Chapter 36 - Opportunity

“What were you three thinking?” Twilight said laying into the Crusaders. Applejack and Rarity stood by me, while I leaned against the wall watching this. After I was able to get my hearing back, Twilight remembered that we needed to talk to the Crusaders about the whole potion deal they caused.

“We wanted to help Storm.” Sweetie Belle said looking worried.

“Help him how?”

“He...” Applebloom started before losing the strength in her voice.

“I'm guessing you heard Nightling and I talking in my office?” I asked walking over, as the three of them nodded.

“What did you two talk about?” Twilight shifting her gaze to me.

“It was that I was sort of missing the feeling of being human, or at least close to it to paraphrase.” I sat knelled so I was closer to there height. Which didn't work as I was still over Twilight's head doing so. “look, my only real question is. Why didn't you tell me instead of lying about it? Don't get me wrong as I'm glad you wanted to do something nice, but the way you did it was wrong.” I said looking at the three of them with a slight warm smile.

“We just wanted to do something special for you, but we weren't sure how you would take it,” Sweetie said with a lowered head.

“So we thought that we could surprise you with it,” Applebloom said with a slight nervous chuckle.

“Kind of blew up in our faces didn't it?” Scootaloo said looking at us with a little hope.

“Not really blew up,” I answered scratching the back of my head. “It's more fizzled a bit really. That being said.” I began before picking the three of them up in a gentle hug. “Thank you, I get to have something back for a little while.”

“Uh... Storm, mind putting my sister down.” Applejack said and I stopped noticing I was turning a bit.

“Oh... sorry.” I floated the Crusaders out of my arms as I failed to notice me being up in the air when I hugged them.

“It's alright,” Applebloom said.

“That still doesn't change how much trouble you three are you. Didn't last time teach you three not to use potions on ponies without them knowing?” Applejack said in a harsh tone.

“Last time?” I asked.

“They used a love poison on Cheerilee and Big Mac.” Twilight informed.

“Love poison, don't you mean a love potion?”

“No poison, it's much stronger than a potion. If they didn't do something about it than those two would have been so in love that they couldn't see anything but the other, forever.”

“Geez, so no teaching and no Big Mac at the farm?”

“Nope.”

“Note made,” I said rubbing the back of my neck gently. Just thinking about that happening left a cold chill up my spine. Being so infatuated with another pony that you couldn't do anything but be with the other one. What if one of them had to... no, Storm no don't even start thinking about the details of that. I shook my head back and forth trying to get that thought out of my head. “Look, I get they messed up doing this. But why don't we let these three off with a warning this time.”

“Storm are you nuts?” Applejack said giving me a look like I was crazy.

“It's yet to be proven, why?” I asked.

“They could have poisoned you or worse!” Rarity commented.

“Not any worse than what Vermom has done. Plus these three were trying to do something nice for me, admittedly with mixed results. If anything, they need a little praising that they were able to create a potion that did this.” I said flexing the fingers of my left hand.

“It is amazing how they did,” Twilight said coming over and looking at my hand.

“I know, I mean with some training they would make great alchemist... wait. They do exist here right?” I asked turning to my marefriend.

“Yes, there are alchemists as most of them are earth ponies here in Equestria.” She said before she tried to open her mouth only to be cut off by Applebloom.

“Really? Do you think we could get our cutie-marks in it?” She asked with all three of them giving that puppy dog look of hope.

“I don't see the harm in it,” I said with a shrug. “It would require you to be trained in it.”

“Trained?” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo cringed a bit at that.

“Well yeah, you can't really become skilled in a task without training. Natural abilities can take you so far. I mean look at me, I know how to do a lot of art. I had to train and learn things on my own to hone my skills to what they are.” I said with a smile, before turning to Twilight. “How much do you know about alchemy Twilight?”

“I've gone through the advanced lessons at Celestia's school for gifted unicorns and Princess Celestia has taught me a lot more in private lessons,” Twilight said and if didn't know better, that sounded like a bit of boosting to me.

“Want to help expand a young mind?” I asked more trying to nudge this a bit. It was well worth the try as Twilight's eyes lit up like two violet suns.

“Oh, yes!” Twilight said bouncing a bit.

“Um...” Scootaloo said sounding a little unsure.

“Oh, I could teach them so many other things,” Twilight said bouncing around happily.

“Can you teach me magic?!” Sweetie asked now getting into the idea.

“Of course! I would have to sit down and make a lesson plan than check the list and make a list of the supplies I would need and-” Twilight said beginning to ramble.

“Twilight I think they get it,” I interjected.

“Right... sorry,” Twilight said after she reeled it back in.

“It's fine, but why don't we approach this idea later down the road. Twilight and I need to visit Zecora.” I said getting back up onto my hooves.

“How come?” Applebloom asked looking up at me.

“Well, we need to make sure this isn't permanent. Great as it is that I get a bit of my old body back, I can't stay like this forever. I still have my duties to take care of and I don't want ponies to be scared of me. Even you three tried to run when you saw me and Dash thought I was a creature attacking Twilight.” I said with the comment about Dash had me point my thumb over my shoulder. “If that's anything to judge by, I can't really stay like this. Once in a while is one thing, forever is a different game altogether.”

“Would you want to stay like that... forever?” Twilight asked and I could hear the worry in her voice. The pause afterward was just and worrying.

“If I'm, to be honest, I really don't know. Part of me wants to say yes just so I can have the old familiarity of my life back. The rest of me understands the risks that would involve doing so. So asking me that question becomes a little unbalanced with me.” Granted I could have boiled it down to a simple I don't know, but that didn't feel right to say. Since I've taken up this whole royal business more than I have with pretty much holding a sort of court myself. I've grown to see larger pictures in a different light. Henry Selick once said 'I think that one of the things that I can do is I seem to have the ability to zoom in super tight for very small details, but then jump back for sort of the big picture perspective. And I think that ultimately, that's one of my strengths because you have every detail matters.' Granted he was talking about his artwork at the time, but in this case, it fits in a different context. The zooming in would be more isolating myself and my feelings for that. Even if I zoomed out a bit and just limited to my circle of friends, the cause and event alone could be jarring to some. My case and point here would have been Twilight.

“But if you didn't have to worry about anypony else.” She was trying to see if I wanted to stay like this.

“Twilight I'm not going to answer that. There is no way for me to really be able to, regardless of what you try to work around it so it's only my opinion on this. I can't hold myself to it, I've got to always think about the whole of Equestria when it comes to this. I won't say that sometimes I won't be selfish and enjoy this when I can, I'm only me after all. Just, I have to look beyond me is all.” I said as I moved and hold Twilight close. “If your worried that I will prefer to be this over being the drony that I have been. Then don't worry, I will be that drony. I just want a little fun is all.” She looked at me as all I could do was see the worry and fear in her eyes. Only took a moment before she closed them and nodded.

“I can accept that, I just don't want you to throw everything away for something that could only be temporary.” She said.

“I know Twilight, I know,” I said as I gently gave her a kiss on the cheek. She looked at me quietly before she returned it herself.

“Get a room,” Scootaloo commented with a grown. Twilight and I looked at her before turning to each other. With a smirk on her face as well as one on mine, we turned to look around the room in a few different angles. “Not this room!” The little filly said in annoyance.

“Sorry can't help it Scootaloo. That said, why don't well all head out. I'm sure you two have things to take care of and I'm sure these three want to go out to play for a while.” I said with a smile.

***---***

“Don't say it,” Twilight growled as we ran through the Everfree forest.

“But Twilight I-” Was all I got out.

“I don't care, running first gloating later.” She said as she keeping up with me fairly well, spite the fact that we were running from a pack of Timberwolves. Seriously where the fuck does these things keep coming from.

“I have a better idea,” I said reaching into my pants pocket and pulled out a red card from a box of cards in my pocket.

“What the buck are you doing?” Twilight said as I turned in the air and used my wings to propel me back. Flicking my wrist, the card was flung at the Timberwolf that was starting to close in fast. My horn lit up as well as the aura around the card.

“Fire!” I yelled in time with the card to explode into flames engulfing the wolf. It slid down and began to trash to extinguish the flames. With a wild swing caught the third wolf out of the pack of six that was behind us.

“What the buck was that?!” She said turning her head to see the four still chasing us.

“Tell you later,” I said before dropped onto my feet as the wolf that passed the one on fire caught up to me rapidly. “Oh no, you don't” With both my claws I gripped the top and bottom jaws of the timberwolf. Oh got the smell, it was like taking your worst nightmares and made them a fragrance. The force of the wolf slid me back as my hoofs were dug into the ground. “Boy someone needs a breath mint.” As my magic flowed down to my arms, I began to pull the wolfs jaws apart to left no room for imagination as the vines, wood, and branches that made the creature snapped and splintered till I had ripped the thing in two. My victory short lived as one of the other wolves jumped throw the split reminds of his friend and had bitten into my right shoulder, this caused me to roar in pain.

“Storm!” Twilight said before she rounded a tree and galloped back with her horn lit up. The world that had a good grip on me suddenly found itself forcibly pulled off with enough ease that I had no wooden spikes left it and compressed with a satisfying crunch. She cut the magic and dropped the mass of woods and vines at my feet. With a grin and idea crossed my mind as I took a few good steps back. The other two wolves had made it past its now smoldering ashes of its comrades and were heading for us. “Storm let's go, if we can lose them we can make it to Zecora's before sunset.” Twilight tried to suggest.

“One moment Twilight, I have an idea.” With some magic like I had with my arms. My right leg began to glow from it as with a three-step run-up. I launched the makeshift ball art the last two. Honestly launched was the best way to describe it as it had enough power behind it that both Twilight and I manes began to blow wildly from that thing rocketing off. If I didn't know better, it sounded like I had struck some bowling pins when the other two wolves suddenly became nothing more thing bits and bobbles of trees on the ground.

“How... how did you do that?” Twilight asked looking at me.

“Do you want the quick answer or the legitimate answer?” I asked turning to her as I began to feel the slow flow of a familiar liquid from my nose.

“Storm just tell me.” She said with a face hoof.

“Well, I used the strength enchantment on my leg and put a lot into it. Think of it like a crack of the whip, where the handle of the whip was only going maybe thirty miles an hour only for the end of it suddenly go a hundred and twenty. Now I would say about the same here but add to the effect that impact was closer to a cannon fire of dense material. When it landed there was so much force that it just continued through till it hit both targets.” I had explained.

“But with that much force, your leg should have been broken from it, not counting that the force acted upon it should have sent that thing halfway into Ponyville,” Twilight said looking at me as she was already doing the math in her head.

“That would be true if it wasn't angled for the trees, look,” I said pointing it out. A few feet away from the last wolf you could see the chunk of a tree that was clipped. “With enough forces acting on it like it is. It would fall-” Right about than the sound of four trees hitting the ground a few miles away echoed to us. “Okay, I guess I was off by two.” I didn't even get my hand to my head before Twilight magically thumped me on the back of the head.

“Storm that isn't funny, you could have seriously hurt somepony with a stunt like that. Not counting that your nose is bleeding from magical fatigue. Here let me float you to Zecora's.” She offered, and when I mean offered she didn't give me a say as I was floated up into the air and behind Twilight. “Now what the buck was that fire trick you used? I didn't see you use your fire breath like normal.”

“Oh well like I tested in the field the other day, I was testing a few other cards. That was a fireball spell with a voice trigger. Don't worry I only had the one, it takes a lot of fine scripting to make those, and compared to the quick flick of magic ones. Not even worth doing again, unless for a show.” I said.

“How many different cards have you made?” She asked looking at me over her shoulder.

“Besides the impact one, and fire one. I have about four others. One is a set for one spell as it was too complex for one card, the other one is a simple spark spell for a quick juice of energy.” I explained.

“What about your no weapons rule?” She asked.

“That would be true if I wasn't using existing script spells. It's only putting the right trigger runes, frankly, anypony can make them. I just condensed for combat, that's not counting the few defensive cards I want to make. It's just hard to find a script strong enough to negate a spell after it's already fired.”

“Have you thought of an equivalence rune?” She asked with a smirk.

“Equivalence rune?”

“I thought you were studying up on these runes before you tried them?”

“I was, but we only have the advanced guide to runes back home,” I said with my arms in the air.

“Advance, Storm what about the Equestrian Guide to Rune magic?” She asked after we were outside Zecora's hut.

“Wait... there's other rune magic outside of script runes?”

“Of course, there is even a few that are forbidden.” She said with a smirk.

“Let me guess, Celestia taught them to you,” I asked with my arms folded.

“Of course not, they are forbidden for a reason.” She defended.

“Still, you would think she would teach you at least to look out for when it comes to them,” I said as I reached up to my should and felt a sting of pain as I still had a set of fresh wounds. “That being said we may as well get to the point of our-” I said before was cut off by the door opening to Zecora's hunt. “Oh hey, Zecora.” I gave a wave to said zebra as she looked at me both confused and a bit wary.

“Hello Twilight and strange creature, yet you have familiar features,” Zecora said and I had completely forgotten she did that strange rhyming skit.

“Hello Zecora, before you ask this is Firestorm.” Twilight introduced for the second time, I believe.

“Firestorm what happened to you, my friend? You look like the best of fiends end.”

“The crusaders happened,” I answered.

“Sweetie, scootaloo, and Applebloom must have let loose some doom and gloom,” Zecora observed.

“Honestly, out of what could have happened. This wasn't bad, maybe a little weird being bipedal again. But all in all, not bad.” I answered with a shrug before I winced from my wound. “What's really bothering me now is my shoulder as those Timberwolves got a good bite in.”

“Bring him in so I can see, I may just have the remedy.”

“I hope for both, just not at once. I would like to stay in this form for a little while longer.” I said as Twilight floated me in.

“We also wanted to see if there are any other side effects that we should be wary of,” Twilight commented. Zecora didn't answer at first as she grabbed something and trotted behind me. With a tug and the sound of something being cut. She came back with a bit of my mane in her mouth as well as a knife in her hoof. She went over to what looked like an old witches cauldron as she began to mix a few things. Just watching how rapidly the potion when from orange to black, followed by blue, silver, and an old sickly green. Just before ending in a crimson red when she tossed my hairs in.

“This will revert the changes that have caused by a brew, I warn you that it may taste worse than glue,” Zecora said as she put the bottle into my palm. I looked it over as it was a solid red that wasn't translucent at all. As I looked up to her to see in her mouth a familiar medical box she had. In moments I felt the familiar cold feeling as she filled the wounds. While she did that she took a few samples to test. Which lead us being here for another few hours all to find out that I was fine being like this for a while. Nothing magical to worry about, which part of me wondered how would Zecora know about magic, let alone dralicorn magic. That's not even counting to the fact that as far as I knew and I could be wrong she was closer to an earth pony with some kind of shaman magic. She had a lot of books on the subject however so, it could be see did enough study on the subject that she has a good understanding of the subject.

It's funny that I didn't feel the pain from the ointment like last time. Granted it could have been the fact that last time I had spikes still in my leg. So I would take that as a plus in my book right now. As soon as we got everything we needed from Zecora we began to head back only to notice how dark it was.

“Oh, Celestia this isn't good,” Twilight said as she stepped back looking a little frightened.

“What's wrong?” I asked a little curious.

“We have to traverse the Everfree at night. It's not safe to do so.” She commented.

“And that changes anything from daylight when we've been attacked by a six-pack of wolves on the way here,” I commented using my left hand to point behind me into the forest.

“That was different, we could see them clear enough.” She said trying to press why this was any more of an issue. With a cock of my left eyebrow, my horn began to glow. “Fair point, it's still dangerous. The last time I traveled through the Everfree at night, I was turned into stone by a cockatrice”

“The same one that turns ponies to stone?” She nods. “The same one that looks like a chicken if below the neck of it is make of scales and has a long snake-like tail that ends with a rattler?” Once again she nods. “And it has piercing red eyes like it would look right through you into your soul?” That got Twilight to freak out a bit more.

“Do you see one?” She asked looking around as I facepalmed.

“One if I did, I would be hard as a rock right now. Two, no I only just making sure we were on the same page. Finally three, we have a way out safely.” I said using my claws to make my point with each digit going up as I counted.

“And how is... oh,” She said as I cut her off with my wings giving a gentle flap. “Sorry I forgot.”

“You forgot that I had wings? These things are about half as tall as I am!” I said a little annoyed before she blushed a bit in embarrassment. Walking around her I gently reached down and grabbed Twilight like I was giving a teddy bear a bear hug. Not too tight so Twilight can breathe, but not too loose where she could slip out. With that, I gave myself a powerful up thrust into the air with my wings. Only to pop through a cloud to see a large mass of them over the forest. “Well hell, that works,” I said before shifting Twilight so she was sitting on my arm with her hooves around my neck for support. I began to walk across the clouds all the way back to Ponyville.

“Hey Storm... can I ask you something? And please don't be a smart ass as you call it about it,” she asked and I rolled my eyes for a moment.

“Go ahead Twilight.” I said as we had a good trek to go.

“You've never called me Twi as the others do.” She observed.

“So?” I asked.

“How come?”

“Honestly, I just it doesn't feel right to me. Don't get me wrong, I see why shorting Twilight to Twi can be appealing. It's just that when we decide to do the whole pet names thing. I just want it to be something with meaning I guess.” I explained.

“Pet names?” She asked.

“It's like a stallion calling his mare baby, or vice versa. It's something special to them that comes at the right moment. It's like how Dash calls Applejack AJ, or Pinkie calls Dash Dashie. It's a pet name in a way.” I tried to explain.

“So... it's like a nickname that has a special meaning behind it?” She asked.

“Well yeah,” I answered as I smiled leaning my head a little closer to Twilight's as she did the same.

“What kind of name do you think it should be.”

“Just give it time Twilight, give it time,” I said before I turned and gave my marefriend a gentle kiss on the cheek that got her to blush. “If anything it makes the wait worth it.” As we continued down the clouded path I had to make small jumps from cloud to cloud so we would avoid the forest below.

“Mind if I ask another question?”

“You just did.” Whap. “What, you did?!.”

“I said not to be a smart ass about it.”

“No, you said not to be a smart ass about the first question. Not any of the following ones.” Whap. “Fine point made, continue.”

“Have you thought about a herd?” She asked almost like it was a common thing. This caused me to stumble for a moment.

“Are you serious Twilight?” I asked having to stop after I had found my footing on the cloud.

“It's an honest question.” She said.

“Honest?! Twilight we've only done 'it' a few times. Now you're asking about adding more ponies. I'm sorry it's a little hard to see the honesty in a question like that, where I come from.”

“How?” She asked getting a little loud.

“Well, it could go one of many ways. You swing both ways and you want another mare into more fun. Your thinking of another stallion with the same outcome. Your thinking that I would want another mare so suddenly after what you found out because you're overcompensating for something I have yet to understand. The list goes on Twilight.” I said and that caused her to blush besides the rapid one already on its way to consume my face.

“No, I mean it's not like I haven't fanta- I mean I just wanted to gauge your opinion on the idea.” She said trying to detour herself from almost saying she fantasies about that. Which I can't fault anypony or anyone for having a fantasy.

“Twilight, if you're trying to gauge something like that out of left field. Then I'm sorry to say that you broke the what the fuck o' meter, bent the pointer of the what the hell odometer, and is currently on the way of spinning the needle of the sanity gauge with a question like that. Twilight there is a time and a place for a question like that. I mean after some fun in the bedroom maybe, but now of all places? I feel like you cold-cocked me with that one Twilight.” I said maybe a little too exasperated with the sudden question like that. I watched her ears flatten back as she winced at my comment.

“Sorry... forget I said anything.” She tried to derail.

“Oh no,” I said before letting out a sigh I continued to walk with Twilight on my arm. “Sorry, it was just not expecting that question from you of all ponies. Dash and Applejack maybe, Rarity possibly, and maybe Pinkie and Nightling. I could see them suddenly drop that question, but not really you Twilight.” We continued for a few moments as I began to think. “If I had to answer the question then, no I haven't thought about a herd in any context. I just want to make sure you are happy and safe. That's the most important things to me right now. Just if we did add another pony, besides the whos being the biggest question of all. It's more can I share my feelings of you with them?” I asked.

“What do you mean share your feelings of me?” Twilight asked not condescending, just curiously is all.

“Well... could I love them, as much as I love you?” I said looking at her and nodded quietly.

“I think I understand. You're worried that if we did do this, could we be equal in it with everypony or would it be lopsided. Am I correct?” She asked.

“On the nose. Are you serious about this whole herd thing?” I asked. She looked up quietly thinking about it a bit more in silence.

“I don't know. I enjoy the time we have had so far. I just want it left as an opinion down the road.” She said.

“Fair enough, so how about this. If and this is a big 'If' another pony has a genuine interest in us. Then we can talk about it seriously then. So let's just enjoy our time together.” I said with another kiss to Twilight's cheek.

“Alright, I can agree to that. Only if you can agree to one thing.”

“And what's that?”

“That I can have a request of my own later down the line.” She said with a smirk.

“Am I going to regret agreeing to this?” I asked looking at her.

“It depends, am I going to regret agreeing to yours?”

“In all fairness, you were the one to drop this one, but I see your point. I will agree as long as the time's right. Otherwise, it's held off till a more free moment.” I said already feeling the kick in the ass I'm going to get when I regret what she decides to request. It was oddly peaceful walking on the clouds with Twilight as I looked up at the sky.

“I can agree to that.” She said as she gently rested her head against mine. It was a few moments at the sound of my hooves gently patting against the clouds as I walked as a tune came to my mind. As the song came more to my mind it started to hum from my mouth. Twilight listened in quietly as she began to join in silently at first before she fully picked it up. When we got the edge of the forest and in turn the cloud. I just jumped from the cloud and used my wings to glide down the path. As soon we landed, I let Twilight down so we could walk together. “Storm what is that song we were humming?”

“It's called 'Johnny I hardly knew ya'” I answered as I continued to hum it.

“Do you know the lyrics to it?” She asked looking up at me.

“Of course, I've sung it quite a few times,” I said with a slight smile on my face at the memory of me and a few friends decided to have a bit of drunken singing.

“Could you sing it?” She asked.

“I could,” I answered with a smirk.

“Storm!” She groaned. I couldn't help myself as I chuckled before I began to hum it again from the beginning.

♫♪ We're going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We're going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We're going the road to sweet Athy. ♪♫

♫♪ A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye. ♪♫

♫♪ A doleful damsel I heard cry, Johnny I hardly knew ye. ♪♫

I began to sing as we walked down the path with the bridge into town coming up fast. It didn't stop me from singing.

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye. ♪♫

♫♪ Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer. Johnny I hardly knew ye. ♪♫

I continued with the chorus as we ended up passing a few stands going through the market street. I do have to admit that this street would be a great setting for a horror scene.

♫♪ Where are your eyes that look so mild, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ Where are your eyes that look so mild, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ Where are your eyes that look so mild. ♪♫

♫♪ When my poor heart you first beguiled, why did ye run from me and the child. ♪♫

♫♪ Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye. ♪♫

Twilight looked up at me as I had sung. She may get the idea what this song was about, or maybe she was just waiting for the chorus as she began to take over the song.

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ We hear your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye. ♪♫

♫♪ Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer. Johnny I hardly knew ye. ♪♫

I've got to give the mare some credit she can really lay out a tune when she wants to. We turned as we could see the library in the distance.

♫♪ Where are your legs with which ye run, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

I picked back up after Twilight who joined me afterwards.

♫♪ Where are your legs with which ye run, hurroo, hurroo. ♪♫

♫♪ Where are your legs with... which ye... run ♪♫

Our song died out on our voices as we saw Pinkie sitting in front of the mailbox. Every so often she would stand up from sitting on her haunches and check the mail. Twilight and I slowly came up to check on her. Nightling was in the doorway watching her.

“Pinkie what are you doing?” Twilight asked as we came closer.

“Waiting for Dashie's letter.” Pinkie said as she once again got up to check to see if said letter arrived, only for her to look disappointed and sat down again.

“She's been doing it all day. Applejack tried to talk her into taking a break.” Nightling said before she took a bite of an apple she had in her hoof.

“Pinkie it's dark out, why don't you get some sleep inside?” I said coming over to her.

“No, I have to wait for Dashie's letter. Otherwise, she may think we don't care for her, and if she thinks that. She will be distracted and mess up just to be sent home with a note that she can't ever be a Wonderbolt, which means I have to wait here for her letter so I can answer it right away and then she will know she still has her friends and which means she can focus on her training and make it into the Wonderbolts in no time. Unless she forgets about us internally and-” That was all I could let Pinkie get out of her mouth.

“Pinkie I think we get it. Look, you need to relax, she hasn't even been gone a day. She needs a little time to get used to being there. Plus it's only a week.” Pinkie slid my hand down.

“But what if-”

“No buts Pinkie.” I said before turning to Twilight, I then proceeded to shift my head so I was using it to point to Pinkie hoping Twilight got my point. She just looked at me confused. Gee thanks there Twilight. “Mind lending me a spell here Twilight?”

“Oh, right.” With a flick of her horn Pinkie began to droop a bit. With that, I slide my arms under her and picked her up gently. Normally I would be against forcing a pony to sleep as it has been done to me many times, this however needed to be done. More for Pinkie than anything, I knew how it was when it was waiting for word to get to you. Your mind would go in circles wondering how long it would take, why didn't it show up already, or why the hell hasn't said being written yet. Just after a good few minutes. Nightling showed us the way to their bedroom as they were sharing it. Honestly, I was kind of surprised at how big their room really was. Pinkie ended up getting roof access from her room by a walkway that wrapped around her room twice. In the middle of the room was rather sizable for even pony standards. Made me wonder if she saved up for it or called in a favor for something that big. I didn't think she made that much as a baker. I pulled back the blanket with my magic before I laid her in bed. She gave a gentle snore as I tucked her in and turned off the light.

“She's been really worried about Dash not writing back,” Nightling explained when we had quietly left the room.

“Understandable, I just think she's going about it the wrong way,” I said looking at the door for a few moments.

“I hope she gets some good sleep,” Twilight commented as her ears were flattened back like the rest of ours.

“Well if you used a strong spell than I suppose she would. Those things will knock out a dragon.” I said before I noticed the look on both mare's faces. “What?”

“Storm you are part dragon.” Twilight flatly said.

“You know what I mean Twilight,” I said with a facepalm. “Nightling we will see you tomorrow.” With that, the three of us went downstairs. Nightling showing Twilight and I out only for us to stop in the doorway leading outside. Standing by the mailbox was Pinkie Pie looking a little refreshed. We looked back at the stairs we just came down a few moments ago, me taking it a bit further as I trekked back upstairs to find the light on in her room and her not in bed. Okay, somepony is going to have to explain how the fuck she did that. Her windows were too small for her to climb out of, and we would have heard her go up the stairs from outside the door. Even if she was taking it to not making any noise, there wasn't enough time to elapse for her to make it back there. I came back down the stairs as I was trying to figure out the math on that alone. No matter how many times I tried to swing it, it was mathematically impossible for this. Yet, here she was. I swear I'm going to have to check under that mane or something as I think she's hiding a unicorn horn or something.

“Pinkie,” I said as I slowly stepped past Twilight and Nightling.

“Hiya Storm. Thanks, Twilight for the sleeping spell, it's just what I needed.” She said bouncing around the mailbox.

“How did you beat us down here?” Twilight asked as my left eye was having a twitching fit.

“Oh, I hopped out of the window silly.” Pinkie said with a smile and I think right about than my brain just broke. Well not broke more like powered down if anything.

“Okay, that's enough for one day,” I said picking up Twilight and walking off.

“Storm what are you- put me down Storm!” She said as I had Twilight under my arm as I headed home.

“Night you two,” I said ignoring Twilight for a moment. She ended up kicked and screaming the whole way there to have me let her go. Even getting a little sneaky with it by blinking out of my arms. Only for me to pick her up and taking her the rest of the way home about four times before we finally did get home.

“What did you do that for?” She asked after I sat her down in our room.

“Because Twilight after that display, I don't think I had the sanity for continuing the losing battle,” I answered as I went to get my table.

“What are you talking about?”

“Twilight when a pony set's their minds to something. There is only two opinion, get out of the way or get ran over. In this case, I decided the first one for us both. It's too late in the day to deal with Pinkie being herself.” I answered as I placed my tablet on its cases kickstand. With a few flicks of my stylist pen, I sat up a list for what I had planned on the way home.

“But she can't stay out there all night.” She tried to defend.

“You mean like no pony can stop you from doing an all-night cram-fest if Celestia wanted you to read through a new book?” I countered.

“But that's completely different.” She said trying to stress her point.

“I don't see it, but enlighten me how,” I said with my arms crossed looking at her.

“If the princess wanted me to learn a new book, I'm not harming anypony. Pinkie is only harming herself and her relationship with Nightling.”

“Let me counter with this. Say the book you had to learn was a three thousand page book that is going to take you a few days at the least to read through it if you do it solidly. Which knowing you, you would try to do till you passed out. Which in this case would be doing the same thing outside the two facts of different location and reason. The other factors are still the same in the other points.” She gave me a frustrated.

“But they are completely different Storm.”

“Twilight how about we let this drop for tonight and I teach you something from earth.” I offered and I could see the conflicting thoughts. Don't get me wrong I know it was a big issue that Pinkie was obsessing over Dash's letter not arriving. I was worried too, but after today with the potion, getting attacked twice, and Pinkie trying to break my brain again right after Twilight dropped a bomb of a topic as she did. I really needed to shut my brain off of all this.

“Really?” She asked biting her bottom lip and I will admit she looked absolutely adorable with that look.

“Of course,” I said with a smile before she just sighed and nodded. “Alright,” I said before slowly moving to my knees and motion for Twilight to come over. She looked a little curious and trotted over. “Stand up on your hind legs Twilight.”

“Why?” She asked.

“To help demonstrate my lesson.” Okay, I will admit I'm being very cheeky about this, but there was a point to this. Twilight nodded for a moment and reared up as I gently reached over with a few steps on my knees and grabbed her hooves. I held her left hoof in my right claw while I placed her right one on my back. With a flick of magic, my stylist tapped the screen of my tablet. The soft music began to come out into the room through the speakers.

“Storm isn't this a-”

“A waltz yes,” I said as she watched me move my knees and followed step. With a slow step and quarter turn, we began to just slow dance. Part of me just wanted to do this and the fact that we never really got a chance to do this in the right moment. The other part wanted me to take things slow when it came to teaching Twilight of Earth. So besides the whole things I had with me, a dance seemed like the right thing. Time just blurred for a while as we danced in our room. Step, turn, step, turn, step-

“What are you two doing?” Came the voice of Spike from the stairs.

“Oh hey, Spike,” I said with a smile.

“Storm is teaching me how humans waltz,” Twilight said with a smile and light blush.

“uh,” Spike said with a groan. “More of that mushy stuff.” It's things like this that remind me that Spike is just a kid in the grand scheme.

“Spike, sometimes it's things like this that makes moments worth it. Wouldn't you want to have a dance like this with Rarity?” I asked as Twilight and I still danced.

“I... um... yes.” He said with a light blush.

“Spike there is no shame about being mushy. Even a crush is mushy in that department so why fight it?” I asked as the music came to an end and I let Twilight down softly.

“It's just... Rarity...” Spike tried to say.

“You want Rarity to notice you for something other than a kid. To see something more out of you right?” I asked coming over after I had gotten to my hoofs and crouched down to see him as eye level as I could. I was still taller than him as he was about half as tall as Twilight with me twice as tall as her now.

“How... how did you know?” He asks.

“Because love translates over different universes and cultures. I know how it feels having feelings for another person or pony. That you look forward to every moment to get to spend with them even when they don't fully know how much you care.” I explained as Twilight came over to me.

“But...”

“Spike regardless of how much waiting, or how much you do. It's always worth the work and sweat for that moment. Just that one moment that made the whole work worth it.” As I said that I placed my arm gently around Twilight to hold her close. She smiled and rested her head on mine. “It's those moments that help build something great.”

“I... I know.” Spike said gently swirling his leg a little. “Could... could I ask for a small... favor?”

“Sure Spike,” I said with a curious look on my face.

“Well... I know you and Twilight don't date much.”

“Ouch...” I said with my ears flattening back.

“I don't mean it that way.” He panicked holding his hands out worried he offended.

“It's a joke, please continue.”

“Well... could I go on a double date with you two and Rarity?” He asked looking down a little worried.

***---***

“Fuck!” I yelled after a had a whole hoard of apples land on my head after I feel through the doors to the apple cellar. The worst part was that I couldn't have seen it because my gaze was behind me after I had helped move some of the apple barrels that I help kick down.

“You all right there partner?” Applejack asked as she leaned over and looked down.

“Yeah... nothing broken, just my pride... ow,” I said as I tried to get myself out of my awkward angle with my ass up in the air and tail flopping around. With a flick of magic, I was able to pick up the apples that didn't find themselves the consistency of paste. They flew over to the wall along with the bucket that also had landed on me.

“At least it couldn't have been worse,” Spike said and my eye twitched. That was before the feeling of something trying to force itself out of my throat. With a belch, a bag appeared above me with a scroll before gravity decided to reinsert itself.

“Ah, fuck,” I said before the bag of bits landed on my face. “Ow.” Was all I got out while it was muffled by the bag on my face.

“Storm are you alright?” Twilight said as I reached up and grabbed the end of the bag.

“Yeah, just seems my pride wants to take a beating today.” This thing was pretty hefty today, something seems odd about that. I got up with the bag and notice Twilight was already scanning through the letter. I watched as her eyes went back and forth on the page and her mouth gently flap as she read.

“Princess Celestia wishes to see you and Spike today,” Twilight commented looking up at me.

“Are you kidding me? With me like this?” I asked sitting down on the edge. “And what's with the bits?”

“Those seem to be your monthly spending.” She answered.

“They are a week early.” I shot out.

“I know, it could be a payment oversight.” Twilight surmised.

“Possible, does it say why she needs to see the both of us?” I asked rubbing my head.

“No, just that it's an important matter,” Twilight said and I pulled it over to scan the scroll myself. Just like she said that she only alluded to something vague going on.

“I suppose we should write back,” I commented getting back onto my hooves. I pulled out a few bits from the bag. “Mind if I get a few apples for the road?”

“Of course sugar cube.” Applejack said grabbing a few apples and slid them into a bag. “Five bits.”

“Here's six, keep the change,” I said with a smile. With that Twilight and I left.

“Storm why did you do that?” Twilight asked before taking one of the apples out of the bag in her magic.

“Do what?” I said before taking a bite into the juicy apple in my hand.

“Pay a bit more than what she asked for?” She asked before she split the apple in two and took a bite.

“Well... I'm always one to help a friend so if it's giving them a bit more than they ask or lending a hoof. I do what I can and I know Applejack could use the extra bits. She has to help maintain a farm which if it's anything like on earth, costs a lot of money. Look I know I could just hand her a lot of bits to her.” I said before taking another bite.

“But she would refuse on the fact that it may be persevered as a hoof out.” Twilight finishes for me.

“Yeah, I mean it took me being a silent partner for her to take the royal bit I gave her.” That got Twilight to do a spit take.

“You gave her a royal bit?” She asked.

“Yeah, quite some time ago. I figured she could use it for repairs and costs at the farm.” I explained.

“How did you talk her into that?”

“Well... it's more for an extra barrel of cider during cider season.” I answered before taking a bite.

“Still for a royal bit?” She asked looking up at me.

“I don't see the big deal. I don't do much with the bits I get as I really don't need much. I mean yeah the book here and there is one thing, but what else would I use the bits for?” I asked looking at her after finishing my apple off.

“Why not something big? A lot of ponies in Canterlot have there own airship.” Twilight suggested.

“And I have wings.” I countered.

“But what if you want to suddenly go see your sister?” She asked.

“Than I would book a ship than. Twilight the only thing I could ever think about doing with the bits is helping the library. It's our home and I want to do whatever I can to help keep it our home.” I explained.

“Storm nothing is going to happen to it. I get what you mean, after having to do so much for your bits and suddenly find yourself in a place where you have so much. What can you really do?” She commented.

“Yeah, don't get me wrong if this was earth than yes I would get a few things that I would enjoy. It's just not earth so I'm at a little of a loss on what to get.” I explained.

“Why don't you and Spike check out a few stores up in Canterlot? I'm sure you two could find something to spend some bits on.” She offered.

“Maybe, it's just... I don't know.” It didn't take us long to get back with Spike sweeping up the main floor. “Well Spike looks like we are off to Canterlot.”

“How come?” He asked holding the broom up.

“Celestia has asked for both of us. I'm going to write a letter given her a heads up about me before we pack. I would suggest for a few days worth of what you would take.” I said heading to our room. With some magic, I pulled over a fresh sheet of parchment as I grabbed the inkwell and quill.

Dear Princess Celestia

We will be there as soon as we can. We will be taking the next available train up, have guards posted by the train. Spike will be coming out with a creature on two legs. It has three horns one of them like a unicorn horn and wings. It's called a satyr and it isn't a threat, but I rather have it look like the ponies there are safe. Instead of it looks like an unknown creature is walking free and could be attacked. It will have my regalia with it as a sign that it's from me. Don't worry I will be there, but he will explain in person.

Signed
Prince Firestorm.

Once I had my awkwardly written letter written and rolled up. I went over to pack a back for a few nights. Nothing big as I mostly didn't wear anything. With a few things like my tablet and phone in the bag as well as few other supplies, I went to find Spike waiting by the door already packed. Come to think about it what did the little guy have after all? I mean I had what I brought back from earth as well as a few books and a table. You know I'm over thinking this.

“Alright mind sending this?” I said holding up the scroll.

“Right away,” Spike said with a smirk sending a puff of fire while it was still in my hand. It turned into a cloud of magical smoke before it flew off. I just watched it for a moment before turning to Twilight who was looking at the both of us.

“Are you going to be alright without us around?” I asked moving over to her, I got down gently onto my knees so we could be more eye level with each other.

“Of course, I do have a few things to do around here.” She said with a smile.

“If you're sure, then Spike and I will get going. I'm sure we will only be there for a few days.” I moved to give my marefriend a hug. She leaned in to give me a gentle kiss as I returned it.

“Don't do anything dangerous.” She said with a smile.

“I will try my best.” I said before gently letter her go and left with Spike. The trip to the train station wasn't long or eventful until we got there. I stood up to the window and crouched down so I could look at the cyan stallion behind the window. “Two for Canterlot.” He looked at me with his indigo eyes. I knew he was trying to size me up as it looked up and down me.

“Sorry Sir but the train can't allow somepony like you on board.” He said with a bored tone. I sucked in my cheek for a moment before I released it with a wet pop.

“Somepony like me... what do you mean by that?” I asked with a slight twitch of my left eye.

“Somepony of your stature sure, the train cars aren't meant to house you.” He said eyeing me.

“One moment.” I began to dig into my bag into my bag and pulled out my regalia which looked like a slightly misshapen necklace to me right now. “Do you see this?” I asked looking at him flatly.

“Yes sir, but what does that...” That's when he looked at it directly.

“This is Prince Firestorm's Regalia that he gave to me as a sign of authority. As he asked me to go to Canterlot on royal business.” I said as a bit of angry began to tint my voice. Besides the point that I had to talk about myself in the second person was a little annoying. “Spike is it illegal to impend royal business?”

“It is.” He commented looking at me a little confused.

“Thank you.” I turned back to the stallion in the window as he looked a little scared. “So let me ask you this. Do you want to be the one to explain to the prince why you impeded his business with Princess Celestia because you didn't want his messenger to get on the train that a Minotaur could ride with ease?”

“N-n-no Sir.” He said before pulling out two tickets. “Here you g-g-go sir. I-i-i hope you have a good-d-d day.” I allowed him to take the bits I had placed on the counter as we waiting for the train. I placed my regalia back into my bag as Spike and I found a seat.

“What was that about?” Spike asked.

“Taking care of business,” I commented as I got back up with a few bits to buy the two of us a drink at the pop machine on the train platform.

“Did you have to scare that stallion?” Spike asked as I handed him his drink.

“I didn't have to, but he was trying to impend royal business after all,” I said taking a seat again.

“Still... I don't think Ticket Taker needed to be scared for doing that.”

“You know that pony?” I asked.

“Not personally, but I've seen him around town a few times.”

“Than how do you know his name? I only got a few ponies names down.” I asked as I cracked my drink open.

“It was during the first Winter Wrap-up, Twilight made a list of all the ponies in town so she could assign them a job. Take a guess who wrote down all the names?” He asked with a smirk.

“Right... that's one of those holidays that ponies here don't use magic right?” I asked after I took a swig of my drink.

“Yeah, I still don't really understand why. It's something about the earth ponies that founded Ponyville.” He said.

“Well, it's a tradition Spike, kind of like...” I started to think. “like... what do you do for say Hearth's Warming?”

“Well, the year before that, Twilight and I would go up to see her parents and spend the whole holiday with them.” He explained.

“Well, what did you do while you're there?”

“Well... Velvet and I would cook the Hearth's Warming meal together since we don't let Twilight do any cooking.”

“Well, that's a tradition. You and Velvet doing the cooking.” I explained.

“That's not a tradition, that's just for safety,” Spike said with a smirk.

“Oh, that's cold Spike,” I said before giving my can a light breath to the side as a layer of frost appeared over the can. “I should know about cold.”

“How do you do that?” Spike asked looking at me.

“It's one of the abilities I have since I'm part elemental dragon. Fire and frost breath, I can absorb and discharge lightning, and other things.” I answered. “Why do you need me to cool your drink too?”

“If you don't mind?” He asked holding up the drink. I took it and repeated what I did before.

“There you go buddy,” I said handing it back.

“You know I wish I had a brother who was like you,” Spike said before taking a drink.

“What do you mean?” I looked over at him with a cocked eyebrow a little curious. “Don't you see Shining as a brother?”

“Well... yeah, it's just... having you noticed that there are no other dragons in Ponyville?”

“I've noticed,” I said taking a drink. “Still don't see your point.”

“It's just... the last time I was around dragons it didn't turn out so well. Garble was a jerk as well as his other buddies.”

“Tell me about it,” I said with a light growl.

“Did you end up running into him?” Spike asked.

“Oh yeah, during the whole Dragon Treaty mishap. It seems he and his father wanted to stage a coup against their grandfather for dominance of the den.” I explained as most of that day flashed in my mind.

“What happened?” Spike asked looking up at me as I finished off my drink.

“Well during the treaty one of Garble's buddies showed up a rather large dragon with a sort of a long bowl cut hairstyle. We found out what was going on before the whole den became an all-out brawl. In the mayhem that in-sued Twilight and Nightling got captured by Garble and his friend.” I began to growl through clenched teeth as my grip on my can tightened. “They...” I was fighting to keep calm as what happened next flashed in my mind. “They hurt Twilight and... I snapped.” I said as I ended up crashing the can into a small woad of metal.

“Was that when Twilight was in-” Spike asked pensively.

“Yes, it was because of them Twilight was in a magical coma,” I said as my right arm was shaking for my anger.

“I... I heard from the princess that you... you went through what I think they called a Dragon's Rage?” Spike asked, and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm down enough.

“Yes... it's when a dragon gets angry enough their body reacts to it in a violent way. I was lucky enough I didn't seriously hurt anyone. I did knock out Garble and his friend before all of my strength was spent.” I explained.

“It kind of sounds like what happened on my birthday,” Spike said twitting his thumbs a little.

“I don't think I'm familiar with this story?” I asked looking at him. That's when he went on to explain what had happened to him. When he let his greed get the best of him and turned into a rampaging dragon that did nothing but takes everything to make a hoard of 'treasures' for himself. I knew that dragons have a habit of owning a hoard of treasures that they would more concise perfect for it. Gaia had explained that some dronies do the same thing. I listened to him explaining that he ponynapped Rarity as well as three members of the Wonderbolts before he was reminded of a selfless act he did. He gave up a fire ruby to rarity that he had saved up so it would be perfect for his birthday since he was way younger. I had to hand it to Spike, willing to give up something like that to the pony he cared about. He looked worried after he had told his story to me. “These things happen, I mean look what happened to me. I get taken controlled of more than twice and cause havoc, so I get what it feels like. Plus it was a biological thing that happened much like a Dragon's Rage. I mean you haven't been that greedy since right?”

“No... but I always worry that it could happen again.” Spike said.

“Look if it does, I'll be there to knock some sense into you,” I said gently patting him on the head to comfort him.

“That's... kind of the point I wanted to ask you.” He asked looking forward into his can as he gently spun it in his claws.

“Ask me what?”

“Could... could you be my sort of big dragon brother?” He asked and I could see it in his body language that he was scared that I may say no. Just how tense he was, it was like a steel cable ready to snap.

“Sure, I've always wanted a little brother at times,” I said with a smirk as I finished balling up my can and floated it over to the trash can.

“Really?” He asked a little surprised as he looked up at me.

“Is this a face of someone pulling your leg?” I said with a smile.

“Sweet!” He said jumping up and giving a fist pump.

“Cool it, Spike, we haven't even gotten on the train yet,” I said getting up to grab another soda. As I did that the sounds of the train pulling off could be heard in the distance. We watched as the train pulled up and quite a bit of Ponies came off before they allowed other to board, including Spike and I. We found ourselves a relatively empty car with the only other pony there was gray coated mare with a long black mane and tail. Around her neck was a pink bow tie and with a cutie-mark of a trouble-clef, it only took me a moment to recognize who it was. “Hello, again Miss Melody,” I said with a warm smile. She turned from her magazine in her hooves to look over, then up at me.

“Hello, sir... do I um... know you?” She asked looking a little curious as I watched her gaze run up and down me. I turned around to look to see if any other ponies were around. I give a quiet shush before I answered her.

“It's me Firestorm, I'm in disguise,” I said with a smile. She the look on her face told me everything, she thought I was bull shitting her on this.

“I highly doubt you're the prince sir, but if you are then I must be a unicorn disguised as an earth pony.” She said as Spike and I took a seat across from her.

“Well I doubt your mane would have a full-length horn, I mean if you had a diminished horn than maybe. It is I Miss Melody.”

“Prove it.”

“Well how would you like me to prove it that the fact that you came to the castle to ask me which songs I would like to be played for my birthday and the one I wanted to hear was your rendition of Bach and Tobbena in D Minor, than the time after that was in the hospital that I was recovering in to play for me till the gem appeared and you gracefully exited the room,” I answered with a smile as she looked at me with wide eyes.

“How... did-”

“Did I know? Because I am Firestorm, I'm under a potion effect right now which has me looking like this. If you still don't believe me then ask Spike here, Twilight Sparkle's number one assistant.” I said as Spike nodded.

“It's true, that's Firestorm alright.” He said with a smile as I reached over with my claw in a fist as Spike bumped it.

“I... I... I apologize for-” She tried to backpedal.

“It's fine Miss Melody, I don't hold any ill will towards you. I would be skeptical too if I were you.” I said as the ticket taker came by asking four our tickets. We all showed ours as he took them up in his magic, punched a hole in them and gave them back.

“Was it... painful?” She asked.

“If you mean changing than not really. It was really hot, however. So take that as you will. If you don't mind me asking, what did you have to do in Ponyville?” I asked.

“Oh, I stay in Ponyville when I need some time away from Canterlot. It's rather relaxing as long as my roommate remembers to put her headphones on.” She comments ending that with a slightly annoyed sigh.

“Roommate?” I asked.

“Oh Vinyl Scratch, most ponies know her by her stage handle of DJ Pon3. Don't ask me why she insists on putting the number three in the name instead of the letter E.” She said.

“Don't take this the wrong way but I didn't picture you two as roommates,” I said as I sat back in the seat a bit more.

“I get that a lot, we both are pretty famous in our respective fields of music. So we understand needing some down time away from the crowd. Ponyville is kind of the perfect place for that.” She commented.

“That's it's very peaceful outside any influence trying some shenanigans,” I said.

“Yeah like the whole mob of reporters. I still don't know what they wanted in town.” Octavia said.

“Yeah... I do.” I said rubbing the back of my neck.

“Oh do tell.” She was looking at me curiously.

“There was an advertisement saying that if a pony could get an interview with me that they would be paid handsomely for it.”

“Let me guess, Silvertongue?”

“How did you know?” I asked looking at her a little confused.

“He's tried it before with Vinyl and I. They finally gave up after a few months of us gone.” She answered.

“Well, hopefully, he learned his lesson this time after reporters bugged Luna during Night Court. I didn't think ponies could get that crazy over something as trivial as this.” I said rubbing my face a bit.

“Why didn't you just do the interview?” She asked.

“Why didn't you?” I countered, she raised her hoof up to make a point before the look on her face said everything. She didn't have one.

“Touche” She conceded.

“So what do you plan to do when you get to Canterlot?” I asked.

“Probably practice for my ensembles performance in the Canterlot Opera house.” She answered.

“Oh, I saw you during one of the plays there,” I said remembering.

“Which one?” She asked.

“I think it was The Fairy Queen or something along those lines,” I said trying to remember the name.

“Ah, that was a very lovely play.” She said with a smile.

“Indeed it was, I may attend another one while Spike and I are there,” I said.

“Oh, I hear they are performing Phantom of the Opera this week.” She said.

“That's one I haven't seen before,” I said with a smile. I was only vaguely familiar with that story, but I could always enjoy a new story. The rest of the trip to Canterlot was us mostly talking about our plans in Canterlot. As Octavia had stated that she was going to mostly practice so she was ready for her performance. She had also planned to do dinners and rehearsals. For the most part, it was what I expected of her from the few interactions I had with her. Spike, for the most part, listened from behind the comic book that he brought with. By the time the train arrived Octavia said she would write next time she was in Ponyville for Twilight and I to meet up with her. Nothing fancy, just a day to go dine together. As the three of us exited the train we found a squad of six guards waiting for Spike and I. Three night guards and three days all trotted over to us. One of the day guards in the captains uniform that I had only seen once on Shining stepped up to me.

“Are you the 'satyr' we are supposed to escort to the castle?” He asked looking at a scroll he had held in his lemon yellow aura.

“Yes, that would be me. If you would lead the way?” I offered with a sweeping gesture.

“Of course.” They all turned in one swift motion that told years of training to pull off in unison like that. With that, they formed a hexagonal circle around Spike and I as we head down the streets to the Castle.

“I will talk to you next time Miss Melody,” I said with a smile as we took off. She simply waved back as we moved towards the castle. I couldn't help but smile as I watched the ponies just stop and watch the eight of us moved down the street. Spike kept his nose in his comic book as I was more enjoying the sights around us. It kind of shows the diverse crowd around Canterlot. While most of them were unicorns, but they looked like from different social structures. Some of them were they high and fancy kind of ponies that would be the different article of clothing. Some of them had suits while other had saddles. There was a few that would only wear a hat and things like that. The others would only wear nothing at all like most ponies I would see. Don't get me wrong, I don't care if you decide if you wear clothes or not. Hell, I prefer my hoodie more than something like my regalia. It's just here its more a sign of social status here in Canterlot. I could pick out a few ponies that I had interacted with from time to time here. I didn't really have a chance to say hi as we got the front steps of the castle.

“So what do you think the Princess wanted with us?” Spike asked as we walked down the halls.

“I don't have a clue. Frankly, it could be anything under the sun.” I said with a shrug as we reached up to the doors to the throne room.

“Presenting Spike the Dragon and Mr. Satyr.” The guard introduced, I couldn't help but grin as I pulled my bag to the side and pull out my regalia to have it ready. The doors opened to show Celestia sitting on her throne with Luna next to with a scroll floating in front of them.

“Hello, again Spike,” Celestia said with a warming smile before she turned to me with a cocked eyebrow. “And it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Satyr.” She said and I couldn't help but smile.

“It's a pleasure to see you again Celestia and Luna,” I said over the link we shared. They looked at me for a moment as I know at least Celestia noticed I didn't move my mouth. Luna was the next one to say something.

“Where is Prince Firestorm?” She asked looking up from her scroll.

“I believe that the being before us is the prince,” Celestia said. Luna blinked and Celestia smirked, I too was smirking as I doubted I could get it fully passed them on the joke. At least I had a little fun.

“How did this happen?” Luna asked looking in disbelief.

“I believe it was a potion effect,” Celestia commented.

“I'm guessing Twilight already sent you a letter asking about what possibly have caused this right?” I asked with a shag in my stance.

“I was informed. We looked into it and couldn't find a reason outside of potions that could cause it.” Celestia informed.

“That's what we came to as well. It seems the Cutie-mark Crusaders got it into their heads to help me have a glance of what I use to have. I'm not complaining about the outcome, just the timing is all.” I said with a smile and a shrug. “But I have to ask, why did you want Spike and I in Canterlot.”

“For a few reasons, please follow us,” Celestia commented before getting down off the throne with Luna behind her. The four of us exited the throne room and took a few halls away from the main halls. I was familiar with a few of them as I had requested a map of all the armories. It only showed the guard armories however as I only know of the one royal armory. This was where we were going as Celestia and Luna opened up the hidden door to it. Just like last time I noticed the now four armors sitting in the middle of the room. The difference here now was that some of the tools of war with my cutie-mark on them.

“Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like where this is going to go?” I asked turning back to both regents of the celestial beings.

“It depends, where do you think is going to go?” Celestia asked.

“You want me to spar with somepony,” I answered looking at them.

“Your half correct, we want to spar with you,” Luna asked.

“Spike cover your ears,” I said looking down at him. He just rolled his eyes and did it. I turned back to both princess as I cleared my voice. “Are you both fucking nuts?! Okay, let's start with the obvious downside to this. What do you think ponies are going to think when something they haven't seen before attacking the both of you? Trust me if they are anything like I've seen or can guess. They are going to up in hooves, wanting to see the monster be taken down. What about if I do manage to harm you? Try to explain the whole sudden wound there Princess.” I began on my tangent before my mouth was magically sealed. “You forgot I can do this over the link.” I finished over said link.

“Storm, we've taken care of all of it already. There is a private training ground so no pony outside of castle staff will see you, they all know who you really are, and we can cast illusion spells to cover wounds. We've done this many times when we spar with each out and our guards.” Celestia explained. I pointed with my figure to the golden yellow aura over my mouth, after a few moments it was gone. “You could have continued over the link.”

“Well excuse me, Princess.” I stretching out the second two words in that as sarcastically as possible. “I don't like being magically silenced like that. Happens way to often, to the point its a pet peeve for me.” I rubbed my mouth a little after that. “Than let me ask this, why against me? No offense to either of you but I'm outclassed here. Both magically, and experienced.”

“That is true, so we decided to level the playing field for this,” Luna said pulling out what looks like two necklaces that looked like simple colored chain leading down to a pale silver gemstone. The chains matched the respective princesses. Celestia with gold and Luna with silver. “These amulets will temporary dampen our powers enough to be close to equal hoofing with you.”

“That sounds dangerous, what if somepony attacks in that time while you're handicapped like that?”

“The enchantment only lasts two hours after we energize them. After the time expires the amulet is nothing more than jewelry at that point.” Celestia explains.

“Still... pretty risky, still leaves the question to why.”

“Simply we've been told of your combat skills. We want to test them for ourselves in a semi-natural form for you. With this change, it seemed the timing was perfect.” Luna said with a smile. I simply face-palmed at this.

“So your whole plan would have been a bust if I drank the antidote before I got on the train.” I couldn't believe this. This whole plan had so many holes that it beats Swiss cheese by wholes per inch.

“We had a backup plan for this as we had a fast-acting potion ready in case,” Luna commented.

“Okay, touche on that. Still, I don't get the why. Luna, you've seen me fight, hell I ended up shocking you.”

“You were under the influence of Nightmare Moon, you weren't fully in control.” She countered.

“Fine, that what about you Celestia you saw me fight against Sombra and Shadow.”

“I only saw the tail end of that, not during.” Celestia countered.

“Fuck, fine,” I said a little annoyed my own game was played against me like this. “There are a few conditions I want to set I agree to this completely insane idea.”

“What may they be?” Luna asked with her curious gaze on me.

“One, I want medical staff at the ready. I already see my ass handed to me so I'm ready to be told how stupid this whole idea was by a doctor. You know it will happen and so do I. Two, I want at least the rest of the day to prepare for this. You've had at least a day to be ready and you literally dropped this one me. Three, I want a tailor here so I can have at least a set of light armor that can fit my current frame, and maybe something to wear afterwards as I don't plan to change back unless I have to. Finally four, I want four royal mages to come to my room. I have some magical questions and if I ask either of you that gives away a trump card. You know what let's add one more. Five, no prying into how or what I'm preparing for this battle.” I said laying down my rules for this. Celestia and Luna looked at each other as I knew they were blocking me out of the link to hear their thoughts on this. They both nodded after what felt like a minute.

“We can agree to those conditions. Would you like the royal blacksmith to come to your room as well?” Celestia commented.

“No, I will be going there myself. I have a few inquiries I wanted to make while I was in Canterlot. When will this match be?” I folded my arms looking at them.

“After sunset and right as the moon has risen. We will send a guard to retrieve you when it's time.” Luna answered this time.

“Fair enough.” I said, “Until then.” With that Spike and I left them as he looked at me like I was completely insane. I wasn't completely insane, I mean I had to be at least three fifths insane to agree to this completely balls deep crazy idea of the princesses.

“Are you seriously going to battle both of them?” Spike said.

“Eeyup.”

“Do you even have a plan?”

“Eeyup.”

“Do you even think you have a chance of winning.”

“Nope.”

“Than why do this?”

“Because they made a convincing argument... well convincing as a rock being talked into being a bird.” I sarcastically stated.

“Than what do you plan to do?” Spike said as he was doing a good job keeping up with me. Kind of surprising with the leg length difference we have.

“Well, I plan to do what I do best,” I answered with a smirk.

“Something insanely stupid?”

“Bingo,” I said with a snap of my claws. “Speaking of something insanely stupid. Up for watching a movie tonight?” I asked.

“Movie?” Spike asked.

“Think of a play but grander and without the whole theater to house it. I have my tablet and Twilight showed me the enlarged image spell. So I can show you some human superheroes, Mr. Power Ponies.” I teased.

“Hey don't knock The Power Ponies, they kick some major flank!” He said pointing up at me.

“Oh just wait, I've got something good to show you,” I said grinning as we made our way to the Royal Blacksmith. I had a long night to prepare and I wasn't going to waste a minute of it.

[End of Chapter]