The Fairy Flies

Celestia smiled as she walked through the halls, reading the morning reports. The rebuilding was going faster than expected, fast enough that by current speed the delegation to Crystal Empire was now scheduled to leave by the end of the next week. The flight path was already being designed, with pegasus guards expecting the trip itself to take twelve days.

As Celestia opened the throne room doors, she took a blank expression as she watched her sister sitting on the blue throne, eyes closed and horn glowing blue. Ever since the event two weeks ago, she had started growing more tired, with bags forming below her eyes. Luna was clearly having a hard time, dealing with the nightmares of others the entire night.

A good rest in the Crystal Empire would do her sister some good.

As Celestia started walking up the stairs, Luna opened her eyes, blinking as she looked at her sister with irritation flashing on her face, before she yawned as the moon sank beneath the horizon, followed by the sun rising "Good morning, Luna. It would appear that we'll be able to take the trip to the Crystal Empire by end of next week" Celestia said, giving Luna the reports she had been reading.

Luna sleepily read through the report, before standing up as she set down the report on the arm rest, stretching as she yawned once more "Good, then we can finally help the poor ponies in need of help" she said, before starting to walk down the stairs "Luna, I-" Celestia began to speak, as the tired Luna stopped and turned to look at Celestia with irritation on her face "What do you require of us?" she asked with sharp tone.

Celestia opened her mouth to answer, before closing it for a moment "Nothing, I was just going to hope you good sleep" Celestia said, receiving a nod of acknowledgement from Luna as she silently walked away. Celestia merely stood there, watching her sister as she bit her lower lip, feeling a tingle of regret when instead of asking her sister if she was well, all she had done was basically say 'goodnight'.

Celestia stood there for a moment before turning towards the reports, levitating them with her horn as she returned to her work, walking to her own throne while her assistant entered the throne room....

Airy hummed happily as she washed herself, enjoying the feeling of the water and the sunlight coming through the windows. Today was the day she set first pieces of her plans into motion, by testing limits of her mental magic on Glimmer's daughter, Daisy.

At the other end of the bowl, a soft grey glow surrounded her clothes as they moved, dipping into water and washing themselves. A handy spell she had learned, used by unicorns to clean their clothes: she doubted these ponies would be able to wash them properly, so she had taken a peak yesterday into a book of "Common household spells by Star Swirl" when she had joined Radiant and Sombra after lunch.

Most of the spells were rather easy to memorize, requiring such a little magic that she could cast half of them in her fairy form: it had taken merely an hour to memorize the book from cover to cover, though the practice was done in her own room after Glimmer had left. Of course she wouldn't need most of the spells in the castle (the servants took care of cleaning, cooking and other stuff) but some of them would be quite useful, once she found a... safe location to practice her illegal activities.

Like her plans for that Nightshade plant in the royal gardens...

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts "Come in!" Airy yelled, as the sound of door opening and someone walking in came "Morning Airy, are you... where are you?" Glimmer's voice came from behind the solid curtain separating the washing bowl from rest of the room.

"I'm here, cleaning myself. It's just going to be another minute" Airy replied as she ran a finger over her bare breasts, idly poking her stiff nipples while feeling annoyed at the interruption before she stepped out of the washing bowl, grabbing the towel as she began to dry herself.

The cold air felt good against her bare skin.

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt, I’ll - " Glimmer started, before Airy interrupted "No, it's okay, I’m just drying myself. Could you do me a favor and pick up the jar of dried crystal berries on the table, I’ll be taking them with me to snack on while helping Daisy" Airy requested, as she started drying her wings, idly casting a spell with her hand to finish the task of cleaning her clothes, which draped themselves on the clothes line.

As the washing bowl was set in the middle of the table, the wooden framed curtain surrounded it in a semi-circle, hiding the bowl from rest of the room while leaving a clear view to the windows. The clothes line hung over the bowl, connecting the two ends of the curtain with strings so that if the clothes dripped water, it would fall back into the bowl.

It certainly made it easier to keep everything clean.

"Alright, I've got it... by the way, what letters are these? I can't understand any of it" Glimmer said behind the curtain, as Airy cast a small spell to dry her underwear, before putting them on and beginning to put on the brand new green dress, carefully bending her wings as the dress went over her head, before using magic to guide her wings through the hole in the back.

Her normal clothes were so much easier to put on. Also, the cold feeling the instant drying spell left on her underwear was annoying to say the least.

With her task done, Airy glanced at the stockings, gloves and white dress drying on the clothes line, before flying from behind the curtain to where Glimmer was standing, eyes narrowed as she tried to read the tiny text on the page. It was the same one Airy had been writing last night, though it was now almost full of ideas to be fulfilled at later date.

It didn't matter if Glimmer read it: she would neither understand the language or the concepts Airy had filled the page with.

Airy stopped next to Glimmer's head "It's English, my native language. I doubt you would be able to read it anyway, the text is so tiny even I’m barely able to read it" Airy said, as Glimmer nodded in understanding "Everything ready to go?" she asked, receiving a nod from Airy.

With that, the two walked to the door, with Glimmer opening it and walking through, as the maid outside started to walk in "Hold on a minute, Glimmer" Airy said, before stopping right in front of the maid "What's your name?" she asked, as the maid blinked at the sudden question "My name is Berry Pie, Ma'am" she introduced herself, bowing slightly as Glimmer watched the two.

Berry Pie was a mare with gray mane and white coat, dressed in maid's clothes. For the last two weeks, Airy had noticed that she had been in charge of cleaning her room, but until yesterday she hadn't had a reason to pay much attention to her. Now that she had stuff written down, it was time to lay the rules.

"Alright Berry Pie, I left my clothes to dry on the clothes line, so don't touch them. You may clean the room, but remember: Now that I have money, I’m being careful so I counted every page, bit and berry in the room, so if anything goes missing I’ll hold you responsible. Do you understand?" Airy asked, as the maid nodded in understanding "Yes Ma'am" she replied, receiving a hum from Airy "Good. Make sure no one else enters it while I’m away, a pocket change isn't worth an entire career" Airy said, before moving on as the maid entered the room.

"What was that about?" Glimmer said, as she looked at Airy with curiosity "Well, in Luxendarc we met a maid in the inn who tried to steal from us while we were travelling, so I’m just making sure that it doesn't happen again. I'm sure she's a nice pony, but you can never be too careful. Besides" Airy paused for a moment as the maid listened closely, her ear flickering "if someone who works for royalty gets caught stealing from guests, it's going to be impossible to find new work. Don't worry though, I've seen her work for the last two weeks, so I think she's actually a pretty good mare" Airy explained, as she and Glimmer started walking down the hall towards the dining room.

The last glimpse Airy got of Berry Pie was of her letting a sigh of relieve, happy thinking that Airy didn't think badly of her.

Airy couldn't care less about the money or the maid, she just didn't want her writing stolen (hence the lie about thieving maid). Tomorrow, she'd spend the day researching security spells, so that she could hide her secrets in one of the desk drawers... at least until she found a good secret base.

'Wonder if I could create a secret room, like those in the potter books: bigger on the inside' Airy idly wondered, as she followed Glimmer...

Daisy felt sad and guilty as she watched nanny Rose clean the dishes with one hoof on the washing bucket. Mommy had told her that Rose had an accident, which is why she was going to ask a new friend to play with Daisy today, at least until she could get a second nanny to help around their home.

Ever since she had been a little foal, she had wondered why they were living in the castle instead of a house like other ponies. Mommy had explained that it was because aunt Amore was the pretty princess, so that was why they had their home inside the castle: two bedrooms and a living room/kitchen, with the door leading to the rest of the castle.

Daisy was still excited every time she saw aunt Amore, but sometimes she wished she could live like other fillies, with their own homes and yards. With the castle, she couldn't invite her friends over so easily, nor visit them without big guards coming along.

Still, that wasn't why she felt guilty right now: She felt guilty because she felt happy by the news that she could play with a new friend, as without nanny Rose's injury she might not have come to meet this new friend. Nanny Rose had explained that it was natural to feel this way, but she shouldn't blame herself for Rose's injury nor feel guilty at feeling happy at making a new friend.

Daisy nervously hugged her sheep toy, as she sat at the table, glancing between the nanny and the door, waiting for mommy to return. It wasn't long until the door opened, with Glimmer coming through carrying a jar of berries "Mom!" Daisy yelled excitedly as Glimmer smiled, putting down the jar as Daisy glanced behind her at the door, only to see that there was nopony else.

"Mommy, where's the new friend you promised?" Daisy asked as her mother chuckled, before pointing at her head "Right here, darling" She said as Daisy looked up to her mom's mane, where something came from behind the head, glowing as it sat down next to her mommy's horn.

It was a tiny, slightly glowing creature in green dress, the sight of which made Daisy so happy.

Airy smiled as she watched the foal's eyes widen, looking with amazement as she loosely hugged her stuffed lamb toy. Airy decided it was a good time to take the initiative, standing up as she flew from Glimmer's head to hover in front of the little foal "Hello, I'm Airy. So, you must be Daisy: Would you like to be my friend?" She asked with the sweetest sounding voice she could make.

The excited little foal answered almost immediately "Yes! I've always wanted a magical friend: we could play... ”she paused, as a sad look came over her face as she glanced at who Airy presumed was Rose Pedal, finishing drying the plates with one hoof while another was wrapped in bandages.

"What's the matter?" Airy asked, trying to sound concerned as Daisy hugged her toy tighter "You're only here because nanny Rose got hurt..." she said sadly, only for Airy to laugh "Of course not, silly! Sure, I might have come earlier than planned but I’m here to meet you, silly filly" Airy said as Daisy looked at her with confusion "I heard from your mom about what a good filly you were, one so brave and happy that I wanted to befriend her. Now, you know how sometimes you trip or sometimes items fall over when you don't intend to do so?" Airy asked, as Daisy nodded her head.

Glimmer merely watched in silence, smiling at her silly filly "Well accidents sometimes happen, but instead of feeling sad and guilty over things you can't control, you should try to make best of whatever comes your way. Yes, miss Rose Pedal got hurt but that just means we get to be friends all the more sooner" Airy said as she flew in a circle around Daisy, before landing on the table in front of her.

"So... Tag, you're it" Airy said as she touched Daisy's nose, before flying away closer to the ground level as the little filly gave a hearty laugh, leaving her seat as she went after the little glowing fairy.

Glimmer smiled as she watched her daughter play tag with Airy, all worries forgotten "I'll be back after dinner, see you then" Glimmer said as she waved goodbye to Rose Pedal, who waved back with her one good hoof while watching the fairy and the filly play tag.

Time seemed to fly by as Airy played games with Daisy, from tag to hide and seek while Rose Pedal watched the two. Eventually, they paused as the lunch time came.

"Daisy, I need to go out for a moment, to get your lunch from the kitchens. Can you and Airy play nicely with your toys in your room until I come back?" Rose Pedal asked, after checking the pantry and noticing that it needed restocking. The kitchen wasn't a full kitchen, just something that held dry foods you could consume immediately. For proper cooked food, she'd need to get them from the kitchens.

"Alright, miss Rose. We'll be good" Daisy said, as Airy giggled "Don't worry, I’ll take good care of her while you're away" she reassured as Rose Pedal nodded, before leaving the apartment, closing the door behind her as Daisy went to her room and began to gather her toys.

Airy could fell a wicked glee grow inside her as the smile spread on her face, before she flew into Daisy's room, watching as the toys were scattered around the bed and floor.

"Daisy, I have an idea" Airy began, as she hovered in front of the little filly "How about we play some secret games? All you have to do is promise not to tell anypony about them, keep it a secret between just the two of us. If you do, I'll be sure to play with you often" Airy said in sweet tone, as Daisy looked at her with confused expression.

"Not even mommy or daddy?" She asked, as Airy shook her head "It wouldn't be a secret if you told them. Don't worry, they're fun games: no harm whatsoever" Airy said in singing tone as she landed on the floor, before beginning a ballerina routine, dancing as Daisy watched her with interest "But secrets are for big fillies only. So, can you keep a secret just this once, for a little old me?" Airy asked, as she stopped to look at Daisy.

The filly wondered for a moment, before nodding her head "I promise!" she said, as Airy looked at her "Do you truly mean it?" Airy asked, as Daisy vigorously nodded her head "I promise! lying is for bad fillies and I’m a good filly" She said, as Airy smiled before taking flight once more, flying until she stopped at the height of Daisy's head.

"Well then, let's begin with something simple..." Airy said, as she extended her hand towards the little filly as she looked at her curiously.

"Charm" Airy spoke, as pink glow appeared in Daisy's eyes and a smile spread on her lips...

Rose Pedal smiled as she pushed the cart along the hallways, with two lunch plates under covers filled with vegetables and hay. Airy had explained that she'd be eating the crystal berries miss Glimmer had brought, so she didn't need any lunch. As Rose walked through the halls, she nodded to passing ponies as she reached the guest wing, where Captain Thunder's and Miss Glimmer's apartment was.

Finally reaching the apartment, Rose opened the door with one hoof, pushing it open as she pulled the cart in "Alright, lunch is in" Rose said, as she closed the door, before glancing around "Daisy?" she asked, as she didn't see the little filly anywhere.

"Daisy?" Rose called out again, as she quickly walked to Daisy's room, before letting a sigh of relieve as she noticed the little filly sleeping on the bed "Hello" Airy said from where she was sitting next to sleeping Daisy, before taking flight as she flew up to Rose "Daisy got little tired while playing, so I told her it was okay to take a little nap while we wait for lunch to arrive... it was fine to let her nap, right?" Airy asked, as Rose nodded "Yes, it was fine. Thank you for looking after her while I got the lunch" Rose said, before walking to sleeping filly.

"Daisy, wake up sweetheart. It's time for lunch" Rose spoke as she gently shook Daisy, who slowly awoke from her nap, yawning as she looked at Rose "Okay" Daisy said, before climbing out of the bed and following Rose and Airy to the kitchen, where she took a seat while her nanny set the plates on the table.

Airy smiled as she watched Daisy and Rose begin to eat their lunch, completely ignorant of Airy's tricks as she started eating a dried crystal berry from her jar.

The charm spell worked perfectly: Daisy obeyed every command she gave her, with no memory of receiving orders. To her, she had simply sat in place for a few moments, while in reality Airy had tasked her to do all sorts of tasks going from moving elsewhere in the room, to playing with her toys and revealing her deepest secrets (which meant she told about stealing cookies once).

After that test was done, she had experimented with silence and blind. As Airy explained, it was a 'game to learn empathy for those who suffered from them' disguised as a teaching lesson. Daisy seemed pretty happy, thanking her for teaching why she should help those who suffered from either, instead of bullying like couple of her nasty classmates used to do to one of her friends.

As blind disabled her sight, she finally understood how her friend felt, while silence not only muted her so not even a whisper came from her mouth, it also made it that she couldn't fly: an insight on how her mom must have felt, not being able to cast magic.

Airy couldn't care less about what lessons Daisy took from her experiments, but she played along. Paralyze made it so Daisy couldn't move, while stop... well, literally stopped her in time: she didn't blink or breath or move or think, just stood there a moment before continuing as if nothing happened.

Finally, Airy tested confusion, dread and berserk, none of which Daisy wanted to 'play' again. Airy fixed the situation easily by casting sleep, then quickly cast a memory spell to wipe all of the experiments from the filly's mind just as Rose Pedal came back, levitating Daisy to the bed and pretending she had been napping.

So now, all Daisy should 'remember' was playing with her toys, while Airy cheered her on.... just like Daisy was now explaining to the nanny, who looked happy that the little filly was happy with her new best non-pony friend. Of course, Daisy also forgot the lessons she learned about empathy and everything else, but it didn't matter to Airy: as long as she forgot the experiments, she didn't care.

After the lunch was done, Airy played a little with Daisy, before she grew tired and Rose let her take another nap, tugging Daisy in for a few minutes.

"She rarely takes naps, but apparently this little filly had so much fun today, she's all out of energy" Rose said to Airy in soft tone, as they excited Daisy's room, before moving to the table as two began talking "Yeah, it was pretty fun. I might come some other time to play with her again" Airy said, as Rose nodded her head.

"I'm sorry you had to take time from your schedule to help with Daisy today" Rose explained, as she glanced down at her bandaged hoof, while Airy sat down on the table facing her.

"Oh, don't worry about it" Airy waved her hand, as Rose turned her attention back to her "I already promised Glimmer I’d meet Daisy in exchange for this nice dress she had made for me" Airy explained, as she gestured her green dress "Besides, it was kind of fun to just play, like there's no care in the world. If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to become a nanny?" Airy asked, as Rose wondered the question for a moment.

"Well... I got my cutie mark when I helped my neighbor watch over her little filly when I was younger. After that, I liked helping ponies with their foals, it always brings a smile to my face just watching young fillies and colts go and play. To me, my greatest happiness comes from guiding the little ones" Rose Pedal answered, as she smiled while glancing towards Daisy's room.

Airy had seen Rose Pedal's cutie mark earlier: A baby blanket and some shaking toys. So, apparently Rose Pedal was the type that generally just liked hanging with children... foals, which if she had been a male would be super creepy "Have you thought about raising your own foals? Is there a mister Pedal in the plans...?" Airy asked, as Rose blushed at the implications "No, I..." she paused, before answering slower.

"Nothing would warn my heart more than having my own foals, but between living with my family and watching Daisy... I haven't found that special somepony yet, who I want to spend the rest of my life with" Rose explained, as a strange expression crossed over her face, like she was daydreaming.

"So, let me guess: no boyfriends?" Airy asked as Rose gave a soft smile, shaking her head "Unfortunately no. I think it's time to wake up -" "Charm" Rose's speech was interrupted, as her eyes glowed pink, before her smile widened as she looked lovingly at Airy, who had one hand extended and wicked smile on her face.

"Daisy was so useful earlier today... So let's see if the same tricks work on you" Airy said, as she stood up and took flight....

The rest of the day went pretty quick, in Airy's opinion. After dinner time, Glimmer returned home to see Airy and Rose playing with Daisy, as Airy pretended to speak with the toys while Rose and Daisy both used toys to speak, shifting their tone as if the toys were the speakers.

Eventually, the playtime came to an end, as Glimmer escorted Airy back to her room, carrying the jar of crystal berries back as she questioned what they did that day. Airy simply explained that they ate lunch and dinner, while spending the rest of the time playing while Rose Pedal took care of the house chores.

Of course, Airy left out the parts about her experiments and memory alterations, as the spells seemed to work the same way, no matter the age. The memory spell was complex but easy to use, once you knew how to: All she needed to do was tell what memories she wanted erased and what to replace them with, so the victim's mind would itself replace the real memories with fabricated ones.

With Rose, she replaced the involuntary experiments with a memory of just sitting there in the kitchen, talking about Rose's past babysitting jobs and her family. As there were no magical unicorns around, other than Princess Amore and her two students, Airy thought it unlikely anyone would ever discover what she had done.

Airy smiled and waved goodbye as Glimmer closed the door behind her, returning to her daughter while Airy began to check the room. A quick checked showed that nothing was missing, with tiny ink mark she had drawn with her finger still lining with the one she had drawn on the table, which meant no one had moved the text filled page.

Humming in satisfaction, Airy flew over to the washing bowl, which now stood empty while her clothes continued to hang on the clothes line, untouched before she checked if they had dried. Satisfied, she began to take and fold them one by one, practicing her fine control of telekinesis as the clothes gathered in one pile before Airy flew over to her bed, setting them down next to it.

As it was just after dinner, it meant that she had the rest of the day free. So with that in mind, Airy flew to her desk, opening the cap of the inkwell as she levitated the quill, before beginning to practice her fine control of writing and drawing with the quill.

It was time to start designing her commoner products…