My Faithful Student, Dusk Shine,

This letter shall be brief, but know that I take your questions seriously. Find enclosed all I have been able to acquire and document about the mare, Beatrix Lulamoon. I can only hope it offers you some insight into the reasons behind my initial protective response to her presence, and some clue that might help us track her down and prove we wish her no harm. I must go now, Cloudsdale prepares to deal with two aggressive feral dragons who are attempting to set up hordes in our land.

Dusk's fingers shook a little as he lowered the letter, looking at the notebook that had come in the same delivery, leaving poor Barb curled up half in Rarity’s lap with mild but persistent indigestion. The mare was quietly oiling the dragoness' back scales to help take her mind off her upset stomach. It was her voice that made Dusk look up from the letter, and away from the notebook, the question asked with a tone attempting to hide her worry. "Do certain packages often cause your stomach to ache? Or is it just too much? I'm sure if we told Princess Celestia, she wouldn't overwork your magic so much that it makes you ill, Barb."

Happily groaning at the back massage, and the oil that was making her rough scales smooth and removing the knots from her shoulders, Barb had to suppress a burp, and shook her head. "It's something to do with sending certain metals. Tasty kinds like gold and silver don’t bug me, and usually even junkier metals like lead and aluminum aren't bad. But, every once in a while, they just give me a grumpy tummy. Especially if it’s rusty. Thanks for the attention, Rarity."

Meeting Dusk’s gaze, Rarity's own spoke volumes about this not being over. Dusk shook his head, leaning forward to stroke the dragoness' spines, reassuring her that he was still watching. "We figured that out a few years ago, but I guess when Princess Celestia is too busy or distracted, like she is now with these marauding dragons, she forgets to double check for such metals. I'll try to find a way to politely remind her about that when I reply."

That did it, Dusk could see the small ways that Rarity relaxed, while still doting over the young dragon. Turning his focus back to the notebook, Dusk swallowed back his fears and flipped to the first page.

"Observation reports of student 'Beatrix Lulamoon' prior to her 15th birthday are few and far between. She was primarily notable for being a 'D' grade student, up until this time. There have been a few incidents of fighting with other students, but nothing to a degree worth investigating. With her recent challenge of the third and fourth year exams in the last three weeks, I have investigated the library’s records and found she has recently switched study groups. Five days before her birthday, December 17th, she is recorded joining the fourth year study class lead by Moon Dancer, despite being only half way through her third year courses. While she continues to join their group on occasion, she has signed in with other study groups, making no effort to appear with anyone regularly. She has also made no attempts to access the library’s sealed section, but I will endeavor to keep a personal eye on her activities inside my halls.

Dusk felt his throat running dry as he read, but he resisted the urge, the distraction. His father’s report. In his father's handwriting. Six months before he had ever met Trixie. For a moment, he wondered if there were reports like this about him. Then the image of Lyra, refusing to give him a straight answer returned. "Of course they had such reports on me. I was the youngest to ever be accepted into Starswirl University. They probably have records going back..." He realized just how far back that really was, yet his lips twisted into a small grin. "Whoever reported on me must have had quite the boring job. After all, I was quiet and mostly devoted to my study until Sunset Shimmer showed up. And even that wasn't for nearly ten years after my cutie mark. At least Barb would have made for some interesting reports."

Dusk slowly flipped to the next page in the notebook, his eyes reading over the new note. Written in a different hand, this was more like a list of small details that had worried the writer:

-Has few/no friends in school, yet also little to no run-ins with bullying elements.

-Despite repeated and various study groups, she spends the least amount of time in study, yet has shown growth surpassing any displayed by Dusk and Sunset Shimmer.

-Has proven to be able to respond to any question pressed upon her in classroom testing, even on topics not yet covered by said class.

-Has recently requested entrance into the most advanced placement classes, and aced the entrance exams.

-Extreme display of quick study and growing knowledge. Recommend for Princess Celestia’s private lessons. Dusk could use the extra company.

Again, Dusk wondered at the handwriting, his eye following the curve of the C and the loop of the E in Princess Celestia’s name. He was sure he knew this writer, but it had been years, and he struggled to place it. Then as he thought about the final note, it dawned on him. “Fairweather, the teacher for the advanced courses in magic theory. She had always encouraged me to spend time with other students, not just Sunset Shimmer. She had been the one who encouraged Princess Celestia to push me into joining the school’s Athletics Program as well. She had the slightest little tick when she wrote, putting extra curls on her letters.” It all made sense to Dusk now. No wonder Trixie had joined their private study class. That level of growth, her mastery of concepts in so little time. She must have appeared to be a blessed child finally realizing her gift.

As Dusk read on, a picture shaped. All the notes, letters and comments added new voices to the picture, new eyes to the situation. And the growing image was clear, even as Dusk forced himself to separate his brief history with Trixie from the story weaved before his eyes. The picture was of a mare, a bit of an outsider, yet one who craved attention. A little arrogant, yet talented with magic, and a rising star. And then one of the final notes, clearly a nail in the coffin. It was Trixie’s test results from her final exam. The note scribbled at the bottom was from yet another teacher, one who had a very shaky hand.

“Princess, is this some kind of joke? I have watched her in class, and she has never had so much trouble with magic. I can still hear her frustrated sobs as she stood alone in the isolation cell, hardly able to cast her second year spells. My heart goes out to the mare, but how can somepony who achieved a flawless score on the written exam fail the practical?”

The second-to-last note made Dusk’s heart jump into his throat. It was a report from two Canterlot guard officers who had witnessed a mare resembling Trixie fleeing from a noble’s house, later revealed to be her parents’ own home. And the last report where they had admitted to throwing her out and refusing to acknowledge her as their child when they were later interviewed by guards searching for her… it was all he could do not to shudder in revulsion.

Dusk knew it all now. It made so much sense. Already, he could feel his hands instinctively drawing up a quill and parchment. He would try to fill in the blanks as best he could. It was the least he could do for Trixie. His pen worked swiftly, and when Rarity returned to his study with a daisy salad, he put the drying letter aside, while he smiled up at the mare and wrapped his hands around her hips. “We have an answer now. It’s a sad one, but I’ve found it.”

Smiling down at him, and accepting his hug, Rarity slipped into his lap and started brushing his hair with strokes of her fingers. Reading carefully, Rarity scanned the letter for the princess, and she looked back to him, restraining a frown. “But no answers as to where she has gone now? Such a shame, if we could track her down, she-”

Dusk swallowed a mouthful, shaking his head a little and resting it on her shoulder, his own voice worn. “If her talent extends as far as I believe, she might be the greatest ally we’d ever have: bright and adaptable; able to copy anything we showed her once. But we’ve lost her trust, and lost any track of her. I can only hope the princesses will take my final recommendation seriously: To let me handle her, should she ever return.”

Rarity smoothed his hair back and nodded, resting her head to his own and giving him a nod. “I wish I had a better answer, Dusk. But you’re right. I can’t even imagine the fear she must be feeling even now, alone and far away from everypony who has ever cared for her.” She fell silent, and shook her head. “But then, considering the situation with her family…”

Dusk gave a sigh and nodded, holding the mare close. “Exactly.”

Lyra cupped the teacup in both hands, letting the rich scent of her carefully selected blend of herbs waft into her nose. The smell alone opened her sinuses and lifted a heaviness from her shoulders. As she took her first sip, Bonbon slipped a package onto the kitchen table, her voice light and playful. "Glad you've finally come out of your room! I picked up these chocolate filled biscuits last time I was in Canterlot, care to share them with me?"

For a moment, Lyra was sure she had said no already. She could have sworn the words passed her lips, yet as she grabbed a second teacup from the shelf and joined her at the table, gently holding one of Lyra’s hands in her own, she realized different words were escaping from her lips. "Of course you can, it's your kitchen after all. Besides, I love chocolate cream-filled biscuits." Before Lyra could piece together the inconsistency between her words and deeds, Bonbon sat down beside her and poured herself a cup of the still steaming hot tea.

Peeling open the package, Bonbon took one of the crumbly biscuits from the tray, chewing gently before she took a sip from her cup. Shocked at the strength of the tea Lyra was casually sipping, she looked up to the taller mare. "Oh my! And here I thought you were just having a calming afternoon tea. What's in this!??"

Grinning unabashedly to her host, Lyra gave a shrug. "I guess I'm just used to stronger stuff. It's a blend my athletics trainer back at SSU brewed up. Good for soothing stressed muscles and driving off fatigue."

Intrigued by the hint of background to her visitor’s life, Bonbon leaned in, sipping again at her tea before finishing off her first biscuit. When her mouth was clear she spoke up again. "Oh! I think I know what you mean. When I'm recording longer parts, we use a similar blend to help keep our voices from cracking. You'd never realize how draining it can be recording lines, hour after hour." Another sip swallowed, she offered the mare a grin. "So, an athlete? Makes sense. As tall and strong as you are, I'd imagine you could put on quite a display in competition."

Lyra found herself flustered, even blushing, as Bonbon rested a hand on top of her own. Looking down into the mare’s eyes, she wondered if she saw something more calling to her from those eyes. Unable to hide from the conversation before her, Lyra gave Bonbon a shrug, and a nod. "Ahh. Never had a chance to talk with somepony who works in movies, but it’s funny how sometimes things work out that way. So similar a drink, for quite different uses." A growing sense of discomfort in her loins made Lyra look again to her host, her knees rubbing against one another as she tried to distract her body from the attractive mare who smiled up at her. "I admit, I did a lot of classes with those who were training to be part of the royal guard. But I'm feeling pretty out of shape these days, without a proper coach or spotter for support. Not even a decent gym. Kinda makes a mare feel out of sorts."

Bonbon leaned forward, a hand stroking over Lyra's kneecap, draining Lyra of all her resistance with that distracting need. "Now, now! I can be great company. I've never coached a mare before, but I'd be happy to spot you. And the twins maintain a decent little gym in the spa, so if you want to work out, just ask!"

Breaking her eye contact with Bonbon to try and distract herself from the growing feeling of lust she couldn’t properly hide. She was glad for the strong scent of the tea, and the table helping to hide her bodies powerful response. "I... well, yes. I'd really like to get out and work out. I've been feeling so pent up as of late. The spa, you say? Maybe I'll go there this afternoon again and ask." She swallowed back a knot in her throat, before lifting Bonbon's invading hand from her knee, squeezing it greatfully. "Thanks! Maybe when I start exercising again, you'll be free to keep me company."

Somehow slipping from Lyra’s grip, Bonbon hopped half into her lap, and hugged her tightly around her neck. "Never a problem! I like helpi..n..g... oh-"

Flustered at her discovery, Bonbon's voice fell off, and drifted away. That was the part that hurt the most: the look of confusion, almost always followed by embarrassment or disgust. Just as embarrassed at getting caught so easily, Lyra pulled out of hir chair and adjusted hir skirt down as far as it would go, while rushing from the house. Shi had been caught again. Why did hir hormones have to go so wild when a cute mare gave hir any affection. It wasn't even hir heat, that had ended a few weeks ago. Standing alone in silence against a random house off the main streets, Lyra found hirself sobbing; shi just wanted somepony who understood. Somepony that knew who shi really was. Minuette was out of the question. Not just because she was running her tobacco stand, nor because of the fight they had that morning, the memory still leaving a bitter taste in hir mouth. Shi was Minuette's superior, and couldn't go running to the half-trained mare for support, whatever their sexual relationship. The memory of hir trip to the spa with Minuette returned. The twins had walked in on hir in the baths, and never even blinked an eye. That was the kind of understanding shi needed right now. Checking for hir coin purse, Lyra turned, heading for the spa.

Dusk was gasping for breath as Dash turned away, running off towards city hall, her happy voice still teasing him. "Well, Dusk! I'm off to check the weather schedule for the next two weeks. Gotta keep things on schedule. Then it's back to training. I am going to win my first Running of the Leaves! Go catch a break, I'll get you in shape some other day!"

Sore everywhere, Dusk still wasn't fully sure what Rainbow Dash had been thinking. Instead of the usual jog they went for, Dash had come prepared for war, and keeping up with the new pace she had set was a totally different challenge now that she was in competitive mode, even worse than when Gilda had been with them. Every joint in his body ached, and he was suddenly very happy that Applejack was so busy with work on the farm today. Cider brewing season, she had said, was Big Mac's job. However, she felt guilty for being so busy so much lately and wanted to make things up to her brother.

Now Dusk was free, and he knew exactly what he wanted now. The spa was open, and a soak in one of their natural sprIngs sounded like a perfect fit. Besides, he could use an easier workout today. With AJ busy, that meant he could have a lighter workout in the spa, rather than chopping firewood or whatever core AJ would have come up with to challenge him again today.

The wafting of warm air in his face as he pushed the spa door open told Dusk he had made the right choice. Aloe leaned against the counter, her slender frame hidden under one of the bulky spa robes. The white and fluffy wool looked luxurious, and was made only doubly so on the mare behind the counter. If the mare had lived in Canterlot, she probably would have been a model. As she was one of the two madams who ran Ponyville's only brothel, she looked radiant, her light aqua blue hair tied back into a heavy ponytail with a single white ribbon to hold it together.

Quick to look up when he stepped through the door, Aloe arched an eyebrow, clearly inspecting his sweat-soaked hair and clothing. An expert hostess, she was around the counter and offering him water from the chilled tankard kept behind the desk. "Why hello, Dusk. We've never had the pleasure of your company alone. Are your mares catching up, or are you here for some... private relaxation?"

Shocked at her earnest tone and the suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows, somehow perfectly matched by her hips’ sway, even with the bulky robe covering her body, Dusk accepted the water and took several deep sips to sooth his parched throat before finally answering her. "Not today, Aloe, as inviting as the offer is. I have plenty of that kind of company at home. I'm only here to use your weight room, and maybe a bath afterwards. Rainbow Dash is training for the Running of the Leaves, and I'm clearly never going to survive as her jogging buddy."

Putting her arms around his own and nodding to one of the three mares who waited behind a curtain watching for a stallion in need of company, Aloe turned her full and sensual lips into a deep pout, gazing up at him while leading the way back to the gym. "Oh, but Dusk! You can't let those two occupy all of your free time. A potent stallion with good breeding like yourself should be sharing his seed with other mares in need of a real stallion. Maybe Lotus was right: We should offer Rarity a stud fee the next time we go into heat. You don't mind, do you?"

Dusk might have been laughing with the mare, if it wasn't for the fact she wasn't the first to ask him since coming to Ponyville about a studding fee. The practice was common enough in smaller towns, he remembered that from sociology courses at SSU. It kept the gene pool healthy and strong if a visiting stallion or even a newcomer to town shared his seed, and there were plenty of fillyfooler couples who wanted a child of their own. In an odd way, it made sense. The stud price removed any question of parentage outside of extreme circumstances, and it kept a stallion from taking on more mares than his herd could support, avoiding excessive rivalries or bitter feuds. Mostly.

"I will not say that's never going to happen, Aloe. But I am happy, and I don't need the money. Besides, stud price or no stud price, I'm not ready to be a father."

The mare’s pouting was far more realistic this time as she rest her cheek to his bicep. "I know, Dusk. But a mare has to try. Ponyville has almost no eligible bachelors left, and you’d make a fantastic stud. You probably tested a 30? 40% chance of siring a colt, right?"

Dusk shook his head. "I never got tested. It wasn’t something I ever spared time to think about."

Shocked for a moment, Aloe pulled herself back together quickly, speaking her thoughts as she mentally caught up with him. "As Princess Celestia's chosen student, you were probably constantly bogged down with a mix of duty and studies. Thus little free time for a marefriend." When he gave her a nod she pressed on. "Still, should you ever want to know, we'd be happy to help collect the sample. The new hospital acquisitioned the potency machine we had been using. Now that they aren't restricted to their old facilities, they have the space for that kind of 'healthcare'." Laughing playfully up to him, Aloe stopped, rapping her knuckles on the door of the spa's small gym. "Sister? Dusk was looking to use the weight room, care for the company?"

From the other side of the door, an identical voice giggle at the implication of why Aloe had knocked before entering and called back. "Oh please, sis. In the gym? That's jus-..." Lotus' voice fell off and silence prevailed for nearly a minute.

The door was suddenly pulled open and a sweat-soaked Lyra looked down to Dusk. "I came here for privacy, Dusk. Can you promise none of your family’s damn inquisitive questions?"

Shocked, and a little taken back by the gruff nature and presence of the older unicorn mare, Dusk instantly had a thousand questions rush to his lips... and he clamped them off just as quickly. With a single easy nod of his head he untangled himself from Aloe's arms and stepped up to the door. "By my word, I will ask only one question now and none after." He felt her glare digging into his eyes, but at last she slowly nodded. "Have you received a letter from the Princess yet? With the dragons keeping them busy, I have a feeling it might delay your mail."

Lyra was quiet for a moment, then pushed open the door and turned her back to Dusk, walking back into the gym. His real question was clear and she answered him in a restrained tone. "No mail. No word at all. It's why I came here. Now be quiet and we will get along, all right?"

Watching the mare as she returned to the workout mats where Lotus stood with two pairs of jump ropes, watching them both, Dusk couldn’t dismiss the questions her mood created. Walking with Aloe to the small weight room, he forced his mind back to the weight routine AJ had made him memorize for when she wasn't available. As Aloe started to select a few dumbbells, he realized she had planned to stay. "I don’t plan a very heavy routine, you don’t have to stay and watch."

Laughing playfully, Aloe removed her robe and revealed her naked form to him. Without a hint of shame, she walked over to her gym bag by the door. After getting dressed in a light pair of jogging shorts and an even thinner T-shirt she pulled from her bag, she smiled at him and responded. "And miss the show? Please, we rarely get stallions in the gym who weren't sent here for physiotherapy by Redheart or her staff."

Still a little shocked at the sight of Aloe’s naked nethers and smooth back, Dusk attempted to distract himself by forcing his body to settle into AJ’s routine. Dusk selected weights and began with arm curls, all the while stretching his lower body. He already knew he would be stiff from running with Rainbow Dash, but any way to keep his tired muscles from screaming at him right now was worth it. Aloe fell in at his side, copying his workout, but as an earth mare, she had taken up thirty pounders, compared to Dusk’s twenties.

Minuette’s hands were sore from the blowing cold, but a good salesmare didn’t wear gloves, it ruined her ability to display sale items. She might not be a professional, but her relatives really did run a shop, and she had been taught years ago to properly help out from even a very young age. Her cover story wouldn’t last any longer, autumn had come, and classes at SSU were starting up again. “Not to mention, ‘Summer job selling tobacco for her uncle’ sounds silly now.”

A voice from behind made her jump, even as she realized it was only Bonbon, her landlady. “Minuette! Minuette. I need to talk to you, right now.”

Bonbon had approached her from the thin aisle between booths in the marketplace, her too-thin fall coat hadn’t been zipped up against the chill, not that it appeared that Bonbon had noticed. A smile stapled on, Minuette gave her a wave and motioned for her to join her in the stall, the tent’s walls offering some resistance to the wind. “Of course, of course Bonbon! Come on in, nopony is around in this chill weather anyways. What’s the matter? Why aren’t you properly dressed? Did something happen with one of your movies?”

Bonbon leaned in close once inside the tent, her voice dropping low and her wild eyes didn’t hide her … fear? Worry? Minuette couldn’t tell. “Minuette it’s- I-” Several times, Bonbon attempted to say the words. To ask the mare. And yet it all felt so rude, so inappropriate to talk about, even with so few other ponies around. Besides, the tent walls were only thin canvas, and the wind wasn’t blowing that hard, anypony could overhear her if they tried. Starting again, she leaned in closer, until she was nearly whispering into the younger mare’s ear. “It’s your cousin. She- we- Well, she left the house in quite a rush after I walked in on her changing, if you understand.”

There was a moment of silence as Minuette was at a loss for words, and then slowly reached out, squeezing Bonbon’s wrist. “You didn’t say anything to anypony else about this?”

Bonbon squeaked a little at Minuette’s firm grip, but tried to ignore the pain, and shook her head. “Nopony. It… it would have been rude. I wanted to apologize to her. To make sure she understands I didn’t mean any offense. Most of all, after what must have happened when her stallion found out. But…”

Minuette was quiet for another minute as she thought. There really was only two places Lyra would go. Relaxing her grip on Bonbon’s wrist and moving to shut down her booth, Minuette talked as she worked. “She might have gone to the train station. With her magic, she could have hopped one of the express trains out of town without waiting for one that stopped. I’ll go there. If I don’t find her, then I’ll come find you at the twin’s spa.”

Confused, but having found at least some answer, Bonbon gave a nod. “The spa? Why there?”

Minuette gave a shrug. “It’s the stress. All that has happened lately, and now she hasn’t gotten a single letter of reply from anypony in Canterlot. It’s got to be driving her up the wall. She use to work out in the gym in Canterlot to help deal with stress. That’s our best bet.”

With an answer in hand, Bonbon didn’t wait for Minuette to finish packing up her booth. Turning to run off to the spa, she paused for just one moment, she needed to ask the younger mare a question. “Is she really your cousin? Or just a friend who needed somepony who understood her?”

Minuette saw bad lies about to crumble before her, and gave a sigh. A truthful answer was sometimes easier. “She’s more than just a friend, Bonbon. But that isn’t important right now. Go on. We can talk more later.”

"Twenty-two!" Dusk didn’t remember when he had started competing with Lyra, yet now as they lay on twin benches, each bench pressing bars with heavier and heavier weights on the end, while the twins Aloe and Lotus egged them both on even further. Dusk's breathing was ragged, his arms felt like lead and he hadn’t felt more exhausted the whole time he was running with Dash, but he couldn’t hide the exhilaration, the laughter, or the grin.

Lyra wasn’t smiling. Shi was in it to win and kept a straight face even when Lotus toweled hir forehead dry and pushed the straw from a water bottle into hir lips. Swallowing a mouthful and panting for breath, shi called back to Dusk, hir voice revealing just a hint of pride. "Twenty-nine. Keep up or give up."

Sucking air between his clenched teeth, Dusk gave his final push, lifting the bar and counting with each reputation. "Twenty-three... Twenty-four... Twenty-five!"

Distracted by the weight of the bar in hir hands, Lyra never noticed that somepony new had entered the gym until Lotus' hands disappeared from her spotter position. Suddenly, Bonbon stood over hir, having replaced the spa mare, when shi was distracted. Freezing halfway through hir next rep, Lyra’s jaw went slack, and fear roared in hir mind. "Wha-"

Bonbon leaned in, her hands catching the barbell when Lyra nearly managed to drop it. Smiling down to the mare, she tried to cheer her into continuing. "Come on, Lyra! You can't let him win, right?"

Still half-frozen between shock and anger, it was hir screaming muscles that won Lyra over. As Bonbon helped hir quickly move the bar back to its starting position, Lyra hunted for any clue what game the mare was playing at in Bonbon's face. Yet despite hir best efforts, all shi saw was an easy smile and the determination that shone in those cheerful eyes. "Ignore. Push on. Continue. She will reveal her real intent. They always do." Returning to the challenge, Lyra did another rep, hir voice firm, almost challenging Bonbon with hir fierce tone."Forty!"

The groan from Dusk as he struggled to complete another rep might have been words, but it was more a throaty gurgling noise. Forcing the bar back up and dropping the weight to the rest bar, only with Aloe's help, Dusk collapsed, his limbs splayed out and his breath a wheezing hiss. When he couldn’t manage to declare his final number, Aloe and Lotus called out together at once. "Forty-three!"

Lyra found Bonbon calling hir reps out for hir, and soon hir straining arms began to strain with the effort. Blinded by hir own sweat, Lyra joined Bonbon in calling out the final count, before lowering the bar to its rest. "Fifty."

Dusk had recovered somewhat during this downtime, with assistance from the twins with a splash of water or two in his face and a much smaller sip of water to refresh his strained throat. Supported by the twins' hands, who were already getting a little too friendly with his soaked hair and strained chest muscles, he gave Lyra a nod. "You win, you win! Dear Celestia, just stop before my arms fall off. Aloe, send me her bill. Send me her bill for the month." Giving Lyra a friendly nod, he felt surrender was the best answer. "I remember you spent so much time with Shining and those who were training with the guards. I never knew that you had trained this hard. I've been under Applejack's thumb for three months now, and you make me feel like I was still recovering from Nightmare Moon." When she only glared at his charity, Dusk threw away the towel he had been using to dry his face with at Lotus, who had started trying to fondle his pecs. "Look, Lyra, I'm trying to say we can be friends. Or at the very least, we can be friendly rivals, right?"

Lyra suppressed a throaty growl, and was about to turn hir head to look away from Dusk, when Bonbon wrapped her arms around Lyra's neck and gave Dusk a nod. "She is happy to accept your good-natured gesture. Thanks, Dusk. Now we are off to one of the hot baths before she gets more wound up. As stiff as she is now, she might turn to stone at this rate!"

Lyra was shocked at how shi had somehow been guided by Bonbon. The mare talked softly, but kept the topic light and polite, focusing mainly on how well Lyra had done and what good shape shi was in. And her comments on Lyra’s body were considerate and avoided the elephant in the room. It was only when the door of the private bath was locked that the fog thinned out and hir brain kicked back into gear. Crossing hir arms over hir chest and leveling a glare at the mare, shi cleared hir throat. “Just… just stop, Bonbon. Why? Why are you here? Why are you smiling? Why did you step in and interrupt me while I was crushing Dusk… And why... why... why haven't you said a single damn word about what I know you really want to ask!?”

Quiet and calm, Bonbon stepped up to the hooks on the wall, her thin gym shirt and shorts peeled off, before one of the heavier woolen robes was pulled on, and the rope tied over her belly. When she turned back, and saw the glare aimed at her, Bonbon shook her head. “First, I am here because you have had a bad time. I hate to see a friend having a bad time. Second, I’m smiling because it makes me happy to try and help friends out. Those two should cover the rest of the questions. Oh and on that last one? Because it’s none of my damn business. Friend or not, your body is yours. Now, are you going to get into the bath, or do I have to toss you in?”

Lyra stood with arms crossed over hir chest the whole time, yet as Bonbon’s friendly threat came up, shi realized the mare was serious. And smaller than hir or not, Lyra knew that she could carry through with that threat. Turning her head away and stripping in the middle of the room, Lyra left the special leather reinforced groin protector in place, climbing into the bath and glaring back at the earth mare. “Alright. I’m in the bath. And you’re still here. And we’re not friends. Is that a good start?”

Bonbon opened the icebox in the wall, and removed a heavy clay tankard of water. She paused, looking back over to the taller mare, a question nagging her. “Water or Wine? It’s Dusk’s treat, and they carry some decent wine here. And why do you get to decide we aren’t friends? I see a mare who’s had far worse problems than I’ve ever had, and I see she needs a friend. So I’m making you mine and that’s that.”

Lyra had to give Bonbon all the marks for determination. Shi was running out of ways to say ‘bugger off’. Fingers working quietly under the water, shi removed the uncomfortable, restraining belt. Lifting hir hips, she slipped the hated thing out of the water, laying it on the edge of the tub. The hot water did help, sore muscles and a headache were both melting away under the roaring heat. “Just… Fine! The wine.”

Bonbon grinned and gave a thin bell cord near the icebox a pull. When the other side of the chest opened and a mare smiled in at her, she placed her order quickly. “The house white, please. And some cheese. And the heating back massage oils. You know, the number nine.”

Whatever her order was, Lyra watched as it was passed through the icebox only a minute or two later. The tray had two wine glasses, with a matching tankard, a small plate with a thin selection of cheese, already cubed, and a small bronze cup with a sealed lid. Now shi was full of more questions, but could already guess one. “I take it the labor board always has requests for healthy, attractive young mares to work at the spa? Both the front of the house and the back, right?”

Bonbon wasn’t ashamed of her past, but she still blushed a little, placing the tray on the edge of the baths on the other side of Lyra, away from the leather ‘belt’. Sitting on the edge of the bath behind Lyra, she shrugged before answering. “It’s not a bad life. The clinic gave you a much more detailed checkup first. You had to go over your sexual history next, with a unicorn present to make sure you weren’t lying. After that, they made you get weekly checkups, but they paid better than anyone else, and your job, nine times out of ten, was simply to give a lonely pony some company. A mare in heat who needed relief, or a stallion who wanted company without attachments. Most mares don’t stick around for long though, as good as the pay is.”

Lyra stood up in the bath, turning to face Bonbon, hir flaccid shaft hanging before the older mare’s face. “And me?”

Bonbon again simply shrugged, pouring the white wine into a glass and handing it up to Lyra while quietly inspecting the mare’s unique features for a moment, the whole time looking only mildly interested. “And you are Lyra. Now sit down and drink your wine. I’m not here to ogle at what Celestia gave you, unless you’re really itching to have number nine poured on your junk. And just so you know, number nine is the kind that doesn’t wash off in the water.”

Lyra couldn’t help hirself. Shi had to smile. And sit down. Shi had made the mistake once, and only once, of using rubbing oil as lubricant when shi masturbated. The heat and tingle in such a sensitive location had been fun at first but... Up to hir shoulders in the water again, shi took the offered wine glass, sipping from it while watching Bonbon’s calm and friendly smile. At last she gave in, and lowered part of her guard. “Alright, Bonbon. With threats like that, I think we can be friends.”

Bonbon broke out in warm laughter, and put a hand out, shaking Lyra’s own when shi accepted it. “Friends it is, Lyra.”

Dusk rolled over in bed, the sense of magic permeated the air, its nagging presence had roused him from a bitter sleep. Even after the twins had gone and found Rarity, his body ached from overwork, arms and legs in competition to claim the title. Barb's steps on the staircase ended the debate. This much magic this late meant a letter from the princess. "An urgent one, if I had to guess."

Throwing off his thin bedsheet, Dusk wished AJ or Rarity had stayed over, but each mare had other matters that had kept them away, the company would have been appreciated. Now he limped his way to his bedroom door, all the while buttoning the first shirt he had been able to snatch up, a lazy gesture of his fingers lighting the candles about his room. Just barely able to hide a groan, he reached out and twisted the handle, leaving a blurry-eyed Barb knocking on thin air. Placing a hand on her head and scratching lightly at her scales, he spoke up. “Let me see the note.”

Still half-asleep, Barb shoved the coiled letter up into his hand before she pushed past him and climbed up into his bed, curling up in his blanket and using her tail as a pillow. For a moment, Dusk watched the sleepy dragoness and shook his head with fondness as she started to snore with a soft whistling tone. Then his gaze turned back to the letter, and his heart leapt into his throat. The paper was black. This was not a note. It was an order. A royal order.

Carefully snapping open the wax seal, Dusk rolled the paper open and read the letter quickly. His breath was released in a single exhausted sigh and he let his head fall forward to rest against the doorframe. “A third dragon has moved into the mountains north of Ponyville. With Cloudsdale and the Wonderbolts' main unit occupied far away, I charge you, Dusk Shine, and the Elements of Harmony, by any means necessary, to protect Ponyville and Canterlot. Drive the dragon from our land before it attempts to lay a claim, or it will begin attacking anypony in its range.”

Dusk’s fingers went limp. The paper fell free of his hand and he thumped his fist into the doorframe. “A dragon? Just… just drive off a dragon?!”

Raising his fist for a second blow, Dusk paused, his eyes went wide and he dropped to his knees, snatching up the paper . He read the line again, and in his mind opened a door to a new line of thought. “The Elements of Harmony. By any means. So this is our first official taste of battle.”

Author's Notes:

Our adventure continues!

First I'd like to welcome aboard Duelist, a new per-reader/editor to help shoulder the burden around a little. Along with Flamerz and Frankie, this has made things move quite smoothly.

Second, yes the use of shi/hir are on purpose. It's terminology for transgendered characters, so please try to be respectful, or at least not rude to one another in the comments.

Thanks for reading my friends, and I can't wait to see what you all think of my latest efforts!