"What have you learned about him Twilight?" Celestia had to suppress a smile as she saw the lavender mare try to organize her notes, before giving up and speaking from memory.

"Well, he matches Elfilis's description physically but chromatically it's all wrong. He still responds to the name Kirby-"

"Poyo!"

"Like that, yes. Either Elfilis doesn't know his colors, it's an imperfect process turning Dream Matter into living creatures, or he is just another member of Kirby's species who just so happens to share the same name. And on that previous point, I use the term 'living creature' loosely. He generates no body heat as far as I can tell, and I don't know if he is simply cold-blooded because he swallowed my thermometer while I wasn't looking. I also can't draw blood, in part because I am missing the right tools and also because he has no veins as far as I can tell. That thermometer by the way? Completely gone, I can't summon it from wherever it is or Kirby's stomach utterly destroyed it near instantly." A dry thermometer dinked her in the side of the head.

"Or option three, his stomach negates magic. 'Stomach' is also used loosely, he sometimes seems to be a giant mouth on feet and other times his jaw is just as small as it appears to be. No possible reproductive capabilities, unless Pinkie is right about him being something like a 'Parasprite,' which according to her eats food and directly converts the nutrients and proteins into a clone of itself. Kirby is about three hoofs tall, and every time I tried to weigh him I got a radically different result but it varied from literally without weight to about as heavy as a healthy foal." She took a breath finally, Celestia was about ready to cut her off.

"In short, he makes no sense and you'll have to wait for Princess Luna and Elfilis, whenever he wakes up, to try to study Dream Matter in greater detail before we can learn anything more about Kirby." Twilight looked to the side for a second before shoring up some courage and looking back up at her mentor. She had been waiting for her to ask.

"Celestia, I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I would love to help learn more about dreams moving forward, I really would but... Everypony else is getting ready to go home to Ponyville. I, I know I just met them recently but we accomplished something amazing together and I don't want to leave them! Could I...?"

"With all of the powers vested in me as Princess of the Sun, I hereby move ownership of the Golden Oaks library in Ponyville from the crown to Twilight Sparkle, for her to do with as she wishes. Of course you may go stay with your friends. You are my student, but you are also your own pony. I would never wish to keep you from what makes you happy." The two ponies initiated a quick hug before Twilight grabbed her bags and ran to the door.

"Thank you Princess! Spike! Come on! We could still catch the train if we hurry!"

"I'm coming!" Spike had been playing with 'Kirby,' with a quill, trying to tickle him before he startled and ran after Twilight as best as a baby dragon could. Celestia was proud of her, and sad to see her go, but she knew they would still be seeing a lot of each other in the near future. She looked at Kirby as he sadly poked at the feather Spike left behind. He hadn't really been ticklish but he had clearly been enjoying the attention.

"Don't worry little one, perhaps you and I could- No that's not food!" Kirby starting inhaling as hard as he could, and wow, Twilight was not wrong when she said his mouth could change size. The feather stayed still for just a moment before the suction suddenly pulled it right into his puffy body. "I don't know if that's good for you- And you've swallowed it- What the fu-" She never got to finish that sentence, she was suddenly attacked a purple mass of feathers and joy.

"Noooo- HahahaHAHA! STOP! I'm actually ticklish! Damn it Spike! HAhaha!"

Luna kept a calm vigil over an unconscious Elfilis. He had floated to the floor, unconscious, shortly after his creation had begun trying to play with everypony. He was okay, his heart still beat and his chest still breathed, but it was his dream that had been affected the most. It was still there, still clear, but it now resembled more the average pony's dream instead of the force of nature it was only hours ago. It was steadily growing, for which Luna was thankful, and it was only a matter of time until he came back to them.

It was a very short matter of time.

"Haa-! Where? Where is he...? Why am I using two beds?" The princess jumped as he shot up suddenly, but she smiled at his antics soon after.

"I had attempted to use the one bed, but your ears made it a little difficult to fit all of you onto the mattress, so I had another bed brought in. As for Kirby, he is with my sister for the moment."

"Oh, uh, thanks. I usually just try to wrap my wings around me. As for Kirby, come on! Up, up, up! You've got to see this!" He was already out the door before she could stop him.

"Sir Elfilis! Hold!" I stopped my sprint at her call. I was definitely in a bit of a hurry, and the excitement I felt was indescribable, but I realized a little late that I had probably just pulled a faux pas again.

"Sorry Luna, what else do you have to say?"

"I wanted to make sure you were feeling well. Your dream is much smaller than it was before, and while it is still healthy, I wanted to make sure you weren't adversely affected by using so much Dream Matter."

"You mean besides falling asleep?" She just nodded at me with a small glare. "I feel fine actually. I wouldn't know anything was still wrong had you not just told me. Anything else?"

"Yes. We have decided to make our first appearance to our subjects, and Celestia and I will turn the day into night for our subjects. Thus, we must request that thou watch Kirby until the presentation is concluded." She was trying too hard to make this official. Luna was effectively just asking me to babysit.

"Yeah, of course. I'll watch the little guy, you and your sister have responsibilities, I get that." The smaller alicorn let out a held breath, did she think I was going to be upset with her?

"Thank you verily Sir Elfilis. Now, follow me. We must fetch Tia." And she started walking the other way. Seriously, how was that any less suggestive than that photo? I just let out a huff as I followed her,

"Before you have to go, I should tell you, I remembered more stuff. Not about myself or Fecto, but about Kirby and where he comes from." And it was true. When the Phantom came out of the portal, it was like a wall had been busted down. I recalled a lot more about the pink puffball and his games. What a guy, honestly.

"That's great news isn't it? What have you found?" Oh, I knew exactly what to tell her.

"Well, he comes from a world called Dreamland." She just looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. "Yep, really. Made his home on Planet Popstar, full name." She was smiling now. "He makes use of weapons like the Rainbow Sword, Love-Love Stick-" She snorted.

"Surely you jest? That sounds like a cheap toy one would find in the red-light district." Luna stopped for just a second before heading into the study with a little look of embarrassed thought. "I wonder if those are still around..." A familiar voice spoke up from behind her.

"Can confirm Princess, red-light districts are doing great." Trust Frontline to know and to be so unrepentant as to casually talk to a princess about something as crass as the red-light district. Whatever the hell it was. Why was I running into her everywhere anyway?

"O-oh, ah, good! I mean good to know! Rather- uh, ahem. Is my sister still inside? The study?" Maybe I should try to keep her away from Frontline in the future whenever she is needed for political purposes.

"Yes princess!" That wasn't Frontline, that was her partner. "She has not left since before noon!"

"Oh thank goodness... I mean, good! Thank you. Uh... dismissed!" As I followed the moon pony back into the study, I heard the still-unnamed male guard snip at Frontline.

"What is your malfunction!?"

"Shut up, you pissed yourself." I laughed as the door shut behind us, and after I shifted my attention to Celestia, I bust a gut and started coughing. Luna wasn't much better, holding a hoof to her smile in an attempt to hide it.

"Ah, haha, Tia? Is everything alright?" Celestia just looked back her night oriented sibling with a deadpan expression from her place in the center of a nest made of parchment, floorboards, and purple down feathers. My Phantom Kirby sat on top of her head just behind her horn, snoozing away and huddling into his Wing-Ability like a content mother hen.

"Look at all the purple feathers in her mane! It looks like she picked a fight with you Luna!"

"Haha! Indeed!" Luna finally lost the battle against her mirth as she gave a hearty laugh at her sisters plight.

"Whenever you two are done, I would appreciate some help leaving this pretend mother bird routine."

"Oh, he isn't pretending. He has experience raising baby birds. He has one-hundred percent claimed you." She blushed hard as Luna guffawed.

"Yes, well, I am not some small chick who needs warming."

"Neither were the babies. They were larger than ponies. He probably just saw unarmored wings and thought, 'protect the baby.'" She just looked resigned.

"Why would a lack of armor mean I'm a baby bird Elfilis?"

"Because they grew up to be massive falcons with natural metal armor and feathers, tough enough to tank artillery." I giggled as she hung her head.

"I... Maybe I'll ask later. Just get me out of here."

The two sisters left me with a now featherless Phantom Kirby to get cleaned up and ready to show off their powers to their adoring fans. He was exactly as I thought he'd be (besides the color), and considering he was literally made from my thoughts on how Kirby should be, that wasn't really a surprise. I very sincerely doubted he was as powerful as the original, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

"Hey, do you mind if I rename you? So I don't confuse myself talking about you and your original?"

"Hah~" That sounded like permission.

"Hm, Phantom Kirby... Kirphy? Phirby?" He pouted a bit at those names. I didn't really think so either.

"How about... Kirby Two? Twoby? No, Toby! Toby is an actual name, how about that one." It might have just been because of my own enthusiasm, but Toby started cheering and clapping his hands at his new name. He really was just like...

"You aren't like Fecto's Phantoms, are you?" He stopped and puffed his smile into the smuggest look I had seen since I got her. "Amazing. You have an actual SOUL, you aren't just following an instinct to be like Kirby... Hmph. I guess my powers aren't a carbon copy after all." Fecto's Phantoms, they were just impressions. They would pretend, but they were just following the motions, they didn't truly feel the same things as their predecessors. "Stay here for a sec?" I walked out the study and looked to the guards outside. "Frontline, could I use your sword for a moment?"

"Only if I get to use yours~" I should have seen that coming.

"No seriously, I need to see something." Her partner spoke up.

"A guard is not to depart with his gear until his shift is over, and-" Frontline knocked him over.

"But, this guard would be willing to make an exception so long as you take her out to dinner tonight." I just looked her up and down.

"You are really set on this aren't you?" If she nodded any faster her head would of popped off. Mister Guard just started beating his helmet against the haft of his spear. "Fine. Dinner. Meet me by my door when you're ready, we'll have a picnic or something. Now come in, the both of you. I want to try something."

"Ooh, kinky~"

"Only if you're a masochist."

"Ha- what? Hold on what are we doing?" Laughing as the two followed in, one much more angrily than the other, I moved aside to show them Toby standing on the edge of his nest.

"Hiiiii~" Turns out Frontline is a pegasus, her armored wings always just looked like extra plate, but they certainly worked as she hugged (crushed) the Phantom against her barrel.

"Oh my god! What the fuck are you?! I love you!" The purple puff just hugged her back and laughed. She seemed to melt into his touch, just completely relaxed.

"You're so soft..."

"I think I just lost my date." I turned to mister spear. "You want to go instead?"

"NO! I mean, no. No thank you. You aren't my type." Frontline threw her now signature evil smirk his way over Toby's head.

"What's your hang-up? That he's big or that he's bigger?" See? Like I said. Absolutely dastardly.

"Alright, alright, I do actually have something I need your help with." I don't think Mister Rules was listening, what with his helmet pulled over his face and all, but Frontline at least was paying attention.

"Fine. You said you needed my sword? Just saying if you stab my baby I'm going to take yours right out of its sheath."

"One, holy shit. Two, Toby is our baby, okay? I'll fight you for custody and I know the Princesses. Now give your sword to him." She didn't look comfortable about it, but she unhooked her scabbard from her armor and held it out to 'her baby.' Toby proceeded to just inhale the blade straight out of it.

"What the shit-" And with a flash of sparks, Toby was revealed to now be wearing a floppy yellow cap and brandishing an entirely different sword than the one he just ate. "Where did the hat come from? Where is my sword?"

"I don't know and I don't know. Now, Toby! Attack Mr. Guard!" Said guard finally took his head out of his hoof, his helmet still wasn't on correctly though.

"Wha- Attack?! Hold on- Ow! I'm not ready damn it!"

"Yeah! You get that prude! That's my baby!"

Author's Note

Someone said they liked Frontline and that was enough to make me like her enough to replace a different character in the story going forward. I do really like writing her interactions. She is also single handedly earning the story it's MAture rating and Tags at this point.