The group finally broke through the trees, trotting out into the open air. He stopped and motioned towards the city. “Well, that's Canterlot. A few miles further out is Ponyville, but there really isn't anything to see there.”

“Interesting,” Aetherbind said with a smile. “I heard all this used to be up in the mountains, overlooking the land. Is that true?”

Goldenseed nodded. “Uh huh. Hundreds of years ago though, before the conjurers took over, there were a lot of land slides and the area became unfit for living. Once the land was healed and resettled, they just built everything down here, where it's far safer.” He motioned far off to the east. “You can still see what remains of those mountains from here. I think the diamond dogs have territory set up there, but I don't see them very often.” He left out the fact that was because there were so few conjurer dogs. He didn't want her to think he only stayed around his own kind.

“The city looks glorious,” the unicorn said with a smile.

“Oh, it is. We're even hosting the annual Grand Company meeting this year, so we'll have representatives from both Cloudsdale and Crystalopolis. Last time Crystalopolis sent a whole pack of changelings and a full sized dragon.”

“Oh? What did Cloudsdale send?” Cheesecake asked, flashing him a gentle smile. He blushed and flustered a bit, tripping over his hooves and crashing into the ground.

“Ow,” he said softly. Before he could pick himself up, he found himself scooped into the air and deposited into the wagon, right by the pegasus.

She put a wing over him and gently rubbed his head. “Oh, you poor dear.”

He gulped and shivered softly at her touch. “I uhhh... I-I'm... I'm fine. W-we had... a-a few griffons and bat ponies. They ummm... t-they were pretty cool. But the dragon was the most awesome. He was almost as big as the castle.”

“Wowwwww. Maybe we should stick around for this festival,” Cheesecake said, gently patting his head. “It could be nice settling down for a bit. Even get to know you better, lil cutie.” She softly pinched his cheek. Normally he'd be upset at her treating him like this, but for some reason her lil cutesy talk didn't annoy him in the slightest.

“I... I could s-show you everything if you do. I am the prince, after all. I could get you special permission to go anywhere.”

“Oh, I'm sure you can,” Aetherbind said with a chuckle. “Would you like us to take you to the castle?”

He puffed up his chest and nodded. “Yes! I'll have special quarters prepared for you. You'll be my special guests. Anything you need, I'll--”

“GOLDENSEED!” his father's voice bellowed, making his eyes widen and chest deflate. His ears lowered and his mane went limp.

“Uh oh...” He slowly looked up and saw his father, with two leather armored earth ponies, wielding pikes, besides him. The prince nervously raised a hoof. “H-hello father.”

“Where have you been? I told you to come home, not go frolicking about the woods,” the stallion stormed down the hill, eyes narrowed on the child.

He sunk into the seat as best he could. “I... I'm sorry father, I--”

“Sir, I apologize for the delay,” Aetherbind said as she jumped down onto the ground, bowing her head. “It is my fault for his delay. We were lost in the woods and had a broken wheel. Your son was kind enough to stop and help us, before guiding us here. Any delay is completely our fault.”

The stallion stopped and stared at the mare. His eyes softened for a moment before he turned to Goldenseed. “Is this true?”

The colt nervously gulped and nodded. “Y-yes father.” It was, technically, true. Though he hadn't helped them much. He did guide them, so he was sure it still counted. He grudgingly pulled away from Cheesecake and jumped from the cart, walking towards his father. “I'm sorry.”

The stallion sighed, before reaching out and patting his head. “No. You did right. As a conjurer, you must always be willing to help those in need when you can. However, you should have come home and gotten help, not stayed out in the forest.” The stallion gave him a light tap on the ears, not hard enough to hurt. “Remember that.”

“Yes, sir. This is Aetherbind and her friends, Cheesecake and Beefcake. They're adventurers!” he said excitedly. “I invited them to the castle as my guests!”

A frown crossed the stallion's brow again as he shook his head. “You should have asked me before extending an invitation,” he snapped.

“I... sorry father...” He lowered his gaze even further.

Aetherbind sighted. “Please, don't be mad at him, sir. He was just being generous. We can rest in--”

“No,” his father interrupted. “My son extended you an invitation. It would be a dishonor to send you away.” He turned to the two guards and motioned to the wagon. “Help them get settled.” His eyes then fell on the boy. “You, come.” He turned and trotted up the castle.

Goldenseed gulped and followed. Despite the fact his legs were a bit too long for his body, they were nowhere near as long as his father's. He struggled to keep up, nearly galloping as he pursued. He managed to make it to the gate of the castle, before his hooves caught in his robe and he tumbled forward with a startled shriek. He rolled on the ground a few times, before crashing into his father's hindlegs.

The stallion turned around and glared at him. “Goldenseed. Try to carry at least some dignity with your motions.” He stood and watched as the boy slowly unruffled himself and got to his hooves.

“Sorry father...”

The stallion merely shook his head and let out a gruff, disappointed sigh. He led the boy to his room, and motioned inside. “You are to meditate on your failure and not leave until I send for you. No leaving your room, no snacks, no anything until then. Do I make myself clear?”

The prince slowly nodded his head and trotted inside. “Yes fa--” The door slammed behind him, cutting off the words. He trotted to his bed and collapsed on it, his excitement melting away like ice. “I didn't fail though. Why won't you just give me a chance? I know what I'm doing...” he whispered into his bed. He laid there and waited, listening as his father's hoofsteps carried down the hall. He then glanced over to his book and pulled it closer, quickly flipping through until he found the page he was on.

“Sorry it ummm, took us so long. We ran into a few troubles on the way.”

Twilight shook her head, before lunging forward and giving him a great hug, so tight he squeaked. “I'm so sorry. I was a fool. I just... I just couldn't bear the thought of losing any of you.”

“Oh, silly billy!” Pinkie Pie yelled as a large cannon landed on the ground in front of them, before shooting a cannonball into the beast's face and knocking it back. “You'd never lose any of us to any ol' beasty like this! Now come on girls!”

Twilight nodded and gripped her rod, the gemstones glowing with purple magic. “Yes. You're right. We can do this.”

The stone wolf growled, barring its teeth. It lunged quickly, but the seven parted ways and it flew by. Spell, blade and cannon struck against it, disorienting the creature as they attacked in tandem, from all sides and all means. Piece by piece the rock crumbled, until finally Rainbow Dash flew into the air. He gripped his spear between his hooves and yelled. “Take this!”

The stallion drove down, thrusting all his force into the blow as his spear pierced through the creature's hide, driving all the way out the other side and pinning it down on the ground. He flew off as the creature writhed in pain, snapping and growling as it tried yanking free. The spear was dug in too deep, holding the creature no matter how it clawed and pulled. Gradually the movements became slower and--

The book suddenly slammed closed on Goldenseed's nose, eliciting a yelp from the colt. It then flew across the room, hovering above Straightlace's head. “Your father said meditate, not read your books.”

“But... I don't need to meditate. I already--”

“Indeed you do. You failed your trial.”

“I only failed because they wouldn't let me try!” Goldenseed stomped a hoof down. “They wanted me to... it was pathetic. It wasn't the kind of thing an adventurer would heal. It was something a foal could have healed!”

“I believe many adventurers have a saying. 'No job is too small'. As a future ruler, you'll find plenty of times when you have to do things you see as beneath you. I'd advise you learn quickly when to clamp down on your pride and do what is required of you.” Before the earth pony could respond, the door slammed shut. Which was just as good, since he couldn't think of a rebuttal.

Goldenseed rolled onto his back and groaned. Maybe they were right. Just because there was no glory in what he did, didn't mean he should say no to it. He thought back to all the stories he'd heard of the Warriors of the Sun and Moon. He glanced down to his cutie mark and let out a soft, pathetic whine. It was a pure white staff, with a white rose for a head.

He could still remember when he got it, how proud his father had been. It happened when he first start training to become a conjurer, the first time he'd opened himself to the land. It had been overwhelming. Feeing the heartbeat of the land, the way the plants all connected. Even the animals, their little energy sources traveling across the ground. He'd come back in a daze, and his cutie mark was shown to him. It was the first time he'd ever seen his father too excited to speak.

He'd been so proud. All rulers of the kingdom had to be conjurers, for the sake of the ponies. In the past, there had been too many tyrants, those who abused the land and its ponies. But a conjurer was too in-tune with the world. Their emotions could affect it, but if they tried to abuse it too far, then the land would strike back. Like the elemental that attacked them in the forest. There were countless legends of conjurers who tried abusing their power, hurting the last as they went. Before the land swallowed them up in an instant. His talent being conjurery meant he wasn't just a healer of the land, he was destined to be one. It was in his blood. He should be out, repairing mangled limbs and calming angry elementals.

Instead, they had him curing paper cuts and dispelling elementals a fly could fight off. He felt like a pegasus who wasn't allowed to go more than a few inches in the air, lest they fall and hurt themselves. Conjurers were rare, finding a pony who could talk to the land and cure it was rare, even with the high magic population of Equestria, it was one of the reasons the other two kingdoms depended on them. He should be out there, healing the hurt, not letting his gift waste away as he did paperwork.

He let out a frustrated growl and jumped off the bed. He looked around for a few moments, before a grin spread across his lips. He snuck over to his door and lightly clicked the lock. He then moved over to his bed and crawled under it. The bottom portion was slightly raised off the ground and suspended on a wooden framework. Most importantly, he'd managed to loosen one of the floor boards under his bed, which he quickly yanked out and reached under. He pulled out a long, thin box. He crawled out and dusted the box off, though there was very little on it. He ripped off the lid and sighed contently.

It was filled with his greatest treasures. Dol-- ACTION figures. Little miniature versions of the Warriors of the Sun and Moon. Well, as close as most could get. The toys were fairly crude and cheap looking. They lacked just enough detail that they could be substituted for just about any of the legends, at least where the seven warriors were ponies. He had only been able to get a dragon version of Spike, and he rarely played with it.

He set them out, one by one, and admired their cheap fake weapons. As a prince, he could easily have afforded the greatest toys in the realm. The only problem was, his father no longer allowed him to play with such frivolity. Since he was now an adult, all his toys had been removed. He had been lucky to keep his books.

Getting the toys hadn't been too hard, however. He'd merely traded a few jewels, coins or even candy to some of the servant's children in return for the toys. It had taken him nearly six months before he finally got a makeshift group of all seven warriors, but it was more priceless to him than all the treasures in the kingdom.

He slowly picked them up and began his games. Within moments he was no longer trapped in his room, thinking about his punishment. Instead he was back in the past a thousand years ago, when the alicorns were seen as kind, loving benefactors and not cruel, destructive tyrants. Fighting against the forces of darkness, purifying the land. They fought off evil dragons, cleansed the woods of the smooze and even had a delightful tea party with none other than Discord.

Best of all, he could imagine himself as them. Sometimes he was the shy and kind Fluttershy, healing the wounds of his comrades and turning enemies into friends. Other times he was Rainbow Dash, rushing headlong into battle and powering through with sheer awesome. Maybe even Applejack, a strong, capable pony like his father who had hooves of diamonds. He'd even dream as if he was Pinkie Pie, a pony so loved and adored that no pony ever got mad at him or felt he screwed up or found him annoying. Or Rarity, the great miner who created all manner of weapons and armor for them, when he wasn't spending his time underground picking at rocks. Possibly even Spike, the armor clad warrior who always tossed himself in harms way if he needed.

His favorite one to be though, was Twilight. To stand on the front lines, to be ready and willing to face any challenge, no matter how dangerous it was. To never doubt himself, never believe he couldn't handle whatever came him way. Smart enough to solve any problem. Sure, sometimes he made mistakes, but his friends were always there to help. He always came out in the end. He was the leader of the warriors, and personal student to Celestia.

He looked at the Twilight toy and sighed. He wondered if the warrior had been allowed to use his magic and had his limits tested too. Or maybe as the student of Celestia he was already perfect and knew how all the magic worked. In all the stories he tended to be, aside from when he needed his friends to work with him. Even in all the romantic stories, he was always so suave, be he male, female, dragon, griffon, anything.

Goldenseed glanced towards the window and gasped. The sun was already halfway under the horizon. How long had he been playing? His stomach suddenly rumbled, reminding him he'd missed lunch. He stuffed his toys back in their box and quickly replaced them under his bed, before jumping onto the cushions and laying on his back. Then he closed his eyes and waited.

His room was almost completely covered in shadows when he heard someone trying to open the door. “Goldenseed? Why is the door locked?” Straightlace asked.

“I didn't want you sneaking up on me again!” the colt called out before hopping off his bed and trotting to the door. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting to unlock it. He pulled it open and smiled up at the stallion. “Am I free to go?”

Straightlace sighed in exasperation. “First, your lessons. Did your meditations go well.”

Goldenseed let out a soft groan. “Yes...”

“And?”

He knew what the stallion wanted to hear, even if he didn't want to agree with it. “It was wrong of me to not follow instructions. I should have just done the task dealt to me.”

“Good, now let's get you cleaned up.”

“But I'm hungry!”

“You've also invited guests and we will not have you going down to dinner in a filthy robe. Now come alone, the sooner we finish your bath, the sooner we can get to dinner.”

The prince let out an exasperated grunt, but followed after the unicorn. The bath was mercifully short, though the preparations of his mane and choosing of his clothing was anything but. In the end, a simple thin crown of copper was placed on his head and his hair was braided with golden-brown beads. A small golden arm band was put across each arm, before the unicorn nodded in satisfaction. “There. Simple, but no pony would dare question your position. Now come along.”

“Yes sir,” Goldenseed grumbled in frustration. He followed after the stallion. As they came closer to the dining hall, he stuck his head up and sniffed the air, the scent of fresh baked foods making his mouth water. He smelled fresh bread, green bean casserole and, if he wasn't mistake, oat and grasscakes. His stomach rumbled once again, loud enough to make his escort chuckle.

However, he froze as a happy chuckle burst through the room. Beefcake was on the table, a mug of ale in his hoof and swaying from side to side as he told his story. “So, next thing I know, the skeleton's got my axe and is chasing me around the room. Aetherbind is running after, trying to slow it down and bind it in place, but we're all running around so fast she can't get a good sight on it. Cheesecake is shooting arrow after arrow, but she's still drugged off her flank from those poison mushrooms, and gets closer to hitting Aetherbind than she does the skeleton. I'm still a bit off myself--”

“I told you they were poisonous!” Aetherbind said with a laugh.

“Indeed yah did, lass. So I'm still a bit off. I trip over one of the traps we'd just worked so hard to avoid. I fall over, landing face down, right as this great big log comes out of nowhere and just BAM! Slams into the skeleton, sending it flying across the room. Now, at this time we're all feeling good and proud of ourselves.”

“Yeah. Til yah forgot to go pick your axe back up,” Cheesecake said with a chuckle. “Skeleton reforms itself and we have to do the whole thing over again.”

“Aye. That's when ah learned the most important lesson ah ever learned as an adventurer.” The stallion nodded and held up his mug. “If your guildmaster is good an' drunk, don't listen when he says swing your ex and throw your axe!”

The room erupted into laughter, some ponies banging on the table as they roared. The only pony not laughing was Goldenseed's father, who just stared at them. Goldenseed moved besides the stallion, sitting at his right. “Hello father.”

“Have you learned your lesson?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” The stallion gave a dismissive nod. The colt sighed, before pulling a oatcake in front of him and gently biting into the oat filled treat. He sighed contently as the warm treat filled his mouth.

There were no festivals going on, so the dining hall was open to all who worked for the kingdom. That normally meant a few servants and plenty of the guards. However, the adventurers were a welcome guest and the hall was lined almost end to end with ponies come to hear their stories. Ale and beer flowed freely as the ponies recited previous adventures, sometimes acting them out and other times laying back and reciting between swigs of their drink.

Many of the jokes and stories were a bit off color, especially the ones Beefcake and Cheesecake told. Had he been a little younger, his father would have likely sent him away. However, he was now an adult and, even if he didn't understand half the stories(he still had trouble grasping why so many mares Beefcake had been with had excellent plot lines, were they writers?) or the jokes, he still laughed and nodded with the others.

He even drank a little ale, though it made him clench his jaw and cringe. Fortunately, he had an ample excuse not to drink too much, as his father often told him to never drink enough to dull the senses. The solders, on the other hoof, were free to drink to their hearts content.

The best entertainment of the night came when the group began demonstrating their skills. Cheesecake was easily his favorite. The armor she and her brother wore was apparently called a 'subligar'.It was tight, covered very little and what it covered was form fitting, apparently to allow free range of movement during their fights. He couldn't deny that he absolutely adored it on Cheesecake and, judging by the roars of approval from the mares, it didn't look half bad on Beefcake either.

The brother and sister fought in the middle of a hastily made clearing, her with a spear and him with an axe. The deadly blades flew like angry hornets, sometimes the swings so fast and deadly he couldn't even see the blades aside from glints of metal. The two moved in perfect tandem, easily dodging and weaving around each other's blades, demonstrating just how flexible their protections allowed them to be.

When they were finally finished, covered in sweat and panting, the meal was left almost forgotten on the table. Even though he was still hungry, Goldenseed could not take his eyes off Cheesecake. She ran a hoof through her mane, casting the sweat off, before looking at him. He swore she gave a little wink, which elicited a little squeak from him and made color flood into his cheeks. He quickly turned away, hoping his father hadn't noticed. However, when he looked at the seat, he saw his father had already left, likely retired to his room. The colt smiled and turned back to stare at the pegasus, letting out a yelp when he saw she was standing right besides him.

“Hello, your highness. I hope you found our show satisfactory.” She reached out a hoof and gently gave his face a stroke, eliciting a nervous squeak from him.

“It... it was marvelous,” he whispered.

“Wonderful. Now, I'd advise paying special attention to Aetherbind's show. We always save the best for last, and I doubt you'll be disappointed.” She then gave him a little wink, before turning and walking away. He watched her go, his eyes bouncing with each of her steps, before scarlet flooded his cheeks even worse than before. He shook his head and quickly scarfed down the rest of his oatcake while Aetherbind got ready for her show.

The unicorn had walked into the center of the clearing, a smile on her lips. Her book hovered in the air around her, the pages flipping around. She waved her hoof to the left and the book rapidly flipped through pages. She then waved her hoof to the right, and the letters instantly rose off the paper and formed a small ball of green light. Within a moment the ball spread out as a small, cat-like creature dropped to the creature. Except, it was like no animal he'd ever seen.

It was made completely of aether, magic given physical form. However, it moved as if it was alive, its body wiggling about slightly as it timidly took a few steps. The mare smiled and picked up an apple from the table in her magic, before tossing it across the room and over his head. The creature took off in a green, glowing blur. It weaved around legs, eliciting gasps of shock. Within a moment it was at his hooves, jumped into his lap, this the back of his chair and finally in the air, catching the apple in its little teeth. Its body had felt so solid and real, though the outer edges brushing against him felt like a vapor, melting against his flesh.

The creature landed in his lap, gently nibbling its apple. He gulped and reached out, softly petting it, or trying. While the creature felt solid at points, it seemed to be almost completely composed of vapor. His hoof flowed through it, slowly, though he felt just enough resistance that he was certain he'd finally found the solid core, but there was none. He supposed that wasn't surprising, it was made of aether. “Amazing...”

Aetherbind chuckled and stomped a hoof. The creature disappeared, leaving the apple to fall into his lap. It still had little bite marks through out it, as if the creature had been solid. “That's my carbuncle, a guardian. Now then...” Her horn glowed and she cast spells of fire and ice, weaving the elements about as she went. Ponies oohed and ahhed at the sight, though he found something even more impressive than that.

She drew on the magic of the world with her magic, not too surprising as that's how most magicians did it. However, she also made sure to soothe over the land as she worked. Rather than tearing from the land, leaving pieces of it empty and rough, so the magic would rush inside and break against its binds like a suddenly drained pond, she instead drew her power from multiple sources, a trickle of power that the land could easily refill without taxing itself.

She used her magic like a conjurer. He stared at her with wide eyed wonder, his mouth hanging open. She finished by creating a small cloud and striking a small icicle spear with lightning. Sweat covered her body as well, though the robe made it look nowhere near as impressive as Cheesecake. Her demonstration of magic more than made up for it.

Aetherbind took a seat with her friends as the ponies gathered around them. “No, please. No more shows tonight, I'm so exhausted I can barely stand,” she said with a soft chuckle before holding her hooves up. “I imagine my compatriots feel the same.” The unicorn turned to him. “Your highness? Would you, perhaps, be willing to escort us to our rooms?”

Goldenseed's chest puffed out as he nodded. Well, as they were his guests he supposed it was only polite that he did. “I'd love to,” he said quickly before sliding out of his chair and galloping to their side. He was instantly rewarded with a hug from Cheesecake.

“Awww, aren't you just the most precious little prince ever?” she asked happily. When she let him go he practically had steam coming out of his ears.

“L-let's go!” he squeaked. It took all he had to not fall on his face as he led them through the halls, though he did stumble a few times. Had either of the mares been in front of him, he was certain he'd have face planted into the ground. Or, depending on how close they were... his cheeks lit up again and he tripped over his hooves, landing on the ground with a groan. “We're here...”

“Awww, poor dear,” Cheesecake said with a giggle as she helped him up. He quickly found himself enveloped in a hug from both mares.

“Such a clumsy little adorable thing, aren't you?” Aetherbind asked.

“Y-yeah, s-sometimes,” he said with a gentle gulp.

“Would you like to join us in our room for a little bit?” Cheesecake asked softly, smiling at him. “You came late, so you missed so many of our stories. We'd love to tell them to you.”

His eyes widened, excitement clouding his mind. “I'd love to!” Listening to their tales of adventure? He'd have fought a rabid timberwolf for a chance like that.

Two guards were stationed outside their room, but they only gave a cursory, slightly jealous, glance. The room held only two beds, but they were each easily large enough to hold two ponies comfortably. He sat down on the nearer one and waited, excitement building as he prepared for their stories.

However, they didn't go straight into stories. Instead, they spent a few moments peeling off their armor. His cheeks flared red, though he couldn't stop staring. Technically he knew he shouldn't care, he'd seen plenty of naked ponies before. Heck, half the ponies at the meal hadn't been wearing anything, aside from maybe a hat or some jewelry. But something about watching them peel off the robes and subligars made his blood boil. Had he been able to focus more, he might have noticed the grin the three shared. However, soon the two mares were sitting on either side of him and recounting their past adventures.

Deeds of daring, magic, fighting off impossible odds. Most importantly, glory and adoration. He quivered with excitement as he looked from pony to pony, their words and stories distracting him even from their forms. He didn't know how long he stayed there, but in the end he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of sadness.

“What's wrong, little Goldenseed?” Cheesecake asked in her gentlest tone.

“I wish I could go on adventures like all of you,” the colt whined, his eyes lowering. “I have magic, I'd be great!”

Aetherbind nodded. “True. You know conjury, correct? I can think of a dozen fighting companies that could use a pony like you.”

He nodded as sleepiness clouded his mind and loosened his tongue, aided by the presence of the two mares on either side of him. “I would give anything to have a shot at that. I could do so much good if my father would just let me try. All he thinks I'm good for is sitting on a throne and waving at ponies.”

The two mares nodded solemnly. “I bet you could,” Cheesecake said softly. She then glanced back at her friends, then down at him. “Aetherbind, what if we gave him the--”

“Shhh!” the unicorn said quickly.

“Huh?” Goldenseed looked up. “Give me what?”

“Nothing, child,” she said with a shake of her head. “My comrade just doesn't think things through. That's too dangerous for one like you.”

That made the earth pony's eyes narrow. “Too dangerous? What is it? Tell me!” he ordered, his chest puffing up a bit.

“Aetherbind,” Cheesecake said softly. “It would only be for a little bit. The potion--”

“Cheesecake, no!” the unicorn snapped and scowled. “He's still a child, he's not ready for that kind of responsibility. He'd get himself killed.”

That made him growl lightly. Just like always, there were just talking over him as if he wasn't there. Deciding for him. “I am not a child. I have a right to know, tell me.”

Aetherbind finally sighed. “Fine. Cheesecake... go ahead. Tell him.”

The pegasus snickered and stuck her tongue out, before smiling to the prince. “Well, if you really wanted to go on an adventure, we could help you. At least, get you started. But it could be dangerous.”

Goldenseed perked up, before sighing. “Father would never allow it. Even with aid...”

Cheesecake giggled. “Oh, I know. That's why he'd never find out. Hold on.” She hopped off the bed and walked towards their bags, bending over as she rummaged through. He watched with more red in his cheeks. She finally popped up, with a small, blue bottle in her lips. Aetherbind gripped it in her magic, yanking it from the pegasus, and hovered it in front of him. He stared at it in awe, the clear liquid devoid of even the slightest bubble.

“What is it?”

“Fantasia,” Aetherbind said gently. “A powerful potion created by the changeling. It changes your outsides to match what you are on the inside.”

“I... don't understand?” Goldenseed asked, gently nudging it with his hoof.

Cheesecake giggled. “Oh, it's simple. I once knew a pegasus who took it, and she turned into a griffon. A different unicorn took it, all it did was change the color of his coat and mane. It only lasts for a month though, then the effects wear off and you return to normal. If you took this, you'd look completely different for a whole month.”

“And... and my magic?”

“It would stay.”

His mind raced with excitement as he stared at it. If he took it, he could be a whole other pony for a month. He could do anything. His father would never know. He reached out and took the potion in his hooves. “You'd... let me use this?” He felt a small spark of doubt in his mind, though he tried to suppress it.

Aetherbind sighed and yanked it back with her magic. “No. It's too dangerous. You're the prince. Letting you gallop off across the land on your own would be dangerous. What if you got hurt?”

“I can take care of myself!” Goldenseed said, reaching out for the potion. “Please! I might never get another chance like this!” Every doubt evaporated.

“I... don't know,” Aetherbind mumbled. “What if something happened? We're busy, we can't just afford to keep an eye over you for a whole month.”

“Please, please please!” Goldenseed begged, even falling on his knees before her. “I won't take up your time at all! I'll do it on my own, then I'll come back in a month. Please? I promise. Just give me this one chance, please?”

“Oh, what could it hurt?” Cheesecake asked with a giggle. “Beefcake, you're with me, right?”

“I don't know. He is a might young,” the stallion said with a shrug. “Mayhaps it would be better for him to spend his life in the castle, where it's safe.”

“I'll have my whole life to do that. Just one month, please,” Goldenseed begged.

Aetherbind shook her head. “No, it's--”

“Please!” he begged again, tears welling into his eyes. “This... this is my dream. I've always wanted to do this. I have to do this! I'll never get another chance. Haven't you ever had something you'd give anything in the world to have?”

Aetherbind sighed and, slowly, lowered the potion to within reach. “Do you promise to be careful?”

He nodded rapidly.

“Very well. Just one mouthful is all it takes.” She let him take the potion in his hooves, and he poured it back, drinking a mouthful. He stared in confusion.

“I don't feel any--” A massive belch interrupted his words as his entire body shook. Warmth spread through his limbs, all the way from his horn, down to his tail. His eyes widened in shock as he tingled all over. “W-what's happening?”

“You're changing. Shhhhh, relax,” Aetherbind whispered, a wide grin on her face.

He let out a startled yelp as he suddenly felt as if he got punched in the face, by a dragon. When he could feel again, he felt as if his head had been cleaved in two. He didn't know how he got on his back, but when his eyes opened he was staring up into three faces.

Cheesecake's, Beefcake's and, most importantly, his own.