The Sun above was beginning its approach on the path towards evening. Aurora, Thunder Step, Nurse Redheart and myself all sat in the courtyard just outside Ponyville General Hospital on benches which I found immensely uncomfortable. It was as if they were made for a creature quite unlike Ponies, or perhaps were built in a way so that a Pony could rest, but not easily sleep upon it, preventing hobos or something from taking up residence on them for extended periods of time. Even with the discomfort I was experiencing, I had been explaining the situation for some time, getting everypony up to speed, and it was starting to grate on my nerves. I was getting very tired of telling the story of how Fray had come into being to everypony I had ‘wronged.’ I understood their feelings, but I was starting to get the notion that I had done exactly the only thing I could have.

Fortunately, Fray had slipped into my skull again and was keeping me calm with a game of catch. He wasn’t terribly great at it, since his arms were somewhat stubby, but we had fun nevertheless in the ‘mind field’ that we frequented together in my consciousness.

In time, though, everypony knew as much about the events that had transpired in the past month that I could reasonably explain. I looked around, awaiting the inevitable questioning. Aurora just stared guiltily at the ground, no doubt thinking about how she’d walked out on me. I wished I could comfort her, but it wasn’t the time nor the place. Thunder Step just shook his head. I don’t think he really comprehended the whole of the situation, or perhaps he was wondering how I had handled it all so well.

In truth, I didn’t handle any of it. In fact, I was just GETTING a handle on the situation, and had been doing things on a reactionary basis up until that point. Not having time to think about my next move made moving forward easier and, with the sudden excess time to sit back and reflect, I was beginning to realize how hectic things had really been, and how much I wanted to rest.

Also, sometimes my eye did this really annoying twitching thing. Nopony seemed to notice, however.

As for Nurse Redheart, she apologized for the outburst, gave me a hug, and offered up her home since mine was burnt to the ground. I still hadn’t seen that yet, so I made a mental note to make it my next stop, then told the Nurse that if I couldn’t find somewhere else to live before the night came I’d consider her offer, but didn’t want to impose. She told me it was no trouble, gave me a hug, and left it at that. No questions.

I was surprised.

The white mare then moved towards the hospital doors, glanced back at me sadly, and returned to her duties. I had hoped, just then, that I wouldn’t have to worry her again. Obviously, that would not be the case, and we would have a teetering mother-son-esque relationship for quite some time. I don’t think I’d have wanted it any other way, even if she did chuck clipboards at my face more often as the years went on.

With the Sun still halfway between midday and the evening horizon, I was left alone with my oldest friends.

“I want to see my home.” I mumbled, “See if there’s anything left.”

Fray popped out of the back of my skull and rolled lazily down to settle on my back, then sat up.

“The size of the glow from that night indicates that a good portion of that block would have been completely incinerated.” he told me, his countenance too cute for me to be mad at the realization.

“I’ll be escorting you.” Thunder Step interjected, “I don’t think it’s wise though, trying to return to your home. Likely anypony who sees you there will not be happy with your presence.”

Aurora was silent. I had a feeling I knew what she was thinking, and it wasn’t right if I was correct.

“Aurora?” I asked, trotting to her, “Aurora. It’s not your fault.”

“If I hadn’t lef-” she began to protest, sadness welling up in her eyes.

I held up a hoof, interrupting her, “No. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known, and you were on mission when it happened anyways.” I insisted, “Besides… I won’t be living down here any more… since I can fly.”

I smiled a little, lifting her chin with one of my hooves as I stared into those wonderful, ice-blue eyes. In return, she smiled as well, but the usual fire was not there. She was still thinking about it, still blaming herself. I’d have to prove to her that it wasn’t her fault, or at least make her feel better about everything. Fray glanced up at me, frowned, and pinned his ears back as he hopped up and floated like a little gray, green-eyed cloud to stare at Aurora.

“Statistically speaking,” my son started, “It was better that you were not there. There was a 1 in 25 chance that you would have sustained serious injury, along with… dad-” he was still having trouble calling me that, but I could tell it was something he wanted to do, “- because you and he would have been sleeping much more soundly that night. It is more likely that you saved his life.”

Aurora blinked in surprise. Hell, I blinked in surprise too. I’m pretty sure that neither of us had thought of that and, after a few moments, I saw her smile a little. Some of the fire had returned, a small spark that I could see somewhere in the back of those eyes.

“Thank you… both of you.” she said, “Thank you.”

Then she turned and I could swear I saw a tear. I left it at that and said nothing else. She needed some time, I was sure. But… you know, I decided to do one more thing to reassure her, and approached Aurora while she wasn’t looking in my direction. Carefully, softly, I kissed her cheek and walked off, heading for my home with Thunder Step in tow. I didn’t look at her for a reaction, but instead just made sure she was following.

I had mixed thoughts about the situation at the time. I knew I was confusing her feelings as well, which made me feel kind of bad, but I also knew that those mixed up perceptions just had to lead to something better. I realized then that I still wanted to see her happy and that I hadn’t really lost any of my admiration and care for her, despite everything. I wasn’t the same Pony… but I wasn’t entirely different either. If it weren’t for the twitching in my eye that still annoyed me as we walked, I might have even though I was a better Pony for it all.

We continued through the streets of Ponyville, kicking cobblestones accidentally from where they’d come up from the roads and alleyways between buildings. Ponies stared, of course, and I assumed that that they were unsure of what to think about me or what to do about my presence. Maybe they were confused by Aurora’s presence, being that she was an upstanding pony whom many looked up to. Of the expressions that crossed the faces of those we passed, there was the usual scowling, but I thought I saw a few ponies smile a little as they passed us in the street, making quick eye-contact, as if they weren’t part of the crowd that disliked my being alive.

In any event, we arrived on the block that held what had once been my home.

“Um… Ramp?” Aurora asked without warning, “I need to go get some things from the market… food and stuff. I just got back… and I’m out of everything…”

I tilted my head at my fiance, “Oh… well, alright…” I said, unsure what to think.

Then Aurora did something I wasn’t expecting and ran up to me, wrapping her hooves around my neck and hugging me tight.

“I’m so glad you’re back and still mine… I promise I’m coming back. I just really need to get a few things… Meet back in the center of town in two hours?”

I nodded, laying my hooves gingerly around her neck as well. She stepped back after letting go and smiled a little, though it seemed half-hearted, afterwhich launching herself into the air, and flying towards the Market District.

I felt a little sick having to watch her go so soon, but I was certain she’d return this time, and motioned to Thunder Step so we could continue down the street. As I glanced around, it became more apparent that Fray’s analysis was rather accurate. A few buildings were charred, some only a little, some more than halfway burned out. The fire had been massive, for sure.

“We still haven’t caught the arsonist…” Thunder Step growled, “There’s just not enough evidence to pin anypony to the crime…”

“It looks like they weren’t just after me…” I reasoned, “Either that, or they wanted to makes sure that there was nothing left of my home, regardless of damage to the area around.”

“We’ve been unable to find any hoofprints or anything showing the path they might have taken. With the soft ground, they would be obvious, especially with the grass gone and the ash blown away.”

“So do we know anypony who can walk on air?” I asked, an idea of who it might have been popping into my head, “Or teleport?” I asked, considering that option as well.

“Cold Thorn…” Thunder Step echoed my thoughts, “Even a pony with teleportation skills would have left prints at the place where he’d ended up. In addition… there were witnesses around during the time of the initial fire. Somepony would have seen the flash, and there would have been atmospheric disturbance and magical energy signatures-”

“Cut to the chase, old friend.”

Thunder Step looked as if he resented my interruption, but continued, “If we can find some of Cold Thorn’s ashes, like the stuff his shadow magic is made of, then we can prove it was him. It’ll clear your name of the fire at least, which will put at least a few ponies at ease.”

I asked my heavily armored comrade how I was supposed to find these ashes, which as it turned out, was easier than I’d imagined it would be. Thunder Step brought me to the edge of my home, and began explaining.

“If I remember Cold Thorn’s powers correctly, he couldn’t effectively wield anything if he was in his shadow form. He’d have to come out of it, at least partially, to set fire to anything. Now, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave the item he’d used to burn your home, but…”

I caught on, seeing an area which looked different from the rest. Burnt yes, but clumped up with more material than should have been there, as if something had been piled in that place to allow a large fire to start quickly, “He wouldn’t have had time to collect his own ashes before moving to the next place he was headed!”

Sure enough bluish-black, glinting ashes, though the were hard to see, were intermixed in the pile of soot that was the initial place where the fire had started, right where my bed would have been if there were still anything left intact. Thunder Step pulled out a small bag, and a sifter. The action made me wonder how much gear a PNG guard carried. He sifted the soot, which was fortunately much finer than the dust from Cold Thorn’s magic, and collected it in the bag, then deposited both back into his pocket once he’d somewhat cleaned off the tool.

“You know, I was really hoping that it was a crime of the mob, you know?” Thunder Step sighed, “At least then nopony could really be punished…”

“I’m still having a hard time understanding why Cold Thorn would be so cruel…” I said, “We were friends for years.”

Thunder Step moved with me to the gutted front of my home, “Jealousy can be a horrible thing… especially with people who have the power to act on a whim.” he told me.

“How old are you again?” I asked, grinning at the large stallion for a moment, “Could swear I almost heard wisdom come out of that maw of yours.”

“Watch it. I’m still an officer of the law.” he told me, “Even if I am on your side.”

“Bah.” I dismissed the passive-aggressive threat, “You’re no fun.”

My nonchalance turned into a deep pit of sorrow only moments afterward.

I hadn’t looked at my house yet, really, being as caught up in the possibility of catching the Pony who had destroyed it utterly in a single night. But as I stared at the ashes at my hooves, a deep sadness filled my heart. This had been my home, I thought, it had been where I’d grown up. So many memories, good ones. Walls with beautifully crafted molding, windows of clean, clear glass, and the hardwood floor that I’d spent hundreds of hours playing with blocks upon as a foal. The smell of cookies often had accompanied these sights, along with the warmth of a mother and father’s love.

And it was all gone, burned to cinders, the smells that I’d brought to it in my parent’s absence replaced by soot and smoke. Unable to truly comprehend the sight, I pressed my hooves into the wam ash that had been my front door. Dust displaced from my step and cast a small cloud around my hooves. I glanced up and around at the charred skeleton that was my home.

“Ramp…” Thunder Step whispered, “Come on, there’s nothing here. The flames were a hundred-and-twenty hooves high.”

I wasn’t listening and, instead of stopping, continued forward into where my living room had been. The couch Aurora and I had cuddled and slept on so many nights was little more than a smoulder, part of the frame still intact, but slowly disintegrating into ashes with the cold wind. It would be totally gone by the end of the week. I turned, facing down the hall that lead to my kitchen, the hallway to my right which lead into a small library was completely gone, revealing fallen bookshelves at the other end. A gust of wind came by again and blew the fresh soot around, revealing half-burnt books and papers. I continued towards some half-fallen walls which had once housed my bedroom. The mattress was partially intact atop the now-tarnished steel frame that had been mine and Aurora’s bed. The kitchen had fared no better. The flames had been so hot that my stove had been cracked in half, and they had destroyed the table which Aurora and I held our meals from. A broken window above the sink sagged, the glass looking as if it had become liquid for a few minutes. I turned, kicking more dust up around my feet but heard the sound of crunching beneath them and used one of my hooves to carefully expose the object. A photo of my mother and father had survived, bringing some relief to me. The photo was a little burned around the edges, but looked to have been covered up by something which protected it from extreme damage as the object above burned. I picked the frame apart, and removed the picture. I hadn’t looked at it in a while.

In it, they were smiling, and I was in the middle, wearing my father’s boonie hat. I don’t remember what I’d done with it but was certain that it had been destroyed in the fire. I sighed. At least the picture had survived. I pocketed it carefully, and made plans to get it reframed when I got the chance.

“Come on, Ramp… we need to get to the town square fountain.” Thunder Step suggested in a low, sorrowful voice..

I nodded, “Yeah… yeah, I know.” and began to make my way out of the dust and ashes.

A cracking, ominous sound to my right made me look up and, to my despair, I found the chimney falling towards me. My eyes went wide. Fray screamed something at me and tumbled off my back, but it was far too late. I remember sound. So much sound. The crashing of wood, and a hard thud. Dazed and in the dark, I checked myself over after hitting the basement floor.

“Air Ramp!” Thunder Step called out, “Air, are you okay?”

“Father?” Fray called.

Smokey ashes filled my lungs for a moment, forcing me to cough harshly. I wasn’t hurt though, which was good. Nurse Redheart would have had a fit, but I couldn’t really see for a few minutes until the dust settled and when it did, I looked around to try to find a way out.

“Yeah!” I coughed again, “Yeah, I’m fine…!”

“We’re going to try to find something to pull you out!”

Now, bear with me, okay? I know there was an obvious way out. Just shush for a minute.

As far as I could tell there wasn’t a way out except the way I’d come in, and the only other way to the ground floor had been covered by fallen beams from what had once been a roof. There WAS a chest, however. A locked chest. It was untouched by flames and cast upon by the light of the waning Sun, as if it had been waiting for this very moment since the day it had been crafted. I knew that it had existed, but there had never been a key to it, so I had left it there and figured that it was just old clothes or something that my parents hadn’t wanted me getting into when I was a foal.

And yet… there was a key then. Hanging from one of the boards which had fallen. Boards which I knew had held the floor up only moments before. The ribbon it hung from was perfectly woven, red, and shimmered with an unmistakable magic. It was Rarity’s work. I recognized the shimmer from the time I’d been in her shop. I hadn’t thought much of it then, but… the red ribbon was definitely crafted by her hooves. The key itself was shiny, silver, and had a single red ruby in the middle of its hand-hold. It glinted in the shaft of light that angled itself towards the chest. I picked myself up, scattering burnt wood-chips and dust. Some debris had piled itself in my path, but it was easily removed by a push and some shoving around, which gave me access to the only part of the floor that hadn’t been covered in dust and ashes.

“Air!” I heard Thunder Step call, “Air, we’ve got a rope! Come on, the rest could collapse any minute!”

“Just… just give me a second! I found something!”

“Well… hurry up about it!” the PNG guard retorted, “I don’t think I can get enough ponies to help me if you get buried in this mess!”

“Thunder Step is right!” Fray said, “The odds that this structure will hold for more than a few more minutes is-”

I shook my head and yelled over my shoulder, “Hey! I’m serious. Just give me a second!”

I heard Thunder Step grumbling about how serious it was going to be when I was trapped under a ton of half-burnt wood, but rolled my eyes and ignored it, reaching up for the key and lifting it from its splintered shred of wooden beam. Holding it in my hooves for a moment, I admired the key. Another keepsake, something to remember days gone by… and maybe more, if I just put it in the lock-

More crashing. The floor above was coming down, just as Thunder Step had warned.

“Dammit…” I hissed and turned away, bounding towards the hole above and reaching for the rope, “Dammi~it!”

“Hurry!” I heard Fray cry as Thunder literally pulled me out of the hole in the floor, pull-slinging me clean over his shoulder and jumping out of the way of the widening hole in the floor.

For a moment, I was falling in an arc into the sky. If I’d had a little more practice flying, I might have righted myself or remembered that I’d had wings to begin with.

Yeah. I forgot I had wings. I told you it was obvious.

Either way, my momentum dissipated shockingly fast.

“Hello dear.” I heard Aurora say with a small giggle in my ear, where she held me from my underforehooves, “You can’t seem to stay out of trouble can you?”

I looked up and pinned my ears back. My heartbeat was fast enough that I could feel it in my throat.

“I’d think you’d be more worried!” I coughed.

“After what you’ve been through, you’re either extremely lucky, blessed by Luna, or invincible.” she told me, “Besides… I’m done worrying for the day…” she added as she nuzzled my mane and set me down on the ground.

Fray bolted through the air, floating faster than I’d ever seen him do so, and impacted my skull, slipping back into my head. My eyes went wide and I reeled a little as he sifted through the various memories of the past few moments and did what I could only describe as a ‘systems check’ on… well… pretty much everything. Aurora caught me, and I could hear her asking if I was okay. I managed a small “yeah” and asked her to give me a minute.

“Heart rate high… irritation in the lungs, most likely from smoke and ash… no pain signals firing…”

“Fray.” I whispered in my head as the little guy zipped from area to area, “Fray! Stop. I’m fine.”

Fray, of course… didn’t hear me.

“Fray!” I barked mentally, closing my eyes and furrowing my brow as I nabbed him up in my mental-image self, cradling him, “Fray, I’m fine.”

With a pop, he was gone, and outside my head again, clinging to my chest… crying.

“I thought you were hurt!” he sniffed, “I do not want to lose my father!”

My ears pinned back again, and I felt a little guilty as new thoughts filled my head. I wasn’t sure what would happen to Fray if I died. The thought scared me because, unlike a foal, my son was mentally connected to me. If I perished… who knew where he’d end up.

Fray continued to mumble and cry until Aurora, smiling just a little, collected him from where he clung and cradled him, settling in the ash piles around us all and began to comfort him as she told him about one of the adventures she and I had been on in Ponyville, and how I was a lot harder to hurt than I looked. I wasn’t sure how well she could convince him, since Fray was pretty much capable of gauging what I could do better than even I could, but it was nice to see my fiance’ taking so well to being a mother.

Even if it was to a blobby, pony-esque, super-analyst with impossible powers who lived in my skull.

Thunder Step was angry of course. He gave me a lecture on how dangerous what I’d done was. When he was done, I explained myself.

“There was something down there.” I began, “I think it’s important.”

“I don’t CARE what was down there…” he whispered back, gesturing with a hoof at the hole in the ground, “There aren’t enough ponies who actually WANT you alive to dig you out if you had been trapped!”

Seeing as I wasn’t getting anywhere, I figured there was only one way to convince him it was worth the risk I’d taken, so I reached back, and pulled the ruby-silver key that I’d found from my pocket, and dangled it in front of his nose.

“This is a key.”

“It’s very pretty. So what?” he asked frowning to one side.

“It’s a key to a chest. One that’s been locked since the day I was born.”

Thunder Step took off his helmet. I stifled a laugh, as the ash from my home had formed a ‘mask’ where the open spots in the armor had been. He just drew his lips to the side and squinted at me, unamused.

“There was something left?” he asked, “Something that HADN’T been burned to ash?”

I nodded, pulling the key away and pocketing it again, “It was completely untouched… same with the key.” I said, “I don’t know if it still is, but I’m willing to bet that it survived the second collapse…”

Thunder Step sighed, “Look. We can’t dig it out now. Cut your losses.” he held up a hoof as I tried to interrupt, “... for now. The property is still yours, even if it is a burnt husk, so no one will disturb it, especially seeing that most ponies think its cursed by dark magics. I’ll see what I can do about getting a crew to extract the chest.”

I smiled. Thunder Step was a good friend.

“Thanks.”

“Just doing my job.”

“You’re full so of it.” I teased, eliciting a bemused frown from my old friend.

Thunder Step yawned, placing his helmet back on his head, “I’ve been up since the night before last. I’m tired and I’m going home.”

“You’re not on duty?” I asked, “What’re you doing here?”

“Making sure you don’t get into trouble.” he rumbled, “Listen. Go find a place to lay low for now. I don’t think anypony’s going to go after you with Aurora in tow… she’s pretty well respected. It might even better than just having me around… since you two are back together.” he reasoned, “Might help ponies ease their bad opinion of you.”

“Go on home, Thunder Step.” Aurora said soothingly, Fray sitting on her back and looking much less worried, “I’ll keep him from causing a ruckus.”

Thunder Step didn’t seem convinced, but nodded and wish us well. Then the older stallion headed, I assumed, back towards his home.

“You’ll keep me from making a ruckus?” I asked Aurora playfully, testing the waters.

She brushed my side with hers as she walked by, “In Ponyville at least.” she offered, testing back.

Just like old times. Maybe it wouldn’t take so long to get back to the way things were before.

“I missed you.” I told her with a soft smile.

“Same. But before you get too comfortable, Rarity has a surprise.”

“Oh?” I asked.

The cold wind blew by us three, but I don’t think we noticed it. Aurora and I talked and exchanged stories about what had happened since she left as we made our way towards he ‘Carousel Boutique.’ It was hard to do at first, for both of us, but it became easier the more we realized that there weren’t really any hard feelings. Sure, I was different in some ways, but Aurora seemed to like these differences. Well, except that she’d said little to nothing about my new look. She just seemed more interested in the changes to my manner, the way I carried myself. She told me that she liked the way I walked now a lot more. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I figure it had more to do with the fact that I was more upright now and less slouched which had more to do with how I perceived myself and the fact that I was more alert due in part to the events I’d gone through.

In addition, I was hearing more than I ever had before, sounds that I didn’t even know existed and my night vision, as I would soon find out, was much better than it had been before. Being a Batpony had some real perks, even if I HAD wanted to be a Pegasus before.

Aurora was taking well to Fray, who rode on her back while reaching out with his mind to connect with mine, still trying to check on my health. It was almost as if he was trying to strengthen his external bond with me, which I didn’t mind. I wondered, though, if the change in his eye color had anything to do with my bond with Aurora, or Fray’s own with her as his mother. I wondered if he would end up trying to enter her mind as well, and if he did, if she’d allow it. The thought somewhat frightened me. Aurora was my partner, but she had her own memories that I didn’t want Fray seeing. If Fray did decide to try to establish a link with her, I wondered how it would affect his with me.

In any case, we arrived at the ‘Carousel Boutique’ before the winter Sun reached the horizon. We knocked softly. But, just like the time before, she didn’t answer. So, we just went inside, careful not to disturb her in case she was working on something important or delicate. Instead, we found her younger sister,Sweetie Belle, and Rarity engaged in an argument. It wasn’t a harsh one, but more like a cold, polite, tense war between two entities which I had absolutely NO desire getting involved with, but Aurora insisted on staying to watch.

“Sweetie, dear.” Rarity was saying, “Button Mash just doesn’t seem like he’s got a lot going for him. He plays those… video games all day and doesn’t really have any goals as far as I can tell.”

“Don’t talk about him like that!” the small, curly purple-maned young mare demanded, glaring at her sister, “He’s very smart. Not very athletic, but very smart! That’s plenty to go for him!” she insisted.

“Don’t you think you’d like to date a stallion with a little more… muscle, though?” Rarity asked, trying to be tactful, “How would he sweep you off your feet? What if you get into trouble…? He might not be able to help!”

Sweetie Belle shook her head, “Oh, what? All those years with the Cutie Mark Crusaders doesn’t count for anything?” she asked, “I think after all the crazy stuff we got into, I think that I can at least get myself out of most trouble… But when do I ever GET into trouble anyways?!”

Rarity continue trying to validate her point, “Personally, I think you’d end up saving HIM!” she asserted.

“So what?” her little sister retorted. “He’s smart and cute!”

Aurora watched with amusement, like she was reading a good book. She wasn’t a gossiper, but she did like a good scandal or story. I shook my head, having had enough and stepped forward while Aurora was distracted.

“It is simply not right!” Rarity continued, “A mare should not be saving a stallion! Think of what people would say!”

“Excuse me.” I said, clearing my throat, “Um… Is this a bad time?”

Rarity seemed surprised, “Oh… not at all darling! I was hoping you would come by some time… even what with the bad news and all those ponies out there who think ill of you.”

“You don’t believe what they do?”

Rarity sighed, “While it is a tad strange, all this business with Trixie and you being-” she cleared her throat, probably having heard some of my story from Twilight, “-introduced to Kain… AppleJack trusts you and says you came by to explain yourself a few days ago.”

Without warning, she turned to her younger sister, and told her that they’d ‘discuss this more later.’ Sweetie Belle just glared at her but, in the process, spotted Fray.

“Awe…!” she cooed, “What is that? It’s so cute!”

Fray hid behind Aurora’s mane. I laughed.

“That… is Fray. He… Um... Lives in my head.”

“In your head…?” Sweetie squeaked. “Doesn’t that hurt?”

I sighed, “Actually… let’s not do this right now. It’s been a long day… can I tell you the story later? I just want to talk with Rarity and go rest…”

“Can I play with him?” Sweetie asked, “Just hold him a little? He’s so adorable!”

“If he’ll let you.” I said, looking to Fray.

As Sweetie Belle and Fray became acquainted, with Aurora telling Sweetie about my son in the process and saving me the trouble, I began speaking with Rarity.

“So what brings you back, dear?” she asked, “Did Aurora tell you to come by?”

“Well…” I began, looking up at the rafters, “Actually, you said that you had something for me earlier today. I was going to come by in a few days, but Aurora said we should come by now.”

“Indeed!” she exclaimed, “Seeing as you have wings now… and are rather inept at using them so far as I’ve heard… I have decided that a re-imagining of the wings you requested that I build is, and/or was, in order!” she told me as she approached a large, sheet covered object, “Behind this curtain is a stylishly beautiful piece of… well… equipment-” she shivered at calling it that, “-which will help you fly further until you’ve acquired a bit more, shall we say, skill?

With a flourish befitting Rarity’s showmareship, she removed the sheet. Beneath said sheet was what looked like armor, almost, to be fitted over my wings. A harness would keep it attached to my body during flight, but it seemed to be built with comfort and the full range of motion in mind. The device seemed to be designed to do work seemed to start where my wings attached to my body, and the metal pieces seemed designed to cover the leading edge of my wings and provide additional power and structure to the motions behind flight and control, extending down towards the ‘fingers’ of my wings.

I was astounded.

“Rarity… How did you get the measurements for this?” I asked, “I mean… assuming it fits as is…”

Rarity laughed a little, “Oh, darling it fits! I’ve been making dresses for the past decade or so. Getting your measurements is only so hard to do as glancing at you.”

“What about the metalwork?” I asked, jokingly, “Do you blacksmith too?”

“Actually, that’s Sweetie’s work. She’s… more apt at the handling of dirt and ores than I am… Spike helps with the flames. He’s taken a liking to her… which, honestly, should not be much of a surprise. I don’t know how it would work out between them, though. I suppose it couldn’t be any worse than that Button Mash...”

Sweetie glared at her sister over her shoulder, but said nothing.

“Anywho~ Let’s give it a try, shall we?” Rarity asked, disconnecting the straps that kept the device attached to the mannequin, “Come here dear, this won’t take long.”

True to her word, putting the device on me didn’t take long, and as she explained its working, I found myself impressed. It was easy to remove, easy to put on, and could be removed with a single pull of a cord, whereupon it would glide to the nearest open field and emit a small beacon of light so it could be found easier if lost.

“It looks absolutely dashing on you.” Rarity beamed, “Even your fiance’ can’t look away.” she noted before addressing her, “Don’t let your mouth hang open too long, darling! It’s unbecoming of a lady.”

Aurora glanced about quickly and blushed, closing her mouth. Apparently, she had a thing for a pony in uniform… or something. It wasn’t really a uniform, but it WAs really nice looking.

“The metal is softsilver.” Sweetie said with pride, Fray riding atop her mane and playing with one of the puffy curls it was made up of, “It’s light and molds to the user… to an extent. Don’t worry though, unless you break a wing, you won’t have to worry about it not bending enough.”

I wasn’t really sure what that meant, and just prayed I’d never have to find out.

“You’re all set!” Rarity told me, “Give it a flap… or whatever it is you have to do to fly. Aurora, dear… why not go with him?”

Aurora nodded, and opened her wings, “Come on…” she whispered, “Show me what you’ve got…” and winked at me, “On three.”

“One.”

I grinned back at my love as Fray sat with Sweetie Belle on the cobbled streets below. A small crowd was gathering, and I noted a few of them admiring Rarity’s handiwork.

“Two…”

“Now do be careful!” Rarity I heard warn me, “I don’t know if this will work. The enchantment should assist you, but this is my first time designing something like-”

“Three!”

I leapt, taking to the sky with Aurora at my side.

It was the most wonderful feeling I’d ever had, something I would cherish more than anything for decades to come.