Orion sighed heavily, shouldering his bag higher on his shoulder as he slammed the carriage door shut with more than a bit of aggravation.

Everyone, every single pony, was already watching when the strange new carriage with an anchor, hammer, and quill emblem rolled to a stop at the school entrance. Its bearers were slightly winded from the effort.

When he had stepped out, the students began to stop in their tracks, one by one. Then, the teachers who were still moving to their classes before the first bell slowed and came to a complete stop, looking at him with a mix of bewilderment and shock. The black colt attempted to ignore the sudden attention that should never have bothered him considering his infamy, yet the situation was so embarrassing for him.

They had insisted, and he had refused. They pointed out the merits, and he pointed out the cons. They argued about the time it would take him to reach the school on hoof, and he relented if only to shut them up.

“That's only because you all chose a home six freakin’ miles away from the closest tram!”

Sighing, he turned and nodded to the pair of Pegasi servants who had brought him there. Both mares were adjusting each other's harnesses. “Thanks, ladies.”

“Oh,” one he believed was named Skye Song blushed. “There's no need to thank us! It's our job, after all!” He snorted at that.

The other, Moon Drift, nodded and said nothing. In all their faux leather gear, it was hard to tell their colors apart. Both seemed to be the same blue mane with a blue fur motif, but it was all covered up, with the manes sticking out of their helmets like a crest. Something about safety in the sky or something. Perhaps it got cold for them up there. Who knew?

“I'll thank whoever I want. This,” he gestured at them and the carriage, “would have been unnecessary if they had chosen a home closer to one of the tram stations.” He would be leaving earlier tomorrow so that he didn't have to put up with this nonsense again.

“Well, um.” Skye hesitated. “You're welcome, Sir.” The mare smiled brightly.

The Pegasi were just two of the eleven servants in the house of Shipwrights, employed by Emerald herself, unsurprisingly. Most he had yet to see, but he had already met the Steward of the home this very Monday morning.

Morning Script had to be the most severe pony he had ever met–No, that was wrong; Raven Inkwell was the most severe, but the Steward was a close second.

The soft-looking, portly stallion had this old-fashioned school principal attitude when it came to how one conducted themselves in the home. It took everything within him not to get into a shouting match with the pony just over his way of eating breakfast and then the flight to school. A flight! Instead of arguing over and over, he just agreed to take the damn coach to school today just to have an end to it.

“Please, for the love of all that is good and decent in this world, don't call me “sir.” Orion works just fine.” He moaned, turning away, not waiting for a response.

Only to run nearly nose to nose with Fancy Pants.

The young stallion stared at him for a moment, eyes drifting to the carriage, then back to him slowly.

“Heeeeey, Fancy.” The black colt said conversationally.

“Orion.” He said uncertainly. “Did…did you just come out of that carriage?”

“You know I did. You were right there when it happened.” Orion growled, wanting to disappear on the spot.

“How…” His noble friend began, then stopped, confusion writ large on his face. “What?”

“Fancy…dear God, don't spread this. You know how you were telling me Celestia had something up her sleeve as a punishment?” The white colt gave a slow, unsure nod. “Yeah, you were right. I….I got fucking adopted last weekend.” It was almost comical, both his friend's jaw flopping open and his demand not to spread the obvious.

“How?!” Fancy Pants hissed, grabbing his arm and pulling him from the drop-off area. Other carriages were being pulled in on hoof or by wing, and they needed to move to allow them access anyway.

“I just told you, Celestia.” He growled out. “You really had no idea?”

His friend stumbled a bit, glanced at him, and then marched stiffly, arm in arm, reluctantly with him.

“I tell you this true, my friend. I had no idea this was to be the Princess's gambit.” He said after a moment, both passing through the wrought iron gates of the school. “My question is, why did you agree to it? I cannot imagine her being able to force this upon you.”

“Because I have a feeling she would have been unrelenting. At that point, I had no real choice.” He spat. “It was either agree or be prodded into it.” Orion shook his head. “Either way, I know you're a rumor hound. You no doubt have heard about what folks have been saying about Mrs. E’s orphanage and me, didn't you?”

His friend winced.

“Yes, I did…” Fancy trailed off. “I didn't…want you to feel…

“Like an utter and complete shithead?” The noble pony nodded after a moment. “Yeah. I can appreciate that, but a heads-up could have given me an idea of what to expect in that bitch’s ammo bag.”

“Orion,” Fancy bore a pained expression, “I would be very much appreciative if you would not refer to our ruler as a “bitch”.”

“I'd appreciate not being stared at like I'm some new and exciting exhibit in a zoo. But here we are.” He shot back, louder than necessary, glancing over his friend's shoulder at the onlookers who had not stopped following his movements.

That little bit of a call out seemed to have gotten a few of them a hint, at the very least. Some gawkers immediately turned their heads away, twitching ears flushed with embarrassment.

They walked in silence toward the main building on campus. Having finally wrestled his arm free of his friend's grip, Orion searched through his things for his schedule, idly wondering if he got the electives he wanted.

“Orion?”

“Yeah, Fancy?” He mumbled, distractedly reading over his list of classes. “No self-defense class again, I see. What a surprise, not.” He had been handed his schedule this morning and hadn't really had time to go over it till now. He applied for the class every year, and he was rejected every year.

“That emblem, the one with the anchor, hammer, and quill. You were adopted by the Shipwrights, weren't you?”

He paused on the steps and regarded his noble friend.

“Anything I should know?” He asked, suddenly worried.

“About them? No. Nothing really onerous comes to mind, actually. One of the few families out there that does not have a closet full of skeletons.” He chuckled. “Most other families don't like them because of that. The Princess chose well.”

He picked up immediately on the implication.

“Because they've got either no dirt to be used against them.” He mused out loud. “Or they have to be the very best at hiding them. That's kinda interesting.”

“True.” Fancy cocked his head. “You don't trust them?”

“No, it's not that. But that's par for the course for everyone.” He shrugged. “Honestly, Clipper and his family seemed to be exactly that. Honest people in a dishonest city. Considering my experience with most of your people, it's refreshing, but I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“My people? What do you mean by that?” Fancy Pants looked slightly miffed, but then again, there was a gleam in his eye.

“Nobles, dude. You are like…the very rarest of exceptions for me. The rest can all go piss up a rope for all I care.” Pushing one of the massive double doors open, both headed inside. “What locker you got this year?”

“Ah, two-thirty-three.” He responded. Orion grinned.

“Sweet, I'm right across from you, two-thirty-eight. Classes?”

“The usual. Advanced Mathematics in first. Second is Equish Lit-”

“Again?” Orion asked, surprised.

“Ah, this is the third course, my friend. This one discusses ancient sentence structuring. I'm curious why our ancestors wrote the way they did. I fear I will need the instruction when it is my turn to deal in the halls of Parliament. The wording used can be very tricky.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense.” The black pony said, turning left at the Tee, his friend on his heels. “What else?” He asked, eyeing his schedule. There had to be something they shared.

“Third is the Gymnasium. Then lunch.” He nodded, “followed by World History and finally the usual Applied Magic classes.” He finished, turning to his locker first.

Orion drifted over to his own, having to work the combination in twice before it unlocked and opened his storage. Shoving most of his things inside save for his first class’s book, he frowned, shutting the door and turning back to Fancy.

“Dude, we don't even have lunch together.” He really shouldn't have been as upset as he was. Yet, the thought of not seeing him at all annoyed him legitimately. “Wait? You don't have a sixth class?” The black pony asked.

“Ah, no. No, my friend. I fear I do not. Instead, I am to receive private tutoring at my estate.” He frowned. “In politicking and court etiquette.”

“Oof. That's rough, my dude.”

“Do not think you are going to escape it yourself. I imagine now that you're part of a nobelis’s family, you will have to be subjected to much the same as me.” His friend shot back with a knowing grin.

“Hah, no.” The smirk of triumph faded quickly. “We had that conversation just yesterday. I was very clear in my intention not to have anything to do with politics or the court itself.” He shrugged. “They didn't like it, but they've already acknowledged they can't make me do anything I don't want.” Orion chuckled. “Truth be told, I’m getting the strong feeling that they believe that they can work on me over time. But, I'm already not going to the family gathering in Manehattan this year. So currently, I am up by two in the battle of supremacy.”

“May I ask how you managed to convince them of that?” Fancy said with a frown.

“Simple, Clipper and his wives already know my history, specifically the couple of times where I clashed with the CFP out there in some way or another. I only had to imply how uncomfortable I might be to go there, and bam, no more Hearth’s Warming trip for me.”

“Isn't that a bit deceitful?” His friend gave him a slightly irritated glare. Fancy was never angry at someone; he just made you think so. Orion himself had long since learned his way around the pony’s temper.

“Not entirely. I do not really want another encounter with that organization if I can help it.” He shrugged. “Besides, I don't want to rush things with these people, and I don't have any loyalty to them either. Remember, I didn't want this to begin with.”

Fancy’s face softened. “I suppose that is a fair consideration.” He shook his head. “Orion, do not take advantage of these ponies. They have opened their home to you out of compassion. It would be a disservice to them for you to do so.”

“They opened their home to me because they want something, but I'm not trying to. I promise.” He shrugged, getting ready to separate and head to his own class, Ancient History of Equis. “I'm not all in either.”

“I understand,” Fancy said and reached over to give him a fist bump. Orion returned it, and the pair departed for their respective courses.

“Is this going to be an all-day thing?” He mentally grumbled, shoveling a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth as he stared at the onlookers watching from their respective tables.

Apparently, word had gotten around quickly, and now he was the afternoon's entertainment for the entire school population. At least, everyone who could fit comfortably in the cafeteria. He could see a few outside with their noses pressed to the glass of the mezzanine. It would be funny if he weren't the source of their fascination.

Every now and then, one of them would lean over and whisper in the ear of another. Filly or colt, it didn't matter; they were all whispering. But their silent watching made his time in the cafeteria uncomfortable.

Even his teachers couldn't help but be happy that he had been brought into a nice, loving family. Translation: people who would put him in place more firmly than Mrs. Evergarden could have done.

“And the fact that I am trying to behave is just going to reinforce that mindset. Shit.”

The clatter of a lunch tray hitting the table startled him, and he turned to look up at Twilight Sparkle. He blinked in surprise before giving her a welcoming smile.

“Hey Twilight. Thought you were done with us normal plebeians. Or was that next year that you go under full-time private tutelage?”

Instead of answering him, she fixed him in an impassive gaze. Sitting down primly before turning to her sparse meal of greens and oats.

“Okay, weird. Maybe she's just had a bad day?”

Rather than choosing to annoy her until she responded, he let the girl have her personal time. Shrugging to himself, he went back to shoveling his own meal into his mouth while returning to balefully glaring at everyone who met his eyes till they looked away.

More whispers erupted when his friend sat down, and he found that somehow even more irritating.

“I have heard you've been adopted.” The tone gave him a chill. It was more about who it came from and the emotionless vibe it gave than the question posed.

“Uh, yeah, Twilight.” He turned to her again, regarding her with worry. “Your Princess kinda sprung it on me during our meeting last weekend and would not take no for an answer.”

“She is your Princess as well, Orion.” There was no warmth in his name. Even at her most irritated, she had never sounded like this cold.

“Fair, but I do not worship the ground she walks on, Twilight.” He placed his spoon down, appetite gone. “You do. And I don't appreciate how she boxed my rear into it. I'm not very happy with her at the moment.”

She huffed. “You don't seem to be happy with anything anypony does for you that is to your benefit.” She replied tersely, with more than a hint of venom in her words. The alarm bells rang in his head. A storm was brewing.

“Okay. You have beef with me. Fine. We will discuss this later.” He tried to keep the nervousness from his voice and projected a confident tone.

The plan to leave had always revolved around them drifting apart, and he planned to stick with it. Yet, with this level of hostility, she had entered into more than just the beginnings of a wreck of their friendship.

“This afternoon, the school’s library.” He hoped that would put her at ease when the time came to have whatever this was out. That and the isolation meant no one would likely be within earshot, but he would still cast a sound bubble just in case things got loud.

“Is that it? Just going to run away?” Orion's eyes narrowed at her scathing comment, and he leaned forward.

“Twilight, I do not intend the rumor mill to get more material than necessary. I am offering this solution for the sole benefit of not creating a fucking scene in the middle of the cafeteria.” He nodded as she turned away, her face flushing. Whether that was embarrassment or anger, he couldn't care less. She had pissed him off instantly by implying he was a coward, and whatever this new bone she wanted to gnaw on him about, she would not insult him on top of it. “Now, unless you do want to embarrass yourself, then fine, we can deal with whatever issue you have here and now.”

“Fine.” Grabbing her untouched food, she stood and walked stiffly away. He could only glare at the pony's back.

“What in the hell has gotten under her skin? Oh wait, me.”

The CSGU library was one of the few places in school where Orion actually felt that he could unwind and delve into his studies whenever and however he wanted. However, considering the subject of his more private inquiries, he rarely got a chance to.

Little sectioned-off cubby holes, which could accommodate up to five students at a time, dotted the various walls. Inside, booths and tables were built to be comfortable and used for intense study sessions.

This early in the year, no one wanted anything to do with the vast repository of knowledge. Choosing instead to catch up with each other after the summer holiday, the building often had a haunted feel during the fall months.

The absence of people meant it was perfect for Orion to hash out whatever was eating at Twilight, though he was pretty positive about what was bothering her.

During classes, ignoring his peers' stares, he worked over the issue in his mind and came to a possible solution. It really depended on Twilight and how angry she was. Now, it was just talking her around that would be his greatest challenge.

However, there was a problem. She wasn't there. It had been almost an hour since he had arrived, and his disappointment that the filly did not follow her usual punctual regimen of punctuality made him grind his teeth in worry.

“And she has the balls to claim I'm the one running away.” He groused, folding his arms, still waiting for her to appear.

“No. I suppose that was unfair of me.” Twilight spoke up next to him, once again startling him. Somehow, she came into view from nothing. Invisibility? She hadn’t taught him that, nor did his teachers offer lessons. All he knew of the various spells that hid things from sight were based on illusion training. Yet he hadn’t sensed anything of her either. And that was what disturbed him more.

“Jesus! Twilight!” He hissed, holding his hand over his heart. “Scared the hell out of me!”

When had she come in? How had he not felt her magic? His radar was completely trashed, but even he should have been able to at least sense her.

He had grown used to being able to pick out different magical signatures in the various people he spent time around. The griffons had, well, it wasn't a weak magic field but a different one, yet each griffon’s signature was different, just the same as it was for ponies. Or even Diamond Dogs, who had a different pattern to their magic altogether.

Twilight's signature was not only unique to her like everyone else's, but also much more powerful and hard as hell to ignore, which just baffled him even more as to why he hadn't sensed her at all.

“I was testing to see if my studies had been worthwhile in regards to potential suppression.” She said, and her power surged to its normal levels as the glow in her horn winked out.

“Huh, that's a neat trick.” He frowned, considering how useful that would be for him in the future. “But considering, according to the Princess, that is, not many out there have the talent to feel magic at its base strength within a person, I don't see the need for it.” A complete lie. Keeping the Princess from being able to find him would be a huge boon. He thought quickly. “Unless you found an application for it.”

“I have not. Not really, no.” She frowned, finally choosing to sit down from across from him. “But I haven't come to discuss theory with you.”

“Alright.” He said, and his horn burst to life as a darkened bubble of silence descended around them, making the outside world smokey. “Spill then. What's got your panties in a wad?”

“Is this really necessary?” She gestured toward the spell surrounding them.

“Twilight, you're a smart girl.” Her glare hardened. “That's not a shot across the bow, you are. What is your current mental state?”

She said nothing but nodded, getting his point.

“I am not trying to provoke you here. Something is bothering you, and I am trying to help my friend get through it. Even if-”

“Are we friends?” She interrupted, but he ignored her outburst.

“-that friend is pissed off with me.” He finished. “Now. Let's have it. What's wrong?”

“When did you get so mature!?” Her voice rose an octave. Well, she asked for it.

“Since I almost got eaten by a Roc.” He replied calmly. “Now, spill.”

Orion didn't want to be calm. He wanted to slap her. Rather than dealing with the problem, she was continuing to take stabs at his character for whatever reason that she wouldn't say.

Her purple eyes widened in surprise.

“A-a…Roc?” She more mouthed the word than actually said it, but he heard it well enough.

“Yes, a Roc. We can go into the fine details of my harrowing escape from the thing later. Twilight. Let's get to it.”

Shaking her head, the concern on her face was replaced by her contempt once more.

“Why did you go off on your own to Griffonia?” She asked testily.

“I went to Griffonia because a friend had been inviting me up there for years. The why is easy. I was bored out of my skull.” He flipped up his index finger into the air. “One, everyone I knew was gone. Hell, you were on vacation with your family in Prance, I think. Two,” another finger rose to join the first one, “I didn't want to be stuck either doing chores all summer at either the orphanage or making the bold choice to go down to Ponyville and being put out to work in the fields all damn day. For character no less.” His last finger rose. “And three, because I had been disappointing that friend for years by refusing every invitation she had sent me.” He laughed. “That girl mailed a lot of them. Paid tickets no less.”

“So you went, alone, unsupervised, to a country in turmoil without permission or notice.” She responded shortly.

“Oh, I gave notice, but there was no way I was asking permission of anyone.” He raised a hand to stop her obviously angry retort. “Ah ah! Twilight, we both know I would never have gotten permission. I will admit I broke the rules on that one. That's on me, but I don't regret it for a second.” He paused. “Okay…maybe for a second. That Roc was friggin' huge. But, I was also not unsupervised.”

“You were staying with a filly!”

“I was staying with a hen and her Uncle, Aunt, and a whole bunch of guards.” He not so calmly replied.

“W-what?” Twilight sounded surprised, and Orion was a bit baffled by her response.

“Yooouu…didn't know?” He asked, confused. An eyebrow of hers rose.

“Know what?”

“Wait.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “What do you know first of all so I can piece this together as best I can.” Sitting back, he interlocked his fingers to keep from fidgeting. “Start from the beginning, please.”

Twilight took a deep breath and gave him the once-over that all women can do when they are not sure if they're being messed with or not.

“I went to the Orphanage after my family and I’s vacation was cut short due to my brother being recalled.” She began. “I wanted to show you some things I got in Prance and maybe ask you to come spend time with me.” She flushed. This time, what he was certain was embarrassment. “Instead, Mrs. Evergarden informed me that you had left for Griffonia over two weeks ago and showed me the letter you left.”

“And the follow-up with the Princess?” He asked, having a sinking feeling he knew where this was going.

“She told me what amounted to the same thing that you ran off to spend time with a…a hen…named Screaming Rush. That my brother and a team of ponies had been sent after you!” She finished, practically shouting at him. A wise decision, the sound bubble.

“Ooooh, Celestia, you stupid bitch.” He groaned and smacked his head on the table, narrowly missing jarring his horn on the hard polished wood.

For a moment, neither spoke. He couldn't see her face but could imagine her surprised expression at his act of near self-harm. Snorting dryly, he raised his head and scowled.

“Twilight, do you actually know who Screaming Rush is?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out as her eyes widened in concern. “No?” She whispered at last.

“Well, if I'm being fair, neither did I.” He chuckled. “I did suspect she got adopted by a wealthy family, considering the cost and effort that had gone into finding one little hen in the capital of Equestria. So I anticipated adults to be around us at all times.” He carefully put aside thoughts and images of one such adult. At this moment, bursting into tears like he had the other night was not in his best interest. “But I was wrong. It wasn't just parents, but an Aunt and Uncle that had sprung her from the big house.” He laughed at his own joke. “Who just so happened to be the King and Queen of Griffonia itself.”

Twilight's eyes widened almost comically, and her mouth flopped open. “W-w-wha-what?!”

“Yep, turns out your boy is now on speaking terms with two sets of monarchies.” He grinned at her. “Screaming Rush’s real name is Grace Fairheart. Twelfth in line for the Crown of Wings, or something like it.” He shook his head. “Never saw the crown, but I bet it has wings on it.”

“Its official name is the Crown of Boreus. It is said to depict their founder's wings as a circlet with a great green gem held between them. That part is meant to rest on the forehead.” She replied, almost in a daze.

“Huh, should have asked about that. All I ever heard mention was the Wings thing.” He shrugged. “So anyway. Turns out, my friend from foalhood is a damn noble!” His smile broadened. “So get this, during the food riots…”

“After that, she got a letter from home and called the tour short.” He explained. “By then, it had gotten boring anyways. I think we were both facing travel fatigue by that time and once you've seen one griffon village, ya kinda seen them all.” He shrugged. “So we stopped by at Grapple, bid goodbye, and she fucked off home, and so did I.”

Twilight was in a weird sort of rapt daze. During his wildly outrageous and heavily censored tale, she had produced a stack of papers and had begun writing notes. He figured that was a good sign that she was not truly pissed at him anymore.

His information dump on the poor mare had been twofold in purpose.

One was to lie to her as creatively and as honestly as possible. There was no way he could tell her the truth, that the griffons were on their way to power once more thanks to him merely confirming what he already knew.

The second was a much simpler reason. If he had shocked her enough with his tale, she might have let her anger go completely—or at least been reduced to a simmer instead of the unyielding rage he had seen in her eyes this afternoon in the cafeteria.

“Orion…that's…I mean…you…” His friend struggled to find the right words, one hand flailing about, looking back over her notes.

“I know. Largely boring. Except for Neighbon, y'all really should go next time you get a chance at vacation. Stay away from douchebag merchant sons, though. They're a pain in the ass.”

“You rejected her.” She said quietly.

“Oh, why do I have so much charm now? Women actively avoided my skeezy ass on a regular basis. Now I have to damn near fight to keep ‘em off me.” He thought bitterly. “This gender role reversal is bullshit. Is this what women back on earth have to deal with all the fucking time?”

“Yeah, I did. For the reasons I listed before.” He responded. “I am not looking to get tied down for some years to come.” Such an event may never happen, but he kept that sentiment to himself.

“I know,” Twilight said after a moment. “I just…when I heard…” The loose clutter of papers began to organize themselves in her magic field till a small stack sat before her.

“What you thought was that I had changed my mind and had run off to hoo-ha land to get my dick wet. That's what you thought, Twilight.” Shaking his head, he let silence fall as something was nagging at him.

“Hey,” drumming his fingers nervously, catching her attention. “You said something earlier. About your brother? What was that about?”

Twilight gave him an unreadable look, her eyes searching his own. “She didn't tell you anything either.” Sighing heavily, she leaned forward, a bit of the anger she had from earlier coming to her eyes.

“The team sent to find you, the R.O.V.E.R.S.,” she spelled that out, “was led by my brother.”

Orion sat numbly, staring at her. “Your brother. As in Shining Armor.”

“Yes.”

That explained a great deal of her irritation at him.

“Are you telling me that Celestia pulled your brother off his vacation to come chase my happy ass across the nation of Griffonia?”

“Yes, Orion.” Twilight seemed puzzled by his confusion. “Is everything okay?”

The black pony eyed the table again, running the math on how much force it would take to make him permanently special. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Okay,” he began slowly, taking a deep breath. “So not only did the Princess pull your brother from the vacay,” he opened his eyes, “she sent him after me, of which, obviously, we never ran into each other, and he never found me.” He paused, a look of alarm washing over him. “Oh shit! Was he one of the ponies to get hurt?!”

“No!” Twilight shook her head vigorously. “No. Thank Celestia; he was not one of the ponies who got hurt. All I know is that one or more of his team was injured during their search.” She shrugged. His concern for her brother’s safety seemed to mollify her anger somewhat a bit more.

“You know,” Orion began.

“Oh, hush.” She snapped at him. “I know it was the Princess who sent him there!” She paused. Her mouth moved, but no words left her throat as she realized just what she had said.

“Wait…a…minute.” The black pony leaned forward, fighting the grin that wanted to spring onto his face. “You're actually angry with Celestia's big ass too. Aren't you?”

Twilight Sparkle blushed furiously and buried her head into her hands.

“Wow.” He couldn't help it. A smirk broke through. “Look at you. All pissed at the big lady in her tower.”

“Shut up.” Her muffled demand only made him giggle. “It's not funny!” She snapped, glaring at him between her fingers.

“Sure it is,” he shot back, “the fact that her own, most loyal of students, is angry that she got sidelined on the information pipeline like everyone else is pretty damn funny.” He shook his head, noticing the increase in her heated glare. “Okay, maybe I'm being a bit spiteful-”

“A bit?!”

“-but from the point of someone constantly getting dumped on by her, it's just amusing to see the other end of it.” He sighed. “A few days ago, she blindsided me with this whole ass adoption nonsense.” Scoffing and waving a hand as if to dispel an evil air. “Say what ya want, but she has the “Queen of Manipulation” down to a science. I didn't even see it coming. I thought she was sending my ass to boot camp.”

“Yes,” she nodded, her own hands falling to clasp in front of her. “Though, I like to believe she does it for a good reason.”

Orion found himself in agreement. Bitterly so, which was somewhat of a surprise. “Well,” he began slowly, “you gotta think about what she has to deal with. Not just the jackasses in court but the nobles of other nations. Not to mention, your average citizen…well, I wouldn't call them stupid.” He shrugged. “But definitely unaware. Most of us just go on with our lives, not really worrying too much about what our leadership is up to. I mean, for most, it's a matter of priorities.” Similar in much the same way his old home used to be regarding most things. Just believe what they're told no matter the cost because life is just easier that way.

Fancy had been correct.

“Huh, perhaps that's why I distrust her so much.” The idea that he may be projecting what he went through from before his arrival to this world on the mare hadn't really occurred to him before. “Though, there is still the whole hunt for me going on. What's the bounty up to now?” Not to mention that incident in the throne room with Golden and his dad. There was certainly something not quite right about that reaction.

“Hey, Sparky.” Her eyes snapped at him, annoyed at the return of one of the many nicknames he had so far badgered her with. “Easy there, hot stuff. Just curious, what's the bounty on someone turning me in these days?”

“What? Turning…you…oh!” She flushed. “The Princess has actually rescinded the bounty.”

“Reeeeeally?” He was surprised.

“I know!” She exclaimed. “I am not sure as to why she did, but it was announced at the beginning of the summer.”

“Huh.” He sat and thought about it for a moment. “Perhaps there have been a lot of random people turned in for the reward, and it's likely gotten tedious. That's the only way I can see a reason for it.”

“I…actually, you are likely correct. Until recently, many bounty hunters had been coming in with ponies in chains.” She shook her head. “I should have put two and two together.”

“Eeeh, I wouldn't worry about it too much.” He drummed his fingers on the table. He wanted to avoid asking, but with their friendship on such a tenuous balance point, he was going to have to ask. The how was eluding him, however.

“No, Orion.” She spoke up, interrupting his train of thought. “I will never turn you in.”

“Oh. Um, awesome.” He laughed. “Sorry, I didn't know how to bring it up in casual conversation. Why, though?” He wanted to punch his brain and his mouth.

“Orion, I am upset with you mostly because you keep getting away with things no other foal I've ever heard of has. I mean, to beat Blueblood and his friends like that was really terrible.” He opened his mouth, but she rolled right over him. “Then, even before that! Mr. Cottonridge!” She shook her head. “I'm not sure what it is you did in Ponyville, but I can't imagine-”

“Mostly physical labor.” He butted in. “That and I was a teacher's aide for a bit.” Sighing, he made sure to lock eyes with Twilight. “But, two things. First and foremost, Cottonridge got what he deserved. My only regret was I wasn't the one to nail him in the junk. That asshole tried to kill me!”

“Because you put yourself in that situation!” She snapped back.

“Oh, yeah, because my conscious would have loved to shoulder the fuckin’ burden of knowing I abandoned someone that was about to get raped!” He shot in return. For his efforts, her face visibly paled. “Yeeeah, not sure if you knew the details or ever looked into the event, but Cottonridge was a pedophile, a literal colt-diddler. He was trying to rape a colt. He likely had already done it before, considering the reaction from the poor kid. Had I not noticed, that poor guy would have likely still been tormented to this day.” Realizing he had stood up to loom over his friend, he slammed his flanks back down into the cushioned seat, narrowly avoiding pinching his tail.

“I…I never knew.” Twilight whispered.

“I don't think many did. I mean,” he scoffed, “the court case came out, and the media did talk about it. I just think it eventually got swept under the rug like everything else. People just stopped talking about it after a while.” He sighed. “I don't even think it was a grand conspiracy. That kinda shit,” he snorted, “is a stain on society. No one likes being confronted or reminded about that sorta thing.”

“Yes…I didn't understand what was happening back then. Only that a lot of adults were upset, and the Princess was really bothered by something.” Twilight shrugged uncomfortably.

Memories of being choked with the intent to kill him resurfaced, mirrored by the more recent and nearly fatal attempted stabbing in the north. He hadn't realized when he started doing it, but he snatched his hand away from his stomach. The scar there sometimes itched for no reason, he could tell, but it mostly occurred during thoughts like this, and he found himself rubbing the scar where the blade had cut him.

“The second thing?” Her voice soothed his mind, and he looked up to see her eyes peering into his.

“Huh?” Orion mumbled.

“I asked about the second thing.” Worry creased her features. “Are you okay?

“I'm fine. Just…tired.” He sighed. “Everything that's happened in the last week has been hard to wrap my head around.” Clearing his throat, he straightened himself and interlaced his fingers on the table. “As to the second thing, Blueblood? I beat the hell out of Golden Trot, sure. Celestia is the one that nearly torched the pair of them herself, remember?”

“Oh! You didn't hear?”

“No, but I imagine you're gonna tell me real quick like.”

“Quite you,” Twilight muttered. “I guess that you didn't hear, seeing as you were off leading my brother on a chase across Griffonia.” She tried to smile to take the sting out of those words, but it was more of a grimace. “Golden is officially the heir to the Platinum bloodline.”

“Okay, not to repeat a word I've already said before, but huh?”

“Orion,” she sighed. “I am going just assume you know very little of Equestrian politics-”

“I try to avoid it as much as possible.”

“–and I'll just tell you what has been going on.” She fixed him with a hard stare at his interruption. “Currently, there is only one known Platinum bloodline, The Bluebloods.”

“Great. Lecture mode activated.” He nodded, and she proceeded on.

“The Bluebloods have, by all accounts, remained unbroken since Unification. However, that is due in large part to lineage practices.” She flushed. “This is…not the first time a pony, a colt, was adopted into their ranks. Golden Trot is just the latest.”

“Okay, what has that to do with him getting a name change and becoming heir?”

“I am getting to that, Orion.” Twilight said peevishly. “This practice is done often out of necessity. Colts are rarely sired in their familial history, so it often comes down to a case of adoptions.” Her blush deepend. “The adoptee usually comes into the family with fillies already birthed. By family decree, that colt is often engaged to one or more of them. Thus carrying on the Platinum bloodline. As is the case of Golden Trot. He is engaged to wed two of his sisters upon graduation. In so doing, he has become Blueblood the twenty-eighth.”

Orion’s face scrunched up in mild disgust.

“I know, it's not technically incest, but that's incest. He grew up with those fillies, and now he's going to bang out the next generation of Habsburgs with ‘em?”

“The who?”

“Uh… never mind, just…wow.” He shook his head. “Old Golden won, but at what cost?” He chuckled.

“It's not incest, Orion. Special provisions in the adoption paperwork make his status as the guarded. The Bluebloods are, or were, in this case, his guardians. Meaning he technically, until the marriage commitments were declared, was merely a ward of the estate.”

“Yeah…still fucking weird.” He shook his head. “The Twenty-eighth? Damn, they've been doing this longer than the Founding.”

“Not quite. For a while, many nobles blamed Princess Platinum for betraying them to what they considered “lesser ponies” and subsequently killed her descendants in retribution. Hence why the Bluebloods had to resort to such methodology in their family lineage.”

“They outbanged their killers.” He stated flatly.

“On the bases of terms, yes.” Twilight shook her head. “Really? Can one conversation pass without you…dirtying it?”

“Heh, sorry.” One would think by now she would get over his crass phrasing. “The way she carries on, you'd think a new stick replaced the old beaten-down one that had been shoved into her ass at birth.”

Seconds ticked by as he searched for something to say. Twilight seemed equally at a loss as her fingers constantly fiddled with themselves in her clenched hands.

It was she who ended up breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Orion, I'm still upset with you.” He nearly groaned in exasperation. “What you did jeopardize the lives of good ponies.” Her face screwed up. “And while I…agree that you don't have any obligation to anypony when you make a choice, it still resulted in a great deal of danger for the team that was sent to find you.”

It was a near repeat of what Celestia had told him. Almost verbatim.

“If you expect an apology from me, I would not suggest holding your breath.” He muttered.

“Orion.”

“I know!” He snapped, finally losing the composure he had maintained throughout the entire conversation. “I know. I…I feel bad for the folks that got hurt. Really, I do. But that's not my fault!”

“But-”

“The only reason they were sent up there after me was because of you!” He shot a finger at her as somewhere in his mind, a version of himself was trying very hard to reign him in. “Because I'm friends with you! Celestia could give a damn about me otherwise!” He was running on full power, ignoring the warning sirens in his head that urged him to stop. “She just doesn't want her precious protegé getting messed up because I went and either got hurt or, worse, killed!”

“Wha-”

“Oh, please.” Orion scoffed at her stunned face, unable to stop the tirade of words pouring out of his mouth. “I already told ya you're a smart girl. You can fuckin' figure that shit out. Yes, I'm a weird guy, something Celestia would have taken notice of, if only as a mild curiosity, if nothing else. Otherwise, I'd have been just a blip on her radar.” He chuckled bitterly. “And who could blame her? I don't like her personally, but she rules a nation. A nation, mind you, that, while secure in its borders, still deal with bullshit from time to time. Whether that's upstart rebellions, of which I've learned there have been three, or one dumbass colt just trying to live his life as free as he can.”

Finished, he sat back and let go of a sigh. Without saying a word, he spread his hands and gestured toward Twilight for a response.

Said response came in a controlled rise from her bench, and she simply left. Tears streaked down her cheeks.

“Well. Shit.”

He would most certainly be getting a letter about this, if not a personal visit. Double shit.

Twilight's pace picked up as she crossed the center of the quad toward one of the few waiting carriages sitting at the pick-up point. The Princess’s mark emblazoned on the side was always an easy spot, though seeing it now brought no comfort to the confusion and frustration brewing within her.

Her mind was awash with conflicting thoughts. It was clear to her that Orion had undergone so much stress from the last few weeks that he could not keep his temper in check, no matter how much she saw him try.

“No, do not make excuses for him. What he said about the Princess was not right. Or what he said about our…friend…ship.” What he had implied about their friendship.

Her legs stopped, seemingly of their own accord. She had always known that possibility, but to have it thrown in her face like that was beyond what she was prepared to deal with.

It was not fair. He had, perhaps rightfully, flung responsibility away from himself about her brother's harrowing experience in the North. Yet, her brother was put in harm's way because of him. A pony had lost her arm in service to find an ungrateful colt who used a technicality to worm his way out of any culpability. He didn't even show any real remorse!

His repeated declaration of feeling bad was not enough. Not to her, not anymore.

It was always like this. He would do something to upset her or others, and he would either ignore it outright or inform the wounded party to accept what had happened without any true humility.

As she thought about his previous actions and statements more, Twilight began to realize that Orion had been controlling their friendship to his whims in much the same fashion.

Forcing her to stay silent about what he was capable of, berating her when she was merely trying to get his attention, and outright avoiding her more often than not when it suited him. Only coming to her after he had exhausted all other avenues of his own in the pursuit of knowledge.

Were they even really friends? What was a friend to him? Or to her?

True, she had found a bond with some of the fillies her age over the years, but there was always a gap. A distance that no pony had ever tried to cross for her. Certainly, Orion hadn't, though he did at least treat her like a normal pony.

She scowled in frustration and was startled when she blinked. Her vision was fuzzy. Wiping her face, she found moisture on her fingers. She was, or had been, crying.

Squeezing her eyes shut tightly to stamp out the tears, she resumed walking toward the awaiting royal carriage.

“I…I think…I…I think I have to stay…away from him.” For how long, Twilight Sparkle just didn’t know.

Author's Note

Well, the Hits start coming and they don't stop coming
Buck to the rules and Orion hits the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
His brain gets smart but his head gets dumb

A little liberal with the lyrics, but Smash Mouth's All Star will likely be the theme for Orion's life here on out. Buckle up boys, and possibly girls, its about to get heavy.

Hope you all had a stellar weekend. Once again, I plan to be in the comments(if there are any) answering questions and being a general shit.

OH! Good news, I got inspired and have already begun working on the next Arc with enthusiasm. Meaning you may not have to wait as long to see the next ten or so chapters after this one is done.

Wish me luck!

Thanks for Reading!

Peace!