The magic lesson came to an end ten minutes early.

For this, multiple factors were at fault.

First was Dinky, somehow managing to embed a quill several inches deep in the ceiling of the second floor of the library tree, where even Twilight couldn't pull it out. (Well, without also pulling down the whole tree crown down, that is.)

Second was Spike, coming in with snacks and distracting everypony from learning their spells.(It was nachos. The cheesy, unhealthy and far too good kind.)

The third was Rainbows Dash, crashing through the window while muttering something about Applejack and a catapult. (What connection there was between the apple farmer and siege weaponry Spike did not know nor he dared to guess.)

It was at this point an exasperated Twilight decided enough was enough and ended the lesson, giving a few last tips to foals now promptly exiting the building (being Ponyville residents, most of them had enough sense to recognize Ponyville shenanigans when they were afoot. The only exception to this was Spring, who ran the second Rainbow Dash crashed, for which Twilight couldn't really blame her.)

All in all, Spike would say the magic kindergarten was a success with minimal damage to both the library and to its occupants.

So this was how we got Spike, clearing the book strewn floors of the library, eating leftover nachos in between each sweep. All the while Twilight kept pacing around him, reminding him not to stain the books with cheese sauce and muttering about how tired Applejack was, and how it was causing trouble around town. (This Spike found particularly funny coming from Twilight, who spent every exam period in Celestia’s school replacing her blood with pure caffeine and her own liquified and melted nerve endings.)

And then Twilight paused, bit her lip and started to make faces and Spike immediately raised red flags.

Spike had many of those. Red flags for all occasions. Living with an eccentric, uber powerful unicorn came with a certain attitude. This seemed like code Carmine. Which was less bad than code Maroon, but a bigger deal than code Vermilion.

If Spike had to make an educated guess - and he was very good at guessing when Twilight was involved - Twilight had something to say - oh, something to ask - and this something would make it awkward for both of them, which was why she was stalling and trying to come up with a way of avoiding talking about it.

She sighed.

Spike gave her an expectant look.

“Spike,” Twilight began hesitantly. “Are you… are you sure?”

He relaxed.

Oh. That. That question. That was no problem. Could have been code Cardinal! No issue at all, really.

“Yes.” Spike answered quickly.

He’d already made his decision and he was sticking with it.

Twilight's shoulders slumped.

“Sorry, I just worry.” Twilight said, grimacing. “After last time...”

“I know,” Spike said. “But I want to go.”

Spike wanted to go to school. With the other foals. Except therein lay the issue.

‘Other foals’ implied he was one of them.

Spike was a dragon. And there were ponies who would not let him forget that. The first time Spike went to public school things did not…end well.

“I just wanna try, ya know?” Spike said. “Be normal? For once?”

His tone was unsure, but he wasn't. Ponyville would be different from last time. Spike knew that in his bones.

For one, the ponies of Ponyville - Celestia bless them - were not the most wordly kind. Many of them, upon first seeing Spike riding on Twilight's back, simply assumed dragons were the norm in the big cities. Nopony else was pointing it out, so it had to be! You wouldn't want to look stupid and ignorant by pointing up the obvious, would you?

A great many things can slip under the notice if you just act like they are normal. Normalcy, after all, is just a habit we all pretend to share.

By the time anypony came to question Spike's presence, he was already Spike, the library assistant who likes gems and baking and power pony comic books. The fact he was also a dragon became this background thing nopony really thought about very hard.

Then there were the foals themselves.

He first met with Diamond Tiara while hiding from Nightmare Moon's attack.

Considering the circumstances were not exactly typical - locked in a basement with shadow monsters unleashed on the town, Diamond Tiara crying because the shock started wearing out and it turned out twisted ankles hurt a lot -it didn't say much about Ponyville's foal population. But even afterwards, like right now, the foals of Ponyville didn't act any differently when he was around. He was just…Spike.

That might have been helped by the fact that Spring didn't even bat an eye at the fact he wasn't a pony and while the green filly didn't seem to notice it, the other foals saw her as cool and mysterious so of course they would try to emulate her. She wasn't afraid, why should they be?

“I know I'm never going to be normal,” Spike said softly, Twilight frowning as he spoke. “And I will never really fit in. But I want to try.”

Twilight sighed.

“Spike, that's not true,” Twilight said passionately. “You’re not strange. Or weird. You’re you.”

“I'm a dragon hatched by a pony.” Spike deadpanned. “That's strange, right?”

Twilight shrugged.

“Well, but that's just your situation,” Twilight with a wave of her hoof. “Not who you are.”

Spike stopped sweeping for a moment. Considering it for a moment.

“Thanks,” Spike said with a genuine smile.

He resumed working, back turned to Twilight.

“But you know I'm still going, right?”

Twilight sighed.

“I know.”

Twilight glanced at the spot Spring was sitting just a while ago, the place lightly charred from her attempts at fire magic.

“So, you also noticed that Spring is-”

“Kinda kooky?” Spike interrupted. “Yeah, I mean, it's pretty hard to miss. Also, I think she jumped through a wall?”

Twilight blinked. Thinking about it, she hadn’t seen the filly go through the door, maybe the window? But that was too far up.

“Oh,” was all that Twilight managed to say on that.

Meanwhile, Spike moved on for another claw full of nachos, chewing as he went to sweep another part of the library.

Running through walls wasn’t that weird to him. He’d met Pinkie Pie, after all. And he lived with Twilight. The laws of physics were for other people.

“Not to mention,” he added as he swallowed. “She has Celestia's…peytral, torc? Her necklace-thingy around her neck. Wonder where she got it.”

“She has WHAT?!”

Anon walked home.

That alone was a strange thought to the jumper. But calling it the house trying to be a home didn't feel right anymore. As much as it terrified Anon, the house had tried and it had succeeded. It was home. Calling it other than anything else felt like lying.

But it was when she arrived home (home!) that things started to get really strange.

For starters, Diamond Tiara was there.

And so was Celestia.

“Ehm, hello?” Anon said, bringing the attention of three pairs of eyes to her.

What awaited her inside was Sunny Skies, sitting down with Lyra and Bon Bon and sipping on scalding hot tea - Anon had to guess that even in her disguise, the alicorn of the sun simply did not understand what hot was - while Diamond Tiara sat under her wing, her expression stark and jaw clenched, staring at her knees. Very much looking like she was trying not to cry.

Diamond had a bruise on her cheek.

Anon blinked.

Once, twice.

“What happened,” Anon said in a voice that was both calm but also brittle and sharp like shattered glass.

Somebody had hurt her friend. Again.

There was a sudden burst of fire inside Anon’s gut. A sensation like molten iron coursing through her veins.

Anon was angry.

But there was nothing to do - no use or release for that anger. For now, at least. That would come later. Now, she had to plan and plot and make sure her friend was okay first.

No time to get angry. You get even later.

There was a series of quiet looks exchanged between the adults in the room as Anon quietly trotted over to Diamond, a promise of unspeakable violence in her eyes.

“There was a…situation,” Sunny Skies said delicately. “I deemed that Diamond Tiara was to be removed from the care of her parents.”

Anon's whole body went stiff, heart wrenching in her chest.

That was not supposed to happen!

Sicking Celestia at Spoiled Rich was supposed to get Spoiled off her back. Anon felt vindictive and wanted to be absolutely sure, without a shadow of any doubt, that Spoiled Rich wouldn't get her way and finagle her way into adopting her. Nothing more.

Which goal accomplished, sure, but robbing Diamond Tiara of her home wasn't a part of the plan.

And all of that, because she couldn’t help herself and mocked Spoiled Rich. Of course that mare would take out her anger on her daughter when she slipped out of reach. She should have known better. She knew what angry adults were like. She knew. She should have done something other than just leave.

And she probably should have been a little more clear in her message to Celestia. Just writing down ‘I need Sunny Skies’ wasn't really enough of an explanation, thinking about it . Anon just thought Celestia would stop by first and ask her a few questions before going and destroying Diamond's home life!

How…how did Celestia even know where to go? I never specified anything!

“And, well,” Lyra said awkwardly, interrupting Anon’s downright spiral. “We're still registered foster parents in the system.”

“There is an option for Diamond to stay with us,” Bon Bon said. “At least for a little while.”

“Definitely not permanently,” Sunny added. “Diamond's father seemed unaware of what was going on when I confronted him. His crime was being an absent parent who did not pay enough attention to his daughter at home. If he works on correcting that issue, he will be getting custody of Diamond. But until then, she needs a place to stay.”

“And if he doesn't?” Anon asked, watching Diamond grimace by Sunny's side. “What then?”

“Sterling Silver had already agreed to take Diamond in if it comes to that.” Sunny said. “He is listed as one of Diamond's emergency contacts and she trusts him.”

Anon nodded at that. She didn't know it for sure, but it was probably Silver Spoon's dad. She did know that Filthy Rich and Silver Spoon’s father were old friends, so that made some amount of sense. Though it made her wonder where Diamond's grandparents were.

“Spring, are you okay with Diamond staying?” Lyra said suddenly, giving Anon a very concerned - almost scared - look.

“Yeah.” Anon answered with an easy going shrug, trying to mask the swirl of emotions bubbling just under the surface. “I’m just…surprised.”

Lyra gave her another look of concern.

“If that's all, we should get Diamond settled,” Sunny Skies said. Motioning them to move upstairs - probably to her bedroom they were not going to share.

With some shuffling, Anon watched both Bon Bon gently pick the still lethargic Diamond up, with Lyra lagging a little behind, giving Anon more pensive looks, before moving behind her fiance.

Anon stayed where she sat, confused and not knowing what to do with herself now.

Diamond had been hurt. She had been hurt because of her.

Some things never changed, it seemed.

“I know this was a surprise to you,” Sunny said suddenly, Anon flinched. She had missed that Sunny stayed behind, too focused on Diamond. “But I had to act.” Sunny continued.

Anon turned towards Celestia, the disguised alicorn still sipping on her damned jasmine tea with that calm, serene expression.

“Nah, I understand,” Anon said with a sigh, reining in her emotions a little. “I think. I just….how did you get my message? I didn't really explain things.”

Celestia raised a brow.

“Message?”

Anon froze. Something felt stuck in her throat.

“You know, the one asking you to come?” Anon said with forced nonchalance. “Why else would you be here?”

Anon watched Sunny, searching. Waiting for some signs of recognition on the faux pegasus.

Anon found none.

“Ah, of course. That message,” Sunny said awkwardly. “You should go talk to Diamond. I think she needs it.”

Anon gulped. Sunny had just lied to her.

Celestia never got her letter.

“Right,” Anon said, getting up, only just stopping herself from running up stairs. “I better go.”

So who else called her here?

Anon found Diamond in her–and, for the foreseeable future, their–room.

“Diamond?” Anon said. Lyra and Bon Bon already left the room. It was only them. She didn't know if it made her feel better or worse. She definitely felt like she wanted them near, but also very much not. Not for this conversation.

Diamond sat on a bed - a second one and a new addition to the room - hind legs dangling over the edge, staring into nowhere.

“Yeah?” Diamond replied, eyes downcast, hoof massaging her cheek absentmindedly.

“I'm sorry.”

Diamond managed a small smile.

“Don't be,” Diamond said easily. “It isn't your fault.”

Anon sighed to herself.

I have a strong feeling I just had this conversation. Just from the other side.

“It kinda is,” Anon said, sitting next to Diamond. The mattress of the bed was soft. Far too soft for her taste. “Sunny was only there ‘cause of me.”

Diamond opened her mouth, then shut it again. The bedroom fell as silent as a librarian’s tomb.

“No. It's my fault,” Diamond said with far too much nonchalance. “I goaded my mother into it.”

Anon clenched her jaw. She imagined Spoiled Rich. She imagined the True Spork. Then she imagined using the True Spork on Spoiled Rich and shoving it into places normally reserved for a proctologist’s examination.

It helped a little.

“How exactly did you ‘goad your mother’,” Anon said, glad to be sitting so she could use her front hooves for air quotes, “into punching you in the face?”

“I told her no,” Diamond said with an easy shrug.

Anon started to massage her temples. It was the only thing she could do to prevent herself from screaming or committing grievous bodily harm onto certain parties.

Is that how I make others feel when I talk?

“Jesus-fucking-Christ,” Anon said.

Diamond tilted her head.

“I don't know what any of those words mean.”

Anon took a deep breath. She was not going to get through this conversation sane without aid.

“Hey, want some candy?” Anon asked Diamond suddenly.

“Candy,” Diamond deadpanned, brow raising upwards.

Anon smiled. She jumped off the bed and went to the center of the room, moving a loose floorboard out of the way with her magic.

She pulled a candy bar from the hole in the floor.

“Yup,” Anon said, tossing it towards the other filly. “Sweets always make me feel better.”

Diamond blinked, the ice-pack forgotten, she simply stared at the hole in the floor filled with candy bars, chocolate and was that a box of bonbons?

“Spring,” Diamond said slowly, “why do you have sweets hidden in your floor?”

This time, it was Anon’s turn to shrug.

“I already said, ‘cause it makes me feel better.” Anon answered, grinning.

Diamond gave her another blank stare.

“That doesn't answer the question, Spring.”

Anon sat back down, staring at the chocolate held in her hoof.

The simple truth was, she started hiding food around the house out of the ingrained belief she would one day run out of it.

How was she going to explain this now that Diamond was living with her? How would she explain any of those old, treacherous, lifesaving habits she still had? Diamond and her may have been more similar than Anon wanted to admit, wanted to see in this world, and Diamond might be able to understand some of it. At least a little but…

But, in truth, Anon wasn't sure she wanted Diamond to understand. What sheer desperation to live could turn you into.

Because, quite frankly, nobody deserved to understand that. Least of all one of her friends.

Anon looked at the chocolate in her hoof again, it was starting to melt a little. Dark, sticky thing refusing to let go, staining her.

The stash…she could share that story. That, at least, had a happy ending.

Anon took a deep breath.

“I, eh, kinda used to steal and hide food ‘round the house,” Anon admitted. “For emergencies.”

“For emergencies,” Diamond deadpanned. “You ‘kinda’ stole food. For emergencies.”

The incredulousness in Diamond's voice was both dripping and cutting.

“Yeah,” Anon said. “In case I get hungry.”

Diamond began to roll her eyes but then stopped, putting two and two together.

Anon was always far too scrawny.

“Spring,” Diamond said softly. ”They wouldn't let you starve.”

The ‘not again’ part Diamond did not say out loud.

“Well, I know that now.” Anon said sheepishly. “Anyway, I figured, both Bon Bon and Lyra are pretty smart, they will notice the food I've been nicking to stash away. So I made one obvious stash for them to find and take away.”

It was what usually worked for her. Give others easy answers and they stop looking further into it once they confirm what they already thought. After all, why ask questions when you think that you already have the answer?

Of course, in this scenario, Anon was still expecting some punishment for stealing the food - but better that than losing her lifeline in case she had to run. Starving was notfun.

But, of course…

“They, eh, didn't do that.” Anon said, rubbing the back of her head. “They just added more to it!”

That last part was exclaimed with maybe too much enthusiasm, but Anon still felt strongly about it.

“Well, they did take some of the stuff that wasn't really…fresh anymore,” Anon clarified “But they put other stuff in. And I kept it up. Stealing food just to see what they will do. And after a longer while, it wasn't even real food anymore. Just…what made me happy. By now it's mostly just a sneaky snack depository.” she smiled. “Bit of a miracle we don't get mice in here, frankly.”

“Oh.” Diamond whispered. “That's nice of them.”

Anon nodded

“It is, and they are.” Anon said fondly. “It's one of those things I had to…get used to. I guess. Ponies being nice to me.”

Diamond Tiara sighed, looking away.

“I…” she started, hesitating. “Sometimes mother would send me away without dinner. But I learned to be persuasive with the maids, so I would get dinner, anyway.”

“Persuasive?” Anon asked.

“Blackmail.” Diamond said flatly. “A lot of blackmail.”

Anon growled, startling Diamond.

“And they would not give you food without that?” Anon demanded.

Diamond shook her head. “They were too scared of my mother. I don't blame them.”

Diamond fell silent for a moment.

“Spring, when you saw me, and you got this really intense look…what were you planning?”

“I don't think you want to know Dia.” Anon answered honestly. (It involved the True Spork and was decidedly unpleasant for at least one party involved.)

“You wanted to hurt her.” Diamond Tiara said.

It was not a question.

“I wanted to stop her,” Anon said seriously. “From doing this again to you. You’re my friend. I…I’ve had enough of my friends getting hurt.”

Or worse, but Anon didn't feel the need to add that.

Diamond face softened.

“You should try being kinder to yourself. “

Anon blinked.

“What?”

“I'm not dumb, Spring.” Diamond said. “You sometimes act like anything that happened to you is okay, because it happened to you. Because it's just how things are.”

Diamond turned, throwing the covers over her, Anon only staring stunned.

“You deserve better than that.”

Anon didn't reply, she didn't know how.

“Spring?” Diamond mumbled.

“Hmm?”

“Goodnight.”

Anon gave her a wry smile.

“Goodnight Diamond.”

Morning was an awkward affair.

This was usually true for most, and especially Anon and especially this morning.

She had found herself unable to sleep for more than an hour at a time, always waking up sweaty and tired, heart drumming in her chest.

It wasn't Diamond's fault. If anything, she helped a little. As strange as it sounded, Anon was pretty unused to the idea of sleeping alone. Most of her life, she was sharing living quarters with someone. Her presence was…comforting.

No, the dreams were not Diamond's fault. The mess in her head was on Anon alone.

She would deal with it. She always did.

If there was a bright side to her restless night, it was the fact she did not remember her dreams, somehow avoiding Luna's attention. Anon didn't feel like talking to the alicorn princess right now. Any of them, really.

She had her head already too filled with conflicting thoughts. Of Daybreaker’s possible motives for lying to her and of Celestia’s hidden plans for her. Adding another alicorn into the mix wasn't a very attractive idea at the moment.

With nothing to do, and unwilling to just lay in bed without distraction, Anon crawled out of her bed, feeling very much like a walking corpse while she dragged her sleepy body into the bathroom.

She phased through the doors, not wanting to wake Diamond by opening a creaking door and because she could not be bothered to open it normally.

So she sat in the shower, hot water falling on her fur while she tried to breathe.

There was a deep, bitter irony about Diamond ending up with her here. Spoiled Rich did want them to be like sisters.

She probably should have been more careful with what she wished for. Anon had ample experience there.

Done feeling sorry for herself, Anon got out of the shower.

Diamond was asleep when she went in.

This wasn't the case when she got out.

Anon had walked out of the bathroom, towel around her shaggy mane, Diamond staring at her with a stormy expression. The bruise on her cheek still showing a little.

“Morning Dia,” Anon said tiredly. “Bathroom’s free.”

“Spring, can I hug you?” Diamond said suddenly.

Anon tilted her head, confused.

Finally, she shrugged.

“Sure?”

Diamond did. It was quick, and Anon felt herself stiffen and flinch at the contact. But it…it wasn't terrible, she guessed.

Diamond then left for the bathroom, leaving Anon standing confused in the middle of the room.

It took her a minute and a glance at the mirror to realize the reason behind Diamond's sudden surge of affection.

Wet fur doesn't hide scars.

When Anon and Diamond found their way downstairs, breakfast was already served.

And Filthy Rich was already waiting.

If Anon looked tired, Filthy Rich looked downright drained. The stallion had seemingly aged twenty years since she had last seen him - he looked greyer, wearier. His shoulders were slumped and there were giant bags under his eyes.

And, despite his state of advanced dishevelment, the second he saw Diamond, he smiled.

“Dad!”

The filly ran up to him, impacting like a miniature bejeweled missile into Filthy Riches side, nearly toppling him over.

“Diamond,” Filthy Rich choked, the grown up stallion on the verge of tears. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered into Diamond's mane, holding her close.

“Dad, it's okay,” Diamond said, crying openly now. “You didn't know.”

“I should have,” Filthy Rich said gravely.

“You had work. I understand.”

Filthy Rich stiffened. He pulled Diamond away from the hug, his expression turning pained, as if what Diamond said physically hurt him. Maybe it did.

“Diamond,” he said slowly. “Please. Let me.”

He took a deep breath.

“You don't have to make excuses for me. I failed you. I’m sorry.”

Diamond looked away,

“I sold it,” Filthy Rich said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Diamond snapped to attention, eyes widening.

“What.”

Filthy Rich shrugged.

“The company. I sold it.”

“But- but all your work,” Diamond stammered.

“It wasn't important,” he said, pulling Diamond back into the hug. “You are.”

The conversation following was not an easy one. Diamond had to stay with them for a little while.

The reason was simple.

“What will happen to Spoiled Rich?” Bon Bon asked.

“Spoiled Milk,” replied Filthy icily. “We’re no longer together.”

Divorce proceedings. And getting a new house - the manor belonged to Spoiled Milk’s family, despite the fact it was an almost uninhabitable ruin before Filthy Rich had it remodelled. Apparently, Spoiled’s father demanded they have a prenup before their marriage, despite the fact that the Dairy family was on the verge of total bankruptcy. A decision Filthy Rich could only laugh at now.

So, after a tearful goodbye, the two foals went back to their room in solemn silence, both unsure of what to do now. Anon did have some plans for later - if they stayed the same and Bon Bon didn't change her mind, which would be understandable, considering - but that was hours away yet.

And then, Diamond got an idea.

“You have a doll house,” Diamond said, pointing at the miniature, wooden structure in question. “We could play with it.”

It was simple, it was distracting and it was better than sitting about being sad, Diamond thought. It was a great suggestion! Except…

“Absolutely not,” Anon said quickly.

“Why?” Diamond whined. “I want to play with you!”

Anon gave it a quick glance. She had kept the toys Bon Bon and Lyra gave her clean on their shelf and in the toy box. They were gifts and deserved at least that, but she never played with them, for multiple reasons.

First, it was juvenile. She was a jumper, for goodness’ sake! She had been stabbed and shot at and she had practical experience running from cannibals! Playing with dolls was for little kids, not for somebody who knew what color their spleen was. (Red. It was red. All organs are red when they are still running. Though the shade differs.)

The second reason was a little more embarrassing.

“I don't know how,” Anon admitted.

“How can you not know how?” Diamond snarked. “It's a dollhouse! You pick up the dolls and you play with them!”

“Well, I never had toys before! It's not like they come with instructions!”

Diamond first sighed, then rolled her eyes and then finally, picked up the dolls and sat on the floor, doll in hoof.

“Eh, what are you doing?” Anon asked, utterly flummoxed.

“Showing you how to play.” Diamond said haughtily. “Obviously”

She lifted the doll up, stroking its faux mane fondly.

“This is Ruby, she is smart, she is free and she can say no when she wants!”

Diamond paused, taking a deep breath, calming her shaking hoof.

She held another and gave it to Anons.

“This is her friend,” Diamond said, “what's her name?”

“It's a doll,” Anon said flatly. “They don't get to have names.”

“Pretend, Spring.” Diamonds chastised, “You know how to do that, right?”

Anon looked at the doll, in its cutesy, frilly costume and at the green glass eyes. A different shade of green than her own eyes, but familiar still, somehow. It stirred something deep in the recesses of her battered heart. A pang of dull pain always present, but often ignored.

“Summer,” Anon whispered. “She owns a pastry shop.”

“And she misses her older sister.”

Bon Bon was many things at the moment.

Flustered, more than a little angry. A filly in her town was going through all of this and she didn't notice. She was supposed to notice things! That was her job. She joined the agency so she could stop more ponies from going through what she had gone through, help them avoid feeling the way she used to feel. She should have known better.

And she had failed.

All of this to say, when she went up the stairs to check on the filly she failed, Bon Bon wasn't in the best of moods.

“Lyly, what are you doing?” Bon Bon hissed.

Lyra was already there, standing in the doors, eavesdropping,

“Shhh!” Lyra shushed the agent, “Look!” she pointed into the room where Diamond and Spring were.

Bon Bon’s jaw dropped.

“Is that-”

“Spring is playing! With toys!” Lyra exclaimed.

Bon Bon sat down, staring.

“She’s never done that before,” Bon Bon said, mildly dazed by the scene.

“She has, actually,” Lyra chirped. “She would surround herself with toys and then just stare at them helplessly. It was kind of cute.”

Lyra's expression changed.

“I don't think she knew what to do with them before,” she said quietly.

Before Bon Bon could manage to find a reply to that, the door fully opened, revealing Spring standing there with a raised brow, Diamond behind her, still holding the dolls.

“Hey?” Spring said, visibly confused. “Oh, are we going already?”

Bon Bon blinked. Right, she did promise she would take Spring out today, didn't she? She almost forgot on account off…well, everything really. From all that happened in the Cauliflower, to Anon ending up in a hospital to calling her mom yesterday to…all of this mess with Spoiled Rich.

“Eh, and where exactly are we going?” Diamond asked from behind Anon.

And, to make Bon Bon’s day even weirder, Spring smiled one of those rare, genuine smiles.

“Just the best place in Equestria.”

Bon Bon felt something warm spread in her chest.

After all, it was high praise, considering where Spring wanted to go today.

Diamond Tiara was confused.

This was not often the case, so it warranted some attention.

Bon Bon’s BonBons was a candy shop. Diamond Tiara was aware of it. She was also aware of its long-running pseudo-feud with Sugarcube corner (From time to time, Pinkie Pie would try to make chocolate while Bon Bon would try her luck with baked goods, and much suffering followed, as was the way of Ponyville).

What Diamond was not aware of was the space in the back of the shop.

Intrinsically, she knew there had to be one–That was how shops work. They had to make all of their products somewhere. But having never seen it before, the back of the shop was this theoretical area that supposedly existed.

Though it wasn't that exciting, it was basically just a large kitchen.

But that was not what had Diamond Tiara confused.

It was the things currently happening there which baffled her to no end.

Diamond Tiara did not know much of how families were supposed to work. Her world was made of expectations and family was a performance. All she had to do was know her role and play it well. The perfect daughter, the diligent daughter, the obedient daughter who did as she was told. She played those roles and wore that mask tight on her face. Some days, it got so tight she felt it might crack. Some days, she wasn’t sure whether the mask would crack first, or her. Other days it was as natural as breathing.

But it was a mask, a performance, nonetheless.

She did have some reprieve. The rare moments, mostly when her father took her out somewhere, or it was just Silver Spoon and her alone and Diamond had allowed herself to be…herself a little more.

But those moments were rare. Something to cherish and hold close to her heart. Something to make last, to use later when searching for a reason why.

One must understand, the most important thing about a performance is the script. It dictates what happens and how. All that is supposed to be and all that isn't is in the script. It dictates how you act and how you feel. It's the rules by which the universe is run.

The scene she was watching did not feel like a performance. And definitely not one run by a script she knew.

“Eeeeep-”

“Lyly, please. Calm down.”

Lyra was squeaking. And bouncing.

“You got us the Canterlot palace gardens as a venue?!” Lyra shouted excitedly. “I thought that was booked years in advance!”

“Sunny did.” Bon Bon said easily. “She knows the important ponies there.”

“She sure does.” Spring said with a smirk.

Bon Bon gave her a look, shrugged and turned back to her currently-vibrating fiance.

“Have you thought about who we’re going to invite?” she asked.

Lyra stopped bouncing for a moment, appearing thoughtful for a few seconds before shrugging.

“Not really,” she admitted. “We hadn’t even set up a date before.”

“Prepare for a big wedding.” Bon Bon said, turning away from Lyra, choosing to watch Spring prepare something Diamond didnt even begin to recognize in a mixing bowl. “Sunny loves weddings. I know we planned for a smaller ceremony, but I know her. It's not going to stay that way.”

Bon Bon leaned over Springs shoulder, spoon in hoof, scooping up a little of whatever Spring was mixing and tasting it.

“Needs bit more-”

“I know, mom.”

Bon Bon froze for a moment.

“Still getting used to that,” she said after a few beats.

Spring could only nod.

“Yeah. You and me both.”

“You and I,” Bon Bon corrected, at which Spring blew her a raspberry.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes and ruffled Springs' hair.

Diamond simply watched. She did not see, did not feel the script.

If this was a performance, they were wonderfully bad at it. And If there was a script, it was presumably on fire.

She smiled, got up and started to talk to Lyra about wedding dresses - if she had to have a high society upbringing, she may as well use it for something fun. Fancy dress wear was her expertise - she was even named after one!

Diamond didnt know if it would last. How would she look at this moment, in years to come. But she knew that now, as she was, would hold this moment. And she would hold it close.

And unknown to them all, in the basement of a house that wanted to be a home and succeeded, a single silver coin started to glow.

Glow and speak.

“Hey? Does anylin- anypony hear?” an unsure voice asked the empty air.

“My name is Thorax. “

“And I would like to defect.”

Author's Note

Ah, another one done. We are slowly getting there - to the end.

This chapter may be a little rougher, sadly, PseudoBob got swamped with work. In the end, I decided that it would be better to upload now rather than letting you wait even longer. I did take my sweet time already.

Bit of a more…slice-of-life? Comfort? Fuzzy feely, chapter, if you get me. I do like my fuzzy feeling.

I dunno, though, for the changeling guy, Thorax is still okay! Traumatized, but okay!

He aint gonna have it easy, though.

I listen to music while writing, it helps me, for reasons unknowable. This time it was mostly First Rate Town and No Time To Explain, both from Good Kid, mixed in with some Mythmaker, from Paladin for good measure. My taste in music is as impeccable as it is esoteric and byzantine.

Still better than chapter twenty three, I wrote that on only Eurobeat remixes and Payday ost's.