Tuesday, April 12th. 5:00am, Dusk’s room, Wonderbolts Military Hospital

Dusk shifted his position on the bed to make more space for the tray of pancakes Applejack had brought to his room. Eyeing a conspicuously placed, suspiciously polished apple and a folded up newspaper set to one side of the plate, Dusk vigorously rubbed his hands together. “Well thank you Applejack! I can't wait to-”

A gentle slap to his hand halted both his attempt to pick up the utensils on the plate, and the thanks he had been giving to the mare who brought it. Dusk realized Applejack had an aggressively stubborn look in her eye, even as she tutted mercilessly. “Tsk tsk! None of that, bucko! You're hurt so you rest. Fluttershy volunteered to help you with breakfast, so you'll sit back and let her!”

He laid back and smiled, raising his hands in mock surrender. At his side, Rainbow Dash appeared to already be deeply enjoying the attention she was getting from Rarity. The petite mare was meticulously cutting up pancakes, before dipping each piece into syrup and feeding them to the athlete. Watching as Fluttershy approached, Dusk couldn't help but notice the little shadow that tried to hide behind the folds of her yellow dress. As Fluttershy sat down next to Dusk and gave him a smile, Scootaloo found herself caught out in the open for a moment.

Dusk was shocked to see her puffy cheeks and red eyes. Worriedly, he reached out and caught the filly’s hand before she could slip away. “Scootaloo? You okay? What’s wrong?”

Only half-heartedly trying to free her hand from Dusk’s light grip, the rapid flurry of emotions that sprang to and died on Scootaloo’s face were heartbreaking for Dusk to watch. Squeezing her eyes closed, she turned her face towards her feet; her voice was hot, and Dusk could tell she was nearly ready to cry.

“Dusk, it's my fault! I made you fall! And even then you had to tell me to get out my whistle!” Scootaloo sniffled loudly before trying to continue. “A-a re-real pegasus would have signaled for help even if they'd been hurt! It took somepony reminding me I had a whistle before I could do anything useful!”

A real pegasus. The words had caught in the filly’s throat, but she’d forced them out. Finally managing to pull her hand out of Dusk’s, Scootaloo sunk back behind the protective screen of Fluttershy’s dress.

Dusk was silent for a moment, frozen in shock. “Scootaloo, you know that’s-” Dash interrupted Dusk by placing her hand on his. Falling silent, Dusk leaned back to give Dash a clearer view of Fluttershy and the still-sniffling filly.

“Hey, Scoot? I know you’re smarter than that. I can think of only one or two other fillies your age that would have even thought to try and hold Dusk up. You did what you could, and that’s all we’d ever expect from you. You even managed to stay on the clouds by yourself long enough to call for help.” Dash gave an amused chuckle before continuing. “You’d never even walked on clouds before this weekend, right? I’d say you did better than anyone could have asked.”

Half-turning in her chair to wrap an arm around Scootaloo, Fluttershy pulled the filly in close, nodding. “That’s right! Besides, if it’s your fault, then I have to take some of the blame since I’m such a weak flyer. Why, if you were a few years older, I bet we probably could have carried him to safety.”

Still sniffling a little against Fluttershy’s shoulder, Scootaloo took a moment to finally look up at Fluttershy, before turning to Dash, before looking down at her feet as she answered. “I- suppose so. But anypony would have tried to help Dusk…”

Dash rolled her eyes and chuckled again, before sitting back to let Rarity continue to feed her. Glancing at Scootaloo, she said, “You did your best, kid. You should be proud of how you acted. And no more of that ‘a real pegasus’ nonsense either. Or I’ll swat your bottom before Redheart gets a chance.”

The remainder of breakfast was quieter. Applejack eventually drew Scootaloo from her hiding place beside Fluttershy and convinced the filly to eat some apple slices. As Dusk finished his meal, his eyes returned to the paper at Fluttershy’s side. The Cloudsdale Times was a title Dusk knew well enough from copies they'd used in school back at Canterlot, and he could remember his mother always seemed to have a copy - like many other Equestrian papers - in her office. Reaching out for the paper now that he was done eating, Dusk carefully watched Applejack, waiting to see her reaction as he grabbed the paper, but was relieved when she didn't respond.

Removing the string and unfolding the paper, Dusk was surprised to see a second paper had been folded up inside. The Wonderbolts Gazette was unfamiliar, and had none of the colorful and eye-catching accents he had always seen in other papers. In fact, the only comparison Dusk could make was to the weekly announcements Starswirl University printed. And the headline was bad enough to make Dusk blanch. “Unnamed Unicorn Magistrate rescued at last moment by Contestant #15, Rainbow Dash, during the Y.F.C.”

While the story left Dusk unnamed and didn't mention Ponyville, despite detailing Dash’s life, Dusk felt compelled to read on. Every article was short, light on dramatics, and somehow related to the Wonderbolts, the Royal Guard, or some aspect of Cloudsdale politics. The whole second and third pages were filled with details of Fleetfoot’s deployment to reinforce Spitfire in the Griffon Empire, including half a page about Rainbow Blitz’s return from retirement and his military career, and a third of a page about the current situation regarding the griffons’ emperor. The lack of any measure of editorializing or opinion finally fixed the paper's existence in Dusk's mind: a collection of military or government authorized facts, it presented exactly enough details for the family of a pony in either organization. Yet the dry nature, and focus on only authorized facts left Dusk hungry for more.

Shaking his head a little, Dusk folded up both papers and set them aside. Shifting to sit up, Dusk turned to Rarity, who had apparently finished feeding Dash and was now attempting to brush Pinkie’s wild hair at the foot of the bed. “Have the doctors given us any time frame for when we can leave, Rarity? I would rather sit in bed at home if it's really so necessary.”

The small mare stiffened up halfway through brushing a thick handful of Pinkie’s hair. The moment her brush stopped, the hair slowly began to uncoil while slipping free of her hand, rapidly returning to its naturally bouncy state. “I- well, Dusk… Princess Celestia and the doctors spent hours working on you. I just- I don't think you should push yourself.”

Sitting up with care, Dusk slowly began to smile for Rarity, tapping a finger to his lips gently. “I understand your concerns, Rarity. After talking with both Celestia and Luna last night, I realized the times I feel best, most relaxed, happiest, is at my library in Ponyville, spending time with you mares.”

Even as they talked, the sound of an ongoing argument in the hallway grew more noticeable. While Rarity looked distracted and thoughtful, the disagreement halted outside the door, and a distinctly familiar voice drowned out the rest. “And I said he’s my bloody magistrate, and the letter came from the Princess to my bloody airship. So I’ll deliver it to him personally, or you can explain to the Princess why you wouldn’t let me deliver his damn letter!”

Passing off the last third of the apple she and Scootaloo had been sharing, Applejack rose, glancing at Rarity for a brief moment until the other mare gave her a nod and then walked over to the door. Swinging it open revealed an unknown doctor and a red-faced Cherry Berry who held a scroll that had been sealed by Celestia’s crest in fine golden wax.

Offering a tip of her hat to the doctor and Cherry Berry, Applejack whistled softly to stop their fight before interjecting. “Morning there doc, Captain Cherry. Dusk was just asking about when he could go home. Feeling a lil’ awkward about being up here in the clouds after what happened yesterday and all. Whaddya say?”

Stiffening up at the interruption, the doctor turned to look into the room, standing straight and adjusting his glasses as he looked to Dusk. The moment he saw Rainbow Dash lounging in the bed at Dusk’s side, however, his composure broke, and with a shaking finger, he pointed at her. “Young mare! You're a patient here! Did your doctor give you permission to leave your room!? This is simply unacceptable behavior. Get out of the magistrate’s bed and return to your room at once!”

Disdainfully rolling her eyes, Dash possessively clutched Dusk’s arm before giving the doctor a dirty look. “I’m not going anywhere, doc! If Dusk wasn't here I'd have ducked out a window and flown back to Ponyville by now. At least there I know the nurses would let me sneak out and give Dusk a sponge bath!”

Puffing angrily, the stallion threw his hands up in the air and turned back to Applejack. “I will get the magistrate’s doctor, and if she isn't back in her room, the hospital administrator will deal with her!”

Watching only for a moment as the doctor stormed off, Cherry Berry stepped into the open doorway and offered Applejack the scroll. Her eyes danced with laughter as she whistled and gave Applejack’s arm a playful punch. “I spent damn near twenty minutes being stalked by that nosy nuisance. This was sitting in the cabin on my boat when I got home from my pal’s pub. It's her majesty's seal, so I figured I'd bring it right over.”

Hesitation drifted in the captain's eyes as she turned to look at Dusk and Dash in the bed, as if considering commenting on the situation. At last she smirked, her voice soft. “If you want t’go home sooner than the docs want, I can just barge my way into the basement dock. Otherwise? I'll go do some maintenance at Blitz's cloud.”

Accepting Celestia’s note from Applejack, Dusk carefully broke the seal from the paper without ripping the wax, his fingers tenderly stroking his mentor’s sigil as he smiled over at the airship pilot. “Truth be told, I'd rather leave right now, but-” Dusk hesitated a moment as Rarity made a decidedly ungraceful noise, before continuing. “It would be more appropriate, not to mention polite, to get the doctor’s word first. Feel free to do your maintenance, and thanks for putting up with this delay, Cherry.”

Offering only a mild smirk, the airship captain gave a two-fingered salute to Dusk. “Not a problem at all, Magistrate. Gives me a last chance to say goodbye to my friends and maybe scam another keg of ale from their storeroom. One way or another, I'll be waiting at the boat.”

Unrolling the letter as she left, Dusk was surprised to see how short the note inside really turned out to be.

“My dearest Dusk Shine,

I want to apologize for storming out on you last night. Rainbow Blitz mentioned your interest in the Rainbow Factory this morning, so I have sent word to grant you access to ‘The Engine’. I think you will find it fascinating.

Recover swiftly, my number one student.

Celestia.”

Smiling softly as he rolled the letter back up, Dusk was puzzled over just what Princess Celestia could possibly be talking about. ‘The Rainbow Factory has an engine? But I’ve never heard or read of it before… how interesting.’

Entertaining thoughts of some towering machine that filled whole stories of the massive building, Dusk hardly noticed when a unicorn mare stepped into the open doorway, her dower voice openly disappointed. “And I see you still can’t stop causing ponies headaches regardless of Cadance’s best efforts, Dusk Shine.”

“Miss Clemency? Whitetail Clemency?!” Shocked beyond words to see Cadance’s first mentor in Cloudsdale, Dusk could only stare as she stepped inside. Her white doctor's coat was loose over her shoulders and mostly hid the plain beige business suit she wore underneath.

The former Canterlot University Medical teacher's signature glossy white tail hair was visible as she walked into the room and sat on Dusk's side of the bed. Two fingers went straight to his throat to check his pulse even as she scowled at him, then turned to Fluttershy. “It's just like Velvet’s colts to run about causing trouble, you know. Shining Armor once took poor innocent Cadance to a concert the night before one of her exams. I was aghast when she fell asleep during her test the next day! And Dusk was never any better!”

Laughing gently to himself, Dusk shook his head, earning a swat on the shoulder from the old mare. Holding still again he grinned at her before finally speaking up. “It's good to see you too, Auntie Whitetail.”

Turning to look at him, Whitetail scowled. “I'm Cadance’s aunt, not yours, munchkin!” Looking over at the confused Dash and Rarity she smiled for once, showing just a little bit of her teeth. “My dear Cadance said that he was only made Ponyville's magistrate so he'd stop causing so many problems at the University. Apparently it freed up an hour out of Celestia's daily schedule!"

Blushing furiously now, but still glad to see the old mare, Dusk sat up a little and caught both of her hands in his before pulling her into a hug. “And I love you too, Auntie Whitetail.” Realizing all of his friends were staring at them, Dusk cleared his throat gently. “I suppose I should introduce you to one another and explain. You see, Whitetail Clemency was Princess Cadence’s tutor as a filly, and she-”

Rolling her eyes and fighting her way out of his hug, Whitetail pushed Dusk to lay back down. Huffing out exaggeratingly, the mare forcefully offered Dash a handshake. “He takes too long and gushes about irrelevant details forever. I'm the administrator of this hospital, and he's a brat I had to occasionally watch until Princess Celestia could make better arrangements. I was already old enough from having to raise poor Cadance, and then I had this childish colt foisted off on me. It was bad enough dealing with one of Velvet’s foals, especially given Shining Armor’s terrible influence on dear Cadance!”

Befuddled, Dash shook the mare's hand, looking around for some kind of stability. “I- umm… I'm Rainbow Dash. Good to-”

Railroading over Dash, the mare shook her head and lightly tutted. “You don't need to introduce yourself, dear. You’re Blitz's daughter, and in all the papers today after that stunt you pulled off yesterday. You're also the Element of Loyalty. More importantly, however, you’re a patient who’s out of her bed without her doctor’s permission.”

Stammering even as her back straightened with pride, Dash shook her head. “I- How did you know that!?”

However, it was Rarity who replied. She had returned to attempting to brush Pinkie's hair, and she smiled quietly as she spoke. “Dash, darling, she's playing with you, with all of us. Anypony that Princess Celestia would rely on for Princess Cadance’s safety and education must be very trustworthy. She administrates the largest military hospital in Equestria, and she's probably a magistrate as well. It's no wonder she knows about the Elements.”

Smirking openly now, the old mare curled back her top lip, revealing her upper row of teeth, laughing momentarily with glee before pointing a finger at Rarity. “Exactly so. And that makes you Rarity. Dusk’s sudden socialization came as a shock to me. Even when dear Cadance told me about it, I wasn't so sure if she was just making up tales.”

Simpering back despite herself, Rarity offered the old mare a hand. “Enchanté, really. But you're really here for Dusk's well-being, and not to flatter and mystify us, correct?”

Casually batting aside Rarity's offered hand, the old mare returned to her neutral, serious face. “Oh, I'm done with assessing his health, if you must know. He is in the best shape of his life, so whatever put him here has passed. Bed rest and relaxation for the next few days. But his magic? The fool colt will probably be stronger than me before he gets onboard a ship to fly home, no matter how weak he feels.”

The sigh of Applejack’s relief was nearly drowned out by Pinkie’s cry of delight as she hopped up and gave Rarity’s cheek a kiss. Realizing that Applejack was still uncomfortable, Dusk felt guilty at the idea of delaying their return home. Looking fleetingly down at the letter from Celestia, Dusk gave a little nod at Whitetail. “That’s a relief to hear, and I'm really grateful, Auntie. Do you know if there's a nice park anywhere nearby? Princess Celestia arranged things so that I could visit the Rainbow Factory, but I really wouldn’t want to drag everypony that far for a bor-”

Suddenly full of her usual energy, Scootaloo bounded around Fluttershy to rush to Dusk's bedside, her earlier shyness and sour mood having disappeared. “Dusk! Can't I come? The Rainbow Factory doesn't usually do tours or nothing, according to what Rainbow Blitz told me yesterday. I just gotta see it!”

Internally wincing as he saw the newborn joy and energy that glowed in Scootaloo’s expression, Dusk turned to look at Whitetail, while watching Applejack over her shoulder. “I'm… sure we can work something out Scootaloo. I just don't-”

Walking over and resting a hand on Scootaloo’s shoulder, Applejack gave Dusk a soft smile. “Don't worry about it, sugarcube. It'd be nice t’have a story or two about Cloudsdale to tell when we get home that ain't about you falling or Dash showing off.” She paused, rubbing her chin before snickering a little at Dash’s shocked look of indignation, and winking at her. “Not that talking about Dash ever gets old or boring.”

Delighted, Scootaloo turned to hug Applejack tightly, crying out with delight. “Oh! Thank you Applejack! I promise, you'll love the Rainbow Factory, really!”

7:40am, The Rainbow Factory

The whispers of the Rainbow Factory had gradually grown in volume to Dusk as their guides led his group across a maze of small bridges that weaved a path just for them. Oddly, their guides were both swaddled in heavy robes, and they wore half-masks to hide most of their faces. Dash had assured them that guides always wore that attire, but she admitted to not knowing the reason - and the guides had largely been silent on the tour so far, even when directly questioned by Pinkie Pie about their robes.

Instead of trying to figure out why they were dressed so mysteriously, Dusk had chosen to instead focus on the factory and the pegasi who worked it. Twice already Dusk had stopped and thanked a team of pegasi and griffons that were hard at work securing a bridge for their passage. Now as two workers unlocked a pair of doors and gestured for them to enter, that sweet song began to resonate with Dusk's heartbeat. Swirling and joyful, it spoke to him in a tongue he couldn't understand, with enthusiasm unmatched by anypony, save maybe Pinkie and Scootaloo, who were both as wide-eyed and giddy as any pair of fillies could be.

The song continued to soar, and while Dusk had begun to feel the first hints of exhaustion return, he found comfort in Rainbow Dash’s insistence at holding his arm. He leaned in closer so he could whisper in her ear. “Dash? Can you hear the song now? It's gotten so much louder.”

Face screwing up in concentration, Dash stopped to look around, still gripping Dusk’s arm tightly. Tilting her head from one side to the other, she strained to hear the song that came so easily to Dusk’s ears. After a few moments, however, Dash kicked the ground halfheartedly and gave a sigh. “I- well I mean, pegasi hearing is famously good, and we get trained to hear even better if we show some talent beyond the average… but Dusk… I can hear machines in the distance, and… it's not really a song, but there’s a distant, faint thrumming noise. Like a- like the sound of something vibrating. Does… does that help any?”

Sighing softly, Dusk shook his head, trying to hear past the soaring song to make out anything she’d described. But that only made the song more insistent, more demanding of his attention. Almost like it wanted to be heard. “I- sorry, Dash. I guess the factory is trying to get my attention specifically. Maybe-”

Far ahead of the pair, Pinkie called back at them, hands cupped around her mouth. “Dusk!? You okay? Dashie?! Does Dusk need a rest?”

Realizing how far they'd fallen behind, Dash squeezed Dusk's hand and started down the hallway while calling back to their waiting friends. “Sorry, we'll catch up! Dusk was just asking me questions about the factory!”

Pushing himself to catch up with the others, Dusk soon found himself breathless, and couldn’t stop himself from leaning on Dash even more, grateful for her support. Dash, for her part, simply smiled back at him.

They walked through corridors with countless numbers of blue-silver glowing runes that had been carved into every square inch of the wall. These led to gigantic rooms, sometimes two or three stories tall, where titanic iron machines hummed a different resonant tone to complement the song in Dusk's mind. The few workers they saw were quiet, dressed in uniforms that seemed based off the Wonderbolts design but with different weather patterns to signify where they worked.

In one chamber, Dusk was floored to see a grand machine that poured out rainbow colours almost like water, flooding a pool. Here the pegasi were hardest at work, draining the pool into jars. He could see nearly endless rows of glass bottles, going back into a warehouse beyond the room. Each jar was sealed with dense rubber corks and heavy metal clamps. Every pony in the crew wore thick rubber gloves and heavy aprons, working carefully to avoid spilling the liquid rainbows.

Yet despite their hard work, most of the pool was still lost into the clouds below. There they formed into a rainbow that Dusk could make out flowing to the edge of the horizon.

But as fascinating as their work with the rainbow liquids was, it was the song that kept urging Dusk onwards. He paused again as it rose another octave. Now needing to actively focus to hear the others talk over the song, Dusk touched Rarity’s elbow with his fingers to get her attention. “Rarity? Girls? Can't any of you hear the song now? It's simply drowning out everything else; it's grown so loud to me.”

As a group, the others stopped, each wearing a different kind of concerned look as they turned about and looked around. Applejack cupped a hand around her ear while frowning gently. Pinkie was on her toes, looking around rapidly, a small frown on her face. Fluttershy looked around for a few moments before simply shaking her head.

At last Rarity walked back to Dusk’s side, slipping her small hand into his. “Dusk, are you sure you haven’t been pushing yourself too hard? Maybe you should sit down for a while and catch your breath?”

Confused now, Dusk desperately searched one face after another, hunting for a sign, any sign in their faces they heard a hint of what he did. Before he could say anything, however, one of their heavily-robed guides finally spoke up. “Perhaps your lady is right, Magistrate. There is a private chamber up ahead where you can take a break while the others go on with their tour.”

Resignedly letting out a sigh, Dusk looked back to Dash, her face flashing from worry to sudden determination as he looked into her eyes. Stiffening up, she drew his arm around her shoulders before turning back to the others. “I can't hear it, but I’ll stay with Dusk. Maybe if we can find some peace and quiet I'll be able to hear his song. Besides, I've been here before. Scootaloo will definitely love this place. I'll make sure Dusk’s okay.”

Oddly, their two guides looked at one another for a few long moments, exchanging a glance, though they both remained silent. Eventually, the guide who had yet to speak moved to Dusk’s side. The - relatively - talkative one clapped her hands gently. “Yes, you are right, Miss Dash. That's a good idea. Let the magistrate rest a while. Come, the next chamber isn't far.”

They followed their guides on into the next series of hallways. Apparently thrilled by everything, Scootaloo squeezed Fluttershy’s hand and marveled as she exclaimed about every new thing they saw.

Stepping through an open door leading out of the hallway, the group continued following one of their guides. But as Dusk and Dash approached, their other guide closed the door before them. The unspeaking mare resting a finger to her lips, requesting their silence as she guided them down another hallway. As they walked, Dusk’s suspicions began to grow, and he watched their guide closely as she led them to the end of the long hallway.

Opening another set of doors, their guide revealed a massive staircase. Dusk stood at the top of the grand stairway, trepidation tickling at the back of his neck. The stairway ran so far down that the dim glow of the runes along the walls did not illuminate the whole path, which seemed to lead down into the heart of the building.

Their guide surprised them by not leading the way down, but instead opening a side door that revealed a simple guard post with a plush bench. Finally speaking, her soft voice bothered Dusk, nagging at his memory. “If you would but rest here a moment Magistrate, Princess Celestia gave us little time to prepare for your visit, and I must retrieve a key for the room she spoke of to you. I will be but five or ten minutes, and you truly do look in need of a rest. I promise we are already most of the way there.”

Nodding slowly, Dusk murmured a soft thanks to the guide and walked over to the couch, taking a seat and leaning back against the cushioned bench. Trying to relax, Dusk let out a sigh, and smiled up at Dash, who was pacing around the small room. “Come on, Dash. Take a seat. You've been up as long as I have this morning. We might as well relax for a moment, right?”

Dash looked hesitatingly over her shoulder, biting down on her lower lip for a moment. Hands nervously fidgeting, she turned back to Dusk and in a rush, crossed the room to his side, leaning against him. Breathing out a heavy sigh, she took a hold of his right hand with both of hers, pulling it possessively into her lap and staring at her knees. “I- sorry about this, Dusk. It's just- I just realized it. Until today I've known where my sire was every day of my life until now. I could go see him whenever I wanted to… even when we weren't talking for years, I- I could have if I wanted to.”

Dusk leaned heavily against her. His steady, low breathing against her cheek was reassuring, and he nuzzled the top of her head affectionately. Blushing furiously, she continued to stare at their hands and her knees, and carried on as best she could. “It's just... weird. How do you and Shining deal with it? With your mom and dad off in the Griffon Empire for so long? You don’t even really know if they’re safe.”

Falling silent, she waited for Dusk’s reply. Eventually, she realized that Dusk’s breathing had gotten quieter. Giving him a gentle nudge in the ribs with her elbow, Dash scowled, and turned to glare at him. “Dusk, I'm serious! Don't play games with me you eggh-”

Just as Dash shifted to glare at him, Dusk’s head fell forward, eyes closed. To her shock, the stallion drew in a steady breath that swelled his chest, and let it out in a snore, directly in her face.

The damn eggheaded stallion had fallen asleep.

Flustered, frazzled, and more than a little frustrated with him, Dash groaned heavily and gave Dusk a shove that made him fall over onto the plush cushion opposite of her. Covering her face with both hands, Dash hung her head, growling under her breath and muttering to herself. “Bloody stallions! You trust them for just five minutes and they turn you into a blathering foal.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Dash turned up her nose and glared at the ceiling, letting out an exasperated sigh. After a few moments, she turned to watch the sleeping stallion, glaring at him instead.

When their cloaked guide eventually reappeared a few minutes later, she choked back a muffled giggle of laughter, covering her mouth with a hand just as Dash turned her sustained scowl from Dusk’s sleeping body to the guide mare. In the loudest whisper she could manage, she said, “Please, try to keep it down. Dusk is trying to rest. Eggheaded fool needs it.”

If the cloaked mare hadn't sighed so wistfully, Dash might have wondered if she had been too gruff. Instead, she was left staring as the guide crossed to Dusk's side, offering a smile from the depths of her hood. For a moment, she reached out towards his sleeping form, her absent-minded voice hardly above a whisper. “For one who has so many burdens resting on his shoulders, he still looks just like a colt when he sleeps, does he not? So honest and innocent.”

Confused by the mysterious mare’s tone and odd familiarity she showed towards Dusk, Dash could only shake her head a little. “I’ve- well I guess I never thought of Dusk as a foal. He's always been a stallion, trying too hard and getting himself hurt all the time.” The mare’s seeming-familiarity with Dusk still nagged at her, and she pressed on gently. “Did... you know him as a colt?”

Suddenly pulling up short, her hand inches from Dusk’s sleeping brow, the guide seemed to catch herself. Drawing back rapidly from Dusk’s side, she crossed her cloaked arms over her chest before turning to face Dash. “Know him? Not half as well as I should. I met his parents when he was just a few hours old, but things were quite hectic back then…” As her voice drifted off, the guide’s lips curled into a wolfish grin. “Just as busy as now, I suppose, but we were focused on very different issues in those days. Regardless, you should wake him. We only have little over an hour to explore the Engine that Princess Celestia wanted Dusk to see before the tour your friends are on ends.”

Feeling like she had missed something, Dash tried to replay their conversation in her head, struggling to think of what it could be. Frowning to herself, she reached over to give Dusk’s shoulder a shake, gruffly speaking. “Dusk, you sleepy jerk, wake up! The guide’s back!”

Snorting out of sleep and trying to sit up and shake his head to brush away his exhaustion, Dusk blearily stared at Dash for a moment, blushing momentarily. “Dash? I… Oh my. I’m sorry. Guess I passed out while we were talking. You said… um… something about your father?”

Standing up and stretching her back, wings and arms all at once, she flexed before straightening up. Dash took a grip of Dusk’s hand in both of hers, swiftly pulling him to his feet. “Well, you can wake up while we walk. You can’t just get out of your daily exercise just because you fell off Cloudsdale!”

Frowning lightly at Dash, Dusk tried again to shake the cobwebs of sleep from his mind, and followed behind her and their guide. The robed mare led them down the long staircase into halls devoid of torches, lit only by the ever-present glowing runes along the wall. Thankfully, they provided light enough to see. Suddenly, the song exploded into its full glory once more, soaring in ecstasy that Dusk could feel in his bones.

Rounding a corner, they came upon a towering door of raw iron, which seemed so out-of-place from what they’d seen of the Rainbow Factory. Age worn, the dull metal was coated in rust damage that was set in so deeply that Dusk could only wonder at its age. Powerful magic hummed in the air and through his horn now, almost as loudly as the factory’s singing, which even now vibrated his every joint. Their guide paused before this last gate, throwing back her heavy robe’s hood, revealing a familiar face. Stunned, Dusk couldn't help but cry out. “Winter Harvest?! But- what?! Why all the secrecy?”

Grinning back at him, the mare tapped a finger against the side of her nose while winking knowingly. “The truth? The whole truth? That's all classified, young magistrate. But one little truth I can share is rather simple. I've worked in the factory for nearly as long as I can remember, and I know her inside and out.” Turning to look at Dash, the mare drew a steel key from inside her robe. The complicated keyhead had many faces and was nearly six inches long. “Rainbow Dash, before we go any further inside, I need you to swear to silence. What you’re about to see isn't something the general public knows about. It has to do with how the Rainbow Factory was built. And the sad, unfortunate truth is that a lot of ponies probably wouldn't understand the significance of this chamber.”

The open eagerness in Dash's eyes was clear as day, and she slowly nodded. Jumping in the moment that Winter Harvest finished speaking, Dash put her free hand on her heart. “By the Sun and Moon Goddesses, I promise that I'll share nothing of what you show us without your permission.”

Squeezing Dash’s hand gently in encouragement, Dusk gave Winter a nod. “If you want my word, I will give it too. In both goddesses names.”

That appeared to be enough for Winter, and she turned away from them, sliding the shiny steel key into the dull iron door. There was a moment of silence, then a single powerful click echoed through the empty hallway. The silence that followed was full of tension, and Dusk could feel Dash grip her free hand to his elbow, while stepping forward just a half-step, leaning towards the door.

Gears hidden inside the thick door began to groan, and soon they were grinding against one another. With painful slowness, the whole door began to roll into the frame until half of it had disappeared. Drawing the key out of the lock, Winter returned it to the folds of her cloak before gesturing for them to follow into the dim room beyond.

Like the hallways they had just left, Dusk felt the magic of the dim runes that covered every inch of the wall from floor to ceiling. This room was a massive circular chamber, easily several stories tall. Every bare inch of space was engraved, most drawn so closely together that Dusk struggled to try to identify where one emblem started and where the next dozen ended.

But it was the presence in the middle of the chamber that truly stole all of Dusk’s attention. At first, the floating orb looked like a simple ball of metal. It was silver, with engraved runes that twisted, shifted, and reshaped even as he watched. But as he looked closer, Dusk was shocked to see the metal’s hue shift in color. Now, hues of brown and green replaced the silver, yet the red runes remained ever shifting and blending together. In astonishment, Dusk stepped closer, his voice hardly above a whisper. “Is it… is it liquid metal? But how do the runes form? And it's moving- it's floating! Is this the Engine? Dear Celestia, who made this impossible mechanism? How did they make it?”

Stepping up beside Dusk, Winter crossed her arms over her chest, head dipping low so the long locks of her hair fell over her face. “This was made long, long ago... Before the births of Princess Celestia and Luna. Perhaps even before the birth of Starswirl the Bearded. A pegasus with a near preternatural talent regarding metalcraft and artifice teamed up with a unicorn that was fascinated by weather magic. Together, they formed a concept: the idea of a living battery that would power the regular production of stable weather. Of course, such an idea had existed for ages among the pegasi tribe, as keeping the weather regular took up most of their lives. Back then, fewer than one in ten pegasi managed to do anything other than work from sunrise to sunset.”

“After a decade of work together, years spent with nothing but hate and scorn from their mutual tribes, their first prototype was completed. When they turned it on, for nearly nine hours, the pegasi of Pegasopolis watched in awe as the engine floated over the city, producing any weather a pegasus willed from it, in a volume that would have exhausted forty of their numbers for days. But as fantastic and as powerful as the prototype was, after that short time of use, a crack formed in the surface and shattered the orb to pieces. Encouraged by their short-lived success, they returned to their research. Over the next fourteen years, they crafted nine more prototypes. While each lasted longer than the previous incarnation, all still ended with disaster. Eventually, their money ran dry, and the Elder pegasi grew resentful, believing that they had wasted resources for so long on a doomed project.

“Eventually, no more prototypes came from them for a full six years. During this time, they occasionally took side projects on to feed themselves. And then, at a well-worn sixty-three, the unicorn died. Her tribe refused to let the pegasus engineer return her to her clan. They refused to even acknowledge the existence of a unicorn from their tribe that spent so much time with one of the ‘lesser races’. Regardless, the pegasus worked on, by herself, for years to come. Then one day, just as the dawn sun rose, so too did ‘The Engine’, floating into the sky over Pegasopolis.

“After such a long time, most had long forgotten the past displays of the previous models. Those who did assumed this would be yet another disaster and ignored it. For a full day it hung in the sky, mostly unregarded. But when the second day came to a close, those few who remembered the pegasus engineer went to her home, looking for an explanation. They found only her body, slumped over the old grave she had dug for her partner. At first, the Elders planned to have the Engine pushed away from Pegasopolis, assuming that disaster would soon follow. But by the time they arrived, the younger generation had discovered how to work the engine.

“In a moment of foalish play, just one single inexperienced mare had managed to form a rain front so large, she had been forced to gather her friends to help her push it out over the neighbouring Earth Pony's kingdom. But before the Elders could punish her, representatives of the earth kingdom came with offerings of food. They were beyond grateful for the rain, as it had broken a drought that had been crippling their harvest for two years.”

Dusk shook his head, noting that the song had gone silent while Winter spoke. Now the song began to whisper to him, an inquisitive tone to its music. Dusk shook his head gently before speaking softly. “She finished it with her last breath. What a shame that such bright minds were shunned by their peers.”

Winter finally lifted her head, hands squeezing her elbows as she gazed back and forth between Dusk and the Engine. When at last she continued, her voice was a whisper. “The mare didn't die from age. Or illness. She had slit her wrists and fed ‘The Engine’ her lifeblood. A few who knew her spoke of eerily haunting songs they heard from the Engine whenever they visited it… and her daughter swore she heard it call her name. It wasn't until much later, when Starswirl was allowed to study it, that we finally knew the truth. Until then, we had only theories, guesses… but Starswirl proved she had given her soul to ‘The Engine’. She made it self aware. That is why it has never overloaded, burnt out or ever been replicated. Because to do so would cost another pony their life. Their soul.”

If the Engine understood their conversation, it didn’t show it, merely continuing to hum gently, the colours on its surface shifting to a mixed combination of silver and bronze. But the red runes remained, their omnipresent glow remaining regardless of how often they reshaped themselves. The Engine’s hum had changed to a soft, laughter-like trill that was oddly soothing to Dusk’s worn body and weary mind. Like a long lost friend, its presence filled his mind with what almost felt like soft, friendly conversation.

Dash stepped forward, hesitantly running her fingers through the air around the engine. For a moment, tiny vapors formed around her fingertips and she drew back, turning away from the engine to look at Winter. “But if any pony could use its power directly, why the Rainbow Factory? Why Weather School at all!? I could probably manage Canterlot and Ponyville's weather all by myself with this much power to create weather.”

Winter gave a sigh, and for a moment, Dusk saw years in the lines around her eyes that made her seem ancient beyond her time. Straightening up, the mare gave Dash a fond smile, even as she shook her head. “It's not so simple, though I suppose you might be able to do as you say. The old pegasi tribe were overjoyed with their newfound power over weather. Now, only a tenth of their population needed to work the weather to provide what everyone needed. Golden, sunny days with light rain were provided at the cost of simple tributes of food from the earth ponies and the nomadic zebra, while the Crystal Empire and the unicorns provided a mixture of raw goods, fine ore, and magical assistance with whatever the pegasi needed.

“However, the magical power provided to the pegasi soon attracted something almost entirely foreign to them. Danger. While before the Engine was built, they could simply flee to their clouds, the new increasing hordes of monsters that began to search for their treasured artifact required a totally alien reaction from the tribe. No longer could they flee the approach of a dragon, or the threat of a rampaging hydra. The Engine is heavy, slow and hard to move. Worst, it is dangerous to touch if in active use. So their leaders humbled themselves, and asked the Crystal Empire how to best protect their engine, since the Empire's Crystal Heart had attracted the same attention from monsters that hungered after magic and relics of power.

“The designs the Empire offered were astonishingly different from any structure the pegasi tribe had ever built before. Soon the pegasi began to create a fortress built into the clouds. Unlike their tiny homes and scattered trading posts, it offered a slow, but mobile base to protect their treasured relic. It took years, but soon the fortress was built, with the factory inside. It was the first truly long term structure of Pegasopolis.

“But its presence wasn't enough to deter all threats to the Engine. Again, the pegasi were forced to turn to their neighbours for assistance. This time, it was the earth tribe that offered them a solution. The concept of an army, and the techniques to forge weapons were taught for a reduction of their annual tribute for good weather. That was where the pegasi military tradition began, as nearly a third of their population turned to the art of war, taught by the earth ponies, to protect their newfound fortress.

“And as their military grew, they found the need for solid leadership and rule. They could no longer survive on the laissez-faire approach to life they were so used to. They expanded their fortress, built their first ever government, made up of half of their respected elders, and half of their growing military leadership. It would take nearly a hundred years before the weather teams were able to demand a presence in the newfound government body.”

Amazed, Dusk gazed into the ever moving sphere, but Winter’s sudden exclamation of annoyance came as a surprise. “Oh bother. Can’t a mare get a few hours of peace and quiet?!” Pausing, the mare looked off into the distance, as if listening to something unseen. Making an exasperated noise, the mare took Dash’s hand. “Can you two wait here a while? An issue has come up that I must deal with. I will return... momentarily.”

Without offering them a chance to answer, the mare took off, walking out through the open door in a hurried rush. Left alone together, Dusk momentarily turned to stare at Dash, shaking his head softly. “Did you hear whatever it was that has her so bothered, Dash?”

Grunting a little, Dash gave a mild kick of her foot against the rune coated floor. “No idea, Dusk. She must be as crazy as you are, hearing things. Only thing I’ve noticed is how much my wings are itching because of all this weather magic here. It’s more intense than anything I’ve felt at Ponyville, that’s for sure.” Stretching again, she noticed Dusk trying to hide a yawn behind a hand.

Smirking slyly at Dusk, Dash turned away from the Engine, crossing the room to a bench built into the circular room’s wall. Taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other, Dash gave a light pat of the cushion at her side. “Hey, Dusk. Come on, admit it. It’s not just this song or whatever that has you distracted. You’re exhausted, right?”

Turning away from the sphere momentarily, Dusk shook his head softly, but remained silent. After a moment, he turned to where Dash sat, staring at him questioningly. Dusk gave a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he crossed the room. He lowered himself to sit on the bench next to her. Sitting there, he couldn’t help but drink in the view of the swirling, controlled chaos of the Engine. Slipping a hand into Dash’s, Dusk gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “You- you’re right Dash. I think I’d be better off looking at this from a different perspective. It’s frightening that a pony fed their soul to power the Rainbow Factory. What else in the world could somepony have built without the engineer's good intent, I wonder? I-”

A yawn interrupted Dusk, his jaw opening wide enough that it cracked audibly, and Dash scowled at him. She wrapped one arm around his shoulders, gently pulling him down, guiding his head onto her lap. After he’d awkwardly settled himself on the bench, Dash brushed her fingers softly through his hair. “Oh shut up you egghead, and get some sleep. You need it, or you’ll walk off Cloudsdale again. You can worry about your nerdy egghead stuff after you’ve got your dumb egghead on straight.”

From his lowered vantage point, Dusk blushed nervously, but leaned into her fingers’ affectionate strokes while he let his eyes drift slowly closed. ”The song… So it’s been talking to me this whole time. Did Celestia kn-” Dusk’s mind slowed as he felt the weight of sleep calling for him. Even as he began drifting away into the abyss, the Engine’s song flooded his mind, drowning out his inner voice, forcing him to struggle to finish his thought. ”No… She knew. Meaning she wanted me to see this, to hear the song in person.”

Playfully knuckling Dusk’s temple, Dash’s tone was admonishing. “Dusk, I can practically hear you thinking, you make so much noise! I said, SLEEP.” Wrapping her wings over him like a blanket, Dash drew Dusk closer, bending over nearly double as she nuzzled his jaw with hers for a moment. She squeezed her arms around his upper body, breathing in his scent and enjoying the closeness of the moment. A small world of just the two of them, protected by her wings.

Smiling and enjoying the odd way a pegasus could hug with more than just their hands, Dusk breathed out a gentle sigh. He kissed her cheek as she pressed against him, before she pulled her head back. Her hands moved up to his jaw, stroking soothingly. Unable to pass up the opportunity to see her blush again, he couldn't help but softly grab her hand Dusk brushed each of her knuckles with tender kisses, still bruised from her fight with Fleetfoot. He chuckled at how Dash squirmed, cheeks flushing a gentle red as she watched him. But he kept silent, his eyes sliding closed, too tired to think of anything else but Dash’s reassuring presence, her downy-soft wings covering him like a warm blanket on him.

As Dusk drifted off, Dash felt his grip on her hand relax, and she smiled at him. She still regretted the others interrupting them just a few hours earlier. Oh well, I will just have to make it up to him later.

With her hand finally free again, she returned to soothingly stroking her fingers through his long, wild hair. As time passed, Dash heard his breathing even out, into a restful, deep sleep.

Flexing her wings where they were over him, trying to remove the last of the kinks from yesterday, she let them fall back down on him. Dash sighed happily to herself, brushing her wings gently over his upper body.

Then a nagging thought began to creep back into her mind. She'd been trying to ignore the thought and everything that came with it ever since she'd seen Dusk falling through the open sky. She'd seen what it had done to her father after her mother’s death… felt its cut as her dam lay dying on a hospital room forever… and now here she was, in love with Dusk Shine, a bookworm who could hardly jog two miles without getting winded when they first met. At the very least, she'd taken care of that at least… even if Applejack had helped... a little!

She watched him closely as he slept in her lap. Dash tightened her wings over him for a moment, pulling him closer while her hands cupped his head. Leaning down, she pressed her lips to his forehead near his horn. Shaking slightly, she worked up the courage for the next thing she wanted to do.

Barely able to whisper the words, afraid that even speaking them out loud would somehow break this magical, peaceful moment, Dash whispered gently into his ear. “I love you, Dusk, you adorable dork.” She tightened her wings against him, and pressed her lips against his temple gentle. After a too-short moment, she relaxed her wings, heart hammering in her chest. She waited, knowing, just knowing that something was going to ruin this moment.

Time passed. Nothing happened, save the slow, steady rise and fall of Dusk’s chest as he slept. Maybe for today, they were lucky. Maybe just this once, things could just stay quiet...

The soft echoing sound of approaching footsteps made Dash straighten up in a rush, almost knocking Dusk’s head from her lap. Rushing to seem relaxed and settle Dusk back in place, Dash leaned back against the wall of the room, forcing herself to calm the racing of her heart.

As the steady sound of the echoing footsteps reached the doorway, Dash could hear them pause just out of sight and give an exhausted sigh. Stepping into the room, Winter looked briefly confused when she faced an empty chamber.

Raising a hand to wave at the mare, Dash quietly called to her. “Over here, Winter. Dusk passed-” Cut off by her own traitorous yawn, Dash covered her mouth and winced a little. “- He, uh. He passed out again a while ago.”

The soft laughter in Winter’s eyes told Dash she saw right through the thin lie, but was kind enough to refrain from making any comments. She walked carefully to the bench on Dash’s free side, sitting down quietly and flashing Dash a grin. “Then we should let him sleep, there’s no reason to wake the poor dear up just yet.”

Without warning, Dusk’s voice rose from his peacefully reclined position, making Dash jump slightly. “You know ladies, I was already awake, but your concern is rather touching.”

Giving a low grunt, Dash rolled her eyes while covering his mouth with both of her hands. She turned to look at Winter. “Just ignore the dork, he doesn't know when it's good for him to just shut up and pretend to be asleep.”

In a single fluid movement, Dusk twisted out from under Dash’s hands, and sprang to his feet, stretching first one arm and then the other over his head, while groaning happily. “That reminds me, Winter. I was thinking about what you were saying about the different parts of the prehistoric culture and the growth of the pegasi tribe as they transitioned into a fully fledged kingdom.”

Swiftly turning back to Dash, he squeezed both of her hands and smiled while looking deeply into her eyes. His tail idly swished behind his back, giving a hint at his excitement, before he returned to his question to Winter. “You were talking all about the other five tribes earlier… but you never mentioned the bat ponies. Did you ever learn much about their history in your studies, Winter?”

Dusk's sudden burst of energy and question seemed to confuse the mare, and she looked him over carefully, lingering in silence for a long moment before curling her lip into a small smile. “A good catch, magistrate, as most modern ponies forget the bats’ population used to be much more numerous. The bats were both like and unlike the nomadic zebras. While the zebra stayed in small family clans, living together and traveling through the other tribes’ lands living as traders, the bats chose to incorporate themselves into the society of the other tribes. Staying together as clans in specific areas and jobs, they worked as night guards for the earth ponies, as laborers for the unicorns, as traders for the Crystal Empire, and as any job required of them by the pegasi tribe.”

Unable to continue watching Dusk act like a fool while he was still recovering, Dash pulled her hands out of Dusk’s grip, and surged to her feet, thrusting a finger in his face. “What in Tartarus are you doing, Dusk? You're in no damn shape to be acting like a colt! Rarity and Applejack will have my wings if you hurt yourself again!”

Dusk felt better than he had in over a year, far better than he’d felt physically and magically since the rediscovery of the Elements of Harmony. It was like his whole body had been energized by something, and even his normal aches and pains were merely dull echoes of their normal complaints. Giving Winter a gentle nod, Dusk swooped Dash into his arms, his hands slipping around her until they met at the small of her back. He pulled her in close against his body, tail swishing back and forth more energetically now. Feeling absolutely giddy, Dusk tried to imagine the picture she painted regarding how the old kingdoms worked. As he did so, he began walking through the steps of a simple waltz, much like the one Rarity had taught him for Fancy Pants’ wedding. “I'm fine, Dash, really! I haven't felt this good in… well, ever!”

Trapped by both Dusk’s arms and enthusiasm, Dash’s cheeks turned dark red. She was overwhelmed by his sudden exuberance, and struggled to do more than keep up with Dusk’s flowing dance. Feeling entirely awkward dancing in front of Winter Harvest, she looked over her shoulder crying out for help. “Winter? What’s going on!? He was exhausted, I swear!”

The amused expression on Winter’s face did nothing to help explain Dusk’s sudden burst of energy. Dusk was still dragging Dash along in the dance, and laughed loudly, grinning widely like a fool. “Oh, come now Dash, I feel absolutely great! That nap truly did wonders for me.”

Dusk twirled Dash around and swiftly stepped in so he held her taut, athletic body against his own. An open palm rested on the shirt covering her toned abs while her tail twitched where it was trapped against his thighs, and her wings confusedly tried to expand back against Dusk’s chest before Dash halted them. Dusk tried to advance the dance into a tango, ignoring the fact Rarity had simply abandoned trying to teach him the steps at all, and he began making them up as he continued. Gazing past the side of Dash’s shaved head to look at Winter, Dusk saw she was still sitting and watching them, laughter dancing in her eyes. Grinning back, Dusk asked, “So where did the factory come from then, Winter?”

Reclining back on the bench, she crossed one leg over the other, idly rocking her foot. Winter offered the dancing pair a soft laugh. “Back to the Rainbow Factory? Of course, Magistrate. The rest of that story is rather simple. In time, the growing government and military needed more space than their fortress could provide. So both groups slowly spread out from the fortress outwards into the growing capital city of Pegasopolis. The weather teams were allowed to reclaim the building and reformed it into a workshop for their craft, but were never given a significant amount of money or time to do their work. They slowly reshaped the existing structure to fit what they needed it to do. That’s why there are so many long and winding hallways, and more than a few enormous chambers.”

Grinning again, Dusk drank in the information as quickly as Winter offered it, grinding his hips softly against Dash as he tried to recall the rest of the steps Rarity had showed him. The compelling need to ask her for more information made his lips move even as she wrapped her story up. “Yes? Amazing! And what of the runes?”

Barely containing her laughter at how he was acting, the mare shook her head. “Some claim they were a project undertaken by Starswirl and his students. Others claim the Engine itself carves them into the building over time. Regardless of what the truth might be, they are engraved into the stone and thrum with raw magic.”

Standing at last and crossing her hands behind her back, Winter grinned like a wolf, her soothing voice curling with a hint of jest. “Well Magistrate, it seems the time you had to rest has done you well. You really do look so much better. Shall we carry on and rejoin the rest of your group?”

Something in the twinkle of Winter's eyes made Dusk finally stop teasing Rainbow Dash and really take inventory of himself. First rolling his shoulders, then flexing his arms and hands, he stretched his neck, spine, legs and tail. Dusk was astonished to find that his body had loosened up as they talked. He really did feel better, and not just because he was learning some interesting history!

Flexing his body, Dusk found that everything simply felt amazing. Better than… easily better than he had felt since before the return of Nightmare Moon. He felt as excited and as full of energy as the first time he’d had a private lesson with Princess Celestia! At last, almost afraid to cover the last bullet point of his personal checklist, Dusk reached inside, to where the fires of his magic usually resided. What he found left him floored.

Where he had been carefully maintaining the low, barely-burning coals of his magic for weeks, he now found the reservoirs of his magic so full that they seemed to be overflowing. His magic burned as brightly as he had ever seen it; certainly hotter and more eagerly than he’d felt it in a long time. At least since he had tested his brother’s shield spell. That last thought made him pause, and he suddenly felt a surge of foalish glee at the thought of testing his brother again. Maybe this time, if Dusk tweaked his attack spell a certain way, he could finally pierce Shining’s nigh-impenetrable shield.

Another thought occurred to him, and in a rare moment of vanity, Dusk reached up. His hand hesitated in fear for a moment, scared at what he mind find, what it might mean, before stroking his fingers over his horn. His stomach fell as he discovered the scar remained… yet there was also an odd sense of weight removed from his shoulders when he found that his horn had not fully healed. Still, it was a hard blow to take, however good he felt. Breathing a hard sigh and trying to shake off the feeling of disappointment, Dusk turned to look curiously at Winter. An idea had been forming in his head, even as the Engine’s song began up once more. “Did the Princess know? That the Engine would help me? I mean, that’s what did it, right? I can’t believe that just a nap helped me feel this absolutely amazing, Winter.”

Shrugging and looking at Dusk with a confused expression, Winter looked as at a loss as he felt. She shook her head before replying. “I-I have no idea, Dusk Shine! This, this is something that I have not seen… the Engine… the Engine has never overtly helped a single pony like this. If it truly can do something like this, then rest assured that I will tell the Princess.”

Turning back to look at Dash, still in his arms, Dusk drew a slow and very deep breath, then cupped her by the hips and tossed her over his shoulder while she cried out in surprise. Turning back around again even as Dash kicked her legs and - gently - beat her fists against his back, acting furious despite the giggling laughter he could hear coming from her, Dusk gave Winter a nod. “I think you are right that we should get back to the others, Winter, unless Princess Celestia had more for you to show us?”

Shaking her head bemusedly at the two grown children in front of her, Winter put her mask back on, covering most of her face again while still showing her smile. “No, I had nothing else to show you, Dusk. But perhaps, Magistrate, it would be wise to put the poor mare down. I hear yesterday she beat the head of the Wonderbolts’ homeguard in a one-on-one fight. Any mare who can do that is a mare I would be careful about upsetting.”

Snickering under his breath, Dusk stopped by the open door of the Engine’s vault, lowering the furiously blushing Dash from his shoulder. As soon as he caught sight of her pouting scowl, the flicker of a promise nearly forgotten, and already delayed too long made Dusk smile even wider. Feeling particularly playful, Dusk moved his hands to lightly hold Dash’s, looking down at her. “Rainbow Dash?”

Grunting a little, Dash let Dusk grip her hands, staring up into his eyes. She noticed the playful look in his eyes, and her tail began to nervously fidget, as if it had picked up on something she'd missed. “What now, Dusk?”

Grinning so broadly that his teeth began to show, Dusk stepped a little closer to Dash, eliminating the already short distance between them. His voice was soft as he spoke, barely above a whisper. “Bronze asked me to give you something. Do you mind if I do it now?”

A shock going up her spine at the mention of the squire, Dash felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. Nerves overtook her, but she managed to slowly nod. She tried to calm the sudden butterflies in her stomach, only just remembering that she’d kissed Bronze before running to Cloudsdale. Oh Light, she must think I’m so stupid, I can’t believe I did that… Taking a deep breath, she looked into Dusk’s eyes, trying not to blink as she gazed back, voice cracking as she finally spoke. “B-Bronze? What… what is it that she wanted?”

Laughing gently, Dusk stepped in closer again, pressing Dash against the wall behind her, trapping her in place. She made a soft, startled noise as he pinned her, but didn’t protest. He released her hands, sliding his own onto her hips. “This.”

Dusk moved quickly, sealing his lips against Dash’s. She made another surprised noise, her own hands grasping at his forearms. The kiss started soft, gentle, Dusk trying to probe for her reaction. When Dash moaned back against him, her hands sliding to his back to pull him more firmly against her, Dusk grew more aggressive. He took another half-step forward, crushing her against his front, earning himself another approving noise. His lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue to tease against her lips. One of his hands slipped from her hip, sliding up along her body until he reached her cheek, cupping it and pressing her into the kiss. Dusk pressed his tongue across her lips, drifting over them, requesting entrance.

Eagerly responding, Dash opened her mouth slightly, her own tongue slipping out to greet Dusk’s. She gripped the back of his shirt, one leg sliding up along his. She felt her wings try to unfurl, but she was pinned too tightly against the wall for them to move freely.

After far too short a time, Dusk pulled back from the kiss. Dash tried to follow after him, but when he pressed a finger to her lips, she opened her eyes, confused and filled with lust. Finally pulling her wits about her, Dash spoke. “Wh-...” She cleared her throat, trying again. “Why’d you stop?”

Dusk smiled, thumb tracing her jawline. “I was just passing a message along, Dash. I mean… I may have added a bit onto it, but that was about the gist of it.” As if suddenly remembering that they weren’t alone, Dusk jolted, and looked over to see Winter watching them, mask hiding her upper face, but there was an amused grin wide on her exposed lips. Smiling sheepishly, Dusk blushed and stepped away from Dash. “Er… sorry.”

Chuckling, Winter replied. “Oh, don’t mind me. But do remember that this is her,” Winter pointed at the Engine, “home.”

Dusk’s eyes widened, and he turned to look at the Engine. The floating sphere was a bright pink, and her song sounded mischievously innocent. Dusk’s blush brightened, and he tried to stammer out a response. “O-oh, right. I’m sorry. It’s just… I apologize. I didn’t mean to intrude. Thank you again, for all of your help.”

As Dusk turned to leave, he saw Dash was blushing as brightly as his cheeks felt hot. He took her hand lightly and turned to follow Winter Harvest out of the room. As he left, the song’s tone took on a teasingly naughty tone, and his blush redoubled.

Gently picking up the tiny glass jar off the display counter, Scootaloo turned back to Rarity, holding up the jar so the hovering adult could better see the rolling miniature cloud inside. Excitedly, Scootaloo explained what she’d picked out. "See? It's just like a small stormcloud! It rains and the water is captured and feeds back into the cloud! And when you shake it, lightning hits the sides!"

Watching as Scootaloo energetically demonstrated what would happen with an enthusiastic shake, Rarity watched in slight awe as the trapped thundercloud flared up. The dark clouds seem to boil, and tiny bolts of lightning burst out, randomly striking the sides of the jar, followed immediately by soft claps of thunder.

Watching them from the other side of the display, Fluttershy lifted a second cloud in a jar, a soft-looking raincloud. This one looked more elaborate than the one Scootaloo had lifted, as it seemed to have a small ecosystem built into it, with a carpet of grass lining the base of the jar. She walked over to Scootaloo’s side before crouching down, presenting the small bottle to the filly. “But wouldn't you rather give her a nice one like this, Scootaloo? It's a nice little sunny field, grass and everything. And it rains gently once every two or three days to keep the grass alive. So much nicer than a storm cloud, right?”

Shaking her head in vehement disagreement, Scootaloo held up the thunderstorm for Fluttershy to examine. “But this one is a better fit for M- Miss Redheart’s favorite weather. She loves it when there’s a thunderstorm during the day. She talked to me about it when we were stuck at home one weekend. She said it puts the whole world into slow motion, and gives her the time to just relax and watch the rain. ‘Cause when it's raining, ponies stay home and don't cause nearly so much trouble’.”

More than a little stunned, Fluttershy looked at Rarity, but the fashionista had begun to grin in amusement. “I think she's right, Fluttershy. I've known Redheart since- well forever, really. Besides, it's rather fitting in another way. You know how Dusk sort of… ‘shakes up life?’”

Waiting for Fluttershy’s response, Rarity offered a raised eyebrow as Fluttershy looked back down at the jarred storm before nodding. “Well, I suppose he does, yes. So?”

Laughing almost giddily to herself behind a protective hand, Rarity offered a gesture to the jar. “Well? It fits, doesn't it? Dusk shakes the world, and Redheart’s always just a few steps behind, spitting lightning and roaring thunder at him! With all the shouting she does, I'm surprised she hasn't coughed up a lung.”

The very stallion she was talking about sauntered into the room at that moment, an arm around Dash’s hips. He had a wide, happy smile on his face, and a hungry, playful look in his eyes. When Dusk fixed that predatory gaze on Rarity, she felt her cheeks warm in excited response. She fixed him with a questioning look, but he just smiled wider, tightening his arm around Dash before playfully hip-checking the athletic mare. When she rolled her eyes and bumped his hips with her own before stepping away to look at some of the displays in the souvenir shop, Rarity shook her head, still smiling. Putting a hand on Scootaloo’s back, Rarity gave the filly a gentle push of encouragement towards Dusk. “Well if you're sure Scootaloo, ask Dusk. I'm sure he will approve.”

Seemingly over her earlier reluctance about confronting Dusk, Scootaloo thankfully needed no further encouragement. The filly rushed to Dusk's side, offering the jar up for him to inspect with a grin. “You said we could get something for Nurse Redheart and I really think she'd like this. She loves daytime storms!”

Laughing gently and accepting the jar from her, Dusk crouched down to Scootaloo’s level and inspected the jar closely. “A storm in a jar? Is it practical? My mother keeps a rain cloud in a jar, similar to this, in her rooms at the castle, ostensibly for white noise to help her sleep... I have to admit that I don't know much about them, though. Do they last long?”

To everypony’s surprise, Fluttershy took a few steps forward and ran a finger along the side of the corked jar. “My dad and my brother used to spend a few days every summer out cloud hunting. Dad… he and my brother never really got along before his accident. So he tried to get closer to Zephyr by building a collection of weather clouds at the farm. Dad's still got most of the collection, but Zephyr…” The pink-haired mare frowned, before shaking herself and continuing. “Well, if you're very careful about the seal, they can last for decades.”

Now even more sure of her gift, Scootaloo gave Dusk several excited nods. “See?! Redheart’s always super careful too! So it'll last her forever! So this is perfect, right, Dusk?”

Shaking the jar gently to watch as the thunderstorm flared up, Dusk grinned a little to himself as he stood up. “Sure, Scootaloo. I think this'll be a fine gift for Redheart.”

But as Dusk walked to the counter, the bottled storm proved to be as volatile as Redheart herself, a tiny bolt of lightning impacting the side of the jar where his fingers gripped the glass. Fingers half-numb, Dusk placed the jar down, flexing his hand as he thought to himself. “Redheart can never know it zapped me once already. She'd make me hold it whenever I got her angry.”

Watching the quiet mare behind the counter protectively wrap the jar in shredded old newspapers, Dusk doled out the three heavy platinum bits while mentally calculating his budget, adding in a bonus for Cherry Berry. After how long they had delayed her return to Ponyville, she had earned it. Picking up the paper bag by the straps, Dusk presented it to Scootaloo, speaking softly. “But you'd better be careful too, Scootaloo. We won't be coming back here anytime soon.”

Accepting the bag, Scootaloo held it carefully at chest level with both hands, her face suddenly very serious. As Dusk turned to follow the mares out the door, he slipped a hand around Rarity’s back. Pulling her close, he gave her cute rump a soft pinch, earning a startled jump from the tiny mare. Rarity fixed him with a mock serious frown, tail gently swatting his hand, but Dusk could see the playful promises in her eyes, and the slight tilt to her lips as she pressed herself in closer against him before turning to leave.

11 a.m., On board Cherry Berry’s airship, Rainbow Blitz’s Balcony

Dusk didn't notice when Dash took Cherry aside for a short, private conversation. What he did notice, however, was the airship captain invite Scootaloo down into the hold with her. Almost as soon as the two had disappeared downstairs, his friends had surrounded him, leaving him gazing into a sea of worried faces.

Fluttershy took a gentle grip on his right arm, and Rarity his left, while Dusk was still trying to figure out what was going on. Laying her cheek on his shoulder, Rarity’s voice was tender as she spoke first. “Dusk, Rainbow Dash said you've been pushing yourself too much ever since you got some rest during your tour of the factory. I know magic gets you excited, but you can't possibly think a brief nap helped you that much, darling.”

Turning his head to look at the top of Rarity’s mane, Dusk felt ashamed that he was going to have to withhold information from his beloved mare regarding the Engine. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head before replying. “It's not like that, Rarity. Winter took us to a... special room in the factory, where… where raw mana flows through a vent and let us rest. I feel better now than I have in months now. Like a newborn colt, filled to the brim with ideas and energy.”

Powerfully squeezing his hand in both of hers, Fluttershy’s timid voice didn't match her worried, and almost painful, grip on his hand. “But Dusk… I know of only one herb that can heal a pony so quickly, and Black Lotus is illegal for a reason.”

Carefully pulling his arm out of Rarity’s grip, Dusk turned to wrap his now free arm around Fluttershy, pulling her close, and softly kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be honest, Fluttershy. I don't think I have the willpower ever use Black Lotus again. It… it took everything I had to withstand the insanity it brought on… the sheer lure of power it promised. Pinkie was there, she helped me through the night. I still owe her for that.”

Nervously rubbing her right arm and dragging nails over her elbow, the aforementioned party pony looked up from where she had been staring at the boat’s deck. She looked into Dusk's eyes, oddly serious as she searched them for… what? Dusk didn’t know. When she finally spoke, her voice was as oddly hesitant as her demeanor. "It's just-- we're just... we're all just worried, Dusk. I mean, you seem fine and everything, but Auntie Whitetail said you need rest, and after such a weird day... are you suuuuuure you're better?"

Dusk pulled free from holding Fluttershy and stepped over to Pinkie’s side, cupping her cheeks with his hands. Leaning in close, he softly kissed the tip of her nose before resting his forehead against her, her hair tickling his horn. Memories of the night he’d spent with her came back unbidden, and he couldn’t help but smile at the normally exuberant mare. “Pinkie, I promise I feel better. Like I've been in bed for two weeks with a long lost tome nopony has seen in a hundred years.”

Still studying his eyes, but smiling as he spoke, Pinkie still hesitated for a moment, lost in thought. Then she seemed to come to a snap decision, and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him close while she tittered with giggles of laughter, nuzzling her chin into his chest. “If you promise that you really feel better, then I’m just glad that you're feeling so great.”

Interrupting the sweet moment, Applejack put a hand on Dusk’s shoulder, her face looking torn between wanting to smile and frown. Her voice sounded wary, but it was steady as she added her cards to the conversation. “Look Dusk, I love you, and I get you want to believe the best of everypony, but Winter’s lied to you before. She claims she works for Princess Celestia now, but we got no real proof she’s telling the truth. Who knows, maybe she's simply part of some other scam? Maybe some plot by them Canterlot elite that you talk about.”

Releasing Pinkie’s cheeks, Dusk found himself unable to pull out of her aggressive hug, so he was forced to instead turn in her grip so he could face the towering farm mare, reaching around Pinkie so he could rest his hands on Applejack’s powerful hips. “I-I understand, Applejack. I'm still getting used to all of the political angles this new title brings. But I think we can trust Winter, she- she’s just so familiar. Besides, her lies before were likely her cover, or because the Princess told her to do so. I don’t know why either would feel the need for such duplicity, however, as Princess Celestia has never lied to me.”

Chewing on her lower lip, Applejack stared down at him, breathing deeply in a careful, slow and controlled rhythm, while in deep thought. After a few long moments, she scowled at him. “I guess I can't argue that, but that doesn't mean I like it. Dash? You're the last one left. You got something more to say?”

Leaning against the railing, Dash had crossed her arms across her chest as she watched the others each take a turn addressing their concerns about Dusk’s health. Jumping a little as Applejack called for her attention, the mare nervously rubbed at the back of her neck. “Umm… yeah, well I never heard the… the song you kept talking about, Dusk. And- well I mean, I'm glad you're feeling better, but after yesterday, I mean...it's just, well… You can't make us think you feel better just by jumping around and being more… forward!” Blushing beet red, Dash turned her back to him, wings held close to her back while her tail whipped across her thighs in rapid, nervous twitches.

Smiling at the embarrassed Dash’s back, Dusk gave Applejack a hug around Pinkie, squishing the still-giggling mare in between them. He then carefully used his magic to gently peel out of Pinkie Pie’s aggressive hug, kissing her cheek before turning back to Rarity. “Alright, how about I do what I can to prove my health to you, Rarity?”

Straightening up as she watched Dusk return to her side, Rarity reached out and took hold of his hands, pulling them up to her cheek so she could nuzzle against them. “How, Dusk? I'm no medic. And don’t think we’re going to let you do something crazy again!” She turned a soft glare up at him, and Dusk saw both a challenge and worry in her eyes.

Shaking his head slightly, still feeling better than ever, his mind formulated a plan. He gazed into Rarity’s deep, passionate eyes, while he beamed with delight. “I'm sure you know the spell to measure a pony's magic, right? You probably used it to make sure Sweetie Belle was careful not to strain her magic as a filly, I assume?”

For just a brief moment, Rarity’s eyes widened as he mentioned Sweetie Belle, but as she watched him, the sincerity she found there soothed her worries, and she was able to slowly nod. “I- Of course I learned it, Dusk. Any good big sister would. But that's not much of a test to see if you're better or not.”

Nodding a little as she spoke, Dusk drew her hands back, placing them gently on each side of his neck before breathing deeply, relaxing with a steady sigh. “I know, but it's a good place to start. You see, Princess Cadance showed me as a foal the version that doctors are taught. It's a lot more powerful, and a lot more… personal, but that should prove how much better I am, right?”

Intrigued now, Rarity twisted to look back at the others, biting her lower lip while scanning the other mares’ faces, ending at last with Applejack. Each of them wore a worried frown, except for Pinkie Pie, who was nodding and smiling encouragingly. “ I- I will try, Dusk. But if the others don't want to take my word on a spell I've never used before-”

Applejack stepped to Rarity’s side, bringing a hand down to her lover’s hip. Squeezing it softly, she spoke out confidently. “Now hush, Rarity. If Dusk thinks this’ll reassure us, then I think you should give it a try. Better that than us debating back and forth over Dusk's health like he’s a foal."

Glad for Applejack’s support, but amused by their protective stance, Dusk gave a soft chuckle as he spoke up again, rolling his eyes. "Girls, you all act like I’m liable to break at any moment, but I appreciate the concern. I’ll be careful, I promise.” When he looked at the mares around him again, they had all fixed him with a skeptical, disbelieving look.

Sighing, Rarity spoke, voice holding some of her worry. “I’ll try it Dusk, but if I don’t think you’re better…”

Dusk interrupted her, smiling down at her. “I’ll go with whatever decision you girls all decide, Rarity.”

Rarity gave a final nod to Applejack, and the farm pony stepped back, giving the two some room. Dusk lowered his head so the tip of his horn rested against Rarity’s, and spoke softly. “So just like the magic testing spell, thread your mana, and reach into my magic. Then, once you've made the connection, add this twist… and reinforce the spell here, and there…” Projecting with his magic the changes that Rarity needed to make, Dusk waited, reaching out to feel as her spells began to form.

Following his directions as she started to cast the spell, Rarity adjusted her hands to better rest against the pressure points on his neck and jaw. As she opened herself up to Dusk, those very sensitive points softly thrummed in rhythm with her magic. But as her magic began to lock into place, her mind was flooded in a rush of both mana and images she could only half-understand. Releasing both his neck and her spell, she stared up into Dusk's eyes considering what she’d seen, some of which made her blush.

Gently squeezing Rarity's shoulders, Dusk cleared his throat, speaking worriedly. “Rarity? Are you alright? Tell me if this is too much to manage all at once.”

Forcing away the jumbled mess of half-formed memories that had assailed her mind upon making contact with Dusk’s, Rarity offered him a gentle smile and shook her head. “I-- no, I'm okay, Dusk. I guess I didn't realize how much more this version of the spell would reveal. Let’s... let's try again, I'll just go a little slower.”

But as the assorted jumble of confusing memories faded, Rarity found one she couldn't so easily dismiss. That of her own cheek as somepony leaned in to kiss it. Shocked by the realization, Rarity considered the memory more carefully, recognizing the way her hair was combed, an earing she wore and the pillow under her head. ”By the Light. I haven't done my hair that way since… my first date with Dusk! This is his memory from when we first made love. Oh~ to think he keeps such memories so close to his heart!”

Reaching her hands out again, Rarity searched for those sensitive points where the magic flowed the best before she started to form the spell again. This time, with her touch already properly centered as the magic began to form, she got more of a sense of his physical well being. However, as the spell powered up, she found herself blocked from going any further by the image of a doorway, closed shut. Somehow she could feel how it acted as a barrier to the faint flow of at least some of the information the spell offered to her. She could feel Dusk’s vitality around her, and she was already getting a sense of how his body felt, but if there was more behind this barrier…

Reaching out, she hesitantly touched the door’s handle, and for a moment it seemed like it would resist her, yet as soon as she brushed it with her magic, the door fell open. Memories began to flow into her, albeit slower this time, giving Rarity a chance to prepare as they started to flood in.

A day at school as a young colt, escorted by an older filly.

Rarity couldn’t help but gasp softly to herself, realizing that she saw what had to be a teenaged Princess Cadance guiding Dusk around a school by hand.

The memory continued on, and another mare, a unicorn filly, with flaming red and yellow hair the color of fire and the sun, stepped in beside Princess Cadance, giving only the smallest of bows while crossing her arms behind her back. Together the trio walked into a grand hall, where Princess Celestia waited on a dais with several other older unicorns. Dusk’s emotions were a frantic blend of panic and delight, worry and excitement.

Finally understanding, Rarity gave a giddy sigh. “Of course. His first day at Starswirl University! He was adorable as a colt!” The slow, steady and serene beat of Dusk’s calm heart remained level. It was a rhythmic pattern that never shifted in uniformity as the pulsing beat grew clearer and stronger in her mind.

The speech the Sun Princess gave was long and detailed. It passed by in a blur to Rarity, but she knew that Dusk had watched in rapture, memorizing every single word Princess Celestia said. As the other students filed out, however, Princess Cadance put a hand on Dusk’s shoulder. Sitting together with the redhead, they waited until the room emptied, with even the teachers leaving. Only then did Cadence stand up, offering Dusk her hand. She guided the two foals to the dais… where the Goddess was waiting. Standing in a beam of golden sunlight from the skylight high overhead, the Goddess folded her hands over her stomach, watching their approach. With serenity, the Goddess lifted a hand, gesturing for them to come closer.

There was an echo of stiffness in Dusk’s shoulders, which pulsed in time with another in his spine that was distracting, but reminded Rarity of how stiff she felt after a particularly intense session of yoga. ”But~ Cadance and Redheart both talk so much about how his back pain is getting worse. They act like it’s nearly crippling, which is why he takes all of that tea and pain medications... Maybe-- is he really doing so much better?"

”Cadance, Sunset Shimmer, young Dusk Shine. I will need to change when we meet for our private lessons. Cadance, with your new schooling starting, perhaps you can come to my private chambers in your free time? Sunset, Dusk will be joining us for your classes on Mondays for now. Don’t worry, he is a bright little colt. I’m sure he will catch up before you know it.”

Leaning into Dusk’s chest, Rarity rubbed her cheek against his collarbone, while the steady rhythm of his heartbeat drummed on in the back of her mind. She could feel how his horn ached. She knew from the spell, somehow, that he didn’t like to think about it. Hated to even acknowledge it. But she could feel how much it bothered him. It was a steady mild and unnerving ache that lingered deep in the keratin. She already knew from past conversations with him that he’d feel lost without his magic, so she could understand his worry about the injury.

Dusk slipped behind Cadance as the other filly’s shouting tirade began. He tried hiding in the folds of the young alicorn’s dress, worriedly watching the exasperated filly. When he dared to meet her eyes, Sunset thrust a finger in his direction. “He’s practically a newborn colt, and I’m supposed to just abandon my studies to coddle him until he catches up! By the Light, please, my goddess! I could do so much more if you just let me study freely!”

The memories started to fade out as Rarity drifted into a mist that seemed to thicken the whole world, and filled almost all of Dusk’s mind. The memories… Sunset Shimmer! Dusk had mentioned her as the mare that had used him. She needed to know more. She had to! She dove into the mists, slipping ever deeper as it thickened, and drowned out the sound of Dusk’s heartbeat.

Dusk followed Celestia and the still-fuming Sunset Shimmer down one of the hallways of Canterlot Castle. He felt lost, and missed his foal-sitter already. Yet he did his best to stay brave and follow the mares ahead of him through the sprawling hallways. As they turned a corner after a staircase, Dusk halted, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of a silver-framed portrait as Celestia and Sunset continued on. Unknowingly left alone at the top of the staircase, Dusk could only look upon the portrait at an unfamiliar face.

“Princess Luna… the lost goddess.” Dusk jumped, surprised by Sunset Shimmer’s presence at his side. Like him, she stared at the life-sized image of the pale night goddess. “Princess Celestia told me all about their childhood, and Nightmare Moon’s attack. They say she was unrivaled in magic, and surpassed Starswirl the Bearded’s talent.”

When the fiery-haired filly turned to look at Dusk, he felt overwhelmed by a flare of panic, all but ready to bolt from the frightening teenager. Instead, Sunset Shimmer smiled at him, grabbed his hand, and spoke more gently than before. “Come on. If you ask, maybe Princess Celestia will tell us more about her!”

Snapping back into the foggy realm of Dusk’s mind, Rarity felt the fleeing memory moving still deeper into the fog. Rushing to follow it through the ever-thickening darkness, she fell further and further behind the retreating memory.

The unexpected arrival of a solid, invisible barrier stopped Rarity dead. The shock from the impact left her confused and disoriented. Hesitatingly she turned about and searched for some sign, some hint of where she was, and how to return to the surface, where she had started.

But the mists were thick, and somehow, they resonated with her breath even as they closed in around her. Reaching inside for her magic, Rarity finally realized what had happened. She floated now, inside the depths of Dusk’s magic, his mana-filled flames of power so deep, so massive, they were unrecognizable at first. There were reservoirs of magic here so vast that she felt almost agoraphobic. Now she truly knew everything she needed to about his health.

Her goal finally remembered and accomplished, Rarity tried to find her way out of the blanketing fog. Turning back and forth, again she ran into that invisible wall of his. She ran her hands along it, and it seemed to hold mana behind it as well. By the Light… Just how strong is Dusk? And what is this? Running her fingers along the invisible wall, she could almost swear she felt tiny cracks along it.

She walked along the wall for a few paces, finding no break or turn in it. Turning back to where she assumed she came from, she began to undo the spell. As the spell faded, she felt the invisible wall once again slam into her, only this time it had been the one to collide into her, leaving her disoriented.

When the haze from breaking the unfamiliar spell cleared, Rarity found herself being helped off the deck of the ship by a very worried Applejack and Pinkie while Dusk hovered behind them, deep lines of concern clear as day in his wide eyes. "Rarity! Oh thank the Light! Are you alright? I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have ever had you try to cast such an intense spell without proper preparation."

"Dusk," Rarity spoke, awe and fear clearly in her voice. She stopped his rambling by pulling out of Applejack’s and Pinkie’s hands and moved to hug him. "J-Ju-Just how powerful are you?!” Attempting to pull him closer, she only ended up pressing her body into his chest. Breathless, she closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat, trying to reorient herself now that she was out of the spell. She had a hard time believing doctors used such an incredible spell on patients - especially if it let them see into intense memories. “Your magic, it-it’s like a depthless and endless maze of fog. I couldn’t even see the flames or embers, let alone get a hold of just how much raw mana you have!” Shaking her head against his chest, she let out a huff before continuing. “But I could feel it. Light, it was overwhelming.”

Applejack put her hands on Rarity’s shoulders, kneading them softly as she voiced her evident concerns. “So Rares? Is he okay? Are you okay? Ya’ll look really shaken up. And what does that mean? What's so weird about his magic?”

Pulling herself away from Dusk, Rarity took a breath and tried to make herself calm down. She took her arms from around Dusk and moved a hand up to squeeze Applejack’s hand on her shoulder. “It was... disorienting, and confusing at times, but I’m okay. And- well, magic in unicorns is kind of like a well, or maybe even a bonfire. Metaphors kind of fail because it's complicated and hard to express to someone that can’t feel it. When Sweetie Belle was a newborn filly, her magic was just a tiny pool, hardly enough to fill a cup of water. My magic- it's- well it's just like a village well, deep and plentiful with enough for dozens of people to use. I can keep up several spells at once and even Shining Armor’s shield spell that Dusk showed me isn't too taxing, though I certainly can’t use it to the extent either of them can…”

When Rarity hesitated to continue, Applejack squeezed the smaller mare’s shoulders gently. “And?”

“But Dusk's... well, his magic is like- like a great ocean… maybe even several oceans. I couldn't even see the sides, let alone the bottom.” Something bit at the back of her mind, something that she’d seen in his magic, something that she’d ran into… But she couldn’t remember what.

Applejack’s blank stare told Rarity that the mare didn't understand. Trying again, she pointed at Dusk. “If magic were muscles, comparing me to him, or any unicorn I know, is like trying to compare Sweetie Belle to Big Mac.”

Realization sunk in and Applejack leaned over Rarity, reaching out to pinch Dusk’s right bicep between her thumb and forefinger. “Oh, that strong, by the Light? Well, I suppose that makes a lil’ sense; he did go toe to toe with Nightmare Moon, and she turned out to be a daggone goddess!”

Yelping at the playful, but painful pinch, Dusk rubbed his arm and wryly smiled at the pair. “It's not that big a difference, really. I spent years training day and night. In time, Rarity, you could easily learn to handle far more mana than you do now.”

Even as Rarity looked at Dusk incredulously, wondering how he didn’t realize just how much mana he truly had, Pinkie had been deep in thought. Snapping her fingers, she excitedly let out a happy squeal. “Ohhh! So Dusk is as strong as Big Mac? Neat! Quick Dusk, lift me over your head!”

Jumping up and rushing across the deck of the ship even as she spoke her excited request, Dusk hardly had time to react before Pinkie energetically lept at him. Dusk still managed to catch her, though Pinkie seemed intent on climbing above him, using her hands on his shoulders to pull herself up higher. Teetering back unsteadily under Pinkie’s squirming weight, Dusk did his best to keep upright while she cried out with glee. “Weeee!!!!”

Tripping as he took a step backwards, his foot caught on the edge of one of the chairs, and Dusk fell back. He landed flat on his ass while Pinkie, lost in her own gleeful world of raucous laughter, tumbled down into his lap, tightly hugging him around the ribs. While Dusk reached back to rub his sore rear, Pinkie cried out in delight. “Ohhhfff! Again, Dusk! Let’s do that again!”

Shaking his head, Dusk put a restraining hand on Pinkie’s back to buy himself at least a little time to catch his breath. “Ow. Ummm... Pinkie. I’m stronger thanks to Applejack’s and Dash’s help, but I don't think I’d ever dare compare myself to somepony like Big Mac.”

Watching the whole time as Dusk and Pinkie carried on, Dash wound up bent over from laughter while Fluttershy covered her eyes as Dusk fell backwards, peeking between her fingers when they started to talk. Shying back, she couldn’t help but whisper softly. “Oh~ Oh my. Dusk, Pinkie, maybe you two should calm down before-”

The rush of heavy footsteps stomping up the staircase from the under deck announced Cherry Berry’s and Scootaloo’s arrival. Storming out onto the deck, Cherry’s beet-red face was full of fire. “Just what in all of Celestia’s brilliant blue skies and the seven bloody blue blazes are you all doing to my ship up here?!”

Resting her head against her hand in embarrassment, Rarity gestured to Pinkie where she all but sat upon Dusk’s chest. “That? That’s just a thing we call Pinkie Pie. Really, I would attempt to apologize for her behaviour, but since you’ve met her before, I’m sure you already understand there really isn’t anything I can do to curb her… enthusiasm.”

Moving to sit back on Dusk’s legs, and dragging him to sit up further, Pinkie hugged him to her chest. She looked over at the pilot, grinning openly even as she offered an apology. “Sowwwieeee Cherry Berry. I didn’t mean to hurt your poor ship.”

Almost copying Rarity’s expression of exasperation, Cherry Berry groaned out through the hand that covered her face. “Can- can we just go now? I love Cloudsdale, but I think we’d all be better off getting home.”

Almost as one, Dusk, Applejack and Rarity all cried out their agreement together in one unified voice. Watching them with a raised eyebrow, Dash had finally stopped laughing at Pinkie’s antics, and nodded as well, taking a moment to catch her breath before speaking. “I think that’d be awesome. Besides, knowing our luck and how often things go wrong? We should get home before anything else happens.”

The Weather Factory, Cloudsdale

As Winter Harvest walked alone through the seemingly-endless and empty hallways, she came to an abrupt halt. An odd lilt to the song of the Engine warned her that she was not alone. Not expecting anyone else to be in this section of the factory, Winter ran down a short list of ponies that even knew about these hallways. When she continued walking again, it was more carefully, and with heavier, deliberate steps, letting the intruder know that she knew she was not alone. As she passed an alcove, a robed figure stepped out from it, wearing the same mask she herself wore. Sighing loudly, Winter didn’t bother to turn or look in her direction, and simply crossed her arms over her chest. Taking a guess, she spoke, her voice calm and level. “You were scheduled to meet with the Princess in Canterlot this afternoon. There was no need for you to come here, agent.”

The mare she spoke to looked like any of the other heavily-robed guides that patrolled the hallways, especially with the half-mask hiding her face, and her wings hidden under the heavy fabric of her robes. When the agent spoke, her voice was even, nearly emotionless as she offered a salute to Winter’s side. “I can report here just as well as Canterlot. Besides, after yesterday, I wanted to see if the stories matched the mare. I owe her dam at least that much.”

Giving a sigh to express her disapproval, and still not looking at the robed pegasus, Winter put one hand on her hip while gesturing with the other. “This isn't like you, agent. You’re never this unprofessional. Family or not, the mare is already being watched, and you don't need to risk your cover like this.”

Returning to a neutral stance, the agent let her arms fall to her sides while answering. “There was no risk. Blitz is gone, and nopony else in town would recognize me anymore.” Pausing to reach into her heavy robes, the pegasus drew a heavy fold of paperwork out, offering it to Winter. “My final report from the zebra tribe. Due to their nomadic nature, this mission took a little longer. However, just as your other sources suggest, they maintain small shrines spread out all over the Savannah. I found evidence on the target, but she left on good terms with her clan. There is no reason to believe she is working for any of our adversaries.”

Accepting the package and hiding it in her own robes, Winter shook her head. “You still should have gone to Princess Celestia directly. But- well, very well. Will you at least check in with him before your next mission?” The agent hesitated, hands balled at her side, and Winter felt the urge to needle the agent further. “After all, since you feel it is so important to check in on family, talking to him is the least you can do.”

Growling under her breath, the agent held out her hand. “Just- give me the next mission, ma'am. If you... insist, I'll visit him, but we both already know it won't be civil.”

Reaching into the side of her robes opposite where she’d placed the paperwork, Winter pulled out a small package and handed it to the agent. Her voice was sad, but terse. “But you'll at least try this time? As you said, you owe it to his wife - or at the very least, their daughter.” Shaking herself, Winter finally looked at the agent. “There are rumors of a young unicorn colt with high magical potential in a small village on the far outer reaches of Equestria. Scout him for Starswirl University. If he qualifies, leave an invite, like the others.”

The agent’s displeasure at Winter’s goading was subtle, but Winter had known her too long to miss it. Saluting crisply, the agent returned to a professional posture. “Of course ma’am. The colt’s name?”

“Sunburst.”

Author's Notes:

I know, I know, Dusk and Dash date is delayed again. I'm sorry, okay? I got carried away with the Rainbow Factory and filling in plotholes. Hopefully you will forgive me. Don't worry, the next part to come in a Interlude focused on the date, with just a brief opening in Ponyville.

After that Interlude, we have another merged chapter. This time featuring both Dog and Pony Show and Stare Master.

Until then my friends!