FEB 21 Thursday.

POV Cadance.

I look down at the package in front of me with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I read the note stuck to the side once more just to try and find any hint of what he was up to. Happy Birthday, Cadance, sorry this was a bit late. I'm planning to fight monsters in the woods and Celestia is annoyed. I huff and shake my head. "Because that definitely clears it up," I say to myself and I sit back in my office.

The room is not nearly as fancy as Aunties but it's nice and I enjoy the look of it, and getting to decorate it as I wished was a fun thing back then. As for why I'm so uncertain about just opening this gift? Well, I annoyed Aunty a little by teasing her too much, and with Shade still yet to retaliate for my last prank I'm suspicious.

I look over the small brown package with a close eye and even cast a few spells on it, but nothing seems out of the ordinary to me. I did really enjoy the last gifts he sent me and I can't say I'm not tempted to just rip it open, if it is a real gift it might even be worth it to deal with whatever else is in the box.

I let that thought sink in for a moment before throwing my caution to the wind and starting to rip off the brown paper to open the box underneath. Inside the small box is some paper for packing material along with a single bracelet made from wood I don't recognize.

I gently pull it out with a smile and see the wood is an odd combination of deep red with white streams running through it. And knowing him it's not just paint, he probably changed the color of the wood itself for just this. "Hmm, I should tease Aunty more about that necklace, it is rather personal," I comment out loud as the idea strikes me.

I chuckle a little and after making sure it's not magical I slip it onto one of my forelegs, and as expected it fits perfectly. "Oh, now there's something I can tease him about, being able to make things that fit me without even needing to ask." I laugh a little to myself and look inside the box to see nothing else but packing paper.

I look over the bracelet and see it's carved or grown in such a way to make it look like it's growing hearts into the wood itself. It's a small pattern that takes me a moment to notice but with the few roses also engraved on the wood it fits well. "Always the good gifts," I mutter.

It is nice that he cares enough to send me something for my birthday, honestly having him as a friend has been nice and I enjoy the time we spend together. I wouldn't say we are best friends but we make time for each other and I always find my time with him either interesting or entertaining.

As for Aunty? Well, she's always happy to see him and that has not lessened with his most recent visit. A nice talk privately in the gardens during spring while everything was in bloom, I swear they are doing this to me on purpose. Wait... Are they? I mean, it would be a good way to get to me, but would they try that?

I let that thought sit in my head for a while before I sigh and just ignore it for now. Yet another thing I'll need to investigate, at least I've made some progress in other areas. After quite a while I've started narrowing down my search again, at least for now until winter comes back.

With some convincing I managed to get Aunty to agree it would be a good idea to do a basic survey of the more wild areas of Equestria. Nothing in-depth but enough to mark the layout, who if anypony lives there, and the powerful magical creatures. Just to get a good sense of what these much less populated areas are like right now.

This is not the first time such a thing has been done, it's been done many times in fact, but normally it's done only once every two decades and I'd be moving it up several years. However, with the situation involving the Changelings, it is a good idea anyway, so it was approved.

I know for a fact Aunty knows what I'm doing, but I'm technically right and it is a good idea so it's happening anyway. I look over to the side and sigh at the amount of paperwork I have to do. She did make it a condition that I'd need to do the paperwork, something of a downside but still worth it.

BIP I jump a bit and look around my office at the sudden and odd sound. A high pitch one that was so fast and short I barely had time to startle. It was also loud enough that I couldn't really tell what it was from. I look around but nothing is out of place and after a moment I shrug.

Honestly, my office is a little messy, but if things are now falling unseen I think it's time I get the staff to do a deep clean. I refocus on my thoughts and smile at the bracelet again before taking it off and putting it inside a desk drawer. "I do wonder what they have planned for me. Hmm."

The table prank was honestly one of my best, even if I had to get Aunty's help to get into his apartment. I did really like the interior though and I remember Aunty saying he's decorated even more since then. Maybe I should just come over the next time we have a meeting? Bring Shining along to play some games as well?

It is something to give some thought to, although it's best I actually ask first before showing up. It would be hilarious to just show up but I know for a fact that would make Shade swing back sooner and I like our little prank war as it is. Small but non intrusive, and at a slow pace, as it should be.

I giggle a little as the sudden memory of Aunty's new painting pops into my mind. Shade being a sire, or at least filling that role is not something I thought I'd get to see too But it seems Entropy is growing more and he's really stepping up for that adorable fluff ball.

I should ask when her birthday is, me and Aunty can get her somethi- BIP I jump again and look around my office quickly, but once again the sound was just too vague to make out where it came from. I narrow my eyes a little as a thought comes to me and I quickly take out my new bracelet again.

I cast a few spells this time and raise a brow as this is truly just a piece of wood, not even enchanted anyway. Still, that sound is annoying and twice it is just odd. I look around but nothing stands out so I wait for a minute, trying to see when it will next happen.

However, after five minutes of nothing I start to question myself. Sure the sound is odd but things like this happen, but the timing doesn't sit right with me. Eventually, I sigh and relax my body as I look over at the paperwork and the time of day. "Let's just get this done so I can go on a nice date with Shini-" BIP

I take a deep breath as I am once again startled by the sound. "Uggghh. Buck."

POV shift Shining.

I cast another spell at the dummy across the field and watch it catch fire as a head-sized Fireball slams into it a second later.

I let the feeling of my drained magic wash over me for a long moment before standing up and unbending my knees before sitting on my flank. I reach out with my slightly sore horn and take a flask from my bags before taking a few gulps of the far too-expensive tea inside. I wouldn't even be drinking this if Shade didn't give it out for free.

Cadance was pretty insistent I use some of the supply she gets to train and recover, not that I would have disagreed with such a luxury. Once again though I am reminded that Shade is one scary ass Pony, seriously he acts way too calm for somepony that can put you down that hard.

Recently we had another match together and I asked him once again not to hold back, mostly out of curiosity, that was a mistake. Within a second flat, he made me float into the air just slightly and just threw me at a wall before sticking me to it. Sure I could have cast spells back, but at the point where I'm glued to a wall and he hasn't even moved, it's not worth the magic I'd use for a match I'd already lost.

Seriously though, I know old Stone trained him but from what I know he only teaches basic stuff about magic. All the skill Shade has in magic, and the frankly genius and terrifying combinations he makes, are as far as I can tell, all him. By Celestia who even thinks of that?

All of this and he's not even actually trying that hard. I know for a fact he decided an adult Dragon doesn't need its tail anymore and forced them to apologize just to get it back. And weirder still he acts like it's nothing, that this is just another day in his life with nothing of note.

I chuckle at the simple madness that my friend seems to have with how he lives his life. I have to respect him for sticking to what he wants at least, even with basically no downsides he's happy to just be good old Shade and let Veil Winter remain nothing but a name.

Not that I should complain, he's firmly on our side and I think that will never change no matter what he is offered. He might just be the most loyal supporter The Princess has and that's just as a friend. I chuckle more at that thought. Those two really are either as dense as rock or blind as... Bats? Are bats blind?

I shake my head and get out of my thoughts before bending my knees again and looking over at the still somewhat standing dummy on the other side of the field. If nothing else he gives me a reason to push myself, and that always gets me pumped up.

I smile at the target and start my practice once again, hoping for a victory the next time I meet my friend and excited for my date later today.

POV shift Shade.

I whistle to myself as I walk through the market and look over the various stalls with a smile and a pep in my step.

The past week has been a calm mix of normal life while also telling my friends I'd be going on another trip. In the end, I was honest and said it was for healer work and my apprenticeship, to which I got nothing but support from them all. Including Avalon when I told him a few days ago.

Avalon and I ended up meeting again sooner than normal. We mostly just relaxed and worked on private things while making some notes on the Magical Measuring Device. That project is slow going because I'm doing it with him and he needs to learn a lot as we work on it.

In good news though he ended up completing his own little project. He modified the light spell completely on his own to change its color to orange and also added something of a brightness setting. It's a small thing but a big first step for him as it's the first spell he's done by himself.

That ended with us spending lunch at a restaurant celebrating his achievement before going back to my apartment and learning more. For my part, I've been working on the Water Lily and finally, I've started crossbreeding it with the Copper Lily, it will also be slow going through as I need to test each generation, and with my trip so close I don't have much free time.

I've mostly been shopping for supplies the past few days and making some preparations for the trip. First and foremost I got myself a good map of the area, at least the best I could find in library records, and I also did some math involving Entropy. Sadly even with her range being massive, we're still going far outside of it.

She can take us halfway across Equestria if we are just moving to an ocean, but the territory of Equestria goes more up and down than side to side. Basically, working at an angle it will take around three jumps to close that distance, something that won't work well.

That means two or three trips, but even with tea it would take Entropy a few hours to recover from one full jump. In total, that means six to seven jumps for a round trip and several hours of time. On top of that, I would rather not do that as it would be a lot for Entropy to handle and I’m not sure she’ll be fine after doing it.

Also, as a healer I need to be close and ready to act on things quickly, so unless I have a damn good reason for running off for several hours it is not really a good idea or even an option. That and Ponies would obviously have questions, on top of that bringing things with me is going to be tricky.

They have a few carriages and we'll be taking a train for two-thirds of the journey, but after that, it's going to be a decent flight. Weight along with room is a premium then. It's not like I need to bring my armor or Storm though, they draw too much attention for this.

Luckily my dagger Frost is small enough and after some paint and making a wooden cover for the sheath, it’s highly unlikely to be recognized by others. That along with my spell-casting and affinities should be enough. I'll still take obvious precautions but with my skills, I'm mostly confident, and it's not like I'll be on the front lines or anything, I'll be in the back unless I'm really needed.

I also got to look through the report on everything, and like Celestia said there wasn't much more in it that the letter didn't already show. Still, a few things stood out, like the fact that the attacks happened both at day and night, but more often at night. Not too helpful but good to know.

I stop abruptly and look over at a stand selling some good-looking donuts. I glance over at Entropy and she does the same, "Why not?" I ask and she chirps happily while I smile and walk over to continue my pleasant day with my loved one. It really is nice just spending time with family.

I get us an even dozen and pass her pieces while chewing through one and continuing to shop around. One thing I do want to find is a new tent, my old one is both a little small and fairly old, I also can afford a better one so why not? And after a little more walking I come across a stall selling a good amount of camping supplies.

The seller is a young but lazy-looking Griffon, or maybe they are just tired as they slump against the front of the stall. I get a glance from them but focus on looking through the tents they have, they seem fine just waiting to see if I actually buy anything. After some looking, I found a large tent colored a deep red with white accents.

The colors remind me of a few medical symbols from my last life and considering what this trip is about it seems fitting. It might be a bit big but Lightening spells can solve that. I move it over and place it down for the tired Griffon to see. "Uhh, fuck today." She mumbles out slowly as she sits up straight.

I snort a small bit. "Long day then?" I can't help but ask back as her attitude is pretty funny. Their eyes widen and they look shocked before looking annoyed at the trouble she seems to think this will bring. I just wave a hoof, "We all have days like that, how much for the tent?" I ask back and just let it drop.

She actually chuckles a little after rubbing her eyes for a second. "Ponies." She says amused and switches to speaking Pony. "Those ones got some silk lining for comfort, not cheap stuff. Eighty-five." I can already tell she's trying to upsell me a little. Honestly, she gave me something to laugh at internally so I just paid her the amount.

She raises a brow but happily places the bits I give her on a Bit Counter to check the amount and nods when it comes up right. "Thank you for your business," she says with more energy and I just nod back before taking the tent and walking away from the stall with an amused smile.

Griffons are so often blunt, and I think that's a reason we get along so well. I grew up in a decent-sized city in my past, and much like Griffons the humans there were blunt as bricks. That kind of Midwest blunt that comes from not giving much of a shit anymore.

For a moment I'm lost in those memories, a time that feels so long ago but that I can remember with great clarity. I do wonder some days what became of it all, how the people I knew are doing, and what's happening to them now. But it is so much more clear that I will never know, and maybe that's for the best.

I guess I have my own life now though. Friends, work, endless projects, ambitions, even a little family of my own. I start to whistle once again as I walk down the street, remembering what once was, but also thinking of what now is.

POV shift Daisy.

I smile and lean into the side of my stallion as we lay in the park on this lovely day.

He smirks a little and I pretend not to see his happy face for a second, knowing all too well he'd put back on his normal expression if he knew I saw. "Today is perfect, thank you." I thank him for the day out he planned for us, mostly because we were both busy on Hearts and hooves day.

He rumbles a bit and nods slowly, dropping that cute smile like I knew he would once I looked over. "It was, and I'm supposed to be thanking you, you're the one who made lunch." He counters and I respond by nipping at his foreleg near my head in the grass, not enough to hurt but enough to make him take the compliment.

Oh, I've come to love this stallion, even if he can live up to his name in some ways, I know he cares. "I wonder if the Colt's got his mare today? Knowing him he didn't even realize Hearts and Hooves day was recently." He chuckles and I giggle along as it seems fitting for Shade.

That talk a while ago and everything that came with it was so, well, it made me worry less about him. He held on a lot and needless to say, even I was surprised just how much he kept hidden, and I knew about several things already. And I also know there is a lot more buried even deeper.

There is a change there though and a change for the better, he still hides things from us, but he doesn't lie. When something is off limits he just says that and we leave it alone, even if Maple and Blaz like to joke and dig it's all in good fun and he knows he can ignore them. "I'd have to agree sadly, but I do know he still meets her. so maybe."

That was a nice thing to learn, and good to hear as the fact a stallion like this has no mare is surprising. I even questioned myself if he liked stallions instead, maybe not common but not unheard of either. Then again he might prefer stallions with how a lot of mares can get.

Personally, I like a strong stallion, and my big rock fits that well, but a lot prefer more traditional things. "Want to bet he's got himself involved in something more than just going somewhere to heal others?" He asks half joking about the trip we all recently learned about at our last game night.

I tilt my ears in thought. The trip did seem sudden, but a lot of things can be like that when working in the medical field, let alone as a healer. Honestly, I couldn't be more proud he's taken so well to it, doing a lot of good and even apprenticing under a Master Rank Healer of all things.

The trip though seems odd, he didn't give much detail and he gave off the feeling he wasn't being completely forthcoming. I think he has a good reason for that, he seems to anytime he lies, but it's still a little worrying. "Probably, do you think he'll be ok?" I ask with a little worry.

He huffs out a chuckle and nods with a small grin. "That Colt is tough as iron, he'll be fine." His tone is confident and I do feel a little reassured over it. "Now, what else are you thinking? I saw a few plays we could go to tonight?" He offered and I'm once again reminded of the strong but sweet stallion under that stony face.

I kiss him on the side of his muzzle. "I'd love that, and I love you."

POV shift Clear Water.

This file is far too small to make sense.

That was the first thought I had when I got my apprentice's file from the guard records. I can't get the real files with all the information but something like this I was able to request as his teacher, and even then it took a favor to do. The guard has been jumpy recently.

I asked and was told to not ask again, so I didn't. However, something still has them on edge over the last few months, lessening with time, something big happened. Regardless this file is still small for the Pony in question, maybe he just hasn't done enough of note? But he acts like he'd involve himself in things when needed.

Over the past months, I have come to notice and believe that Shade Evergreen is not what he seems. Not in some malicious way, but the simple fact he puts on a mask and lets very little show to others. A powerful and well-trained caster with a strong will and attitude, all wrapped in a mind that remains calm throughout.

I have seen moments of concern and worry from him, but never panic, and out of all my apprentices, he's done by far the best. Most who have come to me turned out to do little more than annoy me and fail to learn the very thing they came to me for. And all have not been calm enough, some were close though, and made half-decent apprentices.

Many just didn't work out well, and if I can't trust them to stay calm I will not trust them with a life. Healing is more than a practice or job, it is a responsibility to those you take into your care. I narrow my eyes as I look over the file again, an orphan, a librarian, and nothing else.

He has proven that he did teach himself well before meeting me, and he earned that knowledge he holds through effort all his own. Not even a single teacher and he came much further than so many others, something I see and continue to see potential in.

He has learned well under me, and he most importantly learns his lessons. I have seen him make mistakes, but only ever once or twice, that is all it takes for him to buckle down and not let it happen again. All of this is why I made the offer for him to come along, because unlike most I know he will at least be half competent, and actually listen to orders that he will follow correctly.

Still, the mostly empty files stare back at me with a silent question. Who? What made him into what he is? And how does that affect what he will become? I do not care for his past mistakes, or anything else, I care that he is a good healer and that he deserves and earns that title.

I put down the file and look over the pile of notes he left me once again. I suppose I shall see in time.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading. <3
Current year is 997

I wrote this on Valentine's Day/ Hearths and Hooves Day. So it counts! And I thought it would be fun to play around with perspectives. Although I don't think I'll do a chapter like this often, it's a little much.

PS I plan to see you all Monday, it looks likely but I am busy so I'll update you if things change.