“You’re joking, right?” Asked Sweetie Belle.

“All of that stuff he said ‘bout Cadance is mighty unsettlin’,” Admitted Apple Bloom, “But we don’t know what happened between her an’ Noblesse.”

After class, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had decided to wait for Noblesse by the doors to the school. While they waited, Sweetie Belle had tried her hoof at convincing her friends to distance themselves from the ex-soldier.

Sweetie Belle’s mouth hanged in shock for a moment before speaking again, “What could possibly warrant such hostility towards an Alicorn?”

“When I was at the Cloudsdale Flight School,” Started Rumble, “I took classes about Pre-Unification Pegasus culture.” Rumble didn’t like to brag, but he had a five-point-o GPA because he took all of the courses available at the Flight School.

“Okay?” Sweetie Belle did not like where this was going.

“To take an insult without throwing one back or starting a fight was considered to be cowardly.”

“So Princess Cadance wounded his pride?” Asked Sweetie Belle deadpanned.

“Cowards were executed and their families were either put on the front lines or sent on suicide missions for bringing a ‘liability’ into the military,” Explained Rumble.

“But Equestria doesn’t have laws like,” Pointed out Sweetie Belle.

“He was raised in a military/warrior culture. ‘is mind might know that sort’a thing doesn’t matter up here, but Noblesse’s heart still belongs in the Under-Cities,” Surprisingly, it wasn’t Rumble, but Pipsqueak who spoke up.

“Speak’th the Draconequus’s name,” Noblesse spoke as he rounded the corner and approached the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Noblesse had scarred his friends by showing up unexpectedly. The chuckle he gave as they all jumped up made it ambiguous as to whether or not he did so on purpose.

“Were you listenin’ on us?” Asked the pinto colt.

“I heard the last thing spoken as I came around the corner,” Defended Noblesse.

“How did you even get out of the building?” Asked Rumble.

“There’s doors on each side of the school,” Explained Apple Bloom, “We always use this door because our classroom is just past the first section of lockers.”

“What did Archer want tah talk about?” Asked Pipsqueak.

“If she wanted to lead me away from others,” Started Noblesse, “I believe safe to assume she wanted this to stay private.”

“That’s… A good point actually,” Admitted Pipsqueak.

“I meant it when I said thou could’st go on without me,” Stated Noblesse.

“No we couldn’t,” Said Rumble, “We’re your friends, and Sweetie Belle!”

Apple Bloom gave her coltfriend a soft slap to the back of the head while everypony except Sweetie Belle laughed, Sweetie Belle gave Rumble a playful glare.

Noblesse cleared his throat to get the Crusaders’ attention when the laughter died down “Forgive me if this is a sensitive topic, but is Rumble actually a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

“Am I?” Asked Rumble as he turned his head towards his marefriend, “I mean, yeah I’m a blank flank like most of you, but I don’t want to be streamlined through anything else the others had to go through.”

“There’s no hazin’ or anything like that,” Stated Pipsqueak, “You just have to sit through a ceremony. So, that shouldn’t be a problem unless you don’t like being the center of attention… Oh, the girls also give a cheer, so you may want to have noise cancelling headphones with you.”

“Another thing,” This time, it was Sweetie Belle who spoke, “This is sort of embarrassing for us, but you may not want to be officially apart of the CMC considering who your brother is.”

“Why?” Asked Rumble with a teasing smile, “Do you all get in trouble with the police very often?”

“We only got the Town Guard called on us thirty-seven times,” Confessed Apple Bloom.

Noblesse and Rumble both gave Apple Bloom incredulous looks, “What in the Gods’ names could you have poss-”

“Excuse me,” Noblesse was interrupted by a familiar nine-year-old Colt.

The group of Ponies turned around to see Clockwork approaching them nervously “Is this a bad time?”

“Naw,” Replied Apple Bloom, “We were just finishing up,” While the young Mare was not one to simply drop a conversation, she was afraid that nature of this conversation was what made Scootaloo’s brother nervous, “What do yah need?”

Clockwork gulped and spoke, “Have any of you seen Fluttershy?”

“Is she not here?” Asked Sweetie Belle, now looking around for the aforementioned Pegasus.

“Yellow Pegasus with a pink mane and tail?” Asked Rumble, trying to precisely remember the six Mares he met at Ponyville’s Spa, “Why would she be here?”

“She and Scoots’ dad are friends,” Answered Apple Bloom, “She sometimes looks after his house when he has to work out’a town. She also makes sure Clockwork is looked after when he needs it.”

“I-I know the home,” Said the brown Colt, “But with everypony going home from school and all of the grown up Ponies leaving work at the same time, town is crowded and scary.”

Sweetie Belle moved in front of Clockwork and got on her knees as to be at eye level with the younger Colt, “Do you want us to come with you?”

“Th-that would be nice,” Replied Clockwork as he turned his head slightly away from Sweetie Belle, “But I can wait for Fluttershy or for the crowds to thin if you’re all busy.”

Fluttershy has been foalsiting too much Mused the white Unicorn, “I don’t have a problem with it,” Sweetie Belle turned to face her friends, “You guys don’t have to tag along.”

“Yeah we do,” Replied Apple Bloom, “Safety in numbers ‘nd all. ‘sides, Ah don’t think we’ve been in to see Scootaloo since our hospital visit, Ah think it’s high time we change that.”

A thought came to Noblesse with this new course of action decided upon, “Clockwork,” Said Noblesse to get the younger colt’s attention, “Would’st thou have one of us carry you?”

“Carry me?” Asked Clockwork, as confused as most of the group.

Sweetie Belle, who had foalsat before, realized where this was going, “Most of us are taller than you, so you’d have to trot just to keep up with our walking speed. That usually wouldn’t be a problem, but with rush hour going on, it would be really hard for us to keep track with each other.”

“Oh, I hadn’t ever thought of that before,” Admitted Clockwork, “I always thought that Fluttershy was just being nice when she carried me home, but that makes a lot of since.”

“If you’re not comfortable with one of us carrying you,” Started Rumble, “I don’t think any of us would mind waiting here for you before going to see Scootaloo.”

“Uhhh, t-thanks,” Clockwork said hesitantly, “But I’m worried about Fluttershy and Scootaloo. It’s not like her to be late, and my sister is still sick. I want see them now!”

Sweetie Belle’s horn ignited with a soft green glow as Clockwork was enveloped in a magical aura of the same color. Sweetie Belle gently put the young Colt on her back with her magic, “Which way is your house?”

“Thou hast never been?” Asked Noblesse in surprise.

“No,” Replied Pipsqueak, “Scoots’ parents have a lot of fragile stuff in their house, so we don’t even ask to have sleep overs at her house or anything like that.”

“Are you all really clumsy?” Joked Rumble.

“Nah, it’s because disaster follows us like a bad smell,” Explained Apple Bloom.

Rumble, Noblesse, and Clockwork all stared at Apple Bloom in stunned silence until Clockwork remembered that they had something important to do, “Just follow the road going straight until the second crossroads and turn left.”

“That would take through the crowds,” Sweetie Belle pointed out, “Does Fluttershy usually go that way?”

“No,” Admitted Clockwork, “But I’m worried about her and my sister! This will be faster than going the long way, despite the crowds.”

Noblesse gave a smile that looked bigger than it really was due to his lack of fur, “It’s admirable of you to take us this way so eagerly, your discomfort notwithstanding. And all for the sake of your sister and a Mare you probably don’t know very well,” Noblesse chuckled softly before speaking again, “Due lead the way.”

As the group moved towards their destination, Rumble and Pipsqueak discretely moved closer to each other and started whispering.

“At least he’s openin’ up more,” Observed Pipsqueak, “Did somethin’ happen? ‘cause I know we haven’t gotten the chance to make ‘em more comfortable here.”

Rumble shrugged, “Beats me. Maybe it has something to do with his new appearance?”

“How does lookin’ like a monster make ‘em emote more?” Asked the Trottingham native.

“Maybe now that he looks like a monster, it’s not so much of a shock to Ponies when they learn about his past?” Suggested the Pegasus.

“Actin’ however you want because Ponies think you’re a monster before you can actually meet them?” Pipsqueak thought aloud, “I don’t like it, but all of the stares he’s gettin’ certainly support that theory.”

Why are there so many Ponies out now of all times Fluttershy thought as she did her best to rush through the crowded streets of Ponyville.

The timid Pegasus usually went around the Southern edge of town to get to the schoolhouse, as opposed to going straight through town. There were fewer people that way than the other edges of town because of how close it is to the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy didn’t mind because Clockwork and Scootaloo’s house was in the Southern half of town and the wildlife didn’t bother her. According to her animal friends, the Cockatrice that petrified Twilight Sparkle and went after the CMC those many months had warned the other creatures of the Everfree of ‘Wraith in Pony flesh.’ While Fluttershy didn’t mean to scare the creature as badly as she apparently did, it was to save her friend and to protect herself, the Crusaders, and one of her chickens. The Everfree wildlife had also become more cautious of the Ponyville Ponies and even Fluttershy’s secluded cottage, so there were actually few downsides to this incident from the point-of-view of the timid Pegasus.

However, managing Ponyville’s surprisingly varied wildlife, her cottage, and her friend’s home, all at once is a lot of work for anypony. So, as most Ponies would do, Fluttershy takes naps on occasion. This isn’t usually a problem, but the already anxious Pegasus overslept and didn’t wake up until several minutes after the Noon Period of school ended. And while Clockwork is smarter than the average Colt, he has never had to wait on Fluttershy before.

Thoughts about all of the bad things that could happen to the young and naïve Colt kept repeating themselves in Fluttershy’s head. This was only made worse by Ponyville’s ongoing exponential population boom.

Fluttershy had to stop once again for crowds waiting to cross the street. Fluttershy had, unfortunately, not gotten very far from Quiver’s house. It was impossible to maneuver around and through crowds when the grouped up at the crosswalks, waiting for Ponyville’s new Crossing Guards to direct traffic in such a way that would let them pass to the desired side of the road. While Fluttershy understood the necessity of have having guards directing traffic at all hours with Ponyville’s development, she saw as more of a necessary evil than a convenience.

I can’t even see the Crossing Guard Fluttershy thought to herself in a rare state of impatience and agitation. Fluttershy usually ignored the chatter she heard when around crowds as a rule of principle, their affairs weren’t her business. However, she noticed that the Ponies seemed to be in state of distress. The Ponies also weren’t making gestures, rude or otherwise, to the Crossing Guard or traffic, but pointing specifically to the other side of the street.

Oh! Was there a wreck? Fluttershy looked to the road to see if something was actively obstructing movement, that was when she noticed that there was no crosswalk nearby and that there were too many buildings up ahead and close by for there to be room for left and right turns.

The timid Pegasus tried her best to reign in her curiosity, yet much like the injured cats she treated on occasion, she lost to it in a contest of will, and looked directly across the road, “Eep!”

“Do you have your Cutie Mark?” While Clockwork was very smart for his age, his youth often left him without subtlety and tact when speaking.

“Aye,” Replied Noblesse, “You were talking to me, right?”

“I can see everypony elses’ flanks,” Pointed out Clockwork, “Why do you cover yours if you already have your Cutie Mark?”

“A few reasons,” Noblesse said cryptically, “For one, I believe it less distressing to others who are not used to the appearance of Under-City Ponies if they can’t see our whole person.”

“Under-City?” Asked Clockwork, “Is that where you’re from?”

“Yes, and all ye need to know about them is that they’re underground cities.” Explained Noblesse.

“How far down are they?” Clockwork predictably asked.

“That depends on the specific settlement,” Said Noblesse, “A whole civilization might be even smaller than Ponyville in diameter but with the height of mountains, considering that they don’t confine themselves to surface biomes.”

“Second point about the cloaks, is that it can be very cold underground without the heat of the sun. Third: they can be useful for hiding from subterranean predators that use dark or night vision, as they are often the same color of the rocks.”

“So it’s apart of you culture,” Clockwork spoke as he made the realization.

“Precisely,” Answered Noblesse, “Though there is a fourth reason that is more important.”

“What’s that?” Asked Rumble. He, like the Crusaders who weren’t on sick leave, just assumed that Noblesse’s cloak was a quirk of his as the other Under-City Ponies always wore armor.

“Since I don’t have fur, I need clothing in public so I don’t accidentally expose my genitals,” Noblesse said as causally as if he was commenting on the weather.

Most of the group had looks of realization on their faces, though Clockwork had bright pink cheeks for the moment, “You mean… your ‘privates?’” The young Colt whispered the last word.

“I believe so? However, I’ve never heard them called that,” Admitted Noblesse, “So we could be thinking of two different body parts.”

“No,” Rumble said while facehooving, “You two are thinking of the same thing.”

The Crusaders fell into an awkward silence as they proceeded to the first crossroads on the way to Scootaloo’s house. When they did get to the crossroads, they were made to wait for traffic. This made the stares Noblesse was getting very obvious as the Crusaders had to wait with the passersby for the Crossing Guard to let them to the other side of the road.

Rumble’s ears twitched briefly before he spoke again, “Did any of you hear anything just now?”

“It might have been Fluttershy,” Noblesse suggested.

“Flutter- Gaah!” Rumble turned around to see the timid Mare a muzzle’s length away from him, which startled Rumble as Fluttershy was similarly startled by the Colt's yelp.

“Fluttershy,” Rumble said, pretending that he didn’t just get scared by the most harmless creature in Equestria, “We were just looking for you.”

“Fluttershy!” Rumble grunted as Clockwork jumped from Sweetie Belle’s back to Rumble’s, “Is Scootaloo okay?”

“Oh, sweetie,” The worried look on the young Colt’s face only made the butter colored Pegasus feel more guilty, “Scootaloo’s fine, I just overslept.”

Clockwork and Rumble realized that Fluttershy must have had to raise her voice to be heard over the nearby crowd, yet they could still only just hear the quiet Pegasus.

“Prithee, Dame Fluttershy?” Noblesse spoke as he turned his head to face the aforementioned Mare, “Could’st thou fly Clockwork to his house, then the rest of us could meet ye there and see Scootaloo.”

“Yes,” Clockwork said as he nodded his head enthusiastically in agreement with the request, “I would like that very much.”

Fluttershy picked up Clockwork with her forehooves, “I guess I’ll see you all at the house,” Fluttershy gave one last quick and nervous look to Noblesse, “Uh, bye.”

Pipsqueak realized something just as Fluttershy flew off, “Does anypony know how to git to Scootaloo’s house from here?”

“I can lead the way,” Assured Noblesse.

“Why do you know where Scootaloo lives?” Asked Apple Bloom.

“I sought out thy homes this past Winter so I could bring thee thy Winter clothes,” Explained Noblesse.

“And our families just… gave them to you?” Asked Sweetie Belle incredulously.

“They were either busy or absent from thy homes, so I simply went inside and looked for them,” Said Noblesse.

“Ya broke into our homes and stole our clothes?” Apple Bloom asked with a hint of anger.

“No,” Noblesse replied with a mischievous grin, “That would imply the people in this town locked their doors.”

Rainbow Dash was busting clouds above one of the plains just outside of Ponyville, though this had nothing to do with the Weather Team. Down below was a large shade tree, a favorite spot for her and her friends’ get-togethers. While shade was nice every now and then, the light of Celestia’s sun made it clear how beautiful the flowers were as the light shined on them, which was a sight that was always appreciated.

By the tree, Applejack and Rarity were setting up the picnic proper: setting down the blanket used to keep the food and dishes clean of dirt and other natural grime, Rarity setting out overly fine silver plates and utensils more suited to an upper-class party than a picnic, and Applejack setting out several light pastries and snack food, courtesy of herself and her family. While Pinkie Pie was in fact doing something, the others had long since learned to look away as her antics always left one wondering how such things were possible and why the pink party-planner would even want to do such things. The band of heroines had been especially wary of putting thought into Pinkie Pie’s behavior since Twilight had tried using science to explain her famed Pinkie Sense. While always happy to help and willing to put their wellbeing on the line for the sake of others, it was an unspoken agreement that they had had enough Hydras chasing them down.

Applejack, having served meals for her family at their reunions, publicity events, and acts of charity, was mentally unlabored at her current task. This allowed her to immediately notice how strangely Rarity was acting.

The white Unicorn was putting down silver ware and the like as usual, but she had a dark worried expression on her face. What really let the farmpony know that something was wrong, was when Rarity started making the utensils swap places with each other, realizing that they were in the wrong place. While Applejack didn’t care for the high society soirees that her fashionista friend was obsessed with, she knew that Rarity would never forget something as ‘essential’ as where to place the forks and spoons.

Her head ‘aint wid the rest of ’er, “Somethin’ wrong Rare?”

“Yes,” Rarity hesitantly admitted, “But the others need to be here before I talk about it, especially Twilight.”

One of Applejack’s brows raised at the Unicorn’s cryptic answer. Somethin’ up wid Twilight huh? Surely ya wouldn’t keep quiet if another Lesson Zero was gonna happen, would ya Rarity?

Everypony knew not to expect Fluttershy for this week’s get together. While Fluttershy usually made the time even when she was looking after Scootaloo’s house for her parents, she now had an injured Pegasus to tend to. Though convincing the typically timid Pegasus that not showing up wouldn’t be a betrayal to the group was surprising challenging with how passive the aforementioned Mare usually is.

Everypony was used to Twilight coming after the rest of the group had gathered as she had the library, which was deep within Ponyville itself, to take care of. They also knew that Twilight was working at the schoolhouse now, a change that was encouraged. However, nopony expected to see Twilight and Cheerilee walking together towards them.

When Pinkie Pie excitedly pointed this out to the others, Rarity and Applejack’s expressions flattened.

“What did our sisters do?” Rarity asked aloud.

“Guess we’ll have to ask ‘er ourselves,” Replied Applejack.

“Hi girls,” Greeted Twilight when she joined her friends a few minutes later, “I hope none of you mind that I brought somepony with me.”

“Well, shoot Twilight,” Started Applejack, “The more the merrier. ‘sides, we’re down one since Fluttershy cahn't be here.”

“I concur,” Agreed Rarity, though she had a slightly mischievous glint in her eye, “Provided that you didn’t come here with an ulterior motive, did you Cheerilee.”

“Oh, no,” Said Cheerilee, “Your sisters have been very well behaved.”

The whole group tittered at how the teacher instantly knew what Rarity meant. After a little small talk and Applejack not-so-subtly fishing for info on Rumble, Rarity decided it was time for the dark matter on her mind.

“While I don’t mind your company Cheerilee, I am particularly glad that you came here today,” Admitted the alabaster Mare.”

“Oh? Sweetie Belle isn’t worried her grades, is she?” Asked Cheerilee.

“Not that I know of,” Replied Rarity, “Though it does concern my sister, or rather, the things she’s told me about a recent addition to your class.”

Alarms went off in Applejack’s mind. She was worried about both of the new Colts in her sister’s class, and now Rarity’s sister was troubled as well?

Before Applejack could say anything, Twilight beat her to the punch, “It’s about Noblesse, isn’t it?”

Applejack was at once relieved and distressed at once. While it didn’t concern her sister’s boyfriend or their relationship, it did involve somepony she was equally worried about.

“Yes, it does,” Answered Rarity, “Sweetie Belle claims that Noblesse has admitted to doing some… questionable things.”

Applejack was now just upset at the possible implications of Rarity’s choice of words, “He hasn’t done anything ‘dirty’ to her or her friends has he?”

“No,” Replied Twilight, not noticing the distress in her voice, “He’s been very forthcoming about his past.”

“Why would that be a problem?” Asked Rainbow Dash, “I can see somepony being uncomfortable being around somepony else who was in the military, hay, military service was spearpoint compulsory for all Pegasi for a few hundred years.”

“For starters, Noblesse wasn’t in a regular military organization,” Explained Twilight, “He was in ‘Covert Ops,’ as he himself put it.”

“Covert Ops!?” Exclaimed Applejack, “He was a spy?”

“If Noblesse is to be believed, he was more of an assassin.”

“It doesn’t help that he has given… details,” Pointed out Cheerilee, “Very gruesome details.”

“How gruesome?” Nopony had payed much attention to Pinkie Pie until she spoke, but now that their attention was on the pink Mare, they could see that her mane and tail weren’t as ‘poofy’ as it usually was.

“Well…” Twilight wasn’t sure what to do now. Speaking with Pinkie Pie was a conversational minefield on any given day, but she was acting oddly, odd for her at least. Twilight thought her excitable friend would have gone off to plan a party for him, this was unexpected.

Twilight decided it would be best to leave out exact details, “He’s had to preform outright acts of terrorism and get the trust of other only to murder them at a later point in time.”

“Heavens tah bettsy!” Applejack yelled, “And this monster has been hangin’ around the Crusaders!”

“We don’t have a right to judge him,” It was not Twilight who spoke, but Pinkie Pie.

All eyes were staring at her in silence for several moments before Twilight spoke again, “What makes you say that?”

“He enjoyed that suffering he caused, didn’t he?” Asked Pinkie Pie.

“How could you know that?” Asked Cheerilee. While Pinkie Pie and her namesake sixth sense was known to be borderline prophetic, this was something else entirely.

“I’ve been trying to plan a party just for him, to welcome him here in Ponyville,” Explained the Pink Party Pony, “So I’ve been thinking a lot about what the Princesses told us about him.”

“If the Under-Cities are giant fortresses, and their Ponies giant armies, would there be anywhere he could find joy?” Pinkie asked rhetorically, “I wonder if it’s less that he likes hurting people, and more than he had nothing else in his life.”

“Pinkie Pie, there is no way you could have known any of that without experience,” Twilight’s reply was born out of the horrifying thought that her friend had a life even slightly similar to that of Noblesse Oblige.

“Worse actually,” Replied Pinkie Pie as she looked down on the picnic blanket, “I grew up on a rock farm. All we really did was move around magic resistant stones so all of the magic going through the ground would go into magically receptive rocks in a higher concentration that my family could dig up and sell for a profit.”

“I didn’t know it until I saw Dashie’s first Rainboom, but I didn’t know actual happiness until I saw it. Only satisfaction for a day’s work well done,” Pinkie Pie raised her head and started turning it to each one of her friends as she spoke, “We were never in control of anything, our lives were dictated by time. If we left those rocks in the same place, the planet’s magic would just flow around it like a poorly made dam, so it eventually became a routine we repeated forever.”

Pinkie smiled brightly before continuing, “That’s why I started traveling and throwing parties everywhere I went. I wanted to make sure that everypony felt actual happiness at least once in their lives, to really smile.”

The rest of the gathered Mares were either in stunned silence or quietly said Pinkie’s name under their breath, “If I had even a slight bit of actual control in my life, I might not have ever left my family’s farm. I can’t imagine the rush of power Noblesse felt, getting to author the end of another Pony’s life’s story like that. I can’t imagine what he felt getting to do it over and over again,” Tears started to form in the Mare’s eyes, “And I can’t imagine how we could possibly help him.”

The other Mares, including Cheerilee, all gathered around Pinkie and gave her one big group hug. Applejack and Rainbow Dash gave her pats on the back while Rarity and Cheerilee gave her words of encouragement. Surprisingly, Twilight gave Pinkie Pie a gentle and platonically affectionate nuzzle.

“Thanks girls,” Pinkie Pie spoke as the group hug broke up and Pinkie’s mane, while not quite fixed itself, was close to being how it usually was.

“I can’t believe this,” Said Rarity, “How could the Princesses not know what kind of Pony he is.”

“They knew exactly what kind of Pony he was,” Replied Twilight, “I imagine that’s why he was allowed to come to Canterlot in the first place.”

“Whatever do you mean darling?” Asked Rarity.

“Princess Celestia,” Twilight started, “While probably the closest thing there is to a perfect Pony, is not perfect. And she too, has fears.”

“What could lead Princess Celestia to let a homicidal lunatic into civilization?” Asked Applejack with a raised brow.”

“The fear of her abusing her power,” Replied Twilight, “She once told me that was afraid the respect, praise, and power everypony gives her would eventually go to her head, so she has had assassins from the Under-Cities come up to keep an eye on her.”

“The Princess wanted Ponies to kill her?” Asked Rainbow Dash incredulously.

“She wanted to be… removed if she ever lost herself,” Corrected Twilight, “Think about it: if Princess Celestia went mad like Luna did, how would she be stopped.”

“Simple,” Replied the Pegasus, “We’d just use the Elements of Harmony and make her normal again.”

“That has only recently become an option,” Pointed out Twilight, “And there was a period of a thousand years were they simply didn’t work.”

“I suppose I can see why the Princess would take such measures,” Admitted Rarity, “But why is Noblesse Oblige still here? From what Sweetie Belle told me, he was quite happy living his life in the Under-Cities.”

Twilight winced, “I’ve been thinking about that, and I have an idea as to why, but it’s not a pleasant answer.”

“Is anythang about ‘em ‘pleasant?’” Asked Applejack.

Ignoring the farm Mare, Twilight elaborated, “When a Pony is born in the Under-Cities, they’re sent to wherever needs warm bodies the most at that time. This keeps them from getting attached to their biological parents and vise versa, this is done so that high ranker officers won’t be able to ‘waste’ resources making sure their Foals are okay and don’t put Equestria at risk.”

“Pegasi did something like that too, right?” Asked Rainbow Dash.

Twilight nodded, “The Under-Cities were form when Equestria still had control over the majority of the continent, so the Under-City military is heavily based off of the ancient Pegasus lifestyle. With all of this in mind, anypony who is born in the Under-Cities will consider the other Ponies in the regiments they’re raised in to be their families.”

“I take there’s something special about the Prince then?” Asked Rarity.

Again, Twilight nodded, “Noblesse was raised to be a covert agent, his idea of a family would be his other immediate squadmates. Any regiment they would be assigned to it would either be temporary, like when laying siege to an enemy city, or it would be to secretly investigate them for traitors among their ranks.”

“So how does this play intah the Princesses wantin’ Noblesse tah spend so much time with the Crusaders?” Applejack asked with a note of irritation in her voice.

“While the Princesses might have lied to us about them worrying about Noblesse becoming some kind of tyrant, I think they were genuine when they said Noblesse needed friends,” Explained Twilight, “The only Ponies Noblesse could consider friend or family would be his squadmates, but they had led a dangerous life-”

Cheerilee’s eyes widened as she interrupted Twilight, “He would have nopony if they all died.”

Twilight nodded solemnly, “Sure, they could give him another squad, but they could never replace the Ponies he fought alongside with for years.”

“Okay… That all makes since,” Said Rainbow Dash, “But I still don’t think he’s the kind of Pony who should be around the Crusaders.”

“His life has had more shades of gray in it than ours,” Defended Twilight, “Princess Celestia gave me lectures about her life shortly before and after Discord. Some times you only have morally gray choices: Do you cause a thousand deaths one place, to spare a million in another? Do you kill a devoted parent and orphan their children in order to deprive the enemy of their best general?”

“Noblesse’s life has been led by the calculus of war: something we can only understand in concept,” Explained Twilight, “Not to mention he’s had to live his life pretending to be somepony he’s not. I wonder if he’s so honest about his past because it’s the first opportunity he’s had to even be honest. It’s a wonder he knows how to be himself.”

Rarity groaned at a realization, “And he’s been in Canterlot for two years. Where everypony looks down on anything different or not chic. It’s little wonder why he hid himself away from the public eye for all of that time.”

“I think Pinkie Pie was right,” Twilight commented, “I don’t think we can't help him. I think that’s why the Princesses were so incessant that Noblesse be placed with the Crusaders. They’re all about accepting different kinds of Ponies and helping them find their place in life.”

Applejack sighed, “I really don’t like it, but Ah’ll allow it: provided that he don’t give no ideas about Cutie Marks to the Crusaders.”

The group of Mares laughed for a solid minute before spending the rest of their get together making jokes about the CMC purposely causing destruction. The Mares left the picnic sight when Twilight and Cheerilee left to prepare for the Evening Class Period at the schoolhouse. As the two teachers walked to their jobs, they couldn’t rid themselves of the feeling that they were forgetting something noteworthy, if not important.

Author's Notes:

I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this out. But I've been busy with college and classes and like. As an apology, I will go ahead and say that this story is close to over. I will be surprised with myself if this story makes it to 50 chapters.

Please don't be afraid to point out errors in my writing or plotholes I need to fill. And please, don't be afraid to ask me to clarify something or provide suggestions.