Saturday, April 9th, 8pm, Bonbon’s Boarding House

Lyra sighed as shi stretched, looking down at the report in front of hir with some reluctance. Shi knew that Vinyl and Silken Flight would take it as it was, but something just didn’t feel right about it. It didn’t quite feel finished.

Rubbing hir neck, shi read through it one more time, eyes scanning the parchment rapidly. It covered all the important parts - who had discovered the hydra, where it had started going before finding Dusk, how Dusk had managed to halt its progress…

Shi sighed at that as shi rolled hir shoulders back, trying to dislodge the tension. It still seemed insane, something out of a faerie tale or a three sheets to the wind story, that Dusk had somehow managed to make the monster recoil, even if it had been temporary. Shi’d known that he was more powerful than the average unicorn, but for him to rival a full squad of the Guard’s battle unicorns? That was something else shi’d have to put in an inquiry about. Shi had to have been left out of some loop. Bad intel, incomplete intel, was almost worse than no intel. What was shi stepping into here, and how many bear traps were just out of sight?

Pushing those thoughts aside, Lyra opened a drawer on her desk and slipped the letter into a notebook, which she then placed on the bottom, under other assorted notebooks she kept as a distraction. Getting up from hir desk, she stretched again, popping a few joints. Shi’d deal with the rest of the report after shi’d cleared hir mind. Somehow when something exciting or stressful happened in Ponyville, Dusk always managed to be at the center of it, which meant there was always extra work for hir to do.

As shi walked into the common room, shi heard familiar humming. A smile finding its way to hir face, shi followed the comforting noise into the kitchen, and saw Bonbon standing at one of the counters. The mare’s back was to the door, and her tail was twitching from side to side in time with the song she was humming. Lyra leaned against the doorframe, content to just watch Bonbon bounce, for the moment.

In spite of all the extra work Dusk usually ended up causing for hir, shi still told hirself shi still had to thank him for getting hir stationed in Ponyville. Shi was also glad, grateful even, that Bonbon had been so adamant on becoming hir friend - and then more. Lyra’s fears that Bonbon would find hir disgusting had been completely wrong, and now shi was happier than shi’d been in a long time. Shi had… a home, not just the house, but in Bonbon's arms.

Pushing off the doorframe, shi remained quiet as shi sauntered up behind the oblivious mare, a gleeful smile on hir face. Waiting until Bonbon's tail twitched out of the way, an innocent enticement, Lyra wrapped hir arms around Bonbon’s waist and pulled the surprised mare into a tight hug. Smiling, shi burrowed hir face into Bonbon’s hair, flaring hir nostrils wide and enjoying the familiar candy-scented perfume of hir… marefriend. Yes, the scent hir marefriend always wore.

Giggling, the smaller mare pressed herself back into the hug for a moment, sighing before returning to what had been occupying her attention. Lyra looked up from Bonbon’s hair, and saw what had hir landlord so busy. She was wrapping candy up and bagging them. She already had a dozen bags put together, and looked like she had two dozen more waiting to be filled. Kissing her neck, Lyra finally voiced a question. “So who’s all the candy for?”

Bonbon’s trapped tail tried to move where Lyra had it pinned between them, succeeding instead in a snuggly wriggle. “Just putting together a ‘thank-you’ package for the squad of soldiers that came down. I still can’t believe there was a hydra that massive near Ponyville. If it had found the town…" Bonbon shivered for a moment, going silent.

Lyra squeezed the smaller mare in hir arms, comfort for comfort, before speaking. “Well, good thing that we have Dusk around, huh? Hard to believe the story the Guard was telling about him holding off the hydra on his own.”

Bonbon nodded slowly, having halted in her candy wrapping, a cold shiver running up Bonbon's spine and back against Lyra's front. “Lyra, it took over a dozen battle-trained unicorns - one of them the Captain of the Guard himself - to drive that thing off. How in the Light did Dusk manage to hold it off by himself?" She shook her head before her hands absently began to wrap the candy again, though Lyra didn't miss the light tremors in Bonbon's fingers.

Lyra didn’t respond for a long while, instead moving hir hands to massage Bonbon’s sides, curling around the soft, delicious curves. Shi wondered just how much to tell the mare, like every time something came up regarding hir real job in Ponyville. Shi bitterly hated not being able to tell Bonbon the real reason for staying in Ponyville, though by this point Lyra was sure shi’d fight as hard as shi could to remain here; the pull of this warm, cushy little mare was somehow greater, somehow hotter, than all the heat and grandeur of Canterlot. Keeping an eye on Dusk was all well and good, but Lyra was almost certain that there was more to the stallion than just being Celestia’s student. Something more worth watching out for, and something to help hold hir to Bonbon's side.

Realizing shi’d been silent for too long, Lyra clenched hir eyelids tightly and gave a careful sigh before replying. “I couldn’t tell you, I wasn’t there." She put a bit more pressure into her impromptu massage, caressing the stout earth pony strength beneath the comfortable softness, and pressed hir hips-- and more-- against Bonbon’s inviting flanks. “I know what I can tell you, though," shi continued after a moment, letting her lips trail hungrily along the side of Bonbon’s neck.

Humming happily, Bonbon wiggled her hips saucily back against her lover, before asking, voice arch and eager all at once, “Oh? And what’s that?”

Smirking, Lyra leaned in to Bonbon’s ear before whispering, “I could really go for some candy right about now.”

Bonbon’s eyes went wide for a moment, and she went stock still, hands clenching around her latest bag. “Wha- candy? That’s what you want? Lyra, I swear…" Bonbon let out a sad little puff of a sigh before going back to wrapping her candy, shoulders drooping slightly. She pulled a spoon out of a nearby drawer, before placing it negligently on the counter for Lyra. “I know you just like the filling anyways, so you only get one spoon-full of it." Her voice was rough with disappointment, and her tail had fallen still between the two of them.

With a wicked smile on hir face, Lyra picked up the spoon, looking over towards the big bowl of cream that Bonbon used to cover some of her candy. Scooping up a generous dollop, shi looked down at the dejected mare in front of hir. Poor, poor Bonbon, thought Lyra. I really am being mean; time to be sweet to my sweetie.

Lyra took her free hand off of Bonbon’s hip, and brought it lightly, carefully, up to the side of her neck, brushing aside some of the mare’s hair in careful flicks. When Bonbon's soft skin was clear, shi brought the spoon up and, with deliberate grace and hungry sureness, smeared the cream in a cool line following the contours of Bonbon’s neck. The gasp and sudden tensing of Bonbon’s body elicited a shiver of excitement from Lyra, and shi abruptly pressed hir hips forward, pinning the mare in place.

“Lyra!" Bonbon’s voice was shocked, almost a whine, and she put her hands on the counter for support, inadvertently pressing herself back against Lyra. Just as shi’d planned. “That’s cold! What are yo- oh…" Bonbon’s confusion melted into a soft moan when she felt Lyra’s demanding lips on her neck, sucking on her tingling skin and licking the cream off in teasing flicks of hir tongue. She ground her flank into Lyra’s heated groin, already feeling her lover’s arousal growing.

“You’re right," Lyra whispered into Bonbon’s neck, before rapidly kissing and sucking on it again, making sure shi had cleaned off the cream, breath hot over the moist trail. “I love the filling, especially when I can put it on my own little treat." Shi put the spoon down, and slipped hir hands up and into the bottom of Bonbon’s shirt, massaging her sides directly. Inhaling the candy scent of Bonbon’s hair again, Lyra gave a soft groan as shi felt Bonbon grind firmly back against hir. “So are you still busy?”

Bonbon reached a hand back for Lyra’s mane, burying her hand in it before moving Lyra’s head so she could kiss the side of hir jaw. Humming thoughtfully, Bonbon replied, “~Well, I guess I have some free time. The Guard are probably going to be here for another day or two. But didn’t Bronze ask you to talk to Thunderlane for her?" Bonbon cocked her head for a moment, her hand in Lyra’s hair massaging the taller mare’s scalp absently, leaving distracting little trails even as her question augured in. “Why did she ask you, anyways? You’d think she has plenty of soldiers to get in touch with him right now.”

Lyra froze for a moment before thinking up a quick answer, hating that shi had to lie to Bonbon. “I… guess it was because I was just nearby when things were starting to calm down. I was near the mayor’s building and Bronze just caught me." Lyra let one hand move up from Bonbon’s side, trailing a nail along her stomach and up to the underside of her bra-covered breasts, enjoying the feeling of the mare quivering in hir grasp; the sweetness of myriad scents intermingling. “So, you said you had some free time?" Lyra brushed hir tongue along the edge of Bonbon’s ear, feeling the mare shudder again.

Suddenly, Bonbon whirled around in Lyra’s grasp, surprising the unicorn. Before Lyra could pull back, or even decide to do so, Bonbon had grabbed hir wrists and placed hir hands on her ass, inhaling sharply when Lyra reflexively squeezed. Meeting Lyra’s hopeful gaze, Bonbon let a smirk of her own reach her lips, her eyes glinting hungrily. “Couch. Now.”

Nearly an hour later, at Thunderlane’s place

“If I never see another hydra again, it’ll be too soon," Thunderlane groaned as he slumped down next to Cloudchaser while looking down at the report that Bronze had asked him to write up. It detailed whom he’d sent for help and where, listing all the ponies that had been involved from the moment she’d arrived at his door until the Guard had taken over security regarding the hydra, and any other relevant information he could think of. The last he’d heard of the monster, it had been redirected further into the Everfree Forest.

Flitter shrugged from where she stood by the stove, watching the soup while she buttered some bread. “I’m just glad it’s gone. Did you hear what they said about Dusk, though?" She shivered briefly, then looked back at the table, where Thunderlane and her sister sat. “I heard he was able to hold off the hydra by himself for a bit.”

Cloudchaser nodded, sitting close to Thunderlane. Her head was tilted to the side so she could read Thunderlane’s report from where she sat. When she finished, she leaned her head against Thunderlane’s shoulder before replying. “That’s what I heard, but it just seems so… can one unicorn really be that strong? It took that whole group from the Guard and the ‘Bolts to drive it off, and even then it was a strain for them, from what I saw." She sighed, rubbing her cheek comfortably against Thunderlane’s shoulder and slipping an arm around his waist, almost possessively.

Thunderlane let out a heavy breath before going back over the events of the day. All he’d wanted to do today was go and buy some groceries. Then the twins had popped up out of nowhere, started acting even more flirty than usual, not that he was objecting, and had taken charge of his simple grocery run. They’d co-opted his kitchen, booted him out, and cooked up what had been a mouth-watering meal. Then, almost as casually as if she had just dropped by to chat, Flitter had left to take care of her job at the school, leaving Thunderlane alone with Cloudchaser. To top that off, Bronze had shown up with news of the hydra, and the day had quickly become a mess. Or messier. Had the last mess stopped? Was this why Dash napped all the time?

And now, Cloudchaser and Flitter were still here; still fussing around him and the kitchen. If he was honest with himself, though, Thunderlane couldn’t complain. He never could find it in himself to say no to the pair, though he had to wonder what they were up to this time. They weren't just flirting, they were… serious. As serious as the hydra. If it had been any other mare, let alone mares, he'd have felt hemmed in-- they were in his space, both the kitchen and personal. This would have been talk-about-the-future territory for anyone else, but Thunderlane was used to their odd antics by now. Maybe, he figured they just need help with a particularly large project for one of their part-time jobs? Strangely, however, they seemed more relaxed than when they usually tried to bribe him. Like he'd already said yes, but -- they seemed to keep ‘accidentally’ brushing their wings against him, like that one night when they were out under the stars near Fillydelphia.

Taking a deep breath, Thunderlane steeled himself, as though for a launch or dive, and prepared to find out what their plan was. “Okay, you two, what’s going on?”

It was like he’d doused them both with ice water. The pair froze as one. Flitter stopped stirring the soup she’d been making, her wings freezing tight against her back, and he felt Cloudchaser’s arm tense up around his waist, her hand going flat, half releasing him, half holding tight. After a moment, Flitter looked back at her twin, and the two shared a long look before Cloudchaser let out a loud sigh and nodded her head with a wry grin. Flitter turned back to the soup with a tense stomp, her wings ruffling up momentarily before she rustled them and they smoothed back down, still held tight to her back.

“So, Thunder," Cloudchaser began, too casually, even for her, sitting up and pulling her arm from his waist to his back, scratching along his lower spine. “How are you doing without Rumble around?”

Eyes narrowing at the obvious evasion, Thunderlane shrugged even as he unconsciously relaxed his back against Cloudchaser’s nails. “He hasn’t been gone that long, but it has been a bit quiet around here. Actually have to figure out how to cook now. But Chase, what-”

He was cut off as Cloudchaser smiled and brought her nails up and under one of his wings, where muscle met muscle and magic met blood. The wing involuntarily unfurled slightly, and she took full advantage of the opening by sliding her chair closer to him and leaning in against his side, under the embrace of his tensing wing. Her breath was hot against his neck, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “You haven’t called me Chase in a long time.”

Thunderlane opened his mouth, ready to reply, but then thought about what she’d said. “What? When was the last time I called her Chase? It can’t have been that lo-" Thunderlane’s eyes widened, and he realized she was right. The last time he’d called her Chase had been when they’d still been officially dating, years ago. “Huh," he said simply, looking down at the table; the wing, he stretched further around Cloudchaser.

Flitter’s voice called cheerily over to the pair of them. “Soup’s done!" She turned with a bright smile towards Thunderlane and her sister. The smile grew wider when she saw how close Cloudchaser was to Thunderlane, the mare having taken one of his hands in hers, her touch as warm as her breath. Flitter’s smile faltered when she saw the look on Thunderlane’s face, brow furrowing in concern. “Thunder? What’s wrong?”

Shaking himself, Thunderlane sat up and pulled away slightly from Cloudchaser, tucking his wings back. The mare frowned momentarily, looking confused but not quite offended, before he continued. “Girls, what’re you two up to? You’re usually flirty when you want my help with something, but not like…" He gestured at the two of them with his free hand, trying to encompass generosity and tenderness and awkwardness, all rolled into one. “This.”

Cloudchaser bit her lip, scooted in defiantly, and pressed her forehead against Thunderlane’s shoulder, not meeting his gaze. He felt her squeeze his hand, and one of her wings extended and laid itself flat on his back, the feathers brushing close beneath his own. She was silent for a moment, and as the quiet became a chasm, Thunderlane was about to continue when she finally spoke.

“You scared the shit out of me today, Thunderlane." Her voice was quiet, but more serious than he'd ever heard her, and she tightened her grip on him for a moment. She took her hand from his and put it on his bicep, squeezing down on the muscle, as though testing its reality. “I thought we’d lost you because you had to go and do something so stupid and brave." She squeezed down even harder, flat out possessively, and for a moment Thunderlane thought he might lose his arm.

Protesting, and hoping to restore circulation, he put a hand over hers. “Chase, I just did what Bronze asked me to do, I-" He cut off abruptly as her head came up, tears threatening to fall from her rose-coloured eyes.

“Do you have any idea how hurt Rumble would be if he lost you? How hurt we’d be?" She pressed her forehead against his shoulder again, shoulders beginning to quake.

Thunderlane felt on solid, or at least, less shaky ground. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and kissed her mane before murmuring, “Hey, hey, don’t cry. I’m fine, everything worked out okay. The boots took the brunt of the landing.”

Flitter finally spoke up from where she was standing, her voice clipped and tense. “But they broke, didn’t they?" She moved over to where the other two sat, and leaned against the table, close enough for her leg to brush quite deliberately against his. She shook her head, sighing. “I only saw the cliff collapse with the hydra, I didn’t realize you were in that mess until Cloud told me later on.”

Thunderlane merely shrugged, once more unsure of what to say. He defaulted to body language. He rubbed Cloudchaser’s hand in what he hoped was a reassuring way, and pressed his cheek against the top of her head. Meanwhile, he extended a wing in what he hoped passed for a gentlecoltly fashion in Flitter's direction.

Pushing off the table with an easy glide, Flitter slid to sit on one of Thunderlane’s legs. She put a hand on Cloudchaser’s shoulder and squeezed it before wrapping her tail quite tightly around Thunderlane’s leg. “So, Mr. What-do-I-need-to-help-you-girls-with-this-time, we came to a decision. We want you. No jokes, no games this time, Sparky." She leaned towards him and, despite the awkwardness, pressed the side of her face close against his neck. She breathed his scent in for a moment, a soft hum on her breath, before saying, “We want you as our stallion, and only our stallion.”

Thunderlane’s jaw had dropped, stunned, when Flitter had laid the sisters' aims out so bluntly. Shaking his head in slight disbelief, he finally managed a hopeful, yet cautious reply. “Flit, you know how long I’ve wanted to hear that, but… you girls really aren’t pulling my wing?”

Sniffing with mock disdain, Cloudchaser finally looked up from his shoulder, but she had a devious smirk on her face that Thunderlane recognized. His heart started to sink into his stomach until she spoke up-- and something else rose. “Oh, I can think of something else we’ll be pulling on, Sparky." She squirmed in her chair until she managed to slide one leg over his, deliberately entangling her sister and their potential stallion. “Now, why don’t we-”

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, causing the trio to jump in their seats, and destroying whatever mood Cloudchaser had been trying to set. Cloudchaser let out an angry noise and shot up from where she had been half-sitting in Thunderlane’s lap. She stamped a foot, her wings flaring angrily. “Oh, come on! This is seriously not happening!”

Thunderlane was upset as well, and wondered who would be visiting so late. Then his eye caught the report on the table, and he coughed and put a hand on it. “Uh, Chase? It’s probably just Lyra, here for the-”

Cloudchaser cut him off, pointing at him while looking at her sister and speaking firmly. “Flitter? Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere." Looking down at Thunderlane, she held out a hand and snapped her fingers, just once. “Give.”

Raising a bewildered eyebrow, Thunderlane handed the report to Cloudchaser, and was about to turn to follow her to the door when all forward motion was arrested in one of the best ways possible: Flitter slid a curvy leg over his hip and pulled herself into place. She grinned at Thunderlane, straddling him and keeping him in place. She stroked both hands through his mane and gave her plush rump a little shake, as if to ask what Thunderlane intended to do about it.

Looking up at the mare, Thunderlane recognized the smile on her face and came to a decision about what, indeed, to do about her. He matched her smile with his own and put his hands on her hips. Thunderlane was about to speak when Flitter leaned down and pressed her lips firmly against his, silencing him, devouring doubt.

Surprised yet again, it took Thunderlane a stunned moment to return the kiss, but Flitter was already grinding herself sinuously against him. Thunderlane let out a low groan into the sweetness of the-- of his?-- mare’s lips, his hands moving with slowly burgeoning confidence down to her legs and squeezing the taut strength of her pegasi thighs.

When Flitter let out a half-muffled giggle into the kiss, Thunderlane heard Cloudchaser at the door, speaking gruffly to their visitor. “Yeah, yeah, this is his report… He’s kinda occupied right now, sorry… No, I’m fine, just an emotional day… I’ll tell him, yeah.”

Flitter suddenly thrust her tongue into his mouth and grabbed his jaw with gentle firmness, forcing his attention back to her. Breathing in deeply and getting a heavy, heady dose of her scent, Thunderlane slid his hands under her shirt and brought them up her smooth, bare back to the base of her wings. He gently squeezed down on the base of them, that sensitive secret of the Windborn Tribe, and smiled into the kiss when she groaned and pressed herself against him even harder. This was everything Thunderlane had wanted.

Thunderlane only realized that he was mistaken on that when Cloudchaser abruptly pressed her half of the twins' suit, sliding her arms around his shoulders, palms stroking his muscles, kissing along his neck. "Forget someone, Sparky?"

Thunderlane somehow managed to pull away from kissing Flitter, and tried to look back at Cloudchaser. “So that was Lyra, then?" Flitter refused to help, taking over nibbling and lightly lipping a soft trail over the base of Thunderlane's neck.

Nipping her side of his neck gently, Cloudchaser chided him. “You have two mares fawning over you right now and you’re asking about another? Sparky, are you trying to make us jealous?”

Blushing, Thunderlane was about to reply when Flitter squished her ample chest around his face, cutting off his view and filling his nose with her scent once more. As Thunderlane became intimately aware of the fact that Flitter was braless, he heard her pout, “Cloud, he’s got his hands on my wings, he’s cheating," as she bounced gently in his lap and over his muzzle. Grinning into Flitter's cloth-covered cleavage, he inhaled deeply and squeezed the base of her wings with wicked gentleness, eliciting a full-body shiver and moan from the mare. Thunderlane was immediately rewarded with a redoubled dose of Flitter's scent. It was getting harder and harder for him not to become lost in the comforting arousal.

Chuckling, Cloudchaser brought her own hands back and down to Thunderlane’s wings, gently rubbing her thumbs into the muscle between them in turn. When the stallion hissed in a breath and flexed his wings outwards, Cloudchaser pressed her own chest against the back of his head, trapping him in place.

“Come on, Flitter, we should let him up so we can have dinner," Cloudchaser said with an odd tone after a moment longer. She stepped back from Thunderlane, but left her hands on his shoulders, fingertips trailing her motion.

Thunderlane knew this dance, or thought he did. He brought his hands down from Flitter’s wings and out from under her shirt, placing them on her stomach to try and push her back gently. He was surprised when her arms tightened around his neck and she held fast.

“We can eat later, Cloud! We’ll just-just reheat the food!" Flitter whined, sounding desperate. Having none of their nonsense, she swiftly brought one hand up to the back of his head and pressed him more firmly into her cleavage before continuing. “I want him now!" She moved her legs with surprising swiftness, trapping her groin fast against Thunderlane. As he tried to process the abrupt sea change, Flitter ground herself against Thunderlane again, earning herself a muffled groan from the stallion.

Thunderlane finally untangled himself from Flitter’s surprisingly aggressive grip and stood up, still holding the mare close. She let out a surprised noise and flapped her wings in an attempt to right herself, arms tightening around his shoulders. “Thunder! What-”

She let out a loud squawk as Thunderlane hauled her over one shoulder, one hand on her hip and the other on her ass to hold her in place. He squeezed her ass and gave a grin as she laughed loudly. Turning to Cloudchaser, he extended a hand and said, “I’m with Flitter, Chase. We can just reheat the soup.”

Cloudchaser rolled her eyes, before smirking and taking his hand, pressing herself tight against his body. “Well aren’t we Mister Confidence all of a sudden. Can’t wait to see what you have planned, Sparky.”

Nearing 10pm, Ponyville Train Station

Mac sat on the bench, nearly alone at the train platform, as stoic as ever to any outside observer… unless they really knew Mac well. In a pattern so slow it took nearly ten minutes to loop, Mac first squeezed his right hand tightly closed, drawing three long breaths as he silently counted to twenty in his head, then, as he exhaled the final breath of the sequence, he let the hand relax, opening against his knee while tapping with no visible importance at his kneecap, keeping a rhythm with the beat of his heart. Next, the process repeated with his left hand, in just as slow and drawn out a manner.

Tonight it was much, much later than Mac often stayed in town and he was tense, awaiting the second to last train of the day.

Stepping behind him, Zecora finished her detailed inspection of the newsboard and the scraps that had been pinned up about major stories across Equestria. But as fascinating as brief glimpses into distant lives might be, they had a limit, and now restless, she studied her stallion instead. “You are so very tense, as rigid as a fence. Just tell me why this package matters so, what is it that you will not let it go?”

Mac rolled his broad shoulders and stretched his legs out, trying to loosen up and relax despite the worries that lingered deep into his roots and as far as his mind's eye could see. “Things, Zecora. Every day we work hard, tend our land, and care for family. But things keep happening. Granny Smith once told me how the Apple family came to Ponyville. A horrible disaster wiped out their home, their farms, their whole livelihood. Th’ Princess gifted her father the land that became Ponyville as a new place to farm, but recently? My cuz’ Braeburn’s fighting every day to raise a new orchard in the far south, bringing an orchard to the badlands. But all their work lies in ruins because he couldn't defend his home. I won't have that. Sweet Apple Acres is my home, and I won't let that happen to my family.”

Reaching her toned arms around his chest from behind, Zecora rested her cheek on the comforting shelf of his shoulder, softly kissing his temples while slowly but inexorably undoing the top three buttons on his shirt. Blushing darkly, Mac reached up and tried to stop her hands, shocked at Zecora’s forwardness. “Zecora! Wha-”

Zecora silenced Mac’s protest with a deep, passionate kiss, letting him feel the taste of her, while her hands undid the fourth button on his shirt, then swiftly pulled it back off his shoulders. When she reached for him anew, her fingers and palms were covered in a white cream and moved almost predator swift to massage the balm into his tightly knotted shoulders in soothing soft circles, her thumbs following with surprising force to grind against the reluctant tenseness that resisted her assault. Unable to help himself, Mac gasped gently, and let his head hang forward, mane falling around his temples. He softly groaned, the soothing heat that emanated in the wake of Zecora's massage seeping into his flesh. Its minty scent reinforced the relaxing feeling from her touch. “Each tree that shelters us from rain, does not come simply by the train. You, my love, call them from their seed. And thence make miracles, indeed.”

Mac melted into her soothing rhythm; Zecora unwound tense muscles with rare skill. He tried to unwind his emotional knot-- to meet her halfway and not be self conscious about her very public display of affection. He was slowly learning to be more open about communication-- hay, he loved how she eloquently conveyed deeper truths in simpler phrases.

He was the seed? The tree? No, wait. The trees were like Bloomberg, arriving to give life and strength in the desert. But it didn't start there, fully grown, right off a train like the one they were waiting for here. No. He smiled thoughtfully back at Zecora, nuzzling his face into her forearm as she continued to caress his bare torso. The strength that would save his family there, and could protect his life and friends here, he had to grow it on the farm first. From little seeds.

So as long as he took care of the little things-- yeah. Yeah, as long as he took care of the little things, as long as he held fast on his family land with his friends and loved ones, it would grow and take care of the big ones, over time. Flexing and rolling the loosened muscles of his back and shoulders, Mac gave a low grunt, nodding his understanding to Zecora. “I can't fight the whole world, but just maybe I can protect our corner of it.”

Mac couldn’t see it, but Zecora beamed at his words, and leaned against his back, brushing her jaw against his. “So little a word others may miss. This is something that I can't dismiss. When you say 'our' to display your fears, it brings this zebra to tender tears. Right now, dear Mac, I will make it known, this life's burden need not be yours alone."

Suddenly, the sharp, powerful cry of an approaching train’s whistle made Mac and Zecora jump, interrupting their conversation, breaking the moment. Rushing to stand up and pull his shirt back on, Mac’s cheeks had burned an even darker red. He started pacing around the bench, staring at the train’s brilliant light as it approached the station.

Almost ten minutes later, when the train had settled to a halt and the small rush of passengers had filed off the platform. Mac and Zecora stood alone, waiting by the cargo car. With impressive industry, little Derpy and the stoker were unloading a growing pile of mail and other deliveries for Ponyville. After they had declined Mac’s offer to help twice, he busied himself sorting the pile, finding the process surprisingly easy once he noticed the small yellow labels on the boxes had the names of businesses or ponies he knew. By the time Derpy had noticed what he was doing, Mac had sorted the giant stack of boxes into six piles, amazed to see that two thirds of them were for Berry Punch and Sugarcube Corner.

Straightening up, Mac turned to look where Derpy’s voice had called for him and found the little mare waiting, embarrassed; she wasn't looking at him, but focusing instead a little off to the side. “Err... sorry we don't have the package you were waiting for Mac… but umm... well, Blast Furnace and I can't do much more than budge this box for Bronze. And it's got the royal seal on it, so only I can open it and if I do, that’s a whole lotta paperwork that I gotta fill out, and then Dusk’ll have to look over it too, and this late at night, I just wanna get home to Dinky… do you think that y-”

Stepping up to the stairs into the train, Mac cut her off with a warm grin and a hand to her shoulder. Little seeds, he thought. This, I can do. “No worries, Derpy. My package will arrive soon. Let me help you today."

Unable to help herself, Derpy jumped forward a half-step and gave Mac a powerful hug, proving that as small as she was, she was still made of stern stuff. “Ohh! Thanks, Mac! I promise next time I'm in Canterlot, I'll try to find out what happened to your order!”

Ruffling Derpy’s hair and blushing darkly at the quirky smile Zecora was giving him, Mac stepped aboard the train and gave the stoker a nod in greeting. While Mac had never met his equal, the stallion was as close a match as he had even seen, a powerful tower of muscle, skin darkened by the coal he shoveled all day. There was no need for words, Mac could already see the crate that was giving them so much trouble.

Eyeballing the massive wooden box, Mac judged it to be easily six feet in length, perhaps a little more, with five metal bands that wrapped around the narrow end, reinforcing the whole. The royal seal hadn't simply been stamped on the wood. Somepony had taken pains to burn the royal seal into the wood, marking it unmistakably as government property. Mac could feel the shiver of magic through the wood.

With a shared nod, the two stallions knelt down in parallel and took a hold of the band at their respective ends. Mac was astonished at the weight hidden inside the box, but he lifted his end with his usual ease. The stoker managed his end, and together they started shifting the load towards the open door where Derpy was waiting, watching them closely. “Just… be careful! You wouldn't want to drop that on your foot!”

As if she were the prophetess of some goddess of misfortune, no sooner had the words left Derpy’s lips than, with a traumatic twang, the second of the five bands from Mac's end gave way in explosive agony, snapping in half and shooting off into the roof of the train.

For a moment, Mac and the stoker were frozen in shock, staring up and watching the still vibrating metal strap as it wavered back and forth in place. Only the sound of a heralding creak followed by the snapping crack of the wood in their hands pulled their attention back from the ceiling. With one violent, shaking groan, the weight inside the box shifted towards Mac, and the closest side of the bottom of the crate fell away, splitting open like a jaw opening. With a thunderous crash, packages wrapped in purple velvet burst forth from the opening rip in the bottom of the box, the roar of metal crashing against metal filling the small train car. Mac winced as the first of the weight smacked into his legs… and feet.

The look in Derpy’s eyes was so sad, so pained, it almost hurt Mac to watch. In slow motion, a creeping visage of terror and distress spread over her normally peaceful expression. Overwhelmed and overcome, she was near tears. As rage and depression grappled within her, Derpy stamped a foot on the train car, before crying out in frustration. “Oh! Fiddlesticks!”

Struggling to ignore the growing ache in his feet, Mac adjusted his load while trying to recover something from this debacle. The remaining weight inside shifted further and he froze, looking first to the stoker, then back to Derpy, worrying about how to help the mare. To his relief, Zecora suddenly joined Derpy, leading the mare off the train while whispering soothing words Mac could just barely hear. Shrugging off the last of his hang-ups, Mac finally spoke up to the other stallion. “Derpy will insist we document the contents. May as well do so while she calms down.”

The stoker didn't appear to have any reason to argue and followed Mac’s lead, settling the shattered box on its side with care. While the stoker began sorting the wrapped packages, Mac reached into the broken box and found a thick metal pipe inside that rang like temple bells tuned to his soul. Somepony had carefully mounted the one end, and Mac had to slip a harness off to slide the pole out. It was wrapped in leather with a thin, silver wire from the base, up a full foot to a pommel. Mac’s heart skipped as he began to draw the metal from the box, the haft fitting his hand like the missing piece of a puzzle. He noticed that the far end was heavy enough to call on his strength; heavy enough to call to his strength, at that.

With growing excitement, Mac broke open the far end of the box to reveal a titanic hammer head of a depthless black metal, reflecting his own appearance in its depths, eyes meeting eyes. But as he pulled the great weapon the rest of the way free of the shattered remains of the box, an axe blade of that same dark metal emerged, nearly two feet long and covered by a velvet-wrapped wooden guard tied to cover the edge of the axe blade from one end to another. Fascinated, Mac hefted the heavy weapon to his shoulder, intrigued by its balance and impressed by Bronze’s creativity. It rested on the breadth of him like another arm, waiting to be raised in defense of his home, of his family. “I guess she took my word. An Axe and a Hammer… thank you, Bronze.”

Stepping a few feet away from the stoker, who was still writing notes on Derpy’s clipboard, Mac gave the massive weapon a few trial swings, enjoying how its weight made him have to work to handle each pass. Learning the heft of it was like his first meeting with Granny Smith’s Orchard-- something new that felt like it had always been waiting for him to return. Just as he placed the heavy hammerhead to rest on his shoulder, the faint hint of white paper escaping from between the velvet guard and black metal caught his eye. Pulling the paper free with care to avoid cutting it or his hand on the axe head, Mac unfolded the paper, discovering that the smith had written a note for Bronze. Feeling more than a little guilty, Mac unfolded the letter and read.

”When approached by Princess Luna’s agent to forge a weapon of meteorite, I assumed it would be another dagger or claw like so many of her agents wield. I can not express my joy at the challenge I was gifted when she told me to make a weapon not for some spy, but a brother earth pony. This project took all that remained in my supply, but I care not. Make good use of it, brother, so few of our kind get to handle the black steel that falls from beyond the sky.”

I have named him in the old tongue: “Mac na Réaltaí, Céile an Domhain." May he defend your home. Live well, and defend the hearth.

There was no name signed below, but Mac understood now. The craftsman had poured his soul into this gift, and Mac was honored. Hiding the small letter, Mac turned to join the stoker. It was late, and they would have to deliver things to Dusk’s door. But Mac’s burden felt lighter with the heavy weapon in his possession. Finally he could be of some help.

Mac pondered that name, recalling all that Granny Smith had taught him of their ancient ways. “Child of the Stars, Husband of the Earth, is it? Guess we're both somepony's Mac.”

10:30pm, Carousel Boutique

Bronze paused for a long moment to gather herself, needing the recovery before knocking on the door to Rarity’s house. The itchy, growing sensation of the muscles in her back and shoulders tightening up had to be addressed before she dared to get trapped in another social situation. Turning her back to face the exterior wall, Bronze rubbed her tender, stiff muscles against the hardwood, stealing a moment of minor relief every time she managed to get the angle just right. She did her best to be quiet and relieve the ache before knocking; she was worried that Rarity might hear her and come investigate the strange noise.

There was no question that Rarity was still awake, of course; the lights in the lower half of her boutique were all still on. Bronze was quite impressed at how smoothly Rarity had managed, having to suddenly host some of the higher ranked members of the Guard and Wonderbolts that had stopped in town to visit. Bronze was embarrassed and perhaps a bit dejected that apart from Shining Armor, only a few of the Guard had come at her offer of a celebratory drink. She was glad that his medic had been one of those few, as the ointment she’d rubbed into Bronze’s wings was a welcome relief to the soreness from the day’s exertions, despite the itchy, irksome tingles it left behind.

Thinking about Cloudsdale turned Bronze’s train of thought towards Rainbow Dash, and Bronze couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy as she pondered just how she was going to ask Rarity how to handle the problem that had been plaguing her mind all evening. Once they were alone together, Dash had shocked her deeply, but not unpleasantly; her prismatic-haired friend abruptly kissing her on the cheek and then speeding away. It had been a small blessing that she hadn’t had time to worry about it... until now.

Bronze wished she had a more… fitting? Comfortable? Perhaps ‘less socially terrifying’ was the way to phrase it-- some easier opportunity to question Rarity for information on the nature of Dusk’s herd. In the past, she'd seen how seriously the Canterlot nobles took theirs, and she absolutely needed to ask Rarity for specifics before disaster struck and she made some major or fatally embarrassing faux pas that might make them shun her from their group; she needed them, too. Not just Dusk, though he was the center of it.

She knew that Dusk was far more laidback than any of the stuffy nobles of Canterlot, but he had still grown up in their society, and more importantly, he had that refined air of unicorn nobility about him, and no matter how much he protested, it shone through his every action. The last thing she wanted to do was assume anything when it came to Dusk, though her heart reminded her that at the very least, he was noble of spirit as well.

Knocking lightly on the door as her wandering mind turned to Dusk, and she began to wonder just how well Pinkie was taking care of him, Rarity’s door opened a crack. The soft lighting revealed the short mare in question. Her voice was light and breezy, and her breath had a faint but obvious scent of wine that made Bronze wish she could have offered the guards more than the small keg of mead she’d had on hand. Rarity's greeting cut through Bronze's day-dreaming. “Oh, my, Bronze! Light, it’s so late, you scared me, you silly filly! One moment, darling." The door shut swiftly. She heard the sound of a chain being pulled aside, and then the door opened fully. Rarity stood in the doorway, surrounded by the light.

Even after the hectic day, and having hosted half a dozen military officers, Rarity still looked pristine and radiant. She was dressed in a bright, perfectly white dress that fell down to her feet, but still short enough to show off her high-heeled shoes. Her purple hair still looked as though it had been freshly styled, with not a single hair out of place. Bronze didn’t realize she had been staring until one of Rarity’s eyebrows raised quizzically, and a gentle smile twitched at the edges of her lips. Shaking herself loose, Bronze gave the mare a smile of her own in return. “Hey Rarity," she began, attempting at a casualness she didn’t feel after the day’s ordeals. “You, uh, mind if I come in for a bit?”

Rarity’s eyes sparkled with delight, and her smile widened. “Of course, dear, do come in!" Rarity stepped aside, leaning against the door and making space within the light for the guard. “I still have some wine as well, if you’d like to partake, Bronze."

Bronze paused for a moment, ready to decline, but after today… “Yeah, that’d be great, thanks." She stepped inside, brushing past the smaller mare.

Bronze nearly jumped when she felt Rarity’s tail slyly brush her thigh as the mare shut the door behind them. “What is with me? I already know she likes being flirty, just calm down. You’re only just about to ask her about Dusk’s herd and potentially hear… ugh."

Bronze followed Rarity to where her reclining couches were, and sat down with anxious stillness as she waited for Rarity to get the offered wine. Trying to calm her nerves, she once more took to scanning her surroundings. On the table in front of her, she noticed two magazines. Assuming they were fashion magazines, and with nothing better to do, she picked one up.

She was quite surprised to find that it was a copy of The Dish, a well-known tabloid journal that she’d seen some of the younger guards reading from time to time. It was popular for its scandalous gossip about the upper-crust of the Canterlot elite, but Bronze had never read it before. Snorting in disbelief, Bronze ruffled the pages in contempt before calling out to Rarity. “Rarity, do you actually read these trashy magazines? You know these are full of garbage and nonsense, right?" Bronze read some of the more outrageous titles on the cover, chuckling at the lurid way they were worded to catch somepony’s attention.

Rarity sauntered back in, carrying two wine glasses and a half-empty bottle, a light blush marking her cheeks. “We all have our vices, dear Bronze. Mine just happens to be juicy gossip from Canterlot. They can have some amusing articles, as well; one does need to keep up with trends in my business, you know." Deftly setting the glasses down on the table, the fashionista filled them nearly to the top. Picking her own up with practiced ease, she elegantly sat down on the couch next to the guard, half leaning on Bronze's more muscular shoulders. She looked at the magazine in Bronze's hands and made an excited noise. “Ooh! Let’s read that one, darling, it says ‘Princess Nepotism? Celestia Gives High-Ranking Job to Untrained Unicorn!’ I bet Prince Blueblood irked somepony of note by getting a position with some actual power.”

Bronze smiled indulgently and rolled her eyes, checking the table of contents. Flipping to the article in question, the two were shocked to see a picture of Dusk taken at his graduation from Canterlot University. Bronze’s jaw dropped in outrage, and she turned to look at Rarity, whose eyes had narrowed, like a wolf seeing a threat to her own. The smaller mare took a simple sip of her wine, but didn’t say anything, eyes already flying across the page.

Bronze began reading through the article, but was only half done by the time Rarity leaned back into the couch, letting out a decidedly unhappy noise. When Bronze looked at her, she saw that Rarity’s eyebrows had furrowed, and she hadn’t touched her wine beyond the initial sip. Hesitantly, Bronze asked, “Uh, Rarity? Everything ok? It looks like they’re just saying he should have been given a minor posting first, not been trusted with something as serious as a magistrate’s mantle. Seems mostly harmless.”

Rarity sighed before taking another sip of her wine, and gesturing at the other glass on the table for Bronze. “Drink some wine, dear, it’s been a long day." Rarity let out a small, dissatisfied hiss as she thought about the article. Bronze picked up her own glass and gave it a preliminary sip. Finding the taste to her liking, Bronze took a longer gulp before setting the glass back down.

Rarity drank from her glass again before finally continuing. “The problem, darling, is as much what they’re not saying as what they are. That article was written by their editorialist, Hackneyed Scribe, and he only ever writes hit pieces on ponies that the paper’s owners positively hate. So having him write an article on Dusk is very telling…" Rarity drained the last of her glass, looking at it like she was surprised it was empty already. She gave a muzzy-headed smile. “Almost a badge of honor, really. Oh dear, I think I’m done with wine for the evening. But this is an interesting puzzle. What could Dusk have done to irritate the owners enough to have an article written on him?”

Bronze set down the magazine in disgust, leaving the article unfinished and her opinion on the industry as a whole unchanged. She reached for her own glass of wine, trying to settle her wings comfortably against the couch when she leaned back. Rarity seemed to notice her discomfort, and asked, “Darling, are you okay? I know today was rather hectic, but you seem particularly tense." There was an odd purr in Rarity's slightly slurred voice.

Bronze was unable to find the nerve to speak for another moment, instead taking another large gulp of the wine, enjoying the bubbly texture. She shivered as she felt a rush of warmth shoot down her spine. Bronze turned the glass in her hands, almost willing the wine to dissolve some of her inhibitions. Watching the wine as she rotated her drink, Bronze took a deep breath, still unable to meet Rarity’s somewhat unfocused gaze. “Rarity, what are the… um, rules? Guidelines?... Boundaries?" When Rarity didn’t answer the meekly-voiced questions immediately, Bronze rambled on more bluntly, feeling reckless now. “Regarding being in Dusk’s herd, I mean.”

Rarity seemed taken aback at the abrupt subject change, and simply sat there blinking for a few moments. Her mouth dropped open as though to speak once, but she closed it and thought on. Then her indistinct smile sharpened and turned sly, and she leaned her soft weight into the guard a little more, entwining one elegant arm around Bronze’s. “Why, Bronze, my dear, is there something between you and Dusk I should know about?”

Bronze’s face lit up in a hot blush, and her body tensed up as she began stammering, her own throat seemingly trying to choke down her words. “Wha- I-I mean, n-no, but I just-just wanted to know…" She closed her eyes tight for a moment, trying to recenter herself after Rarity’s distracting teasing, exhaling slowly. Rarity's leaning caress was so not helpful! Opening them, she tried to relax herself against the smaller mare leaning on her. “Rarity. I just… just want to know what rules you’ve set down as Dusk’s alpha mare. Regarding relationships with mares in and out of the herd, I mean.”

Rarity sat in silence for a moment, before a shock seemed to jolt her upright and sober. “Dusk’s wha- his alpha mare? Darling, that’s so… so old-fashioned! I didn’t think anypony still did things that way.”

Bronze froze for a moment, a confused look on her face. She wondered if she'd managed to step onto a pike here-- again. Taking a small gulp of wine this time, she set the mostly-empty glass on the table, stretching one wing out to stop a stress kink she could feel coming on. She forced herself to abstain from panic and turned to face Rarity before asking, “Wait, really? But you really seem like his herd’s alpha… I mean, Applejack at least seems to take cues from you whenever something comes up. Like when she asked you about me maybe dating Dusk, so I figured…" Bronze let the words trail off nervously, waiting for Rarity to say something. Anything.

Rarity’s mouth opened and closed a few times, unsure of what to say. Finally she sat up, taking her weight and arm off of Bronze, folding it against her chest, holding the opposite elbow while she gestured defensively with her other hand. “Darling, Applejack and I are equals in Dusk’s herd, I assure you. As any mare would be if she were to join us." Rarity was quiet for a moment, as an idea began to rapidly form in her keen mind. Snapping her fingers, she said, “Canterlot. Of course! That’s why you’d think I was his alpha mare. I’d heard rumors some of the nobles still use that old practice, but I honestly never thought... Hm. That is interesting." Bronze could almost see the wheels turning and notes being filed from the suddenly crisp focus of Rarity's gaze.

Bronze nodded slowly, heat rising to her cheeks as she remembered again that for all Rarity's charisma and sheer grace, she was an outsider to the games beneath Celestia's throne. “Yeah. I mean, I guess they’re kind of like an open secret with some of the nobility." Shaking her head, Bronze continued, telling Rarity what little she knew regarding the subject. “Every herd there has an alpha mare, one that’s more-or-less ‘in-charge’ of the other mares. At least to some degree, I mean. She sets the rules for the herd mares, like if they can see someone outside the herd, or even who gets into the herd in the first place. A lot of the nobles don’t talk about having a herd openly, let alone alpha mares. Still... I’ve even heard some of the mares in those herds are only there because they were manipulated into the group, not exactly because they wanted to be there. Nothing really concrete though.”

Rarity shook her head, disbelief and no little disgust coloring her voice. “Why, Bronze... That just sounds so… controlling. Why should the relationship be anything but a group effort? I can’t believe that Dusk would want us to have our own little hierarchy regarding him." The normally-refined mare shook her head again, not quite sure what to make of the concept, her adorable refined moue¹ of distaste returning. “That just makes me wonder how much Dusk knows about them. I love him to bits, but the darling knew next to nothing regarding being in a relationship when he arrived in Ponyville."

Rarity leaned back in her seat, tapping her lips with one well-manicured nail. “Well, I suppose if Dusk is going to stay as magistrate, we may have to at least look like we have an alpha mare. I’ll have to talk to AJ. Knowing her, she’ll laugh herself silly at the idea." Rarity rolled her eyes, looking like she’d bitten into something particularly tart at the thought of explaining the concept to the bluff, blunt farmpony.

Bronze chuckled at the thought and Rarity stuck her tongue out impishly at Bronze. The stress of the moment seemed to briefly lift, and the guardsmare began to laugh openly until a muscle in her back twinged. She cocked a shoulder, an angry hiss escaping her mouth as she half-extended a wing. She flexed it hopefully for a moment, trying to calm the muscle down.

Rarity leaned forward, concern etching her stately features, and raised a hand towards Bronze’s wing, but didn’t quite touch it. “Bronze, darling, are you alright? Did you pull something when you caught Dusk?”

Shaking her head slightly, Bronze grimaced as she managed to fold her wing back in. Rolling her shoulders, Bronze leaned forward towards the table, reading the cover of the other magazine as she tried to distract herself from the irritated muscle. The cover had a picture of Prince Blueblood, and the most eye-catching headline read ‘Wingless Royal Kook Has Flown the Coop!’ Under that, it continued ‘Ignoring traditional family standards, Prince Blueblood forms a public herd, much to the family’s shame!’

Her interest piqued, Bronze picked it up and leaned back into the sofa once more. She showed Rarity the cover, before saying, “Did you see this? I’m surprised that the Prince would be so open with having a her-”

Rarity cut Bronze off as she lightly plucked the magazine from Bronze’s hands and tossed it back to the table. “Bronze, put your back to me, darling. It’s clearly bothering you." Her voice had changed. Bronze wouldn't call it severe-- she'd heard Rarity become harsh!-- but it was certainly a command, and no less forceful than any drill sergeant's!

Bronze’s jaw dropped in shock, and she hastily replied, “Well, uh, yeah, but it’s just been a long day. I had a hard workout with Dash this morning…" Remembering her brush with the other pegasus and an all-too similar emotional firezone, Bronze’s cheeks heated up, and she rushed on, stammering, “An-and then the whole mess with the hydra, wearing my full armor for the first time in forever…”

Rarity waited patiently for Bronze to finish, her now completely clear and sharp eyes locked on Bronze's as she waited, before lifting a finger and making a gesture that clearly meant turn around. Exhaling loudly, Bronze’s head slumped forward resignedly, and she turned her back to Rarity. Rarity herself turned on the couch to face Bronze’s back more directly, and brought her dexterous seamstress' hands up to Bronze’s shoulders.

Bronze was silent as Rarity began to massage her upper back, still thinking about Dusk’s herd. Rarity really hadn’t said anything, with how quickly the conversation had gotten sidetracked. Still wanting an answer, Bronze spoke up hesitantly, “Uh, Rarity? About Dusk’s herd, I-”

“Oh yes, yes, dear. I’m sorry, I forgot." Rarity worked her fingers into the guard’s shoulders, admiring how muscular the mare was. “She really ought to show it off more, she’s worked for quite the body…”

Rarity stopped that train of thought, trying to get herself back on track. “Answers now, pretty toys later, Rarity. Especially if you are a good mare… " Clearing her throat, Rarity spoke out loud. “Well, Bronze, I shall be completely honest with you. Officially, Dusk’s herd consists of Applejack and myself. Unofficially, however… he has been on some dates with Pinkie Pie, and I know she likes him quite a bit. However, she is… shall I say, less than eager to settle into a defined relationship?”

Bronze nodded slightly, eyes closed. She absently leaned back into Rarity’s hands to increase the wondrous pressure against her back. “Okay, I can see Pinkie being that sort of mare. No problem there.”

“Exactly so." Rarity took her hands off Bronze’s shoulders with a light chuckle and moved them down to her sides, fingers kneading into the adorably shapely muscles she found there, trying to relieve some pressure. “Now, Fluttershy, the adorable girl, has become quite close to Dusk, for her. As far as I know, I am the only pony she’s ever stayed the night with." Rarity found a knot in one of the muscles she was putting pressure on, and worked to unwind it. Bronze made a low, approving noise in her throat and pushed her back against her masseuse’s hands even more. Rarity smiled to herself, counting a mark internally, before continuing. “She’s very reserved, and for the longest time has shied away from even the slightest physical contact. The fact that she accepts and gives hugs to Dusk speaks entire volumes for her trust and attraction to him. Speaking for myself, I find that rather important."

Absently nodding, Bronze didn’t notice as her wings began to lift off of her back and flex outwards slowly. “Fluttershy?” she thought, but couldn't for the life of her think of a reason to dislike sharing with Fluttershy, of all ponies. Her voice was soft, and distracted. “Yeah, Fluttershy is pretty reluctant to talk to anypony…”

“And lastly, there is our dear, gallant, and occasionally rather dense Weather Captain, Rainbow Dash." Rarity noticed Bronze’s wings twitch at the name, and she nearly giggled at how obvious Bronze wanted to hear about Dash. “And do you think I've been a pegasus' mistress this long without being able to recognize arousal feathering, hmm?" Managing to stay quiet, Rarity’s hands climbed up to massage the tense, powerful muscles normally covered by Bronze’s lovely wings. Bronze let out a delighted groan, and her wings extended to ensure that Rarity had full access to her back, even as she shifted backwards, closer towards Rarity.

Eyeing Dusk’s Vicarius with an almost hungry look, and now contemplating some fun play upon this ridiculous ‘alpha mare’ concept, Rarity let her voice drop into a softer, huskier tone. “Dash has been on quite a few dates with Dusk. She tries to deny it, but she loves the attention he gives her. Much like AJ or myself, Dusk had gotten quite close to Dash. Well, not quite as close as AJ or me… as our little Dash can be quite the… tease." On that final word, Rarity’s fingers drifted to a nerve cluster on the muscles between Bronze’s wings, and she pressed down firmly.

The reaction was exactly as she wanted. Bronze let out a throaty, indeed pleasured, groan, wings flexing to their full breadth, and pressed her back firmly against Rarity’s front. The smaller mare was pushed against the corner of the couch, trapped between the plush cushions and the eager pegasus’ muscles.

Realizing what she’d done, Bronze’s eyes snapped open and she made to move away from Rarity. She was stopped, however, when she felt Rarity’s hands grasp the base of her wings, eliciting another groan. “Ra-Rarity! I-I’m sorry, let me get off you, I didn’t mean to-”

Rarity smiled as she gently squeezed on the base of Bronze’s wings again, licking her lips at the resulting noise the younger mare made. “Who has whom trapped? We shall see." “Bronze, darling, if I didn’t want you right here, I would let you know, trust me. Now stop this uncouth squirming, I’m quite comfortable." Shifting around with a liquid, almost feline grace in her seat, Rarity moved her deft hands from Bronze’s wings to her shapely sides, pulling her in closer.

“Now, my darling Bronze, regarding the herd…" Rarity brought her fingers up under the guard’s shirt, nails teasing along Bronze’s sides. Rarity smiled when she felt Bronze shiver, and lowered her voice to a heavy purr. “The first, and most important rule is that we must all respect one another. Every pony is an equal part of this relationship. With no exceptions. In fact, if you were to tell me to stop right now…" Rarity let her talented fingers drift over the muscles of Bronze’s stomach, feeling her well-defined abs flex and contract at the touch. Rarity shuddered at the feeling before leaning forward, letting her breath tickle Bronze’s ear as she whispered, “I would stop right now, no questions asked. Do you want me to stop?”

Bronze’s mind was a mess of scattered thoughts. Rarity’s touch was electric, and the massage, however brief, had seemingly done wonders for her wings. At least, she assumed it had - she could barely feel them, but what little she felt was a deliciously warm tingle. However, she still felt some vague hints of guilt towards the mare; her past, the poison joke, the-- everything. “Rarity, I… I don’t think I deserve your-" Bronze gasped loudly when she felt Rarity’s hot breath blow across the back of her neck.

“Bronze, do you remember what I said when I told you I could reassure you that those were just nightmares? Believe me, darling, you deserve anything you could ask me to do for, or to, you." Rarity nipped Bronze’s neck, just a little rake of her teeth before sitting back slightly. “Now, secondly, the herd has to agree - entirely - on who is included in the group. We are a family, and we must respect one another. No silly reasons for excluding a mare from the group. If she loves Dusk, and he loves her back, and we can agree that she would be a good fit, then she is in.”

Bronze tried to bring her wings back in, but Rarity’s fingers danced from her stomach around to her back, tickling and scratching at the muscles along her back. Bronze heard a soft, eager noise, and blushed hotly when she realized that it had come from her. The only words she heard for a few moments was a soft "Nah-ah-ah," when she tried one more time to retract her wings.

Working her fingers into Bronze’s rapidly untensing back once more, Rarity continued. “And lastly, while relationships with ponies outside of the herd are allowed, as we are Dusk’s herd, those relationships should be limited to mares. The only time we will interfere with those relationships is when we see that it is toxic to the group."

Bronze nodded, most of her attention on Rarity’s fingers. She inhaled slowly, bringing her own hands up, before realizing she didn’t know what to do with them. Rarity took advantage of her uncertainty and took her hands out of Bronze’s shirt, trailing her nails down the mare’s back. Reaching around Bronze, Rarity gently took the mare’s hands and pulled her into a warm hug. Angling the guard so that her head rested on Rarity’s shoulder, Rarity gently blew across Bronze’s ear, tightening her arms around the mare when she shivered. She offered Bronze a world in her arms; one that had been tightly shut away before.

Rarity smiled and placed her warm, eager lips against Bronze’s ear, giving it a soft kiss before whispering to her. “Now, Bronze… I want to ask you something before answering the question I know you really want to ask me. Is that okay?" Rarity began trailing her elegantly maintained nails reassuringly along Bronze’s hands, feeling them tremble.

“Wha-the question I really want to ask? No way she knows about Dash, so what?...” Bronze found herself unsure of what to say, so she simply nodded her head again. Her wings shifted behind her, pressing against the softness of Rarity’s breasts. Feeling emboldened by Rarity’s lack of a rejection, Bronze took a chance by moving one of her hands onto the small mare’s leg, gently squeezing the thigh.

Rarity’s tongue wet her lips, shivering at Bronze finally making a move of her own, however small. “I was worried she didn’t want this, but maybe…” Rarity gently took Bronze’s hand on her thigh, and began moving it slowly back and forth, encouraging her to take some initiative.

After a moment, Rarity moved her hand up to Bronze’s taut bicep, massaging the fencer-strong wondrously taut muscle, a sure sign of her dedication to training, before speaking. “Bronze, I must apologize if this comes as quite…" Rarity’s voice trailed off before she abruptly took the matter more in hand, and grasped one of Bronze’s breasts and squeezed gently, grinning eagerly at the excited little noise the mare made. Biting her ear gently, Rarity continued, voice barely above a whisper. “Forward, but it’s quite obvious to me that you want Dusk, and I know he returns your feelings. So what is stopping you from making him yours, darling?" On that last word, Rarity squeezed Bronze’s breast again, pinching the nipple between two strong, yet gentle fingers.

Bronze gasped and involuntarily pressed her chest forward, one desperate hand latching onto Rarity’s to keep it in place over her breast. Taking a few shaky breaths, Bronze tried to gather herself before speaking, but her voice was still unsteady when she spoke. “I-I nearly did once, bu-but I wasn’t ready…" Squeezing Rarity’s thigh, Bronze’s cheeks burned red at the thought of having Dusk mount her, but her voice sounded steadier when she spoke again. “I do want him though. Light, it almost scares me how much I want him. It’s just… we’re always so damn busy. Something always comes up. There’s been no time… But Light, Rarity, he drives me mad with how calm he seems about us sometimes. Some days I just want to tear his clothes off and throw him to the floor.”

Rarity nodded, knowing exactly what she meant, and understanding that Bronze did not quite yet comprehend the deliciousness of the dance, not yet, which meant it was hers to guide her-- heart sisters, she supposed-- in the steps, whilst taking her own dips and twirls when she could. Keeping her mind on the mare at hand, though, Rarity gently kissed Bronze’s supple, corded neck, before telling the mare what Rarity thought she needed to hear. “Then do both of yourselves a favor, darling - let him know what you want. He won’t push you aside… at least, unless Cerberus itself comes to town.”

Bronze laughed at the thought of Tartarus’ guard dog in Ponyville, and the panic that would cause. Her laughter turned to a sharp hiss when she felt Rarity’s hand begin to wander down to her legs, and she tensed her thighs out of sheer reflex. Rarity’s hand froze, and the two mares were still and silent for a moment. The air grew heavy, less with tension than with potential. Bronze turned to look at Rarity, but she found herself unable to speak.

Rarity looked into Bronze’s eyes, seeing the uncertainty there, and tried to convey compassion and trust with her own look. Rarity spoke first, her voice still low. “I won’t hurt you Bronze. If this is too much, just say the word.”

Bronze stared back at Rarity, unsure of what to say. For a few, long moments, her jaw seemed to open and close of its own will, but no noise came out. Bronze closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at Rarity again. She nodded her head slowly, whispering back. “No, yeah, I can do this - I mean, I want to do this.”

Trust, as Rarity knew, was a powerful weapon. Trust, and generosity.

Rarity smiled encouragingly as she felt Bronze’s tense legs relax, and began unbuttoning the pegasus’ leather pants. When Bronze let out a shaky breath, Rarity decided to extend a bit more of both trust and generosity. She leaned down and nibbled on Bronze's ear before whispering, “And as for Dash, darling... If she’ll have you, then there’s nothing against making that little mare sing." Rarity swiftly slipped her hand into Bronze’s pants, silencing the mare’s surprised gasp with a deep kiss.

Sunday, April 10th, 6am, Philomena’s chambers, Canterlot

Barb lay curled up in her bed, fully aware she was awake, but busy doing her best to pretend that wasn't true; she'd had quite a bit of practice with that, of late. Somehow, things had gotten worse since she started staying in Philomena’s spare room, not better. At Cadance’s apartment, she had felt adrift; out of place and useless. The servants insisted on ‘helping’ her with any cleaning she tried to do, and before she realized it, they had taken over the job completely, leaving her feeling worthless. Then, when Cadance, Shining Armor, or Princess Celestia came to bring her to visit Philomena… It had been even more painful, one morning; the cold and growly Silken Flight had come for Barb with the emotional subtlety of a mace to the forehead while everypony else was busy.

Now, though, she was staying in one of Philomena’s small, familiar suite of rooms, where she could hear every rough cough and raked breath through the wall. To top it off, the nurses came and went constantly. At least Princess Celestia visited four or five times a day, and then everypony else left them alone, and a precious, tiny bit of peace settled… better yet, if anything could said to be better about this whole mess, it was one of the few times she was allowed to help Celestia care for Philomena, without the nurses constantly freaking out over Barb’s use of so much fire.

Finally, after yet another hour that made Barb feel like climbing the walls, a familiar light knock rang out against her door. Princess Celestia's voice was always so tender with her. “Barb, dear? Are you up? I've brought Philomena’s breakfast, and I think she'd appreciate it quite a lot if you could come massage her hands so she can feed herself.”

Throwing aside her blanket and slipping off the bed, Barb pulled on the light ankle-length blue silk dress Princess Celestia had given her on her first day back, while calling back to answer the princess, her throat dry and swallowing as hope warred with fear. “Of course I'll come! Do… do you think she's… she’ll be feeling any better today?”

There was far too long of a pause before Celestia finally answered her; to Barb, that was a much clearer answer than her response. “She’s been much better since you came to Canterlot, Barb. But… she doesn't have long left. It might be weeks, or even months, but I'm so sorry, nothing will change that…”

Barb froze at the door, her heart tightening up in her chest, suddenly short of breath, with a pounding noise in her ears drowning everything else out. She closed her eyelids tight, even the nictitating membrane. Leaning against the wall beside the door and fighting back tears, Barb tried not to sniffle like a filly and hunted for something, anything to say before the princess got worried. Unable to find a real answer, she mumbled a half-hearted reply. “I-I know princess… I… I'm almost ready, I'll be out in just a second.”

Pulling a hanky off the dressing table, Barb did her best to blow her nose as silently as she could before returning to her bedroom door, while struggling to keep her emotions in check. Barb wiped the backside of her hand across her snout before trying to smile as she opened the door for the titanic goddess. She must have missed something, however; the moment their eyes met, Princess Celestia knelt down to Barb’s level, and swept Barb into her arms, brushing a soothing hand down Barb's back, running across the soft scales and over the spines running down her spine. Her voice was a gentle, sad whisper against Barb's ear. “Oh, Barb. I'm so sorry.”

Fighting back against a new onslaught of overwhelming emotions, Barb tried her best to resist the driving need to start bawling. In a final vain attempt, she made herself smile, and placed her shaky hands on Celestia’s shapely shoulders, attempting to brush off whatever the princess had seen in her expression. “It's o-okay, really Celestia. I… I knew already… I-I just wan… wanted-" she had to pause and brush her cheek, fighting back another sniffle. “-I… Oh, by the Light… does… does it ever get any better? Now it's Philomena… but some, probably far sooner- someday… Dusk’s gonna- gonna… oh, Celestia! Why do ponies like Dusk and Philomena gotta die!?”

Outright bawling into Princess Celestia’s silk-covered shoulder while the goddess soothingly shushed her and continued to brush her powerful hand up and down over Barb's spines, Barb felt like an incoherent newborn. When at last she finally managed to stop crying, the sudden offer of a fresh hanky by one of Celestia’s myriad handmaids was somewhat soothing, but the foul look her compatriot was giving Barb was hard to miss as she did her best to use her pale lavender magic to fix the damage Barb had done to Celestia’s dress. Barb was shocked by the look of disdain, and she nearly missed Celestia’s soft voice, as the goddess finally answered her question. “Sometimes, I pretend it does, that the passing of a mortal's life isn't so hard to handle anymore. But the truth is, Barb, if you truly love somepony, it never stops. The pain might ebb away, but then you remember how he held your hand, or his laughter… Cielan… always loved to laugh..."

Lost for a moment in her vast span of memories, Princess Celestia’s eyes went so distant that as Barb stared into them, she began to see the true depths of the lifetimes Celestia was drifting back to while remembering some lost friend. “Will I ever be like this? Will remembering Dusk someday take me centuries away from everypony else in the world?”

Snapping out of her frozen gulf of distant thought, Celestia squeezed Barb's sturdy hands and smiled at her. “We should feed poor Philomena first, and talk about the sad reality of immortality after we've taken care of our dear one." Straightening up to her full, towering height, the princess offered a hand to Barb.

Doing her best to mop up her face with the handmaiden's hankey, Barb put on a new, braver face for Celestia. She returned the maiden's handkerchief, and accepting Celestia's offered hand firmly. Ignoring the way several of them were looking at her now, Barb walked beside Celestia, glad to have the princess so nearby. Her quiet confidence was infectious, and made Barb feel strong enough to stand tall as they crossed the sitting room to the door to Philomena’s bedroom.

Just as they reached Philomena’s door, Celestia suddenly drew up short as her handmaidens moved to hold the door open for her. Turning with a sudden aura of authority and releasing Barb's hand, the abruptly regal goddess held her hands out to the mare with a silver serving tray with Philomena’s meal, a young filly. “Today Barb and I require some time alone, so I'll take that tray, my dear.”

The little filly blinked, opening her mouth for a moment, as though confused by this sudden change in the matronly deity. Barb judged the filly to be around fourteen years old, and was likely to have just come into Princess Celestia’s service, coming from a wealthier family than any of the older handmaids based on the fact she wore platinum jewelry compared to their silver. She started to blush as the firm but loving smile, and gaze that spoke of eternity, came down upon her with the weight of the sun. Celestia merely waited patiently as the young lady stammered out a few attempts to assert what she probably thought of as "the Correct Order of Things," but the will of the Unconquered could not be denied. She blushed completely scarlet, and handed over the tray.

At that, she might have fainted when Celestia softly said, "Thank you, dear," and bowed slightly over the tray in gratitude. A few quiet words, certain actions, and Celestia imparted more about true grace and ‘orders’ than a thousand edicts. Her elders, more used to their ruler's acts of unprincessly self-sufficiency, curtseyed, using the action to catch the filly before she fainted dead away.

Barb was secretly glad of the humor of it all, even though she was polite enough not laugh. Before opening the door, the Princess tilted her head, a moment's forethought striking. She cleared her throat and added, "And mares? Should our beloved sister, our grandfoal, the Captain of our Guard, or the spy mistress come for me, let them in immediately. They are well aware of my schedule, so if they come here, it's likely due to yesterday’s nightmare, or for a very good reason.”

Before anypony else could say another word, Celestia entered Philomena’s chamber, leaving Barb alone with the handmaids, most of whom were already filing out of the room. Still feeling very nervous but somewhat better, Barb gave the still-dazed filly one last little wave before she turned and followed Celestia’s lead.

The large room had been cleared of much of its clutter, and felt alien to Barb, almost offensively shorn of the signs of Philomena's life. She followed Celestia to the head of the bed, to the center of the emotional maelstrom. Lovingly propped up on a mound of pillows, Philomena’s bronze flesh had paled almost completely in the weeks between Barb’s visits. Worst of all, the phoenix's brilliantly colored and vivid feathers had all gone a faded red, as if mirroring her decaying health. The nurses had cleared out before Barb entered, and she was grateful for that. They never seemed to do much more than pester her frail surrogate mother over every little cough, without ever being able to do much to make Philomena feel any better. “At least they keep the fire stoked. That's the least they can do.”

Unable to sit up any further on her own, Philomena extended her long, frail arms out for Barb, calling for her in a giddy voice. “Oh, Barbara! Come over here, girl! When did you get back from Ponyville? Surely Dusk will miss you, if you stay away too long.”

And that was why Barb didn't simply stay at Philomena’s side day and night. In the ongoing free-fall of her health, she'd lost nearly all of one of her most precious gifts. Her sharp mind went dull some days, leaving her grasping at slender reeds: somedays it was what she'd eaten yesterday; others, how long Barb had been in town. The worst had been the day she'd looked into Barb’s eyes and only seen a stranger. Doing her best to smile through her heartache, Barb squeezed Philomena’s hands and gave the old bird a nod. “I'm here for a few days, Philomena. Want me to give your hands a massage again? I'm sure it'll help make you feel better, right?”

Delighted, the old phoenix wrapped Barb up in her bony arms, pulling her closer and planting a heavy kiss to the dragoness’ cheek. “Why, Barb! You're so thoughtful today! Of course I'd love that. Have you finally mastered fire breathing that gently?”

Glad that she was finally able to do something to help out Philomena, Barb carefully lifted one of the ancient woman's hands up to rub against her blunt snout, nuzzling gently against her bone thin hands for a moment before answering. “I've been practising really hard just so I could help you feel better." Then, to show her again for the first time, Barb parted her muzzle, blowing gentle gusts of breath, charged with only the slightest flicker of her green flames’ heat.

The transformative effect on Philomena was instantaneous; but by now Barb had grown too accustomed to how briefly the effects lingered. She knew better than to get her hopes up. Everywhere her dragon's fire had touched on the elderly woman’s age-weathered hands, arms and face, decades melted away, restoring for the moment a lingering echo of her lost vitality.

Looking around, as if for the first time, seeing everything that was missing from her room, Philomena spread her wings, a vibrant rainbow of flames once more in the hues of her feathers. ”Celestia! You let somepony steal all my knick knacks and curios while I was napping! How could you?”

This time, Barb was sure she caught it. That momentary flare of grief that danced in the goddess’ ageless eyes. Placing both her hands to hold her dear friend’s rejuvenated grip, Celestia shook her head and spoke tenderly, even smiling a little… for Philomena’s sake. “When you fell and broke your hip last year, you agreed to let us clean things up for you, remember? And nothing is stolen. We just cleaned it all, and put some of it on display while the rest is being stored for now. Now, since Barb's got your strength back, how about some breakfast? Fresh oatmeal from my own cook, with raisins and brown sugar, just how you like it.”

The old phoenix accepted Celestia’s assistance setting up the dinner tray, but the moment the princess removed the lid to reveal a still-steaming bowl of oatmeal, she gave a momentary sigh of disappointment, picking up a spoon in her rejuvenated hands and picking through the bowl, muttering her criticism aloud. “You didn't say they added these damned banana chunks again. You know I can't stand all this wet fruit. I swear Celestia, you're nearly as bad as the nurses. They always try to sneak wet fruit into my food.”

Always good-natured, Celestia didn't even flinch at the tirade of complaints from her old friend. Instead she waited for a gap in her complaints to chide her in return, voice far more playful and teasing. “I know you don't like them, Philomena. You've spent nearly three hundred years reminding me you don't like wet fruit. I remember the first time we went on vacation together in the tropics, and after that bad storm, all they had fresh was bananas. You sulked for almost a week until you found that nut tree. But the bananas help with your joints, and Barb can't stay with you day and night to keep soothing your weary bones.”

Scowling at Celestia’s doting smile, the old phoenix pointed her spoon at Barb, glowering half-heartedly. “Would you believe it's been nearly six months since they've let me have red meat? I don't know how you put up with ponies sometimes, Barb. They hardly even begin to understand what makes food edible.”

The more the two women playfully bickered, the better that Barb felt. It was like the weight that sat on her heart making it so hard to breathe was beginning to finally lift off her chest, giving her a chance to relax, and she even managed to gently laugh along with Philomena’s question. “I know! The only time Dusk has ever let me go wild with raw meat was after the whole Gilda incident, when we suddenly had all this meat sitting around that nopony in town wanted to buy off us.”

Chortling with renewed laughter, Philomena stopped her complaint long enough to eat her first spoonful of oatmeal, chewing thoughtfully at the slightly mushy food before giving a content sigh… Then rolling her eyes a little overdramatically. “And this oatmeal! It's barely even tepid at best! Did one of your cooks study magic before becoming a chef? Because for all the steam that came off it when you first opened the tray, you might as well have soaked it all down with cream!”

Celestia must have finally had enough of Philomena’s guff, rolling her eyes in return and pointing down at Barb. “It's not magic, Philo, it's that hot. But if you want it topped off, ask Barb. She's got plenty of control with her fire breathing, and I'm not going to ruin the summer harvest just because you think it's a little chilly in here.”

Eager to keep helping Philomena out, Barb rose onto her tiptoes, ready to blast some more fire. But Philomena very slightly adjusted herself to pull the bowl closer to her mouth by palming the bottom of the bowl and resting it against her chest. Ignoring Barb's move to assist her, Philomena scowled at Celestia, turning her head up a little. “Bah! Right! Like I can't tell when somepony's been trying to fool me with some silly little cantrip!”

Philomena’s breakfast continued that way, with the two adults firing small barbs back and forth while occasionally giving Barb a chance to join in. The best part of the meal came as an enormous relief to Barb, as Philomena’s strength lasted through the whole bowl for the first time since Barb came to Canterlot. It wasn’t until the old phoenix had slumped back into her pillow and drifted off to sleep before her years leaked back into her face and hands. Walking to the door holding Celestia’s hand, Barb felt better than she had all week.

Opening the door to the sitting chamber, the previously calm room was suddenly in a frenzy of activity. Every one of Celestia’s handmaids were doing the most unobtrusive job they could find around the room, all in an effort to not witness what was going on in the middle of the chamber. Since they were talking softly, Barb had to struggle to hear anything they said. Shining Armor and Cadance practically stood on top of one another's feet, and from how flushed the young princess’ face looked, they were having quite the heated argument.

Jabbing one unsubtle finger into Shining’s chest, Cadance’s voice never rose above a level tone. “And I've had it! She's gone too far this time! The thought that anypony could handle a hydra, even Dusk, is simply ludicrous! I thought she'd finally agreed to lay off on him until after he had a few months to recover! Hopefully until sometime after the Gala!”

Holding his hands up defensively, but off to the side so the towering mare could continue to jab him without interference, Shining Armor remained the calm half of their relationship for the first time in Barb's memory. “Hush, now. There is no way Dusk would have challenged a hydra, he-”

Catapulted from a moment of calm bliss to sudden panic, Barb pulled free of Celestia’s grip and bolted across the room, leaping up as soon as she got within range. Her breathing was frantic as she scrambled up Shining Armor’s back, her pudgy belly pressing into his back and making the climb awkward, but her sharp claws were able to find purchase on his light dress armor. Crawling over his shoulders and gripping the collar of his dress jacket, clinging on to keep her balance stable, Barb frantically shook the towering stallion. “Dusk was fighting a hydra? How? Why? Ohhh! I knew I should have gone home already!”

Wrestling to get a hold on the tiny rambling dragoness, Shining Armor alternated between amused laughter and distress, as Barb's razor sharp claws shredded the cloth and silk parts of his dress uniform, even managing to leave deep gouges in his thin showy armor. "Barb, Barb! Dusk is fine, he came out of this like a hero!"

Stunned by Barb’s intrusion into a conversation that so many other ponies were trying their hardest to ignore, Cadance fell back a step, watching in shock as the desperate little dragoness struggled back against Shining’s best attempts to gently fend her off. Barb was ignorant to all of this, the ire in her voice skyrocketing. “Shining, just tell me! What happened to Dusk?! Was he testing out some crazy new spell and attracted the hydra?! Was he making silly notes about some rare flower that only grows in the Everfree Forest?!”

Finally managing to get a decent hold on the scruff of Barb’s neck, Shining Armor winced as, in the process of pulling Barb off his chest, she tore away the front of the expensive blue and white silk brocade of his shirt. Exasperated, and seeing no assistance coming from the staring mare he had just been arguing with, Shining gave a hearty sigh. He tried his best to smile at her. “Hello, Barb. It's nice to see you too, little sister; I said Dusk is fine! He just used up all his magic, so he's probably a little tired and sore today, and if it was anypony but Dusk, I'd say he'll need a week or two off magic to rebuild his stores. Knowing our brother though, he’ll be back to 'normal' by tomorrow.”

While Shining Armor was busy fighting with Barb, Celestia had stopped for moment to speak with the head of her handmaids before finally crossing over to join her granddaughter in the center of the room. The epitome of calm, she gave Cadance a polite nod. “Grandfoal, Shining… I was hoping to get Silken Flight’s report on the hydra and Dusk’s condition before worrying dear Barb. She already has quite a bit on her plate as it is.”

Cadance’s face twisted briefly through a momentary glare of pure frustration as she struggled to find a safe reply, even while she watched a squirming Barb grappling with Shining Armor. At last she gave an exasperated sigh before her normal calm smile returned and she gave Celestia a polite nod. “I didn’t think she would be with you. Why isn't she with Philomena?”

Celestia gave a gentle sigh, and wrapped Barb in her magic, drawing the tiny dragoness off Shining’s chest and into her arms, trapping the little dragoness in her arms like a kitten, scratching a deft fingernail across Barb's spine, addressing her first. “Hush now, little one. We had a scary day yesterday, but it's okay. Remember, you are my hero, too, your flame so potent in helping dear Philomena.”

Fidgeting against the bonds created by Celestia’s magic, it took the best of Celestia’s admittedly expert spine scratching to finally get Barb to calm back down and recline in the soft hug. Seeing that Barb had finally stopped squirming, she answered Cadance. “Philomena is peacefully sleeping for the first time in ages thanks to Barb perfecting her soothing heat breath. And as for Dusk... it looks like Silk has finally arrived with her reports.”

The batmare in question was still dressed in her combat gear, sweat soaked from having accompanied the Wonderbolts’ vanguard all night. She stormed past the two handmaids who had attempted to delay her with the offer of water, likely for a bath more than drinking. She ignored them easily, adjusting a bundles of scrolls under her arm. Oddly for the former mercenary, a quill pen rested where it had been shoved behind her right ear, offsetting her otherwise fearsome demeanour. Stopping only when she reached Celestia’s side, the spymaster waited only long enough to be sure she wasn't interrupting before speaking up. “I've already gone through all of the reports from Shining Armor, Fleetfoot, and various members of Ponyville’s weather team as well as a few... ‘concerned citizens’. If you want to read it all yourself Princess, I will supply all the letters, but if you don't mind me simply summarizing, I can put it all bluntly in two simple words: Shit happens.”

If the handmaids hadn't already been put off by Silk's foul attitude and total lack of respect for the sanctity of Celestia’s presence, after language like that, it was only due to the casual way Celestia continued to pet across Barb's spine that kept them from attempting to bodily force the far more physically-fit and battle-scarred spymaster from the room. Looking at the thick bundle of scrolls, Celestia gave a little sigh and gestured for one of the handmaidens to take them from the guard. “Very well. I will review them later, but for now, could you expand on that statement, please?”

The ex-mercenary glared at the maids as she took the scrolls but returned her focus to Celestia after a brief inspection of Shining Armor’s ruined clothing. “Of course, your majesty. The first warning we... missed... was months ago, during the Everfree Black Lotus fiasco, Rainbow Dash also reported to us on the presence of a rogue hydra wandering around a massive amount of territory in the region.”

Licking her lips to wet them, Silk shifted herself to lean from one hip to the other before continuing. “More recently, numerous members of the weather team, as well as citizens of Ponyville, have reported on the Everfree Forest becoming unnaturally quiet. Finally, the events of yesterday are quite simple. Dusk was out of his home and couldn't be located when Zecora and Applejack came to Ponyville to warn everypony. Discovering his absence, Bronze took on her role as Vicarius, assumed command of the weather team, and assigned those citizens available to search for Dusk in the meantime. Meanwhile, Dusk met up with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, and the three were spending time together in a bog not too far from Ponyville. There was no suggestion of any kind that Dusk was out hunting for the hydra or that anypony else set him up for this.

“Finally, Dusk showed dramatic growth in the power of his magic, and was able to hold off the hydra on his own through sheer magical brute force, severely wounding the creature. It’s entirely possible that he might have managed to single-handedly drive the hydra off if he hadn't been protecting the other Elements.”

Far more than anything else, that single statement caught Celestia’s attention, and she paused halfway through stroking Barb's back. For just a moment, the veneer of her calm outwards appearance broke, and Celestia looked honestly worried. Cocking one eyebrow, Celestia looked back and forth from her knight captain to the spymaster before speaking, in a voice that spoke volumes of her enforced calm. “Given how strong a hydra is, I must ask you both personally, is Dusk really growing that powerful already? I remember the last time I accompanied the military to hunt a hydra. They are difficult to handle, and even I required considerable attention to the task."

Shining Armor needed no time to consider, shaking his head and addressing the princess bluntly. “Last summer.. he tried to challenge the full might of my shield spell I've spent nearly a decade perfecting into an uncrackable defence… head on. Last year I would have never believed he could grow so powerful, even after witnessing his fight with Nightmare Moon! He's strong, but… not really any more experienced, or rather, more skillful, than when he was here. His combat magic is mostly crude, direct spells, with his primary strategy being the application of overwhelming power, but he has no art or precision."

The stallion paused, accepting a glass of wine from an attentive handmaid and taking a sip before continuing. “However, in the last year, he has only gone from one challenge to another that constantly pushes his magic to its limit, especially considering his battering ram style. Starting with an absolute defeat at the hands of Nightmare Moon, he then recovered enough to journey into the dream domain, solve the riddle of Princess Luna’s disappearance, and find the Elements of Harmony. Later, he battled a rogue unicorn who could duplicate his own magic, and attempted to hold off an Ursa Minor singlehandedly."

He rubbed his eyes, the concerned brother giving further way to loyal captain in him. "After that, Dusk led the Elements of Harmony to a dragon's nest and survived its initial assault. And let’s not forget how he managed to harness a dose of black lotus to use healing magic, which he openly admits is one of the few types of magic he can’t normally use, in order to save the life of a mortally wounded Wonderbolt cadet. That excludes all of the other side adventures he has been up to, like the parasprites, mastering teleportation without instruction and any number of other examples. These days, I wonder if he has the power to crack my shield spell via direct and unmodified intervention. The damage he did to that hydra would certainly have mortally wounded anything smaller.”

Silken Flight was silent as she waited for Shining Armor to finish his not at all panicky (really) reply. When he finished, she just thrust a thumb towards him, shaking her head in a visible display of annoyance. “I hate to be forced to agree with him, but he is right. If Fleetfoot hadn't called the Wonderbolts back, we probably could have killed the hydra simply from how badly Dusk's assault exhausted and maimed it. Not to mention the sheer blow from those impact boots, or the fall it took afterwards." Silk shook her head, letting out a tired breath. “Honestly, Princess Celestia, if Dusk had some proper training in battle magic, he would be nearly unstoppable in a fight.”

Celestia’s shoulders visibly deflated, and she turned back to Shining Armor, handing him the now-tamed Barb. “Enough then. Shining, take Barb and get changed, you both look like you've been in a brawl. Afterwards, why don't you treat her to dinner in that griffoness’ diner that opened last week? Barb's been hiding in her room long enough, it's time she got out and saw more of Canterlot. Silken Flight... we need to go speak with my sister, now.”

The previously impassive Silk was abruptly self-conscious, nervously rubbing her hands over the sweat soaked leather armor that clung to her body. The sour smell of the wet leather was powerful and her hair hung in an ugly mess. “We? Uh… Right this moment, Princess?" The hint of wheedling in her voice was a clear sign of what was really on her mind. “I’m… well- shouldn't I at least go produce a copy of my report for Princess Luna first?" Hope rose, like an earth pony in flight.

From a catapult.

Celestia's gentle smile held a slight smirk that only Barb could see, probably at how Silk so suddenly needed to find any excuse to delay seeing her beloved princess. That said, she had no reason to let the spymaster go clean up and change if she couldn't have done it before reporting to her. Waving politely, she waited until Barb and Shining Armor were out of sight before speaking. “No, Silken Flight, we do not have time for such delay. I've been worried about something like this happening. Luna has to understand. She'll take you at your word.”

Following them out of the chamber, Cadance swiftly moved to block the rest of the hall with an outstretched wing, feathers trembling with wrath, glaring defiance at her grandmother. Her face was flushed red with anger, and her voice dripped anger, though she kept her tone low. “You said you'd stop playing games with Dusk and put off all these tests, at least until he has had a few months to recover. Do you seriously expect me to believe a hydra just happened to stumble upon Dusk in the middle of nowhere?!”

Stopping level with the red-faced mare, Celestia looked back over her shoulder at Silk, her tone now cold and serious. “Silk, swear to Cadance that your report was the truth. Swear it in my sister’s name, if you think she will believe that more.”

Dropping to a knee and bowing her head on one arm extended at her chest level, Silk's voice was quiet, rough, and serious. “I swear in the name of Princess Luna. I swear to you I had no part or knowledge of any of these matters until the weather team’s messenger arrived in Cloudsdale, and that there is no evidence Princess Celestia was involved in any of this in any way, Princess Cadance. I swear by the Mother of the Night that all of this is true.”

Slowly, Cadance let the anger flow out of her. Her indignance visibly humbled by the seriousness of Silk's reply, Cadance bit her lip, slowly retracting her wing and arm while looking nervously from Silk's devoted kneel to Celestia’s stern gaze. Drawing in a shaky breath, she gave a small nod. “Well… good then. Thank you for reassuring me Silk… I... I apologize for accusing you of breaking your word to me, grandmother. I suppose I should join you in talking with Princess Luna then if this situation is so serious.”

Shaking her head, Celestia responded with a fond smile on her face. “It’s perfectly fine, dear. I know how protective you can be when it comes to your patients." She then took on a more serious tone as she continued. “Also, you don't need to accompany us. I am proud of your skills, and prouder yet of your heart, Cadance. I promise, while we work for the good of Equestria-- and the world, to stave off a cub from becoming a Wolf-- we will keep him and his happiness in mind. Go join Shiny and Barb for dinner. You spend much too much time in the hospital yourself.”

Suddenly horrified, Cadance threw her hands over her mouth. “To a griffon’s barbecue? Grandmother, they eat their food practically raw! I've even seen them eat living creatures!”

Celestia smiled indulgently, and kissed her granddaughter's forehead. “You know that's uncommon even in their homeland, dear. And a condition of any griffon’s citizenship in Equestria includes a ban on all barbaric behavior. Besides, she’s been dating a nice bat stallion a few weeks now and broadened her menu at his request. I'm sure you'll be able to find something edible." She winked. "I imagine the place is rather resonant with you at this point, as well."

Flustered by Celestia’s teasing, and suddenly once more a foal before her grandmother, Cadance meekly turned and left with only a mumbled word of acquiescence. As Silk stood back up, she shook her head slowly, her voice soft-spoken now. “May I at least ask what is so urgent we must wake Princess Luna so early? She can’t have been asleep for more than a few hours at most." Her eyes widening, Silk hit upon a recollection. “Additionally... one of my agents in Ponyville… she wants to know why Dusk is so special, so powerful, as she feels she's being left out of important information on purpose… and so do I.”

Remorse filled Celestia’s eyes, and she paused, looking up and down to the hall and horn glowing with golden light to make sure they were alone. Taking in a deep breath, Celestia moved to the wall that Silk stood by, and rested her head on the stone of the castle wall. In a hushed tone, she spoke without ever looking at the spymaster. “Dusk was born with incredible power. More power than any unicorn I’ve seen in a long time. To protect him, and all of Equestria, I sealed much of his magic behind a spell crafted by Starswirl the Bearded, originally intended to stop Nightmare Moon peacefully. Even after sealing the majority of his power away thusly, Dusk’s magic has only continued to grow. Now, I fear he might shatter the seal… and if that happens, it’s entirely possible that something will occur to make the Night of the Red Moon look like foal’s play.”

Shocked, Silk's eyes gained a haunted look, the implication of the strength Dusk potentially had yet to tap into mind boggling. “But to seal away the power of such a potentially powerful unicorn... Surely you could have taught him control instead!”

A single tear ran down Celestia’s golden cheek and she exhaled a heavy, lingering breath. “It's true, he could be a great boon to Equestria if he could be taught to control such power. But a foal? A foal's magical power is wild and unpredictable, well out of their control. It is far more likely that he would have destroyed his home, assuming he didn't take the city block with it.” Celestia shook her head slowly. "No, I did what was right. I already had one alicorn foal on my hands, I--" Celestia cut herself off, and cleared her throat. "Dusk will grow to be a powerful mage, but he must be taught to control that power. Equestria might not survive another Wolf." Pushing off the wall, Celestia began to walk towards her sister’s rooms.

Silenced by the sight of Celestia's silken mask of calm breaking, Silken Flight followed the goddess in silence as they traversed the castle, black shadow to Celestia’s white and golden glory. Nearing Princess Luna’s chambers in silence, the few servants around moved quickly and spoke only in hushed tones that set Silk's nerves on edge. Somethingwas obviously wrong, though for the most part everything looked fine. Feeling a bead of sweat running down her neck, Silk bit her lip, pressing on further into the castle.

As they rounded the last corner into a waiting chamber before Luna's private suite, it was the sight of her honor guard that finally broke Silk's nerve. One stallion sat on the marble staircase, his leathery wings folded around his body like a cloak, his polished helmet between his feet, while a mare stood over him, stroking her hand through his hair. Two more were still in position, but their stance was more of the damned than proper guards on duty, with an oddly familiar-looking mass of broken wood piled up just beside the door. Shocked by how rattled the group looked, and what it might mean for her beloved princess, Silk rushed ahead of Celestia, and reached the concerned-looking batpony mare before she had even noticed her arrival.

Silk snatched the mare’s armor by the protective pauldrons that covered her shoulders, clamping both hands down on the metal and rooting the surprised mare into place. As the guard tried to stammer and stutter out a regulation challenge, Silk’s questioning voice overrode hers, concern and worry in her tone. “What happened? Has the princess been injured? Why is that chair broken?”

Celestia was right on Silk's tail, her aplomb restored even as Silk's shattered, the spymaster shaking the befuddled mare for answers that weren't coming. The mare eventually managed to get Silk to stop shaking her. Finally, she managed to stammer out an answer. “Silk… Silken Flight…. You… you just, you don’t understand! She swore us to silence! She- She ordered us not to tell anypony! Inkspot- he… he opened the door so we could charge in when we heard Princess Luna screaming, and she threw her favorite sitting chair at the door just over his head, demanding she be left alone! We thought she was in distress, so we went in regardless, and the door slammed shut behind us! I-I... " Her voice trailed off for a moment, before she shook herself and soldiered on. “I won’t repeat what the Night Mother said, but she swore us to silence at what we saw. Then when we were leaving, she told Inkspot to stay. We only heard yelling for a long time, but we couldn't make it out through the door, the noise was too muffled. Eventually, Inkspot came out, but he was so pale, and he was shaking so hard he could barely stand, and Princess Luna had lodged her hairbrush in his chest plate!”

When the mare finished, Silk looked down at the sitting guardspony, his leathery wings still covering him like a cloak. When he eventually noticed Silk’s attention, he spread one wing off his chest, revealing the ornately-carved wooden hairbrush Luna always made her brush her hair with... stabbed into his dark armor. Silk had no idea how the stallion himself wasn’t injured, but she kneeled down for a moment to inspect him. He looked fine, just shaken up. She reached out a hand to pull the hairbrush free, but when she gave it a sharp pull, it remained stuck fast. She tried again, only succeeding in pulling the entire breastplate forward, the stallion wearing it giving a soft grunt in reply. Silk’s curiosity only grew when she’d heard all that her princess and lover had done.

Celestia kneeled down beside Silk, brushing her fingers over the hairbrush. She braced the stallion’s chestplate with the palm of one hand, and tugged the hairbrush out after a moment, the wood coming free of the steel with ease. She tenderly stroking the stallion’s cheek with the hand she’d held him in place with, and spoke at last. “Oh dear. Is it really happening this early? I can’t even remember the last time that poor Lulu had a bad hair day.”

Flabbergasted by how casually Celestia was treating the situation, Silk slowly stood back up, letting the guardsmare at her side return to comforting the still-pale stallion. Turning to look up at the princess, Silk couldn’t help but stare with astonishment. “Just- what in Tartarus do you mean, a bad hair day? Are you telling me she nearly attacked her own guard because of her hair? She loves demanding I brush it, but...”

Rather than answer, Celestia gave a soft nod to the guardsmare trying to soothe the stallion on the ground, watching as she stroked her thumb across the guards cheek. Smiling to herself, she rapidly turned and tapped a single digit on Silk’s nose. “Just release the poor dears from their duty. Give them the day off, then join me at the door. She won't need any guards today. We will be here all day if she’s going to join us in Cloudsdale tomorrow.”

Silk couldn't help but openly stare as Celestia then turned, sweeping the rest of the way up, walking as swiftly as possible, and very softly knocking on the towering doors to Luna’s private chambers, before speaking up in an astonishing sickeningly sweet voice. “Lulu!~ Little sister! Are you-u-u up? It’s Cele~! Can I come in?” Birds chirping in harmony could not sound so sweet, nor raptors screaming at their prey so eager for the hunt.

From inside the chamber, a roar of anger cried out loud enough that the elaborate candelabra overhead shook, showering the room with tiny droplets of hot wax. “WHO DARES BREAK THEIR WORD AND TELL OUR SISTER?! WE DEMAND THEIR NAME! WE WISHED TO BE LEFT ALONE!”

Undeterred by her sister’s rage, Celestia folded her arms behind her back, her voice soft, and yet still so sickeningly sweet that Silk could only stare for a moment in shock. “None of them told on you Lulu. I needed to talk to you about something very important! But nothing is more important than you, my dear little sister. Now let me in so we can talk.”

This time, Luna’s roar was gentler, but still it was easily heard throughout the room. “WE WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR TEASING, CELESTIA! TODAY IS NOT A DAY FOR JESTING!”

Raising her voice a tad, Celestia cooed through the doorway, hardly able to suppress a foalish giggle in her voice. “I’ll make Silk brush your hair with your favorite brush while we talk!~” If Celestia had hopped up and down on her toes and clapped her hands, it would have been less a shock.

There was silence, save for Silk’s breath and the echo of her footsteps as she walked up the stairs to stand by the elder princess, and for a moment, the mercenary felt as if the world had frozen solid. Then, in a voice she had to struggle to hear, she heard Luna ask softly, “Silk’s there? Oh Cele!~ I must look like such a foal right now!”

The soft sound of the heavy portal before them unlatching from the inside echoed in the now abandoned chamber. Smiling gently at Silk, Celestia gave her a cheerful wink before pushing the door open with one hand, gesturing for Silk to go in first.

Stepping through the familiar door, Silk was shocked at the sheer darkness that flooded the normally dimly-lit room. The cushion from Luna’s favorite chair lay on the ground beside the door, likely where it had landed after her beloved had tossed the offending furniture at the intruding guards. As Celestia stepped in to follow her, a faint aura appeared, pressing back against the darkness, glowing off the elder princess’ very flesh to drive back a little of the invasive dark. At her wordless urging, Silk accepted the wooden brush, stepping carefully through the chamber and turning towards Luna’s bed, breathing shakily as she caught sight of Luna’s towering form standing before a shattered fullsize mirror.

It was her hair then, more than darkness, more than the destruction, as Celestia had foretold. After everything the guards had suggested, the sight of it caught Silk’s breath in her throat, making her lock up as she stared in shock. Luna’s supernal hair floated in the air, moving on its own about the room! It floated and flicked in impossible, long eerie blue-black ethereal tendrils, flecked through with black threading. For all the times she had seen either of the elder Alicorn Princesses’ hair move all on their own, it was always in small ways, as if moved by one grand breeze that affected them alone. Walking slowly forward and summoning her courage, Silk finally spoke up. “Night Mother… May… may I brush your hair?”

Against the inky aura of spreading darkness, the flush of Luna's pale cheeks was nearly as vivid as Celestia’s glowing aurora to Silk’s night-trained eyes. Luna turned half away, hiding her heated face with one hand. “Oh-! Silk, please! I've told you before… when you are in my chamber, don't use that name… it feels so silly coming from you!”

Feeling a little more confident that she could make her adored goddess blush despite her supposed anger, Silk approached in slow steps. Lifting the brush, she began to stroke with slow skill through the resistant, floating tangle of knotted hair. It was difficult, with the ethereal strands fighting back against her best efforts to be gentle with Luna's enraged hair. “You only said I shouldn't use that title if we were alone, my princess. We aren't alone.”

Looking up and remembering that Celestia stood over them, a silent sentinel, Luna groaned and covered her further flushed face with both hands, releasing an intensive and above all exhausted sigh. “Cele! Why do you have to have all the luck with your hair!?”

Stepping in close to her younger sister, Celestia cupped Luna's cheeks and kissed her forehead with gentle sympathy. Looking into her eyes, she spoke softly. “Because you're the one who can live for the moment and take so much joy in the little things in life. You feel the liveliest love but bear the nearest pain.”

As the sisters stared into the glittering mirror together, talking very softly, Celestia’s golden magic floated a violet bottle of perfumed hair oil off the table for Silk. Accepting the obvious suggestion, she took the oil in one hand, pouring the oil with care over her goddess’ levitating locks, relieved at how it made the tangled mess a little easier to work with every stubborn stroke. She couldn't help herself as a curious thought returned again, and blurted out the question before she could stop herself. “Why doesn't Cadance’s hair move or glow like yours, my princesses? Is it because she is so young?”

With both goddesses now staring at her intensely as she continued to brush Luna’s wild hair, Silk felt a sudden rush of regret. She licked her suddenly dry lips, and was just about to retract her question when Luna nudged her sister in the ribs and Celestia just sighed. "I told you questions like this would become more common with your alicorn grandfoal around.”

Celestia wasn't listening to either of them anymore; her mind and senses were far away. She stared into the mirror and off into the distance of ages in silence before laughing softly to herself. “Nopony questions little things like that very often, at least not until little Cadance’s parents made such a massive spectacle of announcing her birth. The parade was simply too much.”

Rather than pause, Celestia shifted to sit beside Luna on the edge of her massive bed, still looking deeply into the shattered mirror’s surface, still talking in a far off voice. “Starswirl discovered us and took us in as foals. The Unicorn elders claimed they could best teach us magic, but it was really only because of the intervention of Queen Pure Radiance of the Crystal Empire that the Earth and Pegasi Kingdoms didn't outright declare war over ownership of us.”

Celestia shifted and at last broke off her stare looking at her feet as she rubbed her hands, together shivering a little. “Years later, I awoke one morning, but unlike all the other dawns, the sun wasn't up yet. Wandering outside, I discovered Starswirl in the center of a circle of forty other unicorns. Many had collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Starswirl leaned on his staff, barely breathing. I rushed to his side-- after all, he was the closest thing to a father I had.”

Celestia spoke of such personal yet pivotal events in an impartial tone, rarely meeting Silk or Luna's eyes as she continued. “He could hardly speak, and what he could say was lanced through with pain and grief. The Crystal Empire had been convinced by the Earth and Pegasi kingdoms to send us to their lands to be raised in exchange for the ongoing peace. The Council of Elder Unicorns were adamant in their refusal of letting the other tribes take us away. In punishment, the Crystal Empire took control of the sun and moon from the Unicorn Kingdom. The Elders had simply ordered Starswirl to do as he had always done: Find a solution. But against the mighty magic of Pure Radiance and undiminished power of the Crystal Empire, Starswirl’s best efforts failed. He told me all of this, begging my forgiveness, heart breaking that he could not protect us anymore.

“Seeing this stallion, the one who had taught me magic, who had protected my sister from the world's thorns, suddenly far older than his years, on the edge of death after fighting in secret to protect us from the political greed of three empires I hardly understood… I burst. Somehow I convinced him to teach me the spell pattern they used to raise the sun. A spell that took forty-two adult unicorns to cast. I soared high into the darkened sky, pouring my magic into the design, feeling it fit as though I'd scribed it personally, glory and love rising on a trail of empyreal fire. The sun welcomed me, like a long-lost sibling. But some grand force, some impossible weight resisted me." Celestia exhaled once, eyes searching and mind reliving the grand moment.

Nodding, the princess continued. "She wanted to test me. For me to prove my worth to her. I didn’t relent, throwing all of my magic, all of my soul behind the spell, demanding that the sun move. And eventually, it did, all resistance melting away in the inferno of my rage. Once I had moved her and brought forth the dawn, I finally landed, exhausted utterly. Lulu ran to my side, ignoring the warnings from the watching adults. I'd discovered my cutie mark. The very sun itself lay embossed on my hip, burned right through my clothing. And my once bubblegum pink hair had changed, now an echo of the radiant light form of the sunrise.”

When Celestia’s voice trailed off, Luna cut in, almost as if the sisters had practiced this speech a thousand times before. “By the evening, Starswirl had barely recovered any of his strength. But I knew if Cele could move the sun, I simply had to move the moon. Starswirl resisted me harder than he had Cele, spurning my youth, but relented when she managed to set the sun, but was unable thus to move the mercurial moon. I took to the evening sky, and I too found an incredibly joyous greeting when my magic found the moon. Where Cele found weight thrown against her, the clash of wills, I was hurled into a game of wits with the ultimate prize: my soul lost or my destiny gained. I danced through dreams; I sung truth from illusion. In the end, I beheld her, and those who witnessed saw me, as my sister, save that I burst into a wreath of ebon flames. When I landed, the moon had whispered its secrets to me, a watchful eye alone in the night sky. My hair became a mirror of the night sky, speckled with the light of stars.”

“For Cadance, when she truly embraces the duty her cutie mark truly represents, we suspect she will ascend as well. But until that day, she remains a mortal mare.”

Celestia quietly added, "And more vulnerable than she knows."

That somber thought called forth awkward silence that lingered too long. Hunting desperately for anything to fill the somber air, Silk found only a poorly conceived joke waiting for her. “So, uh, what part of being the Night Mother involves frightening and assaulting your personal guard?”

Instead of laughter, Luna wearily rubbed her face with both hands, groaning audibly. “I apologize, Silk. I.. clearly didn't handle this morning well. I must make reparations to them. As soon as you have finished taming my hair.” A spark of life at last touched her face, and she winked at Silk.

Looking wearily from the small portion of Luna’s hair she had managed to straighten, to the unnameable, contorted mass of tendrils that remained writhing in the air, Silk gave a weary sigh. “I love you dearest to my soul, Princess Luna, but taming your hair might be near impossible. Next time, may I ask the Elements of Harmony for help? They appear rather good at impossible tasks."

Bursting out in gentle laughter, Luna finally relaxed completely, letting go of her dire embarrassment and simply enjoying her lover’s jest. Despite herself, Silk cracked a grim smile that grew with Luna's pure joy, returning to work her goddess’ hair when she at last had it under control. Her smile eventually grew into a smirk, and Silk spoke, barely-concealed laughter in her tone. “You almost look like a bad comic book villain, my princess.”

At Celestia’s open laugh, Luna raised an eyebrow at her lover, confusion clear on her face. “A… comic book? A book meant for laughter?" When Celestia began laughing harder still, Silk barely managed to contain her own snorts of amusement. Luna's brow furrowed and she turned imperiously to her sister. “Cele!~ Tell us, what is this 'comic book' she speaks of?”

Holding up one hand for patience, Celestia took a few moments to collect herself. Still half-giggling, Celestia finally spoke up. “Oh, Light, I needed that. Thank you Silken Flight." Celestia cleared her throat before turning to her sister. “Well, er, Luna, comic books are sort of like… I guess-- picture books, for adults. They tell stories via panels of drawn characters, with their speech, or a narrator’s, being the only text in it. I’m surprised our Silk is familiar with any of the villains involved in them. Not unlike frescos with captions, or drawn pantomimes.”

When the pair of princesses turned to look at Silk, she stubbornly refused to meet their gazes, attention focused very thoroughly on the lock of hair she was working on. Feeling her cheeks heat up under their combined divine scrutiny, Silk broke after a handful of seconds. “I… may have read a few graphic novels in my mercenary days, when I was still a boot.”

Leaning in close to her sister, Celestia spoke in a loud whisper. “A graphic novel is what snooty, embarrassed ponies call comic books.”

Luna began giggling rapidly, the sound quickly becoming louder before transforming into full-bodied laughter. Silk knew her face was a bright red by now; she could feel the searing heat of her embarrassment. When Celestia began laughing as well, Silk groaned, stopping her vain attempts to tame Luna’s hair. Looking over at the pair of-- well, sisters, Silk stuck her tongue out at her lover before breaking out into laughter herself.

After a few more minutes, when the laughter finally began to die down, Celestia placed a hand on Luna’s shoulder. When she had the night princess’ attention, she spoke gently, her tone gravely serious. "Luna... we need to talk about Dusk.”

Author's Notes:

And thus ends our first guest written chapter, thanks to the hard work of one of my editors , Shawkthorian who wrote around half of this interlude. Of course as always, I want to thank all of my editors for their assistance, most of all considering how massive this chapter has become.

1: Moue = French, noun

a pouting expression used to convey annoyance or distaste.