Chapter 47 – Upon This Charge

It had been two weeks since the summit and a few things in our life had changed. Since Lily was added to my guards. The days getting used to having her around hasn't been easy. The second day we found her waiting next to the bed waiting like a statue. Freaked me the right out to have someone hovering over me as I slept. Seriously Pinkie did it once and I had to ban her from showing up while we slept. Course that doesn't stop her, but I had to try at least. Lucky for us however, we had taken the time to get ourselves a larger bed. Mostly so we had a second bed now for those staying over. Namely, in this case, our old bed became Lily's bed. Which was on the main floor of the loft.

On top of that, I hadn't changed back yet. As my magic takes longer to recover than most ponies. Twilight and I figured it was because of Nightmare Moon taking a lot in one go. It played havoc on my arcane nerves system, or at least I think that's what they were called. It was hard to hear Twilight as she rapid fire on me doing her scans. To simplify it, what takes a normal pony a nights sleep takes me a few days to recover. So I went about my duties in my satyr form which Ponyville was used to by now. Besides the fire breath, wings, and tail. It was like being human again, well that and the lack of toes, but that's splitting hairs.

The office work as I've come to call was pretty much the same, well except having to sit on the floor because of desk height for ponies is smaller. The only pony that may have flipped out a bit was Spitfire when she came to drop off her monthly reports to me. Which I will admit having the Wonderbolts as part of my charges was a little weird at first, but I get why. The Bolts were stationed in Cloudsdale which is part of my jurisdictions even if the cloud city moves around. Mostly, I think this was Celestia's way of cutting down her own paperwork as she had to do this before me.

Speaking of the paperwork, the construction team showed up to build the barracks showed up on the second day. God that was a mountain of paperwork, lucky for me Nightling was able to handle some of the smaller dealings. Well most of it, till the head contractor almost ran out screaming at the look of me. I will admit, that was a new one that I would have thought would happen sooner. Regardless that lead into learning Lily is high strung to no end. She had magically summoned a sword and threaten to cut the contractor's head off for and I shall quote here. “Disrespecting her Master.” God, am I going to have to deal with this from all of my guards? Lucky for me that after Hardhat finally stopped freaking out, got to work after I had to agree to a pay increase.

That got much worse when she met Pinkie Pie for the first time. Lucky or unlucky for me she ended up missing her at the tail end of the summit. Twilight and the girls left a day early because Luna requested for her and I to stay back. Later I found out that it was mostly Cadence that had asked it for it, to rat Celestia and I out. There was a lot of yelling at me for agreeing to the 'ridiculous' idea. On both ends, which is odd since I know Luna and Celestia have a little prank war going on since her return. I finally got them to shut up after using the Canterlot Roar to be heard. Seriously it's bad enough that Cadence is loud but an angry Canterlot voice Luna is much, much worse.

Once I was able to get a word in edgewise, I explained that all I was going to do was prove a point. Celestia had wanted me to go for the throne. Which isn't a hard thing, but she was expecting force. While I know how to be forceful, I rather be sneaky. Why fight harder, when you can fight smarter? Well, that was why I was hiding in the crystal block for most of the fight anyway. Regardless I had explained what I had planned, which only came down to a prank. Well, that and what I had figured was going on. That Celestia is a control freak and I was taking more and more of that away from her. Well as she saw it, over a thousand years of not having somepony to count on it leaves someone with this whole 'I've got to do it' mentality. Which I could understand, I had the same thought process when it came to audio work. If I needed a line recorded for whatever reason, I would try to do it myself.

As it stands, they understand what I'm doing even though I really don't want to. She needs a reality check before serious damage could be done. As the saying goes 'sometimes you have to be the villain of the peace, to maintain it.' In this case, I was being Celestia's villain.

But this brings us to the present as I have been writing the spell script for the dye cards. All while Twilight was literally hovering over my shoulder. Mostly because I asked for her help figuring out the script I need.

“So what do you plan to do with these cards?” She asked switching over to my other side.

“They are the prep for a test I have to complete.” I cryptically stated.

“A test?! What kind of test?” She asked putting her hoof to her mouth in worry. “We need to make sure you're ready.” That's when she tried to fly off, but I was a little shift on the upkeep and had her by the tail.

“Twilight dear, relax. I'm preparing now, all I need are these cards and I will be ready.” she turned and looked at me.

“It can't be as simple as a few spell script cards,” Twilight said sounding annoyed.

“Then how about sixty cards?” I said with a smirk pulling out the purple card stock I had set up for these.

“Sixty?” She asked eyeing the stack. The only downside to all this was the cards were larger than my normal ones to fit the complex scripts being used. Honestly, they were closer to talismans then cards at this point.

“Eeyup, ain't no kill like overkill,” I said using a very old line that I use to use when I decided to give someone in a game the fully Monty. Turning towards Twilight I saw the worry on her face and ears as they were flattened back. “Dear, I'm not going to kill anypony. It's just an expression from earth.”

“I figured, I'm just worried is all. This is Celestia who is giving this test, correct?” She asked eyeing me as I nodded to her question. “Then this must be important enough to warrant it. I'm just scared of what will happen if you fail it.”

“Probably nothing too big,” I said with a shrug.

“What if you have to go back to magical kindergarten.” She said looking worried.

“Okay, one I don't even know what that is. Two, I doubt she would do that to a grown stallion. Three, I think you're letting your imagination run away with your common sense.” I had put the quill down to look at her directly with a whole skeptical look.

“Your barking up the wrong tree,” Spike said as he was sweeping away at the floor. “I've been saying that for years.”

“Spike!” Twilight groaned as she turned to look at him.

“Look, Twilight,” I said taking her hoof in my claw. “Let me worry about the test and the aftermath.”

“Then what am I suppose to do?” She asked worriedly.

“Be my support dear. Root for me and hope I pass.” I said before getting up and picking my mare out of the air to hold her in a warm embrace. “Nothing bad will happen dear, I promise.” She looked up at me after that.

“Pinkie Promise?” She asked and I scratched the side of my face on that one.

“Well...”

“Storm!” She said puffing her cheeks out at that before she crossed her hoofs.

“Twilight, You know I don't like making those promises, ” I said looking a little worried. Especially if miss hole in physics starts to show up, I was going to be seven layers of screwed.

“If you can't make one simple Pinkie Promise, how am I going to rest assure that you'll be safe.” She countered.

“No guilt trips dear.” I flatly said giving her a pointed look.

“But Storm!” She whined.

“No But Storm.”

“Twilight this is Storm we are talking about. The guy can handle whatever Princess Celestia can throw at him. I mean he could handle being bucked in the head by Applejack, so he's made of sterner stuff.” Spike said leaning on the broom.

“Don't remind me.” Twilight groaned as she leaned on me.

“It's in the past, so it's alright,” I said as I moved to head downstairs to the kitchen. “Hermes, can you finish these cards for me?”

“Roger, Roger.” He said floating past us.

“Can you use something other than imperial drones?” I asked a little tired of hearing that clip. Course just to spite me, he decided to play R2D2 clips. “Okay, now you're being cheeky.” I shot back which was responded too with another bit from R2D2. “Oh don't give me that tone of voice Hermes.”

“How do you understand what he said?” Twilight asked looking confused.

“Think of it as another language, just one that I'm familiar with,” I explained before turning to Spike. “Mind helping Hermes?”

“No problem,” Spike said putting the broom away.

“Alright, hey Hermes.” That was followed by more beeps, creeps, and boops. “Mind helping Spike after you two are done with the cards?” That was followed by a confirmation sound. With that Twilight and I head downstairs to the kitchen, with me mostly ducking through doorways. The kitchen had gotten a makeover since Twilight had tried to make breakfast in bed. It turned into a fireball that ended up burning up everything but the sink and the fridge. So having a rush job getting everything fixed was not the kind of use of royal power I wanted to do. Especially when we ended up getting the high-end stuff. Though the sales mare did try to get us to take it for free. But seriously that kind of drain would have been a major it to profit. So I used a lot of my bits to pay for it. It wasn't like I was using them for much then living expenses.

Regardless, I decided to pull out one of the cookbooks I had bought so I could learn to make different dishes. In this case, I was making a vegetation stir-fry. With the wok out, I began to dig out the vegetables. Twilight watched me as I began to pile the items in my arms. Probably out of curiosity.

“Storm, I know your low on magic. But-” She began before I cut her off.

“Your wondering why I don't use magic as most unicorns do in my daily life?”

“Yeah... I mean, I remember that you told me that your use to doing things like an earth pony. But that was quite some time ago.” She said looking a little confused.

“Some habits are hard to break and it's nice doing things this way again. Granted maybe not one for one.” I said flexing my prosthetic claws.

“Does it still bother you?” She asked eyeing my claws.

“Kind of, but I've been used to having metal in my arm when I was still human.”

“How come?” She asked.

“I was in an accident while I was in school that caused me to shatter my elbow into five pieces. They fixed it with nine screws, two plates, two pins, and a wire in a figure eight.” I explained as I grabbed a knife. It didn't take long for me to chop through everything as Twilight gawked at me.

“How did-”

“I went through surgery like everyone else. Kind of like Granny Smith when she got that hip replacement.” I said with a smile as I twirled the knife in my hand. “Just minus the magic or unicorns doing it.”

“Oh... so the earth pony way?”

“Sort of, but fine enough base to go on.”

“When did you learn to do that with a knife?” She asked watching me twirling a little bit more.

“I've always been comfortable around knives and blades. I've cleaned, fixed, sharpened my own blades since I was ten. Remember that flip knife of mine that has the broken piece off the one side?”

“Yeah, you told me not to try and open it without knowing what I'm doing first.”

“Correct. That is my very first blade.”

“Your first one?”

“It was the one that got me into bladed weapons. I learned on my own how to do all that.” I couldn't help but lightly chuckle at that.

“Well, learning is a great benefit to every pony,” Twilight said with a slight smile as I began to light the stove.

“I can agree with that, it's the matter of how some pony learns. I'm a more watch and do kind of learner.” I said as I flipped the food in the wok.

“Oh?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Yeah, it's like muscle memory. I learned how to clean and sharpen by just doing it. Somethings are best learned by doing in my opinion.” I explained with a smile as I continued.

“Is that how you learned to cook?”

“Well yes and no,” I said as I flipped the meal again. “Cooking is a sort of feeling, to know when things are done or not. Well... sort of.” It was a few moments before I slid the food on to the plates for everyone. “If you break it down cooking is chemistry with different kind of chemicals.”

“Well... I can understand that.” She said watching me.

“If you want I can teach you how to cook,” I said with a smile as I sat the plate down on the table before her. I slide my plate down as well as Spike's.

“I would like that...” She said with a slight smile.

“When I get back from Canterlot, well start,” I said with a smile.

“You sure I can't come with you?” Twilight asked trying to use the puppy dog eyes. Which doesn't work with I give her my I really feel comfortable face, which has me close my eyes. Can't work on me if I can't see it. Score one for Firestorm.

“And eighty-four for Twilight, still have a lot of catching up to beat her score fire,” Shadow commented.

“Ah!” Twilight yelled as she jumped looking around confused.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

“I heard Shadow's voice, but...” she said looking around. “But I don't see him.”

“It's over the link dear,” I said slightly laughing.

“Link?” She said confused for a moment.

“That's right, you're just developing into the link. Alicorns have a telepathic link between us that we can use to talk to each other.” I started to explain.

“How does it work?” She asked looking me as she summoned a pad and pencil from thin air.

“Well it's not too different from a telepathic spell, but it's more passive than active,” I said waving my claw lightly.

“So it's always on?” She thought curiously.

“Eeyup, always active.” She eeped at that.

“You heard my thought?” she asked.

“I've been hearing all of your thoughts for a while now. You kind of have the same problem as I do when it comes to the link. I forget to block it out and just let my thoughts just broadcast out.” That got herself to go red.

“Then you heard...”

“Those thoughts you had last night, oh yeah. I heard them loud and clear miss pin me to the shelves.” I said with a smirk as Twilight got redder and redder. Surprising enough she was almost the same shade of red as a red bell pepper. Kind of impressive to say the least, and a whole lot of fun.

“Storm!” She whined.

“It's alright Twilight, everypony has those kinds of thoughts.” I will admit, I'm having a hard time not laughing at this. For the first time in a long time, I'm not the one flustered.

“But I'm a princess Storm!” She tried to defend.

“So is Cadence and trust me, she has them.” That got Twilight to gasp.

“What?!” Twilight almost shrieked.

“It's nothing surprising Twilight. She's a mare too. I can guarantee that everypony thinks about it.” I said a little surprised that I'm the one giving my marefriend this talk.

“I highly doubt that!” Twilight tried to counter. “Princess Celes-”

“Celestia most diffidently thinks about it, and Luna too.” I interrupted with.

“She does not!” She said standing up slamming her hoof down.

“Want to bet?” I said with a curved almost devious grin to my face.

“What do you mean?” She gave me the look of 'what are you planning' and I was enjoying every minute of it.

“Let's have a bet,” I said leaning back against the counter. With me being so tall, a chair doesn't really fit me like they do in Canterlot. So more often I sit on the floor at the table. “If you win, then I will go to Zecora and get a gender-swapping potion. I'll be a mare for a month.”

“And if you win?” She asked gulping.

“a 'favor' to call in at a later time,” I said with a predatory grin. She eyed me biting her lip as I know I laid that on pretty thick. After hearing that thought the other night I knew she was thinking about the whole poison joke effect again. “If you're too scared it's fine.”

“Ah... No, I'm not s-scared. You're on.” She said gulping as she pulled out a quill and parchment. Reaching over I pulled both of them out of her magical grip and began to scribble down the message.

Dear Celestia,

Please for the love of all that is holy, explain to Twilight that everypony has sexual thoughts and includes You, Luna, and Cadence. That and there's no shame in them.

Signed Firestorm.

With a puff of fire, the messaged turned into magical ash and flew off. Spike had finally explained to me how it's done and seriously it was rather simple. As long as you've seen the person or in this case pony. You can send to them a message as long as you have the breath to do it and if you don't have one, it just magically defaults to the last person you sent a message too. Don't ask me how it knows how to do that for fucking fire breath. But at this point, I have seriously stopped trying to over analyze things, especially with Pinkie.

“Storm!” Twilight yelled panicking, as she saw my message.

“What? I was just getting to the point.” I said as she began to bat her hooves at me.

“You don't have to be blunt about it! She's going to think I'm a pervert and that I shouldn't be a princess.” She said looking worried.

“Twilight you've more than earned your title first off. Second, I can tell you she's not going to think your some kind of pervert. Maybe a prude, but not a pervert.” That was followed by a thump to the back of my head. “Hey!” I yelled. “What was that for?!”

“Calling me a prude.” She said with a huff.

“You're worried to be called a pervert, but outside of the bedroom. You've been tight-lipped, well maybe a little in the bedroom too now that I think about it.” I said thinking before I felt something worm it's way up my throat as I let out a large bleach of flames. Lucky for me I had enough warming to it that I turned my head away from Twilight as I letter appear. Grabbing it out of the air, I quickly popped the seal on it. “Seriously she has to seal everything single one of these?” I groaned a little as I looked it over. That was followed by me losing my shit as I began to double over in laughter.

“What did the princess say?” Twilight asked pulling the letter from my grip.

“To my faithful Student.” Twilight began to read out loud. “Of course everypony has intimate thoughts from time to time. Even I, as I remember one time when I was a young mare in Luna and I's castle. There was this stallion that I couldn't help but daydream about him taking in the mid- Princess Celestia!” She shrieked at the end of it. Which only got me to laugh harder. “That is not appropriate to write in a royal letter! And will you stop laughing?!” I couldn't, it was too priceless. Just my quick skimming of the letter and I knew Twilight was going to have a meltdown over this.

“I can't help it! It's too funny!” I said between gasping breaths.

“It's not that funny!” She said shaking me rather hard as she floats me in the air.

“Alright, alright, alright,” I said waving my hand as I tried to catch my breath. “Speaking of which, I believe our bet has been settled,” I said taking the letter into the main library and hid it into the special out cove.

“Don't remind me.” She said groaning.

“It's alright, I wasn't being serious.” Twilight looked at me as I watched her ears flattened back and a bit hurt.

“No, we made a bet and I need to honor it.”

“Twilight, I can tell your uncomfortable. Why don't we let it drop?”

“But Storm, I'm a prince-” Was all I was going to let her get out.

“Twilight, when it's between us. We don't need titles, especially at home.”

Twilight's ears flattened back as she looked a little down. “Your right, it's just with all this being princess stuff is something to get used too.”

“Preaching to the choir,” I commented before walking over to the door and yelled up for Spike for lunch. “I get that you're worried you won't do a good job. But you have to remember, your just starting this. Even I had a bit of a handicap when it came to royal business.”

“Not counting a hell of a first time.” Twilight snarked.

“Ouch,” I said fawning a wound. “But your right. Just don't gauge your royal duties by what I've had to do.”

“I'm just worried,” Twilight said as Spike ran in with Hermes after him.

“We finished the cards. I left them in the box for you.” He said hopping onto his seat.

“Thanks, Sorry to ask you two to finish it for me.”

“It's alright Bro.” He said before digging into his plate. He began to call me Bro after I had become like his big brother. Much like how Twilight was his big sister, you would think it would be closer to mother, seeing as she helped hatch him. I guess that's just not how things are done here. It doesn't really bother me being called bro all the time. Some of my friends would say that so, oh well. Spike has been oddly hanging around me more and more. Even during my runs for food. Which is fine, just he has to move a little faster because of my longer stride than his. I haven't gotten around to getting us a cart yet for the shopping trips. Regardless, he hopped up onto his chair and dug in. “This is so good! You have to tell me your secret!” He said looking up. I could help but ruffle his fin scales a bit.

“It's nothing special, it's just paying attention to the flavors,” I said before digging into my own plate. Twilight watched the two of us while she dug into her own plate.

“You two have gotten really close lately,” Twilight commented.

“Well, of course, he's like my big brother I've never really had,” Spike said between mouthfuls. “Not counting Shining Armor of course.” He caught himself a moment later.

“That and it probably helps I'm the closest thing to a dragon around here.” I tacked on.

“That's true,” Twilight said. “And after the whole dragon migration incident, I'm glad Spike has someone he can relate to.”

“Dragon Migration?” I asked a little curious about this. That's when I got the low down when Spike was trying to find out more about himself as a Dragon. At least what it meant to be one. So on the day that dragons would fly a field to the west of Ponyville. He decided after a bit of ribbing from the girls to follow the dragons. Twilight, Dash, and Rarity all followed him to make sure he was safe. Even after meeting other dragons like Garble. Just hearing the pricks name got me to clinch my prosthetic claws to the groaning protest of it. Well him and a bunch of his 'friends' decided to pick on Spike by playing pranks on him in the air of 'well a real dragon would do it'. “What pricks,” I growled annoyed at this.

“Well, he did get what's coming to him when Peewee burned him,” Spike commented after finishing off his plate.

“Peewee?”

“My phoenix friend that I saved from those jerks.” That's when I got a lowdown on this. It seems that towards the end of the events Garble talked Spike into going with him to smash phoenix eggs. Something I detest very heavily, I understand that eggs are used as food. But if it's a living being, then I draw the line then. All this just makes me wish I punched Garble's skull in more. I took a deep breath and calmed down a bit more. Well, the girls helped get Spike out of there as he kept the egg from the scaly bastard Garble, all while Peewee's parents went after Garble and his friends burning them. Something not a lot of beings knows that while dragons do have a very high heat tolerance to the point of lava. Phoenix fire burns differently as it's more of a magical fire. So the properties don't match up with normal fire or dragon fire. That only when the Phoenix in question wants it too. Otherwise, it's more like normal fire. Kind of like how I can change my fire from normal dragon fire to what I like to call frost fire. It comes down to intent which one I use just like a phoenix.

“Yeah, a course that's not even counting the whole Dragon Code mess that happened later,” Twilight commented.

“You said you wouldn't bring that up.” Spike groaned.

“I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess this has something to do with a set of rules that Spike was going by?” I asked.

“How did you know?” Twilight asked.

“I think I heard about this from Dash when she was talking about some of the adventures you all have gone on,” I said thinking back. Was it? “Regardless, I can empathize with the idea of a set of rules. But it's convection and the means to bend around it is what is important.”

“Bend around it?” Spike and Twilight both asked at the same time.

“Rules have to adapt and change as time goes on. They have to be the solid pillars for which they stand, but able to bend and change with the new experiences and situations. Take one of my rules, protect those I care about. I know I can't always keep a watchful eye on everyone so the bend is that it can't protect them. I will hurt those that hurt them.” I explained.

“Was that what you mean when you say you would hunt?” Twilight asked.

“When did I say that?”

“Back in Canterlot before Luna, you and I went off to our date.” She said looking a little nervous.

“Oh. Well to a point. I strongly believe in an eye for an eye in a different way.”

“But doesn't make Equestria go blind?” Spike asked.

“It's the world, but you are in the right ballpark. But that's where the whole in a different way comes in. But the details of that kind of changes from day to day and event to event.” I said before finishing my own plate.

“But what does it mean in a different way?” Twilight asked staring at me.

“Well just as it says. But if you need it a little bit more bluntly. Revenge is a wonderful friend if you are on agreeable terms.” I said grinning as Twilight shivered lightly in her seat.

“So I have to get revenge?” Spike asked looking a little confused.

“No! Storm don't put ideas in his head.” Twilight said jumping the gun a bit.

“I'm not. I'm just telling him about the idea's in my head.” I said with a smirk as Twilight scowled at me.

“That's what scares me.”

“Scares you?”

“Well... you have to fight and you get hurt. It's bad enough that you've gotten me to agree to earn more combat spells. But I don't like the idea of having to hurt anypony.” Twilight said looking scared up at me.

“Even if it's to protect everyone or yourself?” I asked.

“Yes! It's bad enough that we've had to fight before. But I shouldn't-” was all I got out.

“It doesn't matter if your a princess or a popper, everyone learns to fight proper,” I said.

“Even me?” Spike asked.

“No!” Twilight shouted.

“Why not?” Both Spike and I asked.

“Because your just a baby dragon-” Twilight got out before I interrupted.

“Who has already faced other dragons, diamond dogs, ponies, and god knows what else. Personal I think he should learn how to fight.” I started causing her mouth to snap close.

“He's right.” Spike tacked on.

“But that doesn't mean fighting should be your first option,” I commented.

“Look who's talking.” Twilight thought over the link.

“I heard that.” Shot back over the link, which caused her to jump and look directly at me. “I will have you know I don't always jump directly to fighting, and honestly prefer not to.” I continued as I began to wash the dishes with my claws.

“Then was that at the Summit?” Twilight asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“Do you mean my little bluff?”

“Bluff? You called out Princess Maia and fought Lily.” She asked and this caused Spike to look at me surprised.

“Is that why she's here?” He said shivering a bit. Which I understood, mostly because of the first time meeting him. She held the little guy at sword point to protect her 'master'.

“Yeah, it's a long story. Truth being, it was a bluff to see how far their resolve went. That one ended up biting me in the tail.” I commented as I put the last plate in the strainer to dry. “But, regardless. What happened has happened and there's no changing that now. But speaking of Lily, you can come out now.” I commented turning towards the main room. Right as both Twilight and Spike turned around looking surprised as Lily walked in.

“How did you know she was in there?” Twilight asked turning back towards me.

“She's been hovering about ten minutes now. She came in from the bedroom, which I told you not to do anymore. Unless it was an emergency.” I said giving her a stare down.

“Sorry mas-” She got out before she cut her self off when my glare intensified. “Sorry, sir.”

“To answer your question,” I said pulling my sleeve back to show the little screen on it with a warning on it. “I've had trackers on both Lily and Nightling. So I know where they are and each window has a security set up on them.”

“Is the whole library set up with it?” Twilight asked looking a little freaked out.

“Well, I rather error on the side of caution.”

“Next you're going to tell me that you have Spike and I bugged,” Twilight said and I scratched the back of my head because I kind of did that already. “Where?” That wasn't a request, that was more a demand. I pointed to her regalia that I've been pushing her to wear more and more. If I have to wear the damn thing, I was sure as hell going to make sure Twilight joins me. It may be a little payback when she was pushing me to do the same. As they say, Karma's a bitch, and trust me I know.

“It's just... after everything. I've been worried about someone pulling a birthday fiasco again.” I said rubbing the back of my neck more.

“No pony is going to try something with a princess.” Twilight tried to reassure.

“Chrysalis, Vermom, and don't forget Discord,” I said holding up claws to count them off.

“Did somepony say my name?” Said the joker of disharmony himself as he decided to bend his neck around my back and step out full.

“Hello, Discord,” I said a bit annoyed.

“Oh don't be like that Stormy, I'm just want to see my brother in chaos before his 'big test' with sunbutt herself.” He said grinning like a mad man while I just sighed heavily.

“Discord, can you please wait in the library for a moment,” I said pointing to the main room.

“Oh, fine.” He said sliding into the room literally.

“Lily go get Nightling and meet me at the train station in about thirty minutes,” I ordered as she saluted and left. “In for a penny, in for a pound.” With that Twilight and Spike watched me head into the main room. “Okay Discord, what do you really want?” I asked with my crossed arms.

“I told you, I'm here to see my-” Discord began before being cut off.

“We both know you aren't that straight forward,” I said with a cocked eyebrow.

“Fine, ruin the fun why don't you. I want in on your little game.”

“Why?”

“Because watching Celestia have a massive bee in her bonnet, and after your little display. I am oh so curious on what your planning to do.” He said after making a bonnet appear on his head and lifting it up to show a beehive before it disappeared with a snap of his claws.

“Then how about this. You can keep track of the score, but you have to be honest. No cheekiness, no cheating, and no bullshitting.” I said holding my hand out to shake it as I was about to make a deal with the devil... in a way. “And don't even think about having your tail do the crossed finger shtick.”

“See that's why I like you. Out of all of this boring ponies. You know how to play the game.” He said grinning as he gripped my hand as he pulled on it pulling it out of my socket.

“Well, I have to hand it to you,” I said grinning as I had twisted my arm to unlatch it for the joke. This got both of us to laugh a little.

“Out of all these ponies. So far your the funnest one yet.” He said as my hand began to jump up and dance on its fingers. “And you're still using chaos magic too.” That got him to grin again as my arm jumped over to me to catch it. With a quick click, I set my arm back in.

“I don't have all of it. Just enough for emergencies. But do I have your word Discord?”

“Fine, I won't mess with the game. But you have to tell me. How do you plan to do this? Come on whisper it in my ear.” He said reaching out with his ear like it was on a pull cord.

“Sorry Discord, you'll just have to wait and see,” I said grinning going towards the kitchen. “I will see you in Canterlot.” With that, I joined both Spike and Twilight back in the kitchen as they were looking a little worried. “Is there something on my face?”

“No... surprisingly.” Twilight commented. “It's just... you and Discord got along... it's... odd.”

“No odder then the fact that I beat him at his own game, I've used chaotic magic, and top of that I'm a human soul from a different universe that was void of magic taking into a world filling past the brim of it. If I can't find common ground, I don't know who can.” I shot back with my arms crossed. “Regardless, I'm not heartless.”

“But this is Discord. The 'lord of chaos'-”

“and I'm a bio-engineered creature made from the DNA of one of the strongest unicorns in Equestrian history and one of the highest tiered dragons.”

“Why are you suddenly okay with this?” She asked.

“Because I'm not okay. Twilight I am far from okay as I can be, but I'm just trying to keep floating as best I can. Just...” I said sighing before sitting down in a chair. “Between the whole thing with Celestia, the Lily incident, knowing Vermom is still out there. I'm reeling still.” Twilight began to gently hug me.

“Storm... sadly to say some things can't be helped.” She said before gently nuzzling against me.

“I know, I know. Which is why I'm just trying to get ahead. I'm trying to make sure everything I do is to help Equestria. The tech I've been working on is to help the guards do their jobs well and help protect everyone.” I said as I ran my claws through my mane.

“Is that why you've been staying in the basement every few nights?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, I've been trying to adapt earth tech with magic with... mixed results. Wait... how did you know? I've been going down there after you went to bed.”

“I've been having a hard time sleeping some nights.”

“Ah... makes sense.”

“What do you mean by that?” Twilight asked eyeing me.

“Alicorns can stay up longer because the amount of magic going through us. So you're getting insomnia because of the magic coursing through you.”

“That's right, you said something about that when I asked about those nights you stayed up to read.”

“Exactly.”

“This is going to take some getting use too.” She said and a comeover gently picked her up from her chair before sitting down on the floor with her.

“So does everything else new.” I shot back with a smile. “But you don't have to do it alone.” As I said that I gently rested my head on top of hers. She looked up at me quietly for a few moments.

“Don't you have a train to catch?” Spike said rolling his eyes.

“Hey, don't knock it till you try it, Spike,” I said before giving Twilight a light kiss on the top of her head. “But he's right. I did give Lily a thirty-minute window.”

“Yeah, and I want to see you past the test.” She said looking up before kissing me on the cheek. I couldn't help but chuckle.

“You won't have to worry about that, I'll make sure to get an A-plus.” With that, I got up after helping Twilight back down to the floor as I had to grab my bag.

“You better.” Twilight shot back as I grabbed my messenger bag that I had Rarity make for me. This was pretty much my saddlebags for when I was in my satyr form, plus with the easy access that I prefer compared to a backpack which is more for the sake of travel with many other bags for camping and so forth. But I will say, I love my blue bag. Mostly because it's comfortable and Rarity went as far as to put my new family crest on it. As she put it 'to proudly show your lineage', which was fine with me. I opened it to make sure I had everything in it, which was mostly my daggers, card boxes, and a few odds and ends. “You have everything?”

“I got my daggers, decks, a few sets of clothes and...” I said thinking as something I must have missed.

“Sword?” She as she was floating one of my swords up. Preferably one of my more favorite swords.

“Where would I be without you dear?” I said grabbing the sword from her magic gently, while I give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Probably in the insane asylum.”

“You're not wrong,” I said with a smirk. With that, I gave Twilight one last kiss and head towards the train station in town. For being in the middle of the day, I expected there to be a few ponies milling about waiting for a ride. Oddly enough there wasn't anyone outside the station staff. Lily and Nightling haven't shown up yet so I must have been early. So, I had time to sit and think. Which mostly I did was think about everything that had happened so far. That was short lived by my bodily roommate deciding to chime in.

“Hey... Fire... can I ask you something? Please don't be a smartass about it.” Shadow said.

“Um... sure?”

***---***

It had been about two hours since my little chat with Shadow. Within that time both Nightling and Lily showed up, both dawned in their new combat armors. I had the armor designed after a dragon skeleton structure. The helmet of the armor was made like the skull, including the horns leading back. I went with a dark red and gold color scheme for the armor. So around each plate, a magically treated gold trim went around it. This was done so if they had to enchant the armor further then the lightweight enchantment already on it. From my own experiment, a lightweight but durable armor was the preferred style to with. There were some differences between the different raced armors. Take both Nightling's and Lily's armors in this case. Their armors also come with a specialized wing guard that's made to help nullify the impacts to them if they had to. Mostly on the crest of the wing as they had spikes placed on them. Closer to my own satyr wings did. For a Unicorn, their horns would be encased in the same metal as the armor but it had the gold trim around so they wouldn't have any interference with their spell casting. Then earth ponies had a thicker armor around their hooves since they mostly rely on them to fight as well as spiked hoof plates much like those on spiked knuckle dusters from earth. Lily's armor is the only different once from all the sets as her talons have covers on hers to extend hers closer to the length of mine in my current form.

Shortly after that, the train itself showed up with the special royal car attached. Something I didn't quite know that if a royal decides they want it, they have to send word ahead to the train station to have the car attached at the end. On top of that, there are three royal cars. Cadence has one made out of the same crystals as the houses in the Crystal Empire. The second one is made for Celestia and Luna directly as it as a mixture of their colors. The final one and the one I'm taking just has the standard royal colors on them. Which turns out to be soft purples and violets with gold and white accents to it. From what I hear, a specialty car is being designed for Twilight and I using our colors. But regardless, Lily, Nightling, and I board the train to Canterlot. Which wasn't much that could be said about it. The three of us talked... well more I talked giving them at least a heads up on what was about to go down the main reason why we were here. It went as well as you expected, Lily accepted the fact and Nightling while not liking the fact that I was against one of the Princesses. She understood this wasn't by my choice.

With that brought us finally up to the front door of Canterlot castle. “Hello, your Highness.” Said one of the door guards as they began to magically open the massive front door.

“The Princesses are waiting for you in the dining hall.” Said the other guard.

“Thank you.” I said walking past the threshold of the door and into the rather busy halls of the castle. Just walking the main halls, I saw nothing but maids and guards going about normal business. Which honestly, you would think wouldn't be odd. It's just that was this weird sense about it as a lot of them were keeping an eye on me. Don't get me wrong, funny looks come with being in this form. But a lot of them already knew and had seen me before. Especially the guards, but the fact that a lot of them stopped to watch us walk down the hall.

“Somethings up.” Shadow said sounding like I was feeling.

“You noticed it too?” I asked back over the link, making sure to keep it blocked to just Shadow and I. “She must really be on edge about this 'game'.”

“Well, you are trying to 'dethrone' her.” I couldn't help but sigh at this.

“All because she's up her own flank with worry.”

“Is there a problem Sir?” Lily asked to my left. I gazed down at her as I saw her eye was looking up at me.

“Not at the moment,” I answered as he took a turn to the dining hall. The large redden doors sat before us with two guards waiting at either side of them. Which again isn't out of the normal, but judging from the uniforms of the guards. These were the seasoned and elite guards which weren't hard to tell as they had a lot more dressing on their armors compared the standard gold trim white armor. This one had more of the purple to their color scheme. From what can tell, Celestia is not taking any chances with this game. To be honest, I'm a little happy she's brought on the A game for this. Inside I saw both Celestia and Luna enjoying their lunch.

Celestia uncovered eye slightly cracked open as the three of us entered. Without having to focus on it, I could tell she was staring directly at me. Like sizing up an opponent seconds before the match. To be honest, it's not without warrant as this is a match of wits between Celestia and I.

“Ah, Storm it's been far too long,” Luna said hopping out of her seat and trotting over to us.

“Well, it was only two weeks,” I said with a warm smile. “So how are things here?”

“You know, nobles being nobles.”

“So a pain in the flank?” I said with a smirk on my face as she nodded. “What can you do?” Giving her an overly playful shrug.

“I think we can dispatch with the pleasantries this time,” Celestia said setting her teacup down on its saucer, as her eye fully opens and stares at me.

“And wheres the fun in that?” I asked with a smirk. There was a thick feeling in the air as Celestia and I stared at each other.

“Do you really need to do this sister?” Luna asked as her ears flattened back.

“Luna, you know what's at-” Celestia began to say before I cut her off.

“Don't even think about going there.” I shot back as my lighthearted demeanor shift to a serious one. Stepping over to the table, I sat down so I was just to the right of Celestia. “But we should start with the rules and how it works.” Pulling out the purple deck box I had to make special for these cards. I pulled out three cards, there was one that was a shade off the rest of them. “These are the cards you have to worry about, don't pick them up with magic,” I said sliding one over to Celestia and the other to Luna, while I kept the darker one for myself.

“What do they do?” Celestia asked sliding the card off the table and flipping it over in her hoof.

“They just dye the fur for half an hour. The pattern and color are randomized. These cards also keep track of the score so we can make sure we know who is winning.” I answered with a smirk.

“And how do you we know you're not going to cheat?” Celestia said as Luna looked between us.

“The same thing that's going to keep you from the same thing.” With a grin, I snapped my fingers, it echoed within the hall for a few moments.

“I suppose that's my cue.” Said the voice of Discord as he erupted out of the stained glass windows before us with three round looking mirrors following him. He bounced onto the table and in a flash, he stood there with a show host suit and microphone. “Looks like it's time for another household game of dye!.” He continued as bleachers filled with different outfit covered versions of him applauding. This guy was hamming it up and I will admit I was kind of enjoying it, especially with Celestia's look of annoyance. “Why don't we hear the rules Firestorm?” Discord said as a mic appeared in my hand.

“Why thank you Discord,” I said doing my over the top announcer voice. “The game is simple. Player one will place one of these lovely dye cards all over the castle. Then player two must remove the card and destroy it. But hears the catch. She can't use magic to do so.”

“Then how do you do it?” Discord asked joining me in the hamming it up.

“Oh, that's easy,” I said picking up the darker card. “See these lovely cards have spell script on it, with one bit of magic.” With that my horn lit up and washed the card in magic. With a loud poof in sound, Celesta was colored in red and blue zig zag, Luna was done in a bright purple, and I was a lavender-like Twilight. This got both princesses to look at each other in surprise. “But don't worry, this doesn't last forever. Because after thirty minutes the spell disappears.”

“And how do you destroy it safely?” Discord continues after flipping the mic over to his other hand.

“Glad that you asked. All you have to do is light it on fire and poof. Card destroyed.” With that, I placed the card over the flame on one of the candles on the table. In a flash, the card was engulfed and the furs on the three of us returned back to our normal colors.

“And how do you plan to keep score?” Celestia asked before taking another sip of her tea.

“The cards are all marked with a special script that sends a magical signal. Which Discord will catch as he's going to be the scorekeeper. Before you ask, he's promised without any hiccups to honestly score each one. That won't mean he won't rub in the fact to you.” I answered looking at her.

“When do you two begin?” Luna asked.

“After he spreads out the cards,” Celestia answered after putting her empty cup down. In a few moments, a blackened mass oozed up the table leg and under the boxed deck. Within seconds it sank into it and disappeared. Then the mass shot out and after a good five minutes it comes back and disappears within my shadow.

“The game is set,” I answered with a smirk as Celestia eyed me.

“The only thing left is the price for winning.” She said looking at me directly. “So what are the stakes you willing to play for?”

“The better question what are you willing to lose?” I asked with a grin and a dark chuckle.

“Do you really think you'll win this battle of wits?” That only got me to laugh that even Luna looked a little unnerved.

“It's not a battle of wits. It's a battle of persecution. But I suppose your right, this game should have some stakes.” Giving a grin that could silence even the devil. Slowly getting up I stood before both of them. “How about this? The prize for me is a favor that I can call in at any time with no questions asked and you have to spend one week in a form close to mine.” That got all three powerhouses to look surprised, with Discord grinning like a mad man per normal.

“Now those are stakes I can get behind.” Discord said before disappearing and slithering next to Celestia. “The question is, will the sun princess put her pride on the line and take such a bet?” That got her eye to lightly twitch. Something that only those that can appear the chinks in her armor can see. Both Lily and Nightling noticed it as they both looked at her. The former looking a little smug and the latter looking worried.

“Do we have a deal?” I said bowing forward and holding my left claw out, to make sure it is my real hand. Celestia slowly raised a hoof and shook it.

“If I win, then you will follow my order to a T.” She said giving me a calculated stare.

“Deal,” I said still grinning. “But if you excuse me, I have some guards to deal with.” With that, I left both princesses and the lord of chaos to play the game as my part has been played. The best part of the game is that all I had to do is sit back and relax. The guards all watched looking nervous as I walked past with a grin on my face. It probably didn't help that my wings were flaring out as Shadow decided to slither out of the shadows under my wing in his snake-like form.

“This is going to be fun,” Shadow said grinning along with me.

***---***

It was a few moments after their meeting Firestorm, Lily Frostquill, and Nightling entered the arena Firestorm and the Princesses had spared in sometime ago. Standing in the room was a mixture of ponies standing in rows of five. The first row has earth ponies, the second followed by fours unicorns and a dracorn, and the last one as three pegasi and two bat ponies. So far the only ones that aren't wearing the standard garb are one earth pony second from the right from Firestorm's point of view.

The pony's name is Ironclad, like his name he wears a full set of heavy armor covering him from his head to his tail. The dracorn in the line of unicorns looks odd as there isn't any discoloration to his scales compared to those like Firestorm. Who's crest of his wings would have told his alternate color. The only difference here for the dracorn is his horn which is curved. The dracorn named Solar Spike stared up at the towering figure as he walked in. The last two of note was the twin bat pony mares call Roaring Wind, and Silent Wind who both had a dark midnight purple armor close to a special unit compared to the Night Guard's garb.

“I see you all got the message.” Firestorm said walking stretching his neck lightly as he was wearing his armor from back when he sparred with both princesses after it had been fixed up of course. “So your the fifteen that was selected.” They watched as he walked back and forth between each of them as they watched back. He then stopped in front of Ironclad as he looked directly at the fulling armored pony almost staring him directly into his soul. It enough even made this harden soldiers stare at him in fear. The worse was the fact that his normal ocean blue eyes were bright and deadly red. So bright that they would be the only thing that could be seen in the darkest of rooms. And each one of their souls was that dark room, as far as they saw. “Alright, here's what's going to on. We are going to have a bit of a combat test. To see how you all deal with a change of combat tactics.”

That got all of them to snap up and stare at him in surprise. “You can't be serious your highness. You're going to face fifteen trained soldiers.” That got him to grin which sent a shiver down his spine.

“Why not?” He said reaching down to his side as each one of them watched in slow motion as he went for the handle of his sword. They watch as his hand twitched before a sharp sound coming from his mouth. They all turned up to blood slowly trickling out of his mouth as a blacken spike coming out of his chest. That was followed by both Lily and Nightling having matching wounds.

“Your Highness?” The group said as the all taken stance. Some of the ponies began to growl as each one of them got ready to attack. They watched as each body fill and hit the ground to show a large figure standing behind them. It floated on a blacken mist that makes it clear that the figure had no legs. Which leaving only a torso, arms and legs as it which was all black and flesh like but the dark violet claws that faded up to the forearms and the large dark red horns adorn the beast like face. Its faces had the angler like the face of a reptile but covered in darken fur and the mouth looked like ripped flesh showing sharp shark-like fangs. It's body looked nothing more a mass of exposed muscles as they pulsed with what could be guessed as blood. Coming from its chest was three long spikes as they pull back from the three bodies.

“What did you do?” Solar growled as his horn began to flare with an over glow. It only grinned as it raised up its right claw and snapped. In seconds blacken mass covered the three bodies before they sank in and disappeared as they rejoined its body. Before another second could pass, two of the pegasi flew forward with blades in hoof. While one of the unicorns began to fire point blank energy blasts of magic. The creature began to grin more as a mass of spikes shot out making a katar attached to its wrists. With a large swipe, he kept the pegasi at bay while his other hand would deflect each shot with the palm of its claw.

“You two, go get reinforce-” was all Ironclad got out before another snap was heard as blacken chains shot up blocking the door, then began to wave it's finger as if it was taunting them. This got each of them to take notice that they were being played with. In that second it disappeared and reappeared behind all of them. Sweeping each of them aside with a wave of magic from its claw. It was enough to knock a lot of them to the far side of the room. All but Ironclad who's legs were staked to the ground.

He stood there like a sentinel in the storm as he cracked his neck much like he's seen Firestorm did a few times. He then reached over and grabbed his sword as he held it in his mouth. Lowing himself down taking stance waiting for a moment. The creature began to crack his knuckles and took a stance waiting for the next attack.

“Soldiers, form up.” Ironclad barked as eight of the guards formed up behind him. Mostly magical users as two of them started casting a shield around them as the monstrous creature flew up ready to punch at them. Lucky for them the shield got up in time and it took the full force of the impact. They grinned as the shield dropped and the other unicorns fired beams of magic at the figure, causing it to fly back against the wall. Right then all of the pegasi and bat ponies grabbed some nearby rope. With a flap of their wings, they began to entangle it, to capture it.

“Nice try.” The figure said flexing as all of the rope snapped into pieces as if it was twine being cut with a knife. He grinned before digging his hands into the ground as two black pools began to spread out. From the pool little blobs of with two glowing dots for eyes formed and swarmed towards the group of ponies.

A lot of them began to jump up and stomp down on them as they would just turn into mist. All the while the figure would float there with his large rippling arms crossed with a grin on his ripped jawline. His eyes glanced over to the stands for a moment before coming back down. It was a moment but enough for the bat twins to take it and beeline it straight at the figure. Who bent backward to avoid the two and with a grin. It reached up and grabbed their hind legs before throwing them back. When it leaned back forward, it saw Ironclad galloping at full speed before slamming right into it. Forcing it to hit the wall as if bowled over by a semi-truck.

It grinned as he grabs into the wall and pulled out a large chunk of rock before throwing the group of guards. Which a large chunk of them dodge but one of the earth ponies who was slammed by it and set flying into the stands. That was followed by three of the other earth ponies who dash past as one pegasus fly back to check out their comrade. The first one jumped up with a spear attached to his armor and went to stab him. The second jumped up and off the back of the first guard before using his overly armored hooves and slammed down on the creature's head. The third slide around the back and went for a slash across the back.

Before the stallion could connect with the creature's back as it's right arm swung back slamming the stallion into the wall. It was a second as it seems a third arm formed out of the creatures back to reach for the slammed stallion. Before it was an inch away from the stallions face a snap was heard and the creature stopped.

“That's enough.” Said a voice coming out of the stands. The figure began dropping to the ground like a pile of ooze that slopped all over the ground. Before it starting to slink off towards the source of the voice and the sounds of hooves against the stone bleachers. In a second Firestorm stepped into the light and jumped down into the arena.

“Your Highness!” All of the still standing guards turned towards him. Before Ironclad and Solar began to run up.

“What happened!” Ironclad said worriedly.

“I did say I was going to test you guys.” That being said as he raised up his claws and snapped as the goo shot into his shadow. Within a second Shadow reformed himself behind Firestorm's wing. “What's the best way to tell if your combat ready then a surprise attack?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Solar said lowering his head.

“Nope.” He said grinning as he grabbed a card out of his deck and tossed it up into the air. Then focused magic in both of his claws and slammed them into the card after it came back down. Upon impact a massive burst of magic filled the room and all of the wounded guards' wounds began to heal and mend themselves.

“What was that?” Solar said looking confused.

“It's called a crushed card.” He said with a grin as he turned back. “Are you two going to step out of the shadows?”

“Of course sir,” Lily said flying over and standing next to her master. Nightling followed a few moments later.

“Line up!” Firestorm barked out as all of the soldiers lined up back in rows of five. “You all did well against Shadow. But a real opponent may not be as nice as he was.” He said slowly walking in front of them.

“Your Highness, but he sent a lot of us flying. How can anyone be considered nice after that?” Solar asked.

“Because if I wanted to kill you,” Shadow said after oozing out of Solar's shadow in his snake-like form and hissed into his air. “I would have done it already.” That got everypony to jump in surprise and turn away from him.

“He's right.” Firestorm said grinning darkly. “But enough goofing around. That small bout gave me enough to see where you all need to be trained.”

“That was maybe about ten minutes at most. How was that enough to get even that much?” One of the other unicorns a red coat with a silver mane and tail named Blazing Wand.

“Something not a whole lot of ponies knows about Shadow and I. We can share our senses.” Firestorm said as his right eye's whites turned red much like how it is when Shadow takes over as well as the snake-like shadows right eye's whites turned white.

“How is that even possible?” Ironclad asked looking in disbelief.

“Has anypony even decided to look into who your going to be working for?” Firestorm said grinning as his eye returned back to normal, as his grin widens.

“Yeah... he's a bit crazy,” Nightling commented with a shake of her head. “But he does make his point very well. I had informed each of you to read the dossier on the prince and his abilities. While a lot of the files are missing some of the more recent information. You all should be well informed.”

“I took the time to memorize each one of your files.” Firestorm commented before standing in front of Ironclad. “Let's take Ironclad here, the first pony who serves with complete prosthetic limbs, each modified by him directly. He was born in Trottingham, in Rose Well Hospital at 2238 on the fifth of November.” This got the stallion to look at him in surprise as Firestorm reached over and with a click undid the helmet. All why Storm continued to grin as he set the helmet down. “I even know how it happened.” That got Ironclad to look at him in fear.

“How?” He said stepping back.

“The devil is in the details and the abilities to read between the lines.” He said turning to each of the other guards joining his branch. “However, me knowing the details really doesn't let me know who you are. This is always a difference between the reports and reality. So I expect you all to behave on duty but be relaxed enough to be real with everyone. That includes me.”

“What do you mean to be real?” Solar asked raising a hoof as if he was in school again.

“It means, we can talk as if we are friends. Regardless if I'm royal or not, I expect each and every one of you to call me out on my shit if you think I'm in the wrong. But I need a good reason. None of this 'because that's not how it's done' shit here. Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” They are barked with a salute.

“I'll take that over the prince and your highness any day.” Storm said grinning. “So first rule, Don't call me prince or your highness unless otherwise ordered. It will be either Sir or Storm.”

“That doesn't make any sense.” Said a black coated pegasus stallion with a dusty purple mane and tail names Shade Step. “Why can't we address you by your title?”

“Good question Shade, the answer to that is...” He said holding his pointer finger up like he's about to give a big speech before lately saying. “I just don't like the title.” That got all of them to blink for a moment before looking completely confused other then Nightling who has dealt with him the longest and Lily who was under orders to do so. “I'm not one for titles unless I am that pissed off. Speaking of which. The second rule, you won't use your position as one of my guards for anything other than doing your job. If I find out you're abusing your rank, I give no quarter who you are you will be punished for it.”

“And trust me on this, he's one stallion you don't want to piss off,” Nightling commented with Lily nodded.

“While your one of my guards, you will be trained hard to do your job. Nightling and Lily have worked together to make a basic training that you all will be doing when you're on the clock and not guarding. Do I make myself clear?” Storm said looking each of them over.

“Yes, Sir!” They all ordered.

“Now the questions have you noticed?” He continued as all of them looked confused, including both Nightling and Lily. “Shadow if you would do the honors?” After a few moments a pool of shadows slowly oozed out of Firestorm's shadow and as it began to rise up and a figure began to form into a stallion wearing the garb of Celestia's guards before the shadow shot back into Firestorm's shadow. “We had somepony spying on us the whole time.” All of the other guards stepped back in surprise.

“How do you keep doing that?” Nightling asked looking annoyed.

“Because I'm just that good.” He said grinning before turning around and heading towards the door. “Nightling, Lily, I want you two to go over the training with them.” With that, he snapped his fingers as the chains upon on the door disappeared. With that, he opened the door and left.

***---***

“Seriously, she can't really think I wasn't going to not notice her sending spies. Course, never said that was against the roles.” I said smirking with a light giggle.

“Speaking of which, what's the score at?” Shadow said as he snaked himself from under my wing.

“Good question.” With a click, I opened up the panel on my arm and pulled up the score between us. Only by a glance got me to look in surprised. The screen said the score was thirty-seven to Celestia's three. “Already two-thirds of the way through the deck and she's that much behind.”

“That's just sad,” Shadow said shaking his head. “No wonder she started to send a guard to spy on you.”

“Great,” I said with a groan before heading towards my room. All while the staff in the halls watched as I walked past. To be honest, I began to wonder if this was even a good idea anymore. Mostly because I was going to end up taking something Celestia had for almost a thousand years away.

The feeling of safety.

“Your Highness?” Came a voice behind me as I was walking towards my room. Turning around I saw it was an older stallion that just oozed the look of an older butler. Didn't help he had a matching black and white suit that went well with his gray coat that went well with his short cut silver mane and tail.

“Oh, ah... hey um...” I was totally drawing a blank on his name. “Sorry, what was your name again?”

“It's quite alright your highness, we've never formally met. The name is Silver Task, and Princess Luna has asked me to relay the message that she wishes to speak with you in your private quarters Prince Firestorm.” He answered.

“Oh thank you Mr. Task,” I said with a warm smile.

“Please just call me Silver.” He said giving the kindest of smiles as he gave a small bow.

“Alright Silver, if you don't mind could I make a small request?” I asked returning the warm smile.

“Of course your highness.”

“Could you get a cup of Celestia's favorite tea ready for her? Preferably in her favorite teacup.” He gave me a look with a nod.

“Of course your highness. I will make sure it's done right away.” Silver said before bowing and turning to leave. With that, I head toward my room with a smirk on my face.

“Cheeky bastard,” Shadow said.

“You know it.” with that I made the final turn towards the wing with my room on it. Even here has more staff going around all keeping an eye on me as I entered my room. Standing in the room by one of my bookshelves was Luna going over one of the many books I have. “Alright, so what's on your mind, Luna?” I asked was I used my tail to close the door behind me. She turned to look at me looking worried.

“Please stop this game between you and Celestia,” Luna asked rather bluntly.

“Why?” She looked a little surprised that I would even ask that question.

“I... she...” She said trying to find her words. “I'm worried about Celestia.”

“Why?”

“Just after this game started, She's been... on edge.”

“To be fair, she's been on edge a lot, between me dragging skeletons out of her closet. The fact that her nightmares have been coming back to haunt her, and so forth. That's not really a good reason to stop this 'game' of ours.” I said leaning against the wall.

“But this is the first one that's been hit home.”

“Well besides the fact that she's been through about two-thirds of the deck. I can see why.” I said with a shrug. That got Luna to snap her look directly at me instead of the floor.

“Two thirds in less than an hour?” She said in shock.

“Eeyup, ”I said with a smirk.

“Please put in end to this. Forfeit or something, please!” Luna begged giving me those puppy dog eyes.

“No,” I said rather coldly.

“Why?” She asked now trying to play my game.

“The stakes are too high for me to lose,” I said with my arm crossed.

“What do you mean too high?” She asked.

“Don't play dumb Luna, you know the stakes. If I lost, I would be nothing more then Celestia's puppet.” That last part I growled out.

“My sister would never do that-”

“I'm not that stupid,” I said interrupting her. “I know that game far better than anyone as I've been played as the puppet before. To be used and tossed till I need to be used again. All for her little Status Quo.” I know my temper was starting to flare, mostly at the memories tied to this.

“But my sister wouldn't do that to you!” She tried to defend.

“Then why make that the stakes if she wins?” That got her to stop for a moment and really think about it. “Because remember, all I asked was a favor to call in as well as a week being bipedal. Nothing big, for the long run.”

“But you could as for anything.” She countered.

“True, but remember. I don't want power, I'm not the same as Blueblood or the other 'nobles' of Canterlot. Those who would love nothing more to lord their status above anypony as they saw underneath them.” That's got her to really think it over.

“You make a point...” She said thinking as I watched her bit her bottom lip. “Then I want you to do the same to me.”

“Come again?” I asked a little confused.

“I want you to do the same thing you plan to do to Celestia, to me.” She asked.

“Why?”

“Because then my sister doesn't have to though it alone, and I want to know how it is to really be bipedal.” She said staring directly at me.

“Are you sure?” I asked as my claws cracked a little as I felt my right prosthetic.

“Yes.” She said with a nod looking a little proud.

“Alright, but I warn you. It's a little hard to get used to.” I continued as I reached for the magic. She nodded and watched as the Infinity Torch appeared floating above my hand. That got her eyes to widen and look up at me. “This stays between us.”

“How long have you been able to do that?” She asked.

“Since a few days after waking up from the tunnel collapse,” I said as some of the fire began to float out of the top of the torch and into my arm as I could feel the magic wash through me. In a few seconds, I snapped my prosthetic claws and before stood a bipedal, anthropomorphic alicorn mare. Her wings were bigger than mine, but not by much. She also stood a hair smaller then I did, with her horn close to my eye level. She had a pair of long black pants, closer to pajama pants but not long enough to cover her hooves. She also had a light blue short sleeve shirt a few shades lighter than her normal coat color with a large white crescent moon upon the front. Speaking about the front, it looks like in this form she had an E cup breasts that was smaller than her darker counterpart. It took her a few moments to blink a few times to get the flash of magic out of her eyes as she brought up her hands and began to wipe them out. That was followed by her noticing she had hands. Something that got her to jump.

One thing about going from pony to anthropomorphic is that you don't have the extra legs to land on. In this case, caused her to suddenly shift back because her wings flapped out. Using my magic I was able to catch her before she fell over. This got her to overcorrect and fall forward against me. Which I wasn't quite ready for and we both landed on the ground. Her on top of me.

“This is going to take a bit getting use too.” She said looking a little bit in a daze. I, however, was trying to avert my gaze. Mostly because of the cleavage she was showing off and the fact that her breasts where pressed into my chest. “Something wrong?”

“Ah... nothing of note... Why?” I said trying to help her up magically as I slowly slide out from under her.

“You're not looking at me... is this form displeasing?” She asked sounding worried.

“Not really... it's more... the opposite.” I answer as I finally get back onto my hooves and dust myself off.

“Oh? How does this form please you?” She asked taking a careful step.

“Well... it's very much close to those of my old race. So the old likes and dislikes are still ingrained in my head.” I said with a light awkward chuckle trying not to be dragged into the trappings.

“Oh?” She said almost with a purr. Oh, no she caught it. “Maybe I should take advantage of this.” She said taking a few more steps as I think she finally got a feeling for it. Before she was only about a foot away. “I may have to have you teach me the spell.”

“And why's that?” I asked taking a small step back.

“Oh... nothing special.” She said getting closer again. “But I am trying to woo you and Twilight Sparkle.” After she said that I saw the glint in her eye and the grin on her face. Oh, no... Just... Oh, no.

“You are fucked.” Shadow said directly to me.

“That's the idea.” Luna chimed in, as it seems she heard him.

“And how do you plan to do that?” I asked as I was now pinned against the door on a little edge.

“Oh, if your just like any Stallion, then I have a few ideas.” She said before she slowly turned in a very alluring way and walked back towards the fireplace. Now, this would be the point where she would probably try to draw me into a very romantic mood, and get my approval for the herd.

However... something or I should say someone decided that wasn't going to happen. How? Well... by blasting the door to my room wide open. The same doors that I was before it happened were pressed against trying to keep my head on straight and not do something stupid. Which sent me flying into the middle of the room, course after being about the third time it's happened. The first time was with a very angry Twilight and the second by Dash. You learn to catch yourself rather fast. In this case, I used my wings to catch myself in the air as my ears were bombarded by the shouts of.

“This has gone on long enough Storm!” Said a very angry and neon pink Princess Celestia who's mane at the time was a raging inferno that would put mine to shame if I was in my normal drony form. “I've put up with being red, blue, purple, and many other colors in front of many of the ponies during Day Court. But for you to have Silver Take deliver my favorite tea in my favorite cup. Just to have it dye me bright pink. Not counting that other places I have 'found' these cards so rapidly. The only thing I can...” That's when she looked past me as I had landed and my wings folded up enough to see how her sister looked behind me. I don't know what scared me more. The first look of anger, or the second when she was radiating heat and it looked like her eyes had turned red. “You dared...” She growled as her horn began to glow brightly.

I had maybe a split second to jump out of the way as Celestia blasted me and took a large chunk out of the wall separating the bathroom from the rest of the room. Besides that there wasn't any rubble left it was just like a clean sphere of the magic chunk was just missing from the spot was enough to tell me she had murder in her eyes. “Fuck this,” I said as I dove out for the balcony as Celestia fired a second round doing the same to the floor. With a leap, I cleared the balcony door and the railing as the third shot obliterated the whole balcony like a giant monster had taken a huge bite out of it. Not sticking around to have the raging sun find me. I had Shadow allow me to use his trick and shadow step somewhere safe.

I hope...

[End of Chapter]

Author's Notes:

The game is afoot.

Sorry, had to get that reference out there.

So... sorry this one took me a while. I had quite a few cases of writer's block writing this one up. Hopefully, the next chapter shouldn't take me as long.

But, that being side. I think Celestia finally had lost. The question is... what's going to come out of it? Remember Stay Frosty My Friends.