"Must you go?" The fuzzy two-legged queen almost pouted, almost. "The people will miss you."

Crane offered a hand and it was swiftly met with two, her grasping him firmly between her two as if she could keep him there if she just gave a firm enough shake. "Your people are recovering, Ruddertail."

"They are," she allowed, releasing him only hesitantly. "Why not make library here?" She gestured to a patch of clear land not far from them. "Put there. Place of learning, yes?"

Her face erupted into a new smile. "You and partner, both welcome!"

Of that he had little doubt. The lutrai had rolled out the carpet for him and made it quite clear he was a celebrity there. "Focus on your own, as I will do. I love your country, I do, but I am an American in the end."

"If say so..." She didn't sound entirely convinced. "Watch. I stay, must, queen. Others may follow. Treat nice."

"Do your best to dissuade them." Still... "I will not leave them cold on the street." The lutrai were like children in some ways. If he left them out there, they'd wait patiently, and suffer, for the day he changed his mind. "Your people have much growing to do."

"Every day, chance to grow." She nodded firmly in agreement. "Go, if must. Take love of lutrai with you."

It was a room of stark contrasts. The bulbs above were bright and glaring. Where allowed, the shadows were deep and foreboding. It was an interrogation room, and he, their target. Paul sat calmly, watching the door through which someone would come through. He had called a number most people didn't know about. He had used the phrases most didn't know about. That already made him a Person of Interest, no matter what else he said.

The door clicked, a magnet lock? It swung open, an arm following it. "Former President," began the voice of the man who emerged with it. "Don't look surprised. Of course I checked your file."

Of course, but he wasn't sure how he was in those files, under what... "It's about Chrysalis."

"Your former queen?" The door closed of its own power behind him, he on the way to sit at the small table across from Paul. "She was put to death."

"It didn't stick." The man peered at him with doubt. "You're in a world of magic. You have scientists literally studying it. Starting by doubting it won't help America right now."

The man nodded. He had a clipboard, but he hadn't taken any notes. The discussion was being recorded, it had to be. "So you're saying she's alive. Is she organizing more of... her kind, your kind?"

"They aren't my kind." Paul slapped the top of that table. "I'm an American! She was alone, even when injured. She would have brought friends if she had any. She is a rogue agent, but one highly motivated and potentially capable of harm."

"You hurt her?" He tipped his glasses down faintly.

"She broke into my house and threatened me. I shot her and I'd do it again."

"Castle doctrine, I know the deal." The glasses were pushed back up. "But she, a shot person, still managed to get away?"

"She isn't a human." Neither was Paul, despite his imitation. "It hurt her, surprised her. I think the surprise is what sent her running. You fought changelings before, you know." Likely not that man specifically, but they had reports. "She also had wings, and they worked just fine."

"I see. Thank you, for coming in today." He set his hands flat on the table. "Was any classified information compromised?"

"Not a syllable," Paul swore proudly. "Not that she had any idea what to ask for. Regardless, she is dangerous. Something caused her to not be dead, and that should be very frightening."

"You're getting a detail."

After all that, he'd be getting security. Not technically being a former president, on the books, they had avoided that... The situation had changed. "I'm not requesting it, but I understand." It was the age old trade. Security, for privacy. Of course, it wasn't his security, exactly. It was for all of America, and the secrets he knew. "I understand."

The man patted him on the shoulder, standing. "Thank you. When this emerges, you'll be in the history books, I imagine." He chuckled a bit as he turned for the door. "Go home. We'll check in when we arrive."

"Luna." She was sleeping, but she knew she was sleeping. "Luna, please? Can you hear me?" She called out, navigating the barren forest she had once run blindly through. "I know this isn't a nightmare."

"And yet, you call." Luna was beside her, no sound of her approach, simply there. "You look familiar..."

The girl turned to Luna with a broad smile. "You came, a long time ago." She dusted herself off softly, trying to comport herself. "When my parents were arguing... They broke up, but my dad won... So I went with him... It helped that I wanted to see you again." She rocked her hands back and forth. "I'm glad you came."

"It is not often dreamers call out to me so directly." Luna lifted an ear. "This is not a nightmare, as you mentioned. For what reason do you interrupt my vigil?"

"I learned how to sleep awake." She wobbled a hand. "Lucid dreaming, knowing when I'm dreaming. I was... really hoping you'd answer, eventually."

"Eventually." Luna smiled faintly. "I heard your calls, and first I ignored them. There are nightmares and terrors plaguing people that I must help with."

"You're a good princess, doing that... I really wanted to meet you." She extended her hands towards Luna, as if she wanted to cup Luna's cheeks. "May I meet you, when you're not patrolling?"

Luna considered a moment before a little nod came to her. "It is just as rare that I am specifically called for. Come to Canterlot and tell them that I called for you, at the castle." She inclined her head. "That excuse will get you a ride on the train and beyond, but they will verify your story afterwards. Fortunately, it is true." She lifted suddenly with a powerful flap of her wings. "I must return to my duty. Are you otherwise alright?"

"I'm better than alright." She was grinning ear to ear. "I just hope I remember this when I wake up."

"I will leave a note." And she was gone.

The girl would find a simple missive beside her bed in the morning.

Grogar stroked his hoof across his reclaimed bell. "With this... we can truly begin..."

Tirek, diminished once more, huffed. "You've been saying that repeatedly. When do we get to actually starting?"

"First, this." Grogar slammed down a hoof with the clear note of the bell ringing around his neck. He grew in power and laughed as he erupted into a dark red flame that died away almost as quickly. "Yes... They thought they could seal my power away... Only for a time."

Chrysalis squinted at their leader. "You didn't have your power? You did quite a bit already, last I saw."

"Great, then imagine me with all of it." Grogar snorted softly. "If you are capable. Now... The bell has several powers, one of which at least you--" he turned to Tirek with a great grin. "--know too well. It can draw out the magic of a living creature. But, unlike you, it can also put it back, and in different places than where it came. Our enemies will become our fuel." He thrust a hoof at Tirek. "When they're not busy being our soldiers. How does that sound?"

"One thing." Cozy landed on Tirek's back. "What's with the dragon?" She inclined her head at the dragon that had once been an old pony that had become a sleek and dangerous black beast.

"Have you not heard?" laughed out Grogar. "I am the father of monsters. Dragons were one of them. They've gone soft over the years, I've already seen... No matter, they can do as they wish. I will create new ones, ready for battle." He drove his hooves together with a strike that sounded of thunder. "And other creatures besides. The world has become filled with so many interesting templates to work with... I wonder what creations I can make..."

"And ponies are dragons... Wow..." Cozy shook her head slowly. "I would rather not be a dragon, if you don't mind."

"I have other uses for you."

Cozy still had no idea what that use was, but... "Thanks. I'm ready."

"See that you are. Our first, largest, most obvious problem... remains the humans, the Americans as they call themselves. The moment we make ourselves obvious, they will array against us, and they are a violent people, ready to fight." A slow grin spread over his face. "Which is why I imagine they will make such delightful warriors, turned to our ends. Listen! You." He turned to Chrysalis.

"Hm?" She hadn't really been paying attention, perking up when addressed. "What?"

"We will need your... expertise." He tossed his head. "We need someone who can slip into places, different places, and quietly lead people to our agent in the field." He looked toward Cozy.

Cozy blinked. Was this her chance?! "And what do I do?!" she asked excitedly, perking up.

"You will get to hold this." He detached his bell from his collar and offered it towards her. "And use it. Nocreature will expect a thing from you. Chrysalis will lead them to you, you will drain them dry, and return with bell-fulls of power for me to put to work." He licked over his lips. "One trip at a time, we will amass power, always from a different place, never enough to get them suspicious. Do this faithfully, and I will reward you all... You will get a taste of it. You will know power."

Tirek slapped his hands together, not as powerful a gesture as he'd have liked, being emaciated. "Now we're talking! What do I do while they're running around?"

"At first, nothing." Grogar's eyes wandered Tirek's form. "You're too weak... but we'll fix that, and I have need for your magic. The dark rainbow will be pivotal for my work. I may be the father of monsters, but consider yourself an uncle in good standing." He chuckled softly. "Together, we will create such delightful beasts... Besides, once you have strength, perhaps... you can help them bring home a drained victim or two, to work on, experiment with." He seemed to revel in the dreams of the future dancing before his mind's eye. "Oh, how wonderful it will be..."

"I admit some amount of surprise." A pen floated over, wreathed in her golden magic. "But I am also proud, and humbled, to stand here. Let it be clear from this day forward that Americans hold the key to the great beyond, and are willing to share it with their fellow creatures of this great world." She brought down the pen with proper pomp, signing her name upon the treaty in solidarity.

"Seriously," she continued in more hushed tones towards that human president. "How did you get your people to agree to this? I had thought this was quite the guarded treasure. I had almost prevented Twilight from sending that letter, though now I am happy I did not."

"It was a meeting of needs," assured what would soon be an ex president. "And it's better that we tackle this in an organized way from the start." The old countries, on the old world, would not have tolerated such things. "Everyone will benefit." And America's coffers would be lined by any country that wanted a piece of that pie. Not to mention America having first say in any legal disputes that came up with outer space. It was... tremendous, and he brought it. He would go down in history. Not bad for a guy given presidency by another man resigning. "Thank you for coming."

Author's Note

I like to remind that the world keeps spinning, even as the 'main event' prowls forward. This is a living world, and one I am proud to oversee. I hope you're enjoying it with me. Also, do you remember that girl?

SPECIAL NOTE: Releasing this one early so the next one can be done. The $5 patrons said they want MORE of this story, so it will be so.

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