My Faithful Student, Dusk Shine,

When I received your latest letter, it was a joy to read. My dear sister Luna has taken a liking to these letters as well, as they help her to learn so much about both what she has missed as well as teaching her of our people. Thus, we have decided to commission you to produce an ongoing series of profiles of other people around Ponyville, and the rest of Equestria as you gather more information for us. First, you should start with your fellow Elements of Harmony. Take the day to consider and please have your reply completed within the next day or two.

It was late in the afternoon when Barb ran into Dusk's bedroom with the letter. The excited little dragoness had not knocked, and arrived in the middle of Nurse Redheart's sponge bath. Dusk lay in bed as ordered by Princess Celestia’s visiting doctors; an order to rebuild his stamina after the exhaustion of the Summer Sun Celebration. They had seen what Dusk didn't notice at first. Though healed by the Elements, he had lost ten pounds in a day from the raw use of magic and endless adrenalin rush that had kept him on his feet that long night. Ten pounds made a difference when it was nearly a fifteenth his weight and he quickly found he was light headed and exhausted by even simple tasks, so the argument had been quickly lost.

Dusk realized that Nurse Redheart was a very striking mare, and it had started to get quite awkward every day when she insisted on this sponge bath. Twice yesterday, he had argued he could simply take a shower, but when she had challenged him to do so unassisted he quickly found himself resting on his knees against the sink, too tired to even step over the bathtub’s high edge. So in the end, he had relented, laying in bed with only a loose pair of boxers for modesty’s sake, while the attractive nurse sat beside him, stroking muscles and rubbing a small amount of some oil based ointment into his chest.

Every day, he became more aware that her uniform was too short... and that she had taken to wearing very dark blue or purple panties that were on full display from were his head rested upon the pillows. And then there was her insistence on doing a 'complete' job. All he could do was lay there in silence, biting his lip the whole time. He waited as she peeled off his boxers, wet sponge kissing across his belly, over his groin and around his privates in what felt like hours of embarrassing fascination on the mare's part. Never once did she ever break eye-contact with him, and a few times he wondered if she was only waiting for him to give even the smallest of nods, what with the way her eyes screamed at him. Was the mare in heat? Or...

“Dusk! The Princesses sent another letter! They liked your little note about me so much that they...” And suddenly Barb's voice dropped to silence. Dusk now wished he had just smothered himself with a pillow at that very moment, rather than have her walk in on this. Yet for Redheart's part, she was calm and polite, her voice soft.

“Yes? What exciting new work did The Princesses come up with for Dusk to do?” She asked, her hands returning the sponge to its warm water and squeezing it tight to a gush of water pouring free. The silky material returned to Dusk's loins, stroking tenderly between his thigh and groin.

“That... That... um... she wants him to do profiles of the other Elements of Harmony over the next day or two... and... um... stuff.” Barb might have been mostly like a normal teenage girl, yet the sight of her near father figure being practically serviced by a woman clearly had her confused.

As his hands drew a blanket over his privates and he leveled a glare at the nurse, Dusk smiled and spoke softly. “Then you had better do me a favor Barb. Go around to the girls’ places and ask them each when they might visit me tomorrow. I'm sure between the five, we can find some gaps in their schedules to get a quick chat in.” When the dragoness paused to hover at the door he spoke a second time, his tone more pleading this time. “And please... do not tell them I am so weak of late that I can not even bathe myself, it is humiliating enough having you see this.”

That appeared to be enough for her. Duty assigned and mind now properly distracted from the unclean thoughts that had sprung up, she gave a happy salute and rushed off out of the library to hunt down his five new friends. Dusk was just about to sit back again when the nurse cleared her throat, voice warm if a little strict. “Five visits? You might be getting stronger Dusk, but you’re in no shape for one filly climbing into bed with you, let alone five. I'd advise against it.” When all she got in return was his deep red blush, a laugh escaped her lips and she leaned in close to whisper warmly into his ear. “Your sponge bath is finished, but maybe tomorrow I can give you a shower before they show up?”

Dusk gasped at the lust hinted in her low tones, and clutched his hands on the blanket’s surface. The offer was... frankly quite tempting, yet he feared just what else she had in mind, knowing she spent far longer with him than needed each day as it was. At last, the courage to speak up arrived, and he easily shifted her weight to lean back a little. “I'll shower myself tomorrow. Thank you Nurse Redheart, you have been too kind in helping me these last few days.” There was a pause as she started to form a pout, and he was forced to offer a concession, but he phrased it as an offer to save face. “I would love it if we could get together sometime when you are off duty, instead of dealing with this this uptight work atmosphere. Maybe go for dinner sometime next week?”

A grin split the mare's lips. He might just be beginning to understand a little more about her than he had guessed up until now. “It’s a date then, Dusk. I will find a hole in my schedule at the clinic, and you can thank me properly... with dinner and maybe some more fun.” As she peeled away from the side of his bed and started to walk off, the way her hips swayed in that too-tight uniform drew in his eyes, and the back had ridden up while she sat on the bed beside him. Eyes wide, he realized the dark blue fabric had a logo on it... no, not a logo, but a cutie mark. A white crescent moon contrasted the darker purple of the fabric. Heart pounding in his chest, he wondered why a simple nurse from Ponyville had the time to have custom-made underwear with Princess Luna's cutie mark on it.

It was only an hour later when he at last picked up Princess Celestia's letter to read it for himself. A blush spread over his cheeks as he flipped the page to see what was attached to the note. At first, he didn't notice the difference between this and the profiles he had sent in last week. Then suddenly, his breath drew short, and eyes locked on that key change. "She... wants me to ask them about their breasts? Wh... why?" Swallowing sharply, he flipped back to the letter, hunting for any sign that might reveal her secret intent.

It wasn't until Barb returned to his room with a strong knock on the door before entering that Dusk at last gave up trying to understand her intentions. The little dragon carried with her three notes while a strong blush returned to her cheeks, noting that he was still under the blankets. With a polite cough to get his attention, she offered the three letters. "Err... so they all said it would be no problem visiting you tomorrow. Applejack will show up at 7:20 with breakfast from the farm." Shocked at the early hour, Dusk leveled her with a glare. "She insisted Dusk, I swear. Said she might be up at five to work the orchard anyways."

His mind now adjusting the whole day ahead to deal with the sudden early start AJ was used to, a hand lifted to squeeze the bridge of his nose. As the pressure distracted him from a headache, his eyes leveled on the little dragoness, leaving the letters in his lap for now. "And after that, Barb?"

The dragoness was quick to scuttle into a chair at his bedside, scrambling to him a list she had scribbled. "Pinkie Pie offered to come over at nine AM and help AJ clean up. Then she offered to go get Fluttershy at noon and bring lunch from Sugar Cube Corner." She paused before she shook her hands in an attempt to ward off Dusk's confused glare. "She really didn't want to come for what Pinkie instantly called a date. It wasn't until Pinkie offered to make it lunch for three before she finally gave her consent."

At last understanding, Dusk give her a nod. "OK, that I understand. She really is so shy around people; unless they need help for a pet, that is." Gently chuckling, he began softly scratching Barb behind the ears. "OK so that is three down... Dash?"

The question had Barb toying with her tail, squeezing at the spade tip and shaking her head. "Err... She agreed to come as well, but wouldn't stick to a time even when Rarity and AJ Hitting hope to tried to corner her into one. She said something about practicing for the Wonderbolts tomorrow, but promised she'd show sometime late afternoon around two."

Dusk laughed a little and continued the light scratching of Barb's head, his head tilting a little while he softly whistled a low breath from the depths of his throat. "Well, it’s Dash. She might not be on time, but I trust she will show up." With a chuckle still on his breath, he took a shot in the dark. "And Rarity will bring dinner I'm guessing?"

Here, Barb revealed to him what was really bugging her, suddenly wrapping her arms about his neck and hugging tight to his chest while releasing a pouting sigh. "If I go babysit Sweetie Belle, yes... But Dusk, she had that look in her eye. The same as Twinkleshine and her herd did back in Canterlot. Why is it that every mare wants to steal you? Why can't you just tell them you've already got a herd and make them leave you alone?" The tiny girl’s frame shivered with a barely-restrained sob.

Her words and actions tugged sharply at his heart, and made the stallion pull her closer while his deft fingers moved up and across the arch of her shoulder blades, using his nails to rake down and across her thin frame. "I... It's..." He drew a breath to swallow and then smiled gently again, slightly shifting his grip to rest on her spine. "I promise none of them will ever come between us, Barb. You will always be my number one apprentice, no matter what relationships I end up having with any mare."

These words appeared to help to calm the little dragon, her breathing smoothed and she shifted to tighten her arms’ strong grip around his neck, sighing against his shoulder, while she shifted to curl in against his side. Her eyes lifted to look deeply into his own. "And... if you do form a herd like they’re always bugging you to do?"

Dusk lightly laughed and kissed the top of her head, holding her with his hands on her back. "Any mare I might have in my herd first has to to accept you as my daughter/little sister. Just as I'm sure Rarity would require any stallion she takes to understand her little sister Sweetie Belle is very important to her too." There was a pause as he chuckled warmly. "Or as Applejack might break the jaw of any stallion who didn't respect her little sister Apple Bloom."

This had the little dragon join him in the light laughter. "Alright. Then I'll tell Rarity it’s no problem. Besides, Sweetie Belle is really nice company. I'd love to have her as a little sister!" With lazy effort, the little dragon wiggled her way off the bed and hopped to her feet while gazing over her shoulder at him. "Besides, she doesn't really have any friends besides Apple Bloom. I know how lonely that can be!" Her hint made him laugh a little.

His gaze dropped to the three letters, though one was still warm to the touch from Barb's Dragon fire. Yet in a sealed envelope from the Princess? "What are these? Before you go."

Stopping and turning a little she gave a little shrug. "The one with the pink paper is from Pinkie. The royal blue is Rarity... And I felt that a sealed letter from Celestia must mean it’s very personal since she has never done that before, so I saved it for you." There was a brief pause, her tail's spade once more trapped in her digits and squeezed from nervous habit. "I’ll go see Rarity so you can read in private."

Alone and with Barb out of the library to finalize the setup for tomorrow, Dusk opened Pinkie Pie's letter first. It turned out to be nothing but a short note about how she was glad he was feeling well enough again to have guests over. But when he opened it confetti and streamers burst forth. That extra energy put into so simple a note was endearing and he took his time shaking his head at the silly gesture. "Thank you Pinkie, you can bring a smile even on an exhausting day." At last he picked up Rarity's note, drawing a gaze across the the fine calligraphy in which she had written his name.

Dearest Dusk Shine,

It was a pleasure to hear from Barb that you are at last well enough for a guest. It's teased at my heart these last few days awaiting your health to improve so we might finish our conversation from the other night before Nightmare Moon interrupted us. Everyday, I stop to speak with Nurse Redheart in hopes of her letting me at least join you for a meal or assisting in your treatment, and she has promised to let me come next week, but now with this new work for Princess Celestia, it's a joy to be at last allowed back in. Thinking of you trapped alone and bored everyday pains my heart.

Awaiting when I might see you with my eyes again at last and longing to hear your voice once more,

With his heart beating a little faster, Dusk lowered the note once more to his lap. He swallowed softly and shook his head lightly from side to side as he let memories of conversations with the mare return, along with a soft blush which deepened at the sweet mare's kind nature. He loosed a heavy sigh and then the last, sealed letter was lifted. Inspecting the solid white paper and Her Highness’ seal on the back, the tiny wax emblem seemed to stare at him in return, imbued with a blob of magic. A magic lock of sorts, designed to burn the note to ash if it wasn't opened just so. His voice low and whispering with soft confusion. "Why... would you throw this together, Princess Celestia. What is so secret?"

In silence, he unlatched the magic lock, and then peeled open the wax, revealing a letter and some... legal transcripts. With quiet care, he drew the page free, first looking over the banking records. At almost ten years old, they spoke of a bank Dusk hadn't heard of and a family whose name he didn't recognize, but the recipient's name was clear as day. 'Rarity'. Fingers now sweating, he peeled the letter from Princess Celestia open, his gaze roaming over the very short words written inside, a bitter taste suddenly in his mouth.

Dearest Dusk Shine;

I send you this information for your protection, so you might not be shocked by the revelations this matter might bring about, as well as the pain it might cause for yourself and the mare in question. His name is Diamond Masquerade and he use to teach other unicorns outside of Canterlot in magic before his family needed him for business in Las Pegasus. It tears at my heart to present this to you, My Faithful Student, but to hide the truth of matters would only harm you worse.

With a heavy heart, Dusk twisted the knot in the mote of magic that had been sealed into letter by Princess Celestia when she sealed the wax over the envelope. A burst of flame vaporized the note to ash. With quiet ease, he shifted to lay back, suddenly very tired. His eyes slipped closed, and he attempted to drift off to sleep. For some time, the quiet breeze that drifted through the room was all he heard. The sound of Barb's feet in the distance came to him as she returned to the library. His quiet breath whispering free voice a low mutter, "She has her history; I have mine. She can tell me when she feels comfortable." At last, the air cleared in his mind he relaxed back once more into the bed and soon was asleep.

Deep in sleep when Barb entered his room, Dusk wouldn't realize the little dragoness spent an hour cleaning up around him, putting the two remaining notes on his nightstand. When she found the charred remnants of Princess Celestia's letter, concern for him once more welled up, but she took her time to do her work first, sweeping up the ash with quiet care while attempting to avoid waking him up. When she finished, she went back downstairs for her dinner and some other cleaning the tree-house library needed, spending the night alone while she got things ready for tomorrow's guests.

As she ran out of reasons to keep busy, the little dragon stepped to her door at the base of the library’s staircase. Her hand shivered for a moment over the handle and she swallowed sharply, her head turning to glance up to the half-visible door of Dusk's room. Quickly, she whispered to herself. "For just one more night... can things just stay simple Princess?" Her words were low and scared, and she turned and wandered up to Dusk's door, slipping inside and inspecting his sleeping figure in the bed. Soft steps drew her swiftly across the room to her sleeping father figure. In silence, she slid up into his bed and wrapped a tight hug around his hips, her face buried into his back as quiet tears were at last allowed to flow freely.

Floating over the sleeping Dusk and weeping dragon, all Luna could offer was a single soft nod, her fingers stroking the girl’s cheek from her ethereal realm. "A noble dream; for simpler times and easier days. Very well, dear dragoness. I will watch over you personally tonight, to ensure you get one more peaceful night." The invisible goddess of dreams shifted across the room, taking a seat in a windowsill and looking out to the moon as it stood on the edge of the world watching down on them all. Her voice soft and low, she spoke with longing, "Dream well, little dragoness. Tomorrow will come sooner than you think, and even I have plans for your father."

Author's Notes:

Alright. Feeling a lot better, but I'm breaking Interlude 3 into 3 parts to get them out faster / easier. Still bummed out about Robin Williams death so it might have made this part a little more depressing then I intended. Hope this first piece is interesting and a setup for events of the next day. Part 2 will be Dusk's morning with AJ and Pinkie Pie; and lunch with Fluttershy. Thanks again for reading and your comment's its a pleasure to see so many are enjoying my work so far!

Wrabbit Edition uploaded - March 12th, 2015

Shawkthorian Edition uploaded - August 10th, 2015

Version 2.0 posted April 29th, 2016. Focused on removing improper use of 'own' and 'would', as well as major formatting changes that have happened across the series.