Morning rolled around, Aspect was already used to waking up with a warm body next to him. It was a feeling he was very glad to be used to. Breakfast was soon had and Bon Bon shuffled off to work, having set aside a lot over the last few days.

And when Aspect arrived at the hospital to visit Realm...?

He found the diminutive alicorn reclining in bed, being hoof-fed grapes by an earth pony nurse. She had a yellow coat and a curled two tone blue mane, while a unicorn and a second earth pony massaged his hooves and wings.

“There we are,” Tenderheart said as she continued on his hind hooves. “Are they still hurting you sweetie?”

“Less and less with your magic touch,” the colt replied smoothly.

“I’m sure your magic will be back in no time,” Snowheart, the one feeding him cooed. “Until then, let us take care of you okay?”

“Mmm, I could get used to this,” the colt muttered as he all but melted under their touches and attentions.

“Such a good little colt,” Nurse Sweetheart giggled. “I wish all the kids were as easy to look after.”

Aspect...wisely decided not to poke the situation he found and instead sought out Nurse Redheart. Maybe she could explain what was going on. He found the mare in the Nurses’ office, talking with what looked like a lanky filly in a nurses’ cap. Her ears flicked as Aspect knocked on the open door and she looked up.

“Ah, Mister Balanced,” she greeted him. “Good timing, I have something for you.”

“Oh good, I have something I want to bring up to you as well,” Aspect returned as he stepped into the office. “You first.”

“I got the results for your Diamond Dog guest back,” she said as she held out a file. “This is your copy, along with the medical records for your son upstairs. Also…” She pulled out a small box. “This is a booster shot for Pup. Do you know how to give one?”

“Not off the top of my head,” Aspect replied, shaking it. “My medical knowledge is pretty rusty.”

“Nursery Rhyme?” she turned to the filly. “Could you go by this gentlestallion’s home later and administer this shot to the Diamond Dog pup that lives there?”

“Yes Ma’am!” she saluted and tucked the box into a padded saddlebag.

“Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Redheart asked Aspect.

“Well, it’s just,” Aspect thought of how to best approach the situation, before deciding to just be blunt about it. “There are three nurses apparently ‘tending’ to Realm’s every need. Including a hoof massage and feeding him. By hoof.”

“Yes,” Redheart sighed. “They’re rather smitten with him I’m afraid.”

“It’s just,” Aspect decided to inform her, “He may be a colt, but he’s reaching ‘that’ age. And he already has a working knowledge of what’s to come.”

“Kids grow up so fast,” Redheart sighed. “Very well, but you can relax, despite them cooing over a cute kid, the nurses won’t do anything untoward. That’s both illegal and unprofessional.”

“I just don’t want them to be shocked or taken advantage of,” the stallion informed her. “He likes staring at flanks, for instance.”

“Looks never hurt anypony Mister Balanced, but I’ll bring it up with them,” she chuckled. “Also, there is a matter I’d like to bring up, regarding his and Pup’s education.”

“Aaaah…” the stallion stalled. “Whaaaaaat about it?”

“You see Mister Aspect, by law, I have to report any…incidents…such as abuse, or lack of care when it comes to minors.” She cleared her throat. “Now don’t get me wrong, I know that you are a fine stallion, and that the princesses vouch for you. However, if they are not enrolled in some kind of education, such as private tutoring or a public facility…Well…”

“Okay, see, I would agree with you there,” Aspect nodded. “However, Realm probably wouldn’t be able to go to a normal school around here, what with his new...addition, and Pup would probably be discriminated against. I know they should be educated, but I don’t exactly have a lot of options here.”

“I’m a medical professional, not an educational one,” Redheart said. “I would advise you speak to Miss Cheerilee, or perhaps the princesses. However, something has to be arranged or I will have to report it by law…”

“I promise to look into it,” Aspect told the nurse. “Assuming that there are options that I can pick around here, I will do my best to arrange something.”

“That’s all I ask,” Redheart nodded and smiled. “Now, I have some nurses to corral. Was there anything else?”

“Just one thing,” Aspect replied. “You should probably do some bloodwork on Realm and give him a booster shot as well. The last access he had to medicine was a thousand years ago.”

“…” Redheart stared at him like he’d grown a third head, before grabbing a large case and trotting towards Realm’s room.

“And like that, I think he’ll be sufficiently punished for taking advantage of the nurses here,” Aspect chuckled, before looking at the young nurse left in the office. “Ready to come back with me and give a shot to a Dog?”

“Yessir!” she saluted cutely as she adjusted her bag.

“Pup, come out from under the chair,” Aspect pleaded with the Diamond Dog.

“Nope!” the dog shook and pointed at the filly with the needle. “She’s gonna stab me with that spear of hers.”

“It’ll barely hurt, I promise,” Aspect replied soothingly. “She knows what she’s doing. Isn’t that right?”

“Yup!” the filly nodded. “This is only the little one… if you want the big one…” She pulled out another syringe, this one almost as big as she was.

“I’lltakethelittleonethankyouverymuch!” The dog yelped and climbed out from under the chair.

“Good boy,” she giggled as she poked him arm with the normal needle, and after a moment, pulled it back out. “See, nothing to worry about.”

“And now you won’t get sick so easily,” Aspect soothed. “Meaning you can actually come with me to the town next time.”

Rhyme giggled as she rubbed his furry head and put a lollipop in his mouth. “Okay, that’s all from me. I should get back. Goodbye puppy! Goodbye Mister Balanced Sir!”

“Take care,” Aspect replied, waving as the filly left.

“She was nice,” Pup grinned as he suckled on the lolly. “Kinda scary, but nice.”

“Those in the medical field tend to be,” Aspect mused. “Now I have to go see a teacher about something. Do you want to come with me, or would you rather practice your magic out back?”

“Oh! OH!” he bounced up and down. “Check it! I learned a new thing!”

“Okay, I have time to see this,” Aspect chuckled as he rubbed Pup’s head. “So what did you learn?”

“How to turn my skin into stone!” he beamed. “And still be able to move while doing it.”

“Just be careful with that,” Aspect warned the pup. “It’s useful, but you don’t want to mess that sort of skill up. You might end up turning other things to stone.”

“Right,” Pup nodded. “Sometimes it doesn’t work, and I just surround myself with a ball of stone… so yeah, still working on that. Miss Written’s been giving me a few tips.”

“Mmhmm, she’s pretty good at that,” Aspect nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be an impressive skill when you get it down. Why don’t you practice while I go see somepony in town?”

“Aww, and you just said I could come with you,” he pouted with a small whine.

“Do you want to?” Aspect asked the pup. “It’ll probably be really boring.”

“I lived in an underground cave and stared at rocks all day,” he said with a dry tone.

“Fair enough, climb on,” the pegasus returned. “Town awaits.” The pup beamed and climbed up onto his back. Time for adventure!

“So, where are we going anyway?” Pup asked, now walking beside him. He found he got antsy without feeling the earth under his paws.

“To see a friend,” Aspect replied. “She’ll be able to help me with a problem I’ve been informed of.”

“We’re not going to see your marefriend are we?” he asked flatly.

“Nope, somepony else,” Aspect replied. “She’s friendly. I think you’ll like her.”

“Most of you ponies aren’t bad,” Pup nodded. As they walked past Sugarcube Corner, it had occurred to Aspect that he hadn’t been accosted by Pinkie today… and when they passed Carousel Boutique and the library, both had closed signs on them, despite it being the middle of the day.

“I guess the girls are out today,” the stallion mused as they walked through town. “Wonder what they’re up to.”

Then he felt something hit him and he tumbled across the ground. When he finally came to a stop, he found a dazed grey pegasus mare atop of him.

“Um...are you okay, miss?” Aspect asked as he did his best to come to terms with what had happened.

“Ahhh, oops, my bad,” she bubbled dizzily before shaking her head. She stared at him with her mismatched golden eyes before pulling out a letter. “Dahdahdahduhdaaah! A letter for you Aspect~”

“Thank you,” the stallion returned, gingerly taking it before looking down. “Could you get off me, please?”

The mare blushed and got to her hooves before helping him up. “Sorry about that. Oh! I wanna thank you as well.”

“Thank me?” Aspect asked, tilting his head slightly. “Whatever for?”

“My little Dinky, My Muffin,” she beamed brightly. “Ever since she started learning that funny singing magic, she’s been so happy. And I hear I have you to thank for that.”

“Oh, you know, just doing what I can,” Aspect demurred. “If ponies are good enough to learn it again, then who am I to keep it from them?”

Ditzy Doo smiled and pulled him into a brief, but tight hug. “You’ve helped more than you know. So thank you again… I know… how it is to be a single parent.” And with those curious words, she flew off into the sky.

“Well that was interesting,” Aspect mused as he walked over to Pup and rubbed the Dog behind the ears. “And thank you for not jumping in and assuming the worst.”

“If you couldn’t handle it, what chance would I have had?” he replied with a small smirk. “You know… I think I noticed something.”

“Oh?” Aspect asked as they resumed their walk through the town. “What’s that?”

“All of your friends are female…”

“Coincidence,” Aspect replied. “I just haven’t met many stallions yet.”

“Uhuh,” the dog smiled slyly. “Is that the real reason?”

“Like I have any choice in the matter of who I meet,” Aspect quipped. “I can’t control anypony beyond me.”

“Well, I guess I count as a male friend,” Pup chuckled. “So, what’s the letter you got?”

“I’ll look at it when I have a spare moment,” Aspect replied as they came up on the schoolhouse. “Okay, you wait here, I’ll be right back with my friend. Hopefully.”

Pup nodded and leaned against a nearby tree.

As he reached the door, a bell inside rang and he could hear a stampede of tiny hooves quickly approaching from the other side of the threshold. Remembering the last time this had happened, he quickly stepped to one side to let the foals pass. The door slammed open as they poured out for recess time, none even noticing the stallion standing there.

As Miss Cheerilee exited the building, she did notice him and nodded politely. “Ah, Mister Aspect? I thought the lessons weren’t until tomorrow?”

“They are, this is something different,” the stallion replied, before gesturing towards the interior. “Do you have a moment?”

“Oh, of course,” she nodded and followed him inside and back into the classroom. Once they were, she closed the door. “So, what’s this all about? I hope nothing’s wrong?”

“Just a small problem I was made aware of,” Aspect replied. “It’s come to my attention that two of my charges require a formal education. One of them is...displaced in time, and the other has been put under my care by his former guardians. Both of them need lessons in modern Equestria.”

“Oh, is that all?” Cheerilee sighed. She thought he’d be cancelling his lessons or somesuch. “That’s not a problem, two more students are more than welcome.”

“You should probably meet them before you come to that conclusion,” Aspect replied. “I’ll just go fetch the one that can move about right now and bring him to you, if that’s okay.”

Cheerilee nodded, rather curious as to who he was wanting to enroll. The stallion walked out of the room for a moment. When he came back…

Standing next to him was a small, rather cute-looking, Diamond Dog pup. Cheerilee resisted the urge to squee and pet the ever loving daylight out of him.

“So, who’s your friend here?” she asked.

“This, is Pup,” Aspect replied, nudging him forward with a wing. “I’ve tried to get him to choose a more normal name, but he’s yet to pick one. He’s special.” The stallion nosed the small dog forward. “Go on, go say hi to her.”

“Oh… um, hello there,” he nodded quietly. “It’s… nice to meet you.”

“Well, he’s certainly more eloquent that the Dogs Rarity told me about,” Cheerilee smiled, before that faltered. “Oh, I’m sorry, that was rude.”

“Nah, they’re kinda dumb,” Pup shrugged. “I mean, they kidnaped ponies, even after I repeatedly told them it was a bad idea.”

“Pup here is on a mission to learn and become smarter than the average Dog, so that when he goes back to lead them, he can do it well,” Aspect informed the teacher.

“Oh, such a noble goal,” she smiled and nodded. “Very well, he’s quite welcome to join the class.” She looked around and lowered her voice. “We have… a few troublemakers. Ones that might tease him. But I’ll do what I can to make him feel comfortable and welcome.”

“Thank you,” Aspect replied, dipping his head. “The other one is currently in the hospital after a magical accident. He won’t be out for a week, maybe more, maybe less. It’s all dependant on how well his body responds to treatment. You should meet him as well before deciding on if he is welcome as well.”

“All are welcome in my classroom,” Cheerilee said, sounding surprisingly serious. “If they require teaching, then I’ll teach, no matter the species.”

“Fair enough, I’m just asking you to take a look before you decide that’s also applicable to him,” Aspect returned. “His name is Realm. And...fair warning. He’s nearing the age where a colt stops being a colt, and has more knowledge than that. He probably won’t try anything with his classmates. I taught him better than that.”

“Ahh, that age,” Cheerilee nodded understandingly. “Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with that countless times. It won’t be an issue.”

“If you say so,” Aspect said. “You should still meet him. I promise he’ll be a surprise. Once you have time, just ask the nurses to show you where he is.”

“I’ll drop by to say hello,” Cheerilee nodded. “Also, that earth pony mare that was with you last week, Miss Sweetie Drops? Is she related to Bon Bon at all? They look awfully similar.”

“They might be cousins, I’ll have to ask when I see either one again,” Aspect replied. “They did mention something along those lines when we were introduced, but I can’t recall the fine details.”

“Fair enough, I was just curious,” the mare said. “So, when were you looking to enroll them? There’s a few things I’ll need to arrange, and also the enrollment forms you’ll need to fill out. Along with a few liability and insurance forms.”

“Probably whenever you think it’s feasible, I’m hardly the expert here,” Aspect demurred. “I know Realm won’t be ready for a week or thereabouts, so that gives me some time to get this paperwork done.”

“Alright. So let’s say two weeks then, just to give him time to recover,” the mare replied and took a few forms from a filing cabinet. “Just have these back to me beforehoof okay?”

“I’ll do my best,” Aspect replied, nodding seriously as he took the forms under one wing. “For now, I think the pup and I will go out and visit the town a little.”

“Alright, take care,” Cheerilee nodded. “And we’ll see you soon Pup.”

“Sure,” Pup nodded as he followed the stallion out. Once they made their way away from the schoolhouse and back towards town, the dog paused long enough to briefly nuzzle the stallions side.

“Thanks a bunch… for doing that.”

“I told you I would get you educated,” the stallion promised the dog. “Now all you have to do is pick a new name for yourself.”

“I still have no idea,” the pup sighed. “What kind of name would even be good?”

“If the library wasn’t closed, I’d take you in there to look at a list of common names,” Aspect replied. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something soon enough.”

“Well, you have some books at home yes?” Pup asked him. “I could look through those. I sorta know how to read…”

“I can help teach you, if you want,” Aspect replied. “It may have taken me a bit to get a hang of how ponies write, but I learned it. I can pass that skill on to you.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” Pup nodded his head respectfully.

Above them, Aspect’s hearing caught the sound of a few pegasi grumbling as they shunted clouds for the overcast afternoon. One mare, one with a yellow coat and a blue mane was especially vocal.

“Seriously, Dash just ditches us to go Celestia knows where… A little notice woulda been nice.”

“It’s fine Raindrops,” her partner said, a black stallion with a grey mohawk. “You know she has ‘special exceptions’.”

“Tch! Sounds like an excuse to ditch work,” Raindrops grumbled as she bucked a cloud.

“Yup, something weird is going on, and for once, it’s going on outside of the town’s borders,” Aspect chuckled. “Ah well. I’m sure they’ll come back eventually.”

“So, we get a normal day then?” Pup asked with a hopeful tone.

“I bloody well hope so,” Aspect grumbled. “After Realm’s little stunt, I could use some peace and quiet right now.”

Aspect could almost hear Fate itself chuckle…

“So…” Pup looked at the scene that unfolded before them. “This is a normal day?”

All throughout Ponyville, inanimate objects had sprung to life, performing whatever tasks they were designed to do. Brooms swept every inch of the village… and it’s residents. Toasters sprayed a near continuous barrage of crispy bread. Water flowed from overfilled sinks and baths, forming rivers in the town. And it all seemed to dance to an odd tune...

And amidst the chaos sat three young unicorns, their attempts at Sorcery were on full display.

“I just don’t know what went wrong!” Dinky wailed.

“I didn’t mean it!” Sweetie Belle moaned.

“Take note, Pup,” Aspect said, sweeping a wing out to the scene. “This is what happens when Sorcery gets out of hand.”

“You don’t have hands,” Pup commented with a teasing smirk.

“You know what I mean,” Aspect grumbled before shouting over to the fillies. “First lesson!”

The three fillies turned to the source of the booming voice and their eyes widened. Oh Sweet Celestia, they were in soooo much trouble.

“First lesson,” the stallion reiterated for them.

They gulped and nodded slowly. Aspect sighed and waved a wing at the chaos. “Well go on, dispel it! Sunny should have taught you that as your first lesson!”

“Dispel?” Ruby Pinch panicked. “How do we do that again!?”

“I...I can’t remember…” Sweetie tapped her head and then Dinky Doo gasped. She said something to the other fillies and they nodded.

“Nik Nok, Tick Tock! Work’s done! Time to stop!” they all shouted together, channeling their magic through their mouths. The result was… interesting. All the appliances and tools suddenly froze… hovering for a moment before returning to a dormant state.

“And that is how you properly stop a sorcery that’s gotten out of control,” Aspect said from nearby. “The trick most ponies have to learn is to not panic and remember the first lesson when things start getting bad.”

“We’re sorry,” the three fillies said in unison. They really did look quite embarrassed. It was then that Sweetie Belle stepped forward.

“It was all my fault,” she sighed. “I was singing and… I guess I was using Sorcery by accident.”

“And we only made it worse when we tried to help,” Dinky added, Ruby nodding with her.

“The first thing you have to remember is not to use your magic during songs,” Aspect told the fillies. “Otherwise things like this keep happening. I remember when I taught my daughters sorcery. The place was just full of animated brooms that ended up flooding the place. Took ages to get the water damage fixed.”

“So!” a rather haughty tone called out as an earth pony mare strode towards them. She had a pink coat and a cerise-hued mane and tail. Her nose was turned upwards as she stared at the three unicorn fillies like they were something foul that she’d stepped in. “You are the little miscreants behind this? I should have known it’d be three little Blank Flanked unicorns behind this mess.”

“They’re just relearning an ancient art, there are bound to be bumps and trips along the way,” Aspect explained cooly. “They’ll emerge all the stronger for it and become some of the first Sorceresses in this age. Nopony gets anywhere without making a few mistakes.”

“Oh yes, and you must be their… teacher,” she sneered on that last word, saying it like it was a great insult. “I’ve heard all about you and your… lessons. Ones that you didn’t deem fit to teach my perfect little Diamond.”

“That’s Diamond Tiara’s Mom?” Dinky whispered to Sweetie.

“Ergh, the apple doesn’t fall far huh?” Ruby nodded.

“Ancient my flank, you’ve been nothing but trouble ever since you arrived in this town,” Spoiled sniffed. “And now you're corrupting the minds of the foals too? I’ll see to it that you’re not only driven from the school, but the town proper!”

Aspect flared a wing, and lightning danced along it. When he spoke next, it wasn’t with an angry tone. Angry was for stallions less mad than he was.

“The ancient arts,” he whispered. “Were once known to ponykind. The reason they were forgotten a millennium ago. All record erased, those that knew them struck dumb. Was because ponies like you would abuse them for their own profit, dreaming themselves better than the Princess. I found a cache she missed. I learned them. Mastered them. Knowing that. You would still meddle with my affairs?”

To her credit, Spoiled only flinched slightly. It did take a moment for her to respond though. “Tch! Resorting to violence and threats now? All the more reason a… a barbarian like yourself has no place in our community!”

“Oh, you misunderstand,” Aspect replied with a grin. “I wouldn’t do a thing. The seed has been sown, though. Knowledge has been shared. If you would stop me from teaching, I imagine my students would have something to say about that. And keep in mind, if you did stop me from teaching them, things like this? Would keep happening. Face it,” he summed up. “From my first lesson in that schoolroom. You lost.”

Spoiled’s glare killed any thoughts the three fillies had of adding their two bits.

“Well then,” she replied and turned around. “The hedges could use a good pruning. What’s one or two more… troublemakers evicted from our town?”

“Do go on and try,” Aspect called after her. “The Princesses gave me the Everfree Estate, I’ve been looking for a reason to give it back!”

After she left… the three unicorns looked even more worried than they did a moment ago.

“M-Mister Aspect?” Ruby asked, her voice quiet. “Are… are we gonna hafta leave town… cause of what we did?”

“No, no you will not,” Aspect explained, bowing down to them and gathering them in a hug. “I think this falls under the ‘Sparkle Fund’s purview. But you all have to do one very important thing. Can you promise me that?”

The three nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“You all have to go around and say you’re sorry to all the ponies you affected today, and clean up your mess. No Sorcery. Other magic, that’s fine. But don’t try to magic the mess to clean itself up. Spoiled talks a big game. But having a good relationship with the ponies helps more than all the money in the world. If they want to know what happened, be honest with them. Tell them you had a magical accident that got out of control, but you’ll be more careful in the future. Because you will be, right?”

“Yes sir,” they nodded as he released them.

“But, what about you?” Sweetie asked. “Will you still be allowed to teach?”

“Mrs. Rich is the head of the school board,” Dinky explained.

“She can try to stop me,” the stallion replied, puffing out his chest. “But I’ll always teach ponies. Anything she would use to try and stop me, Miss Cheerilee would inform me of. I will find a way. And worst comes to worst, you all can come to me if you want. My door is always open.”

“If she doesn’t get you kicked outta town,” Ruby muttered.

“Where would you go?” Sweetie chimed in. “You said you wanted to give your house away?”

“It was a joke more than anything else,” Aspect replied, rubbing Sweetie behind the ears. “Meant to inform her just what sort of money she’d be running against. Because let’s face it, what does she care about beyond that?”

“Sticking her nose up so high she can probably smell the moon?” Ruby offered with a cheeky smile.

“Mmm, I may be quirky, but the town has a better opinion of me than they do her,” Aspect nodded. “Because I walk into town every day, buy things I need, and am polite to all the ponies I meet. Plus, where was she when the Parasprites ate the town? Not offering her place up to house others, I hear.”

The fillies didn’t know, so they had no answer.

“Maybe I should go and pee on her lawn,” Pup snickered, speaking up for the first time in a while.

“Then you wouldn’t be any better than her,” Aspect replied. “Sinking to her level doesn’t work. I should know.”

“Sounds like a story,” Pup replied as the fillies bid their goodbyes to start their tour of apologising to everypony.

“Yeah, not one we need to go into now,” Aspect said with a roll of his eyes. “But if she wants a battle, I will gladly show her just who she’s meddling with. I might not be as adept at Celly at the game of shadows, but nobody, absolutely nobody, can out-stubborn me. I have the patience to grind a mountain into dust. By hoof.”

“Until you gave that power to me that is,” Pup smirked.

“I could still do it,” Aspect retorted as they made their way to his home. “It’d just take longer.”

“Fair enough… worse comes to worse, just sic Old Hurricane on her,” the dog snickered.

“And have somepony else deal with her? She’s bad enough as is,” Aspect retorted. “Let her try. It’d be a welcome challenge. I have literally thousands of years on her. I will be able to dredge up more counterarguments than she can dream of.”

“Should be fun, just make sure I have enough popcorn,” the canine mused as they got to the door and he opened it, standing to one side. “Age before beauty.”

“Nice to know you think I’m old and ugly,” the stallion snarked at the dog.

“You said it, not me,” the pup snarked back.

“Yup, snarking like a pro,” Aspect smiled. “Well, let’s see what happens. She may be the head of the school board. I’ve been putting up with ponies like her since before she was born. There is a method. The first thing she will do is underestimate me.” The stallion nodded at all the paintings as he walked by. “Fortunately, I read every part of the charter before I got involved with the school. Every part. Three times. The worst thing she can do is call an emergency vote, but that requires that I be informed and brought forward to defend myself. They aren’t allowed to vote unless I fail to turn up, and believe you me, I will be in town tomorrow. And every day.”

“Huh, you really have thought this through huh?” Pup mused as he and Hurricane shared a brief glance at one another. “Almost like you knew trouble was going to happen.”

“What trouble could possibly result from giving ancient powers to fillies and colts that can barely tap their own?” Aspect replied with as much snark as he could muster. Even Hurricane cringed at that one.

Pup shuddered and shook himself. “Okay, dial it down a little huh? In any case, you also shouldn’t give her more than what she has… This isn’t a fight you can win by splitting the earth open.”

“She’s a conniving, manipulative mare who is slighted because I’m not teaching ‘her precious girl’ these powers. Met them all the time when I was in the business of teaching ponies back in the castle. So she’ll do whatever she can to make my life Tartarus,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes. “Little do they know, I’ve been there already. All the money in the world won’t buy them the influence I already have with the ponies that matter, and they can’t buy me off either. Reality won’t conform to their views, meaning for once in their lives, they have to suck it up, grow up, and deal.”

“Somepony’s a little hot under the collar,” Written chuckled from a painting. “Everything alright dear Christopher?”

“Just another rich pony thinking they can out-stubborn me,” Aspect replied. “Humans are persistence hunters, and being made immortal did wonders for my sheer stubbornness. She’ll try and fail like all the others.”

“Ahh, one of those types,” Written nodded. “Remember the good old days, when a pony could be satisfied with a plot of land and three meals a day?”

“I dunno, I was always the castle type,” Aspect chuckled. “You made me stop though. Something about getting everything I wanted being bad for me.”

“That… and you’d get fat,” she chuckled and looked at his belly. “Miss Bon Bon seems to be filling you out nicely though. I may have to have words with her on adjusting your diet.”

“I just need to exercise more,” Aspect brushed off. “Though I think I’ll hold off on doing it until this...Spoiled Rich actually makes her move. Along with whatever other move she might be planning. I know her type. She’ll try something obvious, then try to sneak something in when I’m not looking. One letter is all I need to send to stop the second.”

“You intend to drag our girls into this?” Written replied, not looking too amused.

“Not physically, no,” Aspect replied with a shake of his head. “I’ll just ask Celly to write a letter about my good character and how I should continue to teach at the school. I won’t even open it before delivering it to the board. Something like that should shut Spoiled down totally.”

“Or give the noble caste another piece of ammunition for their ‘Princesses abusing their power’ tripe,” Written snorted. “What I would give to unleash my special brand of scolding upon those spoiled foals.”

“...Okay, besides coming up with an awesome plan for the Gala,” Aspect smiled at her, “Remember, in this current guise, I’m one of Celly’s knights. Nothing suspicious about her doing that for one of her ‘warriors having trouble adjusting to a more peaceful life.’”

“I hope you know what you’re doing dear,” Written sighed and smiled at him. “So how is little Realm doing? We haven’t heard much, being confined here and all that.”

“He’s recovering in the hospital, he’s undergoing the same sort of strain Celly and Lulu did when they first ascended,” Aspect replied. “It might be a week, more or less, before he returns. Have you all checked out the castle he painted for you?”

Written looked a little… abashed. “To be perfectly honest, we’re a bit nervous given what happened to the colt. Starswirl wants to make sure it’s safe before we all go exploring.”

“Mm, probably a good idea. I stepped hoof in there and didn’t come out any worse for it,” Aspect replied. “Still, it’s wise to get more intel before charging in. Like me. Did clean the blood up though. Couldn’t have that marring the masterpiece.”

“Ever the thoughtful type,” Written giggled.

“I’m surprised even the old bird is scared to go in,” Pup smirked at Hurricane. “I didn’t know pegasi were descendants of chickens.”

“Buck you, that painting almost ate it’s maker!” Hurricane shouted. “Let’s see you walk into a dragon’s mouth without any fear!”

“I’m just teasing,” Pup smirked. “You bite better than half the dogs I know.”

“Okay, well, I should get some early rest today,” Aspect replied. “I’m going to need to be up bright and early and bushy-tailed if I’m going to catch Spoiled Rich off-guard.”

“No mares tonight?” Written asked. “Where’s that adorable Rainbow one?”

“Off with her friends doing something,” the stallion returned. “Don’t know what, but I know that for once, the crazy that’s going on around here isn’t their fault.”

“You got that letter didn’t you?” Pup reminded him.

“Oh yeah,” Aspect softly said as he pulled it out and opened it.

Yo, Aspect.

The girls and I are going to Appleloosa with Applejack, to… deliver an apple tree or something. I dunno.

Anyway, we might be gone for a bit, so it’ll just be you and candybutt for a while.

Peace,

Rainbow Awesome Dash.

“Well, I know where and a general assumption as to how long,” Aspect mused before digging into his pack. He came back with a scroll and an enchanted ribbon, which was how he sent messages to Celestia normally when he was on the road. He penned a brief missive about how he suspected he would need her to write a character assessment for the ‘knight’ he was pretending to be and whether or not she thought he was suitable to teach. Underneath that he explained why he needed it, briefly outlining his day, the fillies’ Sorcery getting out of control, and had to restrain himself from writing exactly what he thought about Spoiled Rich.

He finished the letter up with ‘Love, Christopher,’ and wrapped it in the ribbon, before sending a spark of magic through it. Instantly, the message burned away in golden fire, which turned to ash flying on the wind as it sought Celly out.

“Whoa, what was that?” Pup asked as he watched the smoke fly away. “Why’d you burn your letter?”

“Those ribbons are enchanted with dragonfire, the mystical sort,” Aspect explained. “Each one can go to whoever I think of when I give them a spark of magic. I sent that one to Celestia, because I didn’t think the mail service was running right now, or would be nearly as fast as I needed it to be. I only use them when I absolutely have to.” His gaze hardened. “This mare is going to learn that there are some ponies...you simply don’t mess with.”

“Huh, you’re pretty serious about this huh?” Pup replied. “Well, I guess I should do a little reading. Where’s your library?”

“Oh yeah, I did promise you that,” Aspect agreed, before walking through the halls. A short while later saw them in the library of the mansion, which Aspect had taken to stocking with all sorts of books. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” he promised the pup, sitting at a nearby desk and smiling.

“Okay, thanks,” the canine nodded as he looked around the room. “Do you have any books on what my powers can do? Maybe myths and stuff?”

“Sorry, I’m sorta obscure in that way,” Aspect chuckled. “But I can always recount my legends to you another time. When I’m sure you won’t go out and try some of the things I did before you’re ready for it.”

“I’m more looking for a name really,” he responded and took a random book off of the shelf.

“Once again, sorry, there’s only been one Aspect of the Earth before you, and we know what happened to him,” Aspect replied. “I could recount some old myths from my old world. Greek is a favorite of mine, they have such a rich culture.”

In a flash, Pup was sitting on the floor in front of him, tail wagging.

“Well, I suppose it all starts with Kronos and the Titans,” Aspect began, deciding to weave the story of the gods of Greece from the very beginning.

Pup lay on his back, thinking of all the stories that Aspect had told him. Night had long since fallen and the pegasus had gone to bed, ready for the battle that awaited him. Still, those stories, they’d been so… unreal, yet completely awesome.

And he smiled, because he’d finally picked a name that sounded good.

“I think… from now on,” he said to himself as he closed his eyes. “I’ll be… Artemis.”

Author's Notes:

You know how it is, you live your life, you're doing fine, then the county sends you a jury summons.

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