The makeshift McHays eatery on Deck Two was starting up for the morning, Flapjack in the middle of getting the day-shift into gear as they anticipated a horde of hungry ponies wanting breakfast. The night-shift, who had been mostly preparing for the day-shift's inaugural run, had moved out into the restaurant area and were peparing to leave, when the lights in the little eatery turned red and a klaxon sounded. Stellar then burst through the back doorway as the ponies scrambled to complete their pre-assigned tasks.

"CODE THREE, PONIES! COME ON, GET THE LEAD OUT! CODE THREE!" She yelled out at them, with her covered in her red-and-gold battle armor. A stop-watch floated in her magic as she watched them, moving deftly aside as they raced around her, dumping what little food was on the grills and in the fryers out into serving bins and locking down the cooking surfaces under armored covers, then securing all cupboards and making sure the eatery was empty. Armored shutters came down over the counter area, as well as over both sides of the windows in the front of the restaurant area. As all the teams finished their assignments and called out, Stellar stopped the watch and looked at the time. "Very good, ponies! Thirty-five seconds." She looked at Flapjack, who was wearing a helmet now, like other ponies were. "Good job, Team Leader." She said. "But try and get those last five seconds off."

Flapjack nodded, then saluted Stellar. "Aye, Commander!" He replied.

"AYE, COMMANDER!" They all yelled and saluted.

Stellar returned their salute and nodded. "Stand down. You may resume your normal routine." She told them, before turning and heading out of the eatery.

"You heard her, ponies! We have customers to get ready for! So let's hustle!” Flapjack said, and they all started returning to cooking-mode.

Stellar chuckled as she retracted her armor. The crew in Flapjack’s more-than-makeshift McHays eatery had managed to beat the best time Coriander’s crews had set so far by fifteen full seconds. The young ponies were going to be keeping the older ones on their hoof-tips, that was for certain. While the defenses of the Stellar Wind were designed not to let anything get through to her passengers, there was still a slight chance she could be buffeted by a sudden impact, or bad weather. So a quick shutdown and securing of the more dangerous facilities on the ship was a procedure that was entirely necessary, and needed to be practised. While fires were hardly something the normal structure of the cloudship needed to worry about, in the kitchens, it was still a very real hazard. Fire extinguishers were all through them, in prominent places, and a sprinkler system was also in place, save for where a fat fire could occur. Fire blankets and both foam and powder extinguishers were things Stellar had made absolutely sure were part of her shopping list.

They were in American airspace now, completely, and Stellar knew whatever forces were trying to hide the existence of ponies and maybe even incarcerate them were watching them. The cloudship was the biggest news event at the moment, overshadowing a lot of others in the states they would be crossing. Even now, she saw the first of many news helicopters hovering beside them, cameras rolling as they filmed them and did stories from the air, Live, which made it harder for the Powers-That-Be to censor the stories. Stellar shuddered for a brief second. Her danger senses told her that there would be a reckoning, and sooner rather than later. Some idiot would think they were a threat, and they would take action. Maybe not in the military, but they weren’t the only ones who had aerial firepower. And all it’d take is one nutcase with a helicopter and some serious firepower, like an old Huey gunship, which there were some of still in civilian hands, and it could all go very badly. The cloudship’s defenses were all magic and pretty much passive, but if she’d configured them properly, the first group to actually attack them was in for a really big surprise.

But the worst threat to her plans was sitting right off the starboard side of the cloudship. She was careful to keep the spell which made her invisible to cameras and the ones that made her be ignored by humans active at all times, now. The last thing she wanted was for certain individuals to learn she, an alicorn, was here. Almost all the humans who had been on-board she’d placed a geas on them, like the spells she had now, that would make sure they ‘overlooked’ reporting about her... or if they said anything, it would be as her capacity as ‘Commander Sparkle’, and as a pegasus, not an alicorn. Stellar’s family weren’t the only Sparkles in Equestria, just the most prominent branch of the family.

After doing the drills, Stellar waited her turn in McHays for breakfast for herself and Thunderlane, seeing Rumble and his squad also waiting their turn. She headed back to their suite and contemplated her first shift as a commander on the bridge...

Captain Salient Weather was perusing their course for the day. Always heading west, he’d had to order the massive cloudship steered around several restricted zones, and at that moment, they were running forward at only twenty knots, as they’d skirted around Philadelphia and several other areas. They were now almost over Harrisburg, running just outside the airport’s control zone there. The magic display showing the airspace around them was watching as it tracked several helicopters that were formating with them, as well as lots of light aircraft who were coming in for a good look. He commiserated with the traffic controllers as the cloudship seemed to attract helicopters the way roadkill attracted flies, but all he could do was follow their directions and stay at two thousand feet. It seemed that all the controllers so far had agreed it was a ‘safe’ altitude for the airship; to move along at twenty knots meant that there was plenty of time to avoid any problems and for the controllers to admonish any aircraft that got too close to them, save for news helicopters.

Flitter and Cloudchaser, as Lieutenants of the Stellar Wind’s new Sky Guard, kept an eye on the squads as they went about their drills and normal duties. Occasionally, a squad had to move to one of the helicopters and gesture to them to move away, back to the outside of the stated envelope around the cloudship. Most of them obeyed without question, the odd ones that hadn’t obeyed originally found that pegasi could do harmless but nasty things to them, like wrapping them inside a small cloudbank that even defied the shifting power of their rotor’s downblast. After this had been used three times, no other helicopters had refused orders to move out.

Things were going peacefully, but Captain Weather still had their defenses on Code One Alert, which would protect the Stellar Wind quite well, even if it wasn’t her full capacity. He’d thought about telling the helicopters to break off and move out further so he could move to Code Two, but he resisted for the moment. The news footage of cameras showing waving, happy Ponies and foals was Public-Relations-gold, and they needed all the good press they could get at that time.

He looked around at the bridge officers. He had four hours on the bridge, then he'd transfer command to Commander Sparkle. He had five alternate bridge officers, Commander Sparkle included. At this time, he was swapping out with them every four hours, giving them all some command experience before he switched to full eight-hour shifts. The rest of the crew were also getting experience by swapping around from one shift to another at random, getting them used to working with different crew members. It had worked before, and it should work now. Given time, he should have nearly six full shifts ready to take over in regular order within two weeks, and that made him feel... confident that the Stellar Wind would be in the best of hands.

At about the same time, certain forces within the American Intelligence Community were watching the massive airship as she cruised over the skies of America. One person in particular, who'd set themselves up to run all of them from behind the scenes, was frowning at the golden creation, as well as the images of Ponies coming from news helicopters that circled the airship. Keeping the Press away from the giant airship had proved impossible and the ship was too massive to even think of hiding from the public.

One of the individual's contacts within the American Intelligence and Security Community looked at his Boss as he sat there, contemplating. "Shall we do something, Sir?" He asked.

"Yes." The individual said. "Order the helicopters away. I don't care what you have to do to make them leave, but do so without alerting the airship's personnel." He said.

"Very well, Sir." The underling replied. "And then?"

The individual smiled. "I understand the CIA's drones could use some aerial target practise..."

When the news helicopters left one-by-one, Captain Weather wasn't too concerned. Unlike the Stellar Wind, they needed to refuel, and often. But when they failed to return after a time, that made him suspicious. He checked the skies around them using their 'radar', and found the skies were almost deserted of the usual light aircraft. "Okay... that is not normal." He said to himself.

Stellar walked onto the bridge five minutes later in her new duty uniform. After getting some sewing and material supplies, some of the more-talented mares had managed to reproduce the uniforms used by the Royal Equestrian Airship Service, and they were equipping every member of the crew that had time to sit for a fitting. Stellar had made it a point to sit for hers, to set a good example. She saw Captain Weather was seated at his station, but she also noticed he looked concerned. "Captain Weather." Stellar said as she faced him and saluted.

Salient Weather looked up, smiled at Stellar, then saluted back. "Commander Sparkle." He replied. "Very sharp-looking uniform, Commander." He added with a grin.

"Thank you, Captain." Stellar said back. "Is something up?" She asked.

Captain Weather nodded. "But first, relieve me." He reminded her.

Stellar nodded. "I am here to relieve you, Captain." She said.

"I acknowledge you, Commander. I hand the ship over to you." He said, standing and the pair saluted. "I am relieved." He added after he stepped aside and Stellar took his place. He then pointed out certain things to her. "The airspace around us is totally clear, and has been for nearly thirty minutes." He told Stellar. "The news service helicopters have not returned yet, either."

Stellar frowned at this. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked Salient.

"Yes, and it stinks." He agreed. "The only reason to keep all aircraft away from us is if they could be in the line of fire."

"I agree." Stellar said. "Tactical, bring us up to Code Two Alert." Stellar ordered.

"Code Two Alert, aye Ma'am." The mare at Tactical replied as she shifted the Alert lever on the console one notch higher. At both ends of the ship, the mana crystals glowed brighter, and two large magic arrays appeared within the envelope, one at each end. The ship's skin glowed a little brighter as well.

Picking up the mike for the UHF system, Stellar said "All Pegasi teams, this is Commander Sparkle. Keep watch out for anything unusual, especially aircraft approaching directly at the Stellar Wind with possible intent." She ordered.

Thunderlane had just taken over from the Twins, when the orders came through. "Shit." Thunderlane looked at Flitter and CloudChaser. "Get below, you two. I'll handle this. But stay around. If we need to pull everypony in, I'll need you two on the open decks to help co-ordinate landings."

"Aye, Commander." They replied and saluted, heading down the ramps quickly to the deck duty stations.

"Okay, Squads. Formation seven. I want every part of the sky we can cover being eyeballed." Thunderlane ordered.

"Rojer, Commander!" Came the replies, and the Pegasi spread out, keeping an eye all around the cloudship.

Ten minutes before-hand, in the Drone Operations Center inside the CIA Headquarters building, four operators were sitting in their booths, concentrating as their Predator attack drones were launched from a nearby runway. Each armed with one gun pod and four air-to-air missiles, they were expecting things to be easy... their target was supposedly an unarmed airship of massive size.

They didn't talk to each other, keeping silent as they'd been ordered. They were far enough away from each other this time to make chatter impossible. And armed 'security personnel' were standing by them, as well as orbiting around the room. One of the operators said to himself in a whisper. "Okay... whatever this mission is, this shit is serious."

"You got that right." A soft whisper came from behind him. He looked in a mirror on his console, to see one of the suited guards smiling at him. "Don't worry. Whispering to yourself isn't gonna get you shot... at least for the moment." He half-heartedly reassured the operator. "Just make sure that, if anyone's going to hear you, it's only me."

"Rojer that." The operator, a twenty-two-year-old graduate of one of the better flight schools around, whispered in reply. He returned his concentration to the task at hand, realising that this operation was very different to any they'd flown before...

In the operations center, several figures stood, watching through the drone feeds as the Predators heading for Pennsylvania and the pony airship. "Are we sure this is necessary?" One asked.

"The order came from above the top." One of the others said.

"Is the President even aware...?" Was asked.

"Apparently not. He's at Camp David... supposedly." Was the reply.

"Very well, proceed." The order confirmed, everyone there fell silent as the drones headed onwards...

The drones flew on as the day clouded over, but the big airship was still easy to find. Anything that’s a kilometre long and glowing gold is not hard to spot. "Approaching target." Was said by all four operators, and acknowledged.

"Operation is green, I say green." Came the reply.

"Rojer." Was the only reply from the operators as they started heading in for the attack.

Stellar was watching what the equipment was telling her, trying to figure out what those who were against them would do. Jet fighters were most likely out. They were too big, too fast, too noisy and too obvious. She went back, reviewing everything she'd ever watched about warfare with the US armed forces... then the CIA...

Her eyes snapped open to their limits. She grabbed the mike. "Lieutenant-Commander Thunderlane, get the Squads in right now! I'm going to Code Three." She told Thunderlane in a crisp and controlled voice.

"Rojer that, Commander. Code Three." Thunderlane's voice came in her ear as he acknowledged the order.

She looked at the bridge crew. "Tactical, bring us up to Code Three level."

"Aye, Commander." She replied as she slid the Alert lever one notch higher. "We are at Code Three Defensive Level." She informed Stellar.

Stellar switched the mike to PA-mode. "All ponies, all decks. This is the Bridge, we are going to Code Three Alert! This is not a drill. All ponies, take shelter where you have been assigned. Follow the orders of the Station Crews and the Guard and remain in your shelters until further notice." Stellar's voice rang out over the PA system all through the Stellar Wind.

"Helm, take us down slightly towards that big cloud bank, then take us in." She ordered.

"Aye Commander. Heading for the cloud bank." The helm officer replied, as the engine controllers angled the engines to help bring the ship down on a smooth slide.

All over the ship, ponies moved quickly and without too much panic, as the pegasus Sky Guard, having returned aboard, helped the Ship Guard move them to shelter. The eateries' lounges filled with ponies hiding under the low tables, as huge golden panels rose or descended from the floors and ceilings, cutting the interior of each deck off from the external windows. As soon as all the pegasi were aboard, the windows on the open decks rose and closed, sealing the hull decks as golden walls descended over the inside of the windows as well. The ramps leading up to the Top Flight Deck closed off as well, sealing one of the few possible breaching points of the hull.

The mana crystals glowed brilliantly as they powered the airship's defenses. At both ends of the cloudship, another pair of arrays, even bigger than the first pair, powered up outside the skin of the cloudship as the first pair glowed even brighter. The ship's skin glowed brighter as well, as the air around the airship shimmered at five hundred metre intervals out twice that distance from the airship. From inside, small clumps of black clouds arcing with electricity were shoved out and drifted away from the ship as she slowly descended towards the thick clouds.

Stellar took the reports as each station and preparation came on-line. Eventually, the Officer of the Deck (OD), Lt-Cmdr Evening Mist, reported "We are at Code Three one-hundred percent, Commander."

"Very good, Lieutenant-Commander. Five minutes... not bad for our first real emergency. We'll have to do better in drills later." She replied.

"Aye, Commander." Evening Mist said. He had been airship crew, like Captain Weather, and it showed in his professionalism.

Stellar closed her eyes and reached out with her magic senses, way beyond the range of their magic 'radar'. Five minutes later, her eyes snapped open. "They're coming." She said. "Two, Four, Eight and Ten o'clock, at our former altitude. Stand ready!" Stellar ordered, getting to her hoofs as her Lunar Guard Armor closed around her, it's color the closest to the Airship Service colors.

Pegasi were looking out from the deck stations, now looking in those directions with binoculars. "This is Station Two! We have something incoming. It looks like a very small aircraft."

"This is Station Four! We have the same!"

"Station Eight! We have a similar aircraft in-bound!"

"Station Ten! We can confirm the same!" The Alert Stations replied.

Lt-Cmdr Evening Mist looked at Stellar confused. "Commander...?"

"Drones." Stellar answered, looking angry. "They've sent drones after us."

"So... it's not the Armed Forces?" He asked.

"If I had to guess, I'd say it's the CIA." She answered. "They aren't drilled to need official orders before they act."

Evening Mist turned and looked things over. "Shall we go to Code Four?" He suggested.

Stellar shook her head. "I'm holding that back for when we really need it." She responded.

Evening Mist nodded. "I take it that Code Three can handle anything they send at us?" He asked.

"More than adequately." Stellar smiled.

The drone operators noticed the shimmer in the air as they approached. "Control, we have an atmospheric effect around the target." One reported.

Another one said "Control, the target is descending towards a large cloudbank. Suggest they are moving to deny us engagement."

"Rojer that. Engage at will." Was the reply.

The operator who whispered said "Here we go..." And he moved in, firing his gun pod first.

Stellar and her crews were ready. Then the stations reported "They're firing!"

"Rojer! Everypony brace.” She stated, sitting down and waiting, using her magic to see what was about to happen...

Outside, the twenty-millimetre bullets hit the golden skin...

And stopped dead, not even squashing. The skin glowed in rings where it had been hit, but then the bullet simply vanished, allowing others to hit the skin as well.

Stellar smiled as she now knew her defenses worked, and exactly as she had made them.

The drone pilots had to break off as their firing runs ended, but they saw there was no damage to the glowing skin of the airship. “Control, Unit One reporting no damage by shells to target.”

Control listened as all four operators replied the same. Then he heard from his superiors. “Rojer that. Move away and switch to missiles.” He passed on.

“Rojer that.” The four operators acknowledged and flew out further before they turned back.

Evening Mist looked at Stellar. “Is that it?” He asked.

Stellar shook her head. “Now they’ll go for the long-ranged attack.” She told him. “But I've thought of that, too.” She added softly as she grinned.

Evening Mist nodded and returned to watching. “We’re three minutes out from the cloudbank.” He reported.

“Acknowledged.” Stellar replied, watching the drones...

The drones turned around at five kilometres out and returned to tracking at the target. The operators were still a little rattled at the fact their gun attacks had seemingly done nothing to hurt the massive airship, but they had their orders and headed in. At two kilometres out, they released half their missiles, two from each drone, and the missiles went racing in.

The missiles passed the atmospheric shimmer at a kilometre out, sliding through it harmlessly. But then, at five hundred metres, in front of each missile, a small portal ring appeared and opened, the missile not even reading it as it plunged into the ring and vanished. The rings then shrank and faded.

Out in the Atlantic, just under where Stellar had made the mana crystals for the Stellar Wind, a series of small portals opened at fifty metres above the surface, and the eight missiles shot out of them, straight at the ocean. Two exploded, the others did not, but their engines doused as water flooded into them, and the crushed casings floated and/or descended under the waves.

The operators, the guards, the personnel at Control and the executives were all speechless as they saw the footage of the missiles just... disappearing from view, as if they’d never existed.

“What in blazes?” “What the fuck?...” The list of expletives was long and copious as they took in their failure.

One of the executives grabbed a mike and told Control “Get them in close and fire again. Hang the expense. We can always replace drones.”

“Aye, Sir.” Came the reply, then Control told the operators “Get in there! Go to five hundred metres and fire!” He ordered.

The operators did as they were told, turning the drones in towards the Stellar Wind and racing in, ready to fire inside the protective field.

Stellar grinned as the missiles vanished as the defense portals opened up and swallowed each of them. “Works like a charm...” She said to herself.

Lt-Cmdr Evening Mist, shook his head. “You really are a Princess.” He said to Stellar. “You destroy danger without killing or harming...”

Stellar glared at him. “Don’t be too quick to adorate me, Lieutenant-Commander.” She told him. “I am NOT Celestia or my sister. I have killed in the past and more than likely I will have to kill again. But I do not do so where it is not necessary. Our defenses do not require killing, therefore it is not a part of them. If killing is needed, I am more than ready to do what has to be done myself.” Stellar stated.

Nodding his head, the stallion went back to his duties as Stellar returned to watching the drones as they turned around...

Thunderlane was watching from his station on the First Deck. He could see the drones in-bound again, but he was more than confident Stellar had thought about this as well. Her measures had proved more than adequate so far, and he was confident she knew what she was doing with this newest attack. He looked at some of the other pegasi clustered around him in the Alert Station. “Don’t worry, Friends. We’re as safe as if we were home in our beds, Celestia and Luna themselves standing between us and Danger.” He told them, and they relaxed a little, from scared to alert. ‘As they should be.’ Thunderlane thought to himself.

The operators were rattled by the apparently-easy repulsing of their first two attacks, but they persisted, pressing their drones in for the attack. They kept their cool as they raced in, passing the kilometre mark and still heading in at their top speed.

As they reached the half-kilometre mark, they were about to fire when the portals appeared again and swallowed all four drones. The last vision they got was of the airship vanishing and being replaced by the surface of the ocean. Almost none of them had time to pull up as they slammed into the ocean at their fastest speeds. Two of them, their missiles firing just as the portal opened, were engulfed by the fireballs as the missiles hit before them and exploded. One of them barely managed to pull the nose of his drone up before it pancaked on the surface, it’s cameras showing it was floating on the ocean, the wreckage of the others around it.

The operator checked the GPS signal, while the others cursed around the room. “Control... my GPS is still active.... it reads as being about three hundred kilometres off the coast of New Jersey.” He reported.

The executives who heard that were stunned. “How the...?”

The head of the division growled. “Their fucking magic.” He said, the situation eliciting a rare curse from him. He walked out of the room once he had calmed down, leaving the others there to contemplate what had happened... and what they now faced.

The division head went to one of the teleconferencing rooms and activated the system. Across the state, in an office, the person who had ordered the attack looked at the large ULED screen on the wall and perused the demeanour of the Division head. “I take you saw all that, Sir?” The division head asked.

“Indeed, I did.” The figure said. "It seems we underestimated their... resourcefullness."

"Yes, Sir." The division head agreed. "What shall we do now?" He asked.

"Leave them. I need time to look this situation over again and formulate a new plan." He told the CIA executive. “Continue with the other directives, though.”

The CIA executive nodded. “As you say, Sir.” He replied, and the image faded.

The figure turned his attention to another individual, as the system connected. The person turned and faced the Camera. “Ah, Sir.” He said, giving a little bow.

“Have you gathered all the information on the Spectrum Group I have asked for?” The figure asked.

“We have delved deep into their overseas activities, as you requested. The information you gave us was most comprehensive.” He told the person. “We have a complete breakdown of all their activities, funding, money handling and laundering, as well as drug running, experimentation and other activities. Everything has been documented and broken down, laid out and saved for you, burned permanently onto an external hard-drive that is currently making it’s way to your office. Any committee or judicial enquiry would instantly indict them on a quarter of the material.” He assured his boss.

“Excellent. I await it’s arrival.” The figure said, as he shut down the connection. As the screen changed to show a news feed, he said “You Ponies. Such trouble. I just manage to contain one lot of you, and another lot I have nothing on makes such a fabulous entrance.” He steepled his fingers together as he smiled a mischievous smile and looked at the television footage of the giant airship. “How could you have made such a wonderful toy? Who is aboard you? And who designed your defenses? Could it be you, Luna? Or maybe you, Celestia? The design suggests you, Tia, with that lovely gold color. Is that where you disappeared to, after Luna embraced the Nightmare and destroyed Spectrum’s east coast lab?” His brow wrinkled and he rapped his fingertips together. “I will find out!” He stated emphatically as the smile fell away from his face...

After thirty more minutes of sitting in the cloudbank as they slowly motored along, Stellar looked at Evening Mist. “It seems the danger has passed.” She said. “Stand down from Code Three to Code Two. Resume our normal activities.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” Evening Mist replied, then passed on the orders.

Stellar picked up the PA-mike. “This is Commander Sparkle. We are standing down from Code Three. All personnel remain at Code Two readiness. To all our guests and friends, you may now relax and return to whatever you were doing before. Our defenses held easily, and the danger has passed. I and the crew of the Stellar Wind thank you for your patience and cooperation in this troubling time.”

All over the airship, barrier walls retracted, the open decks resumed their normal readiness positions; pegasi returned to the Top Flight Deck once the ramps opened and they resumed their duties, clearing clouds away from before the cloudship and making a tunnel for them to follow.

Ponies came out of the shelters and started to relax, the knowledge that they’d not only survived, but were not even scathed, boosted their confidence in their leaders, especially Stellar. Their joy returned as they laughed and celebrated their win against the forces of Darkness.

Stellar felt the warmth and confidence of the other ponies as it blazed up like a fire throughout the ship. It filled her and made her feel so wonderful inside, she almost felt like breaking out into song. But she contained it for the moment, using her abilities to feed it back through the crew and the rest of the ponies as well, making their confidence and happiness grow even more. All the anger, worry and the little fatigue she felt drained away, flushed out by the love of her ponies, as her armor retracted, leaving her in her duty uniform again. Then they broke out of the cloudbank. The sun was shining on the beautiful golden skin of the Stellar Wind, and ponies throughout the ship started singing a song of joy and victory. The Pegasi outside heard it and joined in, as even the bridge crew softly sang along. Stellar was grinning like a cheshire cat and hummed, tapping one hoof to the beat. Then she recognised the tune. The words were different, but she laughed as the Chorus was so familiar: “We're walking on Sunshine....” The ponies sang, as they skipped around the decks in long lines, just bursting with good emotions.

By the time Commander Surging Tides came to relieve her, Stellar was almost ready to float through the air without her wings. Surging Tides saluted Stellar and said "I am here to relieve you, Commander."

"I acknowledge you, Commander. I hand the ship over to you." Stellar said, and after they exchanged positions, Stellar said “I am relieved.”

Surging Tides nodded. “That was some encounter you had this morning.” He said to Stellar.

Stellar nodded. “Oh yeah. Now, we’ll go over it and that way, you’ll know what to do if they come back.”

Surging Tides nodded, and they spent half-an-hour going over everything. Stellar also left copious notes in a report for Captain Weather as well, before going off-duty.

Stepping out of the bridge, Stellar saw Thunderlane was sitting at a table in the general area in the distance. She trotted towards the eatery that was behind the bridge and up to him, nuzzling him lovingly as she sat down. “That was a hell of a first encounter.” Thunderlane commented. “I take it by the state of the ship and, by the fact you’re almost bursting with good emotions, that everything went to plan?”

Stellar actually giggled. “Oh Celestia... this is the one bad thing about the Princess effect. It’s so hard to turn off. Then again...” She blew a raspberry. “Eh. Yeah, everything went as I’d hoped and planned it to, with our defenses.” She agreed.

Thunderlane nodded. “The way your portal screen handled the missiles and drones was obvious, but what happened to the bullets?” He asked. “From what I saw, they hit the skin and just stopped dead.”

Stellar nodded. “Remember how I told you that a pegasus’ field can dampen inertia and manipulate gravity?” She asked. When he nodded, Stellar continued “Well, I have an array that I use for instant braking. It absorbs all potential and kinetic energy as well as inertial energy and converts it to mana when you fly through it.” She told Thunderlane. “The two arrays inside the ship’s envelope are arrays like those, but they cast the same effect over the entire skin of the ship instead. So when the bullets hit...”

“...They had all their energy converted into mana, that fed back into the arrays, and the bullets simply came to a complete dead halt against the skin.” Thunderlane completed.

Stellar grinned. “Exactly.” She agreed. “I told you you could figure out magic if you put your mind to it.” Stellar said.

“That’s... that’s brilliant!” Thunderlane said. “And such a great solution, too! It’d be impossible to counter if you’re only using kinetic impactors like bullets.”

“Yep.” Stellar grinned. “Oh, they’ll know it’s magic. They might even figure out how it’s done. But trying to get around something like that without magic would nearly be impossible. So I think we’re pretty well-defended for the moment.” She said.

“Can’t disagree.” Thunderlane replied. They looked up as a young unicorn came up to them with a tray covered in delicious treats. “I hope you don’t mind that I ordered us some late Lunch.” He asked Stellar.

“Since when do I ever mind you treating me?” Stellar asked.

Thunderlane grinned and they dug into their meals.

Later, in their quarters, Stellar looked over the information she had on Senator Corddis, as well as that she'd teased from the Dark Net, as it was called. What technology she was lacking, magic had managed to replace to a certain degree. And there was a lot of information to be found.

He had been born, yes, but so had they. His meteoric rise to his position now had caught many by surprise. By all rights, he was just another Kennedy, one with the skill to make people believe in him. His sincerity seemed to be there, but something about it always seemed... 'off' to her, as she watched the videos of him over and over again. As she focused her magic senses on one live broadcast, her Tome started rumbling. It fell open and the pages turned, to show a spell that was highlighted, one of the forbidden mind-control spells. Stellar frowned as she read the spell. It was a very minor one, but it set up in the mind of the receiver that the person casting the spell would seem very wise to them, and the wielder would gain their favor.

Stellar looked at the video again. She could feel the spell as Corddis cast it. Was it just that he was like Cecelia? A human magic-wielder? Stellar entertained the idea for as long as it took to go over it in her head. No, he wasn't like Cecelia. Any mage could cast the spell on a live audience, but to make it linger in visual recordings like this? No magic she had ever known, save for one, could produce such an effect... and that was Chaos magic. Chaos magic could bend the rules of even Wild magic to make the universe do what it wanted to do. She found the section of the recording that showed Corddis casting... and it was there. She teased it out for her Tome's spells to interpret. After a few minutes, there it was: a very familiar signature. Discord loved to think he cast pure Chaos magic, but whatever he cast always had his signature, just like every other magic wielder.

Thunderlane came in and looked over her shoulder. "You interested in Earth Politics, Love?" He asked Stellar.

"Just the one politician, Beloved." Stellar answered.

"And what makes this bloke so special?" He asked, looking at Corddis.

"Remember when I told Agent Wellman that Discord loves being in positions of power?" Stellar looked up at Thunderlane, who nodded. "If I am right... then this is Discord's new form."

Thunderlane actually took two steps back. "What the...?" He blurted out. "Freakin' hell, Beloved. Are you sure of that?" He asked.

"Not a hundred percent, no." Stellar answered. "But he is casting Chaos Magic with a very familiar signature... that even lingers on digital recordings."

"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle." Thunderlane stated as he sat down beside Stellar. "So, are you going to try and confirm this?"

"Oh yes, Beloved." Stellar grinned. "I will before I act. But first, I think it might be a good idea to do a little snooping around in Senator Corddis' office, to see what can be found."

Thunderlane chuckled. "Better you than me, Beloved. I'd never make a good cat-burglar or computer hacker."

Stellar giggled back. "Then it's a good thing I know a bit or two about how to be stealthy." She said as she faded from view.

Thunderlane blinked in surprise, then sniffed the cushion she'd been lying on. Then he turned the other way to look about the room, and his muzzle connected perfectly with Stellar's in a soft kiss. Startled, Thunderlane had the presence of mind still and the reflexes not to pull back from the kiss. They mooshed lips for a few minutes, then slid their muzzles along one another's to nuzzle each other affectionately. "Mmmm... Best surprise of the week, Beloved." Thunderlane murmured softly.

"Glad... you liked it." Stellar replied as Thunderlane started nibbling her long neck. "Ohhh yeah..." She said as he worked his way up and down the muscles either side of her neck. She hugged him close, then said "I think the senator can wait a few more hours..." And they grinned at one another.

Corddis was still fuming at the failed assault on the Pony airship as he headed home that night. Five minutes after he left, however, a package arrived for him by courier. His long-suffering secretary, Monna, looked at the courier. "He's gone home." She said. "You want to take it around to his place?"

The courier scoffed. "No way. I'm off-duty as soon as I get back to the office. If you can't sign for it, it goes back and waits there until we can get around to bringing it back again."

Monna sighed. "All right." She said. She got out the rubber stamp she kept in her desk of the Senator's signature and pressed it into the display, and it registered.

"Hey, nice one." The courier said, impressed, as he handed the impact-plastic case over. "Thanks for that." He said. "The boss hates us bringing stuff back, but he knows that sometimes happens with these late, personal deliveries."

Uh-huh." Monna said, not impressed at all. She put the case behind her, as the Senator kept his office locked at all times when he wasn't there. The courier left and she was gone as well, fifteen minutes later. Apart from security guards checking every hour, there wasn't another soul who entered the area...

Then Stellar teleported in. It had taken her a modicum of time to find the building Corddis' office was located in, and she had used video recordings of the outer office to focus on. The artwork there was... unique, compared to the rest of the staid art that graced the other reception positions outside the senators' offices.

The anti-surveillance spells she used even worked here. She looked about the outside area, then scanned Corddis' office and teleported into it. Stellar found it to be a mess. For a senator, it was quite chaotic... and she realised that, even in Human-form, Discord's chaotic nature still showed through. "I guess he really can't help himself." She said to herself in a voice that only she heard. She checked all around the office for anything that might prove informative... but found he'd placed anti-tampering devices on most of the good things, like his filing cabinet and his computer terminal which, she found after she scanned it very carefully, that it had a separate hard-drive installed into it that was very encrypted... at least, the access lines to the drive went through a hardwired encrypter. The case itself was magically alarmed as well, so if it were turned on or moved physically, it would 'sound' a magical alarm. Stellar was under no illusion that Discord would be here faster than lightspeed if she triggered that off.

"How to get the information without touching the drive or computer..." She thought about it. She didn't have all the time in the world, she realised. She got out her Tome of Magic and looked it over. She thought about teleporting the drive out, scanning it into her Tome, then putting it back, but she realised that would trigger the alarms, too... Then she realised... She didn't know how far a book or drive had to be from her Tome for it to read them. Checking under the desk, she realised she could just fit the Tome in position under the computer case for the great gem to be in-line with the drive and its encrypter. She aligned the Tome under the computer system and pressed the jewel up against the underside of the desktop, then said "Load."

The gem glowed softly, and she could see from her scans that the drive and encrypter were being read. She sighed with relief at that. It seemed the glass and wood of the desktop weren't stopping the download from happening as normal. She realised, by the maker's mark on the desk, that it was also kevlar-covered, but it didn't seem to impede things, either.

Then the door to the office opened.

'Shit!' Stellar mouthed silently, and she muttered a spell and vanished from sight, still holding the tome in place. She could watch from under the desk as the guard started looking about. He went into the bathroom, giving Stellar the chance to pull the big office chair back under the desk where it had been. It passed through her easily, the 'Sideways-Shadow' spell making her slightly out-of-phase with the real world, like the 'Realm of Shadows' was. He came out, slowly circled the room, looking around carefully, checking the windows and closets, even glancing under the desk but not flashing his light up more than what he needed to see if anyone was under there, so he never saw her tome. Eventually he made his way back to the door, then stopped before he closed and locked it. He lifted a case from outside the room, Stellar saw, and put it inside next to the desk, then he left, locking the door behind him.

Stellar almost breathed a huge sigh of relief, when she saw that his torch was still on outside. She realised he was crouching near the door, just waiting for something like that to sound out or other sounds to echo through the quiet room. Only after he walked on did she slide the chair back and return herself totally to the real world again. 'Got to give Discord credit, he hired good security...' Stellar thought to herself as she checked her Tome, finding the download was complete. After sliding out from under the desk, she returned the chair there... then saw the case. "I wonder..." Stellar said softly to herself. She placed her tome up against it and said "Load." To her surprise, the tome started downloading something else. She saw more computer files being downloaded into her Tome. "Must be an external hard-drive in there." Stellar surmised as the download continued.

Stellar waited for the drive to load, then slid her Tome away again. She made sure she left no tracks, no scents, no magic essence or signature with the room, before she teleported out of the room and out front again. Thinking fast, she made an entry into the secretary's daily appointment book for her human name and Thunderlane's human name as reporters for the First of June. She knew that date would have great significance, but she was unsure as to why yet. But what she'd seen marked it off as a red-letter day. Some pony she knew or would know soon would die that day without her intervention, and it involved Discord and this very office. She went back in the office and made the same notation in the Senator's day planner as well. Once that was done, she made her way back out and teleported back home again.

Thunderlane had been busy as well. He might not have had Stellar's powers, but he had command authority over the pegasi on-board that were part of the new Sky Guard, as Stellar called them. In the new medium-blue armor Stellar had been making in her spare time for the Ship and Sky Guards, Thunderlane organised them into scouting parties and sent them searching over the territory that they passed over. He was pleasantly surprised when a large group of pegasi rose from the ground in front of the cloudship, but was less so when he saw they were armed. His frown deepened when he saw two old Huey helicopters rise up off the ground, obviously to support them. He decided to perhaps approach them first. "Bridge, this is Lt-Cmdr Thunderlane. Bring us to a halt, we have a situation. Go to Code Two, please."

"Rojer that, Commander." Came the voice of one of the other commanders, a pegasus named Sky Sprite, if Thunderlane remembered the female voice's owner accurately.

Thunderlane gestured to two of the pegasi in their new armor as the internal arrays powered up inside the ship's skin, and the three of them took off and approached the party, as the two helicopters tried to block the path of the far-more-massive cloudship. The three pegasi flew out as the Stellar Wind came to a halt behind them, holding position somewhat more easily than the gunships were. Thunderlane looked about for any of the pegasi that might be in charge, seeing one who had a number of others clustered around him. They all seemed to be holding modified rifles and shotguns, the triggers and furniture modified to make it easier for them to be carried and fired by a pegasus. Thunderlane had his escort come to a halt, then moved slowly a few feet before them. "Hello!" He called out in what he hoped would be interpreted as a friendly voice. "Can we be of assistance?" He asked.

That got a lot of looks and even more chatter amongst the group, which Thunderlane counted to be close on fifty pegasi. He could see some humans in the Hueys, but also other ponies as well, such as unicorns and Earth ponies carrying more weapons and even manning a number of minigun-emplacements. 'One thing's for sure, this mob are loaded for bear... or anything else big and nasty.' Thunderlane thought to himself.

After some discussion time, the one Thunderlane pegged as a leader approached, two others with him. They came to a hover a similar distance away, and the leader moved forward to within two metres of Thunderlane. "And just who might you be?" He asked.

"Well, my name's Thunderlane." Thunderlane introduced himself. "These are Sky Frost and Keen Skies." He gestured to the lieutenants, who were a stallion and a mare.

The pegasi looked them up and down. "That's pretty unusual armor you're wearing." He said.

"Those are unusual weapons you're carrying." Thunderlane pointed out. "You've done quite a good job modifying them."

The trio chuckled. "Well, yeah. Couldn't use them otherwise." He agreed. "So, what the hell is that behind you and where're you going with it?" He asked.

"That's our home." Thunderlane answered. "And usually by now, good manners would normally dictate that you might actually introduce yourselves as well." Thunderlane pointed out in what he hoped was a non-offensive tone.

The pegasus frowned, but nodded. "I'm Cloudbreaker. These are my... well, they used to be my sons, Greycloud and Nimbus." He introduced the stallion and mare behind him.

"Pleased to meet you." Thunderlane replied. "So... what brings you up into the sky today? I guess you weren't just up here enjoying stretching your wings?" He asked.

Cloudbreaker chuckled. "We saw that great big thing of your's on the news, and that you were headed for our locale. Others have been speculating that it's part of a way for the government to control the weather, like them HAARP sites. So we decided to come up and make sure that you weren't doing anything nasty like that." Cloudbreaker explained.

Thunderlane just shook his head as the lieutenants laughed. "No, no. Nothing sinister like that." Thunderlane said. "Our cloudship is just our transport for over eleven-hundred ponies. We're heading for a place in Iowa, where there's supposed to be a community of other ponies. We're hoping to find Family there."

"Is that all?" Cloudbreaker asked. Thunderlane nodded. Cloudbreaker then turned around and swung one hoof in a circle over his head three times, then dropped it fast. The Hueys turned away and headed downwards, while the pegasi drew closer. "Shoot. If it's only ponies aboard that thing, then you're welcome. We've been having troubles with the blasted Eff-Bee-Aye, trying to come on our land and say that those of us who changed have to 'come with them'." He snorted. "No danged-blasted Federals are gonna drag me and my kin off our land."

Thunderlane could tell that Cloudbreaker had probably had a similar-if-thicker accent as Applejack at one stage, but changing back into his pony-self seemed to have increased his vocabulary and tempered the accent to one that sounded much more educated. "I can understand that." Thunderlane said. "We've had troubles with them, too."

Cloudbreaker snorted. "So... would you care to show us about your fancy cloudship?" He asked, sounding a lot friendlier, as the others in his group looked on curiously.

"Sure, we could do that... but if I may ask, could you leave the hardware elsewhere? You won't need it. Ponies like yourselves are ponies we just haven't made friends with yet." Thunderlane said to them, not trying to sound insistant, but not wanting a group of armed ponies amongst the refugees.

Cloudbreaker gave Thunderlane a funny look, but then nodded. He handed his shotgun to one of the others, and then most of them did the same, five of the bigger pegasi ending up loaded down with weapons to the point where they could only descend slowly. "Normally, I'd never leave my shotgun behind... but this is your home. If you don't want us to bring our guns inside, that's your right." He stated, and the others nodded.

"I thank you for that." Thunderlane told Cloudbreaker. "It's not that we don't trust you, but we have a number of foals on-board, my own brother included, and many of them have never been exposed to firearms before." He explained. "We'd rather not have anything happen to any of them out of ignorance."

"Ah, shoot." Cloudbreaker said, his face showing understanding. "I can understand that totally. Kids shouldn't be allowed near guns before they're at least ten and with a year's worth of training at least, before they even lay a finger on a real one."

Thunderlane nodded, liking the attitude. "Exactly." He agreed as they flew over the Stellar Wind. Thunderlane led the way down to the Top Flight Deck, showing them the proper procedure, and Cloudbreaker watched how all of the pegasi in armor saluted Thunderlane as he landed. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome aboard the Stellar Wind." Thunderlane said as they'd all landed. Thunderlane assigned a number of the Sky Guard and the Ship Guard to escort small groups of the newcomers around the ship, while he and Sky Frost led Cloudbreaker's group of ten around the ship.

"So... are you the commander of this group?" Cloudbreaker asked.

"I'm the Commander of the Sky Guard." Thunderlane informed Cloudbreaker. "The Ship's Guard have their own commander, and we're all under the command of both the Captain of the Stellar Wind and the Princess."

"A princess?" Cloudbreaker looked astonished. "We'd heard rumors, but... where the hell did a princess come from?"

Thunderlane looked at Cloudbreaker. "You don't remember?" He asked.

"I'm not sure... well, to be exact." Cloudbreaker admitted. "Others say they had a figure talk to them in their dreams, but we weren't sure if they were going crazy or not."

Thunderlane nodded. "Okay, to put things straight: Equestria had five Princesses, all of them alicorn mares. One of the junior princesses created the Stellar Wind and it is her home." He explained to them. "She's not here at the moment, or else I would introduce you to her."

Cloudbreaker looked sceptical, but said nothing as Thunderlane showed them around the rest of the cloudship. After they ended up in the Upper Food Hall, Cloudbreaker looked at Thunderlane as they sat, enjoying a meal. "So... you ain't going to make us come with you, then?" He asked.

"Not our style." Thunderlane answered. "If you were in danger and couldn't help yourselves, we could offer to help, or take you somewhere safe... but from what I saw before, you don't look like you need much in the way of protection." He pointed out.

Cloudbreaker chuckled as Greycloud and Nimbus, who was talking to some other mares who'd once been human males like herself, sat and munched down on several delectable delights. "Yeah, we're pretty well-protected." He agreed.

"The only other thing is... a lot of ponies want to go back home to Equestria." Thunderlane informed Cloudbreaker. "The group at the farm we're headed for are spearheading the search for a way home. While not all of us are wanting to do this, a lot are, and if there's some amongst your group that feel the call to go there, we'd be willing to take them." He told Cloudbreaker. "Now, it's not as if we want to break you up, because I can see that's what you're starting to think, by the look on your face." Thunderlane said quickly.

Cloudbreaker snorted. "That's pretty astute, youngster." He said.

Thunderlane nodded. "I know a lot of you would rather your groups stick together." He replied. "But there will be those, as I said, that will feel the pull to return to our homeworld, and the pull is very strong, a homesickness that's almost physically-assertive. I'm just telling you that, if they do feel it, that's where to go. If anypony can find the way Home, they will." Thunderlane stated.

Cloudbreaker nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, Kid." He agreed.

"I'm not asking any more than that." Thunderlane told Cloudbreaker. "The call to go Home can be a powerful thing."

"Have you felt it?" Cloudbreaker asked.

"A little." Thunderlane revealed. "But I have somepony here who means far more to me than anything back Home." He added. “Until she returns Home, or I get close to my time... I’ll be staying here.”

Cloudbreaker smiled. “Fair enough.” He looked over Thunderlane’s shoulder, to see a much-bigger figure walking towards them. “Holy...”

Thunderlane looked about, then grinned. He stood as Stellar approached them. “You asked me what might be keeping me from going Home to Equestria.” He reminded Cloudbreaker. “You’re looking at her.”

Cloudbreaker just nodded, standing as Stellar reached them. “Hello, Thunder.” Stellar said, smiling at them both. “New guests?” She asked.

“No, Princess.” Thunderlane replied, telling Stellar she needed to be more formal in this case. “This is Cloudbreaker, leader of a very-well-equipped enclave of ponies near where we’re hovering.”

As Thunderlane called her Princess, Stellar’s whole being seemed to change. She seemed to draw herself up, opened her wings and took on a far more regal air, and it was as if her power exuded around her in a way that had almost every pony there bowing to her... including Cloudbreaker. “You may rise.” Stellar said, and in those few words her royal authority rang out in the hearts of all there. Cloudbreaker was a little stunned at how easily she commanded his obediance... and not a little respect. “We are always glad to receive those ponies who are secure with and by themselves, Cloudbreaker. It lifts a weight from our shoulders to know you are self-sufficient and secure.” Stellar said, and gave him a smile that warmed his heart.

Cloudbreaker was almost at a loss for words. He had scoffed at the idea of ‘Princesses’, thinking that such could never command his respect, such a die-hard republican as he was. But now, in her presence, there was something deep inside him that almost demanded he respect her authority, even as gentle as it seemed displayed to him. "I... I thank you, Your Highness." He replied, bowing his head slightly. "I also thank you for not usurping us from our homes into yours."

Stellar smiled at Cloudbreaker again, and it was like the sun coming through the clouds after a bad storm. "If you are comfortable living where you are, Cloudbreaker, why should I upset that?" Stellar asked. "We do not have infinite room aboard the Stellar Wind. Better it be used for those without a home and in need of shelter and safety, than to upset the lives of those who have both. Your community is welcome to join ours in being host to ponies who are in need, if you can spare room and food; but if not, then at least become a part of the Pony communities here on Earth, so that together, we can stand strong against those opposed to us."

Cloudbreaker looked into Stellar's eyes, but even the cagey older pony could see she was being sincere. "I think that would be a wise thing indeed." He agreed. "Are there many who need help?" He asked.

"We have helped many others living under oppression, Cloudbreaker." Stellar told him as they started to walk on. "There are more primitive cultures that cannot even conceive of the possibility that we are sapient lifeforms, equal to their own." She growled. "I had to save one such group of ponies from having their throats slit by humans, just because they were unicorns and could wield magic. Two pegasi had had their wings amputated in the crudest way." She explained. "Such ponies need to be removed from such a hostile environment, to where they can wait for either the way home to Equestria to be opened, or places found for them in communities where they can be free to live their lives as would any person, human or pony, in peace and safety." Stellar took a deep breath and slowly released it. "I'm afraid Harmony can wait until our ponies are safe. Those communities that are large enough... they are finding Harmony again. But many more need safety and security first. That is this ship's mission... MY mission. To bring ponies out of danger to safety, as any good Princess would do in similar circumstances."

Cloudbreaker nodded. "Then perhaps my ponies should work towards that as our goal: Making a safe community for those who wish to live on Earth."

"You would be well rewarded by those you took in if you did." Stellar told him. "And you would have our thanks, and the friendship of every other community that are doing the same. Their support and mine would also be there for you."

Cloudbreaker looked at Stellar, then at Thunderlane. He turned to face them and stated "We will be a part of this. I can say with some certainty that my ponies will vote to help in this initiative, Princess. Thank you again for letting us see your cloudship, and find out for ourselves what you are doing to help all ponies." He said with a smile.

Stellar and Thunderlane smiled back, then Stellar got a quizzical look on her pretty face. "Cloudbreaker..." She said. "Do you know a pony called Stormbreaker, by any chance?"

Cloudbreaker looked surprised. "I do indeed." He replied. "He's my father."

Stellar looked pleased. "Wonderful. And do you know where he is?" She asked.

Cloudbreaker nodded. "He and my mother live with my wife and I, even now." He answered.

Stellar grinned. "Incredible!" She said to him. "I must come and visit him sometime. It has been a long time since I last met him."

"You've... met him before, Your Highness?" Cloudbreaker asked.

"Indeed." Stellar confirmed. "It was Stormbreaker who taught me how to control Lightning properly." She explained. "When I was very young, too."

Cloudbreaker looked impressed. "Really? His memory... isn't what it used to be, not with the way Discord sent us here." He told Stellar.

"Then maybe I can help him remember a little better." Stellar offered.

"We would be appreciative, Your Highness." Cloudbreaker admitted. "Sometimes he barely seems to know any of us. My mother and sister are becoming very worried by the state of his mental health."

Stellar nodded. "That being the case, I think it's best we go and see him now, then. Such a state is not something that should be left to later to attend to." She looked at Thunderlane. "Organise a proper escort, Commander. Time to show another group of ponies they have our support." Stellar told Thunderlane.

"At once, Your Highness!" Thunderlane replied as he saluted, then headed off towards the bow rampways.

Stellar strode off towards the stern rampways, Cloudbreaker at her side as she walked along, the smaller pegasus stallion almost trotting. Stellar had had a lot of practise doing the 'Royal Celestial Stride', as she had often called it, and now she used it to great effect. Cloudbreaker couldn't help but notice as all the adult ponies bowed to Stellar, their faces wreathed in wide smiles and not solemn, and how foals came up to her and how she stopped for a smile and nuzzle with them. "Your ponies here seem to really love you, Princess." He commented.

"Yes... it is always gratifying to have the good will of those who travel with me." Stellar told Cloudbreaker. "Sometimes I wonder how I was ever so lucky to have been given the love and friendship of so many ponies."

Cloudbreaker frowned. "Interesting. You speak of 'love and friendship'. I would have thought that respect and obediance would have been more important to such as yourself, as a Princess." He said bluntly and honestly.

Stellar chuckled. "Respect is earned, Cloudbreaker. Obediance is a response to that respect... but without Love and Friendship, we princesses would be no better than dictators, or just wise rulers, perhaps." She answered. "I would rather have the love of one pony, or the friendship of ten, than the respect of thousands. Because with friendship and love, respect comes with them... as long as you strive to keep it. Those on this cloudship know that I love and respect them as well, and want only the best I can provide for them." She sighed as he saw a sadness in her eyes. "I only wish I could save everypony..." Stellar said softly in a sad voice that Cloudbreaker just heard.

Cloudbreaker nodded as they reached the Upper Flight Deck and headed for the ramp to the Top Flight Deck. "It is a wise pony who knows their limitations, but strives to surpass them." He told Stellar.

Stellar nodded back, bowing her head. "I will always strive to help every pony I can, while they are here." She told him. "I may only be a junior Princess, but it is still my duty to help every single pony I can to safety and to offer them the chance to go home again."

Cloudbreaker nodded his head again as they started up the ramp. "I may doubt your motivations, Princess, but not the sincerity in your words. It is not in the nature of Americans to trust Royalty, but I will believe you... but also hold you to your words." He cautioned Stellar. "We will not brook external interference, but we will accept any help you offer."

"All I ask is that you try and find it in your hearts and homes to take in those less fortunate than yourselves, Cloudbreaker." Stellar reiterated to him. "Any other support you wish to give us is up to you and your ponies. But if you ever need help against forces inimical to you... do NOT hesitate to call for aid. We will come to render all help you might need, from negociation to all-out combat, if it is needed." She told him. "I was ranked Knight-Commander of the Royal Canterlot Guard back in Equestria, and I can lead troops very effectively. Your freedom, and the freedom of every pony on Earth, is sancrosanct to myself and my ponies here. I know the other princesses would feel the same way, if they knew what was going on."

"Where are the others?" Cloudbreaker asked.

"I'm not sure, to be honest." Stellar answered. "My sister is at the farm in Iowa we're heading to, but the locations of Celestia, Luna and Cadance are unconfirmed at this time. I'm hoping that, once we get our current group of refugees to safety, we can find them and bring them there as well."

"Then I wish you well with that, Princess." Cloudbreaker said as they reached the Top Flight Deck. Six armored pegasi moved around Stellar, Thunderlane taking the lead, while Cloudbreaker's ponies moved with him as the Stellar Wind held her position. Stellar extended and slid into her ceremonial armor, its white-and-gold metal gleaming in the sun as they readied themselves. She had also allowed her crown and other rainment to adorn the beautiful suit, showing off her Royal status without doubt. At the proper signal, the two groups lifted off in the breeze, then they headed down together, Stellar's group inside the others.

The reaction as the groups landed was all Stellar hoped for. The Ponies down on the ground all milled about, looking at her before asking questions of those in their group that had returned. Cloudbreaker led Stellar and her honor guard towards a very nice house inside the small community. Stellar noted there were ponies everywhere here, almost fifteen-hundred of them, she could feel. She suspected every pony in the area had gathered here, as the government had started their round-up of people who were changing. Her guards stayed outside as she and Cloudbreaker went inside.

Inside, Cloudbreaker introduced a lovely unicorn female, who bowed respectfully. "Princess, this is my wife, Radiant Light."

"Princess." Radiant said as she bowed. "It is an honor."

"For myself as well." Stellar replied. "I am Stellar Light Sparkle, Radiant. I am glad to meet one who might be a cousin, however distant." Stellar said to her.

Radiant blushed. "Surely you jest, Princess." She accused.

"Never." Stellar answered seriously. "I never joke about Family. The Sparkle Family has many branches and cousins within the Light Clan all over Equestria. But the family charts are still in the archives of the Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville, so proving such will be a problem for a while. However, I will not deny you a possible place in my family until it is disproven, Radiant." Stellar moved to Radiant and nuzzled her tenderly. "I am very pleased to make your aquaintance."

"Thank you, Princess." Radiant replied as she blushed brighter.

"Where's Stormbreaker, Love?" Cloudbreaker asked.

"He's out on the deck, watching over some of the youngsters." Radiant answered.

"This way, then, Princess." Cloudbreaker told Stellar, and they led her outside as Stellar retracted her armor, her rainment staying in place, though. Stellar's mind flashed back to an incident when she was four, and she remembered trying to hold and use a very large charge of raw lightning. The older pegasus in front of her was the spitting image of the strong, handsome stallion that had landed and helped her to gently release the lightning she was holding inside her, and taught her how to control it in a much easier manner as she grew up in Cloudsdale. Cloudbreaker moved to Stormbreaker and said "Father, somepony to see you." He told Stormbreaker. "She says she knows you."

"Huh?" Stormbreaker said, his eyes a little vacant. "Somepony who knows me?" He asked.

Stellar smiled. The voice was the same. "Indeed, Stormbreaker. I know you very well, my old teacher." Stellar said, as she stepped from behind Cloudbreaker to where Stormbreaker could see her.

His reaction was everything Stellar had hoped for. His eyes opened as wide as they could, his jaw dropped down, and he lifted himself to a sitting position. "I... I know you..." He said in a whisper.

Stellar moved closer as Cloudbreaker moved back. "I know, Storm. It has been a very long time, hasn't it?" She said as she moved right up to him and laid her head against his, her horn glowing. "Do you remember how you taught me to control lightning, when I was just a little filly?" Stellar asked...

...And Stormbreaker remembered...

Stormbreaker, a large pegasus stallion with a cutie-mark of three lightning bolts crossed over a black cloud, was shifting storm clouds away from Canterlot that day with his weather squad. They were experts in handling the electrically-charged clouds, the squad taking them to Cloudsdale to drain them and power the cloud city. But then he and his squad were thoroughly confused as the clouds they were moving were surrounded in a magenta glow and taken out of their hoofs. "Hey!" He exclaimed, then followed it, wondering who had managed to pull a cloud in from so far away.

As the dark-grey pony with the lightning cutie-mark came over Canterlot, Stormbreaker saw the clouds were gathered in one spot over the Royal Gardens, and they were being squeezed. Stormbreaker and his squad cringed as a large bolt of lightning shot out of the cloud-mass right into the gardens themselves. "Break the clouds up!" He told the others. "Get them away from each other and to Cloudsdale as planned. I'll see what's going on." He told the others as he saw lightning flashing around in the gardens itself, as if somepony was actually controlling it.

"Aye, Sir!" The others replied, and they did as they were told, while Stormbreaker headed down. He saw two purple fillies in the gardens, surrounded by Royal Guards, one of them crackling with the lightning she was somehow holding inside her. Stormbreaker shook his head. No pony that young had ever shown such a weather talent before... if that was what it was. The one with the lightning was standing in the middle of an open section of the gardens, the other filly nearby, shielding herself well from the first one... whom Stormbreaker could now see was identical to the other... and they both had both horns and wings! NOW he understood how the little filly had gathered the clouds together. He realised these must be the new alicorns he'd heard rumors of from others. As he came in over the little filly, close enough to hear her, he heard her say "I got it... I got it..." She kept repeating to herself.

Then, in his deep, masculine voice, he spoke. "Indeed, you do have it." Stormbreaker said in a calm manner, as he landed next to the young filly. She turned and looked at Stormbreaker, but a bolt of energy slashed out of her horn directly at him. Her twin was about to cry out, but Stormbreaker caught the bolt easily with a front hoof and channelled it down into the ground without hurting himself. "Well... you do indeed have a lot of power inside you at the moment, young Miss." Stormbreaker gently looked her over.

"She can't get rid of it!" Her twin called out.

"Hmm... yes, it seems to like you, Miss." He told the charged-up filly. "I am Stormbreaker. I think you need my aid for this."

"P-p-pleee-ease?" She managed to stammer out.

"Of course." Stormbreaker answered. "Commander, get your troops away from here. Their armor makes them walking targets for the lightning." He told the Guard Commander, who nodded and made his troops withdraw. Stormbreaker looked up and saw that his weather control group had broken up the small bank of heavily-charged clouds above them, so he smiled and said "Now, for you, Miss...?"

"St-st-Stell-ll-llar." Stellar answered as her body stopped jerking and started shuddering...

"I'm Twilight." Twilight added.

"A pleasure to meet you both." Stormbreaker replied, giving Twilight a doff of a non-existant cap. "Now..." He moved over Stellar, his height making her fit underneath his barrel almost perfectly. He gently spread his wings over hers and said "Now, close your wings slowly..." Stormbreaker told Stellar softly. Stellar obeyed, closing her big wings against her sides as Stormbreaker helped her. Once they were closed, Stormbreaker looked about. Spotting a metal tap and pipe beside one hedge, he grinned and started steering Stellar over towards it. "That's it, Stellar. You've got a good grip on the lightning, but you need to learn to let it go instead of firing it like a weapon." He told her in a gentle voice.

Stellar actually sniffled, her glowing eyes leaking tears. "I know." She replied softly as Twilight walked beside them.

"There, there. You have a great deal of strength of will for somepony so young." Stormbreaker admitted. "Now, let's see if we can teach you control." He said. "Hold out a hoof close to the pipe, and see if you can bleed off a small amount of the voltage you're carrying."

Stellar nodded and she held out her front hoof. As it neared the pipe, a small arc of electricity jumped to it and raced to the ground. "Nnnnggg!" Stellar whined as more electricity tried to surge out of her, but she fought to keep it to a minimal pace.

"Good! Very good." Stormbreaker commended Stellar. "Remember, you control the lightning, it doesn't control you. You will allow it to leave you when and how you decide to. Just keep your focus and feel how much you allow out at any one time."

Stellar nodded and kept a slow, steady stream of electrical energy flowing out of her into the pipe. "You're doing great, Sis!" Twilight encouraged Stellar.

"Indeed! Is the pain easing now?" Stormbreaker asked.

"Yeah, a... a bit." Stellar replied as her eyes' glow started fading a little.

"Excellent." Stormbreaker said with a smile. "Keep going at a pace you feel comfortable with." He told Stellar. "So... you two are the new alicorns I have heard about." Stormbreaker commented. Stellar almost lost control at that, as Twilight winced a little, but Stormbreaker just went on. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. I had heard things, but to see two such pretty and polite fillies as yourselves shows the Royalty is still improving." He gave them a nice smile.

"Thank you." Twilight said with a smile as she returned to sitting and watching.

"Um, yes, thank you." added Stellar as she regained her focus.

Stormbreaker smiled back. "How did you grab those clouds from me, Stellar? You must have some very powerful weather magic to be able to do so at such a distance."

"I guess." Stellar answered. "I started learning when my grandfather and I were staying in Cloudsdale." She explained. "I used to watch some of the advanced classes when Grandpa attended them."

"Oh. Right." Stormbreaker replied, wondering how advanced the classes had been.

Eventually, Stellar leaked all the lightning inside her out into the pipe, and she was able to relax. "Ouch." She said softly.

Stormbreaker nodded. "You did that very well, Stellar. But I think next time, you should not try to take on such a large bolt before you receive some proper training in lightning control. You have a natural talent for it, but as you probably both know, while pegasi can flutter from usually a very young age, it takes more than raw talent to become a superior flyer. So it is with you, Stellar. Take as much training as you think you can handle, and some day you'll be wrangling lightning clouds with the best, if that is your destiny."

Stellar nodded as Twilight moved to Stellar and nuzzled her. Stellar nuzzled her sister back, and they both said "Thank you, Stormbreaker."

Stormbreaker bowed to the pair most gracefully, then gave them both a wink. "A pleasure meeting you two." He replied to them. He nodded to the Commander who'd been watching everything in a calm manner, and who nodded back. "Now, I think you two had better head home. Stellar, you're probably going to feel a little out-of-sorts for a few hours, so go lie down when you get home and get some sleep." Stormbreaker advised her.

The twins nodded, then floated up into the air. Stormbreaker could see that Stellar was much more at ease in the air than Twilight was, who was struggling a little at the hover. He took off himself and stayed with them as they headed for the Rich Quarter, as that part of Canterlot was known. As they reached a fine-if-smallish mansion and estate, the twins banked around and landed together quite well on the outside terrace. They waved up at him, and Stormbreaker waved back, grinning, before heading off for Cloudsdale.

Stormbreaker felt very good that day as he reached Cloudsdale again. He'd helped a young filly and maybe saved her from a much greater problem...

Stellar moved back as Stormbreaker took a shuddering breath, then looked up into her eyes. "Princess." He said in a soft voice... "Stellar?"

Stellar grinned. "Hello, Stormbreaker." She gently nuzzled his muzzle, which got a soft moan from him. "It's been a long time since we saw each other last, isn't it, my old teacher?" She repeated for him.

"Too long... far, far too long." Stormbreaker agreed, a tear coming from his eye. "But look at you!" He said, his voice growing stronger as he looked her over. "You have grown so much since I saw you last! You truly are a princess now." He said, and a smile broke over his face that warmed the hearts of Cloudbreaker and Radiant as they watched.

Stellar chuckled. "Yes... I was only ten when I left your classes for the advanced ones." She reminded him. "And I have truly grown up, now... thanks to you and so many others who helped me become the mare I am today." She said to him, the gratitude in her voice obvious to all there.

Stormbreaker sighed happily. "Thank you for coming to see me." He honestly said to her.

"It was truly my pleasure." Stellar replied in a similar tone. "The more I find my old friends are here on Earth, the more it makes me want to stay here, with them." She sat down and gave him another hug, this time with her forelegs and wings.

Thunderlane just smiled as he stood there, then he looked at Cloudbreaker and gave him a wink.

Cloudbreaker saw that and grinned as he nodded back at Thunderlane. Then he hugged Radiant to him and cuddled her, as Stellar furled her wings and let go of Stormbreaker. Then they were surrounded by the young foals, who all wanted to know everything about Stellar and what had happened to Stormbreaker...

Author's Notes:

And we get an inkling of what our story's villian has been getting up to...