Author's Note

CHU (content heads up): Minor terminology uncommon for the TV-Y rating. Otherwise, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter VII

Aita and I arrive at the mirror to bring him home. I don’t know what happened back at Spitfire’s office. I’m usually calm about trying to deal with my opposition, even if some of the time I wasn’t very nice. I’ve been more irritable since I turned my attitude around. Could it be a natural response to seeing someone in danger even if only mental? Maybe not. Even if I did leak Spitfire’s behavior as a drill instructor with ulterior motives, this is exactly how I remember her acting and back then, and I wasn’t actually angered by that back then. What’s different here that managed to set me off?

“Hey, Aita, before you go, I wanted to ask you something. I noticed that Spitfire’s behavior was exactly the same as it was long before I turned myself around, but back during the leak, I never exploded like that. What’s different now?”

Aita gasps. “I think I know. It happens whenever a friend of yours is in danger. In the drill instructor leak, we all know it was the motive to drive others apart that fueled that leak. But now, ever since the Battle of the Bands, you’ve put your friends before yourself. Instead of a simple detour of plans like in the Fall Formal, now it’s the thought of losing your friends because of someone else… sometimes literally.”

“You- you mean exploding is natural? That my protectiveness made my anger appropriate? Even during the Friendship Games?”

“Who wouldn’t? It’s the reason I live with Twilight now. Queen Chrysalis was outraged at Jon because his broken care-taking promise cost her my mom’s life.”

I gasp now, at the thought of Chrysalis doing the same as I would in the same situation. I saw that when I hugged Aita. “That’s right. Your memories showed that Chrysalis managed to turn her attitude around too, and that she cares for her kind now more than ever. Thanks for helping me out with that. I seriously will have to pay you a visit when we’re all done with this. In the meantime, tell Twilight I said hi.”

Aita nods and gives me a hug. Then, goes through the mirror.

“This isn’t over yet, Spitfire.”

***

While hanging out with Spike in the kitchen, I hear that familiar piano play from a small speaker. I gasp.

“Spike, that must be Aita.”

I rush out of the kitchen to the library, seeing that Aita seems to be relieved about the current time coming from his DS.

“Twilight!” Aita cheers, coming over to me and hugging me.

“How’s Sunset Shimmer doing? I heard about what Superintendent Spitfire was trying to do.”

“Sunset didn’t like the idea of having the day off just because of a surprise conference. Hopefully, she and the others will try to set things straight.”

“I understand,” I reply. “You do have school tomorrow and Friday, and I wouldn’t want you missing it so that somebody could haze you.”

“I don’t know. Something about why she wanted to meet me was off to me. I don’t think it has to do with hazing; but because of my name being on the nurse’s record. I don’t think Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna picked up on it, but I certainly did.”

“Your name? …no… You don’t think Superintendent Spitfire was acting-” I start, but notice Aita nodding. “Then we must let Queen Chrysalis know about this at once!”

I run over to the table and grab and unfurl a scroll.

Dear Queen Chrysalis,

On Aita’s visit to Canterlot High School in Sunset Shimmer’s world, he’s found out about Superintendent Spitfire and her ongoing, heavily outdated behavior, including her history as a hazy drill instructor and her xenophobic tendencies. If you could help us out for a while, we’d be immensely grateful.

Yours truly,
Princess Twilight.

“Wanna do the honors, Aita?” Aita nods, then takes the letter and sends it to its recipient. “Alright, we’ll have to wait before she-”

Suddenly, Queen Chrysalis teleports into the castle library between the two of us.

“Twilight! Is it true?!? Was someone trying to harm young Aita?!?”

***

Twilight explains the situation to Chrysalis as we gather around the table.

“I must thank you for writing to me, Princess Twilight. Let your friends over in Sunset’s world know that I will deal with this abuse of power personally. No one, especially me, will take these actions on the throne!”

“You have my word. Dear Sunset Shimmer, I write to you about the situation regarding Superintendent Spitfire. If you plan on bringing your friends, I’ve got one right by my side right now. You’ve probably heard of her: Queen Chrysalis.”

Of course, Twilight. Thank you very much for that help. Send her over right away. Bring Aita too if you want.

“Hm. Sunset Shimmer hasn’t been in Equestria since before you moved to Ponyville, so how did she know I was reformed?” Chrysalis asks.

“Oh yeah, she never got a chance to tell you two, but she can apparently access the memory of whoever she touches.”

“She WHAT? She’s contacted me all this time, and she never ONCE told me about that? Even before encountering Spitfire?!?”

As Chrysalis facehoofs, I start to wince at Twilight’s bewilderment. Maybe turning human should help avoid that taste. “Oof… well it was a pretty new development.”

“Aita, when did you learn to turn human?” Chrysalis asks, pointing out my new form. Huh, she seems genuinely interested in that.

“Oh, this is the form I took on at the alternate Canterlot. I… didn’t really have a choice on that. I still taste emotions now, but I didn’t across the portal.”

“Maybe it’s possible I can learn this form early from you.” Chrysalis proceeds to change into her own human form, a towering six feet. Only downside is… learning to walk. “Whoa… t-tell me how this walking is done!”

Twilight lets out a chuckle and points to the mirror/portal. “Well, now that the two of are done practicing, it’s time to get to the crux of it all.”

“Oh, right.” Chrysalis and I say. We change back to our natural form and finally go through the mirror.