"Hey, why don't we make a promise? Umm, if I'm ever in a bind... You come save me, all right?"

"What?" I asked, a bit distracted by the memories the words evoked.

"Whenever I'm in trouble, my hero will come and rescue me. I want to at least experience that once."

"What?" I asked again, bringing my attention back to the present.

"Come on, promise me,” the prince insisted. “What… what’s so funny? You’re a powerful warrior, I’ve seen you in action. And I’m just a prince, the very definition of kidnapping bait. I’m sure you’ve read the stories, perhaps even some of the ones that are true.”

“Really?” I said, when I could cut through the laughter. “I know the nation is ruled by princesses, but I didn’t think it would be so thoroughly reversed. Where I come from it’s the males that are typically the protector types and princesses are known for being kidnapping bait.”

“Oh?” he asked before giving it a bit of thought and looking mortified. “Oh my, such a faux pas on my part. Please forgive me, I hadn’t realized. I haven’t had a chance to learn much of your culture aside from our scant time together. That must be so awkward for you, the inadvertent gender role reversal…”

I waved dismissively. “It’s alright. Actually… I hope this isn’t too awkward for you, but the magic that brought me here to your world also changed my gender from what it had been. I’ve only been a woman for a little over half a year now. I’ve actually had almost that exact conversation with a female friend of mine years ago.”

“Really? How’d it go with her? I imagine it didn’t end with you laughing at her.”

“No, she kinda pushed me into making her a promise. I… wasn’t able to fulfill it though. I was actually on the way to save her from a dangerous situation when I was sent here. But she’s tough, I’m sure she made it out alright. If I ever do make it back home, though, I bet she’ll punch me in the gut first chance she gets for not keeping my promise.”

I laughed, and Blueblood joined in a second after. “There must be a lot about your home you miss.” When I didn’t answer immediately, he admitted “Auntie actually mentioned your gender change. Does that make it awkward for you dating a stallion?”

I shook my head. “Dating anyone like this is awkward for me, but I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone, and I don’t have much hope of going home. Even if I did find a way… I’m needed here. I’m the bearer of the element of magic, a protector of the realm, and a leader. My destiny is here, that much is obvious.”

He grasped my hand between two hooves. “Does your destiny have room for one more?” he asked.

I blushed and stammered a moment, as his intense eyes bore into mine. My heart raced and I lost track of the passage of time. Was it minutes or just a fraction of a second? I wasn’t sure, but I finally managed to mumble out an “I think so.”

That was enough to get him to pull back and smile contentedly, as if I had just made him the happiest stallion in the world.

“Wait, that wasn’t secretly some pony custom that means we’re engaged now, is it?”

He laughed heartily before shaking his head. “Oh, no no. Nothing like that. Believe me, when and if we are engaged, you will know it without question. Now then… if you’re quite finished with your dessert, we should be going. I mean to spend the day with my good friend Filthy Rich. I’m sure you would be welcome, if you’d like to join?”

“No, thanks. I appreciate the lunch, and the company, but I need to go on patrol, and check in with the others. I’ll walk with you as far as Mr. Rich’s house though. Shall we go?”

We were halfway there when a deafening wave of sound overtook us, quickly drawing our attention to Rainbow Dash buzzing by us at a shocking speed even by her standards, before she seemed to bounce off the air itself and come tumbling to the ground nearby.

“Loyalty? Are you alright?”

“So… close. Buck it, I almost had it!”

“Almost had what? What are you up to?”

“I was, uh, just practicing my sonic rainboom, for the Best Young Flyers competition, in Cloudsdale. It’s coming up next week, and I really want to wow them. But even with the haste materia, I can’t quite get up to speed every time.”

“If you’re flying so fast, why are you flying so low? You could hit something. Or someone.”

She glanced at Prince Blueblood meaningfully before turning back to me but not meeting my eyes. “No comment.”

I sighed, annoyed, but decided not to pursue the matter and draw Blueblood’s attention to her history of jealousy. “We’ll talk, later. In the meantime, find somewhere to practice where you won’t hit anyone. Are you going to need time off for the competition?”

“That’s right. And so will Kindness, so she can come cheer me on. It’s a shame the rest of you can’t come.”

“Why not?”

Blueblood interjected at this point. “I assume she means because it’s in Cloudsdale, the pegasus city. Other ponies can’t really go there without magic. But really, dear, a simple cloudwalking spell isn’t that difficult to manage, and we could hire a chariot to bring us there and back. The streets and most buildings are all arranged for cloudwalking, so that wings aren’t strictly necessary. Would you like to go? I could fancy a bit of sports watching myself, and they have some fine dining there you simply can’t get anyplace else.”

Rainbow stared at Blueblood, apparently at a loss as to how to react, while I nodded. “Can we bring the whole team?”

He hesitated a moment before nodding. “Very well. We should be able to accommodate the whole group easily enough in the royal box seats. I shall have to clear it with my dear aunts first, of course, but I am sure they will be happy to have you.”

“It’s settled then. I expect a good showing from you, Rainbow. You should check the rules first, though. They might not allow magic items.”

Dash grumbled as she left, but at least she left us alone.

When we arrived at Rich’s house, Filthy and Blueblood exchanged greetings before the tycoon turned to me. “Miss Strife, please, do come in. There is a matter I am desperate to discuss with you.”

“Oh? That’s a surprise,” I said, relenting and entering, as we quickly moved to a side room set out with opulent seating, and a small table already set out with tea and light snacks. There were only two tea cups set out, but a third was quickly added by a pony wearing a tuxedo top. It always seemed strange to me that when ponies did wear clothing, especially stallions, the rear end where what I thought of as the ‘private’ parts was the least likely to actually be covered up. Considering how often they were simply naked, it never seemed worth discussing outside of Fluttershy’s tea parties, though, and she couldn’t give much of an answer.

“I’ll be right to the point. I would like you to accept my dear filly, Diamond Tiara, into your junior membership. I’m prepared to make a quite generous donation to see that it happens,” the man said.

“Junior membership?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You know, the Elements of Greatness? The ones with the school fillies, and that hatchling?”

I blinked a few times. “They’re not actually directly affiliated with us. I can’t really do anything to get anyone let in or left out.”

“Oh come now, don’t be so modest. I’m sure you can make something happen.” A rather bulky sack marked with the bit symbol floated unsubtly toward me.

“I can talk to them, and ask them about it, but that’s about it.” I snatched the bag. I was, after all, a self respecting mercenary. Government contract or no. “I seem to remember there being a conflict between them and your daughter, though. Have they worked that out yet?”

“I’m sure it’s water under the bridge,” he assured unconvincingly.

“Right… I’ll talk to them. Was there anything else?”

“Her friend, what was her name again? I’m sure they know the one. She should be let in as well. No sense separating the dears, is there? I’m sure another large donation could find its way to you if she is,” Filthy bribed. “Other than that… if you’d care to stay and socialize a bit, I’m sure Blueblood and I would adore your company.”

I shook my head. “No, as I’ve told the prince I have other responsibilities. And now they include a little talk with a young dragon. I’ll take my leave now. See you again soon, Prince?”

“Same time tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

I plopped the bag of bits on the counter by Spike, where he had been reading a comic book and idly munching a pile of gems. “Wow, that’s a nice bag of bits. Showing off your payday?”

“It’s yours. Well, the Element of Greatness’s. Filthy Rich gave it to me to talk to you about letting Diamond Tiara and her friend join.”

“Silver Spoon? No thanks. Those two’s teasing is the reason we formed the club in the first place.”

I shrugged and started walking away.

“Wait… that’s it? You left the bits behind.”

“I only promised to talk to you, not that they’d get in. And I’ve got enough bits, you can have those. Use it to upgrade the clubhouse or something. Or buy yourselves candy, I don’t care.”

Spike frowned at the bag as I left, obviously troubled. I didn’t know how it would shake out, but it wasn’t my problem. It wasn’t my club. The school children needed to sort things out themselves.

But as mercenary as I could be, I didn’t feel like I was the one who had earned that bribe.

The chariot that came to pick us up was absurd. It was fifteen feet wide and fifty feet long, not counting the team of a dozen well muscled pegasi in the front that pulled it. The base of it was black, and covered in posh cushioned seating around the outside, while a bubble of magic over the top kept the wind out, and could be adjusted in opacity to either allow a great view or privacy from whatever other traffic was nearby. The second most absurd thing about it was the mini fridge stocked with a variety of drinks, alcoholic and otherwise. The most absurd thing was the small hot tub in the middle.

At least our party was large enough to somewhat justify such a large vehicle. All six Elements of Harmony, Prince Blueblood, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Sweetie Belle all enjoyed the comforts of the luxury transport on our way to Cloudsdale for the competition. The hot tub was far too small for all, but Rainbow Dash unabashedly enjoyed it the whole way there, while Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack each enjoyed a brief turn in it with her.

When Rarity had finished with her own soak, and properly dried and fixed her fur, mane, and tail, she took a seat next to Blueblood, on his other side. I glanced at her before closing my eyes again, continuing to relax as the trek continued, but quietly listening.

“Darling, you simply must teach me the spell you use to keep your mane held so well,” she began.

“Oh, it’s no spell. Nothing but the finest hair styling products, straight from Canterlot, of course,” Blueblood countered, before I quickly lost track of their conversation. Even as a woman, I couldn’t be bothered to take that much interest in the finer details of hair care. I washed mine regularly, and figured that was enough.

After a time, though, the conversation got quieter and all I could make out clearly was the occasional giggle or chuckle. I began to get a feel for what Rainbow Dash must have gone through with that quill. Thinking of how innocent the explanation there had been, though, I did my best to push it aside.

Still, it made a long flight feel much longer.

I had never really believed it before then. Everypony believed it, without exception. It certainly explained the jumpiness in the morning and at night. But I simply had not truly believed Celestia and her sister moved the sun and moon with their magic.

Seeing Rainbow Dash and her team shape the weather day after day didn’t convince me. They moved clouds that had formed elsewhere, or induced them to rain or snow. That seemed novel to me, but not difficult to believe. My world had no magic like that, but we had plenty of other magic. What finally convinced me was the rainbow factory. In my world, rainbows were a physical phenomenon, something about water in the air refracting light. I wasn’t a scientist, but I had heard the scientific explanation a few times.

Here, they were made in factories. They came out of the machinery as a multicolored liquid, and had to be carefully managed to go set them into the sky in just the right arc, with just the right sequence, and then they just stuck there. Not forever; the permanent rainbows that did exist persisted only because of regular maintenance. But they lasted quite a while. And most notably, no matter how much rain fell, there wouldn’t be a rainbow in the sky unless some pegasus flew over and set it up for everyone to look at.

While rainbows had very little to do with the sun and the moon, even less here than on Gaia, demolishing my preconceptions about rainbows brought into question my preconditions about the celestial bodies. And at that point, I honestly couldn’t justify them anymore. Equis just worked differently.

It was probably for the best. With the likes of Shinra Corporation wielding power on Gaia, if anyone there did have power over celestial bodies it would surely end in some incredible disaster, or at least an unbelievable case of blackmail. But here, I could believe political leaders could actually be trusted to use the power over the heavens responsibly. It was happening, after all, day after day.

It wasn’t just the rainbows, either. Apparently snowflakes had to be made by hoof, carefully made and stored year round to be ready for winter. Diamond Dust scoffed at first, her own power easily able to make snow in bulk as she had amply demonstrated, but when she got a good look at the snowflakes the ponies were making she became quite enamored with the craftsmanship.

While Rainbow Dash was giving us the tour, a group of workers approached us, causing the weathermare to give a disgusted sigh. “Not these guys again…”

“Hey, Rainbow crash, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be practicing your ‘sonic rainboom’?” one of them said, raising his hooves in air quotes. He and his friends laughed, apparently finding the idea funny.

“Leave me alone you guys. I’ll show you the rainboom is real. Just wait for the competition, you’ll see.”

“It really is real, I’ve seen it several times,” Fluttershy corroborated quietly.

“Yeah, right. We’ll go, just to watch you fail!” the pony said with another laugh before wandering off with his friends.

Their pathetic taunting annoyed me, and made me want to do something to them, but it wasn’t really worth the effort. Attending to Rainbow Dash, however, was. “Loyalty, are you ready for the competition?”

“I, um… sure thing, boss,” she said, unconvincingly. “One sonic rainboom, coming up.”

“Oh, but you’ve never managed to pull it off without materia,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“So what? I checked the rules carefully, and they don’t have anything against materia,” Dash pointed out.

“Isn’t that against the spirit of the rules?” I questioned. “I’m sure there’s got to be a rule against using magic in general.”

“Actually, there isn’t,” Twilight Sparkle pointed out. “For example, I could even cast a flight spell on one of you to give temporary wings, and you’d be allowed to enter the competition, despite obviously using magic to even be capable of competing. It’s not like magic would necessarily allow you to be the most impressive flyer. There’s matters of showmareship, and talent that can’t simply be solved by magic.”

“You have a flight spell, darling?” Rarity asked with interest.

“I found it in one of my books while we were preparing to come here. I thought it wise to be prepared, after all. Though it’s quite a complicated spell, so I doubt I could manage it more than once without a good rest.”

“Is there a way we could make it into something my Element would work on, to make a materia for it? A flight materia seems like it would be a major asset, maybe even worth equipping everyone but the pegasi with,” I said.

“Oh, that’s a good question. I’m afraid it will take some research and experimentation, though,” Twilight replied. “We’ll have to get back to it after we return to Ponyville.”

“Alright. It shouldn’t be urgent,” I said. That was probably what jinxed it.

“Fillies and gentlecolts! Please rise and join me in welcoming our beloved Princess Celestia!”

We rose from our seats in the royal box seats and looked around confused. We would have expected her to be here with us, if she was anywhere, and indeed a spotline shown in on us, highlighting the much larger seat that nopony else had dared to occupy.

After a moment’s delay, Prince Blueblood stepped into the spotlight, though not daring actually touch the seat itself. A spell amplified his voice so he could be heard by the crowd. “My dear aunt sends her regrets, but she was unable to make today’s competition. Please, carry on, and I will regale her with the highlights of your performances soon.”

That seemed enough to satisfy them, and the announcer moved on to announcing the judges.

“Why can’t she make it?” I asked Blueblood curiously.

“I have no idea, this is the first I’ve learned of it. But leaving the whole stadium to worry isn’t a good idea. It could set off a most unsightly panic. The ones who need to worry about it are all right here… aside from Miss Dash. I will leave it to you to decide whether she needs to be recalled from the competition to join your investigation,” Blueblood said. “It is unlike either of my aunts to miss an event like this, yet neither have arrived.”

“Well, let’s start by doing this the easy way. Spike, take a letter,” Twilight ordered. Soon a missive had vanished into green flames, the ashes floating off onto the wind. “That’s strange. Canterlot is five degrees farther north than that. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the letter was heading for Ponyville.”

“You don’t know better,” I said. “We’re investigating a mystery. Let’s wait for now, though. If they are in Ponyville, it will be a long journey, and it’s best to give them a moment to reply.”

“Look! The competition’s starting. Let’s at least enjoy the show,” Sweetie Belle suggested. As the ponies moved to watch, I noticed Sweetie slipping a hoof into Spike’s clawed hand. Someone was getting along well.

Rainbow Dash was last to compete, which surprised me a bit. Luck of the draw, I guess. Still, it was a good spot to be in, if you could finish strong. Make the judges forget everything that came before.

The first few parts of her routine seemed fairly run of the mill, if well executed. Slaloms, loops, and spirals that other ponies had done well, a few obviously better. Then I saw the light of her magic as she hasted herself. She darted forth in a straight line, straight down from above the stadium, straight down through the open bottom. A loud crack of sound washed over us, reminding me of when she had flown by Blueblood and I.

The air exploded in a brilliant ring of colors. Rainbows, not factory made but somehow made by her wake, rippled out in all directions behind her. Our ears were still ringing from the sound wave as she passed, but were now being deafened by the cheering of the crowd.

Down below, a furrow in the ground showed where she had turned her course a bit late, gouging the ground before she could get her momentum pointed upward again. I don’t think the judges noticed. The crowd certainly didn’t.

We got back in the luxury chariot, and started toward Ponyville. We passed the haste materia around to spread the drain of casting the magic repeatedly on the team of pegasi pulling us through the air. We periodically sent additional missives, alternating between the two princesses, in part to refine our direction and guide us toward them more accurately. None of the letters were answered. And each time the ashes flew off toward Ponyville. Or more accurately, slightly south of Ponyville. The Everfree.

As we approached the town, though, we could see there were problems in town as well. Terrified ponies running in a panic, or under siege in their homes. Ponyville was under attack. The princesses would have to wait, for the moment, but not for long.

It was time to earn our pay.