Once per Day

Time was against her, as always.

The Avatar had just been abducted right before her very eyes, the warriors were about to engage the Royal Guard outside, and everyone was in a panic—everyone except for Pseudo, as usual, and the Avatar's friends.

But only because they'd left the courtyard before everything happened. And so, unsure what else she could do, Sugarplum found herself galloping as fast as her legs could push her toward the Avatar's room to find his friends. Luckily, she caught up with them before they'd made it to the room.

"Wait!" She cried, causing the diamond dog and pegasus to jolt and look back at her. Sugarplum slid to a halt and leveled a desperate look at them. "Where are you going? The Avatar needs help!" The dog hummed while the pegasus threw her head back with a groan.

"Crud," she sighed. "Where is he?"

"One of the Elements tackled him off the wall and flew him away!" Sugarplum declared. The pair recoiled and shared a look.

"Welp. Win some, lose some," the pegasus shrugged and turned to leave, followed by the dog. Sugarplum's jaw dropped.

"Win some, lose.. You're a pegasus! You gotta fly after him!" She pleaded.

"And do what? He's caught and cooked," the pegasus replied without turning. "It's not like I like the guy, you know? Plus, I'm not under his curse anymore!" The pegasus laughed and continued with a skip in her step.

"Very sad, but nothing to be done," the dog added, waving back at the stunned unicorn. "We go. Goodbye." Sugarplum stood aghast at the pair and blinked. Watching them walk away while she stood powerless to stop them caused her ears to swivel and her heart to race.

She'd been here before. At least this time, there was something she could do, and so she scowled and drew in a full breath.

"Just a pair of COWARDS," she screamed, causing the withdrawing pair to flinch and look back at her. "You're just as bad as the nobles!" The dog furrowed his brow while the pegasus recoiled and her wings snapped out.

"Hey! How dare you?" She screamed back. "Do you-"

"Shove it!" Sugarplum added before whirling around and galloping back the way she'd come, fighting off the tears in the corners of her eyes. It hadn't been much, but she'd found the strength to do something just then, and knew she couldn't lose the emotional momentum she'd managed.

As she burst back into the courtyard, she immediately rushed for the gate, ignoring the calls of Sash and her other few friends in the Children of Change. Clearing the gate and flying along the bridge, she saw the battle that had erupted. Despite everyone's fears, the warriors were actually pushing the Royal Guard back up the pass, though the guard had split into two groups and were now attacking the warriors from two fronts.

Scanning the valley as she galloped, she saw no sign of the Avatar, but spied the Elements in the midst of the cult's warriors, duking it out with Orgnar and Yendrek. She scowled and charged that way, but stopped when she noticed a guard charging at her.

She set her hooves apart in a low stance and scraped the ground, reading to impale whoever it was with her horn, but once the lone guard was closer, she gasped.

"Sugarplum?" He cried.

"Turnip?" She squeaked. The two locked eyes, completely oblivious to the battle happening nearby.

"What are you doing here?" Turnip asked, trotting closer to Sugarplum. "Why aren't you back home with Uncle Nectar?"

Sugarplum froze at his question and her ears snapped against her skull. Turnip frowned and took a step closer, but before he could say anything, Sugarplum began heaving as a miserable expression overtook her. Turnip recoiled before scrambling to pull her into a hug as she stumbled over and fell into a sobbing fit.

"Hey- What-" He tried, unable to collect his words as the mare screamed and clutched him tight.

"This little pony has been away from home for too long," came another voice which somehow overcame the sounds of Sugarplum's wails. Turnip looked up and froze at the sight of a tall, bipedal thing in white robes with a face hidden behind a metal mask. The thing stretched an arm out and pointed toward the battle. "Head that way and wait thirty seconds. The pass will be open then." Turnip blinked and looked the way the creature was pointing and then back.

"None here will welcome you in that uniform, and I cannot imagine she can handle watching another family member die," the creature explained, at which point Sugarplum's cries intensified. Turnip's jaw hung slightly as he looked down at the sobbing mare and then back at the creature.

"Turnip!" Yet another voice called. He turned to see Snowpea and Violence just behind him with spears leveled at the creature. "What are you doing? Who is that?" He blinked, looked down at Sugarplum, and then frowned with a grunt.

"Sorry, Snowpea," he huffed before slipping the weeping mare onto his back and rushing the way he'd been directed. "Hold on, Sugar!"

"-Then, I woke up here," I finished, leaning back against my cell wall and shrugging. The big, white, winged unicorn with the crazy magic hair nodded thoughtfully at my story. My eyes drifted from her to the lines of angry guards she had at either side, including the one who'd been assigned to guard my books.

Since I woke up, I'd caught on to a few things even before the magical princess popped up. Someone realized my books were magic and would return to me if I misplaced them, so someone came up with a clever solution for that. Instead of taking my books away, they kept them in the same room, where I could still see them. To my immense frustration, it was obviously working.

The book guard who was idly trying to read one of my books, and having no luck if his bewildered expression was any sign, noticed I was staring and then slapped it shut before glaring at me.

"Well, Mr. Fremont, that certainly sheds some light on a few details in Lieutenant Honeysuckle's initial reports I was curious about," the princess declared, drawing my attention back to her. Since she'd arrived and demanded I give a complete account of my time since arriving, she'd worn a serene, even expression. Now though, her face was slightly harsher and judgy. "There is another thing I must ask, however."

"What's that?" I huffed.

"You failed to elaborate on the pact you made with Discord," she explained. "Specifically, what it was he asked of you and what you hoped to gain from the exchange." I winced at her words. Somehow she was already aware of the fact that Discord had summoned me from another world and given me my magic. I assumed she knew something about the whole Avatar business, but she was the first person to declare that my power was also given by the All-mighty Fuck-head. I shrugged.

"He said he could give me wizard powers," I replied. "He didn't say what he wanted and then he fucked off."

"Watch your language!" One of the guards shouted. I stuck my tongue at him, causing him to recoil, and then glare at me with an angry nicker. Sel, uh.. Selma! That was it. Princess Selma frowned at my explanation with a hum.

"'Wizard powers?' What does that mean?" She asked. I frowned and my eyes shifted left and right since I was only barely sure of the answer myself.

"Magic?" I finally replied, haltingly. "Power to study my books and throw spells and shit?" Before the guard could chastise me again, Selma raised a wing at him.

"Fine, but what did you intend to do with such power?" She pressed. I frowned harder and slowly shrugged with my hands.

"Uh. Be.. A wizard for a little while?" I declared. She recoiled with her jaw open.

"One of the greatest magical patrons on this plane offered you a contract, with no declared expectations of service or payment, and you accepted it purely to play at being a magician?" She exclaimed with an incredulous glare. "Without any plan or long-term scheme for what you would do with the power he provided?" I blushed and shrugged again.

"I just thought it'd be cool," I muttered.

"Beg pardon?" She gasped.

"I thought it'd be cool," I repeated. "Isn't that enough?" She sat with her jaw hanging and her wings bristled. Then, suddenly, she sputtered, choked, and began cackling. I flinched at the sight as she stomped her hoof and brought the other one up to her mouth. The guards seemed just as shocked at the display, which lasted for a good minute and a half. Finally, she coughed a few times and paused, letting a few final giggles escape before sighing.

"You are very amusing. I am satisfied," she nodded and turned to her guards. "With the exception of Private Clipper, you can all go." All of the guards except the one holding my books recoiled, and the princess leaned to the guard in the fanciest armor.

"Send for the item we discussed, if you wouldn't mind," she added.

"But Princess!" He cried. "We can't leave you unguarded with this villain!"

"Oh, he's mostly harmless," she replied drawing a frown from me. Harmless. "Off you go!" She gently slapped his back with a wing. He and the rest shared a look before slowly filing out. Suddenly, Selma hummed and raised a hoof.

"Oh, wait just a moment! Lieutenant, please forward this reprimand to Captain Stern," she said, conjuring and hastily filling out a scroll before floating it to one of the guards. "I believe Mr. Fremont's account alongside what Twilight told me supports what she has feared about our dear Lieutenant Honeysuckle's temper." The guard saluted before they resumed their exit.

"Ah, this has been a relief. When I first discerned that Discord had summoned an Avatar, I feared the worst," she said, raising a hoof with a happy smile. "But! While you are perhaps a tad unkind and have a disturbing willingness to engage in unlawful activity, I do not believe you to be an out-and-out villain, Mr. Fremont." I rolled my eyes at her assessment.

"Yeah, well, maybe you should deal with your upper class before you go pointing fingers," I pursed my lips and shrugged. "Or horns, or whatever." She tilted her head.

"Would you care to elaborate what you mean by that?" She asked. I held up my hand and pointed at my fingers.

"These things are called 'fingers,'" I explained and rolled my hands at her. "Pointing fingers means-"

"No, not that," she said holding up her hoof and gently shaking her head. "Your comment on the upper class." I hummed and nodded in realization.

"It's been a recurring theme for a while. I keep bumping into folks who tell me that the ruling class of this place is generally corrupt and awful," I shrugged and gestured at her. "Sneaky told me the nobles get away with stuff 'cause you can't be everywhere, for instance." Private Clipper raised his eyebrows and looked up at the princess, who nodded thoughtfully.

"I see," she said with a smile. "Thank you for clarifying." I blinked and tilted my head slightly.

"You don't seem shocked to hear that," I said and to my enduring astonishment, she shrugged.

"That's because it's true," she said plainly. I stared at her blankly for a bit before shaking my head in disbelief.

"Oh, okay," I huffed and frowned at her. "Yeah, I guess sicking mutilation-happy psychos on the innocent takes precedence over dealing with that."

"Forgive me, Mr. Fremont, but what would you have me do?" She asked, holding her hoof up as she spoke. "I am referring to the corruption of the nobility, to clarify."

"Something? Anything?" I offered.

"Ah, very well thought out," she replied with a subdued giggle. She cleared her throat. "If you will allow, I believe I'd best explain how this land is structured, seeing as you are an Outworlder." I motioned for her to go on, and adjusted my sitting position.

"You've probably realized during your short time here that there are three forms of pony, not counting the form I take. These are the three tribes," she began. "Equestria came to be a single nation when those three tribes unified. When that first occurred, a unicorn princess named Platinum was nearly thrust into the office of monarch for the new country." She held up a hoof.

"However, the princess' aid, Clover the Clever, believed that having a unicorn rule over the other tribes would eventually lead to reigniting segregationist sentiments which ponykind had only just overcome," she smiled with a nod. "So! It was presented to and voted upon by the leaders of all three tribes that Princess Platinum would use her authority and resources to fulfill a peace-keeping duty rather than governing, while each tribe would have its own regional rulers, all of whom would convene and work toward a greater good for the whole country." I scratched my chest and furrowed my brow as she spoke.

"As time passed and definitions became clearer, the Princess would settle disputes between territorial rulers, ratify and offer new laws or policies for the whole country rather than just individual territories, as well as act as supreme commander of the Equestrian military only in times of war," she continued, her hoof swaying back and forth as she named each article of the office's duties. "At all other times, the princess would only have a contingent of guards, levied from the territories of Equestria but which do not in number exceed the policing and defense forces of those territories. Are you still with me?" She tilted her head with a warm smile.

"Yeah?"

"Excellent. Now, while in ancient times the rulers I have so far referred to were themselves ponies of quality character, a sad result of their families becoming entrenched in their positions of authority is an increasing propensity to abuse that authority among their younger generations, who in turn pass that propensity to their juniors," her smile turned sad and she sighed. "So, it should not be a surprise that after several thousand years, those families have become what we find them to be." I squinted and grimaced.

"Sure, but-"

"If I were to act against any one family, the others would invariably perceive it as an overstep of my authority, especially given that I am not technically of a noble house myself," she added causing me to flinch. She nodded. "My sister and I were granted the office in gratitude for our efforts to protect the country, but in truth, we were not even born in Equestria." She looked up as if in thought.

"To avoid antagonizing the other families, we would have to present evidence of any misdeeds to them and to the public, and this I assure you I have attempted to do when I have become aware of injustice," she looked down at me with another sad smile. "But it is a sad truth that the further away from Canterlot you go, the more time certain individuals who will go unnamed have to hide proof of their misdeeds." Her smile was replaced by a sour glare.

"Or, in some cases, even help other families hide their corrupt actions in exchange for favors," her mildly angry expression flipped back to a smile. "Did you know there is actually quite the complex web of political ties born from such arrangements?"

"Sure, but why not just blow them up?" I shot back, shrugging as I spoke. The guard gasped and recoiled, but she just smiled. "I heard you move the sun, so that's gotta be easy by comparison." She laughed in response.

"Oh yes, terribly! But it wouldn't solve anything," she said, shaking her head. "For starters, as I explained, the Canterlot contingent of guards is equal in size to any other contingent throughout Equestria. Thus, any conflict, even one in which I exert my own power, would be drawn out somewhat." She spread her wings and held up her hoof.

"During that time, rumors and lies would fester and spread, and before you know it, the populace has been convinced that my actions were born of greed and malice rather than altruism for their sake," she shook her head with a sigh. "Such is the sad state of things. Many ponies who live under one lord or lady never hear of the misdeeds of their neighboring nobles, and thus presume it is a unique affliction they are troubled by." She smiled again and looked me up and down.

"I am not surprised that, during your brief stint as an outlaw you learned of this from other outlaws. After all, anyone who would realize how widespread an issue this is would quickly find themselves run out of town, if you follow my meaning," she said with a wink. "And there is another issue with that line of thinking, Mr. Fremont." Seeing me furrow my brow, she continued.

"Once one begins to use violence to solve their problems, I have found they can practically never stop. Once you open that door, you must continue down that path, forever," she looked down at her hooves as she spoke. "Every life taken is a loved one for whom vengeance will be sought. Every stallion destroyed is somepony's son or father." There was a pause and she looked off to the side.

"That is no way to secure the lasting peace I desire," she finally said. After another moment, she turned back to me with a smile. "Rest assured, I have something of a plan for dealing with my misbehaving little ponies."

And then her smile was gone.

"But I'm afraid that's not a story for the likes of you," she said firmly. I swallowed and heard the sound of the jail door opening just out of sight. The squeak of a few wheels followed. "I have heard your case, and I determine that while you are not entirely the villain I feared you could be, neither are you entirely innocent." She rose from her sitting position and took a step to the side as a pair of guards wheeled something in.

"And even setting your actions aside, there is an element at play I do not believe you are aware of," she added as my jaw dropped.

"Oh, hello, my star pupil!" Discord chirped as the guards propped his mostly petrified body up. "Excellent work so far!" I sat dumbstruck and slowly looked at Selma for answers.

"As you have gained power in whatever means you may, you have also steadily undone the spell keeping Discord imprisoned," she explained, causing Discord to snicker and me to hold my breath. "As I said, I do not believe you were aware of this, but it remains a fact all the same." I exhaled hard and rubbed my forehead. I looked up and met Discord's smirking face, which I countered with a glare.

"I am willing to offer leniency to you, Victor Fremont," the princess added, drawing my attention back to her. She was now wearing a severe look with her head held high. "However, you must agree to let us sever the connection you share with Discord, which I do not believe we can do without your consent. Such is the nature of such pacts." I frowned and looked back at Discord, who wagged his eyebrows at me.

"What'll that do to me?" I asked Selma. She nodded and extended a wing at Discord.

"You will be restored to your nature before you entered this pact with him," she explained.

"That means no more magic!" He added, causing me to gawp. Selma nodded solemnly, and I felt my head spin.

"I can't go back to being just Victor," I desperately gasped. I held my hands out to her and shook my head. "Things might've been a pain getting used to, but this shit's still magic! You can't just take it away!" I stood up, much to the guards' annoyance, and tried to approach the bars, only for the chains to hold me back.

"Isn't there any other-"

"No, not unless he alters your contract," she interjected. I huffed and held my head. "There is more to life than sorcery, Mr. Fremont."

"Easy for you to say, Ms. Moves-the-sun-with-her-mind," I grumbled, stalking back to my corner and shaking my head. A pause followed, and I peered back to see her looking at me with an unreadable expression. I also saw Discord with a big dumb smirk and his eyes darting between me and her.

"Tell you what," she finally began, closing her eyes as she spoke. "I have some things I must attend to. You stay here and think it over for a little while and in a few days we'll see how you're feeling then." She nodded at the guards who began to wheel Discord away.

"Farewell again, my beloved student!" Discord called. I sank down to the floor, brought my knees to my chest, and just stared ahead. I saw Selma's shoes step up to the bars.

"I'd hate to keep a thinking being locked up forever, Mr. Fremont," she said, bending down to meet my eyes with a sad smile. "But as with many other creatures I have encountered, if you will not allow us to break the spell binding you to Discord, you leave me with no other option."

Celestia stood in thought once the dungeon door was closed behind her. The four guards in the hall with her awaited her orders for what to do with the partially petrified spirit also beside her.

"He may not be as dreadful as the last chap, but he has the same sickness that plagues many of his kind," Discord declared, causing Celestia's wing to bristle. "A hunger. It's one of their most amusing qualities. You should see what they got up to less than a hundred years ago!" She looked over to see him tilting his head up in thought as best he could.

"Well, hm. You know, I think for them it was less than a hundred, but for us, it was closer to several hundred years ago," he offered her a wry grin. "Time dilation is such a tricky thing to keep track of across whole universes."

"Indeed? Well, what do you know about this Pseudo he spoke of?" Celestia asked furrowing her brow and looking down the hall. "Or the Children of Change, for that matter."

"I 'unno," Discord replied plainly. "Didn't have any worshipers back in the day. Most ponies offered me screams and tears as tribute rather than prayer." Celestia nodded with a hum.

"I see. I'll have the guards bring you some of that custard you like," she declared before waving the guards on.

"Oh goody!" The spirit cheered as they wheeled him away.

The painting was even more obnoxious a sight than before. Honeysuckle grimaced and shook her head as she studied the crude display, and was almost relieved when Blueleaf came skipping in. She smiled at her cousin and stood to greet him, keeping her sword side aimed away from him.

"Dear, dear Cousin Honeysuckle!" He cheered, shaking his head with mirth as he stood beside her. "It is so good to- Where's my case?" His expression fell as he looked her over and then turned about, scanning the rest of the room. Honeysuckle snickered and brought her hoof to her mouth.

"Oh! You know? I think I forgot to grab it!" She gasped before shrugging. "Whoopsie!" Blueleaf's jaw dropped and he wheezed.

"WHOOPSIE?! Sei scema?" He cried, causing her to smile. He frowned and then offered a cruel grin of his own. "Maybe you forgot our little deal?" Honeysuckle grinned wickedly and quickly whirled to present her side, drawing her sword in the process. Blueleaf recoiled with a gasp.

"What deal was that?" She asked with a venomous giggle as she wagged her sword through the air. Blueleaf sputtered and stammered before freezing and leaning to look passed her. Honeysuckle lowered her sword and tilted her head at the display.

"Yes, I'm curious what arrangement you two had as well. But that can wait." Honeysuckle tensed up at the voice from just behind her and dropped her sword. Blueleaf smirked at her before stepping to the side and bowing.

"Uncle! Wonderful to see you!" He chirped as Honeysuckle scrambled to pick the sword up and replace it in her sheath. Her ears swiveled nervously as the sound of hooves clicking against the floor approached.

"Blueleaf. Tu me dégoûtes. Leave," the stallion declared as he stepped into Honeysuckle's peripheral vision. Blueleaf hesitated and his expression fell. Fortunately, his hesitation kept the stallion's attention on him, allowing Honeysuckle just enough time to slip the sword into her sheath. She stood at attention and watched as Blueleaf wilted under the stallion's gaze and then slunk away, leaving the two alone.

The stallion, who wore a crimson coat with a short line of medals on his breast, was a white unicorn with a stiff, straight black mane with a few grey stripes, that covered his right eye and hung off that side of his head. Beneath his nose was a curling black mustache, and his one visible eye was hazel, just like Honeysuckle's. And just like Honeysuckle's, it was piercing and seemed set in a permanent, hateful glare.

"Daughter," he said firmly.

"Papa," Honeysuckle replied.

"Explain yourself," he pressed. Honeysuckle tilted her head, but before she could ask, he presented a letter with his magic. He spoke again, but his words came as a low growl. "This was just handed to your superior, who passed it along to me." She flinched and took the letter, reading as far as the first line before gasping. Her father closed his eyes and shook his head with a growling sigh.

"I told you, if you intend to play at a stallion's office, you'd better not make a fool of yourself," he said, casting a critical leer upon his daughter. "But it seems not only did you not listen to a word I said, as usual, but you chose to make yourself a hindrance." Honeysuckle choked and stomped her hoof.

"That's not-!"

"Quiet," he said, causing her to stumble. "Collect yourself, calm that temper, and explain." Honeysuckle swallowed and stood up straight with a deep breath.

"The creature we brought in went out of his way to agitate me, and-"

"And you gave in to its provocations?" Her father scoffed. "Unbelievable." Her jaw dropped before setting in a snarling frown.

"He insulted mother!" Honeysuckle yelled and stomped her hoof.

Thwack

"You will not use her as an excuse," her father spat, lowering his outstretched hoof, though Honeysuckle did not turn her head back. "Then again, perhaps this is her way of testing you, eh? Seeing if you're good enough?" He took a single step closer and leaned toward her ear.

"Do you think you passed her test?" He quietly demanded. "Do you think this behavior made her proud?" Honeysuckle frowned but didn't answer right away. Her father tilted his head and raised his eyebrow.

"Non," she sharply answered.

"Non," he repeated just as if not more sharply. He withdrew and looked her up and down. "Give it to me." Honeysuckle recoiled with a gasp, at which her father narrowed his eyes. The sight caused her to wilt and clench her teeth, and after a moment her head drooped low and she unhooked the belt holding her sheath and sword on. She hovered the sword to her father who roughly snatched it with his own magic before turning and making for the door.

"Attend this disciplinary hearing with your superior, and then we shall see if your little period of playing pretend is up or not," he spat as he trotted away. "And I will see you at dinner."

Honeysuckle sank to the floor. Her ears flicked as she listened for anyone, to make sure she wasn't being spied upon. Once she was satisfied she was well and truly alone, she grunted quietly and looked up at the tasteless painting her cousin had put up, displaying himself as a champion of the Equestrian military.