After a restless yet paradoxically relaxing night, breakfast was quiet in those early hours. A plate of pancakes stacked high, a side of burnt bacon and a bucket of coffee to wash it down did little to sooth my worries. But it did help me forget, at least for a few minutes. On the train to Ponyville, I thought more about my predicament. How could I be having nightmares if the Dream Warden herself, Princess Luna, stated without a shadow of a doubt that this was no nightmare.

It’s not a nightmare, that has been confirmed. I don’t think it’s a memory… No, it’s definitely not a memory. Something like that would stay with me, despite the dream having similarities to the battle for Dream Valley. Namely, the feeling of dread and futility. And the cold. So, it’s not a nightmare and it’s not a dream, that just leaves-

“Artemis?” I snapped back to the present to see Lyra looking up at me with concerned eyes. “Are you okay? You’re looking pretty out of it.”

I nodded and rubbed my eyes, the clacking of the train as it trundled along the winding mountain passes making it harder to focus, lulling me into an even drowsier state as would a giant metronome. “Yeah, I’m good. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

She made an affirming grunt. “I heard.”

“You heard?”

She nodded. “Luna told me. She caught me on my way down to breakfast, let me know that you probably won’t be at your best today.”

I gave my eyes another rub. “Okay, first of all. I’m always at my best. I am the definition of ‘peak’.” Lyra snorted. “Second of all,” I gave her an appraising look, “you seem to be spending a lot of time with Luna.”

“…and?”

I looked out the window. “Nothing. Just saying.”

“I am not ‘spending a lot of time’ with her. I just see her every now and then. She’s fun to talk to.”

I smiled. I couldn’t help it. Luna deserves that, a lot more than that. Maybe I could organise something for us to do. Just me and her, like the old days. “I’m proud of you, you know?” Lyra raised an eyebrow. “I’m just saying, I don’t say it often, but that doesn’t mean I’m not. Proud of you, I mean.”

Lyra was quiet for a moment, looking out of the window as we finally descended the mountain and the rolling hills in the valley began to zoom by. “Thank you.”

The whistle blew shrilly as we stopped at the platform in Ponyville. As it turns out, we were the only ones to get off. Apparently, everyone on the train had better places to be than the sleepy village. “I’m hungry.” Lyra said as we stepped out of the carriage.

“Wanna grab a bite before we go?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I’m in the mood for something sweet.”

I grimaced. “I’m not so sure I wanna go to the café we went to last time. Especially not if the element of laughter is around.”

Lyra’s mouth flattened into a line. “Yeah, I had a feeling you’d say that.” She turned and looked at me conspiratorially. “That’s why we’re going to Bon-Bon’s shop!”

“Bon-Bon…” I thought out loud. “Isn’t that the mare you work for? Or maybe, used to work for? You have been away for a while. Sorry about that.”

“No, no.” Lyra said, shaking her head. “Well, I mean, yes I do work for her. But she’s also my best friend and roommate. She wouldn’t fire me.” She chuckled, “mainly because she pays me in sweets and a place to live.”

“Right.” I said, drawing out the word.

She looked up at me again. “Don’t give me some lame excuse like ‘you hate sweets’ or something…”

I laughed. “No, nothing of the sort, I wouldn’t say I have a sweet tooth or anything, but I do like them.”

“Well good! She’s one of the best confectioners around. You’ll like her, I’m sure of it.”

The building we arrived at was plainer looking than I was expecting. Not too dissimilar from the surrounding houses. A thatched roof and cream-coloured walls with dark oak trim on the supporting beams. The only real differences were the long bay-windows showing off various candy and the large sign above the door which read; “Sweety Drops’ Sweet Shoppe” in bubbly font.

“Who’s Sweety Drops?” I asked.

Lyra facepalmed. “I’m such a dingus. Sweety Drops is Bon-Bon’s real name. But everyone calls her Bon-Bon. Even her letters get sent with the name ‘Bon-Bon’ on them. I’ve told her she should change it and just make it official, but she won’t have it.”

“Huh.”

I had to duck slightly to enter the building and my nose was immediately hit with a saccharine scent that entered my nostrils and clung on for dear life. My mouth instantly started watering as the bell above the door announced our arrival. A cheerful sound, that was completely overridden by Lyra’s ear-piercing “Hey Bonny! I’m Home!” She ran towards the counter and I followed, taking my time to admire the colourful displays of every kind of sugary confection imaginable.

‘Whippoorwills’, ‘Squirrel Nut Zippers’, ‘Whatchamacallit’s’ and ‘Every Flavour Beans’ just to name a few. All crafted in-house by the looks of them. Behind the counter where Lyra waited, a taffy puller was working tirelessly and a chocolate fountain was pouring dark liquid goodness into a pot below.

“Lyra! What have I told you about shouting in the store?” A mare came out of the back room wearing an apron with three wrapped candies on the front. Her blue and pink mane was tied up and out of the way, and she was rubbing her hands on a cloth.

“Not to?” Lyra said, sheepishly.

“Not to.” The mare confirmed. She came around the counter and took Lyra in a warm hug. “I missed you. How have you been?”

“I’ve been great! …Mostly.”

The cream-coloured mare raised an eyebrow and hung the cloth on a hook below the counter. “Mostly?”

“Bob-Bon, this is Princess Artemis.”

The mare, ‘Bon-Bon’ or ‘Sweety Drops’, turned to look at me. Or rather, at my stomach. Her eyes widened and she slowly looked up to my grinning face. I held out my hand. “Miss Drops I presume?”

“Wow.” She said. Lyra laughed and by Miss Drops’ expression, the word she spoke was, in fact, involuntary. I kept my smile, genuinely amused. Miss Drops closed her eyes and shook her head, then slowly reached for my hand and shook it.

“S-Sorry,” She said. “It’s nice to meet you. You can just call me Bon-Bon or Bonny. Everyone does.” Then her eyes went wide and she dipped into a bow.

I put my hand on her shoulders and pulled her up straight. “Okay Bonny, and don’t worry about the whole ‘Princess thing’. Just call me Artemis.”

“Yeah,” She said. “About that whole Princess thing…”

I held up a hand. “Just don’t worry about it for now.”

She nodded and thought for a moment. “Excuse me for asking, I don’t mean to sound rude or anything but... You’re a human, aren’t you?”

“That’s right!” Lyra cut in. “And I’m really, really sorry in advance for this but…” She took a deep breath. “I told you! I told you! I told you! I told you!” She then paused to take another breath and started dancing around us. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!”

Bonny was not amused. “Lyra!” She shouted, snapping her out of her revelry.

“Sorry,” Lyra said. “But… I did though…”

Bonny rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. You were right and I was wrong. Congratulations.”

“Thank you!” Lyra responded. Bonny rolled her eyes again.

“Sorry,” I spoke up. “But what was that about?”

Bonny wrinkled her nose. “Lyra here would leave after her morning chores, disappearing off to visit you. She kept telling me – and everyone else – that you were human but, well, we didn’t believe her.” Her voice went quiet and she leaned a bit closer to me. “And can you really blame us?”

“I hope my humanity isn’t a problem for you?”

She laughed, waving her arm. “Of course not! I don’t care if you’re a human, pony, griffon, have two heads or no head, Lyra likes you and that’s good enough for me.” She then balanced on the tips of her hooves and leaned in closer to me. “But let me make one thing clear, if you hurt her, your species really will become extinct. Do I make myself clear?”

I nodded. “Crystal, ma’am.”

She smiled. “Good! Now, are you just here for a visit or can I get you anything?”

Lyra jumped up and down. “Ooh, ooh, you gotta try Bon-Bons’ bon-bons! They’re really good!”

“Um, sure,” I said. “I’ll take a bag of those.”

“Coming right up,” Bonny said. She filled and weighed a paper bag with the powdered treats and handed them to me. “On the house.”

An hour and a few cups of tea later, Lyra and Bonny had finished their catch-up session, with Lyra going over the last few weeks. Omitting the state-secrets and current invasion of shapeshifting insectoid monsters, of course. Bonny seemed to be simultaneously interested and worried for her friend but calmed down when I assured her that no harm would come to Lyra whilst under my tutorage.

That was a blatant lie of course, I’m sure at some point, Lyra will be hurt in some way and Bonny seemed to know that, but knowing that I would protect her friend was good enough for her.

“Okay, here’s the plan.” I said as we exited the shop. “Back to my cabin, get some stuff, go into the forest, do the thing.”

“Okay…” Lyra said as she popped a jelly bean into her mouth. “Is it worth me asking for details?”

“It would be best to explain as we go along.”

Before entering the treeline on the way to my cabin, I could see a cloud that was lower than usual. Not only that, but there was a rainbow streak attached to it. I made it a point to stare at the cloud and the rainbow streak retreated behind it. “Come on down!” I called. “You’re not fooling anyone!”

The cloud moved slightly and Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, poked her head out and stared down at us. Blue aethereal wings materialised on her back and she flew down to us. She stopped in front of me, a little too close, and her wings disappeared with a few sparks. She stared up at me. Not only stared, scowled. Oh great, here we go…

I smiled. “Hello Loyalty.”

Loyalty growled. “My. Name. Is. Rainbow Dash! And you have a lot of nerve to show your face here after what you pulled in the palace.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, is that so?” She nodded. I crossed my arms. “Then I guess you’re gonna have to make me leave.”

We stared at each other for a few seconds, Lyra was looking between us, nervously. I cleared my throat. “Let me tell you something, Loyalty.” Her scowl deepened.“First of all, I’ll use your name when you gain my respect. Until then, you’re just the towns weather-mare with the added perk of being chosen by a magic rock.” She growled again. “Second of all, I don’t know if you’ve been told, you must have since you have an ‘in’ with the Princesses, but I’m a Princess too. I may not have been coronated in living memory, but its still a fact.” I snorted. “You’d know all this if you hadn’t run away with the rest of the magic rocks, miss Loyalty. Fluttershy was brave enough to face me after what happened.”

Loyalty’s eyes widened at me using Fluttershy’s name. And why wouldn’t I? The element of Kindness has more than earned my respect. I continued, “I admire you wanting to protect people from me, I really do. But those horrible things I did and will likely do, I do them to protect all of you. I’m on your side.”

Lyra stepped in front of me. “It’s true, Rainbow. Artemis is a good person.”

Loyalty’s features softened as she looked at Lyra. They hardened again as her wings flared to life. "No Lyra. She's not. Sooner or later, you'll see that. I want you to know that you can always come to me." Then, she turned to me. “Just stay away from me, Princess.” Then with lightning speed, she was gone.

after a few seconds of silence, I clapped my hands together. “That went well.”

“As well as can be expected.” Lyra said. “I’m just glad it didn’t end in a fight.”

“Oh please, what could she do to me?”

Lyra laughed, humourlessly. “I wasn’t worried about what she would do to you, I was worried about what you would do to her.”

I shook my head. “I would never hurt her. Restrain her maybe, but not hurt. Beside her not doing anything that would warrant it, she’s too important to Equestria to harm. Can you imagine if something happened and she was out of commission? If word got out, it would be like ringing the dinner bell for all of Equestria’s enemies.”

“But we have you now.”

“Yes,” I sighed. “You have me now. But just because I called the elements ‘magic rocks’ doesn’t mean they’re not extremely powerful. If they were gone, it would be like chopping off an arm. Militaristically speaking.” I thought back and my eyebrows dipped. “If we had something like the elements of harmony back in Dream Valley…”

Lyra squeezed my arm, comfortingly. I shook my head, clearing out the ‘should haves’, ‘would haves’ and ‘could haves’. They would do no good now.

A walk through the forest later, we arrive at the clearing that my cabin was in. It was positively swarming with royal guard. Tents had been set up with people going to and fro, patrols were walking the treeline in groups of three and I could hear the grinding of streel on whetstone.

“Hey!” I called as I stomped up the hill, Lyra following close behind. “What in the hells is going on here? Who’s in charge?”

A pony wearing full plate-mail walked quickly up to me and saluted. “That would be me, Ma’am. Lieutenant Bleeding Heart, at your service.”

“At my service eh? Well then I suppose your going to have to listen to me when I tell you all to piss off.”

“Artemis…” Lyra said.

“No! This is my private space. I’ll not have people stomping around on the turf, I come here to get away.”

“I understand, ma’am.” Bleeding Heart said, as stoic look on his face. “You won’t even know we’re here. We’ll be quiet as harvest mice.” I looked around at the tents, the campfires, and the ponies running drills. The stoic look never left him.

I dragged a hand down my face. “Has anyone been in my cabin?”

“No ma’am. We were given strict orders not to enter.”

“Celestia?” I asked. He nodded. “Great. Just great.” I thought for a bit. “I’ll let you stay for now, but if I change my mind, you’ll be gone before I can say ‘get the fuck off my lawn’.” I pushed past him and up to the cabin. Me and Lyra both entered and I just about ran to the cabinet were I pulled out a bottle of amber goodness, taking a few gulps before I took out a glass and filled it.

“Can you believe this?” I asked to Lyra since she was there, but more to the room, really. “Fucking Celestia…”

“You know she means well.” Lyra said, placatingly.

“Oh, I know.” I said, flopping down on the couch. “And that’s the most annoying thing. She’s doing this to protect me. Even though she very well knows I can do that myself. More than that, what she’s doing is keeping tabs on me.”

Lyra sighed and sat next to me. “I think she’s just scared. She doesn’t want to lose you again. Sure, it could be seen as a bit clingy, but - excuse me for saying this - can you really blame her?”

I finished my glass. “No. No I can’t.” We were quiet then. I fiddled with the empty glass then stood. “Lets just get what we came here for and get going.” I moved to the closet, dodging boxes, bottles and books as I went and opened it. After rummaging for a while, I finally found it. I held it up and admired it, the shiny copper metal gleamed in the light. I turned to Lyra and held it out, reverently.

“A tree-tap?” She asked.

I nodded. “You’ll need that. Don’t lose it, it’s the only one I have.”

She took it form me and gripped it tightly. “Come on,” I said, moving past her and grabbing a knife on the way out. “Let’s get this done.”

On the way back to the tree line, I spotted Lieutenant Bleeding Heart and called him over. “Ma’am?” he saluted.

“We’re heading out.” I said, leaning on my staff. “Stay out of my house. Stay out of my shed. And stay off the basalt rocks. Understand?” He saluted again and I stared at him a while longer then stood up straight. “Come on, Lyra.” Lyra gave him an apologetic look before following me to the tree line.

The Everfree Forest was as dark as always. My staff glowed blue and made the shadows around us dance, making it difficult to discern what was a creature and what was just a trick of the light. “We’re heading in deep.” I said to Lyra as I stepped over a large root that she had to pretty much climb over. “That means that there may be trouble. If we do run into trouble, stay close to me and ill take care of it.”

“I can help-”

“No.” I cut her off. “You can’t. You need your strength.”

Deeper and deeper we ventured. Through glens and over streams, some babbling and some raging. Through vegetation so thick and dense one might think they were underground. The thick bark of the surrounding trees dense and rough enough to be mistaken for cave walls. There was no way to tell how long we were walking for, what with the sun hidden, but after a while, all sound receded.

It was an unnerving feeling. I stopped and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I had the distinct feeling that we were being watched. Lyra stopped with me. “What?” She asked.

“Shh.” I looked around and the darkness seemed to be closing in. I pumped a bit more will into my staff and the crystal cradled in its branched glowed slightly brighter. Then, a second light appeared. It was dim, and it was floating in a clearing just ahead. Well, I say clearing, it was more of a narrow corridor of plant matter.

I moved closer to the light. It was a single Lumafly. Hovering just in front of us. The pale blue light it emitted was very similar in colour to the light given off by my staff. I held out my hand. It buzzed slightly and perched on my knuckle. A smile came to my face and held my hand out to Lyra so she could see. It left my hand, buzzed towards Lyra and perched quite happily on her nose.

Her eyes crossed as she looked at it, her features illuminated by its soft blue light. She giggled and blew up towards it. It buzzed as it flew around and around in a circle then left off down the path. “We’re here.” I said, and followed.

A few minutes of following, with the Lumafly occasionally stopping to check if we were still there, we arrived at an open space of short grass with a tiny stream running through it. But that wasn’t the main attraction here. Humongous trees occupied the space, an unnervingly equal distance apart. It looked unnatural, despite the fact that this place was completely ancient. The canopy stretched out far above and the glowing fruits clustered at complete random made it look like we were under the night sky. A Buck with leaves growing from its antlers and a small Doe stared at us, then scampered off into the trees.

Lumaflies danced about between the branches and some came to get a closer look at us. “Lyra. Welcome to The Glade.” She stared as the lights from fly and fruit twinkled in her eyes. “A place of magic, and a nexus for Elderwood trees.”

“I take it that’s them?” She said, pointing to one of the thick trunks.

“That’s right.” I spoke. “Take a look around and come get me when you feel something.” Leaving it at that, I lay down in the grass and closed my eyes.

“Artemis!” I heard Lyra call. I opened my eyes and she was staring at me. I stood and she led me to a tree that wasn’t nearly as tall as the rest.

“You feel something here?” I asked. She nodded. “What do you feel?”

“Um, I’m not really sure. It’s like, I need to be here?”

I smiled and put my hand on the bark. “This is an Elderwood sapling.”

“Is that good?”

“It’s unusual for sure. But if you have that feeling here, then this tree is calling to you.” I patted the trunk. “This will be your focus.”

She smiled, excitedly. “What do I need to do?”

I stepped back and looked up to the canopy. “You need to get a branch.”

Lyra instantly wilted. “If you think I’m going to be able to climb up there, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“The tree chose you. It wants to help you. So, it will be easy to climb. Trust me, just try.” She looked hesitantly to the tree. “Would it help if I said I'll catch you?”

“Just-” She cut me off. “Okay. Okay.” She jumped up and down a few times. “Okay.” She put a hand on the tree and pulled herself up, then used her hooves, then she was climbing the trunk like one would a simple ladder. Lyra stopped. “What. The. Hell.”

“I told you!” I laughed. “The tree chose you. It’s helping you! Now do the same with the branches as you did with the trees at the beginning. When you feel something, you’ll know what to do.”

When she finally scaled back down the tree, she was carrying a large branch. I looked it over. “You happy with this one?”

“Yes?” She asked, unsurely.

I shook my head. “You either are or you aren’t.”

“I am. I felt something from this one, grabbed it, and it came loose as if I had cut it off.”

I nodded and smiled. “The tree gave it to you. It’s yours now.” I pulled out the knife that I grabbed back in the cabin and handed it to her. “Get carving.” I said. “When your happy with the shape, stop. Take your time.” I sat back down in the grass and closed my eyes, listening to the rhythmic scrapes and slices of steel through wood.

I woke up to Lyra shaking my shoulder. “Finished.” She said. She held up the branch. Or, what was left of it. From the metre long, thick, leaf bearing, bark covered offshoot of the young but mighty elderwood tree, was now little more than a stick about as long as my forearm. I took it from her and held it up, inspecting it.

“You’re happy with this?” I asked.

“Well, yes. Something in me just told me to stop.”

Good thing too or you wouldn’t have anything left…

I gave it back to her. “What you have here, Lyra, is the makings of a wand.” She stared at it. “Where as my staff is more suited for brute forcing things. Explosions, destruction, heavy-hitting spells. Your wand will be more suited to delicate endeavours. Things like illusion will be easy for you. A wand is a surgeon’s scalpel. A staff is a builder’s hammer. Both create and destroy. But both do so in different ways.”

She stared at her work. “Do I need to add anything else?”

“Yes. Look at my staff. What’s missing from your wand?”

“Obviously the giant crystal.”

“Very good.” I said, condescendingly. “I knew you were smart.” Lyra rolled her eyes.

“You still have the tap?” She pulled it out and held it up. “Nice. The crystal in my staff is actually hardened elderwood sap. We’re gonna tap the tree and get you the same stuff.” She nodded. “Remember, the tree wants to help you. So, push the tap in. Not too hard.” Lyra did as she was told. Like I said, when she placed the sharp end of the tap to the tree trunk, it moved into the wood like it was made of butter. “Good,” I said. “Now, hold up the end of the wand to the tap.”

She did and light blue liquid poured from the spout. She panicked a bit and struggled to gather it at the end of her wand. “It’s okay.” I said, calmingly. “Just gather as much as you can.” She nodded without looking at me, concentrated on what she was doing. Eventually, the flow subsided and she was left turning her wand back and forth to keep the viscous liquid on the end like a glass blower. “Now, flood the thing with your magic.”

She breathed deeply for a few seconds then grasped it tightly in her hands. The blue liquid glowed a minty-green and hardened into a crystal. She kept the magic flowing and the wood of her wand grew and clutched the now solid material like a hand. She stared at her creation. Just before i grabbed her in a big hug.

“Congratulations!” I said, holding her tightly. “You now have your very own focus.” I put her down. “I’m so proud!” Lyra blushed in embarrassment. “Here,” I said, guiding her away from the tree. “Here, try it out.”

“W-what should I do?” She asked, nervously.

“I dunno. Do something you would have done all the time when your horn wasn’t broken.”

She thought for a minute and then nodded. She walked over to the small stream. “I used to help out Bonny all the time with lifting things around the shop, so…” She held out her wand, exerted some will and the blue, crystalline tree sap glowed with the green light of her magic. A stone on the riverbed floated up and out and hovered in the air in front of us. Then another. And another.

“Lyra, you’re doing it!”

She continued to lift more and more stones. Some big, some tiny. She made them float and dance around us until she gently put them back in the stream with nary a splash.

Before I knew it, she held me tightly and cried into my stomach. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” She mumbled.

I knelt and hugged her back. “You are so very welcome.”

The trip back to the cabin was one made in complete joy. My apprentice finally has a means to cast spells. Now that she’s not using it anymore, her horn may never heal. But that hardly matters now that she has a work-around. She would gush about how happy she was. “Seriously,” she said, “I feel like I just grew my arm back!”

I was so happy for her.

Exiting the forest, the sun was close to setting and the clearing that held my cabin was in complete chaos. Guards were running everywhere and pegasi were taking off towards either Ponyville or the capital. I spotted Bleeding Heart giving orders to a bunch of troops.

“Lieutenant,” I said. “What’s going on?”

He turned to me. “It’s Canterlot, ma’am. Orders have come down that we’re to escort you back there as soon as possible.”

“What. Is. Happening?”

“We’re at security level Alpha.”

Alpha. The second highest security threat level. One above Tempest and one below Omega. The flying carriage took off with me and Lyra as passengers. As we passed the canopy of the clearing, I looked towards Canterlot. The entire city was covered in a giant dome.

Author's Note

Hello everyone,

A longer chapter this week. As always, if you see any problems, contradictions spelling etc. Let me know!

Love and peace.