“I thought you’d be at the training area. Can’t say I’m too surprised to find you here though since it was my second guess after all.” Hearing a familiar voice brings me back to reality as I find myself staring blankly at the Canterlot skyline from the roof of the castle. Last time I was up here was when I tried to use Sending.

“What did you need, Moonie?”

“I just wanted to talk, see how you were doing.”

“I’m okay.” Strangely there’s no deception roll. Which means she just believes me because we’re close, or it’s because it’s an impossible check because she already knows the real answer.

“I think we both know you’re far from okay right now, Ignis. If you were okay I don’t think I would’ve found Luna in the state she was in.” Ah. She knows even more than I thought she did.

“I just keep replaying it in my head and I don’t understand why I’d say something so hurtful about something I know she’s sensitive about. Seeing her cry with that hurt expression on her face and knowing I caused it…something is wrong with me. I just want to fix this and see her smile again, but I don’t even know where to begin. I’m such a piece of shit, Nightmare. I don’t deserv-”

I don’t get to finish my rant that was beginning to emotionally spiral out of control because Nightmare silences me with her lips. After a brief moment she pulls away. “Shhh. You’ve been through far too much in far too short of a period of time. It’s understandable that you’d be somewhat bitter and snappy for a few days. That doesn’t excuse you of course, but Luna and I both know you’d never say that or mean that under normal circumstances.”

“You both have been through just as much. How does that even remotely make it understandable? I have egregiously failed in one of my core responsibilities as a knight and even moreso as a partner!”

“Well…I mean we are a couple thousand years older than you. I think it’s fair to say we have more experience with things like this. That’s beside the point, I came out here to get you. We’re going to Luna’s office and I’m going to help you make things right and then the three of us are going to enjoy each other's company for a while.” She wraps a wing around me and tries to pull me along as she stands up, but I don’t budge.

“She doesn’t want to see me right now. That’s not even me assuming how others feel, it’s what she told me herself. You should go be there for her instead of me, I’m just wallowing in self-pity and guilt. She’s the one actually hurt.”

“You’re both hurt. I promise you you’re wrong though, if you share a mind with a mare for long enough you learn some of her behaviors. She wants to see you more than anything, she just doesn’t want you to see her in the state she was in. This isn’t a request, Ignis. Besides, I know just what you can do to cheer her up.” She gives me a bit of a sinister grin, but if it’ll make Luna feel better I’m willing to do anything.

“Lead the way.”

3rd Person POV

“Lulu~ I’m back and I brought a surprise.” Nightmare calls out as she slowly opens the door to Luna’s office.

“It’s so jarring to hear you with such a chipper and energetic tone. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but even when you’re happy you don’t typically sound like this. I hope it’s a good surprise, though.” Luna replies quietly, still laying on her belly on the floor, about half way through her box of chocolates.

“Well I just thought I’d put in some effort to try and cheer the two of you up. I think it’s probably the best surprise you’ll get for the next couple of centuries. Here, close your eyes!” Moonie does sound uncharacteristically excited for what’s about to happen as she closes the door behind her and tells Luna to close her eyes.

There’s the soft hum of magic followed by the sound of something light being placed on the floor just a foot or two in front of Luna. “Alright, you can open them.”

Luna’s heart might’ve actually momentarily stopped the instant she opened her eyes. Sat on the floor in front of her, is the spitting image of Ignis as a child from the memory she watched. Only his hair is still ethereal. He’s wearing his Gala outfit, but it’s just a size or two too big and slightly hanging off of him. This was all done intentionally for “maximum cuteness” according to Nightmare. She insisted that he go beyond just shrinking himself and actually use Alter Form to look similar to how he looked as a child. She also was quite adamant that the clothing be two sizes too large, despite it also being created with Alter Form.

An indecipherable high pitched noise rings throughout the room as Luna looks at the adolescent, with his extremely embarrassed expression as he tries to look at the floor or the ceiling, and his slightly oversized elf ears poking out of his head. The soft baby face highlighted by the embarrassed blushed and his eyes with their golden orbs seem bigger in this form as well.

No words are said and within seconds the elf child completely disappears. Resigned to his fate of dying by suffocation as the alicorn yoinks him into her grasp and buries him in her floof. “Ohmygosh! Look at you! You are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, oh it’s too much, I’m overwhelmed. I’m never letting you go, you’re officially promoted from Knight to Personal Princess Teddy Bear. You are now the God of Adorableness!”

“See Ignis, I told you she would love it.”

Suddenly Luna feels something small tapping her rapidly and she realizes the small creature is nearly being crushed by her. The alicorn loosens her foreleg grasp on the elf and he instantly shuffles out from under her.

Turning around the small Ignis gets a bit glassy eyed as he stares into Luna's eyes, and without warning he jumps forward. Trying to wrap his arms around her neck as he attempts to speak. “I am -hic- I’M SORRY LUNA! I’m so sorry! I don’t know why I’d s-”

He’s silenced as she rolls over to her side and pulls the elf back into her floor with her forelegs. She lets him turn himself around so his face isn’t buried before she replies to him. “I forgive you, Ignis. On the condition that you stay like this and rest against me in my chair while I work.”

“Done.” His childish voice squeaks out a response without a moment of hesitation.

1st Person POV - Ignis

Knock Knock

“Enter!” Luna calls out without looking up from her desk.

The sound of the door creaking open can be heard along with the voice of the Vice Captain of the Night Guard. “Your Grace, I was wondering if perhaps you’d seen the Captain? Apparently he dismissed some of the gua..r…..d…….s………”

I’m laying on my belly on Luna's head, playing with her mane and scratching her head when I hear Elytra’s voice trail off. Glancing up I make eye contact with the changeling who looks like she’s been petrified, and is completely unmoving. Deciding that I want to pretend everything is normal right now I just assume the rest of her question and answer her with my childish voice. “Yeah I dismissed them. Told them to stay geared up and don’t get drunk cause they’re still on duty. But, I did dismiss them from their posts. Mainly because I didn’t see a reason to keep 'em around if I’m with Luna, and it’s supposed to be an off night anyways. You okay, Elytra?”

Elytra just stammers. “I……uhm….I ju-.....What?” And without another word she just slowly backs away and closes the door as she moves in a way that looks like her exact motions from entering the room, but in reverse.

Luna, Nightmare, and I can barely hold back as our choked laughs fight to escape from our throats. I’m about to ask Luna if I should call her back in with telepathy so we can actually finish our conversation, but before I can.

Knock Knock

“Pfft- Enter.” Luna barely manages to say with a flat tone.

The door opens even more slowly this time as the changeling slowly peeks inside. “Oh, this is actually real…”

“Is it your first time seeing something so cute, Vice Captain?” Luna asks the changeling and I can’t help but to slightly shuffle down her neck and hide in her mane out of embarrassment.

“Is that what this feeling is? It’s like I’ve consumed something extremely sweet. It’s very strong.”

“Ah yes, that’s exactly the feeling. Here you can have him for a few minutes.” Wait what?! I thought I was safe! I thought Luna was too jealous to do something like this! No! Put me back!

The alicorn floats me off her head and sets me down on the floor right in front of the changeling who is staring down at me with a completely unknown expression on her face. Nightmare just looks so amused. Is she a sadist?

“Elytra if you speak of this to anyone you will experience unspeakable horrors. You understand, right?”

“Awww! Is the mighty God gunna smite me down with warm fuzzy feelings and ear scratches? I always wondered why ponies talked like that to their foals, but I completely get it now.” I can feel my face fall and my left eye twitch a bit. Even my own Vice Captain has emasculated me!

Luna finally can’t hold back and just loudly releases her laughing as she slaps her desk a couple of times. “Oh this is perfect! Ignis maybe we should have you stay like this unless you’re actively fighting something. I think it’d be a big morale boost! Hahaha!” Moonie is quick to follow with her own giggling.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” I grimace as my childish voice cracks and squeaks out my response.

“Aw. How about until after breakfast? I think Force and Tia deserve to see this at least.”

Nope nope nope nope nopenopenopenope. It’s for Luna, she deserves this. Sigh “Okay. After breakfast I’m back to normal though, not a second longer!”

“Oh please it’s obvious to tell you enjoy being fawned over like this. Even now you have a silly smile on your face.” Looking at the small mirror in the room in a minor panic I realize Nightmare is right. I am smiling, but it’s not silly, it’s forced. Far too wide. I’m glad she can’t tell though, this is supposed to be something to cheer her up.

I really don’t know if I have the energy to keep this up until breakfast.

“Ignis?”

Snapping my head towards the voice of the alicorn I realize the Vice Captain is gone. How long was I zoned out? “You seemed lost in thought so I finished explaining to her why you dismissed my guards earlier.”

“Thank you, and…sorry. I didn’t mean to zone out like that.”

“Ignis, could you be convinced to take a break?”

“Sure, I’d love to go back to being normal sized for 30 minutes or so.”

“That’s not what she meant, Ignis.” Nightmare’s tone has shifted to serious so fast that I nearly get whiplash. “She means a break from everything. No fighting, no worrying, no Captain duties, no Kightly obligations.”

“What?” The question barely manages to squeak from my throat. “I know I messed up and let you down, but just give me another chance! Don’t….throw me away…”

“No! Just for a week or two, and it’s not a punishment. Ignis you need a break, I’m not sure if you’re even aware but you are breaking. Elytra said she's found you disassociated in your office multiple times since Discord. You’ve become sarcastic and bitter. Not to mention what happened between us earlier. You said you don’t know why you said something like that, but it’s because you are completely drained and exhausted emotionally and mentally. I know the timing of this is not ideal, but we both think it’d be better for you to take time off now while we’re still in the early phases of conflict. It’s better than you completely shattering and being forced to step away from your responsibilities when we’re at the peak of conflict.”

Luna says everything with a very gentle tone and Nightmare just nods along every so often. Have I really been acting so differently? Just tonight Elytra and Nightmare both mentioned I seemed off, and then there is the thing that happened with Luna. Would a break even help though? As a human I always preferred to throw myself into my work to get through my problems, I hate being idle.

“No.”

“Ignis!”

“I’m sorry but if I just sit around idly twiddling my thumbs I promise you my mental health is only going to deteriorate faster. I need something to pour myself into.”

“That’s what he said.” I shoot Nightmare a bombastic side eye at the comment.

“First of all, saying that while I still look like this is gross. Second of all, I’m serious! Having something to do takes my mind off of reality.”

“It wasn’t even a suggestion, Ignis. I just wanted to know what your opinion on it was. Now, get back over here and get back on my head.”

“After you sold me out and gave me away to some changeling?! Hmph.” Despite my verbal protest I fly up and resume my resting position on the alicorn's head. “Anyways, moving on. Moonie, what have you noticed since joining the party? I have no clue what to expect from something like this, so I used you as the guinea pig since you have some experience with the system. Did it give you a class like Sorcerer or Wizard or something?”

“No. It tells me my Divine Rank is three and it lists out my Ess-tee-are? Dex, con, and whatever these other things are. It says I have 286 Hit Points, but there’s no level or class or job or anything. I did notice that you were making “Wisdom Saving Throws” earlier, but wasn’t sure what that entailed. Wait is WIS short for Wisdom? What do these other ones mean then? Strength?”

“Yeah, Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Ten in one stat is apparently the average, so if you have twenty or more in a single stat then you’re exceptionally gifted in that particular area. Which of your stats are at twenty or more?”

“All of them. Charisma is the lowest at 20, Wisdom is the highest at 28, Intelligence, Constitution, and Dexterity all have 25, and Strength is at 22. Is that good?”

“That’s unreal. If we could somehow make you a character sheet and get you a class assigned with those stats you’d be even more of a powerhouse than you already are. Wait, I just realized I can see all of your stats and your status on my own. Woops.”

Luna decides to chime in. “Are we just going to pretend Ignis didn’t completely ignore and brush past the Wisdom Saving Throw question? What are those?”

I explain what a saving throw is to begin with and then break it down into what could trigger saving throws for the different abilities. “Those saving throws were right after Luna teleported here. Thankfully I passed both of them, but if I hadn’t Moonie would’ve probably found me in a much worse state than I was already in. Wisdom Saving Throws can also be used for “Will” Saving Throws if it’s something that’s testing your willpower. Anyways, Nightmare, can you try to see if it’ll let you view my character sheet? If you’re able to see how many spell slots I have left and other important statuses that’d be huge. Try just thinking in your own head something like “Open party interface. Select Ignis Ferrum. View Character Sheet for Ignis Ferrum.” one of those should do something.”

“The third one worked, but there’s too much information here. Can you walk me through this so I know what I’m looking at?” She almost seems dizzy.

“Yeah but let me invite Luna to the party as well, so I don’t have to explain it again at some point. Luna, do you want to join my party?”

She glances around with an expectant look on her face before getting startled, yelping, and recoiling back, nearly throwing me off of her head. “What is this?!”

“That’s the system. Just think “Accept” or “Confirm” whatever the buttons say, pick the affirmative one. Once you do that tell me your Divine Rank, your ability scores, and how many Hit Points you have.”

“They’re all the exact same as Nightmares. Our theory about us sharing the same pool of Divinity and having our power split evenly between us seems to be correct. Oh wow that is a lot of words. Can you explain now?”

I spend the next 45 minutes or so going over my entire character sheet with the two of them and answering any questions they have. Before we know it, it’s already time for Luna to lower the Moon.

Author's Note

This chapter is 100% all over the place, but it's like that on purpose. Since we're back to Ignis POV I wanted things to be as jarring as he's experiencing them with the same super sudden mood/tone swings/changes. Guy is currently an emotional rollercoaster that keeps accidentally time skipping forward.

Also some of this was purely just me wanting to write some cute/happy shit. But, I doubt you guys mind, and what Nightmare had Ignis do to make her feel seems like something would realistically work (if we had those powers in real life, ofc)

I thought about not publishing tonight and then tomorrow I'd work on the breakfast scene and stuff but realized this was a decent stopping point and it's enough of a word count to justify publishing it. Hopefully the grammar and shit isn't all over the place, I tried to clean up some of it and some of it was REALLY bad, idk if I was also just super out of it this chapter or what, but it might be bad.

Anyways~ thanks for reading! <3