Things occasionally went slowly for the personnel at the F.A.A. office in Harrisburg, but not today. Doug Banher had found orders on his desk that morning, orders to inspect an enormous airship that had been flying over US airspace for nearly two days. But as he'd prepared his team that morning, another series of orders had restricted anyone from flying in the same airspace as the airship; why, Doug had no idea, but the authority behind those orders was all too clear. So he and his team had been waiting since early morning for clearance to lift.

Eventually, after the local A.T.C. had noticed that other helicopters were approaching the airship, the call came that Doug had been waiting on "We're clear to lift, Doug." Came a call on the inter-building intercom.

"Roger that." Doug replied. "Is everything ready?"

"Everyone's here, almost." replied his pilot, Al Tanner. "Cecily's just getting our clearance paperwork done. Apparently the airship has helipads on top of it, but getting permission to land on a moving structure is a little harder than trying to convince the Navy it needs to park an aircraft carrier so you can land on it." Al replied, using an old joke amongst F.A.A. personnel.

Doug chuckled, but gathered his backpack and slid into it. "I'll be there in three." He told Al.

"Rojer that." Al said back, before Doug hung up the receiver and headed out of his office. Three and a half minutes later, he was climbing aboard a big Bell Twinranger, an older-type helicopter, but both fast and with a large capacity for the team. After Doug had settled, Cecily arrived and climbed into the co-pilot's seat beside Al, and one of the ground crew slid the huge back door shut. Everyone settled into their seats and waited as the rotor spun up and they lifted.

Doug watched Capital City Airport slide away under them, and then they headed north-west. "So, where is this... 'Stellar Wind'?" Doug asked Al as they gained altitude.

"She's standing out north of Hogestown at the moment, between Routes 944 and 850." Al replied. "She seems to be hovering there, for some reason they haven't stated, other than the fact they told A.T.C. they were liaisoning with a group on the ground."

"Really?" Doug asked. "Well, at least that's conveniant for us. We won't have to chase her down."

"Yeah. But it kind-of makes you wonder what they're doing, talking to a group on the ground." Al said curiously.

"I guess we'll find out when we get there." Doug said back.

Stellar, Thunderlane and the rest of her honor guard had just alighted back aboard the Stellar Wind after their visit to Cloudbreaker's township, when they noticed the rear helicopter pad was being readied for use. She strode up to Cloudchaser, who was supervising, and asked "Are we expecting someone, Lieutenant?"

Cloudchaser turned and saluted, then answered "Yes, Commander. A delegation from the F.A.A. are going to be landing here within the hour. Apparently their head office has been almost demanding to inspect the Stellar Wind after the other government agencies came aboard."

Stellar nodded. "Very well. Alert me when they arrive off our beam, and I shall welcome them." She replied.

"Aye, Commander." Cloudchaser saluted Stellar again, then nickered as Stellar gave her a hug instead of a salute, only saluting her back after the hug. Cloudchaser gave Stellar a big grin, then went back to her job, as Thunderlane moved to take over Flight Operations again; while Stellar went back down to her quarters, to get into uniform again.

As the Twinranger approached the Stellar Wind, the scale of the enormous airship became apparent to the F.A.A. personnel. "Look at the size of that thing." One of the inspectors, Jessie Holloway, commented.

Doug chuckled. "It's certainly the biggest vehicle we've ever seen in the air." He agreed.

"Maybe we should call it an 'air vessel', instead of an 'air vehicle'." Al suggested as he angled the Twinranger to come up alongside the airship.

"I guess it might actually be appropriate, considering it's almost bigger than any ocean-going vessel that I know of..." Doug agreed.

"What are those things flying around it?" One person asked.

"Drones?" Another suggested.

"Not unless drones can flap their wings!" Cecily replied. "They're little winged horses!"

That had everyone on the helicopter straining to see for themselves, as a formation of four of them shot past the Twinranger, then circled it. One of them spread out a big sign for Al to read, that said: 'FOLLOW ME', as the pegasus stallion backwinged in front of the helicopter. Al gave the pegasus the 'Thumbs-up', then he found the four were shepherding him up and over the back of the airship, where two marked pads were waiting. "It seems they're prepared for us." Al said back, as he was guided to land on the larger of the two landing pads. Al found his skids were secured to the pad as he began to power down the Twinranger, and more pegasi were there, ready to guide the occupants away from the helicopter once they'd opened the doors. The inspection crew followed the directions, and found themselves heading down a ramp into the airship's interior.

Stellar was there, waiting for them. She had hidden her horn this time and made herself a little smaller, rather than cast a geas on this crew. It was a less messy option, too. "I am Commander Stellar Sparkle, owner of the Stellar Wind. Welcome aboard." She said to the team as they reached her.

Doug was a little surprised by this. The briefing sheets had said that the airship housed a large number of these 'Ponies', but hadn't mentioned they owned the ship, or that they crewed it. He took the hoof Stellar proferred in his hand and shook it for three pumps, then let go. "Thank you." Doug then said. "I'm Doug Banher, head of the inspection team. These are my people." He introduced them to Stellar and the other Ponies that gathered behind Stellar.

"Glad to meet you." Stellar told Doug. "I expect you want to get started right away. Lt-Cmdr Heavy Shades here has organised teams of two to look after your team and take them wherever they want to go." She gestured to the heavy-set earth pony stallion who came up beside her, wearing the armor of the Ship Guard.

"At your service!" Heavy Shades declared, his Trottingham accent quite refined and polished.

Doug was even more surprised, but he nodded. As he broke up the team into their various units, two ponies were assigned to help each unit. Eventually, only Doug and Stellar were left. "So... you own this vessel?" Doug asked Stellar.

Stellar smiled as she led Doug further into the Stellar Wind. "Considering my own capital went into funding her construction and outfitting, plus I also was instrumental in designing and putting her together, pretty much everypony who was there agreed that I own her." Stellar answered.

"Do you charge others to come aboard her?" Doug asked.

Stellar shook her head. "Not yet." She answered honestly. "Right now, the Stellar Wind is home to a great number of Ponies rescued from intolerable hardship and a lot of abuse. Our mission is to bring Ponies out of conditions such as those and bring them to various refuge communities set up to house and care for them, until such time as the way Home is found." She explained.

Doug was more surprised, and somewhat sceptical. "Have you found much of that?" He inquired.

Stellar looked at Doug. "There have been a few very bad cases, yes." She replied. "I rescued a group of Ponies who were having their throats slit, just because they were unicorns. I found pegasi who had had their wings amputated. Fortunately, none of them were beyond saving... unlike some others." She hung her head a little. "You humans tend to think of yourselves as the apex of sapience, and therefore many do not recognise that any other form, save yourselves, are capable of true sapience. While it is true that we do look more like animals to your eyes than humans do, with their bipedal stance, we are as capable as you are of building things, sometimes in ways you cannot. This ship alone is evidence of that fact, Mr Banher."

Doug stopped for a second and looked around. He was walking along the side of one of the restaurant-style kitchens; the smells coming from inside told of sophisticated tastes and use of methods of cooking that normal animals simply wouldn't think of using. He watched as Ponies sitting down outside the kitchen area sat on benches and other types of seating, at tables, using cutlery to eat with... or sometimes using something that he could not identify to scoop food up and deposit it in their mouths. He did see some eating from bowls in a fairly animalistic way, but he realised they were very young, by their size... and it wasn't as if his children hadn't done the same when they were growing up, either. He looked into the kitchen, and saw Ponies working around cooking implements, front hoofs washed and wrapped in some-kind-of sterile glove-like sleeves as they cooked and worked. Most of them remained on their hind hoofs while they worked as well, something he found very interesting. He even saw them using registers and keyboards to type in orders that appeared in the kitchen area on screens, but no money was exchanging hands, just orders and food. "You've got this set up rather well..." He said.

Stellar chuckled. "Thank you." She replied. "There's one thing you have to remember, Mr Banher: all of us here were born and raised as Humans for the last twenty-five years before we started changing back into Ponies. We were brought up in the ways of Humanity... and just because we have our old bodies back and some of our memories of the time before we were Human, doesn't mean we've lost our human memories. Only those younger than Five will ever truly forget being Human." She explained to Doug.

Doug nodded at that. "I see... that explains why everything in here looks like it's to Code." He commented.

Stellar nodded. "We have a number of experts in the fields amongst the Ponies on-board us. Some things are different to what you might expect, but that's only where we could make something better than what's the usual Specifications for aircraft; take the showers on-board, for instance. We waste very little water, using purification collars around the main drains that purify the water so efficiently that the water after them is purer than when we captured it from clouds. Likewise, all the water that goes through the dishwashers and sinks in the kitchens here is recycled in the same way. Our food waste is sent to certain farms, where it is composted and treated for use on the farm."

"And your body-wastes?" Doug asked.

"That gets sent to a sewerage treatment plant in Australia for disposal, just as if we were living on the ground." Stellar said. "It's set up so that there's very little chance of any contamination from anypony using the system... well, save for foals, of course, but all youngsters go through that stage." Stellar chuckled.

Doug smiled back, fond and not-so-fond memories of his own kids' toilet-training coming to mind. "You have young... foals on-board, I see. How safe is this ship in terms of their capacity to cause mischief?"

"Come this way." She said, and led Doug over to the side of the deck. "Now, below the Top Flight Deck you landed on, there are five internal decks, plus the Landing Deck on the bottom that sits like a gondola for three hundred metres along our length." She explained. "Decks One and Five are our Upper and Lower Flight decks, and usually house only Pegasi. The three middle decks, such as Deck Two, which we're on, are pretty much sealed at all times, although the transparencies can be opened, if necessary." She led him up to the floor-to-ceiling transparent panels that ran the length of the deck. "These can be opened only from two places on the deck itself, as well as the Flight Bridge."

Doug gently tapped one, and was surprised to see concentric circles of blue light ripple out from the impact point. "What is that?" He asked.

Stellar chuckled. "Magic." She answered, to Doug giving her a frown. "No, it truly is what we refer to as 'Magic'. Ponies have the ability to manipulate an energy force we call 'Mana' or 'Thaumic Energy', in different ways depending on what sub-species we are." She explained. "For Pegasi, it's what makes our flying ability so powerful. Unicorns can use it to create certain effects using codified formulas we call 'Spells'. Earth Ponies or ground ponies as you would probably call them, can manipulate the 'Thaumic field' energy that flows through the earth itself, to do amazing things. But if you get ponies that truly remember some of the more powerful effects, you can get transparencies like these." She explained to Doug.

"So... what does this 'magic' do, in relation to these windows?" He asked.

"It means that they, like the very skin of this cloudship, can resist incredible amounts of damage." Stellar explained as she turned around to face away from the windows. "Watch." She told Doug, and as she lifted her rear hoofs, they glowed magenta with energy, and she gave an almighty kick to the panel. The panel cracked like a spider's web from the impact, but the cracks never reached the frame; they came to a halt very quickly, glowing a brilliant blue.

As Stellar turned around, the panel glowed all over, and Doug saw the cracks slowly reversing, healing as the light concentrated on them, until even the horseshoe-shaped dents in the panel popped out and healed. Amazed, Doug ran his hand over the solid panel. "That's... incredible." He said.

"The whole structure of our ship's skin is like this." Stellar told Doug. "That's why it glows slightly as we travel along. It's also allowing any breezes or gusts of wind to divert around the skin, meaning we don't feel them as we travel along." Stellar smiled. "It's also what we term as 'Code One' of our security grid. One other effect is that any birds or other lifeforms that come near us will find themselves diverted away from the skin, and harmlessly carried along the sides until they slide free of the tail; then they're free to go wherever they want to." Stellar explained. "We care for the wildlife of Earth, too."

Doug looked at Stellar. "I would not have believed it unless I saw it." He told her. "And you ponies put this together by yourselves?" He asked.

Stellar nodded. "We had a few humans aboard us from Day One, but their help was mostly minimal, and almost totally related to our flight control systems." She answered. "They recently returned to their jobs when we crossed the Atlantic Coast, and apart from the previous inspection team, you're the only other humans to come and visit us... well, beside the constant droning of the news choppers." Stellar chuckled.

Doug chuckled as well. "Incredible." He agreed.

Three hours after they arrived, the inspection team met up together outside one of the Third Deck eateries. Over apple-based delights and non-alcoholic cider, the six leaders sat with each other and compared notes, as Ponies mostly walked by them, save for the odd foal who wanted a hug. "So... what have we found so far?" Doug asked.

Sherrill Miller, an expert in on-board food preparation and sanitation technology said "Well, their food preparation standards do differ from our own in some regards, but from what I can see, like Ag-Service reported, they maintain their food-handling to a degree that attains or surpasses the requirements." She reported. "They even ran through a fire drill for me down on Deck Five. They may be ponies, but they can move like lightning when they have to. They had everything shut down and secured in thirty-five seconds flat. They have sprinkler systems and extinguishers, fire blankets and spill kits in every eatery. Their grills, hotplates and fryers have spill-proof lids that would hold even if they were flipped, once they were locked down." She smiled at Doug. "I'd give them an eight-point-seven; good enough to pass and a bit more, but with just a little room for improvement."

Doug nodded. "Mark?" He asked their electrical engineer.

Mark had to swallow part of an apple fritter he was munching on, but that let him gather his notes. "Okay. I spoke with the Ponies who did the installation work. After some testing, they seemed to have as much knowledge as a university-trained electrical engineer. Some of the systems here are very weird, but the lighting they use doesn't need electricity, so I passed them on that. The eateries and water heaters use power from what they term 'Lightning accumulators': two large insulated metal cylinders that they somehow force charged clouds into and get them to discharge into large capacitors." He shook his head. "I have no idea how they do it, but it works, and apart from being very non-polluting, it appears to be very safe." He told them. "The wiring and other things are up-to-code by not only our standards, but to the best in the world, I'd say. I'd give them a Nine easily, maybe a nine-point-five if I could figure out how that Lightning-control system works."

"What's the crew like?" Doug asked Jessie Holloway.

"Well... ignoring that they're Ponies was hard, I admit." She said. "Captain Weather, Commander Sparkle, Lt-Cmdrs Morning and Evening Mist... god, these names... A good many of the flight crew have pilot's licences and experience with flying aircraft; the Captain has a rating for flying hot-air balloons and also for small-scale non-rigid airships in England. Apparently where they came from, many of them supposedly served in the 'Royal Equestrian Airship Service' as well." Jessie went back over her notes "Yeah, that's what they called it." She confirmed. "I spent about half-an-hour observing the crew on duty... and they appeared to be competent and somewhat experienced. I questioned the Captain, three commanders and many of the lieutenant-commanders who serve on the Flight Bridge, as well as some of the 'enlisted' crew, and they all seem to know what they're doing. Apart from the fact that many of them don't have current certification for airships, the big problem we have is that we don't have an airship that requires such a big and co-ordinated crew to operate at the moment; so testing them would have to take place aboard this very vessel itself, if we're going to insist on testing them." She told Doug. "I would suggest... let them get to where they're going. Let them disembark all the 'refugees' they have on-board, as they intend to, then have them come back here or somewhere where there's people who can certify them for airship operation as a crew. That gives us time to assemble a team to certify them, because god only knows, we hardly have anyone that experienced in Airship operation to certify them."

That got a few knowing chuckles from the others, then Doug turned to Cecily and asked "Okay, what about their propulsion systems?"

Cecily sighed. "I understand the idea behind it, but how it works... it's beyond me." She told Doug. "Those huge rings along the sides of the ship work like Dyson fans; they draw air through them, accelerating it to provide thrust. From what they explained to me, the crystals in the center of the rings are instrumental to how they work, and they're self-powering. The only connections to the rings are for throttle control and for maneuvering the rings themselves for thrust-control. Their top speed is about a hundred knots, which for a structure this size is pretty damned good. They might be able to go faster with their propulsion method, but for this size of vessel, it's more than adequate."

"And how about safety?" Doug looked at Bill Huggens, the closest person they had to an expert on airships.

Bill looked through his notes. "Well... It's kind-of hard to say. After all, Pegasi have their own wings and can fly rings around aircraft, as we've seen. They showed me how quickly they can put together... get this: Cloud platforms."

"Cloud platforms?" Doug asked, his voice betraying a little incredidulity.

Bill nodded. "They can assemble a platform that can hold a hundred ponies in about ten seconds flat. And that's with teams of three working together. They could have platforms at every deck level capable of taking the entire ship's complement in a minute. As big as this ship is, it's not going to go down anywhere near as fast as an airliner would if something happened. They'll have plenty of time to evacuate the entire structure even if they're at capacity."

"What about bouyancy?" Doug asked. "Are they safe for a water landing?"

Bill just chuckled. "Somehow, from what they showed me, this gigantic form is stuffed full of clouds."

"Clouds?" They all said back.

Bill nodded. "It's magic." He replied, shaking his head. "That's why they call it a 'Cloudship'. Apparently though, from what they've explained in terms that I can understand, the cloud-mass is inherently bouyant because of the magic they can focus into it. It is also pretty much neutrally-bouyant as well. If they landed on water, it would probably sink to the top of the 'landing deck' as they term it, and the whole thing would sit there on the water. Plus, whatever the hull is made of, it's not fabric. It's as solid as if it were metal, yet almost weightless. I would swear to you guys that if we could land this thing on a set of scales big enough, it'd probably weight maybe two thousand pounds at the most, basically from all the equipment on-board her. But they have no gas bags, nothing flammable used in her at all, save for the kitchens... This structure's about as safe as anything I could think of, and beyond that." He chuckled. "They could make a mint if they equipped her out for luxury travel and paying passengers."

That got some laughs. "So... Can we honestly say that the Stellar Wind passes inspection?" Doug asked.

"Yes." Bill replied. "As far as airframe and passenger safety goes, she's better than anything we have today."

Cecily nodded. "Yes. Her propulsion method is safer than anything we use today, by far."

Mark smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Her power-source not withstanding, electrically, she's as safe as any aircraft we have in the skies today."

"From what I've observed... they're competent to handle this ship... maybe more so than any other air crew we could put aboard her." Jessie gave her assessment. "They just need to be officially rated and certified."

Sherrill swallowed the cider she was drinking and replied "Their kitchens aren't what we'd see in an aircraft, but they don't have to keep everything compact and suited for short-flight durations. In terms of safety, they rate highly. In terms of garbage disposal and recycling, they're better than a lot of normal restaurants. In terms of sanitation... the methods are beyond anything we have, but they work, and work well. Their lavatory and shower blocks are spotless and kept up to code; they diligently keep the public areas clean and make sure that pests don't get on-board. Their methods of recycling water and purifying it are beyond our scope to duplicate, and how they dispose of bodily wastes... I tried it myself, and it works extremely well. If their... 'Magi-tech' as one of them put it, could be duplicated, it might revolutionise the airline industry." She told Doug.

Doug nodded. "Okay... so they pass inspection." He said. "But what do we classify them AS?" He asked.

All five of his experts smiled. "Airship: experimental." They replied together.

Doug laughed, as he turned his sheet over, with the same words written in the assigned space. "Yeah. I can't think of any other classification, personally, and you've all just confirmed it." He said. "If they ever decide to duplicate this... 'cloudship', I hope we get to see it from Day One. It would be an incredible vessel to see being... constructed."

And they all couldn't help but agree.

As the team made their way back up to the Top Flight deck, Doug handed Stellar and Captain Weather a folder. "This is our inspection report." He told them. "We're passing you as an experimental airship. To be frank," He sighed with a smile, "the magic systems you have on-board are almost beyond classification at the moment; save that they seem to also rate very highly above any other system we've ever documented, in terms of passing the specific codes that cover the areas they fit into. So that's the best we can do at this stage." Doug explained. "If you have a place we can send your certification to, we can have your flight certification sent to you in about a week's time."

Captain Weather nodded, as Stellar held out a card. "I know this is an Australian address, but we get back there regularly. If you have it sent there, we can bring it back here and make sure it's displayed where it will be seen by anyone who wants to know if we're flight-rated."

Doug nodded. "Thank you." He replied. "About certifying your crews to fly... it's difficult, because we don't have an airship of this type or size to train or test you on." Doug said frankly. "But, if you can, once you've dropped your passengers off where you're headed for, we'd like you all to come back to Harrisburg so we can have you all assessed. If the ones in your crews without current pilots' licences want to get certified as pilots, we can handle that, too, then progress along as everyone qualifies. It might take some time, but that way you will have official certifications that will be valid anywhere in the world." Doug told them. "Oh, and it'll give us time to put together a team to certify you all as well." He said with a smile.

"I think we can arrange that." Salient Weather replied with a happy smile.

"Good." Doug said. "Then we'll see you when you get here. But please, don't try and fly out of United States' airspace before you get certified, or else the next time you try and come back here, you won't be allowed to enter. That's not my ruling, that's the way it is." He told them. "Any of you with normal pilots' licences could fly in in aircraft you're rated on, but this lovely lady needs her licenced and rated crew. We're only letting you continue for the time being because you have the closest thing to a rating on her that's available, Captain, and most of your officers are licenced civilian pilots already." Doug stated. "Once we clear up everyone else's status, then we can treat all of you as we would any other aircrew."

"That's entirely understandable, Mr Banher." Stellar stated. "We thank you for your forebearance on the matter.

Doug smiled back. "Oh, and if you ever want to make another one of these... could you let us know before you start? We'd love to see and document how you do it." Doug asked.

Salient and Stellar chuckled. "I'm sure that can be arranged." Stellar answered, as Doug handed her some of the team's business cards. "Thank you." She added as they made their way on the Top Flight deck.

"Our pleasure. Safe skies to you, and fair winds." Doug said as he headed for the Twinranger, which was just starting to power up.

"And to you." Stellar and Salient replied, as they stood and watched the big helicopter spin up to take-off speed then, as she was released, waved as it took to the skies and headed away from the Stellar Wind.

"A satisfactory result, Commander." Salient Weather commented as he and Stellar went back down into the body of the Stellar Wind.

"Indeed, Captain. After the trouble we've had from... other sources, it's welcome to find humans who do their job without prejudice." Stellar agreed as she reverted back to her alicorn-form.

"Then shall we resume our journey?" Salient asked.

"As soon as feasible." Stellar agreed as they headed towards the bridge.

As the night slowly settled over the Stellar Wind, Thunderlane went looking for Stellar after dinner. He eventually found Stellar down on the Lower Flight Deck, blocking off the rear half of the fifth internal deck from the rest of the ship, opaquing the crystal windows and making the deck sealed against day light. Thunderlane guessed what Stellar was doing. "We're about to get a big increase in numbers, aren't we, Beloved?" He asked.

Stellar nodded. "It's time to keep a promise made by Luna a very long time ago, that I renewed three days ago." She answered Thunderlane.

"Do you think they'll all be comfortable in here, Stellar Love?" Thunderlane asked.

"They'll mostly be in here only during the day-time, when they sleep." Stellar explained to Thunderlane. "When night settles, they can spread out on the flight decks and the Top deck, as well as the Landing deck, just like all the other Ponies. They'll have their own shower blocks and eateries here, which we can supply with fish and meat for their diet as well, as well as the blood supplement the Thestrals require to get the special nutrients from Equestrian animals that they need in their diet. Whatever the restrictions, they'll find things a lot better here than in those caves."

Thunderlane nodded. "The Guards-ponies are also used to being in the day-light, so they can sleep on the forward half of the deck if they desire." He pointed out.

Stellar grinned. "I'm making allowances for hammocks for them as well. That should help double the capacity of this area for sleeping."

Thunderlane chuckled. "That'll help." He agreed. "The same for the Pegasi?"

Stellar nodded. "We know Pegasi like hammocks as well, so that will be good on the Upper Flight deck as well as in here." She looked about. "Well, I can't see anything that isn't ready for them." Stellar said. "Most of the Day Ponies are used to Thestrals now, thanks to our resident Night-wing family, so they shouldn't panic as the others start to mingle and take their place with us."

Thunderlane nodded. "I'll get the rest of the Ship-Guard and Sky-Guard aware of the imminent arrival of our newest passengers." He said, before he gave Stellar a deep kiss and trotted for the light-lock in the forward bulkhead.

Stellar watched Thunderlane leave, a loving smile across her face, before she set up a magic circle on the deck next to the bulkhead. As the circle powered up, a portal appeared on the bulkhead's surface. As it stabilised and opened, Stellar added an array that would teach the Thestrals proper English as they stepped through to the Stellar Wind. Once it had stabilised, Stellar walked through to where she'd set up a similar circle inside the caverns inside the Carpathians, to anchor the portal there. She saw Cimmerian Shade and the Lunar Guards waiting for her there, as the older Thestrals gathered around curiously. The Guard saluted her, as the other Thestrals bowed deeply to her and welcomed her.

"<How are things going, Lieutenant?>" Stellar asked Cimmerian, after returning their salute. ">You may all rise.<" Stellar sounded out to the other Thestrals.

"<Glad to see you again, Knight-Commander.>" Cimmerian replied, as the Guard relaxed a little. "<I take it preparations are completed?>" He asked.

"<Yes, as much as they are.>" Stellar answered.

">Are we going to our new home, Princess?<" Dusky Shades asked Stellar as she came up to her.

">Not exactly.<" Stellar replied, to surprised looks. ">I have a place prepared for you, but it isn't on Equestria yet.<" She explained. ">The way Home is yet to open, so we are heading to where my sister, Princess Twilight, is living. In the meantime, you are welcome to stay with me on my new Home, the Cloudship Stellar Wind.<" She revealed.

Cimmerian Shade and the guards looked puzzled, but the rest of the Thestrals were agasp with wonder. ">A cloudship?<" Cimmerian chirruped, startled into using Thestral-speak.

">It's an airship made of Pegasus magic and stuffed full of clouds.<" Stellar told Cimmerian and the others. ">It is much larger than other Equestrian airships. There is half of a deck especially set aside for you for light-secure sleeping quarters, as well as your own eatery and facilities. Of course, after dark, you can spread out over the rest of the ship and stretch yourselves out, as long as you don't disturb the Day Ponies as they sleep... and they won't disturb you as you sleep, either.<" Stellar promised the Thestrals. She then gestured to the portal. ">Come. Your new accomodations await.<"

Cimmerian gestured to a number of the Lunar Guards, and they followed Stellar through. They were amazed as they found themselves in very different accomodations from the rough caves. With Cimmerian helping to direct traffic through the portal and Stellar directing the Thestrals to move to certain areas, with the soft moonlight-like glow of the light bars above making it easy for the Night-ponies to see; soon all five hundred of the Thestrals had left the caves behind. Cimmerian gave the caverns one last search, finding three Night-wing foals playing Hide-and-Seek and chasing them playfully back to the portal. He gave the caverns one last look, then stepped through to the Stellar Wind.

Once there, he saw a lot of the Thestrals at the open sides of the deck, looking over the chest-height barriers at the sky around them, the lovely full moon lighting up the landscape below and turning the golden skin of the Stellar Wind a shimmering silver. Hammocks close to the ceiling were being checked over by the Night-wings, and comfortable air mattresses scattered around the floor in sunken frames were being appreciatively assessed by the others. Cimmerian saw lines forming at the shower block, with Stellar directing the Guard-Thestrals to guide some of the others to the forward block on the deck as well as in how to use the modern ablution equipment. Delicious smells were slowly wafting from the eatery, where the first Thestral family on the Stellar Wind were showing their talents at cooking for their fellow Thestrals, with a little help from willing Day Ponies.

Stellar led Cimmerian and most of the former Lunar Guards-Ponies up through the decks, explaining to them about how the ship was arranged, what the command structure aboard her was, and the rules of the ship. Eventually, they were all standing up on the Top Flight Deck, watching the pegasi from the Day Watch come in and land. "I am hoping, Fillies and Gentlecolts, that you will all become part of the Stellar Wind's Night Watch in good time." She told them all in English, which they now could understand thoroughly. "And Cimmerian, this is Lieutenant-Commander Thunderlane." She introduced Thunderlane to them and Cimmerian especially. Thunderlane and Cimmerian saluted each other and clopped hoofs. "Thunderlane is in command of the Sky Guard on-board the Stellar Wind." Stellar explained. "He is also my adjuctant."

"Nice to see you again, Thunderlane." Cimmerian said in a friendly tone.

"And you, Cimmerian." Thunderlane replied in the same tone. "Glad to have you and the other Thestrals on-board."

"So... if you're only a commander on-board, Princess... who is the captain of the Stellar Wind?" One of the sergeants asked.

"A very good question." Stellar replied, smiling. "The captain of the Stellar Wind is one of our most experienced airship captains, Captain Salient Weather."

"He's here?" One of the other sergeants asked.

"I take it you know the Captain, Sergeant?" Stellar asked.

"I served aboard the Northern Wind for a tour, Ma'am." The Sergeant answered. "If you have Captain Weather on this ship, then you have the best."

Stellar nodded, smiling. "Thank you for the vote of confidence in our Captain." She replied. "Now, for the non-flyers of our Night-Ponies, there's the Ship Guard, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Heavy Shades. Hopefully, the Ship Guard will have hardly anything to do during the days and nights, save for making sure everypony on this cloudship stays content and safe. Any threats that we can think of will come from outside this vessel, as they have done already. The most you will do, unless we get invaded, is to keep the peace, answer questions from the refugees we have aboard this vessel, and to show the flag to all these Ponies and let them know we care for them and are here to protect them." She informed them.

"When we find Celestia and Luna, things will change, of course. They'll need their guards back again, and this will help keep your skills alive and current. So for now, you'll help your old-time cousins settle into their new home here, and revive your positions as guards in the Service. Other than that, Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome aboard the Stellar Wind, and hopefully, very soon, we'll find a way back to Equestria." Stellar concluded. "So, stretch your wings if you have them; take a look about the ship and enjoy the facilities if you don't. We're all in this together and I hope the others make you feel as welcome as I want you to feel." She gave them a smile. "Oh, and don't forget: make sure you sit for your uniform fittings if you join either of the Guards, and you'll also be supplied with armor as well-fitting as Lt-Cmdr Thunderlane is wearing. So get to know your fellow Guards-Ponies and become friends with them. Who knows? Most of them you probably already know from serving in Canterlot." Stellar suggested.

As the Thestral Guards-Ponies broke up and started to mingle with the Pegasi and others that were coming off-duty, Stellar manage to call Thunderlane and Cimmerian Shade aside. "Thunder, I'm going to give Cimmer here the same rank as you." She told Thunderlane and Cimmerian. "He'll be taking over the Night Watch, so, you two will be joint commanders of the Sky Guard. Of course, each of you will be ascendant at the proper time of day/night." Stellar smiled at them both. "You boys think you can work together, in Harmony with each other?"

Thunderlane looked at Cimmerian Shade. "Well, I was never a member of the Guard..."

Cimmerian chuckled. "It doesn't look as though that's stopped you setting up a very good system here, and making them look the part." Cimmerian replied, as he looked Thunderlane's duty-armor over. "These look more practical and better than the regular Guard Armor. Who makes them?" Cimmerian asked.

Thunderlane rolled his eyes as Stellar blushed. "Oh, just our resident metal-forging princess here..." Thunderlane answered, gesturing to Stellar with his eyes.

Cimmerian's eyes widened as he looked at Stellar. "You... Princess?" He begged clarification.

"It's... a hobby." Stellar confirmed. "I do love making things out of metals, ever since I learned how to smelt and forge metal under tutelage from Steel Rings." She explained. "I've even made all my own armor for myself, after watching the Ponies of the Small Rings foundry make my first set of armor." Stellar sighed happily at the wonderful memories.

Cimmerian chuckled. "Wonders shall never cease..." He commented. He turned to face Stellar properly, bowed to her and then saluted, a gesture she and Thunderlane returned. "As you order, Knight-Commander. I shall take up command of the Night Watch, starting..."

"Tomorrow night." Stellar interrupted. "You need tonight to orientate yourself and your troops, and get them ready for their shifts."

"As you say, Commander." Cimmerian agreed.

"Then we shall leave you to get used to our home here, Lieutenant-Commander." Stellar smiled at Cimmerian. "We hope you and the other Thestrals find life aboard the Stellar Wind to be as accomodating as the rest of us do."

Thunderlane stood side-by-side with Cimmerian and they both saluted Stellar, who returned their salute, then walked off, to let the two stallions get organised.

Later, Thunderlane walked into Stellar's (and his) quarters, where he saw Stellar grooming Rumble out, as Flitter and Cloudchaser sat, grinning and talking to Stellar as they watched. Rumble was being quiet and, while Thunderlane knew his little brother didn't really like anypony else grooming him, he was standing still as Stellar gently stroked a body-brush through his coat. Thunderlane smiled to himself. Rumble was almost a different colt from what memories he had of his younger brother from the Time before Discord had thrown them to Earth. For some reason, being Human for those years had changed him far more than some ponies had changed. But it hadn't been for the worse, Thunderlane felt. Rumble still had Rusty's memories and a lot of his fun-loving attitude, more than Past-Rumble had, and his devotion to Stellar as the 'Big-Sis' he'd never had before was mellowing him into a much better and more social pony.

Stellar had Rumble spread his wings so she could inspect the job he'd done preening himself. She knew that Past-Rumble had prided himself on the care of his wings, and she wanted to be sure that Present-Rumble lived up to the meticulous attention he'd paid his wings in the past. She only had to gently lick one feather back into place, as its barbs had caught on the feather beside it, then she nuzzled Rumble tenderly. "You've done a good job, Rumble-Bro." Stellar said to him in her 'affectionate tone', one she kept for Rumble and Thunderlane.

Rumble looked back at Stellar with his mauve eyes, their gaze full of pride and love for the Alicorn mare who held him close to her. "Thanks, Big Sis." He replied.

"I am glad to see you're still taking care of yourself, and you're not being lax in your personal care." She told him. "After all, you are a leader amongst the foals now, and you have to set a good example to them all."

Rumble nodded. "I know, Sis. And I won't disappoint you." He reached up his head and muzzle to nuzzle tenderly with Stellar as she leaned down to him.

"I know you won't." Stellar replied. "That's why I trust you." And she softly kissed him on the forehead, to affectionate sighs from the Twins and a proud smile from Thunderlane, as he moved to Stellar's side and hugged Rumble as well.

"We both trust you, Little Dude, and we know you'll do the best you can for your friends." Thunderlane added.

"You betcha, Big Bro!" Rumble replied, grinning as he hugged his brother back.

Stellar nodded. "All right, Rumble." Stellar said. "Are your friends..." And there was a knock at the door just then. "Ah, that should be them, now." She added, knowing that any adult Pony would have used the door-bell instead of knocking. She opened the door using her magic, and Rumble's squad-mates trotted in. He grinned and trotted over to them. They all bowed to Stellar and acknowledged the adults there, then they all disappeared into Rumble's room, closing the door behind them.

Thunderlane chuckled. "He's so growing up." He said to them all.

"Yeah! He's... not as... what's the word?" Cloudchaser asked.

"Confrontational?" Flitter offered.

"Well, yeah, but... I mean, he's not wanting to be alone all the time now, not as forcefully, anyway." Cloudchaser went on. "He likes being with us, now. He used to be so 'I don't need anypony to help me!', like; but now, he likes being with us and doing things with us." She told them. "And I like it." Cloudchaser grinned.

"Yeah. I have to admit, he's more serious than Rusty was, but not as serious as... what did you name him, Stellar? As 'Past-Rumble' used to be." Flitter added.

Stellar nodded as Thunderlane chuckled. "I have to admit it, but the Little Dude is definitely better than he used to be... and I like him the way he is."

"Yes, my little brother is definitely showing his potential now, more than ever." Stellar agreed. "And he will never lack for attention, no matter what." She said, nodding at Thunderlane, who nodded back.

"Anyway, we'll see you in the morning, Thunder, Stellar." Flitter said as the twins rose from their couch.

"Sleep well." Cloudchaser said as they got nuzzles from Thunderlane and Stellar, then left for their own little section of the Upper Flight deck. They'd managed to secure a twin-sized hammock up there, and felt better sleeping with each other... unless invited to 'sleep' elsewhere.

Thunderlane chuckled. "We really are a mess, aren't we?" He asked Stellar.

Stellar snorted, but grinned. "Our entire civilisation's been turned upside-down twice, Thunder. It's going to take a lot of time to put everything back in order again... even if we returned to Equestria tomorrow, with everypony from there returning with us." She sighed. "We're doing the best we can with what we have and can develop. I'm still amazed my idea of this cloudship really worked. But we have what has to be one of the best communities of Ponies anywhere on the globe, and probably the most diverse. Now all we have to do is bring everything together; find the Princesses and bring them to safety; then help Twilight find the way Home. Once most of those who want to go back are back there... maybe not safe, but safer than being here, then we can deal with the issues of those who remain behind."

Thunderlane nodded. "So, what's the plan for later?" He asked.

"We'll head back to Mark and Cee-cee's station about Midnight. It should be morning there, and we can start dealing with the Australian Government's bureaucracy and get our citizenship re-recognised again. Once we do that and get my bank accounts looking healthier, then we'll see from there."

"Sounds like a plan." Thunderlane agreed, before he headed for the bathroom. Stellar smiled as she headed for their bedroom and prepared it for their slumber-time together...

Stellar awoke around midnight with Thunderlane curled up in front of her, Stellar spooned up around him. She stretched, then gently nuzzled him. "Whassah?" Thunderlane asked sleepily, as he looked up into Stellar's face.

"Time to head back to Australia, Love." Stellar told him.

Thunderlane yawned wide, then stretched. "Oooo-kay. Gimme a moment..." He replied, as Stellar slid off the other side of the bed, rolling over carefully onto her hoofs without crushing her wings. She came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, to see Thunderlane doing wing-stretches along with stretching his legs. He trotted past Stellar with a high-wing between them, and Stellar grinned as he went into the bathroom.

Stellar checked on Rumble and his friends, noting the soft little noises the colts made as they snoozed in a big pile. "So cute." She whispered softly as she smiled softly at them.

Once Thunderlane was ready, they stood together and Stellar made the connection in her mind back to the house and yard from whence they'd left Australia. The big Winged Sparkle Star she'd placed on the roof firmly fixed in her mind, she and Thunderlane spread their wings, Stellar's horn lit up brilliantly, and they vanished together. It took less than a count of three before they appeared above the outback station in brilliant sunlight. They instinctively came to a hover as their eyes adjusted, then they leisurely spiralled down to a landing before the house.

Cecelia had been sitting out the front of the house on the verandah, grooming little Jumble after he'd found a patch of a prickly little plant known as Cobbler's Pegs, and had gotten the small black prickle-seeds stuck all through his coat. Fortunately, they succumbed to the fine comb Cecelia had remembered she'd had put away from when they'd had dogs there. Now that his coat was free of the seeds, she was grooming him out with a palm brush from the stables. Cecelia gasped as she heard the sound of big wings coming down, and stood as Stellar and Thunderlane landed in the front yard. Jumble's eyes widened in awe as he saw Stellar, and followed Cecelia down to meet the newcomers.

"Stellar! Thunder!" Cecelia yelled as she came down the steps with Jumble, holding out her arms to them.

"Cee-cee!" Stellar called back.

"Hey, Aunty!" Thunderlane added as he lifted himself up on his hind legs and hugged Cecelia to him, then he moved aside as Stellar and Cee-cee hugged. Then he noticed Jumble. "Well, hello there." Thunderlane said to Jumble, who looked confused. Thunderlane then realised the problem and said "<Hello, little one.>" In Equish.

Jumble's face lit up and replied "<Hello, Sir. Welcome to Deep Waters.>" The little colt said in a properly respectful voice.

Then Stellar moved before Jumble. "<Hello, my little pony.>" She said in a soft, kind voice.

Jumble's eyes went fully-wide as he took in Stellar's regal look and stance, then he bowed deeply to her, almost placing his entire forward body on the ground before her hoofs. "<Your Worship...>" He replied to Stellar.

Stellar gently lifted Jumble's chin with a wing-tip. "<No, Little One. The proper term is 'Your Highness'. I am just a princess, not a goddess.>" She gently corrected Jumble as she lifted him to his hoofs. Jumble nodded, still showing awe. "<And to whom am I speaking?>" Stellar asked him, before she gave him a soft kiss on the nose, making Jumble blush.

"<I am Jumble.>" Jumble replied, to a chuckle from Thunderlane. Jumble looked puzzled. "<Was what I said funny?>" He asked.

"<I have a little brother whose name is Rumble.>" Thunderlane explained.

Jumble's face lit up with a happy grin. "<Mother Cee-cee has told me about the colt called Rumble!>" He told Thunderlane. "<Are you the one she calls 'Thunderlord', then?>" Jumble asked.

Stellar giggled at that, as Cee-cee grinned. "<The name is 'Thunderlane', Jumble.>" He corrected Jumble with a soft voice and a smile.

"<So sorry.>" Jumble replied, as Thunderlane rubbed his mane in a friendly manner.

"<You're fine, little Jumble.>" Thunderlane told Jumble, treating him like he treated Rumble at the same age.

"So, what brings you back?" Cee-cee asked.

"We need to check on getting our identification changed, as well as deposit some more gold into my bank account." Stellar told Cee-cee, grinning, as Thunderlane and Jumble headed off together. "So, how have you and Mark been coping?" Stellar asked Cee-cee.

"Surprisingly well." Cecelia answered. "Mark's got some of the pegasi and earth ponies helping with the muster, and many of the other earth ponies have increased our growing capacity immensely. We're pretty much self-sufficient at the moment in terms of food for the cattle and the ponies."

"That's great." Stellar said as she smiled.

"And the bank finally came through with our mortgage documents." Cecelia grinned. "We finally own the farm again outright and clear, and have the proof in our hands."

"And that's what I was hoping to hear." Stellar told Cee-cee with a huge grin.

Cecelia grinned back and gestured Stellar inside.

Peach and Azure were working at one of the computers in a small room off the lounge room when Jumble came in and said "<Excuse me, Azure Sir and Miss Peach, but Mama Cee-cee has guests who request your presence.>"

Peach gave Jumble a smile. He was so polite it wasn't funny, but it was a refreshing change. "<And do you know who our guests are, Jumble?>" Peach asked in Equish.

"<Yes. They are a stallion called Thunderlane>," And Peach's eyes lit up with joy as Azure turned around to face them, "<And a very beautiful mare called Stellar.>" Jumble concluded.

Peach grinned at Azure. As soon as Jumble had mentioned Thunderlane's name, she and Azure knew exactly who the other pony had to be. "<Thank you, Jumble.>" Peach replied, and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead, to a replying squee and tail-wag. Peach and Azure then rose and walked out to the lounge room, Azure grabbing several folders on the way as Jumble ran on before them. "Hey, you two!" Peach said as they moved into the circle of couches.

"Peachy!" Stellar replied in a delighted voice, and Stellar gave Peach a hug as Azure clopped hoofs with Thunderlane.

"Good to see you again, Azure." Thunderlane said.

"Likewise, Thunder." Azure replied. "Things working out?" He asked, as Stellar let Peach go, to give Thunderlane a hug as well.

"In a way, yes." Stellar answered.

"You're both looking well." Cecelia commented.

"Well, things have taken some very interesting turns..." Stellar replied, as Thunderlane chuckled, Jumble sitting between Stellar's front legs and getting a snuggle from the alicorn mare.

"Yeah... 'Interesting' being the operative word, strictly in the Chinese sense." Thunderlane added.

"Do tell..." Azure said.

For the next half-hour, Stellar and Thunderlane filled everyone else in on what had happened after they'd left. There was shock and consternation about the events in Cyprus, amazement over the rescued Ponies and humans over the Atlantic, and incredulity about the Stellar Wind and what had happened when they reached America. "So... you have an enormous air... cloudship as your current base of operations; you've been attacked, inspected and are still heading for your sister's location in Iowa." Cecelia summarised.

Stellar nodded. "Yep. And Peach... we found Flapjack."

Peach's face lit up. "You did?" She asked, grinning widely.

Stellar nodded in confirmation. "He's doing well on the Stellar Wind... running a makeshift McHays eatery."

Peach laughed loudly, with relief. "Oh, that's incredible." She said. "Anypony else yet?"

"Do you remember Lavender Dreams and her family?" Stellar asked.

Peach nodded. "I do. They were the family with the changeling father... Whirring Cogs, I think his name was; they lived in Whitetail Meadows." She remembered.

Stellar nodded. "Yes. We've found everypony from that family besides Cogs himself. Hopefully, that means we'll find the rest of your family as well, soon." Stellar told Peach.

Peach was all smiles, and hugged Azure as they sat and talked further. Jumble had managed to get out of Stellar's forelegs and was sitting up before Cecelia, snuggled into her lap and in her arms as they sat and listened. Cee-cee had been whispering everything the others had said in Equish to Jumble, who was listening intently. Stellar smiled at the little colt, then lit up her horn and gently pressed it onto his forehead. Jumble's eyes lit up magenta for a second, then he blinked as Stellar removed her horn. "There now, that should make things a little simpler for you, Jumble." She said to the colt.

Jumble blinked his eyes for a bit, but then said "Thank you, Your Highness" in English, to Cee-cee's delight.

"You taught him English." Cee-cee said, hugging Jumble even more.

Stellar nodded. "He needed it." She replied. "After all, if you're adopting him, Jumble needs to understand the language of his new home country. That way he won't have any troubles fitting in in that respect."

"Thank you, Stellar." Cee-cee said, as Stellar grinned and winked at Jumble, who grinned back.

"You're welcome." Stellar replied, then turned to Azure. "Did you get that paperwork done I asked for you to research?" She asked.

"All right here, for both of you." Azure replied. "Also, we have Flitter's, Cloudchaser's and Rumble's paperwork as well, for when you can bring them back as well." He said, handing them over.

"Thank you very much." Stellar said to him. "I take it you're working on your own paperwork as well?" She asked.

Azure and Peach nodded. "We have things to the point where it requires you to sign them, Stellar, Thunderlane. Once you have your name-changes done, we can use you as reference for our own." He told them.

Stellar nodded. "We'll do so before we leave." She told Azure, who laid out the paperwork in his and Peach's folders for them to peruse and sign. When Stellar and Thunderlane had done so, Azure put the folders away and relaxed. "It will be good when we get things officially recognised." Stellar told them both. "Hopefully it will lead to other ponies seeking to do the same."

"Indeed, it will." Azure agreed. "I, for one, will definitely prefer to be recognised again as my new-and-former self, as will Peachy." He moved to Peach and nuzzled her lovingly, as Peach nickered softly, nuzzling back. "Maybe we could even be married someday, properly."

"I'd love to marry you two." Stellar told them both. "Once you have your parents' permission, of course."

Peach poked her tongue out at Stellar, razzing her, as everyone there laughed.

Arriving back in Brisbane again had Stellar feeling a little homesick, in a most un-princess-like way. They flew over the city and traffic until they landed outside the State Supreme Court buildings. Armed with the papers Azure and Mark had helped them put together, the pair headed inside, garnishing an enormous amount of looks from others in the administration area, as Stellar had relaxed their anti-surveillance spells to allow things to go more smoothly. The metal detectors went off as they went through, but when the security guards found out it was reacting to their horseshoes, there was little they could say about them. Hand-held scanners passed them easily, then Stellar and Thunderlane grabbed a numbered ticket each and found some fairly comfortable seats to relax in.

Outside, reporters gathered there for a trial were of two minds, whether to go ahead with their assigned story or try to get an interview with the Ponies who had just walked in... But before any of them could venture inside the building, the object of their assignments arrived and the reporters did their best to get in their way.

Stellar shook her head and looked at Thunderlane. "Very little changes, does it, no matter how much we're changing things." She commented.

Thunderlane chuckled. "Yeah. The Press is always trying their best to out-do each other to the story, no matter what else might be happening." He sighed. "Do you think they'll try and crowd us when we exit?" He asked Stellar.

"I could always just teleport us back to Deep Waters, if they try." Stellar pointed out.

Thunderlane chuckled again. "Yeah, but that's being 'anti-social', according to their phrase-book." He reminded Stellar. "After all, the dear 'Pee-pul' have a right to know every little fact or fiction they try to report on, whether they want to or want to remain ignorant."

It was Stellar's turn to chuckle. "So very true." She replied, before her number was called. Dropping from the seat, she made her way up to the counter, to looks of amazement from the staff.

"Can... can I help you?" The woman at the window asked.

"I hope so." Stellar replied. "I need to officially change my name and species, if that last one is even possible." Stellar told the woman.

The woman was a bit perplexed, to say the least. Then her face brightened. "Of course! You're one of those 'ponies' that were human once." She stated.

'I'm glad somebody's been watching the news...' Stellar thought to herself with a smile for just a second. "That's correct. And while I am an Australian citizen, well, my paperwork needs updating.. as it can plainly be seen." Stellar replied, keeping her smile firmly fixed on her face.

The woman nodded. "Okay, a name-change is fairly easy. I take it you've filled out a deed poll?" She asked. Stellar fetched the paperwork from her saddlebags and handed it all over, safe in a folder. "Ah, that's good." The woman said. "You have no idea how many people don't even read what it takes to do this properly before coming in here." She told Stellar as she began to check it over.

"I can only imagine." Stellar replied, as she saw Thunderlane called to another window down the other end of the long counter.

After answering a few questions for the woman, Stellar waited until she looked back at Stellar. "Okay. The name change is done. Just hand this copy of the deed poll to whichever department you need to, and they should be able to give you new documents... well, within their own time-frame, of course." She smiled at Stellar. "The Species-change... I have NO idea where to even begin with that, to be honest." She said openly. "I've sent a request for clarification down to Records and some other areas, but we'll have to get back to you on that. However, the request is now in the system, so it will be dealt with, eventually." She told Stellar.

"Thank you. Here's my sat-phone number." Stellar gave her the number of the phone she'd bought before all of this even started. "It's more reliable than my normal phone, since I might be a great distance outside the network's coverage area with less than a moment's notice." She explained.

"A very good reason to have one, then." The woman said. Then they both looked down as Thunderlane's raised voice filtered back up the counter. "I think I'd better go down and give them a hand. Our resident newbie is on that window this morning, and it seems he's getting on your... your stallion's nerves?" She looked at Stellar.

Stellar grinned. "Yes, he's my stallion." She confirmed, as she put the folder away again and walked down the outside of the counter, as the woman moved through on the inside.

Thunderlane was looking a little cheesed-off at the young male he'd been dealing with, as Stellar reached him and placed her neck over his. With a sigh, Thunderlane relaxed as Stellar nuzzled his ears, while the woman looked over what the young male had been doing. "No, you need to send it as a PF-347 request for clarification." She told him. "It won't register if you just send it in without the proper headers."

"How did you know that?" He asked. "They never covered this in Admin training."

"I was doing this type of paperwork before they computerised everything, Junior." She told him. "And not everything received new classifications." She finished typing. "There, done." She grinned at him.

He was writing what she'd done down on a post-it note and pinned it to part of the workstation. "Thanks." He replied gratefully.

She smiled at him. "Remember that, Junior. I think we're going to get a number of such requests in the next few months, once these Ponies realise they need to have their documentation changed." She speculated.

He looked at Thunderlane. "Sorry about that, Sir." He apologised, handing Thunderlane's folder back to him.

"Sure." Thunderlane replied, his irritation gone under Stellar's gentle touch. "I guess this is making administrative hell for you guys as well as us."

"Only because it's a situation the system hasn't been configured to deal with... yet." The woman answered. "But now that it's necessary, someone will develop a coding for it, and we'll hopefully be able to do it as a routine fairly shortly." She said with a smile.

"You hope." Stellar replied, with a smile tempering her sarcasm.

The woman sighed. "Yes, we all do hope." She agreed. Then she looked outside the big windows at the front of the office area. "Oh dear. It seems the Press got wind of you being here." She said, as the reporters and their camera teams were almost hard-up against the windows, trying to film inside. Only the garden beds were thwarting their attempts.

Stellar sighed. "Okay... time to make our exit." She told Thunderlane, as they headed for the metal detectors that bracketed the entrance to this part of the complex.

"So, how do we do this?" Thunderlane asked.

"They've got two metres cordoned off before the doors." Stellar pointed out. "If we launch from just inside the doors as they open, we should be able to fly right up over their heads before they can even start to yell at us." Stellar grinned.

Thunderlane chuckled again, grinning. "Aww... that's just cruel." He replied jokingly. "I bet you five bits I can fly above the building before you can." He challenged Stellar.

"You're on." Stellar said back, grinning as well, as they walked towards the doors. As they started to open, the two Ponies extended their wings and, once they had the space, they raced at the exit and took off just inside the doorway. The Reporters could only rotate and watch as Stellar and Thunderlane shot into the air, a huge gust of wind blowing dust towards the reporters as Thunderlane headed nearly vertical, while Stellar shot up at a more conventional forty-five degree angle.

The woman and the rookie just grinned and laughed. "Now that was something to watch." He told her.

"Yes. That's definitely something you don't see every day..." She had to admit as she moved back and headed for her own window again.

Thunderlane smirked as he and Stellar flew along. Stellar did nothing to dissuade Thunder in thinking that he had beaten her in their little bet as they headed for the main branch of the bank Stellar had her account with. They carefully landed in an alleyway, out of the flow of pedestrian traffic, and walked out onto the main street. Almost everyone there seemingly ignored them, as Stellar's spells were again working well at keeping them from more than a momentary curiosity.

One of the greeters inside the branch was almost shocked at first to see the pair of Ponies walk in, but as Stellar was talking to Thunderlane as they did so, she quickly realised that these were not ordinary animals. As she came under the influence of Stellar's spells, she smiled and greeted them. "Can I help you?" She asked.

"I hope so." Stellar said. "We need to change our names on our accounts. We have the paperwork, we just need to sit down with a manager or someone with the authority to process this." She explained.

The CSR (Customer Service Representative*) smiled back at Stellar and nodded. "Of course. If you'd take a seat, someone will be ready to assist you as soon as possible." She told them, and went to log in the appointment.

"Smooth sailing so far." Thunderlane commented as they sat down on the carpeted floor.

"Yes." Stellar replied. "The spells seem to be working well."

Thunderlane frowned. "Hey... isn't there restrictions on spells like these?" He asked. "Y'know, ones that affect the minds of others?"

Stellar nodded. "Yeah, there's a great deal of restrictions on any spells that could be presumed as mind-control spells." She confirmed. "These spells are skirting close to those restrictions, but as they don't alter the mind itself, just the perceptions that it receives and only temporarily at that, they're well within my purview as a high-ranking member of the Guard to use them in a limited capacity." She explained. "Of course, the one that hides us from cameras and other artificial recorders isn't restricted at all, so there's no problems with using that one." She smiled at Thunderlane.

Thunderlane nodded back, as one of the senior CSRs approached them. "Welcome. I'll be helping you today." She said, and led Stellar and Thunderlane into a side office. "Now, you wish to change the names on your accounts?" She asked.

"Yes." Stellar replied. "I also need to deposit some gold bullion into my account, in coin-form."

The CSR nodded. "Well, let's get the name changes done, and then we can see about the deposit." She replied, and started going through the steps with Stellar first, then Thunderlane...

After nearly an hour, Stellar and Thunderlane walked out of the branch, feeling a lot happier. The Bit coins hadn't proven to be a lot of trouble, as Stellar just allowed the bank to process them for their bullion value. The name changes had also proven to be mostly straight-forward as well. With her accounts looking much healthier, Stellar felt much relieved. Now, as soon as their replacement cards and other things arrived at Deep Waters, they would have a much easier time of buying what they needed. At least their old cards would still work until they registered the new ones on-line.

They also took the time to put in new passport applications, and get their driver's licences changed over, which was a great deal quicker and more straight-forward. Stellar had to relax the anti-camera spell long enough in both cases for their photos to be taken for the identification, but that had proven relatively easy as well. She and Thunderlane walked out with their first official identification in their driver's licences after less than an hour of waiting. Stellar also sent off the paperwork to get her Pilot's licence corrected while she was there. "And when we get them back, then we can hopefully get the endorsement for our Airship rating on them as well." Stellar said to Thunderlane as they took off.

Stellar led Thunderlane to some of her known addresses; one that stocked exotic metals. "You need some more metal, Love?" Thunderlane asked.

Stellar nodded. "We need some more armor for our new guards and maybe for some other things." She answered. "I know this yard well; they'll sell me what I need for scrap prices."

Thunderlane sat and watched as Stellar haggled at the front counter for a number of bars of titanium and other metals, paying with gold bits, which the yard easily accepted. Stellar smiled as a pallet was dropped outside with her haul on it. Thunderlane watched as Stellar stuffed one of her H-S pockets full of the metal, then they took to the sky again.

"That was easy." Thunderlane commented.

"As I said, Beloved; they know me there from past purchases, and I speak their language: precious metals." Stellar grinned at Thunderlane.

"So, what next?" Thunderlane asked Stellar.

"Back to Deep Waters, Beloved." Stellar answered. "Once we check things out with Cee-cee and Mark again, then we can head home." She said, and they both vanished in a flash of white light and magic, reappearing over the top of Deep Water's homestead again... but this time there was an unknown van sitting on the front apron. Stellar and Thunderlane looked at each other, then descended to the apron.

They were walking up onto the verandah when the front screen door burst open, and Jumble came racing out, straight at Stellar. Stellar laughed and caught him as he jumped into her forelegs, and they snuggled for a little bit. "Hello, Jumble." Stellar said to him, as Thunderlane moved up and hugged him as well.

"Princess! Thunderlane!" Jumble said. "I am so pleased to see you again!"

"And we're happy to see you again, Squirt." Thunderlane replied.

"Come inside! We have visitors." Jumble told them both, and almost danced over to the door, he seemed so excited. Stellar and Thunderlane smiled at each other, and followed the little colt inside.

Cee-cee walked out of the kitchen to see Jumble leading Stellar and Thunderlane back inside. "Hello again!" She said, grinning, as she stopped to hug both the ponies. "I didn't think you'd be coming back here again straight away."

"We have a few things to inform you about, Cecelia." Stellar explained. "So we decided to drop in again."

"You're always welcome, you know that." Cee-cee told Stellar. "So, how'd things go in Brisbane?"

"Well, you should be getting our renewed birth certificates, licences, bank cards and passports in time. Just call us when they arrive, and we'll pick them up." Stellar informed Cee-cee

"Don't forget our F.A.A. certification as well, Love." Thunderlane reminded Stellar.

"Oh yes, and that too." Stellar grinned.

"So your cloudship is legal now?" Cee-cee asked.

"Yes, but we have to get all our crew certified as well." Stellar told Cee-cee. "That might be a very interesting process."

"I can imagine." Cee-cee agreed. "But now you're here, there are a couple who want to talk to you." Cee-cee informed Stellar.

"Do tell." Stellar smiled. "All right, let's talk." And she got to her hoofs and followed Cee-cee out, Thunderlane and Jumble following behind them, with Jumble riding on the big pegasus stallion's back.

Cee-cee led them out into the main house yard, and under the shade of the wide bunkhouse verandah, they saw a human male and a female unicorn conducting a clinic, of sorts. Stellar could see the pattern: The unicorn was doing the preliminary checks and diagnoses, with the human administering treatment on a portable bed-stretcher, if it was necessary. From inside one of the rooms, however, there came the sound of somepony in pain, as the male rushed inside.

Stellar looked at Cee-cee. "What's..."

"One of the mares is giving birth." Cee-cee explained. "Roger and Melody were kind enough to come and help us with them." She grinned. "This is the second birth in two days here."

Stellar smiled. "I see. Ah well, Nature takes its course, as it does everywhere."

Just then, the human male emerged with a little bundle wrapped in surgical cloths. "It's a colt!" He proclaimed to the packed yard, and cheers went up from all the ponies in earshot.

Stellar and Thunderlane added their voices to the throng, stamping their hoofs as well, then everything went silent as the ponies noticed Stellar. They all turned to her and bowed deeply, save for the unicorn in a scrub-top, who looked at the others, then bowed as well.

"<You may rise.>" Stellar told them all in Equish, and they all did so. Once that was done with, Cee-cee and Stellar walked down to where the unicorn was standing, gazing in awe at who she saw. "Hello, my friend." Stellar said to the unicorn, not wishing to insult her by calling her a 'little pony'. "I am Stellar Sparkle."

"Greetings, Miss Sparkle." Melody said in an unsure voice. "I'm Doctor Melody Lane, veterinary doctor."

"I am very pleased to meet you, then." Stellar told her. "A doctor's calling is a sacred trust, and welcome are those who can administer to my ponies' needs in that respect." Stellar leaned down her long neck and gently nuzzled Melody's muzzle with her own.

Melody sighed as feelings of reassurance and warm friendship washed over her. "Thank you." She replied. Then she heard other ponies softly saying "<Princess>" in Equish. A little stunned, she looked back at Stellar, a little disbelief washing over her face.

Stellar chuckled a little, then nuzzled Melody again. "It's okay, Melody." Stellar said softly to her. "I don't stand on tradition that much, unless it is necessary or useful." She explained. "You are a friend, and that's all that matters, here and now." She added.

"Thank you... Prin..." Melody got a hoof over the front of her muzzle.

"Stellar." Stellar told Melody. "Call me Stellar."

"Okay..." Melody replied.

"How are things going?" Stellar asked Melody as she resumed walking towards the bunkhouse.

"Well, we've seen pretty much all of the mares and foals, checked them for problems and given them their shots. We're working through the stallions now." Melody explained to Stellar as she walked along beside the bigger alicorn mare. "They've been mostly well-behaved. Apparently they seem to obey Cee-cee or Mark without question, so the rowdy or obstinate ones were dealt with first and gotten out of the way." Melody gestured to the lines of stallions standing, waiting. "There's only about a hundred left to go. Fortunately, it's mostly just general check-ups and shots; there's no really serious injuries and most of them haven't been ponies long enough for any hoof-related issues to appear, but we're watching them closely, just to be sure."

Stellar nodded. "I am glad it's been relatively easy for you." She replied.

Melody nodded as they surmounted the verandah. "Yeah, it's been a big break for us as well."

Stellar stopped and looked at Melody. "There is a problem, though, isn't there?" She asked.

Melody sighed. "Yeah. The reason we can come down like this every day, is that our regular clientele have... gone elsewere." Melody said in a sad voice. "Apart from those people who either are ponies or have ponies in their families, our customer-base has dried up." She sighed.

Stellar nodded. "I'm very sorry for you. It's an unfortunate thing, with the rumors of how the transformations 'could' be infectious." She commiserated with Melody. "If things are very hard for you, would you consider transferring elsewhere?" She asked.

"I dunno..." Melody said. "After all, our home is here..."

"Maybe temporarily?" Stellar asked. "I have a clinic that's being run at the moment by a somewhat overworked nurse, who's not quite qualified as a pony doctor yet. She could use some help."

Melody stopped to think, as Stellar looked into one of the rooms, to see a mare with a new-born foal snuggled up to her. A flash of magic that surrounded Stellar and sterilised her alerted the mother that someone was at her door. The mare's eyes widened as she saw Stellar, and she bowed her head. Stellar gave her a short bow in return, then gestured for permission to enter. Surprised, the mare nodded, and Stellar slipped inside quietly, moving up and giving the mare a gentle nuzzle. The mare nickered softly, then they both looked down at the little filly. Unlike her mother, a little horn was obvious on her forehead. Stellar hummed softly as she admired the new-born unicorn, then gently leaned down and whispered something above the foal's head, kissing her tenderly on her little horn. She then nuzzled the mother again and said something to her as well. Replying in a whisper, the mother gave Stellar a huge grin, which Stellar returned, before she made her way quietly out of the room again.

Melody watched as Stellar moved out of the room and headed for the second one, where Roger was looking over the little foal that had just been born. His eyes widened as well as the mare's, as Stellar looked at the mother and gestured again. Looking at Roger first, she then bowed her head and Stellar walked quietly up to her, leaning down and nuzzling her, saying something to her in a whisper that Roger didn't quite catch. Then Stellar turned to look at Roger as she walked up to him and the foal. "How is he?" She asked in a whisper.

They both looked down at the colt, who gave a deep yawn and snuggled in a little. "He's fine, as far as I can tell." Roger replied softly, as Stellar noted the colt's almost gunmetal-grey coat and tiny splash of lime-green mane.

Stellar smiled widely. Once again, she lowered her head to the foal's and said something to him in a whisper: "May your life be long, may your family be large and loving, and may all your friendships be magical." Roger heard Stellar say, before she gave the earth pony colt a kiss on the ear and backed up. "Thank you for looking after my ponies for me." Stellar then said to Roger.

Roger gave Stellar a smile. "My pleasure." He replied, before turning and putting the foal where he could begin to suckle at his mother. The mare gave Roger a tired smile, but raised a hoof to him, and he grasped it tenderly for a few seconds, before letting her rest again. After pushing a couple of trays on a stand over to where the mare could eat and drink from them, Roger followed Stellar out of the room.

Outside, Roger bent down and Melody lifted herself up on her hind hoofs to hug him close. Stellar smiled as she watched them. Moving off the verandah, Roger sat down on a folding chair and looked at Stellar. "So, you're the princess Cee-cee mentioned."

Stellar grinned. "Guilty as charged." She answered. "And I must thank you two again for helping my ponies here with their most critical needs."

Roger smiled as Melody replied "It's been a pleasure. Working with the other ponies here has brought back so many memories from my time before I was human, it's made me feel much better than after I changed." She told Stellar.

Stellar nodded. "Melody told me you've had a major drop in your client-base of late, because of her reversion." She addressed Roger.

Roger looked at Melody, who nodded. He sighed, then said "It's sad, but true. It seems people are so scared of this, they're forgetting who their friends are out of fear of catching something that isn't communicable. The government line isn't helping, either. It's almost as if they're deliberately trying to scare people." He told Stellar.

Stellar sighed and nodded as well. "Yes, I know." She replied. "It seems it's happening all over the world, not just here. We're trying to counter it, but the message just isn't getting through to the people who need to hear it." She frowned. "I actually think that it's deliberate. Someone high up in government circles overseas is deliberately making trouble for us... but until we find a way of countering it, we'll just have to work past their interference and find the way Home again." She told them both, then she smiled at them. "If you'd like, you could both join me and my friends. I have a need for medical personnel like yourselves elsewhere."

"Um... we'll think on that very carefully, Stellar." Melody said.

Stellar smiled. "Take your time." She said. "And... I sense you want to ask me something else?"

Roger and Melody both blinked in surprise. "Um, well..." Melody began...

Roger then chuckled. "Actually, we do." He answered. "You said there's no real way of changing Melody back to being Human again." Stellar nodded as Melody pressed herself up against Roger. "Could you make me into a Pony, then?" Roger asked.

Stellar was a little surprised, but not by much. She knew the question would be asked by someone who was in a relationship with a pony, but the moment itself had been obscured from her prescient vision. So she replied "Well, there are a few ways that could be done; one isn't an option yet, with the way home to Equestria still closed... but there is another way." She saw the hope on their faces as she said this. "There's one thing: It's not permanent like the way you want, but it's close enough; and it's easily reversible if you feel you'd rather stay Human, Roger, or if the need arises for your human body and hands to be used by you." Stellar told them. "It might not sound ideal, but it's the best I can do until the way to Equestria is opened."

Roger got to his feet. "It's good enough." He stated, Melody's eyes tearing up a little.

Stellar nodded. "Very well." She replied. As Roger watched, one of Stellar's H-S pockets opened and a fine chain floated out, a necklace chain. Out of another came a tiny ball of super-hot metal, encased in a shield. "Do not move." Stellar told Roger as she floated the ball next to his forehead. Roger stayed totally still as Stellar's magic flowed over him, magic interacting with him and the ball of molten metal. Once that was done, Stellar moved to Roger, a powerful spell forming at the tip of her horn, and she touched it to Roger's forehead. Instantly he was surrounded by white light, his form changing and shrinking down, until the glow faded and a handsome stallion, with fur the color of gold and a mane and tail the same red color of his shock of hair from his human form, stood there in his place. A semi-long but very-thick-based horn was jutting from his forehead, and Melody could see his cutie mark was a perfect cadeceus sitting inside a wreath of green laurel leaves. Roger's blue eyes looked out from a very different viewpoint as Melody rubbed up against him and nuzzled him, nickering to him, as he smiled and nuzzled back.

Stellar smiled. "Now stand aside, Melody." She said, and Melody did so. Stellar brought the little ball closer, and as she scanned Roger again, the ball glowed a different color. Once the scan was done, Stellar muttered the words of the spell again, touching her horn to the ball, which flattened out into a disc the size of a fifty-cent piece. Once it hardened, Stellar slid it onto the chain and put it around Roger's neck. "There. Now, to change back, merely touch the amulet to you and say your name." She explained to Roger.

Roger nodded again, as Melody pressed herself to him and nuzzled again. This time, Roger gave a deeper nicker and kissed Melody back, who returned the kiss with gusto. "Thank you." Roger said to Stellar as he stood there.

"You're welcome, Dr Healing Hoofs." Stellar said to Roger, who blinked but nodded.

"Yes... that is my name." Roger stated.

"Your pony name, My Love." Melody stated, grinning as she nuzzled him again.

Healing Hoofs chuckled as he turned to face Melody and gave her a proper hug.

Stellar left them alone as she walked back over towards Jumble and Thunderlane. "What was that you did, Stellar?" Thunderlane asked.

"Is the doctor really a Pony now?" Jumble asked.

Stellar chuckled. "Yes, Jumble; to all intents and purposes, he is as much a pony as Thunderlane here is." She told the colt.

"And how did you do that?" Cee-cee asked, as she and Mark walked up to them. "I thought you said you can't turn people into Ponies."

"And I still can't." Stellar replied. "It's a cheat, if you will. You remember how I changed Peach into a pony, while she was three-quarters of the way through changing?"

"That's right; you used a spell called... Perfect Disguise." Thunderlane remembered.

Stellar nodded. "I just used it to change Roger into a pony form, but I used the form he would have taken if he'd gone through the portal to Equestria and became a pony there. The spell's powerful enough for it to sense that and overlaid it on his human form and changed him." Stellar explained. "As I said: it's not permanent, but for all intents and purposes, he is a pony now. He can change back into his human persona, though, through the amulet. It has scans of both his forms, and a permanent Perfect Disguise spell woven into it, so he can change back and forth if he so desires." She looked at how the pair of unicorns were snuggling, then chuckled. "Although, by the looks of it, if it's not a medical emergency, Roger's going to spend more time as Healing Hoofs than as his human self from now on."

"Lucky stallion." Mark commented.

"Luckier mare." Cee-cee added, then elbowed Mark in the ribs gently, making him chuckle. "Could you do the same for us, Stellar?" Cee-cee asked.

"You want to become Ponies too?" Stellar asked them both.

"Mainly for when Flitter and Cloudchaser come home, and for their wedding." Cee-cee explained. "And, most of all, for Jumble here." She said, gazing at Jumble where he sat with Thunderlane.

"We know they still see us as their parents, but we'd like to be that way a little more closely to their true forms." Mark added.

Stellar gave them a soft smile. "Of course." She told them. "How could I not honor such a request, from two of our best friends?" That made Mark smile and Cee-cee blush. "Do you want to do this now, or maybe another time?" Stellar asked.

"Um... maybe now?" Mark asked.

Stellar nodded "All right." She replied, grinning. "Who's first?"

"Me." Cee-cee said as she stepped up.

Stellar nodded and pulled another chain and ball of metal out of a pocket, then started to scan Cee-cee, whose cutie-mark on her right hand glowed brilliantly as Stellar scanned her. Once the scan was loaded into the ball, Stellar cast 'Perfect Disguise' on Cee-cee, who shrank and came back as a beautiful Earth Pony mare. Her cutie mark was on her flanks, with a small star marking on her right fetlock. She was a lovely earthy-red ochre with a lime-green mane and tail that contrasted greatly with her human hair. She blinked her lovely mauve eyes and looked up at Mark with a grin. Stellar scanned her again and cast the spell to create her amulet, then slipped it over Cee-cee's neck.

Mark watched, nodding. "Wow, you really look gorgeous, Ceece."

"Thanks." Cee-cee replied as she lifted her hoofs one at a time, getting used to being quadrupedal.

Then she got bumped into by a little equine missile. "Mama Cee-cee!" Jumble said, his enthusiasm and happiness boiling over as he hugged her; and she sat and hugged him back.

"Jumble." Cee-cee said, then leaned over and nuzzled him lovingly.

"Mama..." Jumble said again as he buried his face in her chest-fur.

Thunderlane smiled at the endearing sight, as another flash heralded another change. To Thunderlane's surprise, he saw a light-blue Pegasus stallion standing before Stellar, with a brilliant three-toned burgundy mane and tail. "Whoa!" Mark's voice came out of the stallion, as he waggled his wings. "I didn't expect this."

Stellar chuckled. "Sometimes we can't imagine what we'd look like as another species, Mark... or should I say...?"

"Sideslip." Mark stated, his eyes a little unfocussed. He looked at Stellar. "Sideslip Slash" He told her. His cutie mark was a slash of colors that curled around in a swirl and disappeared under itself.

Thunderlane chuckled and gave Slash a wing-hug. "Now that's a good pegasus name." He said.

Stellar looked at Cee-cee, who grinned back. "Peridot Geode" She revealed as Jumble climbed up onto her back.

Stellar nodded as she gestured Thunderlane away from Slash and scanned him again. Once the scan and the amulet were done, she hung it around his neck. "Welcome to a much larger family." Stellar told Slash and Peridot as she hugged them both, even Jumble hugging Stellar as Thunderlane hugged them from behind. Then everypony there started hugging them as well, Stellar stepping back with Thunderlane as the refugees staying at Deep Waters welcomed their hosts to their families with unfettered joy.

Stellar joined Melody and Healing Hoofs as the others showed their appreciation and gratitude to Mark/Slash and Cee-cee/Peridot. Then Healing's ears turned back as he heard something. He turned, raced off towards the bunkhouse and changed as he entered a room. The three left standing there turned and followed, Melody heading inside, sterilising herself as much as Stellar had done as she entered the room. Stellar and Thunderlane watched from the doorway and saw that a third mare was giving birth. Melody raced in and out bringing Roger the instruments and other things he needed as the birth progressed, until Roger got up from one knee, a little bundle of cloths in his hands that was making soft noises. Roger turned to the mother and said in a voice that everypony watching heard: "It's a filly."

Stellar and Thunderlane smiled at each other, then at Melody as she helped clean up the mother, while Roger cleaned up the foal. After receiving permission, Stellar walked in again and blessed the mother and foal, then retreated with Thunderlane until Melody and Roger emerged. Roger said his Pony name as he touched the amulet, and was returned to his pony form as they walked away. Healing shook his head from side-to-side, smiling broadly. "No matter how many times I have done it; no matter to whom or what I have assisted; there's no greater experience in this world for a doctor than to help bring new life into it." He told them all, as Melody rubbed up against him.

Stellar smiled. "I can't disagree with that." She replied, as Thunderlane nodded.

"And you have got a lot to learn now, Mister, about using that horn of yours." Melody told Healing, gently rubbing her horn on his.

Healing chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I do." He agreed. Then everypony cheered as an impromptu party started up, welcoming three newborns and three new ponies into the world.

The sun was just starting to head towards the horizon as Stellar and Thunderlane took their leave of Deep Waters and it's newest ponies. Azure, Peach, Slash, Peridot and Jumble were there to see them off. "Don't be strangers, you two!" Peridot told them. "We want to see you back here whenever you get the chance, and bring our daughters back next time!"

Stellar grinned. "We will! Bye for now!" She replied as they headed upwards in a vertical climb.

"Bye Uncle, Aunty, Lil Cous." Thunderlane added, then they began to spiral upwards, gaining altitude until they were high above and heading west. Then he asked Stellar "We heading Home, Stellar Love?"

"That we are, Beloved." Stellar answered. "There's still a lot to do on the Stellar Wind, and before we reach Iowa. We've got to check what we need to do to make the Stellar Wind an... embassy, for want of a better term, for Equestria and Ponies here on Earth, or even that's even necessary. If we're free of political influence from most of the governments of Earth, so much the better."

Thunderlane shrugged as they reached altitude. "Hopefully it'll work." He said. "Of course, that depends how many governments will recognise it."

Stellar nodded. "Very true." She agreed. "But we shall deal with that, once we get the paperwork rolling." She said as her horn blazed white and they both teleported. They arrived over the Stellar Wind, which looked so beautiful as she floated along in the night, her silver skin glowing in the moonlight and her running lights shining out into the darkness; Thestral Guards welcomed them back as they landed, and they headed back down to their quarters once again...

Author's Notes:

Official recognition. It's not just for alphabet agencies these days...

Thanks to Da Fennec for some helpful ideas used in this chapter.

Oh, and certain ponies from some of Goldfur's stories are also going to be making cameos as well, so read that Sunset Blaze A.K.A. Dandelion Dreams, Lavender Dreams, Whirring Cogs/Zevan, Sky Fern and Forest Breeze, as well as Peach Delight and others who will appear in later chapters are all copyright to Goldfur and used with hir gracious permission.