The Viscount’s tirade drifted from Rising’s attention as he mentally debated with himself and Those Within. Returning to the Tower of Eternity within the mental confines of his mind, he began to wonder if Princess Celestia would give him a Petitioner’s Court of his own, as he had heard that Princess Luna once held her own separate royal court before closing her Night Court in favor of co-ruling with her sister in the newly formed Conjoined Royal Court. Where he would have to share in their duty in dealing with the various petitions, from major to minor, petty to matters of the utmost national significance.

Of course, it’s possible to assign other ponies of minor authority to handle and deal with the less important issues. Such an idea could easily free a lot of time, instead of tirelessly hearing about somepony’s marital infidelity, or some merchant’s grievance with a shoplifter, or someone’s mother taking issue with somepony cursing in the hearing of their impressionable ‘little angel.’

To him, and through him some within the Legion within, it didn’t make much sense to have the highest political and legal authority in the land resolving everything, from petty issues such as noisy neighbors or arguments over the establishment and enforcement of private property lines.

If the princesses wish to run their royal court in the manner that they were, then, as some of the Legion reasoned with Rising, that was their decision.

But given the choice, it would be better to establish and employ minor judges, or even better Circuit Courts, if not several across the kingdom, in order to eliminate having to deal with the minor matters.

And it would certainly allow him to learn more about the Princesses, share what he knew and could bear to give to them, rather than stew out of sight or find little to do to forward the day. It would certainly give Princess Celestia more time to herself, as many of the Legion still took to displeasure at how she quite literally slaved herself away on a daily basis to ensure the comfort and care of her civilians.

Rising continued to consider and debate among the others about the whether tos and whyfors of what might be placed upon them, and ways to handle them, alongside certain discussions involving the constant caring and comforting of every aspect within the kingdom. Throughout it all, the talks and debates eventually caused Rising to give a long yawn, and closed his eyes ... .

The artificial ‘wind’ that blew through the Eternal Fields soon took dominance over his hearing, the ‘sun’ being as it always had been, there, gently warm, but never real. Even the grass itself never felt truly real, just barely above the artificial grass and turf that was used in replacement over the earth during humankind’s time, whether to hide the terrible soil that refused to grow anything but weeds, or to tame overgrown grass that spread as fast and as far as weeds themselves.

But just for once, in that one slight moment, that didn’t feel terrible.

And he drifted into sleep.

Rainbow Dash continued to fly through the air, still disturbed and confused at that stallion’s words.

What the buck was wrong with that guy?! What kind of pony talks about loyalty and adds it with obeying something that willingly destroys other ponies’ lives?!

She hadn’t paid attention to the guards and nobles who still stood waiting for their turn. Blowing past their shock and complaints as she flew over their heads. As she continued to fly, Rainbow couldn’t stop thinking about what Rising had said about loyalty. She didn’t understand how he could question the extent of her own loyalty or her understanding of what loyalty meant.

Wasn’t staying by somepony’s side no matter what popular opinion thought of the pony she was being loyal to, or the personal sacrifice required in order to help the pony she was being loyal to the correct kind of loyalty? Why would anypony be loyal to the kind of monstrous villain that would have both mothers and their unborn foals murdered together? How could any pony be loyal to the kind of pony that issued that kind of executive order?

The technicolor mare continued to fly without thinking where she was going, taking turns and corners easily on instinct honed by her near-constant habit of flying while being aware of her surroundings for everything which might affect her safety in the sky. However, as she finally brought herself out of her thoughts and simply decided on just calling that stallion dumb, Rainbow looked left and right and realized she had absolutely no idea where she was within the castle.

She hadn’t lived nor visited Canterlot Castle much, or at all for that matter, but the mare figured she would’ve found the garden or an open area that led to open skies or something.

In fact, where in Tartarus was an open window? Or anypony? Rainbow would settle to scooch out of an open window to find out where she was!

Now grumbling and cursing her misfortune, Rainbow began flying again, hugging the side where the windows were fitted in the walls as to hope she’d find one that she could open or even better, find that line of stuck-up elitist self-entitled rich ponies.

Then came an even more unfortunate situation, as she felt a certain pressure below her stomach.

Now Rainbow was getting desperate about being lost, as now she had to find the little fillies’ room.

‘I really shouldn’tve drank all that cider before visiting Twi’!’ Rainbow groaned, her rear legs crossing to try and hold it, ‘N fact I should’ve gone before we left!!’

As she turned a corner where the windows shown one side of Canterlot Castle, specifically the the throne, with its expansive stained glass windows, Rainbow’s impatience grew before she finally snapped and decided to dive through the nearest door, taking to the idea of hopeful seclusion, and see if she couldn’t spot a plant.

What no pony will find in time to know who did it won’t hurt nopony, right?

Rainbow quickly looked through the room, not taking note about the room before seeing her lord and savior, a potted plant in a corner and away from any windows where somepony might peep.

She quickly poked her head out of the room to check left, right, up and out the windows before closing the doors and rushing straight for the plant.

A minute later, an embarrassed Rainbow Dash quickly flew out of the room and hurried down the hallway, once more on the hunt for somewhere that led outdoors.

Only to be met with an angry shout from behind her, causing Rainbow to immediately look back and saw that the same door she had left was now open again.

She didn’t wait to see who came out, as she bolted down the hall she was in, found a different door and flew inside.

Only to be met with a bright flash that blinded her and made her give a startled yell.

Twilight rejoined her friends as they eagerly ignored the once again startled, and now loudly grumbling nobles as the mares galloped their way through.

Even strangely, Pinkie Pie was not pronking the entire time they left the throne room. She had been remarkably sullen and unhappy, though not enough that her hair had become flat and smooth.

Twilight could just hear over their hooves echoing through the halls about some match against rams and patriots.

As they turned a few corners, with Twilight mentally mapping and remembering where they came from as she had to during her tutelage with Princess Celestia, and shelving Pinkie’s strangeness as her just being herself, Twilight finally stopped and called loudly, “Mares, wait.”

They quickly screeched to a halt on their hooves before Applejack complained, “What, Twi’? We ain’t gon find Dash stayin’ here like tree stumps.”

“That’s the problem, AJ.” Twilight replied, “ Canterlot Castle was built like a labyrinth, girls. We could run about the castle for a day and we’re as likely to find Rainbow flying about here as we are winning the Baltimare State Lottery.”

“Still doesn’t hurt to try and dream ...” Rarity muttered to herself, lamenting on one of her more foolish spendings.

“We’re better off either going back to Ponyville and waiting there for her to return, or ... go back to the throne room and wait with the Princesses there ...” Twilight said, hesitating on the last suggestion, recalling her friends unhappy reactions at the former-human’s words.

The other mares met her expectations by their various reactions. Pinkie was the first to react, which was losing her smile and her ears lowering, while Rarity and Applejack shifted uncomfortably and Fluttershy hunkering lower to the floor while giving a concerned frown.

“... Mares, I know that what he said wasn’t a very good thing to say, let alone appropriate nor contributive to how loyalty is supposed to be even in the same line as all that,” Twilight admitted, looking down to one side, her ears flattened, “But he does mean well, and he is somepony who’s not had anything like what we’ve had and enjoyed even before Princess Luna came back. He’s just ... different.”

None of the mares changed their dispositions, however Pinkie again was the first, this time speaking up, “Well ... I’m still not very okie-dokie with how he chased Dashie away. Buuuut, he is a friend, even if he wasn’t a very friendly friend ...”

Twilight didn’t have much to defend Rising from Pinkie’s remark, so she said nothing in response, looking down at the carpet.

“... Buuut,” Twilight’s ears perked up as she looked back at Pinkie Pie, “I suppose we could try again. I mean, if Risey was going to be a really really meanie weenie of a friend, he could’a done worse.”

“A fair point,” Rarity commented, “Though how soon might we expect the same thing to happen again from him? Respectful and wise as he acts, he didn’t act very remorseful for his words, and neither did he promise on not repeating his rather brutish statement.”

“More blunt th’n a hammer, too,” Applejack agreed, “Only thing that stopped me fr’m buckin’ him till next week fer what he said was ‘cause he’s a guest o’ the Princesses.”

“It still wouldn’t be friendly of us if we didn’t give another chance though, right?” Pinkie argued, “I mean, Princess Luna wasn’t very friendly when she was Queenie Meanie, right?”

“Pinkie, sweetie,” Rarity explained, “Princess Luna was a different situation, she wasn’t herself, nor aware of the consequences of what she was doing, and she was very repentant when we helped her. Rising, however, ruthlessly spoke of terrible things with a rather sound mind and as I said, he wasn’t very sorry for saying such things.”

“Still, Pinkie’s right.” Twilight said, gaining attention from her unconvinced friends, “Guest or not, he’s more out of touch than Princess Luna still is. The times and land he’s been in isn’t a very kind place at all, and even when I talked to him about some of the similarities between Equestria’s history and his race’s history, his was always much more brutal and harsher than ours. It’s likely it’s all he knows in who knows how long his life is. Maybe we can change him for the better?”

The three mares looked at each other as Twilight talked, considering and weighing their choices and options mentally. They remained silent after their friend asked her question for a while before Applejack gave a grumble before replying, “Ah’ll give him a shot, Twi. But Ah won’t like it. An’ Ah’ll at least promise Ah won’t say “Ah told ya so” if it don’t work.”

“I shall have to agree with Applejack, darling,” Rarity nodded, “As greatly as I am hesitant to try a second hoof at befriending that stallion ... . It wouldn’t be very generous to refuse a second chance.”

“We just need to show him there’s no need to remain as he is,” Twilight assured, gaining some agreement, though not a whole lot.

“So ...” Applejack drawled before asking, “About Rainbow Dash?”

Twilight blinked before realizing she had sidetracked out of finding their missing friend, “Oh right. Well, I think I had said that we were better off returning to the Princesses and wait for Rainbow to turn up there?”

“That is what y’all said before, Twilight.”

The mares began to turn around and trotted back where they had came from as Twilight replied, “Well, let’s get going and start waiting.”

Rainbow Dash’s yell shortly turned into a yelp as sight returned to her. She gave a startled look around, seeing that the room she had entered in a panic turned into a sort of small den, fit with a long and curved couch with a long, golden curtain surrounding the majority of the “den” and--

Rainbow Dash’s heart skipped a beat when she realized that there was something on the couch.

She froze with here eyes wide open once she realized that ‘something’ was Rising Dawn, curled and seemingly snoozing.

Rainbow would have yelled in surprise and shock, had she not heard a familiar call, “May the next partitioner enter!”

‘Oh buck! That’s Princess Celestia!’ Rainbow’s first thought blared through her mind.

The technicolor pegasus looked around for an exit where she didn’t get herself into trouble or attract the attention of either alicorns, getting as far as turning around and seeing an oddly painted and carved rune of sorts on the floor behind her when a very unfamiliar voice asked, “Takens a wrong turn haff you, kleines Pony?”

Rainbow instantly recoiled and shrank. Realizing she was discovered, she turned her head slowly, eyes still wide and teeth gritted.

Rising’s head was up and looking straight at her, with the same hard look he had given her during their last talk. But what struck her first when she locked eyes with him was that his eye color had completely changed.

What had been a sort of green color to her was now a sort of brownish color, which stayed as Rising blinked and asked again, his head moving up and to one side, “Or perhaps you’ve became lost and guessed randomly? Such terrible luck then, to haff circled back.”

“I ... uh ...” Rainbow stuttered, the shock of becoming aware of where she had ended up mixing in with the sudden change of voice and attitude from the stallion.

She started to think about leaving and her eyes darted to the odd looking rune, if that was what brought her here in the first place when Rising waved a hoof, lazily calling, “Nein, I see your eyes looking at zie portal. And you may has well stay und vait wiff us. You und your friends vould wander zie castle for a week if you get lost yet again. How the Princesses haffen’t made zie map of zis castle iz beyond me.”

“I ... who ... what?” Rainbow continued to stutter, not understanding how Rising had turned from a clear and easily spoken Equish, with no accent to notice, to some sort of Germaneic accent, like some foreigner that had finished Equish school but didn’t completely shake off their accent enough to slip around words.

Rainbow shook her head and was about to demand what the buck was going on and why Rising was acting differently when he quickly moved his head and hoof forward and lower to the floor, raising his hoof up to his muzzle and giving a soft but long shushing sound, before saying softly, “Halte und senke dein Stimme, kleines Pony. The curtain may seem thick, but zie slightest yelp shall alerten zie ponies below.”

She took the hint and lowered her voice as well before demanding, “What ... the buck are you? What the buck happened to your voice?!”

“Ahh, zat’s right, we did not inform you nor your friends of our more unique characteristics.” Rising replied, moving his eyes and head upwards and rolling to the right, “Vell, kleines Pony. Let us just say, we don’t refer ourselves in plural merely for zie formalities. It’s a bit more literal.”

His answer only served to confuse Rainbow Dash even further, as her facial expression quickly matched up to her bewilderment. 'Rising' waved a hoof again, giving a smile that said he expected her to be confused, “We’ll explain zis on a later time, wiff your friends, of course. We often do not like repeating ourselves. Repeating self is bad use of precious time. Time what could be spent better than sounding like broken record.”

Rainbow could only give a slow nod, trying not to bolt away from the possibly insane stallion before her, “So ... where’s the guy I was talking to earlier?”

“Ahh, zis is most peculiar, even to us!” 'Rising' softly exclaimed, sitting up and resting on his flank, “You zee, the man you’ve spoken to is ... er,” he paused to articulate a little before bringing his front hooves close to his barrel, “... . Well, he haff, fallen asleep!” His eyes widened, an amazed smile appeared on his muzzle and he moved his hooves up, showing the frogs on his hoof as to give a small gesture of surprise.

All Rainbow could say was, “Huh?”

“Indeed!” 'Rising' softly exclaimed again, pointing a hoof at her, “That is what is so odd! One of our more unfortunate downsides that come from being us as we are before all zis, is that we cannot fall asleep! Zis just impossible! We can drift and daydream, but we always must vait for morning to come, not sleep! We are like a flashlight that has been left on. Our batteries do not ever run dry, our light does not dim nor need changing, and our ‘off’ button was removed! Or, perhaps we simply never found it ... . Eizer way, while sleep iz usually typical mortal concern, it iz still good for getting break from zie seeing, tasting, smelling, hearing, and touching all zie time! Alzo give rest from always being stressed out by zie problems while awake. Fer us, sleep is as difficult to make such a thing happen as to tell you to never use your wings for zie rest of your life!”

“O-oh ... O-kay.” Rainbow simply said, getting some sort of sense on what 'Rising' was talking about. She quickly remembered about her previous talk with the stallion. Considering that this 'Rising' is different than the one she had been shot down pretty harshly by the 'Rising' she first met, why not get an explanation as to what the buck was wrong with him.

Rainbow Dash then stepped forward, her expression hardening and asked, “Ok, so ... 'Rising' ... .”

She hesitated on continuing as the stallion gave a curious hum, but after a few seconds, Rainbow gained the courage to continue, “What the buck was with that other ... uh ... guy? Why did he go after me and ask something as crazy as that?”

“Ah, I see. Yes, vell,” 'Rising' muttered, “Vell, since he has fallenz asleep, und since he spoken rathzer hastily, I suppose we can give him some comeuppance,” He muttered just loudly enough for Rainbow to hear, “und certainly for that clothing question.”

Rainbow had to focus to not blush hard at the remembering mention of the awkward question that had been thrown out during her first meeting with the alicorn, as ‘Rising’ spoke up, “To start, you vill haff to understand that, we haff our own King that we haff followed from some centuries after the beginning onward to our race’s end, with very devote hearts at zat. And vell ... during our early stages of our existence, our King wasn’t er,” 'Rising' paused and reconsidered his words, “well He still wasn’t, a particularly pacifistic ruler as your dear Princess Celestia is. He was very set und strict in His rules, He did not take well to anyone who disobeyed or decided to insult Him. Mein Gott, He did not suffer insults idly. He was quite determined to guide and return our kind back to His Kingdom, however, und He did still care, offerwise he would not have endured us and our antics at all, und he certainly would not have sacrificed much for us.”

“Wait, how’s this supposed to be the reason why loyalty and all that is connected to k-” Rainbow Dash hesitated on saying the word, “H-hurting everypony?”

“It iz part of the reason because the one you’ve spoken to and are more familiar wiff wasn’t a very appreciating man of His strict commanding, specifically during those early times. Some of which we haff done by our hands, much of the others were done by His own soldiers.”

“He didn’t act like it.” Rainbow scoffed.

'Rising' gave a shrug, his eyebrows raised, “We all haff our own ways of expressing content or discontent, some more uncertain zan others, iz only by us being connected so well do we know, offerwise we’d be guessing day und night what zie other was thinking.”

The two fell into a contemplative silence, with the ongoings of the Day Court continuing below them. As they listened to one pony, a stallion by the tone of voice, was desperate to try and barter with the Princesses to buy and occupy land outside of his business’ jurisdiction, Rainbow became curious about one thing about what 'Rising' said.

She moved her head back up and looked at the stallion, “So ... why follow somepony that’s so strict like that? Isn’t it like that uh ...” Rainbow stumbled on her words a little, trying to get what she was trying to say, “Sort of like this uh ... King ... Sombrero? I think that’s his name?”

‘Rising’ tilted his head in confusion, not understanding who Rainbow Dash was referring to, which prompted the mare to try and explain, “He was sort of a king that ruled over some part of Equestria in the snowy part of the mountains.” She groaned and complained, “Ugh, I’m really bad at legends and things like that! The egghead could probably explain better, she should know something about the Crystalis Kingdom or something.”

‘Rising’ raised an eyebrow and remarked, “Perhaps we’ll haff to ask zie Prinzessin about it then. Do you know or remember what was about zis king?”

“Yeah, uh ... he ...” Rainbow started before faltering yet again, racking her brain in trying to remember, “Sort of terrorized his ponies, I think?”

“Ah, a tyrant, then?” ‘Rising summarized, which made Rainbow give a ‘sorta’ nod, “Vell, we can definitely tell you, kleines Pony,” ‘Rising moved his head forward with a very knowing and confident smile, “without a doubt that tyranny iz zie last thing upon our King’s mind. Oh ja, He certainly has a taste of being grandiose and He most certainly has quite zie temper. But!” ‘Rising’ gently pointed at Rainbow Dash, “He certainly takes no pleasure in maliciousness. Hates zit, as zie matter of fact.”

“But ... why the strictness then?”

"Oh zimple, kleines Pony. We were at war.”

This made Rainbow blink in confusion, “War? With who?”

"Mostly, wiff zie part of the Heavenly Kingdom’s own rebellious faction.” ‘Rising’ couldn’t help but snort, moving a hoof up,"Imagine zat, zie one kingdom in zie afterlife brought to a civil war. Und sadly, zis began shortly humankind’s first steps. Zey wanted death and destruction to everyzing around them, we didn’t. We clashed for almost zie eternity, wiff humankind caught between picking sides.”

“What, like picking Wonderbolts or Shadowbolts?”

“... Iz a bit more permanent than zat, I’m afraid, kleines Pony.” ‘Rising’ admitted with some degree of sadness, “Much more unbegrenzt.”

Rainbow simply had enough of ‘Rising’s’ odd words and accent, as she took to flight, flew up right to his face and demanded, nearly yelling, “Could it hurt you to say something in clear Equish?! I didn’t take a language class just to learn what somepony else is saying in something else!”

‘Rising’ gave a quiet laugh at her issue, which only served to anger her more until he placed one hoof on her shoulder while waving the other hoof, “Calm, calm, mein kleines Pony. Speaking clearly in a language I was not born wiff is not easy, even through zis link of mein between us all, mein heart und tongue was und alwayz has been Deutsch. Vat I had said was is zat you could not simply pick one or zie other. Oaths, sworn loyalties, obedience und diligence was zie only way to stop being on one side.”

Now Rainbow had a better picture of what the problem was, “So then ... the other ‘guy’ ... wasn’t happy about the conditions on being one side?”

‘Rising’ gave a slight nod, “Not completely. Honestly, zat rebellion was good as dead before zey even begun. All humanity was in zie middle of it was rats aboard zie sinking pirate ship, wiff zie victorious ship just off zie bow and in a very long swimming distance from zie doomed one.”

“Your Majesties, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony has returned!” A stallion’s voice echoed from the throne room below.

“Please send them in, lieutenant.” Princess Celestia’s voice followed.

“It seems your friends haff given up trying to navigate zie labyrinth, kleines Pony.” ‘Rising’ remarked, “Perhaps you vould like a good spot to fly and glide down?”

Rainbow looked over to the curtains that he gestured towards after he asked her. She took a few hoofsteps before asking, “What is it you keep calling me? This “clines”?”

‘Rising’ chuckled, “Little, I call you little pony. As you are smaller than us, nein? Offerwise, we would call you ‘pony’ or groß pony, ‘big, or tall pony’ if you were our size.”

The mare just shook her head at the stallion, “You’re really weird.”

All she was rewarded with was ‘Rising’ bursting into a hearty laugh, no longer caring who heard him below.

He calmed down just enough to coherently remark, “Sie haben keine Ahnung, kleines Pony!” before returning to laughter.

“I hope whatever up there is greatly amusing, because you are lucky that the last petitioner had left this room not seconds ago, and that there is no pony down here that does not know your presence.” Princess Celestia’s voice called, clearly sounding irritated.

“All iz under control, mein Prinzessin. All is well.” ‘Rising’ called back, his smile still filled with mirth, “We haff found our friends’ missing pony, so we haff been busy quietly talking as you busied yourself upon your country’s little daytime plans.”

Princess Celestia didn’t immediately answer back, seemingly taken back by the odd accent as much as Rainbow had been. Eventually, the voice of Twilight Sparkle rang out, “Rainbow Dash? Are you alright up there?”

“Yeah, yeah, Egghead. I’m fine, lemmie get past this thing first.” Rainbow said before pushing against the curtains that, for some odd reason, they didn’t budge until ‘Rising’ got up and used a hoof to unleash a bit of rope that had gotten caught on some of the sharper parts of the carved decoration.

Rainbow didn’t bother giving thanks before she flew out and glided down to her friends. As she landed, Twilight and the her friends crowded around Rainbow, asking where she had gone and what was she thinking going off like that.

Princess Celestia looked away from the reunion between her student’s friend and asked ‘Rising’, “Could you please explain why your accent is different now when not an hour and a half ago, you could speak clearly and not with the additional foreign language?”

“Mein Prinzessin, did we not tell you before?” ‘Rising’ replied as he stretched his head past the curtains and looked down, where he still couldn’t see the Princesses from their thrones.

It took a moment for Celestia to recall, but her eyes widened and muttered, “Oh.”

Then her expression turned to shock, standing on all four hooves quickly, “You can switch control with each other?!”

“Iz possible,” ‘Rising’ replied, before leaping out of the curtains again and gliding down before landing a bit more rough than he had the first time. He muttered a few curses to himself before continuing, “Though it is not often used, usually for zie more ... er ...” He flitted his eyes left and right in trying to find the right word, “Unusual circumstances.”

“‘Unusual,’ as in … ?” Princess Luna tentatively asked.

‘Rising’ simply gave a neutral stare at Luna, indicating that it wasn’t anypony’s business as of yet.

‘Or possibly at all ...’ Celestia weighed, electing to simply accept what ‘Rising’ had answered with and asked, “If you’re not the ‘Rising’ that we’ve been talking to all this time, then who are you?”

‘Rising’ gave a wry smile, but just as he opened his mouth to answer, Pinkie Pie raised a hoof and chimed in, “Hay, could we maybe skip the confusing Kingdom Hearts talk instead of going on about it for three fourths of the chapter not getting anywhere? We still have an episode to do real soon, like tomorrow soon? Maybe before Risey’s ‘Welcome-To-Equestria-Good-Morning-And-Happy-Coronation Party’ soon? That about eight of us need to be present? You know, the Running of the Leaves, that thing?”

This brought everypony to stare at Pinkie in bewildered confusion, Celestia, however, began to go through several emotions, starting from from bewilderment, to realization and shock before she immediately turned to her Majordomo and said, “Are there anything we need to discuss before the Running of the Leaves?”

‘Rising’ just looked at the others with a look of slight incomprehension, and slight irritation at the change of subject, “We haff been meaning to ask when we first heard of zis event, but er, what is zis ‘Running of zie Leaves?’” he asked, his question directed to nopony in particular.

“The Running of the Leaves is a seasonal transitory event which is designed to, through the seismic vibrations transmitted through the ground and into the trees of all of a city’s or village’s race entrants, helps shake the leaves free from the tree and prepare the environment for the upcoming season of winter,” Twilight explained, happy to get started on giving some of her extensive knowledge to the benefit of her fellow ponies.

“Vat? Zie leaves do not fall off on their own?” ‘Rising’ asked, sounding bewildered and raising an eyebrow in expressive incredulity.

“Having leaves fall off on their own sounds super weird. Why? is that different from how Fall was a long time ago?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering, an uncomfortable grimace on her face as she tried to imagine fall happening without any assistance.

“Indeed, mein kleines Pony. Zie leaves would either fall, or be blown away, und for zie leaves that did not fall, they either fell off wiff zie sprouting of new leaves, or become food for bugs, or even used as nesting material. We humans might look at the changing colors of the fall leaves, but humans didn’t, nor er ... never were, be so ... micromanaged over their environment. No one could ever truly control zie weather.” ‘Rising’ explained.

“Wait what?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, her jaw dropping, “You ponies just let your clouds run amok?!”

“Ja!” ‘Rising’ chirped, his smile wide, “All we did was shimply monitor und report a seven day forecast.”

Twilight was the next to protest, “But, but what if you have a tornado, or a hurricane? Or- or a blizzard—a snow storm?!”

‘Rising’ shrugged, “We evacuate or stay put und take shelter as best we can, not always zie best plan, but it has worked enough zat we can forewarn everyone in advance.”

Unfortunately, this did little to calm Rainbow and Twilight, as they simply stared at the stallion, who had basically just told them that humans did nothing to control or tame the weather around them, allowed it to stay out of control and simply endured whatever it threw at them.

Finally, Rainbow Dash came to the simple conclusion, “Lemmie take back what I said earlier, you and your ... whatever you are, are weird.”

‘Rising’ simply gave an amused nasal snort while Princess Celestia gave a few hoof stomps to call everypony’s attention, “As much as this interesting and it’s still leaving us with more questions than answers, I believe Pinkie is right in regards of time and events.” She turned to look at ‘Rising’ with an expectant glare, who merely met hers with an impassive amused smile as she continued, “I’m certain that once things have settled enough that we have time, we will be able to get some of those answers from our up and coming Prince, correct?”

“Of course, mein Prinzessin. We would be happy to answer most questions.” ‘Rising’ answered.

“Good,” Celestia gave a small sigh, before continuing, “Since the Running of the Leaves is tomorrow, and it is an all day event. Unfortunately, I may have to push your introduction a little longer, Rising.”

‘Rising’ raised an eyebrow and asked, “Can zie coronation be held within zie evening or late afternoon? Perhaps even at dusk? Surely zie civilians and nobles tolerate zie day und night enough to allow zis to happen later?”

Both Princess Luna and Celestia glanced at each other before returning their attention back onto ‘Rising’, “Perhaps, and it might be possible. Though it’s unusual you want this to be held sooner rather than wait for the day after. You had agreed that you wanted this to be significant, considering your current physical state.”

“Mein Prinzessin,” ‘Rising’ argued, his expression becoming serious, “zie longer zis is held, zie longer zie nobles und zie civilians shall become impatient und suspicious. Und your nephew, spineless as he is, has demanded und done enough upon what he could do to delay and calm zie nobles. We do want zis memorable unto Equestria, zat they will soon haff another Alicorn wandering around as Prinzessin Cadance has been. But your nephew has already seen us, und how long can he hold his tongue until he opens his egoistische mund, und reveal us to them sooner than zie coronation vill?”

Princess Luna looked over at her sister and gave a questioning look of her own, which was met with a concerned gaze. ‘Rising’ had raised a valid point, Blueblood had seen and spoken to the stallion, regardless however short it was, it wouldn’t be much for him to cave in and blurt out everything he learned and of his own impression of the stallion.

But to hold the coronation almost on the dot of when Fall arrived? There wasn’t any way to have the Running of the Leaves happen sooner, as nature had its own tune and rhythm that even the pegasus had to obey and allow at times.

“The Running of the Leaves begins an hour before noon, Your Highness.” Majordomo Forward Bastion stated to them in a low voice, “Unless you feel that this is more important than the event?”

“I have not missed the Running of the Leaves before, Majordomo,” Princess Celestia insisted in the same low voice, “And even if his coronation is more important, I dearly would rather not miss the chance to just be away from the castle and welcome Fall with my student.”

“I doth think Rising would sayth the same, sister.” Luna quietly chimed in, her eyes flashing towards Rising, who patiently waited in silence. His own eyes starting to swirl and twist in colors, signifying to her, after some time and trials and errors of watching and observing, that he was mentally thinking and debating amongst himself.

Celestia looked down at the floor and thought about it silently, her eyes flickering left and right, “What time will I return to Canterlot, Forward?”

“At the best possible speed and after the event? I’d say you would be back by early evening. By standard time that you and your sister follow diligently, the sun should still be up enough to set everything in order.”

“But what of Twilight and her friends?” Celestia asked silently, “I know they might participate, and they’ll likely be exhausted to travel all the way to Canterlot ...”

“Your Highness, the Running of the Leaves is not a marathon from here to Yakyakistan,” Forward argued, “it’s a paltry two mile pace. The Element Bearers traveled through the Everfree all the way to the old and abandoned castle, and traveled up a mountain, to its very peak to deal with a dragon that had roosted there. I severely doubt they are lax and unfit enough to not endure two miles at pace.”

“Well, I’ve never been allowed much exercise during my constant stays and escorts throughout Equestria, Forward. I have no idea what two miles truly feels like to everypony else.” Princess Celestia grumbled, “And as long as I’ve lived in this castle, it’s no longer a labyrinth to me that it would ensure me any equivalent distance. I haven’t even used my wings except for the occasional times in my own garden!”

Forward’s ears swept backwards at hearing her complaint, “As much as I agree on your sentiments, you know how everypony else considers it improper for you to fly or walk in great distances on your own.”

A sudden and very loud derisive snort resounded from behind and the three turned to look who made such a noise.

Still standing where he had been, Rising was still looking in their direction, his eyes no longer swirling and his ears swept backwards, his expression clearly unamused.

They stared at the stallion a little more before returning to their conversation, with Forward Bastion stating, “Your Highnesses, all I am saying is that you and the Element Bearers will have enough time to reach Canterlot and begin the coronation well before sunset arrives. We can easily prepare and set the decorations, and if we do it soon or even now, we can send news and invitations. You recall our recently developed spell that instantly sends news out to all the cities and towns in Equestria?”

“Thou hath invented a faster way to send word to the town criers?” Princess Luna asked, her eyes wide with awe at the achievement.

“We did, Your Highnesses, and it’s as simple as the scroll courier spell you share with Element Bearer Twilight Sparkle’s adopted brother. We can successfully send news throughout Equestria at a moments notice.”

“But how long might it take for anypony who wishes to attend to arrive here?” Princess Celestia fretted, “The trains may take too long, and I’m quite sure the taxi carriages from the more major and populated cities wouldn’t dare risk themselves in exhaustion to reach here.”

“Which is why we would add the advisement of arriving early, Your Highness,” The Majordomo assured.

“Wouldst Canterlot even hath the room?” Princess Luna asked, her eyes furrowing at the thought, “As spacious as we know Canterlot is, it is likeliest half of Equestria if not all of Equestria, shall wish to witness this.”

With practiced patience, Forward replied, “Perhaps we may spare rooms within the castle itself. At the worst of cases, we may have to open and break out our military tents and settle specific spaces dedicated for temporary shelter. The nobles may complain, but I’m certain we can placate them and inform them that this is only for one day. Even they can’t simply say that all of Equestria shouldn’t see and know who is being coronated and placed among the high ranks of society.”

“And risk revealing Rising?” Princess Celestia pointed out, “If Rainbow Dash could stumble upon him, how can we tell a little foal won’t?”

“It’s a risk we will simply have to take, Your Highness,” Forward said simply.

“A risk I’d rather not have happen at all.”

“Hath mine sister gone soft-headed from enjoying a season of peace for too long?” Luna chided, “If the Majordomo offers the soonest path, then the slightest risks are meaningless.”

Her sister, however, was not convinced, “We face the same risk if we delay this the day after.”

“Mine sister, thou art more stubborn than asking Mother for permission to leave the castle!” Luna protested, exasperated at Celestia’s persistence.

“I understand that, Luna, but I’m already committed to my decision!” Princess Celestia affirmed, putting a hoof down.

Both Princess Luna and Majordomo Forward Bastion exchanged glances at each other before Forward asked, “This is your decision, then?” Princess Celestia gave a firm nod to him, which made him give a frown, but relented under her command, “As you wish, Your Highness.”

When the three turned to inform ‘Rising’ and her student and her friends, they found that Twilight and the others except for ‘Rising’ were gone.

Celestia was the first to ask, “W-Where is Twilight and the others? Where did they go off to?”

“They hurried off to catch zie train to Ponyville, Mein Prinzessin.” ‘Rising’ shrugged, “You vere so busy that they left us to tell you their farewells und they would be happy to see you again tomorrow.”

It confused Celestia for a moment as she asked, “Twilight left without telling me goodbye?”

“She did, Mein Prinzessin. You didn’t hear her.”

Princess Celestia gave a silent “oh” with her ears drooping before Princess Luna came around to her side, giving a slight nudge. This snapped her out of her thoughts as she stood tall and stated, “We have discussed and decided that regardless of the risks involving my nephew, we shall have to push your coronation the day after.”

‘Rising’s’ ears flicked as he frowned in annoyance, his eyes swirling all the while. However, he did not argue or raise his voice against her decision.

Before he could make a decision on what to do next, Celestia relaxed and said, “It will be fine, Rising. I have enough faith that my nephew will stay silent over your presence until then. He may be arrogant and prideful, but he still has enough brains in his head to know.”

His expression of annoyance didn’t change as Celestia looked over to one of the guards that was at the door and called, “Are there any more petitioners?”

Upon seeing the guard open his side of the door and shook his head after checking, Celestia sighed in both relief and a slight tinge of sadness that her student and the other bearers left.

After the Princesses got up from their thrones, and getting the blood back through their legs and waiting out the pins and needles, the four ponies plus an escort of four guards departed from the throne room and moved into the dining room.

As they progressed, Blueblood stomped around a corner, his attitude sour, irate and comically a clothespin over his nose, turning his voice slightly nasally, “Auntie! I must have a word with you!”

‘Rising’ raised an eyebrow as Luna gave an exasperated sigh while Celestia gave a silent groan to herself and asked patiently, “Yes, my nephew, what is it?”

Prince Blueblood gave an impertinent huff and said, “Well, if you had taken a trip down the hallway I had just departed, you would know what my problem is! Somepony has decided to insult me greatly by relieving themselves on one of the planters! While I was still in the same room!”

“Ah, zat explains why kleines Pony kept avoiding zie question,” ‘Rising’ muttered to himself, putting a hoof to his chin.

Both of the Princesses heard his mutter and while Luna put a hoof to her mouth to cover her silent giggle, Celestia twitched her ear at ‘Rising’ before responding, “Well, my nephew, I will be sure to check whom among the guard and petitioners had done so. I most certainly sympathize over your misfortune, and I will be sure to send somepony to remove the smell.”

The irate unicorn gave a low stare at his aunts before giving a nod, “Very well. I will await word that the deed is done, and I certainly hope that whoever is responsible is given their rightly dues. Good evening, Auntie.” And with that, he left with a huff, using his magic to adjust the clothespin.

Both Princesses gave a silent giggle as Blueblood disappeared around the same corner he left, “I suppose I really should get somepony to handle the problem, if my nephew is complaining about the smell of it,” Celestia commented as the small group of ponies continued onwards, “Otherwise, the smell might spread and infect the rest of the castle.”

“Indeed, one vould not vant such a scent to linger.” ‘Rising’ added, stumbling a little.

“Though, this still makes me question how and why you’re different now, Rising.” Celestia turned her head over to the stallion, who misplaced a step again and had to lean against one Royal Guard to rebalance himself, nearly flattening the poor, smaller Guard in the process, “With the Rising we had been with and discussing, he was able to keep himself steady and was closing on being able to gallop without trouble, and yet with you, you can’t go without five or so hoofsteps without falling over.”

‘Rising’ stayed silent for a while as they continued to progress into the dining room, though he was looking down at his hooves more than he was looking up and at the Princess.

With the presumption he would answer when he was given a chance to not focus on walking, Princess Celestia let it be for the time being, though Forward wasn’t thrilled at having ‘Rising’ not answer.

Once they had reached the dining room and seated themselves, ‘Rising’ gave a quick sigh as he sat down and started, “There. Now zat we can talk without falling over like an unsupported sapling.”

He went silent for a little, looking left and right with a deep in thought expression, “Vell, we’ve told kleines Pony about what had happened, und we are still shocked and surprised at what happened to zie boy you know and recognize, mein Prinzessin ...”

“I do hope that he is alright. I’ve already gotten used to one of you, I’d rather not end up having to reintroduce ourselves every time.” Princess Celestia quipped as one maid delivered the last dish of food, which was a two leveled strawberry cake.

Her sister had already started on getting her dinner together, incredibly hungry after a long, and somewhat eventful day. Though Celestia noticed that Luna was still paying attention throughout the discussion, her ears perked and forwards.

‘Rising’ gave a chuckle, “Vell, you won’t need to endure restating your name to us. Und we doubt zis will be a repeating performance,” he paused to consider his options before reaching out and pointed his hoof at one plate of food, which contained scalloped potato casserole. One maid that had been standing nearby him lit her horn and with an expert use with her horn, scooped a small portion of the casserole and brought it to ‘Rising’s plate. After pointing to a few more plates of different food, ‘Rising’ gave a polite nod to the maid before continuing, “As it seems, our dear boy has found himself sound asleep.”

Princess Luna was the first to ask, “Asleep? How canst tho ... you be asleep when we clearly see you are up and awake?”

“Nein, mein Prinzessin. You forget there iz more than one voice in zie head,” ‘Rising’ tapped a hoof to his temple, “We thought you knew zis by now.”

‘Rising’ paused for a moment to consider how to best explain himself, “Now then ... sleep is used und kept by zie mortals, bound to die und limited by exhaustion und tiredness, ja?.”

Both Princess Celestia and Luna nodded as ‘Rising’ paused for a response, prompting him to continue, “Vell, we are not affected by such limitations. Much how one iz awake during zie bright of day und one iz asleep during zie dark of night, one must haff in zie least eight hours of rest. However, by our affinity within zie Heavenly Kingdom, our ‘sun’ does not set at all, leaving us never to tire nor face exhaustion. Zis, combined wiff all of us in zie Eternal Fields, connected wiff each other as deep as a spider’s web, takes away any chance of us finding rest or sleep.”

“You speak of nonsense, human.” Luna protested, “How canst thou find sleep impossible? We hath seen one stallion take to the challenge of staying awake as longest as possible, and he lasted a scant two days.”

“Pfft,” ‘Rising’ scoffed as he ate a few bites from the levitated silverware that the maid was using. After swallowing down one more bite, he said, “Some of zie more idiot men tried and ended lasting more zan zat. But ja, sleep is hard to find when in zie middle of a loud crowd with bright lights all around, so we simply went wiffout.”

Princess Luna scoffed, “Foolishness. How canst thou still remain cognizant and capable to ‘simply go without.’”

‘Rising’ was about to answer when he stopped mid-breath, his eyes widening. He immediately recoiled and gave a painful groan as he placed a hoof to one side of his head.

Both mares took note of his sudden response as Princess Celestia bolted out of her chair in concern, “Are you alright? What happened?”

The stallion recoiled a little from her outburst before shaking his head, speaking softly, “Nein, mein Prinzessin, it seems our boy has finally arisen. Though, I do wish his awakening was quieter … .”

Darkness first took presence before sweeping away to a beachside, him standing on the sand as he felt the ocean water quickly reach his feet. He stood upon a cloud, looking at the ever bright and slightly cloudy day, the clouds barely moving at all. A large, warm something drew close to his back, side and legs, and a familiar voice asked him and he replied, I can keep going, and he pushed a book back into its place upon a bookshelf. A crowd of voices clapped and celebrated, glass and mugs clinking against each other and the tables. He sat on the couch, tossing the newspaper away from him.

Then a colossal, loud Bang shattered through and around him.

He bolt awake, instantly alert and ready as if he had just been startled awake by what sounded to him like a single fire from an artillery piece.

Upon realizing that he was still within the Eternal Fields, he gave a massive and irritated groan.

He wasn’t the first to give complaint about the neural syndrome as he heard more groans and growls from the Legion around him.

He looked up, seeing himself surrounded in shadows, with light occasionally flashing and hitting him in the eyes, making him blink several times and raised his hand to shield his sensitive eyes.

After a moment, he looked around and realized that the shadows around him was the men and women of the Legion, whom he was linked and connected to, and the few that completely blocked his view of the Eternal Fields. Some of them holding a hand to one of their ears while a few others were on their knees and had a hand over their face.

He was about to ask something else, but one of the Legion, an Impi, stated simply, “You slept.”

It confused him at first as to what the warrior meant, of course he slept, it was a natural cycle wasn’t it?

Another of the Legion, this time a Goth, repeated, “No, young one. You slept.”

The full effect of what they meant still did not reach him, as he sat up groggily and gave a stretching yawn. How could he not sleep? The Day Court was boring, there was barely any interest in what the nobles were doing, and—

Now the implication hit him.

He stood up, the adrenaline already cooling down from the EHS stumbling for a second before the few that surrounded him parted and showed the Eternal Fields that surrounded the Tower of Eternity. Countless formerly prone and sleeping forms sat about on the grass or against the Tower, having some expressions of frustration, irritation or grumpiness. Some of the more lucky continued to sleep and dream, ignoring and resting without a care or thought about what was happening, or even budging after he woke up.

“And here is the boy himself, awake and seeing the fruit of his labor.” He turned around to see the german officer in a solid and very plain, dark grey tunic, who was sitting down not too far from him. Sleeping soundly and peacefully next to the officer was a young teen who was dressed in a dark green tunic with a brown bandolier coming from his right waist to his left shoulder, with a color matching cap.

“I slept.” He replied, still in a slight daze at waking up as well as recoiling from the revelation.

“You did.” The german nodded, “And it has inspired others to follow.” The officer grunted as he got up and offered a hand to Rising, “However, now is not the time to be amazed, I’m afraid. The dear Princesses are getting tired of me, and I am more than eager to begin my own nap.”

Just before Rising left, he heard, “Oh, and good luck telling them your name. They are quite determined in getting one or two now.”

“Could we please have a name from at least one or two of you?” Princess Celestia immediately protested, “It is difficult as it is to understand your numerous nature, but to know that you can switch at will and, until now, remained nameless? It’s beyond frustrating!”

When he had moved from the mental landscape to reality, he had been greeted by two increasingly irritated Princesses with a floating fork holding some food on it, held up by one of the pony maids.

The first thing they asked was if it was him specifically. The next question was why in their god’s name, Faust, didn’t he tell them or at least hint that he could switch with one of the Legion in terms of controlling his physical body as easily as a Chinese Fire Drill.

And they weren’t satisfied with the responding answer, “It never came up.”

The maidmare wisely took the situation as a hint of getting out of the way until things calmed down, as now both Princesses Celestia and Luna were now within five feet from him and demanding at least his actual name and the officer they had been speaking to during his own absence.

Rising could do naught but helplessly shrug at the irate Princess, “It’s part of the reason we never agreed on any one name, and we’ve rarely if ever had this occur at all.”

Celestia put a hoof to her muzzle and asked with exhausted patience, “Just please. At least give us your name and that Germareic-speaking soul?”

Rising immediately snorted, “‘Germareic’? Must you ponies make equine puns with everything?” He fell silent in thought as both Celestia and Luna looked at each other in confusion, “Suppose it couldn’t hurt, as Thomas said it’d likely be the last time you and him would speak between each other.”

“Thomas?” Luna caught on, “That was the Germareic’s name? Not one of the most outstanding of names, if one must ask.”

Rising immediately gave an offended glare, his eyes changing back to the same brownish color and the same accent returned as he nearly spat back, “Vell excuse you too! Not all mutters und vaters names zeir children so unusual wiff something a cheap piece of fiction vould come up vith!”

Luna quickly flinched back while Celestia moved her hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle, “Whatever happened to ‘This will be the last you see me’?”

“That was before Luna asked that kind of question,” Rising replied, giving a slight shake of his head as he resumed control, “But yes, Thomas is his name.”

The maidmare that had quickly evacuated the room had peeked her head through the door, testing and seeing if things had calmed down enough. When Princess Celestia noticed the mare, she gave a gentle nod and said, “Well, let’s finish our dinner before we have you two set off for your lessons and I myself to deal with paperwork, shall we?”

Before Luna sat down, she turned her head and asked, “Rising? If I may ask, what happened when Thomas groaned as if he had been struck by something painful?”

The stallion gave a small grimace as the German's memories of what was said and done during his sleep and answered, “Exploding Head Syndrome.” Both the Princesses and the maidmare looked at Rising in concerned shock before he quickly explained, “Before you panic, even though we know how morbid it sounds, it’s not a literal event. It’s more of a sleep disorder, accompanied by either a very loud bang or a bright flash of light.”

Princess Luna simply stared at Rising as she tentatively asked, “Wilt ... thou be well?”

“Outside of being annoyed and irritable for a little while? Of course. It’s more alarming and startling than it is an actual problem.”

The lunar princess fell silent before muttering to herself, “Perhaps this explains the sudden awakenings in some ponies?” However she didn’t ask or voice her questions as the three returned to eating, though she decided to keep the topic in mind until a later date.

Princess Celestia decided to try and change subject, as she wasn’t completely willing to continue dinner in silence, “After all this there was one question that I think wouldn’t hurt to ask, Rising,”

The stallion looked at her in curiosity as she paused before asking, “If you hadn’t turned into an alicorn, what race would you have prefered or expected?”

Her answer came within two seconds of consideration as Rising’s voice nearly broke from the resounding answer from almost the entire Legion, “Pegasus.”

Rising immediately started coughing, holding his head away from the maidmare and the table as both Princesses burst into laughter at the sudden answer.

As the day turned to evening and dinner came to a close with smaller talks and non sequiturs, the three alicorns departed and went their separate ways throughout the castle.

Princess Celestia would return to her royal room, where waiting for her would be a stack of papers, missives, and the more written forums of petitions when ponies could not make the journey to Canterlot for a personal meeting.

All the while, Rising Dawn and Princess Luna would return to Luminous Scrolls, both for their daily lessons in modern Equestrian matters, as well as Rising aiding Luna in understanding Luminous’ verbosity and misdirected way of teaching.

However one certain Royal Guard, who had departed to return to the Royal Barracks, took a very different route. Instead of heading down the hallway that would lead him to where his fellow guards trained and rested, he instead took a different turn.

After pausing here and there to ensure that he wasn’t followed, and that he was alone, the stallion released his breath that for quite some time he didn’t realize he had been holding. Normally any other stallion would’ve gone blue or passed out, but for him it wasn’t much of an issue.

Years of experience kept his outward emotions level, however internally he was at a loss. Another alicorn, a stallion alicorn at that. And from what that purple pony said, the stallion was transformed into one. Something about a ‘hue-man’?

Still, a new prince and one coming from the same race as the rulers of Equestria? His queen most certainly will need to hear about this, the guard thought to himself as he found a door and quickly went through.

Inside the room was completely empty except for a circular table with a large, pony-sized orb in the center of it, precariously held in the center by scrounged books and random assortments that seemed enough to hold the orb in place. The orb’s color was colored a translucent pearl, distorted and warping the other side of it when peered into. The guard would’ve used other resources, most notably some of the construction gunk that was used in the Badlands, but it would’ve taken more time and effort to do it, let alone he wasn’t a construction drone and didn’t have the proper gland.

The guard noticed that there was an insect-like pony standing near the edge of the table, whom glimpsed at the stallion before returning its attention to the orb. The guard didn’t react to its presence outside of recognition.

Now knowing it was safe, his horn was lit green again and he was consumed in a quick flash of green fire, revealing his own insectoid body and shedding his disguise and armor.

The other Changeling lit its own horn and engulfed the orb with its magic, turning the pearl orb a dark green, casting light and shadows against the room before the orb showed a wall of black, jagged and full of holes in many areas, some of the holes having light shining through.

Occasionally, a Changeling would buzz by, in its hooves a small green and gunky basket carrying several medium sized, sickly green and grey eggs as the first sound that came from the orb was the Changeling’s wings and the sound of squelching and the sound of a female grunting and hissing in discomfort, while accompanied by the even more disturbing sound of what was most likely an ovoid spheroid being gently ejected from an elastic fleshy tube.

After a nearly silent groan before a quick sigh of relief resounded from the orb, a tired, echoing voice came through, “What?”

The now revealed Changeling stepped forward, “My Queen, I have ... significant news to report which I believe warrants your attention.”

“And?” The irritation and frustration was palpable to the Changeling, even from the orb which normally couldn’t convey emotions.

It made him shiver a bit but he continued, “My Queen, there is a new alicorn. A stallion alicorn.”

He was met with a very long silence before the orb started showing a much different Changeling, a more gangly yet feminine one appeared in the orb, slightly panting and revealing some sweat down her muzzle and face, more notably around and underneath her eyes was a slight hint of a different color as she stared through the orb and at the Changeling with some remaining frustration, but with curiosity and interest.

She stared at him a little more, trying to catch her breath before saying, “Go on.”

Author's Notes:

-Hoo boy. Lots of events happening lately.

Rising: Honestly, one early warning that a beloved TV show is deciding to end on a high note and a long season instead of being dragged on until the fans complain, and everyone believes its the Apocalypse and Rapture. Has no one learned anything about the Simpsons and South Park in terms of continuing long after their best years?

-Neither of the two were as beloved as MLP.

Rising: Fair point, but regardless the question and lesson remains. Besides, the canon and TV show could be seen as 'guidelines.' They're only there to help you know the characters and understand them enough to go on your own writing.

-And fandoms have continued long after the shows, games, movies and comics ended. Look at the fanbases of Sonic, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Naruto, SpongeBob, Kraftwerk, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings. What remains is the impact they leave to us fans, and how well we hold onto what we have and gained from them. And while we're still here and alive, MLP G4's not likely to go anywhere.

Rising: Like what Dr. Seuss said, "Don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened."

-Unless G5 is horrible, which given the current social standing and atmosphere, is a likely chance.

Rising: Just means we have a net to fall back on. Like we said, it's not likely to go anywhere.

Anyways, here's the next chapter, hope you all enjoyed it!

Oh yeah, by the way, I lied. The chapters wasn't cut in two, it was cut in three.
Also, who else is tired of this getting dragged on and wants the coronation to just happen already?