Thanks for the Legacy: After Effects

Chapters

An Afternoon with George and Kevin
Discord's Royal Goof
Reunion's Hollow
Frenemies: TLC Timeline

An Afternoon with George and Kevin

Roughly a month after the princesses announced and delayed their retirement, the search for Wind Rider has ended, which means Twilight, Spike and the rest can finally talk about moving. Unfortunately for me, that means I will end up home alone for the first time in my life.

But no one’s left yet, so I guess while I’m playing my brand new game, I can focus on explaining what’s happened since Spike got wings. So, a couple of months ago, Moondancer, Twilight, Starlight, and whoever else worked on Sim Hive made me another game: Crystal Cup Buckball. So yeah, a sports game added to that list of games I have now. And I do know how Buckball works because of watching Pinkie and Fluttershy’s first game back home.

Crystal Cup Buckball takes the court sideways at an angle like Pokemon Soul Sliver does with the overworld. Probably the easiest position would be the offense. I simply press the screen with the stylus in an arc with fair timing and the ball is on the other side of the court.

Of course, how could I forget the identity change all that news from last month left on me? Twilight elected to take me to Ponyville General Hospital afterward for surgery, so here I am now, about as comfortable as I was in the spring. She did end up having to stay overnight when it happened, since that was a special one that needed her there for permission.

Suddenly, I’m pulled back to reality when my DS lets me know I need to charge it before it drains. So, I head out of my room and into the library. I can see Starlight, Twilight and Spike packing a few saddlebags. As I set the DS on the mirror, Starlight spots me.

“Oh, hey Aita. What’s up?”

“Gotta charge the DS. Crystal Cup Buckball has been fun to play.”

“So sorry none of us could play this time around. Spike, Twilight and I are packing to go to Canterlot for the afternoon. Can’t start moving until we’re sure.”

“Oh yeah. That does remind me. Am I going to Rarity’s or did you have something else in mind?”

“Don’t worry about going to Rarity’s, Aita. Chrysalis has your company covered.”

Starlight nearly rejoins in packing. However, we hear a knock on the door.

“Starlight, could you get that?” Twilight asks, still focused on the task at hoof.

Starlight takes me with her as she darts for the main entrance, where my face plants onto the floor.

“Aita! Starlight!”

Kevin?

“Twilight! They’re here!” Starlight calls.

Wait. They’re?

“Ah, so you’re the one Queen Chrysalis wrote to me about, right?”

Is that who I think it sounds like? That therapist?!? At least I think he was a therapist. I lift my head to see Kevin with presumably a talking wolf that waves to me.

“Greetings, young one.”

Kevin gets me to a standing position. “Aita, this is George Ralph. He and I will be with you while everyone else is in Canterlot.”

George? That’s the wolf’s name? I mean it seems to line up with dog names I remember back home.

Oh good! Good! Good! Twilight runs up here with Spike following close behind, both wearing their saddlebags. Starlight takes hers out of Twilight’s magic. “Ready, Spike?”

“Yeah, but not Aita.”

I sigh relief that at least someone can let me process stuff for once. “Thanks. It’s not every day we have a wolf at our doorstep. No offense, G-George.”

“None taken, young one. So, are you three looking forward to the rendezvous at Canterlot Castle?”

“We sure are, George!” answers Twilight. “I don’t know why we didn’t think of this before for Spike’s trip to Sire’s Hollow!”

I giggle, remembering what happened. “Could it be because the map didn’t find anything? There hasn’t been a single mission the entire year.”

“We know, Aita,” replies Starlight. “Just send us a letter if you need anything from us.”

I nod and wave goodbye as the three start heading out. Once the door closes, I follow Kevin and George as they go into the throne room. I sit on Rarity’s throne while Kevin sits on Applejack's and George sits on Fluttershy’s.

“So, Chrysalis sent you guys… uh, does that mean she already knew you?” Kevin and George confirm what I say.

“Indeed Aita, Kevin recommended to her that I go with him, so she accepted. I look forward to hearing from you directly. I’ve heard a bit about you when Chrysalis needed my advice last month. So, tell me what’s on your mind.”

It’s really uncanny the way George acts. I can almost see him holding an open book with Fluttershy’s head on a green cover, and standing on the first floor of the Golden Oak Library. But now’s not the time to be thinking of… him.

“Okay, you know how the princesses and Chrysalis delayed their retirement, right?” George nods at me. “Well, I was there for the announcement, and Luna complimented me using a shard from the old throne as she saw in my projection spell. She said…” I change momentarily into Princess Luna to aid what I’m trying to say. “What wonderful use of changeling legacy!”

“Ah, I see. So I take it you have your own?” George asks me as I change back.

“Yeah. I come from the uh, real world as Discord calls it. I never lived at the hive, though I’ve visited quite a few times. I only knew to use a piece of the old throne because of what Thorax told Trixie, Starlight and Discord.”

I see Kevin widen his eyes at what I say about Thorax. “You know about Thorax, Aita? What happened to him? I heard Ponyville performed a memorial for him.”

“You weren’t there, Kevin?” asks George.

I shrug. “I guess you were the only one that was, George. I was home in Wisconsin. But yeah, back to that… I don’t think I’ll ever have access to home now that Tim and Sophie are the only ones there Chrysalis could ever trust.”

George gets up off the throne, gets down on all fours, and stops to my left after going around the map. “Well, have you ever approached her about going home?”

“Um, no?” I hesitantly answer.

George rests his paw on the arm of Rarity’s throne. “Then perhaps that’s where you should start. Even Princess Twilight might help too if you consider the option. You do live with her after all.”

Alright, now that is sounding very familiar. This is the same thing that happened with Sunburst when Stellar Flare constantly wrote to him… and Starlight when we went to Sire’s Hollow for the first time… and Areola during her friendship mission. Looks like George is right if those were anything to go off of.

I sigh. “Okay. I get what you’re saying. I’ll wait for Twilight to get home before I call Chrysalis about going home, that way I can talk to them both… Going home… wait a minute. Hey George, you said Kevin wanted you to come with him, right?”

“Correct.”

“Did he somehow know I was still missing home?”

“Of course, Aita,” Kevin interjects as George runs behind me and comes around him. “It’s going to take more than one story to mitigate homesickness.”

“Tell me,” says George as he rests that same paw from before onto the arm of Applejack’s throne. “When did this homesickness start?”

“Last winter, which was roughly a year after moving here, right when the semester in school ended,” I answer. “I find it weird. It never happened last summer, and that was no different compared to how this summer’s been.”

George moves his paw off as Kevin’s hooves rest onto the arm.

“Well,” Kevin points out. “you have us now, and Lightning Dust and that dragon sheriff where Starlight grew up. I don’t think you had any of us over for your first party in Equestria.”

“Kevin has a point, Aita,” George agrees, walking to me and putting his paw on my back. “While going home might help temporarily, it’s not going to eliminate it entirely, which in and of itself might be impossible. You can if you want, but you should also try to spend more time with your friends. See if it helps. Don’t hesitate to come to me if you need to. I’ll be more than happy to give you further advice.”

I nod at George with a smile. “Thanks, George. I’ll try it out.”

He then heads back to Fluttershy’s throne the way he came. “So, now that Aita’s been taken care of, would anyone happen to know the time?”

I spring up and teleport in my DS, then I slide it over to George. “Oh! I think I do. Here.”

When George looks at the time, he doesn’t even flinch. “Ah, plenty of time before they get back. Well Aita? Are you open to some of our adventures?”

I shrug, taking the DS with my magic and putting to my right on the throne. “Why not? I could listen to a couple of stories.”

“So Kevin, would you like to tell her your story or should I do mine?”

Kevin double takes when he hears George using my new pronoun.

“Well, the retirement and mo-,” I try to explain, interrupted by Kevin waving his hooves.

“No-no, I get it. No need to explain, Aita. I’ll try to adapt.” Kevin sighs. “Why don’t you start, George.”

“Sure thing, Kevin. Well, alterwolves don’t come by Equestria often. I first met Cranky when he was looking for Matilda at the foot of Mt. Everhoof. Once he settled into Ponyville, I thought I would move down there too in hopes of celebrating his findings. Unfortunately, Pinkie Pie finding Matilda brought some unforeseen consequences. I was more than willing to help out Cranky, but seeing him enter my therapy room with so much despair was certainly a harrowing experience for me.”

When I hear the name of George’s kind, I am instantly hooked. The “alter” part of alterwolf seems to come from them alternating between two’s and four’s like George has been doing this whole visit. Not only that, but did George really just say he was a therapist himself?!?

“No wonder Kevin recommended you come with him to the castle! You’re a therapist?” George confirms my conclusion with a nod. “So then, were you at Cranky’s wedding too? I don’t remember seeing you there; just Kevin.”

“Oh I was there, Aita. I was in one of the balconies, though I don’t think you saw me. I guess that’s everything about how I managed to live up here. Why don’t you tell your story now, Kevin.”

Kevin grins at the suggestion. Nothing hiding it now. “Alright. For me, I used to live in the hive when Queen Areola was around. When One Thirteen hit, I ended up stranded in Ponyville. I was restricted to the outskirts because of my nature, and it made me severely homesick. But I couldn’t return to the hive because I thought Queen Areola would execute me. One day at one of the bridges by the square, shortly before the changelings returned here, I finally met her.”

In a flashback, Kevin was by the south bridge, looking at his reflection.

“Hey there… former top drone. What’s it like getting abandoned in a town instead of an island?”

Are… are you talking to yourself? asked a voice. When Kevin turned around, he saw a donkey carrying a small cart of apples. She had a brown mane and wore a white shirt collar and an earring.

“Oh hi,” Kevin said in his continued monotone inflection.

“What’s that long face for, dear?” asked the donkey.

“I’ve been really out of it since I was stranded here. I want to go home, but doing that means I get executed by the queen.”

“Are you sure she would do that?” Kevin nodded to her. “Well, I’m not sure this would help in any way, but you look like you could use an apple. I’m Matilda.”

Kevin looked unsure what to say. “A-are you sure about this?”

“Positive. Nopony is about to go hungry on my watch.” Matilda took her harness off and picked up an apple from the cart, approaching Kevin with it. “So, what’s your name?”

“Synth… It’s mind blowing you’re doing this so unconditionally,” remarked Kevin as he grabbed the apple with his hoof.

“Kindness never judges, Synth. I’m actually on my way home from the east orchard. Would you like to accompany me?”

Back in the present, Kevin has just finished with exactly what he remembered, by buzzing his wings to mimic a younger version of himself and Matilda.

“So, I went to live with Matilda. After a while, I’d finally moved on from going home because of her and she considered me an honorary brother. Before we knew it, Mayor Mare renamed me Kevin.”

Man, I remember he knew Matilda, but I didn’t expect she would be so important to him.

“Whoa… So how did you meet Chrysalis?” I ask Kevin.

“Truth be told, I was itching to find out who would be ruling the changeling kingdom after hearing about Thorax’s funeral. I actually heard about it because of George and Cranky picking up Matilda.”

“Wait…” That took place after Chrysalis got her throne back, didn’t it? “Are you sure about that, Kevin?”

“Of course, Aita. I’m confident I met Chrysalis through a trip to the hive. Why?”

“Because if I remember correctly, she went to collect the changelings she still had left so that they could get her kingdom back. Did she try to collect you?”

Kevin looks up and puts his hoof on his chin. “Not that I know of, no. One morning right before Nightmare Night the other year, there was a little commotion in the living room, but I didn’t think much of it.”

“Huh, so that means she did try,” I conclude. “but failed because of Matilda. You did tell her about your conflicting feelings about home when you two first met. That checks out pretty solidly.”

Kevin blushes a faint green. “Aita, only Matilda normally flatters me that hard.”

“So, would you like to announce the time?” George asks.

I float the DS again and turn it on. “What time are Twilight and the rest going to be back?”

“Around five,” answers Kevin.

When the clock appears, it says 4:50 PM. “Huh, it’s almost five now.”

George and Kevin blink to my announcement. “What timing,” George remarks. “They should be back any minute now.”

And right on cue, someone is knocking on the main entrance of the door. I take flight and zip for the door, which I use my magic to open. Kevin and George are following as close behind me as they can.

“Twilight! Spike! Starlight!” I exclaim, promptly hugging the three.

Twilight giggles. “It’s good to see you too, Aita. So how was your afternoon with George and Kevin?”

“It was great! We got on pretty well, I’d say.”

“Yeah. We all shared our stories with each other, although Aita’s served more as a therapy session than George’s or mine.”

Starlight gets excited when Kevin specifies my experience. “Well that’s great!” She suddenly stops herself and hammer-spaces a cup of cocoa to sip into. “D- I mean… I see.”

“So, how did the meeting go?” I ask Twilight.

“Aw, it was awesome!” declares Spike. “We were in and out at the snap of a claw! We had plenty of time to meet our Canterlot friends and eat at Pastry Princess!”

George puts the backs of his paws on his sides. “Huh, did Chrysalis and Carve join you?”

“Actually, they told us to go ahead. I think they needed to chat with each other,” Twilight admits. “Anyway, thanks - Kevin and George - for staying with Aita while we were gone. She clearly enjoyed it.”

George now steps toward Twilight and holds out one of his paws, which she shakes with her hoof. “Thank you for having us over, Twilight. It was a pleasure meeting Aita for the first time. So, will there be anything before Kevin and I head home?”

Twilight shakes her head. “We’re good, George. We’ll see you two later.”

So, George and Kevin walk past the others and wave goodbye, going their separate ways. Once they’re out of view, Twilight, Starlight and Spike lead me back into the castle.

“So Aita, what advice did George give you?”

I answer Twilight’s question by teleporting in four pears, giving one to each of us.

“Well, besides calling Chrysalis, he actually said I should spend some more time with my friends than I have been.”

“But Chrysalis is still in Canterlot, isn’t she?” asks Starlight.

“Only one way to find out.”

I lead the three into the throne room as each eat our pears.

Discord's Royal Goof

Twilight, Spike and Starlight had joined me and Carve in Canterlot so that we could finalize our moving plans once the princesses and I do retire. The rendezvous itself goes well, so we’re in and out pretty shortly. Once the five of us are at the main entrance, Starlight and Twilight look at the times on their DS’s, seeing that it’s only a quarter to three.

Carve whistles, impressed by how quickly everything went. “Was it seriously that easy?”

“But remember Carve, the princesses only need a few days to pack, move out, and plan the ceremony,” Twilight points out. “They’ll write to us when they’re ready.”

Spike flies at my eye level and puts his claws behind his head. “So, why would they leave that announcement hanging?”

“Well, besides Wind Rider and human Spitfire being out on the loose, not all of us are even ready,” Starlight answers. “You saw Aita when all that news dropped.”

“Yes, because you didn’t have any news you wanted to share with us at the castle.” I raise an eyebrow at Starlight, prompting her to chuckle nervously.

“Point taken.”

“Regardless, we have approximately an hour and a half before Spike, Starlight and i have to go back to Ponyville. I could introduce you two to the rest of my old friends,” Twilight offers me and Carve.

“That won’t be necessary, Twilight.”

“Yeah, Chrysalis and I will stay behind. You three go ahead.”

Twilight, Spike and Starlight nod and walk off. They begin chatting to each other. I can’t exactly distinguish what they’re saying, but I do hear something about Pastry Princess.

Carve and I starting walking throughout Canterlot once they’re no longer visible to us. “So, would you like me to drop you off at Las Pegasus?”

“Actually Chrysalis, there is something I wanted to talk to you about while we’re here. You remember me and Aita disabling Stellar Flare’s magic, right?” I nod at Carve’s question. “Um, Starlight was oddly specific when she was saying no creature would ever be able to break Stellar Flare free. Not even a draconequus.”

Carve momentarily changes in Starlight when quoting her.

“That’s simple, Carve. Starlight’s little rescue squad happened to include Discord, and even his magic was negated by my old throne.”

“But there has to be more to it than that. Stellar Flare and human Spitfire somehow escaped, and so did Wind Rider, and he was cocooned.”

“But anypony could break him out with a relocation spell if they wanted to, given they know such a spell. The new throne only amplifies power. That’s how Pharynx was able to go back in time after all. So your point was…”

“Well Chrysalis, Starlight might have somehow concluded Discord was behind their escapes.”

I stop in my tracks and put my hoof down. “Carve, I’m surprised at you! How could you make such wild accusations?!?”

“Which ones?”

“BOTH, Carve! Starlight lets on as much as she knows! Even at odds with me, she would never hide information from us! And Discord would never make such a rash decision! ”

Carve turns around and looks at me eye to eye. “Yes he has, Chrysalis. He faked an illness to test Twilight. He timed an inside joke so that she would miss it and get jealous. He even put pressure on her so that he could have Starlight to himself.”

“Sure Discord has his ways, but you honestly cannot be suggesting he’d deliberately put his friends at risk just to empty a wanted list!”

Finally, SOME queen that understands me! Carve and I hear Discord exclaim. We face the direction his voice is coming from, which seems to be in the direction of Ponyville. Discord’s wings glow as they are levitating a scroll and paper, which subsequently disappear.

“Discord… Carve has been making a serious accusation about you. Care to fill us in?”

As Discord talks, he uses his chaos as visual aid, first magicking a lasso to bring me closer to him, spawning a custom wanted poster of Aita, momentarily growing in size, and finally a little copy of himself passing through a tunnel made by his paw. “Oh, why yes Chryssie. You see, all our past foes were rounded up outside of Equestria to keep our little one safe. We sure don’t want naysayers getting in the way of Aita’s little process.”

“So you did free criminals! Do you know how much trouble with the princesses that could land you in?!?” Carve jumps into the air and stares down Discord. Obviously it doesn’t phase him one bit, but it’s commendable Carve has no qualms with confronting him.

But there’s only one way to determine if Discord is telling the truth, so I bring him to me. “Let me handle this, Carve; Cincinno Animi should do the trick. Discord, I require you to be entirely honest with me and Carve. Did you consider putting lives at risk so that that wanted list would be fulfilled?”

Discord pushes me by extending his arms. “Of course not! I would never want anypony experiencing the sort! Not after being framed!”

I pause for a good few seconds to see if the spell activated, which it doesn’t. I’m in immense relief. “Whew. No locks. I believe you, Discord. I suspect though, Celestia and Luna might want a word with you anyway.”

Carve and I take Discord to the throne room back in Canterlot Castle, where we tell the princesses the news that was behind who they already knew escaped. Luna is the most baffled.

“So let me get this straight. You wanted to keep Aita safe, so you brought back Gladmane, human Spitfire, Tirek, Svengallop, Wind Rider, and the sirens?!?”

“Don’t forget Stellar Flare,” Discord adds, letting his claw combust briefly.

“And you united them all?!?” Celestia exclaims. “How in Equestria could you do that in good conscience?!?”

“Rounding them up in one place was the only way Aita would feel comfortable about her identity change. I left everything they did up to them, including their witch hunt,” explains Discord.

“Luna, go ahead and arrange a new search party for human Spitfire, Tirek and Wind Rider.” Luna does as Celestia tells her and leaves the castle. “Carve, Chrysalis, I could not’ve prepared myself for my pride in you two. Alerting me and Luna really goes to show how far you’ve come throughout the past seven years. It’s disappointing the shift in powers will be happening so soon, but your rule - Chrysalis - has blossomed into one of the biggest turnarounds my sister and I have ever witnessed. Why don’t you two head home while I have a word in private with Discord.”

The moment Celestia begins bringing the subject back to Discord, her tone turns bitter, just as I suspected would happen.

“Well Carve,” I say as the two of us exit Canterlot on our way back home. “It seems you deserve some credit. I could never have come to the conclusion you drew. I had past experiences that attracted a bias in Discord’s favor.”

“You too, Chrysalis. I wouldn’t have thought to use a lie-detecting spell for Discord. I was so focused on what he did, I might’ve said the wrong thing if you didn’t step in so soon.”

“You know, I have a feeling Discord’s actions have tightened our bond.”

“How so?” Carve inquires.

“You see, before he snapped in, we were at an impasse, and it took him to get us out of it. His coordination following me and the princesses’ announcements may not have been how I imagined, but at least insured Aita’s safety during her delicate time.”

“So what Discord said… does that mean everything done by those he brought back shouldn’t be treated as his responsibility?”

“Technically that isn’t the case, Carve. But like I said, he has his ways. If he doesn’t take the blame for what our enemies do, then it’s best we don’t enforce it on him. Now… do you think Aita will call when we get home?”

“No doubt about it, Chrysalis.”

And so, Carve and I look briefly behind us to see that Canterlot is no longer visible to the north.

Reunion's Hollow

Finally the new month has arrived. Ever since Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis delayed their retirements due to the search parties going on in Equestria, everyone’s been a bit uneasy… for more than one reason.

Aita had been trying to stay as comfortable as she can by playing Crystal Cup Buckball, a new collaboration between everyone who worked on Sim Hive last year. Whoever has the time is the one playing with her.

That was until the other day, where Aita and Twilight went to the hospital here in Ponyville. Twilight said something about Aita having surgery, but she didn’t go into ANY detail. That night was the first since Aita moved that it was just me and Spike in the castle.

The next day when the two got home, Aita told us she’s feeling so much better after that surgery, so there’s that. And that was yesterday. Since she came back, her voice has been sounding different compared to before. It’s not so coarse like it used to sound. Maybe the hospital also provided some quick vocal training before she left. She also appears to be wearing a cast that covers the general back area with her legs and tail sticking out.

Today, when I go to the dining room for breakfast, Aita turns out to’ve made it before anyone else since the first summons last month. Since then, I was the first to be there, so that’s good.

“Aita! Oh it’s great to see you here so early.”

“Same here, Starlight. So what do you have going on today?”

“Well, as you can imagine from my announcement, Sunburst and I are dating now. The only thing separating us is the distance. So yesterday, I sent him a letter telling him to meet me at the Ponyville Train Station the next day.”

Aita hovers and gives me a hug. “That’s amazing! I remember seeing you guys reconnect only two years ago, and now you’re a couple?!?”

“All thanks to you, Aita.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Sunburst has you to thank for improving his quality of life by reporting his mother’s behavior, and I have you to thank for Sunburst getting me to open up to Dad. You’ve pulled us closer than I could’ve imagined.”

“Was that why you wanted to move in with him?”

I nod. “If you’d like, you could accompany me at the train station so you could see him.”

Aita takes up my offer to go with me to the train station, mostly because she was curious if Sunburst thought the same way I did.

“Do you think Sunburst would agree with your sentiment?” she asks after I buy me and Sunburst’s tickets.

“No doubt about it Aita. I just hope you’ll be okay without me for the week.”

Aita beams. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll have plenty of company between Spike and Twilight and Dr. Immunity.”

“Immunity? Twilight told me about her once or twice. Who is she again?”

“She’s the pony helping me with training,” answers Aita. “When I left the hospital, she said losing the rasp in my voice made me sound so cozy to her.”

“Yeah I noticed as well, and I’m sure Sunburst will too.”

Right on cue, the Friendship Express comes into view, squealing on the rails as it slows to a stop. When the doors open, Sunburst steps out of the front car behind the engine and spots and runs to us.

“Aita! Starlight!”

“Hi Sunburst!” Aita and I greet back as we hug him.

Sunburst tilts his head, unsure of why Aita is with me. “So did you want to go with us, Aita?”

Aita shakes her head. “I wish I could, but I have to stay home for training tonight.”

“Vocal training?” guesses Sunburst. “Because you do sound different.”

“Yep. Dr. Immunity wanted to make sure I got my training down. I may be a quick learner, but I’ve never had my natural voice changed before. It all comes down to habits.”

ALL ABOARD!!! the conductor suddenly shouts.

“Oh, that’s us, Sunburst!” I exclaim. “Write to us if you want to talk, Aita. Okay?”

Aita nods yes and waves goodbye to us as Sunburst and I step inside the one of the cars. “Will do, Starlight! See you next week!”

When Sunburst and I walk off the train platform at our destination, I immediately notice the gate’s been demolished and removed.

“Whoa, now this is more like it,” I remark. “Last I knew, the gate was still there, but the speaker was decommissioned.”

“Well Starlight, with Mom locked away in the caves in Canterlot, most of her influence has been fading away.” Sunburst suddenly points ahead. “Oh, oh, and new fruit stands have been established where the essence and smoothie shops were.”

As we trot toward the downtown area, none of the businesses that were present when I first returned are standing here anymore. The buildings either have new stores or have been just closed. And as Sunburst pointed out, two fruit stands are fully open. I look past those two stands and see a comic book store that wasn’t there before.

I gasp with interest. “Ooh!”

“Funny how a store from Las Pegasus made its way here after the incidents with my mom,” quips Sunburst.

As we open the door, a bell from above rings, notifying staff that new customers have come in. When we head into the store, to our left houses most of the shelves in the store with six wide aisles. On the right is the counter, a table for reading and a wall with the remaining selves in the store.

An earth pony and a changeling enter the sales floor and accompany the cash register, both appearing to be nearly adults but not quite. The former has a yellow-green coat, sea green mane and tail, and a trio of sea turtles for a cutie mark.

“Welcome!” the changeling cheers, causing me to blush.

“How’s it going, you two?” asks the earth pony, before he pauses and looks more avidly. “Sunburst?”

The changeling momentarily turns to the earth pony. “You know him, Sandbar?”

“Not personally, but everypony who reads the news has heard about Stellar Flare’s son. So, how can Ocellus and I help you guys?”

“We’re just shopping on the fly. We’ll be at the counter soon.” Sunburst and I look around until I see Power Ponies in the middle of the wall shelves to the left of the aisles. “Oh wow! They have it here?!? In Operation Comics?!?”

“I thought you were caught up with Power Ponies, Starlight.”

“Sunburst, that was ten months ago. There’s been a number of new installments since.” I pick up various prints I haven’t seen of the series with my magic. “And that’s ALL of them! Sweet!”

“Sure hope your saddlebags can handle that much paper. I was actually going to look for something for Aita.” Out of nowhere, Sunburst spots a booklet close to the entrance in the front aisle. “Is… is that what I think it is?”

Looking at it myself, it seems to be… “An aerodynamic construction booklet? Come on Sunburst, I have that at home. Y- you know, I’m actually surprised Dad hasn’t asked me about flying kites with him when I did visit.”

“You know what?” Sunburst takes the instruction booklet with his magic anyway. “Why not. This would be the perfect opportunity to learn something you like.”

“Hm. You always were the ‘knowledge is power’ type. Maybe I could find you something.”

I zip to the shelf on the other side of the store and immediately find something interesting. “Huh, what’s this? sFree?”

“Oh that?!?” replies Sandbar as he runs up as close to me behind the counter as he can. “I used to read that comic when I went to school! It’s about this filly named Free Mare who teams up with two friends to host a sideshow. But are you sure that’s educational?”

“I don’t know. Hey Sunburst?” I call, prompting him to run to me with the comics we picked out. “It doesn’t have to be when we get to your place, but do you think you’ll be interested in sFree at any point?”

Sunburst looks at the comic and takes a quick peak. “Hm, lots of behind the scenes stuff. Sure thing.”

We are on our way out, we don’t seem to be heading in the direction of Sunburst’s place, more in the direction of Town Hall.

“Um, isn’t your house elsewhere?” I ask Sunburst.

“Yes, but we’re not going there yet. We need to confirm that place is under my name now.”

“Oh right,” I chuckle nervously.

When Sunburst and I enter Town Hall, we walk into the housing department, where we see no line for the counter. A mostly blue griffon with a yellow underbelly notices us and waves us to come over.

“What’s up, Sunburst,” the griffon greets.

I blink in surprise. “So many young, new faces, yet they all know you. Did everyone read the paper?”

The griffon scoffs. “Oh who? Me? I only saw the wanted poster outside of Town Hall. I’ve been here since the essence stand was established, so I'm not exactly new. I’m Gallus. How can I help you two?”

“Well, I was wondering if my mother’s house is under my name after the incident last month,” Sunburst explains.

“I can find out.” Gallus dashes away from counter and takes out a file from one of the cabinets in the background. With his right claw, he can somehow flip through the contents in a manner one would need two for. He then nods and puts the file away where he took it. “Great news, that was done the moment Stellar Flare was locked away the second time.”

I beam. “Well that was easy. Did he inherit ALL her assets?”

“That’s pretty much how I understand it. Sunburst’s mother is doing lifetime, so what was hers is now his.”

Sunburst’s jaw hangs allowing his glasses to slide to the edge of his muzzle. He slides them back in black with his hoof. “I’m sorry. But there’s no possible way Mom could legally get out of the caves? No bail? No dropping charges? …Not that I would want that.”

“Afraid not there, Sunburst,” answers Gallus. “You wouldn’t have had her possessions if there was.”

“Well, okay,” Sunburst replies. “That’s a plus I won’t say no to.”

So, I guess that means it’s time for Sunburst and I to head out. “Have a good day then, Gallus.”

As we head out, Gallus nods and waves goodbye to us.

When we enter Sunburst’s newly inherited house, we notice most if not all of the possessions come from our first visit.

I look around, astounded by the amount of knick knacks there are. “Whoa… So many decorative items. Do we even need all of this?”

“No, especially these ‘essences’,” Sunburst air quotes with one hoof as we pass by the table of perfumes on the other side of the living room. “Still unbelievable this is all mine now. If I downsize, maybe I could move down here.”

“How would you even do that, Sunburst? Yard sale?” I guess.

When we enter Sunburst’s room on the upper floor, the only thing within the room is a record player under the window and a small shelf of record sleeves by its side.

“Note to self: only keep the record player during the yard sale,” Sunburst tells himself.

Looking at some of the labels, I come across one sleeve depicting the western train tracks - specifically looking north toward Vanhoover and Cloudsdale, another with a supercut of graffiti around the major cities across Equestria, and one more with the pendulum of a grandfather glock crossfaded with a record needle.

Was this really the music Sunburst was into? I wouldn’t expect quite the hippie out of him.

He comes behind me and takes the records and a long pause when he sees them.

“So much for getting rewarded,” Sunburst remarks as he puts the sleeves away, which leaves me a bit confused.

“What?”

“These were pass-me-downs for when I learned levitation as a foal.”

I can see the old scene playing out now, Stellar Flare hauling in the record player with a tall stack of sleeves. She’d set it where it is today, and replace the books on a younger Sunburst’s sole shelf with those sleeves. Now that you’ve taken that first step, Sunburst, why don’t we put it to use by rewarding you with music. These were classics when I was a filly.

“They never really were any good,” finishes Sunburst in the present day.

“I thought so. Seemed like more of our parents’ thing to be honest.”

“I still don’t know what happened to those books that were here before. Could you look around, Starlight? See if I still have ’em?”

I nod and start by looking around the empty room. Seriously, there’s nothing but the record player and the shelf here, not even a bed. Okay, what about the closet… that’s empty too.

“I guess somepony did your room some serious spring cleaning. All that’s in here is the record player, the sleeves and the shelf.”

Sunburst tugs his goatee in thought. “Do you think they’re buried in the house elsewhere?”

I take a quick tour through the house to see if there are any books of Sunburst’s from his childhood. The first stop is Stellar Flare’s room, which I can see hasn’t been in the best shape. From there, across the hall leads back downstairs, which seems to be the next logical place for Sunburst’s books to be if they aren’t upstairs. The hallway, the kitchen, the dining room and the living room - in that order - and I don’t find a single book.

I meet Sunburst at the base of the stairs in the hall. “Nothing?” he asks.

I shake my head. “Either Stellar Flare sold your books or you took them with you when you moved out.”

“Great… it’s probably the former. I bought every book I have back at the Crystal Empire.”

I notice Sunburst hanging his head and immediately hold it back up with my hoof under his chin. “Hey now, we have the book store by my place if you’d like.”

“But you don’t understand, Starlight. Those old books had sentimental value. Dad gave them to me; I would’ve liked to at least know where they even went.”

I wave my hooves to get Sunburst to calm down. “You’re right. You’re right. Not yet. What does Sunspot think? Should I send him a letter?”

So, we send a letter to Sunburst’s father, Sunspot, asking where any of Sunburst’s stuff went. We get the letter after dark, so the lights are on at the time. As it turns out, he moved to Fillydelphia shortly after Sunburst was enrolled in Canterlot, because he divorced with Stellar Flare. As for Sunburst’s possessions…

“She sold ALL of them?!?” I exclaim. “And NONE of those funds went back to you?!?”

Sunburst shrugs. “But good news, Dad can come back here and help out, right?”

“But Stellar Flare shouldn’t be messing with your things! No wonder she had no problem with directly sending you letters!”

“But that doesn’t matter now. She’s thrown her own life away by doing that. She’s never seeing her possessions again, so why not raise enough bits to get a U-Fly? Give her a taste of her own medicine.”

Sunburst’s idea is pretty appealing. But who would we contact?

“But other than Lightning Dust, Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash, who else would’ve had experience with that company?” I ask.

After contacting Aita the next day, I manage to come across a tall aqua coated pegasus stallion with a fancy blonde mane and tail with a cutie mark of a feather adrift in the wind.

When I bring up me and Sunburst’s situation to him as he arrives, he looks beside himself in flattered laughter. “I’m- I’m sorry, Stars. Yo-you’re askin’ vido to help your coltfriend move here to Sire’s Hollow!”

“Precisely,” I answer, Sunburst and me nodding.

“Well don’t you worry, then. I, Zephyr Breeze, will have everything ready by the time that yard sale is over!” Zephyr turns to Sunburst. “And Sunzies, you won’t have t’worry about me at the Crystal Empire. Accompany your good ol’ partner over here, will ya?”

“Oh, okay. I could do that.”

“Now if y’all excuse me, I’mma go get a rental.” Zephyr flies off and heads in the direction of Cloudsdale.

So, after Zephyr’s agreement, I invite Dad to the yard sale, but he isn’t the only one. Sunspot arrives a quarter of the way through to help sell all of Stellar Flare’s stuff. By twilight, we only have the sleeves Sunburst and I found in his room left to sell. Three out of the six tables we have set out are now empty. When dark finally sets in, a white unicorn mare with a blue mane and tail with a note for a cutie mark buys all the records set out. When she leaves, Zephyr Breeze glides in with a chariot packed with boxes of mostly books.

He laughs at the sight of us JUST having sold the last item the moment he comes back. “What did I tell y’all! Stars, Sunzies, I feel real accomplished for such a timely arrival!”

I beam. “I’m pretty sure that’s natural, Zephyr. It’s insane how things like that work out though.”

“I know, right?!?” Zephyr cheers.

Sunburst extends his hoof to Zephyr, who accept. “Thanks for your help, there. Whatever you’d like, you name it, I’m certain I can provide it.”

“Oh Sunzies, you smart stallion. ALWAYS lookin’ out for your compadres… say, you’s a crystaller, huh? Yet you have all that loot behind you from the sale.” Sunburst and I look in the direction Zephyr points, where a large chest of bits lays on the front yard. “After a hard day’s work like that, you’re probably itchin’ for some R ‘n R.”

Dad and Sunspot have our friend’s attention now. “I’m sorry, do you want to be a crystaller?” asks Dad.

“It’s a pretty big responsibility,” Sunburst adds.

“What can I say? I’m a stallion of all trades. Why else is my cutie mark the way it is?”

“Okay, Zephyr, but you’re going to need a place to stay, and I know just the place.” Sunburst now trots to the main entrance of his house. “Meet me tomorrow at the Crystal Palace, and we’ll be able to pass my deed onto you.”

Zephyr Breeze is pleasantly surprised by this proposal. “Y- You will?!? Aw man! Just wait ‘til Flutter-Butter hears about-”

“Oh and that’s the thing. We only tell the residents of the palace. Well goodnight.”

Sunburst teleports one of the items out of the chariot and into his room, probably the mattress, and closes the door once he and Sunspot are in.

Zephyr rubs his shadow with his feather. “Now, that leaves me with one dilemma. Where am I gonna stay tonight?”

“Well, Dad and I have a guest room at our place,” I say.

“I’m sure we could use the company.”

Zephyr hugs me and Dad, an obvious sign he’s down on the offer. “Thanks, Stars. Just imagine what my home will be like tomorrow night!”

And so, the three of us walk over to me and Dad’s place, off to spend the rest of the night sharing cookies, giving the grand tour, and finally get a good night’s sleep at home for the first time since I was an adolescent.

Frenemies: TLC Timeline

It’s been too long living in this lair while everybody waits for the search party to cease. The sirens are the only tolerable colleagues to accompany me. Wind Rider keeps getting into arguments with Gladmane, CHS Spitfire, and Svengallop, the former two starting it by wanting to haze him. As for me, I usually get my news with the crystal ball we have, then spend the rest of my day on a weightlifting regimen.

Recently, Wind Rider has been considered less of a concern to Equestria than before. That means we can finally go out and about to Mt. Everhoof.

One morning, a little something interesting happens. Twilight, Spike and Starlight are going to Canterlot while Aita is staying home, babysat by an alterwolf and an adult changeling.

Spitfire taps me on the shoulder as I examine the scene. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Is any of that your business? Wouldn’t you rather haze Wind Rider?”

“I like to mix it up every so often. I’ve been burnt out lately, so I figured I’d gamble my new pegasus abilities to see you.”

“Which you hardly use. I have no interest in magic right now, Spitfire.”

Spitfire has a closer look at the crystal, noticing the two babysitters. “Dr. Ralph? What’s he doing in Twilight’s castle with Aita and that other changeling?”

“Like I said, none of your business!” Once again, she doesn’t listen to me and gets closer to the crystal ball, accidentally knocking it over with her hoof. The ball makes a loud clang as it hits the floor. “Bah! Look what you did!”

“Says you, Tirek. Crystal balls don’t appear to break like other glass,” says Spitfire.

A yawn comes from behind us. As we turn around, Wind Rider has just entered the main room.

“Could you keep it down, ya big centaur? You ruined my nap.”

“And am I the one getting a reprieve for once from your colleagues?” I ask rhetorically as Spitfire puts the crystal ball back on the roundtable. “You should be lucky nopony else is in the main room STALKING OUR CRYSTAL BALL!!!”

“Spitfire, what’re you doin’?” Wind Rider flatly inquires.

“Not listening to Tirek. THAT’S what.”

I condense my hands onto shaking fists, inhaling through my teeth. “And that’s a good idea, why? Am I too impatient with that attitude? You know what happens when you push these buttons.”

I show Spitfire my fists, calling them buttons. She simply shakes her head. “I don’t think so, Tirek.”

“So, when are we gettin’ that bell?” asks Wind Rider.

“As soon as everypony else enters the main room. Considering it’s afternoon, we’ll need to pack some gear on us. You and Spitfire appear to be ready to set hoof. Any minute, Svengallop and Gladmane will be here with our coats.”

As if nature’s ears were burning, I detect the sound of hoofsteps into the lair. But it’s not two sets like I expect, but three. Looking up from the crystal ball, I can see the sirens, seemingly shivering from the cold that alterwolf land is commonly known for.

“Ah, Adagio. Your group arrived just in time. How was the trip?” I ask them.

“Don’t play small talk with us, Tirek! Did you know all along about Mt. Everhoof’s climate?!?”

“Of course I did. Why else would I send those stuffy earth ponies to Rarity for You? I can’t just read books about alterwolf country after my daily regimen and NOT use that newfound knowledge to my advantage. So, let’s take a peek at the terrain.”

The crystal ball’s perspective promptly shifts from Twilight’s now empty throne room to the foot of Mt. Everhoof. The entire base, as well as the mountain itself is covered with at least two feet of snow. Approximately one third of the way up, there is a checkpoint, a house sitting atop what little flatland there is. At the base, trees populate the entire perimeter of the mountain while chasms dot the steep slopes. Clouds zip around at intense velocity near the summit.

“Whoa… challenge accepted!” Spitfire declares.

“It’s gonna take more than an adrenaline junkie to scale that mountain. You see the way those clouds are movin’?” notes Wind Rider.

I rub the crystal ball with my front hoof. “But we will need to collaborate if we want to scale this mountain. Sonata, how fast can you deduce the winds to be at the peak?”

“About 100 knots…”

“Just don’t be fooled about how fast that is. It’s not as forceful as it is at sea level,” Aria adds.

I still can’t believe y’all are goin’ through with Discord’s ploy there! Gladmane shouts as he and Svengallop enter the layer with saddlebags of clothing. “Don’t ya know he’s just tryin’ to keep us busy while our target goes ‘n commits the ultimate sin?”

“Says the guy who ran a casino to get rich…” Spitfire freezes when everypony looks at her. “Doesn’t mean I’m all for what that tyke’s done.”

Svengallop’s refined, albeit squeaky, voice catches my attention. “So, Tirek… I assume you have a game plan, judging how you sent me home with my comrade here to stock up on coats.”

I wave my hands in sarcasm. “My, whatever made you think that?”

So, I take the saddlebags from Svengallop and Gladmane with my magic, going through each coat… that is until I find a badge heavy polo shirt, a dress shirt, a tie, a pair of sunglasses and a whistle. “Okay, very clever. Which one of you requested the sergeant costume behind my back?” Everyone takes a few steps back away from me… except one. “Wind Rider! Did you do this?”

“So what? Everypony’s workin’ together on gettin’ the bell. Couldn’t hurt one of you to put on a disguise.”

The sirens suddenly realize what Wind Rider’s on about, and face Spitfire with smug grins on their faces.

“Hey! Come on! It’s been years since I practiced that!” Spitfire interjects. “What makes you all think I’m any good now?!?”

“Who wouldn’t want to dust up their oldies? It evidently worked for Chrysalis, what with suppressing Stellar Flare’s magic,” Gladmane points out.

Svengallop sighs. “That drama queen was sure admirable until that cretin ruined her.”

“And besides, superintendent, you had so many cadets lookin’ up to you. Wouldn’t it be great to make somepony think you’re THE captain?”

There goes Wind Rider’s position naming again.

“You sure about that?” asks Spitfire.

“It has been years since any of us got any proper recognition. But you have a chance, superintendent,” Adagio says, approaching Spitfire and putting a feather on her chest. “A stallion lives at the checkpoint. He’ll think you’re the resilient captain herself with that sergeant outfit.”

“Well, if you say so, Adagio. But first, I’ll have to test my skills.” Spitfire smirks, prompting Wind Rider to do the same. “Wind Rider, get out there and give me twenty!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

And so, Wind Rider salutes and zips out of the lair to perform some laps in the sky, probably twenty like Spitfire ordered. Everyone is now liking the air of confidence that has just sprung up.

“So, did that feel good?”

“You bet it did, Aria,” Spitfire answers.

Once we’ve reached the base of Mt. Everhoof, everyone puts on their coats, except for Spitfire, who is disguised as her native counterpart in the sergeant uniform.

So, I get the others’ attention by waving the map of Mt. Everhoof for sound. I proceed to make seven duplicates of the map and give one to each of my colleagues.

“So, Discord gave us this prompt: scale the mountain, and retrieve Grogar’s bell. The name of power is our motivation. And because I have experience with the lord of chaos himself, I say we keep up this cooperative effort we’ve since developed. Assure me that you all consider this as the above.”

Sonata jumps up in the air and raises her hoof. “Speed of light and strength of all…”

“Maybe later, Sonata,” replies Adagio. “We have your back, Tirek… right everypony?”

Everypony nods, prompting me to clap my hands.

“Good. And Adagio, I believe you may help enforce this teamwork for representing our collective body.”

After a mile or two of relatively tame elements at the base, we finally arrive at the checkpoint. We stop here so that I may take brief charge and distract the summit guardian. It having been a while since the plan was purposed, I take a deep breath, remembering everything I need to do. I trek with confidence, believing this will work out, and we will be able to proceed without trouble.

The guardian now makes his in-person appearance, stepping out of the door. He’s a rust colored earth pony with a white, curly mane and tail. His cutie mark is hidden behind the coat he’s wearing. He also dons a MacGyvered hat made out of a bucket. He also walks with a shovel held in his hoof.

“Halt! Who goes there? A pony? There ain’t been ponies around here in I don’t know how many moons.” After a closer look, the guardian notices my getup, mane and tail - in their usual style - and my um… cutie mark. “No way! Are you THE captain Spitfire? Old Rusty Bucket at your service, ma’am.”

Hey, they were right. Rusty Bucket mistook me for my counterpart here in Equestria.

“No worries, sir. Just here to say hi. Adrenaline junkies such as myself tend to go up some of the steeper slopes around here.”

Rusty has a quick hearty laugh. “I don’t think so, ma’am. Winds here blow on their own. Sometimes up to a hundred and fifteen miles an hour at the summit. And friction is hard to come by, unless you wanna get buried.”

Well, knowing my origins, there has to be something. “No friction, you say? Let’s see what you got to combat that.”

“Sorry, can’t lend out my rubber boots. Those are for me.”

“Are you sure you don’t have a spare set?” I ask him, to which he nods. “I’ve been in the Crystal Mountains to retrieve ice iris, you know. In fact, I probably could do Mt. Everhoof all on my own if that’s what you want me to do!”

“Not a chance, ma’am. Nopony is climbin’ up that summit on my watch.”

That appears to be his final answer to be me at least, so I dust off my chest. “Phew. Fair enough, Rusty Bucket. You have a nice day.”

With a beam, Rusty nods and turns for the house. I also turn away and blow the whistle as soon as the door closes, signaling to everyone else that the coast is clear.

The sirens are the first to meet up, billowing an A sharp major triad to trigger an avalanche. The rest come along and we finally start our trek proper.

First, Tirek grabs some vines for us to use later while we can breeze through the path. Svengallop and Gladmane then kick a log out of our way about halfway there. Wind Rider and I carry the vine while Tirek anchors it with a nearby boulder in order for us to cross the chasm.

So, we finally made it to the top, thanks to the efforts of everypony participating. Unfortunately, Gladmane being the first to pursue the bell from here, he is greeted with a nasty magical surprise that knocks him close to the cliff.

“Are you kidding? We trekked ALL the way up for this?!?” I exclaim.

“Hold on, Spitfire,” replies Adagio. “I have an idea. Somebody can borrow magic from other beings, right?”

Tirek rests his fingers on his chest. “That would be me.”

“Oh! I get it!” It looks like a lightbulb went off in Sonata’s head. “Tirek could use earth pony strength to break through the barrier deployed by Gusty the Great. Am I saying ANY of that right?”

“Oh ho ho, yes!” Wind Rider shouts. “About time somepony had expense for teasin’ me. But who will be small enough to pass through that barrier?”

I take the shades off and fold them to indicate myself.

Tirek strokes his goatee in thought, then snaps his fingers upon an idea of his own springing up. “If I could amend this plan, the hole would be too small and lack the necessary longevity. I will need some extra oomph.”

Everyone perks upon hearing this amendment.

“I KNEW IT!!!”

That is the first time Aria has ever raised her voice.

“It’s okay, everyone. This is just temporary,” I reassure.

“Do all participants agree to relinquishing their magic for a limited time?” Everyone nods at Adagio. “Do it, Tirek.”

I momentarily avert my gaze as everypony else’s magic gets drained by Tirek, who grows multiple times his previous size. He then kisses his arms. “So much power! Welcome back, baby!” He proceeds to launch a stream of our team’s combined magic into the barrier, creating a hole just big enough for me to leap through.

WIthin the barrier, I zip over to grab the bell, promptly returning back to the cliff with it in my grasp.

When Tirek sees me again, he shrugs and simply gives everyone’s magic back. Wind Riders tests his magic by taking flight while the sirens start singing to test theirs.

The air around us is as positive as its even been. Everyone for once is smiling all together.

“Wow…” Svengallop lightly exclaims. “I don’t think I’ve felt this way since I teamed up with Countess Coloratura.”

“Yes… the Battle of the Bands was our height in popularity,” notes Adagio. “I feel like I’m reliving that final battle, singing one of our legendary songs in our true form.”

“We’ve all been so busy poking fun,” I say. “I guess we didn’t realize how much we’ve been growing.”

“All these years… taking power from ponies…” Tirek looks around, beginning to feel a bit guilty.

“When we play dirty together…” starts Wind Rider.

“It’s like we can do anythin’ we put our minds to,” Gladmane finishes before Aria steps into the center of the group.

“Except, you know… make friends.”

Everyone glares at Aria for pointing out the obvious except for Sonata.

“I mean, she’s kinda right. We’re all we have for now. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Wind Rider snorts and flares his wings. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, leaper,” I warn. Unfortunately he doesn’t listen and lunges straight for the sirens, who just sidestep out of the way, causing him to run straight into the barrier and get launched into Gladmane. As a result, the two fall off the cliff, the rest of us watching nonchalantly as they careen into the chasm below.

Several seconds after they leave our sight, numerous howls ring throughout the mountain, a major clue that Wind Rider and Gladmane fell into a den of alterwolves.

“I tried to warn him,” I state as the howls turn to snarls, growls and barks.

“You sure weren’t lying about this being alterwolf country, were you, Tirek? I’ll certainly miss Gladmane… NOT!” Svengallop starts out quietly, but startles everyone by shouting and stomping his hoof. “Do you think you could be fooled? You ALL know a diversion when you see it.”

Tirek crosses his arms at Svengallop. “As if… You were about to become tolerable. Everypony grab my arms this once. We don’t have to walk back down.”

With his permission, the sirens, Svengallop and I hold onto Tirek’s still crossed arms as he takes us back to the lair through teleportation, with the bell in his magic.