So, it's been a few days since Appleloosa, and a certain project I was working on was nearly done. Artemis/Twilight and Selene/Rarity-I refer to them as that because I do not know what they want me to call them-were understandably upset that they weren't able to see the other bearers, but also happy to be with their mother again. As far as I knew, they were a little nervous around Starlight-understandable, given history-the changelings-again, history-and a few of the soldiers from Sombra's forces that had left. Still, given what happened in the town, everyone was on high alert.

Now, you're probably wondering what project I was working on for it to take a few days. Let's just say it was something big, and leave it at that for now, okay. Fortunately, though, it was nearly done, to the point, actually, where I simply needed to personally activate it. Yeah, no way for me to get around that one.

Anyway, once I was sure it was done, I got up from where I sat in a meditative stance, and back to where the rest of the army was. To be safe, we had spread out in groups so as to prevent crowding, each with a different designate, with my camp, which consisted of myself, Luna, her daughters, Lone, Mist, Quick, Azure, Onyx, and Starlight, being designated Alpha.

Right now, everyone was around the camp fire at the center of our camp. There was no food over it, them having already eaten, and my suit being able to help me focus while eating so work on the project wouldn't diminish. "So, anypony got any good stories?" Mist asked. "'Cause I hate awkward silence."

"Doesn't look like it, Mist," Onyx said as I came into their view. "Hey, Josh. Finally decided to speak with us?"

I chuckled as I replied, "Just finishing something up I plan on showing everyone later."

"And what would that be?" Twilight-screw it, I'm going with their show names until I know for sure-asked.

"Just a little something to help with where we all sleep right now," was all I said as I took off my helmet and sat down on the grass next to Luna. "So, considering everything, how are you guys doing?"

"Considering that our aunt probably knows who we are now," Rarity replied, "and can probably guess why, as well as the fact we see the girls in the dream world, good. Though believe me, I do still want you to pay fr what you did at Ponyville, Josh."

I shrugged. "How about after we end this war, which does bring me to what I wanted to talk about since Appleloosa, but haven't been able to since I began work on the project."

"And what would that be?" Lone asked

"Simple," I said. "We kill Sharp and try to bring the others to a peace conference."

"If only it were that simple," Luna said. "There are those on both sides within the military that want the war to continue, whether for personal reasons or to remove a threat to their side, I don't know. Simply killing Sharp won't make them stop, and they'll pressure the leaders of both sides into continuing the war."

"Yeah, maybe," I said. "But something tells me that having a few national heroes protesting the war will work in the opposite way. You know," I said, looking at Rarity and Twilight, "if you two are up for it, Twilight, Rarity."

"I don't see why not," Rarity said. "As long as that disgrace for a general is unable to do anything to sabotage it."

"I figured that," I said, shrugging. "Unfortunately, far as I know, he's in Canterlot. I'm sure I don't need to explain what that could mean."

"I doubt he'd do it now," Twilight said. "He'd probably want to put control braces on the others along with Celestia, so as to make sure the amount of individuals who can challenge him is reduced. After all, not many could go against a mind controlled alicorn that may very well have been ordered to use all her power, and having four of the Element bearers under his control would prevent the one thing that would be powerful enough to stop him from being activated, and last I remember, Applejack's in Manehattan, Fluttershy is in Trottingham with Pinkie, and Spike's in the town we first met Starlight in."

"Maybe," I said, "but he does have dirt on-"

"Can we just stop this conversation for now?" Quick asked. "I'd rather not talk about potentially mind controlled alicorns and dragons right now."

"Yeah, same," Starlight said, a little uncomfortable at the mention of the events from the season five finale. "How about plans for after everything?"

"Makes sense," Quick said. "Well, I'm going to see if I can find out more about my past. That file I found while we made our way to the Minotaur capital had some names in it, and I'm going to see if I can find them, maybe get a few answers."

"A little obsessed on that, aren't you?" Onyx asked.

"Well forgive me if I want to know about my past," Quick said in an annoyed tone. "But I actually want to know where I came from."

"I guess that makes sense," Lone said. "Well, Starlight and I plan on trying to repair the relationship we had with Celestia."

"I can imagine my sister will be happy as to that," Luna said. "As for me? I think I'd like to have a few non-dream world dates with Josh."

With a small blush on my cheeks, I said, "If that's what you want, Luna," as I put my arm around her. "Same here, actually."

"Well, then, I guess I plan on opening a few more stores," Rarity said. "Not to mention getting to know mother past the mask she put on for the public."

"And for me," Twilight said. "Josh, do you have any records on your kind?"

"You'll see tomorrow," I said. "What about you, Onyx? Mist?"

"No idea for either of us," Onyx said.

"Yeah, we'll probably just improvise," Mist said before he yawned. "Jeez, that late already? Guess I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Yeah, same," Quick said. "Need to sharpen my talons, then hit the sack." With that, the two of them got up, and went to their respective tents.

A few minutes of awkward silence passed before Lone and Starlight got up. "Yeah we're heading to sleep, too," Lone said.

"Don't worry, we'll keep it quiet," Starlight said with a slight grin, which made me roll my eyes.

"Starlight, we could have lived without knowing that," Twilight said, apparently thinking my thoughts as well. There was no reply as the couple made their way to their tent.

"Yeah, um, I'll. . .head to the perimeter," Onyx said before quickly getting up and jogging to the edge of our camp, leaving me, Luna, Twilight, and Rarity around the camp fire, along with awkward silence as Rarity and Twilight looked at each other before nodding.

"Um, Josh?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, Twilight?" I replied, looking at the lavender alicorn. Yes, despite her and Rarity being Luna's kids, they still had their in show colors as their birth ones.

"Selene and I wanted to ask you something," she said nervously.

"Okay," I said slowly. "Why?"

"Should I be present for this?" Luna asked.

"Yes, mother," Rarity replied. "We wanted to talk with Josh and see if he could help us with our abilities, and see if you could also. We never did have any formal training, after all."

"Um, shouldn't that be done just by family?" I asked. "Which would mean just Luna, and not me?"

"That's just it," Twilight said. "We talked about it, and decided that, since you and mother are. . .an item, as well as you two are the only other dream masters we know of, it would be best if both of you guys taught us."

"And no, Josh," Rarity said, "that does not mean we consider you our father-that would belong to the stallions from the families that raised us-but we do accept that, most likely, you and mother will marry, we may as well get to know you."

I just sat there, a little surprised there, but was able to gather myself. "Thanks, I suppose," I said. "Though I don't have any formal training either."

"But you were able to make an entire mechanical army!" Twilight exclaimed, to which I shrugged.

"Yeah, I did," I said. "But the thing is that I didn't make the first ones. I just knew the concept well."

"But we thought-"

"Only original stuff could be made with that ability?" I asked. "Maybe," I said.

"But I told him that as long as one knows something well enough," Luna, "a Dream master is able to make anything."

"Still, though," I said. "I'd be happy to help you two out."

Canterlot

Within a darkened room located in the royal castle, Sharp stood, watching Josh, Luna, Selene, and Artemis talking, and smiled. "Checkmate, Spartan," he said. "Checkmate."

Author's Notes:

With the plans I have for this story and my other displaced, I may take a long break for this story, not due to lack of ideas, but simply because of how I want everything to go. So, yeah, when that break is over, know that the end of the first chapter of what I have planned is near.