The second day of a new year, the second day of winter. Princess Celestia, ever the early riser, stands upon her balcony in the brisk morning air, the glow of her lit horn dwarfed by the rising of the sun. Her eyes are closed and a serene smile is upon her face as the bright orb slowly slides above the horizon. As the sun fully rises, her horn quiets, her sun is set on it’s course for the gradually shortening days. She turns and lovingly nuzzles her sister, who blearily walks into the palace, her bed the only real thing on her mind at the moment. Her faithful apprentice, Moon Shadow, walking next to her. Celestia hums happily as she withdraws into the castle herself. As the second day of the new year, and the day after the Grand Galloping Gala, she doesn’t have to deal with court. Additionally, she doesn’t have any official duties today, other than to raise and lower the sun. And with her attunement to the sun, she has it done with almost no effort on her part.

The bright light of morning invades all throughout Canterlot. Though after the night that was the Grand Galloping Gala, hangovers are pretty much universal among the Canterlot elite, even among those who stayed in the palace after the party was over. Cadance rolls over, not even bothering with her magic, she pulls her covers over her head, it’s too early for her to get up.

Somepony else has other plans. “Good morning Princess.”

Cadance flips the covers down, hiding in her cocoon of squipper. “I’m not a princess anymore, my husband nearly died last night, my ears are ringing from my aunties, and I have a hangover. Not a good morning.”

“Oh, no need to be a grumble plot, it’s a beautiful morning.”

Cadance glares at her tormenter. “Twilight, I’ve got a hangover, and my ears are still pinned back by everything Princess Celestia and Luna said after the fight.” She flops her head back down and closes her eyes.

The chime of magic gains her attention, she opens one eye to see what is floating before her, she rolls her eyes at the big glass of water and the small pills floating in front of her face, she looks over at Twilight. “What has you all chipper this morning?”

“Take your medicine and drink the water,” Twilight says seriously. “You may no longer have the official title, but you are still the Princess of love. You’ve been given a task that needs your attention, now.”

“Yes, my princess.” Cadance lights her horn, placing the pills on her tongue and taking a sip of water. After swallowing the pills, she takes another sip. That water is just a few degrees above freezing and is delicious. She ends up draining the cup, smacking her lips appreciatively. “Okay, that is good.”

Twilight takes back the cup and brings forth a second, “Hydration and mild pain reliever, always good after a night of excess.”

Cadance directs a baleful glare, which seems to slide right off her sister-in-law as she gulps down a second glass. She glances over. “Where’s Shining?”

Twilight rolls her eyes. “I woke him up earlier. He’s taking Flurry for a walk in the gardens. Your train is set to take them back to the Crystal Empire in a couple of hours.”

Cadance drops the empty cup on the bed, shame radiating from her expression. “To take up my duties…” Cadance moans softly. To her surprise, the smaller alicorn crawls up behind her, hugging her tightly.

“You have new duties for the time being,” Twilight murmurs into her mane. “Don’t worry, you can stay at the castle, or in Ponyville with me. Either way, you won’t be homeless.”

“Thanks.” It’s the air of a filly who knows she’s getting better than she deserves. Cadance is quiet for a long time, Twilight stays behind her, hugging her with hooves and wings. Cadance’s ears rotate around, listening to the quiet, only interrupted by the sound of the alicorn’s breathing. Finally she shifts a bit. “Twilight?”

“Mhmm, hmm?”

“Why the human? Why Tim?”

“Pardon?”

Cadance squirms away from Twilight, then flips over to look her sister-in-law in the eyes. “I understand that he is different than anypony else. I understand all of that. But there are literally dozens of ponies quite willing to make a herd with you. Yet, you choose to fall for the one of a kind creature that fell from the sky. The lone human in Equestria.” She stops for a moment, watching Twilight blush. She nuzzles Twilight, “I supported your decision, and even pushed the situation so you could have what your heart’s desire. But I’m still trying to understand the why.”

“What made you choose my brother? You were a young princess, new to being an alicorn. What about him caught your eye?”

Cadance flinches back, her ears flicking back and forth. “He didn’t care about my status. He wanted me for me. He loves me even though I’m no longer a Princess of Equestria.” She blushes, her eyes falling upon a suggestively placed piece of stallion’s underwear on the floor.

“Tim does the same, he says his country doesn’t have royals like we do here. He says he sees me for the pony that I am. Since I’ve become a princess, most ponies see me as above them, and either aspire to raise their own circumstances, or want to use me.” Her ears flatten. “I dislike being used.”

Cadance flinches. “I truly was not trying to use you, Twilight. I was really trying to help.” To her surprise, Twilight nuzzles her fiercely. “Tim had no desire to use you. But I could see the effect he had on you. You were acting like a mare in heat whenever you were around him.”

Twilight’s face is now brightly red. “He’s beautiful, Cadance, he’s gentle, and loving, and I guess my time on the other side of the mirror portal has affected me as well. They aren’t humans in the way he is, close but not quite Did you see how he stood up for me at the Gala?”

Cadance nods. “I think if you were to approach Citrus, as humbly as possible later, you might be able to gain her acceptance.”

Twilight looks down. “That bridge is long burned. I’ll have to…”

She’s interrupted by a stern glare from Cadance. “Twilight Sparkle, you love that human. Are you going to say you had one roll of passion with him, then give up?” She slides away from Twilight and steps off the bed, “I may no longer have the official position of princess, but even now, I can see you still have feelings for him. I can’t order you.” She stops, ears flat. She gulps several times, holding in her emotions. “In truth, I never could order you as a fellow princess, but I could suggest. While I was the one to push for this, and the culpability belongs at my hooves. Part of healing that herd will be either accepting you or finding a happy medium. Please, Twilight, keep an open mind with them. My instincts are right on this. I know your feelings, I know Tim’s. And I suspect that I can understand Citrus and the other mares of the herd. You’ve been better behaved than me; if either of us gets forgiveness, it’ll be you.” She walks towards the bedroom door.

That gets a snort from Twilight Sparkle, “Seriously?” Getting the other pony to stop in her tracks. Twilight paws the floor. “Your instincts got us into this mess. You said you’ve got this, and we ended up with seven ponies caught in the middle of a massive shipping crash.”

Cadance’s ears flatten. “Twilight, I’m quite aware of the consequences of my actions. I’m trying to help here.”

“You’ve helped us enough. It’s time for us to help you.”

“How would you help me, Twilight?”

“You are looking at this wrong, Cadance.” Twilight trots up and nuzzles the taller alicorn. “This is a friendship problem, you look after matters of love. You look at the romantic relationships of ponies and the families, the herds, that our ponies form naturally. They have rules, and they know them instinctively. Tim doesn’t. We are trying to teach him, but remember, our instincts provide much of the responses to situations. Tim doesn’t have those instincts, he must learn. And then there’s the fact that a lot of ponies don’t really like each other all that much right now. That is what makes this a friendship problem.”

Cadance hangs her head. “I don’t know how to handle those kind of problems. Did Princess Celestia set me on a task I can never do? I want what is best for you, princess. I want what is best for Tim, what is best for the herd.”

“What if what is best for that herd is without me in it?”

Cadance shakes her head vehemently. “No, I don’t see that, Twilight.”

“Are you certain of that?”

Cadance’s head snaps up. She fixes Twilight in such a stare that the younger alicorn is momentarily rooted in place, “I know that with the same certainty that I know how much I love Shining Armor and Flurry Heart.”

Twilight notices she’s breathing heavily, she takes a moment to calm herself down a bit. “I propose we shelve that for the time being.” She shifts her rear legs uncomfortably. “What the herd needs right now is some stability and trust. We will help them get it back.”

Cadance smiles. “Agreed, just remember, you are a mare, with your own needs. Ignoring them is part of the reason everything exploded in our faces.”

Twilight nods, then her ears perk forward as Cadance walks towards the bedroom door. “Where are you going?”

“Shower; Shiny consoled me rather… physically last night. Then we’ll get started. Wanna come?”

“Already?”

“No time like the present.”

Twilight sputters, “You heard Silver, last night they were probably very busy, and I wouldn’t doubt that extended to the morning.”

Cadance laughs, “Oh, I’m not talking right this instant, I want to go out for breakfast first. Then we will drop my husband and filly off at the train. We should show up around noon over there. She skids to a stop in the sitting room, “Shining Armor, what am I going to do with you?”

Twilight steps through the door, seeing her brother lying on his back, his foal in his hooves, Flurry Heart giggling like a mad. He’s looking innocently at his wife, “What?”

Her magic encases him and Flurry, putting Shining on his hooves and putting Flurry into her carrier, “You are going to take it easy on that not broken rib, Shining Armor, or you and I will be having words.”

He rubs the back of his head with a hoof, wincing a bit, “I’ll be okay. I’m just bruised.”

She snorts, “Okay, rolling around on the floor like a foal is not okay when you can’t stop failing to wince every few seconds. Besides…” Cadance comes up and rubs her side along his “Take your three favorite mares in the whole wide world to breakfast?”

“Princess!” comes a voice, getting Cadance to turn. A reddish orange earth pony trots up and bows, her multi-hued purple mane nearly touching the floor.

Cadance sighs, “Verity, I told you last night, I am no longer a princess, via decree from Celestia. If you wish to address me by title, it’s Duchess Mi Amore Cadenza.”

Verity Lucky snorts softly and shakes her mane out. “I don’t care what Princess Celestia says; you will always be a princess to me.” She walks over and picks up a large bag, slinging it over her back, she trots back and grabs the foal carrier, “You mentioned breakfast. Though the castle has an excellent kitchen. I do know a couple of places in Canterlot that have excellent choices for breakfast. They’re mostly immigrant places, so the staff won’t be half as hung over as we all are.”

Cadance smiles at her secretary/ “What would I do without you, Verity.”

That gets a giggle and a wink. "Miss appointments, walk around with a bird’s nest of a mane, and forget to eat while searching for a lost whammy?"

***

The knock on the front door jars Tim from sleep. Nopony is even stirring at the sounds from the door. He groans and hauls himself out of bed. The knock repeats, how long have they been knocking? He flops back down, closing his eyes. Only to have them open as another set of knocks impinge upon his consciousness.

“Somepony get that please?” Cayenne murmurs softly as she rolls over and brings North Point closer. Silver scoots closer and quickly has Cayenne spooned up with his wing holding her close.

“Fine!” Tim mutters as he rolls off the bed. The soft carpet feels good on his feet as he pads out the door, then down the stairs. A magical chime gets his attention as he gets to the bottom of the stairs.

“Hello! Anypony home?” comes a voice. Tim's eyes widen, he knows that voice. What is with these ponies? Princess Celestia says something, and they leap to obey. The duel was barely fourteen hours ago!

“I’m here, Princess, we all are,” Tim says as he emerges into the entry foyer and then opens the door.

Cadance huffs a bit as she turns to look at him. “I’m going to have to repeat myself a lot, aren’t I...” she trails off, looking at him.

“What?”

Twilight steps around Cadance, her face beet red. “Tim, you are kinda on full display right now.”

Tim looks down, not only is he nude, but he’s got the morning wood from hell. His own face darkens as his hands clasp over his member. He turns to run back up the stairs. Citrus’s head pops up as he slams back into the bedroom. “Cadance and Twilight are here.” He rushes into the closet.

“That was quicker than I thought.” Citrus says softly…then she stops. “You were naked?”

“Yeah, full attention, too!” He finishes pulling on his boxers and looks for a pair of pants as Citrus trots into the closet.

She stops, a broad smile on her face. “I can take care of that lickety split.” She says softly. She advances quickly, getting him to back away.

“Yeah, after I showed it to the fucking Princess of Love and to Twilight Sparkle.” He pulls his crotch away from Citrus as he hops on one leg trying to get a leg into his pants.

Citrus pouts, “Well, it’ll go down after that.”

“Not the point, Citrus.” He says, buttoning his fly.

“Awww, you spoil sport, can’t I get a quickie in this morning?”

“Still not the point, they are right downstairs. In our atrium.”

She walks up and rubs against his side, “They can wait.” She stops and looks at him as he roots around looking for a shirt. She sighs, “Oh you and your nudity taboo.”

“I thought you’d be warier of me being naked around them.”

“Tim, honey, we don’t normally wear clothes.”

“Arh, why do I even-? Come on, let’s see what the Princess and the Duchess want.” He stops, looking at her. “How are you calm over this?”

She looks back at him. “I’m not calm over this, Tim. The last time you were naked around a Princess, our lives turned to Tartarus. For way too long. But not point in taking it out on you, but I wouldn’t mind you walking around the house naked when it’s just us herdmates.” She stands there for a long moment before she huffs, “Let’s see what they want.”

Tim sighs as he pulls his shirt over his head, Citrus hops back onto the bed, nuzzling the other members of the herd in turn before preceding Tim back downstairs. She bows deeply, “Princess, Duchess, welcome to our home.”

Twilight flushes. “Citrus, I don’t think that’s necessary in your own home.”

Citrus smiles. “Nonsense, wherever you are, you are a Princess, Twilight.”

Twilight takes a step back, chewing on her lower lip for a moment. She finally brightens. “As Princess Celestia has commanded at your direction, Duchess Cadance is here to help.”

Citrus nods. “As she should be.” She moves over to the stove. “Tea?”

Both alicorns glance at each other. After a few moments, Cadance shakes her head, “We are fine right now, but thanks.”

Citrus turns to glare at both of them, growling, “Please just let me play gracious host for the sake of civility. It’s harder than it looks. Help me help you so you can help Twilight help Tim help you help us all.”

Cadance flinches. “In that case, I’d be happy to partake.”

That gets an instant smile from Citrus. “Good.” She gets to work, her lit horn bringing down the tea kettle and flying it over to the sink to fill.

As Citrus works, Twilight nuzzles the larger alicorn for a moment. “Citrus, I think you should know, this is not something Cadance is used to. Her aptitude is for romantic love, to help build families and lives together. The bond of trust and love that brings a herd together and keeps it alive and strong.” She steps closer to Citrus. “Your herd has a lot of strength to it. With you as the lead mare, your strong personality helps bring the mares of your herd together. You both have a lot of love to give as the lead stallion and mare of this herd.” She stops, her tail clamping to her rear, “My actions damaged the trust between you two. But I can see that Tim has been able to help heal that rift.”

Citrus turns back from the tea set that she’s floated onto a platter. “Yes, I can trust him, and more importantly, I’m working to trust myself around him and around you.”

That gets a flinch from Twilight. “Yeah…” She clears her throat. “About that, you know I have apologized for my actions.”

Citrus huffs, “Princess, the issues are not you, but me.” Her cheeks start to glow in a blush, “I overreacted to what happened. I failed to understand that Tim is an alien and didn’t understand the acceptable way to respond to the situation.” She looks back at Tim, “And based on what happened in my birth herd when I was a filly…” she looks down and scuffs a hoof on the floor. “I’ll admit I overreacted. So the breach in trust wasn’t just Tim, but my reaction to the situation.” She floats the platter over with the teapot, milk, and sugar, ready to go. Citrus pours a cup and floats it over to Twilight first, then a second to Tim. She floats the third to sit before her. She then looks Cadance straight in the eyes as she pours the final cup and floats it to her. Cadance, for her part, visibly wilts as she lights her horn and the aura around the cup is replaced with her cornflower blue one. Citrus turns and looks at Twilight.

Twilight nods, getting a surprised grunt from Citrus. Twilight steps closer, though keeping a respectful distance. “Citrus, as I’ve told the Duchess, this is more akin to a friendship problem, so she will be having to deal with a learning curve. I have volunteered to help in that respect as the Princess of Friendship. So we are all on the same page, please state your feelings about Tim and the incident.”

Citrus looks back at Tim, her eyes bright. “I wronged him, I acted like he was any other stallion in Equestria, and it took our newest herd members to open my eyes.” She looks back to Twilight, “I’m not angry at you, Princess Twilight. Well, at least not anymore.” She looks down, “I’m angry at myself. I failed my herd, I failed in my duty as the lead mare.” She sniffles.

Tim leans forward, wrapping his arms around Citrus. “Oh, Citrus. You don’t need to blame yourself. I was responsible for my own actions.”

Twilight clears her throat, “Tim.” She glances back at Cadance, then looks at Citrus before directing her attention back at Tim, “What I did…” She gulps, “Would be legally construed as rape.”

Tim slams his hands onto the table, making not only the ponies jump, “Dear Lord, you ponies seem to have the idea that all males are hormone driven and can’t make decisions in the face of your pheromones.” He looks at Citrus, who’s eyes are wide as she looks back at him, “I’ll fully admit that you did have an effect on me. Hell, Citrus and the other girls have an effect on me too. Which surprises me since we are so different. But the responsibility for my actions falls on me. No. One. Else.”

“So, you…wanted to?” Twilight says meekly.

Tim looks at Citrus, who nods slightly, he finally sighs, “Yes, I did want to. I was attracted to you as a pony, and then you changed forms like that. It was like, I don't know, picture yourself going to that other world, with just humans.... living there without your magic not for days, but for months or years. Then one day you have your magic dangled in front of you. During my time having to deal with how you ponies punish your stallions, Citrus and I have had some chances to talk. I’ve told her all of this. The hardest thing to get her to understand was that I still wanted her. That I still loved her, even though I had desire for you. Even for a polyamorous species like you ponies, it was hard for her to wrap her head around that I could desire a fantastically powerful alicorn and yet still want to come home to her. She was worried that I would abandon her for a ‘better model’ like her father did.” He reaches forward, cupping Citrus’ cheek with a hand. “I think she finally understands.”

Twilight shakes her head slightly. “But that’s not how things work…”

“Twilight, I’m a fucking alien, I think different than you ponies.”

Twilight stands there blinking slowly. Tim looks at Citrus, seeing the small smile on her face, he chuckles softly, “I think I broke her.”

After a few seconds, Twilight shakes her head, “No, I’m aware that you are an alien, and we’ve been trying to teach you our ways so you can fit into our society better.” She snorts softly, “It just occurred to me that I’ve been falling into the same trap that everypony else has when it comes to you. Expecting you to think Equestrian when you aren’t.”

Tim sighs as he sits down in his usual seat. “I know that, Twilight. I’ve been trying to learn, but you are just so different. I get that you are polyamorous, but you have rules. Like you girls bringing in North, it’s no problem. And then bringing in Silver, it was also no problem. Though if that situation were reversed, it would be a whole mess.”

Twilight is in full professor mode now. “Well, that’s simple, Tim. If a stallion brings a stallion in, it is implied by that act that he approves of the stallion, and the mares simply have to check him out and approve themselves. The same with the mares bringing in another mare, it’s implied approval that the mare can join them in sexual activities, it’s up to the stallion to say yes or no.”

She hops down from her chair. “Yet if a stallion tries to bring in a mare, that mare has to gain the approval of the lead mare. From old pony times, new mares would approach the other mares of the herd to gain approval first. Because if she gets approval from the stallion, yet the lead mare rejects her, the stallion could face what you faced, with the mares shunning him.” Her ears flatten back. “Or even cutting him loose if he insists when it comes to the new mare.”

Cadance takes up for Twilight, “When it comes to new stallions being brought in to the herd, if the lead stallion feels that the new stallion would be a competitor for his own breeding rights, they could fight. And it could get ugly, even deadly. So, typically, stallions will approach the lead stallion of the herd if he found a mare that he was interested in. If it’s the lead mare, typically he’d be rejected outright. But if it’s one of the other mares, the stallions would find a happy middle ground, and the herd would thrive with the extra genetic information from multiple stallions.

“You ponies are confusing,” Tim says softly.

“Actually, by our world view, it’s quite logical.” Then twilight’s ears flatten. “Though with what you’ve told me of your human interpersonal relationships, that’s confusing.” She smiles, her ears perking forward. “Tim, one thing I want to do to help both your herd, and Cadance, is to help them understand what is going on in your head. Your cultural mores and what makes humans tick, so they have less confusion when you act the way you do.” She looks around at Cadance and Citrus before focusing again on Tim. “You mentioned that it’s typical for the male to make the first move. Now, I know your species is generally patriarchal and monogamous, but I still don’t understand why it’s so taboo for the females to initiate relationships.”

Tim scratches his ear. “Well, I’ve never understood it either, to be honest.”

“So, you don’t have a problem with it?”

Tim shakes his head. “Not really, I was happy when Citrus let me know she was interested. In fact, I found it refreshing for mares to speak up.”

“Oh?” this was from Cadance.

Tim nods. “There are things about human society that have baffled me as well. I guess many of those cultural mores have shaped me into who I am. Like me fighting to get a job, so I can feel productive. I know Citrus and the others will take care of me. They don’t require me to do anything. If I wanted to sit and do absolutely nothing, my lovelies will take care of me. But that’s not in my makeup.”

Twilight smiles. “Your herd is not hurting for bits.”

That gets a laugh from Citrus. “Business has been profitable for Cayenne and myself. And North is paid rather well. Though she’s been looking into quitting her job.”

That gets Tim to look at Citrus, “Really?”

Citrus turns and nuzzles Tim. “And it’s all your fault. Well, yours and Silver’s. The season is almost upon us and she’s been thinking…” He starts to react, then he sees the smile evident on her muzzle. She nuzzles him again, then looks over at the alicorns. “When North first wanted to join the herd, Tim and her had a long talk. She actually learned more about her cutie mark thanks to Tim here. She’s going to start mapmaking. She thinks it’ll be more in line with her cutie mark.”

Both alicorns sit there with identical looks. Finally Twilight shakes her head. “Tim, how did you understand that? Cutie mark magic is central to ponies, it’s one of the most advanced magic disciplines.”

Tim shrugs. “She didn’t seem happy when talking about it. Yet when you’ve told me your cutie mark story, and when Citrus and Cayenne told me theirs, they felt happy about them. For North, it seemed more of a burden to her.”

Twilight’s eyes are wide, she turns to look at Cadance then back to Tim, “Some fillies back home help ponies with questions about their cutie marks. They’ve gotten quite good at it. I’m guessing that’s why they got the marks they did. Cutie marks are highly personal, highly individual, and when a pony misunderstands their mark, their lives can be miserable. Helping a pony understand their mark, or realizing their mark may not be what it seems is a true gift. Not something to take lightly.” She narrows her eyes, looking inside herself, finally she looks up at Tim. “You are a very special person, Tim.”

Tim finds himself scratching the back of his head and he can feel himself blushing. He looks over and notices the very proud smile on Citrus. He looks over, “I think it’s time for some food.”

Citrus speaks up, “Actually, we should move to the living room, Cayenne will make breakfast for all of us. And I think Silver is itching to get to his work table.”

The nearly instant sounds of hooves on the stairs gets Tim to look over as the rest of his herd emerge, North Point hops up into his lap as Silver runs a wingtip along his shoulder. He smiles at the stallion before North occupies his attention fully with a kiss. After she is finishes, she hops from his lap, though she stops and looks directly at Cadance for several long, uncomfortable seconds. As she walks past the pink alicorn, she dips her head. “Duchess.”

Cadance, for her part, blushes heavily, drawing into herself. Twilight leans over and nuzzles her. Citrus stands up to lead them into the living room. Quickly they are settled into the comfortable furniture. Citrus and North are on each side of Tim, leaning up against him.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Tim leans forward. “Twilight, I do have a question, a few times recently, it seemed as though the translation spell wasn’t working.”

That gets a surprising reaction from Twilight. With a muttered curse, she hops from her seat, her horn lighting as she comes close. Tim rests a hand on Citrus withers as he feels her tense. North shifts a bit and her horn lights as well. Though she subsides as Twilight stops, ducking her head submissively. “Sorry, I need to check the spell.”

Citrus looks back at Tim then she nods her head, and North quiets her horn. Twilight steps forward, her lit horn moving closer and finally touching his forehead very gently. He feels something, like someone rooting around in his brain, but finally she steps back. “Huh? It seems to be perfectly normal.”

Tim's eyebrows are climbing onto his forehead, “I didn’t expect that kind of reaction, Twilight. Something wrong?”

Twilight huffs, “Only the idea of a spell created by some of the strongest mages in Equestria failing.” She shakes her head, then she glances at the other two, then back at Tim. “May I ask, did you understand the words being used?”

Tim thinks back, then he nods, “Yeah, it was only later that I remembered that the words sounded odd, but the meaning was normal to me.”

That gets a laugh from Twilight, “Okay, that means you were thinking in Eponese. Can’t translate when you are thinking in our language”

“What does that mean?”

“It means a lot of language lessons for everypony involved.”

Tim nods. “Am I ready to go without the spell?”

Twilight shakes her head, “I’m afraid that spell will be needed for a while, though as you start to think more in our language, you’ll find it becoming less and less effective. It’s sacrificing what you do know to help with what you don’t. I am proud of that particular bit of engineering. Remember, every time we work and build up vocabulary from your language and ours, the spell is learning too. But it has limits, it doesn't have an active spellcaster keeping it viable. Though the act of making it self sustaining gives it a connection to the magic running all through Equestria. Similar to the enchantments on the guard armor that changes their coat and mane color when they don it.”

Tim sighs, “Okay.”

Cadance comes forward, sitting before the herd. “I can tell there is still quite a bit of tension in regards to me.” She curls her tail around her legs. “I’m still surprised that Twilight has forgiven me so easily.”

“It’s because I…” She stumbles to a stop at a look from the Duchess.

Cadance looks back at Citrus. “I know I have wronged you. And ones we love dearly have risked their lives to make things right, although I can see tension still exists.”

Citrus shifts a little in her seat, “The challenge is done, life is returning to normal. But the fact that we are allowing you in our home, allowing you to interact with our herd means something, Duchess. We have forgiven you, but that doesn’t remove all resentment and anger. We are trying. I must ask that you be patient with us. Fully healing will take time, and yes, the fallout from your words and actions still exist. For that, I am sorry.”

Cadance’s ears flatten to the sides, “For what it’s worth, I want to help heal your herd. I have been watching you interact with each other since I’ve gotten here. And I am certain a lot of healing has happened here. You all are acting like a herd in love. Your lead stallion is secure in his life and position.” She glances back at the entry to the study. “Silver does look like he’s in a bit of pain, I may not be the best at the fine healing necessary, but I can work to reduce his pain.”

Silver shouts, “I’m fine, I swear!”

Cadance laughs, “Mine’s the exact same way."

Citrus chuckles with her. “With all due respect, if he asks for more healing, then you may do so. As it is, he has said he is proud of the marks your husband gave him. And his assertion that his lovelies will be proud of a stallion who has scars from protecting his herd is not without merit.” She leans closer to Tim. “Tim has been forgiven, he has regained my trust in him.”

Cadance stands up. “As you’ve mentioned, you said you are having trouble trusting yourself. I believe some one on one talking would be helpful.” She glances at the others. “If we could talk privately, I would be happy to listen to your thoughts.”

Citrus freezes for a long moment, glancing at Tim and North, finally she nods her head. Cadance gestures and she trots up the stairs, with the larger alicorn in tow. Twilight watches them for a long moment before she shakes her head, “She hates problems she can’t untangle.” She looks back at Tim and North, “We have a little bit, let’s work on language while we can.”

Tim nods and her horn lights with a big smile on her face, “Don’t worry, Tim. We will make it work. Everypony, help yourselves to breakfast. Then it’s time to get serious.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 25. Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 11 Minutes