“So… this is it huh?” Toola Roola stared up at the massive painting of the Everfree Castle. “It certainly has quite a vibe about it, doesn’t it?” She moved up to it and felt herself being drawn closer. She frowned and stepped back, shaking her head. “Gah! What the buck was that?”

“That,” Aspect said, tapping the frame. “Would be the portal. Careful you don’t get too close.”

“So, you weren’t kidding about being literally lost in the painting huh?” Toola paced back and forth in front of it. “I’ll admit, I’ve seen some stuff in my life, but a painting you can step into? Here I thought that only worked with books and comics.”

“Mm, a decently trained Pictomancer actually can step into any Pictomancy painting they want to,” Aspect replied. “This one, however, has a portal ringing it to make it easier for everypony else.”

“So, anypony can step inside huh?” she looked the piece up and down. “It certainly has an ominous feel about it.”

“Yeah, it nearly...well, the closest thing I can come to describing it is, ate, its painter alive. Fortunately he was pulled from the painting and hospitalized in time. And maybe, given a fresh coat, he’ll be able to change the feeling of it.” The stallion shook his head though. “However, that’s something for another day. He’s on strict bedrest. No Pictomancy, no stressing his magical systems at all until he’s recovered.”

“Fair enough,” Toola nodded and gave the painting one last look. She was annoyed that she didn’t know how to fix it. She’d only dabbled the once, so she was under no assumptions that she could fix this. “I’ll have to meet with him once he’s well.”

“You could meet with him now, he’s actually here,” Aspect informed her. “Just, not able to indulge in Pictomancy. I would say he shouldn’t paint either, due to how sore he is, but not only is keeping him away from paint an exercise in futility, he says he’s just not inspired at the moment.”

“Well why didn’t you say so,” Toola beamed. “Now, let’s go and find this colt eh? I want to see what kind of competition I have in him.”

“Fair warning, he’s...well, I’ll explain as we move,” Aspect said as he began leading Toola. “Okay, so do you know what happens when the magic runs out of a Pictomancy painting?”

“Enlighten me,” Toola said as she followed him through the winding halls.

“Essentially, the painting freezes and will need to be refreshed with another coat of Spectra Paint. Realm...used to be the painter for the Everfree Castle, when it was a castle. Friends with the founders as well. Clover, however, predicted that there would come a day when the arts they knew would fade...so he sealed himself inside a painting. A painting that I recovered and restored.”

“Risky,” she muttered. “What if something had happened? Say the painting got damaged somehow?”

“Yeah, that would have put an end to his time-capsule project real fast,” Aspect chuckled. “He is, however, still a colt, so technically I am his guardian until he adjusts to the new age he’s found himself in. And then a few more years besides as he grows into being a stallion.”

“So, what kind of kid is he?” Toola asked as they neared the room.

“Perverted, as he’s just on the cusp of ‘stallionhood’, as it were,” Aspect replied. “Beyond that, he’s incredibly creative, as befits his new station.”

“Huh, one of those kids huh?” Toola chuckled. “You shoulda seen Bonnie at that age. So adorable, and so easy to tease. Bring up anything romantically involved and she turned into a tomato.”

“Mm, I’ll keep that in mind,” Aspect idly replied, filing the information away for later. “Also, he can be dangerous. He hasn’t harmed me, or any pony...but a martial art they practiced back in those days was the Gale King. He’s a master of it, able to conjure lightning at a whim. Or...he could, were his magical systems not stressed.”

“So, a lover and a fighter eh?” Toola chuckled as she put a hoof on the door. “Sounds like a real marekiller when he grows… up…” She’d opened the door and Aspect peered inside to see what made her pause.

Twilight was laying on a chaise lounge, on her side as she propped her head up with one hoof, her tail draped over her waist. Her eyes moved from a half-lidded gaze to surprise when she spied the two ponies.

“Oh hey guys!” she smiled and waved with her free hoof.

“...Realm,” Aspect growled out.

“Hey, I asked for her to take a pose,” Realm defended himself. “This is the pose she took.”

“Huh? You told me to sit like this,” Twilight argued. “Why, what’s wrong…” She blinked and her eyes narrowed. “He did it again, didn’t he?”

“Eeeyup,” Aspect nodded. “And if he painted that…”

“Can’t, hooves too sore to hold a brush still,” Realm replied. “But it was quite inspiring!”

“Reaaallllmmmmmm!” Twilight stood up, her horn sparking to life as her mane started moving under the power she was emanating.

“OhyegodsIforgotshe’saminiatureStarswirlHELP!” the colt blurted out before doing the best he could to hide: cowering under his blanket.

Twilight looked at Aspect and winked. She had… a plan.

Realm felt a weight on his bed, somepony had just climbed up onto it.

“Ohh Realm~” Twilight said in a singsong voice.

The colt eeped and scooted away from the bump on the bed.

“Come one Realmy, I’m not mad,” Twilight hummed as she pulled the blanket down. He saw her face, her eyes narrowed into a half-lidded gaze and she bit her lower lip. “You know, if you wanted inspiration~ All you had—” her hoof trailed along his leg. “—To do was ask~”

The colt squeaked and blushed, now not able to meet her gaze for an entirely different reason.

“So tell me,” she hummed and her voice dropped into a husky whisper. “Do you want to be a stallion~?”

The colt’s face burned bright red, but the mare could still see him nod slightly.

“Do you wanna know a secret?” she said, her lips near his ear.

Realm gulped, but nodded ever so slightly again. He could feel her breath on his ear as she leaned closer… and with the slightest whisper…

“Gotcha~”

And with a happy hum, she jumped off of the bed and trotted out of the room. Realm blinked, too stunned to even look at her flank as she left, and shook his head to clear it.

“Wat?” he asked dumbly.

“She got you,” Aspect replied with a chuckle. “Anyways. Let miss Toola get a good look at you. She’s been dying to meet the greatest Pictomancer of the Pre-Classical era.”

“This kid?” Toola cackled. “This kid just got played like a freaking fiddle. How is he the greatest Pictomancer?”

“He earned that title for not only improving all the pictures the Princesses had at that time, but for creating something quite...unique,” Aspect said, noticing that Starswirl had followed them into the room through the paintings on the wall.

“Well all I see is a kid with a nosebleed cause a cute mare played him,” Toola chuckled some more, wiping a tear from her eye. Then she paused and looked closer. “You ah… he has wings and a horn…”

That was about when Starswirl stepped out of a nearby painting and nodded at the mare, before turning to Aspect. “It is about time for young master Realm’s medication,” the bearded painted pony stated. “And I will be off to my lab to conduct research for the next six hours.”

“Yes, thank you Starswirl,” Aspect replied with a wave of a wing.

“I...wha?” Toola blinked at his sudden appearance. “Alright, what the buck is that?”

“I, madame, am a painted copy of Starswirl the Bearded,” the painted stallion retorted. “The young master made me when he was but six, and kept layering the paint on and on and on. I am the most complicated painted pony to date, for multiple reasons.”

“But… you’re… not in a painting,” Toola blinked, trying to wrap her head around this as she walked closer, before reaching out and touching him, he… felt like, dried paint?

“Indeed not,” the stallion replied. “I am complex enough to be able to leave my painting, or any painting, should I so desire it. My recent detailing is a gift from what the young master’s latest project produced.”

“Huh…” Toola continued to poke and prod him. “How… interesting. Painted ponies, little alicorns… this house is… interesting.”

“The others call it a madhouse,” Aspect replied with a roll of his eyes. “As in, all the madness not focused on the village condenses here.”

“At any rate,” Starswirl said, gently taking Toola’s hoof and stopping her from poking him anymore. “I will be off for now. There’s a theory I’m dying to examine.” With a nod to everypony in the room, Starswirl jumped back into the nearest painting and walked out of it.

“Interesting…” Toola said monotonously as she continued to poke thin air. “This house is… interesting.”

“Aw shoot,” Aspect sighed, poking his head outside of Realm’s room. “Bonnie, I broke your mother!”

“How!?” came the shout back. Another shout, one of surprise told him that Twilight had ambushed Starswirl.

“She met Starswirl and Realm!” Aspect replied. “Also, Twilight, you leave that painted pony alone!”

“But… research!” she shouted.

“This place is a bucking madhouse,” Bon Bon added.

“That’s what I said!” Aspect agreed.

“Can I help?” Lyra shouted. “I feel left out.”

“The more the merrier! Know how to reset Toola?”

“Toola, Bonnie’s pregnant!” Lyra called, in that instant, Toola Roola was up in Aspect’s face.

“What did you do to my daughter!?” the mare growled.

“Nothing of that nature, but I’m glad to see you’re unstuck,” Aspect replied, gently pushing her away from his face. “And now I know what not to expose you to.”

“Wha…” Toola shook her head and sighed. “Right, this house is weird. Still…” She turned to Realm and settled her gaze on him. “So, you’re the Pictomancer huh?”

“Mmhmm,” Realm replied as he shook off the stunning effect Twilight had had on him. “Mostly I practiced by restoring and improving the ready-made Pictomancy pictures around the castle. Starswirl was my first original creation.”

“Quite the creation,” Toola Roola nodded. “I also saw your ‘other’ piece. Quite the imposing creation you have there.”

“Yeah, I’m probably going to have to go over all of it with another coat of paint,” Realm winced. “Just to try and get rid of the feel of it that all the others tell me it has.”

“Have you even seen it yet?” Toola blinked.

“Not personally, no, but I get visitors,” Realm said, pointing at the paintings. “And if they don’t like it, then I need to do some more work on it.”

Toola nodded… then put Realm on her back and started to trot from the room.

“Hey what?” Realm asked, slightly confused. “Um...help?”

“Sorry kiddo, you’re on your own,” Aspect chuckled.

“Kids these days,” Toola muttered as she walked down the hall. “Honestly, think they can paint a piece and then forget about it.” She continued to grumble and mutter in this fashion until she reached the room where the painting was held. Stepping inside, she walked right up to it, turning slightly so Realm could get a good, long look at it. “Alright kid, tell me what you see.”

“It’s...the castle,” Realm breathed. “The castle I lived in. I...I recreated it?”

“You did more than that,” Toola nodded. “Look long and hard. Tell me what you feel from it.”

Realm closed his eyes, before wincing and trying to draw back. “Oh. Oh that doesn’t feel right at all. No Pictomancy painting should feel like that. Yeah I’ve heard of pouring your heart and soul into your work, but that...that’s taking it to an uncomfortable level.”

“Mhm, it’s almost oppressive, like it wants to swallow anypony that even looks at it,” Toola nodded. “What you’ve made is undoubtedly impressive. And you’ve put a lot of heart and soul into it… but it’s lacking life. I trust you’ll fix this when you can?”

“Yeah, fresh coat of paint,” Realm replied. “I can change the tone when I can use magic again. It’s a simple matter of adding a little more definition...like, I dunno. Clouds and a day/night cycle that mirrors our own.”

“You can do that?” Toola blinked, rather surprised. “Get a painting to change time and weather?”

“Yeah, but I always found it easier to do it from the inside,” Realm explained. “It’s not easy, but it’s the easiest way to add more definition at this stage of the painting’s completion. Besides just redoing it from the ground up.”

“Too bad I have no idea how to do that,” Toola sighed more to herself than him. It was frustrating, seeing a kid half her size and a quarter of her age, do things she could only dream about. “Well, I just wanted you to see it. Let’s go back.”

“Yeah…” Realm sighed. “It’s kinda sad, seeing how ponies these days don’t know how to create Spectra paint. It’s a simple recipe...well, simple if you are or know a pegasus, I suppose.”

“I only ever got to use it that one time,” Toola said as she returned the colt to his bedroom. “Guess I’m not the artist I thought I was…”

“I could teach you,” Realm offered. “There’s really only a few things to learn about Spectra paint and how to use it. The hardest part is finding the crystals to make the paint.”

“So I’ve heard,” Toola said as the whole house suddenly shook with a muffled explosion.

“Our bad!” Twilight and Starswirl called out.

“...I suddenly regret giving him magic,” Realm sighed.

“I’d question that, but I don’t think my poor Earth pony brain could handle it,” Toola Roola sighed. “So kid, you serious about those Pictomany lessons?”

“Yup,” Realm nodded once. “Like I said, the hardest part is getting the crystals and making the paint. The crystals only form at the end of a rainbow in a place of wild magic, and those...aren’t the safest places anymore. And the paint is made by dropping a Spectra crystal in a cauldron of boiling water, then adding a lightning bolt to it. Makes a lot of paint at once. Everything after that is easy.”

“So, you think you need a pegasus for the lightning?” Toola asked. Depending on his answer, this should be fun.

“Most need one,” Realm replied. “Or did. I can do it on my own without a cloud. Most need a pegasus to get them a stormcloud, because magical lightning doesn’t work. I dunno how the world’s changed, though.”

“Tell your dad to take you to Cloudsdale sometime. I think you’ll get a real kick out of it,” Toola chuckled. “In any case, guess I’m sticking around for a while. If you’re gonna teach me Pictomancy, then I can at least teach you how to paint.”

“...You teaching me how to paint,” Realm replied, before snickering.

“What, you think those scribbles on the wall are art?” Toola said with a small smirk. “I have a camera that can do the same thing with the push of a button. So yes, I’ll be teaching you how to paint you little brat.”

“I wasn’t allowed to touch Spectra paint until I had managed to impress my caretaker,” Realm replied. “With a portrait of Clover so realistic that it was almost like she was there. She kept it, though. Point is, I can paint. I can paint real well.”

“No, you can copy well,” Toola pointed out. “When you’re well, I’m taking you to Manehatten. We’re going to visit the art gallery there and you can see what you’ve missed since you were gone.”

“...There’s no way out of this, is there?” Realm asked.

“Sorry kiddo, I’m calling it how I see it,” Toola hummed. “Now you rest up, I have a daughter to go and embarrass and a new mare to grill.” She stood up, scratched his ear and trotted from the room.

“I wish I was well enough to walk already,” Realm muttered as he lay on his bed. “...If only so I could try to run away…”

The next few days passed by with relative ease. No disasters or dramas to speak of.

Hence, Ponyville was overdue for some. Over the last day, Twilight had been working herself into a tizzy because Princess Celestia was coming for a visit, so the whole town had to be prepared naturally. Balanced Aspect thought she was being a tad dramatic over the whole affair, but trying to talk Twilight down was a futile effort in and of itself.

Aspect merely shook his head and continued on his way after his third attempt. Celly would hopefully come around to see her little brother when she visited. The colt had even said he was starting to feel a little better in recent days...which meant his magic was coming back. That meant he would be able to test and see just how much of a Muse Realm had become. Maybe covertly mentioning it to Rarity that there was a new Alicorn on the block would get them in the same room together…

Since Toola had been staying here, Bon Bon stayed as well, not that that bothered Aspect. The house was lively once again. He’d started to notice it once his kids had left, how big and empty this place was.

And it was a little after noon by the time Celestia had arrived at his house, a hooffull of her guards in tow.

“Do they know the rules of the house, Celly?” Aspect asked from inside the house, holding the door open for them and giving them all a once-over.

Celestia rolled her eyes as the guards looked quite shocked with how casually this stallion addressed the princess. “No, because I know how much you adore explaining things to them.”

“Right,” Aspect said, before clearing his throat. “Beyond this door, colts, there are no titles, no honors, no stations. We’re all just ponies. Either accept that, or stay the buck out of my home.”

They all turned and looked at Celestia, who just giggled and nodded her head. The pair of guards removed their helmets, which broke the enchantments that made them all look alike. They were both mares. One was a tan earth pony with blue eyes and a snow white mane and tail. A diamond-shaped patch of white fur on her forehead and her chest seemed to be of a similar tone.

The other mare was much more interesting. Her coat was a rich chocolate brown and her mane and tail were a platinum blonde. But it was her eyes and wings that threw Aspect for a loop. Her eyes were cat-like in appearance, while her once-pegasus wings changed to a pair that was a deep purple in colour and resembled a bat’s or dragons.

“A thestral?” Aspect questioned. “Haven’t seen one of those in an age...ah, where are my manners. Well if you’re willing to obey my rules, fillies, by all means,” the stallion said, stepping to one side and permitting the party entrance to his home.

“Of course sir,” the earth pony nodded. “Oh, my name is Epona, and this is my partner, Midnight Song.”

The thestral remained quiet, but bowed her head to him.

“And I am Balanced Aspect, and I thought I told you all to forget the titles and the bowing,” Aspect snorted, rolling his eyes. “Get in here. Celly, you have somepony to meet, I’m sure Twilight’s told you all about it.”

“Oh, she has alright,” Celestia nodded and a smile crossed her muzzle. “Also, you haven’t seen my wayward student by chance have you?”

“Not since this afternoon when I was trying to get her to relax regarding you coming to town,” the pegasus said as all three mares filed into his home. “Okay, so a couple of things you all might want to know. First, and don’t freak out, but the paintings are alive.”

“Pictomancy,” Epona said. “Yeah, the princess gave us a rundown on what to expect. And Princess Luna said that they might try pranking us.” She eyeballed one of the paintings and smirked. “Yeah, we’re onto you cheeky painted ponies.”

“Aww, phooey,” the painted Puddinghead pouted, crossing her forelegs.

“Second,” Aspect continued, impressed that they’d covered that. “My marefriend and her mother are residents of the house, when said marefriend is not running her candy shop in town. If you come across a highly critical earth mare painter, don’t make eye contact and do your best to get out of her line of sight.”

“I heard that you sassy little brat!” a voice called out from somewhere inside the house. Epona snickered into her hoof, while Midnight remained silent and stoic.

“And third, you may run into a Diamond Dog pup named Artemis. Don’t worry, he’s friendly, and is growing into his power over the entire earth. I’m taking it upon myself to teach him until he reaches adulthood,” Aspect finished. “At which point, his destiny will be his own to make. I...think that’s about everything.”

“Understood sir!” Epona saluted and beamed brightly. Midnight… just said nothing as usual. Aspect sighed and walked over to the thestral mare, before reaching up and flicking one of her eartufts with a hoof. She let out a surprised squeak and bared her fangs at him with a hiss, before catching herself and taking a step back.

“Ah, she’s um… not used to ponies much,” Epona explained.

“Hmm…” Aspect hummed, before remembering how he used to deal with the thestrals back at the castle. “Look, relax, pull the stick out of your plot, and you can raid my pantry. Just hit up the market yesterday, the fruit should still be fresh.”

“Pot să-l-au bătut cu bastonul?" Midnight asked Epona and the earth mare sighed and facehooved.

“Middy, fresh fruit… and he says you have dibs—” That was all she got out before the thestral mare vanished from sight. The sounds of cupboards opening and closing could be heard from the kitchen.

“Welp, gonna have to make another run afterwards,” Aspect sighed. “Not like I wouldn’t have to anyways.” He playfully eyed Celestia before snorting. “Anyways. Little Realm should be up in the guest room, let me lead ya to him.”

“Show me… and Epona dear, keep an eye on Midnight would you?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Epona saluted and trotted off. A moment later, “Oh gods! Midnight what are you— eeeek!”

“She’ll be fine,” Celestia said calmly. “Now, show me my new little brother hm?”

“He’s gotten a lot better since last you saw him,” Aspect returned as they walked the halls. “He’s not sore anymore, which I think means his magic is recovering. Five days, that’s just about what you and your sister had as a recovery time for when you ascended.”

“Sounds about right,” Celestia nodded. “I’m actually more impressed the house is still standing. Remember the southern tower of the castle?”

“Nopony remembers the first southern tower of the castle,” Aspect returned. “That’s where you were when the magic surges hit. We had to rebuild it, because that’s where the medical equipment was. From the ground up.”

“Point made,” Celestia giggled and skipped slightly. “Ohh, this will be fun. A new alicorn since Cadance. I wonder what kind he’ll be?”

“Art, and everything that comes with it,” Aspect replied. “This is Realm we’re talking about. If he was going to have a sphere of influence, it would be paint-related.”

“An Alicorn of the Paint… or maybe arts in general,” Celestia hazarded a guess. “Well, let’s take a look at him.” She opened the door with her magic and strode inside.

Realm was lying on his bed, a paintbrush in his hooves as he worked at his easel. Fortunately, it was not Spectra paint that he was working with, as Aspect said he wanted to be sure his magic had fully recovered before working with that just yet. The colt barely looked up as Celestia and Aspect walked in, so focused on his painting he was.

“Well, he seems to be in better spirits that what Luna was,” Celestia chuckled. “At least he’s not running around crying with an orange stuck on his horn.”

“And you had to get used to your new wings,” Aspect retorted. “I swear you knocked more walls out than you did yourself.”

“Oh shush,” Celestia said. “Now Realm? Might I make a few checks on you? Make sure you actually are an Alicorn.”

The young colt nodded absently as he dabbed a bit of purple on his paintbrush and continued painting. Said painting that floated away from him as Celestia held the colt still while she ran a few scans with her magic.

“Let’s see here… magical flow is stable, detecting… Pegasus… Unicorn, ahh there you are, Earth pony magic too. Tell me Realm, any pain in your hooves and horn?”

“Yeah, when I was basically drained of magic they were as sore as could be,” Realm huffed, upset his painting had been taken away. “They’re recovered now though. Maybe a dull throb if I really push it, but I just wanna paint.”

“Hmm, the signs match then,” Celestia nodded as she continued her scans. Her golden magic pulsing up and down his body. “Hm? Now… now that is interesting isn’t it?”

“What?” Realm asked. It was his body, he could be curious.

“Your excess magic is already starting to bleed out,” Celestia said as she stopped her magic and returned his art supplies. “Like with my mane, only yours… is coming out as some kind of aura.”

“What sort?” Aspect asked. It was his son, he should know.

“Hard to tell, my own magic suppresses it, so I don’t feel it much,” Celestia replied. “Have any normal ponies been in contact with him over the last day or two?”

“Only me, Bon Bon, Toola, Lyra…” Then Aspect realized he hadn’t actually seen any of those ponies today. “Maaaaybe I should check on them.”

“It might be an idea,” Celestia nodded. “Given that he’s an artist, his powers might be of a similar vein, perhaps something akin to a Muse.”

“Yup, I thought he might be,” Aspect replied. “Okay, you have fun with him, I’m going to go make sure all those ponies are okay.” With that, the stallion was off. Celestia chuckled, thinking she should have told him about Philomena.

“Oh well, he’ll figure it out,” she mused.

Aspect’s first stop was Toola. She was in the same house after all. He found the mare in the study, sitting at a large easel as she painted a portrait of Canterlot… from memory.

“Hello,” she said without turning around. “How’s it going?”

“Just checking to make sure you’re okay,” Aspect said. “Realm apparently has an aura. We’re checking to make sure that nopony who’s interacted with him is adversely affected.”

“Well, I feel fine,” Toola said as she put the finishing touches on her painting and set it aside on the pile… Oh.

There was a stack, of roughly a dozen paintings or more and she was already reaching for another blank canvas. The stallion reached out a hoof and grabbed ahold of hers, stopping her for a moment as he thought of the best way to do this. In the end, he decided on a simple Dispel.

“And stop,” he said, putting magic behind the word and letting it ripple only a little into the world, just enough to touch Toola.

“I...I can’t.” She almost yelled at him. “I need to paint… I… I need to…”

“Okay, this has gone on long enough,” Aspect snorted, flaring his wings and nodding his head to an unseen beat. When he next spoke, it...echoed.

“Painting one just to begin again
Will surely drive her round the bend.
I tell this magic, release her now,
No if, and, buts, or how.”

The Sorcery echoed throughout the world, the much stronger working actually distorting the air as it left Aspect and impacted Toola. The mare’s eyes widened and she shuddered, small tears forming in her eyes before she blinked them away and looked around.

“I… what? Where am I?” she said, sounding a little dizzy. “Colt? What are you…”

“You touched Realm’s aura, apparently he has one for art,” Aspect replied. “I had to work a sorcery to get you to stop. I’m going to go check on Bon Bon and Lyra, just to be sure they weren’t affected...though they probably were.” He sighed, folding his wings up again. “Whatever you do, don’t go in Realm’s room until we’re sure he has that aura under control. Understand? He’s a living Muse now.”

“Well, isn’t that just bucking wonder—” Her ears flicked and she frowned. “What’s that screeching coming from your kitchen?”

“Thestral raiding the fruit stores,” Aspect replied without missing a beat. “Don’t go in there either.” He turned and all but galloped off as he went to his next target.

“Uh… sure?” Toola blinked.

Bon Bon’s candy shop. The sign said closed, but he knew she was open for him. Trying the handle revealed that it hadn’t been locked, and he walked into the store. It was dark, but he could hear the sounds of something in the kitchen. Somepony was in there, and muttering to themselves a lot. Aspect braced himself as he braved what could very well be a warzone.

He… wasn’t wrong. Batter splattered the floors, walls… even the ceiling. Benchtops were littered with dozens of beautiful cakes and sweets, all the while his sweet mare was vigorously stirring a bowl, while her eyes kept dancing to the oven and a cooling rack with yet more sweets.

“Perfect, perfect… it’s not perfect,” she muttered. “The Princess is coming and I have to be perfect. Everything has to be perfect! I’ll show those Cakes they’re not the only ones. Twilight chose meeeheheheee~ I’ll bake the perfect cake!”

Aspect sighed before flaring his wings and putting as much power as he could into one simple command, letting it ripple into the world. “Cease and desist.”

Bon Bon dropped the bowl, her eyes wide and unblinking, like she’d been frozen in place. Even the bowl seemed to slow and stop before hitting the ground.

“And…” Aspect said, before tapping her on the back of the head and breaking the spell. “Resume.” Hopefully that would be enough to break her out of her trancelike state. With a loud clatter, the metal bowl hit the linoleum floor as Bon Bon slumped forwards. She groaned as she lay on the floor, putting a hoof to her head.

“I… what happened?” She glanced up and blinked again. “Aspect?”

“Long story short,” Aspect stated, “Realm is a Muse now, so don’t go anywhere near him until he gets his aura under control. I’m gonna check on Lyra, make sure she’s okay.”

“Lyra? She’s… upstairs I think,” Bon Bon said again. “Wait… how did you know, where to find me?”

“You hadn’t come over since last night, when Realm said he was feeling well enough to hold a brush again,” Aspect informed her. “This was the second place you’d be. Not that I can blame you, with your mother in town.”

“Yes well…” She looked around and gasped. “That-that is a lot of cake.”

“That’s what being under a Muse’s influence does to you,” Aspect replied. “Take a minute, get it all out of your system while I check on Lyra.” He left the kitchen to go check upstairs. Okay, Bon Bon’s room, bathroom...This must be Lyra’s room. He mentally braced himself and knocked on the door.

“Yeah?” Lyra called out from within.

“It’s Aspect,” the stallion called. “Just checking up on you. Haven’t seen you in a bit. You doing okay?”

The door opened and he was greeted by the sight of her room. It was… surprisingly normal. A large bed lay against one wall, filled with an abundance of plush toys. A music stand with some sheet music and a large wooden clarsach. It stood a little taller than the mare that played it. A bookshelf with a variety of literature, from music books to romance novels, even a couple of comic books.

Lyra herself sat at a desk, sitting upright like a human would as she scratched away with a quill on paper.

“Lyra, you...feeling okay?” Aspect asked cautiously.

“Huh? I feel fine,” she said with an airy wave of her hoof. “Bon’s been acting kinda nuts. So I’m staying outta her way. Wanna hide here until the Bakeapocolypse ends?”

“Just stopped it actually, but I think I should warn you before you head back to my place,” Aspect said, still not quite trusting this. “Realm...has an aura. He’s practically a living Muse now. So uh...until he gets it under control, we’re...kinda gonna have to make sure any artistic ponies stay away from him...anypony creative, really…”

“Aww, you think I’m creative? That’s sweet,” Lyra giggled.

“Sure you’re feeling okay?” Aspect quizzed. “No burning need to write sheet after sheet of music out?”

“Well… now that you mention it…” Her horn glowed and her door closed behind him. She turned around and stepped off of her chair, walking towards him. “There is a burning need I’ve had… for a while now actually~” She suddenly moved closer, quite quickly actually.

Aaaand that was Lyra’s tongue in his mouth! The stallion fell back, not sure what was going on anymore, but he knew that this was bad. Who knew how Bon Bon or Rainbow would take it.

“Mmm, you taste pretty good,” she mused as she straddled him. “Now, it’s unfair to come in before I finished that love ballad i was working on. But oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.” She licked her lips and smiled seductively. “Now… wanna see how I taste~?”

“I need an adult,” Aspect whimpered.

“Oh honey, we are adults… and we’re going to do very adult things~” Lyra purred and moved in closer…

Bonk

It was almost comical in both sound and nature, as Lyra rolled to one side and clutched her now aching head as Bon Bon tapped her hoof with a rolling pin.

“Geez Lyra, I leave you alone for a day, and this is what I come in to?”

“Owwies! Bonnie! That really hurt~”

“Good,” Bon Bon huffed and helped Aspect up. “You okay?”

“I’ll live, though the scars will last a lifetime,” Aspect shuddered. Bon Bon rolled her eyes and tapped his noggin with the rolling pin.

“Don’t be so dramatic, she’s not that bad a kisser—” She suddenly put a hoof to her mouth and looked away.

“Not asking how you know that,” Aspect stated more than anything else before screwing his eyes shut. “Just gonna...walk home and forget you said that.”

“Dammit Lyra!” Bon Bon threw a barrage of stuffed toys at her, the mare yelping.

“Ahh, what’d I do now?”

Aspect was already out of the room and out of the house.

As he reached the town square, he quite literally bumped into Twilight Sparkle, the mare yelped after she ran into him, falling onto her back.

“What in the world?” Aspect asked, shaking his head to clear it. “Oh. Twilight, hello. I was just on my way home—”

“Ohmygoshohmygosh! Pleeeease tell me you’ve seen a weird-looking sick bird!” she panicked, dancing on the tips of her hooves nervously. “I really don’t want to be banished and imprisoned in the place I’m banished to.”

“What?” Aspect asked, blinking as he was caught off-guard.

“Sick bird, pink skin… not a lot of feathers,” Twilight explained as she looked around. “Ohh, she’s going to be furious!”

“I...honestly have no idea what’s going on,” Aspect replied. Was...was this normal?

“Argh, you’re no help,” Twilight growled and a shout caught her attention. Both ponies turned to see Fluttershy pointing at the top of a statue of Celestia, a… well as Twilight put it, a rather sick-looking bird was perched on top of it.

“Wait, isn’t that?” Aspect muttered as he stared at the bird.

“Philomena! Come down this instant!” Fluttershy ordered. The bird looked at her, before gagging and pitching over. As it plummeted towards the ground, it suddenly burst into flame, Fluttershy’s leap to catch it only left her with a hoof full of ashes.

“Riiiiight, Celly said she had one,” Aspect nodded sagely, as if everything made sense.

Everypony let out a loud gasp, Aspect noticing all of Twilight’s friends had shown up.

“Oh… on no…” Fluttershy whimpered.

Aspect merely sighed. Why did all phoenixes have to have a flair for the dramatic?

And then Celestia arrived, flanked by two more of her guard as she strode towards them, her wings flared wide and nose slightly upturned, looking down on her student and the sobbing pegasus.

“What’s going on here?” she asked in a curt tone, her eyes locking onto Twilight.

“Your majesty, there’s been a terrible accident,” Twilight stuttered.

“It’s all my fault,” Fluttershy whimpered.

“No Princess,” Twilight shook her head. “Fluttershy didn’t know any better, it was my fault.”

“But I was the one that did it,” Fluttershy argued. Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.

“You were only trying to help.”

“Some help I was,” Fluttershy mumbled.

Twilight sighed. “Look, will you let me do this? She’ll go easier on me.”

“But it’s my fault!”

“No, it’s my fault!”

“No, it’s my fault!” Pinkie declared loudly and blinked. “Wait, what are we talking about?”

Fluttershy exhaled. “Thanks for trying to protect me, Twilight, but... Princess Celestia, I'm the one who took your pet bird. I really was only trying to help the poor little thing. Then I was gonna bring it right back to you, honest. So, if you wanna banish me and then throw me in a dungeon in the place that you banish me to, then that's what I deserve.”

“Good lord, you let slip that you banished your own sister to the moon for being possessed and they imagine the most terrible things about you, don’t they?” Aspect quipped.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Come now Philomena, you’re scaring everypony.”

The pile of ashes… twitched? Before they ignited and a brilliant light exploded from within. And when it dimmed… a stunning Phoenix hovered there.

“W-What happened to Philomena?” Fluttershy stammered.

“This is Philomena, nothing unusual… for a Phoenix.”

“Wait,” Twilight held up a hoof. “You mean like Pyroclastia?”

“Yes, Philomena is her daughter actually.”

“What’s a phoenix?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well,” Celestia mused. “A phoenix is a majestic and magical bird. While it appears healthy and happy most of the time, every so often it must renew itself by shedding all of its feathers and bursting into flame—” her voice lowered. “—Rather melodramatic, if you ask me.” She cleared her throat and continued the explanation. “It then rises from the ashes, fresh as a daisy. All just a normal part of the life cycle of a phoenix. I'm afraid mischievous little Philomena here took the occasion to have a little fun with you, Fluttershy. Say you're sorry, young lady.”

The bird squawked a few times and hid her face behind her wing.

“I knew that some of the birds I blessed with fire would turn out to be like that after a few centuries had passed,” Aspect sighed. “You know, I’m fairly certain she gets her mischevious streak from somepony she spends a lot of time around.”

Celestia looked as innocent as a newborn foal.

“So... aren't you gonna banish me? Or throw me in a dungeon? Or banish me and then throw me in a dungeon in the place that you banish me to?” Fluttershy asked and Celestia shook her head.

“Of course not my little pony, wherever would you get a dreadful idea like that?”

“I guess I have some imagination,” the mare deadpanned, glancing at an increasingly embarrassed Twilight.

“Do I have to tell your mother what you’ve been up to?” Aspect asked the phoenix with half a glare.

The bird looked increasingly worried now.

“Fluttershy really did try her hardest to take care of her,” Twilight explained.

“And I do appreciate that your heart was in the right place, child.” Celestia leaned down and nuzzled Fluttershy. “But all you had to do was ask me and I could have told you Philomena was a phoenix and saved you all this trouble.”

Fluttershy nodded, blushing a little from the contact. “I know. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Next time I'll ask before taking matters into my own hooves.”

“Wise words,” Aspect stated, still not easing up on his glare for Philomena.

“Should I write a letter to you about that lesson Princess?” Twilight asked.

“It’s alright, I think I can remember,” the alicorn chuckled as Philomena landed on Fluttershy’s back, giving the pegasus one of her lovely feathers.

“Ohh, it’s lovely. Thank you Philomena. No hard feelings.”

“Better,” Aspect stated, visibly relaxing and easing up on his glare. He saw Rainbow whisper something to the bird, who nodded and flittered over to the stoic stallions guarding her cage.

Extending her wings, she started tickling their noses until the two burst out into raucous laughter.

“Oh look at that, they can loosen up,” Aspect smirked.

“So it would seem,” Celestia chuckled. “And what of you dear Aspect. You look like you just saw a ghost. Is everything alright? No problems with Miss Bon Bon… Miss Lyra?”

“Everything will work out, given time,” Aspect replied, ruffling his feathers.

“Hmm, sounds like a story somepony doesn’t want to tell,” Celestia replied in a sing-song tone. “Oh well.”

Philomena flew off with Fluttershy and the others, who decided to head to Sugarcube corner for an afternoon snack, leaving Aspect alone with his daughter.

Once they were long gone, Celestia let out a hearty laugh. “Oh my gosh, did you see their faces? I thought Twilight was going to have a heart attack!”

“...You planned this,” Aspect stated. “To do what?”

“Well my goal was to try and get them to loosen up a little around me,” Celestia said. “I consider them friends, yet it’s always ‘Yes Princess, no Princess. Let me refill that Princess.’”

“Another reason I don’t go around unmasked,” Aspect grunted.

“Yes well, some of us don’t have that luxury,” Celestia replied back with a biting tone. “Maybe I should question why you have mint-scent lipstick on your mouth.”

“Maybe I should question why you can smell that from fifteen paces away,” Aspect sniped back.

“Alicorn super powers,” Celestia fired back. “But you didn’t deny it daddy~”

“No reason to deny a theft,” Aspect retorted.

“Ohh, somepony’s sour over a sweet kiss,” his daughter continued to tease. “So I don’t get another Mommy then?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Aspect snorted. “Keep it up and I’ll put you over my knee, and damn the consequences.”

Celestia held a wing tip to her forehead, then trailed it across so it hung over Aspect’s. “Hmm, that’d be a neat trick.”

“You know I can do it too,” the stallion warned her. “Go on, off with you. I’m going to see if I can’t get Realm to taper his aura down in time for well...anypony to visit or see him.”

“Oh, well if you say so. Also… whatever became of my sweet thestral guard? I haven't seen her all afternoon.”

“She better not be raiding my pantry still,” Aspect grumbled. Upon arriving home, he made a beeline for the kitchen, only to see every piece of fruit he owned was savagely sacrificed to the bat-shaped goddess. She lay on her back on the table, her stomach slightly swollen and she belched loudly. Upon hearing Aspect enter the room.

"Vom avea mulți copii!"

“Equestrian!” Aspect replied. “Do you speak it?”

“She… doesn’t, actually,” Epona said with a serious blush. “You ah… really don’t want to know what she said.”

"Toți copiii!" Midnight replied with that accented tone, putting up a hoof for emphasis.

“I believe,” Celestia chuckled as she ducked into the room. “Dear Midnight is counting how many foals you’re going to have with her.”

“Yeah no,” Aspect stated. “Celestia, please make sure she speaks Equestrian before she comes back.” If ever.

“Well, you invited her in as an equal,” Tia replied, sounding quite serious. “Then provided a banquet for her by saying your house was hers. As far as Thestral culture goes, you proposed to her and she accepted.”

“...You cannot be serious,” Aspect stated.

Celestia didn’t even crack a smile.

“Please tell me you can take her back,” Aspect pleaded.

Celestia looked at him, her large amethyst eyes blinking… until the corners of her mouth tugged upwards and she snorted… followed my Midnight chuckling as she sat up.

“You are right Lady Sun,” she said in a thickly accented voice. “He is fun to tease.”

“...” Aspect didn’t say anything before looking slowly at Midnight. “How much of the teasing was serious?” he inquired.

“Hah, you are a funny stallion… not husband material though,” she snorted. “Eh, what is word… Ahah, Too much baggage.”

“Funny, I thought having a lot of issues was a sign of being complex enough to have issues,” Aspect quipped.

“It would mean…” Midnight’s brow furrowed. Clearly the Equestrian language was not her forte. She turned to Epona. "Fii dragă și spune-i că pur și simplu nu ar lucra ar tine?"

Epona rolled her eyes. “She wants to say that it just wouldn’t work out between the two of you.”

“And you would be the first to think that today,” Aspect smirked at her. “Bravo for being sane enough to see this place for the madhouse it is and deciding you don’t want any.”

Midnight just shrugged and nodded.

“Aww, and I wanted to see how far that would go,” Celestia pouted. “Dang it Middy.”

“Though, serious question, is what Celly said about my actions and how they could be taken in Thestral culture true?” Aspect questioned Midnight.

Midnight looked at Epona again.

“Contrary to Equestria, Thestrals are a rather male dominated society,” Epona explained. “If you travelled to Hollow Shades, you’ll find they’re a little more ‘Equestrian’ there. But in their home country of Roamania, where Midnight comes from, the mares are rather… second class compared to stallions.”

“So what, I shouldn’t offer my home to any thestral females that come knocking on my door, or open up my pantry to them?” Aspect pressed.

“In Equestria, you’ll be fine,” Celestia chuckled. “We’re attempting to… equalise things in Roamania. But a thousand years of history is difficult to change overnight. Midnight here is the first of many that we’ll help.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded, before taking in the carnage in the kitchen again and sighing. “And now I have to go restock. I swear I’m the market’s best customer.”

Midnight pulled out a small bag of bits and presented them to him. “To pay, for what I eat.”

“It’s fine...but thank you,” Aspect said, gratefully taking the bag. “And how recently did you start learning the language?”

“A few weeks,” she murmured, blushing somewhat. “I am… not well at it yet.”

“You are still doing quite well for someone who did not grow up learning it,” Aspect praised her. “It took me months to learn how to write when I started.”

“I thank you,” she bowed her head. “Father of Sun and Moon.”

Epona’s jaw dropped.

“Aaah, so you picked up on that did you?” Aspect asked with a smirk.

“Yes,” Midnight nodded. “Especially when lady Sun called you father when telling me of joke we played.”

“Oops?” Celestia chuckled nervously.

“I...what...you’re...but…” Epona looked back and forth between Celestia and Aspect.

“Maybe this will help,” Aspect stated, before flashing into his alicorn form.

*thud*

“Aaaand she’s out,” Celestia chuckled as Midnight blinked and looked at her fallen friend with a soft sigh.

“Ponies are strange,” she muttered.

“I’ll teach you a phrase for when something happens,” Aspect said to Midnight, before clearing his throat. “Everypony in this town is crazy.”

“Everypony in town, crazy,” Midnight repeated and gave him a fanged grin.

“Perfect,” Aspect said with a nod. “I use that one a lot. More than I thought I would need to for a sleepy little place like my daughter promised me this was.”

Midnight nodded in agreement.

“Well, maybe if somepony wasn’t a millennia old hermit, I wouldn’t have to cram friendship down his throat,” Celestia muttered under her breath.

“I’m sorry, your duty is...what again?” Aspect asked.

“Oh cram it,” Celestia muttered.

“Thought so,” Aspect smirked, before returning to normal. “Aaah. Okay. So…” He walked over to Epona and poked her a few times. “She’s really out of it, huh?”

“You… broke her,” Midnight added helpfully. “But Midnight know trick.”

“By all means,” the stallion said, stepping back. Midnight licked her lips.

*chomp*

And bit her right on the Cutie Mark. Epona awoke with a loud squeal and glared at Midnight Song until she noticed the stallion, before dropping into a low bow. “Your… Highness? Majesty? Um, Kinglyship?”

“None of that,” Aspect said, waving her off. “What did I say before you came into my home?”

“No titles,” Midnight pointed out helpfully.

“No honors,” Aspect tacked on.

“Oh… um, of course but…” She blinked and looked at Celestia. “Is he really your—?”

“Adopted and yes, but do keep it a secret for now yes?” she replied and nuzzled her guard, the mare blushing and nodding.

“Bah, my Epona, silly Sun Lady,” Midnight waved her off with a hoof and pulled Epona into a winghug.

“Why me?” the earth mare sighed.

“You signed up for coming to Ponyville,” Aspect pointed out. “You had to know the level of crazy you were getting into.”

“I… might have left that out,” Celestia chuckled.

“Good luck getting another detail willing to watch over you here,” the stallion replied. Celestia sighed as both her guards nodded in agreement.

“Now father, don’t you have a Muse to subdue?” Celestia said, putting on her princess-like tone of voice.

“He’s not going anywhere, and now that I know he is one, I can easily mitigate the effects,” Aspect waved a wing. “Go on, play the games. I’ll be here when you get a free day, little Celly.”

“I’ll prank you so hard one of these days,” Celestia muttered. “Fine, I’m returning to Canterlot. Farewell father. Midnight, Epona, come along.”

They nodded their heads to Aspect, before following the alicorn out of the door.

Author's Notes:

Hello again, uploading on time, who'da thunk it?

Meet Midnight! She's Aus's character, once again. My goodness, she shows up a lot, doesn't she?

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