Twilight woke up that day at noon, or very close to it. Spike was sweeping the bookroom, and hoped not to wake her with his humming. With no warning, she called for him, causing him to set his cleaning tool aside and rush to her aid.

"Where's Epona?" she asked him. "Last night was a bit ... unexpected for me. I didn't count on staying up that late. Made even worse by not finding anything..."

"Epona, last I saw, was headed out the door. I had told her to see what Ponyville had to offer. She even took her bags."

"Makes sense. I have a feeling she's cautious. Probably doesn't want me or anypony else going through her bags." Twilight turned to the clock, then back to her desk. "You sent the letter, yes?"

"I did. And, I got this, in reply." Spike belched up a scroll with an ink seal shaped like a sun. "You said to never open these." Twilight took it and read to herself.

My Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle:

I've received word from Link. The mission he undertook has increased in difficulty and importance. As a result, it is less likely he will return. Believe me, I do not wish to convey ill thoughts, but such is the case, I'm afraid.

In lighter news, I am requesting that Spike be transported to Canterlot for official business. I will spare you the details, but in short, he will be very helpful in our efforts. I await with a favorable reply.

~Princess Celestia

"Oh..." she started, "okay..."

"What? What happened?"

"Link is... He's in danger now. It didn't say why, but his mission has gotten more dangerous. And Princess Celestia said that he's not as likely to return safely..."

Spike hopped up on her back and tried to comfort her. "Hey, Link's awesome. Don't count him out just yet. Sure, he might be a little impatient, but his intelligence more than makes up for it. He'll be fine. Have some faith."

"I do, I really do, but ..." Twilight sighed. "Something isn't right, about all of this. Something isn't sitting well with me, and I don't know what it is. That's what really bothers me."

Again, he got her attention. "About... what? Something tells me it's more than Link you're worried about."

"It is. The princess asked me to send you to Canterlot for 'Royal Business', and didn't tell me what it was. I'm deliberately being kept in the dark." Once at Cloudsdale, and again here... What could be so important, that the princess would tell him and not me? She took the scroll she would have used for her research findings and quickly scribbled a reply. Afterward, she sealed it with ink in the shape of her cutie mark. "Send this to her. It should cover a few bases."

As he sent it on its way, he asked, "I wonder why the princess wants me to go to Canterlot so bad? Like, I get it the first time; she wanted me to go with Link. But why now, when he's already out?"

"I don't know the details, but-" She was interrupted by a knock at the door. "One sec." Convenient. He sends the letter, and moments later... As she opened the door, she preemptively began, "He- huh?"

In the doorway stood the mailmare. "Heh, huh, Hi there. Twilight Sparkle?" She nodded. "Good. A message for you from the mayor." Derpy held out an envelope to her and smiled as she took it. "It's an urgent emergency. I can only apologize that it took so long to get here. Had to fly all over Ponyville handing these out. And since 'T' is rather close to the end of the line, yours came later than most in Ponyville."

"That's understandable, there's no fault to you." She read it to herself, and asked, "What can you tell me about this, 'skipped sprinkle'?"

"Only that I didn't mean to. I overslept and, well, missed my first duty. A week ago... eh heh. But today, we get caught up at ... Ponyville's ... expense..."

"And what does this have to do with me?" Twilight asked, looking at her.

Derpy stood quietly, while her face turned into a serious look, even correcting her eyesight, mostly. "Twilight, I am surprised at you. As you live in this town, so must you take up responsibility for the happenings. If a quake comes, you are expected to do your part. A tornado, do your part. A storm such as this... Do your part. If you don't know what that is, then stay inside and do nothing." Her eyes returned to normal for her. "I'm sorry, I - I don't know what happened."

"No, it's... fine. Do my part, huh... What's everypony else doing?"

"Well, earth ponies and some unicorns are helping shave the trees, and most of the pegasi are helping to clear the piles left behind. The other pegasi are currently bringing the heavy rainclouds from the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. My role is to make everypony aware of what's coming."

"This storm, right?" she nodded. If there's a storm coming, then odds are Spike will be staying in Canterlot tonight. It's unsafe to fly at night, especially carrying passengers. Good play, Princess Celestia. You've managed to ensure he'd be away from me. "Can you answer something for me?"

"Sure. What is it?" Derpy asked, tilting her head.

"Why didn't the weather team decide to spread out the rain? Like, why bring it all at once instead of spread out over time to make up for it? I would think it would drown whatever plants need this water."

"That... is a good question. One I can't answer, because I don't make the rules, and I'm not privileged to know. Again, I'm sorry. Will that be all?"

"Yes. Thank you." Derpy nodded, and walked away as Twilight closed the door. "Spike. It seems this storm is perfectly timed. You'll be in Canterlot for the night. If I were to guess, you'll be back tomorrow when the weather clears up. And since the pegasi are currently bringing the clouds, your transport should be here soon."

Spike remained silent. He looked at her in disbelief. Then, he asked, "Are you... are you trying to accuse the princess of something?"

"No of course not. I would never do that. Oh, and do me a big favor, and keep this whole conversation between ourselves." Spike nodded. "Good, now-"

"Twilight Sparkle?" a stallion's voice called out. She turned and opened the door once more as Derpy flew away. "We have come to escort one Spike the Dragon to Canterlot at once."

"That was indeed fast. Must be important. Very well. Spike? Your ride is here. Have fun, be safe. And try not to sink any ships along the way."

"Huh?" he asked, but before a clear explanation was given, he was lifted by her magic and placed on the ground outside. "H-hey, Twilight! Aww."

"This way please," the stallion said.

"I'm sorry Spike," she said, after closing the door, "but there's nothing I can do. Going against the will of the Princess isn't something I want to do. Of course, treason incurs a penalty... but I'm not doing anything of the sort."

"You always talk to yourself Twilight?" Epona asked in the opened window. "Or is it just me?"

Twilight shrieked in reaction and turned to face her. "Uhh... what did you hear?"

"Nothing important, just something about sorting things," she replied. "Just came back to check on you. You looked dead this morning, wanted to make sure you still had a pulse." Epona chuckled a bit.

"Heh, thanks. Yeah, I'm still alive. Long nights are my oldest friends. Hey, I could actually use your help. If you're not too busy."

"Not at all. Just finished raking up a few piles to get taken. Whatcha need?" Epona asked, coming in through the doorway.

"Well, you know there's a storm coming, right?"

"Yeah... I felt the climate change earlier, so I wanted to see how I could help. It's only luck that Spike asked me to see more of the town."

"Anyway," Twilight continued, walking to the shelves, "since there's a storm on its way, I need to be prepared. Can you help me find a spell related or pertaining to weather protection?"

Epona looked towards the shelves and glanced over them. "Any spell in mind? Or just look for one?"

"Just look for one, and we'll go from there."

"I'm glad you could make it, Spike," Celestia admitted. She sat beside Luna, who kept glancing behind Celestia's throne.

"What's this about?" Spike asked, "If you don't mind my inquiry?"

Celestia sighed. "Right to the point, I see. I see much of Link in you. I called you here not to compare you two, but to reveal something. Equestria is in danger. And you were the most logical choice to warn."

"Why me? Sure Twilight could better prepare for it, and the Elements of Harmony would-"

"Unfortunately, letting Twilight know of this is not the best choice, as she would go out of her way to see this threat neutralized. We need this plan to go on with no problems."

I'm beginning to think Twilight was right. They could be hiding something from her... "Okay, but that doesn't really tell me why."

"Spike," Celestia began, "We chose to tell you, because you are the least likely to tell anypony else. Also, you are the closest to Twilight. If things go south, you can convince her not to act out of character. Link, will know nothing of this. As he would act however he wanted to anyway, as he's more of a ... how do I put it..." She looked at Luna.

"Link, from what I've heard, is too technical. He'll likely refrain from doing anything until he has all of the pieces. I see much of my old self in him." Luna, again, glanced behind her sister's throne.

"And you believe I'm not? What is it, exactly, that you want to warn me about?" Luna levitated a pony figure from behind Celestia's throne. Still as a stone, it did not move. Or, it couldn't move. She set it down in front of Spike and lit her horn. In moments, it sprang to life. It tried to fly, but its wings were still stiff from whatever spell Luna cast on it. "What is that?"

"This abomination is a Changeling, a race of being that exists solely to feed off of love. They've existed for who knows how long, and for some reason, they've just now surfaced." Celestia stepped down and glared at the creature.

It became encircled in green flame and, as it extinguished, exposed its new form of Spike the Dragon. "P-Please don't do this to me... Can't you see I'm in enough pain?" it pleaded, as it turned to face the rulers.

"Silence!" Luna shouted, stomping her hoof. the Changeling transformed back into the bug-like pony he was and looked back at Spike. "Sister, I see no reason to keep this whelp alive."

"The sly eagle does not kill at whim, dear sister. The sly eagle waits, patiently, for he knows when to strike." Celestia looked down at the Changeling, and added, "But fear not. Your days will be spent in the comfort of a cell underneath the castle. However many you have left."

Spike looked at the Changeling, then to Luna. "Before all that, may I ask it some things?" Luna looked at Celestia, who nodded. "A changeling, right?"

It nodded, then turned into a stallion wearing green and black armor. "Yes," he said. "What do you wish to learn?"

"I want to know how you do that. Transform like that."

He fell silent, then walked around him. "We changelings are a special breed. We can take the form of any living organism. Be they pony, dragon, or even fairy. Yes, fairies exist. But, transformation of this nature is a survival instinct. I don't expect any of you to understand."

"I understand plenty, being a dragon myself." He turned to Celestia. "I may be totally out of line asking you this, Princess Celestia, but whatever spell you have on him seems to be working. If you can block him from flying, and using magic, he'd pose no threat, right?"

"Correct. He'd be harmless. What are you planning?"

He glanced back at the stallion, who was looking at the princess. "I want to ask, if I can take him back with me to Ponyville-"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!! That would defeat the purpose of calling you here!"

"Now Luna, let's hear his reason, despite how foolish it may sound," Celestia quickly interrupted. She cast a glance at her sister.

Spike cleared his throat. "I apologize, but ... He doesn't seem all that bad. I mean, how'd you catch him anyway?"

"A mare tossed him at our hooves and asked us to do something with it," Luna replied.

"Okay, and what were you doing before that?" he asked the stallion.

"I was just coming home from work. What I do is not important, since it's a life I can't go back to. I got home, saw my wife, hugged my kid, and things were good. Until that night, when she saw me turn into a changeling. She grabbed me with her magic, and practically dragged me here by the tail. Mind you I had turned into the stallion she married when she started pulling me. 'This is not the stallion I fell in love with!' she said, over and over again. Then I'm here."

"Harsh. Just like that, your life gets ruined," Spike summarized.

"I cannot believe you're considering this, Tia." Luna had fixed her gaze on Celestia's changing expression. "What would you even ask it to be? A pony? Another dragon? Any form it takes, it will likely be blown away by Twilight Sparkle's insight!"

"Worry not, Luna. A pony is too noticeable, a dragon moreso. No, if I were to agree to Spike's suggestion, I would have him be a fairy.

"A fairy? I'd rather be a pony, If I'm going somewhere, I want to blend in. I'd rather be a pegasus, but hey, no flight. Unicorn, no magic. So I'm stuck with a wingless, hornless, earth pony body." He transformed again into a mare with no wings or horn. Her voice changed to accommodate. "Better?" she asked.

"You'll fit right in."

"I cannot allow-"

"Can allow this. However, I do not believe transport by royal chariot to be the best method." Celestia looked over at her sister. "I'm sorry Luna. We are not at war, and I'd rather not be." She then looked to the new mare. "But, Equestria is a friendly nation. A give-and-take goes a long way here. If you want me to grant you freedom from being in a cell, I ask you to give us information regarding your plans."

"Plans?" she asked. "Oh, the plan of what I'd want to do?"

"No, the plans your ruler has set in motion by your being here."

The mare shook her head. "I'm sorry, princess, really I am. But, to tell you the truth, our 'ruler', if you want to even call her that anymore, was growing in tyrannical power. She wanted to use us all as warriors to reclaim the surface world. So, when she was unaware, a group of us burrowed out of our home and decided to try and live our own lives, free from her rule. Being honest, she turned into the ruler we had before she came into her own. She wanted to change the world, and started with our own home. After we saw what she had become, we fled."

" ... " Celestia and Luna remained quiet. "Is that the truth?" Spike asked.

"Of course it is. I would never lie! Especially when my freedom was on the line!" She leaned in and began to cry at the insinuation.

"I'm sorry, it's just... you still want to go back? To where I live?"

"It beats rotting away in a cell... But that's their call..." The mare looked at the princesses with fading hope in her eyes.

Celestia looked down at the mare. "Tia, no. I know you. You're actually considering it."

"I am. But, I'm afraid this decision is not to be made lightly. She will stay here until a decision has been made." This agreement filled the mare with hope. "But don't be disappointed if we decline his offer."

"Of course," she agreed. Hearing that there was a chance she'd be free started to make her cry of happiness.

"Now, what do I tell Twilight?" Spike asked, realizing the reason he was actually called there.

"Right. ... I understand Link has a birthday approaching. You will say we discussed his gift."

"I'm not going to lie to her. She's the closest thing to a mom I have."

"You won't-" A scroll appeared, and after a quick reply, she finished, "You won't lie. We will discuss it, but only briefly."

"From Link?" She nodded. "How fares he?"

"He and Ruby found the camp. As predicted, the commander they seek is inside the ice caverns of the north."

"The ... north? You know what's up that way, right?"

"I do. But there's no chance he'll learn of his existence. At least not yet."

Spike looked back to the mare, then to the princesses. "Sorry, but I guess I'm staying the night here? There's a storm brewing in Ponyville."

"Ah, of course. Yes, you may stay here. You will be taken back to Ponyville before the sun's rise."

"I don't know much about magic," Epona admitted, holding up a book, "but this looks promising."

Just hearing magic got Twilight's attention as she dropped her current study material and took the one from Epona's grasp. After scanning the page, she said, "'Lightning Rod'. That'll be really useful. Or useless, depending on how bad the weather gets." She looked outside as the rain really picked up. "Well, here goes..."

Twilight closed her eyes and lit up her horn. A single beam shot upward and into the ceiling. After a moment or so, a light humming came from outside, as the spell worked its way through the tree's outer layer. "That was it?" Epona asked.

"Well, yeah." She turned back to the page and read, "'turns the object into an electrically resistant entity.' Basically gives it lightning-proof quality. 'However, because it is not affected by electrical energy, it does not attract said energy.' Either way, safest place is, ironically, in a tree."

"Incredible. If you've never done it before, how'd you know how it was done?"

"That was worded ... interestingly... but I get your question. Long ago, I was enrolled in the School for Gifted Unicorns. Before I could enter, I had to pass an exam. As I passed with flying colors, almost literally, the princess saw my talent and took me in, and taught me all about new spells and abilities. Now, when i see a spell, I can usually replicate it with little trouble. Of course the tougher the spell, the harder a time I'll have of it."

"Cool. So, about that spell... if lightning strikes the tree, it will do nothing?"

"That's right," Twilight confirmed, closing the book. "No matter what part of the tree gets hit, it'll not affect the tree, or anything inside it."

Epona thought for a moment. "Then what happens to the energy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, lightning is an electrical force. If the tree is unaffected, and lightning hits it, what happens to the lightning?" She watched at Twilight opened the book again and looked through.

" ... I don't know. It doesn't say. So long as the tree's okay in the end, it'll be fine." Again, she closed the book, setting it aside this time. She looked back at Epona, who held her head down a little. "Hey now... what's wrong?"

"It's ... nothing," Epona lied.

"Nothing?" She walked over to her and sat down in front of her. "Doesn't seem like 'nothing' to me. Something's up. Come on," she goaded, "you can trust me."

"Can I? Really? I barely know you. I'm not about to tell you one of my secrets."

"Then I'll tell you one of mine, to make it even." Twilight smiled and leaned in. "I'll even share mine first. Way ba-

"No no, if you're willing to do that, then I guess it's fine. See, when I said all my ancestors were earth ponies, I wasn't wholly truthful. My parents," she dug through her bag and pulled out her framed picture, "are pegasi. I'm an earth pony, yeah, but most of my family is. And earlier, I wasn't wrong either. The ancestors of mine that sealed the dragon away were earth ponies, but there were only two. Everypony else was either a unicorn, or a pegasus, and not my ancestor."

"So, you only had two that took part. And both were earth ponies?" A simple nod. "I imagine you're looking for your parents?"

"Well, yes. That is my ultimate goal. Last letter I got from them was 5 months ago, from the desert region in the southwest."

"Then to save time, why not take the train there?" Twilight paused and saw the distant look on her face. "Or, maybe you're looking for somepony else along the way?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I drew you a picture..." Epona sadly replied.

"Try me. I promise I won't laugh."

With such a persuasive comment, Epona opened up a little. "Alright." She took a deep breath, and expelled it all at once. "I was hiking in the mountains when I heard a song out of nowhere so I followed it to Canterlot where I met a really obnoxious pegasus. There we had a bit of relaxation and I heard it again so I followed it here. And as soon as I hear it again, I'll leave."

Twilight's jaw hung open at her admittance. No. Way. "Why wouldn't I believe you? Stranger things've-" Just then, a bolt struck the tree. "Hold that thought." Quickly, she took a scroll from her table and a quill from her well. She teleported all around her house and recorded the effects of the struck tree. Her conclusion: nothing inclusive was damaged. Spell effectiveness: 100%. Still, she'd need to be on the outside to see what happened to the bolt. After returning to the book room, she coiled it up and set it aside. "Sorry about that. Any chance to record the effects of a spell, I'll never pass up."

Epona was looking outside at Applejack and Rarity. The mare stood in the open doorway. "Outside is no place for ponies in the rain. How 'bout you take shelter in here?"

Rarity and Aj looked at each other, then ran toward Epona, stopping in the doorway. "Applejack? Rarity?" Twilight asked, "What were you doing out in the rain?"

"Ah was clearin' the trees from branches, an' this one was puttin' 'em back on! Counter-productive-" Applejack sighed. "Sorry, day's been stressful. How's yours?"

"Could be worse, I admit. Come on inside." Epona and Twilight stepped aside as Rarity walked in.

"Applejack, be a dear, and wash off your muddy hooves. You'll get her floor all filthy."

That mare! Gah, what a headache she gives me! "Fine. But, ain't a tree the worst place to be in a lightnin' storm?"

"Not if you've got a magical lightning rod protecting your house like I do. Epona helped me find it. Rather, she found it before I could." She watched as Aj shook the mud from her hooves. "That should be fine. Besides, you can always shower later."

Aj nodded and walked in beside Rarity, who scoffed at her "intrusion". "Epona, nice ta meetcha again. How's you?" She closed the door behind them.

"I'm alright. Twilight's been such a good friend to me since my arrival." Epona smiled and walked toward the couch. "Some weather, huh? The weather ponies sure outdone themselves this time."

"I'll say. Before heading out to help, my little sister had a friend over. Now they're home, most likely by themselves. And It seems to be a problem, were I to try and get there in this downpour."

"Applebloom's got Big Mac, an' Granny Smith. They'll hunker down an' be fine. 'Sides, this ain't nothin' compared to almost 10 years ago..." Her voice lowered in volume as she held her hat over her face.

"We agreed to never speak of it..." Rarity warned. "I couldn't bear to hear it again..."

"Hear what?" Epona asked.

"Never ya mind, now. None o' yer business." Aj walked past her, fixed her hat's position, and headed into the kitchen.

"That... was rude." Twilight said bluntly. "And Rarity, what happened 10 years ago?"

"I'm afraid that's not my story to say..." She cleared her throat and changed the subject. "And who is this one?"

Twilight looked at the mare on the couch. "Her? This is Epona. A visitor from out of town. She's staying with me for an indefinite amount of time. Epona, this is Rarity. She's the local designer."

"A pleasure, Rarity." Epona lowered her head and raised it once more. "So, since you two can't get home, are you staying here?"

Twilight grinned and pulled out a book from the shelf. "I have a book ready if you want to have a slumber party." Aj returned with clean hooves and looked at the book.

"'Slumber 101: All You've Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask'. Uhh..."

"It's my own personal copy." Twilight set it back on the shelf. "But, it seems there's too many to have an actual slumber party, Especially since I have stuff to take care of before Link comes home."

"And that is?" Aj asked, sitting beside Epona on the couch. She immediately made the silent comparison to her brother. Twilight began pacing. Story Time Aj thought.

"Well, you see... Link's birthday is coming, rather quickly, and I have yet to obtain his gift. Rather, I have yet to obtain the materials needed to make his gift." She turned around and continued. "And, since he'll likely have more use for something that will help him on his missions, which I hope will be few and far between, I want to be the one to provide him with such a tool." She turned again. "Since few and far between is too much to ask for, more successes means more future missions, he'll want something he can use on his missions to help him succeed." She stopped and looked at her friends. "Which is why I want to make him an accessory that increases his physical strength by a rational amount. With a limit, of course, so he doesn't hurt himself."

"An accessory?" Rarity asked, "I could help with that if you need."

"I was hoping to have your support. Because you asked, can you lend me, or sell to me if you choose, a small lump of gold, or a normal lump of steel?"

Rarity laughed. "My dear, I'm a designer. The closest thing to metal I use is the needle for the thread, or the chains in the jewelry. I'm no metallurgist, and there are no such ponies in Ponyville who are, to my knowledge." Twilight frowned and turned to a side. "But, that doesn't mean there can't be something else I can do for you. There may not be a pony here, but ... There are a group of ponies who import their metals from far away. I sometimes have bought their metals for use in ... certain garments. I suppose I could ask a favor, but I guarantee nothing."

Twilight smiled and jumped in the air a few times. "What do ya need 'em for, anyway?"

"I'm glad you asked. You know he wears his gloves, right? The ones that go up his arms? I want to try and get him to remove them. They serve no purpose aside from keeping his hands warm, maybe."

"Hands?" Epona asked.

"Yes, ha... I didn't tell you?" Twilight asked. Epona shook her head. "Link, my brother, is a being with articulated segments of his body beyond the limbs that we have. We've got forelegs with carpals, proximal sesamoids, and hooves and that's it. Link, my brother, has arms, elbows, wrists, and further than that, he has fingers with things called knuckles and opposable thumbs like a monkey."

"He sounds like a monster if you ask me. No offense."

"None taken. Just, don't let him hear you say that. Anyway, back on topic: the accessory will replace his gloves. So, it would be a bracelet. Or pair of bracelets if I can't get the effect to run evenly throughout his whole body." Twilight saw Aj with a puzzled look. "What is it?"

"What are, 'proxy sesames'?"

"Proximal sesamoids." Twilight moved her hoof and pointed with the other at the joint that allowed such a movement. "The thing that lets you do this."

"I'm sorry, Twilight. But, I'm afraid I can't get in contact with the maker until at least wednesday."

"That's fine," Twilight replied. "That'll hopefully give me enough time to find, and test, the spell I want to cast on it."

"And that is?" Epona asked.

She turned to Epona and explained, "This spell, hopefully, will increase his weight bearing capacity. That said, I want to try and keep it from increasing his actual power in attacking. So, with it, he'll be able to move bigger rocks easier, or guard against heavy hitting attacks without much recoil. I want to make it a passive bracelet, so it acts without Link's input. Don't get me wrong, it'd be nice to find a spell that does both, but I think that might put too much strain on him."

The night went on, as the 4 of them talked about her ideas. Rarity inputted hers, while Applejack made dinner at Twilight's request. Understanding Aj's feelings toward Rarity, she agreed to share her bed with Applejack. While, true to her word, Twilight offered his bed to Epona, who declined the offer for Rarity's sake. Soon after they all got settled for the night, a bolt had struck a nearby tree. Aj was the first to react and threw a lasso around it. Nopony questioned where she had it, but watched as she attempted to pull it.

Rarity ducked out of the way as it came barreling in through the balcony opening, despite her warnings of its destination. Against her better judgement, Aj started arguing with Rarity over "not trying hard enough" and how her attention to detail is sometimes a good thing. Epona came up the stairs and helped to remove the problem safely. That led to a discussion about the lightning rod spell put on the tree. Twilight explained that it didn't attract electricity, merely absorbed it.

After another few minutes, things settled once more as the group fell asleep.

Early the following morning, Applejack was the first to rise, if only because Link wasn't there to rise earlier than the sun. Carefully, she looked over at Twilight, who had lain her hooves around Applejack's barrel for comfort.

Ain't that adorable. Cautiously, she eased out of Twilight's grip and replaced the void with the remaining mass of blankets, which Twilight proceeded to pull close and smile. Aj looked over at Rarity and began making her way downsairs, where the entire room was a disaster. Must've been that tree last night. With a yawn, she looked at Epona, who was awake, and reading a book. "Mornin'. How'd ya sleep?"

"I haven't yet. After last night, I started to clean up a little and came across an old favorite. So, I've been awake since, reading. You?" she asked.

"Slept like a filly. Still tired, though." She walked to the kitchen. "Hungry?"

"Nah. Been snacking for a while." Epona closed her book and set it aside, turning to look at her. "So, are you and Twilight..."

Applejack let her finish. When she didn't, Aj asked, "Me an' Twilight what?"

"You know... special friends?"

"Oh sure we are." Epona let out a big gasp and held it. "Just like me an' the rest o' mah friends. Each an' every one of 'em is special. Why? Wanna be counted among their number?"

Epona hit herself in the face with her hooves and sighed. "Nevermind." She looked up at the stairs. "Spike awake yet? He came up there about an hour and a half ago."

"No. Actually, Ah didn't know Spike was even here... Twilight didn't say nothin' about him, come to think of it." Aj put a hoof to her chin and looked up a little.

"He came in, said his good-nights, and went upstairs. A bit odd, if you ask me, but I don't know dragons. I'd rather not, too."

"That one ain't so bad. He's just a young'n." Minutes later, Rarity came trotting down the stairs. "Mornin'. Huh?"

"Don't be jealous that I don't have bedmane," Rarity warned. "I sleep rather still in the night. Compared to Twilight, anyway."

"Ah hear ya on that one. She squirms a bit much. Ya stayin' for breakfast?"

"I'd love to," she replied, passing her and heading for the door, "but as I stated last night, my sister is home with her friend and I very much need to go back. If for no other reason than to check on her." Epona waved as Rarity exited the library. Outside, she glanced up and saw the rising sun. The weather team really knows how to clear the skies after a dreadful day of weather.

Another few minutes later, Twilight came down carrying Spike, still asleep on her back. "Morning you two. Look who I found in his bed."

"Yeah, he came home almost two hours ago. Didn't say much, and looked really tired," Epona explained. "Do you always carry him?"

"Just about. Usually outside when I'm on errands." Twilight came down the remaining stairs and looked around. "This place is a mess."

Aj looked around once more. "Sure is. Ah don't mind lendin' a hoof to help. Ah did sorta cause it after all..."

In agreement, the three of them began cleaning up the mess from last night. Aj started righting the wall hangings, Twilight put the books back on the shelves in random order, and Epona took to straightening the tables and couch. After a while, Spike woke up and started helping by sweeping where he could. They had made little progress after Spike woke up, when Twilight heard a familiar voice.

"What kind of storm rolled through here? And should I stay away from it?" The door opened and in walked Link. Twilight smiled at him, while Aj kept to her tidying. Epona, however, fell remarkably silent and stepped back a little. Spike kept right on sweeping.

"Oh, Link," Twilight spoke up, "you're back." Seeing the expression on his face led her to ask, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," he replied, pointing at the only mare he didn't recognize. "Who's she?"

Bet nopony saw that coming. Regardless, there must be a reason why the princesses didn't know about it. Only brought this in because during "Look Before You Sleep", Spike was sent away on "royal business", but it was never explained why.

Changelings.

Likely won't come back into play until the wedding episode/chapters.

Edit: Just occurred to me I never established his height. Whe he was 8, he went off to the guard camp, and was just barely 3' 3", or 39 inches. At thirteen, he's 4' 4" or 52 inches. That's 15 inches taller than most of the ponies. Epona is just bigger than him, as that height seems right for Big Mac, the one I compared her to.

The above statement is more more a reminder for me, than a reminder for you. So many things to keep track of.