When we were looking for information in the library, we found out what it is. It's called the Alicorn Amulet and it's a powerful artifact that can't be removed from her neck except by her.

I can't believe I didn't recognize the Alicorn Amulet!

The more she uses it, the more it will corrupt her!

But how am I supposed to beat that amulet? My magic's not good enough!

Twilight Sparkle, much work have you done. You learned all of my lessons; all but one. If Trixie's tricks have you in a fix, you must nix your magic and use the six.

"I don't know what you did, but Sweetie has been in an exceptionally good mood lately." Rarity pawed at Twilight's leg. "She even apologized for not listening to me earlier about getting her cutie mark."

"Yeah, and the little squirt said the same to me." Rainbow Dash swiveled towards them from the seat behind the two as they rode for Rainbow Falls on the Friendship Express. For Somnia, she anticipated the next two days more than any others since arriving back. They were headed to Rainbow Falls for the Equestria Games aerial tryouts, but that wasn't what she cared about. Sports were never of interest to watch for her, but ponies were. And for this trip, there were only two she anticipated watching.

"An' Apple Bloom's been spendin' a lot of time in her room with the others. Anythin' I should know?" Applejack nudged the princess with a satisfied and knowing grin.

"We just gave them a little advice..." Twilight cryptically said. "They understand what to do now to get their cutie marks."

"And I bet they'll love them even more than when they were trying to get them." Somnia bumped hooves with her mother, the three sisters giving quizzical looks.

"Whatever it was, I'm glad you could get through to her." Rarity glowed back. "It's been so hard seeing her have nightmares about her cutie mark."

"We told them the truth." Shield spoke up from where he was seated next to Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps. "No beating around it, we gave them our experiences unfiltered."

"And they all learned what it means to have a cutie mark." Dusty walked over to the group. "It's just a picture on the flank, it has nothing to do with who they are or what they can do."

"I think society places too much focus on it sometimes." Shield added thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "Puts too much pressure on them to fulfill a role rather than to be themselves."

"I'm sure Apple Bloom will get over it then." Applejack leaned back, stretching. "How much longer to Rainbow Falls?"

"Another hour or two." Rainbow checked the environment that passed by through the windows. "Crystal City was to our left about an hour ago so it shouldn't be too much longer."

"I thought the train was supposed to stop at its station?" Rarity questioned.

"New railways to prevent congestion." Twilight answered. "Princess Celestia has been sinking a lot of the budget into improving the infrastructure around Equestria." Secretly, she was suspicious the princess had something planned. Trains had been around for over two hundred years. Why the changes now?

"I- uhm- even read that a new line is to run directly between Whinnyapolis and the Crystal City." Fluttershy added, repositioning herself from under Bulk Biceps.

"Makes ya think, huh?" Applejack turned to Twilight. "I know that look, Twi."

"Have any of you thought about what Celestia really meant by 'administrative changes'?" She asked to the group at large, receiving general meh's. "I feel like she is changing so much about Equestria without consulting us. We're supposed to be members of the regency council too."

"The regency council that hasn't been implemented?" Rainbow looked between her friends conspiratorially. "How do we know that wasn't an empty promise? It's been nearly a month since she told us about it and she's done nothing."

Somnia, a moment in private?

Shoot.

Rainbow is right, this is suspicious. Perhaps we should talk to her next time we are in Canterlot?

Do you think she has something else in mind? If so, what?

I don't know, that's the problem. We need to work out who we can trust. If Celestia is planning to turn her back on us, we need to be prepared.

She was pushed from her thoughts by a boop on the nose. Scrunching up her face, her eyes readjusted to the pink booper with annoyance.

"I'll talk to her when I'm in Canterlot." Somnia spoke up to the group. "I'm also wondering what's going on."

The group continued discussions about the games and the changes around Equestria while they made their way to Rainbow Falls. Somnia spent the time staring out the window thinking. Who could she trust? All three of her guards were indebted to the regal sisters in some way, but all three were also directly susceptible to her influence. Her mom can be trusted, same with Grar. Obviously. Can the crusaders? Can the other elements?

She left her thoughts be when the snacks cart came by, choosing instead to indulge herself. The next two hours flew by as she indulged in the chocolate and candies, her thoughts drifting to sleep. A nudge from her mother got her to wake up from her dreams before they pulled into the station.

Her hopes for the next two days were reliant on Dawny following through with his original task, she would have to deal with Luna personally when she goes to Canterlot. While the elements went ahead of her, she pulled back with her guards so she could brief them on their assignments.

"Shield, Dawny, Dusty. The next two days are going to be a bit different from usual. Shield, I would like you to reinforce the security around Rainbow Falls, then I would like you to take the night shift."

"Wouldn't it just be better to--"

"No arguments!" She interrupted him. "Dusty, please keep an eye on my mom."

"Aye aye, princess." She sarcastically saluted.

"Dawny, you're with me for the day."

"I don't like the sound of that." He glanced nervously to the disapproving look of Dusty.

"No sex!" A few of the stragglers around the station looked over at the unusual proclamation. "This is serious, Dawny." Somnia grabbed his face. "I trust you to do your part."

"What's going--" Dusty was interrupted as Somnia trotted off. "Captain?"

"I gotta go to the security office." He excused himself. Dawn trotted after Somnia, leaving Dusty to stew about the impromptu change in schedule.

"Step one, find them." Somnia exited the station and headed towards the more concealed parts of the falls. It was unlikely that the Hollow Shades team would be near the others, given the reputation batponies seemed to have in the rest of Equestria. Going down the stairs to the lower levels of the falls, she spotted her target talking to a supervisor. "Done."

"Step two?" Dawn asked curiously as the filly trotted forward. With a shake of his head, he followed along reluctantly.

"Hey! Bloodsucker!" She yelled out to the two stallions talking. Duskwing turned around, a scowl on his face that faded as he saw who said it.

"If it ain't the Princess of Guard-duty!" He stepped forward, receiving an unexpected hug from the filly, his heart pumping a little lighter in the moment.

"What are you doing here? I thought Hollow Shades didn't have a team in the aerial competitions?" She asked, poking at his wing.

"Heh, yeah, well, a fan wrote me to say how much they were looking forward to seeing us compete." He scratched the back of his neck, finally taking notice of Broken Dawn.

"Duskwing, this is Lieutenant Broken Dawn of the Queen's Guard." She motioned with a hoof while moving out of the way.

"The Queen's Guard?" He raised a brow. "Never heard of it."

"Neither did I when I was transferred." Dawn shook hooves with Duskwing.

"Where's Nightwind?" Somnia asked, curious.

"Found a foalsitter for him while I'm away." He stretched out his wings. "Gotta admit, not really used to all the light."

"It'll grow on you." Dawn provided a reassuring smile. "I look forward to seeing Hollow Shades compete. Not many batponies willing to put themselves forward."

"Well then, I got a surprise for you." Duskwing led them back onto the upper level with the other teams, taking them closer to the mountain on the far side of the main field. Two other thestrals were gathered at a picnic blanket chatting away as they approached.

"Hollow Shades holding strong!" He called out, the other two looking over curiously.

"Who's these shits?" A mare spit out a seed onto the ground.

"Well, he's a bloodsucker like us, and she's a filthy sympathizer." He joked, sitting down on the blanket, Somnia and her guard sitting opposite him.

"You sure you know what you're gettin' involved with, kid?" She prodded Somnia's chest. The filly continued to sit firmly, head held high and smile on her face.

"I wouldn't do it if it wasn't the right thing."

"Wait." The other mare turned up from her sandwich. "Wait wait wait." She approached the filly, sniffing the air. "SHE'S AN ALICORN?!"

"Great observation, genius." The other mare snickered.

"Sadist Moon, Windbane, this is Princess Somnia. She's the filly I told you about." Duskwing smiled to both of them.

"Damn." Windbane returned to her sitting position. "I thought you were just propaganda. Did you really say you wanted to help us?"

"She's already making moves." Dawn added, motioning to Somnia. "Visiting the Canterlot wards, for starters."

"I'm serious. I'm not going to let ponies suffer when I can do something about it." She stated with pride.

"I'll believe it when I see it." Sadist Moon went back to her sandwich.

Somnia rubbed her stomach. "I'm a bit peckish from the ride over. Can I have some?"

"But didn't you- OW!" Somnia stomped on Dawn's hoof to shut him up.

"We got some veggie sandwiches packed, if you want some?" Duskwing offered with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, sure, give away our food." Sadist mumbled.

"Do you have any meat slices?" She asked excited. "Mom doesn't let me have any meat."

"Because she's a bitch." Sadist put her sandwich back down to look between the gathered ponies. "Seriously? What the hay's her problem with us?"

"You probably shouldn't eat meat." Windbane answered apologetically. "It's not healthy for herbivores to eat it."

"You're right." Somnia smirked. "I'm not a herbivore, now am I?"

"Your funeral." Sadist opened the basket to take out a wrapped package. "Try to leave some for the rest of us."

"Hold on!" Duskwing stood, stopping Sadist from hoofing over the meat. "I don't want her getting sick, or worse."

"I'm part thestral." Somnia pawed at his leg. "I can eat meat."

"The buck?" Sadist glared at her. "Is that supposed to be a joke?"

"Language! She's just a filly." Windbane chastised her companion.

"My dad was part thestral, so I'm part thestral. I've had meat before. I remember this one juicy steak from when I was back in Excalicorn..." Her mouth practically drooled at the thought of it, shaking her head to remove the thoughts and return to reality. "Come on~! Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you to make a mess of things." Dawn snickered, turning to the others. "I've seen her eat meat. It's fine."

Duskwing removed his hoof, allowing Sadist to hoof over the packet, Somnia digging into the slices with vicious abandon. "It's been too long..." She longingly moaned.

"I'm going to stand guard over there, if that's alright." Dawn messed up the filly's mane before getting up from the blanket. "It's been nice meeting you all. Name's Lieutenant Broken Dawn in case you need me for anything."

"Hey!" Windbane glared at him. "You're that disgraced captain, aren't you? Something about molesting a--" Her gaze fell to Somnia. "Buck..."

"Molesting a what?" Duskwing nudged her. "Doesn't sound like something they would just demote him over."

"You okay, kid?" She asked softly to the filly.

"Yeah. My back was a little sore, but otherwise he was pretty good." Somnia giggled getting looks of disgust from Sadist and Windbane, Duskwing biting his lip.

"You're one strange filly." He commented while Broken Dawn walked to his post. "Whatever. Probably some royal thing."

"You're kinda right." Somnia winked. "Can I see you practice?"

"Let's finish eating, then we can show you."

"Some ponies do what?" Twilight asked curiously.

Rainbow sighed. "Have a better chance of qualifying and going to the Equestria Games than others."

"You just gotta give them your attention. With you as their coach, I'm sure they'll improve in no time!" Twilight tried cheering her up with limited success.

"Yeah, sure." She flew up to talk to the team members. Twilight felt kinda bad for Rainbow, but she chose to go with the weakest team. Without her, Ponyville might not even qualify for the aerial relay. Wanting to get away for a bit, Twilight pressed a hoof to her ear, activating the magical node.

"Dawn, where are you?"

"Far side of the falls, near to where it makes impact with the pool." A voice sounded in her ear. Trotting over, she saw her daughter watching the three thestrals above practicing, Dawn standing a ways away scanning for threats idly. Twilight reached the blanket as the team began their descent.

"Well, it's quite an honor, princess." Duskwing smirked, landing in front of Twilight who withheld her scowl. "Come to watch your loyal subjects?"

"I came to see my daughter." Twilight deadpanned, turning to Somnia and adopting a softer tone. "Somnia, are you sure you don't want to watch the Ponyville team?"

"Yup! I'm practicing my cheering for Hollow Shades." She grinned back. "Hollow Shades holding strong!" The filly cheered.

"Getting better, still got a ways to go." Duskwing teased.

"Right. Just don't do anything funny, got it?" Twilight took one last glare at Duskwing before walking back towards the main grounds. Her mind couldn't shake the mixed feelings. Why did Duskwing aggravate her so much? Was Somnia really right about her hating batponies? Why did seeing him fill her with hope? Hope for what?

"Hollow Shades holding strong! Wooo!" Somnia cheered out as she watched the team do their loops and glides. Duskwing was in the last third of the relay, meaning he would be competing with the best of the best from around Equestria, and he was by far the strongest flyer on the Hollow Shades team. They would probably qualify, since as long as you have two decent flyers you can make it in time according to Sadist. Despite her initial skepticism, Sadist Moon warmed up quite a bit when talking about the history of the Equestria Games, something she excitedly kept her eyes on every two years.

The team descended for dinner, settling down on the blanket. Windbane was preparing their meal while Sadist, Duskwing, and Somnia relaxed.

"Y'know, it's actually nice to have somepony cheering for us." Sadist admitted. "Even if it's just a filly."

"A lot more ponies want to see you compete than you know." Somnia grabbed her hoof, offering a gentle smile into the thestral's eyes. "They need somepony to look up to. To give them hope that things are going to be okay."

"Why do you care about us, anyway?" Duskwing spoke up, folding his forelegs while Sadist pushed Somnia a bit back from her own embarrassment. "I don't see why you would care."

"Well, my dad was part thestral. He wouldn't have stood for somepony being mistreated. I guess I really admire him." She lightly smiled as she looked into Duskwing's eyes. She let it hang a few moments before continuing. "I don't like suffering. I have nightmares when I sleep. I see ponies hurting all the time. If I can reduce that suffering even a little bit, it's worth it."

"I still can't see how Princess Twilight would have a foal with one of us."

"Probably not her choice." Sadist muttered.

Duskwing sat up straight as part of him took offense. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what I meant, Dusk. Haven't you been paying attention?" She raised a hoof. "She hates us! If that filly's dad was a batpony, then it only makes sense that would be the reason why!"

Before Duskwing could respond, Windbane returned with the meatballs she cooked. Waving over Dawn, they took a few meatballs each.

"Plenty to go around." Windbane smiled to the group happily eating away. "Gotta keep that protein high."

Dawn moaned in delight as he savored the meatball. "Ya know, I haven't had this much meat since that time in Canterlot."

"What's it made of?" Somnia asked, taking another bite of hers.

"Chicken and pork, mostly." Windbane admitted. "Since beef is illegal in Equestria, gotta get what we--"

"SOMNIA! WHAT ARE YOU EATING?!" A shriek from behind the group turned their attention to a terrified purple alicorn. She rushed over, grabbing the filly in her magical grasp, and teleported away.

They reappeared in the medical center, Twilight calling out to the nurses: "We need a stomach pump in here ASAP!"

"Woah." Somnia adjusted to the sudden disorientation from the teleportation. "Where... Why are we here?"

"Somnia, you can't eat meat." She picked up the filly and put her on a medical bed. "How much did you have? Please tell me they haven't been feeding you it all day."

"Yeah? Why can't I have meat?"

"WHERE'S THAT STOMACH PUMP?!" Twilight yelled out, the nurses quickly rushing into the room with a tube and small device in their grip. "She's ingested a large quantity of meat!"

"But mom--" She was cut-off as the nurses tried forcing the tube into her throat.

"Somnia, stay here." Her gaze fell to the door, frown trembling as her anger rose. "I need to take care of those monsters."

Somnia pushed against the nurses as they tried to force the tube down her throat, her mother having trotted from the room. The nurse fought Somnia every small increment. "Let. Us--"

Somnia pulled the tube from her throat, coughing up saliva. "I'm part batpony! I can eat meat!" She galloped from the room, leaving two stunned nurses in her wake.

Once she got outside, she spotted the gathered crowd. Moving her way forward, her mind silently cheered at the successful execution of the plan. Somnia pushed her way towards the front, catching the conversation loudly taking place at its center.

"She said she could eat meat!" Duskwing yelled back. "The lieutenant confirmed it!"

"He's a foal-fiddling son of a whorse! He'll say anything to buck my daughter!"

"Princess, please calm--"

"If you're not going to do something about these monsters, these... predators, then I will!"

"Oh? And what are you planning to do, princess? Call us meat-eaters? Bloodsuckers?"

"I'll have you arrested for attempted murder of royalty! Sergeant! Restrain him!"

Somnia broke through the front of the crowd. She could see the terrified look on Dusty's face, conflicted on what to do. Marching right up to her mother, Somnia gritted her teeth. It was all an act, but it needed to be convincing.

"What are you waiting for, sergeant?" Twilight yelled at her, before following her gaze to the incoming filly. "S-Somnia?"

"I can eat meat!" She shouted back.

"No! You can't!" Twilight softened her voice a bit, reaching out a comforting hoof. "Please go back to the medical station and--" Somnia swatted Twilight's hoof from the air.

"I'm part batpony! Dad was a thestral!" She declared, stunning the crowd into gasping, reducing their noise to hushed whispers.

The supervisor between them turned to the filly. "You're really able to eat meat?" The filly nodded keeping her eyes on her mother. "Then I don't see any weight to your request for disqualification, Princess Twilight."

"B-But..."

"Alright, everypony, nothing more to see here." He called out and the crowd began dispersing, a few ponies sticking around to see what was going to happen. By the time the group had dispersed to just Duskwing, Twilight, Somnia, and the two guards, Applejack and Rarity had come trotting over.

Dawn took up a position next to Somnia, standing at attention. Rarity was first to ask the question. "Darling? Are you alright?"

"I-I..." She couldn't believe it. No, this had to be a joke. An elaborate prank orchestrated--

Who am I kidding?

"It seems you and your daughter still have a lot to talk about." Duskwing said, a distinct sadness in his voice. "I'm sorry if we hurt you in the past, but we're not all like that. I hope you can look past whatever we did to hurt you." He walked away from the group, leaving them to discuss among themselves.

"You're wrong, mom." Somnia got into her mother's face. "Batponies aren't as bad as you think they are. They're just like us. Can't you see that?" She turned and walked in the direction of the Hollow Shades team.

"Twi?" Applejack waved hoof in front of the princess' face.

"I-I need a minute..." Twilight trudged away, head hanging low.

She couldn't shake the thoughts racing through her head from the day's events. Somnia hadn't spoken a single word to her since the argument, even the guards weren't really talking to her. Now she just lay in her bed, a light glow coming from her horn to read the book she had brought. It was a book Celestia had sent with her usual deliveries, but it was an unusual choice: A romance novel.

For whatever reason, her eyes couldn't help but water up at the story that unfolded within its pages. Reaching a particular passage about the two would-be lovers meeting on a balcony of the castle at midnight, Twilight got up from her bed. She left her room quietly, Shield paying her no mind. Going down the hallway, she rubbed her head, thinking about all the conflicting feelings running through her, leaving the lodgings out into the training fields to take in the fresh night time air.

Leaning on the railing separating her from the cliff's edge, she put her head in her hooves. Why did she hate them so much? Why couldn't she have seen it? The only answers were superficial, nothing she could reasonably justify. She didn't hate griffons, and they ate meat. Why only thestrals?

"Nice night, isn't it?" A flapping sound followed by a landing behind her alerted her to the one pony she didn't want to see right now.

"Leave me alone." Twilight mumbled back.

"Sorry, princess, but you gotta speak louder." Duskwing leaned against the railing next to her, smirking to her before slowly frowning at her scowl. "That bad, huh?"

She turned her head towards him. "I said--"

He put a hoof over her mouth. "I heard you the first time. I'm not leaving."

Twilight swatted it away. "What the hay do you want then?"

"I came out here to take in the beautiful night air." He turned away from her, leaning over the railing. "Luna's nights are truly something to admire."

Twilight leaned back onto the railing, looking out over the valley down below. The two stood in silence. The nightly winds were cold, but ever since Twilight became an alicorn it had gotten much more bearable.

"You really care about her." He whispered. "I know the feeling. My brother died shortly after the birth of his son. The mother, well, she didn't survive the birth on account of being sickly. I've raised that colt like my own, but even then he still finds ways to surprise me."

Twilight kept her mouth shut, so he continued. "Wanna know why I care so much about batponies? Because I was beaten by the Solar Guard when they came to Hollow Shades, thrown in prison on falsified charges, left to starve until Princess Celestia finally got around to convicting me.

Community service." He shook his head. "I served those hours alright. I made sure I put in a full days work for eight whole moons cleaning up Hollow Shades. I don't want anypony else to go through that. No kind of pony deserves to be treated like criminals based on the type of pony they are."

Twilight sniffled, her eyes refusing the order to stop dripping. "I-I'm sorry that happened to you." Her heart pounded and her eyes closed tightly. Why did she care so much? It was the sob story of a stranger, one she couldn't even trust to be truthful, and yet it felt like it was true. It felt like this pony, this stallion, wouldn't lie to her.

He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the moon. "Me and a lot more like me. We've been looked at like monsters since before our princess was sent to the moon. You get used to being called names, you never get used to the disgust or fear. I'll be honest, when I first saw you in Canterlot, I didn't know what to think. Celestia I was actually angry with, but you... I don't know. It felt weird. It felt like you just didn't understand."

"Why didn't I know?" Twilight whimpered out. "Why didn't I see it?"

Duskwing left her to sift through it herself. He didn't know what she was exactly talking about, so best to let her speak next.

The princess turned up to face him, tears running down her face. "W-Who are you?"

"Duskwing?" He answered with an uncertain smile, not sure where this was going.

"N-No, I mean..." She sighed. "Who are you to Somnia? Why did she go to see you? Why does she care?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's a fan?" He smiled to Twilight, locking eyes with her. Both of them held for what felt like minutes, their eyes both carefully examining one another.

"Y-Yeah... A fan..." Twilight shivered.

"Cold?" He raised a brow.

"I, um..." What did she feel? Sad, yes, cold, definitely, but something else. Something...

A wing was draped over her back, and she finally understood now. This was planned...

It was planned from the moment that little devil spotted him in Canterlot.

Leaning her head onto Duskwing's shoulder, she let herself be comforted by him. No more fear, no more anger, no more wallowing in guilt. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his neck, smiling slightly at the show of affection as he brought her in tighter.

Right now, she just wanted somepony to hold her.

Her somepony.

"Somnia?" Twilight nudged her daughter. "Somnia~!"

She was asleep.

"No thanks to you." The fussy filly mumbled. "Mom?"

"Hey." She bit her lip. "Thanks."

The filly smiled, understanding perfectly what for. "You're welcome."

The two got ready for the day ahead of them. There was still a lot of practice time before the tryouts began, and Twilight wanted to make the most of it. Rather than going to see the Ponyville team, Twilight instead went with Somnia to where the Hollow Shades team was practicing. They were already mid-flight by the time she arrived so she simply sat down on the blanket and watched them. Or rather, him.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Twilight finally spoke up, keeping her eyes on the ponies in flight.

"You hated meat-eaters. Didn't feel like I could without you just denying it. I needed to make you care, like when you didn't believe I was your daughter." The filly admitted, leaning into her mother's side. "He doesn't know."

"And your cousin?"

"Nightwind."

"Nightwind. Right."

The two continued to watch until they finished with the practice session to come in for a landing.

"What the hay is she doing here?" Sadistic hissed. "Haven't you already cursed us enough?"

"I'm here to apologize." Twilight stood up and walked over to them, her eyes briefly locking with Duskwing. "I really am sorry. I saw you as monsters, ponies that would try to harm my daughter. I was wrong. I am truly sorry for what I did, for ignoring the concerns that you brought forward to the princesses, for not seeing that you are ponies like any other."

"Apology rejected." Sadistic marched past the princess over to the blanket.

"It's going to take more than that. You were going to have us disqualified or thrown in jail." Windbane continued past her with an angry glare. Leaving only the two.

Putting a hoof to her ear, Twilight requested Dusty to wake up the captain before turning to Duskwing. "There's something I need to tell you in private."

"Is it a good thing? Or a bad thing?" He smirked, lowering his voice. "Or do you wanna get out of here and--"

"What?! No! Not that!" Twilight turned in a fuss slapping him in the face with her wing. "I see where she gets it from now."

"Who gets what from?" He followed after her chuckling as they went to a more private area a short trot away from the blanket. Twilight kept her mouth shut until the tired captain came trotting over.

"Princess Twilight, you woke me up?"

"I need a unicorn." She stepped up to him, whispering. "Did Somnia show you any interesting spells lately?"

He grinned. "I'll go get her."

As the captain trotted off, Twilight turned to Duskwing. "Do you know the story behind Somnia?"

"Something about getting caught in limbo, wherever that is?" He scratched the back of his head. "I don't really have much time to read the big papers. It's mostly propaganda or cherry-picked articles, anyway."

The filly and captain trotted back over to Twilight's relief. "First, me and him." She ordered.

The captain complied, scanning both of the ponies. He briefly took a look at the small note Somnia had written for him before nodding to Twilight. He then scanned Somnia and Duskwing, repeating the process with an affirmative nod.

"What's this all about?" Duskwing asked confused.

"I needed to know for certain." Twilight bit her lip, hoping this would go over well. "Somnia? Do you want to do the honor?"

The filly brought a hoof to her chin in thought. "I didn't actually think today would get this far."

"Think get what?" He fumbled over her words trying to understand what they were on about.

"Prince Mystic Nightflight?" Twilight raised a brow, stepping forward. "My younger brother, my former lover..." She got into his face, whispering one last thing. "Father of Somnia."

"What?" He backed his head away. "I don't have any foals. Only mares I've been with were batponies like me, and none of them ever got pregnant. No wild parties, no one-night-stands."

"We are reincarnations, Duskwing. We were her parents millennia ago. We were royalty long before Equestria was made, and had three foals together. Somnia is the youngest of them." She sighed. "I don't know what Celestia will do, but I know Somnia won't stop until we try getting back together. If you don't believe me, then we can go to the medical ward they have here to get a professional test done to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"So what do you say..." Somnia gave her biggest shit-eating grin. "Dad?"

"Can I..." He sighed. "Can you give me a few minutes to think about all of this? I'm still not sure what you're saying is true."

"Take your time." Twilight walked past him, flicking his nose with her tail. "Husband."

The two alicorns and their guard walked back towards where the Hollow Shades team were relaxing. A certain multi-colored mane caught Twilight's attention and she broke off to deal with that situation. The captain then left to go back to bed while Somnia continued over to the blanket.

"Looks like you told him he got her pregnant." Sadistic snickered, eyeing the bewildered stallion.

"He kinda did." Somnia laughed. "Three times!"

"Huh?" The two batponies looked to each other.

"So, the medic pony isn't sure what's wrong with you." Twilight raised a suspicious brow to her rainbow maned friend.

"Everything! Absolutely everything!" Rainbow leaned over dramatically, leg to her forehead.

Somnia trotted out of the room to give them a moment. It was so obviously fake, but nopony was willing to say it. Either that, or lying was a lost art. She shook her head as she entered into the small room with the anxiously waiting thestral. Taking a seat next to him, she spent the time kicking her legs back and forth impatiently for a few minutes until Twilight entered and sat on the other side of her. They awkwardly waited for the doctor to return with the results.

"What's going on with Rainbow Dash?" Somnia finally spoke up.

"She's faking an injury to avoid choosing between Cloudsdale and Ponyville." Twilight sighed. "I'm so over all of this..."

"Sounds... serious?" Duskwing commented, a nervous smile on his face. "Can't be all that bad? I mean, doesn't she live in Ponyville?"

"She does. And she needs to make a choice." Twilight stated simply. The doctor reentered the room with a clipboard, locking the door behind him.

"So?" Duskwing asked nervously.

"I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't for the rigor involved." The doctor cleared his throat. "Duskwing, Princess Twilight. You are the biological parents of Princess Somnia."

"And the test was done in triplicate like requested?" Twilight asked.

"Quadruplicate. There's no denying the results about parentage." The doctor flipped the page. "Although I still wasn't able to fully parse the results. The results suggest she is an unknown kind of pony, and also the result of heavy amounts of recessive breeding."

"Thank you, doctor." Twilight nodded to him. "Please send the results to the Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville and the Royal Palace in Canterlot, addressed to myself and Princess Celestia respectively."

"Of course, your highness." The doctor bowed before leaving them to discuss.

"Believe me now?" Twilight glared at Duskwing.

"I can't believe it..." He hung his head back, closing his eyes.

"I can!" Somnia snuggled into his side.

"Neither did I when I first found out she was my daughter." Twilight admitted, smiling at the cute display of affection from her daughter. "We do what we have to, especially for family."

"What am I going to tell Nightwind?" He moaned. "That our family is actually royalty? That he's actually cousins with Princess Luna herself? He has a plush of her by the moon's grace!"

"The truth." Twilight leaned close to his face, making sure her point stuck. "You'll tell him the truth."

He took a minute to come to terms with everything. Finally, eventually, he turned back to her. "Now what?"

Twilight scrunched her nose. She hadn't actually thought that far ahead. Somnia wouldn't stop until they were a couple, yet she still wasn't sure if they should try... dating. She never had a special somepony before, and it was a bit sudden. Even so, she did feel that lingering attraction to him, similar to when she had first seen Somnia and felt relief. And from what Duskwing had said, he felt the same way.

"You're pretty cute when you do that." He chuckled. "Don't know, eh?"

"Tell you what." Twilight finally got an idea. "I'm going to be attending the Rainbow Falls Exchange as the princess-on-duty. It will give us an opportunity to get to know each other. Bring along Nightwind so he and Somnia can..." She choked on what she thought Somnia would probably do.

"Hey! He doesn't know me. I want to know the new Nightwind." Somnia replied. "We might not even get along. Not that I wouldn't mind..."

"What's she talking about?" Duskwing glanced between them concerned.

"She's probably going to try seducing Nightwind." Twilight forced out. "They kinda had a thing back in the day."

"Aren't they--"

"Cousins, yes." Twilight glared into his eyes. "Remember: We're half-siblings with a foal of our own. We're in deep no matter what happens."

"R-Right." He nervously chuckled, patting his... daughter, on the head.

"Don't you still have some practice to do?" The filly looked back up to him.

He got up from the chair along with the other two and headed back to the Hollow Shades team. Twilight simply sat and watched, a smile crossing her face. She gave a contented sigh, different feelings bubbling up from the depths. It was like learning she had a daughter all over again.

"Hollow Shades holding strong!" Somnia cheered from the ground. "Wooo!"

"Go Hollow Shades!" Twilight called out. "You can do it!"

The princess was happy about how things turned out the past two days. Rainbow Dash learned a lesson about loyalty, she reunited with her long lost husband, and she also learned a valuable lesson about judging a kind of pony by superstition or the actions of a few. Wait, didn't I learn that back when Zecora came to town? Somnia was still a gargantuan pain in the flank, but that was unavoidable. There was going to be quite a lot of writing in the journal when they got back.

"You seem content." Rarity bumped Twilight with her hips. "Somepony catch your eye?"

"I'm just enjoying the view." Twilight smiled wider as she saw Duskwing take the horseshoe and began his third of the relay.

"Right. And you happen to spend half the day with them... because of the view?"

"Mostly for Somnia." Twilight smiled back, exchanging a knowing look with Rarity.

"You can do it! Go, Duskwing! Woo!" Somnia cheered out as he began the final ascent for the finish line.

The thestral dived through the cloud and a moment later the announcer called out:

"Hollow Shades qualifies!"

"YEAH! I knew you could do it!" Somnia cheered, turning in circles and hopping up and down while Duskwing and the rest of the team flew over.

"Damn, princess." Duskwing ran his eyes up-and-down Twilight's form. "That uniform looks hot on you."

Rarity gasped. "How uncouth!"

"Steady now." Twilight playfully squinted back. "Save it for the wedding."

"I still don't get what's going on." Sadist murmured as the rest of the Hollow Shades team took places behind them.

"Yeah, same here." Applejack added.

"Wedding?" Rarity gave a confused look to Twilight and Duskwing as they continued to glare at each other, both playfully smiling.

"I'll be sure to make up for all those missed millennia." He smirked.

"Go easy on me. I'm still a celestine."

"Tell that to our daughter."

"Would you two just buck already?" Somnia yelled out, stunning them from their staring contest.

"Somnia!" Rarity chastised. "Language!"

"What?" She looked back playfully before turning back to the Cloudsdale team flying through the course. They were the fastest out of all the teams, and everypony knew it. Next up was Ponyville, which Twilight and Somnia made sure to cheer for. They needed it.

"Go Ponyville! You can do it!" Duskwing called out suddenly to the surprise of a few of the other ponies.

"Yeah! Go Ponyville!" Windbane cheered from behind.

"Ugh." Sadist Moon swallowed her pride. "Go Ponyville!"

"YAY FLUTTERSHY!" Pinkie cheered out. "WOOO HOOO!"

They kept cheering all the way up to Rainbow Dash when the Cloudsdale cheerleaders began cheering for them. As Rainbow Dash shot threw the finish line, they waited in anticipation for the result.

"Ponyville qualifies!"

The team flew over to the assembled group, eyeing the Hollow Shades team with suspicion and a little surprise.

"Hey, thanks for the cheers." Rainbow landed in front of them. "I wasn't expecting so much support."

"It's all in the spirit of the event." Duskwing dismissively waved a hoof. "Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate for your cheerleaders to cheer for us without us giving you the same courtesy."

"Uh, right." Rainbow shook his hoof, still not sure what the make of the thestrals. Duskwing briefly turned to his 'wife', their eyes catching for just a moment before returning to the next team seeking qualification.

A few minutes passed before Twilight made her way to the back of the group, followed by Duskwing. "Did you think about what I said anymore? Do you still want to try making... this, a thing?" She asked uncertainly.

"Well, do I have a choice?" He chuckled back. "She's technically my daughter, I'm technically royalty, and we're technically married until 'death do us part'. Doesn't sound like I have a choice."

"You always have a choice." Somnia spoke from behind him, getting both of their attention. "I'm sorry if you think that I wasn't giving you one. You two don't remember each other, and I would understand if your disagreements are too much to overcome."

"Somnia." Twilight walked up to her, giving her a hug. "I'm happy you've found your dad, and I'm happy that I've found my former husband." She paused, giving Somnia to ask the follow-up.

"But?"

Twilight sighed, turning to Duskwing. "I can't shake the feelings. Can you?"

He shook his head. "In Canterlot, did you feel the same familiarity that I did?"

"I did, but I didn't want to believe it." She walked over to him, swallowing. "I've been thinking about it today. We may not know each other beyond these past two days, but I want to make this work. The last time I felt this way with somepony..." She didn't want to remember that discussion, it was still a sore spot for her. "I don't want to let it go."

"Y'know, I've had a lot of marefriends before." He slyly smiled to her as she narrowed her eyes. "But just being with you for a few hours has given me second thoughts about where my life was headed." He scratched the back of his head. "It never felt right with the others. But with you..."

"It feels right." Twilight smiled, bringing him into a hug. "I feel the same way."

Somnia silently cooed at the sight, heading back over to the other elements which were watching curiously.

"Seems they got friendly real quick." Applejack commented.

"They've always been closer than they knew." Somnia smiled back.

"Equestria Games, here we come!" The snapshot was taken of the Ponyville team, minus one filly. Twilight stepped away from the platform to watch the other teams have their photos taken. Somnia stood between the three Hollow Shades ponies as they got their photo taken, all four happy with their success.

Duskwing and Somnia trotted back over to her as the team dismounted the platform, the filly giving her a hug. "Thanks, mom."

"What for?" She glanced up to Duskwing as he approached.

"For giving him a chance. Again."

"Again?" Duskwing raised a brow.

"I should probably tell you both how you got together the first time." Somnia giggled. "Story for another time." She gave a hug to Duskwing before trotting off to leave them to say their goodbyes.

"So, the exchange?" He asked.

"Yup." Twilight stepped forward, putting her muzzle close to his. "I'll admit, you're going to be the first pony I ever gave a chance to woo me. Don't screw it up." She pecked him on the cheek.

"I'll do my best, your highness." He chuckled as Twilight trotted off, watching her tail the entire way.

The Ponyville team boarded the train and settled in for the ride home. Everypony was exhausted in their own ways, except for the never-ending energy well that was Pinkie Pie. Rarity playfully batted at Twilight's leg.

"I saw that, darling."

"Just saying goodbye for now." Twilight happily sighed.

Yes, everything was going to be just fine...

Author's Note

Buck it, I'm rewriting the CMC's arc. Prepare for the three to become more important than previously anticipated.

I originally planned to kill off Scootaloo near the end of the story, but now I'm thinking of something different.