At Midnight’s words, his friends all laughed some more, Pinkie and Cheese coming over, as Pinkie asked, “So Midnight! Ya wanna come see what me and Cheese got planned for Twinken? I got cupcakes!”

“Thanks, Pinkie, but…” Midnight looked towards the Ponyville Clock tower, “I have to swing by the schoolhouse. I have a lecture to give Cheerilee’s class.”

“A lecture?” Twilight asked, her interest piqued. “On what?”

“If you wanna attend, by all means!” Midnight invited and the way Twilight flashed her horn and made a notebook and quill and inkwell appear told him she accepted.
“So, Cheese, Pinkie, the party will be this evening. Twi? Do you mind if we have it at the library?”

“Not at all,” Twilight obliged, “but let’s go! We don’t want you to be late!”

“See you all this evening at the party, everypony!” Midnight waved with his wing as he and Twilight trotted off.

Pinkie, Cheese, Blueblood, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Thunderlane all said their see-ya-laters when Rarity gasped, “I-DEA!! Twinken would look simply debonair in this colt-sized suit design I’ve been tinkering with!”

“Oh, whatever you make for Twinken, Rarity, I’m sure he’ll look just adorable,” Fluttershy encouraged, “but I do wonder what kind of pet Twinken would like.”

“Why don’cha give him an invite to your cottage where he can choose on for himself, Flutters?” Thunderlane suggested.

“Oh Thundy, that’s perfect! I’d better get over there and prepare the little darlings, bye-bye!” Fluttershy took flight as softly as a dandelion seed.

“And you, Thunderlane?” Blueblood inquired, “What sort of gift might you have in mind for Twinken?”

“Hmm, not sure yet,” Thunderlane scratched his chin with his hoof before shrugging, “but I’m sure it’ll come to me. Later!”

Thunderlane took flight like a gale, causing Rarity and Blueblood’s manes to get messed up.

“Ugh! Thunderlane!” Rarity complained, Blueblood sighing in mild irritation at the disheveled part of his mane covering his eyes.

As they made their way to the schoolhouse, Twilight asked, “C’mon, Midnight, what kind of lecture are you gonna give the class? Maybe I could assist!”

“I’m making this lecture myself, Twily,” Midnight said firmly but smiled at her enthusiasm, “but I will tell you it has to do with Cheerilee’s study plan for her students this week. The subject is social studies.”

“Ooh! Mayhaps it pertains to Friendship?” Twilight probed with a spark in her eyes that actually made Midnight uncomfortable.

“...Nnno,” Midnight said hesitantly, “it’s… something… unusual, that’s the last you’re gonna get.”

“Aww!” Twilight sounded like a pouty filly but she understood the desire to impart your knowledge to others in your own way.

By the time they arrived at the Ponyville Schoolhouse, it was close to noon. They approached the door, Midnight asking, “So where are you gonna sit? By Cheerilee or in the back?”

“I think I’ll take the back,” Twilight decided, “that way the students will be more focused on you.”

Midnight gave her a grateful smile before knocking on the door. They could hear a little foalish chatter and sure enough the door opened to reveal Cheerilee, her face brightening to see who it was.

“Prince Midnight! And Princess Twilight too,” Cheerilee welcomed them in and addressed her class, “Alright, my little ponies! Please quiet down and be sure to pay attention. We have a couple of very important guests visiting us today.

“Please give a nice welcome to their Royal Highnesses, Prince Midnight and Princess Twilight.”

“Hello, Your Highnesses!” the class all said like good little colts and fillies, their eyes lighting up and their smiles stretching from ear to ear.

“Hello, everypony,” Midnight replied, giving Twinken a direct smile as he stepped up in front of the chalkboard while Twilight went to stand in the back of the class and Cheerilee sat at her desk.
“Now, as I understand it, your teacher, Miss Cheerilee, is planning some social studies work for you this week. I’ve had a word with her, and she’s obliged my request to visit you all today so I can give you a very interesting lecture.

“What we’re going to discuss from this lecture, my little ponies, is something that might be a little difficult to understand. Be that as it may, I feel that even little ones like you all should be made aware of what I’m about to tell you. But before we get to that, I must ask:

“Has anypony here (not counting you, Twilight) ever heard of the word ‘corruption’ and have any idea what it means?”

The colts and fillies all looked at each other unsure and murmuring, which wasn’t a surprise to Midnight. He did notice the confused look Twilight was giving him but then somepony raised their hoof.

“You?” Midnight called and saw it was Silver Spoon.

The little gray earth pony filly pushed her glasses into place as she hesitantly said, “Well… one time my dad came home, he was really upset because he said somepony had… stabbed him in the back. It really scared me and I ran to hug him, asking if he was okay and if we should get a doctor.

“Daddy calmed me down and said it was an expression. He said some… corrupt pony had… broken a deal he’d made with him.”

“Well, your daddy was probably cheated on a business deal, Silver Spoon,” Midnight clarified before he addressed the whole class. “Corruption, my little ponies, is what happens when someone in a position of power or influence puts their own personal gain before the interests of the people they represent.”

His horn lit up and the class watched as the chalkboard was overlaid with light, and they saw the image of somepony standing on a pedestal, surrounded by stars and dollar signs, above ponies scrounging in dirt, looking hungry and glaring up at the pony above them.

“So…” Dinky spoke up, “It’s something that happens when somepony’s greedy?”

“Yes,” Midnight nodded while pointing at her for getting the basic idea, “A leader disregards the difference between right and wrong for the sake of money or power. Entire nations have collapsed into chaos or revolution because their self-serving higher-ups got caught up in a cycle of bribery and blackmail while their people suffered.”

Midnight's words were illustrated on the board of light, showing images of a city being thrown into social bedlam, chaos in the streets, and ponies running about in panic or looting, without order or safety.

“Does that mean most national leaders are corrupt?” Rumble asked, sounding concerned.

“Well… no,” Midnight hesitated but regained his firm tone as he said, “But the point is, the temptation to abuse your power for your own self-interests is always there, and citizens must be vigilant so that corruption can’t take root.

“The deadliest enemies of a society are not outside its borders but within, and it’s from these internal threats the people need to be protected.”

“But… don’t the laws say you’re supposed to listen to your leaders?” Button Mash asked. “My big brother once told me disobeying your commanding officer is… is… Treason! That’s what he said!”

“It’s the responsibility of every citizen to challenge their leaders,” Midnight clarified while gesturing to the class and making the images of light vanish. “To keep them honest, and to hold them accountable if they’re not!”

“How do you do that?” Twinken asked.

“By exposing corrupt officials for what they are,” Midnight answered before emphasizing to the class, “Peace and justice start with each and every one of us, and we make it last by standing by those ideals in the face of temptation and greed. Remember this, my little ponies, lasting change can only come from within!”

The colts and fillies were in awe, whispering in admiration while Twilight had mixed feelings about Midnight’s lecture. One one hoof, she agreed with Midnight’s words at the end of his lecture about adhering to the ideals of peace and justice. However, the way he’d talked about the temptation to abuse one’s power, it was as if he was saying nopony was beyond corruption.
He can’t possibly think Princess Celestia would-

“Alright, my little ponies!” Cheerilee spoke up, breaking Twilight’s train of thought, “Before I dismiss you for lunchtime, let’s first give a thank-you to Midnight for that very enlightening lecture.”

“Thank you, Prince Midnight!”

“And now, everypony,” Cheerilee continued, “during lunch, I’d like for you to consider Midnight’s lecture because when you come back from lunch we’re gonna dive into a little history. Enjoy lunch, everypony!”

The school bell rang, and the colts and fillies flooded out the door, Midnight and Twilight barely able to squeeze out. They could hear the students all talking about the lecture, sounding a little confused by it but interested all the same. As Midnight and Twilight stepped further out onto the path to get out of the foals’ way, Twilight was hesitant but then said, “Midnight, your lecture… Um, it was… very well thought-out and worded, but…”

“Hmm?” Midnight looked at Twilight, inviting her to voice her concerns.

“Well, the things is, what you said earlier about the temptat-”

“BIG BROTHER!”

Midnight was tackled by a little unicorn colt of soft indigo with a brandeis blue mane, making him laugh as the rest of the Crusaders hurried over, chattering about the lecture. Twilight sighed, a tad irritated she’d been interrupted but seeing Midnight and Twinken laugh together was something she couldn’t help smiling at. It reminded her warmly of how she used to play with Shining Armor when she was a filly.

“Midnight, that lecture was soooo cool!” Twinken got starry-eyed.
“Eh, not as cool as watching Rainbow Dash, but-” Scootaloo made the so-&-so gesture with her hoof.
“It reminded me of the Earl Immoral boss from one of my favorite games!” Button Mash interrupted.

“Uh, kids, I kinda need to-” Twilight tried to say but Twinken spoke.

“Hey Midnight, wanna have lunch with us? We’re gonna get a quick pizza from Mrs. Spice.”

“Sorry, kids, but I have to go,” Midnight chuckled as he stood up and set Twinken down on his own hooves.

“Awww!” the Crusaders chorused.

“W-wait, Midnight, where are you going?!” Twilight still wanted to talk to him.

“I have to take care of a few things before this evening,” Midnight winked at her and Twilight sighed as she got the idea that Midnight had to handle some things before Twinken’s surprise birthday party at the library.

“Twinken, after school, why don’t you and the rest of the Crusaders come by the library this evening?” Midnight invited. “I think Twilight and I wanna combine Twilight Time and Midnight Hour so all six of you can have some special lessons from us together.”

“Tha’ sounds great!” Apple Bloom cheered, the rest of the Crusaders YAY-ing in agreement.

As the Crusaders got excited and chattered, Midnight gave a thankful nod to Twilight and she couldn’t help but smile at his appreciation. He stepped over to her and gave her a smooch before whispering, “See you at the party, and thanks!”

“Sure, but could we-” Twilight tried to say but-

*FLASH*

Wow… that is really annoying when it’s the other way around.

Birds, dogs, cats, squirrels, ferrets, frogs, butterflies, ladybugs, even Harry the Bear, all of Fluttershy’s little friends, furry, feathery, or whatever the case may be, were happy to see her. Ever since Fluttershy and her husband Big Mac had moved into the house Midnight had given them as a wedding present, she’d converted her old cottage near the Everfree Forest into a full-blown animal clinic. She still had a bedroom there, which she used every so often to be close to any of her patients that might need close care, but nowadays she didn’t spend quite as much time with all her animal friends as she used to.

At least twice every day but often more, Fluttershy stopped by the cottage, making sure all her critters were fed, watered, and doing well. It had been quite a transition from her normal routine, but Fluttershy loved spending time with Big Mac just as much as she did her animals.

Perhaps just a smidge more so, especially when they had their… intimate nights.

Even so, that didn’t stop her from being the kind and devoted caregiver of animals she loved being.

“Okay, little friends, line up now,” Fluttershy asked politely, and being the little sweethearts they were to Fluttershy, the animals and birds all stood at attention, as she paced in front of them.
“Today is Twinken’s birthday! We’re having a party for him this evening, and his big brother Midnight has given his blessing that Twinken can finally have his own pet as a birthday present from me.

“That being said, however, I would be remiss if I just brought Twinken and allowed him to choose one of you as his new pet without giving you notice! So, does anyone here have any doubts about being chosen as Twinken’s pet? Before you answer that, just know that Twinken is the nicest and most thoughtful little colt. I would count any one of you lucky to be his pet.”

The animals and birds and even some insects all chattered in their own crittery language, some sounding excited, others nervous.

“Now, at the very least,” Fluttershy spoke up as she held a picnic basket, “you have until at least tomorrow to decide whether or not you would like to be chosen as Twinken’s new pet. Tonight at his birthday party, I’m going to give him a birthday card that says he can come by anytime he likes to choose whatever little bird or critter he would like to be his pet. So, for today, let’s have a nice little picnic by the brook.”

The animals all cheered and then followed Fluttershy to the nearby babbling brook, and waited patiently as she set out the picnic blanket and the food. Fluttershy had taken her animals out on lots of picnics and other outdoor activities. She moved with grace and precision, not fast but not slow either. Yet, she took a stack of food bowls and nimbly set them all out and filled them with her own special blend of animal food in quick-succession, hung some bird-feeders she’d already filled with birdseed, all-around making sure everyone had something to eat.

Phewing as she wiped her brow with her hoof, she was glad the last food bowl was filled, and watched lovingly as each one of her animal friends enjoyed their food. Settling down on the blanket, she pulled out a daffodil and daisy sandwich and a thermos of apple juice.

Mmming with anticipation, she was about to take her first bite… when a carrot stick was thrown into her face, Fluttershy EEPing as the vittle nearly poked her in the eye.
“Huh? What did…?”

Setting down her sandwich, Fluttershy looked at the carrot stick but it was a familiar sound of a foot tapping that made her sigh and looked around to see Angel Bunny giving her the stink eye as he stood by one of the food bowls. This one was filled with a nice and crisp salad of greens, carrot sticks, and even apple slices for a little sweetness.

“Angel Bunny, whatever’s the matter?” Fluttershy asked. When Angel pulled a familiar cookbook from behind the picnic basket and turned to an equally familiar page featuring the picture of a certain fancy-looking salad, Fluttershy sighed, muttering, “Not this again…”

Aloud, she said, “Now Angel, we’ve been over this before. The salads I make for you and the other bunnies and squirrels and veggie-lovers are just as good as that salad you’re showing me. Now be a good boy and eat.”

This was obviously not the answer Angel wanted as he steamed, his face reddened, and the ornery rabbit suddenly hopped off.

“Angel!” Fluttershy hurried after him. “Please, Angel Bunny, come back!”

Oh, why does he have to be so headstrong? Fluttershy thought to herself as she hurried after her little bunny.

Although Angel could be such a problem-child every so often, Fluttershy loved him every bit as much as she had when she found Angel as a baby. She could still remember the poor thing, crying, hungry, and alone. She’d carefully picked him up in her hooves, calmed him down and warmed him up. Fluttershy made sure to take a good look around the area for the mommy rabbit, hoping she was nearby and she could reunite them.

She never found the baby bunny’s mother. She’d only found a patch of grass covered in blood.

Knowing the baby had no one, Fluttershy took him in. she fed him, raised him, she loved him.

As a matter of fact, after Fluttershy gained her cutie-mark when she was a filly and realized she was meant to love and care for animals of all shapes and sizes, her parents had arranged for her to study animal caregiving under a veterinarian pony named Dr. Fauna.

The orphaned baby bunny Fluttershy found was the first little critter she’d looked after and nursed back to health all on her own.

Thinking back, Fluttershy had to admit she’d spoiled Angel somewhat, which might explain his fussiness. But he was her Angel, and that would never change.

Although considering where he was going, he just might turn into an actual Angel.

“ANGEL BUNNY!!” Fluttershy quickened her pursuit as she saw the destination ahead, “Not the Everfree Forest!!!!”

At the forest’s edge, Angel peered over at Fluttershy and stuck his twitchy little nose into the air before vanishing into the foliage with a hop. Fluttershy skidded to a halt before the forest’s edge, the trees looming over her with twisting branches reaching out like claws.

The sight of the Everfree Forest never ceased to make Fluttershy shudder timidly, as she gazed up at this forbidden wilderness.
The Everfree Forest… Why did he have to go into the Everfree Forest?

“Oh! Angel! Angel, please come back!” Fluttershy called out, “It’s dangerous in there!”

A distant shuffling of foliage told Fluttershy that Angel was venturing deeper and if she didn’t follow quickly she might lose track of him and he’d get lost. And of course there were the many dangers concealed within, taking many forms such as hungry beasts and even carnivorous plants.

Moaning fearfully but concern for her Angel Bunny spurred Fluttershy forward as she hesitantly entered the Everfree Forest. She didn’t call out for Angel, instead whisper-shouting, not wanting to alert any dangerous creatures.

“Angel! ...Angel Bunny! Please answer me!” Fluttershy whisper-shouted, keeping a sharp eye out for Angel and danger.
“Please Angel, let’s go home! It’s not safe here!”

A shivery breeze blew through the thick forest canopy, above, and it made Fluttershy shiver in fear at the sound, so much like haunting whispers of some fiendish entity watching from the trees. Distant animal cries could be heard from random directions, some Fluttershy could recognize but the ones she couldn’t gave her real reason to feel afraid. Especially when they sounded like hungry growls.

The butter-yellow pegasus knew she was being watched, by what she was unsure. She hoped whatever it was didn’t have an appetite for pegasus. Or rabbit.

“Oh Angel...!” Fluttershy whimpered. She wanted so desperately to quit this frightful forest, that it was only her love and concern for Angel that kept her from turning tail and galloping off.

“EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

“ANGEL!!” Fluttershy cried as she barreled in the direction she’d heard her bunny scream.

It’d sounded distant but Fluttershy had felt the terror as much as she’d heard it.
“Hold on, Angel! I’m comin- Augh!!”

Fluttershy fell backwards onto her rump as something white, furry, and shaking with fear leapt up and clung to her face as if life depended on it. Fluttershy reached up and gently tried to pull the little furball off her face, which took a few moments considering it was scared out of its mind. But finally, it let go, Fluttershy GASPING and gave the quivering fluff she held a look and smiled, “Angel! You’re al...right?”

Angel clung to Fluttershy’s hooves while covering his eyes with his ears and shivering from icy terror so that Fluttershy’s own heart started to beat, for she began to suspect whatever it was Angel had seen she did not want to either. Angel whimpered as Fluttershy hugged him close, “There, there, Angel Bunny, we’re going home right-”

An terrified bray interrupted her, Fluttershy leaping up in fright but keeping Angel close. She heard the beat of hooves as something ran through the woods, and something else…

It sounded almost like a rushing wave, something crashing through the trees and gaining on whatever had made that cry of fear. They were close!

“Ohhhhmyyyyy!!!” Fluttershy hugged Angel close, the little bunny burying his face in Fluttershy’s fur. She crouched down at the base of a tree, hearing the animal and whatever was pursing it getting closer and closer...

Then… she heard it.

It was the sound of a deer, braying and panting and doing its best to get away. Then, close behind it, something big. Something that sounded like a crashing wave of water, and then a fearsome snarl. Fluttershy pinned her ears and scrunched her eyes shut as she heard the deer scream a terrible scream. A scream of agony and horror.

It did not scream for long. Its terrible cries ended with a sickening crack of bone.

The horrible sounds did not stop there, as Fluttershy heard a gnashing sound. Tearing, ripping, crunching.

Eating.

Fluttershy’s heart pounded so hard she feared it might give her and Angel’s position behind the tree away to whatever frightening predator had ended that deer’s life. She didn’t dare move but was afraid the longer she and Angel lingered the more likely this beast would sense their presence, and that they would be next.

As afraid as she was, and as sorry as she felt for the deer, Fluttershy could not fault this animal for killing it. Meek and gentle as she was, Fluttershy was not ignorant to the harsher side of nature that dictated survival of the fittest. She took care of some animals that were predators, like Harry the Bear, the birds of prey, and even the otters though they all only ate fish when they were visiting Fluttershy’s cottage. She enforced a rule without exception that allowed for no carnivores to eat any of the other animals while they were under Fluttershy’s care. If they wanted meat, they would ask Fluttershy and she would ask Big Mac to catch fish for them.

That didn’t mean they always only ate fish. She knew sometimes the eagles or hawks or owls she cared for would leave the cottage and go off to hunt for mice or other small animals to eat. Harry the Bear was content with honey, berries, roots, and fish.

Fluttershy didn’t fault carnivores for this part of their lives because it was just simply part of their nature.

However, she’d never been present for a kill.

The sounds of this predator feasting on its prey terrified Fluttershy not because it was a meat-eater but she didn’t know what it was. Yet.

She knew she should just fly. Just hurry and take off with Angel in her arms and not linger while a predator feasted on its prey. But what if this predator could fly? What if it followed her? What if she led it right to her cottage?

All her little friends would be in danger!

She had to look.

The thought terrified her but Fluttershy had to know what she may very well wind up dealing with!

She held up Angel and silently poked his head with the edge of her hoof, causing him to peer at her from under his ear, and she held up a forefeather to her lips, signaling him not to make a peep. Angel nodded and covered his eye back up and Fluttershy took a deep but silent breath in an effort to steel herself.

It didn’t work but morbid curiosity spurred her to ever so slowly, ever so carefully, ever so curiously peer around the trunk of the tree.

What she saw stood hunched over something torn and blood in a small clearing. But sweet mother of Celestia she couldn’t figure out what it was!

It wasn’t as big as she’d feared it might be, not even half the size of a Timberwolf. What made it so frightening was… it looked like a mass of smoky darkness!

Fluttershy could hardly make out the monster enwreathed in ashy darkness. This imperceptible creature sat in front of its kill, its head stooping over as it fed. It seemed to have a large hunch on its back around the shoulders and a long whip-like tail, and it snarled hungrily as it devoured the deer.

The deer.

Fluttershy looked with pity upon the poor thing, seeing only its head and neck and forelegs. It was the bloody wound on the back of the neck that told Fluttershy where this predator had inflicted the killing blow.

“Oh my!” Fluttershy gasped and covered her mouth as she realized the words had seeped out on their own.

The predator suddenly stilled. An eerie silence befell the situation. Fluttershy felt her heart beating madly, her body breaking into a cold sweat, she didn’t dare move a muscle but still peered around the tree just enough to see.

The creature still did not move.

One moment passed. Then two. Then four.

Suddenly!

The beast growled over its shoulder, and the hunch on its back spread, revealing it was really a pair of wings like that of a monster straight out of her nightmares, and Fluttershy saw the creature snarling at her general direction. She didn’t see its face clearly but saw fangs dripping with blood, a long and sharp horn, yet it was the eyes!

A pair of eyes, flaring like white-hot fire!

Fluttershy screamed and took flight! Caution be damned, hugging Angel to her barrel like a vice. She broke through the canopy, flapped her wings harder than she ever had before, so that they carried her as fast as they could, with such speed Rainbow Dash would never have believed it unless she’d seen it.

In no time at all, Fluttershy made it back to her cottage, she herded all her critters inside, locked the door, and hid under her bed, holding Angel close, as the two of them shivered in terror.

“I wonder if everypony understands if I miss Twinken’s party….!” Fluttershy whispered in a quivery voice.

School had let out, and Button Mash was excited as he trotted home! During lunch, he, Rumble, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo had been approached by Pinkie Pie after Twinken had went to use the little colt’s room. Pinkie had whisper-shouted they were invited to Twinken’s surprise birthday party to be held at the library later that evening.

Then Twinken chose the moment after that to return, forcing Pinkie to attempt a sneaky exit.

With the exception of Twinken, the other Crusaders took a guilty chuckle at Pinkie’s expense as she’d attempt to be stealthy by diving into a nearby waste bin. They’d heard her “eeeeewwyyuuuu…” before her hooves appeared from beneath the bin and daintily tippy-hooved off, everypony watching in confusion of the walking waste bin.

Twinken had taken one look before he asked, “...Pinkie being Pinkie?”

The Crusaders all sighed inward and replied, “Pinkie being Pinkie.”

That had been the end of it and Twinken was none the wiser of his impending surprise.

What to get Twinken… Button wondered, slowing to a ponderous pace.

He’d saved up his allowance to buy a present for his friend, but what would Twinken like? Thinking about it, Button wasn’t sure if there was really anything Twinken wanted. He had a good home, a good family, and a big brother who did so much for him.

The thought made Button sigh as he thought of his own big brother, Cheat Code… It’s been awhile since Mom and me have heard from you. Or Dad... But I bet you’re being so cool and protecting ponies and beating up bad guys too!

Button Mash was proud to call Cheat Code his big brother. When they were younger, Cheat Code was fun, protective, and a little teasing. But he always made button laugh and smile and they played together and had so much fun. He always made time for Button, and he also had a particular habit of “cheating” his way out of trouble, and getting lesser punishments when he got caught.

It was a long time ago, but Button could still recall when Cheat Code had gotten in trouble back when they were living in Baltimare. Cheat Code and his friends had trespassed on private property on a dare when the property owner chased them out but the ensuing fracas revealed the owner was hiding a stolen cargo. He’d been bribing the harbor master to steal merchandise from cargo ships in Horseshoe Bay. The pony and his accomplices were arrested and Cheat Code and his friends still got punished for trespassing and putting themselves in danger. However Cheat Code had spoken up, pointed out if it weren’t for them the thieves would have continued stealing and the harbor master was cheating ponies out of their goods. He made other good points and managed to get himself and his friends lesser punishments, but that was how Cheat Code figured out his talent for wriggling his way out of tight spots.

Not only that, that bust he’d helped in making inspired him to join the Guard.

Button and Cheat Code’s father got a transfer so they could live closer to Cheat Code after he enlisted as a junior recruit. At first they’d considered Canterlot but Love Tap, Button and Cheat’s mom, insisted on Ponyville since it was a nicer and friendlier community than the neighborhoods of Canterlot where noble ponies walked about with their noses in the air and looked down their muzzles at other ponies like they were beneath them.

Settling into Ponyville had been quite a transition, and it was even stranger for Button when they stopped moving. His dad’s job had been demanding, and it had caused them to move a lot, at least once a year. Button’s family was never in the same place for long, and every time he’d made a friend before he knew it he had to leave them.

It was why he was so reluctant to make friends when he arrived in Ponyville. So he dove into his video games, playing as imaginary heroes, fighting imaginary monsters, going on imaginary quests, his eyes glued to the flickering screens of his Joy Boy or TV hooked up with his video game console.

It made him easy to target, especially by foals like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, while others just ignored him, thinking he was weird.

Then one day, out of the blue. A pretty unicorn filly with eyes the softest green walked up to Button. She asked how he was and what he was doing. Button had been baffled, because until now all the foals in Ponyville just ignored him or teased him. She asked about his Joy Boy, thinking it looked cool. Somehow, that was enough to get Button to go on and on and on about his Joy Boy and the games he played.

And the filly had listened. She sat by him and listened to it all, smiling at Button and how passionate he was about his games.

That was the day he’d made his first true friend, the day he’d met Sweetie Belle.

As he walked down the road of his neighborhood, Button had been reminiscing so fondly he almost didn’t notice somepony walking up towards his front door. He then gasped to see it was a Royal Guard!

“Cheat Code…?” Button whispered, seeing the tall and armored stallion approaching his front door. It might have been Cheat Code, as all Royal Guards wore armor that was enchanted with glamour to make them appear similar in the eyes of civilians (a measure used to protect the Guards' identities), but then Button noticed the guard had a pair of wings.
No it’s not him, Cheat Code’s an earth pony like Mom, Dad, and me, so what’s he…

The guard knocked on the door, and Button watched as his mom answered. He was too far away to hear what they were saying.

It was when his mom’s eyes widened in shock in response to whatever the guard had said to her, and she cried out, “No… NOOOO!!!!

“NO, NO, IT CAN’T BE TRUE!! NO-HO-Ho-ho…!!”

The guard held Love Tap in his arms as the mare broke down in heart-wrenching sobs, his own face filled with sorrow. Button’s heart filled with dread, and he hurried forward, calling, “MOM! MOM! What’s wrong?!”

Love Tap and the guard both looked to see Button hurry up to them, his face alarmed, his eyes looking from his mom to the guard and back. He saw his mother’s face and never had he seen them so. Tears flowed from her eyes, she was heaving as though she were sick.
The guard helped Love Tap onto her hooves and stepped aside.

The mare approached the confused and concerned colt, and knelt down in front of him, taking his forehooves into her own.
“Button, sweetie…!”

“Mom?” Button said again, his heart filling with dread as his eyes begged his mom for an answer.

Love Tap couldn’t say it as she sobbed more, and Button looked to the guard who stood by, looking ashamed by what news he had delivered. Taking a deep breath, he held something in his hoof, and said, “Button Mash, is it?”

Butto nodded, and the guard held out a what appeared to be a medal. It was shaped like a red heart with tiny wings on the side, and the guard explained, “On behalf of the Royal Guard, it is my duty and privilege to deliver this to your family, in honor… of your brother.”

“Cheat Code?!” Button looked up from the medal to the guard and back at his mom. “Wh-where is he?! Why aren’t you giving this to him?! Why-”

The cold realization washed over Button like an unforgiving blizzard. He recognized this medal, a Red Heart of Service. It was a mark of honor bestowed upon Royal Guards injured in the line of duty. Or…

Button looked at the guard, who was so sorry to deliver this news he couldn’t bear to look the colt in the eyes. Button looked to his mother, and Love Tap returned Button’s gaze, as his eyes began to fill with tears.

And his heart was torn in two.

The lecture Midnight gave was based on one given by Ahsoka Tano from "Star Wars" to a class; it was so true and sensibleI thought it was perfect for something I have in mind for this arc

And I am sad to confirm it: Cheat Code, Button Mash's big brother, is dead. The scene with the mine where ponies were killed, I wanted it to have more emotional impact, and knew the death of a family member would fill that need better than just saying random nameless characters were killed by the attackers