“Thank you all for coming,” Twilight said. “I’ve prepared a short agenda for the meeting. You’ll have to forgive me for it being in such a draft state, but I only had a short time to make the list.”

“It’s alright, Twilight, I’m sure it’s fine,” I said.

“It’s not fine! Now, if we can all come to order,” Twilight insisted. We were settled around one of the more open rooms in the library, with Twilight alone on one side that made her look almost like a judge, particularly the way she was sitting up over everyone else. On her right, Nanaki sat nestled rather tightly between Applejack and Pinkie Pie. On her left, I sat with Rainbow Dash nestled into my lap, and Fluttershy in easy reach. We humans were sitting crosslegged, our heads only a foot or so below Twilight’s, while the other mares were sitting on their bellies, legs mostly folded beneath them, looking up at sole unicorn in the room.

“I’m pretty sure the only thing not in order is your mane,” Rainbow Dash snarked. “Can we just get on with it?”

“What’s this all about, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “Is this about Rarity runnin’ off to Canterlot with Princess Celestia last night?”

“As a point of order, I don’t believe we have any confirmation that that was their destination,” Twilight pointed out. “But no. This is about Fluttershy’s illegal acquisition of the royal pet avian, also known as Philomena, and Cloud Strife’s subsequent conversion of said avian into a summon materia. And more to the point, what we intend to do about it, and the pending leadership vacuum.”

“Leadership vacuum?” I inquired.

“You turned the royal pet into a magic rock,” Twilight pointed out.

“Oh! Can I see?!” Pinkie Pie interjected. I tossed her Philomena’s materia. “Oh, wow. You were at the party?! How did I miss her?! She’s amazing!”

“As I was saying,” Twilight resumed. “Princess Celestia is going to lock Cloud in a dungeon forever. Or exile her from Equestria. Or exile her from Equestria and lock her in a dungeon in the place she’s exiled to. And possibly Fluttershy. But if we all tell her that Cloud put her up to it, maybe we can at least keep Kindness out of jail.”

“Well, technically, Cloud did tell me to keep her safe until the Princess returned…” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Right, let’s go with that,” Twilight said.

I rolled my eyes. “When we see the Princess, I’ll apologize for the accident and offer her the materia. I really don’t think she’s going to exile me or lock me away. She doesn’t seem like that kind of person. Maybe she’ll have some demand for me to make it up to her, which I’ll gladly fulfill, whatever it is.”

“Whatever it is?” Nanaki asked with a teasing tone, trading a wink with Pinkie Pie. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the final square on each of our shipping grids, which was no doubt the intention.

“It won’t be anything like that!” I said with a deep blush. Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle, while Fluttershy pawed at me reassuringly with one hoof along my arm. “I really don’t think Celestia is going to remove me, but it wouldn’t be terrible to have a contingency plan in place for who takes command if I am unable to continue for any reason. The Princesses did say we should expect tougher monsters coming out of the Everfree going forward, and there are any number of dangers that could incapacitate me, or any of us, with little warning.”

“I agree with that objective, even if I don’t agree with you about how it will come to pass,” Twilight said. “We should create a hierarchy for command.”

“I’m going to nominate two; one for immediate decisions in the field, and a second for longer term decisions when you have time to debate and discuss them. For field command, Rainbow Dash, you’re first, then Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, in that order. That includes if we get separated during a mission. We’ll take time making sure everypony has that memorized, and can immediately take charge when they’re the top rank in the situation,” I said.

“You left out Fluttershy and I,” Twilight pointed out.

“You’re not a field agent, and Fluttershy is the lowest rank in field command. No offense, Fluttershy, but one of the key elements there is the ability to take charge and make yourself heard and obeyed by your comrades. That simply isn’t your strong suit,” I explained.

“I’m not offended,” she assured.

“For strategic command, it’ll be Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash,” I declared. I stroked the shy pegasus’ mane gently. “If Twilight and I are unavailable, or worse, I’m counting on you to make wise, carefully thought out decisions for our group between crises. Can you handle that?”

Fluttershy looked nervous at the very concept, but nodded somberly. “I’ll do my best. If it’s needed. Though I hope it isn’t.”

“That ranking will stand for now. Twilight, if you could record them both,” I said. “But if you want to argue why you think the order should be different in either case, I’ll hear you out. And if I learn of any of you abusing your command, there will be consequences. What’s next on the agenda, Twilight?”

“If I could interject with something a bit more… friendly?” Nanaki inquired.

“Please save all interjections until the end,” Twilight requested.

“Actually, I’d like to hear what he had to say,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Let our guest speak his mind,” Applejack requested more loudly.

“What did you have in mind, Nanaki?” I inquired. Everypony looked interested except Twilight, who was a bit annoyed at the derailing.

“Oh, I was just interested in learning about how all of you received your cutie marks,” he said. “I’ve learned the basics about them, but I haven’t heard any of your personal stories. From what I hear, they are generally fond memories, so I’m sure it would be a nice… palate cleanser, so to speak, after such weighty topics.”

“Actually… come to think of it, I haven’t heard how any of you got your cutie marks myself,” Twilight admitted. “Alright, who wants to go first?”

“...And that’s when I knew in my heart that I was born to be a leader of ponies. And the light of Destiny enveloped me and marked me forever with this tiara,” Diamond Tiara concluded.

Four pairs of hooves and a pair of clawed hands clapped in appreciation of the tale, before Silver Spoon came up to the front to add her own story. “I got mine baking the desert for our private celebration of her getting her cutie mark.”

“What? That’s it?!” Apple Bloom asked in disbelief.

Silver Spoon shrugged. “I really like making pies. And I’m really good at it. You’ve all tasted my work. But not just pies. I’ve been studying up on recipes for more complicated gourmet desserts, and trying my hoof at making new recipes. Those haven’t always worked out, but I’ve learned from them and I know I’ll be able to make better ones.”

“They are pretty good,” Sweetie Belle commented. “Are you going to open up a bakery and compete with Sugarcube Corner?”

Silver Spoon shook her head. “I’m thinking something a bit different, more classy and high end.”

“Just don’t make it so high end we can’t even show up,” Scootaloo said, glancing at Diamond Tiara.

Silver Spoon smiled fondly at the pegasus. “Don’t worry. I’ll have a private table set aside just for the Elements of Greatness.” She offered a hoof for Scootaloo to clop.

“Oh, um, Leadership?” Apple Bloom addressed Diamond Tiara. “Do y’all mind if I spend the night here with you?”

“No, but… why?” Diamond inquired. “Don’t tell me you managed to get disowned too? Eat one too many pears?”

Apple Bloom was quick to shake her head. “Nothin’ like that. But my big sister is bringing Nanaki by and suggested I find somewhere else to be tonight.”

“Nanaki?” Scootaloo inquired. “What kind of name is that?”

“It’s the new human, the stallion,” Apple Bloom said. “I think she’s planning to get… what’s the word?”

“Laid?” Scootaloo offered.

“Intimate?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Discreetly engaged,” Diamond Tiara said.

“What are you all talking about?” Spike inquired.

“We’re talking about sex, Spikey-wikey,” Sweetie Belle said. “Apple Bloom thinks her sister is going to be having sex with the new human.”

“Nanaki? Yeah, probably,” Spike said after a moment’s thought. “They were talking about him forming a herd with all the Elements of Harmony on the train ride back here.”

“Really?” Silver Spoon asked in surprise, her glasses dropping from her face as she jerked. “All six of them?”

“Seven, including Twilight,” Spike said. “I mean, it’s not like they were committing to it or anything. Pinkie Pie was suggesting it as a possibility, and Cloud was the only one who really seemed opposed to the idea.”

“A herd, wow… are those even legal still?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“A few of my cousins have those kinds of arrangements,” Apple Bloom admitted off hand. “Distant cousins, but still. Ponies don’t do it that much these days.”

“Wouldn’t it be crazy if we all formed a herd?” Sweetie Belle inquired.

“Wouldn’t you get jealous?” Spike asked, as he stroked Sweetie Belle’s mane.

“Not if it was my idea,” Sweetie assured. “And not if it was my best friends.”

“Well, um… Nothing against Spike, but he isn’t really my type,” Scootaloo said. “Not that I really know my type but… pretty sure it’d be a pony at least.”

Apple Bloom looked off in the general direction of Sweet Apple Acres for a moment in thought before looking back toward Sweetie Belle and Spike, still not saying a word.

“This is stupid,” Diamond Tiara said. “We’re all too young to be getting married anyways.”

“Right,” Silver Spoon said, adjusting her glasses. “Besides, cross-species mating rarely produces results anyways.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing at this point?” Scootaloo asked. “Not that I’m encouraging this.”

Spike, for his part was blushing quite heavily at the whole discussion. “Maybe we should just drop it. Who’s up for some training?”

“So the rainbow in the skies in all of your friends’ stories was your Sonic Rainboom, Rainbow Dash?” Nanaki inquired. “I wonder if it played heavily in Rarity’s experience as well. I’ll have to ask when I see her again.”

“What, really? Huh, I guess it was. Heh, I’m even more awesome than I realized!” Rainbow Dash said.

“And it played heavily in mine as well… a hint of what Princess Celestia was saying about our destiny?” Twilight said. “For that matter, it helped me hatch Spike. So… in a way, if I’m his mother, that makes you his father.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flailing and freaking out for a bit, to laughs from several of her friends.

“I’m sure Spike could use a father figure in his life. Can you think of anypony better suited?” I teased.

“Yeah, you actually,” Rainbow Dash said. “Of course, we could both do it if we’re part of the herd along with Twilight.~” She stuck her tongue out at me playfully, and I laughed at the thought. “All three of us, if you count Nanaki.”

“That’s… not a terrible idea, herd aside,” I said. “He’s come to me a few times for advice as it is. I’m sure he’ll need more as he goes.”

“You really think so?” Twilight asked, sounding worried. “I do my best to raise him, but I don’t know much about dragons, and I’ve never had a foal or even a younger sibling.”

“You’ve done well so far, Twilight, you just need someone around he can talk to about guy things,” I said.

“It might be nice if you weren’t living so far away, as far as that goes,” Twilight suggested.

“He spends a lot of time closer to my home than yours,” I countered. “Not that he visits that often.

“That’s true. He has been spending an awful lot of time with those fillies. I’m sure it’s a good thing, but I do worry sometimes what they might get up to. Especially after we caught them reading that book,” Twilight said.

“Speaking of which… did you ever get someone to talk to him about sex?” I inquired.

“No… when you refused, I didn’t know who to even ask,” Twilight admitted.

“Well gosh, sugarcube, you could have just asked me to do it. I’d be happy to give the little guy a good talking to about that,” Applejack offered.

“Really? Thanks, Applejack! I’ve created an outline of the discussion with all the major talking points I feel need to be covered,” Twilight offered, summoning a scroll and floating it over to them. “Now, you’re welcome to phrase things in your own way, of course, but these are the things I feel he needs to know about.”

“Why not just give him the talk yourself?” Nanaki asked.

“It’s embarrassing!” Twilight said as she danced from hoof to hoof as if she was trying to avoid touching the floor, or perhaps desperate to use the little filly’s room.

“Ah, I understand,” Nanaki assured. “But you are his sole guardian, are you not? We all have to face our fears at times, and make no mistake, this is a form of fear. But you love him, don’t you? Let the strength of that love overcome the fear of the embarrassment. You’ll have to endure a few blushes, and awkward questions, but in the end he’ll know you loved him enough to push past it all. And obviously you know what to say; we can all see your list, after all.”

“You’re right Nanaki,” Twilight said, settling down even if she still looked nervous about the whole thing. “I’ll talk to him about it next time I see him. Before anything happens.”

“My sister still hasn’t come back from the Princess’ summons,” Sweetie Belle pointed out. “Spikey, would you mind staying with me at the boutique tonight?”

“I don’t think Twilight or Rarity would approve… but I’d be happy to walk you home,” Spike offered.

“Why don’t you both stay here?” Apple Bloom asked. “We’ll make it a big ol’ sleep over!”

“If you’re all staying, I’m staying too,” Scootaloo said.

“I’d best get home soon, so I can return quickly with food for everypony,” Silver Spoon offered.

“You know, you really don’t have to be quite such a gentledrake,” Sweetie Belle said, stroking Spike’s tail with one hoof. “You know, I’ve been thinking about things since we read that book together…”

“Thinking about things… like what was in the book?” Spike asked.

Sweetie Belle nodded. “So, why don’t you come back to the boutique with me…”

“Oh, no you don’t,” Scootaloo said. “I was there for the reading too, you’re not leaving me out now.”

“Apple Bloom, you were staying here to get away from this sort of thing, weren’t you?” Diamond Tiara asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head. “More like I was kicked out to keep me from seeing anything,” she corrected. “Still, aren’t ya’ll a bit young to be risking foals?”

“Interspecies pairings very rarely produce offspring without magical intervention, except for certain well known mixes with high compatibility,” Spike pointed out. “I’ve, uh… been reading up on things.”

“You’re here?” Prince Blueblood asked groggily. “Or another dream?...” his hoof rubbed lightly against Rarity’s, as if touch would confirm what sight could not be trusted to verify.

“Of course, darling. I came as soon as I heard,” she sat up, taking a moment to levitate a mirror and touch up her mane where resting her head on his chest had mussed it up.

“Mind doing mine as well? It must be a fright,” he ventured weakly, struggling to sit up a bit in the hospital bed itself.

“Of course, my prince. I’ll do what I can, but the bandage is in the way,” she excused, as she got to work. He didn’t muster a spoken thank you, but the look of relaxation was thanks enough. “Whatever happened to put you in such a state, darling?”

“I’m afraid I don’t rightly know,” he said. “I remember… glimpses of this room between dreams. And before that…” he frowned as he tried to piece his thoughts together. “Something must have struck my head, but I didn’t see what. I was following somepony… a servant, that was it. She was absconding with some of the scraps from dinner, heading for a side passage that is scarcely used. I… can’t recall which one, exactly. It’s hardly a high crime, I know, but I was curious in part because she seemed so wary, like she thought she was up to something to scandalous to be caught doing.”

“What could she be doing with table scraps that would be worth worrying about?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know. Perhaps sneaking it to a prisoner she knows? That’s the worst I can guess,” Prince Blueblood said. “Unless it was meant as a trap for me, but then I would have to call this a failure. I wouldn’t imagine somepony would go to the trouble only to leave me in the infirmary.”

“Mmm,” Rarity expressed, before gently pushing him back down into the bed and giving him a kiss. “Don’t let it trouble you any further for now. Let the Princesses and the guards fret about it. You just lay back down and recover. I’ll be right here by your side.”

The prince looked into her eyes in surprise, then in a searching, calculating fashion, until at last he closed his eyes, smiled and relaxed, pulling her close with one hoof. “You really are more than I deserve,” he whispered.

“Nonsense, darling. Surely a prince should have a stunningly beautiful fiance,” Rarity dismissed.

“Well of course. But you’re more than that,” he said softly before silence reigned between them.

Unnoticed, the Princesses withdrew from the doorway, trotting down the hall a good way before finally speaking.

“Do we even have any prisoners, dear sister?” Luna inquired.

“A few, not counting those in tartarus. None for long, and they are all well fed,” Celestia answered. “It’s occasionally best to hold onto a pony while they sober up, or while tensions cool, or the like, to avoid a tragic mistake in the heat of the moment. But I generally prefer to focus on rehabilitating ponies within society. Prince Rutherford would have been detained much longer if he had not escaped, of course, but that was a unique case. And truly I had hoped to ransom him back in exchange for a lasting peace.”

“So then, to whom would this servant be bringing scraps?” Luna inquired.

“I have no idea, dear sister. Will you head up the inquiry? If somepony is so hungry they are in need of our table scraps, I wish to make a less… violent arrangement to see to their welfare,” Celestia said. “And if this was indeed a trap…”

“... then I shall stamp them out,” Luna said firmly, stomping the floor loudly with a hoof to emphasize her point.

“Discreetly, if you can,” Celestia clarified.

“Mind if we take a little detour?” Applejack questioned. Nanaki, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and I were accompanying her, at least until the road forked and we would go our separate ways. It’d been a long conversation amongst our friends, but with the sun long since set it was time to head home. “I’d like to just take a peek at the clubhouse, see how the fillies are doing. I, uh, kinda advised Apple Bloom she might want to have a sleepover tonight.”

“It’s not far off the path,” I stated, and turned off into the woods, along with the others. “We might as well take a quick look.”

We travelled slowly through the woods, guided by the moonlight, and continuing to converse amongst ourselves until we came to the edge of the clearing where the clubhouse had stood. Now there was nothing but scattered splinters littering the area, the tree itself cracked and tilted, partially uprooted.

Massive claw marks trailed out of the area, starting from within the devastation. Dragon claw marks, at a guess, but nothing as small and innocent as the ‘Element of Power’. It looked as though a massive dragon, 50 feet long at the least, had crash landed into the building before walking off through the woods.

We caught sight of a few odd drops of blood here and there, but nothing nearly enough to suggest the fillies had been killed in the destruction of the building. The possibility they had been eaten was very real, however. There were no recent hoofprints heading out that we could find, no sign they had fled.

“Rainbow Dash, get the others. Including Twilight,” I said. “We’re going to go see a monster about a clubhouse. Nanaki: you know how to use that gun?”