Author's Note

I DID IT! Twenty minutes to spare!

I'm sorry this took so long but I wasn't happy with a lot of what I wrote so I erased a crap ton of story to make it work.

Thanks for the patience I know none of you have. As always, leave a like, a comment, or a scathing, but well written critical analysis of my writing down below. I love hearing from you guys.

Thanks for reading.

Peace.

Rules Need Not Apply

Snow fell onto the balcony of her office. Another year spent alone. Like every year she felt the loss of her sister keenly on a day like today. It was Hearth's Warming Eve, and she was once again in her office, unable to even focus on the work in front of her, what little there was. She had visited the room of letters hidden away in her bedroom, hoping that the few letters she now had would make her feel better. It did not, the few letters she now possessed, though one was Twilight’s and that did make her smile fondly, had done nothing to alleviate the isolation in her own heart.

Not even the cake that she had pushed away sometime ago had helped any. She was lonely, and it was becoming something she was not able to handle on her own no longer. She stood, and walked to the mirror in her study, to see if anypony else could see what she feared. No, the mask was still there. After all these years she had still somehow managed to continue the facade that everything was fine.

But it wasn’t. As she looked on, tears leaked from her eyes. In that little moment of weakness, everything crashed down on her. She huddled down to her hands and knees, holding to herself tightly as she cried out her anguish. For her lost sister, for all the mortal beings she had made friends with over the years only to watch as they were buried or shunned her for reasons unknown, and the stone that marked them faded to obscurity.

She had wanted so much more than this bureaucratic life. She wanted to go on adventures of her own again, like in her youth. But could she really give up all she had worked so hard to achieve? Could she drop the illusion of an all powerful monarch that none dare oppose?

No. No for in doing so she would assign the very people she swore to protect a fate of destruction. Ponykind would suffer at the hands of all those she had stepped on to secure this nation's future. She could not, would not, allow that to come to pass. It had taken a great deal of manipulation to get where she was. The power she had amassed was by right, hers to control.

But once again, it's lonely at the top. The long lived friends she made amongst the dragons had long since lost contact with her. As if they disappeared of their own accord. The Dragonlands had become closed to her at near the same time. Thus she could no longer even seek them out, if any still lived.

That had always bothered her. Not long after the banishment of Luna, the borders between her lands and the dragon’s had closed down. The missives she had sent through enchanted dragonfire had not been replied to ever. In the nearly one thousand years since then, she has heard no whispers of them. She couldn’t even remember the last conversation she had with Yndraiss. The albino dragoness who was her closest ally in the early days of her nation. But she had not heard from her in so long.

There was only one other, and she dared not let him out of his stone prison. Discord was a force beyond understanding. Like her, he was ageless. The only one of his kind to ever live. For a long time nopony had a name for such a creature. So he had dubbed himself as a Draconequus.

And for that time he ruled them. He ruled in chaos. Life had become misery for all mortal races. His downfall was only thanks to friends who had helped forge six items that made the intangible, tangible. That day, they had cast the gems on him, what later became known as the Elements of Harmony, and he had been imprisoned forever. Or so she had hoped. So far, in four thousand years his statue has remained inert. His history had been wiped from existence, or as much as she and her sister could find. The memory of him only existing inside her own mind.

She would keep it there for all time.

She rose from her place on the floor, wiping her tears with the sleeves of her dress. The small trip down memory lane just drove home how alone she was. Time to change that. But what to do. A thought had her smile, though she knew it might be rude, she had decided.

She quietly drank from her cup. The room was as silent as her own throne room was, more often than not. The guards who had accompanied her were stationed around the outside of her student’s family home. Only one was inside, stationed in the kitchen as was the protocol. Not that she had much use of this particular situation. It was not often she visited other ponies homes after all.

Night Light and his wife both sat stiffly on their love-seat. Almost too nervous to move a muscle. Twilight had taken up a chair next to her, and had tried to get a conversation going, but it fizzled for the last six or so minutes. Shining Armor was standing at attention in the corner of the room. He must still be a little sore over the dressing down she had given him upon his return from Griffonia. Another mistake in her leadership.

Spike had been put to bed before she had arrived, which was just as well. He would be confused as to why everypony was so stiff and quiet. Well, almost everypony.

Orion, the unruly. Lounged in his seat drinking tea and looking about, waiting. She had no idea what was going on inside his head, and she had grown frustrated with attempting to predict what he might do next. Though surprisingly there was often a poll being hosted in the barracks about whether he will make a fuss that week. Somepony had won the last one for Nightmare Night. She had heard that the betting pool had been quite large up to that point.

Still he sat, and did nothing but smile every now and then. Like he knew what was going on and how to fix it but chose to keep his words to himself.

“This isn’t working, you old crone. You have made a joyous get together something awkward. Nopony knows how to react around you. Even Twilight is having difficulties talking. This was a mistake, I should apologise and leave.” But before she could speak, Orion had finally chosen at that moment to do the same.

“So now that the awkwardness is good and thick and everyone, well not me, is uncomfortable. How about we finally find out why you're here Celestia.” The strangled noise coming from Shining sounded as a death rattle. The guard assigned to the kitchen slowly peeked her head out, eyes very wide. Twilight just stared at the colt, while her parents were doing everything they could to not even look in his direction.

She almost burst out laughing right then and there. The gall on him to call her by name. No he had long surpassed Ironwall in boldness. What was he going to do, what was he thinking? She had half a mind to call him to account. But she was excited to find out what was coming next. She should have silenced him.

“Oh I’m sorry,” He looked around grinning at them all.” Everyone bows and scraps to your hooves, they often forget that you were, as far as we know and you have admitted, born the same as all of us. Kicking and screaming into this world.” He turned his eyes to the rest of the family in the room, ignoring their shocked looks, and addressed them. “You all see her as a deity. Someone to be worshiped and thanked everyday for the security she brings. But do any of you know anything about her?”

What was he planning, a sinking feeling in her stomach made her want to stop him, but something in her heart waited to hear what more he could say. Something in the back of her mind screamed at her to silence him then and there. It was a struggle to ignore such a voice, but she did.

He looked back at Celestia, a sad look in his eyes. “It should be very obvious to everyone here why she is, well, here. Hey whittle Twily, does the Princess have any friends? Anyone that comes in to spend time with her purely to spend time with her?” He held her gaze, never looking away. She wanted to divert the conversation elsewhere but she feared it was too late.

“No…..no I don’t believe I had ever seen anypony visit her. It was always for some such political reason. Or state function.” It was true, never had Celestia had a visit from just a friend. Not for many long years. There were no friends for those that stood at the top.

“No, I bet she hasn’t.” He smiled, not a snarky one, but a sad one that matched his eyes. “Hey you!” He stabbed out a finger at the guard who had been trying to slide back into the kitchen. “Have you ever seen her laugh openly with a friend? Even one of the guards?” The quick shake of the head and she was gone. Was likely for the best.

His eyes drifted back to hers once more. “ So why, has she graced us with her presence? She could have gone to any nobles house this fine evening. But instead, she came here. To the home of her student. Where, not to pull my own horn, a certain colt she has been using as PR was celebrating the holidays. I think the answer is very simple folks.”

That was enough for her, she had to escape from this creature who could see through her and her fears. The teleport matrix fell apart. He had disrupted her own flows with minute pin pricks in the structure to cause the force of the spell to collapse in on itself harmlessly. It was by no means a powerful technique. But it was difficult for some masters to learn. Where had he learned that?! A blade of steel being drawn rang into the air. She raised her hand to forestall the soldier who had come back into the room from the kitchen, an angry look on her face.

“Your Princess, for all her power, all her influence, is alone in the world. IT is lonely at the top, or so they say. I believe you can attest to this. Right Celestia?” He had ceased his interference with her casting the teleport spell. Not that he had needed to continue. She had not the will to even think of the math to create the spell again. He had called her out, exposed a weakness she had thought long since hidden. How? How did he know? What tipped him off?

Her gaze finally pulled from his, to look at the other faces in the room. The looks she was receiving was not what she was expecting. Twilight Velvet had tears in her eyes, her husband was looking like he was struggling to contain his own. Shining was looking to his hooves, one of which was idly kicking the wooden floors.

“P-p-princess…...I had no-hic-no ide-a…” She felt a soft thud collide into her side, arms gently wrapped around her. Twilight proceeded to bawl her eyes out into her bosom. Almost mechanically she had wrapped her arms around her.

He knelt down next to her. “She is thousands of years old, she has buried more friends than any of us will make in our lifetimes. She has seen the rise and fall of kingdoms. And she has done it alone as far as I know. And because of her position, no one has, at least in a long time, seen to it to invite her for normal gatherings. She is that far removed.”

The next thing she knew, she was being hugged on both sides. On one side, was her student, in a submissive position. But to the other, she was being hugged as if she was the child. It was an odd feeling to have both emotions war within her. Tears leaked from her eyes for the second time that day.

“Drop the mask, just for tonight Celestia. Be open, and ask others anything you want. We may refuse to answer, but this isn’t your court. So the rules need not apply.”

What followed was one of the most surreal nights she had experienced in a very long time. The conversation, once so stagnant bloomed for her, and she asked many questions, and answered with stories of her own. Some had to be tamed, as her little ponies had grown soft over the centuries, but she laughed with them happily, both enjoying their reactions and living in the memories of those moments. It was bitter sweet, but it left her heart for the first time in a very long time feeling light as a feather.

Tomorrow, she would have to contend with the world once again. But tonight, was a night for her to be warmed by the fires of friendship. No titles, no stations. Just ponies sharing one night.

That night she went back to the palace tired, but not exhausted. She barely had enough energy to magic her clothes off, for the first time leaving them piled on the floor. She slid under the thick covers, and chuckled. Orion was right, she was almost obsessed with white. Maybe she should add some blue.

The night had finally came to a close. And all through the house, not a single creature was stirring, except for Orion. Who laid in the guest bed and wished for new sheets. “What in the hell happened tonight?!”

Not for the first time did that thought cross his mind during the evening's surprising festivities. When Celestia had first stepped through the foyer door, he had wanted to just sit down and cry. Not one week could he escape her presence. This week leading up to the holiday had been the first week she had not sent a messenger for tea, so he had thought he would get a break from the often twice a week meeting.

Then she had shown up.

As they were sitting down, everyone was being awkward because the only two in the room that had any real contact with her had either sat with a smile to hide their nervousness, or tried to awkwardly hold a conversation that sounded like it belonged in the throne room.

He was holding the insolent smile for all he was worth, when a thought had flashed in his head: Why was she here? In that moment the puzzle of that question started to shift, and as he thought on it further, it was as if someone else had taken a hand in the way his mind viewed Celestia.

The next thing he knew, he was speaking to her loneliness, the ache of isolation that only she could feel so keenly. They were his thoughts, his words. But it felt as if it had come from somewhere else, yet rationally he knew that he had come up with them on his own. He just didn’t know how he came to those conclusions.

Calling her by name was something he would never have done in a million years. He was not suicidal. Yet, he spoke the name as if it was the most natural thing in the world to him. After he hugged her, and saw her tears, the feeling of being guided had left him. He had chuckled then and said he was sorry for using her name in such a context, and instead got a hug from her and permission, permission, to address her as that in private.

He was not going to hold his breath but knowing he wasn’t going to be neutered immediately was comforting. Still, something had happened in that room four hours ago. Something significant, and he could not be sure what it was.

He rolled over, closed his eyes and cast a spell to will himself to sleep. His head couldn’t handle the assured headache that would be coming if he continued to think about it.

Orion’s eyes snapped open. The room was still dark, but the lightning of the sky told him that dawn was soon to come. Something was off, the air was too calm. No drafty breezes. It felt like he was in a tomb. Rising he took another look outside, the sky wasn’t changing, it was as if someone was teasing the idea of a dawn but never giving it.

Something was very wrong. He opened the door to a hallway, a hallway whose floors were covered in an almost unnoticeable layer of mist.

“What in the hell?” He kicked at the mist and watched the swirls and eddies of the fog violently warp around his hoof, but never rose past the rest. That was unnatural. He quickly walked on down the hall and knocked on Twilight’s room door. “Yo, Twig! You in there? Did you cast a spell in your sleep?” No response, opening the door he looked in and saw no one. The bed was little more than a haze, the desk and bookshelf being the only solid looking things in the room.

He backed away, leaving the door open, shaking his head. The door shut on him. That was enough for Orion, he bolted down the hall nearly colliding with the wall at the end. Looking down into the foyer, and at the angle of the stairs, the living room. It was steeped in fog, at least up to his knees. No higher, all uniform as if someone had laid glass at knee height.

This was too much, he couldn’t understand what was going on, where was the Sparkle family? At the bottom of the steps, he slowly spun around. Kitchen, nothing but fog. So was the living room, dining room, and of course the foyer he stood in. A shadow moved in the corner of his sight. He jerked in its direction and was greeted by something small. The object couldn’t be taller then his stomach.

When the object moved on its own, his bones wanted to crawl out of his body. He was petrified as it got closer, the edges coalescing into a little filly. She couldn’t be more than eight or nine years old. The odd thought of how she got into the house was somewhere in the scrambled thoughts of his mind, but he was still too terrified. This had to be the Shining Two: Screw with You.

As she got closer he really took her in, a deep soft blue mane and tail. It was rather pretty for a little filly, there was something, airy about it. The fur was a deep dark blue, the closest he could compare was to blueberries. Once she stepped into the foyer, his heart sank. Her fur was crisscross in various cuts and scars. Someone had tortured the poor child. The dress she wore was torn and bloody. It was so bad he couldn’t tell what the original color might have been.

“Thou shouldn’t be here, thou shouldest flee from here.” The small voice broke him of his fear. What had happened to this foal. Shaking his head and working up his courage, he knelt down.
“Little girl, what am I doing here? What are you doing here? How the hell did you get inside the house? And most importantly, who the fuck do I need to kill for doing all….this to you.” He gestured to her before scoping her up in his arms. “We need to get you to a Dr, now.”

He spun around toward the door intending to grab the handle, his hand went right through it.

“Twon’t work. Thou must awaken from this realm of dreams. All is within her power. Thou hath no power to stop her in this place. Thou must awaken and soon. Prithee do as we ask. Run. Awaken.”

Awaken? Her? Who was her? Then it hit him. Her, Nightmare Moon.

“That's impossible, I’m wearing…” He left them back in his room in the orphanage. He hadn’t planned to spend the night so he left all of them there for safe keeping. He fell asleep with the ‘Dreamcatchers’ off. “...oh I am so fucked....”

“Not if thou awakens now.” The archaic speech had finally registered with him who she might be.

Ducking low into the fog of the floor he asked, “I take it you are the one known as Luna?” Her grip on him tightened.

“Long hath it been since our name was uttered without contempt. Verily, tis we Princess Luna. Rather, what is left of us. Thou must awaken now! She senses thee.”

“And how do you propose I do that?” The fog had darkened, that was a bad sign if he ever saw one. Looking to the little filly in his arms she noticed a sigh escape through her frowning lips. “What?”

“Prithee forgive us, young colt.” Searing pain shot into his very soul and he screamed.

Last night was an absolutely amazing for Twilight. She was humming to herself as she brushed her mane meticulously, in her head reviewing the stories the Princess had to tell them all. It was truly one of the best evenings she had ever had.

Even Orion was having a good time. Though she could not shake the feeling that he was not responsible for what he brought about. It was strange, it almost seemed like he was another person in that moment. But to see her mentor smiling and happy, well she could not complain. A loud thump and a shout broke her from her thoughts causing her to race from the bathroom to the guest bedroom she found Orion, head first, on the floor groaning and rocking back and forth.

“Jesus Fucking Christ! Was that necessary!?” He flopped the rest of the way, trying to sit up. He groaned again. “Feels like I’ve been set on fire….the hell was that.”

She could only stare, no longer worried about his health as he seemed to be fine. No what had her attention was the colt was wrapped only in a sheet, and only a sheet. She felt her face heating up.

“Ummm, Orion, why are you naked?”

He looked at her, and blushed himself. “What? Can’t a guy sleep naked? Besides, I could say the same to you.”

Just in that moment she realized that she too was in the nude, having just stepped out of the shower.

“I must say dear, I never expected the Princess to be so down to Equis. She seemed so different than all those years ago when she asked to take our little Twilight under her tutelage.” Night Light was whipping up a batch of pancake batter as he sipped his coffee, carefully watching to make sure he didn’t spill a drop.

Across from him Velvet was sipping her own steaming mug, she sighed and set the cup down. “That is true, I have never seen her in that light before, it was sad. But it does give me an idea for another story. One of a lonely Queen, standing at the top but no pony to lean. As the weight of her office, a dashing young stallion appears among the ranks of the student body, beguiling her with his charms. And showing her the love she once thought she had given up forever.”

Night cocked an eye at his wife. “Don’t you think you might be a little too obvious about that? Ponies are definitely going to draw conclusions between the book and her. Considering the whispers I have been hearing, I would not be surprised if she was accused of impropriety between her and Orion.” He set the bowel aside, picking up in his magic the fruit he planned to chop up. “Besides, I don’t think the colt would enjoy the heat of attention once that did get out. Best to direct the source of her affections a little older.”

She huffed and pouted, but after another sip and some thought she nodded in agreement. “You’re right my knight, I can’t very well jeopardize the Princess’s image.” A look from her husband, she sheepishly added, “or our daughters very good friend.”

The shout and thump had both parents looking to the ceiling in puzzlement.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to be breaking the bed springs this early?” Velvet asked with a grin.

“As if that ever stopped you.” He gave a leer. They grinned at each other before a screech and a surge of magic that both of them felt pulled their attention back to the ceiling. Then a splash and another, deeper shriek pulled them to their hooves to gaze out the window into the backyard.

There was Orion Falls, pulling himself out of their half frozen pool shivering. Night Light considered he may have to go back to the gym if this young stallion was going to keep coming by the house. A glance at his wife told him all he needed to know. Yep, gym time. Maybe he would ask Orion for some pointers. “My dear, you can make a stallion jealous.”

“I’m sorry my heart, but he does remind me of you when we were young.”

He snorted. “Not even in the peak of my career was I ever that built. What do they feed him in that orphanage?”

At that point Orion had stepped into the room naked as the day he was born. “They feed me meat, lots of protein in meat. Now if you’ll excuse me, oh, you do have fire insurance don’t you?”

After they had talked him down from lighting Twilight’s room on fire, he was ushered to his room to get dressed and sit down to breakfast with the family. Shining was already in uniform and hastily consuming his breakfast. Spike had yet to be roused from bed, whining about another five or so minutes and Velvet had not the heart to force him up just yet.

Twilight was doing everything she could to not look at Orion, who was glaring at her. They as parents admonished her for teleporting him into the backyard pool. But Velvet couldn’t help but conspiratorially whisper to her that she was thankful for the show. Which got the filly to blush all the harder.

It seemed the young stallion either heard or had enough, because he soon left, grumbling about a dreamcatcher and never leaving home without it. Soon, the rest of the foals had filed out. Shining being the last. Spike was still sleeping.

Velvet leaned into her husband and smiled. “I want another.” Night Light spit out his coffee.

It had been a week since his second visit to that world he knew he didn’t belong in. A week and he had nearly decided to just wear the three ‘Dreamcatchers’ permanently, for fear of falling into that place again. The idea that the evil villainous mare was hunting him actually terrified him. He had almost convinced himself that it was just his wild imagination because of Twilight constantly going on about her. That morning he woke up in a massive amount of pain, had convinced him completely.

His first thought was to ask Twilight about Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna. But the idea that Celestia might hear about this problem, made it seem like going that route would be like sticking your head in the tiger's mouth. No way in hell was he going to do that. So he brooded, and looked through the meager books his school library had on both people.

Princess Luna, from what he could gather and he was guessing a lot of her background, was a warrior of great renown. Her skill as a battle tactician was said to have been legendary. What was obscure was her relation to Princess Celestia, and her role outside of combat and war. On one hand it was said she was the warden of dreams, giving credence to her presence inside his own mind. But the only reason he even came to that conclusion was the random poem about her other profession. It spoke of her need to protect the ponies from nightmares most foul.

But it was only that one poem. Nothing else spoke of her abilities or relation to Equestria and it’s formation.

The other, and if he was being honest, difficult to really confirm, was that she might actually be the sister to Celestia herself. But he was pulling that out of his ass, the only reference to that was in a small sentence in the back of a musty old book that seemed to have been buried and almost purposely hidden.

‘Royal Houses and their Progeny’ had been a headache to read, it spoke the same as the two from his dreams. About midway through the book under the title Eos, which turned out that it was Celestia’s second part in her full name, it spoke of a sister known under another name as Urania. No first name was mentioned, and in truth he was grasping at straws on that one.

It was as if she had been scrubbed from history with bleach. None of what was said in one book could be corroborated to another. It was frustrating. He had made only one attempt to gain access to the royal records, but had never gotten close to the doors. Battlemages were literally everywhere down there, and it was hard to give reason as to why he might even be in the castle at night. So he had quickly given up that option as impossible.

In the end his hope of finding out who Luna was awash. He didn’t even consider contacting Bloodbeak about it, though he did know the old bird’s agents were in the city. He had not been told how to get a hold of them. So that was doa the moment it passed into his head.

In the end he had wasted a week learning about a war princess that may or may not even exist. Life was shit.

“So why am I here?” He finally thought it was safe to ask. He had been asked to the Principal's Office the following Monday, no reason as to why just told to be there. When he arrived, Princess Celestia was there as well as Miss Quill. The latter still gave him the creeps.

“Orion this meeting is in regards to you going with the class to Prance.” Oh. He assumed not to even bother applying, but she likely wanted him to know he wasn’t going. “You will be allowed to attend, under the supervision of one guard. That way you don’t have to miss out on anything!”

“Do what now?”

The Princess was smiling. He knew he was not smiling, he didn’t want to go.

“Uhhhhh Princess, what if...say I didn’t want to go to fru fru land? Anyway I could just stay here, do extra work. Oh maybe some good ol’ community service.” he was grinning now, but it was a more manic grin.

She sat for a long moment contemplating. Then finally shook her head, “no Orion, your education is very important and this cultural visit is important as well. You will go, and you will have someone to watch over you. Have fun, and bring me back more souvenirs.” She said that last bit with a smile and a chuckle.

Resigned to his fate he had to ask, “And just who, is to be my illustrious caretaker while we are out there?”

The door opened up behind him and a familiar masculine voice spoke up behind him. “That would be me Orion.” He groaned audibly.

Turning around he was greeted by the sight of Shining Armor, his armor all decked out in gold, with purple accents to it. He looked ridiculous.

“I hope you don’t plan on wearing that on our tour of Prenchy hell.” He felt a smack to the back of his head. Only one in the room knew what he said and he glared at her.

“Why? What is wrong with my armor?” He looked at himself, patting his chest plate.

“Well other than the obvious…” Orion was not one to look down on the color choice of another, but he never understood why the soldiers of Equestria were issued such shiny ass armor that blended in with absolutely nothing.

“Well, it could be the fact that you stand out like a metal rod in someone's sandwich. Or it could be the fact that anyone who sees you following my happy ass around is going to figure me as some kind of noble. If you are the only one going to be watching me, you're gonna get mobbed quick, and some gangsters are gonna be real disappointed to find I am worth less than the shiny little boots you wear.”

It looked like he wanted to object, but even he had to nod in careful consideration after a moment. It was clear he could see Orion’s point.

“Well, what would you recommend then, my little pony?” He cringed at that. He absolutely hated when she said it, more so because he technically wasn’t a pony, not that she needed to know that. He turned back to the monarch.

“If I am gonna have to do this, then I would recommend thin leather under civilian clothes. Maybe strap some plain steel to the leather rig in places where a stab might get through. Thus minimizing the chance of him getting hurt. Second, he should be an acting chaperone, so he doesn’t look like it's just me that has a lap dog.” He heard Shining sputtering behind him in protest, but chose to ignore him.

“Lastly, I am gonna have to be seen getting away from him, this has the added benefit of me seemingly not important as well as him discouraging the vagabonds from bothering the class as a whole. Oh and a short sword rather than the typical long sword, easier to conceal.” He nodded to himself. This would also allow him to breath a bit, not having the brother loom over everything he did was gonna allow him to relax.

The frown on Celestia’s face said he wasn’t going to get off that easily. “Fine, but he rooms with you at night. No negotiation on that.” Success, and shit. Oh well take what he could get.

“You better not snore.” More protests.

“Are you sure he should be leaving after all the trouble he has caused lately? Maybe he should just remain here. I could look over his studies, personally, while his class is away.” Miss Violet Quill chose that moment to speak up, and his hackles wanted to rise. The moment she said personally, connected all the dots for him. All the weird looks, all the detentions, in which she nearly laid in the chair watching him with half lidded eyes. The constant reprimands, and occasional touching.

The bitch was thirsty. A quick look to the Princess showed she too had figured it out, shock and then veiled anger. Shining still seemed to be clueless. He shared the missed social cues with his sister.

“No, no I believe it will be good for him to participate in class. He needs to be around the students more. Thank you, Miss Quill but that will not be necessary.” She spoke her name hard. The mistress of the sun was not happy. “Orion, Shining, you can leave, I would advise you pack for a lengthy trip.”

The door had shut only five minutes ago, but Celestia had not taken her eyes off the hand picked principal of her school. Her mind was pouring over every scrap of information she had on the mare. None of it indicated her to be into colts of that age.

“Why?” Violet winced.

“I am unsure of what y-”

“Do not lie to me foal. But if you wish to play the fool, I’ll spell it out for you. Why are you interested in the colt at all? He is junior to you. He has no standing in society. He is even combative, personally. So why the interest?”

She was fuming. The look on Orion’s face showed that he too had realized what was going on behind her back. She would never have suspected the by-the-book principal of being a colt diddler.

“I-it’s not w-what you think Princess I swear!” She licked her lips nervously. “I w-would nev-er think to take a c-colt.”

Celestia snorted, heat emanating from her. “Then what is it, Miss Quill?!” The motherly monarch was gone. She had been having such a good day too.

“He….he um….he ticks….oh by the sun, he ticks off all my wants. He is a predator in the guise of a pony. He is powerful, and dominant. If I could tame him he would be the ultimate partner, one in which I would not be mocked for finding a mate outside of our species. It’s a once in a lifetime, if not a millennium opportunity!” She was breathing hard. The panic and rush of her confession seemed to exhaust the mare. Not that Celestia cared.

Gathering her focus, her calm demeanor as best she could. She opened her eyes and spoke.

“You will stay professional with Orion Falls. Not that you could likely ‘tame’ him as you say. The colt is more trouble then you possibly could know, and far smarter than you.” Quill visibly recoiled. She did not care for her offense. “I have plans for that colt, and not even you will get in the way. Do I make myself clear?”

The stricken mare gaped openly, like a fish as Orion would say, but for a moment she looked like she was unable to speak. Finally one word whispered from her lips. It was not an affirmative.

“Twilight.” She breathlessly spoke.

Celestia smiled, a mock of her gentle one, this one was vicious and the danger was clear. “Yes, indeed. I plan to pair them off, and you will not interfere with that. If I even catch a whisper of an attempt to get between them or disrupt what I am developing, they will never find you.” The threat had come so hard and fast that Violet broke down in tears and fear.

She left a weeping mare in that office. Already taking into account any possibility that she might ignore what her monarch had to say, and dismissed them. She was stubborn, but nopony was worth her life to the elitist mare.

Now to requisition the gear the rather clever colt had recommended. She would have to schedule some one on one time with an instructor so Shining armor could get used to working with a shorter blade. She smiled.

Once again the young stallion had proven his intelligence and resourcefulness. His reasoning, and Twilight’s knowledge would make for fine foals.

Orion had decided he did not like flying on a ship. He was sick to his stomach the entire two day trip to Prance. No one knew what Dramamine was. Thus he suffered hell on that ship.

The ship was the ‘Sun’s Grace’. It was exactly as he pictured it. The hull of a 1800s frigate, with the masts swapped out for an array of massive balloons, the top half being weighed down by a metal bowl shaped plate of steel. It was gold and white. Of course. Even when she no longer owned a ship she still owned said ship.

The cabins were large, and thankfully, in plain if not ornate wood paneling. It had more than enough room for his one rucksack of clothes and essentials. He had another bag inside to carry any souvenirs he might nab while on yet another vacation. He had to laugh, some of the ponies that had come aboard had more than eight bags and were complaining that they had to carry their own suitcases, yelling loudly at the captain to order his sailors to haul their things.

The Captain, a rotund grey pegasus with an eye patch of all things, told them to literally pound salt and get their shit below decks. It was beautiful to hear and he laughed loud enough for everyone to hear. Which got a ripple of chuckles from the crew. Had he not been sick the entirety of the trip he might have gotten some good stories out of ‘em. Instead he was seeing yesterday’s breakfast lay before him in a bucket.

Arriving in Prance they settled down in the harbor of La Hoofevre, and quickly shuffled off the ship, much to Orion’s joy. The train ride was uneventful, and they soon found themselves in Paris. It looked like every photo he had ever seen of the early 1900s of the place back in his own world. There were food shops everywhere.

As they were ushered away from the Mare du Nord and into the city proper, all five chaperones, including a very disgruntled Shining Armor, were looking for the hotel the schools two classes would be taking over for the duration of their stay in grand ol’ Paris.

It was near midnight when they had finally found the ‘Le Mareice’ in the middle of the Louvre district. The horse puns were getting to him again. He was beginning to already hate this fucking place.

Inside they all got settled into their rooms, his personal chaperone snoring away on top of his own bedspread. Orion shut that down with a muffle spell. It was meant for sneaking, but worked amazing here.

“Heh, gonna have to call that one the ‘Silencer’. Was hoping he didn’t snore, but at least I planned for one disaster.”

He used the washroom, which thankfully had running water, and showered the travel grime of his body as he thought of how best to lose Shining in the city with the rest of the students. If he was going to be trapped here, he was gonna have his own fun.

Morning brought sunlight and amusement. He had woken up before Shining, the stallion must have been exhausted, but the comedy gold could not be left to rot before it had time to bloom.

After washing his face and running fingers through his tangled mane, he idly thought about getting it cut, it had gotten wild and unruly in his time in Griffonia. Those thoughts were pushed aside when his warden was still snoring away in lala land. He figured by now the soldier would have woken up due to the noise he was making, then he realized that the spell blocked sound from coming in, as well as going out.

Orion grinned, the opportunity was just too damn good.

Sidling up beside his bed, he dispelled the magic surrounding his head and leaned in real close, his mouth right next to his ear. It took everything in him not to laugh outright. He better do this quick.

“RECRUIT WHAT IN THE BUCKING TARTARUS ARE YOU STILL DOING IN YOUR RACK!?” He screamed at the top of his lungs. “I WANT YOU ON YOUR HOOVES AND PRESENTABLE IN FIVE BUCKING SECONDS!”

The desired result was achieved in splendid fashion. Shining Armor, first lieutenant in her highness’s royal guard, yelped in a very unstallion-like fashion and fell off the bed face first in his haste to get to standing as soon as possible. The end result was a disheveled stallion with his face scraped up by rug burn.

Orion was having difficulties breathing.

“That was not funny.” Shining stood in the bathroom fixing his own mane after the meager healing hid the rug burn and lost fur. “You are not supposed to make a soldier panic like that! What if I would have cut you!”

A snort was what he received from the colt. “Not likely, and be grateful for the fact that I could heal that pretty colt face up for you bud.” After getting yelled at by the stallion for the better part of half an hour they were both too hungry to really put much effort into arguing.

“Really? You believe that you have a chance in combat with me?” He had tossed his towel back into the sink and addressed his charge in a carefully neutral tone.

“I am quick enough, but a full on fight? Even I don’t know that. But you must have seen at least some of my handiwork. Or heard of it. So that brings up an interesting question, how would you go about stopping me if I decide to go rogue. Escape or something. ”

Indeed he had, and thought it a joke till the Princess played the crystal recording for him when she gave him this assignment. He had heard the rumors, but thought it was just barrack’s room talk. The recording showed otherwise.

To say he was impressed was an understatement. He was also more than a little upset that she hadn’t told him sooner. But it was not like he was in a position to complain. He hadn’t even known the colt could teleport. He wasn’t nervous, he knew he could and would contain Orion if it ever came down to any hostile situation.

“There is a reason I was chosen. My ability to create and maintain shields is second to none. The Princess herself has tested my abilities and was thoroughly impressed. So I have no doubt I could stop you if it came to that.” He smirked and so did Orion. He got the distinct impression that something was amiss.

“Okay, cool.” That was it. He didn’t believe him. And because of the loss of that belief, Shining was beginning to doubt his own ability to stop him. He magic'd a bubble around the colt and held him there. It was one of the best shields he could form under such quick circumstances, and was rather proud of the strength in it.

“Shining, what are you doing?”

“I am proving a point since you don’t believe me. Try and break the shield around you.”

Orion began laughing. He was beginning to feel insulted.

“That is going to be a big no dude. I am not gonna bother even putting in the effort, besides I am hungry as hell, and if we don’t get going soon the other chaperones are going to be wondering what is keeping us.” He folded his arms and waited.

After a debate with himself he dropped the shield, eyeballing Orion, but nothing was said between the two. They walked down the halls to the elevators, a heavy tension hanging over them. It made Shining angry, without knowing why. Was this how everypony felt being around him for any length of time? How did his sister cope with this?

Breakfast was an expansive affair, fruits and pastries from all over the world and good solid coffee was to greet the stallions tongue. His ward had gone off to sit with Fancy Pants, a rather well to do gentlecolt who projected calm confidence. The image of what a noble colt should be. He had no idea how they were even friends, but there was Fancy, laughing at something Orion had told him. Shining’s ears burned, likely knowing the subject of humor.

He ignored it. Not much he could do to stop the little ass. It didn’t matter. He pushed thoughts of his assignment away as he thought of another pony that was in the city. A pony he had not seen in nearly a year. The last time they had parted had left him soaring, even if he fumbled that kiss terribly.

Princess Candace, had snagged his heart with little effort. The fact that she was so stunning had been only part of her charm. If he was being fair it was a big part, but she had an amazingly large heart. He had gotten to know the mare during her foal sitting days with Twilight. His babysitter had allowed him a chance to actually get to know her, and what he found was a kind understanding soul who forgave him of his nerdy habits.

The only sticking point for him was she would likely never grow old with him. She already had nearly six hundred years on him by this point, and he was surprised that he interested her at all. But, here he was, in a tentative relationship with a not yet ruling monarch. He hoped for so much more, and he jumped at this assignment even after finding out the potential danger his charge presented.

But how was he to get away from his duties in order to spend any time with her. He had sent a message to her stating he was in the city and his wish to see her, but he had no idea how to play it out.

As he munched on a raspberry tart, he sighed whimsically. Just one day with her is all he asked.

“Fr-Prench school is weird. God damnit I am never getting used to the horse puns around here.”

The school was strange. For one, they got a two hour lunch break. What kind of bullshit was that? Their classes were held in the schools auditorium. The opulent structure belonged in the palace back in Canterlot. The only difference was the various purples and blues strewn about in fabrics and paint. It was gaudy, and the patterns they chose gave him a headache.

The second thing that caught him off guard was the schedule. No school on Wednesday, but half a day on Saturday. Not only was it confusing, but they went to school less than he did. Bullshit.
The last thing to irk him wasn’t the weirdness that seemed to be in the school as a whole, it was the attitude. The majority of classes were ninety-eight percent of the classes seemed to be made up of all fillies. That was not bad on its own. No, it was the rather apparent sexism that the little whores all seemed to display. He wasn’t even the main target.

Poor Fancy Pants seemed to have become an instant target of harassment, it was bordering on sexual assault as far as Orion was concerned. His presence seemed to drive the fillies away so they colts in the class seemed to gravitate around him the most. It had placed him in an oddly popular position. He didn’t like it.

Once things had gotten settled that first week, it seemed things were going fine. When not in classes they were touring everything in the city, divided among the four chaperones. So far Shining had been stuck to him like a boil.

The middle of the second week was when trouble actually struck.

“Zey call you, Fancy Pants, oui?” Orion heard her before he turned around in his friend's direction. In front of the poor guy was a trio of fillies. Well fillies might have been stretching it in the literal sense of the word. They looked more like adults. A quick glance to their badges placed them in the same age group as them.

The one who spoke was a soft pink mare with a coiffed pink and blue mane. She was smiling, but it was an unkind thing. Her friends who seemed to be mirrors of each other, both blue with black manes seemed to share the same smile. It was purely predatory.

For Fancy’s part he had put on a brave face. They had been warned before their arrival that the school was dominated by the female population. Only a few colts being allowed to attend. The casual and almost blatant sexism they displayed was bordering on fourteenth century male chivalry. If he wasn’t so mad, he would have been impressed.

“I am.” Steady voice like a rock as always. But Orion was still tense.

“Oui, of course.” The way she said of course sounded like ‘o’curse. “It is so wonderful to have a visage to la name.” Wonderful, her english was just bad enough that it took him a minute to reason out what she had said. He had learned Prench, and then promptly forgotten it. He wished he hadn’t.

“Tell me, how viens, come that’s is la word, how come you have rejected ma proposal?” They were all still smiling, but not Fancy.

“Well Miss Belle Cherie, I am afraid I have somepony else in mind and I would be remiss to not consider my feelings for her. I am sorry, but perhaps on a later date I can send you a response by mail. I know it is inconvenient but matters of the heart are not to be forced.” As diplomatic as his answer his smile was thin, and nervous. “Besides, you sent the request when I had not even met any of you.”

That’s when things got ugly, she shoved him firmly back in his chair and sat down straddling him, what made this worse was none of the Canterlot students were helping him. The fillies were not even raising an objection.

“Tue are a very handsome colt, you belong in the bedchamber, or at the very least the kitchenette. Je would be very, idiote, if je would allow you to walk away. Non, tue will accept our proposal. The wealth and influence of ton family will be a wonderful boon to notre propre.”

Fancy was looking for a teacher to help, so was Orion as he was trying not to cause an international incident. The balls on these bitches. He would never not appreciate Equestria mares again.

There were teachers, french mare teachers. Chuckling. No sign of his own teachers, including Shining. Oh he was getting some Blueballs vibes all over again.

“Awww Christ, I’m gonna have to beat someone with another someone.”

Rising from where he was sitting he snatched the mare up by her mane before anyone could react and unceremoniously tossed her to go sliding on the floor. “ And I thought mares back home were sexist. Jesus girl you really put it on thick didn’t you. How about you leave my friend and the rest of us alone eh?”

The two goons had squawked and rushed to her as she picked herself up and dusted herself off. “Do tue have any idea how couteuse these clothes are? Tue mongrel!”

“Young lady I know mongrels, and they are better behaved then your rabid ass. You are a slimy worm thinly wrapped in silk. So, again. I am gonna be polite, because I really don’t want to cause an international incident, leave us alone. Okay?” He smiled, but hid his teeth. Deep down he knew what was likely coming and he wanted to keep that gem in check.

She stood back up, adjusting the rather racy outfit she was wearing, the glare turning into a sneer. “Tue would call moi a worm? Tue are less than a worm, tue are poor, without family or standing. What makes tue think tue can say anything to moi?”

“Oh that's easy, miss priss. I have lived in the gutter. I know what worms are, and you my dear,” He chuckled, “are one of the slimiest I have ever come across. And if you honestly think your sad little opinion of myself matters a hill of shit,” a collective gasp erupted from the prench side, “than you are sadly mistaken. Now get your gnarly little ass out of here, before I decide Princess Celestia’s wrath would be worth it to crush you into the dirt.” He wasn’t smiling now. “Because the moment I do, the rules need not apply for the duration of the ass whooping you and your little friends will receive. He paused and smiled. “Tu m'emmerdes avec ton bruit.”

That had gotten her attention. She stalked forward, and Orion set himself.

“That is enough!” The english was clear if heavily accented. He was saved from getting into trouble it seemed. The adult mare that had shouted strode forward to stand between the pair. “If you have a problem, take it to the ring. Not in the field like two foals on a piece of cheese!”

Shit, he hadn’t avoided trouble after all. There was going to be a venue. With ticket sales and popcorn. Fuck.