The next morning found Espirit trying not to squeal like a little filly who was told hearth's warming eve had come early this year AND she was getting normal hearth's warming eve later too. Ahead of her stood an obstacle course made of positioned wooden blocks, a small little pond for her to have to leap over. A wall to scale, little targets she had to hit with her spells. It was simple and hastily put together, but she had an entire crowd of ponies who'd come to watch her go through it.

“I'm sorry it's not much,” Goldencollar said with a small smile. “But I did the best I could on such notice. I hope it at least matches what you have back at your company house.”

“N-no, it's wonderful,” she said with a little giggle. It was a real obstacle course, the kind real fighters use to prepare themselves. She could hardly wait to go through it. “So, uhhh, should I?”

“Oh, of course! Would you mind waiting a few moments while everypony gets into position to better watch? When I announced, they could barely suppress their excitement.”

Espirit nodded. “Of course! Just say when.” Her staff slowly hovered around her for a moment, before tapping on the ground. A smirk formed on her lips. She was going to crush this thing and show everypony how great she was. She was the best conjurer around, she should have become a white mage. In fact, she could be a white mage. If only Clearpond would give her a chance.

She sighed and shook her head. Best she didn't focus on that. She took a deep breath and readied herself, looking over at what there was. She was a little disappointed that there wasn't a real way to test her healing capabilities, but she supposed it would have to do. Besides, most of her job as a healer tended to be making sure she stayed alive long enough to keep everypony else alive. That meant moving fast.

“It's ready,” Goldencollar said, motioning her forward.

She took a deep breath before grinning wide. She galloped forward, leaping over the first block.

“Ready! Aim!” Goldencollar called out.

“Wait, what?” Espirit asked. She then realized all the ponies standing right besides the course weren't all actually her fans. They were enemies. They lifted up large water filled balloons and started hurtling them at her. She shrieked and knocked one away with her staff, barely jumping in time to avoid another. She dodged and weaved around the course, trying to avoid the raining balloons. She managed to avoid getting hit full on, but again and again she found her hooves splashed. She leaped over the next obstacle, only to land in a puddle that had formed. She skidded for a few feet, the mud coating her hooves and making her skid along the ground before slamming into the next obstacle. “Ow...”

“A-are you okay?” Goldencollar asked before taking a step towards her.

“F-fine,” she said, before standing up and shaking her head. “Just taken by surprise, I'm fine! I got this!” She hurtled herself over the next obstacle. After a few confusing moments, the water balloons started raining down on her again. But this time she knew they were coming and deflected them with her staff, though her lower hooves was still getting soaked. She was soon near the end and sending out quick little wind spells at the targets, the howling gales tearing them apart. When she finally made it to the end, there was a few moments of silence, followed by applause.

“Very nicely done,” Goldencollar said with a chuckle. “I was a little worried there, for a moment.”

“I would have been fine if you'd warned me about the balloons,” Espirit grumbled, her cheeks bright red. “I didn't think you were going to... well, it's fine either way.”

He nodded. “My apologies. I thought you were prefer actual things to avoid. You were very graceful and exciting to watch none the less. Would you like to come inside to clean off?”

She nodded before looking back to the obstacle course. “You know, I wouldn't mind running that a few more times. It's good practice! I need to get a lot better at not being where things are trying to hit me, anyway.”

He nodded and trotted towards the manor. “Of course. I designed it with you in mind, after all. Feel free to use it as much as your heart desires. I know everypony here would love to watch.”

“A-are you sure? I imagine it would get boring after a while.” She followed after him, giving the crowd a small smile.

“Nonsense. You're one of our greatest heroes, everypony here owes you our lives. Not to mention the savior of the crystal heart.”

The zebra cringed. “I was hoping that had been forgotten.”

“The news about what you did? I'm surprised you'd try to hide that.”

She blushed and lowered her eyes. “I uhhh... well... I mean, I was kind of the reason it got broken to begin with,” she grumbled. “It wasn't on purpose, but we had to. To stop Cadence. I never wanted to and it hurt. I'd rather ponies talked about the other things I did, that I didn't cause the problems for.”

“I'm sure if you had to damage it, you did it for the right reason.” He motioned into one of the many doorways. “The bathroom is in there. Please, help yourself. Would you like a robe prepared for you while I have your garments cleaned?”

She shook her head. “No, no. Self cleaning, remember? I'll just wipe things off.”

He sighed and gave a nod. “Very well.”

She frowned and stepped inside, closing the door behind herself. Was it so bad? She looked at herself in the mirror. True, she hadn't changed her garments since she got them. Sometimes she pranced about at home in some of the other uniforms, but this was all anypony ever saw her in. She looked down at her hooves and sighed. Maybe going out in something else once in a while wouldn't be so bad. But it would be clothing she chose, and not just a robe. She shrugged before taking it off and quickly showering.

------

Espirit hummed in mild annoyance as she looked at the stacks of clothing she had. How could she possibly have so many different outfits and still manage to not have anything to wear? It didn't make any sense. She picked up a red robe and sighed. “I wish Steelhorn was here,” she grumbled. She was certain it would be so much easier to do this if she had actually been born a mare, their mothers taught them how to dress. She doubted they ever had any doubts or confusion about what to wear.

She wondered if the red holiday outfit would be too tacky. It was one of her favorites. A sudden pounding on her door made her jump with a yelp before whipping around. “Yes?” she called out.

“Guess who!” Steelhorn's voice came from the other side. Espirit let out a shriek and galloped to the door, tackling the changeling in a massive hug after swinging the door open.

“I can't believe you're back I missed you so much where have you been did it go well eeeeee!”

Steelhorn chuckled and lightly pat the zebra's head. “I am, I missed you too, you know where and it went very well. I'm not really done yet, but my teacher said he wants me to practice what I've learned now for a few weeks before returning.”

“Oh, that's great! You should come with me! We could train together!”

“Of course. I'm sure you've been training every day. In the training grounds?”

“No, no.” Espirit blinked and then sighed. “Can ummm, can you come in? We should talk.”

The changeling nodded and once the zebra got off, she followed behind. Espirit sat one on end of her table and set out a few cups of juice. “I don't actually have any way to make hot tea yet. I need to get a pot. But I like the juice more, anyway.”

“It's fine. So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Well, errr... there's this stallion and-- wipe that look off your face! Knock it off!”

“Awww, is he cute? Does lil Espirit have her first crush?”

“I do not! He has a crush on me!” the zebra said, shaking her head. “I... I think. He made an obstacle course for me and stuff.”

“Awww, he made you a little obstacle course? Let me guess, he went out to the woods nearby and put up a few ropes and little tiny paper soldiers to drop on you?”

“Errr, no. Actually he made this big training course with ropes and things for me to jump over. His servants threw water balloons at me while I ran while the others cheered. It was a bit daunting, but a lot of fun. I've run it a few times now so I can clear it pretty fast, but he said he'd try to change parts of it to keep it interesting.”

The changeling's smile slowly fell. “Servants? Exactly what stallion are we talking about? An admirer, right?”

“Kind of. I uhhh... Goldencollar. I'm not sure if you're familiar with him. He--”

“Goldencollar? As in the owner of Rich manor?” Steelhorn asked firmly, a hoof slamming down on the table.

The zebra eeped and gave a little nod. “I-I think? He owns it. Or said he owns it. I-is something wrong? Is... is he bad?”

“Bad? What, no, he's amazing. I just didn't think he'd... I mean...” The changeling coughed into her hoof. “I-I didn't realize you were so charming. I was expecting another adventurer, maybe a bard. But...” She then frowned. “You know, he's nearly twice your age.”

Espirit blinked, then glared. “Just how young do you think I am? There's no way he's THAT old.”

“You'll always be that little filly I met in my eyes,” the changeling said with a glimmer in her eyes. “But fine, maybe not twice your age. But still quite a bit older.”

“I am not a filly!” the zebra shrieked, her voice cracking. “I just... I don't know. I've never... I'm not really interested. I mean, h-he's a little cute, I guess. But I don't... I just...” She sighed and shook her head. Even if she was interested, which she wasn't, she didn't plan to be around much longer. Aetherbind could summon her back at any time.

“You want me to break up with him for you?”

“Kind of...” Espirit muttered, poking her hooves together.

The changeling let out a sigh before shaking her head. “No.”

“W-what?”

“Espirit, you're a growing mare. You keep insisting that you are, in fact, an adult. Adult's don't tell other ponies to break up for them. They do it themselves.” She reached out and patted her head. “Now, if this was something where you were in real danger, then I would help you. But you don't need help, not this time. You need to do it yourself.”

“B-but... but what if I hurt him? Or upset him? I don't want to make a pony cry...”

“It happens. It'll be fine, really. He's a grown stallion, I'm sure he can handle it.”

“W-will you at least come with me?”

The changeling gave a nod before getting to her hooves. “Of course.” She then glanced over to the clothes. “Is that why you were going through them? Hoping to find the right break up outfit?”

Her cheeks turned bright red. “N-no. I-I just thought, I thought it was time for a... a change. I only ever wear the same thing. I-I've gotten a few upgrades to my equipment, but I always just put it into that special robe. I thought a new look could be fun.”

Steelhorn nodded. “How about we go take a look after, then? But let's go have a talk with your friend first.”

------

Espirit gulped as she stepped through the gates of Rich Manor. She gave a nervous smile to the guards, before looking to the building. They were halfway to it when the door opened and Goldencollar started making his way towards them.

“Lady Espirit! Lady Steelhorn! What a wonderful surprise. To what do I owe this occasion?” he asked with a wide grin on his face.

“I uhhh, I need to talk with you,” the zebra said with a nervous gulp. “Can uhhh, can we come in and talk? In your library?”

“Of course, of course,” the stallion said before turning back towards the manor. “I'm surprised to see you again so soon. I thought after your training sessions you'd be resting up.”

“I was,” Espirit mumbled.

“I've been thinking and I should be able to have the course adjusted for you, with a few modifications to help improve your capabilities. I know a carpenter who helps build such things for some of the adventuring companies in the city.”

She gasped. “Really? I--”

The world burst into flame around her as everything began to melt. Searing hot fire coursed through her veins and she collapsed, writhing on the floor. Everything burned and melted around her.

“Espirit, Espirit!” Steelhorn screamed, standing over the zebra and shaking her.

“W-what? What happened?” Espirit asked, staring back. She was laying on a bed, back in her room. Had she fallen asleep? Had it all just been a dream?

“We were with your friend and then you collapsed and started screaming. Do you remember anything? I tried waking you up once you passed out, but there wasn't anything I could do.”

Espirit blinked a few times and looked around. She was suddenly aware of just how full her room was. From end to end ponies had gathered up and filled the room with a low din. She gulped.

“I-I don't know. It was... I felt fire. And... and I felt...” She shivered. She held up a hoof and reached out with her magic. She pulled it back a moment later with a yelp. “I-it's the magic. T-the aether. It's all... it's...”

“It's burning,” Clearpond said from the doorway. The room went quiet. “As it had when Celestia last appeared.”

“T-that can't, it's,” Espirit said, her entire body shaking. “S-she's gone though! We beat her! S-she wasn't this strong, either! I couldn't... I felt her this time. I felt all of it. It was like--”

“Like the world burning around you,” the pegasus said as she stepped forward. “I felt it too, as did any other conjurer connected to the world as you and I are. Yes, you did beat her, but she's returned.”

“That can't be possible,” Steelhorn said with a shake of her head. “There hasn't been a spirit in decades, and now three in the same year? How are so many tribes getting this powerful this quickly?”

“I don't know,” the white mage said before looking down at Espirit. “But it is yet another sign that something very, very bad is going on. It will take a few days to determine where it came from, but we will know soon enough. Then we will go to war.”

Espirit groaned and laid back down. “We just... we just won again. Why do we have to keep... how many times do we have to do this?”

Steelhorn waved her hooves. “Okay, everypony out. Espirit needs her rest.”

There were a few grumbled responses, but the ponies slowly shuffled out and left just Steelhorn, Espirit and Clearpond in the room.

“What's going to happen?” Espirit asked softly. “It's not... I've never felt it like that. It was so... intense. So... strong. I just...” She couldn't stop her hooves from shaking. “I just...”

“She must be closer this time, that's all. You've become much stronger, as well,” Clearpond said. “It makes sense that you would feel it more than you ever had before. The fact you passed out for a little bit though, that worries me.”

“Oh, she's just sensitive,” Steelhorn said with a grin before looking down to Espirit. “Come on, don't look so worried. We took down Celestia last time and we just kicked Cadence's flank from here to Cloudsdale. If Celestia is showing her face again, we'll just have to show her why we did it last time.”

Espirit relaxed and smiled. “You're right. We did beat her last time. We can do it again.” She looked up at the changeling. “Silverwing and Ganry will be with us, right?”

“Yes,” Clearpond said. “I will send for them immediately. Celestia won't be allowed to thrive, not this time. You two get some rest. We'll need you in this coming fight.”

Steelhorn nodded. “Of course. We'll drive that mare so deep into the ground she won't know what hit her.”

The pegasus chuckled and turned towards the door. “We can only hope.”