Opal had spent much of her day sprawled across a chaise lounge in Rarity's inspiration room. Grooming her faintly turquoise gray fur had taken most of her morning, leaving the lazy feline to idly scribble upon a random chunk of parchment. However, the sound of footsteps intruded on her peaceful day. Low throat-ed muttering noises and a steady grumble whispered free, as she glared in the direction of the disturbance. “This way Scoots. Sweetie's room is just on the right.” The distant sound of voices as they moved down the hallway only just reached her peaceful place, revealed it was Dusk who was fooling around in her domain, yet he was clearly not alone. The feline exhaled a low grunt as she stood and returned her quill to its holder, the silver ink pot's lid locking into place with the deft twist of her wrist.

Even as she slinked out into the hall and locked the door to the inspiration room behind her, the voices cut off to a low mumble. She moved with a stealthy stride as she glided her way down the hallway, her pawed feet cushioning every step she took to aid in her silent investigation. She halted at the open door of young Sweetie Belle's room, squared herself to the wall and glanced around the doorway, as she kept herself tightly pinned to the wall. A new voice she didn't recognize spoke up, a gruffer tone then the fashionista's little sister. “All these dolls. And dresses, and so many pink filly things. Can she get any more girly?”

"And what do you know about girly, poor little colt? Little miss is a fine young lady, far too good for a street rat like you." Opal pointed out as she sauntered though the door, her hips swaying with her stride even while her tail danced in rhythm swishing in the opposite direction. A single long glare locked on Dusk as he lay the still sleeping Sweetie Belle into her bed, and quietly sat down his arms lowered to the bed as he leveled his own glare at her in return yet kept silent, even as his right hand lifted and stroked tenderly over the sleeping fillies cheek.

Scootaloo curled a lip into a small snarl and took three swift aggressive steps to stand before the feline, leveling a glare at her and thrusting a fist in the feline's face. "I'm no colt you pudgy paperweight, and don't make me knuckle your teeth in." Huffing in her rage, her wings flared up, every feather twitching wildly at the tips.

Just as the filly stepped up to confront her, Opal slipped around the raging girl with her own oddly easy grace despite her heavy weight, her tail lifting to stroke across the mare's face even as she slipped to sit half on the edge of Sweetie's bed. Her fingers then idly stroked over the sleeping filly's hairline, toying with with the sleeping girl's mulberry hair. Dusk had leaned back when Opal approached, giving her access, here the feline lifted her gaze to look at him and wiggled her whiskers inspecting him closely. "The mistress trusts you with little miss, so I will put up with you, for now. But if you keep spending time with..." And she stopped glaring back over her shoulder at Scootaloo, curling a lip to snarl. "Trash like that colt over there." The two locked a steady glare at one another.

Dusk laughed gently, and shook his head, the noise drawing the attention form the shared glare to himself. "Stop antagonizing one another. I'll go get some of the sweet cakes from downstairs. You two just... don't wake Sweetie up, do that for me at least?" Annoyed sighs from both females suggested they didn't like the idea but they were going to leave it be for now.

Even as Dusk stepped into the kitchen, the soft talk between Rarity and Cadence drifted from the other room and reached him. At first he had planned to simply grab the spare tray of cakes and leave, yet the weighty words caught his attention, drawing him to pause. "... but when did you figure it out Cadence? We..." A sniffle. "It's been kept secret all these years. Besides AJ I've never told anyone. She doesn't need that heartache. None of them do."

Dusk stepped lightly across the kitchen, stood close to the door, held his breath, and tried to stretch out his hearing as far as he could manage in hopes of figuring out what was really going on. "I've an eye for these things. Don't worry dear, when you're ready I will help you tell him, until then? It's our secret." A pause and the sound of ... feathers drawing over silk? They must be hugging Dusk realized. "Until then if you need anything. For yourself or her, just ask." For a moment Dusk thought he heard Rarity raise her voice, but she was instantly hushed. "I love Dusk. And he clearly loves you. So I'll do whatever it takes to keep you both happy." Dusk shook his head, picked up the platter of cakes and turned to walk upstairs again, the conversation tormented his mind, what secret had Cadence found?

As Dusk returned to the upstairs hallway, the sound of softly speaking fillies made him groan a little, clearly poor Sweetie had been unable to sleep with the noise Opal and Scootaloo made. Yet even as he got closer, the sound of conversation was very one-sided, the chipper voice of squeaky little Sweetie Belle was the loudest and quite warm. "And this is my favorite doll. Her name is Princess Platinum! Isn't she so cute?? Just like the real princess she has silky purple hair and the cutest little horn." It was funny, yet cute, how her voice would suddenly crack and suddenly squeak as she spoke.

Dusk stepped around the door frame and looked inside. He was shocked to realize that Sweetie was up and was presenting all her dolls to Scootaloo with her own highly energetic flare. She stepping up to offer the unicorn princess doll to Scoots, the older filly let out a groan, clearly already frustrated with the younger girl's obsession with the toys, as a dozen other dolls were already piled up in her arms, only still being held so they didn't spill into a pile upon the floor. "She is just as cute as the other nine whose names I can't remember Sweetie, but can't we go outside and play soccer or something? Dolls aren't my thing, I'm way more into sports or games."

Even as Scootaloo stood up and pushed the pile of dolls back onto the bed, Sweetie's lower lip began to tremble at being rejected by the older filly. Yet even as Dusk took his own light step into the room his voice cutting in to prevent a future argument. "Afternoon Sweetie Belle, I'm glad you had a chance to introduce Scootaloo to all your dolls. Care to join us for some snacks?" The plate of sweet cakes was placed on a small tea table in the middle of the room, fitting in well enough with the little girl's tea set.

Before he had even shifted his own weight back to stand up, Opal's paw snapped out, stole one of the strawberry frosted mini cakes, shoved it into her mouth, and chewed while her cheeks ballooned out with glee, munching in her own delight, the steady low throated purr that came from the fat cat a reassuring noise to the watching fillies. Giving up, Scoot stepped away from the pile of dolls, took three quick steps over to the tea set, grabbed up another of the strawberry cakes and pushed it to Sweetie. "Here Sweetie," said Scootaloo, in the warmest voice Dusk had heard her speak, outside of speaking about Dash. "I picked this cake for you. To thank you for letting me see your favorite doll. But I would hate to get it messy, so put her down with her friends and have some cake." A pause as she gave the smaller filly a warm smile. "That way we can sit and talk with Dusk, heck we could even thank him for bringing us these treats."

To Dusk's joy this at last had the intended outcome, the smaller filly got up, gently settled her favorite princess doll on the pile of others left behind by Scootaloo, using them to form a throne for her prized princess. That done, she skipped over, accepted the small cake from the taller filly and sat against Opal's leg. She relaxed and ate quietly while grinning warmly up at Dusk and Scootaloo. "Tankths Scootalooguh. It's very good!" She said with her mouth still full of cake. Thankfully, things from there would go smoothly and for an hour, the three of them chatted lightly while Opal napped, holding little Sweetie close, occasional she was heard soft purring in tender pleasure.

It was an hour later that Cadence and Rarity walked down the hallway together, better moods generated by their new found friendship and conversation over a good lunch. The sight of Dusk having tea with Opal and Sweetie Belle, while Scootaloo pretended to like playing house with the younger and more innocent girl brought laughter from the ladies. Recovering from her laughter Cadence called the older filly, her voice warm. "I'm afraid it's time for us to go Scootaloo. We had best keep our appointment with Nurse Redheart."

As she spoke though, it was Sweetie Belle that stood up and rushed across the room. She Dashed into Cadence's arms and warmly hugged her. Instantly the small girl presented the older woman with her favorite doll, her voice bright and warm. "Don't go yet Cadence! I didn't get to introduce you to Princess Platinum! See she is pretty like you, and has really nice silky hair and a big horn like your own, except you've got wings cause you're an Alicorn were as she was only the princess who lead the Unicorn's from their old homeland to Equestria." And only then did the filly run out of breath and look up to Cadence with wide eyes and a hopeful smile.

Never one to spoil a good moment, and always happy to get a good hug, Cadence would wrap the filly in her arms and knelt down, lightly kissing the girl on her head and hugging her close. "That's fantastic Sweetie, but I will have to wait for another day when we have more time to talk. It's fantastic that you took the time to introduce us though, I think Princess Platinum is one of my favorite of the three leaders from Hearts Warming Eve, even though her assistant Clover the Clever did all the hard work."

While the two got into a quiet private conversation about the legend of Heat's Warming, Scootaloo would shove one last cake into her mouth, munching swiftly and whipping her hands on Sweetie's table cloth, earning her another glare from Opal. Once done, she walked over to Cadence, her voice more serious now that she had cleared her mouthful of food. "So tea was good but we are going to go now right?"

Cadence pouted in time with Sweetie Belle for a moment but at last stood up and fluffed the young filly's head, and voiced softly. "Thanks for the Company Rarity, Sweetie Belle." A sigh whispered from her lips. "Come on Dusk, we had better go before I spend the next week spoiling Sweetie silly." As they moved downstairs and stopped at the door, Dusk would draw Rarity into his arms, softly kissed her while the other two started to walk down the street. It was clear the couple were close and their tender moments made Cadence think only of poor Shining alone now in Canterlot with her words of rejection, even as Scoot muttered comments about too much PDA in town as of late.

"Now Scootaloo, take a grip on the table and bite down hard. I am sorry, but we need to pull one of your pinion feathers next." Even as Cadence talked, Nurse Redheart offered her a thick rubberized bite guard. It had been nearly an hour since Dusk caught up with them and guided the two mares into Ponyville's clinic and tracked down Redheart and the room the nurse had booked for Cadence's examination. Going over all of Redheart's details had been first of course, then some minor athletic information. At last however, it had come down to the more painful side of things.

Even as she lay her chest on the table, Scootaloo's body trembled at the threat of a feather being pulled. Already her lips worked over the rubber chunk, her face laying on her crossed arms. Behind her the older women worked in a team, Nurse Redheart applying antiseptic to the feather Cadence had picked out, while at the same time Cadence gently pushed a needle into the flesh near the base of Scootaloo's wing, a mild sedative to numb the her wing. Even as a few breaths were drawn and hissed out of her nose, she felt the drug spreading. Against her will her wing drooped flat against her back, and she could feel her whole left side going slightly numb as the rhythm of her heartbeat spread the numbness even further. Suddenly a hand on her cheek drew her back from her numb void, Redheart's voice tender and low. "Squeeze my hand Scootaloo, remember we are here to make you better."

With her right hand trapped in the nurses own fingers, the numbness had not yet spread fully into those fingers. Squeezing gently in response, she drew a breath and felt Cadence's breath on her cheek, then... nothing and a sudden bout of screaming orders stormed around the room over her head. Strange was that she had not felt the pain that Cadence and Redheart had been so detailed and sorry for inflicting on her. In her haze all she really remembered was Redheart forcing Cadence from her unfocused line of sight while Dusk slammed the door closed and locked it, but not before shouting something out at the staff waiting in the hallway.

Dusk was then at her side, stroking her hair and whispering something quietly to her. The faint smell of burning feathers tormented her nose for a few seconds just before he sat, holding her hand and stroking her hair. Alone and silent except for his quite muttering, it took what felt like weeks before the drug started to fade, and she could at last feel her jaw again. Speaking was a strenuous effort, as her body simply didn't wish to act without her ordering it. Her voice was weak and nearly a whisper but she finally got his attention. "Wh... y didn't not hurt. Why Cad leave? Why you crying?"

Realizing the girl was starting to come back from the drugged stooper, Dusk sighed and looked down at her, his voice tender but polite. "Your feather snapped and Cadence got sprayed in the face with what was inside. We had the staff evacuate all the pegasi in the clinic to make sure nobody else could get infected in case it really is wingrott. I'm sorry Scoots but I had to burn a few of your feathers because it was oozing rather badly where it snapped and I'm no good at healing magic."

Swallowing softly, Scootaloo turned her head and placed it face down on the table, a sob rippling though her even as she drew her breath. "So I infected Cadence? So much for a nice visit from your childhood mentor." A sniffle was swallowed back.

Dusk didn't let her have the time to wallow in her depression, his fingers softly stroked her hair, while he tried to comfort the filly in a warm and soft voice. "It's not the first time she has been sprayed with the blood of a person with wingrott Scoots. The popular theory is that Alicorn's are immune to wingrott. And the clinic's lab is still going over the pinion we gave them, we still don't know if it's even really wingrott." Her snort was all he got in response, and for some time after they sat in silence.

In a nearby room three of the clinic's lab technicians worked with delicate care on the shattered half of a pinion feather. On the other side of the glass Cadence wrapped herself tighter in the hospital gown they had given her while her clothing was sent to be sterilized. Her hair still drenched from the emergency shower, her eyes crossed as she tried to focus on the solution the feather shards were being dipped into. The mixture of chemicals had been made up based off notes she had sent them in the morning. She observed as a shard dissolved in the liquid as it was stirred with a slow, steady rhythm. "Ca... Cadence. You said if it's pink, it's wingrott. This is the third batch we have tried. It keeps developing a slight sheen, but it never turns fully pink. Can't you just tell me what that means?"

Redheart clutched her own gown close, the spray she had taken while forcing Cadence into the shower had soaked her own uniform. Now the nurse clutched Cadence's own arm, her finger's trembling at the mystery before them. Cadence at last released a sigh even as the same faint hint of pink appeared in the fluid, yet it was never fully turning pink.. "It's wingrott. But it makes no sense at all. Her feathers aren't molting. Even with this feather snapping, it's still far stronger then any wingrott would leave it. And she isn't infectious..." Her gaze turned back to Redheart's, and she asked in a stiff voice. "Not a single pagasus in town has shown any wing or flight issues?"

Now it was Redheart's turn to think, the binder she had put together of the last three months of medical histories was opened again and she scanned over the front page, at last stopping at two lines. "Of fourteen pegasus who came in over the last three months... Four cases of molting in children who were simply growing fresh new pinion feathers; seven cases of weakness in flight all connected to a brief outbreak of a lung infection; And three of the weather team came down with scarlet feather who had to be isolated for a few weeks. We lost one of them but that was because she had an allergic reaction to the medication." She snapped the book closed and shook her head. "Scootaloo has been in town for over a month. If she really had wingrott half of the weather team would have been in here by now, right?"

Cadence sighed and nodded again. "What we have is something bad Redheart. Clearly she had wingrott." A hand shot up to deflect the question Redheart was getting ready to ask and continued, her voice quiet and serious. "Maybe she was a carrier, maybe she simply got lucky and it mutated. It's clear it has damaged her wings but it's also clear it has gone dormant, maybe even died off. I've seen two other cases of wingrott that simply died off naturally, leaving the fillies in both cases weak for a few months but then over time, they were stronger then ever before, and both were found to be immune to wingrott afterwards." Now she paused and nodded to let the nurse go on with her question.

No expert, Redheart had spent the last two weeks pouring over everything she could find on the subject of wingrott to understand Scootaloo, in hopes of helping somehow during Cadence's visit. Now her question was lost from the start of their conversation, yet she felt another form just as quickly. "But then as you say, why are her wings so fragile. Is Dusk right? Do we need to look into her family? Do you think its abuse after all?"

Silence passed between them, as Cadence stared at the lab words as they continued further testing on the feather shard, time and time again they all came up negative. A sigh whispered from her lips and Cadence would lower her head. "Get me the paperwork Redheart. Are you sure you want to be the one to take her in? Isn't there any pegasus who could do it?"

In her own turn, Redheart paused and watched the lab workers at last burn the remains of the feather as well as most of the leftover chemicals that had been used in the tests. A sigh whispered from her lips and she shook her head. "There is only one. And she isn't one for responsibility. Did Rarity or Celestia tell you about the head of our weather team... Rainbow Dash?"

Out in the courtyard of Ponyville's half finished hospital, Dusk sat beside Scootaloo, resting an arm lightly around the girl's shoulders. Since the drugs had worn off, he had been forced to call for Redheart and Cadence to return to the young filly's room. The talk had been brief and inspection of his poor sterilization technique was inspected. Thankfully he had only discolored the neighboring feathers, and he had been complimented for his quick thinking. With no chance of infection, they had been given time off while the real doctors worked on the results of their testing.

Thus Dusk had left a note saying that he was taking the girl to watch the weather team, knowing Dash she was going to be out and showing off, especially with such a slow week of clear skies and lots of sun to make sure the local harvest was kept healthy. Dash was more then happy to take full advantage to show off when the work load was this light. She had lined up her team after they cleared the few wild clouds from the sky and started having them race, often in teams. The whole time she destroyed them with her own raw speed, and after they had put in a few hours of practice, she let them go about their day. Now Dusk realized her eyes were on him, and he grinned at the sound of Scootaloo's joyful voice. "She is so good! Did you see? Even carrying forty pounds none of them could keep up with her! Dash really is that amazing!"

Even as Dash let her wings relax to a soft flicking rhythm to slow her fall to land by Dusk, Scootaloo's words had her grinning, her voice lifting to gloat with pride. "Well thank you squirt! But it takes a ton of practice to be half as good as me." She flashed a bold grin as she let her wings fold to her back and landed against the newly installed statue of Celestia. She crossed her arms behind her thin figure while she puffed her tiny chest out, fresh sweat coating her form from the stress of her workout. In her usual tight breast band top and ass hugging shorts, the head of Ponyville's weather team was showing off her own fine figure for her crowd to enjoy, she even turned a little to the side, letting her tail dance and stroke across her own hips. Locking a suggestive gaze on Dusk, she slowly licked her lips. "When you off babysitting duty Dusk? We haven't gone for our jog today and you're gonna get flabby if you don't keep up your workouts."

Dusk laughed warmly at Dash's teasing, but shook his head and leaned back, crossing his arms over his own chest. "And I told you for the last week Dash. No exercise today. You missed Cadence's arrival and Rarity's tea. I never expected you to pass up a free meal." Offering a wink to ease the sting of the monetary tease, Dusk pushed his arms up behind the filly and gripped Scoot's shoulders, pushing her towards Dash his voice solid and calm. "This is Scootaloo, say hello to her Dash." Even as Dash rolled her eyes, the filly offered her hand stretched out, offering her hand to her hero, even while her growing blush darkened her cheeks ever more. Her eyes wide with wonder. "Scootaloo this is Dash. She is helping me get back in shape after our fight with Nightmare Moon cost me so much of my muscle mass."

As Scootaloo stepped forward, her own bright smile turned upwards even while a unnaturally shy side suddenly overtook her normally brash behavior, the presence of her hero clearly overwhelming. Eyes on the ground and hands clasping one another behind her back she nervously wiggled her foot while the tips of her toe pushed against the ground and rotated in small circles. The best she managed was to quietly mutter a low. "Hi Dash...."

It dawned on Dash that she might be disappointing Dusk by ignoring the younger mare. So she stepped forward, took up the offered hand of the young filly, shook it with her leather gloved hand in return, presenting a dry and strong grip. Dash presented her a warm grin voice kind and welcoming. "Well hello Scoots. Don't take the squirt thing personally, It's a pleasure to meet you kid." When she realized that Scoot had a dark blush and was looking down and away, she lifted her free hand and fluffed the girl's hair, laughing warmly. "You should come hang out with the weather team more often, we could always use someone to bring us fresh drinks and stuff."

Just as Dusk shifted to stand up himself, Cadence's voice called out, "Dusk! Scootaloo! We need to talk!" Dash stiffened up at the tone of authority in her style of speech, setting the normally relaxed mare off her comfortably lazy style. Even as the words echoed out, Dusk stepped up and looked down from the courtyard to get a clear line of sight of Cadence and the small crowd that followed her.

Yet now it was Dash's turn to get nervous as she started to edge back around the statue, her wings already unfolding, while her gaze turned upward towards the sky while nervously scratching at her neck. "I err.. heh... Sounds like important business for egg heads. I'd just get in the way."

Dusk stepped forward and reached his hand out to gently grasp one of her own, and pulled her into his arms, wrapping one of his arms around her hips while his other hand stroked her cheek. Leaning in close, he whispered with soft care into her ear, his voice low but reassuring. "Dash, you should get to know people like Cadence. She can be a great friend, and besides, she went to school with half the current Wonderbolts." Even as his words convinced Dash to relax and stay, Scootaloo slumped when Dash moved away from her, suddenly no longer the center of attention she stepped in behind Dusk watching in silence from around his hip.

When Cadence swept into the courtyard the sudden serious nature of things at hand became clear, towering as she was, it was hard to miss the fact Mayor Mare and Nurse Redheart were flanking her, along with one of the mayor's assistant's carrying a bulky stack of papers. Her eyes darted over Dash in only a second before locking on Scootaloo, voice polite but her tone quicker then Dusk would have liked. "Afternoon ... Rainbow isn't it? I apologize but the day has been a bit of a whirlwind and I think I've lost track of Dusk's introductions. You're the... Head of the Weather Patrol and the Element of Loyalty right?" At Dash's dumb slow nod, she smiled and nodded back then crouched before Dusk to bring herself to Scootaloo's eye-level, her own voice serious, hints of fear marking it. "Scootaloo. We need to ask you some questions. It's very important that you tell us the truth. Think of it as..." She paused and looked to Dusk and Dash for a moment before returning her gaze to the filly. "... well. I wont lie to you Scootaloo. Your parent's haven't been taking good care of you. It's why your wings are so weak, why you're so skinny. We want you to get taken care of properly and it would really help if you give us the truth, ok?"

Now suddenly it was Scootaloo who once more had everyone's attention again. While Dusk had stepped aside to let Cadence she her fully, Dash suddenly stepped forward to stand between the two of them, arms crossing over her chest, a new found courage swelling up in her as she moved to stand protectively in front of the younger pegasus. Her voice was angry yet, she was clearly also straining to keep herself calm. "Just cause her wings are small doesn't mean her parents aren't any good." A breath pulled in, raked over her teeth in a hiss.

Yet it was Scootaloo who defused Dash's sudden defensiveness in this situation, stepping forward and taking a grip of Dash's hand and squeezing as she stood half behind the taller female, even while she looked at Cadence, her voice soft and low. "I... It's cause they work so much isn't it? I've been good at cooking for myself, and mm.... mom still does the laundry all the time." Her voice quivered, breaking down as she spoke on, her eyes going wide as she watched the gathered adults.

Realizing that this was a sensitive moment, the mayor and her assistant backed off, even while Cadence lifted her arms to offer her a hug, one that Scootaloo would not take up, instead reveling in standing tightly against Dash's side. Her hand slipped up to gently grip the older woman's own. Cadence's heart dropped at this, and yet she didn't let the pain of Scootaloo's rejection cause her smile to drop. Her voice soft, Cadence offered Scoot a smile, hands on her knees. "I'm sorry, but you're right Scoot. Your health is fragile, and its not just due to whatever got you sick a few years ago. In truth, you really lucky Scootaloo. You should be immune to wingrott, but you're also very sickly, you need proper nutrition and months... maybe years of physical therapy to make up for the damage done to your wings."

Dusk stepped forward, cupping a hand under Dash's elbow, as he saw the terror slowly forming in her eyes, as talk of wingrott spread between the group. He had a gentle smile as he stroked her jaw, and told her in a soft and tender voice. "We didn't tell anyone about it because we didn't want to start a panic... or to have anyone start attacking her from fear of a disease she doesn't have. You understand right? The panic that can spread though a population if they thought wingrott had broken out?"

With Scoot's wide eyes gazing up at her, while still grasping her hand, the words Dusk spoke took time to sink in, yet as they did Dash slowly smiled, and nodded a little, her own hand squeezing the young girl's hand back with a steady but calm grip. "I understand Dusk. It's horrible how people treat wingrott victims. I've seen ... " her voice fell off and she sniffled, only continuing when both Scoot and Cadence both urged her to speak on with silent but demanding body-language. "It's... it's outlawed, and heartless, but I've seen a filly stoned by her own parents when the molting started."

When Scootaloo stiffened up at Dash's story, Cadence drew both girls into her arms stroking Scoot across the shoulders and Dash's lower back as she comforted them both. At last, she listed her head and shook it, then gazed at both girls with a warm smile. "Dash. We could use a favor. You see, I can't stay here in Ponyville to look after Scootaloo's daily care, so Nurse Redheart has offered to act as her guardian until a permanent one can be found to care for her. But you're a pegasus, and from what Dusk told me, you're likely the best flier Ponyville has to offer. If you were willing to take care of the athletic side of her physiotherapy while Redheart covers the medical it would be a massive favor to us all."

Stiff in Cadence's hug, Dash blushed, but as her eyes lifted to gaze at Dusk, and a grin spread over her lips. At last she turned her eyes back to the princess who was trying to comfort her, nodding her affirmation. Cadence beamed with a delighted grin in return, releasing her from the hug as Dash at last spoke up. "I... It..." Her eyes turned to Scootaloo and then her own grin spread wide. "It would be a pleasure to help Cadence, what do you think Squirt? Wanna start joining me and Dusk for our daily jogs?" The mood improved, soon mayor mare would return and paperwork was signed. Dusk and Dash both stepped up to witness the paperwork placed Cadence as Scootaloo's guardian, with Redheart as her temporary representative for the time being. The whole time Dusk and Dash's attention was on the strength the young girl showed, trying to avoid breaking down before the adults, showing off only with a light quiver of her lip, and the occasional soft sniffle.

Dusk lay bare chested on the examination table, three of the clinic's experts on unicorn biology had spent most of the last hour referencing Cadence's notes and applying a thick brown paste across his back, starting just above his tail and working up over his shoulders before drawing the last of the required emblems upon his temples. Thick and cold, the mud like mixture had dried onto his bare flesh, leaving him unable to move while awaiting Cadence's return. Trapped as he was and ordered to refrain from using any magic, he had been attempting to recite princes Celestia's last class from his days at Star Swirl U. Muttering quietly to himself he quoted her word for word.

"The Crystal Empire's magic was different from that of unicorns. No single pony in their tribe could cast a spell alone, not like the earth ponies, whose magic leaks out through their body into the land beneath their feet. Even the Pegasus art of weather control is a willful individual act. Instead each acts as a single node in a greater world of magic, giving the holder of the Crystal Heart access to a power that dwarfs even that of an Alicorn. Their last queen, Starlight Secret helped me and my long lost sister Luna master the movement of the Sun and Moon. Before that, it took teams of a dozen unicorns from all over Equestria to complete the act, and it would leave them drained of their magic for weeks if they were not the strongest of mages..."

Cadence's voice had cut in and she finished the second half of the speech, her impersonation of Celestia far better then Dusk's own. "But with Starlight's rise as the new Queen of the Crystal Empire this duty was taken from the unicorns, allowing the unicorns to start using their magic for more then just the act of moving sun and moon. Instead of a population drained to near exhaustion they quickly became a flourishing empire of their own right. While this change ended the old days of the tribute system from the earth tribe to the unicorn out of gratitude for the sunlight that allowed them to grow their crops, the change forced the unicorns to take up the arts and sciences to find a way to support their people. This lead to the unicorn's minting the first gold bit and establishing many fine arts." The main passage of the story finished, Cadence grinning to him, her voice playful. "A good lesson Dusk, but today is about your mind not early Equestrian history."

Dusk blushed darkly, yet as he watched her, Cadence drew a finger tip to her horn, and let a tiny mote of her magic leak free and stick to her slender digit. She then lowered her hand and with the lightest touch to the tip of his horn, allowed the magic spiral down though his body and rippled out across the tattoo designs that had been drawn over his back. The rich glow of her magic was a very light cornflour blue, and as its power spread though his body it expanded past the herbal designs, to bleed into his veins making them all glow bold against his skins surface. "Remember Dusk. No magic until I tell you, when you feel me pulling on it just let me." She whispered in hushed tones.

Dusk's skin felt electric as the odd Alicorn magic poured though his body, searching every pour of his flesh for any hint of his own magic essence. It was shockingly relaxing after a stressful day, as every muscle on his body shivered then went limp, leaving the stallion relaxed. Yet somehow, oddly enough Cadence's version of the spell felt somehow more alive, it made his skin tingle in joy under her focused attention. At last, he found his voice and softly replied, "I know Cadence, I've had this kind of exam before... But why is your version so ... energetic compared to the normal? I haven't studied healing magic properly before but this feels different from the last few times."

Her fingers traced a line across his naked spine, drifting her nails across the sensitive parts of his back in silent inspection. At last done, she happily responded. "It's just the difference between Alicorn magic and Unicorn... that and I've adapted the spell. It's searching your muscles as well, looking for bruising; internal bleeding; infections and the like." When he glanced up at her, she offered a shrug voice soft. "It's shocking how often you find solutions to other problems when you're looking for something else altogether. Now relax, let's see how badly you've messed up your magic with these last few weeks of adventure."

Dusk quietly laughed at her words, yet he was well aware of what she was referencing. After his last letter to Celestia talking about his accidental teleportation, she had asked him to avoid using magic, sure he had hurt something using too much magic all at once. Silence passed between the two of them as Dusk felt her pulling at his magic, twisting in places and drawing at him in small distracting tugs. Once done, she stopped and placed her fingers on his cheek and stroked her thumb across his jaw. "Dusk... I..." She paused and swallowed sharply then she knelt down before him to look him in the eye. Her net words were stern and strong, yet full of hurt. "When did you start chewing Lotus Dusk? You know it's outlawed. Where did you even get it?"

The panicked tones of Cadence's words made Dusk's amused rejection of the concept of him doing drugs die on his lips. Instead he took a deep breath and swallowed before shaking his head a little and, once again, meeting her gaze "I have never chewed Lotus. Just... why?"

The room went silent as Cadence and Dusk gazed at each other with a seriousness seldom seen between the two. Finally, Cadence sighed and nodded softly. "Dusk," she began, "I trust you not to lie to me. I...I've known you too long to question that." She then pleaded with Dusk, "Help me understand, Dusk. Teleporting is a very magic-draining spell, even with Alicorns. That's why very few can perform a teleportation more then once a month, it's why we don't even teach it at the university unless someone shows they have a talent for it. Yet, not only did you accidentally teleport, but you did it just after recovering from your ordeal with retrieving the Elements and rescuing Luna, and your magic is completely replenished. How is that even possible without the use of drugs?" Flustered, but wanting to trust him, she wilted a little, her shoulders slumping.

As she inquired, Dusk took a moment to let his mind inspect his own magic, getting a feeling for the warmth it emanated as his will wrapped around it's flame, enjoying the odd pulsing sensation as he focused his will against it. Exploring, he reached deeper to see how far it went, and in shock realized, that he somehow found a back door in Cadence's magic that left a pathway he could follow back into her own essence. His appetite for learning blooming, he reached in further and traced the link from her spell, only to find his will now holding her own aura. But realization on what he had been doing dawned on him, and he quickly withdrew. This was a massive intrusion into the core of her being, without any permission! Drawing himself fully back to center he released his will and lifted his eyes to her own, his words a low murmur of shock at his discovery.

Cadence swallowed sharply and leaned in close, cut off the spell. She then softly spoke while still gazing into his eyes. "Then sometime in the future we need to test that, but not today..." She gasped and her eyes went wide while a smile crossed her lips. "It's simply amazing. To think half of Celestia's reason for sending me was your foolish attempt to cast dragon magic. Yet here you are, in the prime shape of your life. I wonder if its another abnormality in your cutiemark..."

Dusk's fingers shot to his own neck, stroking his cutiemark, suddenly gasping in realization that it was warm to the touch. "Celestia always said my talent was magic, I never really questioned her on that before." Silence droned between the two of them while Dusk was lost in thought. After a minute or so, Dusk looked at Cadence again and smiled. "So she wanted you to tell me off for using the dragon magic?" Dusk asked in a soft, yet sure, voice.'"

"She did." Cadence sighed as her eyes fell and her head shook softly. A hand touched his shoulder as she explained in a soft voice. "Dusk, even as an Alicorn when I try to cast that spell the drain it has on me is shocking. It creates a loop with the magic, the greater the distance the larger the loop. This loop requires a massive amount of magic to sustain, and I don't care how powerful your magic is these days. I agree with Celestia. Don't ever try casting it again unless its really a massive life and death matter." Her eyes locked with his in a sharp and steady gaze, waiting for him to relent.

Releasing a gentle sigh from his lips, Dusk blushed, rolled over, sat up properly, and rested his open palms upon his knees. "I understand Cadence, I promise I won't try it again. It really did hurt badly enough, and I would rather avoid going though that again." His eyes drifted away as he formed a warming smile. "I'm glad you were able to come today Cadence, it's good to have a stable friend around again." He sighed gently and happily as he watched her writing her notes.

Cadence's rich and ringing laughter at Dusk's words was warm yet echoing as she lowered her quill and smiled as she stroked her own jaw with gentle care. She turned to him, and spoke in a soft and easy voice fulled with teasing delight. "Oh come now. You already have some fantastic new friends, don't you? Rarity is a brilliant mind, a fine business woman and a great friend; Pinkie Pie somehow could manged to remain positive even during the worst of Night Moon's assault on Ponyville; Applejack and her brother put their lives on the line to rush into the hall to rescue you and Shining Armor during the worst of the fighting; and Dash went one on one with Nightmare Moon, plus she clearly is after you, this afternoon with Scootaloo made that clear." When Dusk blushed she offered her own light shrug. "I get the feeling you've got a fantastic new group of friends."

Dusk blushed gently, her words were warming, yet he let a slow sigh whispered from his lips as he smiled quietly but shook his head gently. "Rarity... reminds me of why I shouldn't let my experiences with Sunset rule my future. I love her, she really brings light to my day." At her grin his blush deepened and he dipped his head a little again but kept smiling as he sat up properly once more. "Pinkie is a bundle of crazy, but quite fun because of that. Applejack? I've never had a more reliable and supportive friend, even as she suggested the other day she wants more..." And here he grinned and winked at her. "Apparently I am 'quite the catch' according to both her and Rarity."

Together they both shared a warm laugh at this, even as Dusk realized she was silently crying a little, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand and offering a warm grin. "How right they are." A silent wistful sigh escaped her lips as he gently tapped his cheek. "Almost as good as your brother." She quickly changed the subject and leaned forward, "What about Dash?" She quipped with a grin and a playful wink.

Dusk laughed gently, and his own warm smile broadened in return. "She is young, and needs to deal with some more of the realities of life, but otherwise? She really is quite a charming girl, and her dreams soar as high as she flies. It's really quite impressive just how much energy and excitement she puts into even her simple work with the weather team." He paused in thought for a moment then continued, "And then there is Fluttershy. She reminds me of you, with how much she loves to care for her animal charges." He let the conversation drop off, standing up and walking gently to her side, a hand placed to rest softly on her shoulder, and squeezing gently. "Thank you for your attention to my life and that of my friends. But what about you. Has Shining ..." He paused and smiled when she froze up, realizing what her body language said instantly. "Well know that I love you Cadence. I will do any thing I can make up all you've done for me." As she blushed and relaxed a little, Dusk wrapped arms around her neck, hugging her close. "I love you Cadence." A kiss gently placed on her cheek he stepped into the adjacent bathroom, the dry mud would require some scrubbing to remove.

Hours later, a fine dinner still lingered on her lips, as Cadence watched the Moon's rise in silence while her guard carried the chariot across the night sky. Empire Wing guided the team as they flew into the courtyard of Celestia's palace, the torchlight lit up their landing in a flickering eerie glow. Yet as she stepped down from the chariot and turned to thank the old knight for his hard work, a figure behind his back caused her to pause, and her eyes to go wide. Lingering behind her champion, Luna's black robe made her nearly invisible against the dark and starless night. Rather then linger on the presence waiting for her, Cadence stepped forward, gently grasping the stallion's hand and smiling warmly to him. "It's been a pleasure to have your company again, Empire. Please, think of me if you ever want some company."

Elder Guard laughed warmly and shook his head. "You act as if I'm some old stallion about to be put out to pasture. Don't worry." The conversation paused as he grinned at the snickering of his younger companions. "Now it appears you have a guest. You don't have to worry about being polite to us, clearly she needs to talk." With ease he shooed her away, returning to his men and shouting orders with calm confidence. "Zephyr, Arctic Gust. Take the trainee's and polish the chariot before putting it away. Make sure to leave notes for the engineer about the fraying harness and the cracked runner. And warn the colt I'll be back in two days to make sure its repaired properly this time, no more patch jobs with varnish to hide the wear and tear. The rest of you enjoy your night off, but remember we are scheduled to race the Wonderbolts chariot team next week. I expect you all here tomorrow afternoon for practice."

Out of excuses to put if off Cadence turned from the guards and stepped towards Luna who awaited her in silence at the edge of the torchlight. Cloaked by its shadow she realized that four of her own honor guard waited watching everything around them in silence, the black batwings and... "They finished all four sets of armor already? It's fantastic Princess Luna. I... I think your guards really stand out as their own force now." The lack of a response made her swallow sharply, talking a few light steps forward, eyes probing for what was keeping the princess silent.

Luna stepped forward from the shadows, her eyes bloodshot and breath short. A hand reached out and sharply gripped the younger Alicorn's wrist, when she spoke, her voice was shaky and low. "We hast not the time f'r sweet words great niece. The beast is knocking at the do'r and thou ne'd to be prepar'd."

Author's Notes:

And at last, our last major Interlude of Season 1 ends. More will come as the story progresses but after this they will not be as major a part. So what do you guys think? Enjoying the shape things are taking? Feel free to discuss below but please, try to leave direct spoilers out or at least use the spoiler tag [ spoiler ] and [ /spoiler ] so you don't reveal too much to others!

See you all next time in Apple Bucking Season, Space Cowboy!