Author's Note

Holy SHIT!

Hi Folks! Can you believe its been three weeks? I can't. I am angry that it took me this long to get a chapter out to all of you. I apologize as I kept gnawing away at a chapter that wasn't flowing right.

This new chapter actually took on a life of it's own and pulled me forward fast. In only three days did it take me to get out it all sorted. I spent weeks rewriting the same work and ended up coming up empty. Instead I deleted it all and wrote an entirely new one. Completely different from the previous.

Thank you so much for your patience, I know the feel of waiting on stories that have my interest.

Please leave a comment.

As always, thanks for reading.

Peace.

Gonna go die now.

Why Do We Fall

Twilight stared into the bathroom mirror. She looked terrible.

Her mane was stuck to the side of her head as if somepony had doused her head in grease. Violet eyes dully glared back in a field of spidery red lines. Her fur needed more than a good brushing with a curry comb. In short, she was an absolute mess.

But she supposed that was what happened when you shut yourself in and cried for four days straight. Or was it five?

In truth she had lost track, her normal fastidiousness had all but vanished in the blurring of days that had come after Orion Falls escape from Canterlot. In place of the normally studious and primly manner that she held, was a lost filly barely into her sixteenth year.

Twilight pulled herself out of the ponyhole leading back into the sewage system of Canterlot. The dawn was fast approaching, its rays just peaking over the side of the mountain that shared the city’s name.

She was still in a daze. She had been violently woken by a mare screaming into her face over the roar of rushing water. Her first thought was how rude it was to call anypony a whorse. “What was her name again? Backwater? Oh yes, Velvet Backwater.”

That quickly changed to panic when she remembered where she was and why she was there. Screaming Orion’s name only elicited a powerful blow to the side of her face, causing her head to roll and sparks to blossom in her vision. So powerful had the blow been that tears that had been forming in fear for her friend were halted.

The right side of her face was still hurting even now, a dull throb to the sharp pain she had initially felt.

Accusations came flying, too fast for her to really process what they truly meant. Irrational fear had drowned out most things as she worried first as to what had happened to him, then that fear had morphed at the idea that he would abandon her.

Backwater’s tirade had been cut short by a voice that even pulled her out of her stupor.

Princess Celestia stood inside the cavern with them. The normally warm and kind eyes held a fiery steel, that she had been unaware of until recently, that seemed to still the very elements around them.

Still holding onto Twilight’s night shirt, Backwater belted out her accusations. The look on her teacher’s face made her want to curl in on herself in fear.

She answered truthfully to the accusations, and her mentor smiled, almost in relief. Her horn winking out.

After that her relief in being proven innocent had her lapse back into a semi-conscious state. Until the guards escorting her, more carrying her, had arrived back into the newer sewer tunnels.

She was surprised that Princess Celestia had decided not to return with her; when asked, the Royal Guardsmare that had carried her was vague, not in an attempt at deception, but she just didn’t know.

The sun’s rays yanked her back into the present as they did a fair job in blinding her. Squinting in the harsh light she was led over to a stone bench. She had not realized that her group had come up in the Marevista Gardens.

Being on the cusp of winter, the barren branches and tucked away flower beds had been hard for her to identify their location at first glance. In the back of her mind, she had immediately set to discerning where in Canterlot they were, as the rest of her remained listless.

Twenty minutes later she was brought once again to full alertness, by a wailing sound coming from the ponyhole they had crawled out of. Guards scrambled, many of the pegasus diving back into the tunnel.

It wasn’t long before they came back out, carrying a body in a covered sheet carefully out of the hole. A dark red stain covering one side, dripping onto the cobblestone street in a slow irregular trickle. She turned her head from the sight, her mind already conjuring up the worst.

The wailing grew closer as the guards stirred into even more of a frenzy, the street going silent save for the thundering of hooves and the flap of wings.

Next to come out of the tunnel was Princess Celestia helped through a combination of hands and magic, tears pouring from her eyes as the keening noise they all heard increased in pitch. The cries were coming from her? She was covered in the same red stain as the sheet. “Orion!?”

She hadn’t realized she moved until she had embraced her. Blood stained her face as she buried her face into her mentor’s breast.

She shoved back the memory of that morning. Guilt welling up in her heart as she briefly remembered her relief that the pony in the sheet was not him.

Turning the tap for the hot water she waited patiently as the old pipes warmed up. A groan echoed as the ancient system took on the added burden of providing her a shower. More memories returned as she gathered the things she would need for a proper wash.

Rain made an even somber day, gloomier. The clouds dark and heavy as those gathered in the cemetery did their best not to become drenched in the late afternoon downpour. Most were being shielded by unicorn magic, while the rest bore umbrellas provided for the ceremony.

All but one stood under protective covering. Princess Celestia, used no magic, nor held no umbrella, the rain beat down upon her undeterred. The black dress was thick but not weather treated to stand against the elements for long and were already showing signs of being waterlogged.

To the casual observer, she stood there stoically staring at the coffin that held the late Captain Strikes within. But to Twilight’s careful watch, she could see the slight shaking to her teacher’s shoulders. The rain masking the tears, if not the bloodshot look in her magenta eyes.

Twilight had been forced to stand with her family, they had been there to represent her brother as he could not have been there with him in the north.

He and Errant Strikes had come up together from basic to officer academy. Her mother often speculated that they would eventually get together. No chance of that now.

“Gentlestallions and mares. It is with a heavy heart that we gather here today. For today we bury one of our own.”

General Duke Twister had been selected to preside over the funeral. It was rare that a general held such a position. But the usual method of a priest of the Church of Sol presiding had been largely rejected in light of recent events. It was clear to many that the stallion was not used to functioning in this capacity.

“I had not had the pleasure of working closely with Captain Errant Strikes. Her records…” Twilight had already begun to tune him out. As far as speeches were concerned, his left much to be desired. It brought no comfort to the family. Sounding sterile, fake to her ears and likely to all that stood there.

Looking across the coffin, was Errant Strikes’s family. Dressed head to hoof in black, like everypony else, her mother barely stood. Lunar Twirl in any other situation would have been considered hard and unyielding. She had been known to be strict and often harsh to those around her.

Now the mare barely held herself together, short quick jerks of her shoulders gave a good impression of her current state. Her daughter, the former Lieutenant Stunning Strikes was on her knees, no shaking of her shoulders as she stared vacantly at the coffin. Behind the pair was a single guard, holding a large umbrella over them.

“I will now turn this over to Princess Celestia, so that she might say a few words.” Twilight blinked, she had missed the majority of his speech outright.

“My little ponies. It is with a heavy heart that I stand her before you today.” She paused, mouth slowly working. “Errant was….Errant was my most trusted officer.”

Twilight noticed several Officers behind her bristle at the words. “Buck, can you not? This is a funeral and you’re getting mad that the Princess has a preference for somepony else?!” She blinked. That was not something she had ever thought about. Even in her own head she was hesitant to swear.

“She proved more than just a competent soldier. She was a mare that chose the hard path while still maintaining a smile. Both in and out of the armor she was friendly and caring. Willing to help those around her not for her own gain but for the gain of all.” She paused, shaking her head, hands gripping one another tightly. “Errant Strikes was a daughter, a sister….and was to be a wife… She was a brave mare that chose to save my own life at the cost of her future. Words…”

Her voice began to shake, somehow the monarch seemed diminished in that moment much to Twilight’s shock. “There are no words that I can say to ease the hearts here, my own is broken. I shall hold her in my heart always, her memory will live on through me.”

Princess Celestia stepped away, Twilight’s eyes following her hunched form as she stepped away from the small assembly of ponies.

They did not attend the repast after.

Twilight shut the water off, doing her best to wring out the water from her mane with her hands rather than the usual method of magic she normally employed. She did not have the energy or focus to bother.

Wrapping her mane up in a towel she began to dry herself off while looking over her form once again in the mirror.

She looked better, the bloodshot eyes remained, but they were not as angry looking as they were before. She picked up a comb and began to brush out her fur.

Celestia was quiet in the carriage ride back. The royal coach service maintained a good pace despite the slippery streets.

Twilight sat across from her, unwilling to break the silence she chose to look out the window, the dreary day impacting the city as much as the two mares inside.

Her mind was a whirl with questions and worry.

She had never seen her mentor in such a state. She had seen her happy, sad, upset, angry, and in recent years angry to the point of fury. To see her in what could only be described as broken, was something new and more than a little frightening.

Seeing this side of her made her wonder about her own end. With the Princess being an immortal, or at least as far as ponykind was concerned, she would eventually bury her as well. Would her passing hit her just as hard as Errant Strikes?

Or would it be worse somehow. Considering the closeness of the pair, it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination for them to consider one another family.

The answer she reasoned made her feel worse. Her ears splayed back as she sunk further into her seat.

“It’s okay Twilight.” Looking up she saw her teacher's eyes looking at her, bloodshot and sunken in slightly but her kind eyes still bore warmth. “I can guess what is going through your mind.” She smiled. “And yes, it would most assuredly hurt that day I might lose you as well. Not for a long time I hope.”

Shifting, she slid over to the otherside, a slight groan coming from the shifting weight echoed underneath, and wrapped her student in her arms.

“But I feel as though my life would be less without you in it. The memory of you is more important to me than the potential loss.” She smiled as Twilight buried herself into her arms, silent tears echoing her own. “So take heart, that while it will hurt, I will never regret growing close to you.”

They snuggled together, the beating of raindrops their only company.

“Potential loss? Wonder what she means?” She never got an answer, swept away by her emotions she soon lost track of her inner thoughts as she buried herself further into her embrace.

Walking out of the bathroom she had unwrapped her mane to let it air dry a bit. Tossing the used towel in the hamper she took stock of her room. Not her bedroom in the palace, but the one she largely grew up in as a filly.

It was in a similar state that she was in not an hour ago. Clothes littered a corner of the room, triggering her compulsive need for order.

Her desk was covered in newspaper clippings. She had collected every article that had even a mention of Orion in them. She would need a board soon to stick them to. It was her hope that she might be able to find out where he might have gone. She picked up one, it held a black and white image of him, the title reading : ‘Where is he now?’

“Where did you go Orion? Are you okay?”

She was startled from her thoughts by a snort from the other corner of the room. She barely stifled a giggle as she looked at her little brother. Setting the paper back down she walked over to his smaller bed and tucked the blanket that had been pushed down back up to his chin.

Spike was the other reason she was hesitant to start cleaning. The little dragon had stayed up late into the night helping her cut out clippings and hand her tissues when she began to tear up. He was such a good little brother.

Though not of the same species she never let that detract from how wonderful he had been as both a sibling and a helper. At six years old, he barely came up to her hip. Having been like that for over a year now she worried that he wasn’t getting enough gems. Despite her efforts there were not a lot of books on dragon growth patterns, so she had been playing it by ear.

While lacking in the height department, he more than made up for it in his intelligence, often finding things she was looking for much easier than herself. His reading and comprehension skills were coming along nicely, but he was still having trouble spelling certain words correctly. The hope was his teacher would finally find a way for him to learn easier. But instead he still spelled words the way they sounded, not the way they were structured.

His mathematical capabilities however were not lacking in the slightest. She often caught him counting his hidden gem stash when he thought no pony was looking had been adorable, and showed the level at which he understood basic arithmetic. He certainly proved he knew how to ration and divvy up for each day.

She smiled at the memory before leaning down and giving him a little kiss and nuzzle.

“No...the pancakes come after the spaghetti….” He moaned out, causing her to snort in response, turning away quickly so as to not wake him.

She shook her head, grateful for the unintended humor of the moment to lift her spirits.

Looking back at the corner full of her clothes, she squared her shoulders. Figuring that doing laundry wouldn’t wake him as the laundry room was downstairs on the other side of her family’s home.

Walking over she scooped a portion into her arms and carried it down to its destination. The smell from the clothes had her wrinkling her nose in disgust. She had really let it go for far too long.

She dumped the load into the washer, and climbed quietly back up the stairs for more. It was still early yet and it seemed her own parents had yet to waken like she had. She managed to skip over the step that often gave her away when she was younger and tried to sneak about.

Entering her room she found that once again Spike had managed to remove most of the blanket off him. Shaking her head she went to pick up more of her clothes, judging this would be the last trip until the washer was free again.

A thud came from beneath her as she stood up. It sounded like paper. “Maybe a bundle of the clippings had somehow gotten pushed into the laundry when I wasn’t looking?” Stepping back and shifting her weight on her hooves to the left she noticed an oddly thick letter sitting on the floor.

“What is that?”

Lifting it in her magic she noticed an old red stain on it. She set it down on her desk, worried for the contents as she dropped the clothes back into the corner of her room. It was a wax treated envelope with a red string and button set up that secured the contents within. She wondered where it came from.

She debated opening it for a brief moment, her curiosity getting the better of her she unwrapped the string and poured out the contents. Two keys hit the desk with a clatter. She cringed and looked back to see if her little brother had been roused from his sleep.

The snoring had never stopped and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Turning back she pulled out the pages that were inside with the keys. The paper itself was thick, but clear. She knew it wasn’t hers as she used scrolls more than the more modern day stationary, such as the letter in her hands.

Her desire to emulate the Princess when she was younger got her into the more ancient way of keeping messages. She smiled at the memory and refocused on this mystery letter.

“Okay Twilight, this is likely someone else’s letter that likely got into your clothes. Somehow. Just read enough to identify who it should have gone to and put it all back.”

She unfolded the pages carefully and blinked. It was for her.

‘Dear Twiggle Spriggles,

I hope this letter gets to you without too much fuss. Not sure how the hell it's gonna as I am currently under house arrest till they come get me in the morning.

But if you are reading this, then I have likely done the impossible. The incredible! I, Orion Falls, have managed to get the fuck out of Canterlot. Now I’m not sure how I did it. I either won the lawsuit and quickly dipped out from there. Or, and this is far more likely, I failed and managed to land my pretty fluffy ass in jail. Either way, you wouldn’t be seeing this letter if I was incarcerated, meaning I am long gone. So bow before my magnificence!

All seriousness, if you are reading this and not some douche-canoe from the Alphabet Agencies under Celestia’s control, then I want to thank you.

Thank you for sticking by me all these years. I know I am not the easiest to get along with, what with my asshole nature often in full swing I know I can be a bit abrasive when it comes to normal interactions.

I also want to thank you for stopping by yesterday after I got served. Likely right now you are surrounded by the last eight-hundred years of law trying to find a way out of this. Just know I appreciate your efforts. Appreciate your efforts, that sounds so insincere. Sorry I don’t really know how to say it better.

Regardless, thank you for trying to help. It meant a lot just you being there.

Honestly, I don’t see a way out of this legally. The evidence itself is cooked, and half baked at that, but it's enough to fool people into believing it anyways. It’s wrong, but it’s solidly put together, and I am more than certain that the trial has already been bought out. So there is little chance of me mounting anything to fight against it anyways.

That being said and you are reading this, then I have somehow overcome all of it, and got my happy ass out of the city.

It is likely that as you are reading this I have already left the country. I will have mailed it to your house rather than your room in the palace. Mostly so you don’t get in trouble with your teacher and all that. Not that there will be anything in here that is damning, but I am hoping that you get to see it before her.

Listen Twi. I need you to do something for me. Likely you have already discovered the two keys that were shoved into the envelope. One is for a safety deposit box in ‘Celestial Bank’. The one on Juniper and Oak near the old church for Faust.

The area is not the best but it should be safe during daylight hours. Inside that box are a couple of patents. Use them how you see fit. I’m positive you will love ‘em both.

The second key goes to a safe in the basement of White’s Orphanarium. It’s under the floorboards on the street side. Inside that safe is roughly eleven-thousand bits. Put your eyes back in your head, it's not for me or you.

Two years ago a little filly was dumped on the porch one night. She is a pegasus. I didn’t learn much about her till this year, Mrs Evergarden wanted to keep what was wrong with her a secret in case the other kids caught wind and got mean about it. She plans to send her to an orphanage in Ponyville come next year, as odds are she won’t be adopted here.

She was born with stunted wings, which means she’ll never be able to maintain any altitude much less get off the ground. I think it's called Bright Light Syndrome or something. However, all is not lost. This happens more often than one would think, and while rare there is a procedure that might mitigate or downright erase the issue entirely. But it is expensive. Ten-thousand bits expensive.

There is also a time frame issue. If she reaches six before her surgery, the likelihood of it succeeding drops to twenty percent. That’s way too low. Something about the bones in the wings still developing or some such. I don’t know, I haven’t studied pegasus biology. Barely understand my own.

Her parents probably couldn’t afford it. Or at least that’s my reasoning for them abandoning their fucking daughter. So, I collected some money for her. Don’t ask me how because I ain’t telling.

But, this bullshit came down before I can give it to Mrs Evergarden. So what I’d like you to do is give it to her as soon as you can. Likely in the next couple of weeks. I’m not sure how old she is but I’d rather not waste anymore time. Tell her who it’s for, and get Scootaloo the help she deserves.

Thanks in advance.

Now, final words. Again, thank you for being there. Thank you for believing in me.

I have one piece of advice if I may. Twilight in the years I have known you, you have been smart, goofy, and all around big sweetheart even with your head crammed so far into books it's a wonder you're not dating them.

You are powerful, but not a douche about it. You are humble, and I like that about you.

But you doubt yourself too much. Whenever something goes wrong, or you get bad news, you tend to lose focus and start letting worries bury you. Knock it off. Mistakes happen. Accidents happen. Life fuckin’ happens and no one wins that. Not even Celestia.

I’m reminded often of an old question that I once heard long ago. Why do we fall? Why do we sometimes fail in our efforts to do right?

It is no big mystery. It is so we learn to pick ourselves up again. We are going to make mistakes, we are not going to have the answers to life at our fingertips. It’s okay to make mistakes, it’s how we learn to live.

Don’t be afraid of them, learn and move on.

Enough of the Great Sage Orion. Much wiser than I could tell you more and much more eloquently than me. Be safe Twilight, keep your chin up. Who knows, maybe we will see each other again sometime.

Sincerely,
Orion’

Tears dripped onto the last page, she was biting her lip trying to keep from making a noise and alerting her little brother to her plight.

She couldn’t believe it. He had written her a letter. He never wrote letters to her despite how many she had sent him. He had already known what was going to happen at the trial and had planned for an escape. That was just like him, ever the pessimist.

She reread the pages again and again. Committing the last few paragraphs to memory. Once done, she folded them up and slid them into a secret compartment her brother had put into the desk for her when she was younger.

She looked at the keys on the desk, one was large and clearly marked ‘B236’. It was likely for the lockbox. She put that in the compartment as well. She could get the items from the bank at any time.

The other key, smaller with intricate teeth, was much more important. That would need to be taken care of today if she could. He impressed upon her that time was of the essence. In this case.

She smiled. Even in his hasty departure he was trying to care for others.

After doing her laundry, and waking up Spike for breakfast and school, she made her way over to the orphanage.

She wasn’t due back in school till next week, as the principal and Princess Celestia agreed that some time away to grieve was in order. So this gave her a chance to go unaccosted to his old home.

Stepping up to the small patio, she used the door knocker to hopefully get somepony’s attention inside. She knocked four times before the door cracked open. A small blue furred filly peaked out from behind the door.

“C-can I help you Miss?” Her high pitched voice nervously questioned. Shifting to look out behind her then back to her face.

“Yes, little one.” Now she was starting to sound like her mentor. “I am hoping to speak with Mrs Evergarden. Is she in?” She had knelt down to the little fillies level smiling gently so as not to startle the nervous foal.

“Ye-yes, but she is really upset. Ummm, I’m not sure s-she would like a visitor.”

“Oh I am an old friend of hers, and it is really important that I speak with her. I promise I am only here to speak with her, may I come in?”

Clearly the little filly had run out of words to use as her brow furrowed in thought, but she did slowly open the door for Twilight to slip inside.

The inside of the orphanage was eerily quiet. When last she visited the lights had been on, and the windows opened. Now, the curtains were drawn shut and the lights were minimal at best.

The little filly whose name she neglected to get had already dashed down the hall and into a side room. Hushed voices could be heard coming from there. Twilight removed her coat and scarf and softly as she could followed after her.

Inside the room was Mrs Evergarden, the poor mare looked the worse for wear. Her eyes had sunken in and her dress, normally kept crisp, was wrinkled. She looked up from the little blue foal and smiled.

“Good morning Miss Sparkle. Shouldn’t you be in school?” So much for being going unaccosted about school. She smiled in good humor.

“Normally yes, but I am off till next week. Because of….you know.” She ended lamely and only got a sad nod in return.

“Yes, I know.” Her voice was hollow in her ears. “What brings you by today?”

“Oh, well...can we speak in private. This should be best talked about between the two of us.”

Mrs Evergarden cocked her head a little in confusion, but didn’t say anything on the matter. She rose and a surprising number of foals appeared around her. She clapped her hands together with more energy then she likely had.

“Okay everypony, why don’t you go clean up your rooms. Maybe read. I need to speak with Miss Sparkle here in private. Lunch is in a couple of hours, don't forget. Wouldn’t want all your tummies to rumble in the afternoon.” She chuckled.

All the foals filed out, and Twilight noticed a small pegasus in the rear of the group, her head was down so her dark fuchsia mane covered up her face. But not the tinier than normal wings on her back.

“That must be the one.”

Daisy ended up snapping her back from her musings as she shut the door and turned to face her. “Now what can I do for you Miss Sparkle?”

Without asking she cast a ‘Silentium’ around the pair of them, the sound of running foals as the dashed about the orphanage going silent. “Sorry, I didn't want anypony to overhear.” At a lifted eyebrow and a nod from the older mare she continued. “I am not here asking after Orion, but I am here at his behest.”

That got the startled reaction she was expecting. She quickly spoke before unneeded questions came.

“Orion said he had something in the basement, he gave me the key to it. It’s meant for somepony special.” She almost held her breath, waiting for her response.

“He managed to write you a letter too, didn’t he?” The small knowing smile. “What is it?”

“It’s a safe with eleven-thousand bits in it. Or so he claims.” The smile fell away, again open shock was registered on the Mistress’s face.

“Why would he have eleven-thousand bits here of all places?! Where did he even get it all?!” She sat back down hard in the chair she previously sat in. “What was it all for? You said it was for a special somepony? Who?”

Twilight remained standing a small smile now adorning her own face. “For a little filly named Scootaloo. Apparently she is in need of a special surgery and the cost for it is roughly ten-thousand. He wouldn’t say in his letter where or how he got the bits. Only that they are for her.”

A smile blossomed on the older mare’s face. “Even away he still somehow pulls off a miracle. Come. Let's find this mystery safe of his.”

It was more than a little chore to find it. As he had stated it was on the street side.

What he failed to mention was the fact that it was forged with nullstone as well as standard steel. Meaning it would not show up on a traditional void scan because the spell wouldn't identify it as anything else but stone. Only a much more careful look and tweaking of magic would be able to tell the difference between actual stone, and the inert properties of nullstone.

Earth ponies during the time of the three tribes had discovered the trick by accident. During a skirmish in which unicorns had been forced to raid farms for supplies as their supply line had been severed, and revealed the interesting properties of the ore.

One farmer had commissioned a vault to store her farm's goods below ground. To skimp on valuable steel, which had just been invented at the time, the foundry that made the walls and door for the pony’s use had mixed in nullstone ore to cut cost to both them and the pony that had commissioned it.

At the time they had no idea what the effects were that were contained in the metallic and virtually useless mineral, it being even more malleable than gold. But not nearly as valuable.

It had come as quite a surprise when the collectors from the unicorn army, under the command of General Prickle Blaze, had come to that particular pony’s farm and found nothing.

Cherry Harvest, was like many earth ponies of the time, stubborn to a fault and refused to reveal the location of her hidden food stores. Before the soldiers had arrived she had shuffled her herd into the food vault beneath the family farm and then buried it to hide a trail. This unfortunately led to her death as the commander of that particular unit was known to be cruel and was unhappy that they had found nothing.

When it was all said and done, her family had come out of hiding from inside the vault, being earth ponies they moved the earth easily enough as it was still soft and not set, to discover their matriarch's demise. They were understandably broken up about it. But the mystery of how they weren’t found made the rounds through other isolated communities of farmers.

It was later learned, after a thorough investigation, that the walls of the underground storage unit had rendered normal unicorn magic useless. That was the turning point for the earth ponies during that tumultuous time.

Instead of being the victims they became a true contender in the battle of land and resources. No longer the whipping pony of Romane and Dustria, the pegasus tribe and unicorn tribe nations at the time, they fought back regaining lost territory. Even the pegasus’s manipulation of clouds washed harmlessly over the legion that now bore armor with nullstone mixed in. The lightning harmlessly dissipating off the armor as if nothing.

In the end, the Princesses had come before the true horror of war and united the three warring factions under one banner. Thus ending that violent history and securing peace for a millenia.

“How did he acquire such a thing?”

They were actually rare, and required a fair share of legal work in order to own one in today's time. Unicorns, wanting to prevent the exposure of their weakness, ended up regulating the now rare metal to holding prisoners instead.

To this day, nullstone armor and weapons go for a great deal in markets across the known world.

They had to remove stacks on stacks of crates up from the floor and then most of the floor before they found what they had been looking for. The safe wasn’t large. But was still heavy with weight as the container had been designed to be impervious to all but the key. A key that had fit perfectly and turned easily.

Inside were two and a half bags, filled with bits, and several chemical formulas that Twilight could not yet understand.

After a quick count both mares looked at each other in surprise, tears in Mrs Evergardens eyes. Happy tears to be sure.

“He really did it.” She dabbed with a handkerchief and grinned broadly. “I shouldn’t be surprised really, that colt could accomplish anything if he set his mind to it.”

“Yes, he could, but I wonder where he got the nullstone safe from? It’s not exactly legal.”

“Oh that’s been here awhile Miss Sparkle. No pony had the key to it so it just sat. I had not realized he had moved it but I am not sure where he could have gotten a key for it. A mystery I suppose that only he could answer.” Both sat on the dust floor smiling and putting away the bits and notes. The bits went with Daisy while they both agreed that Twilight could make better use of the chemical notes then the orphanage could.

Twilight left ‘White’s Orphanarium’ shortly after that, eager to get the notes home and now more curious as to what he had left behind in the deposit box at Celestia Bank. With a final wave and a reminder that she wanted to hear how the surgery went for Scootaloo she teleported home rather than attempt to walk the now chaotic streets.

Early morning traffic was not something she was willing to contend with.

Arriving home with a flash, she walked into the kitchen greeting both her parents warmly, a little surprised to see them both home.

“We both decided to take some time away from our own interests, honey. Considering how you have been feeling the last few days we thought it was appropriate.” Her father wrapped her in a hug. “You seemed to be doing much better, good news?”

She told them, about everything that had happened so far, and what had been asked of her in the letter.

“My goodness, he certainly has a way with getting things done even without being here. I’m so happy for little Scootaloo. Bright Wing Syndrome is a very serious if not rare affliction.” Her mother even smiled happily, sharing in the joy. “I’m glad he managed to get the amount needed, though where a colt would get that kinda bits I can’t imagine. Are you going to tell the Princess?”

That was a question that had been running in circles in the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure and said as much. “I’m not sure really.”

“Well there is certainly no rush to do so, in the meantime, would you like us to come with you to that bank? I know he said it was in a rather unsavory location and if I remember correctly Juniper and Oak was near the ‘Rot.”

The Rot, colloquially known as Canterrot, was where the less desirables or down on their luck ponies would eventually find themselves. Not just ponies either, griffons seeking to hide away, displaced zebras, even the rare minotaur more often than not would end up there for at least a little time.

Over time good ponies ended up moving away, and the area fell into disrepair. It was a place where illicit deals in stolen goods and drugs often took place. Every month there seemed to be a raid that confiscated thousands of bits worth of merchandise, but it never seemed to make an impact or slow the illegal activities that now carried on there.

Twilight was more than a little nervous to go there by herself.

“Yes, I would like that very much.”

While not quite inside of the Lower Garden district, the Rot, one could see the creeping effect of the dilapidated urban area. Rusted light poles, cobblestone streets in mild disrepair, even the bank they were approaching was in need of a good wash and minor repair work.

It was sad to see such a place inside the walls of Canterlot.

The trio stuck together, her mother more or less leading as her father guarded the back. They had argued the merits of taking his sword with them, her in favor of leaving at home to not rile the locals, him in keeping it because the locals might be more bold at unarmed pedestrians.

In the end Velvet won the argument stating the obvious that he seemed to have forgotten. The Royal Guard would likely have confiscated it the moment they saw it. But he did manage to talk her into letting him take a pair of daggers along, carrying one herself on her hip.

Stepping into ‘Celestial Bank’, they all noted the cleanliness of the inside compared to the outside. The exterior was in the traditional old style, with large once white pillars and tall windows, Those windows now covered in bars as well as two imposing looking stallions glaring at the family as they entered, were guarding the door.

Inside was surprisingly pleasant and well kept. A stallion in a business suit stood behind the counter, which was heavily fortified with iron bars and glass.

“Good Afternoon! How may I help you fine ponies today?” Clearly the tan pony was happy to see a normal looking family inside the establishment, his face spoke of evident relief.

“Good afternoon to you as well, sir.” Her mother replied smoothly. “ We are looking for the security box room. Can we have access?”

“Oh yes, as long as you have the key?” Twilight raised the key up, making sure ‘B236’ was clearly visible. “That key also opens the room, just go right in, it’s on the left. Will you be needing anything else?”

“No, I do not believe we will, we are just here to retrieve something that belongs to my daughter. Thank you so much.” She nodded kindly, receiving one in turn they proceeded down the hall to a locked door.

The stallion had been correct, the lock door easily opened to Orion’s key and they quickly found aisle B in the surprisingly large chamber.

“It’s over here Twilight.” Her dad spoke, several steps away from her. He was hunched down pointing to an average sized box. Set into the wall. A turn of the key, and they lifted the lid to peer inside. She pulled out a strange quill first. The tip was the same, but the rest was vastly different.

Instead of a feather, there was a fat metal casing that ended in a sudden rounded end, about six inches from the tip base. It was thicker than any quill she had seen and a little heavy. Underneath that were two folded stacks of papers.

Her mother had opened one while her father had picked up the other. “What is an ‘Offset Printing Press’?” Twilight’s ears swiveled in her direction.

“I know what a Printing Press is, earth ponies invented them to help make books faster. During the early years of Equestria, unicorns were the only ones capable of copying books quickly and efficiently, often charging exorbitant prices to both pegasus and earth ponies for their services.”

“To combat this, an earth pony inventor by the name of Written Heart had created the first printing press. It wasn’t perfect at the time, but greatly accelerated the creation of books in any case and undercutted the unfair price unicorns were charging for books of that era. They did attempt to make that illegal-”

Her father interrupted her with a chuckle.

“Okay professor, we know what a Printing Press is. What we want to know is what’s so different about this one?” He ruffled her mane much to her embarrassment, she wasn’t a little filly anymore.

“I am not actually sure. May I see it mom?”

Velvet handed over the pages and she carefully looked over the design. It was a rolling press, and there were several different designs set up depending on purpose. Interchangeable rollers allowed for quick swapping out. A large roll of paper was indicated at the beginning of a cycle.

The more she read, a finger following the path of where the paper would go in the machine, the more her jaw slowly fell open. There were even ink sinks to keep the rollers fresh so as not to run out of ink.

“Twilight? What's wrong dear?” Her mother shook her shoulder gently.

“Thi-this-” She spluttered for a moment. “This is incredible! With a system like this a pony could mass produce books in a fraction of the time as we are now!” Her mind swam with the potential that mass produced books could do for Equestria.

Still isolated farming communities could get up to date text books for foals in their community. Years could be shaved off in updating the curriculum. Instead of the near stand still roll out of knowledge that would often take years to reach the farthest corners of the nation, if at all.

“That….IS incredible.” Her father’s voice came out in a breathy whisper.

“Sweety, what does that one say?” Velvet gestured excitedly toward the packet held in his hand.

“Oh, um there are two here. One has the look of that quill that was pulled out.” That instantly pulled Twilight’s attention from her own as she looked over her fathers shoulder.

“A ‘Fountain Pen’?” The diagram showed the internals of the quill that sat in her magic. Her mind reeled. “Where had he come up with the idea for this?!” She looked the pen over again and noticed a little ‘window’ as indicated on the sheet that showed ink level. It was full as best she could tell.

The diagram showed an internal reservoir as well as the channels that allowed ink to seep into the nib at a steady rate. There was even a collector of sorts to prevent the ink from just flooding out. It was incredible and he had come up with it on his own.

The other packet was the rough draft of another kind of ‘pen’ , one that had a little ball in place of the nib. Too much was scratched out and he was clearly frustrated with the process of that invention.

But he was right, she loved both inventions.

Looking back to the fountain pen packet she noticed that the pen was supposed to have a cap as an added prevention of spillage. Smart. She tilted the box and the cap came rolling out, along with a large box. Taking the cap she put it on the pen and then looked over the case.

It was a pine wood box about as long as her forearm. Dyed a dark red it was wrapped in soft off colored red ribbons with a little card. ‘To: Celestia. Happy Hearth's Warming.’

“This is a gift to Princess Celestia!” It had been wrapped carefully, thus stopping her from knowing what was inside.

“Well looks like you have a gift to give to the Princess on his behalf this Hearth’s Warming.” Her father replied with humor.

That got a smile from all of them. Putting away the container they soon turned in the key and left the bank, Twilight’s mind heavy with more questions than she came in with.