---

From our last adventure, a mysterious human with no memories of his past was woken up, after sleeping in the center of a crater in the middle of the Everfree Forest.

With the help of three bold adventurers, Justus Heartstrings, Lyra Heartstrings, and Magnificent Eye, he was able to make it to Ponyville in one piece.

Ponyville, the peaceful little hamlet that rests just below the majestic city, Canterlot, is a lively town filled with traders, travelers, and citizens of any and all races, despite its name. This year would be the thousandth year since the first dawn of the Age of Light, and the town to celebrate for their ruler that made it all possible is none other than Ponyville, itself.

That said, an unspeakable evil is starting to rise from the darkness. Deep in the throne room of Canterlot, the alicorn princess known as Princess Celestia sensed a huge power source coming from the Everfree Forest. After sending the group of adventurers there, however, more problems rose from inside the castle walls.

As a personal request from her student, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia was to allow HER to help coordinate the Summer Sun Celebration this year... but that wasn't the first time she requested to do so.

This year, however, would mark Twilight's first year as a legal adult, and as such, she was given rights to do so... though Celestia saw the impatience in her faithful student's eyes grow with each passing year. She knew her student was starting to take a dark path in life... the same path that her own sister, Princess Luna, took over one thousand years ago, which made her succumb to "The Darkness", a curse that turned her against her own sister. In a fit of rage, Princess Luna, now known as her persona "Nightmare Moon", nearly took Princess Celestia's life... only for Celestia to call upon the powers of the Elements of Harmony to banish Nightmare Moon to the moon for one thousand years.

One thousand years on, and the world was still at peace. The events of Nightmare Moon eventually became nothing more than an old fairytale that parents would tell their children to make them behave. Regardless, though, only a select few people in all of Asgalon would even know PART of the story.

Yes, everyone was going on about their daily lives without a worry in the world...

That is, everyone except ONE particular mare.

Within the marketplace of Canterlot, the very cause of that mare's troubles happened to be running away from the local guards, along with an enraged Noble.

---

Several startled gasps and yelps echoed through the crowded city as a young drake wearing a black cloak rushed through the streets while carrying a red box with a golden bow tying it shut. He breathed heavily while occasionally looking back at the multitude of soldiers wearing white and golden armor, who were rushing towards him while also avoiding bumping into the crowds.

Following close behind the guards was a white coated stallion with a red mane neatly combed over his right eye, who wore a dark blue tuxedo, a pair of black gloves, and a golden monocle over his left eye.

He shouted at the little drake, "STOP, THIEF!"

The drake rolled his eyes and groaned. "Ugh! When will he realize I already payed him for everything that I bought?!" Regardless, though, the guards didn't seem to be slowing down, so he had to improvise somehow.

Looking directly to his left, he spotted an abandoned market stall filled with jewelry... but more specifically, pearl necklaces. Round pearl necklaces. He grinned mischievously before slightly angling himself close enough to where he could reach across the stall. Once he was there, he slid his tail through the necklaces, sending them scattered across the road.

He briefly turned around to watch the guards and the noble trip over the scattered pearls before continuing towards his destination... a tall, five-story high library. As soon as he made it to the front door, however, he ran into yet another problem.

"Oh, no... LOCKED?!" Before he could turn around, a pair of guards grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him into the air. "H-HEY! PUT ME DOWN!"

The guards glared at him before turning him towards the noble, who was glaring daggers at him. "You little brat! Do you have any idea how much damage you've done to my tuxedo?! It will cost me a fortune to have it sewn back together! A FORTUNE!" He placed his cracked monocle back over his eye and snorted. "I hope you're aware of the cost of this kind of damage, you brat!" He lifted his right hand up and began counting fingers. "There's the ribbon, the paper, the box, the bear, my suit..." He deadpanned before lifting his other hand up and counting the fingers on it. "Then there's my monocle... oh, and the fact that you just tried to run away, and resisted arrest!" He then grinned menacingly. "I'd say both of your hands should be lopped off! What say you, Sergeant Iron Blade?" He turned towards the guard that held the drake's left arm.

Iron nodded his head and replied, "Sounds fair to me." Then he turned towards the drake and added, "Though to be fair, the resisting arrest part would've simply had you beheaded! Feel lucky I'm in a generous mood, scum."

The drake sweated nervously before kicking his legs back and forth in an attempt to shake free. "W-WAIT! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I DID PAY FOR-"

"STOP LYING AND FACE YOUR JUDGEMENT, KID!" the sergeant shouted back at him. Then the guards carried the drake towards the Town Center, where public punishments and announcements were usually made. Surprisingly, there were already several people of multiple races waiting there, eying the drake. Amongst the crowd, however, was a unicorn mare covered in a dark purple cloak.

Sweat poured from the drake's forehead as he watched the sergeant draw the axe from the stump his hands were tied to. He looked through the crowd nervously and gasped when he saw the robed unicorn step towards the front of the crowd. It was an all-too-familiar sight... but one he was more than thankful to see.

His thoughts were halted when he saw the axe blade gently tip his wrists. He turned to see the sergeant raise the axe over his shoulders while sticking his tongue out and to the side, a sign of his concentration. The crowd got larger and louder, but none of them appeared to be smiling... in fact, they were glaring at the sight before them. Despite being law-abiding citizens, even they had their limits on what was right and wrong... and what they were seeing was, by far, wrong.

However, from the distance, several nobles merely rolled their eyes at the display and brushed it off as if it were nothing of importance.

The drake held his breath and began to cry as he saw the axe slowly lower for the sergeant to test his posture. Then, after the sergeant took a deep breath and lifted the axe one last time, the drake closed his eyes and braced for impact.

Nobody was even aware of the sound of the magic that the hooded unicorn was casting.

As soon as the axe swung down, it stopped midair after being engulfed in a bright pink aura. Iron gasped and held onto the axe while it began to lift into the air on its own accord. It began to lift him off of his hooves... and considering the fact that he was a unicorn, he had no choice but to release it and draw his sword. Then he turned to the crowd and eyed the unicorn while the other guards around her drew their swords and pointed the tips at the mare's neck.

The mare, however, levitated all of the guards' swords into the air and pierced them deep inside the ground in a circle around her. Her eyes, despite being covered in the cloak's hood, were glaring at the sergeant, while the sergeant, in turn, glared at her. "HALT! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN-" Before he could finish his sentence, his sword was yanked from his hand and pierced into the ground, and his neck began to glow the same pink glow. Then he was forced to the ground on his back via the magic spell.

The mare growled before speaking in a highly noble-accented voice... a voice that struck fear into the sergeant's heart that second.

"YOU STUPID FOOL! HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE?!"

The guards gasped and quickly stood to attention before saluting the hooded figure, while the sergeant stuttered her name.

"M-M-Major Twilight V-Velvet?!"

The mare lowered her hood, revealing her pale grey face, her neatly-combed purple mane with white stripes, and her cold, icy-blue eyes.

When her horn stopped glowing, Iron Blade quickly stood back up and saluted her while remaining silent.

Velvet's glare intensified when she looked at the drake, who slowly stood back up. Then her eyes shifted from the drake to the noble, who was staring at her with an equally intense glare. "You oaf! Have you any idea what you're doing?! This drake-"

"I've heard the commotion, you lout! Regardless of your status, though, you still have to explain the situation in detail, or I shall just consider your ranting as nothing more than useless babble coming from yet another noble who has nothing better to do than to stick his nose up the richer nobles' arses for extra profit." A distant, silenced snicker from one of the guards caught her attention. She turned her glare from the annoyed noble, and was now glaring at a guard who quickly tried to hide his smile, but failed to do so in time. "And you'll find how funny this situation is once you all get back to the barracks to do one hundred and fifty pushups!" Some of the guards groaned at that statement, which only made her glare intensify. "ADD ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED FOR COMPLAINING!" The guards went silent, but the frowns on their faces were enough to reveal their discomfort in the situation. Another glare from Velvet caused their moods to straighten up quickly, though.

The noble growled at Velvet before pointing at the drake. "That drake stole from my shop, and I demand justice!"

Velvet sighed and rolled her eyes before turning back to the noble. "And have you any evidence for your accusations?"

The noble nodded his head and pointed at the box that was lying on the floor in front of the drake. Velvet hummed before levitating the box in front of her and checking the contents inside it. What she found, however, caused her eyes to widen, her jaw to drop, and her face to turn red.

"A Stuffed Bear?!" She glared at the noble again and stomped up to him. Then, in the Royal Canterlot Voice, she shouted, "YOU'RE WASTING THE TIME OF THE TOWN GUARDS AND THE ROYAL ELITES OVER A BUCKING STUFFED ANIMAL?!"

The noble, however, didn't even flinch at the shouting and merely nodded his head. "I'll have you know that theft is still theft! And I demand he either pay the full price, or have a proper punishment!"

Velvet's right eye twitched as she stared at the noble. Then she closed her eyes and turned towards the drake. "Spike... does this man speak the truth, or is he lying?"

The drake, now known as Spike, replied, "T-the price on the bear was ten bits, five for the wrappers, and five for the ribbons! I paid him twenty bits evenly, but by the time I left, he started calling me a thief! I was about to head back inside and explain the situation, but then the nearby guards started chasing me around, and before I could enter, he joined into the chase!"

Velvet turned towards the noble and asked, "And did he pay twenty bits for the merchandise?"

The noble huffed and nodded his head. "Yes, though I was busy changing the sign on it! The bear's price went up by five bits, so he still owes me!"

Velvet rubbed her chin in thought. "And did you change the price before or after he made the purchase?"

"Before, of course! I just returned from changing the price by the time he was at the counter!"

Velvet's glare intensified even more. "So you're saying that he did pay the price of the bear, but you changed it at the last second without informing him of the change in price?"

The noble nodded his head and grinned. "Indeed, I did... but even then, he-" Velvet wasn't able to hold back any more. She rushed up to the noble and gripped the collar of his shirt and lifted him in the air, causing him to yelp. "H-HEY! UNHAND ME, YOU RUFFIAN!"

Velvet simply released his collar, but kept him floating in a spell while she walked up to one of the swords and lifted it from the ground. Then she turned to the noble, who's grin was now replaced by panic, and pointed the sword at him. "WELL, HERE'S A NEWS FLASH FOR YOU, YOU GREEDY LITTLE BASTARD! THE BEAR THAT SPIKE CLAIMED WAS TEN BITS WHEN HE GOT IT, SO IT'S TEN BITS HE HAD TO PAY! AND FOR FALSE ACCUSATIONS," she levitated his left hand up, and forced his pointing finger to stick out, "ONE FINGER!" She then lifted the sword over her left shoulder and sliced horizontally. With a loud *CLINK*, the noble's finger flew into the air, and his agonized yelling followed suit.

"AND LET'S NOT FORGET ATTEMPTED ASSAULT OF THE ROYAL MESSENGER!" The noble's middle finger rose into the air against his will. "ANOTHER FINGER!" And again, she sliced the noble's finger clean off. *CLINK*

"AND THEN YOU LIED TO THE ROYAL GUARDS, AND WASTED THEIR TIME!" *CLINK*

"AS WELL AS THE ROYAL ELITES!" *CLINK*

"AND FINALLY, THERE'S THE MATTER OF WASTING THE ROYAL MESSENGER'S TIME WHEN HE COULD'VE BEEN RUNNING AN URGENT MESSAGE, OR HAVE BEEN SENT BY THE PRINCESS OR HER DISCIPLE TO PURCHASE THE BEAR... BUT SINCE YOU HAVE ONE FINGER LEFT, I'LL SPARE YOU THE TROUBLE!" *CLINK* Instead of a single finger flying, the noble's entire left hand flew into the air. He cried loudly as soon as the spell that held him in the air dissipated. Velvet then turned to Iron Blade, who quickly saluted her again. "NOW, TAKE HIM TO THE DUNGEONS AT ONCE! AND WHEN THAT'S FINISHED, YOU BETTER BE IN THE BARRACKS WITH THE REST OF YOUR MEN, DOING PUSHUPS! AND WHEN I GET THERE, YOU BETTER STILL BE DOING THEM! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

The entirety of the guards, with the addition of the Sergeant, shouted, "YES, MA'AM!"

"THEN WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU ALL STILL DOING HERE?! GET MOVING, NOW!"

"YES, MA'AM!" With that, the entirety of the guards began marching towards the tall stone building with a pair of swords crossing over a golden shield for a logo.

Velvet stopped Iron Wing, though, and levitated him towards her. He eyed her nervously and gulped.

"Just so you know, this screw-up will be reported to Princess Celestia immediately... so if I were you, I'd be ready to pack my bags once I'm able to carry things again... because when the soldiers are done with their pushups, you won't be."

Iron nodded his head and weakly said, "Yes, ma'am."

Velvet deadpanned at him before releasing him from her magic grip. "Now, get going, before I start placing trials on you."

With another nod, Iron quickly ran to catch up with the soldiers. Velvet then sighed and turned to Spike with a weak smile on her face. "Honestly, the nerve of some people, right Spike?"

Spike nervously chuckled before scratching the back of his head. "Y-yes, ma'am... um... t-thank you, Major Velvet."

Velvet lightly chuckled before patting him on the back. "Think nothing of it, dear... but honestly, Spike. You have the rights to address me as 'Mother' while I'm on duty... though I may need a small breather. Come, now. Let's get you home."

Spike tilted his head confusedly while the two of them began walking towards their home again. The crowd that was there originally were now dispersed and were headed on their way. A few of those that remained, however, smiled and nodded their appreciation at their local hero. Some of the younger ones even saluted her, which made her lightly chuckle as she saw them.

"B-but... doesn't Shining Armor and Dad address you as 'Major Velvet', though?"

Velvet nodded her head and shrugged. "Well, they are part of the military as well, Spike. As such, they are more like brothers-in-arms than the family members we see at home while on duty. Think of it as our way of making things fair for the others who aren't related to the higher-ups."

Spike nodded his head and rubbed his chin in thought. "So that's why Twilight always calls you 'Mother' while you're on duty as well, right?"

Again Velvet nodded her head as they began walking towards the house. "That is correct, Spike. Even though she is Princess Celestia's disciple, she doesn't have a role in the military, aside from mayhaps delivering orders to the grunts." She stopped and rubbed her chin in thought. "By the way... not to stray from the subject too long, but... the toy shop isn't that far from the house... so how was it that you were captured to begin with? Were they foolish enough to actually break in? Because I will add that to their list of push-ups as well, if they did."

Again Spike rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Um... n-not exactly..."

Velvet stared at him blankly for a moment before sighing and planting her face in her right palm. "Don't tell me... Twilight left the door locked while you were out again, didn't she?"

Spike waved his hands defensively. "In her defense, though, I didn't tell her where I was going! I just said that I would be back in a little while, and then left."

Velvet lightly chuckled and shook her head. "Honestly, the amount trouble she gets you in... why, if I had a single bit for how many times she's locked you out without even knowing, I would probably be second to Princess Celestia in wealth!"

The two of them laughed as the door magically clicked open through Velvet's spell. Spike nodded his appreciation at Velvet, but froze when he saw someone rushing towards them through the alleyway. When Velvet turned to see who it was, she sighed as a white unicorn stallion with light blue eyes, a short, dark blue mane and tail, and a cutie mark of a dark purple kiteshield with a pink six-sided star in the center, and a trio of small blue five-sided stars over it, rushed over to them with a worried expression on his face. He was wearing purple and golden plate mail armor, as opposed to the usual white and gold.

When he made it to them he quickly broke into a salute and said, "Major Velvet!"

Velvet chuckled before waving her right hand dismissively. "At ease, Shining... I'm on a small break right now."

Shining nodded his head and sighed in relief. "Thank Celestia... b-but is everything okay? I saw the blood in the gallows, and expected the worst."

Velvet pointed at Spike and asked, "Why don't you ask him yourself, Shiny?"

Shining lightly chuckled before nodding his head and turning to Spike. "Hey, little buddy. Are you alright, there?"

Spike nodded his head and smiled at him. "Yeah... luckily Mother was there to save me in time!"

Shining nodded his head, but looked away as a frown formed on his face. "I hope that arrogant bastard rots for making such an attempt..." He winced when a finger and a thumb firmly gripped his left ear. "EEK!"

Velvet glared at him and growled, "When not on duty, you will refrain from that language in front of me, young man! And don't forget about Spike, either!"

"Y-yes, ma'am!" Shining whined. When Velvet released his ear, she turned and walked away.

"Good... now if you'll excuse me, I have to go talk with Twilight... I'd assume she's out reading in the park like usual... but I must ask that the two of you keep news of this little incident out of her knowledge. She's already stressed enough, what with the preparations of coordinating the Summer Sun Celebration this year... and not to mention her recent worries over the contents in the Predictions and Prophecies book."

The two boys nodded their heads as she walked away. Spike turned to Shining and the two of them shrugged their shoulders before heading in. Then, once the door closed, Velvet sighed and shook her head. "Poor Twilight... I hope this doesn't overburden her."

From below the shade of a tree, a young-looking unicorn mare with a lavender coat, a long, neatly combed purple mane and tail with a pink stripe on the outermost corner, two purple eyes, and the cutie mark of a six-sided star with a few smaller white stars surrounding it, was reading a book titled "Predictions and Prophecies, Part II" while relaxing on the grass with the book on her knees as she sat cross-legged. She was wearing a white sleeveless robe with an open purple cloak draped over her shoulders. Over her chest she wore a tabard of Princess Celestia's cutie mark with a pair of purple stripes with her cutie mark in the center of the tabard, parallel and rested over and below the sun, a symbol to let everyone know of her status as Princess Celestia's personal student. Between the tabard and the robe, however, a chainmail vest rested with a purple sash tying everything together around her waist. The lower half of the white robe lowered to her hooves from the front and back, but at the sides they rose to just below her flank. For leggings she wore dark purple leggings with chainmail pads at the lower half to allow her shins protection, while on her hooves she wore purple cloth shoes to allow easier movement. On her arms she wore a pair of white armbands with shorter thick purple armbands on her wrists to keep the other armbands firmly on her arms. Lying next to her was a wooden staff with a large round diamond implanted on the top of it, and a smaller, sharper diamond at the bottom.

She was so focused on her book that she failed to hear the sound of hoofsteps headed her way. When the owner's voice called her name, however, she turned towards the source with a smile.

"Oh! Hello, Mother... is everything okay?" she asked as Velvet stepped forward and sat next to her.

Velvet chuckled before rubbing her daughter's back. "Yes, Twilight... everything is fine. How are you holding up, though? You aren't too concerned about the Summer Sun Celebration, are you?"

Twilight sighed before turning to her book again. "I don't know, Mother... I'm just... I just have a bad feeling, is all."

Velvet tilted her head again. "Oh? How so, exactly?"

Twilight pointed at the picture of the moon with the dark silhouette of a snake-eyed alicorn in the book. Then she looked at Velvet and asked, "If the legends are true... what if Nightmare Moon does come back, but the Elements of Harmony end up being fake?"

Velvet looked at the picture in the book for a long moment before looking back at her daughter. Then she smiled and shook her head. "Believe me, Twilight. If things get bad, I can assure you that we'll find a way to stop her."

Twilight nodded her head and looked at the book once more. "Do you believe that she will return, though?"

Velvet rubbed her chin in thought before smiling at Twilight once again. "What I believe is that you need to be more concerned about how you'll be managing the Summer Sun Celebration, rather than how to stop an evil alicorn from bringing the Age of Darkness back, young lady."

Twilight weakly smiled at Velvet and closed the book. "I understand, Mother... hey, would you like to hear what I have planned for the next few weeks after we deal with the Summer Sun Celebration?"

Velvet tilted her head confusedly. "We?"

Twilight nodded her head. "Of course! You are going to be there, aren't you?"

Velvet's smile faded quickly and she looked away. "I'm... sorry, Twilight. I'm going to have to receive orders directly from Princess Celestia if I am to even visit Ponyville... or anywhere else, for that matter."

Twilight's smile faded at the news. Then she sighed and hung her head down as her ears drooped back. "Oh... okay, then." She looked at Velvet once more before asking, "W-what about Shining Armor, though? Surely he will be there, won't he?"

Velvet shook her head again and sighed. "Unfortunately, he's in the same field as I am on that... but hey, Spike will be going with you, though!"

Twilight's ears shot up at the sudden mentioning of Spike's name. "Oh, no! SPIKE'S SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BACK HOME NOW!" She was about to take off running, but Velvet caught her with a levitation spell and chuckled.

"Don't worry, Twilight... I've already taken care of the door for him. He should be inside with Shining Armor at the moment."

Twilight sighed in relief before looking at Velvet worriedly again. "S-sorry, Mother."

Velvet shook her head and released Twilight from the spell. "No worries, Twilight... now please, do head home, and find something more suitable to wear. I must get back to the Barracks, though... something about a group of soldiers needing to do some pushups."

Twilight turned towards her mother and tilted her head out of confusion. "Pushups? What did they do this time?"

Velvet waved her hands dismissively and shook her head. "Nothing to be concerned about, Twilight... now please, I must take my leave."

Twilight stared at her inquisitively for a moment before nodding her head and smiling again. Then she wrapped her arms around her in a hug and said, "Of course... goodbye, Mother. Please return home as soon as you can... my chariot should be arriving in a couple of hours, now, and I would like to be able to say goodbye to you, at least."

Velvet nodded her head, returned the hug, and patted her daughter's back before breaking from the hug and turning around. "I'll see if Princess Celestia needs any aid in Ponyville's tower. If so, I may be able to get Shining and I to-"

The skies suddenly went dark for a brief moment. Both of the mares looked up at the sky worriedly, as a few locals in Canterlot began to scream, a huge blue flash fell from the clouds and headed towards a distant forest, better known as "The Everfree Forest". When it landed, however, the sound was able to be heard even from the other side of Canterlot.

What's more, as soon as it landed, the skies turned blue again and Twilight screamed in agony as a sudden throbbing pain began to build up in her forehead. Velvet gasped and looked at her before rushing to her as she started to fall down. She managed to catch her as she was halfway down, and for a brief second, her horn started to flicker before dimming back to normal.

"Sweet Celestia... TWILIGHT! ARE YOU ALRIGHT? PLEASE, SPEAK TO ME!"

Twilight grumbled before rubbing her forehead again. "I... I'm fine. It's... just a little headache, but it's gone, now."

Velvet stared at her daughter worriedly as she helped her rise back up onto her hooves. "You should rest, Twilight... a magical surge of that level could be dangerous if you were about to pass out from the pain!"

"D-did... did you feel it, Mother? Did... did you see it?!"

Velvet shook her head and replied, "No," then she looked towards the feint blue trail and added, "but surely I heard it... and it didn't sound good."

Meanwhile, in the distant town of Ponyville, a young, green eyed, orange coated earth pony mare with a white short-sleeved shirt, brown overalls, black work boots, black work gloves, and a brown stetson hat over her long, braided blonde mane, firmly tilled the land in front of her with an iron hoe, clearing the ground a little more to expand a garden filled with, what appeared to be, golden wheat.

She wiped the sweat from her brow with her right hand and relaxed the shaft of the hoe on her left shoulder before continuing with the tilling.

"Applejack, y'all got a moment?" came a man's voice from behind her. Applejack looked behind her back and noticed that a red coated stallion with green eyes, an orange mane and tail, matching clothes (excluding the stetson), and a large, sliced green apple for a cutie mark, was walking her way with a concerned expression on his face.

Applejack looked at him with a hint of concern on her face. "Big McIntosh? 'Course Ah've got a moment... is somethin' wrong?"

Big McIntosh nodded his head and replied, "Ah think Apple Bloom might need help feeding the pigs today, but Ah'm needed to help Granny Smith bake the pies fer the Summer Sun Celebration... an' Ah don't wanna overclock y'alls schedule none, so Ah would like y'alls opinion on what to do."

Applejack smiled at him and raised her right thumb up. "Don't y'all worry none, Big Brother. Ah'll take care o-"

Her sentence was cut short once the sky started to darken. Then the blue light flew through the sky at an unusually fast pace. Then, once it landed, the crash was loud enough to force the farmers to cover their ears.

As quick as it came, though, the sky cleared up again, and everything seemed normal once more. Applejack turned to Big McIntosh and asked, "What in tarnation was th-AAH!" Her head started to pulse in agony and caused her to fall forward. Big McIntosh, however, quickly rushed up to her and caught her before she could land on the ground.

"AJ! ARE Y'ALL ALRIGHT?!" he asked in a worried tone.

Applejack groaned in pain as the throbbing in her skull continued. Then, after ten seconds, the pain vanished instantly.

"Ah... Ah'm fine, Big Mac... jus' a little headache is all." She tried to stand up again, but was quickly stopped when Big McIntosh lifted her up off the ground. "BIG MAC, WHAT THE HAY?! PUT ME DOWN!"

Big McIntosh shook his head and replied, "Nope."

Applejack grumbled before crossing her arms over her chest. "Y'all know mah hooves weren't affected, do ya?"

"Not takin' any chances. Y'all might've been working in the sun too long."

Applejack rolled her eyes before turning towards the Everfree Forest. "Or maybe it had somethin' ta do with that strange blue light Ah just saw in the sky!"

Big McIntosh stopped walking for a moment before raising a confused eyebrow at her. "What blue light?"

In a simple home close to the center of Ponyville, Justus stretched his arms out and yawned before filling a wooden mug with herbal tea. He gently sniffed the sweet-smelling vapor above the mug before taking a long yet slow sip. When his mug lowered from his eyesight, however, Lyra appeared directly in front of him dressed in her bright yellow night gown. Justus was only wearing his brown cloth pants.

Lyra looked at him with half-lidded eyes and an amorous smile on her face as she reached her arms behind him. "Good morning my love," she said in a sultry voice as their eyes focused on the other's.

Justus smiled and replied, "Good morning, Dear... what has you up this early?"

She lightly chuckled before saying, "I was woken up by a strange headache, and needed to get something to drink..." she lightly growled at him and added, "mayhaps you could enlighten me with some... sugar?"

"Oh? And what kind of sugar are you looking for, exactly?" he asked as his hands found their way behind her back.

She leaned in closer to him before whispering in his left ear, "What if I asked for both?"

He lightly chuckled in response before whispering in her left ear, "I would offer you more, then." He gently nibbled on her ear, an Equine sign of affection, which sent a shiver down her spine. She moaned silently as he kissed her cheek, then another wave of pleasure went through her spine as he very gently nibbled on the side of her neck.

"You... surely do know... how... to treat... a mare, alright..." she whispered between her panting as his hands continued to explore her body. When they both reached a certain part of her flank, however, her back arched up and she let out a gasp, her breath shuddering in delight. Then she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips onto his. He returned the gesture while her right hoof wrapped around his legs. He lifted her with his thumbs massaging her flanks, and at once, both of their breathing intensified.

Their moment, however, was quickly broken at the sound of the front door knocking. They froze in place before sighing as Justus lowered her back onto the floor. She grumbled before reaching over the counter and grabbing the jar of sugar. "Damn it... why does this always have to happen during these moments?" she whispered to herself.

Justus lightly chuckled at his wife's silent complaints before opening the door. His eyes widened when he saw Magnificent Eye standing at the other side of the door, holding a scroll in his hands.

"Mag? What..." he looked towards Lyra before turning back to Magnificent with a slightly annoyed tone, "what brings you here at this time? Have you any idea what you interrupted?"

Magnificent shook his head and eyed the scroll with a worried expression on his face. His expression was enough to get Justus's attention. "What is the matter, Mag?"

Magnificent unrolled the scroll and passed it to Justus. When Justus took hold of it, he began to read while Lyra shortly approached from behind. Then they both raised their eyebrows concernedly as Magnificent nodded his head and spoke for them. "Princess Celestia has summoned us to the Throne Room... and she said 'immediately'... it sounds like there's something serious going on... and she doesn't appear to like it one bit."

Justus and Lyra blinked at the scroll before nodding their heads and heading into their home. "We'll be out quickly, then... please, do make yourself at home if you need."

Magnificent nodded his head and frowned at them. "I'm sorry, you two. I know you're both still enjoying the feeling of being newly wed, so I'm certain I do know what I'm interrupting."

Lyra waved her hands dismissively before replying, "Hey, don't worry, Mag! Happens to us a lot more often than you think!"

With that, the two of them began to suit up in their armor before heading out in Magnificent's carriage.

Two hours have passed since the prior events. Leoni, shortly after walking out of the Town Hall, made his way towards the place that the kind mayor of Ponyville suggested he visit for... "Sugarcube Corner", a bakery run by a pair of very skilled bakers, who also have an apprentice that knows every single person who lives in Ponyville by name, race, gender, and even their birthdays, despite them not telling her it. Some of the locals that Leoni asked around said that they were worried she may very well be a witch, but they quickly added in that she would be "the one witch they would never even think of burning".

As the description on the small parchment in his hands said, he was to look for a building that resembles a large assortment of baked goods stacked together in a way that makes the entire place look edible. Next to it would be the other recommended place that he could check out as well, which would be the huge wooden building with the symbol of a happy drake on it playing a lute with his eyes closed, his mouth open, and a few small musical notes floating out of his mouth. Below his picture would be the words "The Singing Dragon" written on another picture of a long double-tipped ribbon.

Leoni was so lost in thought, however, that he didn't notice the equally distracted minotaur set on the opposite path as him. As soon as they bumped into each other, Leoni yelped and fell backwards while the minotaur stumbled back a couple steps, yet remained standing. The minotaur glared at Leoni as soon as he turned his attention back to him.

"S-sorry, sir. I didn't see you there," Leoni said as he tried to get back up.

The minotaur, however, held his right hand out for Leoni to take. When he took it, though, the minotaur shoved him back onto the ground. "Why don't you watch where you're going, you little worm?!"

Leoni raised an eyebrow as the minotaur placed a hoof on his chest. "If you call that an apology, you wouldn't even last a few seconds here! If you want to apologize to me, then I want to hear you beg for mercy!"

Leoni's breathing intensified as he felt the minotaur start putting pressure on his chest. "S-stop! I-"

Before Leoni could finish his sentence, however, a large rock came from out of nowhere and struck the minotaur in the forehead, causing him to yelp in pain, fall backwards, and grip his now bleeding forehead with both hands. He looked towards a crowd that was starting to form, and glared at one particular individual in the crowd who was headed their way.

The person from the crowd was an unusually tall, obese, and strong human female with a white sleeveless shirt, a dark brown belted leather vest, leather shorts, a pair of leather boots, and a pair of leather gauntlets that rose halfway up her arms. She had pale skin, emerald green eyes, and long orange hair tied in a knot that lowered all the way down her back, and even slightly below her thighs. She also had a pair of smaller strands of hair that lowered in front of her ears, right down to her chest. The front of her hair was combed neatly to the right, swept upwards. Resting on her back was an ominously large war hammer made of solid steel that also gave off a dim white glow around the large tip. She stood at nine feet in height, while the minotaur stood at eight.

She walked up to the minotaur and cleared her throat. Then she spoke in, what the locals would call, a "Trottish" accent.

"Oi, ya underbellied brute! If'n ya wants a fight, then why not pick on someone yer own size, eh?!" She looked at the minotaur with an unamused expression while her arms were crossed in front of her chest.

The minotaur spat on the ground before pointing at the interferer. "This doesn't concern you, Edith!"

Edith lightly chuckled before shaking her head. "Says yer brother who's still hospitalized after trying to stir up trouble with the locals a couple of months ago!" The minotaur's fists balled up at that statement.

"And I swore I would take you down one of these days... mayhaps I should make that day today, then."

Edith grinned before unfolding her arms and gripping onto the wooden handle of the hammer behind her back. "Ye can try... though I won't make any promises that ye'll make it to the hospital in time."

They stood still for a long moment while heavy tension filled the air. The crowd only continued to grow with several of the locals going silent as they stared at the situation with interest. The minotaur looked at the crowd with a slightly uneasy expression on his face. Finally, after letting out an angry snort, he turned around. "Filthy humans like you aren't even worth the effort, anyways." With that, he left through the crowd while the crowd began to disperse.

Edith sighed before releasing the hand of her hammer and looking down at Leoni with a slightly amused smile on her face. "Ye'll have ta excuse that coward. He has an anti-human streak going on at the moment, since I introduced Brutus ta his older brother the past two months ago." She motioned towards her hammer on her back before stretching her hand out for Leoni to take. "Name's Edith, by the way... Edith Stormhammer, daughter of the local blacksmith, and part-time waitress of 'The Singing Dragon'."

Leoni smiled at her, nodded his head in silent appreciation, and took her hand. He was surprised when she effortlessly lifted him into the air and gently placed him back on his feet... with one arm. "Um... t-thank you, Ms. Stormhammer. M-my name's Leoni... it's an honor to meet you." He bowed politely to her.

Edith just stood there silently for a moment before bursting into a loud fit of laughter. Leoni backed up a couple steps as he stared at her with unease across his face. Several citizens had to stop and look at her for a moment with mixed expressions across their faces.

When Edith was able to catch her breath, she looked at Leoni and wiped some of the tears from her eyes that built up by her laughter. "Oh, laddie! Ye don't have ta use formalities on me of all people... just 'Edith' is fine... though I'll admit, that was something I needed in a long time! Ye're alright in my books, lad!"

She rubbed her chin in thought before gasping. Then she leaned down to where she was eye-level with Leoni and asked, "Wait a tic! Now that I have a better look at ye, I can't help but ask... ye ain't even from around these parts, are ye?!"

Leoni scratched the back of his hair and shook his head. "Um... n-no, ma'am."

She chuckled before shaking her head and placing her left arm around Leoni's shoulders. "Well then, lad, ye've got ta come with me to 'The Singing Dragon'! Me good friend Pinkie Pie happens to be helping me out at the moment! And I just know she'll love ta meet you! And let's not forget Mortar and Pestle, either!"

Leoni, despite being practically carried against his will, lightly chuckled nervously and nodded his head. "Y-you know Pinkie Pie, I take it?"

She nodded her head and replied, "Ye live in this town, then ye're bound to know her on the first day! The lassie makes it her top priority to befriend any and all newcomers in this town, even!"

Leoni raised an eyebrow at her before turning towards where the minotaur left from. "Um... even that guy I bumped into just recently?"

Edith paused for a moment then sighed. Then she nodded her head and replied, "Aye... though I can promise ye that that one didn't end well for her."

Leoni looked away and rubbed his chin in thought. "Oh... sorry. I hope she wasn't hurt!"

Edith weakly smiled at him before continuing to "guide" him towards the large tavern. "Nay, she wasn't harmed physically... though I'd be lying if I said she wasn't emotionally scarred. That minotaur, Stone Heart, has a brother who happens ta be... unpleasant when it comes to barmaids. He tried ta get Pinkie to... go to his place with him. She said no, and he got mad and tried carrying her to his place. He didn't even know my shift was about to begin. I caught him as I was entering the building, and managed ta save her before he could even leave the place... ye might even be able to see where he landed still, in fact! The wall had ta be rebuilt... and of course, I took responsibility an' helped 'em rebuild it, despite their pleas that I relax an' take the day off." Her smile grew slightly. "At least Pinkie an' I have each other's backs, though! She said that she's forever grateful for my bravery, an' that she'll ask me for my help first if she needs it."

Leoni nodded his head and sighed. "I just hope that those minotaurs don't cause any more trouble for anyone else."

Edith nodded her head in agreement. "Aye... would be quite the news, indeed." Then she gave Leoni a stern, serious look. "Listen... Leoni, was it? I know you are new ta this town, but I have ta ask that you not start any trouble at all... especially to Pinkie Pie. If'n she starts to feel uncomfortable around ye, then you'll just have ta drop whatever actions you're doing an' walk away. She's been troubled since the incident, and has enough matters that she has to deal with as it is... understood?"

Leoni nodded his head and gulped before looking towards the entrance, which was growing evermore closer. "Yes, ma'am... and don't worry. Starting trouble isn't even on my list of things to do... and even if it was, I wouldn't even think of doing it."

Edith stopped and continued to give him a stern look. Leoni just shifted around uneasily as she stared at him. Then, a warm smile formed on her face and she couldn't resist but to pat him on the back.

It only took two pats, however, and Leoni was on the ground again in slight pain. Edith, however, didn't even notice, as she was giving him a toothy grin with her eyes squinted shut. "Then you 'ave a good head on your shoulders, friend! As long as you keep it that way, you're always welcome here!"

Leoni groggily stood back up while rubbing his aching back. Then he weakly smiled at her and nodded his head. "T-thank you... I think?" Then the two of them stepped up to the building. It wasn't until Leoni was a few meters away from the building when he heard the sound of flutes blowing, hands clapping, and a lot of commotion coming from inside. He could even slightly hear the sound of a pair of high-pitched males singing a strange song while hooves tapped on a wooden surface.

Edith stepped forward and held the door open, allowing the loud commotion to burst from the building. "Leoni, my new friend... welcome to 'The Singing Dragon'!" As soon as Leoni stepped inside, his eyes widened at the size of the building's interior.

Hundreds of feet from left to right, countless round, square, and rectangular tables filled the floor, with a multitude of wooden chairs around each and every one of them. What was more impressive, however, was the huge crowd of mixed races inside it, ranging from humans, ponies, bat-ponies, minotaurs, goats, foxes, cows, bulls, griffons, harpies (similar to griffons, but with their wings replacing their arms, and their talons replacing their feet), oxen, drakes, a few half-breeds, and even several satyrs (two-foot-tall goat people with human-like chests, arms, and faces, but goat-like heads, hooves, and a pair of short horns growing out of the sides of their foreheads).

From the corner of one table, a yellow coated, blue maned unicorn stallion with blue eyes and common white and brown villager attire was resting his head on his left fist while sitting next to a pegasus stallion with the exact same coat, mane, clothing style, and eye colors as him. The pegasus was sitting across the table drinking his ale while the unicorn appeared to have refrained from even taking a single sip of it.

The pegasus chuckled at his twin brother and said, "Look, I'm telling you, Blue Light! There's plenty of other ladies out there for you! You'll just have to keep looking, is all!"

The unicorn sighed before looking away. "I don't know, Light Blue... I've just been used by almost every other mare in this town that appeared even slightly interested in me because our parents are both of noble blood."

The pegasus placed his hands on the unicorn's shoulders and chuckled again. "Which is why I said there's plenty of other ladies out there! Try expanding your boundaries, little brother!"

The unicorn deadpanned at him and mumbled, "You're only older than me by a second, genius..."

From another table across the area, a pale-skinned obese human male with dark brown hair and dark blue eyes sat in front of an equally obese minotaur with white fur and a black mane. Both of them were also wearing common clothes. The table had several empty wooden mugs in its center, divided in a couple piles that rose up to both of the customers' chests. They had two mugs in both of their hands as they glared at each other. Then they bashed all four of their mugs onto the others' before chugging both of the golden liquids down, as a large crowd of mixed races repeatedly yelled "CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!"

The human and the minotaur were both able to polish down their drinks in mere seconds before slamming their mugs into their gathered piles, belching loudly, and then shouting, "NEXT!" in unison. Both of their voices were slurred, however, so it sounded more like "NEKSHT".

A satyr male relaxed in a seat next to a griffon and a harpy, while a bull sat on the opposite side of him. The satyr had dark skin with bright red fur. His hair was slightly curled up, and he was standing on the chair so that the table was at the center of his chest. The griffon and harpy both had yellow feathers, red eyes, and blue hair. The griffon, however, was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt below a blue vest and brown pants, while the harpy only wore a blue vest and a long brown skirt, allowing her wings room to fly unhindered. The bull had a black coat with a white mane. He was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and red pants.

The satyr was in the middle of a joke while the others listened intently. "So the minotaur asks the bull, 'Why did you just punch that man?'... and the bull replies, 'He was wearing a red shirt! What was I supposed to do?!'"

Those around him laughed at his joke while the bull even added, "And the funny thing is, we actually do have to take a class to resist doing that!"

On the center of a large table with several different creatures surrounding it, a pair of satyrs were dancing with a flute in each of their hands. There wasn't a single frown on any of the customers' faces, though, as the satyrs were singing and playing their flutes in-sync.

Both of the satyrs had tan skin and brown hair, but one of them had a green left eye and a red right eye, while the other had a red left eye and a green right eye. They both were wearing brown overalls and white t-shirts below.

They continued playing their flutes, until they began singing.

"Oh, there lives a young man named Martin Pops,

A bald human male with mutton chops,

who went to a tavern, asking for ale,

and drank it all up 'til he stumbled and fell!"

For a brief moment they paused from the singing and resumed playing their flutes while dancing in circles around the table. The audience began clapping their hands and talons together in the rhythm, and even caught the attention of a few of the neighboring tables, who started to clap along with the song.

"As he stands up, a lass arrives,

with a beautiful pair of scarlet eyes!

The dress that she wears is quite a sight!

She asks Martin if he is alright!"

Again they pause and continue to play the flute. Rather than just clapping, some of the audience began clapping their hooves and feet on the floor, boosting the bass-like sound of the music. At this point almost all eyes and ears were focused on the pair of satyrs on the table.

"He admires her chest, right down to her arse,

so he starts flirting with the lass.

She screams real loud, and runs from his sight,

as her husband appears, and puts up a fight!"

Once more they break from the vocals to play their flutes. Some of the males in the crowd even start to chuckle at the words behind the song. This time, however, the satyrs begin clopping the other's hooves behind their backs as they hop and circle around the table with unseen accuracy. The hoof-clopping sounds even go with the rhythm of the clapping and the stomping, which only got louder right as they started their impressive little dance.

Once they spun around two times, they lowered their flutes and resumed the words while a few in the back of the audience broke from the beat temporarily to show their applause.

"Now Martin Pops was far more skilled!

He showed the widow her man that he killed,

then he looked at her with hungry eyes,

and took her away to claim his prize!"

This time the audience had mixed results. Some of the men started to laugh while a few of the ladies paused from the clapping and either tilted their heads confusedly, or downright gasped at the sudden change of events in the song. Regardless, though, the satyrs continued to dance across the table, even clopping one of their hooves onto the other's as they passed by with their legs swinging forward extra high.

Finally, they lowered their flutes and finished the song.

"She wanted to run, she wanted to hide,

but Martin had her trapped inside!

He took off her skirt, despite her begs..."

They paused for a moment with sly grins as the audience paused from their clapping and stomping, before they concluded.

"Then screamed at the bulge between her legs!"

Despite the fact that they played their flutes again, the sounds of drinks being forcibly spat out, gasps, and laughter filled the entire room, until the satyrs stopped and bowed their heads. The crowd applauded them as they continued to bask in the attention. Little did they know, however, that a pair of humans were on their way towards them.

Leoni had to cover his mouth to avoid laughing at the strange song he just heard right as he and Edith entered. Edith, however, was leading him towards the two strange little guys, and didn't even bother holding back her laughter.

"Ah, those two horn-heads always sing that song on special holidays!" she said after her laughing ceased.

Leoni lightly chuckled, looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "You know those two?"

Edith nodded her head and replied, "Aye. They're the ones who always help entertain the customers. As ye should know, they were also the ones who suggested the name of this place! Because of that, we allowed them permission to start their little performances on any tables that are hosting a party."

Leoni nodded his head and looked at the table again. Edith placed her right pointer finger and her thumb in her mouth then loudly whistled. "Oi, Mortar! Pestle! Enjoying all the attention, are ye?"

The satyrs quickly turned towards her and smiled widely before leaping from the table and rushing up to her.

The satyr with the red left eye said, "Edith! 'Tis only just the start of the noon, and you're already here?! What's the special occasion, eh?"

The other satyr looked to Edith's left and grinned wickedly before elbowing the first one in the side. "Don't look now, Mortar, but I think she may have found her special someone!"

Mortar raised an eyebrow at his brother before following his gaze. Then he noticed Leoni and gasped. "By the Divines, Pestle! You may actually be-"

"Wrong again," Edith interrupted, "this lad here is Leoni. He's new around town, and could use a warm welcoming after bumping into Stone Heart."

The satyrs gasped before turning towards the confused human again. Then Mortar asked, "Wait, you mean to tell me that this lad actually crossed paths with the Stone Heart?!"

Pestle stepped next to his brother and added, "And survived?!"

Leoni opened his mouth to speak, but Edith interrupted, "That's right, you two! Now if ye'd be so kind, we were wondering which way Pinkie Pie is?"

Both satyrs frowned at Edith before Pestle replied, "Well you see... she just got a message from Princess Celestia. Apparently, she's in charge of the welcoming of her student, who should be arriving any minute now."

Edith gasped before staring at the two in disbelief. "And ye haven't told me 'till now?!"

The satyrs shrugged before Mortar replied, "You weren't here most of the day!"

"Yeah, because I was looking for her!" She sighed and shook her head. "Eh, no use arguing about it now. She may be in need of my help!" Edith turned towards Leoni and weakly smiled at him. "Looks to me like Pinkie Pie may be a little too busy at the moment ta give ye the grand tour o' Ponyville... mayhaps you could ask around Town Hall for a guide?"

Leoni smiled at her and nodded his head. "It's alright. I wasn't really expecting her to give me a tour... and to be honest, I probably would've refused the tour if it would've risked us bumping into that Stone Heart guy, anyways."

She patted him on the back again and nodded her head. "It's good ta know that ye're concerned for her. Not ta worry, though... she actually enjoys giving newcomers the tour. Think of it as a job that she personally gave herself, even. After all, she is the talk of the town most of the time because of her willingness ta befriend anyone!"

Leoni nodded his head and rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, if you put it that way, I guess I could limit my visits today, and ask her for the tour tomorrow?"

Edith nodded her head and winked at him. "Sounds like a plan to me!" Then she turned to Mortar and Pestle again and waved. "I'll see you fellows later! In the meantime, why don't the two of ye take him to the inn? I'm certain they'll have a free room for him temporarily!"

The two satyrs nodded in unison. "Sounds good to us!"

Edith turned to Leoni once again and asked, "Do ya happen to have a backup plan for if the inn doesn't have any room, though?"

Leoni nodded his head and replied, "Yes, ma'am. A few friends of mine said that I should see Lady Rarity, should I be in need of a place to stay temporarily."

Edith hummed and rubbed her chin in thought. "Ah... hate to break it to ye, Leoni, but Lady Rarity is in the middle of decorating for the Summer Sun Celebration. She may not be available today, either."

Leoni rubbed the back of his hair and looked away. "Ah... well in that case, I'm out of ideas, then."

Edith nodded her head and smiled at him before heading towards the door. "No worries, friend! Ye'll have a room to yerself eventually... just might take a little longer than expected. But hey, ye said ye have a few friends who suggested you speak ta Rarity... how about ye ask them for another lead?"

Leoni sighed and shook his head before replying, "Sorry, Edith... they might be a little busy at the moment, what with them being a guard, a mage, and an archaeologist."

Edith froze at the door way before turning towards him, a look of disbelief on her face. "Wait a tic... are you telling me that ye're friends with Justus, Lyra, an' Mag?!"

Leoni raised an eyebrow before nodding his head. "Yes, ma'am... I take it you know them?"

She nodded her head and smiled warmly at him. "Of course I know 'em! How would I not know me older brother, sister-in-law, an' childhood friend?"

From outside the tavern, the unicorn and pegasus twins, Blue Light and Light Blue, walked through the now less crowded streets, lost in conversation.

"Listen, Blue. We all have our special someones out there in the wide world of Asgalon! You've been listening to your ears for far too long... maybe it's time that you listen to what your heart tells you... and I jest you not on that one!" Light exclaimed to the unicorn.

Blue sighed and weakly smiled at him. "I appreciate your concerns, Light... but maybe I just need a moment to myself, is all."

Light nodded his head and winked at him. "Well hey, I'll be in the Mages Tower if you need me."

Blue tilted his head confusedly. "But aren't we off duty at the moment? And isn't that my station to be in?"

Light shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, doesn't mean I can't spend my free time reading up on the latest stories. After all, though it's a military base, it is a public area as well... well, the first two floors are, at least. All the secrecy is held beyond that point."

Blue sighed and nodded his head. "Very well, then... I'll be in the park, if you need me."

Light nodded his head and gave him a quick pat on the shoulders. "Just you wait, little brother. You'll see!"

With that, Light took to the air and quickly dashed towards the guard tower while Blue deadpanned at him and retorted, "Damn it, Light Blue! Stop calling me little brother! We're twins!" He sighed and turned towards the park.

Taking a few deep breaths, he pinched the bridge of his snout and muttered, "I need a breath of fresh air..." before walking towards his destination.

In the center of the park, Blue took a seat on a bench close to a tree. He sighed and looked up at the sky with a smile on his face.

"Ah, Princess Celestia... you've surely outdone yourself with the beautiful sky today." He closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of the near-summer weather.

His attention was quickly taken by the feeling of something warm and fuzzy nuzzling his cheek. He opened his eyes and was met by a squirrel eating an acorn right beside him... or rather, he was greeted by its tail, which was unintentionally brushing against his face even when he woke up.

He smiled warmly and, in a soft voice, cooed, "Well hey there, little guy!"

The squirrel froze and turned around, then stared at him curiously. He gently brushed the top of its head, making it chirp and push its head deeper into his hand.

Blue lightly chuckled at the squirrel before it hopped onto his shoulders and started using his neck as its own personal back scratcher. "Well, aren't you a curious little one?"

Suddenly both of their ears perked up at the sound of a soft female's voice singing not too far away. Both Blue and the squirrel turned their heads to their far left, where they noticed the source of the singing, but only vaguely at the other side of the tree.

Slowly they approached the tree, and was met with the sight of a slim yellow pegasus mare with a long, pink mane and tail gently brushed to the side, and a pair of sapphire blue eyes. She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt with a green sleeveless dress that lowered halfway down her legs. Her hooves were bare, but appeared to be soft, despite her standing on the hard ground. Around both of her wrists were bracelets made entirely out of leaves and twigs. On her shoulders, her cutie marks appeared to be a trio of blue butterflies with pink wings.

Her singing was wordless, but her voice was soft enough to the point where words weren't even necessary. She sang with her eyes closed, and shortly following her, the birds within the tree tweeted the same tune, most of which in-sync with the rest.

Blue and the squirrel both had smiles on their faces at the sound of the pegasus's voice... so much, in fact, that they didn't notice when she opened her eyes and spotted them.

Her singing stopped and she let out a startled yelp. The squirrel quickly jumped onto the tree and climbed up while Blue, after being startled by the yelp, tumbled to the ground.

The pegasus slowly backed away, placed both arms behind her back, and hid her face behind her mane. Blue, on the other hand, quickly stood back up and stuttered, "O-oh, m-my g-g-gosh! I-I'm sorry f-for s-startling you, u-um... h-hi?" He backed up as well while smiling awkwardly.

The pegasus turned her eyes towards him and slightly waved her left hand at him.

"U-um... I... I h-heard you s-singing a little while ago... a-and, um... y-you... I... I think you have a beautiful voice."

She looked away again and backed up a couple more steps. Blue's eyes widened and he shook his hands frantically.

"W-wait! Um... y-you can carry on w-with your singing... um... I-I'll go... um... s-somewhere that's-" While stuttering, he was backing up even more. He didn't even notice the root that was sticking out before he fell backwards and yelped.

The mare looked at him and gasped, but before she could even say anything, he was on his hooves again. "Um-uh... oops? S-sorry, I'll just-" he hit the back of his head onto a branch and yelped again before turning back around and backing away from the branch... only to trip on the root once more.

"EEK!" He quickly regained his footing and turned his head towards the pegasus once again. "S-sorry f-for interrupting-" Again, he bashed his head onto the branch, but rather than stumble, he turned to where he was completely facing her and backing away once more, while rubbing the back of his head, "-interrupting y-your singing... um... g-good luck with that!" With that he turned and ran away, only to accidentally trip over the bench, which he quickly stood back up onto its legs and returned towards the town in a quick sprint. "SORRY!"

The mare hid her face behind her mane again, but placed her hands over her lips as a small smile formed on her face. Then she gently giggled before turning towards the squirrel that quickly climbed her shoulders. "Oh, my... I... I h-hope he's alright."

The squirrel shrugged its shoulders as they watched the now distant stallion stumble towards the town square again. Finally, when he was nowhere in sight, she sighed before looking at the squirrel again. "I, um... w-wonder if I'll see him again."

The squirrel nodded its head, which made her giggle again. "I take it you must've met him already, Mr. Squirrel?"

The squirrel nodded its head again before chirping.

"H-he... he seems to be good with animals, you say?"

Again, the squirrel nodded.

"W-well... I'm s-sure someone as, um... as... h-handsome as him is already spoken for, anyways."

With that in mind, she sighed again before turning to the squirrel with a curious expression on her face. "Um... w-would you like to hear us rehearse for Princess Celestia?"

After nodding its head, the squirrel jumped from her shoulders to the branch that repeatedly ambushed Blue's head. Then Fluttershy gingerly picked up a small twig that she was using to conduct with and cleared her throat. "A one... a two... a one, two, three, four..." With that, the birds began chirping the song that they were practicing.

Light Blue was just about to take flight from the entrance of the Mage Tower when an all-too-familiar tune began to play in front of the main gates. He turned his head towards the direction and gasped when he saw a white and gold chariot enter the front gates, while the guards in front of the gate stood in a salute.

"Well, now! It appears that the princess's apprentice has arrived at last!" he silently told himself with a smile before saluting the chariot as it passed by. He was able to vaguely catch a glimpse of the lavender mare and the young purple drake inside.

"I still can't believe they did that!" Mortar complained as he, Pestle, and Leoni left outside the building named "The Sleeping Meadow Inn". From inside, the receptionist, a yellow coated, blue maned earth pony mare, continued to stare at the three with a bored expression on her face as the door closed.

"Just because you have no bits, no less!" Pestle added to Mortar's rants. The two of them looked at each other with annoyed expressions.

"I tell you, Pestle... those waitresses didn't even look halfway decent, anyways!" Mortar stated matter-of-factly.

Pestle nodded his head while the two of them looked at the entrance in unison. "GREEDY WITLESS WITCHES!"

Leoni lightly chuckled and shrugged his shoulders before replying, "It's okay, you two. I'm sure I'll be able to figure out where I can sleep at the Town Hall. I just..." He paused for a moment when he noticed the crowds on the streets quickly rush to the sides, almost as if a leader was about to pass by.

"Quick, Leoni! To the corner!" Mortar and Pestle stated before pulling Leoni, by the arms, to a clear spot next to a market stall.

Before he could ask what was going on, the white and gold chariot came into view, silencing him, and causing him to eye it inquisitively. His jaw lowered when he was able to catch a glimpse of the mare inside it... a lavender coated unicorn mare. Her purple eyes seemed curious about the surroundings, and her right hand appeared to be rubbing the outer tip of her jaw.

She was wearing a light blue dress with golden pauldrons, and a few golden plates outside the dress. In her arms she held a strange brown book with golden corners and a golden unicorn emblem in the center of the front cover.

Her eyes were focused on the contents inside the book, but slowly they drifted outside of it. When she spotted Leoni, however, her eyes remained focused on him, until he noticed just what he was doing.

He gasped and quickly blinked, jerking his head away in the process. Then he rubbed his eyes and looked towards the satyr tapping on his left leg.

"Hello? Leoni, are you alright?" Mortar asked with slight worry in his tone.

Leoni cleared his throat and sheepishly smiled at him. "Oh, um... y-yes, sir. Sorry, I just... got a little carried away."

Pestle turned towards the chariot, then back at him before grinning smugly. "Oi, you hear that, Mortar? He's been swept away by the princess's disciple, Twilight Sparkle!"

Leoni's jaw dropped at that comment. He turned to Pestle with a shocked expression on his face. "I was not!"

The two satyrs burst into a fit of laughter before shaking their heads at him. "Oh, laddie... believe us when we say it, but she may be out of your reach... no offense!"

Leoni grumbled as the two satyrs began leading him towards the tavern again. Along the way, however, Leoni turned back towards Twilight and scratched the back of his hair in thought.

"So you're Twilight, huh? I don't get it... why do I feel like... like I know you already?"

As Twilight watched the strange man stare at her, she couldn't help but wonder who he was. The look that he was giving her made it evident that he had unspoken questions.

She was able to recall, during the last hour that she was in Canterlot, that she was supposed to be assigned someone to protect her, as the ancient traditions went. Despite that, however, she wasn't able to trust her life with anyone in Canterlot, primarily due to the fact that most were merely nobles who would only seek power.

"Um... Twilight?" Spike asked from beside her.

Twilight turned towards him curiously, then looked forward, as she saw the door to the carriage open. Turning to Spike again, Spike cleared his throat and pointed at the open door. "We're at our first stop... is something the matter?"

She blinked before shaking her head. "Nay, Spike. I was just... lost in thought, is all."

Spike chuckled before gently taking her hand and helping her out of the carriage. "Aren't you always? Seriously though, Twilight. You need to stop worrying so much, and try meeting with the locals! Mayhaps then you could make friends!"

Twilight sighed before turning his way. "Honestly, Spike! There wouldn't be time for us to make friends while I'm in the middle of checking the preparations! I apologize, but the side-note that Princess Celestia added to the letter must be put on the back of the schedule... and even then, I may have to delay it until after the schedule itself!"

Spike rolled his eyes and grumbled. "I just don't see what you have against meeting new faces, Twilight! In fact, you even turned down all of the Elites who were offering to protect you during the last thirty minutes that we were there!"

"It's not that I'm against meeting new faces, Spike! I didn't feel very comfortable with the way most of them were looking at me, is all... and those that didn't look at me in that kind of way didn't look like they would last long in a battle."

"Well... there's a guard tower here, Twilight! Mayhaps your protector is already here, and you didn't even know it?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and replied, "Nay, Spike! If anything, I don't even need a protector! I can take care of myself just fine, mind you!"

Spike shrugged his shoulders as they began to walk towards the Town Hall. "Well, at least consider making friends, okay?"

Twilight groaned out of frustration before turning towards him. "I just told you, Spike! I'll add that to my schedule when we- OOF!" Her sentence was cut short when she bumped into someone tall, and fell to the floor.

Looking up, she gasped when she saw Stone Heart look down at her with a glare on his face. "Oh, my! Please pardon me, sir."

Stone Heart snorted before retorting, "Why don't you watch where you're going, woman?!"

He turned to leave, but stopped when he heard Twilight venomously state, "Um, excuse me?!"

Stone rolled his eyes before turning back to her as she stood back up. "Look, woman. I don't have time for your-ACK!" His throat was quickly engulfed in a pink aura and his head was pulled down to where he was eye-level with her.

Twilight's eyes were glowing pure white at this point, and her mane and tail were slightly waving from the magic that was radiating from her. Just her very sight struck Stone with fear as he began to sweat profusely and stare wide-eyed at the enraged unicorn.

"I have half a mind to send the princess a report on your attitude and execute you right here on the spot... but as it stands, she's far too busy to be dealing with meat heads like you! Therefore, I will actually spare your pathetic life here... but as it stands, I'm the one who's preparing the Summer Sun Celebration this year, and I expect it to be perfect!" She pulled him closer to her while he began to breathe frantically, having just now realized who it was he was dealing with. "So help me, though, if something bad happens, you better pray that it wasn't your doing, or I will find you... and I will end your life before you even realize I'm there. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"

Stone gulped before stuttering, "Y-yes, m-m-ma'am! U-understood!"

She released him from her magical grip and nodding her head. "Good... then get out of my sight, or I'll call the guards on you. Threatening Princess Celestia's student can send you on the headsman's block, after all."

Without hesitation, Stone ran as fast as he could away from them, all while a small crowd began to gather around them. This made Twilight shift around uneasily before turning towards Spike again. "Mayhaps we should continue onward."

Spike nodded his head and followed her towards the Town Hall. As they walked, however, he looked up at her and asked, "Was that really necessary, Twilight? Mayhaps you could've been a little less... intimidating?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and turned towards him again. "Nay, Spike! Did you not see the way how he acted? Surely he would've done something terrible, if not tended to! And besides that, we have to- OOF!" Before she could finish her sentence, Twilight was bumped onto the floor again. This time, however, the one that bumped into her fell backwards as well.

In a high-pitched feminine voice, the other figure gasped and quickly rose to her feet before rushing towards Twilight. Then she began speaking in an almost completely incomprehensible speed.

"Oh my gosh! I am so so so sorry! I didn't see you there! Are you alright... um..." Twilight rubbed the back of her head and stood back up, noticing the extra pair of arms that were wrapped around her shoulders to help her do so. Then she opened her eyes, only to find another pair of eyes up in her face... a pair of blue eyes.

The other figure was an earth pony mare with a pink coat, and a darker pink mane and tail that were curly in multiple areas, fashioned with a pompadour-like sweep at the front. She was wearing a light blue frilly sleeveless vest over a yellow and white short-sleeved shirt. The skirt of her dress lowered halfway down her legs, but lifted around the corners, elevating the skirt to halfway down her thighs, while multiple white and yellow ruffles filled the gaps in-between, covering the yellow panties underneath.

She continued to stare at Twilight in shock, no longer capable of saying anything. Then she let out a loud gasp before dashing away at an alarmingly fast speed.

Twilight raised an eyebrow out of confusion before saying, "Well... that was... something..." She then shrugged her shoulders before turning to Spike again, who shrugged in response. "Well, then... I believe we best continue onward towards the Town Hall. Then we may have to check in with the preparations, once the mayor has been informed about our arrival."

Spike nodded his head and followed her as they continued on their way towards the location.

From the interior of the smithy, Leoni scratched the back of his neck uneasily as the black maned, white furred, shirtless minotaur blacksmith examined the sword that he was carrying, eying the tip of the blade, and scratching his chin in thought. Then he lightly chuckled before shaking his head and tossing it into a barrel with misshapen weapons of varying kinds.

"Nay, boy! If'n me own son knew the broad end of an axe from the thick tip of a war hammer, he'd know that that there blade's nothin' more than an accident waitin' ta happen!"

Leoni nodded his head while the minotaur began pulling him further inside the building. "W-well, I can't really say that I was expecting to get myself into any danger, anyways... I was mostly just here to ask if you happened to know if Justus and Lyra were busy at this time!"

Mortar and Pestle, who were following behind Leoni with amused grins on their faces, shrugged their shoulders. "Hey, if ol' Jaden Stormhammer here is offering you a free blade, then why not kill two birds with one stone, eh?"

Leoni shrugged his shoulders before replying, "I... guess so?" Then he looked up at Jaden and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Stormhammer."

Jaden chuckled before shaking his head and "gently" patting Leoni's back... which quickly told him where Edith must've gotten her strength from. (He was still baffled at how her father was a minotaur, but was able to put two and two together by the accents, along with the family name.)

While Leoni was regaining his footing, Jaden motioned towards a large assortment of swords, axes, and maces of varying sizes and shapes, which were hanging on a wall. "Think nothin' of it, friend! Anyone who befriends me daughter Edith an' me son Justus is welcome any time!" Then he winked at Leoni and added, "An' besides! When the locals see ye roamin' around with an ol' shabby blade such as yer last one, they might be gettin' ideas on who the louse blacksmith was... an' I 'ave a reputation to uphold! Can't have lousy weaponry while under my watch, aye?"

Leoni nodded his head and rubbed his chin, examining the multitude of swords. Finally he spotted a peculiar sword that stood out from the rest; a longsword that was thick around two inches from the handle, with a crescent shape beyond the two inches that sunk the blade deeper inside, with the tips untouched by the crescent dent, giving the blade extra weight for faster swings, but with the tips sharpened to allow cleaner cuts. The handle was a darkened golden color, yet it appeared to be polished enough, revealing it to be a newly crafted weapon.

Jaden looked from Leoni to the sword he was staring at, and smiled widely. "Ah, ye gots quite an eye there, laddie! That right there be me pride an' joy, 'Courage'!"

Leoni tilted his head confusedly at the statement, but with his eyes still locked onto the sword. "Courage?"

Jaden nodded his head and smiled. "Indeed! 'Tis an enchanted blade! It ain't for sale, but is actually a gift for Princess Celestia! Or rather, it's meant for the one who's destined to protect her student, should he ever be chosen! It's even been enchanted with crystal augmentations, allowing any enchantments on the blade to be elevated above the average power!" He then wrapped his right arm around Leoni's shoulders and inched closer to him. "An' I even 'ave a sayin' fer it! Ye fight with Courage, an' yer bound ta win all the battles ye face!"

Leoni nodded his head and shifted around nervously. "That's... very interesting, Mr. Stormhammer! I... think I'll just take a longsword, and be on my way, though... if that's okay? I really need to find a place to stay, though."

Jaden released Leoni from his grasp and nodded his head with an understanding smile. "Aye, lad. I'll see what I can get ye, then!"

It took him a few minutes, but after finding a proper sized longsword for Leoni, he handed it to him and waved good-bye. While Leoni, Mortar, and Pestle left, however, they caught sight of Twilight walking through the marketplace, but her mane and tail were a mess, and her robe appeared to have a few wet spots on it. From the looks of the direction she was moving, she must've been on her way towards the large building with a carousel-like shape to it... "The Carousel Boutique".

Remembering that Rarity would be busy, Leoni decided against paying her a visit, and chose to head towards the tavern again, where he would wait for Edith to finish with what she was doing, and ask her for advice.

As Twilight and Spike entered the building, Twilight was too occupied with her complaints with her recent "meeting" with a certain rainbow-maned mare, who was apparently fast enough to clear the skies in ten seconds, yet lazy enough to wait it out until the last minute.

"Honestly, Spike! Of all the arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious, loathsome, bitter, spiteful, lazy, insanitary, crazy-" as she spoke, Spike rolled his eyes and checked around the area, smiling at the beauty of the decorations.

"Wow, Twilight... wouldn't you say that the decorations are looking rather beautiful?"

Twilight paused her bickering and blinked once before smiling and looking around at the room as well. "Oh, my! Indeed, it is a rather impressive display!"

Both of their attention was quickly drawn towards a female with a Manehattan Noble accent, who was floating several ribbons in front of her, while adLeonig them with her hands.

She was a white coated unicorn with a fancy curled mane and tail, and a pair of dark blue eyes. She was wearing a dark purple bell-bottom dress with a pure white t-shirt underneath. Her hands were covered in purple gloves that matched her dress and rose up to her elbows. Her hooves, though covered by the dress, sounded like they were covered by high heeled slippers.

"Nay, this fashion is too old... mayhaps this one?" she muttered to herself before floating a red ribbon in front of her eyes.

Twilight sighed and slowly began walking towards her, while Spike followed her with a comforting smile on his face. "She appears to know what she's doing, at least... mayhaps she won't bring trouble, right Spike?"

Spike nodded his head and replied, "That's right, Twilight!"

When Twilight was mere meters behind the other unicorn, she cleared her throat and began speaking. "Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I have come here from-"

"Oh, just a minute, darling. I am in the zone right now, and must concentrate if I am to find the proper pattern for the ribbons in the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala."

Twilight nodded her head and smiled. "Of course! I'm guessing you must be Lady Rarity?"

The mare nodded her head and replied, "Indeed... do please accept my most sincerest apologies, though! I must ensure that I find the proper choice for the princess's student once she arrives! After all, it is her that I must impress first!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow before pressing her right hand on her own chest. "Well if you must know, I am-"

"AHA! Now this is the one that could work!" Rarity interrupted before floating a different red ribbon in front of her face. What made this one stand out was a multitude of jewels encrusted on it, giving it an extra bright and shiny appearance.

Rarity nodded at the ribbon in approval before turning towards Twilight and Spike, though with her eyes closed. "Now that I may have found the proper ribbon, I can help you with your orders!" She opened her eyes again and began. "Now, how may I help y-AAH! OH, SWEET MOTHER AND FATHER OF CELESTIA! DARLING, WHAT IN EQUESTRIA HAPPENED TO YOUR COIFFURE?!"

Twilight was taken aback by the sudden change of Rarity's composure. Then she looked up and noticed some of her mane, which was curled and misshapen in multiple areas. "My mane? Oh, it was nothing. I was planning on combing it again when I made it home. For now, though, I was just planning on checking with the decorations, and I would be out of your hair."

Rarity shook her head and rushed behind Twilight in a white and purple blur. "Darling, I can honestly say that it's not my hair that you should be worried about!" She then turned to Spike and smiled. "Excuse me, young drake. May you please pass me the grooming kit over by the table there?" She quickly caught Twilight in a magic binding, disabling her from moving, while motioning towards a thick red box with a label of a comb, scissors, and measuring tape on its top.

Spike nodded his head and replied, "Of course I-" before he could finish his sentence, however, he was interrupted by a high-pitched filly's voice from the other side of a hallway.

"I'll get it!" Spike turned towards the hallway just in time to spot a white coated unicorn filly with a curly, bright purple mane and tail, and a pair of emerald green eyes. She was wearing a thin, bright yellow dress that lowered halfway down her knees, a light blue short-sleeved shirt, yellow panties that covered her entire legs, and a pair of black loafers on her hooves.

She appeared to be close to Spike's age, which was ten years old, but her body shape made it clear that she may have actually been a year or two younger. Regardless, though, when Spike saw her eyes, his entire face began to glow a bright red, and he stopped moving and stared in awe. He even began to feel the sweat fall from his forehead and his palms, but he couldn't understand what could've been the cause of it.

While he was lost in thought, Rarity lightly giggled and nodded her head at the filly who picked the kit up. "Oh, yes, of course! I completely forgot that you were visiting today, Sweetie Belle!" She then turned to Spike and lightly chuckled. "Never mind, dear! It would seem that my little sister shall be aiding me in this makeover!"

Spike, however, was lost in his own world as he watched Sweetie Belle run past him, almost unaware of his presence. Then he unceremoniously followed the two of them as they began heading towards a room in the back, where Twilight would be fitted into multiple outfits against her will.

Leoni sighed as he sat in the loud tavern. From the party table, he noticed that the original crowd was now replaced with a huge number of earth ponies who appeared to have come from a long line of apple-related relatives. One of them in particular happened to be Applejack, who was talking to her older brother, Big McIntosh during the whole five minutes that they've gotten there. Two minutes in, and Mortar and Pestle were in on the conversation they were having, also, leaving Leoni alone to sit at the table he was at.

From around the table, there appeared to be several apple-related treats, each of which were being exchanged with other members of the family, more than likely as a way to have their foods tested by other relatives before being used in the 'Summer Sun Celebration' that he kept hearing so much about.

He was so lost in thought, however, that he didn't notice Applejack walking his way.

"Well, howdy there, Sugarcube! Ah haven't seen y'all around here before! Ain't y'all that human that was found in the Everfree Forest this mornin'?" came Applejack's voice from directly behind him.

Leoni slightly jumped at the sudden intrusion of his concentration. When he saw her concerned look, however, he smiled and gently nodded his head. "Oh, um... y-yes, ma'am. Sorry, I was just... lost in thought, is all."

Applejack lightly chuckled before nodding her head and taking a seat next to him. "Believe me, Sugarcube. Ah can tell y'all have more on y'alls mind than there needs to be... is there somethin' troublin' y'all?"

Leoni sighed and nodded his head, but weakly smiled at her. "That obvious, huh?"

Applejack shrugged her shoulders. "Jus' figured as much, what with that frown y'all had since Ah've gotten here fer my family reunion. Y'all seem like a nice guy, though, so Ah figured Ah'd try helpin' y'all out... or at least be an ear that listens."

Leoni nodded his head and looked at the empty space on the table in front of him. "Well... as you may know, I just got here. Unfortunately, though, I don't have anywhere to go, I don't have any money with me to pay for a place to stay, and to top it all off, I don't have a job to help me earn any money for a place to stay... just kinda worried about what I'll do by the end of the day, is all."

Applejack rubbed her chin in thought before nodding at Leoni. "Well, Ah've got a barn over in mah farm that ain't bein' used... mayhaps y'all can sleep there fer the night? An' if y'all are lookin' fer work, Ah could use some help with the wheat fields a little ways past the orchard!"

Leoni rubbed his chin in thought before smiling at her. "You'd really just let a stranger like me help you like that? Um... thank you, I'd be honored... but are you sure, though?"

Applejack nodded her head and gently patted Leoni on the back. "Sure as sugar, friend! Here in this town, we ain't one to judge a book by its cover, 'till we've seen what that book's contents have in 'em!" She then gave him a sly wink. "An' besides, if y'all try anythin', Ah can jus' send Big Mac after y'all!"

Leoni's eyes widened at that name. "Big Mac... as in Big McIntosh, the stallion that can beat a minotaur in an arm wrestle?!"

She nodded her head and chuckled. "'S right! An' he also happens ta be mah older brother!"

Leoni nodded his head and scratched the back of his head nervously. "Duly noted... n-not that I even had any bad intentions, anyways!"

Applejack shrugged her shoulders and stood back up before giving Leoni another reassuring pat on the back. "Exactly the reason why Ah'm offerin' y'all a place ta stay in the first place!"

Just turned to face her again and nodded his head in appreciation. "Thank you, um..." He then gasped and stood up. "Oh, gosh! I completely forgot to introduce myself!" He then offered his hand to her. "My name's-"

"Leoni, correct?" Applejack cut through his sentence before chuckling and taking his hand and shaking it firmly. "Mortar an' Pestle told me a bit about y'all already, which is another reason' why Ah'm bein' open with y'all. An' mah name's Applejack, by the way. Nice ta meet y'all."

Leoni nodded his head again and smiled sheepishly. "R-right... well... thank you for the kind gesture. I'll definitely accept, as long as I'm not being too much of a bother."

Applejack shook her head and began heading back to her family. "'T ain't a problem fer me, Sugarcube." Then she rubbed her chin in thought before snapping her finger and thumb together. "Ah know! How 'bout Ah introduce y'all to mah family?"

Leoni shook his head and smiled sheepishly. "S-sorry, but I really don't want to burden you more than I may already be- huh?!"

Before Leoni could react, he was already being dragged towards the table via Applejack's hand to his wrist. She didn't even seem to be fazed by his height in the slightest, and she had a wide smile on her face as she dragged him over to the party table. "Again, Sugarcube, Ah ain't burdened in the slightest!"

In the matter of seconds, Leoni was seated in the table while a majority of the Apple Family surrounded him from left to right. Their eyes were all focused on him as he stared wide-eyed at the huge pile of food on the table in front of him.

"R-really, I don't even think I can even manage all this food, let alone eat it!" Leoni nervously said. The crowd, however, didn't even seem fazed, as they continued adding more of their foods for him to try.

The sound of another female's voice on the other side of the table added, "Tell me about it! I was just sent here to check the samples, not sample the food!"

Leoni looked up at the source of the voice and shifted in his seat so that he could get a glimpse of her past the pile of food. His eyes widened when he saw Twilight on the other side, who was also shifting in her seat to get a good look at him.

They just stared at each other blankly before Leoni cleared his throat. "Um... split the portions fifty-fifty?"

She blinked once before nodding her head and eying the massive family around them. "Um... s-sure?"

The two of them picked up a fork, and reluctantly, began to eat the first of the food items... a large pie.

From behind the tavern, in a secluded area, Leoni held a pile of hay for Twilight, for once she finished vomiting out the contents in her overinflated stomach into a large wooden barrel.

"Ugh... I think they had way too much pie in those dishes..." she grumbled before heaving her head over the bucket again.

Leoni nodded his head and winced at the sounds that he heard coming from the barrel. "Tell me about it... I might actually have nightmares involving pies!"

Despite the pain in her gut, Twilight lightly chuckled. "I know how you feel..." She paused for a moment before sighing. "I... t-think that's got it..."

Leoni nodded his head and walked towards her. When he held the hay her way, she looked at it then nodded her head in appreciation and began wiping her lips with it, before tossing the dirty hay in the barrel.

"Thank you," she said before turning back to Leoni. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who this town chooses to torment... though I'd prefer they not torment us at all!"

Leoni nodded his head and lightly chuckled. "Yeah... likewise. All I've been trying to do is find a place to stay... and after this incident, I'm slightly worried about taking that Applejack person up on her offer."

Twilight nodded her head and sighed before suddenly raising an eyebrow. "Hey, wait a minute... aren't you that man from earlier that was staring at me when my carriage was arriving?"

Leoni blinked before scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Oh, geez... I'm sorry if I was staring. I was just lost in thought, is all."

Twilight deadpanned at him before crossing her arms over her chest. "You wouldn't happen to be another Noble from Canterlot trying to win my favor to become my guardian, would you?"

Leoni's eyes shot open and he quickly waved his hands defensively. "N-no! I mean, I... I don't think I am! I just-"

Twilight groaned and planted her face into her right palm. "Oh, COME ON! And here I thought I would be getting a break from all of this insanity!"

Leoni shook his head and replied, "W-wait! I swear, I don't even know most of anything!"

Twilight's deadpan turned into a glare. "Most of anything... is that what you're trying to use to win my favor?!"

Leoni backed away from her, but tripped over an empty bucket and landed on his butt. "No! What I mean to say is-"

"Forget it! Just... just..." Twilight sighed before turning her back to him. "Just don't try anything whenever the Summer Sun Celebration begins... okay?!"

Leoni gulped and nodded his head, but said nothing. Then Twilight huffed and stomped around the building, more than likely headed towards the park.

Leoni scratched the back of his head nervously before muttering, "Um... what just happened?"

Twilight silently growled as she continued to storm through the road. "Of all the... and here I thought the damned Nobles wouldn't be here! HERE of all places!"

After a short while of searching around, she finally noticed Spike sitting on a bench. Sitting next to him was the yellow pegasus mare with a long pink mane. She had an amazed expression on her face as Spike talked to her about trivial dragon details.

When she noticed Twilight, however, she gasped and backed away. Spike tilted his head confusedly before turning around, only to chuckle when he found Twilight headed their way. Then he turned towards the mare and said, "Ah, don't worry, Fluttershy! That's just Twilight Sparkle, my older sister I've told you about!"

Fluttershy stared at Twilight nervously a few more seconds before weakly smiling at her and bowing her head politely. "U-um... okay... h-hello, Lady Twilight Sparkle. M-my name is F-Fluttershy... u-um... a-are you here to check up on the m-m-music, by any chance?"

Twilight weakly smiled at Fluttershy before shaking her head and replying, "Actually, I was just here to pick up Spike... but now that you mention it, I suppose I could check up on the progress."

Spike, however, shook his head and smiled. "Nay, Twilight... I've already listened to her, and approved of it. Besides, I knew you've been having a troubling day, and felt that you could use a helping hand."

Twilight's smile widened at his statement before nodding her head. "Really, now? Well... thank you, Spike!" Then she sighed in relief before gently patting him on his scalp.

Spike nodded his head and chuckled before hopping up from the bench and walking next to Twilight. "Any time, Twilight! So... how did the food situation go?"

Twilight winced and avoided eye contact. "I'd... rather not talk about it, mind you."

Spike scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "That bad, huh?"

She rolled her eyes and said, "You have no idea! Right now, I think what I need to do is rest!"

Fluttershy tapped Twilight on the back of the shoulders. When Twilight turned around, Fluttershy then asked, "Um... i-is it okay if I tagged along with you? I promise, I will not be a bother."

Twilight shrugged her shoulders before replying, "As long as you don't bombard me with questions, then I'm okay with that."

Fluttershy smiled and bowed her head politely again. "T-thank you! Um... s-so, Spike... where were we at in our conversation?"

Little did Twilight know that the voyage to her home was going to be filled with questions, but directed to Spike... much to her annoyance.

From the Canterlot Barracks, Twilight Velvet began walking towards the castle. The sun was narrowing towards the edge of the horizon... night time was just about to begin... and with it, the start of the Summer Sun Celebration. More citizens were up at the time, fully awake for the longest day of the year.

Even so, she didn't appear to have a smile on her face. Her eyes were glued to a letter that she tried sending to Princess Celestia hours ago... a letter that was returned as quickly as it was sent.

At first she thought nothing of it, believing that it must've just been Day Court. She tried again later on during the day, but it yielded the same results. Finally, after a third time, she began to worry.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, however, her worries only grew as she saw her son, Shining Armor, as well as a large platoon of soldiers, lined up at the entrance while her husband, a dark blue coated stallion with an even darker blue mane and tail, piercing gold eyes, and gold armor with purple and white trimmings, yelled orders at each platoon; a troubled expression on all of their faces.

When she made it into the courtyard she shouted, "GENERAL LIGHT, SIR! STATUS REPORT!"

Night looked at her and shook his head. "Princess Celestia has gone missing!"

Velvet's eyes widened at that statement. Then she quickly rushed towards a platoon of soldiers who didn't have a leader in front of them, as she listened to the rest of Night's speech.

"THE PRINCESS HAS GONE MISSING! AND WHILE IT'S A MYSTERY HOW THE SUN IS EVEN MOVING, STILL, WE MUSTN'T TURN A BLIND EYE! CAPTAIN SHINING ARMOR, YOUR GROUP WILL BE SHIPPED TO PONYVILLE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WHERE A SEARCH PARTY SHALL BE MADE! SILVER STRIPES! YOUR GROUP SHALL BE SHIPPED TOWARDS THE ROADS IN-BETWEEN, SHOULD A BANDIT RAID HAVE BEEN MADE! THE REST OF US SHALL REMAIN IN CANTERLOT, AND SEARCH EVERY CORNER OF THE ROADS! LEAVE NO CRACK UNCHECKED! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"

"SIR, YES SIR!" came the shout of every soldier in the city. The pegasi then quickly took flight, while the unicorns and earth ponies began their march towards their destinations. Shining and Velvet both had troubled looks on their faces as they passed by each other.

Velvet then quickly leaned up to Shining and whispered, "Make sure Twilight and Spike are safe."

Shining saluted her and nodded his head. Then the two parted ways, with their platoons following close behind.

Leoni sighed as he began following close behind the large crowds of people stampeding towards the Town Hall. He didn't really understand most of what was going on, but a quick tip from Edith gave him enough knowledge to simply remain behind everyone if he valued his life. Sure enough, he vowed that he would thank her as soon as he saw her again.

He was able to catch a glimpse inside the Golden Oak Library, where he heard an ear-shattering "SURPRISE!" blast through the windows, but he knew better than to join the party uninvited... even though he was informed that it was a public domain, anyways. Regardless, though, he knew better than to be anywhere around Twilight Sparkle... especially after their strange meeting.

"I only hope she calms down by the time this day ends," he commented to himself, "I don't want there to be any bad feelings between us... or anyone else for that matter!"

"Hey! Wait up, Leoni!" came a trio of all-too-familiar voices from behind him. When Leoni turned around, he sighed in relief when he found Justus, Lyra, and Magnificent headed towards him from the other side of the dirt road.

"Hey! It's good to see you three again!" Leoni said with a smile.

When the trio joined him, they began speaking to each other about how their days went. As it turned out, they were free the whole time.

When Leoni finished his story, the three of them were staring at him in shock.

Justus was the first to react, however. He sighed and shook his head before planting his face into his right palm. "I should've known the responsibilities would get to her at some point..."

Lyra, however, gently rubbed the back of Leoni's shoulders and gave him a comforting smile. "Don't worry, Leoni! Justus and I actually know her on a personal level, so we can help straighten things out between you both! Mag even knows the princess, so he could even vouch for you as well!"

Leoni weakly smiled at the three of them before nodding his head. "Thanks, you three... I greatly appreciate it."

They nodded their heads while Magnificent chipped in. "Hey, if you've changed your mind about the whole 'living in the barn' thing, then I happen to have a spare guest bedroom in my house!"

Lyra deadpanned at him before replying, "What does Minuette have to say about that, though?"

He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Eh, she and I have been married for a year, now! We're more controlled when it comes to showing our affection around others... unlike some people I know!"

Justus and Lyra lightly snickered at his annoyance while Leoni lightly chuckled at the three. Sure enough, as long as they were in the town, nothing could go wrong.

Finally, after the crowd began to grow silent, the sound of trumpets and birds filled the room. The lights died down, and all eyes were now turned towards the front stage, where the mayor, a tan coated earth pony mare with a slightly curled silver mane and tail, dark blue eyes, and a brown and white frilly dress stood in front of the podium in the center.

Twilight eyed the moon nervously while Spike looked towards the stage, eagerly waiting for the princess to show up.

The sound of a familiar voice clearing his throat caught Twilight's attention. When she turned towards it, however, she gasped when she saw Shining Armor standing in a dark, shady corner.

She left Spike staring in awe, oblivious to Shining's voice, and snuck towards him with a smile on her face.

"Shiny! I'm so glad you could make it! Is Mother here?" she whispered, only to stop in place when she saw the worried look on his face. "Shining... what's wrong?"

Shining sighed before looking both directions and motioning for her to move towards him. "It's the princess! I... I think that she's-"

Mayor Mare's voice finally filled their ears, though it was clear she was already speaking while they weren't paying attention. "And now, presenting... The Princess of Equestria... Princess Celestia!"

The red curtains behind the podium quickly lifted up, and a light spell was cast in the center of the stage, where Princess Celestia would be standing... only to find the stage empty.

A multitude of gasps filled the room.

Justus, Lyra, and Magnificent quickly stood up and drew their weapons, while Leoni quickly stood from his seat and backed up a couple steps, gripping onto the handle of his sword with caution, but refraining from drawing it unless threatened.

The rest of the guards in the room did the same before looking around in every possible direction. Mutterings began to echo through the room, and a frightened look began to form on every face within.

Twilight's worried look turned into a glare as her horn began to glow. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she had a bad feeling about it.

Several gasps filled the room, breaking her concentration, and causing her to look at the stage again.

From the dark corner of the back of the stage, a pair of snakelike light blue eyes glowed, a horn between and above the eyes glowed a light blue color, and a pair of massive bat-like wings flared from the sides of the unknown entity. The entity took a couple steps from the light, revealing it to be Nightmare Moon, still clad in the armor she wore when facing Princess Celestia earlier that day.

She grinned wickedly, revealing her intimidatingly long fangs. "Ah... if it isn't our beloved subjects! How... good it is to finally see you all again! It's been far too long!"

Mayor Mare quickly rushed off the stage before turning towards Nightmare Moon with a glare on her face.

"Oh, why the long faces? Are We not good enough for thy sun-loving faces? Dost thou not recall the legends? Did thou surely not expected Us to appear?"

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR PRINCESS, YOU MONSTER?!" Rainbow Dash shouted before flying towards Nightmare Moon, only to be stopped by Applejack, who quickly grabbed a hold of her tail, and caused her to fall back down to the ground, giving her an annoyed glare.

"Rainbow! She's a buckin' Alicorn! There's no way that y'all can handle her on yer own!" she whispered in an annoyed tone to the athletic mare.

Rainbow huffed before folding her arms, though she continued to glare at Nightmare Moon, who was now looking their way.

"Ah... it would seem that our sister hath not told thee about us, yet! Pity, We were actually looking forward to entering a festival held for us, instead of her!"

From the left side of the guards that formed a barrier to stop her from escaping, Light Blue shouted, "AND JUST WHO ARE YOU, EXACTLY?!"

Nightmare Moon took a deep breath and was about to reply, but before she could, Twilight stepped forward and answered, "I know who you are! You are the one from the legends... you are The Mare of the Moon... Nightmare Moon!"

The entire crowd gasped at her accusation, before several of the civilians began rushing outside of the building, parents holding their fillies and foals.

Nightmare Moon lightly chuckled before folding her arms onto her chest and focusing on her. "Well, now... it would appear that We do still have a reputation, though through limited ears... who art thou, exactly?"

Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then her horn started to glow a lavender color, while behind her eyelids, her eyes glowed pure white. Then her entire body was engulfed in a light, and in the blink of an eye, she was now wearing her purple and gold chained robe, and holding onto a crystal staff.

"I am Twilight Sparkle... Student of Princess Celestia, herself! And you... shall tell us where you've taken her!"

Nightmare Moon tilted her head confusedly before grinning and raising her right hand in the air. Then, at the snap of a finger, a large gust of wind knocked almost everyone inside the room onto the ground, save for Twilight, a couple of the guards in the back, and Leoni, who was only still standing because he was cornered onto a wall.

The guards began to stand back up, but before they could, they were all engulfed in a purple mist, and held to the ground.

Twilight's horn and staff began to glow a lavender color before she cast a lightning spell at Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon, however, vanished into the shadows, causing Twilight to gasp and look around the area.

From far behind her, Twilight was unable to notice Nightmare Moon rise from her shadow with her sword drawn, and in the air. When Twilight spotted her, her ears sunk down, her pupils dilated, and her jaw dropped as she found herself frozen, and unable to move.

Before Nightmare Moon could strike, however, a rainbow-colored blur knocked her into the wall, and shattered an abandoned table. When she stood back up, she saw Rainbow Dash standing in front of Twilight, but with a pair of iron gauntlets over her hands. When Twilight turned around, she noticed four of the other mares she met throughout the day.

Applejack was standing beside Rainbow Dash in front, carrying an oddly shaped sword in her left hand with several horizontal cracks that went around the blade in multiple spots from top to bottom.

Pinkie Pie stood behind her, holding one-handed crossbows in each hand. Her mane and tail were completely deflated, and a menacing glare was all that she was giving.

Rarity stood at the back-left corner of Twilight, holding a diamond staff in both hands. She already had a protective bubble around them all in the center of the room.

Fluttershy knelt at Twilight's back-right corner, holding a wand with an emerald attached to the tip of it. Despite everyone glaring at Nightmare Moon, however, she was still staring at her in fear.

Nightmare Moon lightly chuckled before her eyes began glowing pure white. "Ah, what have we here? Looks like this... shall get interesting, indeed!" She then reached her left hand into the air and snapped her fingers, causing a purple crystal to appear in it. Then she stretched her arm back and hurled the crystal towards the shield bubble. To her shock, however, the crystal shattered at the impact.

"Huh... not quite as weak as We thought..." she licked her lips with her snakelike tongue and grinned even wider, "We are so going to enjoy this, indeed!"

At another snap of a finger, she managed to create several more of the purple crystals. Then she sent them all flying towards the shield bubble at once. This time, however, the impact of the force began to show, as Rarity began to flinch at the crystals' attacks. Her nose began to bleed, and she was starting to fall to her knees.

Finally, after another crystal, the shield bubble was broken.

Nightmare Moon then charged up another shadow crystal bolt and hurled it towards Twilight. Before it could reach her, however, the shield bubble reappeared, causing Nightmare Moon to growl and turn towards Rarity, who was standing up again, with the blood from her nose no longer dripping. Then she turned towards Fluttershy, whose eyes were glowing green as she held her wand towards Rarity, healing her of her wounds.

Nightmare finally chuckled before drawing her sword again. "Very well, then... thou leaves us no choice!" She then sliced horizontally at the shield bubble, causing a huge gust of wind to blow through it, which made all six of the mares within fly back and stumble to the ground, slightly dazed.

Twilight, however, was quick to recover and teleported herself back into a standing position with another spell ready to be cast.

Nightmare Moon then quickly vanished into the shadows again, but not before pinning the others onto the ground like the rest of the guards.

Shining Armor glared and continued to try breaking free from the spell binding him to the ground. Then he managed to spot Leoni, who was still pinned at the corner, unsure of what to do.

"You, there!" Shining whispered loud enough to catch Leoni's attention. When Leoni turned towards him, he snuck towards him and crouched to where he was ear-to-mouth with him. "You have a blade... use it, and protect Twilight!"

Leoni gulped before looking towards the exit... only to find Nightmare Moon's snakelike eyes staring right back at him. He gasped and backed into the center of the room while Twilight looked at him and groaned. "Great... now I'm trapped here with the damned fool that's trying to get inside my panties!"

Leoni looked at her confusedly before retorting in an equally annoyed tone, "What?! Lady, I barely even know you, let alone myself, and you actually accuse me of trying that?! What the hell even gave you that idea to begin with?!"

Twilight snorted out of frustration as she continued scanning the area. "I don't know! Maybe the simple fact that you've been stalking me?!"

Leoni groaned before shaking his head as he continued scanning the area with Twilight, back-to-back. "First of all, I wasn't stalking you! I was staring at you because I was lost in thought, thinking I might've seen you somewhere before! Second of all, I could barely even think straight because I've been through a lot of trouble in one day, what with losing my memories, waking up in the middle of a damn forest, and being told that I'm some sort of anomaly, or something like that!"

Twilight's eyes widened and she quickly turned towards him. "Wait, you're the anomaly?!"

Leoni rolled his eyes and turned towards her. "Well, yeah! What did you exp-OH SHIT!"

Leoni quickly reached his left arm around Twilight's shoulders and tackled her to the ground, right as a black and purple ray of energy shot right past them.

Twilight yelped as the two of them landed, but her head was protected by Leoni's right hand, which no longer held his sword, due to him dropping it. When she opened her eyes, however, her face quickly turned red when she saw Leoni lying over her with his face about a foot away from her own. When he opened his eyes, however, his face quickly turned as red as hers.

"Um... y-you okay?" he asked nervously.

She nodded her head and replied, "Um... I... t-think so?"

Their attention was broken when they heard a sinister chuckle coming from Leoni's right, and Twilight's left. They turned around, only to notice Nightmare moon standing several meters away from them with another ball of black and purple energy hovering over her left hand.

"How cute... too bad thou both shall die together!"

She stretched her arm back just in time for Leoni to stand up and dash towards her, causing Twilight to gasp and yell for him to wait.

As soon as Nightmare Moon's blast headed towards him, however, the ball of energy grew immensely. Instinctively, Leoni stretched his left hand in front of his face to block the light and to flinch at the incoming projectile.

Once the ball of energy touched his hand, however, he let out a loud gasp as his eyes began to glow pure white. His left hand then started to radiate a golden glow, and the ball of energy stopped at his grasp, causing all jaws in the room to drop, and all eyes to widen. Even Nightmare Moon stood in shock at the sight before her.

Leoni gritted his teeth as the burn form the energy began to make his left hand simmer and smoke. Finally, a voice in the back of his head told him to deflect the blast.

After balling his right fist up, Leoni stretched his right arm behind his back before punching the ball of energy away from him... and directly towards Nightmare Moon.

The force of the impact caused her to scream at the top of her lungs and send her flying into the stage again, while disabling the spells that bound all the people to the ground.

Leoni and Nightmare Moon panted heavily while Nightmare Moon's eyes began to pulse from their snake-like shape to a much more normal shape. She tried to stand back up, but fell to her knees and had to grip onto the podium to return to her hooves.

Then she shakily raised her right hand up to him and pointed directly at his glowing eyes. "Y-you... h-how... how did..."

Most of the guards from the front quickly reclaimed their weapons and began marching towards her with angry glares on their faces. The rest, however, were still staring at Leoni with shocked expressions.

Nightmare Moon glared at the guards that approached her. She knew that she was too injured to fight now, and had to make an escape. To aid her in doing so, however, she drew her sword again and used it as a crutch, before walking inside the shadows of the back of the stage. As she entered the shadows, however, a large swarm of pitch black knights in armor with glowing red eyes stepped out of the shadows with their weapons drawn.

The soldiers' attention was shifted from Nightmare Moon to the shadowy figures. The soldiers began to sweat, due to the fact that they were outnumbered.

Suddenly a multitude of loud crashes sounded from overhead, as several more Canterlot Guards began falling in.

Shining Armor looked towards the entrance of the room, only to find Blue Light rushing inside with a determined look on his face. "REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED!"

As the soldiers rushed into battle, Leoni fell to his knees, staring at his hands and breathing heavily. Twilight quickly rushed up to him, followed by Justus, Lyra, and Magnificent.

Magnificent looked at him worriedly. "Leoni! Are you alright?!"

Leoni's vision blurred rapidly, and his ears loudly rang through his head. He was able to just barely see the silhouettes of Justus, Lyra, and Magnificent rushing his way, while Twilight quickly held onto his arms to help keep him up... but to no avail.

As his vision went completely dark, all he could hear was Magnificent's blurry voice.

"Leoni! Are you alright?!"

And then... everything went silent.

To Be Concluded

And... done with this next chapter! Sorry for the delay, been going through a lot of things these past few months!

Anyways, so I've decided to change the whole "POV Switch" thing, since it might've seemed a bit unnecessary.

So, yeah... while the link to the ending credits say "TO BE CONCLUDED", don't think that that means the story is about to end! It just means that this marks the beginning of the end of the first official part of this story!

And now, I must go wash my brain out with a whole gallon of tea...

As always, if you've enjoyed this story, feel free to leave a "Like" and a comment down on the "Comments" section below! All the support will lead to a new chapter! (Hopefully even sooner than this one took me to write!)