny. She kept listening.

"She's having a lot of trouble understanding math and magic, and how they work together. Normally I'd ask a unicorn parent who has a pegasus that needs help learning something, but I don't know anypony who has…" As she spoke, Derpy noticed a peculiar look on Sweetie Drops' face. "Is something the matter?"

Sweetie broke into a case of giggles. "It's Lyra. It's always Lyra. You don't happen to have an earth pony foal who needs some help too?"

"N-No," Derpy said. "Should I?"

The touch had grown insistent enough that Lyra couldn't ignore it. "It's your lucky day, Derpy. I'll have some spare time during weekdays, and we have a pegasus filly we're looking after who might need some help with learning to fly." The words poured out in time to music that sang in Lyra's head. "Would that be alright for you?"

Derpy's wings shot out and she flapped them excitedly… "Y-You mean you can help? That would be amazing!" …invariably knocking over a drink on a nearby table.

The raw excitement hit Sweetie like a hammer and she felt her mood boost even further. Derpy, she decided, was impossible to not like. "Of course, silly. That's what friends are for."

So overcome with happiness was Derpy that she rushed up to Sweetie and Lyra and hugged them tight. "You're the best!"

At that moment, across the room, Twilight Sparkle stormed out of her own surprise party and went to her new bedroom. She pulled a pillow over her head to dull the music, and tried her best to forget about how conflicted she felt.

"Go to her."

Celestia looked at her jailer, Joyce Mango, and felt trepidation. The sight of Twilight Sparkle and her friends fighting Nightmare Moon had almost broken her heart. When she'd seen the Elements of Harmony respond to the six friends, she felt terror.

The cries of her sister still echoed in Celestia's ears as did the bright rainbow that had wrapped Nightmare Moon up. "But—"

"Go to her. That's my last order." The weight of the moment was heavy, and Joyce felt it, but she also felt fate weigh in. "Don't make me shove you out there. Raise the sun and…" She trailed off as Celestia walked out of the shadows and toward the six heroes—and one defeated alicorn.

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 4 and 1/2

Kneading dough. Kneading dough. Pinkie Pie made up a song on the spot and started humming it to herself as she worked the bread dough into shape and put it in pans and then put the pans in the big oven.

When she was done with the bread, Pinkie moved on to making the bakery treats that Sugarcube Corner was famous for. "Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Cake! Have a nice sleep-in?"

At mention of sleeping in, Cup Cake blushed a little but nodded readily. "Sure did, Pinkie Pie. Thank you for getting everything started today—you're such a great help." Taking in the state of her kitchen with a sweep of her eyes, Cup could tell exactly what was baking, what was rising, and what Pinkie was working on. "How are the new danishes going?"

"The pastry was a bit tricky, but I did it just how you showed me. Here, have a look." Setting the batter she'd been mixing down, Pinkie walked to the cooling rack and lifted down a still-warm spinach and feta danish. "Try this on for maximum cronch."

Biting into the danish, Cup let out a happy sigh as the flavor of the cheese and spinach enriched her palate. "Perfect, dear, but why did you make so much of everything?"

"I've got a hint that something big will happen today." Smiling, Pinkie remembered seeing Trixie setting up her stage.

"One of your Pinkie Senses?"

Pinkie just giggled at that. "Only if you call seeing an old friend setting up a stage in the town square Pinkie Sense."

Cup laughed aloud at the bit of humor. "Well, we can't have you stuck in here all day then, can we? I can take care of all this if you want to go and watch."

"Really? You're the best!" Pinkie rushed Cup and gave her a big hug—which got her a hug back from a now-flour-anointed Cup Cake. "I'll just go and get cleaned up then head over there!"

It didn't take Pinkie long to get herself washed and dried—mane all poofy and uncontrolable, as usual—and head out into the town with a cream-cheese bagel and a prancing stride. Pinkie had also equipped her most excited smile since she was going to be seeing an old friend.

When she reached the square, and was almost done with her bagel, Pinkie spotted a new friend first. "Rarity!"

Turning at the sound of her name, Rarity spotted Pinkie and immediately the slight frown she wore turned into a bright smile. It was like the whole day just got a little brighter and it was all radiating from her pink friend. "Pinkie Pie! Darling! Do you know what's going on with—"

"I dunno, Applejack, I saw her talking to Lyra yesterday. It can't be that bad," Rainbow Dash said as she and Applejack approached the stage. "Oh, there's Pinkie and Rarity."

Applejack reached up to the tip of her hat and touched it with a hoof. "Howdy y'all. What's goin' on?"

"Well," Pinkie began, "this is—"

"Come one! Come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie set off her stage's spring-loaded unfolding and used her illusion magic to conjure up a flash of sparkling white magic, then jumped out onto the stage. "And her assistant!"

Giggling, Pinkie Pie gestured at the stage. "I couldn't have put it better myself."

"A little over-the-top, ain't it?" Applejack asked.

With her cape spread out, Trixie set off the initial fireworks for her show with her magic. "Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" As she delivered her grand announcement, she could feel Scootaloo's hoofsteps coming from the stage behind her.

"My, my, my. What boasting?" Rarity's ears were folded back and her face turned from the loud and bright fireworks going off.

"Come on. Nopony's as magical as Twilight." It took Spike almost a quarter of a second to notice Rarity was the mare he was behind. The shock registered on his face before he shouted something and tried to get away from his idol as fast as possible before he made a fool of himself.

Twilight blushed for a second time that day at Spike's praise. "There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" All her friends' attention (and that of several members of the audience around them) was on her, and it only made her worry more about her own magic.

There was another pony who'd noticed the increasingly vehement conversation going on in the audience. Trixie despised hecklers, but it was Scootaloo who she was worried about. She scanned around surreptitiously, looking for the sources of the noise and marking their features in her mind.

At the same time she produced a bouquet of flowers, she also noticed two friends of hers in the audience. Pinkie, first and foremost, had her attention on Trixie. It was a relief that not everyone had been disrupted by the chatter. Lyra, however, was right behind the group being noisy.

That's when it came. Trixie's ears perked as one of the noisy group turned her way and called out, "Yeah! Magic-smagic! Booo!" It was the last straw for her.

When she saw Scootaloo retreat off stage, Trixie took it as her chance to nip the heckling in the bud. "Well-well-well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience!" She enjoyed using a little ironic horse noises—she felt it reflected back the noisy attitude of her hecklers nicely.

As Pinkie watched the scene unfold before her, she was hit with a sense of both dismay and anticipation at her friends having heckled Trixie, and whatever Trixie was going to do in response. "Dismipation." She giggled a little at the little portmanteau.

Watching in dismipation, Pinkie tried to hold back her giggles and whines as her friends made fools of themselves trying to do what they'd insulted Trixie for doing—and then getting shown up by Trixie for trying.

Having dispatched the hecklers, Trixie realized Scootaloo had left at some point. It stung her to admit that she should have dealt with the interruptions before it got too far, but nonetheless her show must go on. "Now the Great and Powerful Trixie needs an assistant from the audience!"

Glancing around the audience, Trixie spotted Lyra and Scootaloo. It ached her heart to see the look on the filly's face, but she couldn't let it show—she also couldn't call them up. That's when she spotted the perfect assistant. One that she'd worked with before. "Ah! This pony whom the Great and Powerful Trixie has never met before will do. What's your name, Pinkie Pie?"

Bouncing on all four legs, Pinkie vaulted onto the stage with ease and then turned to give a bow to the cheering audience.

Waiting for the crowd to simmer down from Pinkie's arrival, Trixie took her hat off and bowed to Pinkie. "Now, if you could—"

Pinkie grabbed Trixie's hat and tossed it on her own head as her mane twisted and reshaped into a perfect likeness of Trixie's. The crowd went wild, laughing and giggling—stomping their hooves in glee at a far more in-the-spirit takeover of Trixie's show.

"Hey! Give that back! Trixie demands her hat back from the—" When Pinkie liberated Trixie's cape, too, Trixie knew she'd been defeated in the best way possible. She might not be quite as great and powerful, but the sparkling eyes of every foal in the audience was enough for her.

"The Great and Powerful Pinkie—will now do a trick with her fantastic assistant, Trixie!" Gesturing at Trixie, Pinkie was not-at-all surprised when more fireworks went off. The laughter was music to Pinkie's ears and only encouraged her to greater feats. She only had a rough idea what the various props were for, but with her Assistant Trixie there, she could fudge experience well enough.

When Pinkie decided it was time to make her exit, she whispered from the corner of her mouth, "Make me disappear?" When she got a discrete nod, she cleared her throat. "Now, the Great and Powerful Pinkie will make her assistant disappear!"

Wheeling out a wardrobe with a trapdoor, Trixie made a show of swinging it around on stage while she precisely placed it over a matching trapdoor in the stage itself. When Pinkie gestured at her to get in the closet, however, Trixie spun her around and pushed Pinkie in instead.

"Um, Trixie?" Pinkie shouted through the door of the wardrobe while knocking on it. When the trapdoor opened under her, she slipped down through the hole and then left Trixie's hat and cape in the bottom of the closet.

Humming again, Pinkie slipped out the back of the stage and then put on her disguise—a pair of glasses with a fake moustache and cigar—and walked casually around the crowd and up to Lyra and Scootaloo. "Hi, guys! Who was that amazing pink pony before?"

After laughing along with everypony nearby, Lyra took Pinkie's silly glasses off with her magic and booped her on the nose. "Hey, Pinkie, you're friends with Twilight and all them, right?"

Slinging a foreleg around Scootaloo, Pinkie felt a real frown trying to force its way onto her face. "Not today I'm not. What was with all that?" When Scootaloo shifted, Pinkie sat down and flung both forelegs at the stage.

"Trixie was just getting warmed up and then Spike starts going on and on about how much Twilight was better than her at magic, and then Applejack and Rainbow start arguing about it, then—" Pinkie grabbed a double-hoofful of her mane and almost screamed. "Well, you saw how it turned out."

Biting her lower lip, Lyra tried to work out a way of talking about things that wouldn't make it look like she was just belittling Pinkie's friends. Then she just gave up. "Do you want to have a word with Twilight, or should I?"

With a suffering sigh, Pinkie lowered her head. "I'll do it. I think she'll take it more seriously if I deliver the scalding. What is it with ponies when they get into a group and go bonkers?" Lifting a hoof, she made the classic crazy gesture at the side of her head.

"Maybe I'll talk Fluttershy into coming too. Nopony confronts you on how terrible you've been like she does." That's when Pinkie remembered something and peered so close at Scootaloo that she pushed her snout right under Scootaloo's. "Hey. Weren't you on stage with Trixie?"

"Y-Yeah. We were supposed to do a bunch of tricks together. We even rehearsed last night and earlier today. But then—then Rainbow Dash started—and I couldn't—"

Pinkie could feel the filly trying to get away and hide from the interrogation. When she spotted dried tears on Scootaloo's cheeks, she realized how much this emotionally had hit the filly. "Whoah. Okay, now they're all going to get their plots kicked, but first there's something I need to show you."

There was only one thing for it, Pinkie Pie realized. She had to make Lyra and Scootaloo smile, then she had to go kick plot. Not kicking plot physically, but she had some friends to talk to about their treating a potential friend as an enemy.

So, to satisfy the first problem Pinkie had to deal with, she grabbed Scootaloo and Lyra and plowed all her earth pony power into speed and strength. Magic, whether it's in an earth pony, pegasus, or unicorn, will flex and grow like muscles—the more you use it, the more you get. Pinkie had been flexing her earth pony magic since she was a tiny filly as she struggled to keep up with her big sisters.

There was more to Pinkie Pie than having almost supernatural earth pony magic heft—she also had a cutie mark and special talent based around making ponies happy. Getting Lyra and Scootaloo to Sugarcube Corner was, therefore, an act of a pony working within the purview of her special talent. All bets were off.

"This should be a good start. Is there anything else I can get you? I am great and powerful, you know," Pinkie said when she had the pair in a booth at Sugarcube Corner, just as she materialized a cake and a pair of milkshakes as well.

Lyra muttered something under her breath, but then raised her voice. "Thanks, Pinkie, I think we can take it from here. Could you tell Trixie we're going home after this?"

"Sure!" Pinkie bounced on all four legs toward the door. "Bye bye!"

Like Twilight, Pinkie Pie worked with lists a lot. She had birthday lists, friendship lists, all kinds of lists. Most of Pinkie's lists lived in her head—unlike Twilight's—and that meant they were easier to get confused but also easier to adjust. Talk to Trixie appeared at the top of Pinkie's current to-do list, with a list of her friends she had to talk to about what had happened coming in a close second.

With the memory of Scootaloo and Lyra having some cake and milkshakes to buoy her spirits, Pinkie set all four legs to maximum bounciness and pronked back to the town square.

"Now, where would I be if I were Trixie?" Pinkie looked around the square and spotted a blue wagon. "Right, her home!"

Having had enough excitement for a whole year—and having vowed never to return to Ponyville without an army at her back—Trixie was slumped against the inside wall of her wagon. The world outside could just go away, in her view, though the knocking at her door seemed to make that unlikely. "What is it?"

"I came to apologize for my friends' behavior." Pinkie and her well-honed Pinkie Sense could feel the distress of Trixie.

"Pinkie Pie, you are the last pony who needs to apologize." Knowing that she would never get peace so long as Pinkie was worried about her, Trixie stood up and used her magic to open the top half of her Dutch door. "I'd go on to say that your help was likely the high point of my day."

"Aww." Pinkie quickly ran through her lists and remembered exactly why she was there. "Lyra said she and Scootaloo will be heading home after they have some cake at Sugarcube Corner."

It was obviously an invite, but Trixie wasn't feeling too social. "Thanks, Pinkie. I think I just need some time to recover from this one. I've been heckled before—plenty of times—but I could hear Scootaloo's sobbing from the stage. I might just pack up and move on in the morning."

"Did you see who started it? When I arrived, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack were already talking, and then Spike joined in too." Tapping her chin, Pinkie tried to remember the exact order of events. "Lyra seemed to think it was Spike's doing. I mean, sure he's a bit young to be in such conversations, but I never thought everypony'd let him rile them up. I guess this is a bit more complicated than any of us thought."

"Well, I'm glad they're your friends and not mine. I doubt I'll ever come back to Ponyville after this. Talk about a bad impression." Trixie blew at part of her mane that had flopped forward over her face.

"They're really nice—usually. Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Pinkie asked.

"I'll survive. I still have my wagon, all my tricks, and I have a little side project to work on, thanks to Lyra." Turning and looking back into her wagon, Trixie realized she'd have to make at least one more of the snakes so that the Guard artificers could make copies of it. "Thank you for the concern, Pinkie."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Pinkie raised an eyebrow in question.

"Sure I'm sure."

"If you ever need help—and don't want to come to Ponyville for it—there's a rock farm near Stonecrop. Ask after the Pie family and somepony will show you where to go. Tell them Pinkie sent you and you'll have somewhere to stay, something to eat, and some work to do."

"Pinkie, I doubt I'd ever need to—but thank you."

"I gotta go get to the bottom of this, but if you need help, Pinkie is always here." Turning, Pinkie prepared her powerful pronkers and propelled herself away. In her head, she shuffled around lists and put Twilight and Rarity on one, then Applejack and Rainbow after them. With a little more thought, she shoved Rarity on top. "Now all I gotta do is hope she managed to fix her mane."

When Pinkie carefully opened the door to Carousel Boutique, she was worried she'd hear crying, wailing, or another noise coming from the owner. Instead she heard Rarity humming a tune. "Rarity?" Pinkie asked.

"Pinkie! It's always a pleasure to see you—" When Rarity turned and looked at her visitor, she saw an almost unbelievably serious expression on Pinkie's face. "Whatever's the matter, darling?"

"Your mane's okay?" Pinkie could see that Rarity's mane looked fine, but she knew that looks could be deceiving.

And that was when Rarity rolled her eyes. "That charlatan only used a simple illusion spell on it. Can you believe that? I thought she'd gone and dumped some kind of dye all over me. Why are you looking so angry?"

"That 'charlatan' is my friend." It was a most un-Pinkie tone for her to use, mostly because is had a heavy dose of accusation in it. "And you ruined her show!"

"I—What do you mean? She was making all kinds of boasts. It was ridiculous. She shouldn't have been lying like that if she—" Cutting short her bravado when Pinkie stomped closer and got in her personal space, Rarity leaned her head back a bit. "What?"

"She's an illusionist, Rarity. Showing off and making wild claims she can only see-through with tricks is her job. If I tell you a knock-knock joke, I'm not saying my name really is the joke name."

Rarity thought that over for a moment, her stern expression melting a little as Pinkie's logic started to settle in. "I may have—now you put it like that—overstepped my mark a little. I still don't think she should have been claiming she was the best unicorn in town."

"You and I—and everypony—knows Twilight is the best unicorn in town when it comes to casting spells. Trixie claimed she was the best in all Equestria—how would anypony believe that?" Having said her piece, Pinkie backed away and turned. "You can find her in the town square if you want to apologize. Last thing I heard from her, she considers Ponyville the worst town in all Equestria."

Left staring at Pinkie as her normally cheerful friend seemed truly upset, Rarity was about to say something when Pinkie paused.

"Oh, and you might not have noticed, since you were all so busy heckling, but Scootaloo was supposed to be Trixie's assistant. They'd practiced all day for the show, and the filly ran off and cried after your little fun." Pinkie had had to turn away from Rarity so her friend couldn't see the tears in her eyes at having to berate a friend.

Safely outside Rarity's home and business, Pinkie closed the door and reached up to wipe her eyes dry. "Pinkamena, that wasn't nice." She started walking away from the boutique, her hooves naturally taking her closer and closer to the town's library. Running the conversation through her head over and over, Pinkie realized what it was that had infuriated her—Rarity had required the clues to be drummed in, rather than just listening.

"Pinkie?" Twilight's voice was loaded with concern. "What's the matter?" She'd never seen her new friend in this state before. "Wait, come inside and then we'll talk. I'll make us some tea."

Grateful to not have to stand at the door and work up the courage to knock, Pinkie followed Twilight back inside the library. "Thanks, Twilight."

When Pinkie was settled in the library's kitchen at a little table, and with a cup of tea in front of her, she finally let loose. "I just went to see Rarity to find out what her problem was at Trixie's show earlier."

Twilight's shoulders slumped, her mane became limp, and she hung her head. "That was so embarrassing. I didn't know what to do or how to stop it. Spike was egging the others on, and Rarity—I don't know what she thought she was doing. We'd had plays in Canterlot, and nopony ever did that at one."

"Rarity still thought she was right. I can't believe I had to explain theater to her, of all ponies. Isn't she meant to be all well-to-do and so well-traveled?" Pinkie splatted her snout into the teacup and slurped up every drop of it.

Nodding, Twilight tilted her head up and stared at the ceiling, silently begging something interesting to happen and break up this awkward conversation. "I was just so—so flabbergasted at what they were doing that I didn't think to grab Spike and break them up until it dawned on me they were jeering at Trixie for just saying she was the best magic user in Ponyville. Not that we don't have other amazing unicorns here. Do you know Lyra Heartstrings?"

Jerking her head up, Pinkie could only stare at Twilight for several seconds. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"What?" Twilight could only stare.

"We went to school together. We practically grew up through the hardest year of our lives together. And Trixie! Lyra helped get Trixie into Princess Celestia's school."

Staring, dumbfounded, Twilight couldn't get her head around what Pinkie was saying. "Wait, you and Lyra were in school together? When?"

"Before she came to Equestria. We attended school in Cowwarr and Stonecrop. We got our cutie marks at the same time, Twilight." Slumping back in her chair, Pinkie was all wrung out now.

"Oh my goodness." Twilight couldn't even see Pinkie or the library now. Her mind was focused on the earlier events, turning them over and over in her head. "She attended Princess Celestia's school as well?"

"Yes, Twilight."

"So her magic probably is better than most unicorns in most towns like Ponyville."

"Yes, Twilight."

"Wait, and Lyra's living in town too. What's she been doing with her life since school? She was going to be teaching, I thought." Feeling like there was a huge part of her life suddenly missing, Twilight got up and started pacing.

"Lyra spent some time helping Princess Celestia with various problems, then she started working with the Guard full-time. She said she's been instructing new recruits on how to use magic. Some gossip I heard was that she's planning something new for the princess." Pinkie looked down into her teacup and sighed, regretting inhaling it a moment earlier.

"M-Maybe I'm not the most powerful unicorn in town, then?"

"I try to pay more attention to smiles and happiness than horn-measuring contests, Twilight." Winking, Pinkie stood up. "Maybe you should have a talk to Spike about what happened?"

"Or maybe we could all meet up tomorrow and discuss all this. I mean all of us. Applejack and Rainbow weren't much better than Rarity." Twilight levitated Pinkie's cup from the table and to the sink. "If I remember correctly, Ponyville has seen a growth spurt lately—maybe Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow just aren't used to dealing with bigger-town events?"

"Well, that's probably better than me stomping around to their houses and getting angry at them, too," Pinkie Pie said.

"Then you have time for another cup of tea." Smiling to her friend, and being relieved to see Pinkie smiling again too, Twilight started brewing another cup each for them.

"Trixie will be in town until morning. I tried to convince her to stay, but not too much."

Twilight nodded and poured the boiling water into her teapot again. "That's understandable. I gather she doesn't get heckled like this in most places?"

"Oh, no. Heckling she's used to. It was Scootaloo that hurt her, I think." At Twilight's dumbfounded look, Pinkie continued, "Apparently everypony was too busy dealing with their own problems to see that Scootaloo was on stage with Trixie. I take it you were, too?"

"Scootaloo? Who—? Oh! Young filly, right? Goes to school in town." Twilight tapped her chin trying to remember in more detail. "Pegasus…"

"Lyra's foster-daughter." Pinkie had gotten to see so many variations of shock on Twilight's face. "She's got a bad case of hero-worship for Rainbow. When Rainbow started heckling—without even looking at the stage—she ran off in tears."

Twilight's ears wilted and folded back at the news. "I let my own fears and worries get the better of me."

Even as Twilight tried to lower her head to the table and cover it with her hooves, she was stopped by a hug.

"If you think I'll let you wallow in this, you're wrong—silly billy. What do you do whenever you learn a new thing about friendship?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Relaxing in Pinkie's hug, Twilight eventually reached out to hug her friend back. "Write a friendship report to Princess Celestia."

Letting go, Pinkie circled back around and sat down on her own side of the table again. "Want some help?"

"Of course, Pinkie." Floating over a scroll, a quill, an inkwell, and a blotter, Twilight was just about two write Dear Princess Celestia when Spike's voice could be heard from the main floor of the library. "Or I could deal with another inferno first. What is it with this town and yelling?"

"Mostly all the Equestria-destroying disasters that happen. Did you hear about the Yara-ma-whats-its-face that was here a bit ago? Lyra, Sweetie, and a squad of Guardponies dealt with it." Waving a hoof in the air, Pinkie used the moment to give Spike time to find them.

Twilight froze, her train of concentration broken. "Rarity's little sister?"

"No, silly. Sweetie Drops—Lyra's wife."

"Twilight! You've gotta come! Quick!" Spike barely got the words out before he tried to run off and lead the way back to the apocalypse-in-progress, but a soft, white-purple glow grabbed his tail and held him in place. "Twilight!"

"Spike, explain the problem first, then we can rush off and deal with it. After that, we'll have a talk about what we both did wrong today." Cautiously releasing his tail, Twilight looked longingly at her tea—then decided to take another sip of it.

"Snips and Snails wanted to see Trixie defeat an ursa major, so they went to the woods and found one and led it back to town—" Spike stopped when Twilight unloaded her mouthful of tea. "You have to do something!"

Seeing that Pinkie had pulled out an umbrella in time to block her mother-of-all-spittakes, Twilight reached a hoof up to her forehead and rubbed her temple. "First thing, it can't be an ursa major. If they'd brought one of them to town—well, there wouldn't be half the town anymore. Let's go take a look. Who knows, maybe Lyra or Trixie dealt with it already."

"Wha—?" Spike shook his head and stared at Twilight. "But you're the best—"

"Spike, I am good with magic, but you know what? Trixie and Lyra both went to Princess Celestia's school too." Standing slowly, Twilight wanted to hide how worried she actually was. She assumed they'd found a normal bear and led it to town. "Fluttershy could probably solve this one, truth be told."

Pinkie finished her own tea and followed Twilight down the stairs. They were just about at the front door when a ground-shaking roar shattered the evening quiet of Ponyville. "I think we might want to hurry, Twilight."

The rush outside, finding the ursa minor, and dealing with it strained Twilight, but she still had more energy in her tank, so to speak. She spotted Lyra in the crowd watching her take care of the spectral bear, but decided talking to her school-friend could wait until later. She looked around her friends and sighed. "We need to talk about today."

Author's Note

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Lab

Chapter 12

"An invitation?" Sweetie Drops asked. "Who from?"

Rolling her eyes, Lyra Heartstrings held up the light pink paper that was covered in dark pink hearts and darker-still flowing pink writing. "I'll give you one guess. She signs her name with five hearts."

It was obvious who it was, but Sweetie still tapped her chin with a hoof. "See, now hearts makes me think of your school friend Lemon Hearts, but hers would be yellow. I know another two of your friends prefer quill writing, but I doubt Twilight or Moon would sign their name with hea—"

"It's Cadance!" The explosive reply startled even Lyra. She knew her wife was poking fun at her, but with this kind of news it was too important to spend so long on games.

Booking Lyra, Sweetie followed up with a kiss. "I know. You're still on edge?"

"It's just not fair I can do this dream-training too. I get this tingling feeling in my dream, and I just can't stop myself from lashing out. I know Tufts could get me in, but even then it is really hard on him until I'm in the Dreaming. And I don't even know if the Dreaming is compatible with Princess Luna's dreams." By the time she was done, Lyra was panting and upset all over again. And, that's when she got wrapped up in the strongest hug in all Equestria.

Just leaning her head on Sweetie's shoulder, Lyra slowly let her emotions flow out. It had been a complicated few weeks since the opening of the school, but things had worked. Foals had left after that first two days, but they had been inundated by pegasi fillies and colts, all wanting to be trained by a Wonderbolt.

Lyra needed to let that specific emotion out. "Over half the school are pegasi now."

"It's Surprise. Well, not Surprise, but she's a Wonderbolt. A lot of them seem to leave as quickly as they arrive." Sweetie knew the numbers and was a little disappointed in them. "They probably think it'll all be flying and stunt shows."

Relaxing a little more in the hug, Lyra sighed. "Should we get Surprise to wear armor rather than her flight uniform?"

"No. That's part of her. What we need is to get more instructors. Think we could tempt Bluebelle?" Sweetie held Lyra to her like they were going to wrestle.

"Bluebelle would be good, but why not that stallion who's been training Scootaloo? Sure Fire of the Royal Guard."

"I think"—Sweetie took a little moment to nibble at Lyra's neck—"we need a lot more trainers from all across the Guard. Police, Royal Guard, Monster Hunters, the core Guard, Wonderbolts… you name it."

"That's really distracting." Tilting her head, Lyra returned the gesture and nibbled her way up Sweetie's neck.

Giggling and holding still to see where Lyra was taking things, Sweetie nonetheless let out a little groan and tilted her head when Lyra started nibbling on her ear. "It is, but don't feel like you need to stop or anything."

"Wait! You did all this to distract me from the letter." Lyra levitated the letter up behind Sweetie's ear so she could nibble and read. "Cadance has gotten approval for her wedding with Shining, and now she needs some ponies for her bridesmaids. Guess who she's picked?"

Sweetie struggled for a moment to get her thoughts in order. "Mmm, both of us?"

"Yes! So now we have a whole mess of stuff to plan!" Finally relinquishing Sweetie's ear, Lyra levitated over a piece of paper and a pencil. "Does Shining have a best man—err, best stallion? I don't know how all of this translates from Earth, and our marriage was kinda personal and just us."

Sighing and shaking her head to get some feeling back in her brain, Sweetie kissed Lyra's cheek. "You could ask them both what they need."

"You don't know either?!"

"Lyra"—Sweetie butted her forehead against Lyra's, long having since gotten good at missing her horn—"I fell in love with an alien. I never really looked into all this stuff. I just asked my crazy fiancee what she wanted to do."

"Oh!"

Sweetie had heard that kind of exclamation before. It usually meant Lyra had a possibly brilliant (or crazy) plan. "'Oh' what?"

"We'll ask them what they want. If they say traditional, we'll talk to somepony who has done the whole traditional wedding thing. If they want different, I'll give them different." Lyra used a little magic to make a small thunderclap as she rubbed her hooves together—giggling like a fiend.

"You're a loonie."

Dropping her silliness and adopting a mock-hurt look, Lyra pouted at Sweetie. "How could you say that?"

"You were the one that made me sit through those horrible films when we were in Batstralia, now you have to put up with me using them on you." Kissing Lyra's cheek, Sweetie made a happy little sound under her breath. "Now, the school's teacher roster is the more immediately important of these two tasks, so let's focus on that first. Wait, we can do two at once. We'd need Shining's approval for hiring one of his guards, so we can talk to him about both."

"Don't forget we need to get home on time tonight. We're foalsitting Dinky." Sweetie said.

Trotting along beside her love, Lyra nodded. Both their armor was perfectly taken care of, which is why neither made much noise as they ascended the ramp to the castle gates. "I wish I could stick around Ponyville more often to train her in preparation for her first year at Princess Celestia's school, but there's so much going on right now. The princess has—" She cut short her words as they got to the top of the ramp and saw a pony coming the other way.

The stallion walking toward them looked dejected. Sweetie, knowing him and also feeling grateful to him, paused. "Jet Set?"

Lifting his head, Jet was surprised to see the two ponies before him. He was further surprised to see that none of the Royal Guard were so much as questioning either of them. The E.U.P. Guard had a fine reputation, but he wasn't aware of any special treatment owed them. "Mrs. Heartstrings, Mrs. Drops, how delightful to see you. I hope you weren't here to see Princess Celestia, everything has been called off for the rest of the day and this business simply must be—" He managed to stop himself from spilling his business everywhere.

"Something important?" Sweetie asked. "Anything we can do to help?"

While Sweetie tackled the immediate problem, Lyra stepped over to where she saw Sure Fire was on guard duty. "Hey, heard somepony has had enough time to teach a filly combat."

"Y-Yes, sir!" Sure Fire had a feeling that Lyra wasn't angry, but she was also a training sergeant. When they got angry, it typically meant a lot of time running—and they could run the wheels off a train.

"Relax. I know Shining organized it. How's she been doing lately? Improving?" The relief on Sure's face told Lyra she might have laid it on a bit thick at first, but he seemed to be over it quickly.

"You'd know better than I would. Besides, she has your school now."

"Yeah, but we don't teach advanced attacks, only ways to knock a target down." Lyra smirked at Sure. "Don't think I didn't see the pegasi claws you gave her."

"I should have known better. They were a gift now she's learning how to glide. I promised I'd teach her all the advanced stuff with them once she got past basic flight—which I think she'll do about ten seconds after she's told she's allowed to flap her wings."

Wanting to avoid spilling the beans on Scootaloo's plan to diversify the Royal Guard, Lyra aimed the conversation off onto other topics. "Ever had thoughts about training others?"

Meanwhile, Sweetie had led Jet just out of earshot of the guard post. "So what's the problem?"

"The princess is busy. All the time. Her time is important, I understand that, but so is mine. If I can't get these new appropriations approved—and they require her signature—my business is at a standstill." Jet floated the paperwork from his saddlebag.

Taking the paperwork and glancing over it—mostly rezoning permits—Sweetie had a quick think on how to handle things. "Have you tried talking to Princess Luna instead? She has the authority to clear all such things."

"But she doesn't understand them. Her advisors barely understand civil law—though they are exceptional on just about everything else." As Jet spoke, he saw a grin crease Sweetie's mouth—a smile that reached all the way up to her eyes. "You have a plan?"

"One that will see your paperwork filed, yes, but you'll have to work for it. Come on." Sweetie gestured to Lyra. "Come on, we have to see Princess Luna."

"Princess Luna?" Lyra gave a nod to Sure, turned, and trotted over to her wife. "Something's wrong?"

"Wasn't it your job to arrange the princess' advisors so that she had an even spread of knowledge required to govern?" Sweetie asked.

Jet Set's jaw nearly hit the ground. "You were assisting Princess Luna?'

Shrugging her shoulders as she walked, Lyra nodded. "Yeah, though it was only meant to be the beginning. Moon Dancer especially should have been her asset to finding more skilled teachers to learn from. Any clue what happened?"

"Well, first thing we're going to do is ask Princess Celestia to look over all these so there's no conflict of interest." Sweetie pointed at the paperwork Jet was levitating. "Then we'll have to speak to Princess Luna about having Jet here teach her about property law."

"Wait, I—" Jet stopped talking and started thinking. There were several ways he could do this. He could back out and probably not get his paperwork done, he could agree and do a bad job, he could agree and do a good job, and he could agree and do a malicious job. There were several ponies he knew who would jump at the chance for the latter. "Damn it and damn you both to Tartarus."

"Jet, you did us a favor with the work on the school, now we're doing you a favor. If you teach Princess Luna how to do this, not only will you get these rezoning permits approved, but you'll have exclusive access to Princess Luna for a short time and be the only developer who knows that she'll be able to approve such things." Having stopped when Jet had, Sweetie looked at him. "Now, with you or without you, we're going to see a princess."

Lyra followed Sweetie's lead and started walking toward the main castle, only to hear Jet's hooves on the marble path as he trotted to catch up with them. "So?"

"I understand what you're doing and why you're doing it. But why me?" Jet had to trot to keep up with their fast walk.

"Because we like you. You helped us when everypony seemed to want to make more than a fair price out of us. Also, we know your secret Jet Set." Lyra stopped dead and smirked at him. "You support the crown."

Slumping where he stood, Jet groaned. "Is it that obvious?"

"No," Sweetie said. "We just have good sources."

"It's alright, though. We won't tell anypony." Slinging a foreleg over Jet's withers, Lyra gestured into the distance with her other hoof. "Well, except Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess C—"

"How many princesses are there going to be?" Jet stumbled forward, head hanging low. "Just don't tell Upper Crust, please?"

"Upper Crust?" Lyra asked. "Fillyfriend?"

"We're trying to keep our business dealings quiet, but we've begun using our investment power to take larger bites of specific pies for when we do go public." If there was one thing years among the elite of Canterlot had taught Jet Set, it was when to shut his mouth. The problem was these two crazy mares had somehow disengaged that part of him. "We're going to announce our engagement just as soon as we have all our financial attacks poised and ready."

"Yes, yes." Gesturing expansively again, Lyra wiggled her hoof. "But how big a wedding will you have? Do you have things planned?"

"For our engagement? Not at—"

"Lyra should really stop talking now. Shouldn't you?" Sweetie asked.

Realizing the warning was serious, Lyra clamped her snout shut and nodded.

"Anyway," Sweetie said, starting her walk up the stairs and into the castle, "I figure we don't need to tell each other not to breathe a word of anything we just spoke about?"

The worst thing for Jet was he hungered to find out what Lyra was talking about. There was a big secret there, and he couldn't so much as breathe a word to anypony about it. "Well played."

As they stepped into the entryway, Lyra could see that there was something strange going on. The Royal Guards were standing at the doorway facing toward her and they wore determined expressions. "Huh, what's going on?"

"Royal meeting." Citron wasn't guarding the large doors, rather he was standing to the side and doing duty behind the lectern where the scribe normally stood. "Sorry, but you can't go—"

The big double doors opened a crack and a blue-maned white coated head poked out. Shining Armor looked down the hall at Lyra, Sweetie, and Jet. When Sweetie nodded to him, he nodded to Citron. "Please, have them escorted inside."

"Just—Just like that?" Jet looked between Lyra and Sweetie. "How do you do that?"

"You heard the commander. Please head inside." The only thing that really worried Citron about this part of his job was that he was now trying to command a unicorn he was certain he couldn't beat and an earth pony who could stomp him (who was wearing heavy Guard armor). When both walked forward, he let out the breath he'd been holding. "You too."

Jet Set had to trot to catch up again and found himself aimed toward the small guard entrance to one side of the main doors. As he followed Lyra and Sweetie inside, he saw that indeed there was three princesses, the commander of the Royal Guard, and now him. The only mare that had ever managed to make him feel this small in a room was Upper Crust, and he'd had to fight back with every ounce of his wit to even keep up with her. Opting to follow the example of Lyra and Sweetie, he bowed his head low.

Cadance was practically vibrating in place with excitement. She wanted to shout and sing that she was getting married—and would have if it wasn't for the stallion Lyra and Sweetie had brought with them. For a moment she pondered just using her magic to send him flying out, but she trusted the two mares too much to discount anypony they escorted into a royal meeting.

"Lyra Heartstrings, Sweetie Drops, Jet Set, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?" Celestia didn't often get the chance to play harmless little games, but pretending that Jet Set's presence in such a weighty meeting was normal tickled her funny bone.

Sweetie lifted her head and beamed in delight. "Jet here wished to volunteer to assist Princess Luna with some study she seems to have been missing."

"He also has a little paperwork that needs signing, but the more important bit is that he can fill a glaring hole in Princess Luna's advisors—that of finance and property." Tilting her head to gesture to Jet, Lyra continued. "He's been trying to secure a meeting all day, but you've been busy with other matters."

"Sister," Celestia said, "have you not managed to secure a tutor in these matters?"

"I have been remiss in this one area, yes. The only reason I didn't approach anypony was that I didn't feel any were sufficiently neutral enough to trust them." Luna set her eyes on Lyra and raised a brow. "But this young stallion comes with very encouraging references."

"Your Highnesses"—Jet bowed his head again as a show of respect—"I'm not neutral. I have my own interests and am heavily invested in several businesses in Canterlot and elsewhere, but that will be the same for anypony who genuinely knows this business. I am, however, loyal."

Luna didn't need to get too close to catch a hint of who Jet really was in her world. The dreams of ponies were distinct from their waking selves as rainfall is from a river. She knew the dreams of everypony, which gave her a glimpse into the motives behind their waking selves. She approached him nonetheless and stopped only when she was within touching distance (were she to stretch her neck out to him). "I accept. Now, these papers you need signed?"

It hit Jet as a shock that Luna would just agree. He expected a test at least; something to certify his loyalty. "P-Papers. Right." With his telekinesis, he brought the sheaf of paperwork out and held it up before Luna.

Looking past the documents—directly into Jet's eyes—Luna asked, "In your estimation, are these fair and valid?"

"I wouldn't have brought them if they weren't acceptable. The paperwork is all completed correctly, though these do serve to consolidate my holdings in several key locations by allowing me to change those properties from houses into businesses." Jet hated the idea of just saying they're valid.

He wanted to show why they were valid and how it would affect the market both locally and across Canterlot. It occurred to him a moment later that this was exactly what teaching would be like. "With Your Highness' permission, I could use these as examples, at a later juncture."

The answer agreed with Luna. She quickly signed each page and passed the papers back to Jet. "Please inform me of the first night you will be available."

It was a dismissal and Jet knew it. He backed up as he bowed again, reaching the door before turning and fleeing the room that was starved for oxygen given the amount of huge powerful entities within it.

With the door closed behind Jet, Cadance no longer had to hold back her enthusiasm. Rushing forward with a pump of her wings, she grabbed up Lyra and Sweetie in a double hug and shouted, "We're getting married!"

Sweetie immediately got caught up in the moment, though Lyra gasped in shock and asked, "Really? All three of us?"

Walking over and putting his foreleg over Lyra's shoulder, Shining laughed at her gag. "And that's where we need your help. We need ponies who can help us plan a wedding stealthily."

"All four of us?!" Lyra feigned her best shocked-but-delighted expression.

"Enough with the jokes." Sweetie gave Cadance a good squeeze before letting go and dropping to her hooves again. "We came here to ask about doing that, actually. What kind of wedding are we talking? Tradition all the way, or maybe something more abbreviated and modern?"

"Yes, all of that," Cadance said. "I mean, I want some tradition in it, but I also want a party that ponies will remember for years. Auntie has said she wants something spectacular, so let's do that."

Lyra closed her eyes and counted to ten. "The problem there is, neither of us knows what a traditional wedding is. We didn't exactly have one ourselves."

Opening her mouth to clear everything up by explaining what a traditional wedding would be like, Cadance froze and let out a small cough. "I—uh—don't actually know either."

Laughing, Shining let go of Lyra and pranced around the three mares with all the air of a complete know-it-all. "You see, I know allll about traditional weddings. Don't worry, I can—"

"You have to be in the wedding, Shiny. Also, we're not supposed to give things away." Hooking her fiance with her wing, Cadance pulled him close and kissed him.

"Perhaps I could help, then?" Luna asked. Walking closer, she felt a little out of place among the four close friends, but this was something she was uniquely situated to assist with. "I am well aware of what a traditional wedding is."

"Sister, your idea of a wedding would be several centuries out of date." Stepping closer too, Celestia tried to work out how best to carefully ease Luna back from whatever memories of weddings she had.

"Actually," Cadance said, looking at Shining, "is there any reason we can't blend the old with the new?"

Shining shrugged his shoulders. "It'd be different—I think. How would it be different?" He turned toward Luna for answers.

"Military uniform for yourself, Shining Armor. A full wedding gown for Cadance. Three bridesmaids and a master-at-arms to repel any challengers to the wedding. Both sides of the family would normally need to be present, but we can arrange things so that Cadance's side is not neglected. You may wish to cut out the ritual blood-drinking." After several seconds of shocked silence, Luna let out a defeated sigh. "That was a joke."

Lyra beamed in excitement. "Well, looks like we'll put together a plan and then see how the couple like it?"

After a week of meetings with Luna, Lyra had a full breakdown of what an ancient wedding would be like. There was a lot of things that were there just because that is all they had then, but she was getting a good outline of how the flow of events happened. "Okay, I think I've got it."

"So now we can start putting this together, right?" Sweetie asked. She had a pile of notes she'd taken from books at Golden Oaks Library. Modern Wedding was the title of her notes, and everything apart from that was a mess. "Let's start with the bride and groom's activities before the day of the wedding."

Flicking through her notes, Lyra found the right part. "The bride and her bridesmaids will form a hunting party and—We can probably go with modern for this bit."

"Okay, so for a more modern wedding, the bride and groom are a little more active in preparing for it. There will be a bachelor party for the groom and his friends, a bachelorette party for the bride and hers. The bride is usually kept in the loop right up to the morning of the wedding—to keep her mind off worrying about the wedding. The groom is another matter.

"Before the wedding, the best-stallion will be in charge of keeping the groom from panicking. The couple are fine to interact and do rehearsals before the day, though wedding outfits for the bride and groom shouldn't be seen by their opposite."

"Okay, so we need to arrange two parties and start getting the outfits made? How are we going to hide that?" Lyra crossed out the wild-boar hunting party idea. "The parties should be easy enough to keep quiet, though the actual preparations for the event can be made once it is officially announced."

"That will work. Now, who do we get for best-stallion?" Sweetie asked.

"Uh, from what my notes say, that's not our choice." Lyra waved to her papers. "It's for the groom to decide."

"Same as bridesmaids then. Well, we'll need to visit Canterlot tomorrow anyway. Sure Fire will be preparing for his first week of teaching and we need to talk to Sharp Horn about that new foal armor." Sweetie looked at her notes and smiled. "We'll get this worked out, Lyra."

"We'd better. This wedding will be huge."

Author's Note

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