In the middle of the day, ponies of all types walk about a beach below the Maretime Bay city boardwalk. There was a group of ponies watching two large cats building a sandcastle together. The sandcastle, as befit the large cats, was larger than the ones most of the ponies had made. A few pegasi were delivering water, and the ponies were dragging in more sand to help them build it taller.

Sunny approached Allura and Alterro with Zipp flying above, the two landing by the big cats. "Wow!" She waved over the massive castle. "Look at you two go! I didn't expect to see a castle down here on the beach. What inspired you two?"

Allura laughed gently. "I believe we just went along with it." She glanced at her sibling. "It was his stupid idea."

"That you went along with." He swatted at her, prompting both to laugh as they wrestled. "You love me, admit it."

She shoved him into a mound of sand. "Oh, alright, fine, I do."

Alterro laughed. "See?"

Zipp chuckled at them both, then waved at the structure. "Still, pretty impressive. You going to claim it in the name of all cats?"

Allura rolled her eyes at that. "It's a sand castle. It will wash away, and that is all that's meant for it. Some things don't last." She put her paw down on Twitch before he could scurry past. "Unlike some friendships. But this is just a sandcastle. It was a way of having some fun."

Sunny looked to Allura. "That is, I'll admit, um." She shrank back with a nervous laugh. "I didn't expect you to say that." She looked to Alterro. "How's he settling in, by the way? I haven't had a chance to talk to him myself."

Allura gave Alterro a pat. "He's doing fine."

"Great, more like it." Alterro leaped over Allura easily, landing before Sunny with deceptive grace despite his size. "I'm stalking some jobs. It's the first time I ever had one before. It's kind of exciting, to be honest. I can't wait to start earning and helping my big sister."

Sunny clapped her hooves gently. "Good luck! If you want some references, I know some places. Oh! What are your talents? That'd help in the search."

Alterro blinked a few times, looking unsure. "Talents? Um... I don't know."

Zipp laughed. "That's a hard thing to answer, sometimes. It took a while for me to figure out mine." She did a flip in the air, wings flapping. "Turns out, not flying. Not that I don't love flying, but investigating, that's my thing!" She shrugged. "I don't have anything right now, but I'm keeping my eye out."

Sunny looked to Allura. "What about you? You seem to be great at fixing machines."

Allura made a sour face. "I taught myself." She pointed her paw at Twitch as he put up a flag on the castle. "He helped. Still, it was something we both decided to do, not because we were talented, but because we wanted to. Having a cool place to work felt worth it. Now, Alterro, I don't think you want that job, it's all mine."

Alterro nodded. "I know, I know, I wouldn't take your job even if you asked me." He looked around at all the ponies going about their lives, playing, walking, laughing. "You really found a home of ponies. They're so, oh." He sat with a goofy grin. "That's what I can do."

Allura looked curious, an ear tilting. "Hm? I'm not sure I get you."

Alterro gestured at the ponies. "They are all so friendly and fun. But they're small. They'd love a big, fast, ride." He spread his wings. "That can fly. Most of them can't do that. But I can. And you can. We can offer rides! I bet ponies would love that."

Zipp flew over and sat on his nose. "That'd be different, alright. You'd need to get into some permits with the sheriff, for safety concerns, but I bet she'd be all over it." She sat on Alterro's snout. "Also, you're a comfy seat."

He grinned, giving her a light push. "And I bet you could give me some tips. Come on, let's take a flight, and see if we can't work some things out."

The two took off without another word, leaving Allura shaking her head. "For all his hesitation in coming in the first place, he's hitting the ground running." She turned her eyes on Sunny with her piercing predator eyes. "Have you any siblings?"

Sunny rubbed the back of her head. "No, I don't." She smiled slightly. "But sometimes it feels like Hitch is my older brother, or maybe a cousin." Her smile grew larger. "I won't pretend to know exactly how you feel, but I imagine it must be great, to have him back. I know he's thrilled to be here with you."

Allura blushed, dipping her head low. "Well, of course. He should be." She cleared her throat. "Say, Sunny, um, it occurs to me we've never really had a chat, just the two of us." She rolled a paw. "Without either of us wanting something from the other. Not trying to be, hm, sappy, but thanks." She leaned in close. "For lending a paw."

Sunny laughed brightly. "My pleasure. So far, you've been a delight, and I bet that's not always the case."

Allura gave Sunny a shove, but she was laughing as she did so. That Sunny tumbled into the sand was only more reason to chuckle. "You've known me long enough to know being on my bad side can be, hm, trying at best."

Twitch took the highest point on the castle, calling out in triumph. He made the sounds of a crowd cheering.

Sunny laughed, brushing sand off herself. "And I'm betting Twitch knows a lot more than anyone else." She looked to him. "I know you speak a different language than we do, but I can't help but think you're talking."

Allura gave a half-hearted swat at him. "Trust me, he is. He talks a lot. Just because a lot of creatures don't understand it doesn't stop him. Hmmph, not sure I like the idea of my brother playing the part of a taxicab. But, if he likes it..." She trailed off, ears dropping back. "Then I guess that's his choice."

Sunny nodded. "You'll be here for him if he needs help." Stepping along the sand and offering a hoof, she smiled up at Allura with pricked ears. "And we'll be here, if you want any help. Just give us a shout. It's nice to have you as part of things, Allura."

Allura chuckled, gently thumping Sunny on the head. "I'm glad I've become part of this little city. I thought it was insufferably hot at first, but there's more here than meets the eye." She narrowed her eyes. "Still too hot." Twitch gave a cry of agreement. "See?" She rose to her paws, Twitch hopping atop her. "Have a pleasant evening, Sunny. I intend to enjoy mine."

Allura wandered off towards the boardtrot, leaving Sunny shaking her head. "She's so different from when we met. I hope that she keeps growing as a person."

***

Comforting whistled as she circled the magic practice floor. There were no ponies, save one or two peeking at the few books up there. It was mostly her by herself, which was fine by her. She didn't need anypony asking questions as she took a turn into a wall and casually passed through it.

The room on the other side was a secret one. It was a storage room, but the contents were mostly empty except some old books, scrolls, and a few strange artifacts. Comforting's ears perked up in excitement. "It's going so excitingly." She clapped her hands gently as she danced around the books and blew the dust off a scroll, which carried the dust away in so much nothing. "Oops."

A few moments later, a unicorn appeared. She had a purple mane, along with purple eyes. Her coat was light grey, almost white in the right light. She wore a black cloak and a hat with stars on them. "Comforting, is it my turn?"

Comforting grabbed the new unicorn by her cheeks. "Almost! Almost. They're learning magic and they're doing it so well. I want them to be the ones that do it though. If we just hurry the old stuff back into their hooves, well." She grinned impishly. "It wouldn't mean the same thing."

"Comforting." The unicorn said gently, removing the chaos spirit's arms. "You're very invested in this, aren't you?"

"Always." Comforting smooched the very end of the unicorn's snout. "I owe it, to the ponies I once knew, and the tree I still know. Also, this is exciting. Together, and me, spirit buddies on a plan? Too much. I feel like I could burst."

"Bursting would be very bad," the unicorn stated matter of factly. "Please don't burst." She looked at the door behind herself. "I suppose it's not time yet, to send me forth." She let out a soft sigh. "You let out a pegasus, and you led them to the griffons and the sea ponies and other things, but not time for unicorns?"

"Not time for this unicorn." Comforting tapped that mystery unicorn on the nose. "They have plenty already, and don't need spoilers on magic just yet. Let them spread their own wings, lift their horns, you know? I'm sure the horn-lifters will appreciate the surprises."

"I suppose they have been doing so well." The unicorn nodded. "So, I will continue to wait, until you call me." She sank to her haunches. "I can get excited too." She didn't sound it. "I want to talk to them and show them."

Comforting smiled. "And you'll be a huge help. They're all so young. So fresh." She clapped her hands together with a squeal of excitement. "And I'm so happy. This batch of ponies, you can see the smiles on their faces. They approach life with such zeal." She snapped her fingers. "You'll love them, if they don't bother you. I bet they'll think your accent is adorable. You do have a bit of one, you know."

"Do I?" The unicorn's ears perked up. "You never told me that before." She tested her voice, but proved quickly how little one could detect their own accents. "Is it a good one?"

"Oh, yes, very. It's the accent of a time long past, when things were different." Comforting put a hand under her chin. "I wonder how many surprises there will be. Oh! I know one big one, but I won't spoil that surprise. I want to see the look on your face, I'm sure you'll be excited. You're going to fit right in with them. I just know it."

"I trust you, Comforting." The unicorn turned back to her books. "Now, I need to finish this chapter before I go back."

"You remind me of her." Comforting gave one parting pat before she danced for the door. "Two good ponies." She vanished in a swirl of light.

Author's Note

Comforting has other plans and schemes for these new lovely pony friends of her's.

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